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Post by Raynesleigh on Mar 7, 2012 11:25:26 GMT -5
Felicity smiled softly, taking another bite of the delicious treat. "Nothing is wrong. I am only feeling a little anxious...and to be honest, I had not even considered a honeymoon...." she trailed off and smiled, walking into the house with him and moving into the casual sitting room. Used more for privacy rather than company. She sank down, taking another bite of her sweet ice cream. She did like it but it was rather rich and very sweet.
"If I were take my choice of traveling wherever I pleased, it would probably be Rome or Athens or Sparta. Even Bath. I have lived in England the whole of my life but never have gone there...so many places. Edinburgh, Glasgow...I fear I would not be able to make up my mind..." she laughed good naturally then shook her head. "If you wished to go to any place in the world, where would it be?" she asked looking at him. She, after all, needed to get to know the man before they got married even if the marriage was to be a short duration. "I might be inclined to go there for our...um....honeymoon." she flushed just thinking about it.
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Ginny blushed. "I admit it is one of the better kisses I have ever received from a suitor and I have had a few of those..." she admitted. "None kiss like you...and Well, I feel a searing thrilling sort of heat I did not with other kisses," she admitted then looked at the reins. "Will you teach me how to steer your phaeton My Lord?" she asked, though it was really only a ploy to get closer to him and appear to have some air of propriety for all those that were watching them. Including her chaperone. Glancing back at her maid, she found the girl asleep. Her aunt would not be hearing of this. She liked having some privacy with this nan. Propriety was something she sometimes great,y loathed. Slowly, her gaze returned to James. "Please?" she asked, even though she already knew how to drive one.
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Fred sighed. "I was thinking I might return to London. Visit a few Cambridge chums of mine..." he trailed off thinking of the few men he called friend. Rochford was a devil but a good natured one. Then there was always the serious Reginald. He had been the only one to marry thus far and that had definitely been a mistake. Then he grinned. "And I do not smoke like a chimney," he argued with a smirk. He sighed.
"Perhaps one day when I am out of this chair...I will take you to the opera. I don't give a damn about society and I don't think you should either. To them, money makes the world go around. If you are different then it does not matter your position. My daughter, for example, I love dearly, but I am afraid that she will always face rejection for her disabilities, never grow up and get to marry and have her own children if she wants them...and me...Well...my wife is living proof of what happens. I try not to be bitter, but it is difficult..." he sighed. "Sorry...I am getting to be far to temperamental..." he sighed then relaxed in his chair.
"Even so...I think a trip to town would do you good. To get out of th country and away from a brute like me. When you return, I might well surprise you with how much I have progressed," he smirked.
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Everett looked at her. "No...nothing is wrong," he said amiably. Though it was a straight out lie. This revenge he had planned so perfectly was already starting to backfire. What she did not know, was that he had already returned the money, burning the markers. She had money again. She had no reason to be here except by the pretext that he was forcing her to be his mistress and now his conscience was beginning to rear it's ugly head. He took another sip of his brandy then sat the decanter down.
"How is your daughter?" he asked curiously. Knowing from what he had heard that she had conceived almost immediately after marrying the old man and birthed a daughter some seven and a half or eight months later. Premature but healthy. He had wondered but surely she would not of been cold hearted enough to deny him knowledge of his own child. He had stayed on as stablehand for two years at her brother's home after all. If it was his daughter, he had never been informed. And he would like to think she would not be so cruel.
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Post by anjelrocker on Mar 8, 2012 21:21:28 GMT -5
The idea of taking a holiday with his soon to be wife for a long period of time seemed like it would be a good idea as he thought of it. "Well, it will be rather nice if we were to take a trip perhaps to see Rome, Athens and Sparta if you so desire?" He said since he had never been to either of the places. He had only gone to France as well as a few other places but never to Italy nor Greece. "Are you interested in ancient history then?" He asked her remembering that there was an exhibit at the British Museum on Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. It would not be the same but he thought that it would be nice to go with her at some point if it would make her happy.
Sitting down as they waited for the maid to bring them some tea, he smiled. "It would be impressive to see the Colusseum or the Patheon in their full glory." He stated as a maid came in with the tea and gave Miss. Grey a jealous look as she put the tea down and asked if they wanted anything else as she looked to him with a cunning eye. He had some idea what she was up to but he was not interested as he said. "No, that will be all Jones." He said with a nod before glancing at Felicity.
"Have the staff said anything to you since this new arrangement?" He asked curiously pouring some of the tea for himself and her allowing her to put milk and sugar as she pleased.
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James did not see the harm in teaching her how to steer as he smiled. "Ah, I suppose." He mentioned as he moved over a bit closer to her and gave her the reins to his horses, however... he put his hands over her own and gripped tightly. "You need to hold it firm, allow the steeds to know who is the boss." He explained as he tugged on the one side and then the other. "Now, if you want to go one way... you need to tug on the opposite side and if you wish to go the other way." He said to her with a smile as he looked over seeing if she was actually paying attention or if there was a hidden motive behind this little lesson.
