* // say the word

anneliese windsor the princess to england is 25 years of age and is heard to be charitable & inquisitive yet defiant.

[hergrvce]

&& THOMAS NEVILLE

An eyebrow raised. He could see that she wasn’t fine. “You don’t have to put on a brave face with me, you know that.” Thomas couldn’t help but wonder if the engagement would have been so sudden had they been back in England. He doubted it, somehow. At least had they been back home the arrangements would take longer due to the channel separating the two countries. It would have bought them some time. But here? With everyone all under one roof, there was little reason to prolong matters.

He kissed her back gently, his thumbs brushing over her cheeks. “We must leave here. It won’t be safe for either of us. We won’t be able to return to England either, somewhere else will have to be our new home.” But where? They wouldn’t be able to seek refuge with a country that was allied with England, they’d be turned over to Anneliese’s parents. And of course there would be a language barrier…. unless… “Are you acquainted with the Scottish royals?” There had been bad blood between Scotland and England for generations, and Thomas had heard that the Scottish King was a reasonable man.

“We would have to get married on the way to wherever we travel to, it’s the best option. I’d say we have a week at most to get everything in order. Anything longer than that and we’ll be too much at risk.”

of course she knew that, but anneliese felt as if she would simply break down in tears if she didn’t try to contain herself in some way. if william hadn’t been egotistical and damned classist at that, this wouldn’t have been happening. a marriage to some royal was always in her future, but it would’ve never come so soon if william didn’t get in the way. he’d expressed to anneliese that he didn’t see it fit for her to be spending so much time with thomas, and since he learned the reasoning behind all those lessons, her brother simply snapped. he was always the favorite, so what more could this have done for him? 

anneliese stared up at him as thomas voiced his scheme to run away. the two had daydreamed about running off to his countryside chateau whilst reading each other various poems in the past, but this was different. this was an emergency, and the thought unsettled her. however, it was the only option they had to stay together. scotland was one of the few countries who would despise england and stand their grounds should the english come to hunt her and thomas down. and her relationship with the scottish court was nothing like the rest of her family’s. through gentle conversation and similar interests, she had grown quite close to the king and queen in her own right. the fact that it was apparent that the queen of england despised her also helped. 

“yes... yes, of course. i shall ask them, i couldn’t imagine they would turn us down-” especially since it would infuriate the english crown and deny them further alliances. the journey would be long, but if they planned everything out correctly, they could at least make it somewhat comfortable for the both of them. she didn’t suppose anyone would drive them, so it would likely be just her and thomas unless he had a different plan. “or we may want to be married before we leave. if anyone stops us, we would at least be together already.”

[hergrvce]

&& THOMAS NEVILLE

Thomas shushed her quietly. “Don’t speak just yet. Did you hit your head?” God, what a mess their lives had become in a matter of minutes. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Removing his handkerchief from his pocket, he tucked it into one of her hands. “Here. It’s alright. Just breathe.” He sat down on the floor in front of the settee, his shoulder pressing against one of the legs, his head against the arm Anneliese’s head was propped on. 

He pressed a soft kiss to the back of her hand once she took hold of his, sighing softly. What were they going to do now? They were trapped within the walls of the palace with no current plans to return to England. Not that it was looking like Liese would be returning with them. What would that mean for him if she was forced to marry? Would he be able to go to France with her? Or would he have to return to England brokenhearted and out of work? They had few options. He couldn’t sit by and see the woman he loved wed to another man, see their plans for the future torn apart.

“I know, I know you can’t.” Thomas had heard whisperings of the French King’s reputation, and he couldn’t let Anneliese be wed to such an odious man. She deserved so much better than that. This had to be a punishment - there was no other reason for it. “Marry me.” The words fell from his lips before he had time to process them. But it was what he wanted. “We can elope. You cannot marry him if you are already married.”

she placed a hand gently on her head where she felt slight throbbing. no bump yet, but that would likely come by the morning. anneliese shook her head grabbing on to both of his hands instead. “i’m fine... i’m-” a heavy sigh left her lips in attempt to catch her racing breath, but nothing was of remedy to this. the king of france was well known, and certainly not known in the best light either. whether it be sleeping with the help or doing other, far more unscrupulous acts, the man was nothing compared to thomas. taking his handkerchief, the girl tried the tears falling down her cheeks. 

knowing her mother, anneliese would return to france instead of england without thomas as her tutor. what else would the evil woman do? thomas was the one person who she genuinely enjoyed being with, so it was only natural for the queen to ban him from accompanying her. her new fiancé must not have had the best taste in his mouth about thomas either given how the tutor had scooped anneliese up just as quickly as she fell. 

this was punishment. she was certain of it. while the anger she held for her brother was nearly blinding, anneliese’s only concern was thomas. and then she heard those words. marry me. their current circumstances were the furthest from romantic, but her heart ached to be with him. mouth slightly agape in shock, it took a second to realize what he’d just said before simply leaning over to kiss his lips - - enveloping him with as much love as she could give the man. the two had made a promise: to try to stay together for as long as they could. liese had no intention on giving up his ring as it served as a symbol of what they shared together, and if it took eloping to fulfill their promise, then so be it. pulling away, she gave him a small nod as her hand moved up to rest on his cheek again. “we shall find a foreign priest so neither my family nor the french hear of it,” anneliese added - - mind already working to figure out the logistics of this plan. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE

Despite being in pain still, Thomas had greeted the dawning days in high spirits. Anneliese had accepted his ring and he had been able to slip from her chambers without being noticed. His torso may have been a mottled purple beneath his clothes now the bruising had come out, but not even that could ruin the smile that toyed at his lips. They would be more careful, and they would put William out of mind for now.·

He looked up from the parchment he had been scribbling away at. A soft smile blooming on his face at the way the morning sunlight haloed around her head. If only he could capture that imagine so he could always treasure it. She was so beautiful, and all his. How lucky he was. Breaking from his reverie, he blinked.·“What? Oh, yes. I suppose we should focus more on it.” His lip curled in a grimace beneath his moustache.·“I’ve always found it frightfully dull, but we’ll muddle through, won’t we?” He patted the seat next to him.·“Come on then, the sooner we start the quicker it’ll be over.”

