To her bedroom, where the sleeping arrangements cause some concern.

Coraline gently pulled Marcus through into another room at the back of the house. She had to squeeze him to her to fit through the pokey door, and the young prince got another face-full of her pillowy boobs. When he managed to peek out from under her arms, he realized they were in her bedroom, just large enough for a wardrobe, a few cupboards and a smallish bed against the far wall. Marcus swallowed at the sight, suddenly feeling even more nervous.

"I only have one bed, so we'll have to share." Coraline explained, confirming his fears. The young prince found himself blushing and trembling in her arms. Sleep in the same bed with an older woman? His Mother would be furious if she knew. He wanted to ask his maid if there really wasn't anywhere else he could use, but he was still too nervous about upsetting her.

She finally let him go and gently pushed him to the side of the bed. Marcus noticed that she was standing between him and the door, like she was afraid he was going to make a run for it. It made him feel rather trapped, even though he wouldn't dare try. Not now that he knew how much danger he was in without her. His head was still spinning from the telling off she'd given him, but he was starting to realize she'd been right. Without her, he would have been caught by his uncle's soldiers and probably killed too!

Then he saw his maid reach back behind her dress and start undoing it. For a moment he just stared dumbly at her, his mind still catching up with what was going on. She started pulling it off over her chest, and he almost jumped out of his skin.

"Coraline!" Marcus squealed, covering his eyes with his hands. "What are you doing?"

"Getting ready for bed, silly boy." She chuckled. "I know you've only ever seen me wearing my uniform, but I don't sleep in it," The young prince hurriedly turned on his heels and stared at the wall. There was no way he was watching his maid get changed! That would be really naughty and pervy, even if she was doing it right in front of him! "You don't have to be so shy, Marcus." She cooed behind his back, the rustling of fabric making him blush even hotter. "Not with me."

"Sorry Coraline..." He shook his head frantically.

"You can look now, I'm dressed." She sighed, sounding disappointed. Marcus turned hurriedly, only to freeze in place at what she was wearing. It was just a light sleeping shift, not unlike the one he was wearing. On a curvy woman like her, such a thin outfit was dangerously stretched in some very naughty places. Her large boobs were almost popping out the top and her nipples poked through the fabric, dark and stiff. Even worse, the hem was cut just barely above her thighs. He could practically see her butt hanging out the bottom! "There, the same shift! We almost match now, right?" She cooed. "Isn't that cute! Just one thing to fix first." He yelped in panic when she stepped towards him, but her hands just grabbed the cloak he was wearing and deftly untied it, folding it into a neat bundle over her arm. "We'd better keep this nice and clean." She placed it on one of the cupboards nearby. "Who knows when we might see that nice sergeant Castus again."

Marcus wanted to scream in frustration, utterly overwhelmed by everything that was happening. Now she was acting like they were going to meet that annoying soldier! Why would they do that? It had already taken so much effort to get rid of the bastard once! Then he felt her hand on his shoulder and realized she was guiding him towards a bed that suddenly seemed just way too small for two people who were barely wearing anything.

"Please." He whimpered, keeping his **** gaze fixed firmly on her face. It was a real struggle not to look a little lower at her boobs, but he couldn't upset her now by being naughty! "Can't...I sleep somewhere else?"

"Nonsense." She shook her head, her grip on him growing just a little tighter. "We'll sleep together here, so I can keep an eye on you. No arguments. I'm looking after you from now on, remember, and you don't want to get on my bad side this early." Marcus swallowed anxiously, remembering that vicious pinch of his ear. He certainly didn't want to upset her again. Defeated, he let his maid guide him to the side of the bed and awkwardly clambered on top when she gave him a little push. He was going to be lying closer to the wall, so he rolled over to face it. At least that way he wouldn't have to look at the nearly naked older woman he was sharing a bed with. He kept very still as she climbed in after him, his lips trembling. She was lying right behind him, so close he could feel the heat coming off her body against his back. Her gentle breaths tickled on the nape of his neck. "Goodnight, Marcus." She whispered behind him, her voice trembling like she was so very happy just to say those words.

"Goodnight." The young prince echoed anxiously. He lay there still as she rustled around and blew out the candle keeping the room lit. At once they were plunged into darkness. She lay back down right behind him, and soon her slow, even breath suggested she'd fallen deeply asleep. Waiting there in the dark, pressed against the wall on this tiny bed and worried about his parents, his home and what the future held for him, Marcus took a very long time to do the same.