Charades: A Friends to Lovers Historical Romance Read online

  "Yes, mother, come in."

  Her mother, a plump woman of five and forty, strutted into the room. She had the same frown she always had, but this time it was a tad bit less prominent. Had something happened? Elis had to wonder.

  "What is it, mother?"

  "Our neighbors, the Crawfields, are having a party next week." She said.

  A party? She hadn't heard anything about that.

  "With what occasion?"

  "Oh, the third son, you know, the one you used to play with, Royce has come home. He was slightly injured, but otherwise, he is quite alright. They are having a gathering only with some relatives and close friends, and us being neighbors and all that," she said, but Elis wasn't hearing anymore.

  "Royce is all right?"

  "Yes, dear, didn't you hear me? He was your friend, wasn't he?"

  "Oh, yes!" She said happily and rose to her feet. "Yes, yes, he was," she continued in a daze. "I am going over. I have to see him," she didn't even wait to hear her mother's approval. She dashed through the door without a second thought. Royce was home! He was alive! She would think about the fact that he hadn’t personally let her know later. She had to see him.

  She ran the distance from her family's estate to his. She ran so fast that she nearly collapsed when she arrived at the door. Her cheeks were rosy, and her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

  "Yes?" The footman who answered asked.

  "It's me, Tommy, let me in. I have to see Royce," she entered without waiting for an answer. Tommy had often indulged them in their children's games, and she was really quite chummy with him.

  All of the servants were regarding her with a frown, but she didn't care. She passed them quickly and headed upstairs to the room that she knew belonged to Royce.

  When she finally arrived in front of it, she knocked twice, and a gruff voice said to enter.

  She opened it and was surprised to see Royce in bed, his back to her. He was....shirtless. Well, almost shirtless. He had a bandage that spanned across half his back, and two pink dots were visible on its white surface.

  "Leave the water on the table, please," he said and groaned.

  She almost wept at the sound of his voice. But wait. Was he in pain?

  She rushed to his side and touched his shoulder.

  "Royce?" She asked, mentally chastising herself for her lack of a witty line.

  He turned abruptly and looked at her, startled.

  "Elis?" He looked older. His hair was trimmed short, and he had a small scar above his eyebrow. His emerald green eyes were glinting in the dimness of the room, but she could see a sign of unshed tears.

  "Oh, you silly brute," she said and gently embraced him.

  "I won't forgive you; you know. For not writing or telling me if you were all right or not. I was so worried."

  "Were you?" He croaked, but she just continued to hold him.

  "Good God, you must believe me a watering pot, but I am so happy to see you!"

  She put some distance between them and smiled.

  "Sorry, I didn't bring the other Royce to meet his namesake; I was quite in a hurry." She said with half a smile, and he threw back his head, and for the first time in almost a year, he laughed.

  CHAPTER 5

  As soon as Royce had gotten home, everyone had pampered him. Even his estranged father and his always taciturn mother. They were everywhere, and he had to resort to some lies to have a few moments of solitude. Well, there weren't exactly lies, only partly true. He had told them that his wounds did not allow him to get out of bed, and they had finally agreed to leave him alone. He was currently trying to close his eyes and rest a bit in his bed while waiting for the glass of water he had requested.

  He heard a knock at the door and invited the servant in.

  "Leave the water there, please," he told him, and he expected to hear the click of the door anytime soon. But instead, it was Elis's voice that he heard. Was he going crazy? Probably. Maybe he had also hit his head. He turned and stared at her, not knowing what exactly to say. She was definitely there, and she was looking so stunningly beautiful. He found himself having a hard time breathing. His Elis! She was here! But...

  She was speaking. She was definitely saying something, but he couldn't really hear anything. She was here. He knew he was staring, but he couldn't help it. And when she mentioned his namesake, the cat, he started laughing.

  Her face immediately softened.

  "I missed you, Royce!"

  "I missed you too," he whispered, and they just stood like that for a moment, in silence, looking into each other's eyes.

