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Chapter 44
Athena wandered back into the party in a daze. Rather than trying to put on her social face and join in with the laughter and jokes she wandered to the sash windows at the edge of the ballroom. The huge windows reminded her of the library, where she had placed her hands on the glass whilst Felix embraced her. Tears stung and she rebuked herself for being so emotional. This was not the time.
Escape seemed impossible. Would sacrificing three years of her life for a secure future truly be that terrible? Deep down she knew it was impossible. She may have given away her virtue to Felix willingly, but her pride remained intact. Hugging one arm around her waist she looked out into the open countryside in balmy, late summer dusk, and idly wondered how much effort it would be to just saddle Tempest and vanish.
The weasel faced man who had
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The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 45
Halfway through the ballers, in-between trays of drinks, Mrs Clarke had finally cornered Sophie. Her prim little black bonnet bouncing as she spoke would have been comical had the news not been so devastating. “My dear, you know you cannot stay here much longer.” “What is the matter?” “Do not make me spell it out, your bump is starting to protrude and your apron will no longer hide it in a few weeks. You need to leave. Soon.” Unable to find Lily to ask her advice Sophie had instead hidden herself away on the fourth floor, the servants' sleeping quarters for a few hours. The period of nausea and lack of appetite had now finished but now she craved food and milk to feed her growing child. When she could forget
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Barely having time to turn around on the slim wooden steps to see him. As he rushed up the stairs to meet her his dark eyes glinted dangerously and his face was flushed with emotion. His huge body seemed to take up all the space and light within the servant's passage. Without a word he took the brandy bottle from her with one hand, deftly placing it on a small ledge whilst the other hand wrapped around her delicate waist. Drawing her to him hungrily he wordlessly pressed his lips to hers. The oil lamp dropped to the floor as Athena flung her arms around his broad shoulders, his lips glued to hers, his tongue gently seeking hers. She ran her hands through his hair pulling him to her. All sense had flown from her mind. As the oil lamp started to flicker she quickly
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 47
The entire room, including Sophie were easily able to decipher the unsubtle reference. A Baron with Live and Fair in the name, there was no doubt it was Oliver Fairfax. The veiled reference to Gilded Falcon. Henry paled in shock at Octavia who merely played the meek fool. Both Felix and Oliver flushed red in anger, for once united in outrage at such an indelicate public shaming. Lord’s Dacre and McDonald looked at their wives with concern on their greying, tired faces. The only person who did not appear shocked was Milo, who cheerfully waved a half-eaten bit of toast back towards Oliver in mockery. Octavia gracefully stood up from her armchair and walked towards a livid Oliver, delicately she produced a small white envelope. "Apologies, this is
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After Oliver swiftly left the room, crushing the letter in his hand Felix gave a knowing look to Lord’s Dacre and McDonald. Whilst Oliver had headed outside followed by his guests like hens to the window, the gentlemen followed Felix and quietly left the large dining room by a side door, heading down a corridor until they came to the grand foyer's staircase. Milo joined them, ignoring the haughty looks given to him by the Lords. “Where to?” he asked, ignoring introductions and polite conventions. “My study, third floor,” Felix replied briskly and in silence, they trudged upstairs. He opened the door and offered the Lords the leather sofa near his desk. Milo declined a chair, preferring to lean against the bright sash window pane with his arms folded. As Felix took his place at the head of the desk, his heart raced with worry abou
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Athena ventured downstairs after breakfast had finished, seeking to avoid the chattering guests. Dressed in a light blue gown she rarely wore, it gave her a paler, less healthy appearance than normal. She soon spotted Lady Louisa talking urgently with Lord McDonald in a quiet corner. His hard face visibly softened as he listened to her speaking, at one point giving her hand a gentle press of reassurance. They appeared completely unaware of the rest of the world and she felt a pang of both happiness and envy for the situation. Letting out a quiet sigh Athena, Athena diverted her walk away from the couple and headed to the gardens, looking out onto the lake. Everywhere Athena turned people seemed to be in furtive discussion. Pockets of intrigue were dotted about the grounds, Lady Octavia seemed to be holding a full audience,
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"What is going on here?" Craig boomed as he charged into the room, quickly surveying the scene. Before him stood a red-faced Oliver. His dark eyes glowered with desperation, frozen in place as he stood with one arm raised over the cowering servant girl. A shock of blonde curls and tearful blue eyes stared up at Craig in relief. "Mr Thornfield!" she squeaked and pushed herself along the floor nearer to him. One cheek looked painfully red where he had struck her. "Turn around right now or I will have you thrown out," Oliver muttered darkly. "You can certainly try," he growled, ignoring his threat as he bent down to assist Sophie to her feet. The bed was unmade, and a vase of flowers spilt across the floor. Sophie instinctively hid behind the huge frame of Cra
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The next three weeks saw very little activity at Fairfax Manor. The fallout from the dramatic party was inevitably the talk of the town. Milo Westerby had kept his honour and kept the gambling talk out of the papers, but it was impossible to prevent the other aspects of Oliver’s life from becoming common knowledge. “Not so Barren Baron,” the headlines teased. It mockingly reported how he had successfully sired two children, and a typo on nuptials to “Luptials” was enough of a hint for anyone in their well-bred circles to understand. Octavia’s engagement had come to an unceremonious end, and she was now bunkered at Haddon Hall waiting for the gossip to blow over. Servants were approached by visiting writers asking for their experiences of Octavia’s virtue and behaviour. Had she been a pleasant employer they might perhaps hav
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Craig and Lily’s wedding day was everything she could have wished for. More than two dozen friends and family were in attendance. A merry celebration at the tavern was held where gifts, cards and congratulations were exchanged. It was a small affair but exactly as they wanted. Had there been any more planning or grand elegance required it would have taken much longer to organise. Lily wore her hair down in beautiful flowing ringlets, looking like a goddess of nature as she carried her wildflower bouquet. Her blue eyes sparkled with so much joy in the long creamy dress it looked as though she could cry. Craig’s chest was puffed to its fullest pride in his dark blue suit. Although Athena had been unable to attend, she had sent generous gifts and a long letter updating him of her plans. Craig’s father had shaken his hand and congratulated him on such a rare beauty. Sophie had hugged him close
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