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It seemed like Anna had just closed the door to her common room when there was a knock. Couldn’t she get just a moment alone, trying to figure things out? She should have called for Joana to safeguard the common room, then she could have holed up in her bedroom with her thoughts.
Maria had made her think, but only in terms of how Anna would probably be forced to marry Wulfric. The last thing she wanted was for him to get hurt. He was such a good friend, and she hoped that they could find a way to remain friends when all of this was over, she thought as whoever was outside knocked on the door again.
Anna sighed and walked to the door. It was her own fault that she was in this mess, she realized that. If she had not started sleeping with Wulfric, if she had not accepted his proposal in the first place... but this was maybe what he had needed to finally get over her. To find someone else. The notion did not sit well with her, but it was probably only because everything was going so fast. For someone who had held on to a crush for years, simply standing by and waiting, Wulfric sure had not wasted time after she had turned him down.
It could only be natural Anna thought, as she put her hand on the doorknob and turned it, that he would want to know that other women wanted him. She might feel the same if a man had slighted her. She would want confirmation from another man. The thought did not really lighten her mood and seeing who was at the door surely did nothing to improve it.
“You,” she simply said not bothering with any pleasantries.
“Lady Harold, what a lovely afternoon, may I come in?” Nicholas Lewinus said in his most charming voice, that clearly had fooled many people.
Anna looked at the empty corridor behind him. She would rather not let him in, but then again, she did not want to be seen alone with him either. She sighed, stepped aside and quickly closed the door behind him.
“I know it’s only been a day,” Nicholas Lewinus said, “But I thought I’d inquire whether you’ve reached a decision yet?”
“A decision about what?” Anna could not help but asking as she walked away from him. She could feel the weight of the knife in the pocket of her dress. She would not let him get close to her. At least not until she had determined that there would be absolutely no other way to ensure his silence – and maybe not even then.
“You tease me, Anna,” he said and wagged his finger at her.
Anna sighed dramatically.
“I haven’t. You should know that between being your wife and having my reputation destroyed, shunned by the whole court... I’m kind of leaning towards the latter at the moment.”
Nicholas Lewinus’ eyes gleamed with anger, and he slowly walked closer, as if he was a predator circling his prey. Anna reached for the knife in her pocket, holding tightly on the shaft but not revealing it yet.
“I don’t understand your resistance, Anna. The two of us are some of the greatest and most influential landowners in the kingdom. If we marry, only the king would own more land and be more powerful than us. We could be immensely influential.”
“I’m already immensely influential,” Anna said, trying hard to keep her ground and not take a step back as Nicholas Lewinus came closer. “I’m friends with both the king and queen...”
“You seem to think that I wouldn’t treat you right,” Nicholas Lewinus said. He was standing close to her now. “Anna, I know how to please a woman. I’m certain that you would not have cause to complain, neither inside nor outside of the bedroom.”
He smiled and ran a finger down her cheek. Anna looked into his brown eyes, desperately trying to figure out what was going on behind them.
“I don’t doubt that, but that’s not why I hesitate,” she said.
“Why then?” he said and took a step back. The look on his face was one of puzzlement; Anna realized that he really did not know why she did not want to marry him.
“I saw what you did to Lord Rosenkranz at the inn,” she said.
“Oh, that,” he smiled. “I was drunk – and I apologized, as you remember.”
Not very heartfelt, but Wulfric had accepted the apology. Although she suspected it was more to do with him not wanting to attract more attention to the fact, rather than that he had forgiven Lewinus.
Lewinus walked to the windows, raking his hands through his hair.
“Then what is it?” he said. “I’m as good a match for you as Rosenkranz, if not better. Quite a bit better, people like me better than that mute giant...”
He had looked at Anna while he spoke, and he had to have seen Anna’s facial expression.
“Oh, come on now if you wanted to marry Rosenkranz, you would have. The bloke has been besotted with you since he was what, five? And since the two of you have slept together, you should have talked about marriage. It has to be because you don’t want to marry him that you’re not already betrothed,” he paused to examine her face.
“My relationship with Lord Rosenkranz is none of your concern,” Anna said.
“It will be once we marry,” Nicholas Lewinus said with a smile.
“You seem awfully sure about it,” Anna said.
“Well, you really haven’t got much choice, have you? Rosenkranz seems on the verge of proposing to Lady Katarina, and your only other option would be to be left with a ruined reputation...”
“Get out,” Anna yelled and pointed towards the door. “You gave me four days and I still have three days left...”
Her voice shook with emotion, and she did not dare say anything more.
“Fine, Anna,” Nicholas Lewinus took a step towards the door. “I’m sorry, that I have to do this. I hoped that you would see sense on your own. Marrying me is really the best thing you could do. The best thing you will ever do.”
“Just go,” Anna whispered.
Nicholas Lewinus walked to the door and opened it. Anna followed several paces behind him, ready to lock the door behind him once he left. Just as he had walked over the threshold he stopped, turned around and all of a sudden hauled her into his arms, his mouth on his.
Anna squirmed in his arms, trying to get away from his mouth. His kiss was too hard, more like a demonstration of power than anything to do with tender feelings or lust. He finally let go of her.
“I’m sorry, my love, I just couldn’t resist,” he said with a smile and closed the door before Anna had time to say anything else.
She stood dumbfounded and looked at the closed door, wanted to open it and shout at him, but refrained since her most prominent guests were staying in rooms along the hallway, and they might hear her. She wiped her lips furiously with her sleeve, trying to get the feeling of his lips off.