There was a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, his expression faltering. A sudden summons such as this couldn’t bode well.·“Of course. I won’t let you face this alone.” He gave it a few moments before following, his heart hammering in his chest. Had William told their parents of the relationship? What else could it have been? Surely they couldn’t have arranged a marriage so soon without any prior mention? Thomas was beginning to worry.

She was to be married to the French King. Thomas felt sick. This was all wrong. It wasn’t supposed to happen so soon - they were supposed to have time. Having hovered in the doorway during the exchange, he stepped forward without thinking as she dropped to the floor. He had to get her out of there.·“Let me, Your Majesty.” He began with a bow.·“This is a shock to her. I will take her to the court physician.” Carefully he bent down, wincing as his ribs protested, and scooped her up into his arms, ignoring the protestations of her family and.. fiancé.·“She’ll need to rest, you can discuss this with the Princess later.”

He swept from the room and carried her back to the library, setting her down on the settee.·“Liese, it’s Tom. Can you hear me?”

anneliese felt her head hit the floor but then everything went dark as she laid there on the floor. she was never one to faint, and her entire family knew that. the queen glared at the tutor as he approached her daughter - - protesting for a moment before he scooped her up and carried her out. anneliese’s father and oldest bother were the only two who disagreed with this arrangement, though they dared not to say a thing given the rage the queen had for the girl. it only took a few minutes for her to feel thomas’ footsteps as he carried her down the corridors and back to the library. her senses slowly came back to her, and when he laid her down and called her name, the girl finally blinked her eyes open to see a _blurry _thomas before her.·

it must’ve been a dream. it had to be. however, the way her heart was still pounding in her chest told her otherwise. a hand moved up to her chest to see if her ring still hung on her chain before looking up at her tutor in anxious worry.·“tom-” she muttered, reaching down to take his hand and squeezing lightly. though she didn’t want to loose her composure, tears were already beginning to sting at her eyes. never had she thought that such an arrangement would be had so soon, and yet there they were... all due to her brother. her stomach churned at the recent memory of how that king’s hand snaked its way to her lower back or how close he’d leaned in to her when he spoke.·

her hand moved from his - - up to rest just below his jaw as she looked into those eyes which normally provided so much comfort to her.·“i can’t get married to him-” she stated shakily, her voice already faltering.·“i-i _can’t, _it’s supposed to be you-” liese pulled her hand away from him to wipe away a tear from her eyes.·“i don’t know what to do, what do we do?”

[hergrvce]

things went as planned for the most part the next morning. the two woke up before sunrise the night he spent the night in her room, and no one suspected anything since thomas had left before the maids could come to her room. things were relatively calm... too calm for her liking - - and it even began to make her feel uneasy. perhaps william hadn’t told their mother about anneliese and her tutor? no, he was too awful to pass that up. liese hoped he found it in his heart to leave them alone though. it wasn’t like they had done anything as explicit as will had with that servant. needless to say, the princess stayed away from her twin brother and chose to spend more time with thomas in their session. 

it had been two days since the incident and anneliese was just bringing a mathematics book from the grand oak bookshelves to the table thomas was at. “a boring subject, but i believe i’m falling behind,” the girl explained with a small grin. nothing had happened for those two days... anneliese was slowly starting to convince herself that everything would be fine. all she needed right now was to spend time with thomas and her her mind off of everything. mathematics was so painful that she just knew her mind would be on the numbers instead of her mess of a family. 

it wasn’t three minutes into her session when one of the english servants found her in that library and requested her company on behalf of the queen. the feeling was instantaneous - - her body temperature feeling like it hit a freezing point as her stomach dropped to the floor. hazel eyes sought thomas with that worried look which she attempted to contain, and after hesitation, she gave the other girl a small nod. “i shall be there.” while tutors were never permitted to these kinds of things, something terrible told her that today was the day she’d be ripped away. “come with me? you could wait in the corridor,” she asked, setting her hand atop his for a second before finally making her way back to the grand english parlour. the walk felt longer than usual, but liese knew it was the cause of her anxiety rising. 

upon arrival, she found more people than expected... her entire family with her mother in the center accompanied by faces she hardly recognized. one man in particular seemed a bit too interested in anneliese’s appearance for comfort, but she just focused on her mother. 

“i trust you are familiar with king phillipe bourbon-” the queen started, formalities aside. anneliese stayed silent, simply giving a nod though she had only ever seen the man. “the english and french thrones have come to the agreement that a marriage would be beneficial for us both. you shall be wed at the beginning of next month.” 

anneliese heard the words, but she was taken aback. alexandra’s envious glare was lost on her as she simply stared at william - - the brother who actively ruined the one thing in her life she loved. gripping on to her skirt to keep her hands from shaking, the king and her future husband stalked closer until she felt a hand on her lower back. he was at least twenty years older than herself and his touch emphasized all those ill feelings in the pit of her stomach. that past feeling of her body freezing rapidly turned into a blinding heat centered on her forehead, and all of her thoughts combined with the hate she felt towards her entire family built up more and more before the girl lost a grip of her consciousness and fainted right there. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE

Thomas listened quietly, possibilities running through his mind. If Henry was indeed aware and hadn’t outrightly criticised the relationship then perhaps there was hope. “Do you think he’s worked it out or do you think someone has told him?” He hummed in thought. “Alexandra’s upcoming marriage is not an advantageous one. I daresay that if there were a match on the horizon for you they will either delay Alexandra’s in favour, or speed it through.” Thomas sighed, his shoulders sagging. “I don’t trust your mother. If she catches even a sniff of this she won’t stop until you’re married off. We need to prepared for it, I suppose. A few steps ahead.” It was all they could be. And with all the Royal families in one place… well… the timeline could be far shorter than it normally would be.

“I can’t think of anything beyond blackmail that we could use for leverage.” It was a difficult situation that they had found themselves in. But nothing could be changed now. Could he allow himself to stay? He wanted to, more than anything. But at the risk to her honour? He was exhausted, and the journey back to his room would not be an easy one. Resolve rapidly crumbling, he nodded. “I must leave at first light.” That would give them a few hours at least. “I’ll have to leave before your maids arrive.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “Goodnight, love.” In the morning they would talk everything over properly and review their options. Thomas wasn’t going to let Anneliese go without a fight, even if it meant another beating from her brother.

