Marianne pov

I almost felt dizzy with kisses, as if all the oxygen from my body was taken by those ravenous kisses. My body was going limp when I felt his hands on the towel that was covering my genitals and warning bells started ringing in my ears.

I somehow parted my lips from the tight grip of his tongue that was trying to suck my soul. The pressure was so much that I would be the one to be unconscious by a kiss. Or do mostly ladies faint when they kiss for the first time, they just did not share out of embarrassment!!

"Cassius" I called in between my shallow and fast breathing.

His hands reached my hairs again, gently moving the falling tendrils over my face to tug them behind my ears.

Why was his touch so gentle, so heart melting today? It felt that I did not know the man at all, this was not Cassius, who had rejected me my whole life, insulted me and I even died maiden. When the words hit my mind, the clouds of arousal dissipated a little.

"Cassius, I think we need to stop." I said , surprising both of us, as if even my body was displeased with my decisions.

"Oh.. yes, i..i think i should go and call the maids" he said confused, flustered but when he stood up my eyes widened looking at his pants. He was in the same condition, the way he was in the forest. Even in loose clothes, the bulge was well differentiated.

"I think you should go and take a bath, i will call them myself" i said as my face flushed again.

"Marianne, how?" He was about to ask something but when he followed my eyes, his face turned red from embarrassment too.

"I think you have a point there, I shall go and take a bath.. This time a colder one." he announced as he almost ran in the bath area.

"Daulla, Lina.." I tried to call and soon both entered.

They looked at my condition surprised and Daulla ran to the closet as she knew things better than Lina as she was the caretaker of this room since I got married.

"Where were you?" I asked Lina, and her face flushed. But she did not reply, which made me confused.

'What happened to this young girl?'

Daulla came back with a fresh set of clothes, and laughed, "my lady had denied us entry into your chamber until called, your highness," she said with that dubious smile.

'Mother!! Sometimes she forgot that she was already in her early fifties! How could she behave like a young maiden!"

"My ankle got sprained in the bath, please soak the towel in hot water and compress it and bring some ointment for it" I said , completely changing the topic. I would handle mother later.

"Oh, how did this happen, your highness." asked Lina as she bent down and started messaging the ankle.

"I fell in the slippery water after taking bath, since no one was there to serve me" 'and i was in haste to wear my clothes and run for my life from there'

They both have a guilty expression on their faces.

"We sincerely apologise for your highness" they bowed and I shook my head.

"You were just following orders, anyways are the clothes of his highness delivered?" I asked , though I doubt it because it was 6hours journey to and from both palaces.

"Servants left that instant your highness, but none is returned." said Lina and i nodded.

"Alright, then go and bring a fresh set of clothes from my father's closet this time."

"I will request for that at this moment, your highness,'' said Daulla and left the room.

"Lina, help me in dressing up first" i said and she nodded.

Soon I got dressed up in a floral peach dress, with small diamond earrings dangling and open hairs and walked out with the help of Lina.

Killian and mother were sitting and chatting in the parlour room as if they knew each other since ages. I could see both of them laughing over words I could not hear but still my heart felt warm. Only god knows how much i pine for this warm familial love in the duchess palace that was nothing but a cold ice cellar.

"My lady, there is a letter from the royal palace" announced the messenger and my brows furrowed.

I walked there with the best speed I could muster with the pain.

"What is the letter about, mother?" I asked as she had a grave expression on her face after reading the letter.

"Oh, Marianne.. How was the bath?" she asked with a cryptic smile and I wondered how her mind worked!

She was looking so worried yet she had the time to tease her own daughter!

"Mother" I called looking at Killian and she sighed.

"Later then," then she passed me the letter ad looked at the guards, "go and call, lord James here"

The letter was just about the matter I was afraid of. His majesty had written a letter to father to request the marriage of James and her royal highness.

"What are you going to reply?" I asked her and she just shook her head.

"This is not the decision I can take alone. I will wait for your father to arrive and your brother views over it. For now, I can only request them to give us some time to ponder over it as the head of the house is not in the city." she replied in a calm manner.

"You have taken half of the day in your chamber, shall we have lunch now, or are you going back to your chamber again?" she asked with an amused smile.

And I was sure she was going to utilise these three days in just embarrassing me to her heart's content. Even Killian was looking at us confused. He must have realised that we were talking cryptically, yet he kept his thoughts to himself much to my relief.