"See him in, please."
A few moments later, Francis staggered in, his alcohol levels similar to his own.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Royce poured another glass and nudged it towards Francis. He lifted the glass and downed its contents.
Francis plopped himself in the chair adjacent to Royce's and received the drink.
"Rough night," Francis mumbled before taking a full swig from his glass.
"She said no. She fucking said no." He put the drink down and cradled his head in his hands.
"What?" Royce asked, confused at Francis's words.
"I'm screwed, Royce. My father's done away with all the money. I thought she'd say yes... that I'd be able to use her dowry... I took a big loan and now..." He wasn't making much sense, but clearly, something was troubling him.
"Francis, from the beginning, please."
Francis took a deep breath and started recounting how his father had not taken proper care of the estates, and Francis had inherited them in a state of disrepair. On top of that, there were also a lot of debts that needed to be paid. He'd resolved to marry Elis since he'd always known she'd loved him, and he wanted to use her dowry to pay off everything. But due to the urgency of the matter, he'd first taken a loan with the agreement being that he'd pay it off in a few months. Francis had been sure he would be married to Elis and in control of her dowry by the elapse of the loan term.
"Damn it!" Francis knocked into the table with his fist. "I banked on her saying yes. I don't know what to do... I need to get the money somehow."
"What do you mean she said no? She's in love with you." Royce added, seeking to understand why Elis would refuse Francis when marrying him had always been her dream.
"She's pregnant, can you believe that?" Francis replied dryly.
Royce could only freeze, stunned at Francis's words.
"Pregnant?" He whispered, but Francis continued.
"I can't believe it. Here I was thinking she couldn't wait to marry me, and she was getting it on with who knows what bloke at her come-out ball."
"Who?" Royce did his best to mask the disbelief in his tone. Elis. Pregnant.... how?
"She told me it was some man her parents don't approve of. Damn her! I never realized she was using me as a shield while she was meeting with that other man." Francis continued to complain, all the while drowning himself in more alcohol.
Royce couldn't hear any of that anymore. He was still shocked by what Francis had revealed. Pregnant. His beautiful Elis was pregnant with another man. A man that had no intention to marry her. What was she going to do? Her parents will not be kind to her when they find out. Will they throw her out? He couldn't think.
She hadn't told him. She had never mentioned to him that there was another man in her life. By Jove, did she really think so little of him?
At some point, Francis passed out. Royce left him there and went for a ride; sleep being the furthest thing from his mind.
Elis was pregnant, likely alone and scared. He couldn't just do nothing.
So lost in his thoughts, he was that he didn't realize how far from his house he'd ridden. And yet, he couldn't stop. He steered his horse and continued to ride until he came across a remarkably familiar clearing.
Even in the darkness of the night, he could recognize the fields he'd played in as a child, with Francis and Elis.
Soon, he was tying his horse to a tree and making his way towards the Marquis's house. Only when he stopped in front of Elis's window did he realize how foolish he was being.
What did he expect? To ride all the way here, barge into her room, and demand who her unborn baby's father was?
He propped himself on the wall outside the house and sighed deeply, the combination of spirits and exhaustion taking their toll on his body.
He slowly inched his way down until he was sitting on the grass, his back to the wall. He closed his eyes briefly, telling himself it was only for a moment, and then he'd leave. But he fell asleep
"Royce!" He could hear a hushed voice speaking his name. Just a dream, he thought.
"Royce!" This time, a pair of hands was shaking him awake.
He suddenly opened his eyes, aware that he wasn't dreaming anymore.
In front of him was Elis, in her nightgown, frowning at him.
"Elis?" He asked, trying to chase the sleep away so he could focus better on her features. She wasn't a dream...
"Royce? What are you doing here?" She put her hands on her hips and regarded him suspiciously.
Seeing her like this, Royce suddenly had an epiphany. Was she meeting her lover? He pulled himself from the ground and grabbed her arm, bringing her closer to his body.
"Where were you going? Who were you meeting?"
"What?" Elis scrunched up her nose at him, regarding him with confusion in her eyes.
"Were you meeting the father of your baby?"
"Royce, you're hurting me." Elis whimpered, and Royce's hold on her softened. "Francis told you, didn't he?" Elis gave a forced laugh but looked away.
"Who is he? Tell me!" Royce insisted.
"You don't know him."
CHAPTER 14
"You don't know him." Elis forced the lie out of her mouth. She didn't know what to think anymore. She'd been dreadfully ill all night and had hoped that a little fresh air would help settle her stomach. Instead, she'd been greeted by the sight of Royce leaning against her house, apparently asleep. She'd had to blink twice to realize she had not somehow conjured him in her imagination. No, he was real.
What was he doing here in the middle of the night? Questioning her like this.
"Elis, you don't trust me?" The anguished tone of his voice made her pause. Yes, they were best friends. But he'd become so much more for her in the span of a