❝ i think he’s worked it out on his own... it must have happened a few weeks before we left england i think, but he’s been getting a bit more confident with his theories by the looks of it. ❞ it certainly wouldn’t be the end of the world if henry knew, but anneliese would have rather kept it between her and thomas nonetheless. thomas’ thoughts on alexandra’s marriage was painfully accurate, yet liese was still a bit confused about the whole thing. ❝ yes, but-... i often wonder why such an arrangement even occurred. she is older than i, i would assume that she would get a more powerful match than i could. ❞ then again, her older sister was quite unpleasant. maybe it was her need for a throne that drove all worthwhile suitors away. the idea of blackmail was unsavory, and yet anneliese was definitely not above it if it meant staying with thomas. 

if her mother found out that she was actually happy with thomas, she would undoubtedly find the nearest prince for her to marry. it was bad enough that she wouldn’t be able to be with thomas, but there was a large chance that she would need to move to some foreign land and never see him again. the thought was too painful to dwell on, though it motivated her further to find a solution. ❝ we shall resolve this... i promise. ❞ anneliese nodded once at the promise before kissing his cheek. if she had to recruit an italian priest to wed her and thomas in the middle of the night, she would. ❝ goodnight, ❞ the princess replied before leaning over to blow out the candle on her bedside table. 

[hergrvce]

THOMAS NEVILLE

“What do you think your oldest brother would make of it?” It was something that Thomas had wondered more than once. Could they potentially have an ally in the future king? He doubted it, but perhaps it would be worth Anneliese trying to feel out. Things would have been so much easier had she been the daughter of a nobleman, he wouldn’t have trouble asking for her hand then, but at the same time she wouldn’t have had the experiences that made her Anneliese. It was what it was. “I’m glad you like it.” He spoke quietly, the corners of his mouth tipping upwards in a soft smile. “I suppose that we will simply have to come up with a rather time consuming study that will keep you occupied for a while.” But just what would that be? He’d have to look through his books, see if there was something plausibly complicated that they would be able to use as a cover.

“I loathe to say it, but would bribery be a possibility with William should it come to it?” Not that Thomas had much he would be able to contribute. Whilst the stipend he received was enough to survive on, it was not enough to do so comfortably, nor did his father have much interest in providing funds. “It would be difficult for us to return to England without being arrested.” Not that they could go beyond the palace, given the situation with the plague. “You must be tired, the hour must be late now.” He hadn’t a clock in his room, so he couldn’t have said what time William had ambushed him, and he hadn’t paid enough attention to Anneliese’s chamber to see if she had one above the mantle.

❝ Henry? Oh, I-... well if I am being honest, I do think he’s known. About us, I mean. He hasn’t said anything about it, but the look he gives me when he sees us together, and how he asks about you when we talk. I don’t know, it is only a feeling I suppose, but I do think he knows. ❞ Anneliese turned back to face him with a small smile though somewhat tired. ❝ He would be a great ally though. He speaks well of you and he is sympathetic to my situation with my mother. Besides, I would think that Alexandra would need to be wed before I should be. And while she is engaged, should there not be a wedding? Perhaps I am being too optimistic, but I think we have a bit more time... hopefully. ❞ that was an extremely optimistic view of course, but Anneliese could dream. Turning her attention back to her new necklace and ring, The girl settled back beside him, still looking warmly.

❝ It may be possible, but I do not think we have anything of much value to him. Unless you can think of something? ❞ With a sigh, she leaned up to kiss his cheek. ❝ Never mind him though. I do not even want you to think of that wretch, he done enough tonight. Just rest, attempt to relax. ❞ Her hand gently stroked his chest, mindful of the ribs that were most likely broken from the blows. It killed her to think about her own brother doing this to Thomas. If anything, it only pushed her further in the direction of running off with Thomas all together. Face hidden on his neck, Anneliese just wanted to be close to him. ❝ Stay with me? The hour is late, and I want you to be comfortable. The door is locked, no one will know...❞

[hergrvce]

THOMAS NEVILLE

His eyes softened, a weight lifting from him. They had each other for as long as fate would allow, and longer, if Thomas had anything to say about it. Letting the chain drop, he took hold of it with his free hand and carefully lowered it over her head. A finger trailed carefully over her collarbone once the chain had settled around her throat. “There, it’s where it belongs now.” He could only dream of the day that he could slide it on to her finger, but having it nestled close to her heart was good enough for him for now. It was safer at any rate. A ring on a chain could be easily hidden under her gowns, but on her hand? No, that was asking for more trouble than they were already. At some point soon they had would have to discuss what the future would hold for them, to come up with suitable plans for every eventuality. But that didn’t have to happen tonight. No, he simply wanted to enjoy her company and attempt to ignore the pain he felt.

“It was my mother’s.” He began, head tilting towards the ring. “It’s the ring my father gave her when they married. She could have given it to my brother, Ned, but I think she knew such sentiments would be lost on him.” Much like Anneliese and William, Thomas and his older brother were quite the opposite in personality. God, what would his mother think if she knew who he had given her ring to? Margaret Neville could be a fearsome woman, and Thomas did not doubt that he could rely on her for support, but even she was no match for the English crown. “However few and far between those moments currently are?” And it would remain that way for as long as her parents kept her unmarried. How much longer that would be for he could not say. Thomas was not privy to those sort of discussions. But he had to be realistic; Anneliese was a young woman in her prime, and England was an eagerly sought after ally for many nations.

Once he had lowered his necklace around her neck, Anneliese moved her hair from underneath the chain and looked at the ring looped in it. His comment brought a small smile to her lips and she brought her gaze back up to her tutor instead. If only she could wear it on her finger -- Anneliese would proudly display it for everyone to see. It was simple and elegant; not gaudy like some of the wedding rings people had around here. Best of all, it came from within his own family. The two could not even have an engagement, but she appreciated this promise nonetheless and she would fight to keep it. Reaching down, the girl gingerly lifted the ring to really look at it. Part of her was tempted to slide it on her finger, but perhaps she should save that for when Thomas left. 

The two had to have a bit more time before her own parents found a suitor for her. Her sister had already been engaged so naturally, Anneliese was next. The idea of anyone else having her hand in marriage brought knots to her stomach, but her stupidly optimistic mind thought that the best would come from this in one way or another. How could she live apart from Thomas? He had been her only comfort far before this crisis happened and those feelings were enough to let her know that the man was the one she must spend the rest of her life with. Until then, the ring would stay safe on the necklace tucked beneath her clothing -- morning or night, Anneliese would wear it always. ❝ However few and far between these moments are... ❞ she repeated with a small nod. ❝ Though I shall try to be with you more often. William is-... he is a damned work, but he would have to loathe me in order to tell our parents. And if he does, then we shall find new ways to be together. I promise. ❞ With that, the princess picked up his hand to kiss his knuckles, lips lingering for a moment.

