I left her all fire and fury in the doorway to the morning room. Seeing her like this, curled up and soft in the armchair of my music room, it was like seeing a completely different person. One incapable of stirring up the anger she had earlier.

Guilt shot through my chest as I remembered that spark of fear in her eyes through the defiance. That had broken me and spurred me to leave before I could say anything else that hurt her or bring anymore fear in her eyes.

Previous girls had been afraid of me. Even as a prince, I had commanded both fear and respect in equal measure. Yet, seeing myself reflected in her eyes was like a spear to the heart.

A heart I had long believed to have given up on the notion of feeling anything but a little pity for the girls I dragged back here.

Her eyes fluttered open, as though she sensed my presence or that my thoughts were on her, and she stretched her arms over her head with a little yawn before straightening in the chair.

Cautious eyes met my own, and I felt my shoulders sag. I had messed up. This was something I needed to fix and quickly. "I'd like to apologise." I explained quietly.

Her brows raised a little in surprise. "I get the feeling that's not something you do very often?"

I shrugged. There was no use pretending otherwise. "Your feeling would be correct."

She nodded, smoothing her dress before looking back up at me. "Then may I ask why you wish to apologise to me?"

I hoped she could see the sincerity in my face as I offered her a wry, apologetic smile. After so long hiding every emotion, the movement didn't come naturally. "Because you were right."

Her lips curved up into a smile and those jewel eyes I was already becoming fond of twinkled with mischief. "Oh really? Say it again, I'm not sure I heard you."

I fought back a smile. "I am sorry, and you were right. It has been awhile since I was around someone that doesn't work for me and I am not particularly used to having anyone disagree with me. It isn't an excuse, I know, but I never meant to frighten you, and I should have better control over my temper."

Gwen looked thoughtful for a moment. "You're right. It doesn't excuse it, but maybe explains it a little." She took a deep breath. "I need to apologise, too. I hate being told what to do, and there hasn't been an awful lot in my control recently, so I tend to rebel against anything like orders."

Understanding dawned on me. "I should have asked you to join me, not ordered you. Miss Weatherby, I know I need to behave better and I swear to you I will try. I may not always succeed, but you have my word that I will never harm you. Will you forgive me?"

She looked a little taken aback by my declaration, but not as much as I was as I tried to work out where that had all come from. "Look at us growing and getting along for more than a minute. Could this be a miracle?" She laughed.

I smiled too, still tense as I waited for her response. "Is that a 'yes' to forgiving me?"

"Perhaps." she grinned, "You have a month to win me over after all."

"Then I shall have to dedicate myself to doing anything it takes." I vowed, relief finally allowing my body to relax.

She smiled, ducking her head and a pretty flush spreading across her cheeks. It was strange to see her act like other ladies did to a comment that wasn't even something I considered special.

"Would you allow me to show you something after lunch? I think... well, I hope it is something you'll appreciate. And perhaps it will make up for the disastrous morning we have had."

"I'd like that."

I offered her a hand. "My lady?"

"My lord." She teased, taking my outstretched hand and allowing me to help her to her feet.

She stumbled a little, body still lost in the effects of her nap, and her hand pressed to my chest to help her catch her balance. I couldn't resist flexing slightly as I steadied her. "If you wanted to touch me, my lady, you need only to ask." I smirked.

Gwen rolled her eyes and pulled back. "Oh, you were doing so well, too." She sighed, but I caught the hint of a smile before she suppressed it.

"Would you truly have me any other way?" I asked, offering her an arm and struggling to hide my shock when she took it and allowed me to lead her from the room.

"So, what are we doing now?" She asked.

"Well, I was finding you and then planning to have lunch, if you'd like to join me for that too?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't reject the offer.

A smile broke across her face, bright enough to take my breath away. "I'd like that."

"Where would you like to have lunch? The gardens? The dining hall?" I refused to mention the morning room and the disastrous memories that would no doubt bring up.

"I don't mind, truly. But where does everyone else eat? I'd like to eat with them."

I stiffened slightly before realising she meant the staff and not the people of my court who were caged in the west wing. "The staff?" I asked, my voice slightly higher than usual.

She didn't seem to notice. "Yes. I know they're here, but aside from Atticus I haven't seen any of them. It would be nice to see who else lives here and perhaps talk to them."

"You are aware they look like... that is to say, they suffer from the same affliction as Atticus?" I explained, trying to hide my surprise.

"I'm aware. Unless they don't wish to see me, I'd very much like to meet them." Gwen offered.

I stopped and looked at her, trying to search for why she was so different in those beautiful but confused looking features.

"What are you doing?" She asked after a moment, brow creasing into a frown.

I tilted my head. "I'm just trying to understand you, Miss Weatherby. You're like no lady I've ever met before."

"Perhaps that's because I'm not really much of a lady." She laughed, "Or maybe you've just been choosing the wrong ladies to associate with?"

"I'm beginning to think that it is very much the latter." I murmured, still staring at her.

She bit back a smile and gave a shy shrug. "So lunch?"

"Yes, of course. Are you sure about this?"

"I have never been surer of anything."