Cesare Garcia's bedchamber

Mary quietly walked down the corridor towards Cesare's rooms, she had done her duties for the morning and as Lady Anne would be out till the evening she had more free time than she was used too. It had been a few days since she had last seen Cesare and he had been on her mind.

She was anxious that no one should see her and tapped on his door "Cesare"

Cesare was still in his bed; not quite asleep, not quite awake. He had his face now on his pillow and heard a chap at the door. He assumed it was his servant with his breakfast.

"Come in,"he grumbled and rolled over - not bothering to get up.

Mary heard the permission to enter and still keeping a look out in the corridor, opened the door and stepped in closing it fast before she turned round, the room was still warm but she could see no sign of the Duke. She walked further into the room and gasped as she saw Cesare

"Oh forgive me" Mary averted her eyes and blushed as she noticed he was still in bed "I thought you would have been up or are you ill" she could swear that in the quiet of the room they could hear her heart beating faster as she took a few steps closer to the bed

Cesare turned round and rubbed his eyes with the back of his arm. He threw his covers over him more,"Not sick - just lazy. I thought you were someone else - sorry."

Mary stared at Cesare "At least you are honest" she smiled "I have brought you a gift, I promise I will not drink much of it this time" she produces a bottle of wine she had hidden in the folds of her skirt and places it upon the table.

She looks around the room and then back to the bed "Do you want me to leave Cesare?" she asks softly

"Wine?"he asked with a smirk and sat up.

"Not at all,"he added and grabbed his breeches from the floor and pulled them on,"What time is it?"

Mary turned away as Cesare left his bed, she had never seen a man in a state of undress before "Yes tis the best wine or that is what I was told" she tried to steady her voice "It is past 11 I should think"

"Too late to sleep, too early to drink,"he said and walked over to her, bare chested,"So what shall we do with ourselves?"

He examined the wine,"This was kind - thank you."

"I do not know, have you any ideas?" Mary could not take her eyes off his chest, Cesare was certainly a handsome strong man "I just wanted to see you"

Cesare shrugged,"You must have something in mind my lady,"he replied with a smile and produced a clean pressed shirt from his wardrobe.

"Cesare I would like to do whatever you want to do" Mary smiled, she had heard from other ladies that it is best to let the man decide "I have no duties to do till evening"

Cesare stepped closer and gently kissed her on her cheek. She smelt clean and her skin was soft, he lingered by her jaw for a moment and whispered,"Whatever I want to do is not what you'd like to."

He moved as if to kiss her again but abruptly moved away and smiled teasingly,"And I like to think myself a gentleman and I would not like to have you...in an awkward situation."

Mary's eyes closed as he kissed her cheek she wanted to hold him but she was unsure of what to do "Cesare" she whispered "you are a gentleman and I trust you to be gentle" her face flushed "I do not know how to even touch you"

Cesare stepped back further and pulled on his doublet. Did he truly desire or was it because she looked like-no. No.

He sighed,"I don't know where my breakfast has got to."

"Shall I get you something to eat Cesare?" Mary asked anxious to please him

"You aren't my servant,"Cesare replied with a kind smile,"It's not your job."

He then pulled back a curtain which hung over a wall and revealed a door. He slipped into the other room and soon appeared with a tray of bread and cheese.

"This will do...have you eaten?"

Mary shook her head "I would not have minded getting you something" she smiled "Cesare I can not help being ready to help it is my job.....I am here to please you"

Cesare tilted his head,"Why? I've only met you once before."

"I am a lady-in-waiting, a servant" Mary looked at him puzzled "We must please our mistresses or masters"

"I am not your master Mary,"he said and bit into a crust of bread.

"Sit, rest."

"I know you are not Cesare....you are someone special" Mary blushed as she sat near him "what activities do you enjoy?" she asked as she broke off some cheese

"Someone special?"he asked with a smirk and continued eating.

"Nothing of any note, Mary. My activities are usually conducted in the dark..."

He tilted his head and looked at her, slowly. From toes to brow. Until finally he paused at her lips. Perhaps.

Mary felt hot under his gaze "Yes I think of you as someone special, a friend maybe" she smiled "I have never done any activities in the dark, maybe I should try something new.......what would you recommend Cesare?" she mused

Cesare rolled his eyes, he knew what she was implying but she didn't understand. She didn't know what he truly did nor would anyone...

He shrugged and joked,"Star gazing."

"Star gazing....from under the tree?" Mary looked at him "I have often thought of that moment when you stopped me from falling" she bit her lip "I like you Cesare"