[hergrvce]

ofscholars‌:

The corners of his mouth quirked in an amused smile as she picked up the Shakespeare. It had been some time since he had last lost himself in the forest of Arden, and he was quite happy to reunite himself with Rosalind and Celia. Sitting in bed together, reading by candlelight… it was something that Thomas could easily allow himself to get used to. Her low murmur filled the room, accompanied by their breathing and the steady turn of the well-worn pages. It could almost be described as blissful, had the circumstances that had led him to her chamber had been different. They were balancing on a knife edge, that much was obvious to him. Their options were growing even more limited than they had already, and so much now rested on William’s next moves. If he kept his new found knowledge to himself they could carry on as they had been, but if he were to tell the King and Queen… it would back them into a corner with only a handful of options. Regardless of what happened, he couldn’t lose her.

He had lost himself in thought when she spoke. “Do I? Oh, no.” Well, nothing beyond her, that is. “Liese,” He began, wincing as he shifted to face her, withdrawing his arm from around her shoulders. “Neither of us can predict what will happen now, although we can perhaps guess. But regardless of what will happen, I hope you know just how I love you.” Reaching to the back of his neck, he pulled the chain over his head, coiling the chain and ring in the palm of his hand. “I want you to have this. I’ve been meaning to give you this for a while now, waiting for the right moment, although I had hoped it would perhaps be a more romantic one. But,” Carefully, he picked up the ring. “Take this as a token of my affection - a promise, if you will, that I’ll do whatever in me power for us to stay together.”

if only he were not so injured -- this might have been a perfect night. no doubt that she would be far too tempted by his lips to read, but anneliese didn’t particularly mind the distraction. but no, she had her duty to care for him, not just give in and kiss him all night like they had a few nights prior. she hadn’t been able to get that out of her mind though... him and her laying on his bed with his hand running up her leg were moments she’s dreamt of since. there were also the occasional nightmares of what might happen if william had actually told her parents what was happening between her and tom. sure, he had went after thomas for having an “affair” with his sister, but had he kept it to himself? if not, the couple would have far bigger issues than a bloodied nose. 

he’d said her name, and the princess bent the top corner of that book to save her place before turning her attention to him. those were the exact words he felt. of course she was scared of what was to come; there was no way to predict anything. thomas was her only anchor in the midst of the chaos. ❝ i love you too, ❞ anneliese replied quietly, though her tone still remained full of love. eyes followed his hands to his chest as he pulled his necklace off -- something she stupidly hadn’t noticed until now. was this... a ring? for a moment, her heart felt as if it had stopped inside her chest. it wasn’t a proposal, but this was what they could do given their circumstances. actually, anneliese preferred it to a proposal that might not be carried through. this way she could just promise herself to him as long as she could before her mother decided to ruin everything. there were a few seconds where she didn’t exactly know what to say. the girl was at a loss for words and simply leaned forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips before pulling away to look at her new favorite belonging. ❝ and i shall do the same... it will remind me of you even during the short moments we’re apart... ❞ because let’s face it, the two were inseparable. it was bittersweet, but certainly something that anneliese would hold on to forever. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE.

If Anneliese said that it was safe to remain in her chambers then he would accept it. He sighed softly. Would they get any answers out of her twin brother? Probably not. Perhaps they would have to be more careful going forward, but Thomas was not sure what they could do to be more careful. Would they have to cut down their time spent together for a while? It wasn’t an idea he was keen on. Perhaps they would have to invite Alexandra to study with them, at least once, in the hopes that would dispel enough. Hiding away wasn’t ideal, but it had to be done. He didn’t want to jeopardise things more so than he had already. 

“Surprise me.” For once he didn’t mind. If Anneliese wanted to read Candide he would happily listen; he knew how fond she was of the novel. Her touch was light on his chest, his skin warming under her gentle touch. As she settled against him Thomas wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “You have proved yourself a worthy physician, my love.” He smiled softly despite the discomfort, resting his head against hers. “Now, have you decided what we are to read tonight?” She had yet to pass any comment on the chain around his neck, and part of Thomas wished that he curiosity would not get the better of her, but he supposed that was yet to be seen. His eyes trailed around the room with its sumptuous silk panelling on the walls and the fine view afforded by the large windows. There were certainly worse places to convalesce than the bed of the woman he loved.

AT THIS POINT, SHE PROBABLY COULD HAVE RECITED candide to him from memory, but anneliese guessed that he was probably tired of her rambling about voltaire and would probably like to hear something he liked more. the princess leaned up to gently kiss his lips, hand still lightly lingering on his chest before reaching over to pick up the shakespeare work on her side desk. ❝ and as my patient, i must please you over my own reading preferences, ❞ the girl grinned to herself, settling back into a comfortable position beside him and flipping to the last place she left off. if only these were better circumstances. she’d always imagined thomas in her room, but not in these dark conditions. anneliese would’ve liked him to stay the night for some romantic occasion -- not because he had to seek safety from her own brother. god, the nerve of william. she could kill him herself. 

the princess read, green eyes glancing over to the man beside her to periodically check on whether or not he was okay with no sides of discomfort. tonight was a definite display of how dangerous their relationship could be. would her mother take similar actions against thomas? never had they punished someone directly, but would they? no... her father would never allow it. her mother was powerful, but she was not the king. leaning over to kiss his shoulder, she took a pause from the reading after a few minutes. ashamedly, him and his lack of a shirt (her fault, of course) were quite tempting to her. although she wished that they would’ve had a moment similar to that of the other time she visited his room, anneliese knew that thomas was in no position to be moving at all. ❝ do you require anything? water? ❞ 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

Thomas wasn’t terribly surprised that the Queen’s obvious preference for William would extend to turning a blind eye to his activities. But the Prince’s pursuits mattered little as long as a fine match was arranged for marriage in the end. It was horribly unfair, but it was how things worked. Thomas hoped that it would change, but he doubted that it would ever be in his lifetime. “If only she would, but that would require for her to have a complete change of personality.” Something that would never happen. “You know I want to, but only if it is safe.” It wasn’t fair to cause any more problems for her. Did any of her family beyond William know about them? And if they did, would they be as displeased? As the second son of an Earl, Thomas was not what would constitute as a fine match to her parents, regardless of how well he and Anneliese worked together. “I am comfortable.”