  "How did you know I had come home? He broke the silence.

  "Oh, don't think I'll forget about that. Mother said there was a party planned for next week. With the occasion of your return."

  "Hell," he cursed.

  "My parents are at it again, it seems" he didn't like it that they intervened, but what could he do... really?

  "Are you. All right. The bandage..." she asked, unsure.

  "Now I am fine," he tried not to worry her, but he seemed to fail.

  "And before?" She probed even further.

  "Three bullets."

  Horrified, Elis looked at him wide-eyed.

  "Three bullets? Good Lord! How come you are still here," she asked, and at the same time, she touched his face as if making sure he was really there.

  "I had a promise to keep, didn't I?" He smiled at her.

  "I am glad that you remember."

  There were voices on the hall, and Elis had to take her leave as it was not at all proper for a young lady to be in the company of an unmarried gentleman alone, especially in his chamber.

  "When can I see you again?" She asked before exiting the room.

  "I'll take you riding tomorrow," her eyebrows furrowed.

  "It's not that bad. It was only to mislead my parents."

  "Oh," she said, relieved.

  "Tomorrow?" He asked to make sure.

  "You bet," he heard her say before the door snapped shut.

  He finally felt home!

  Royce did come the next morning as promised. Elis was amazed to see how he looked so much healthier than he had the other day.

  "You do look better," she commented.

  "I told you it was more for my parents' sake. They do like to fuss over me. I wanted a moment of privacy with my thoughts." He smiled at her and motioned her towards the stables.

  Her mother hadn't risen quite so early as to fuss over him as well. He was a war hero now, something of a specimen to be gaped at, and he was well aware of that. She took a moment to regard him, and she thought of what he had to have been through. He looked more rugged, his features somehow sharper and more defined. As if the horrors of the war themselves were etched into his face. She was curious about what had gone down, so curious… But she respected his desire for privacy. She would coax him to tell her, but in time.

  "Come on," she said when she was comfortable in her saddle. "I'll race you to our usual spot" she didn't even finish, and she started into a canter. He followed suit; s broad smile plastered on his face. When he was just a step behind her, he called out." Minx," she had to take a moment to look back and gauge his distance, and he took advantage of her momentary lack of attention. He managed to win by only a few feet.

  "Well, you sure had me there for a minute," he winked at her, but Elis seemed to be having none of it. She got down and went to him with a determined stride, "You..." she pointed at him and suddenly tackled him to the ground.

  "You'll pay for this," she started tickling him, the way they used to when they were small. But they were no longer children. They were man and woman, and the playful tension suddenly turned into something more.

  "Stop it," he said, laughing, but she only did stop when she came eye to eye with him.

  "You're different," she whispered

  "Different how?"

  "I don't know... I can't really put my finger on it, but you are...changed," she said wistfully,
and he seemed to tense.

  Elis didn't want him to feel as if he had to give her any explanation, so she hooked her arms around his torso and laid her head on his chest.

  "It will get better," she murmured against his beating heart.

  "I promise," she repeated.

  They stayed like that for what seemed an eternity, neither of them speaking, just being—two bodies, one next to another, in tune with one another.

  "God, but I do hope so," he finally said, mostly to himself.

  "Tell me, how was your come-out ball. And I do apologize for missing my dance" he tried to change the subject.

  "So you did receive my letters" she suddenly looked up with a mischievous grin.

  "Well... I may..." But Elis continued, not allowing him to dwell on that.

  "It was so boring. Seriously, Royce, I hated every minute of it." She sighed out loud. "I know that I had been looking forward to it for so long, but...It just fell short, you know. And then..." she trailed off once she realized that she didn't want to get into that; she didn't want him to feel pity for her. Who knew, maybe he saw her as a hoyden as well.

  "Then," he probed, but she just shook her head and smiled.

  "Come on, you can't leave me hanging," he encouraged her.

  "It was nothing."

