He was charming. Just like father and mother said, he was young and handsome. He was about average height, likely a fair inches taller than her, very well dressed, she had never seen a stylish man like him in the countryside. His face glowing when he smiled. He certainly had his attractions. Yet she noticed shades of dark circles under his eyes and subtle signs of tiredness.
The formal introduction followed and Lord Roger had no difficulty to charm them with his appealing personality. He greeted her with utter respect, not lingering his gaze to her longer than proper. He lit up the room with his laughter, made mother blush with his generous compliments. The entire night was delightful, she enjoyed the dinner and the conversation very much. Glancing at Lord Roger secretly when he was explaining something to her parents, an inevitable thought occurred to her. This was too good to be true. What made a man like him, a nobleman at his best, young, handsome, unquestionably honorable, and a smart conversationalist as well, would be willing to marry her, an illegitimate daughter. Surely it would make a scandal. Did his parents know about it? The Earl of Berwick and his wife. Did they agree without any resistance? Did they give him their blessing? Looking at mother listening to him with great enthusiasm, she wondered how could a nobility let a courtesan like her set foot in his residence. She was certain Lord Roger knew very well her mother was not the Duchess of Livingston. How could he accept this arrangement? There must be a significant reason behind it.
She found out the answer a few days later. In every household, the servants were the best source of information. With the help of Polly, her loyal maid, and her best friend as well, it didn't took long to get the complete details. Lord Roger was in a desperate financial straits. His fondness of drinking and gambling had led him to bankruptcy, even worse, it had drowned him to an unaffordable sum of debts. The Earl refused to pay his son's debt, and his impatient creditors were already pushing him to the edge. At critical time, her father came and offered him a bargain. Marry his illegitimate daughter and he would pay his debts, along with an inconsiderable dowry and a generous allowance afterward. Thus far, her father had paid half of the debt to each creditor, the remainings will be settled after the marriage. So, the man was going to marry her for money.
"He has ... weaknesses, darling. All men have their weaknesses." Her father said when she confirmed it to him. "Nobody's perfect. But I've been observing him for months before I decided to make the proposition." Father thought for a moment before continuing. "He is reckless and spendthrift, and he has fallen to an unpleasant habit. But I found that he is nice and harmless. He's not a man who will hurt you. He is still young and stupid now, but I'm certain that he will grow up over time." Father grinned. "Believe me I was three times worse than him when I was his age. But I've grown up to be a man that I am now."
Unpleasant habit? Father made it sounded like a small, unimportant thing. The habit had dragged the man into an uncompromising situation and changed his life drastically. Had he never thrown himself into such a mess, he would marry a decent lady. On the other hand, his recklessness had been used to his father's advantage, or precisely, to her advantage. However, what seemed impossible before, was within her reach now.
A proper and rightful marriage, a respectable life. And he was young and handsome indeed, much to her liking. It would be perfect if he was mature and sensible as well. But nobody's perfect. If he were to choose, he would also prefer a noble beauty than a scandalous chit like her. He had accepted her flaws. Likewise, she should accept his. It was a mutual solution for their situation. Now, all she could do was pray the marriage of convenience would turn to a long lasting love.
Her mild distate for her betrothed vanished with each passing day. He had been gentle and caring, he made her blushed and laughed. He told her the most interesting stories.
He brought her to the house parties, introduced her to the nobility as his fiancee. She never thought she would be able to attend such glamorous party. Soon she learned that most of the aristocrats were having excessive pride of theirself, feeling superior to those who were not in their circle. Fortunately Roger was a delightful companion and she enjoyed every minute with him. She put a great expectations that their relationship would grow into love. One day, he surprised her with proposing her. They were at a lady's house party and Ava brought her maid, but she told her maid to wait inside as he walked her out onto the balcony to get some private space.
"I know our marriage has been arranged." He covered her hand with his. "But you deserve to be proposed the right way." He kneeled before her and reached inside his pocket, pulling out a little velvet box. Slowly he opened the box. A beautiful ruby ring.
"Ava Sofia Marlowe, will you marry me?"
Never experienced something close to this, she was at a loss of words. Blushing, she nodded awkwardly. He bestowed her a dazzling smile and slided the ring to her finger. He rose and tilted her chin, then brought his mouth to hers. It was her first kiss, beneath the shimmering golden sky at sunset. It was nice. Not breathtaking and magical like she used to read in romance novels. But it was nice. He had stolen a few kisses ever since, in a rare, short moment when they were alone. Her parents never allowed her to be alone with him.
