-Chapter Nine-

It had been five days since I'd returned to the castle, and there was still a great deal of catching up to do. I had to push my own personal needs to the side in order to go over the mountains of paperwork that had piled up over the past few weeks. I looked unenthusiastically at a large stack of personal letters, and I dreaded opening them. I had already known what they would say . As Reaver had stated, it would be expected of me to marry and produce an heir as soon as possible, especially when the start of my reign had been so trying.

I pushed the stack of offending letters to the side, and I glanced up to see that Jasper was entering the room with a tray. He'd pitched in the past few days, insisting that I should not need him in the Sanctuary, and that I should be resting the next few days. It wasn't a question. He'd decided for me.

He lay the tea down at the low table, offering a soft smile, and he raised his eyebrows. "Those letters," he said, eyeing the personal notes. "You cannot put them off forever, Your Majesty."

"I know," I sighed. I looked through the stack. There had to be at least fourteen of them. "A little part of me hoped that if I ignored them, they would go away."

"If I remember correctly, that is the precise stance your mother took, yet here you are..."

I laughed a little, and I stood to take my place for tea.

"And, Your Majesty," Jasper said, as if it were an after note. "You have a visitor."

"Indeed she does," Reaver said as he stepped into the room, as if he had been summoned.

"Good Afternoon, Your Majesty," Jasper said, giving me a nod, then he nodded to Reaver. "Your Grace." He moved swiftly from the room, closing the doors behind us.

Reaver's mouth stretched into a wide grin, and he turned his attention to me. He watched as I poured myself a cup of tea, and he strode toward the desk, surveying the chaos atop its surface. He tutted softly. "My, my, darling, you have gotten yourself into quite a heap of paperwork," He said.

"A lot of it was sent by your factories, to secure Page's referral to her position," I told him, narrowing my eyes. I dropped a cube of sugar into my cup before stirring.

He smirked knowingly. "That paperwork is but a fraction of the annoyance that I must now endure." He noticed the stack of letters, and he thumbed through them casually, as if he were privy to such documents.

"Reaver...those are private," I told him, setting down my tea and walking toward the desk.

He popped the seal of the letter on top, and he opened it up. As he read, his eyebrows darted up, and he snorted with laughter.

My face flushed with frustration. I reached for the letter, and he yanked it up out of my reach. "Oho! This is a letter of proposal. Do you know this..." He flipped the paper over to check the name on the exterior of the parchment. "Sir Gregory Thames?"

"No," I said, still leaping to try to get the letter back.

"Oh, well, he goes on about you...how 'your hair shines like silk or satin or some other type of very fine fabric that shines...' What a way with words your poetic little suitor has!" His laughter filled the room, and once he'd finished reading, he allowed me to grab the letter.

Upon inspecting the correspondence, I saw that Reaver had not been exaggerating regarding Gregory Thames' skill of prose. It made my stomach twist with embarrassment. I folded the letter up, slightly red-faced, and I snatched to grab the remaining letters.

His hand was faster than mine, and he inspected each of the names on the envelopes, his laughter growing as the suitors seemed to grow more obtuse and ridiculous."How adorable... These men actually believe that they could marry you!"

"One of them must," I said.

"None of these men are going to marry you, Your Majesty," Reaver said. "Of that you can be assured." He put the letters down on the desk, not bothering to open any more. He'd gotten his fill of amusement at my expense already.

"Oh? And what makes you so sure about that?" I asked, putting my hands firmly on my hips. "Why are any of those men unworthy. They have titles, they are of the appropriate age..."

"You already have a suitor, dear," He said. "Or have you not heard the rumors floating around Bowerstone and Millfields in the past days?" He cupped my face. "You are all but engaged to this man already, according to some of the more talkative ladies of court."

I knew he wanted me to ask, but we both knew exactly what would be said. I instead raised an eyebrow to him, and I asked, "What are this suitor's intentions?"

"I suppose I would be lying if I said that I had not thought about it," Reaver said. "The draw of your title paired with the fact that you are the most desirable woman—nay person—in all of Albion is tempting, you must know."

"And those are your only reasons?"

"You are in need of a husband that can provide you with an heir," Reaver said. "I will certainly endeavor devotedly to work at that cause until one is produced." He lowered his voice and bent to speak in my ear. "And do not tell me that you have not enjoyed our little...practice sessions." His hand wrapped softly around my arm, and a devilish glint lighting his eyes. "Our chemistry is merely a bonus of what I propose."