  "Elis, it had to be something for you to avoid the subject. Now out with it."

  "Oh, you are maddening," she said, aggravated at his insistence.

  "Ly handsome. Yes, I know. Now out with it!"

  She laughed, but she did find herself telling him everything that had happened and how she hadn't seen Francis since then.

  "That dolt. I swear when I catch him..."

  "No, he mustn't know that I have overheard him. I... want things to remain as they are. I guess I will just have to stop pursuing him to not make a fool of myself. Good Lord, that woman said I was panting over him. Can you believe it? Me, panting?"

  "Well... I am not saying I am not taking your side, but you did pant after him every time you saw him."

  "I did not!"

  "Yes, you did," he corrected her.

  "Well, I might have... sometimes… But not that time!" She said with indignation.

  "Are you certain?"

  "Maybe...argh! Fine, I may have panted, a little, not much, no more than usual. But it is extremely rude of that woman to remark that publicly."

  "It wasn't exactly publicly. You said it yourself that you caught them in the gardens. That seems to me rather private. Not to speak of the rudeness of eavesdropping."

  "Whose side are you on?" She cried, and he laughed at how easily he could make her lose her temper. He had missed this. It was so delightful, just being in her company. And the fact that she may have given up on Francis gave him immense joy. He had to make her see him differently, but he had to take it slowly. She was so innocent, his Elis. Just looking into her eyes right now, so trusting and full of joy, he wanted nothing else than to stay like that forever. He admitted to himself that while he had seen horrors beyond imagination, life had given him the chance to be in her presence again, and that was enough. For now.

  "We should head back," he told her and raised himself on his elbows.

  "We should, shouldn't we?" She asked as if to no one in particular.

  CHAPTER 6

  The next week passed in a blur. Elis and Royce went riding every morning, and soon they found themselves enjoying each other’s company just as before. It was as if not time had passed.

  Royce told her, albeit sugar-coated, his war experiences, while Elis recounted to him how boring society really was.

  "I'm telling you Royce, one week, and I was done with it. I don't know how you men can stand it."

  "Well, there are amusements in town." He replied thoughtfully.

  "Oh, what? Pray, do tell."

  "Oh, well, at least for men there are"

  "Do you have a mistress, Royce" Elis asked out of a sudden, and Royce almost choked. What was she asking?

  "Elis... I am sure this is not a subject for a lady's ears." He did not know what else to say. He didn't have a mistress. How could he turn his attentions to another woman when the only one he'd ever wanted was in front of him? But that didn’t mean that men of his station did not have mistresses. He was aware that even his own father was keeping a separate house in London for such purposes.

  "Oh, come on, Royce, we're friends. You can tell me. Besides, I am curious. I know Francis has lady friends and that he is a rake, but I am curious about you." She said and turned her face so that she was looking directly into her eyes.

  "No, I do not have one. I do not care for mistresses," he replied tersely after a moment of hesitation.

  "Hmm," Elis said. "That is unusual. I could have sworn all men had mistresses, but..." she was biting her lip in concentration, and he found the gesture highly erotic. But as his mind registered what she had said, he realized that she was a complete innocent.

  "Elis, what is it exactly that you wanted to know" he found himself asking.

  "Now that you mention," she grinned and continued," I was wondering if one does things differently with a mistress. I mean different from what one does with a wife. Or the other way around?"

  Royce's eyes widened, and he was speechless for a moment.

  "Ah...no." he shook his head." I mean, no, one does not do things differently with one’s wife than with one that isn't one's spouse."

  "Good Lord, then pray tell me, why do they search for it in other places?" She asked, horrified. Her reaction seemed genuine; she really looked taken aback by what she had found out.

  "Boredom?" He offered. "I don't know, lack of love?" He framed it as a question but without intending for an answer.