“In my experience, you’ve never had much in common.” In many ways they were complete opposites. He cast a sidelong glance at her once she had settled on the opposite side of the bed. “I’m not going to break, you know. You don’t have to spend the entire night on the edge of the bed. Come here. If you stay on this side you won’t get my ribs.” Raising his arm, he motioned for her to move closer. “I wouldn’t mind some reading. Candide?” He asked, catching sight of the book in question. “I suppose I’ll allow it this time. Start from wherever you left off, you don’t need to restart on my account.” If only it could always be like this. Well, like this but without his injuries. It was certainly something that he could get used to. “I am sorry to have disturbed you like this, but my first thought was to get to you.”

ANNELIESE WONDERED IF HER MOTHER’S tendencies towards william would extend towards alexandra as well. was her inflexibility for her daughters in general, or just her? she didn’t want to think about it right now, there were far more pressing matters to attend to -- mainly tom’s senseless injuries caused by her brother. ❝ it is safe, ❞ she assured him. her staff would never enter her chambers if her doors were locked, they knew well enough not to. if william’s big mouth ran off to tell the entire palace about his sister’s relationship, her servants would definitely know not to bother her too. it was yet another thing to worry about, but the girl didn’t want to add on any more stress. she would deal with her parents and her brother when the time came. perhaps her father would be forgiving as he usually was with her. 

green eyes looked over to tom, a small smile on her lips as he raised his arm for her to move closer. ❝ i’ve as you like it as well, ❞ she offered, quickly reaching to her table to collect the book from her lower shelf. setting it beside voltaire’s, anneliese allowed herself to move close to him -- head resting on his shoulder and hand light on his chest. ❝ do not apologize. i would never forgive myself if i hadn’t been able to assist you. ❞ she didn’t even fret over whether or not anyone saw him come to her door. her tutor had been beaten by her own brother. her twin brother at that. part of her was still in disbelief that it had happened. with a small sigh of defeat, the princess pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of his jaw and then the top of his shoulder. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

Now that was a surprise. “Clár and William?” He couldn’t quite believe it. The nerve of the boy! When he himself was in a similar situation. Although, Thomas doubted that it was anything serious, given the prince’s behaviour. And for Clár to be involved with him… she had always been so nice. What could the attraction have been? “I don’t know how much good that would do, Liese. You know that the standards William is held to are different to the ones your parents hold you to. It’s unfair but it is what it his.” He attempted to placate Anneliese. “A bit bruised…” he mused. “I’m glad you think me handsome still.” His mouth tipped upwards in a small smile. 

“Thank you,” He murmured quietly once Anneliese had finished cleaning his face up. He allowed her to remove his shirt with few protestations, lifting his arms to free them from the sleeves. “Think I’ll make a full recovery?” He asked in an attempt to distract himself from the fact that his shirt was being carried away. This was the most undressed he had ever been with her, and the chain that hung around his neck could no longer be hidden. He could only hope that she wouldn’t pay much attention to it. Thomas let himself be moved into a more comfortable position; at this point he was in too much discomfort to argue, and she was being so gentle. “Are you sure?” He asked, turning his head to watch her as she dampened the cloth. “I don’t want to cause more trouble for you than William has.” He could only hope that her lady’s maid wouldn’t disturb them come morning. He had little doubt that any of her family would. The bed was certainly far more comfortable than the narrow one in his room with it’s straw-stuffed mattress. This was a luxury he had not been able to enjoy since England.

THE DOUBLE STANDARDS WERE ENOUGH TO make her want to fight it out with her mother. he was sleeping with the servant and got no penalty for it, meanwhile william feels like he’s entitled to beat thomas. she sighed in surrender -- thomas’ argument was true. ❝ perhaps my mother should be more concerned about who her favorite twin is sleeping with rather than my relationships. he’s slept with half the wait staff, yet he hasn’t gotten a broken nose for it. ❞ for god’s sake, her and tom hadn’t even had sex, and this was happening? ❝ of course you’ll make a full recovery, don’t be silly, ❞ anneliese replied with an attempted hint of a smile, trying the door handle to be sure it was locked. ❝ and i am sure i want you to stay with me. your room and that bed cannot be good for your body at a time like this. you need to be comfortable... ❞

her brother’s name was now repulsive. she half wondered if she herself should take care of it rather than sending one of her guards to deliver a solid punch to the face... that saying her guard would be willing. ❝ you’re no trouble to me in the slightest. i apologise for this... we might be twins, but it seems as if he’s contracted the hatefulness of our mother. ❞ though this was the most undressed he’s been around her, anneliese was hardly focusing on the curvatures of his body. he was attractive, and she’d known that much for a while now, but it was not the time for swooning. ❝ i do want you to rest though. the door is locked, no more worrying about the others. ❞ finally, the girl moved to the other side of the bed and laid beside him, though not touching the man in the fear of hurting him more than her brother had. luckily, the bed was large enough to accommodate. her copy of candide was surely noticeable from the bedside table on tom’s side which caused a small smirk, but anneliese directed her attention to making sure those pillows behind tom’s head were arranged properly for him. ❝ i could read to you if you’d like... or if you’d like to go to bed i shall get the candles. ❞

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

Thomas allowed himself to be ushered into the room, wincing as he settled onto the plush bed, his free hand returning to his ribs. What had happened to him? Why, he almost wanted to laugh. “Your twin brother happened.” Grimacing as he pulled his hand away from his face. “He knows. I don’t know how… perhaps we haven’t been as secretive as we had thought. As you can tell, he wasn’t best pleased.” He let her dab the sheet to his face, the cool water a welcome respite from the tightness caused by the drying blood. “I don’t think he hit hard enough to break anything, or at least I hope not.” The bruising would be bad enough as it was - he would hardly be able to hide a black eye.