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"My lord..." Winifred said in a soft voice. "I do wish to point out that if you were to take me to the opera then, your society would think me your mistress." She said seriously knowing that although, she appreciated his kindness... he was still a Marquess. "Although, I think it would be nice if you went to visit your old Cambridge friends, you seem undoubtably lonely... so much so that you seem to be enjoying my company, m'lord." She giggled in her Welsh accented voice.
"Ah, perhaps you will impress me with your progress. I will take my vacation to London and I will return with high hopes for the suffragette movement." She said as she got up to get the chess board out so they could play a game of chess before she would do and help him into bed before taking her own leave to go to bed.
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Looking down at the glass of brandy, Ariana felt sad for a moment as she thought of her daughter. "Ah, Vivian is doing quite well with her studies with her governess." She said as she spoke of her four year old daughter with a happy look on her face, Vivi was the light of her life as she looked up. "She is very intelligent young lady and quite the proper Miss... oh, and she is cheeky." She put her hand on her cheek with a shake of her head as if she was going to another world.
Remembering where she was, Ariana's expression changed. "Perhaps, one day... you will know the joy of children." She said knowing that could be taken as rubbing salt into the wound but he was doing the same to her as she finished her glass of brandy with a deep drink. "Could we please stop with the pretending to be civil... what do you wish of me?" She asked.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Mar 10, 2012 8:44:01 GMT -5
Felicity took a deep breath. "Well...no one has said anything...but miss jones and a few others have cast me glares. It is deserved I suppose. I pretended to be a maid and managed to catch the lord of the house. I pretended to be a lower class. I guess that is as much a taboo as a serving girl getting to marry the Lord of the house. The only one who even has spoken me since yesterday morning is the housekeeper, Mrs. Pince...everyone else has been rather cool..." she shook her head. "I deserve it though...and I can only hope everyone is discreet till we marry. I do not want my father to find me and take me back..." she trailed off and shuddered before finishing her ice cream and sitting the empty cation and wooden spoon on the tea tray, quickly pouring herself a bit of tea and added a couple of lumps of sugar.
"And yes. I love roman and Greek history. Granted, the gods and goddesses are all vapid and shallow...but mythology always held my attention. My favorite was the story of Hades and Persephone. Overlooking the fact that they are niece and uncle, the story was always quite romantic to me. Hades so in love with Persephone that he stole her away to his place of darkness. And they found love together. But only able to share their love for two or three months out of the year and then pine away for each other the rest of it..." she whispered then sighed. "Of course their are other stories involving Persephone that are more...lurid..." she gave a little laugh. "I am sorry...I am sure I am boring you..." she looked at him. "Reginald..." she put down her tea.
"Do you suppose...we would suit...physically speaking...I mean...you want a child. That requires...intimacy...do you suppose we could be compatible that way?" she asked with a deep blush.
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Ginny smirked, curling against him more and taking the reins, sitting up straight and then manning the reins as well as she was able. She had led a team of horses plenty of times back home in the states and had often partaken in phaeton races though her father had strongly disapproved of such activities.
Glancing at his lordship, she gave a mischievous smile then looked forward. "Yah!" she called giving the reins a hard slap and then driving the horses at breakneck speed through the park, easily controlling the horses and rearing them to a stop at a secluded piece of land where there were not any people walking. She laughed softly and tossed the reins back to him, glancing at her maid who had woken up and was looking quite afeared. Ginny looked at James and then slid off the seat and adjusted her dress.
"Take care of my hat would you Mary? I think his lordship are going to take a private turn about the trees for a moment.." she said and Mary had the sense to blush and nod. Some chaperone. But it worked to Ginny's favor. She glanced at James as she walked around the horses. "Coming my lord?" she asked prettily.
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Fred chuckled as she set up the chess board. "It will be a fine thing to read about in the papers. I do hope when you go to London you are careful. Sometimes those police are a nasty lot to the women who wish for the same rights as their husbands, son, brothers and fathers. I would wish to live vicariously through you until I can move about of my own accord," he grinned then moved a pawn as a serving maid poured them a bit of wine, he took a sip then looked at her.
"And you are very enjoyable company my dear nurse Winnifred. Whoever told you otherwise was quite dull witted," he grinned then sighed. "I know it is probably improper of me to ask Winnie, but how old are you. No more than five and twenty," he said simply then smiled and took another sip of wine.
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Everett sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Was not he supposed to be the one in control here. He took a deep breath and then got up, pulling her up and taking her mouth to his. He kissed her deeply, throwing the glass aside and hearing it shatter into several pieces as it hit the ground. She tasted just as he remembered, felt a little softer but just as supple. Damn her. He drew away after kissing her for several moments and then closed his eyes. Damn her and damn him too.
