Morning dawned as it always did, far too early and far too bright. I winced as I got ready to face the day, reluctantly getting out of bed. Holding up two near identical coats, I found my mind wandering as I began to imagine which Gwen might prefer.

I shook my head. This was ridiculous. As usual, I was getting ahead of myself and hoping beyond reason that this would be the time things were different. That she might be the one that changed it all.

I had to remember my purpose. It was her heart I had to win over, and I was certain I had the perfect way to do it.

Atticus was at the door as soon as I opened it, and I shot him a tight smile. "Is she still in bed?"

"Good morning to you too, my lord." He replied, raising a brow, "Yes, she hasn't left the room yet, but I believe she's awake from what the maids said."

I refused to apologise, despite his clear admonishment. "Have someone bring her down to the morning room for breakfast."

He nodded his head. "Of course, my lord."

With a half bow, he took off down the hallway and vanished from sight, leaving me to make my way down alone. I didn't mind it, truly I appreciated the quiet most of the time. It was easier that keeping up my care-free, happy-go-lucky prince facade as I did around everyone else.

As I waited for Gwen to join me, however, my feelings became less certain and appreciative of the alone time. A hint of something like nervousness twisting my insides.

Atticus's laugh reached my ears, followed by Gwen's answering one and a flare of jealousy shot through me. So he had gone to fetch her himself? For some reason, that annoyed me far more than I cared to admit.

My hands gripped the arm of the chair so tight I felt the wood creak under the pressure. With great difficulty, I forced my fingers to relax and fixed a smile on my face as they both entered the room.

"Thank you for escorting me down. Will you be joining us for breakfast?" Gwen asked Atticus, offering him a smile.

The jealousy was near impossible to ignore now. I wanted her to smile for me. Why was she so nice to him and not I?

"I'm sure he has work to do." I said tightly, shooting him a pointed look.

Atticus grinned back as he patted her arm, "Thank you for the kind offer, but I have already eaten, and as my lord said, I have work to do."

Gwen shot me a glare before thanking Atticus again and waving him off with a smile.

What did she have to glare about? I was only being honest that he had work to do. Was I truly such a beast that she didn't want to spend any time alone with me?

"What was all that nonsense for?" She asked, taking a seat opposite me at the table.

Neither of us moved to eat the breakfast laid out for us and my back stiffened at the annoyance in her voice. "What nonsense?"

"You being so rude to Atticus? What would the harm have been to let him have a little breakfast with us?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"I wasn't rude to my guard. I was honest. He had work to do, and I wanted to have breakfast, just the two of us."

She shrank back slightly in her seat as though the added distance would stop the feelings I knew she felt, too. There was no way she couldn't when the air between us seemed to crackle with the tension.

"You were rude." She said quietly, picking up a pastry and determinedly staring out of the window as she ate it.

I fumed silently for a moment, wondering how best to win her over. Usually I found women far easier to charm, but something about Gwen had me saying all the wrong things.

"You will join me after breakfast. I have something to show you." I said finally.

Her brow arched, telling me I was in trouble. "Oh I will, will I?"

I frowned. Why did I have the feeling I had said something wrong again? "Yes, I have something to show you."

She wrinkled her nose. "I am afraid I am otherwise engaged."

Fiery anger burst through me. "You only just got here. What could you possibly be doing?" I snapped.

Her pursed lips told me she didn't appreciate the tone, and I fought to calm my rising temper.

She lifted her chin defiantly. "It doesn't matter. I will not join you."

"Why not?"

"The reason is irrelevant. I have said I won't join you." She took a sip of tea, hands trembling slightly as she did. "Order someone else to tolerate your company."

I sprang to my feet, fury pouring through my veins at her attitude as I slammed a fist down on the table. "How am I going to convince you I'm not the monster you think, if you won't even spend time with me?" I roared.

"Maybe start by not screaming at me and learning to control your temper." She snapped back, pushing away from the table and making for the door.

My hands curled into fists at her behaviour. People didn't refuse me. I couldn't remember the last time someone had. "I did not dismiss you, Miss Weatherby. Sit yourself back down immediately."

She spun back to face me, her face flushed with anger that reflected my own. "No, my lord. I agreed to stay here, not be screamed at. If you want my company, then you need my respect and right now you do not have it. So why don't you find a way to earn it like a civilised human being, instead of shouting and stomping like a petulant child who is not getting their way?"