In His Arms

Florence's heart was beating frantically. She had one arm around Henry's neck, and the other resting on his chest. Her face was burning red and she could not look up. The walk was silent, except for Henry's feet crushing the grass and leaves underneath.

The proximity made it difficult for Florence to focus on anything else but Henry. His strong arms wrapped around her, his hard chest she rested her head against, his smell that filled her nose. It was so overwhelming that she felt a bit lightheaded.

She closed her eyes and inhaled silently, letting his scent fill her nostrils–he smelled like the forest. When she opened her eyes, they ventured to look up. She decided to risk it and study his face. Every time the sun rays that shot through the branches hit his face, his hazel eyes turned golden. Her hand twitched to push the few locks of hair that were hiding part of his hooded eyes, but she decided against it.

Florence's eyes roamed over to his straight nose, it was slightly raised at the base. Then she noticed his lips, full and tinted a deep pink color. She remembered how they felt when she kissed them, they were soft. She gulped. Then, she noticed Henry's lips twitch.

"Do you want to say something, Lady Kalwen?"

Florence's eyes were wide. 'W–when did he start looking at me?'

She made the mistake of meeting his ambers. They were bright and amusement danced in them. Florence opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She had no idea what to say, and her silence was growing more awkward by the second.

"I–I am sorry you have to carry me, I must be heavy." She chewed on the inside of her cheek at the stupid comment she had made.

Henry took his time to respond, and Florence unconsciously held her breath. "I can manage," he finally uttered.

They were back to being silent. Florence did not have the courage to look up again, she kept her head down and her eyes fixed on her lap.

As they approached the castle, she could feel the gazes of the guests who were still around on her. Passing maids also stared. She could hear their whispers.

"Lord Flock." Florence' voice was barely audible. "Please put me down, I can ask a maid to help me walk back from here."

"We are almost there," he said.

"Everyone is looking." She sounded in pain.

Henry noticed that the back of her neck was a dark shade of red. She looked like her body had shrunk in his arms to make her look even smaller.

'Was she shy?' Henry immediately dismissed the thought. The woman had kissed him knowing that people were going to find them, to trap him. There was nothing shy about that.

A smirk tugged on his lips. He should remember what made her uncomfortable and put her in more similar situations. Her distress would bring him joy.

Henry ignored her plea and continued to the castle. He walked straight to Richard's office and opened the door without knocking.

"What happened?" Richard jumped from his chair at the sight.

"Marquis Galley happened," Henry answered as he placed Florence on the settee.

"Did he hurt you?" Richard asked his sister, he was already kneeling in front of her.

She shook her head. "But I think he was planning to." Her voice was small and emotional.

"That bloody bastard." Richard pushed to his feet, anger spreading through his chest.

"Lord Flock saved me from him," Florence added.

"I hope you don't mind that I threatened him to leave by nightfall." Henry shrugged.

"On the contrary." Richard took a step closer and squeezed his shoulder. "You have my gratitude, Henry."

Henry started to walk toward the door, before he turned back. "One more thing." He met Florence's eyes before he looked back to the earl. "Why is my fiancée not getting the medical attention she needs?"

"What do you mean?" Richard knitted her brows.

"Her ankle is still not healed."

"What? But it has been days." The earl looked back at his sister who nodded in confirmation.

"Mother forbade the doctor from treating me, as punishment," Florence said with a small voice.

Henry still could not understand how Florence's mother could punish her in that manner. Every time he saw her in the past few days, he could tell that she was in so much pain.

'Forbidding the doctor from treating your daughter is a bit extreme.' He wondered if she was always punished in that manner.

"Please, see that she is healed. I think that was the reason she was trapped by that bastard earlier."

Richard pinched the bridge of his nose before looking back at his friend. "I will take care of it."

"Thank you for all your help, Lord Flock," Florence said quickly before he turned back to leave. She stared at him with tinted cheeks and a grateful face.

Henry nodded at her before walking out of the earl's office. He looked down at his empty hands and felt a strange tug in his chest. He enjoyed holding Florence in his arms.

His feet came to a halt at the thought. 'What the bloody hell am I thinking?' He shook his head and blamed the unsettling thought on his sexual frustration. 'I need to pay Gisela a visit soon.' Henry grinned, dismissing any lingering hint of Florence Kalwen from his mind.