"Damn," he muttered, drawing away and the closing his eyes and pressing her to him for a moment before finally sliding away from her and looking at her to see she was as flushed as he flet. So it was obvious there was still passion between them. He swallowed. "I can't do it..." he admitted feeling vulnerable before this woman. "Just go if you want. I already put the money back..you are under no obligation to stay. What I am doing...it's not how I want you...damn it but I can't turn you into a whore.." he gave a growl and turned away from her, taking a deep breath. His bloody conscience. "If you go, you do not have to see me again if you do not wish to. Stay and we can eat dinner and nothing has to happen. It was wrong of me...to even suggest making you my mistress. I want you free and willing. Not obligated because of money you already have....You ruined me. Tore me apart...but I can't do the same to you.." he walked over and grabbed the notes and markers and handed them to her. "Here...all the money is in your account...you and your daughter have no need to fear financial ruin..." he swallowed and looked away, going over to his whiskey and dropping the whole of it down his throat. The burn nearly made him cough and sputter. Nearly.
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Post by anjelrocker on Mar 10, 2012 12:54:01 GMT -5
Strangely enough, she was not boring him since he enjoyed Ancient History as well and to take her to a museum or even the actual places was something he was going to plan got their honeymoon together. It was when she asked about the other subject of conversation that he wanted to laugh. Most men and women were suited physically, it was simply the question of the man knowing what to do and where to put it but he damn well knew how to do that. He had been taught the art of pleasure to a women from his first love who had been an older women than himself. She had been married and so, it had never come to be but he had learnt quite a bit from her.
"Yes, we will be compatible in that fashion." He said with a hint of a grin reaching his lips as he was sipping at the tea. "You do not have anything to fear on that account." Reginald promised her and he meant it because he did not want her fearing him when the time came for them to consumate the marriage. If anything, he wanted her to enjoy it for what it was... the joining of two people. He knew that it would hurt but he knew that the two of them had kissed before. She had been the only maid that he had kissed because of the lush ass that he remember squeezing.
God, he was a terrible drunk now that he thought of it. "I promise that I will be perhaps more gentle then I have been in the past when I was being most improper with you, Felicity." He said as he reached over and took her hand into his own. "You do not need to fear me... I will not take you to my place of darkness." He said to her referring to the story of Hades and Persephone.
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The little minx knew how to steer a carriage as he was giving her an impressed look before glancing at the sleeping maid with a grin. The maid would wake up and wonder where they were. "Well, I suppose but I think that you might have a plan to ravish me, Miss Lawson." He winked at her as he patted at his jacket before taking her arm so they could go for that turn about the park.
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"Hopefully, you will not read about my arrest for being a public nuisance." She said with a smile as she moved one of the pawns across the board as she watched him for a moment before answering his question. "Twenty four actually, positively an old maid." She had a gentle smile before going on to say. "Not that it bothers me as some women, I enjoy the freedom that I have." Being from a lower class gave her a freedom that ladies of the upper classes did not have but she did not have the wealth backing to do as she wished.
Taking sip of the wine, it was first class stuff that she would not have the pleasure of tasting most of the time as she waited for him to make his next move. "No one has said so, m'lord... but you must grow tired of my talk on the suffragette movements as well as my amount of nagging you. Then, I guess that I am doing something right because you are improving."
Winnie was looking forward to her little vacation for the most part since this was said to be the largest suffragette rally in the country to date in the streets of London.
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In the moment that he had kissed her, it was as if she were being transported back in time to something that she had almost forgotten as it was just as suddenly ripped away from her as she was staring at him. Did she want this, did she want to start an affair with the man that she had once loved. No, that she still loved. Her lips were swollen as she looked at the back of him and then to the fireplace and to the notes and markers. She was free from all worry and because of him... she did not know what to say or how to even think in the moment.
She did not want to leave him alone as she went over and touched his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Rex..." There was nothing left to say for what she had done because had done the same to herself. She had only married the old bastard because she did not want to live a life of poverty like the days of pick pocketing and collecting coal from the crack in the streets and selling flowers to old men who would ask if she wanted to go home with them.
She had not wanted that for her daughter nor for a son. Her hand did not leave his shoulder as she was in a humble voice. "Thank you..." Taking her hand away, she went to sit down thinking that she would atleast stay for dinner since he had been so kind to return the money and pay for her husband's debts.
Ariana then said. "Perhaps, I could stay to dine with you since it has been a long time since we have spoken... unless, you wish me to leave. I will not overstay my welcome."
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Post by Raynesleigh on Mar 12, 2012 17:59:43 GMT -5
Felicity smiled softly. "I admit the kisses you drunkenly administered were not to bad and I did feel a little warm when you touched or rather groped me but I do not know if it was from embarrassment or from attraction. Granted you are a handsome man but perhaps you should refrain from drinking after you and I wed. It can not possibly be good for your health..." she gave a gentle laugh then looked down at her lap and took a deep breath.
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Ginny smiled and took his arm. "Ravishing you...indeed," she laughed and then walked about the trees with him, pausing when they were out of sight of Mary and turning to sink against the tree trunk. "My lord Rochford, I am afraid I could fall in love with you all to easily. You are a dangerous dangerous man...but I like danger and adventure...tis an unfortunate trait of mine. In Rochester, I competed as a boy in Phaeton racing. I always won, though father near wrung my neck nearly every time he found out. I like breaking rules and I am sure a rogue like you does as well," she smiled then kissed him slowly.
She twined her arms around his neck and then drew back to gaze at him and then blushed softly.
