Chapter 9

I gaped at him in disbelief, how on God's green Earth did he know that? Impossible! Unless... someone overheard us. A sinking feeling filled my stomach as I continued to look at him in horror. He watched me figure things out with an amused expression on his pretty face. A pretty face I would love to turn black and blue.

"My sister overheard you dear Rose, she came to visit you and offer her congratulations on your engagement to myself, imagine her disbelief, shock and horror as she overhear you cry out another man's name whilst in the throes of passion. She was stunned madam. Stunned. Just like your good self here." He leaned over and I could smell the fowl stench of his cigarettes and the large quantities of ale that he had been consuming, I wrinkled my nose in disgust. "But you are not good are you your highness? Just imagine what your father would say if he was aware that you had spoiled yourself? Hmm... What would happen if I was to reveal all to the royal court this very day? I see a young Lord Belikov losing his head..." he shook his head in mock dismay. "A terrible waste."

My anger bubbled over. "What do you want from me my lord Ivashkov? If you want hand in marriage then you have it! If you want my body, then after we wed it will be yours!" I was almost sick as I spoke but I could not stop the angry words that fell out of my mouth. Adrian wore the same amused expression. "...But if you want my heart Lord Ivashkov, by soul, my love... They will never be yours. They will always belong to my one true love, Lord Dimitri Belikov." I ended triumphantly. The feeling of power and confidence rushed through me and I stood taller.

Thwack. My head snapped to one side as Adrian slapped me. I slowly turned my head to face him again. His face was purple with rage and he was breathing heavily.

"Your heart? It will be broken beyond repair soon. I will make sure of that. Your soul, obviously should belong to his Lord God, the fact that you have given this to a man whom you are not wed too is disgraceful and you shall go to hell for that! Your love... well many marriages are loveless. But it matters not a whit. For I shall have your children madam, I! Not your foolish lover..." he trailed off sneering at me. I was stunned. Clearly he was mad, but a twinge of fear ran down my spine, Adrian was powerful. He had contacts and he had allies. If he asked around, Dimitri could be dead within hours.

"If you ever want me to look at you without disgust, without hate, then you shall never lay a finger on Dimitri." I tried to play to a gentleman in there. Surely somewhere there must be...

He laughed loudly. "Oh my dear! I am used to it! That is how my father looks at me, how your mother looks at me! You do not think that I cannot survive the same looks from you as well?" He laughed again, and though I tried to hide it, a slither of sorrow for Adrian appeared inside of me.

To receive that look on an almost daily basis must be demoralising and painful. Maybe I had been too quick to judge? This tough look could just be a shell to hide the vulnerable boy inside.

"I am sorry. No child should go through that." I spoke softly, hoping to convey some of my compassion. Compassion? Wow. Lissa has been rubbing off on me. Adrian was silent. Eventually I had to look up. He was watching me intently, and our eyes met. Something burned in the green depths. Something I had not expected to see. I looked down again, and I heard Adrian inhale sharply.

"You better go." He muttered gruffly. I looked up again but he had turned his gaze to the ground. I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.

Swiftly I left the room, my head was buzzing and I internally kicked myself.

Oh my Goodness. What am I to him? I thought I was just the English princess with no interest in the womanising Duke, and a woman not attracted to him? Impossible. I was his conquest. The first one to turn him down. There were no feelings from his except from the desire to catch me. To make me his. Then why did I see the same look in his eyes that I see in Dimitri's? Love.

I looked up startled as I walked into someone. "Oh I am sor-" I shut up as I stared into Dimitri's brown eyes.

"Hello my love." He spoke gently and again I saw it, the love he felt for me swam in his eyes and made me melt into a puddle at his feet. Adrian didn't make me feel like this at least.

"Dimitri" I breathed, suddenly everything I had been thinking about Adrian fell away and my despair that Dimitri was going to Winchester, a day's ride away, came back. Immediately I couldn't breathe right. I clutched at his doublet frantically. "Please don't leave me with him! Dimitri you know what will happen! He will try to seduce me! I cannot wave goodbye to you again!" Dimitri's love filled expression changed to one filled with anguish.

"Oh Rose! You know I do not want to go but I have no choice in the matter! I love you! We will see each other soon!" He tried to reassure me but each word hit me like a punch in the gut.

I stood taller again and ordered my traitorous hands to release him. What was I doing? Begging? I was a princess of England! No... I was Rose Hathaway. Rose Hathaway does not beg.

"I apologize for my outburst Dimitri. I know we shall see each other soon, of course. I shall insist on a visit in a few days. I shall not take up any more of your time." I nodded and stood to one side so he could pass by me and get to his horse. He didn't move. Hesitantly I raised my head to look at him. I had to have one last look of this beautiful man. His hair tucked into a messy ponytail. The brown bottomless eyes that expressed so much, the rugged jaw line covered in a fine line of stubble... He was handsome. He was mine. Those eyes were watching me carefully right now, with an emotion hidden underneath. I studied him, wondering what he was trying to hide. As I looked, the expression came into view. Lust and love combined filled his eyes and before I had a moment to breathe he moved in and kissed me.

I moved back against the wall and we engaged in a passionate session where everything was alright. Nothing in the outside world mattered. Until a loud "Uhhum" interrupted. We jumped apart as if electrocuted. We were breathing heavily and as we saw who had caught us, both of our faces grew red and we shared a panic filled look as we stood next to each other. There was no escaping this.

Hey!

I know I suck. I've been so overwhelmed with homework and coursework that I haven't been able to update. I know there are lots of other authors like it and I'd like to say for all of us and every other student out there: Homework fails! Meh. lol

Anywho... Who'd you think caught them? And what do you think? Let me know! Reviewwwwwwww!

Disclaimer: Everything is Richelle Mead's. I just steal her characters every now and again...

DarkRomanceAddict