After a few weeks, finally her parents allowed her to go to a house party alone with him. Her mother had known she was developing some feeling for him and she decided to give them some space. Roger had the permittion to pick her up. His coach arrived at six o' clock and Ava rushed downstairs. Passing the large cheval mirror in the hallway, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and saw a gorgeous woman staring back at her. Entirely happy with her look, she couldn't help smiling to her reflection. The beauty of the women in her family had been legendary, and she was told many times that she was the fairest. Everywhere she went, people stopped and stared. The appreciation had been so commonplace sometimes it went unnoticed.
Walking to the main door, she saw Roger speaking to her mother outside. His eyes glittering with admiration when he met her gaze.
"You are very beautiful, my dear. You always are." He said as he took her hand. "But tonight, you're truly a vision."
"Enjoy the party, darling." Mother winked at her and whispered to her ear. "I wish tonight will be unforgettable."
Roger helped her into the coach and climbed in after her. The coach began to move. An odd silence fell between them. Ava turned her face from his, stared at the lavish interior before her, trying to find some words, anything to start a conversation. She had never been with him alone before, and she was anticipating this moment the whole day. But now, it felt ... awkward. Finally braced herself to gaze at him, she caught him looking at her intently from the opposite seat. There was something different with him tonight. It wasn't the way he used to be; relaxed, warm, and friendly. The way he looked at her, the gleam in his eyes, the way one corner of his mouth hitched up slighty like he was smiling. In the dimly illuminated light in the carriage, his expression looked unfamiliar and wicked. Suddenly she felt uncomfortable.
"What a sight you are"
he murmured, finally broke the silence.
"So lovely, I've never met a woman as lovely as you are."
His gaze slid down to the exposed skin above her decolletage, lower to her breasts, and she felt the hair on her nape rose. He moved to her side. Despite the large available space, he sat very close, his body crushed her. He stroked her jaw and turned her face to his.
"I've been waiting for this forever."
Then he settled his mouth on hers. Ava closed her eyes, anticipating his familiar kiss. Her eyes opened abruptly as he pushed her lips parted and slid his tongue inside. He wasn't sweet and tender this time. He was craving, demanding. His tongue twisted with hers and he sucked hard. She gasped as his hand stroked her thigh beneath her skirts. She shoved his hand away, but he insisted. Breathless, she tried to draw back but he slid one hand behind her and held her nape so tight. His free hand wandered to her breast, stroking and squeezing. With his tongue filled her mouth and his hand claimed her breast, Ava felt overwhelmed. Finally, she managed to break the kiss.
"Roger..." she turned her face away, escaping from his kiss.
Her hands pushed his chest in vain. "We must stop..."
He laughed quietly, then kissed her jaw and made his way down to her neck.
Suddenly the carriage stopped, seemed like they had arrived. Breathing in relief, she flew out of the carriage swiftly, not waiting for him to descend first and help her out. She couldn't abide a minute longer with him alone in the carriage. To her dismay, his touch and kisses were extremely unpleasant. Later, they were mingling with the other guests, greeting each other, having conversations. Roger had come back to his sociable nature, but Ava couldn't help thinking about their ride home later. She should have brought Polly with them. Some male guests asked her for a dance and she accepted their invitations. Anything to keep her away from Roger. Confused with her feeling, she wished it was just because of her lacking of experience. Shortly after finishing the last dance, Roger took her elbow and led her away from the crowd. His hand grasped her waist possesi
For a moment, Ava was totally speechless. The next second, she stood rightaway. "You are wrong, mother! He tried to rape me. He hit my face, he called me whore!" She was thinking to tell mother he insulted her too, and Del, but she didn't want to hurt her feeling. Mother looked surprised. "Did he?" "Yes, and it was not just rough... or passionate like you just said. It was horrible, and violent, and..." she tried to find the right word. "Totally evil." Desiree frowned at her last word and fell silent. Ava got a bad feeling that her mother didn't believe her. "Mother" she started to pace back and forth across the room. "You should believe me. I'm not that naive that I don't know the difference between forcing and seducing. You have no idea what I've undergone just now..." Finally, mother gave a reply. "We should tell your father. Tomorrow." Soon after mother lef