"And what do you hope to gain from this?"

"Oh, but I am doing this for you, my dear," he said, the tone of his voice heavily implying that his words were untrue. He leaned against the edge of my desk, pulling me toward him. "I think we both know that this would only benefit both of us."

I exhaled. "Is that your way of asking me to marry you, then?"

"Would you prefer I stoop down on one knee? Ruin my suit and look like a foot while presenting you with a ring I do not have?" He cocked a brow.

"You realize that girls fantasize about this moment their entire lives, don't you?" I asked, a little bit of laughter bubbling from me.

"Oh, so be it," He said. He fell to his knees, taking my hands in his, and he replaced his smug look with one of false hope. "Oh, love of my life, light of lights, my precious gem, will you do me the most exquisite honor of becoming my bride?" The smug grin returned once more.

"No ring?" I asked curiously, glancing around."Usually when men propose, they have something to put on a woman's finger." I offered him a wide, playful smile.

He frowned, and he patted himself down. "Oh, I seem to have forgotten that people always carry around multiple wedding rings for just such occasions..." He sighed, defeated, and he said. "That is one tradition we are simply going to have to skip for now, my dear." He rose to his feet. "Your answer?"

I never thought that this would happen. Reaver had just proposed marriage, and I was actually contemplating it. Why wouldn't Reaver be a good husband for me? Granted, he was morally skewed, and frankly more than a little corrupt, but he was the ideal candidate. I knew him, and part of me, as silly as it was, trusted him.

"Yes," I said, nodding.

He brought my hands to his mouth, and he grinned. "Then, we shall do this the proper way."

I was curious. Of what did he speak now? He'd just gotten down on his knees, begged for my hand. What more could there be to it?

He reached in his pocket, and he pulled out a piece of parchment.

A contract. I should have known. I snatched it away from him before he could open it up, and I unfolded it. There were a great deal of business terms that I didn't quite understand, but the basis of it was clear. It was an agreement that upon our marriage, Reaver would retain the title of Duke of Millfields, as well as be granted a dowry, as was traditional for such a union. It also stipulated that from the time of our engagement on, I allow no one but him to bed me. In return, he agreed to give me at least one child heir, improve conditions in Industrial, as well as be civil to Page—the fact that this was a stipulation to the contract was slightly humorous.

"Well?" He asked expectantly, and he held out a pen. "Are my conditions fair?"

"It's a little suspicious how fair they are, actually," I said, reading over the contract once more.

"You expect me to swindle you, my pet?" He asked, producing a pen from his pocket. "All you need to do is sign, and I will take care of the rest. We will be able to announce our engagement within the fortnight, and I will get you that ring you so desire." He winked softly as he jabbed the pen in my direction.

I took it, and I signed the bottom hastily. "Do we seal this with a handshake, then?" I asked, cocking a brow at him.

"Oh, my darling one, I think we are beyond handshakes." He took the contract, signed it himself, and lay it across the top of the discarded suitor's letters.

"You are sure that this is what you want?" I asked. "I never figured that you would be the type to settle down."

"I try to be as unpredictable as I can manage," He said, grabbing the contract and folding it neatly. "It has served me well these past years." He took his pocket watch from his waistcoat and he glanced down to the face. "I fear I must take my leave, my betrothed. I have much to do at the factories, and your friend is not making my life any easier." Without so much as a wave goodbye, he turned and left the room, closing the doors and leaving me to my tea.

I sat down in front of my cup, which was still piping hot, and I exhaled. That had been an interesting few minutes, but a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I no longer had to worry about finding a suitor, but I did have to worry about entering into a marriage with Reaver. Would so much change? Undoubtedly...

-Reaver-

I tugged the gloves off of my hands, and I ran my fingers across the dried ink of her signature. She had agreed without so much as a complaint. I had expected some resistance, at least, but it all worked out in the end. I knew that her answer would be 'yes.' How could it not be? This was me after all. What woman could refuse entering into the binds of matrimony with someone such as myself? I had the appropriate titles, the money, the influence, the blessing of flawlessly handsome features, and now I had The Queen. A grin of self-satisfaction crept across my mouth, and I peered out the window.

I crossed the room, shedding my coat and tossing it onto the rack by the door. It landed perfectly on its mark, as I knew it would. I glanced out the window. From my office, I could barely see the castle through the thick black grey clouds of industrialization, but soon, it would be my home. The Queen would be my wife, and I would be a Prince. Prince Reaver. The prospect made me absolutely giddy.

