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
As dawn rose the next day, in the eaves of the fourth floor servants quarters Sophie prodded Lily awake. As she yawned and came to Sophie's blue eyes sparkled mischievously. "When he came in all soaking wet and serous last night…" Lily couldn't help but roll her eyes and grin back in agreement. "He is very nice to look at, I cannot lie. Certainly not worth waking me up for" "You should have offered to take his wet clothes off" Sophie giggled and gave her a cheeky wink. "Sophie!" Lily admonished quietly, trying not to wake the others, "you would never be so bold surely?" This time Sophie was the one to blush and avert her eyes.
The next month saw a concentrated effort from both Athena and Felix to avoid any further interactions. It was a thoroughly miserable month for both as she buried her head in a newly delivered greenhouse, ensuring she was out of reach every day. Felix visited London on business twice but just found himself at the club mulling over those green eyes, failing to keep up with the conversations of the gentlemen around him. Achilles had never seen so much exercise as every local landlord and the business owner found themselves the victim of unplanned visits by a distracted Baron Fairfax. Keeping his resolve not to pursue Athena strong was the fact that Lady McDonald and Dacre had bestowed their highest praises upon Athena. Her actions brought their husbands safely home and they considered her a remarkable treasure.
The past four weeks had been much more pleasant for Craig. Despite Athena working him and his men hard, there had been opportunities to enjoy Fairfax Manor. He found himself making excuses to visit the kitchen. Though their eyes frequently met, they were always amongst bustling strangers and unable to form any meaningful conversation. Her happy smile and bright eyes had started worming their way into his daily thoughts as he shifted earth and laid foundations. The secluded bench near the stable block where Athena had cried the previous month had subsequently been discovered by Craig. He enjoyed its privacy from the windows of the main house as a peaceful place to take his lunch during the day. Today he strolled up to the bench as usual with his satchel and
Baron Oliver headed to London well before dawn. Athena entered the main foyer and seeing no sign of Felix decided to head into the library and go over her designs. There was no need to hide away in the greenhouse now. She wore a delicate yellow linen dress tied under the bust with a pale green ribbon. Her brown hair was pinned up but already some stray tendrils were framing her oval face. Her expression was serious but content as the hours passed by at her drawing board. When a glum-looking Sophie fetched her lunch, forcing her to look up from her work she gasped at the change in weather. Huge black clouds were rolling over the horizon. "Look Sophie, there will be a storm tonight. Can you see it approaching?"
Silently, deftly he peeled away the ruby silken robe leaving her standing in her white nightdress. Her hands replaced against the windows she let out a fresh pant of pleasure as his hands felt the outline of her body. The bumps in the fabric where her buttons rose caused his fingers to judder as they caressed up and down. Pushing herself more firmly against his rigid body she felt the teasing stubble on his chin and the increasing firmness in his trousers. Still kissing her neck, teasing her with rough and smooth embraces, his strong hands roamed her stomach, waist and rib cage until he reached her breasts. Lightning continued to crack across the sky and the pelting raindrops down the windows drowned out her heavy breathing. As he gently embraced their roundness,