Ava spent the rest of the day trying to convince her mother. She told her over and over again about the incident, making sure she didn't miss a single detail. If mother could trust her even a little, maybe she would be willing to coax father to cancel the marriage. She totally lost hope the next day. She had been restless all day. No longer having her usual appetite, she couldn't eat more than a few bites of toast. She couldn't sleep either, not when something very bad was coming upon her. She paced back and forth in her bedroom. Father and mother had gone in the morning. They didn't told any of the servants where they went or when they might be back. Last night after hours of relentless talk, Desiree finally said that she would try to talk to her father. Ava had high expectation that her father eventually would change his mind. Mother always had an irrefutable po
After a long, tiring hours in the jolting and swaying carriage, a quick stop at a little town to change hackney, and a little visit to a jewelry shop to sell her engagement ring, they were finally almost at the end of the trip. Her lips touched a mischievous grin as she recalled the wicked satisfaction she had when she sold Roger's gift. The shop owner looked at her in suspicion, but took the ring anyway. He must have thought she was a discarded mistress or sort of that. She didn't care, the ring made an adequate sum of money she would need for the coming days. She was glad she had tamped the irresistible urge to throw it out of the window that night. Across her seat, Polly was snoring loudly, left her alone with her thoughts. Despite her confidence in what she was doing, Ava was in a quandary. She knew she would always be haunted by Roger, forever bound to him by the unbreakable contract.
Uhhh" the old man's rough groan awakened them both from the lull. "Oh" Ava turned back to the accident victim. "Are you all right, sir?" The man leaned back behind her, trapped her with his strong hands. His breath brushed her neck, soothing her damp skin and his warmth surrounded her. His tanned hand was rough and muscular. His shirt sleeves were folded up to his elbow. Seemed like he was a working country man. A farmer or a blacksmith possibly. "I'm okay" the old man snorted in annoyance "My right legs just hurt a little." Ava felt a gentle pat on her shoulder and she turned her head back swiftly. "Excuse me, miss" He bestowed her the most dazzling smile, Ava didn't know which one brighter, the sunshine or his smile. "Do you mind moving a little, I need to see his injury..." "Oh..." She blushed, then moved aside. "Of course."
Ava blushed at the way he praised her beauty. All her life, she had had more than plenty compliments to indulge her vanity, but never she felt like this before. Just a little words could make her warm as if she had caught a fever. Struggling to keep her mind clear, she thought about what he just told her. He said he had been living here all his life. So he was a country man like she guessed. "Where do you live, sir?" She would find out more. She braced herself to see him. "Magnus" he gave her the winsome smile again. "Just call me Magnus." His name was unique. "Magnus" she repeated, loving the sound of his name in her voice. "Where do you live, miss?" "Berry Lane near the hill." She completely forgot that he didn't answer her previous question. "You live with your parents?" "No, I've been living with m
They began to circle each other, eyes alarmed. "And who is this mighty enemy of yours? Magnus smirked. "Actually, he is not really an enemy..." He stepped to the side just in the right time when the captain advanced with a sudden thrust. "A brother?" "Kind of..." "Ah! Sibling rivalry I see. An all time classic life story. Brothers are the greatest rivals. What's he like?" "Exceedingly fast and merciless. And extremely confident." Magnus slid forward to seize an opening but the captain was fast despite his age, he pushed Magnus' weapon off. "What's his weakness?" "I don't know. If I do I had already defeated him long ago." "Is he as tall as you? As big as you?" "He is about my he
"You didn't know who he is?!!!" Lady Byrne screeched frantically. Magnus had escaped shortly after a little polite talk, leaving Ava to cope as best she might on her own. "My goodness! He is Lord Magnus Hyde, his family has owned this land for hundred of years. The ruling duke is his cousin. Lord Magnus is third-in-line of this little empire." The lady continued in bold enthusiasm. "Theirs are one of the leading noble families in England. They are possessors of many estates and rich farming lands. They are incredibly wealthy. My dear Ava, you have caught a prince and you didn't even know it!" With every word tumbling from the lady's mouth, Ava felt her heart sank. She didn't want a prince, an heir, a nobleman with all the glorious grandeur. She wanted Magnus as a man, either a farmer, a soldier, or another commoner... a man she could lay her hope on, a man she could make her own. Now that she found that he was actu