There was a swift rap at the door, and I turned just as the guest entered. It was Page—with her narrow, angry eyes, and thick, pouting mouth. I couldn't help but give her a broad smile. I strode back to my desk, and I took a seat, gesturing for her to sit across from me. Nothing would damper my mood—not even the presence of a knuckle-dragging sewer-dweller.

"Good afternoon, my dear," I said, summoning my most velvet-soft voice. I leaned back into my chair, feeling totally at ease. "How can I assist you?"

Her face contorted into a look of confusion, and she tilted her head to the side. She looked a little unmanned, but she swiftly drew in a breath and gained her composure. "I've come to update you on the state of the worker's benefits that I've been trying to implement. You have not given a precise number as to what you'd like-"

"Oh, give them what they need," I sighed, waving a hand in a dismissive fashion. "I'm feeling rather generous today. Take that number you proposed and add another five gold to it. These people shall have the money for physicians or whatever they require."

Her eyes bugged out, and for a moment, I thought they, along with her jaw, might hit the floor. "I...ah...Are you well, Reaver?"

"Quite," I replied. "Though, I believe that some of the money, at least, should come from the worker's wages. I couldn't possibly pay for that amount of people. It is simply not good business."

"That is...surprisingly fair," Page remarked, still looking at me as though my face were upside down.

"You wouldn't be the first to come to the same conclusion today, my dear," I said as I reached in my pocket for my silver cigarette case. I lit one of the long, slender things, and I inhaled deeply. "Now, are there any other matters you wish to bring to my attention while I am in such a giving mood?"

She glanced off to the side, thinking. The gears were turning, but not very quickly it seemed. She returned her attention to me, and she shook her head. "Nothing comes to mind, Reaver. You have already allowed me to improve the factory conditions, and you've given the workers a pay-raise...I suppose if you were feeling especially generous, you could start a scholarship..."

"I think not, dearie," I said, flicking a bit of ash off of the tip of my cigarette. "The people already have the option of going to Brightwall Academy free of charge. To start a scholarship program would be redundant, would it not?"

She chewed on her thick, shapely lip, but she said nothing in return. She probably did not want to press her luck.

I sighed, and I crossed one leg over the other, leaning further back in my seat. "I so hope that you are enjoying your position." Perhaps small-talk would loosen her hold on that hatred. "I was hesitant to have you working under me, but I suppose it is something I could get used to. It allows me to spend more time at the castle."

Her eyes sparked with curiosity. She looked as if she wanted to ask a question, but she was afraid, the poor thing. She crossed her arms over her underwhelming chest, and she huffed a soft breath, turning the question over in her mind. "What is it that keeps you at the palace, Reaver?"

"I so enjoy doting upon my darling queen," I told her.

"That isn't what I heard you have been doing," Page said quickly, her tone nearly acidic.

"Oh, my dear, a gentleman never kisses and tells," I informed her, barely able to contain my grin of extreme pleasure. "The Queen is a lovely woman who I find to be extremely worthy of my time."

"Did you truly save her life?"

"That I did. She was in need, and why should such a beautiful flower wither when I was perfectly capable of helping her? She collapsed not even a few meters from my mansion. If I had simply ignored her what sort of man would I be?"

She regarded me with a look of astonishment. She blinked a few times before nodding gently. "I suppose that sounds believable, but can I just ask...?"

"I fear that you will ask regardless of what my answer will be, so ask."

"What are your intentions with her?"

I merely grinned. "Why, I think that is a good discussion for another day, dearie. All will be made clear soon enough. Now, scurry off and implement the things we've discussed before I change my mind."

She rose quickly from her seat and left without even so much as a goodbye, but I didn't mind. I suppose she couldn't help her uncivilized behavior. She was raised in the streets...or rather not raised at all. Such a pity. She was rather pretty, and I so missed losing myself in the dark skin of the beauties from Samarkand. Though, I had a porcelain beauty waiting for me at the castle, and that pleased me just as well.

As soon as Page left the room, Murphy entered, looking particularly nervous. Though, he managed to stumble over his feet only once as he crossed the room toward me. He carried a locked box, and I felt my heart flutter with excitement.

I stubbed the cigarette out in the crystal ashtray, and my eyes widened in anticipation as he lay the box before me. "There was no trouble in acquiring these, I hope?"

