Chapter 11

Sophia laughed a cheerful tinkling sound that echoed through the orangery and brought a small smile to Ava’s face. For she found that she rather liked the woman her brother had chosen, she was a bit brash, very forward and extremely honest yet Sophia rather enjoyed her company. “I believe that I must wholeheartedly agree with you,” Sophia giggled as she warmly hugged Ava. “Knowing my brother as I do… I unfortunately cannot dare say what he may be,” she smiled.

“I will say it for you,” Ava grimaced interrupting the enchanting young woman, “He’s a stubborn, self righteous ass!” she snapped, immediately dropping her embarrassed gaze to the floor, for having belittled the young woman’s brother and using such language.

“Si,” Sophia cheerfully replied, nearly doubling over with laughter as Ava gazed in bewilderment upon her. “I am so sorry, you do not speak Spanish,” she apologized, “Si… it means… Yes,” she slowly explained, silently reminding herself to refrain from her native tongue while in the presence of the woman.

“It is very interesting in sound,” Ava thoughtfully murmured, finding herself to be completely enthralled with the young woman before her. Sophia’s sweet countenance along with her cheerful attitude warmed Ava’s heart, relaxing her and melting away any remaining shreds of anger. “Possibly you can tell me what me…a…more…means?” She questioned attempting to state it just right, suddenly wondering what the beautiful sounding words meant. Immediately growing concerned as Sophia’s eyes went wide with surprise and her smile faded. “Oh I suppose it is something horrid,” Ava hurriedly admonished fearing that she had inadvertently said something heinous. Her frustration with the dreadful Alexander building once again as she imagined he would say something so deceitful. Blushing Ava lowered her gaze to the floor in embarrassment and impropriety for having requested the young woman decipher the meaning.

Sophia was at a loss for words; her brother had never spoken those words to anyone except her, not even in conquest of the various women that she knew shared his bed when she was away. Gently she gazed upon Ava with concern, for she feared her brother had already given his heart to her and Sophia was not entirely sure Ava would have it. “Actually it is a beautiful saying,” she whispered, the words catching in her throat. “It means…” Sophia stopped to swallow hard against the building fear for her brother, the thought suddenly occurring to her that Alexander had not just meant for her to meet the young woman; he wanted her consent. “It means… my love…”

Ava’s head snapped up in surprise at the young woman’s reply, the idea shaking her to the core… Ava finding that the idea was not nearly as distasteful as she tried to force herself to believe a rather surprising notion of fancy, surprising Ava more than the meaning of the words. An impossible situation, filled with foolish and unsettling emotions that she hurriedly dismissed, unwilling to accept that she was in truth rather interested in Alexander. “Oh,” Ava finally managed to stammer out, her lips forming a circle. “I am sure he always tells young ladies such things to ease their discomfort in his handsome presence.” The words fell from her mouth before she could stop them, yet another issue, for that would make it the second time that day that she spoke her innermost thoughts to one of the Lorenza’s. Frowning she focused her eyes once again upon the queerly smiling Sophia. “Why do you smile? Are you mocking me?” Ava questioned her voice laughing yet still tinged with irritation.

“Oh no,” Sophia calmly stated, deciding that if this young woman were nearly as stubborn as Alexander she would have to push her in his direction. “It is in my opinion that you are rather drawn to him.” She laughed out, “And in reply to your question, my brother has never spoken that phrase to any other than I. So I must deduce that he is taken with you as well.” She grinned broadly her deep hazel eyes focused intently upon Ava’s pale green ones.

“I am nowhere close to being smitten with him,” Ava indignantly huffed, quite shaken by the young girl’s apt reading of her. Silently Ava's heart and mind waged a turmoil filled, inner battle over her obvious lack of self-control during their brief moments in each other’s presence that afternoon. Adding to the frightening lack of composure while she was in Alexander's presence, Ava found that she had developed an unsettling attraction towards the dark, wickedly handsome Duke. A bittersweet feeling, being Ava felt that she was doing her heart, with its fresh memories of love for Henry an injustice. Further bothering Ava, she found that she displayed a rather uncanny interest in Alexander, seemingly incapable of banishing him from her thoughts, despite her anger at his incredulous request.

