Chapter 20 ~ Aftermath

Marianne sat alone in her room, the pain in her heart unbearable as she feared the worse. Feared that her husband had strayed from her, leaving her in the same situation as her mother once had been. Pregnant and alone, the only difference; her father had passed away not abandoned her for another woman. Her heart burned with anger, fury towards not only her husband but Ava as well. The wretch that had stolen from her the love of Henry, stripped from her the dignity of a comfortable marriage.

“If only I had known,” she sighed out in agony, her stomach lurching with nausea as she remembered how truly excited she had been to receive the illustrious invitation to the one house that had never before invited her or her family.

His vision fell quickly upon his distressed wife as he entered the room, his body battered and worn from having ridden all night in an attempt to outrun his grief over Ava’s revelation. “Known of what my sweet?” Henry questioned, his gravelly voice echoing across the room.

Discomfort settling within him as she turned her excited gaze in his direction, a gaze that quickly darkened to anger. Rightfully placed anger, he silently acknowledged, knowing that she had undoubtedly found of his true reasoning behind attending the ball.

Marianne penetrated him with her blazing angry gaze, her heart thundering within her breast as she abandoned all civility and stormed towards him. “How dare you!” she raged, jabbing a quivering finger into his chest, uncaring that the servants may over hear what she had to say.

“Why did you not tell me before I accepted that Lady Ava was the one in whom your heart yearned for?” She continued her voice wavering with unshed tears.

“You have gone above our agreement milord!” she snarled her watery blue eyes glittering with unshed tears. The force of her voice obviously surprising him by the unsteady step back he took. “You are fortunate that as we speak I carry, for I never wish you to touch me again!” She finished, her torment evident and her heart shattering as she spoke the words. A deep sense of loathing growing for not only her husband yet the spawn in which she carried.

Henry was taken aback by Marianne’s anger, as her words slowly registered. “Mary, my love,” he quietly murmured in his most soothing tone, his mind reeling and a sense of dread settling deep within his heart at the prospect of losing her.

Incapable of looking upon Henry, she stormed away her shoulders visibly shaking as she stubbornly fought back the tears. “I am not your sweet Henry,” his name burned like acid as it rolled off her tongue. “Reserve such endearments for your mistress Lady Ava,” she spat, the woman’s name increasing her disgust. Absently she gazed through the drapery, unwilling to look upon him lest he see her heartbreak. A deep seeded heartache that only one in love could experience emotion he did not deserve to see.

Sadly Henry tentatively stepped forward, reaching his arms about his stiff wife’s form and pulling her close. “Mary, she is mine no longer,” he quietly whispered into her ear. Pain engulfing his heart, not only at the memory of Ava yet more so now, over the heartache he had subjected his beautiful wife to.

“She is soon to be married to Lord Alexander, a very dear friend of mine.” Hot tears stung his eyes and he gently swayed to and fro, pulling Marianne closer to his quivering body.

“I truly apologize for having deceived you my love. I acted unbecoming and selfishly in my need for closure, an ending that she whole heartedly gave.” His voice was quiet, laced with emotion. “Mary you are my wife and I swear to you I shall not stray. For it is within you that I now know my heart belongs.” He whispered truthfully, understanding that Marianne deserved his complete devotion and attention.

She heard the sincerity in his voice, yet with all that had occurred over the past two months she could not find trust in him. Could not find it within herself to forgive him, nor Lady Ava, despite the woman’s clearly pure intentions when she had refused him. “Henry I do not believe I can trust in you. You have broken my heart and purposefully deceived my innocence,” She snarled.

Breaking free of his grasp and moving closer to the window, the tears flowing over her cheeks.

Her words stung his heart, shattered his soul as he gazed upon her. Marianne’s words resounding within him, her cool dismissal and the blatant disapproval. There was absolutely nothing he could say, nothing he could do for he could deny her. She had been correct, he had deceived his wife and himself, committed the ultimate crime against their marriage. Suddenly her full statement struck him, gasping he threw his hands out, “Marianne you are w-with child?” he stammered. Fear surging through him as he realized he was soon to lose her, especially if it was in fact the heir, for he was sure she would enforce the barter she had originally placed.

Marianne didn’t bother to turn, she heard his astonishment and in truth she could care less to see the discomfort upon his face. “At least two months,” she breathed out, her voice cracking with emotion…

Ava awoke with a start, bright sunlight filtering over her. Disoriented she glanced about the strange surroundings, memories of the night before flooding her thoughts as she glanced at the empty side of the bed.

The sight leaving her oddly bereft. Hot tears sprung to her eyes, stinging her lids as she swung her legs over the side of the massive bed.

A grimace crossing her face and a small squeal escaping her throat; at the intimate soreness between her thighs.

Shamefully she rose on quivering legs and hurriedly clothed herself in her undergarments, not bothering to tighten the stays of her corset as an embarrassed blush crept into her cheeks.

Fretfully she glanced about the room in search of her gown, her heart aching, a sense of embarrassment and anger coursing through her. Alexander had left her, his actions seeming to her that he cared not for her to be there with him.

Shuddering she remembered the promise she had made the night before, a fretful sob working it’s way from her throat at the prospect of leaving for Gretna green.

