"Your Majesty, that is highly inappropriate of you to ask!" Belle exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock at the King's audacious request. Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she fanned her face, desperately trying to cool the heat that overtook her. It was utterly shameless of him to pose such a question. It was the most immoral thing anyone had ever dared to ask her.
Hezekiah merely stood there, observing her with a mixture of amusement and incredulity. Her reaction was so innocent, so unguarded, that he momentarily forgot she was a married woman. Had he not known of her union with Quinn, he might have believed her to be untouched by any man. The naivety with which she chastised him was endearing, and he couldn't help but chuckle softly. It was refreshing to encounter such unfeigned modesty. But then again, hadn't she and Quinn already experienced such intimacies?
