After the short but rough travel on horseback under the scorching sun she could really use a nice cold bath.
Oddly enough, they didn't meet Denzel's friend at his house. Nonetheless a maid welcomed them and showed them to the guest rooms. She was kind enough to prepare some rosewater for Gianna's bath.
The cold water was soothing and refreshing to her skin; almost pricking it. Gianna took her time to rub all the grime off her skin until she was satisfied.
When she was done she found the maid waiting for her at the dresser. She dried her black hair and combed it nicely letting it down in waves.
"I don't think that's necessary." Gianna told the maid when she noticed her painting her face and lips.
"You're very beautiful My Lady. I am only helping you get the attention of every man." She said proud of her work.
Attention? She wasn't seeking attention.
"I...I am already married." Gianna hurried to say. Her reflection in the mirror despite being beautiful made her feel like crying. If only things were different. She would have maybe chosen a man for herself as a husband, one who loved her instead of being forced to be with one.
"Is everything okay My Lady?" The maid asked concerned.
"Yes. Just get me a dress."
Gianna found all the dresses the maid picked to be too revealing and flirty. She kept requesting her to bring the least revealing ones for her to choose from. At last Gianna settled for a red off-shoulder dress that had a long slit, yet it was the most decent of them all.
"I need to meet my brother now, would you be as kind to take me to him?"
"There's no need. His Lordship will meet you here?"
His Lordship?
Her brother was no lord she wanted to laugh out loud.
The door slowly opened and in came her brother, or as the maid referred to him,' His Lordship '.
"My Lord you're here." Gianna joked.
"I see you're ready." He didn't smile.
His oceanic blue eyes were burning with something that she didn't expect from him. For heaven's sake, he was her brother.
"Ready for what?" She raised her brows in surprised arcs.
Gael let his disguise fall revealing his true self.
All along?
All along Gael had disguised himself as her brother and she hadn't noticed!
Her face grew ashen as her green eyes widened in alarm.
What did he want?
She cursed her being a woman as Gael eyed her exposed thighs before his lustful gaze travelled up to her breasts and lingered there for a while before settling on her face.
"You are beautiful." He said more to himself than to her.
Gianna stood unblinking, trying to process what had just happened. She tried to hope all this was but a bad dream but failed. She knew this was happening. All she could do was stare in a catatonic stupor.
Gael took a step forward and she took two backwards.
"Be still!" He ordered and her body froze.
What was happening to her? It felt like she was no longer in control of her body but Gael was.
Gael gave her a light push and she fell on the bed.
He took off his black leather jacket and threw it on the floor.
"How could Mazarine expect me to get rid of such a... gem? I have seen and had a good share of alluring women but your beauty is unmatched."
Queen Mazarine wanted her killed? That's the only thing she was worried about and not his unnecessary compliments.
Her heart skipped a beat when he took off his shirt revealing his sculpted chest.
Her lips parted in silent surprise. He was now towering above her!
"What are you doing?" She tried pushing him away but he pinned her hands above her head with ease.
He was strong!
Gianna gasped, uncertain whether to breathe or scream.
"Relax. I don't mean any harm to you. At least I don't intend to kill you."
Wait!
If he was the true Gael, who was the other 'Gael' in the Kingshill Citadel?
"Who's... that pretending to be ...you...as you pretended to be my brother?" She didn't have any other better way to put it.
"Pretending to be me?" It was like he hadn't understood her.
"Oh, that's my brother Noel." He answered nonchalantly after a while.
Brother? He just couldn't be his brother. They looked very alike.
"Is he just your brother or your twin brother?" She couldn't help but ask while trying to free her hands but his grip was steel like.
"Isn't it obvious we are twins."
Of course. And she had foolishly fallen for their trick.
"By the way, you promised to cut my..."
"Don't you dare say it." She warned.
"You see, you're in no position to make threats, but for the sake of pleasing you both physically and verbally I won't."
Pleasing her ... physically?
Good Lord!
He couldn't please her physically. She was still pure and they hadn't consummated their marriage yet. Not that she looked forward to it either but she just couldn't imagine her husband's face if he found out that she wasn't innocent.
How would he react?
A woman's innocence was very important. It was her virtue and was only to be taken by her husband, not some...she didn't even know what Gael was.
By a monster?
"What are you?" She needed to know.
"What am I?" The question caught him by surprise.
He seemed to think for a while before taking her left hand and rubbing it on his hard chest.
"I am a man."
"Oh really, I wasn't sure you're one."
Was she really being sarcastic at this moment?
"I can show you so that you can be sure." He said making her hand trace his bulge.
Gianna pressed her lips together in a hard line as her jaw muscle tensed.
No, she wouldn't let this be her fate. She tried kicking but it wasn't working at all. Suddenly he leaned in to her, very close to her face.
What was he about to do?
She slammed her eyes shut as if that would protect her from whatever he was trying to do. No, not trying, from what he was actually doing as she felt him kiss her neck , sucking and nibbling.
Her skin lost all colour becoming almost chalk white as he spread her legs so that she could feel his hardness.
"Don't worry, I will be gentle." He whispered into her left ear.