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Chapter 49
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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Lily continued to explore Craig with her mouth until his groans became so audible he was forced to interrupt her and gently guided her face away. He gave her his large hand to hold and helped her to her feet. "Did you like that?" Lily asked teasingly with widely innocent eyes. Craig murmured into her neck and gave her gentle caresses that made a little moan escape. "Very much so but I think you are too overdressed for me now," and with a rough pull his fingers tugged at the hemline of her satin knickers. She gasped and placed her hands on his chest. He softly pulled the hem from her waistband up higher so the material rode up into her. She followed his action and lurched onto her tiptoes as the material rubbed against her. "What are you going to do?"
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Athena had been exceptionally busy for the past three weeks. Avoiding social gatherings she had instead been studying Italian and researching where to head to when her ship sailed in two nights time. Lady McDonald’s generosity remained unsurpassed. In the luxurious Mayfair townhouse, Athena had felt like royalty. Surrounded by chandeliers, golden trinkets, fine porcelain, and beautifully decorated rooms she wondered if she would become spoiled and unable to enjoy a simpler life after all this time amongst the wealthy. Two pieces of correspondence had been left on her dainty bedside table by Lady McDonald. She opened the first and a laugh erupted. In her beautiful script on top of an invitation to a ball at St James’ Court, the following night lay a set of demands. “You shall be my companion in Lord McDonald’s absence, no refusals
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As Athena politely declined yet another handsome gentleman, she started to feel self-conscious, as dazzling as the gold dress was, it soon started to feel like some overpowering magnet. Her eyes scanned the room for someone familiar and found nothing. At least the dances were entertaining to watch. The couples moved expertly around the room, a dizzying display of spins and footwork. Women shone like trophies as their jewels and pearls caught the chandelier lights and the young men all appeared carved from the same handsome tree as Oliver. Friendly, open faces and charming smiles abounded but Athena no longer trusted those attributes. Believing those initial qualities about Oliver had blinded her to his true nature. There was nobody of the earth, nobody grounded like Craig, or even Felix that she could connect with. Despite his vast wealth, their love of horses, nature, reading, and the way
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Though the dance continued, the music thrumming and beating strongly as couples twirled around them Athena came to a dead stop. Still being held by Felix she was frozen to the spot staring up at him with shock. “You wish to marry me?” “I do,” he replied, his face completely serious and set. A thousand butterflies of emotion seemed to rush around every cell of her body as the realisation sank in. “I…I…accept…of course…I cannot believe it,” she finally whispered and as he gently smiled and exhaled deeply, she felt as though the sun was shining upon her. He had been holding his breath the whole time and it touched her to the core. A dampening thought leapt into her mind as she remembered the purpose of attending the ball.
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As they pulled up outside the grand townhouse owned by Lord McDonald, all white polished limestone and grandeur, the motion of the carriage stopping forced the newly engaged couple apart. They had embraced with unabashed passion and lust during the ride home like starving animals, devouring each other. However upon seeing the flurry of servants run out to greet them with offers of hot drinks and food Felix quickly raised an eyebrow towards Athena signalling an end to the antics. “I am tempted to ask the man for another lap around all of Kensington,” he groaned as he untwined his arm from around her waist and gently stroked her chocolate brown hair. He quickly ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it back to somewhere near its intended style. Athena had run her fingers through it so many times he felt sure he now resembled a scar
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