Chapter 12

After a week of constant companionship, Ava and Sophia had grown as close as sisters, spending nearly every waking moment in each other’s company, laughing or talking, a welcomed change from her previous heart wrenching aloneness. Turning to gaze behind her, she laughed as she caught sight of Sophia hunched to the ground gazing with absolute interest at something. “What do you look so intently upon,” Ava smilingly questioned, her heart swelling as she gazed lovingly upon the thirteen year old young woman that in a short few days had come to mean so much to her.

“It is a bug of some sort,” Sophia quizzically murmured, tentatively reaching a finger out then changing her mind and pulling it back. “It looks so soft, I want to touch it yet am fearful,” she grinned.

Believing that she knew what type of bug it was, Ava headed back towards Sophia and peered down, a broad smile stretching across her face. “It is a caterpillar,” she laughingly answered, temporarily caught in the intrigue of the small larvae that was busy devouring a leaf. “Although some do sting you, that one is harmless so if you wish to touch it you may, without my fear that your brother will skin me alive for letting you get hurt.” Ava jokingly stated remembering her many lessons upon the farm in America with the fuzzy bugs before she turned and continued once again towards the lake.

Ava’s comment brought upon Sophia a joyful surge of excitement as she failingly attempted to withhold the smile, a grin of happiness for Ava had finally spoken of her brother in a kindly manner. Hurriedly Sophie turned her attention away from the bug and ran after her beloved friend, “Ava, my brother would never blame you for a single thing that I do unto myself,” she cried out breathlessly when they reached the pond and both sank to the soft damp earth.

Ava laughed aloud at the unbelievable statement as she thought of how truly amazed she had been that Alexander remotely let his sister out unescorted with her for their daily adventure. “Surely you jest, if one hair on your head were out of place he would find it befitting to tack on an additional six months to the courtship,” Ava breathed out in humor, her eyes twinkling brightly with happiness and secret desire.

“Would you terribly mind an extension of time?” Sophia questioned suddenly, gracing Ava with a sly yet determined smile. Sensing that Ava had eased in her opinion of Alexander, hoping that it was true for she herself had grown to desire a union between her brother and Ava.

Ava stared in disbelief, Sophia’s question having temporarily unhinged her thoughts sending her thoughts spiraling as she admitted to herself she would not terribly mind. “I-I do not wish to think of that,” Ava stammered against her own hearts answer, against her own opinions of Alexander, whom she had found to be a rather doting brother, fawning over Sophia as if she were made of glass and would shatter. Despite his dark moods and frightening effect on her Ava had come to find that she was in fact, rather taken by the handsome man, there was something about Alexander that drew her towards him, an inexplicable emotional interest in him.

Sophia grinned brightly at Ava, seeing the wistful thoughts that etched into her lovely face and knew that Ava was falling in love with Alexander, the mere thought filling her with giddy joy and hope. “In truth Ava, my brother would surely not place a single fault upon you, for I have earned a rather impetuous name within society; one that has cost Alexander many prospective courtships.” Sophia laughed out wickedly, the usually chipper sound darkly edged. “Tis part of the reason our Uncle has stated he must marry, he believes that my lack of female care and companionship will in turn end up ruining me.” Sophia’s eyes darkened with emotion and Ava knew it saddened the young woman to feel that she was the reason her beloved brother was being forced to marry, a sweet gesture that rested pitifully upon Ava’s heart and soul. “Our Uncle arranged a visit between the Lady Chesterfield and my brother, a proper stuffy young lady who certainly had eyes for him, yet I could hardly bear to stand her, so I filled her trunk with frogs and when that did not work, I pushed her into the lake.” Sophia explained proudly, her eyes gleaming wickedly.

Her eyes wide with surprise and humor Ava looked upon the young woman before her, “I certainly do not wish to be on your disagreeable side,” Ava murmured, stifling a laugh as she envisioned Sophia doing just as she stated, imagining that she had probably stood at the edge of the lake laughing joyfully at the fallen woman.

