Ch 11: Here goes nothing

Aribella POV

Everything passed by us in a blur, but my mind was focused on the flare. Obviously, Peyton knew that it was a signal for us to return, but I imagine it’s only used for something important.

The midday heat was slowly transitioning to a breezy evening, which felt amazing considering both Peyton and I were sweaty messes before taking a ride on Mimic.

It didn’t take long for the stables to come into view, and my heart skipped a beat… or five when I caught a glimpse of the royal carriage through the opening of the barn doors.

My stomach twisted into knots immediately, and bile rose in my throat.

“It’s probably nothing, you know,” Peyton spoke close to my ear, noticing my tense body. “The royal’s probably just have another injured horse.”

If that were the case, my father could have easily taken care of it.

No, my gut was screaming at me that this had everything to do with me and nothing to do with horses.

Peyton rode Mimic through the barn, and out to the front, where we skidded to a halt in front of Kaelar, Reo, and the third royal guard member that I hadn’t gotten the name of. All three stood stoically to the right of the carriage, and Rhory stood to the left speaking with my father.

My father’s face was white as a ghost as he spoke in a hushed tone to Rhory.

The moment we arrived, Rhory’s eyes found mine. His throat bobbed with a swallow, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I felt the eyes of everyone on me, and a shiver rolled down the length of my spine.

“What… What’s going on?”

My voice trembled as I tried to get out the words.

Rhory didn’t waste any time walking up to me. He stood there, staring into my eyes. Time stretched on as seconds felt like hours.

“You’re making me nervous,” I whispered. I don’t even think that he’d blinked at this point, which caused me to begin sweating all over again.

I shifted on the balls of my feet, not liking the feeling of all the eyes coming from each direction. It even felt like Mimic had begun staring.

“Are you going to say something?”

Rhory cleared his throat, “Apologies, Ms. Voss,” he spoke so softly, almost in a broken tone, causing shock to ripple through me. “I came here to ask if you’d…. If I could… court you.”

A bead of sweat dripped from his hairline, and my eyes darted anywhere but his. The fact that he hadn’t blinked was still creeping me out.

“Court me?” I glanced around at the other faces, specifically my father’s. He seemed confused and slightly terrified.

“Yes,” Rhory nodded, reaching into his suit jacket, and retrieving a small black velvet box. I took a step backwards, blinking rapidly in hopes that I was imagining things, but nope… Rhory Whitehall got down on one knee, right in front of my family’s barn, and opened that tiny box. “Aribella Voss,” my name fell from his lips like it had been forced out. “Would you do me the honors of allowing me a union?”

I took another step, putting even more distance between the two of us.

When I propositioned him by that fountain, I hadn’t expected him to show up here and ask for my hand in marriage. I did tell him that per our deal, he had to come to me when my predictions came true, but this…. This was not at all what I expected.

The moment the shock began to wear off, satisfaction replaced it. Something must have happened on that hunting trip that gave Rhory a different perspective on our little deal, and now… I have the upper hand.

Rhory stared at me expectantly, remaining on his knees like a proper gentleman. Additional beads of sweat slid down his temples before sliding down his unkempt jawline and dropping onto the Sacaris royal crest.

“You couldn’t have taken me out to dinner or something first? Maybe a warning or something” I glanced down at my outfit, a white tank top and jean shorts that were smeared with dirt and sweat. I knew I was trying to ease the tension, but my little joke hadn't landed in the way that I'd hoped.

Rhory’s jaw clenched with frustration, “Your appearance doesn’t matter at this very moment. I am asking for your hand…. In marriage. Please,” he begged with his eyes. “Aribella Voss, would you marry me?”

He wasn’t backing down, despite my little display. Clearly, he believed at least a fraction of what I had told him the other night, because he was holding true to his end of the bargain.

When I concocted this little plan in my head, I didn’t account for a marriage proposal. The last thing on my mind is a relationship, and with a royal for that matter.

“Can we speak privately?” Rhory finally rose from his spot on the ground, not bothering to dust off the dirt that clung to his suit.

“Sure.”

I spun around, catching Peyton’s forlorn gaze. He looked confused, and hurt, if I’m being honest.

