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"Lower your god damn voice," Helena ridicules Liam. "You're making a scene."
"I don't bloody care if I'm making a scene! Kathryn's in danger, she's-"
"LIAM HENSTRIDGE!" his mother scolds, instantly making the Prince retract. No one was scarier than his mum angry.
The blonde looks back and forth between Eleanor and Jasper desperate for answers. The clueless looks on their faces are less than comforting.
"Mr. Frost, carry on," Helena dismisses the two. Although incredibly confused and slightly concerned Jasper follows orders and hails a car for him and Eleanor. He was confident that Liam was in good hands with Helena plus this would give him a break to go take care of his girl.
"You know I could really get used to this," Eleanor chirps accepting Jasper's offer of a new pillow to prop under her legs. She's perched upright in bed with the remote glued to her hand. She had stripped from the uncomfortable dress dwindling down to booty shorts and a plain black tee. Her hair is in a messy bun and not a trace of makeup remained on her face. To Jasper, she looked more stunning in this getup compared to any amount of makeup, expensive gowns, or lavish jewelry. Fresh faced and authentically beautiful.
"Don't push your chances," he replies retracting his arm so she can't grab the pillow in time. Her jaw drops and eyes narrow. Staring back at her with a raised brow Jasper tosses it next to her head before laying on the bed and using the pillow himself.
Rolling over on her side Eleanor props her head up on her fist.
"But you're so sexy when you take care of me," she whispers in a seductive tone paired with a smirk. Without looking at her Jasper delicately places his hand over her face moving it away from him. She giggles before punching him in the arm.
"Ow," Jasper replies with genuine shock in his voice. "You've got some fight in you, Princess."
"You're just learning this now, Mr. Frost?"
He stares at the television screen inwardly resenting the fact he would probably have to watch 'Royal and Beautiful' for the next few days until she was well. But he would be lying if he didn't think that the Prince of Lichtenstein was a crack up. Meeting him in person solidified that. He was quite the character and reminded him of a young Cyrus.
Eleanor keeps her emerald eyes focused on her boyfriend's face as he watches the show.
"It's creepy when you stare at me," he states blandly.
"Well now you know how it feels," she snaps back with a level of embarrassment to her voice. Crossing her arms she falls back into her pillows and redirects her attention back to 'Royal and Beautiful'.
Jasper reaches for her hand intertwining their fingers and brings them to his lips.
"I'm really proud of you today."
He can see in his peripheral that she had turned her neck to look back at him. It was moments like this that made Eleanor's heart melt. The rare moments of vulnerability. Although he had immensely improved over the years in this area, it still got her every time.
"For what? Throwing up on your shoes?"
Eleanor had the tendency to joke around and avoid topics that could be considered severely problematic. This was nothing new to Jasper. But today was nothing to joke about and they were both aware of that. Perhaps she wasn't ready to talk about it yet. So he doesn't pry. He'd rather her be in good spirits at the moment anyway. There would be plenty of time to deal with this hurricane of bullshit soon enough.
"Your little girlfriend is fine," Helena scolds Liam, still upset with his public fit. However neither the press nor the guests were paying attention to them. There were more 'important' people to tend to at the moment.
"What did you do with her," he says through clenched teeth. He knew damn well that his mother was never the most fond of Kathryn being that she 'jumped from bed to bed', in the words of Helena, between he and his older brother.
"Having your pregnant blonde running around well within the grasp of Robert? Have you gone mad my son?"
"How did you know she was pregnant." Liam wasn't formatting these sentences into questions. They were demands.
"A woman has her ways."
"The car that I had arranged to pick her up is still here."
With a flip of her hair and an arched hip, Helena folds her arms while rolling her eyes. She puts in zero effort to retain the fact that she's certainly displeased.
"I arranged another car for her with one of my most trusted allies. She will be taken care of."
The Prince is more than uneasy with the fact his mother felt the need to meddle with his very private, personal plans. Frankly it was none of her business. But he had no choice but to trust her. He storms off toward the entrance of the cathedral leaving her behind.
"Well I guess one of the positives to Robert hiring his own detail is that I don't have to attend the after party," Jasper hollers from the bathroom drying his hair with a towel. "Sucks to be Liam and Cyrus."
The lack of response from the bedroom instantly puts him on edge.
"Len?"
Silence.
Without letting another moment pass Jasper drops the towel to the floor rushing into the room butt naked. He finds Eleanor quietly eating popcorn, her eyes wide and fixated on the television. The spoiled German Prince's voice echoes throughout the room as he scolds his assistant for not picking out all of the yellow Starburst from his pack of candy.
Eleanor casually glances over to her naked boyfriend who looks like he had just seen a ghost. He lets out a dramatic exhale, covering his eyes with a hand in disappointment.
"What the fuck Eleanor?"
"What?" she asks ever so innocently shoveling another handful.
"Could you maybe not have the TV so god damn loud that you don't hear when I call for you?"
The Princess furrows her eyebrows repositioning herself. "Well that's a bit needy of you, don't you think?"
