Athena dressed carefully for dinner, by trying to wear something charming, yet understated yet professional. Finally, she decided on a mint green and white dress with a wide white ribbon tied under the bust. Her hair was loosely up with some curls escaping and falling in delicate tendrils. As she waited in her quiet room for Lily to summon her, the impatience built to a crescendo.
As the time neared nine, she accepted she wasn't being summoned tonight. Her embarrassment at such a start made her cheeks burn and her eyes sparkle. She headed out of the bedroom and headed to the kitchen to find her meal.
As she strode down the corridor and quickly took the stairs she stopped at the sound of voices. It appeared to be a study where at least two people had retired for a drink and a smoke.
Slowing her walk to minimise noise she headed away and to the other end of the hallway. A door behind her banged open suddenly and she froze in her tracks.
"Do you need something?"
The voice was deep, growling, and aggressive. A shiver ran up her spine as she quickly turned around. His frame seemed to fill the doorway. He was tall and athletically built. His hair and eyes were a deep chocolate brown and a slight stubble peppered his razor-sharp jawline
"Apologies for any interruption…I am Athena Thornfield. I start work on redeveloping your grounds tomorrow."
"Of course."
His flat reply and constant gaze applied tension to their situation that appeared to only affect her. Suddenly aware of her silence Athena bumbled her words.
"I...do not...I was looking for the kitchen"
"You have not eaten?" His face was unmoved, if he felt any concern for her hunger he showed nothing.
"No. But it does not matter…" her voice trailed away, confidence fading by the second.
"Keep walking through the next two double doors. You will find the kitchen. Good evening Ms Thornfield."
With the same roughness as his voice, he gave a nod, turned on his heel and returned to his study and shut the door firmly. A clinking of glasses was audible, and Helena felt her shyness replaced with anger.
His undeniable attractiveness was no excuse for how he'd treated her just now. Like a tiger assessing its prey, it appeared he had found her unworthy of further interaction.
Finding kitchen Lily apologised profusely and showed her the meal she was just preparing to fetch under a silver cloche.
"I did mention to the gentleman your arrival and asked if they wanted you to join but neither answered ma'am. I am so sorry for your wait!"
Deciding to shake off the negative feelings and embrace those in the household who did want her there, Athena matched Lily’s chirpiness.
"Oh, Lily it is not a problem. I think to avoid future confusion I shall dine in my room every night. If there are discussions to have about our work there is all the working day to find me"
Her voice sounded confident, but as soon as she was back in her room and undressed for bed the tears escaped.
This job needed to go well and if Baron Felix had no interest in its success, then so be it. In the quiet of her room, she allowed herself to admire his chocolate eyes, darkly tousled hair and cold aura.
His deep voice had vibrated through to her core, alone in her room she wondered just what he did to all those different women he encountered in Europe and why was she so interested.
*******
Craig had a similarly frustrating evening. His brief introduction to his head labourer Mr Jackson Hughes had confirmed the usual battle was to take place. Resistance to both the design and the physical challenge of the work required.
He would win them all over though. He always did. Working right alongside them, shifting rocks and sweating equally, he would gain their trust and belief in the project.
The gamekeeper's lodge suited him tremendously. Wood-panelled, cosy furs and blankets on the bed and a roaring fire meant he would be more than comfortable. He made a note that this was the kind of place he should buy when they finally hit their target. Sitting in the leather armchair watching the fire as he rested, Lady Octavia kept drifting into his mind.
Holding her in his arms, feeling her panted breath settling down, blonde hair scattered across his chest as she laid upon his torso he had murmured those fateful words.
"I want you to know I love you…I adore you Octavia"
That unguarded, relaxed declaration now tortured his mind. His memory replayed the way her pale expression had immediately hardened. Not a word was uttered yet he knew those emotions were to be crushed back into the dust and regretted.
"Damn them all" he muttered and sipped at his scotch. He hoped Athena would be safe in the main house. Some of the tales he had heard from the drinking partners at the inn the evening before were concerning.
Apparently, Felix had a penchant for young women in his employ and was a rough, unloving abuser of the female sex. He had been banned from several brothels abroad for the injuries caused to the women. He could not possibly be a gentleman. Athena was smart in business but naive in the world of powerful men and their desires.
He debated whether to have a talk with her but of course, that would invite questions about his recent romantic entanglement. He resolved the matter by muttering a further "damn them all" and draining his drink before taking himself off to bed.