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Fred smiled. "I can only wait for your return," he mused then moved another piece on the chess board and settled back. "Who knows how improved I will be when you return..." he teased her.
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Looking at her and listening to her apologize, he gave a nod. "Stay if you want," he said simply then took a deep breath. "But you do not have to," he told her. He swallowed hard and then led her to the dining room. As the table was set, he could only wonder where they would go from there.
One Month Later....
Felicity sighed as she laid in her marriage bed, watching Reginald sleep. They had been traveling for three weeks by boat and spent a few days in Rome, Athens, and Sparta before returning to England to see Bath. It had been a dream honeymoon as had the nights as his wife.
The first time had been good except for the pain. Almost every time now was earth shattering. And it was a passion she had not expected. She could easily see her life with him only getting better. Of course in a little less than ten months, he would be dead or at deaths door. And she was sure given how she felt about him now, she would love him and would probably be with child or carrying a baby in her arms. She closed her eyes and sat up looking around the bedroom. They were finally back at his London townhouse and had consummated their marriage in the house they would reside in. She sighed and kissed his cheek, sliding from the bed and donning a chemise and robe before going to sit down and brush her hair out, freeing the blonde strands for tangles. Hearing a ruckus downstairs, she put the brush down and donned a thicker robe and rushed into the hall and down half the flight of stairs only to see her father coming up the stairs.
Before she could speak he struck her with the back of his hand with such force that she fell to the step beneath her. "You ungrateful little whore!" he growled and gave her a sound kick, raising his gun.
"Where is your husband hmm? I mean to kill him," he said going up the stairs. She turned over.
"Father! Don't you dare!" she exclaimed scrambling up but he turned and slapped her again, the force knocking her down several stairs and making her hit her head on the wall. She groaned, stars dancing in her vision. She could hear Mrs. Pince downstairs ringing the police and as she dazedly tried to get up, she could only hope her husband was awake enough to save himself from her father's wrath.
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Ginny looked at James and smiled as she entered the parlor. "You are here early," she said grinning. She had forsaken all of her other suitors for this man. James Rochford, second son to an Earl and most definitely the man she so dearly loved. Rogue that he was. They had went to the opera together, and on quite a few nights he gad been her escort to any number of dinners and balls and soirees. He and she had stolen quite a few kisses and intimate touches but nothing had gone to far. Though her scandalous moments would surely ruin her reputation if any aristocrats found out she had allowed James Rochford more than a few kisses. He had even snuck into her room one night,of course, nothing to serious had happened before he left. Though he had made her blush quite considerably.
"What brings you here my lord?" she asked him curiously as she straightened her high waisted skirt, brushing her half loose ebony curls back from her shoulder while regarding him with smiling eyes.
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Frederick sighed as he made the last two steps without help from anyone but his cane. Marcus, his valet went to help him but he shook his head. "I have it," he said gruffly. "I am a grown man after all.." he said. Since Winnie's departure he had pushed himself harder than she would of let him but for some unknown reason, he had the greatest urge to impress her. So every day he had practiced walking either up or down the stairs. Now he could go both up and down once without a need for a break and with his cane managed to nearly walk the entire circular green path. And his was a rather large garden.
As Katie was back at school, he had had nothing better to do then to work on getting better at walking. At the grueling pace he had set for himself, he would be walking right regular in another month or two. If he could just learn to live with the pain. At the sound of the carriage pulling up outside, he smiled and walked toward the door, motioning for Marcus to open the door. As he did, Frederick walked slowly out and down the five steps of the front and stood in the gravel to await Winnie who seemed to be exiting the carriage a few paces ahead of him.
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Everett had not seen her since that night. And he hated it. He was a man obsessed and his thoughts were her. Always her. If it was not her, it was business. It was getting to be ridiculous. Unfortunately the need to see her had become such a thought that he had driven his phaeton to her front door and was now contemplating getting down. She probably hated him. And rightly she should. The hurt and betrayal was still there inside of him but the woman was like opium. He could not get enough of her after having a taste.
Taking a deep breath, he got down off his seat and went to the front door, giving a swift knock then standing back and waiting. A servant came and he said his name and title. A title at least gained him entry into the house. He entered slowly, seeing that the place was not as sparse as his last visit but by no means ornate either. The woman was practical in nature it seemed.
"Vivian!" an older woman called and he heard the sound of little feet scurrying about upstairs and a mischievous giggle. They came toward the stairs and he saw a pup as well as a brunette little girl running down the stairs, the little girl colliding with him in her attempts of escaping the matronly woman hot on her heels. She gave an oof and fell to the floor, spindly legs sprawled and he looked down as she looked up, struck by her blue eyes and childish features. He swallowed, feeling as though he had had the air kicked out of him. His eyes, stared back at him and she had the same hue of brown hair with it's reddish hues as himself. Coincidence. Definitely not.
He smiled and knelt down, helping the girl up. "Seems we had an accident," he smiled. "Is that your pup? What's his name?" he asked the little girl Vivian. His former lover's daughter, and most likely his daughter. Anger swelled in him. He definitely had a few questions for Lady Alaina.