His eyes trailed down to his shirt and the spots of blood upon it. There would be no rescuing it now. Thomas had given back as good as he got, or at least he hoped he had. But the Prince had been the stronger of the two, and had caught Thomas by surprise in the first instance, knocking Thomas onto the back foot. “I don’t think you can send William to jail, no matter how much you may wish to.” He sighed. “How does it look? Will I still be handsome?” He attempted to joke, his small chuckle turning into a hiss of pain as the movement jostled his ribs. He had never anticipated anything like this happening should her family have ever found out, but he supposed that he shouldn’t have been too surprised… and thankful that William hadn’t tried anything worse than simply beating him.

ANNELIESE WAS KNELT IN FRONT OF THOMAS, continuing her tending to the dried blood on his face before noticing how his hand went to his ribs. her brother. she should’ve known, he was always such a little snake. why did he care in the first place? it had nothing to do with him. and as if he was so perfect. anneliese scoffed, peaks of her cheeks reddening at the heightened blood pressure from the immense anger she felt for her own brother. ❝ then perhaps i shall tell our parents of him fooling around with that irish servant girl running around here too, ❞ she nearly spat before regaining her composure to gently dab away red stains around his nose. eyes melted back to concern as she did so -- the girl leaning up to kiss his forehead and then carrying on with her task. ❝ you will always be handsome. a bit bruised, but still handsome. ❞ 

after cleaning up his face the best she could, anneliese directed her attention to those ribs. ❝ i believe its just a bruise, you’d be on the floor in pain if your ribs were broken... come- ❞ lithe fingers unbuttoned his shirt and slid it off his shoulders to take a better look. just as she thought: bruised, but not broken. with a sigh, anneliese stacked a few pillows and lead him to lean against them on the headboard before taking off his shoes cautiously lifting his legs so he could lay down and get some pressure off his back and torso. oh, she was going to get william for this. it wasn’t a little fight, this was a betrayal. of course anneliese knew that he didn’t like thomas, but this? the normally graceful princess was fuming on the inside yet managing to hide it for tom. laying his shirt over a nearby chair, anneliese went to dampen a washcloth with cool water in attempt to soothe his injuries. ❝ i want you to stay here tonight... ❞

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

@hergrvce​

One hand bracing his ribs and another pressing a handkerchief to his nose, Thomas made his way as stealthily as possible through the servants corridors towards the part of the palace that housed the English’s apartments. He still wasn’t quite sure what had happened. One minute he had been reading in his room, the next minute William had knocked at the door and greeted Thomas with a fist. The young Prince had found out somehow about his twin’s relationship with her tutor, and had seemingly decided to take matters into his own hands. Thomas had always found William to be unpleasant, but even this was a step further than he had ever anticipated. He had never expected the man to be violent. But if he thought it would dissuade Thomas from continuing the relationship then he was wrong. Yes, Thomas was a cautious man by nature but he wasn’t about to take the coward’s way out. He loved Anneliese more than anything, and a bloody face and bruised ribs wasn’t going to change that.

The apartments were quiet, the wall sconces casting long shadows down the hall, a clock chiming midnight in the drawing room. He carefully picked his way towards Anneliese’s room, coming to a stop outside her door. Relinquishing his hold on his ribs, he quietly knocked at the door. “Liese, it’s me.” The words somewhat muffled from the handkerchief staunching the flow of blood. “Let me in? Please.” Every breath hurt and he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to stand.

SHE HAD SPENT THE DAY MOSTLY TO HERSELF aside from the few hours her and thomas had together for her studies. anneliese supposed that things did look rather suspicious. what tutor could have so much to teach a student? at this point, anneliese should have known everything. the princess had turned in relatively early and remained sat in bed with her project of hand sewing a handkerchief occupying her for hours upon hours. time spent in vain honestly, the girl wasn’t as talented as she’d hoped she’d be with needlework. it provoked a newfound appreciation for her tailors. 

a knock on her door puzzled her for a moment -- the servants never came to her chambers this late at night, and each of her siblings were far too annoying to knock before entering. it wasn’t until she heard thomas’ pleading voice did she throw her needlework on her side desk and rush to open the door. and upon doing so, her eyes widened with threatening pricks of tears at what had happened. never before had she felt so much worry nor anger for thomas and then the person who had done this. the princess ushered him in quickly and locked the door behind before leading him to sit on the bed. ❝ what happened to you? is anything broken? jesus, who is responsible for this, i swear i shall have them sent to the jail- ❞ annneliese smoothed her tutor’s hair away from his face and took the corner of her bedsheets, dipping it in her cup of water to dab the blood from his face. ❝ let me see... ❞ her voice was softer though still concerned as she tenderly moved his hand and handkerchief away from his bloody nose. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

“Well then,” Thomas began, an amused smile twitching beneath his moustache. “what I suggest is that you simply look away whilst I prepare my tea if it upsets you so. Focus on your studies instead.” The smile on his face sobered slightly. “You certainly know how to sweet talk a man.” God, she was intoxicating. A low moan rumbled from his chest, his hands pulling her flush against him. 

“Liese, please.” The words stumbled from his lips between hitched breaths, the warmth of her mouth against his skin sending his pulse thrumming through his veins. Was she aware of just how she affected him? “Don’t say that.” He murmured. “Because it’s too tempting.” An uninterrupted evening in bed with her? Thomas wanted little else than that and he was finding it increasingly difficult to refuse her. The hand on his abdomen was maddening, a part of him desperately wishing for it to move lower. The hand on her leg fisted itself into the fabric of her skirts once it had passed her knee, pulling the fabric up to reveal her stockinged legs. Was there a moment headier than this? He pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses to her lips as his lithe fingers relinquished their grasp on the now bunched fabric, his lithe fingers brushing against hers as his hand moved to hook around her thigh, seeking the satiny skin above the stocking.