“Once again my brother is difficult. He is rather stubborn yes, yet he is not one to give his heart or his love lightly.” Sophia paused to think more in depth at what she needed to say, feeling that her words were of great importance in her goal to sway Ava. “I believe…In my heart that you are the only one that will ever keep him in check,” she smiled as she remembered the strange look upon her brother’s face when he kissed Ava that afternoon. “I think you should also know he does not kiss just anyone, it is an affection reserved for the privacy of a closed door. An intimate gesture that tells me that he cares for you far more than either of us knows.” She finished, the peals of laughter erupting from her as she watched Ava blanch at her revelation. “Ah si, I saw…” she added, quickly falling silent and turning as the door to the orangery flew open.

Before Ava could recover and respond to Sophia’s remark, the door to the orangery flew open, snapping her attention to Alexander, who purposefully strode towards them, an unreadable mask of emotion covering his face. Unthinking she held her breath admiring his powerful yet cocky glide across the rough marble floors. “Sophia, I had believed you to be resting.” Alexander admonished his tone loving and concerned despite the harsh scolding as he penetrated the young woman with his smoldering gaze.

“I apologize brother,” Sophia grinned unaffected, “I took your advice…” quickly she fell silent as he shot her a withering glare of untold communication. “I have been having a wonderful chat with Lady Ava; she has promised me a tour of the gardens tomorrow.” Sophia added with an angelic smile in his direction and a wink in Ava’s, her attempt to cover their true conversation obvious.

“That is wonderful,” Alex sighed finding it difficult to focus his attentions on his sister when Ava was in the room, the faint scent of her honeysuckle soap intermixing with the heady citrus in the air a combination of interesting clash. “If you would please leave us, I must speak with Lady Ava in private,” He finally stated when he managed to regain his composure; a small, satisfied smile playing across his face as Ava’s surprised gaze flew to him.

“Sophia is very welcome to stay,” Ava quietly stuttered the mere thought of being alone with him again disconcerting to her. Alexander seemed to have a powerful pull on her senses and she knew with certainty he would be the only in which she would abandon her morals. A fearful thought as she stared in uncomfortable disdain upon him.

“Sophia now,” Alex forcefully ordered his deep voice reverberating through the air and causing a small tremor of fear to snake its way through Ava as she realized she had no other option and dismally began to search for anyone to escort her visit, realizing that there was not even a maid to be found.

“I shall see you tomorrow my lady,” Sophia quickly excused herself, once again winking at Ava, “difficult…” She quietly whispered so only Ava could hear, with a smile before turning and quickly hurrying away. Stopping briefly Sophia turned her face upwards to gaze lovingly upon Alexander, “You were right, I enjoyed her company very much,” She grinned up at him, knowing he would understand her true meaning, before disappearing into the manor…

Marianne sat in stunned silence for an hour before finally gathering up the courage to seek out Henry, the last thing she truly wanted was to give herself to him and yet she knew that if she did not he would most certainly force his will. Nervously she dressed and began her journey towards the Library, part of her hoping he would be sleeping while the other wished him to be awake for she had to say something of great importance…

Henry had started to open another bottle, yet had changed his mind at the last moment. He knew he was using the liquor to drown out emotions, memories and painful thoughts that unfortunately for him would never dissipate. His heart belonged to Ava, he belonged with her yet she was correct. Ava's words playing through his heart and mind repeatedly, hearing them as if she were in the room…

“I don’t know why, but the fates are not in our favor…”

How correct she had been, sucking in a deep shuddering breath he angrily wished he had never met her, for she consumed his body and soul. He even compared his own wife to her, “Would it have been the same if I had never found her?” he whispered to himself, the question burning his throat as if made of acid. Surely, it would have, for his heart would never have fully been given away. The sound of the door opening breaking his thoughts, he snapped his head in its direction, wondering why one of the servants would be disturbing him this late and his heart skipping a beat as he suddenly feared something had happened to Marianne. “What!” he ground out, fighting the urge to jump from the lounge and rush to her room, their room.

