Chapter 29

Earl lay on the bed that morning feeling very refreshed, he felt like he had had enough drinks last night and slept intoxicated. He tried to reckon his brain to see if he could remember what happened last night but his head was as blank as the word.

The familiar scent of Nellie's hair coming from beside him had his head turning in that direction, that scent… that sweat scent that calms his nerves. She was not on the bed but the pillow and the part of the bed where she lay still had her scent.

Earl grabbed the pillow and inhaled deeply, he could go back to sleep like this he thought. And then it dawned on him, the memories of what happened last night came rushing back to him. Nellie had seen Astrid kiss him and when he came up to explain he had fallen asleep. How could he have slept like that? Of Course it had to be her hair, the soothing scent from her hair.

He inhaled the pillow deeply again and thought of just lying in bed all day but he knew he had to find Nellie and explain what happened to her? Why did it matter? He didn't even have to explain, she was not his wife or mistress, she was his captive but Earl couldn't just let her have the wrong conception of the whole thing so he stood up and made for the door.

"Good morning My Lord" Oliver bowed when he opened the door.

"Why are you here so early?" Earl looked around the hall, there were just a few guards standing by the door.

"You assigned me to My Lady, My Lord" Oliver bowed again.

"Where is she?"

"I was hoping to find her here My Lord, but I have been waiting for two hours and she has not shown up"

"You didn't see her leave, did you?"

"No, My Lord," Came Oliver's reply.

Earl could feel his pulse racing, he turned to the standby guard by the door and asked,

"Did you see the Lady leave this room?"

"Yes My Lord, she left quite early" The guard replied.

"Did she say where she was going?"

"No My Lord, but I had two guards follow her. They would have alerted us if there was any cause for alarm. I am sure she is fine My Lord"

"That's okay, send for her and make sure she comes here with you"

Earl made to turn back into the house but he stopped and turned to Oliver, "Go with them and make sure you watch her very closely henceforth, we will commence your training today"

"Yes My Lord" Oliver bowed and ran after the guards.

With that Earl went back into the room, he took off his clothes and headed straight for the bathroom. He sat in the bath tub humming a tune he didn't even know, with his eyes closed he dipped his head into the water and massaged it gently with his hands.

Was Nellie mad at him? Why would she be? She was probably just disgusted at him for kissing another woman the same day she kissed him. Earl touched his hands to his lips and smiled recalling the taste of Nellie's lips on his. She made him feel things, Astrid's kiss had been just as flat as they come. The fire that Nellie's touch ignited in him was not there when Astrid had touched him.

Back then, he went to Astrid on days when Ina starved him or was too tired for his touch, or on days when he felt he wanted something different. But today he felt nothing, almost disgusted at her touch, Astrid's kiss was repulsive, but why?

No woman had ever made him feel the same way he did with Nellie and all they had shared was just a kiss. Astrid was right, he had never let her into his bedroom- or his bed. Even Ina was rarely allowed to be there, whenever he needed to satisfy his needs or be with her, he went to her bed. But why was it so different with Nellie? Why was her scent so soothing? It was almost like his wolf was only hungry for her. There was only one way to find out- by kissing her again.

With that in mind, Earl hurried with his bath and did his best to wash his long hair thoroughly. He would have called for a maid to help wash his hair but he didn't want that today. He had to hurry because the Witcher could arrive at any time.

It was not until thirty minutes later that he strolled out of the bathroom, a towel loosely tied around his waist, one hand combing back his dripping hair from his face. It took him another minute to notice Nellie who sat on one of the dining chairs, her eyes staring back at him with a burning flame in them.

Earl had to admit she looked magnificent that morning, her dark rich hair was twisted in locks which curled up to the center of her head and some were left flowing down her face, the mahogany gown she wore blended perfectly well with her white skin. Her ears were decorated with shiny little gold and the same gold was loosely hung around her neck in what seemed like a necklace.

Earl stopped himself from looking down to the beautiful curve of her breast which the gown was exposing. He looked back to her face again, why hadn't he realized just how beautiful this woman was?

Blast it man! She is not your wife. 'Well she is my captive' he didn't know when he grinned widely until he caught the glare on Nellie's face.

"Why are your guards following me about like some lost chicken?" She asked, sitting upright.

"Good morning to you, too beautiful, I suppose you had a very lovely night because I did" He grinned again.

"Of course you did, now answer my question"

"Tsk tsk, you are a hard nut to crack"

"Why are your guards trailing me?" She asked again.

"Because I asked them to" Was Earl's simple reply.

"Why did you ask them to?" She raised her voice louder this time.

"I want you safe Nellie, I'm sure I have told you that already" Earl made his way to his closet.