  "Oh, I will tell you what kind of lack it is, and it's not of love. It's of principles. Everyone marries for convenience, so it stands to reason that most marriages aren't built on love. But you do take a vow, for God's sake. A vow of honor, love, and most of all of faithfulness. It clearly shows what type of person they are if they are willing to go looking for the same thing outside of marriage."

  Royce had certainly not expected her outburst. He wondered briefly what had caused both her curiosity and indignation, but as he thought about what she said, he had to admit she was right. He had never really thought about it this way, but yes. Marriage was essentially a vow before State and God, and whether you respected the vow or not showed precisely what type of person you were. His Elis was quite a wise little thing, and he bristled in admiration at the thought.

  "I acquiesce. You are right." He said and kissed the top of her head

  "Promise me then!" She suddenly turned him again.

  "Promise me that you will never be the type of person to renege on a vow." She whispered pleadingly.

  "I promise Elis. I do"

  "Good. Thank you. I promise, as well. Here" she said as she gave him her pinky finger.

  "Let's make the promise together." she smiled brightly at him, and he laughed. But he did give her his pinky finger and swore to never renege on a vow.

  Well, Royce thought, now he had to doubly keep his promise to make her his.

  CHAPTER 7

  "Have you heard? That man who saved his platoon has been decorated. He's an Earl now."

  "I always thought he was good looking. I wonder if he's in search of a wife."

  "Oh, he must be; he isn't even that old. I think he must be in his early twenties."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, indeed. He does seem more mature, doesn't he? The war, dear... I have heard terrible things..."

  Elis couldn't stand it any longer. Her mother had dragged her to this party, and now she had to listen to those wussies talk about Royce. So what if he was an Earl now? For her, he was the same, Royce. Fun, loving, and loyal. He had matured while he was away, she was aware of that. Nevertheless, he was still her friend, and could not hear him being talked of in such a manner. He was not just a prize on the marriage mart. Augh! She was pissed. She quietly
retreated towards the veranda while picturing how she would have rebuffed those ladies if it had been permitted. She saw herself loudly proclaiming that they were some phony women looking just after wealth and titles. She would then proceed to belittle their intellect and...

  "Oh Elis," her thoughts were interrupted by Francis, who was casually leaning against a pillar.

  "Hullo, Francis." She replied tersely, not really wishing to talk to him.

  "Can we talk?" He asked, and she was surprised by the tonality of his voice. Had he been drinking?

  "Fine." She replied, and he gestured towards the maze. She followed him, and they soon reached a small bench inside the labyrinth.

  "What did you want?" She asked him, not really looking into his eyes.

  "You've been avoiding me," he said quietly.

  "I have done no such thing." She quickly answered.

  "Really?" He asked with half a smile, almost mockingly.

  "Really," Elis turned herself to face him, and she assured him again that she had not indeed been avoiding him.

  "I am glad then."

  "Why?"

  "Because I missed you," he whispered.

  "Missed me?" Elis was horrified. Was this really Francis?

  "Of course!" He said, and he brought his hand up to caress her cheek.

  "Ah...What are you…?"

  "Shh..." he whispered and leaned in until he was only a breath away from her.

  "Francis...What?" She was just about to ask what was going on with him, suddenly acting like this, but she didn't manage to get the whole sentence out as his lips closed upon hers. Francis! Kissing me! She thought with amazement. And it was her first kiss. Well, practically her first real kiss. The peck Royce had mistakenly giver her when she was fourteen did not count. This did. She sighed in contentment and let herself rejoice. Her dream was coming true. She was kissing Francis.

  Royce arrived late at the party. Hell, he was only here because he wanted to see Elis. She had told him what a chore it was to come to these events, so he thought his presence might help a bit. Everyone was looking curiously at him. He had expected that, but he seemed to be suffocating under their scrutinizing glances. He hurried to the side and discreetly inquired about Elis' whereabouts. After asking a few people, he had found out that she had gone on the veranda and afterward towards the maze. She was seeking solitude, he thought. Royce quickly went towards the labyrinth and was about to call her name when he heard voices.