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Post by anjelrocker on Mar 12, 2012 21:45:12 GMT -5
He had been half asleep as he heard the ruckus from his bed and rolled to see that his wife was not there beside him, taking a moment to mutter as he got himself up. Reginald was bare chested from the night before when he had made love to his new bride, they had only just returned to the city from Bath and they were going to stay there until the season was over before he would take her to his childhood home in Northern England. Perhaps, they could take a train ride to Scotland like she had so desire. "The hell is going on?" He asked as he fetched his robe and wrapped it around his body as he went into the hallways only to hear the bang of a gun and something whizz pass his ear.
A hand cupping his ear, he brought it down to see that he had indeed been hit only a little but never the less, he was staring down at the blood before staring into the face of his political rival. Well, he had expected something of the sort but perhaps more of a formal setting as he said. "Good Morning sir... although, by the looks of it... it is not such a good morning." He stated not liking that the gun was being waved around, it was a good thing that he was a terrible shot as Reginald took a step forward and decidedly made a grab at the gun.
"Lord Roxburg, I do reliazed that you are upset about mine and your daughter... ah, elopement but, perhaps we can talk about this like civil human beings. I doubt that you would like more of a scandal on your hands or the idea of being in prison for the rest of your days." He stated... but then, his wife with who he was growing fond of would be a widow before he was sure that she was carrying his child.
Pulling the pistol from the older man's grasp, he looked to his wife who was panting as she came up the stairs. A bright red mark on her cheek as he glared at her father... "You hit my wife?" He said as an anger rose in his voice. He did not permit the harm of a lady... least of all, his wife.
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He had actually courted her enough that he could not get enough of her, it was even interfering with his political drawings. Never the less, he enjoyed the kisses and touching his little American minx. Bowing to her, he was grinning as he stood up. "I simply could not wait to see such a beauty as you." He said with a charming air about him, it was easy to be like this when he was with Miss. Lawson. Well, they were beyond last names... she was his Ginny... his little American treasure trove. Although, she did not know that part yet since he had been courting her for over a month.
Her cheeks were already flushed and he knew that she was thinking about their more private moments together. He had not taken her virginity which he could have, but... there was something about this one. Something that he did not want to dwell on as he said to her. "I wanted to speak to you alone..." He stated as he took her hand and led her to the settee so that they could sit down as he had the ring in his pocket. It was a simple ring since he was not a rich man for the time being. "I wished to know if you, Miss Lawson... or rather, my sweet Ginny... would do me the honour have accepting my marriage purposal." He stated as he took the velvet box out of his pocket and opened the box. It was a simple gold ring with one small diamond and two smaller emeralds. He had taken a loan out for it... adding to his debt.
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The young Welsh woman had not been arrested as she exited the carriage with her trunk being tossed off of the coach as she looked up to see that her employer was there and standing with a cane. Blinking for a moment, she looked surprised before smiling to see there was no chair anywhere. Curtising to the Marquess, Winifred smiled. "M'Lord, you surprise me with your ability." She had remembered that in other situations that he would not be able to stand up for very long as she offered her arm to him since she expected to be working as she made a glance to Marcus, his valet with a smile.
"How are you, well... I can see that you have been doing quite well without my assistance... you do not have another nurse who is more of a nag?" She teased lightly feeling tired mostly from the hustle and bustle of London town. It was when she returned to the country that she realized that she preferred it more than she did the city.
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The little dog barked as the young girl giggled and looked up at the strange man that she had never seen before. "His name is Simon." She whispered as Vivi put the puppy down and smiled at it. It had large paws and would grow to be a bigger dog than they had expected. Something that had displeased her mama but, she was sure since Mama liked Simon as well that she would not be so upset. It was then that her nurse grabbed her around the waist and she tried kicking to get loose as the older woman said. "Lady Vivi, please it is rude to behave so infront of guests..."
However, the little girl did not want to go for her afternoon nap and stated so. "I am a big girl now... I do not need naps, I am not tired..." It was at that moment that she yawned and her mother was coming down the stairs. Ariana was just saying. "Now, what is this ruckus down her... come Vivi, it is time for your-..." It was at that moment that she stared to see both her former lover as well as his daughter at the same moment. One would be an idiot to not see how much they looked like one another as Ariana smiled and continued down the stairs with a forced smile on her lips. "My Lord, What brings you here?" She was no longer in debt and she was the Dowager Countess... it was not as if he owned her anymore and so, she was curious as to why he was there.
She had been upstairs in her sunroom working on her typewriter for the latest Madame Bavard article for the News of the World.
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Post by Raynesleigh on Mar 14, 2012 14:40:37 GMT -5
Roxburgh growled. "Of course I did. I reprimanded my daughter. Gone from me seven months and then I hear that she is married to you? She was engaged to the Duke Hollinger..." he said matter of factly as Felicity wiped a bit of blood from the corner of her mouth and walked over to Reginald, gasping when she saw the blood running down the side of his face. Seeing the wound, she was glad it was only a cut on the top lobe of his ear. With a little stitching, he would be quite alright.