"From what exactly? Or from who exactly?"

"The Rogues or whoever" He replied from his closet.

"Or maybe your mistress?" Nellie bit her lips, she had promised not to talk about it and here she was blabbing.

Earl chuckled from where he stood, she really wanted to know. "You mean Astrid, ahhh I should have known. About what you saw last night…"

"I don't care what I saw and I don't want to hear anymore, you didn't explain last night so there is no need to know. You are an Alpha and you have a right to as many wives and mistresses as you please without having to explain to anyone so don't start now, I totally understand." Nellie bit her lips again, did she really understand? Why did she care?

"I see you have been doing a lot of rehearsing, but contrary to what you think I believe I have to clear my name here, how about we talk about it over breakfast?" Earl stepped out from his closet now.

He watched Nellie in the mirror, she seemed to be taking in his appearance, he saw her gulp and he chuckled. She adjusted her seat and averted her gaze from him. Earl moved to the dressing mirror and picked a towel, he began drying his hair while his eyes were fixed on Nellie. When he was done drying his hair, he picked a comb and started combing it. He massaged some oil into his scalp and styled his hair.

Moving over to the dining where Nellie sat, Earl reached out and caressed her cheek lightly,

"You worry too much over little issues, My lady" He smiled and took a seat across from her.

"Why are you dressed in the same color as myself?" Nellie's eyes widened in realization.

"Am I? I just chose a color I felt comfortable in today" Earl shrugged, he was dressed in a velvet mahogany royal attire with a pair of black trousers, his hair was packed in a bun while some fell down his back.

"You saw that I was dressed in that exact color and you…"

"Relax My Lady, this is just a mere coincidence. Don't take it to heart" Earl winked at Nellie.

"You are so…"

"Annoying" Earl supplied. "Or maybe arrogant, I have heard that a couple of times already. Let's call for breakfast, I'll have a long day today and I have to hurry" He winked again and rang the jingle on the table, and a maid appeared.

"My Lord, My lady" The maid bowed.

"Bring in our breakfast" Earl smiled, the maid returned his smile shyly and hurried out.

"Bring in our breakfast" Nellie mimicked Earl and he bursted out laughing.

"You, what were we talking about earlier? Oh Astrid" Earl smiled.

"Your mistress and maybe your wife too, you don't have to talk about the latter, I know I'm just a captive and I don't deserve to know such things" Nellie's fists tightened under the table.

"Well, you give them more credits than they deserve" Earl looked away from her "Ina was my wife, yes. But she ran away with my worst enemy, a Rogue. The son of the man who killed my parents and elder brother, who will stop at nothing to conquer and rule this pack" Earl tried to push back the bitterness and pain that rose to his throat.

"Oh, I am sorry about that. But why would she do that?" Nellie found herself feeling sorry for Earl.

"That's the same question I ask myself each day, Ina got everything she wanted here, I made sure of that. One day she was nowhere to be found in the palace. I followed her scent in hopes of finding her but I was shocked to the bone to find her in the forest, moaning under a Rogue '' Earl's grip on the table cloth tightened.

"Ah" Was all Nellie found herself muttering.

"They surrounded me and overpowered me, that was where you found me. Ina went with them and now, two months later I am still wondering what I did wrong" Earl gulped back the tears of betrayal that threatened to fall.

The maids came in with their breakfast and served it, Earl took the time to recollect himself and by the time the maids left, he was smiling.

"I am sorry you had to go through that" Nellie said with an apologetic look on her face.

"I am glad you found and saved me on time" Came Earl's abrupt reply.

Nellie blushed, had she saved him? It warmed her heart to think he thought of her as his savior.

"Let's eat before the food gets cold" Earl smiled again.

"Ofcourse"

They ate in silence for a while, the food tasted as sweet as ever, Earl watched Nellie eat, she had quite an appetite today. He thought of reading her thoughts but decided against it, he didn't want her thinking he was rude today because he was in a good mood now.

"What about Astrid?" Nellie suddenly looked up from her plate.

Earl chuckled, "You really want to know"

Nellie's cheek flushed "it's okay if you do not want to talk about it"

"Well she was my mistress, that was when Ina was here but not to worry, I have no interest in her anymore. And what you saw last night, she was only trying to force herself on me and if you had waited a little longer you would have seen how I pushed her away"

Nellie looked down on her plate and muttered a barely audible "Oh"

"What?" Earl asked bemused.

"That explains a lot"

They continued eating in silence until they finished eating, Earl informed Ina he had a very important meeting with a guest that was yet to arrive so he had to hurry out and make sure everything was in place.

He left the room satisfied with the look on her face.