The Love He Stole

The Need for a Witness

The next morning, she tried her best not to think about the finals that she wouldn’t be taking for another year and all the studying that had gone to waste. She looked out her bedroom window and took in the village views below. The stables were off to the right and she saw a few teenage boys leading around beautiful white horses with gray specks. To the left were the village houses with people walking around and catching up in the street and people pushing carts of their wares. Lily marveled at the intimacy of the scene before her. These people all knew each other and cared about one another, contrasting the thousands of strangers who walked through New York City. It was bittersweet to see as she realized she had longed for this kind of life just not through these circumstances.

By mid morning, she received an invitation to have lunch with Rose in the gardens. It was a warm welcome because Lily hadn’t stepped foot outside of the manor house since she arrived and very much wanted to explore the beauty outdoors. It looked so lovely from her window, but to be immersed in nature was where she longed to be. She dreamed of it often, sitting on her rooftop terrace in Bushwick, playing nature sounds on her headphones to drown out the city noise. Poppy and her other lady’s maids got her ready for the day and she was led to the front door by a manservant and stepped outside at last.

The manor house rivaled everything she had ever seen, with stone towers four stories high, grand arches, and wooden walkways lining the top with guards patrolling for safety. It was magnificent, a storybook come to life right before her eyes. The manservant escorted her to the garden around the side of the house, where flowers bloomed in pinks, purples, yellows, and blues. There were hundreds covering the ground in the wide gated garden and the fragrance danced in the air, singing of a bountiful spring. There was a clearing in the middle with the greenest grass she had ever seen and sitting on a picnic blanket was Rose in a baby pink dress, looking like a magical princess.

Rose stood to greet Lily, giving her a tight hug and inviting her to sit. She planted herself onto the blanket, taking stock of the lunch before her. It was mostly finger foods, easy to eat without proper silverware: grapes, different berries, finger sandwiches, and cut up pieces of cheese. Lily was really enjoying the cuisine here so far, and started snacking on the array of food.

“I’m so glad you accepted my invitation. I just wanted to say I’m so happy you’re marrying my brother. I know he’s not the most romantic man a girl could find, but I’m glad to have a new sister in law. I just know we’re going to be great friends,” Rose beamed.

Lily gave a timid smile, picking up a sandwich and taking a bite to buy time to respond. This whole marriage was a sham and she couldn’t look her in the eyes. She’s going to be so hurt when I leave Samuel… Just thinking of his name, she felt a heat rising within and hated herself for it. She shifted her legs around and swallowed her bite.

“I’m grateful for you already, Lady Rose. You have been so welcoming,” Lily said, settling her restlessness.

“Just call me Rose, Lily! We’re going to be sisters!” she gleefully exclaimed. “And we’re both named after flowers! How fitting!”

They both giggled and Lily threw all other worries away and eased into the conversation. They pleasantly chatted away, enjoying their food and the sunshine. In the distance, birds sang beautiful melodies and the wind brushed through the trees, swaying them ever so gently. It was truly peaceful, relaxing Lily to be present with Rose.

“So, since you are going to be my sister so soon, I was hoping to confide in you a secret. But you cannot tell anyone, not even my brother. Do you promise?” Rose looked gleefully expectant at Lily, eyes wide with childlike wonder and a cheesy grin.

“Of course, I promise,” said Lily.

“Well,” Rose giggled. “There’s a boy I'm completely mad for, you see. He’s wonderful, charming, and romantic. And so handsome! I think he’s the one!”

“Oh, that’s amazing. Who is he, would I know him,” Lily asked.

“Probably not! I can’t tell you his name, but I just had to tell you that I’m completely in love!”

They both laughed, and Rose swooned on and on about how he stole her heart until a messenger came to summon Lily away. Samuel had requested her presence in his study and so, she had no choice but to go.

“Well, this lunch was lovely. Thank you again for inviting me. See you around soon,” Lily said. She stood and curtsied to her with a sweet smile before turning to follow her orders.