"Honestly father," she said looking at him. "I was not going to marry a man as old as you just to get you out of financial troubles...it was not me that visited the gaming halls and got so drunk and bet so high. I was not going to be sold. So of course I ran...and he is right father. I am certain you do not want anymore scandal cloying to your name. Gossips would have a field day an Earl going to Newgate...you would never be able to show your face in polite society or go to parliament to argue your points." She took the gun, emptying the chamber free of bullets then tossed the gun back to her sire.
Roxburgh glared at her. "You will return home, divorce this man and marry Duke Hollinger."
Felicity sighed. "I shall not...I am married to Reginald and I shall remain married to him..." her father did not look pleased with her statement.
"Willful ungrateful bitch..." he growled, lunging for her again but she reeled back.
"Leave father..." she said, then heard more noise downstairs. A constable was coming up the stairs with Mrs. Pince.
"Is everything alright here?" the constable asked. Felicity put on a charming smile.
"Everything is fine. Just a misunderstanding. My father was just leaving. Sorry for the disturbance," she said simply. Her father turned on his heel, stomping out of the house. Mrs Pince sighed, offering the constable some tea and biscuits. Once they were gone, Felicity turned and led Reginald into the bedroom, grabbing her sewing kit and a cloth from their basin. She quickly wet it and walked over to the bed. "That was an eventful morning," she mused with a sigh.
"Father is just angry but he will get over it. I am just as stubborn as he is...." she said, cleaning his ear gently before threading a needle to stitch the wound together. She took a deep breath. "I am sorry to of caused this."
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Ginny looked at him with wide eyes and gave a huge grin. Looking at the simple ring, she felt tears in her eyes and nodded. "Oh James. Of course I will..." she said and then kissed him deeply, wrapping her arms around him. "I would be a fool not to," she said then gave a tearful laugh as she kissed him again then drew away. "Have you written my father? Or sent him a telegram. I am sure he will need to know and give his blessing though I am certain he will once he sees how happy I am..." she wiped her eyes and grinned at him then kissed him again sliding into his arms.
"I knew you would propose to me you roguish devil..." she laughed, drawing away and hearing her Aunt's voice.
"Genevieve Lawson, for goodness sake," the old crone was saying as she entered the parlor and froze. A frown marred her brow. "Lord Rochford..." she greeted. Genevieve smiled.
"Aunt...I have the most wonderful news. Lord Rochford and I are going to get married," she said. The woman was wide eyed and then she fell away into a dead faint. Ginny's eyes widened. "Aunt Laura," she said rushing over to the matronly woman and grabbing her smelling salts, quickly putting them under her Aunt's nose.the old woman opened her eyes, shoving Ginny away after regaining her wits
"Married. I don't approve...not at all...Cad.."
"Luckily we need only father's approval...." she grinned then helped the woman up before walking over to James and kissed him, giving a laugh before looking at her aunt. "I am going for a phaeton ride with him. Mary will come along as chaperone," she said then glanced at James. "I will be right back," she promised then raced upstairs to get her coat. Laura looked at him.
"Her father will not approve once he learns of your dire need for a wealthy bride," Laura said simply. "And I imagine Ginny has no clue you are living on nothing and need her impressive dowry to pay off your numerous debts."
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Frederick chuckled. "I meant to impress you..." he grinned. "With only myself for company, I think I bullied myself more than you could ever think too," he smiled and then took her arm. "Marcus wanted to make me complacent but I wanted to be walking by the time you came back from town. I think I did rather well for myself," he smiled limping and slowly walking inside with her. "If I push myself as I have been, in a couple of months I will be teaching you to dance..." he grinned and started to move with her toward the parlor. "I am sure you are quite exhausted but I want you to regale me with all of your fun moments getting nearly arrested and marching with those corset burners," he teased her, moving to sit down slowly in the parlor and placing his cane beside him. Gently he lifted his right leg, massaging the muscle there in his thigh as it was the one with the most pain and damage to it.
"I need the company. Marcus, much as I like him is not quite as enchanting in company and well, I would rather converse with a pretty woman. They are so rarely seen here in my country home.except of course for the married maids. And I would like to think myself avoidable of adultry.
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"Simon is it. Cute thing," he said giving a smirk as the matronly woman lifted the little minx up, hauling her toward the bedchambers upstairs. She was obviously stubborn. He looked at Alaina. "I wanted to see how you were fairing..." he said simply then waited till they were alone before saying anything more. "She is my daughter isn't she Alaina. I felt so horribly guilty about trying to blackmail you...yet for nearly five years, you have been heartless and cruel. You should have told me damn you. You think I would not want anything to do with her? Four years of her life I have missed. Her birth, first words, first steps..." he glared. "And she has bus name. That sorry old bastard you married...damn it Alaina...I would of never though you would sink so low as to not even tell me I had a daughter. And do not deny it because she looks very much like me..."
He swallowed and took a deep breath, trying to keep himself from exploding. He was close to having his temper burst.