Alexander rested casually upon one of the trees, watching with intense interest at Sophia and Ava’s comfortable conversation, his heart swelling with untold emotion at the sight. Smiling he added the scene before him, along with Ava’s uncanny devotion to Sophia to his ever growing opinion of her. “Si… Lady Chesterfield could not escape our park fast enough,” Alexander’s deep baritone laughingly rumbled from the edge of the trees once Sophia completed her narrative, snapping Ava’s attention to him immediately. The current of electricity that flowed between them increasing his heartbeat, igniting a swell of pure soul felt emotion as he gazed upon the lovely woman he was determined to spend his life with. For a moment, Alexander was incapable of moving, part of him fearing that he was witnessing a mirage. A surreal dream like state, where the low buzzing of bugs and the twitter of the birds in the trees thrummed through the air in a euphonic melody, nature’s way of singing a love song. Fearing a single movement would cause the scene to melt before his eyes like a sugar cube in his tea.

Ava could not help the heated blush as her pulse quickened at the sight of Alexander, who looked handsome in his cream riding breeches and a deep blood red coat; blushing even deeper as she thought of how it would feel to have his arms around her, held tightly to the solid length of his body. “So you have been spying upon us my lord,” Ava barely whispered as she hurriedly dismissed the lurid daydream, her voice seemingly lost under his penetrating gaze. “I would think that you would have learnt your lesson the last time,” she mockingly scolded, hurriedly recovering as warmth spread through her at an alarming speed, for she could see it in his eyes, he wanted to kiss her as much as she wanted him too. Silently she breathed a sigh of relief that Sophia was present, for he surely would not dare touch her in front of his beloved sister; helping ease her nervousness a bit, for Ava knew without a doubt he would elicit from her what no other could and she would not be unwilling.

Alexander laughed heartily, breathing a sigh of relief at her civil greeting and silently praying that they had finally come to a truce of sorts, for he rather enjoyed the mild mannered woman who sat before him, glowing beneath the dappled sunlight. “Si… I have been as you say spying, it is not often that I can witness my sisters obvious enjoyment in the company of a lady,” he murmured easily, the sound of his accented voice intoxicating Ava’s senses and muddling her mind. “If you wish I shall resume my journey and allow dear Sophia to regale you with more of her heinous acts…” Alexander paused, his gaze unwavering. “Unless I may join into the festivities?” it was more of a desire than a question as he silently wished they were alone. Yet grateful they were not, for Alex did not trust himself to be alone in her company when she were so subdued, her biting sarcasm and forceful disregard though adding to her qualities did rather grate his nerves.

Sophia smiled excitedly upon Ava, shrugging her shoulders slightly as she wordlessly expressed her willingness to let him join. “Well I do not see the harm in a friendly conversation, considering I am apparently unified in a six month courtship with thee.” Ava murmured her breath catching in her throat as she watched Alexander purposefully stride towards them, his entire body moving with the grace and agility of a panther stalking its prey. “Perhaps my lord, you could tell me of Spain, for Sophia speaks so fondly of it and yet cannot tell me much,” she nervously questioned, her mind reeling from the onslaught of electricity that charged the air between them as Alex sank to the ground beside them. “Sophia has told me so little, being she is stuck away in studies in London, for most of her time.” Ava unwillingly chattered feeling that she needed to continue talking lest she faint as she caught scent of his clean masculine smell.

A gentle smile slowly spread over Alexander’s face as he realized that Ava was indeed nervous in his presence. A fanciful thought that made his heart soar in elation as Alexander focused his gaze upon Ava, incapable of taking his eyes from hers as he spoke. “Ah Spain, it is not much different from here, albeit much warmer.” He softly murmured, envisioning strolling along side of her upon the golden sand of the ocean that rested just below his Spanish residence, “After we are married we shall go to visit my uncle, so you may enjoy the splendor yourself. Then in the summer we shall stay in Sophia’s and My Spanish Manor,” He added warmly, bracing himself for a biting comment that to his relief did not come and laughing as he saw his sisters dreamy gaze floating between he and Ava. Quite the difference from Ava’s dark and bewildered expression, “Come Mi Corazõn, I do not wish to quarrel over this, for you just as I know the truth.” Alexander could not resist the playful jab, the mild possession of her mind and heart at the moment as he penetrated Ava with his gaze, his eyes filled with all the heartfelt emotion he felt for her.

Ava stared in disbelief upon him, waiting for her heart to steady its pace before she spoke, lest her tone belay her words. “I believe my lord you are counting your chickens before the eggs hatch,” she calmly stated, bursting into a fit of giggles at the perplexed and quizzical gaze Alexander and Sophia fixated upon her. “It means that you have over stepped your bounds,” she snickered, her eyes dancing with merriment.

