The Overnight

They stopped along with Julien's carriage a few times throughout the day to have breaks, stretch their bodies, and eat the meals Dimitris packed for them together with the two valets.

When nightfall came and it was no longer safe to travel, they were able to find lodgings in a little bed and breakfast along the road that was run by a young couple who appeared to be in their late twenties.

The couple was not able to get a good look at the carriages that bore the Greek and French royal coat of arms, but they could tell from the way that Julien, Arthur, and Maria were dressed that they were high class.

The royals were careful not to reveal their identities, but felt relief when the couple informed them that they were the only guests in the bed and breakfast; it was safer for them all that way.

The woman showed the valets to their room first, followed by the room that Julien and Arthur would share.

Julien immediately walked into his assigned room, but Arthur stayed next to Maria so that he could see where her room was located; he needed to make sure her whereabouts were known to him in case of an emergency.

After the woman led them to the last room, which was Maria's, she wished her and Arthur a goodnight, and told them to call for her if they needed anything, and that breakfast would be served at sunrise.

Maria unlocked the door with the rather large key she was given, and eyed every inch of her room when she walked into it.

It was less than half the size of her bedchamber in Greece, but it was decorated with lovely floral wallpaper that smelled like saw dust and daisies.

The only things in the room were a small bed and a chest of drawers for storing some personal items.

Suddenly, Maria felt nervous; she had never stayed in a bed that was not hers before.

"I'll see you in the morning" she heard Arthur say from behind her.

She turned quickly and reflexively grabbed onto his arm. "Wait!" she said, but then froze, not knowing why she had done that in the first place.

Arthur looked down at her hand on his arm and his eyebrows pulled together. He looked at her and asked, "Is everything alright?"

"I just...I think I finally realized how far away from home I am. It's slightly uncomfortable knowing that there's nothing familiar here." Realizing how ridiculous she sounded, she let go of his arm and looked away, embarrassed. "I'm sorry. Goodnight."

She sighed and turned to go into her room, but stopped when she heard Arthur ask, "Do you want me to sit with you for a little bit until you are comfortable?"

Want was an understatement, but not wanting to be a burden, Maria looked at him and said, "Thank you, but I'll be fine."

Arthur closed his eyes and let go of a breath before he pushed past her into the room and sat on the edge of her bed. He patted the spot next to him as an invitation for her to join and said, "You're a horrible liar".

Maria closed the bedroom door and walked over, in defeat, to sit next to him.

She plopped onto the bed and looked forward as she said, "Father was right. Carriage rides are exhausting."

Next to her, Arthur chuckled and the sound of his happiness made Maria's heart flip in excitement.

"I think it's just been a long couple of days, in all honesty," he admitted.

"Is it going to get easier? I don't think I've ever been this overwhelmed in my life," Maria half joked with a forced laugh.

Arthur didn't answer, but Maria felt his eyes on her, so she turned her head to look at the man who was sitting less than an arms length away from her.

"I don't know, but I hope so," he answered with a soft expression.

It had been a rough week for Maria, but she knew that Arthur had been through a lot too because of her, so she became serious to ask, "How are you holding up with everything? I unloaded quite a bit on you while we were in the carriage".

"To be fair, I asked for it," he said with a smirk. Maria didn't change her serious expression, so he sighed and continued, "I feel more at ease knowing where we stand. I think we need to promise each other that from here on out, we are going to be completely honest with each other, even if we think we might hurt the other by doing so. That way we can avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings."

Maria let out a long breath and nodded. "I agree. Like you said, we're partners now, through the good and the bad."

Arthur smiled at her and Maria had to fight the magnetic pull that made her want to jump into his arms, so she broke their eye contact before she had the chance to do something stupid.

As a compromise between her logical side and what her heart wanted, she instead asked shyly, "Do you mind staying with me until I fall asleep?"

"I can do that," he answered in almost a whisper.

Maria gently smiled at him. "I'll go change," she said as she got up.

After she pulled her nightgown out of her bag, she went behind the dressing screen to change so that she didn't wear her nice toga to bed and ruin it with wrinkles.

When she came out, Arthur had taken off his coat and shoes so that he was just in his trousers and blouse, and he had shifted so that he was laying across the bed with his one arm resting behind his head that was propped up on the pillows.

He truly was gorgeous, and Maria had to swallow hard in hopes that it would push down the tingling feelings that were rising in her chest.

He looked over and caught her staring at him, and he tried to hide the slight smile that pulled at the corners of his lips.

The arm that was not behind his head lifted towards her as an invitation, and she walked over and joined him on the bed.

She rested her head where his bicep met his shoulder, and he bent his arm to hold the back of her head as they both adjusted their bodies so that they fit together comfortably in the small bed.

She wrapped her arm around his chest and pressed against him.

All Maria could think about was how safe and easy it felt to be in his arms; she never knew that she could feel so comfortable being this intimate with someone that, in reality, she barely knew.

"Get some sleep," he said to her, and within minutes she had drifted off.