In the midst of the night storm, she stood there in front of him, his eyes fixated to hers. She could still hear the voices from her nightmare but when he held her an inch closer as he led her to the rhythm he wanted, the shouts haunting her turned to whispers.
Her father never knew what she had been going through all these years. Not that she didn't want to tell him, but she just knew he wouldn't understand, nor would he care. Lord Lewis was the kind who paid little to no attention when it came to women's thoughts or feelings. He never even asked her if she liked the King enough to marry him. It was because even if she said she didn't, he would still push her into doing what he wanted.
And in truth, even though the King was the best choice for her, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder how it would be if she found someone she truly wanted. Someone who would understand the deepest part of her soul.
"I thought you already left," she uttered silently and the thunder drowned her voice.
"I did," replied Reed.
She made a turn at the same time another lightning came. Her light blonde waves bounced to her shoulders as her white nightdress followed her elegant moves. Her skin seemed glowing, and her topaz eyes gleamed against the darkness.
"I came back," he added.
Melrose was never fond of dancing, but at that certain moment, it somehow pacified the storms in her. As they continued to dance, slowly, the whispers turned lower that she could barely hear it.
"I didn't know a woman like you had something to fear. You were ready to die for someone else, and you even went to a brothel even if getting seen means being ruined."
"Should I take that as a compliment, my lord?"
He raised his eyebrow and said nothing. She cleared her throat and was about to speak when another loud thunder boomed which startled her. She felt how his hand tapped his waist gently, and she couldn't help but feel conscious of how thin the nightdress she was wearing. She could almost feel his touch through her skin.
"Whatever you please."
She breathed. "I hope you won't label this as troubling you. After all, I didn't ask you to stay."
"Should I leave, then?" He breathed against her nose and her heart skipped a beat. He pressed on her palm as he gave her a taunting look.
"Should you?" she retorted.
"Yes," Reed replied silently, barely audible but she got what he said through the movement of his lips.
"Do you want to?" Even if he was being kind enough to stay with her for a while, she didn't want to hold him back and be a burden to him.
He didn't answer.
"I don't want to impose on you, Lord Knight, so if you want—"
"I will stay with you until the storm subsides."
Melrose stopped to stare at him. "You pity me, don't you?"
"Would it hurt your pride if I say yes?"
"You have hurt my pride before, why care now?"
He stared at her round orbs and wondered in silence what could make a woman with a strong character like her break down. He wondered how terrifying her past was to carve scars in her innocent soul.
"I don't pity you," he said.
"Then did you stay to see me suffer because you hate me?"
"Maybe that is the reason."
"You are heartless, my lord," she said with a little smile. She should be offended but instead, she was amused. "And brutally honest."
"Indeed, I am."
"If you speak that way to every woman you meet, you would definitely grow old alone. Most women love sugar coated words. They want flowers to come from a man's mouth, and you certainly don't know how to do that."
His eyes narrowed. "I don't do sugar coated words, nor I want to please women."
She didn't doubt that. It must be the opposite. Women must be the one who wanted to please him, but she doubted if a woman could stand his overbearing character for long.
"Then I must say, you should find a woman who can stomach your absurdity."
"I don't need a woman to live."
A glint of bitterness appeared in Melrose's eyes and Reed noticed it. "You are right, my lord. In our world, men can have everything alone, but a woman can have nothing without a man. It's a pity."
"Would you rather stand on your own?" he asked, curious about her thoughts.
"Having someone to lean on, sure is great, but to have your own voice is also great. For example, parents should not have the right to decide the marriage of their children. Sure, they could suggest, but they should not make the call."
Reed's eyes darkened. "Is your father forcing you to marry the King?"
"No, but…"
She knew that even if she said no, her father would still push it. Besides, who would she marry if not the King? She didn't have the chance to know other men better. And was there even anything that Vincent lacked? He was kind and gentle, never rude and overbearing. He was the ideal husband every lady dreamed of.
"You don't want to marry him?" Reed weighed the look she had. He could not see through her but he saw the trouble in her eyes.
"King Vincent is really kind and all I want is to marry a man like him..." she said breathily and Reed waited. "But what if I met a man I truly wanted?"
Reed saw in her bright orbs how innocent her question was and he couldn't say anything.
Melrose sighed. "I mean, not that I dislike the King. It's just a thought that comes in my mind every time I hear someone I know being forced into a marriage. The case is often like that in rich families. Ladies can't decide while men are free to choose whoever they like. Isn't it unfair?"
Without commenting on her words, he said, "The storm has subsided, Lady Lewis. You should sleep now. We need to depart early tomorrow."
Reed stepped back from her and she realized she spoke too much and he must have not liked it.
"Okay, I will rest now."
Reed went to the opened window and closed it before walking to the door.
"Lock the door," he ordered before finally leaving the room.