Smiling queerly Sophia turned towards her brother, knowing he was lost to Ava, “Brother, you have never said that to anyone before,” she innocently pointed out, in hopes that Ava’s interest would be peaked, unable to withhold the sobbing laugh as her brother turned shocked and furious eyes upon her.

“I shudder to think of what Me Core a zone, means…” Ava laughed out, realizing whatever it was could not be nearly as horrid as it sounded if Alexander would dare mutter it in Sophia’s presence.

“Yes brother, I informed of the meaning behind Mi Amore, so I leave it in your judgment to tell her what this means,” Sophia bubbled with a joyful clap of her hands, mired in her joy at her brother’s obvious discomfort.

“Sophia, I did not mean,” Alexander ground out, his dark face turning pink as he blushed.

“Well to see a lord blush, I must know what it means and I shan’t let up until you properly inform me,” Ava laughed, rather comfortable in the intimate family setting. Laughing with her new friend and feeling for the first time since she had been ripped from her father’s farm as if she belonged. “Shall I sweetly beg?” She murmured angelically flashing a smile upon Alex that made him blush all the more. “Or is it something scandalous that you accidentally let slip in front of two innocent young ladies.” She probed…

“You know what Mi is,” Alexander grumbled lowly, his body suddenly engulfed in heat. “Corazon is heart,” he whispered unable to take his gaze from the ground despite the sharp intake of breath he heard Ava take…

Marianne sat in nervously in the quiet library, awaiting Henry’s arrival, lost in her thoughts over the course of the last week. He had eventually agreed to her terms, had in turn come to her every night, morning, and had nearly attacked her this afternoon. Not that she minded too terribly, for he had been a considerate lover, seducing her by slow degree’s until she felt she could not bear another moment without him each gentle touch and fiery kiss, nearly leading Marianne to believe Henry was in fact in love with her. Frowning slightly, Marianne attempted to dispel the brief flash of heartbreak as her own words came to her again. She was falling in love with her husband, a love that could never be, for once the heir came he would find another, or for that fact return to the one, his heart belonged to. Marianne swallowed hard at the lump in her throat and blinked away at the tears that burned her eyes. In all her life she had never felt complete, never felt as much love or comfort as this past week.

She let out a shuddering whimper as childhood heartache resurfaced again; she never knew what she had done to deserve her mother and grandparents hatred. Other than, the fact that her father had died before she was born died without providing them an heir. An unfortunate task that now lay upon her and if she failed, all would be lost.

Henry stood silently watching Marianne, he could see heartbreak written across her face and for the first time in a month felt an overwhelming urge to protect her, a brief fear shooting through his heart that it had been him to bring pain upon her. When she whimpered at a thought it had been enough, Henry hurried towards Marianne and took her in his arms, “hush my sweet,” he soothingly whispered, holding her tightly against him. Both afraid and wanting to know who or what had caused her tears.

Marianne had been taken quite off guard when Henry hurriedly pulled her into his arms, the scent of the horses on his jacket intermixing with sweat and hay a rather comforting smell; turning her gaze upwards, she forced a smile onto her face. “My lord…” Henry cut her off with a smoldering kiss…

When the kiss ended and her tears subsided, Henry released her, the stirring of desire resurfacing as he gazed upon her. “Well unless you wish me to take your being here as an invitation,” he playfully laughed out, envisioning her arms locked around him while she tossed her head back as she cried out to him.

“Henry, an invitation has come inviting us to the Wilshire Manor for a ball.” Marianne whispered excitedly, unseeing of the immediate change in her husband’s stance, failing to sense his change in demeanor.

Marianne’s words seemed to suck the air from the room causing Henry to tuck his thumbs into the waistband of his breeches to control the shaking. Surely, it had been a mistake, why would the Duke and Duchess have invited him and his wife when they knew of his and Ava’s history. Blindly he stared upon Marianne, his heart and mind crying out in unison, desperately wanting to accept yet knowing his acceptance would be of dire consequence. “If you care to attend we shall make arrangements to stay with my brother and his wife…” Henry quietly replied leaving the decision to his unaware wife, for although she knew Ava’s name she had not known in what family she belonged and this would present him the opportunity in which he needed to make his final offer, something deep inside telling him that this would not be a pleasant trip…