"N-no," Murphy confirmed, shaking his head. He fumbled with the key for a moment before handing it over to me. "Th-the shop keep said anything for you."

I grinned. Of course she would. I turned the key in the lock, and I threw the box open. Three unique, glittering rings shone atop velvet cushions of deep purple. They had all been designed specifically for this occasion. Oh yes, I had been busily planning away for this, and now it was all coming to fruition.

I immediately ruled out the smallest, and I set my attention to the two larger, more elegant pieces. The first was a large, sparkling canary yellow stone cut into the shape of a teardrop, and it was set on a shining golden band. The size of the single stone was astonishing, but I found myself frowning at the color. Keira looked lovely in yellow, this was true, but it was not the most complimentary color for most occasions.

The last was a more traditional-looking ring for engagement. A large, glimmering emerald-cut diamond lay against a white-gold setting. It was surrounded by smaller, equally shining diamonds, then complimented by dark-blue—nearly black—stones. I picked the ring up off of the cushion to inspect it closer, and it caught the dim light from the window beautifully.

"It's b-beautiful, sir," Murphy remarked. "Very suitable for Her M-majesty."

"Indeed," I confirmed with a nod. I glanced up to him. "I can only hope she will agree."

"And if she doesn't?"

"Then, I will have to find a better jeweler, I suppose," I said darkly. "This woman...she is different from the others, Murphy. I must tread lightly until all is set in stone."
"D-do you care for her, s-sir?" He bumbled, stuffing his jittery hands into his pockets.

I shot him a dangerous look, and I closed the box, locking it once more. I shoved it back in his direction, and I said, "See to it that these others are returned to the jeweler. Payment will come when The Queen accepts her ring."

Murphy bobbed his head in nervous agreement, and he snatched up the box once more. As he left the room, he managed to stub his toe roughly against the doorjamb, but he merely winced and moved on, closing the door delicately behind him.

I lifted the ring to the light once more. It was truly spectacular. If Keira didn't accept this ring, I would have to assume it would only be to spite me. She was, after all, more strong-willed than most other women. Perhaps that was what I appreciated about her. She was ever a challenge, a puzzle to be solved, a prize to be won—and I had hit the jackpot.

-Keira-

"Reaver?" Jasper asked, his eyebrows shooting upward. He blinked a few times, and he moved his mouth wordlessly before finally saying, "Are you quite sure?"

"He has made an offer," I said. "And it is a reasonable offer. He is a nobleman-"

"Only just," Jasper pointed out.

"And he...saved my life, Jasper," I said, my eyes finding his. My chest grew tight, and I exhaled. This was not the type of conversation I'd ever anticipated having with someone else, but here it came. "I thought I wanted to die, Jasper. After Logan...after Walter. I didn't see the point anymore." I diverted my eyes away from Jasper, feeling slightly ashamed at the revelation.

His eyes grew large and sad. "I..I had no idea, Keira."

"It wasn't until I lay dying in Millfields that I realized that I wanted to live," I said. "And I prayed...I prayed to be able to live...and then Reaver came." I exhaled, and I glanced up to him once more.
"Do you...ah... love him?" Jasper asked, raising a brow.

"No," I replied quickly. "I merely have a respect for him, I suppose. I trust him, and what more could a monarch ask for in a union such as this?"

"That is...very true," Jasper said with a nod. "So you have made this decision already, I suppose? There is no way I could ask you to give any other suitors a chance?"

"What would be the point? I do not love any of them any more than I love Reaver," I said. "Though, Reaver did come in person to ask for my hand."

"Yes, I can see where that would work in his favor," Jasper remarked. He exhaled softly, apparently feeling defeated in the topic. "I suppose that if this is what you choose, I cannot protest. You are a grown woman perfectly capable of making your own decisions. I only hope that the cruelty he has been known for in the past does not carry through to your marriage."

"I am capable of taking care of myself, Jasper," I told him with a grin. "I hit very hard, I've been told."

Jasper laughed at this, and he nodded in approval. "I surely wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of your fist, Your Majesty." He gathered up the personal letters on my desk, and he raised his eyebrows at me. "Have you thought about how to reply to these?"

"I am not sure," I said with a sigh. "Do I simply disregard them until I announce my engagement, or do I write them all back, declining each offer?"

"I suppose I could draft a refusal letter for you, Your Majesty," Jasper said. "You have been working very hard these past few days. You should take time to rest."