“I have come to speak to you,” Marianne’s quiet sweet voice called out unsurely into the dark room, putting Henry’s mind at ease.

“So you have decided to come to me tonight,” he grinned knowing it would rile her up, wanting to break through her ever-cool exterior. For something told him that underneath the polished veneer of his wife’s quiet mannerisms lay a fiery woman.

“No,” Marianne’s reply was direct, matter of fact and oddly enough calm despite the racing of her heart at his having been still awake. Tentatively she stepped further into the room coming to stand in the faint circle of fire light from the fireplace. “I have come to say…” She paused long enough to swallow against the lump of nerves and fright that encompassed her, while she blindly stared into the darkened corner of the room where his voice had come from.

Henry gazed with interest upon Marianne, noting how lovely she looked standing in the midst of the flickering firelight. “Unless you wish for me to take your being here as an attempt to conduct your wifely duties, speak.” Henry growled lasciviously, knowing he was behaving poorly towards her yet uncaring at this particular moment.

“I have come to say that…” Marianne released a long shuddering sigh as she nervously wrung her hands together. “I will lay with you until I have provided an heir. At which time I must insist that you find other means to satisfy your cravings…” her voice came out high pitched and sounded far less demanding than she had initially desired. “This is under one provision,” she continued. “You must not think of or seek out another until after the child is born.” She quietly murmured her tone considerably deflated.

“You are most certainly joking,” Henry laughed out coldly, the sound grating to even his own ears. “What if the first child is a girl?” He questioned through the fit of laughter that wracked his very body. “And what if you find yourself a lover and end up with his seed? What am I to do then, raise it as my own knowing full well it is a bastard?” Her request was utterly hilarious to him, a fact Henry did nothing to hide as his thick cruel laughter echoed through the room.

“I-I will continue to lay with you until an heir is provided,” Marianne meekly whimpered completely taken aback by his disregard. “As far as a lover goes, I have not such a need.” She whispered the heat from her anger at his comment rising from the depths of her stomach to rest in her cheeks.

“My sweet, I assure you once you have had even the smallest taste your body will forever crave release.” Henry cruelly laughed out, “Now when do you propose this so called farce to begin,” he continued suddenly serious as he fought at the urge to take her right where she stood.

“Whenever you wish my lord,” Marianne weakly whispered, her voice a frightened croak.

Her comment struck him hard, she was willingly coming to him, granted he had frightened her and she most likely feared he would force himself upon her if she had not. Something that was furthest from truth, despite his menacing threat. Henry could never do that to his wife or any woman, even though many of his friends had exacted their rights in such a manner, “So you would be willing to take me now?” He softly questioned, the idea setting both lustfully and uneasily with him.

“Y-yes,” he heard her fright, felt her heartache, the fragility that was his innocent bride pulling at his heart.

Marianne heard the swish of his clothes, the sound of his footsteps as he stood from the lounge, the sound in conjunction with what she knew he wanted increasing her heartbeat and making her feel nauseous. Nervously she hitched her breath, turning her gaze towards him as he tenderly took her in his arms, his sapphire eyes twinkling in the fire light. “Go to bed love,” he murmured softly before gently kissing her and pushing her away towards the door with a pat on her rear. “I will see you tomorrow.” He finished as she disappeared from sight a faint smile playing wickedly across his face…

“What do you want?” Ava snapped irritably the mere memory of his request igniting her anger once more. The thought of being linked to this dangerous, powerful man in unison with Ava's own un reasonable emotions towards him unsettling to her. How his presence muddled her senses, how she had felt with his lips upon hers; she had been rendered incapable of control.

“Can you at least put an end to your lack of manners for one moment of civility?” Alexander snarled, his face contorting with aggravation at her words, especially when she had no idea of what he had come to say. His heart pounding furiously as he gazed upon her, the humidity in the air having matted her hair to her face and the heat causing her to glow with dewy wetness. A brief vision of her in his bed looking just that way snaked through his mind, a notion he hurriedly dismissed.

