Chapter Twenty

Layla couldn't remember the last time she and Nieve had spoken so little despite being in each other's company nearly all day. Every time the blonde tried to talk about anything personal or to get to the bottom of their disagreement and move on, the handmaiden would either find a reason to excuse herself or would almost turn to stone and refuse to engage further.

"Nieve," she almost despaired after the second full day of this.

"I'm going to take my leave to have my supper, if it pleases you?" Nieve said but didn't wait for Layla to agree before she started towards the door.

"But…" she tried to object as she set to follow her. Her friend was surprisingly fast and by the time she set foot outside of her room, Nieve had already disappeared around the corner at the end of the corridor.

"Layla," Ryan's happy voice made her jump; she hadn't seen him come from the other way. "What's wrong?" he asked when she didn't immediately seem as happy to see him as he was to see her.

"Nieve still won't talk to me," Layla answered as she headed back into her room.

He followed her with a concerned look on his face. "I don't like seeing you miserable like this," he said as he sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. The arrangements for their engagement were in full swing, mostly using the previous arrangements but choosing slightly different details to suit Layla's power and taste.

She gave him a small smile as she tried to think of what else she could do. "Do you know where Riven is?"

A frown crossed his handsome face, his blue eyes still full of concern. "He has the day off, so you probably don't want to disturb him," he answered, and his almost-fiancée fought back a chuckle, figuring the bodyguard wanted his friend to think that he followed the guidance about releasing any sexual tension in a constructive manner with one of the handmaids, even though he didn't.

"Never mind then," she pretended. "Do you mind? I want to be by myself for a little bit."

Ryan took her in for a few seconds before he nodded. "Whatever you need," he told her before he leaned in to kiss her gently. It left her with the same tingles as their first kiss and she struggled not to wrap her arms around him to continue kissing him. "Come find me later if you change your mind, okay?" he told her when he'd pulled back.

She nodded in promise but knew she wouldn't until after she'd spoken to his bodyguard.

As soon as she knew Ryan wouldn't be able to see her, Layla made her way down the all-too familiar route to the servants' quarters. She took a deep breath before giving his door a hesitant knock. If he was in there, he'd have heard her coming. She figured he'd still appreciate the gesture though, before she disturbed him.

"It's alright, Layla, I don't mind," his voice made her jump; she'd been so lost in her thoughts about how it must be so annoying for him and that people probably stopped observing the niceties of human interaction because they knew he'd hear them anyway.

"Sorry," she blushed, her cheeks burning when he chuckled softly, his blue eyes twinkling merrily. "You know, Ryan still thinks you partake in the monthly ehm… you know," she added on, making him laugh again.

"Good," Riven nodded. His friend and by extension Lord and Lady Simia needed to think that he obeyed all of their rules. "But I'm sure you're not here to discuss my lack of engagement in scheduled sexual relations," he prompted her now, seeing her blush again as she tried desperately not to think in that direction.

"I know you can't read Nieve's mind, but you seem to understand her and you definitely spend more time with her at the minute than I do," Layla started to explain why she'd thought to come to him.

The tall bodyguard nodded in acknowledgement before he gave her a look she couldn't read. "I know she's upset with you, but she hasn't mentioned details and I've not tried to pry," he told her he wouldn't be able to help her like she was hoping. He did feel bad when he saw how hard she took his answer, even more so when her thoughts seemed to border on crying. She wore her emotions on her sleeve and her charms had a way of washing over him. In this case, her sadness for her friend's anger.

"Sorry to bother you on your day off then, Riven," Layla tried to pull herself together to remain presentable, knowing that was a skill she needed to master if she was to become Lady of Serenissima. She gave him the biggest smile she could muster before she left his room, and he could breathe again without her grief hanging over him.

"My Lord, your mother has requested your presence," Riven said a little awkwardly. Lady Simia had commanded her son's attendance immediately, regardless of what he was doing. Which in this case was sitting in the garden with his love, definitely kissing more than talking.

"In a minute," Ryan tried to dismiss him as he leaned in to kiss Layla again.

"That's not an option, sir," his bodyguard cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry," the Simia heir said softly to the blonde. "Will you stay here?" he asked her, wanting to know where he'd be able to find her once his mother was done with him.

"No, I think I might find Kaitlyn and practice my reading," Layla lowered her voice on the last part. She didn't want anyone overhearing that the future Lady Simia at present still only had the reading level of a five-year-old.

"You're doing great," he assured her proudly, kissing her again before he finally made to follow his friend. He didn't want to leave her alone, especially where Nieve had found an excuse to run an errand inside the mansion rather than be outside with her now. But he knew his mother's wishes left him no choice. "I don't suppose you know what this is about?" he asked his friend as they made their way to his mother's quarters.

"Not that she told me," Riven said.

"But you heard…?" Ryan tried fishing for details.

"Not my place," his friend shook his head.

Ryan grumbled audibly but didn't push further. He didn't want to get his friend in trouble. "So has Nieve told you why she's so upset with Layla?" he changed the subject as they walked through the halls to get to his mother's chamber. He didn't know much about his future fiancée's friend, but for as far as he could see the only one that she associated with was his bodyguard. Mostly because he and Layla had been inseparable the past few days.

"No," his friend mumbled, clearing his throat.

"It's a shame you can't read her mind," he complained with a sigh. He was having fun with Layla, but he could tell her friend's behaviour was bothering her. It really made him not like the brunette, almost regretting having stood up for her. She should appreciate everything the Simias had done for her, and there was no reason to mistreat someone as wonderful as his girlfriend. In fact, now Layla was about to be a lady, Nieve needed to show respect.

Riven clenched his jaws as he heard his friend's thoughts. Ryan would never figure out why Nieve was having such a hard time with the new situation, his way of thinking was probably the biggest problem. The brunette hadn't told him what was bothering her, but he could guess. It was hard to feel like an equal when the only reason you were in a certain room was to serve the person you considered a friend. Even if that friend didn't see you as a servant, you still were one.

The two walked the rest of the way in silence until they reached the ornate door to Lady Simia's chambers. "I'll wait outside," the bodyguard said, knowing the Lady liked the pretence of privacy almost as much as the real thing.

Ryan nodded and pushed the door open, immediately groaning when he saw the look on his mother's face. It was time for a lecture from the ice queen.

Can't you make her think that she already lectured me so I can leave? he asked his friend as he closed the door.

Riven didn't dignify his question with an answer, which, of course, told him enough. He sat down when his mother started by saying it was time they spoke. She then continued by talking about his responsibilities, the speech he'd memorised and could recite in his sleep by now, before she started on a new subject that had his heart racing.

"Layla needs to spend all her time learning. She is new and knows next to nothing about our way of life," she said, and he could tell she'd done her best to put it as nicely as she could. Her face was as cold as ever and he shivered when the temperature in the room dropped. His mother seemed to really dislike his girlfriend, he realised. "She's a handmaid, for stars' sake," she continued, whispering the word handmaid as if even saying it was an act of treason.

"She was a handmaid, she's not anymore," he told her, crossing his arms to hide that his hands were starting to glow out of anger.

"Yes, well…" She actually shrugged, clearly not seeing the difference. "That only means that she needs this time to learn. She needs to have at least a basic knowledge of our laws, and I learned she can't read. Ryan, I know you love her, but she's going to be a lady soon."

He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, unclenched his jaw and nodded. She was right, of course. But that didn't mean he had to like the way she'd said it.

"I've arranged a tutor for her. Kaitlyn has her own studying to do," she ended the conversation with something he knew Layla was going to hate.