Instead of apologizing, I kept my mouth shut, walking through the barn while Rhory followed at arm’s length.

As soon as we were on the other side of the barn, I grabbed Rhory’s arm, dragging him so that we were out of eyesight.

“I asked for protection, not a marriage proposal!” I snapped immediately.

“Trust me,” he spat. “The last thing I want to do is drop on my knees in front of your father, but I explored every other option, and this was the only surefire way to ensure your safety. Please don’t make this harder on either of us.”

“I don’t want to marry you.”

“And I don’t want to marry you, but for now, we are stuck together,” Rhory growled. “This is hurting my pride if you haven’t realized.”

“I don’t give a damn about your pride,” I threw my hands in the air. “If I’m to be your fiancée, that means we have to pretend, and that sounds miserable.”

“Gee, thanks,” he muttered. "When we get back to the castle, we can straighten out the details. I can assure you that the last thing I’m interested in is marrying you, but for now, it is quite literally the only way that I can keep you safe. That is what you asked of me, correct?”

My lids closed, and I let out a heavy sigh, “Fine. But you’ll go back out there and drop on your knees again.”

“Are you mad?” Rhory gasped. “I’ve already swallowed my pride enough today.”

“You could have trusted me in the first place,” I narrowed my eyes at him. Surely, I was walking on thin ice, but I’ll be damned if I allowed another man to best me. I gave him an opportunity, and he chose not to take it.

Stay strong.

“You are an insufferable woman,” Rhory huffed, before schooling his expression, and motioning his hand back towards the barn.

He followed behind me, and as everyone came back into view, my heart jackhammered in my chest.

As soon as he heard footsteps, Peyton turned around, and my heart sank again. The timing of this was all off. I had just told him that I wasn’t ready for a relationship because I needed to find myself, and here I am, about to publicly accept the Grand Duke’s proposal.

Rhory’s eyes flashed with frustration before he wore a mask of indifference, dropping on one knee. “Aribella Voss, would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

I held out my left hand, dirtied nails and all, and Rhory breathed a subtle sigh of relief, plucking the ring from the box, and sliding it on my ring finger.

As soon as he rose from his knees, Rhory turned towards my father, “Your blessing is greatly appreciated.”

“My daughter’s happiness is the most important thing to me,” my father’s eyes stared into mine, and I sensed that he wasn’t happy about being in the dark.

“You’ll accompany me back to the castle, yes?” Rhory turned his attention towards me once more, and I nodded numbly.

The weight of everything that was happening was too much.

“I’m going to go put Mimic away,” Peyton nodded politely at both Rhory and the guard members.

“Let me help,” I followed after him quickly.

“Peyton,” I whispered, but he ignored me, continuing towards Mimic’s stall. “Please, stop and listen to me.”

He led Mimic into her stall, spinning around, and my eyes caught the slight sheen of his, “I’m not mad at you, just… confused.”

Initiating physical contact for me was difficult and uncomfortable, but I forced myself forward, wrapping my arms around his middle. “I promise I have a good reason for this, and some day, I’ll tell you. Can you trust me?”

Peyton sighed, “If you tell me to trust you, then what more can I do? But please, Ari…. Be careful, and don’t forget about me.”

I pulled away enough to look at him, “Never.”

He nodded with a smile, pushing me away, “Now go. Your fiancée is waiting.” He’d said those words without an ounce of anger or jealousy, and that’s how I knew without a doubt that he was a good man.

I’d only known Peyton for a short time, but obviously the Aribella he knew was close to him, and his kindness helped me through this new life I’d been thrust into.

“I’ll have a car come by to gather your less important belongings tomorrow,” Rhory walked towards the carriage, opening the curtain. “I’ll be out here when you’re ready.”

My father disappeared when I went to speak with Peyton, and I glanced at the house, wondering if it would just be best if I gave him time rather than try to hash things out right now.

“I’m fine with leaving now.”

Rhory looked surprised, but thankful, and I climbed into the carriage, cramming myself between him and Kaelar, while Reo and the other man sat across from us.

Here goes nothing.