“What on this earth would ever bring you to believe I could ever be prevailed upon to treat you with civility?” Ava muttered angrily. “When you have forced your ridiculous will upon my family?” She finished crossing her arms over her chest for emphasis as she reminded him that he had forced himself upon her.

Her brash and indignant countenance hurriedly struck his daydreams from his mind as he penetrated her with a wicked, angry stare. “You are truly incorrigible, and I cannot fathom how or why I am so drawn to you.” Alexander snarled in taunting reply turning his darkened gaze from her as he realized he had given her a weapon against him. “Are you truly so in love with another you’d forfeit the opportunity to be happy so you could live in a scandalous union?” He angrily growled his retribution the stunned look that crossed over her face. “Ah yes, your grandmother informed me of your heartbreak, along with your whereabouts.” He coldly smiled a pang of guilt twisting his heart at the brief flash of heartache in her eyes.

Ava’s eyes narrowed in outrage at his comment, “h-how dare you insinuate I would willingly compromise myself,” she stammered out hotly, trying to control the sadness that erupted at his less than kind reminder of her heartache. Taking a deep breath and swallowing as he closed the distance between them in a few short strides and pulled her against his body, the charge of electricity shooting through her at his gruff touch. “He came to my bed and I turned him away, just as I shall t-turn you away at the end of this farce.” She stammered, feeling weak and dizzy in his arms unable to breath the thick air in the orangery as she felt his heart beating against her breast, two heartbeats reverberating through her. Tentatively she looked upon him, wondering if he felt the same as her, suppressing a squeak of nervous surprise as she found his dark lustful gaze upon her.

“I am not a man that you can toy with,” Alexander’s tone was deep and menacing as he glared down upon her. “I meant what I said in the gardens, I do not make idle threats and whether you like it or not, I have chosen to court YOU!” he had been capable of keeping his tone even until he came to her, the mere thought of her name angering him greatly, the feel of her against him unbearable. “I still intend fully to tame you Mi Amore and I swear,” he paused silently willing his desires away. “You will yield to me eventually, for I have found the one I want…” He grinned wickedly upon her and licked his lips seductively. “You belong to me now, Mi Amore…” Alexander ground out, lowering his mouth to a mere breaths distance from hers, the overwhelming urge to taste her again driving him nearly mad.

“I am not your love, nor am I yours, you pig…” Ava snarled in an attempt to dispel the overwhelming emotions that coursed through her, desperately fighting to control the wild pound of her heart within her breast.

“What is so interesting my love?” George’s smiling voice cut through Beatrice’s thoughts, the sound causing her to guiltily turn towards him.

“They must marry…” the duchess sighed out, “He will compromise her to be sure…” she murmured not entirely displeased with the idea. A smile crossing her face at her husband’s questioning glance, “See for yourself, she’s in love it is written across her face. And he, well Alexander cannot keep his hands off of her.” She added stepping aside so that George could peer out upon the embraced couple.

The vision of Lord Alexander and Ava rendering him speechless, a sight that was unsettling to George, for he surely did not want a repeat of Annette’s scandal. Yet there was a slight comfort to be found, for Alexander although truly scandalous himself emanated an unmistakable interest in her and at the very least if, his granddaughter failed to keep herself pure a marriage could be produced. “Come my sweet, we shall let the lovers’ quarrel.” He murmured guiding his wife from the room. “Although we must take precautions,” he whispered.

“Precautions are not to help; they will find their way to the other in one way or another…” Beatrice truthfully commented her heart skipping a beat as they exited the parlor…

“I see Sophia has informed of the meaning and in such must enlighten you on your grievous error. For you and I are most definitely in love…” Alex laughed out suddenly the sound surprising her. “I came to apologize for my earlier actions, yet you have once again helped to build my determination, to tame you Hellcat.” He whisperingly growled with a devious grin as he pressed his lips to hers, bruising the tender flesh with the force. A wave of electricity passing between them befuddling her mind until all she could do was give in to him. Leaving her speechless when he suddenly broke the embrace. Gruffly he pushed himself away from her, before angrily storming into the manor, leaving Ava behind in breathless, frustrated confusion…