A daily routine was established by the end of the first week. At dawn, Athena and Craig would quickly go over their aims for the day then after breakfast Craig would join the men in their labours. Athena would then be based in the library for her drawings and assessments or walk around the grounds trying to gauge the success of the designs from every vantage point. Any issues found or were hers to cost and find solutions for. Invariably Oliver would appear and entertain her with amusing questions about the design. To humour him she had produced a sketch of a maze area complete with a confused Oliver at the centre. He had guffawed and promised to show Felix. The mention of his name did more to her nerves than all of Oliver's flattery. Lily and Sophie, anothe
The Manor was finally brought to life the following Friday as half a dozen carriages containing the guests for the weekend's hunting arrived. Tonight there would be fine dining, music and entertainment followed by a dawn start on horseback. Athena too had found new energy. The manor had transformed as it hummed with activity, the grey stone walls no longer intimidating, instead, they were a welcome source of strength within the harsh landscape. Oliver assured Athena during their conversations she could borrow a horse named Tempest. His original promise of accompanying her to the stables had fallen by the wayside, however. She had not chased up his attention though, aware of the implications she could give by hounding him. Attempting to avoid the buzz of new
The evening’s festivities saw Athena worrying about what to wear, something she never normally cared about. Lily kindly informed her what the other visiting ladies had taken out for the evening so she could wear a similar style. Out of sheer relief, Athena had wrapped the gentle Lily in a hug, thanking her for preventing her embarrassment.She wore a tightly wrapped purple evening gown. Underneath that layer was a white semi-corset bodice that offered a good hint of cleavage. The sleeves were three-quarter-length but not puffed out as per the trend. Instead, they clung to her limbs, highlighting her youthful figure.Around her neck, she wore her gold circle locket, and her hair was styled into a stylish nest of curls with sparkling pearl pins placed within.
Stood silently at the top of the stairs Athena did not dare turn around. The severity of his voice had rendered her frozen to the spot. The sound of heavy footsteps climbing the stairs to reach her pounded in time to her heartbeat. Finding herself fighting a tingling sensation in her lower stomach in anticipation she kept her eyes firmly to the floor. He quickly completed his ascent. His pace slowed as he stalked around her silently, his body close to hers like a wolf readying for the kill. Her eyes slowly lifted from the ground upon seeing his black leather boots in her peripheral vision. Finally the footsteps stopped, he was stood directly in front of her, and her eyes slowly travelled the full length of his body to meet his own. His dark suit and waistcoat fitted his large figure, he couldn't look more perfect if he tried. Although his jaw was set sternly, his eyes an intensely dark brow
As the day started and the house buzzed once more with activity, both Felix and Oliver looked for Athena to appear for breakfast. She remained irritatingly absent and Oliver joked that perhaps she had run off to the nunnery instead of riding. Whilst some at the group had laughed Felix had stood up and walked away silently, disappointed in his brother. Partaking in the hunt were Oliver, Felix, Lord McDonald, Lord Dacre, David Buxton and Harold Lupton who had arrived late. Athena was the only female rider but as the men strolled out of the large doors chatting they found Athena already mounted on Tempest. Felix could not help noticing her excellent posture upon the horse, her green eyes shining with grim determination. Her hair was tightly pinned under a black bonnet glowing coolly in her ruby red tightly fitted riding habit that w
Felix’s lips embraced with a passion that took her breath away. She closed her eyes and basked in the passion and strength of his embrace, eagerly returning his kisses and searching for more of him. Knowing her hands were held tightly by her side was so frustratingly teasing, she longed to run her hands over his chest, or through his hair. His tongue lapped gently at her mouth causing her to open it more fully. She found herself softly finding his tongue with her own, trying to experience as much of him as she possibly could before this dream ended. She let out a loud gasp of pleasure as his mouth suddenly left hers and instead started planting a mix of gentle and rough kisses up her neck. She shuddered as his hot breath teased her skin. The little ki
Smartly dressed in a lilac cotton gown, tied beneath the bust with a purple ribbon Athena descended the sweeping wooden staircase once more. Though she looked identical to last night, everything was upside down in her mind. She had lost her mind in the stable, she had put everything at risk for a quick tryst with a known womaniser. She resolved to be the stronger person in this situation. Felix was a Baron of unparalleled riches, she would just be another conquest to him. The fact he was employer and had that hold over her fate was both terrifying and enticing. Complete the job and get out became her calming mantra. Lightly treading into the library she found the abandoned ladies playing cards and reading after lunch. There was no sign of Felix, which settled her nerv
Raised voices and stomping boots announced the return of the party back into Fairfax Manor. The foyer became loud and raucous as Mrs Clark, Lily and Sophie and the other servant girls offered towels and brandy to the complaining gentlemen who received attention gratefully, clearly soaked to the skin and exhausted. Lord McDonald, the oldest and slenderest man of the party appeared to be quite unwell. His tall grey figure stumbled into the hallway and shivered profusely causing a cry of anguish from Lady McDonald. “Hours out there, if you hadn’t lit those windows…I don’t know where we would have ended up” Lady McDonald wept as she held his hand and with an arm over Athena’s shoulder they took him up to his room. His riding coat almost took Athena to the floor it was that