————————————————————

“You wanted to see me,” Lily said, walking through the door of his study. He looked up from his work at her for just a moment, quickly returning his focus to his ledgers.

“Just a moment, Lily,” Samuel said.

Lily took that moment to look at his bookshelf, reading the spines of a few books, touching them and missing her nighttime routine of reading in bed. These books were all recorded histories of their lands and kingdom, and guides for ruling with justice. She longed for a good piece of fiction, searching his shelves for anything of interest.

“I can have some books retrieved for you from your world, if you like,” Samuel said, pulling her out of her reverie. She turned to him and smiled. He had stepped away from his desk and joined her by the bookshelf.

“Yes, that would be amazing!”

“Very well. I will have them brought to you tomorrow.”

Lily averted herself from his eye contact, though she was thankful. She reminded herself it was his fault she needed to be gifted books in the first place.

“Now, unfortunately there’s something I must discuss with you regarding our upcoming wedding. It didn’t occur to me that this was new to you but Master Damien said it was prudent for you to know ahead of time.”

“Oh no, don’t tell me…” Lily thought of the few historical books she had read over the years, fearing for the worst.

“There has to be a bedding ceremony with a…witness.”

“No! That’s insane,” she protested. It was exactly as one book had described royal weddings. “You aren’t a king, why do we need a witness?!”

“It is customary here for all subjects. If there isn’t a witness to our consummation, our marriage cannot be guaranteed under the law, meaning you could ask for an annulment soon after. Then I’d be back to square one.”

“I just… I didn’t even think we were going to… consummate,” she said. Samuel scoffed under his breath.

“You thought I wasn’t going to try and f*ck you?” He leaned closer to her, and Lily’s eyes widened. He laughed and stepped away. “Didn’t you hear me last night? I quite enjoy it.”

“I heard you, I just thought since we were only temporary…”

“Would you prefer I cheat on you?” He raised an eyebrow at her, poking at her insecurities.

Lily felt bitterness coursing through her, thinking of her father’s infidelity. She wanted to smack him for using that against her.

“No, I don’t want you to cheat on me,” she admonished, turning her back to him. She felt his hand grabbing her waist as he pressed himself against her back, breathing softly on her neck. It sent chills down her spine but she steadied herself, standing firm.

“Then I guess you’ll just have to give in to me,” he whispered in her ear. His warm breath made her whole body heat up, but she fought to keep herself from melting into him. He let her go, chuckling and pleased with himself as she tried to hide that he took her breath away. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes, telling her body to behave. I hate him, she thought.

“We can’t just fake it for the witness though, can we,” she quietly asked, hoping for an out.

“Well… technically we could. They will stand outside our bedchamber after they see us in bed together so they won’t see me take you…but what’s the fun in that?” He had a seductive grin on his face, eyes glued to hers. She walked over and plopped down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. He sat next to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Lily, it’s going to be okay. I’ll be gentle…the first time.” He chuckled again. He clearly thought this whole thing was so funny.

She picked her head up and playfully smacked him on the arm. He laughed and stared down at her.

“You know, I like my women a little feisty.” His demeanor shifted in the blink of an eye. His playful, lighthearted flirting replaced with s****l hunger. Lily nervously stared back at him, her heart threatening to explode in her chest. His eyes danced between her eyes and her lips and he inched closer to her with l**t. She didn’t know what to do, whether to give in to her own desires or to stand her ground. He was close enough that she could feel his breath on her lips and she felt like they were on fire. She sprung from the couch and scampered to the door.

“Was that all you needed to talk to me about,” she asked. Samuel let out a disappointed sigh and went to pour himself a drink.

“Uh, yes.” He cleared his throat. “Just wanted to keep you apprised of the situation. But Lily…”

“Yes, Samuel.”

“I will make you mine on our wedding night.”

He grinned before taking a sip of wine, his devilish eyes peering at her over the rim of the glass. She swallowed and nodded sharply before turning on her heel and getting out of there as fast as she could so she wouldn’t come undone in front of him.