"I'm fine, Jasper," I assured him.

He gave me a solemn look that urged me to go on. "Your furry friend has felt rather neglected in your convalescence, Your Majesty. Perhaps a walk with him about the garden would be refreshing to the both of you?"

"Thank you, Jasper," I said, raising to my feet. "I think I will do that."

Angus bounded happily across the grass, turning to make sure I was following. He leaped toward me, and he wagged his tail happily. He held a stick in his mouth, his eyes pleading, and I bent to take it from him. I tossed the stick all the way across the yard, and he sped off to chase it.

The cold bite of the wind caught me, and I brought my arms tighter around my body. I watched Angus search around for the stick. I had thrown it quite far, but I smiled. The stress of the past few days had melted away. I felt almost content.

"There you are, my darling," came Reaver's voice from behind.

When I turned, I saw that he had changed into a dark, form-fitting suit and his top hat perched atop his perfect hair. He smiled widely to me, and he took my hands in his. They were so very warm compared to mine. He stroked the bare flesh of the tops of my hands with his thumbs almost affectionately.

"I believe I have something you requested of me earlier," He said softly. He led me toward a nearby bench, and he glanced about the garden, as if to check who was watching. There were many eyes fixed on us at the moment, but that didn't seem to dampen his determination. He sat me down, and he took a seat beside me. "Now, do try to look surprised."

I almost laughed, but when he produced the sparkling ring, I truly was surprised. It was beautiful, if a bit gaudy. It was certainly Reaver's taste. My stomach did a bit of a flip, and I blinked. I heard a few nosy guards murmur softly, and I brought my gaze to Reaver's.

"Now, dear," Reaver said, leaning close. He took my left hand, and he slid the ring onto the appropriate finger. It fit perfectly, and it shimmered even in the dull light of the sunset. "I believe that this is what you wanted. Feel free to thank me however you deem necessary. I am very much unopposed to public displays of affection now that this is official."

My breath had caught in my throat, and I chewed on my lip softly. It was extraordinary, and I could never have imagined that I would react so deeply. I never believed that I was the type of woman to go breathless over a ring. I stared down to the shimmering bauble on my finger, and I turned it so that it caught the light.

I felt his hand cup my face, tilting me to look at him, and he was all smiles. He raised an eyebrow, silently asking if it was sufficient. There was a playfulness in his eyes that I could only return. "You are pleased, I take it?" He asked.

I did what any woman presented with such a ring did. I wrapped my arms around him, pressing my lips against his. As he said, it was already official, and I knew that the people would know soon enough. I felt his posture loosen, and he stroked my cheek gently.

He drew from the kiss, still grinning. "You realize that your guards are watching?"
"This is what you wanted, right?" I asked. "You wouldn't have given me this ring in public if you didn't want people to know."

"Sharp as ever, darling one," He chuckled.

Angus approached, the stick in his mouth, and he glanced up inquisitively to the pair of us. I took the stick from him, and I threw it off again. He loped off after it, yipping excitedly.

I rose from the bench, and Reaver followed. "Dinner is to be served soon. Would you join me?"

"It is expected of me, I am sure," Reaver said. "Though, that does not mean I will not take pleasure in your company." He looped my arm in his, and he nodded over toward Angus. "Summon your...friend, and we can get you out of the cold. I would hate for you to be sick, dear."

"But you are so talented at nursing me back to health," I told him with a soft laugh.

"That is a service I do not simply hand out," He informed me, leaning in to kiss my cheek, his eyes finding the on-looking guards, who found something else to look at rather quickly. "But for you, ma petit, I suppose I could stay by your bedside." His eyes suggested a double meaning in his statement, and I very quickly caught on. Perhaps there would be a little bit of time before dinner was served. My stomach fluttered as he leaned to brush a lazy kiss against my face, and I finally felt the weight of Reaver's words the other day.

As we made our way toward the castle, I imagine we looked like any normal, loving couple. His eyes were fixed on me, and mine on him, and we smiled. An ignorant observer would probably assume that this was a union of love, but as Reaver had stated, love was merely a stepping stone to passion—and that we had that in abundance.

A/N: I'd like to thank my readers/followers for waiting patiently for this update! I had doubts about this story, but after a bit of a break and a bit of a creative epiphany, I have been working at this. I'd also like to thank my wonderful beta Angelacm, because she's just the best! I hope you liked this chapter, and reviews are ALWAYS appreciated! Thanks for reading!