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Elanor hated parties. Furthermore, she hated parties where she had to wear shoes that pinched her toes and prostrate herself before the single noblemen. Her mother, the queen, used these gatherings to find her opinionated, hard-headed, and brutally honest daughter a partner. Most parents feared no one in the world would be good enough for their child. Not Queen Cora Stark. She worried no one could keep up with her and temper Elanor's personality.
"Poor Els. It looks like she needs rescuing," Jim said as he approached Bones from the side.
Bones glanced up from his glass and quickly found Elanor in the middle of the dance floor with a man twice her age. Judging by her blank expression, he wasn't saying anything of importance. Then he stepped on her toes again...and again. At this rate, Bones would have to pull out his medical bag to amputate it. She spared them a glance with a desperate look in her green eyes before he whisked her away too roughly.
That's how it's been for the last few years. Elanor's possible suitors didn't like that her only two friends were men. Jim wasn't a threat since he had his own thrown to ascend. There were rumors about Jim and Elanor being more than friends. They weren't true, but Elanor (who started the stories and Jim encouraged them) enjoyed how people avoided her for a few months. They were basically siblings. Chaotic, loud, and scheming sibling. Bones, however, could ruin everyone's plan to be king or queen consort. He was a duke from a rich and powerful family. Bones came from a long line of doctors, better than the last generation. They were well respected and loved by everyone.
Bones hadn't been a possibility for marriage for years because he married a woman of nobility and had a child together. Jocelyn died a few years ago from Yellow Fever, which claimed many lives, leaving Bones a widow and his daughter, Joanna, motherless. It was a devastating loss. Bones may not have truly loved Jocelyn, but he still cared for her. He didn't want her to suffer as she did.
Elanor and Bones carried a torch for each other for years, but the doctor thought he wasn't good enough for her, and the princess thought Bones wouldn't want to give up his peaceful life to be king. Thank the gods for Jim.
"It's your turn to save her," Jim said, grabbing Bones' drink as he pushed him forward.
"What? No, it's not," Bones protested, but it was too late. The crowd swallowed him. Bones sucked it up and went to Elanor, admiring her delicate form as she twirled in her indigo floor-length gown speckled with miniature jewels. She really was stunning and shone brightly underneath the many chandeliers. He waited until there was a lull in the steps to interrupt.
"Excuse me," Bones said gentlemanly, extending a hand toward Elanor. "May I?"
"You can wait–" The much older man barked, his beak-like nose flaring, and his sagging neck wobbled.
"Of course, you can, my lord," Elanor said, bowing to the older man, and walked away with Bones before crony knew what was happening. They were on the other side of the room when Bones spun Elanor around and began to move in tandem with the music. They became the only people in the room, ignoring all the glares, approving smiles, and gossip.
"Don't these people have anything better to do?" Bones asked, rolling his eyes.
"They wouldn't be here if they did," Elanor said begrudgingly.
"Another one of your mother's schemes to marry you off?" Bones asked.
"She worries that I'll become a spinster," Elanor laughed, "Jokes on her. I already am."
Bones spied the woman speaking with one of her advisors near her throne. Harrison was a creep, paying too much attention to Elanor lately for Bones' liking. He didn't doubt that the snake would put it into the queen's head to marry her only daughter, the heir to the most powerful throne, to that cold-blooded serpent. The very thought made Bones' blood boil. His hand on her waist tightened, and he pulled her closer. The king's chair has remained empty since Elanor was a baby. Her father had died in battle, ending the war and bringing peace. Although, there were rumors that she and her champion, Sir Christopher Pike, were sleeping together. There was no doubt Harrison intended that his narrow ass fill it.
"Are you okay?" Elanor asked after noticing Bones' mood darkening. She followed his line of sight to the chilliest side of the room. Harrison's smug smile made Elanor's skin crawl. She glared at him and refocused her attention on Bones. She caressed the side of his face and smiled sweetly up at him.