Jasper throws a towel around his waist bolting toward her. He is not pleased.
"Protective," he corrects her grabbing the bag of popcorn from her hands. Her jaw drops once again.
"Give it back," she disputes extending her arm. He chuckles, but it certainly wasn't because he was amused.
"Okay number one," he begins folding his arms. "I don't know if you remember but we are walking on very thin ice under the same roof as a calculating, most likely vengeful, tyrant. We have no idea what the hell the next moment could bring."
Eleanor shrugs her shoulders looking back to the television. Jasper swipes the remote from her other hand shutting off the TV.
"So you will do," he continues commanding eye contact. "Whatever the hell I tell you to do until further notice, okay Princess?" She vacantly stares through him.
"Is there a number two?" Eleanor challenges him well aware that she was pushing ALL of his buttons. There was nothing sexier than a pissed off, dominant Jasper Frost. But she would never let him know that.
Without breaking eye contact he throws the bag of popcorn behind him into the trash bin. The horrified look on her face is as if he had just stepped on her puppy.
"Number two," he answers furrowing his eyebrows. "You will not eat popcorn when you have the stomach flu."
"UGH!" Eleanor throws both arms over her face falling back into her pillows. She makes sure not to let him see the grin on her face.
Eleanor awakens from a much needed long nap. She rolls on her side to find that Jasper was no longer lying next to her. Sitting up and tightening her bun, she examines her room. She pulls out her phone to text him but the door swings open with him in the doorway.
"Hey beautiful."
She gives half a wave before letting out an elongated yawn. "Where have you been?"
"Come with me."
They walk down the empty hall together hand in hand. He doesn't say much but she's well aware that there's a lot on his mind.
"An empty palace. It's rather eerie actually.." Eleanor small talks tracing her finger along the wall as they walk.
"Why don't we go down to the wine cellar?"
"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I'm not much in the mood for a drink."
"Who said we were drinking?"
For once that day, Eleanor decides to not question or be defiant and follows his lead. The tunnels are characteristically dark and damp. She tightens her grip on his hand as a shiver is sent down her spine. Without hesitation he takes his jacket off handing it to her. The coat swims on her covering past her booty shorts. The scent of his cologne comforts her.
Jasper opens the door to the cellar. They're greeted by Sarah Alice who was currently lighting a candle. The tiny girl looks at them as if she had been caught red handed. Her face turns a bright pink before silently running past them.
"I believe you're a bit too young to be down here," Eleanor hollers after her miniature friend. "Give it at least another five year-" She stops talking as the scenery within the cellar captivates her. Dozens upon dozens of black and red roses, her favorite flower, scatter across the room. There's a small table set up which holds a few candles and is the only source of light. Various candles that gave off the scent of roses are dispersed along the wine shelving. Two plates that are covered in a tin shield rest before each seat.
Jasper pulls out the chair for her as she takes a seat in awe. He wasn't one to be the stereotypical 'romantic'. But Sarah Alice (his frequent little helper) couldn't have put all of this together. Eleanor smiles at the thought.
"What's all of this for?" she softly asks unable to shake the smile from her lips.
"It's not often you get an enormous castle to yourself, why not take advantage of it?"
"In the wine cellar..?"
Jasper smirks placing his elbows on the table and interlacing his fingers. The minimal lighting from the candles illuminates his face. His expression is stern but his eyes show vulnerability.
Love.
"The wine cellar. The first location where I realized what the hell I was in for; a demanding and defiant Princess."
"Way to kill the mood bodyguard," Eleanor replies with a raised brow looking down at her nails.
Jasper awkwardly clears his throat mentally kicking himself.
"I love you Eleanor," he promptly switches the subject.
Her heart flutters. It did every time he said it. The statement catches her full attention again. He's visibly and uncharacteristically anxious which causes her nerves to spiral in a tizzy.
"I'm no good at this shit," Jasper states the obvious. "So I'm going to get to the point.. I meant what I said earlier."
The warm smile revisits her face as her intuition kicks in. He had to be referring to their intimate dance in the cathedral.
Without wasting any time Jasper raises to his feet before kneeling before her. She loses her breath as her heart accelerates. He takes her hands into his.
"I may have been your bodyguard at some point in time but you are the one who has protected me. From all of the bullshit I was fed throughout my life. From the corrupt person I used to be. You taught me to be a better man, to feel.. emotions." He quickly blinks his eyes fighting back tears. It doesn't help that the Princess herself already had them streaming down her face. "You saved me. And I owe you my life for that."
Eleanor has to let go of one hand to wipe the persistent tears that were apparently boundless. Jasper firmly holds on to her left hand.
"Marry me, Eleanor."
He opens a small velvet box revealing a stunning engagement ring. The diamonds sparkle against the candlelight. It's encrusted with onyx gems and has an ovular shape. It's lavish yet humble. It's simple yet complex. It was perfect.
It was Eleanor.
A giddy giggle escapes her lips as she raises her hand covering her mouth. Her head may have snapped off with how quick she nods.
"Yes. Yes of course."