A creak of the floorboards beyond his door had him suddenly frozen in place, followed by a laboured cough echoing off the stone walls. Thomas snapped back to reality in that moment, nearly tumbling from the bed as he untangled himself from Anneliese’s embrace. “Did you hear that?” He asked quickly as he tried to recover his breath, widened eyes locked on the door. “Forgive me.” He took hold of her cloak and held it towards her. “You need to go. I’ll call on you tonight, you have my word.” How things could change from such bliss within a moment. “Please?” Death was stalking the corridors of the palace, and Thomas was sure that it would reach the servants’ quarters before those of the royals. However much he wanted Anneliese - to show her just how much he loved her - it couldn’t be there. The risk was too great in his mind.

she savored those pleading words of his, lips tilting into a small grin against his lips before her hands moved back upwards on his chest. ❝ allow me to tempt you then, ❞ anneliese responded smoothly, voice just above a whisper. her fingers unbuttoned tom’s first button, then his second before her breath caught at the sensation of his hand on her upper thigh. never before had a person touched her so sensually, and the princess was taking every second in. she kissed him back fervently, moaning quietly against his heated kisses with hips beginning to lift slightly to press against his. it was almost an involuntary action, but anneliese knew exactly what she wanted from him. the girl was twenty-five after all, and what was between her and thomas had been lingering for far too long. 

with his hand around her thigh, she hoped that he would allow himself to touch her more sensitive areas. she undid another one of his buttons, hands once again moving downward and under his shirt so she was able to feel the soft ridges of his torso. legs moved apart ever so slightly as if to invite him to explore some more -- and her lips never left tom’s until the man was fleeing the bed as if she had the plague herself. those green eyes of her were widened in worry as she quickly sat up in the bed, though she did need a moment or two before standing given the way her knees were shaking from what had just occurred. ❝ hear what? ❞ was it that cough? the faint cough coming from beyond the door? anneliese knew she had to be forgiving... his childhood certainly had a toll on him. pushing disheveled hair behind her ear, the princess cleared her throat in attempt to make herself somewhat presentable before taking that cloak he offered. ❝ a-alright... ❞ anneliese managed to stutter, seemingly unable to make eye contact with him for the time being. was it something she had done? yes, he said it was the cough, but what if it was her? 

no, it couldn’t be. she knew tom too well, it had to haven been that stupid cough. the cloak draped around her shoulders and anneliese was soon standing from the bed and going to thomas to kiss his cheek gingerly. ❝ tonight... but i shall not be offended if you would rather stay inside. ❞ all she could think of was his warm touch on her upper thigh and his lips devouring her own, but it would have to wait. with another gentle kiss to his lips followed with a nod, she opened the door just enough for her to slip out to the hallway just in case he did not want more exposure to the outside world. 

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

It was funny how things worked out, but Thomas had always been a big believer in fate. Although perhaps now he was beginning to question that at times. What if he became the master of his own fate? There was a part of him, a part that grew with every look and kiss, that longed to cast off the rule book. To forsake their stations and steal her away from her life as a Princess. It was the only way they would be able to be together for the rest of their lives, but it was no light decision to make, however much he dreamed of it. Those moments where he entertained such ideas were always followed by being returned to reality. They couldn’t elope, it was her duty to marry and further the influence of England. She would make a fine queen one day, he knew it, it was what was fated. But still there was that part of him he so desperately tried to ignore. They could have a quiet life together, a home up north, a family, if only they could take that step in the face of the repercussions it would cause for them both.

“No!” He laughed. “Just because it is expensive doesn’t mean it’s fine as it is.” Thomas insisted. “Allow me this, hmm? I’m not forcing you to drink my ridiculously sweet tea, myself only.” Was it really that bad? He had always had a sweet tooth, and with tea, the more honey in it the better as far as he was concerned. “Only partially? Well I shall have to try be-” His words were cut off by her lips, and Thomas had no complaints. Eyes falling shut as he returned the kiss with fervour, his hand tightened its grip on her bodice, seeking purchase on the fabric of her bodice. The heady, floral scent of her perfume filled his senses, the warmth of her hand seeping through the thin linen of his shirt. He would never tire of this. How could he? She had bewitched him.

An eyebrow raised. “In here? What happened to your bedchamber tonight?” Not that he was complaining, especially if it meant he could keep her in his bed for longer. Closing the distance once more Thomas captured Anneliese’s lips in a heated kiss, unwilling to let the moment pass them by. No one would be disturbing them here. As if purely by instinct his hand left its spot at her waist, trailing languidly down her leg.

anneliese had never thought she would be a queen. she was the fourth born, and her mother did not hold her in the highest regards, so she doubted that she’d receive the best arrangement. still, if anneliese was to marry a man in line for a throne, she was unsure about how well she would handle the title. on the other side of things, anneliese definitely daydreamed about running away with thomas. eloping wasn’t acceptable to her family in the slightest, but what other option did the two have if their relationship would be severely protested if found out? those fears were nothing in comparison to even the thought of a life void of tom. it was her duty by birth to be married and advance the country, but couldn’t her other siblings fulfill those expectations just was well without her? anneliese would find a way to be with him -- she would be sure of that. 

❝ no, you are not forcing me, but i must stay beside you and watch when you absolutely defile your tea- ❞ the princess replied dramatically although she was unable to keep from laughing at herself. ❝ ah, but you are as sweet as all that honey you run the palace dry of. ❞ and his lips were just as wonderful. with his hands gripping onto her waist, anneliese couldn’t help but reciprocate the sense of need he exuded -- allowing her tongue to lightly tease at his bottom lip for only a moment before resuming their heated kiss. she had been comfortable with thomas for so long that these newer proceedings didn’t scare her in the slightest, but exhilarated the girl. 

once he pulled his lips away from hers to speak, anneliese instead moved her head to place light kisses along his jaw and neck as to keep her tutor continuously thinking about what else the two of them could engage in that night. ❝ no one can find us in here... i would rather have an uninterrupted evening with you- ❞ her lips soon made their way to tom’s once again, this time anneliese feeling his hand trailing down her leg which made her wonder where it would eventually end up. one of her own hands moved down and rested on his lower abdomen while her other lithely rested on his which was down her leg -- not to stop it, but to add to the sensuality of it all.

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

And how far away from home they were, and were likely to remain for some time. England was but a distant memory now, it’s lush green forests and stone castles as good as only existed in their minds now. His family crossed his mind now more than ever in the days since the plague had hit the Sardinian shores. Were they well? He didn’t particularly care about his father or his brother, but he did worry for the rest of his family. Were his mother and sister well? Was his uncle, to whom he owed so much? What few letters they had received since arriving had all but ceased, no doubt the unrest outside of the island had put a stop to the trade routes throughout Europe. “I can’t blame you there. These are troubling times.” He frowned. 

“Oh, good.” His eyes trailed to the north facing window of his room. It didn’t exactly give the light he would need to sketch her. And whilst they couldn’t go out into the gardens, it would be a fine place to work. “Sounds good to me.” A small chuckle escaped his lips, his eyes downcast to his linen sheets. “It is, even if I can’t always believe how fortunate it has made me.” But perhaps there were journeys of hers he would not be able to follow her on. God forbid the day she married some foreign royal. It would be a fight to go with her then, and Thomas was quite convinced that it would break his heart. “Sometimes these decisions will be beyond you and I.” 

