Rejected

Chapter 11

"Damian, what are you staring at, like a baboon? Ask one of the footmen to help her," Beatrix elbowed him sharply as she got up from their shady spot and brushed off stray grass from her mauve dress.

"Right," Damian finally realized where he was standing. He shook his light, straight head lightly hoping to get his focus back.

"I think we should rescue the damsel in distress," Agapito Rossi said to his brother, Adriano with a pointed look.

"That would be the gentlemanly thing to do," Adriano, replied with a nod.

"But have you forgotten that in stories only the Prince gets to save the Damsel," Damian smirked at his friends who groaned unanimously at Damian's egotism.

"Are you feeling well, Damian? You would be willing to ruin your new boots?" Henry, the resident dandy, asked poking him slightly.

"Not a huge sacrifice. I already have half a dozen new similar ones in my storage closet," Damian grinned at Beatrix whose shoe collection could never exceed the one in his own wardrobe no matter how much she tried. While he didn't care a whit about what he wore his mother and advisors were adamant to expand his wardrobe to gigantic proportions.

Before anyone else could say anything further Damian marched down the sloping area he was reclining on and headed down towards the lake.

Lady Delilah was still laughing joyously even though she was covered in mud and Damian averted his eyes. He had never seen her so open and felt like an intruder in a very private moment.

"Your Highness, I will help the lady out," One servant was pulling his dark trousers up as he informed him but Damian brushed him off with a wave of the hand.

"Stay, this is a matter I can handle," The servant gaped at him with his mouth slightly open.

Damian walked into the water, undeterred by the moss and mud. He felt his dark leather riding boots slowly letting in the water but he really didn't care. He was used to dragging himself back home after mucking about in the mud every day as a young boy. This lake was his own private domain and he liked to think himself as a master of it.

"Excuse me, Lady Delilah, if you are done wading in the water, could I please help you out?" Damian hid his confusion from the strange fluttering in his stomach with a casual smirk.

Delilah looked at him bemused and blinked. Before she could reply he took her hand and pulled her out. She suddenly shivered even though the sun was shining brightly over her head. Damian quickly pulled off his over coat and covered her shoulders to warm her up.

"T-thank you," Delilah coughed out. She pulled a wet strand of hair behind her ear and her mud drenched glove left a curved trail on her cheek.

"I would offer you my handkerchief but I think the situation requires a quilt of a handkerchief instead," Damian remarked.

Delilah looked down at herself and unexpectedly grinned at him, "Indeed. Although I fear even that might not be enough."

She made a move to walk out of the water but stopped as pain hurtled up her leg. To prevent herself from taking another dive in the water her hand gripped the Prince's arm.

"Are you injured gravely?" Damian held her other hand hoping to stabilize her.

"My foot pains a little," Delilah replied exerting great effort in keeping her voice calm.

"A little? It would be safe to say from the look on your face that 'little' does not justify your claims," Damian maneuvered himself so both her hands were in his. Her kid leather gloves were soggy and that permeated into his riding ones. He eased her forward out of the water and she hobbled after him