Bass couldn't stop thinking about Charlie the whole ride home. The confident way her back stood perched on the horse, shoulders squared and head held high as if it came naturally to her. The way her hips would pivot up and down with every uneven step the horse took.
But most of all, he couldn't stop thinking about the wide smile staying glued to her face from the time she swung her leg over the horse until they arrived back at the entrance to the castle. Bass recognized that smile; he saw it, not too often, on the face of his best friend. Or I guess former best friend was a more fitting title. Now they were just civil towards one another, communicating through letters once in a blue moon when Miles wasn't under Rachel's watchful eyes.
Speaking to neither of them upon arrival, he watched as Charlie and Connor parted ways, Charlie's head thrown back in laughter while a coy grin rested on Connor's face.
"Send for Duncan," he gruffly barked out to Jeremy who said nothing but nodded his head apprehensively.
Duncan Paige was a courtesan, a woman who engaged in sexual activity with rich and powerful men in exchange for money. The King had taken a particular fancy to after visiting her in a brothel late one evening. Every since then when he found himself particularly lonely or needing to let off some steam, he would send for her and she would always deliver.
She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but she was attractive in a subtle way. Her dark hair fell just below her shoulders, long fringe sweeping across her forehead landing just above her eyebrows. If anything she was just plain, but had a mouth on her enough to entice even the holiest man.
Bass knew he never had to go slow with her. In fact she much preferred rough sex caring nothing for the attachments sure to follow a lovemaking session.
And she always told him exactly what she thought, "so what's it this time, who is she?"
Bass looked over at her from where he laid on the bed, only his bare chest visible, as his eyebrows furrowed.
Duncan laughed, "That was your pent up energy, aggressive sex. Believe me, your highness," she smirked, "I know the difference."
He narrowed his eyes, "why don't you behave like other whores and keep your mouth shut. I could have you executed for less."
At that Duncan only kinked up one eyebrow and chuckled, "because you wouldn't have asked for me if you wanted an docile and subservient whore. And if you were going to have me executed, you would've done so already instead of dancing around it every time I said something to make you angry."
"But," she said, stalking closer to his bed with a twinkle in her eye, "I am curious to know what or should I say, whom, has you in such a tizzy?"
Lying back further in the bed he closed his eyes, "you can see yourself out Duncan."
A howling laughter erupted from her mouth, "you must have it real bad honey."
She said nothing else as she dressed, exiting his bedchambers. Still smirking on the way out, she skidded to a stop when she heard a gasp.
"Oh, pardon me, I'm terribly sorry," Charlie held a candle in her hand having just come from the kitchen. After the ride back, she fell asleep, missing dinner, and awoke famished. Lucky for her, Jeremy said the cooks were still awake.
The way she spoke had Duncan confused. She spoke as though she were a mere peasant, but looked like royalty.
"Who are you?"
Startled by the question Charlie answered, "Charlie—Princess Charlotte Matheson, and you are?"
All the nearby towns and cities knew of a princess intended to wed Prince Connor, but none had seen her.
A knowing smirked formed on Duncan's face, coming to the realization this was the girl plaguing Bass' mind no doubt about it, and she could see why. Even flushed and dressed in flimsy attire she was a beauty.
This could be fun, "I'm Duncan Paige, King's mistress, courtesan, whatever title you see fit."
Charlie said nothing and kept her emotions in check on the outside, but on the inside she was confused. She had no knowledge of her, granted she hadn't long been there, but for some reason it sent a pang to her chest knowing she had been intimate with the king more than once.
"Although I can't really qualify as a mistress, seeing as though he without a queen, but it's a catchy title, wouldn't you agree Charlie?"
"Well I could think of other things I'd rather be called," she dryly commented, going to move around her and return to bed.
Duncan stepped in front of her path, blocking her exit, "I do apologize your highness for any disturbance tonight you may have heard. Bass is hardly quietly," she eyed her body up and down, "especially when there is someone-something, troubling his mind."
Charlie met Duncan's playful grin head on, "that's awfully saddening don't you think? To be intimate with someone and know their mind is elsewhere…must make for a dull time."
Duncan laughed out loud, she was brassy this one, no wonder Bass was so smitten by her charming looks and sharp wit.
Stepping aside, she allowed Charlie to pass, watching the relief rush across her face, acting as the wind beneath her wings, propelling her forward.
"Lovely meeting you, your highness," she mockingly bowed when Charlie looked back at her.
She had no idea why she continued in that way and said such things. Charlie herself was still very much a virgin; she knew nothing about the couplings between two people. All she knew is her mouth opened and words jumped out without her permission.
Passing by his chambers, she tried, in vain, not to picture or think about what just occurred beyond that door. Baiting Duncan by saying it must've been dull was a lie, she could tell by his domineering presence he was anything but dull.
A blush colored her cheeks, felt only by her in the darkness of the night as she scurried along, not stopping until she was inside her own room with the door firmly closed. These thoughts were very much out of character for her.
Blowing the candle out, she climbed into bed, hoping in the morning she would rise and Duncan would've told Bass nothing of their encounter. As if he needed another thing to tease her about.