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Chapter 54
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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The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 55
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
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 56
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.
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 57
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
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 58
As his brother’s happiness ascended so Oliver's plummeted to new lows. Alone in the villa he found himself lonely and brooding like a stray dog. He began obsessively pouring over the gossip newspapers trying to dissect the merest mention of his name or that of the Gilded Falcon. Farleigh was an attractive three bedroomed villa that Lord McDonald had offered on the understanding it would be vacated once Oliver found a London property. He had yet to visit London, the distaste in his mouth when the remembered how people in the hotel had looked at him that morning. Like an insect or other squashable bug, his value to them was even less than a commoner because he had squandered the gifts of wealth and family name so foolishly. He was very surprised to see Felix mentioned in London section.
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 59
Athena woke up convinced it had all been a dream. Her eyes found her gold dress, gleaming and sparkling in the early morning sun like a sunbeam, hung up safely on a mannequin. She put her face into the material and breathed in deeply. There it was, that familiar, heart pounding scent of grasses, earth and musky maleness. She rang the bell and her little maidservant Lizzie came through. “Good morning ma’am, Lady Louisa is in her room taking breakfast alone if you care to join her?” Athena nodded enthusiastically, wrapped herself up in a warm robe and quickly travelled down the softly carpeted corridor towards Lady McDonald’s suite. A pristine white door was opened leading to a den of unparalleled luxury. Rich tapestries hung from the walls and ornate lacquered furniture covered every surface. The suite was large enough for a full
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 60
The hotel was the grandest money could buy. A royal suite had been arranged and every other room on the floor too to ensure absolute privacy. Felix wanted to avoid snooping guests or waiting staff and paid handsomely to avoid being troubled. They arrived via a back entrance, the day had only just passed midday and Athena realised she was faint with hunger. Felix recognised her pale look and immediately requested one of the other suites he booked be prepared for dining. Feeling like a boat caught up the crest of a wave she watched all of these events as a bemused onlooker. In only five minutes she had been exposed to the true grandeur of Felixs wealth. Just in the suites he had spent more money than Athena had ever earned with her contract. The yacht he had charted was eye-wateringly expensive and now she was part of tha
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 61
Deep in one of the groves of the Haddon Hall estate, Oliver paced in an agitated state. The days since Octavia’s letter had dragged and he was eager to know her grand plan. He was also keen to be intimate with her, certain she would want to be, given that she had no qualms at his party. He had a weakness for pale blue eyes as Claudette and Sophie could attest but Octavia’s were unique. The iciness to them never seemed to fade, even in the throes of passion she appeared to be calculating her next move like a boa constrictor whereas he was a man of pure instinct. The fact those instincts had almost left him bankrupt and homeless he did not consider flaws in his character. Finally a gentle pattering of feet amongst the fall leaves alerted him to her presence. She was wearing a fine, lace covered day dress of cornflower blue, her cle
The Baron's Cold Proposal Chapter 62
The following weeks in Naples seemed to pass by in a dizzying blur of tours, palaces, churches, and sightseeing. Athena drew almost every day, delighting in the colours and shape of the architecture whilst Felix happily studied the engineering behind the buildings. They could spend entire afternoons quietly in each other’s presence, each happily absorbed in their own pursuits with the occasional glance and smile towards the other. Every so often whilst Athena was at her easel, he would softly approach, tuck away a stray hair and kiss her bare neck causing a shudder of pleasure to rush through her. She did not know that it was taking all his self-possession not to grab her and pull her to him greedily as he did as soon as they were alone. The way her green eyes sparkled and surveyed the world around her captivated him, she was a G
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