He felt her pulling away.<br/><br/>Motto’s soul shuddered.  He knew not what to do or say and only stared in wonder at his bride to be.  Her tears.  Her voice.  His doing.  Her beautiful little foot!  The fact that Genevieve had been physically wounded threatened to send him into a blood rage.  He found it difficult to endure her words but they were the truth.  His lie, his failure to make recompense.  That foolish mistake had destroyed everything.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">“I saw you, Motto. You and Setaphina.”</span><br/><br/>His mouth fell open and color flooded the young King’s face.  Setaphina..something had happened between her and himself.  Scandal.  He had allowed the lady to stand too close for too long.  To touch him.  He had secretly thought her pretty.  And ..Genevieve.  She had been there?  It seemed dreamy in his mind, the details were hazy and he didn’t recall how it had ended.  Regardless of the missing images, Motto was guilty.  He had kissed Setaphina and her hands had..they had been on his skin.  He let it happen and ..it was too terrible to think on.<br/><br/>Genevieve was terribly grieved and he was responsible.  He hadn’t followed her?  Where had she gone?  Motto touched his head and privately wondered at why things weren’t more clear.  .  Why had he not followed?  The absence of answers was grim indeed.  Lady Setaphina had touched him.  Motto felt his face burning with shame but it compared not to the profound pierce of his foul truth.  He truly had fancied the other woman and allowed her to close in on him.  His eyes closed and Motto fought the temptation to move his face away from Genevieve.  He needed to accept his error and live with it.  A lecherous and unfaithful King.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“My Lady.” </span>It was nearly impossible to form words.  Motto opened his eyes and looked to his future Queen.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “You are right.  It is wise to choose carefully my..” </span>His heart was dust upon the ground.  What were the proper words?<span style="color: #00BF40"> “..to examine my heart with better care before ..professing such things.  I have wronged thee, My Lady.  I....”</span>He wished to profess his contrition but lacked the words.<span style="color: #00BF40">“I..you.  .. This is most …  foul.  Foul..I …”</span>he needed Hector.  Motto didn’t know what to do.  What to say.  How to make it right!<br/><br/>Geneveive needed to be off her wounded foot.<span style="color: #00BF40">“Enough.”</span>His basic thinking took over and Motto moved to the Princess’s side.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “Please allow me to help you back to ….a suitable resting place.  I will not see you suffer anymore.” </span>He would ask Hector what to do, if there were a way to handle things after such a gross misconduct.  How to provide aid to Lady Genevieve.   The wedding needed to be postponed...it would not do to thrust that upon the poor darling.  His..dear Genevieve.  Ah how he mourned the loss of her.  She would wear his ring and sit with him when her duties required it, but her heart was no longer his.<br/><br/><span style="color: #00BF40">“My Lady please..do not put your weight upon ...blast it.” </span>He was being idiotic!  Motto swept the Princess up and carried her the short way to her bed.  He lowered her gently and with a fresh burning blush removed his hands as soon as she was safely situated.<span style="color: #00BF40"> “Please.  Do not exert yourself My Lady.”</span>If only it were his stupid foot that was cut instead of hers.