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Post by anjelrocker on Mar 14, 2012 21:16:19 GMT -5
He gritted his teeth as she was stick him with the needle to close up the wound on his ear as he frowned. "I am not so sure that he will forgive so easily, not that I care what society thinks of our marriage but I assume that he does." He said having almost punched his father in law out for hitting and 'punishing' his daughter for being wedded to him. Wincing, Reginald's fists were balled as he said. "I am not happy about him coming into this house like he owns it and then hitting you..." He muttered before sucking in a breath since it did pain him with the needle work. "Christ..." He muttered as she finished up cleaning the dried blood from his ear and cheek. "I can't believe that he actually shot me..." He said seriously. "I am lucky that he is a terrible shot because I am sure that I would have had a bullet between my eyes, love."
Sighing, he knew that he would not be so lucky when his true time to die would come into play. "Did he hurt you, Lissy?" He asked her using the name that he used for his wife as he touched her cheek where there was a red mark. "He hit you..." Reginald said quietly feeling like a bastard for now being able to defend his wife from her own father. "Your father is not allowed in our home... and we will not engage in conversation with him in society until he apologizes." He said seriously. "Now, do you want to visit my sister and neice today and perhaps for out to lunch... or to a play tonight?" He asked her before remembering the British Museum as he suggested that.
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Glancing at Miss Lawson's Aunt Laura, James smiled and said simply. "Lucky for me, I already have her father's approval..." He said having sent a telegram with his official title on it. He was a second son to a Duke of all things and although he would not be getting the title, he did have one of his own and that was being of the noble class. However, her second statement had him frowning deeply knowing that Ginny would be hurt if she did find out the truth that he was doing this only because she was wealthy. "And, how do you know that I am not interested in her for more than the simple fact that she is a wealthy young lady?" He asked her chaprone.
He did not really know how he felt for Miss Lawson, he did enjoy her company and he supposed that was the reason why he had asked her rather than the upper crust of society or a merchant's daughter. Miss Lawson was opinionated and not was a young lady should be. She was one of these 'new women.' And yet, she had the nativity that he wanted. "Perhaps, I am sincere with my feelings for her... and I shall tell her that truth about me..." in time... He added mentally.
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Winifred sat down and smiled at the Marquess. "M'lord... ye flatter me so." She was using a posh accent before giggling as if to forget herself. "Ah, to learn how to dance properly..." She said with her Welsh accent and a hand over her heart. "Perhaps, I will teach you to dance as well... at least, not quite the fancy dancing that you are most likely use to." She said as she watched him massage his legs before saying. "Corsets are rather uncomfortable to ladies for the imagine of being thin... I do not fault those who want to burn them... as for having been arrested, you will be glad to know that I did not been taken in by the bobbies." She stated for a smile having been impressed by his walking with her.
"I am sure that your valet is not so terrible company, I do admit that I am quite pleased to have returned. I had alot of fun and I think that women will soon have the rights of men... there has to be some change." She sighed before going on. "However, I missed the country and the fresh air... London town is rather filthy..."
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And she would not deny that Vivian was in fact this daughter as she put on her mask and came down the stairs. "What would you have me do? You were a stablehand and you asked my brother for my hand and he had denied it. You wanted me to elope with you... I refused because I did not want to live having to starve to death." She said with a frown. "You lied about who you were, all I thought was that I would end up in a work house, my children having to pick pocket and pick coal from the cracks of the east end of London... digging through the trash in hopes of finding something..." She looked away for a moment. "Did you think that I was going to think of the romance in marrying a stablehand... were you going to be a farmer and then I would have to act as a schoolteacher in a little country town."
Shaking her head, she said. "No... more likely that we would have been working in a cotton mill or something of the sort. I needed security and at that time, you did not offer that... you offered love..." No regrets in her decision as she held her head high. "I apologize but, I do not wish for you to see her anymore... it would be best if we did not see each other anymore. You do not need to check on how we are fairing."
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Post by Raynesleigh on Apr 3, 2012 12:07:56 GMT -5
She grinned. "Oh a day visiting your sister would be nice. And perhaps she and little Vivian would enjoy a trip to the museum. Vivian is such a well mannered little girl. Positively adorable..." she smiled then kissed himself slowly before drawing away. "Now...I think a spot of breakfast...then getting dressed and going out for the day." she smiled then sighed.
"Let's eat some breakfast," she said then drew him up and kissed him again before turning and walking to the wardrobe, pulling his robe out for him then handing it to him. Once he was dressed, she walked downstairs with him.
As they sat down to breakfast, she saw the front of the paper, slowly sliding it to her. Her gaze widened at the title. "Well...apparently we are the talk of the ton. Earl H. and Wife Return from Honeymoon..." she smirked. "Lady F. Tremaine has been gone from society these last seven months. It turns out that the young lady had run away from home, becoming mistress to a certain Earl whom shall remain nameless. A source tells that the two were quite involved for six months when the young unmarried lady, suddenly became wife to the said Earl. What is the world coming to if young ladies of stature become mistresses to the men of society and then marry them. This city is populated by the scandalous and these involved in scandal are supposed friends and part of the upper crust. There are no good role models in this generation of new women..." she smirked and folded the paper.
