MARISELLE, AND HER new attendants, were shown into the castle, which was almost identical to Griffin’s. They were then turned over to one of the maids, who brought Mariselle to her bedchamber. When she stepped inside, her eyes widened in pleasure. It was just as extravagant as Eva’s, from what she’d remembered, only everything was much newer and decorated in rich, burgundy and green colors.
“Wow,” she said breathlessly, gazing at the large, draped canopy bed, which seemed to fill up the room. There was also a fireplace, across from the bed, and her own personal tub.
“Oh my goodness,” Mariselle said, walking over to it. She ran her hand along the side and sighed. “I could certainly use a bath right about now.
“We’ll get one started for you, Milady,” one of her attendants said, Shawna.
Not at all used to such formality, she told Shawna to just call her Mariselle.
“Whatever you wish,” she said, curtsying.
Mariselle couldn’t help it. The gesture pleased her even though she knew that in reality, she was just like them and always would be. A simple peasant girl.
“How hot would you like your bath?” the older woman, June asked.
“As hot as I can stand it,” she replied, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Running her hands over the blanket she lay back and closed her eyes, wondering what the two brothers were discussing and what would become of her.
Would she marry Aiden?
Or maybe one of the other brothers?
The idea was somewhat nerve-wracking and yet exciting at the same time. When she’d admitted, to Griffin that she’d had crushes on all of them growing up, she hadn’t been lying. Each brother had special qualities she’d been drawn to. Griffin, because he’d always been dashing and probably the most handsome. Aiden, because of his imagination and spirit. Zackary, who’d always thought of himself as her protector. And Matthias, who had a heart of gold and was the most sensitive of the bunch. She still remembered when he’d picked some of the queen’s prized flowers and gave them to her. Lizbeth had been furious, but Matthias had known how to sweet-talk his mother into forgiving him and even allowing the young prince to pick more. He definitely had a way with women and imagined now, he was quite the smooth-talker.
Closing her eyes, she imagined herself as one of their wives and couldn’t for the life of her, choose one over the other.
Good thing Griffin was making that decision, she thought. If it were up to her, she’d marry them all.
29
“WAIT A SECOND, are you actually proposing that I sleep with Mariselle?” Aiden said, staring at him wide-eyed. “Our little Mariselle?”
“She’s not so little anymore,” Griffin said wryly.
“No, she’s not,” he agreed.
“If you don’t want to-”
“Now, hold up. I didn’t say that I didn’t want to,” Aiden said quickly. “I mean she’s… beautiful. I just don’t know if it would be right.”
Griffin sighed. “What would be wrong is for our kingdom to become obsolete.” He tapped his fingers on the table nervously. “I mean… without an heir…”
“I know,” Aiden replied. “If things keep going as they are, our entire country will eventually just be a legend.”
“Yes. A laughable one at that.”
“Is she agreeing to this?” he asked, pouring them each a goblet of wine.
“She doesn’t want to be treated like a whore, but essentially, I believe so.”
“I can respect that. So, it’s marriage she wants?”
“Basically.”
Aiden sighed. “I don’t know, Griffin. Marriage would interfere with my love-life,” he said with a smirk.
Griffin shook his head and smiled. “You could grow to love Mariselle.”
“In a way, I already do. I just never imagined it would be in a romantic way,” he replied.
“You act as if it’s a horrible thing I’m asking from you. If it were me, I’d jump all over the chance.”
“Why don’t you do it then?” he replied, sitting down.
“Because, I’m married,” he mumbled, staring at the goblet. “Obviously.”
“To a royal cunt,” Aiden said.
Griffin smiled. “So, you’ve met my wife?”
He laughed. “Unfortunately, yes. Anyway, your child should be the next heir to the throne. It is your duty to try and make it happen, married or not.”
He took a gulp of his wine and licked his lips. “My duty, huh?”
“Yes. Think of all the bastards out in the world, created by the seed of royalty. It’s not like you’d be the first king to lay with another. Hell, when I do get married, I doubt if I’ll be able to keep my hands off of other wenches. Variety is the spice of life, big brother.”
“So, I’ve heard.”
“You’d know it too if you weren’t faithful to that old sourpuss. Do you two even have relations?”
“We used to. Until I got to know her better,” Griffin replied, smirking.
Aiden grunted. “So, your dick hasn’t been waxed in many moons, is what you’re saying?”
“Precisely.”
He leaned forward and poured more wine into his brother’s goblet. “Here, have some more. Maybe you’ll loosen up enough to do what’s right.”
“And what is that?”
“Produce the heir that was meant to be. Yours.”
“And if I do and Georgina finds out it’s mine?”
“Who cares? You’re king. The damn monarch. You make the rules and you do what you want. It’s expected of you anyway.”
Griffin stared ahead, seriously thinking about it. “And what of Mariselle? I promised her honor and marriage.”
Aiden sighed. “We’ll worry about that later. Hell, if it comes down to it, I’ll make her a queen, if you really want. As long as she understands I need more than one woman to warm my bed, on any given night.”
Griffin chuckled. “I don’t know what I’d do without your, Brother. I can’t say that I agree with your antics, but I sure as hell enjoy hearing about them.”
He snorted. “So, you believe my stories finally?”
“I believe that you can’t make some of what comes out of your mouth up. Especially your sex-capades.”
“True. Did I tell you about Loose Lila?” He held up his fist. “I swear you can fit-”
“Stop.” Griffin held up his hand. “I haven’t had enough to drink yet.”
“The let me take care of that,” Aiden said, reaching for the wine.
30
WHEN MARISELLE’S BATH was ready, her attendants asked if she needed help undressing.
“No. Thank you, though,” she replied shyly and then told them she wanted to be alone.
“We’ll be back in an hour to help you prepare for supper,” June replied.
“Thank you. For everything. You’re both so kind.”
“So are you,” Shawna replied. “You’re so much nicer than the queen.”
“Shawna,” June said sternly.
“Don’t worry. I won’t say a word,” Mariselle promised.
“Thank you, Milady,” Shawna said, looking embarrassed. “I need to work on my manners.”
“Indeed you do. Let’s go,” June said.
The two left and Mariselle undressed. She noticed the bleeding had stopped and hoped that it wouldn’t be a problem. Especially if Griffin and Aiden decided they wanted proof of her menstruation. Deciding that there wasn’t anything she could do about it now, she slipped into the warm tub and groaned in pleasure. It had been days since she’d had a bath and it felt luxurious. Especially in a tub that size.
Closing her eyes, she sank in deeper and lay back against the padded headrest. After a while, she became drowsy and began to daydream about Griffin. For the last three days, the electricity between them had been intense. More than once she’d caught him watching her with hunger in his eyes. Mariselle knew without a doubt that desired her and she ached to feel his hands on her body. Imagining the two of them in the bath together, she slipped her fingers between her legs and began touching herself.
GRIFFIN, FEELING SLIGHTLY tipsy, left Aiden and headed to his quarters to wash up and sleep off some of the wine before supper. Between the two of them, they’d drunk enough to piss out a pond. Especially Aiden, whose tolerance level was much higher than his. As he walked down the corridor, he ran into Mariselle’s attendants.
“How is she doing?” he asked, giving them a lopsided grin.
“Very good, Your Majesty. Her chamber is to the right of yours,” June said with a little smile.