Chapter Five - George Atwood - 23 yrs old

           There was no way he could stay in the room without him doing something completely foolish. They also were running out of time, and he didn’t want the emperor to become upset with his incompetence.

           “Alright, just don’t tell anyone that I changed them. Poor Mary had so much to clean up in here. My mother can be so thoughtless at times. Well, I guess there’s an end in sight for that. Once we leave here, I won’t have to deal with her or my sisters. You didn’t hear me say that, understand? I shouldn’t be telling any of this to you at all.”

           George held the door open for Ana and she stepped from her apartment. “Next time, I believe you need to stay outside of my apartments. It doesn’t look right if you enter with me and we’re alone.” She said to him after she ensured there was no one in the corridor to see them both exiting her apartments.

           “I understand. We will work this one out in time. All you need to do is bring any of your concerns to me and we can find common ground.” He could smell her scent still. It lingered and he could have followed that cinnamon spice scent for miles and never get tired or lose it. Ana’s hips swayed enticingly before him as her boots made very little sound on the stone floors of the palace’s corridor.

           “Thank you for understanding.” It took them several minutes of walking to come to the main entrance hall of the palace. With it’s grand staircases leading up to the floors above. The vaulted ceiling gave the space a cavernous sound that was only broken when no one dared to move or breathe.

           Tatiana and Dionysius were there with her mother and the emperor. By the look on the empress’ face, Ana’s parents had been arguing. The emperor, however, looked like nothing phased him.

           They flung the front doors open after Ana took her place behind her sisters. The emperor frowned at this. He’d expected her to stand beside Dionysius instead. These people were supposed to be coming to pay respects to Ana about her recent birthday.

           A small, round, well-dressed man entered the hall with a slight and sickly woman by his side. His face seemed trapped in an expression of mild annoyance, while hers was in a state of embarrassment. George caught onto why he felt so annoyed it was because he’d caught the three younger men outside on the stairs bickering between themselves. The only thing that went through his head was that this would not be a good evening.

           “Those would be his sons.” Tatiana didn’t sound any more impressed than George felt. He didn’t envy any of the sisters tonight.

           “Why do they always have such pretty outer wrappings but inside is so sadly baron?” Dionysius asked in response to Tatiana.

           “Because they’re spoilt rich men who never grew up. They’re looking for a good time with a woman who’s willing to act as their second mother. I don’t know how you two will do that, but good luck. I’ll toss my fish back into the sea again, thank you.” At least his new charge had her head on straight and wasn’t fooled by these mens’ looks or their mother’s motives to grasp more power within the ruling families.

           Tatiana snorted. “Like you have a chance with any of them, Adriana. You have nothing to entice them with.” Ana looked down at Tatiana while trying to wipe an annoyed look off her face. George felt Tatiana was selling Adriana short. The woman had so much potential and desirable talents that she’d easily keep a man if she wanted to. He resisted the thought that he was the man he thought of. That was a line of thought that ended up only in death.

           “My point exactly. I will throw all men back until I find the one that recognizes what I truly offer. Until then, I don’t have a problem like the two of you. Mother will not be patient much longer with you being without a life partner. You both will need one soon. You aren’t getting any younger, you know.”

           Tatiana gasped at Ana’s words. “You take that back, Adriana. That was rude and insulting.”

           “No different from what you just said to me. If you can’t take it, then don’t give it.” Tatiana couldn’t respond because the courtier manning the door announced their guests.

           “Count Rudolpho Saint Germane and Countess Viviana Saint Germane. Their sons Lords Albret, Ailwyn, and Alexi.” Their sons entered in a rush when they heard themselves announced. The fools had barely entered, and George felt annoyed at how they were acting.

           George now understood Adriana’s prediction about how tonight would go. Her mother stepped forward and gushed over the countess and her sons.

           The countess, in turn, tried to size up the emperor’s daughters. George saw the countess’ negative reaction to Adriana’s extreme height. The countess clearly didn’t approve of Adriana’s appearance. As if she could change her height or the juxtaposition of her cold pale skin to her fiery auburn hair and the green eyes of a predator. George suspected Adriana wouldn’t apologize for something she had no control of. At least she didn’t need to worry about the countess, insisting one of her sons would have to engage with her in a lifelong partnership.

           Sadly, the young men didn’t get the memo from their mother’s thoughts. They stood there, each with a lascivious grin. The most annoying sex starved momma’s boys.

           “Adriana, remember you are not to screw this up for us this time. Try your best to not argue with or insult our guests this time. I’d hate to have to uninvited you to my wedding.” Tatiana said. “I’m sure I could train any of these men to do as I say. Once their mother is out of the way.” That part George thought would be far more difficult than Tatiana thought.

           At least in a few days, George would have Adriana away from this. It was one consolation for him. He wondered if the countess knew what the emperor had decided to grant Adriana.

           The emperor and empress obviously quarrelled badly and were giving each other the silent treatment. Adriana read, trapped as a messenger between them. It seemed disgusting if it were as he suspected.

           The empress led the countess and her sons over to her daughters to introduce the dinner companions. The emperor and count spoke with each other as they left the main entrance hall oblivious to all other events in the main entrance hall.

           Adriana looked annoyed with the male, who would be her dinner companion tonight before they introduced them. George wanted to deny this twerp access to Adriana already. He didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.

Alexi Saint Germane, had ogled Adriana from the time he’d entered. George knew just by watching him that if he were to ask Alexi what colour her eyes were or if she were pretty, he’d not be able to answer those questions because he’d not looked above the gentle swell of her breasts. If he didn’t risk his position, George would have pulled him aside and physically explained Alexi’s insults with an attitude adjustment. But he was not of the appropriate caste to do that sadly. It was one thing to appreciate a woman’s form; it was another thing to stare and imagine them naked. George ignored the fact he’d been doing the very same thing while he awaited her in her apartment less than an hour before.

When Adriana finally was introduced to him directly, he finally looked her in the eye. Alexi had to look up from where he stood, because he stood eye level with her breasts. The man was what George would call a sad sot and his height would put off anyone like Adriana. His brothers were not much taller than Alexi and all three were barrel chested like their father. George towered over all three.

           This evening would be the test George dreaded. Could he get through watching over her while she ate and spoke with this man? He couldn’t step in unless Alexi physically touched Adriana without her permission.