Chapter 19 ~ The Ball Conclusion

Her emotional statement hit him hard, made him think of all that occurred. For why if she were as he thought, would she come to him as such and aptly call him on his actions. His mind twisting in confusion and his heart in pain he gazed upon Ava.

Alexander’s speech stolen from him at her comment, and his sudden feeling of dread. For if, it were to be true, he had been purposefully mislead by his dearest friend. Worse, he had surely offended and wrongfully accused the object of his affection.

Incapable of spending another moment in the silent and tension-filled room Ava bolted for the door, the tears she attempted to withhold threatening to spill forth.

Nearly reaching the door to the parlor, he stopped her. His comforting embrace wrapping about her waist.

An embrace she could not accept for it was nothing more than another of his attempts to insult her. “Release me now,” she growled. Her voice thick with emotion and pain.

Alexander had seen her flight and immediately reached for her, knowing that if she made it through the doors he would most likely never see her again. “I’m afraid I cannot,” he lowly whispered. Her scent intoxicating him as he pulled her closer.

Her eyes grew wide with fear at his comment as her mind spun with the various meanings. “I have made my piece known my lord, and you will not take me.” She whimpered despite her attempts at ferocity, her heart thundering in her ears.

“Please Alexander…let me go…” Ava whispered pleadingly when he did not respond, fear encompassing her as his grasp about her tightened, and he began to pull her further from the door, towards the lounge.

His heart aching for the pain he caused, the accusations he had laid he pulled her away, a new need. A new desperation to know the truth encompassing him. “I cannot milady until I have spoken with you,” he murmured sadly, brokenly as he held her wriggling and writhing form within his arms.

She hitched her breath, fury surging through her at his words as she realized coming had been a mistake. “You would take me by force?” she cried out in disbelief, her heart leaping into her throat.

“Even Viscount Grant had been more gentlemanly when I refused him,” she spat, thrusting her leg back and making contact with his shin.

Alexander grimaced with the pain from not only the hard kick she had given him, yet the truth of her words as he remembered her comment that first day in the orangery.

The realization stealing his very breath, his words, and strength. Unwillingly he released his grasp at the temporary fury that engulfed him at Henry’s actions, his heart, and soul crying out in unison.

Quickly as a cat to prey, he rushed forward grabbing her once more as she saw her opportunity to flee.

This time ensuring he had a firm grasp as he turned Ava to face him, “What did you say?” he questioned in disbelief, his tone reflecting his hurt and anger at the fool he’d made himself to be.

Ava stared in disbelief upon him, her pulse racing from not only the fear but the unmistakable heat that coursed through her at his touch, the feel of his breath so close to her lips. Something deep within her heart telling her all had changed.

His eyes showed remorse, his tone reflected sorrow, the accusation gone. “Release me!” she re-iterated forcefully, stubbornly, her eyes blazing with the fury and fright of the whole ordeal. Needing to be away from him lest she act upon the undeniable need that coursed through her, to feel his mouth.

Alexander regarded her for a moment, his frown deepening as he quickly scanned his memories in search for anything that would have shown her to be a fraud. Yet what he found was quite the opposite. “Ava, I need for you to tell me…” he murmured brokenly, his heart and soul shattering.

Balefully Ava glared upon his heartbroken face, her heart reaching out to the man she loved while she herself was still furious at his hurtful words. “Tell you what?” she sharply inquired her body tensing as he sat and pulled her down onto his lap.

George stalked towards his wife, the evenings course having alerted him to the issue at hand. Especially in regards to the flight of not only Lord Alexander and the Viscount Henry Grant, but his granddaughter as well.

“My Lady I request your audience immediately,” he snarled under his breath so only she could hear.

Dropping her gaze in defeat to the ground Beatrice stared upon her husband’s boots, fear, and shame engulfing her. “Yes Milord,” she murmured humbly. The heart wrenching sorrow engulfing her once again as she thought of how she had failed as she watched him storm purposefully from the ballroom, headed towards his office.

Sadly, she made her way towards the middle of the room, “My Lords and Ladies, it is in my utmost sadness that I must declare Lady Ava has been stricken ill.” She croaked, silently praying none had seen Ava’s departure.

