Abby strolled slowly under the starlight night in the gardens trying to think of a way to give her maids the slip. It had to be subtle but good enough to get rid of both of them. Maybe if she managed to get rid of one and then the other she would have a better chance.
She turned to the maids. " I'm feeling a slight chill. Would one of you mind going back and fetching a robe for me to wear?"
"Of course My Lady!" one of the maids bowed and scurried off.
Abby continued to stroll along slowly while every once and awhile rubbing her arms as if she felt a chill.
"Oh My goodness!" Abby turned back to the other maid as if she just suddenly realized something, "I forgot to ask her to grab a hand muff. Do you think you can run tell her or grab it yourself?"
The other maid look doubtful. "I really shouldn't My Lady. You would be all alone without any attendants"
Abby smiled understanding, "Of course, I wouldn't want you to get in any trouble." She turned and blew on her hands and as if the heavens were helping her a cold gust of wind came up and blew across the courtyard making the maid even shiver.
The maid glanced at her with worry. She didn't want to shirk her duty but if the lady became sick because of a chill the blame would lay at her door. " I will be just one quick moment, My Lady." she said bowing.
Abby looked at her with a glowing smile of genuine relief and said, " oh you're so sweet! Don't worry, what could ever happen to me? We are in the palace and in the Courtyard of the Concubines in a secure garden. No one would dare touch me."
The maids smiled back. This was true. Any unauthorized person would risk their neck entering here, she thought, as she scurried away.
As soon as the maids disappeared from view Abby wasted no time. She slipped off her socks and socks and hiked up her skirts as she ran as silently as she could in the direction of what she believed to be the building she had arrived in. Take this path turn left here. Pause to hide from the guards. Keep running. Turn again. Oh dear. This doesn't look right. What should I do, Abby thought, her breath starting to come in panicked gasps. Oh no… more guards. Backing up slowly she tried to hide in the shadows when she backed into a hard but unmistakably human form. The instantaneous electric familiar shock of attraction that ran through her told her exactly who she had run into. Oh no, not him! Why him? Anyone but him!
The King restlessly paced around his chambers. Today's two encounters with the new foreign Princess had left him rattled. Never had he reacted to any woman this way. Always was calm, cool and in control and using them for procreation or his physical needs and then ignoring them when no longer needed. Yes he had his Queen but she was the figurehead. The Mother of the country and the leader of the inner court. A model of propriety and conduct for all women. They had hoped to have a son to follow in his footsteps but had given up after many attempts. Even attempts with other Concubines and maids had failed. Rumors were being spread in the Court that the King was impotent with so many women at his beck and call. The physicians had scoffed at this and said he was perfectly healthy and children would come when the heavens willed it. But this new Princess confounded him. His instantaneous reaction when he touched her was undeniable. No woman had ever sparked that in him before and from the look in her eyes she had felt it too. It had confused her but excited her at the same time too.
The King couldn't bear to stay cooped up any longer. Calling for his entourage he decided to go for a stroll of the grounds. As he rounded a corner lo and behold the object of his thoughts suddenly backed right into him.
Knocking into her had caused electric shocks to play all over his skin like kisses from heaven. She smelled amazing, like lilacs, with a hint of mandarin. He wanted to grab her and devour her right her and now. A low gutteral growl escaped his throat and he twisted her around to face him. She had her head bowed down and she was shivering. Whether with fear or passion or both he didn't know.
" All of you move away and turn around!" He barked to his attendants.
He lifted her chin and looked into her liquid Green eyes. She was terrified but there was that hint of passion as well.
" Why are you here outside the Concubines Courtyard and without any attendants?" He growled.
"I'm sorry Your Majesty. I was in the Courtyard and I sent my attendants for a cloak and muff and the I heard the most frightening noise and I got so scared I just ran! And I didn't know where I was running and just became so lost and was scared…."
Here Abby put all the emotions from the past few days into her voice and burst into tears.
The King was shocked and immediately took her into his arms to comfort her. It just felt right. He patted her back and smoothed her hair and then as if it was the most natural thing the world bent down and softly kissed her on lips. The kiss at first was meant to be one of comfort but the sparks between the two of them couldn't be denied and he almost instantly had her pressed against the wall, deepening the kiss and questing for entrance into her mouth with his tongue. She didn't deny him. She molded herself to him like a second skin. Her mouth opening as her tongue danced with his. His fingers began their own dance. Smoothing their way down her swan like neck, kissing her collarbone and slipping below her gown questing their way down to her breast.
A small cough from one of the attendants was like a bucket of cold water. Both of them sprang apart like two naughty children caught with their fingers in the cookie jar.
The King cleared his throat, " I understand My Lady but you must never leave your attendants behind or the sanctuary of the Concubine's Courtyard. Your reputation as the King's woman could have been ruined if it was anyone other than myself who had found you." the King smoothed away a wayward hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear. He then cupped her cheek with his hand looking deeply into those eyes that seemed to consume his soul. " I will send some of my attendants to escort you back. Get some rest My Lady. I will see you tomorrow." He then bent and kissed her softly on the forehead.
Abby sucked in a soft breath. Oh if he only knew she was trying to escape. He would be so angry. He was being so sweet, he was making it more and more difficult to want to leave.