"No wonder father stormed in this morning like that. I have embarrassed him and his family name." she sighed then took a sip of her coffee. "Not that I truly care of course. He was selling me to an old man with full pockets."
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Ginny's aunt did not look convinced but said nothing as Ginny came downstairs beaming. "Come my lord. A trip to the park perhaps?" she asked as her maid followed along behind them. She walked out to his phaeton and let him help her onto the driving seats and she fluffed up her skirts, fixing her coat and then looking at him grinning, leaning forward and kissing him. "I am so happy..." she whispered, moving her fingers through his copper hair.
"Have you asked father's permission?" she asked curiously she turned and looked forward. She also wondered if after they wed, would they be living in New York or here in England.
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"It is..." Freddie agreed. "I am glad that my daughter's school is so close to the coast. The girl needs healthy air to breathe. Someone suggested I go to India or South Africa but I am not going to leave England. I love to much here." he sighed then smirked. "As for learning country dances and such, I know a few," he grinned. "I am not so upper crust I can't dance a jig. An Irish friend taught me a bit of step in my younger days. I was rather good at it..." smiling, he took a sip of his tea before looking at her.
"So I am glad you had a nice time. It was well deserved. Now...how is my schedule going to go tomorrow when we get back to our normal roles of headstrong nurse and stubborn patient?" he asked grinning. This was the most he had smiled in years it felt like. She lightened his heart.
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Everett looked at her. "I have a right to see her. She is my damned child. Damn it woman...I have a right to be in her life, to know her. I could of been her father. So I am to blame for not being in her life? So you married that man to be his whore. You slept with him so you could have money. I felt so terrible about blackmailing you. Thinking that I was being worse than the devil but you were his whore long before that. I never thought the woman I loved six years ago would be cruel enough of to deny me the knowledge of my child. If you think I am going to turn around and never see her again, you are mistaken. We are getting married."
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Post by anjelrocker on Apr 3, 2012 20:06:40 GMT -5
Taking the paper from her, Reginald frowned not caring what the gossips were saying but he was sure that it was written by Madame Bavard herself. "No one knows who the damn little hussie is that writing these terrible stories is but, lord knows that have the ton would love to know who she is for some of the things she says." He mentioned not knowing that it was in fact his own sister. Only two people who knew was his two best friends, James and Fredrick since the two of them were writers as well. "Alas, we might never know and I do not want to because lord knows there will be a mob for her hide." He chuckled at himself as he glanced at his wife. "As for going to the museum, I think that Vivian and Ariana will like that." He said as he sent a note to be delievered to his sister's for them to visit perhaps today or tomorrow to go to the museum.
"I think he embarassed your family name far more than you had with storming into this house trying to murder me. Then, I suppose running away could have done that as well. Not that it matters since you will be a rich widow with a child hopefully. You do not need to worry of him." He smiled reaching over to take her hand into his own. "Having you in my life makes me very happy." He said to her in a gentle voice as he sipped at his coffee.
---
There was a feeling of guilt for once in his life as he glanced to Miss Ginny Lawson and took her hand. "I already have your father's approval." He said as he lifted an official letter from his pocket and handed it to you. "I am glad that you said yes, my Sweet. You have made me the happiest man in London." James said as they were riding along in his carriage, him directing the reins since she liked to take them on wild goose chases. Not that he minded those since he enjoyed throughly kissing the American young lady. He had also threatened Ariana if she wrote of the two of them that he would out her in an heartbeat.
And so, the gossip stayed in the ballrooms and parlors... not on the headlines.
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"You dance an Irish jig?" She raised an eyebrow not believing him with a smile before covering her mouth and saying. "Oh, I did not mean that you could not because..." Winifred said trying to backpetal as she sighed. "What I meant to say was that I could not see you doing an Irish jig because I am sure you were a proper young man in your heyday." She teased before sobering.
"Well, as for your schedule... I suppose that we can work on where you are in your progress. Perhaps some walking with crutches in the fresh air as well as some leg exercises." She started. "Some massages to your tense muscles... movements to strength your movements. I can see that you have been working on your exercises that I left with you." She said with a smile. "As for being the headstrong nurse... I am only like that because you are a stubborn as rocks patient. I am sure you hated me when I arrived.
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Her lip curled as she went over to him and drew back her hand before slapping him across the jaw. "Don't you dare call me a whore... you do not know a thing about me and you never will. You think it was all fun and games like I wanted to be wed to a disgusting old man because he is the only one who would take a daughter to an Earl who was three months pregnant!"
She was surprised that he did not know her secret since he had worked at her manor... that she was a bastard daughter from the streets. And that she had been a dirty little street urchin with a cockney accent before being taught the lessons of a lady by her stubborn governess. "I refuse to wed you and you can not make me... I will not marry someone who thinks me no better than a whore." She shook her head as she went towards the door calling for her footmen to 'escort' him out of her home.
She would have her revenge on him, she was going to use the writing skills of Madame Bavard to make him disreputable in the eyes of the ton. She wanted to cry but, she would use her only tool of gossip to destroy him... the truth was that she hated high society and yet, she was apart of it as survival for herself and her daughter.
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