Sophia sat shyly in the corner of the ballroom, uninterested in the festivities as her heart and mind worried over all that occurred since her brother’s dear friend’s arrival. The duchess’s comment having struck her odd, her mind running rampant.

As she thought of the dark look upon Alexander’s face, his angry demeanor the likes in which she had never before experienced.

She knew in the depths of her heart something was not right especially judging by Ava’s sulking actions, the evident look of heartbreak in her eyes. Despite her feigned attempts at civility towards the many guests.

With a heavy sigh, she thought of how she had attempted to follow Ava. Yet by the time she reached the entry hall, she was gone.

She knew he would not have left her unless he required time to himself and most importantly understood that the sinking feeling, the dread that had cemented itself within her soul had something to do with Ava and his relationship.

Blinking hard at the sting of the tears Sophia whimpered quietly, unaware of the presence that had come to stand before her until his smooth accented voice echoed through her thoughts.

Startled she brought her gaze upon him, stifling a gasp as she met the most stunning blue and silver eyes.

“I apologize milady,” Andrew Edwards, hurriedly stated realizing he had startled the lovely young woman. Toeing the floor shyly, he gazed upon the angel that had caught his eye several minutes earlier.

“If you are not otherwise engaged, would you care to accompany me for a dance?” He barely whispered.

Andrew could not deny that this young woman had truly captured his attention with her silky black hair and haunting green and gold eyes, yet now, as he stood closer to her, the exotic scent of vanilla and cinnamon soap engulfing his senses. He found she was far lovelier than he initially presumed.

Sophia smiled shyly upon the handsome young man, unsure of how to respond, “I apologize sir, I do not know your name.” She whispered the furious heat of her blush creeping up her neck and into her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. Silently kicking herself for having said such a ludicrous thing.

Andrew grimaced at his lack of manners, wondering why this young woman seemed to muddle his mind so. He felt as if his could barely talk in her presence.

“I apologize milady,” he barely whispered, “I am Andrew Edwards,” he quickly introduced with an awkward bow and a silent prayer that she did not see the reddening in his cheeks.

Sophia gazed with interest upon him, a small smile creeping at the corner of her mouth as she realized he was as nervous and shy, as herself seemed to be. “Sophia Lorenza, Countess of Navarro,” she shyly whispered dropping her gaze to the floor as Andrew’s shocked expression flew to her. “I am truly honored…” she trailed off as she heard the hushed yet harried voice of Ava’s sister, Catherine’s voice.

“Franklin, what if she has run off with Henry?” Catherine whispered nervously suddenly feeling lightheaded, as her heart roared in her ears. For both she and Franklin had both found no sign of either her sister or him.

“Catherine my love, I fear I cannot say what has occurred. Yet I understand that Lord Alexander is rather angered with both my brother and your sister,” Franklin sighed, enveloping his wife in a comforting embrace.

“We shall just have to pray that your sister has gone to Alexander.” He sadly murmured in her ear, guiding her towards the lounge and tenderly taking her in his arms. His finger inconspicuously stroking the growing bulge of her abdomen, warmth seeping through him as he thought of how in a few months they would welcome their child.

Fearful that she would in turn confirm his suspicions, Alexander found it difficult to speak, ask of her the question he should in fact have asked before he accused her.

“Ava, please…” he barely whispered, “Please tell me of what has occurred with you and Henry,” he murmured sadly, brokenly. His heart pounding within his breast with nervousness.

Ava sat in silence for a moment, scarcely breathing as she debated whether to attempt an escape as his hands slid away from her. A small scowl crossing her face as he seemingly read her thoughts, and rested his large hand upon her knee applying a gentle pressure.

“Why ever should I, when you will not listen?” she questioned sharply, quietly, as she rapidly blinked at the tears that stung her eyes at the painful memory of his accusations.

He felt her body tense, as his gaze rested upon the elegant, graceful curve of her neck. His body reacting to the warmth of weight of her body against his, “I believe I have wrongfully accused you and desperately need to hear your side of this sordid ordeal.” He whispered his deep tone thickly enveloped with grief and heartache.

Ava could hear the pain in his tone, the sincerity of his words pulling at her heart giving her the push she needed. “Henry and I had intended to marry,” she tentatively began.