"Don't worry about Harrison," Elanor said.
"How can you stand him?"
"I can't, but there's not much I can do about it," Elanor said, huffing a strand of hair out of her eyes. She wasn't about to tell him how Harrison was slithering more into her daily life. Even taking charge of her schedule and who she was supposed to see.
"You need to get out of this dreary castle more often," Bones said, "I happen to know a fella who has a home far out in the countryside. Far away from court, with many horses to ride and a daughter dying to see the princess again."
"I might just have to take your friend up on his offer," Elanor said flirtatiously.
Bones spun her out, twirled her back into his arm, and tipped her into a beautiful arch. He straightened her, holding her even closer. Nose to nose. Heaving chest against heaving chest.
"Maybe we should stop. People are staring," Bones said, but he wasn't ready to release her.
"Let them," Elanor said. The dreamy and daring tone caught Bones off guard. Maybe it was the wine talking, but Leonard had never seen such a beautiful woman. He found himself wondering when Elanor had transformed into such a captivating creature. Her dark brown, almost black hair looked so soft and smelled sweet like poppies. Her skin was pale, not in an unhealthy way. It was like she hadn't seen much sun lately. That made him sad. Elanor loved being outdoors. He found himself missing how she smelled like sunshine and the stale dirt she used to roll around in. He leaned into it, pressing his hand into the small of her back, and angled his head to the side. The air in the large room burned when their lips met for a sweet, short kiss. It was inappropriate to do anything passionately outside of the bedroom. Not that Elanor paid much attention to the rules, and Bones was willing to break all of them to make her happy.
Someone clearing their throat tore Elanor and Leonard's eyes away from each other. They rotated their heads to each side and felt unbothered by the entire room watching them. Jim was smiling like a damn fool, all teeth and sparkly blue eyes. In contrast, Harrison looked like he wanted to murder Bones right then and there. Bones may not have feared him, but Elanor did. Not for her well-being but for Bones' and his daughter's. She stepped away, her hand sliding out of his grip, but he grasped it.
"Stay with me," Bones whispered, gazing down at her with half-lidded, tender hazel-green eyes. He fought everything to stop himself from wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into a proper, possessive kiss.
Elanor's chest rose and fell quickly, and her eyes darted back and forth between Bones and Harrison nervously.
"Darling," Queen Cora approached the two, "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."
"Or a monster," Bones muttered too loudly for the queen to hear. He straightened his posture and dipped his head in a deep bow. "Your Royal Highness, I apologize."
"Nonsense, Leonard," Queen Cora waved him off with an amused chuckle. She leaned in close with her hand shielding her lips, "Harrison creeps me out as well."
"Mother," Elanor warned, fearful eyes darted to where Harrison was, but he wasn't there.
"Elanor, dear, breathe," Queen Cora cupped her daughter's face and gently shook it. "I know you two will have a lot to talk about. You always do, but know that you have my blessing."
"Thank you, your–"
"Leonard McCoy, I have known since you were in diapers. In fact, I change a few of those diapers. I believe we are far past formalities," Queen Cora said, bunching his and Elanor's hands together. "Please, take my daughter and talk her down from the edge."
Bones' breath caught in his throat when he twisted his head and saw that Elanor was paler than a ghost. Did he make a mistake in kissing her? Was it too forward? Did Elanor not feel what he was feeling? Shame washed over him the longer Elanor remained silent.
"Take Jim with you as a chaperone. He looks far too pleased with himself," Queen Cora ordered, motioning Jim forward with her long, bejeweled fingers.
"Cora," Jim bowed his head, "C'mon you two, there's a decanter with the strongest wine you've ever had in my room."
"Don't get Elanor too drunk. I need her tomorrow to review my guard in the morning," Queen Cora warned with a stern rise in her brow.
"Yes, ma'am. You have my word," Jim said, placing a hand over his heart.