His expression was doubtful, although an amused smile tugged at his lips. “Says who, exactly? It’s too bitter without. It just tastes like… leaves. It’s vastly better with copious amounts of honey, believe me.” Thomas nodded resolutely. Gentle hands wrapping around his arms, Thomas allowed himself to be pulled down beside her on the narrow bed, rolling to face her. “Oh, do you now?” He hummed. “How about this?” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Or this?” to her cheek,his hand settling in the curve of her waist. “This?” to her nose. “No, I think perhaps this will convince you.” he pressed a featherlight kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Suitably convinced?” Thomas asked in a murmur.

she wondered whether or not they would have crossed the threshold into their romance had this worldwide illness not occurred. perhaps they might have stayed a student and a tutor without the prompted panic and isolation, but anneliese hoped otherwise. now that she had felt his hand on her cheek and tasted his pillow-soft lips, the princess couldn’t imagine a life without his love. while she did admire tom’s uncle for the obvious reasons and as much as she was thankful to him for his challenging regime of teaching, anneliese was thankful to god that he had retired and left tom with her. and if the plague had not happened but they still found the path to their love affair, anneliese was convinced that it would have been far easier to sneak around her own palace. they could isolate themselves in the secret rooms around the building, and anneliese might have even trusted her closest friends who belonged to the staff. 

her thought were cut off by his statement. as much as she wanted to argue him, she knew he was right. there were to be circumstances that she nor he could not control. anneliese was lucky enough to have a close relationship with her father that made him agree to have thomas come to italy, but an arranged marriage would be a different story. anneliese could bring him along to further her studies, but how could she subject thomas to the degrading label of side affair? and he would have to both witness her marriage to some stranger while being away from his family. of course she would protest a marriage and abstain as long as possible, but it was not her choice as a whole. anneleise did not reply and instead focused on now. 

her hand slowly moved up from his chest -- anneliese allowing herself to feel every subtle curve along the way, before resting it on his cheek. ❝ tea is expensive leaves, so you may as well savour it without additives, ❞ she grinned, squealing a small laugh and squeezing her eyes shut when he peppered kisses over her face. finally his lips reached her own. ❝ partially, ❞ anneliese replied, pulling him down further and meeting his lips in a longing, nearly hungry kiss. it was always assumed that a woman should never instigate these things, but they weren’t any average couple. they could not be together or touch nearly as much as they would’ve liked, so the princess had to lock in even the smallest detail of thomas neville. they had only kissed a number of times, but his lips were too addictive. anneliese pulled away only an inch or two with a small grin, hand moving back down to his chest and only thinking about unbuttoning that shirt of his. ❝ we could skip dinner and barricade ourselves here instead... ❞

[hergrvce]

&&. THOMAS NEVILLE. 

“Perhaps we might need to finally move you on to another novel then. I know, I know, Candide is your favourite, but there are more things to discover. L’Ingénu, maybe? It’s still Voltaire…. Or, perhaps, I have a better idea.” He grinned. How even a few minutes of talking with her had been able to soothe him he did not know, but he appreciated it none the less. 

That wasn’t an offer he had been expecting, and he couldn’t mask the surprise on his face. “You would do that?” Thomas could tell that she had been pleased by the sketches, but he didn’t think that she would offer to sit for him. He could certainly see the benefits on taking her up on the offer, but at the same time, there was something vulnerable - something intimate - about it. “I would like you to, if you really wish it..” Perhaps having her there in front of him as he sketched her would finally allow him to draw a likeness he was satisfied with, although his hand would never be able to truly capture her beauty. “Good. For if you were to go off on an adventure, I would be unable to stay here. My place is wherever you are.” As it had been for the last four years. He would have no position at court if it was not for her. He would have to find other means of employment, for he would not be able to go on to tutor another for it would not be the same, would not yield the same amount of satisfaction as his time with Anneliese had. 

“Is that convincing enough?” He murmured against the delicate skin of her neck. “Or do you require more convincing?” It was a bold move he had made on impulse - too bold, perhaps. “My tea?” He exclaimed quietly, pulling back slightly to look at her. “Now what exactly about how I prefer my tea offends you? Too sweet for you liking?” His line of mirth was suddenly stopped when she moved to lie on his bed. How right the sight was, as if she belonged there. And in truth, she did. His hand itched to preserve such a sight on paper, but now was not the time. For now he would have to commit it to memory. Thomas remained rooted to his spot, unwilling for the moment to end.

THOMAS SEEMED MORE AT EASE THAN HE HAD been when he opened the door for her. seeing who was usually such a confident man be reduced to a nervous mess all because of this illness was more than concerning. he had a logical reasoning for everything, but tonight she had seen a different side to him. “l’ingénu...” she repeated just before shrugging a shoulder. “perhaps. but i crave the familiarity candide allows me. especially while we’re so far from home.” the only relief she received were from her literature and thomas, so anneliese would hold on to those two things with everything she had. 

“of course i would. i would be happy to,” she answered. sitting for him as he drew her was quite romantic in her mind. uninterrupted time together for hours at a time? that was heaven to the princess. “i’ve a chaise in my room directly near a window, you could draw me there so you have all the light you need.” luckily her doors locked and her servants along with her family were quite respectful of that... well, aside from her brothers who would relentlessly try to pound on the doors. they were in truth the reason she locked her doors in the first place. “i would never go on such an adventure without you. surely my insisting you come here with me was enough to convince you of that,” anneliese spoke tenderly, a soft smile gracing blushed lips. and it was true -- anneliese would never leave thomas. god only knew what her future held; perhaps her parents would push her into a marriage tomorrow, but anneliese would insist on thomas accompanying her. 

his lips against her neck yet again made her mouth fall slightly agape in pleasure with a upward tilt of her lips, eyes blinking closed to savour the sensation. he pulled away far to soon, but she couldn’t help but chuckle. “yes, tea is not meant to be syrup, tom.” the princess enjoyed taking tea with him, for it always gave her a chance to tease him for his habits. when she laid down, anneliese set the book aside on the bed and then tugged tom down to lay beside her -- one of the most intimate actions aside from his kisses on her neck. “and... I do require more convincing.”