Unsure of how to tell him of the story, un-wanting to injure his opinion of Henry. As she carefully explained everything, recounting all the events up to tonight in the garden when Henry had asked of her to run off to America.

Anger and hatred coursed through him at Henry’s purposeful actions and the deceit. Sadness as he realized he had nearly lost her. Lost the only woman he had ever loved twisting her about in his arms, he gazed soulfully into her eyes.

His heart aching, as he silently prayed she would accept him. “Ava, I have truly acted an ass,” he murmured softly the soft honeysuckle scent of her filling his senses.

“Please can you find it in your heart to forgive me?” he questioned, bringing his lips to hers for a chaste kiss, his heart swelling as she opened up to him, wrapped her arms about his neck and pulled him closer.

Ava could not deny he’d hurt her with the accusations, yet she saw it in his eyes heard the sincerity and the grief in his voice. His sincere apology pulling at her heart yet when his lips brushed against hers all seemed to melt away from her.

Absently she reached her arms about his neck, pulling him closer relief washing over her as she abandoned herself to him. “Alexander,” she murmured against his mouth prompting him to pull away, penetrating her with intense gaze. “I love you,” she whispered shyly.

He regarded her for a moment, his heart swelling with untold emotion, the words he’d longed to hear echoing through his soul as a warm summer breeze.

“Mi amoré, I am utterly in love with you.” He murmured lowering his lips to hers once more, both of them falling back upon the soft velvet lounge.

Their tongues tangled together as he seductively explored her mouth, savoring the taste of her.

A low moan vibrated his throat as she skimmed her hand down the length of his back, a trail of fire in the wake of her gentle caress. Hungrily, he skimmed his mouth over the silky, soft scented skin of her throat.

A wave of heat washed over her and a low moan escaped her throat as Alexander lazily circled the peak of her breast with his finger. The ache his touch always aroused growing with each gentle movement, gooseflesh covering her as his mouth slowly tasted, teased and taunted.

Ava whimpered as he brought his mouth back to hers in a painstakingly slow decent, each flick of his tongue and every warm breath intensifying the feeling. As her mind drifted to thoughts of what lay beneath his cloths, the building desire more than she could bear. “Alexander,” she whispered over the roar of her heart.

The sound of her voice echoed through his mind bringing him back from the lustful haze he seemed lost in. “Mi amoré, I will take you home.” He whispered against his own desires as it occurred to him he had nearly gone too far, believing that was what she intended to say.

A nervous smile spread over her face, as she pulled him closer to her, “I do not wish to return home,” she whispered shyly a furious blush darkening her cheeks.

He closed his eyes fighting at the surge of desire, attempting to remind himself of the impropriety of her being here unescorted. Love and desire encompassing him, “Ava would you leave for Gretna Green in the morn with me?” he breathed out, every ounce of him needing the release only she could give.

Setting his mind to base his actions upon her answer, silently praying she would accept. He did not want to wait another month or longer to be married to her, he wanted her safe in his arms at all times. Wanted to fall asleep beside her, awaken to her every morning.

Ava briefly thought of what he was implying, a wicked laugh escaping her as she envisioned her grandmother’s reaction to the news. Uncaring that it would surely cause a ripple throughout society that a lord and lady had eloped.

“I do not wish to be separated from you ever,” she replied breathily, her entire soul filled with love for him as she pressed her mouth against his.

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Everything seemed to be happening in a dream like state and before she knew it, they stood fully divested of their clothing in Alexander’s richly decorated suite.

A shiver of pleasure coursing through her body as his hot mouth sought every inch of her feverish flesh. Moisture pooled between her thighs as he ran his calloused fingertips over her arms, and shoulders.

Tenderly he lifted her into his arms and lay her onto the soft bed, covering her body with his own, as his mouth possessed her.

Excitement and fear intermixing with the desire as she felt the weight of him against her most intimate point.

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This story contains sim nudity, graphic explanations and does not meet the PG 13 requirements.

As well the Prologue is a bit different from the rest of the story, I just really liked it; so to help alleviate any confusion it only details how the main characters came to be. 80)

I hope to someday become a published author, but for now I am practicing and learning my abilities. Mostly for enjoyment, I do hope you enjoy... 80)

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