Especially now as she highly doubted that he would, “I am a fallen woman,” she regretfully breathed into the chilly sex permeated air. A new realization striking her, the unavoidable guilt that she had acted far to hastily by committing the exact crime in which he’d accused her of.

Frustrated she glanced about yet again in search of her gown, desperately wanting to be gone from this house before he returned to confirm her belief that he cared not to see her again.

“Oh the insufferable pig,” she tearfully snarled, throwing her hands into the air as she realized that he must have hidden it. So lost in her thoughts she failed to hear the door open and close behind her, failed to hear the heavy footfalls upon the thick wool carpeting.

Alexander’s smile soon faded as his vision fell upon the obviously outraged form of his beloved. Silently he chastised himself, for having not been present when she awakened.

Knowing she must feel horrid that he was not there to greet her. “I had hoped you would still be abed,” he lightly stated, his tone apologetic.

Startling her as she jumped at the sound of his voice and turned her glittering tear filled eyes and furious face towards him.

His thickly accented baritone rumbled through her very being, catching her off guard and pulling her away from her thoughts. The mere sight of him pulling the tears from her eyes, “why ever would you?” she accusingly snarled. Her anger flared as she doubted he truly meant it.

“You’ve gotten what you wished, completed yet another conquest and now I shall leave. Just as soon as you give me my gown,” despite her attempts at ferocity, her voice came out weak, reflecting her anguish and sorrow.

Swallowing hard at the biting comment, he penetrated her with his hurt gaze and stepped closer.

Wrapping her shivering body in his strong grasp. “Mi amore,” he carefully began, weighing his words carefully so as not to further injure her and trying his hardest to keep his own frustration in check. “I may have been a scoundrel, yet I assure you I meant every word I said last eve.” He whispered against her throat.

“You are in not in any form a conquest. I could not bear to live with myself knowing you believe as such.” he continued trailing his lips over the silken skin of her jaw.

"Mi Corazon, understand that I most ardently love you; and until the minister pronounces you my wife.” He whispered gazing soulfully into her jeweled eyes, his heart thundering within his breast as he was struck afresh at the level and depth of his emotions for her. “I am not complete,” he sighed brushing his mouth over hers.

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George paced nervously about his study, fury and grief encompassing him as he ran the events from the night before through his mind.

Sorrow for he had never before spoken so harshly to his wife, the memory of her stricken look aching his heart. Anger because she had acted without thought of repercussion, allowed their granddaughter to go to him, without knowing it was in fact Lord Alexander she had chosen as her destination.

“Shades of the past,” he quietly growled the memories of his daughter and Viscount Talley’s sordid affair fresh in his mind. Absently he tapped his breast pocket wishing it would ease his discomfort yet knowing it would not.

Beatrice rushed towards her husband’s office. Fear, nervousness and shame intermixing within her. He had been correct; she had acted foolishly and may possibly have destroyed any chance of redemption for their families.

Hesitantly she turned the knob of the closed door and entered the darkened room. Her mind twisting with concern and worry over his reason for having requested her audience so urgently. “Milord,” she barely managed to whisper through the cotton dryness of her mouth and tight throat. Tears burning her eyelids for his hurtful words were still prominent in her memory.

Turning to focus upon her, a pain shot through his heart. Beatrice was pale and frightened, shame clearly written across her face. “As you well know I am greatly displeased with your actions,” he began. His voice though quiet, forceful and commanding.

Dropping her gaze to the floor Beatrice squeezed her eyes tightly closed in an effort to withhold the tears. “Yes milord, I have truly acted quite unbecoming for my position,” she choked out painfully as she braced herself for yet another scolding.

Sighing heavily he stepped forward, taking his wife into his arms in a soothing and comforting embrace. “I am pleased that you see the error of your decisions,” he murmured pitifully.

“Now I have called upon you this morn for I have received word from Lord Alexander.” He continued.

While he gently led her towards the overstuffed velvet chair and guided her to a sitting position as he knelt before his wife. Concern etched over his face as he soaked in the gentle silk of her hair that framed her pale face. He had initially been in debate over whether to inform her of the news, yet seeing how distressed she was, how she had not made her effort to complete her morning abolutions he made his decision.

His embrace soothed her nerves, the gentle tone of his voice relaxed her a bit until his words sank in. “Is…Is she not with him?” Beatrice tersely questioned, fear resonating within her tone.

George could not withhold the small smile at the fear and nervousness in her voice, “Ava is indeed with him.” He reassured standing and walking towards his desk.

Pausing until he had situated himself comfortably in the chair. A part of him enjoying keeping her on edge.

“Considering what has occurred I must agree wholly with his choice,” he whispered pulling forth the thick linen paper and smoothing it out before him on the desk.

Beatrice sucked in a deep breath, knowing in what her husband spoke of yet not wishing to believe Ava could have done such. “Milord, I had not yet explained…” She whispered fearfully, a part of her concerned over Ava’s welfare.

Her reaction warranted a hearty laugh from George, a laugh that caused her to gaze upon him quizzically.

“I do not believe she was in need of an explanation,” he quietly stated once he had regained his composure.

“If anything Lord Alexander was most pleased to explain for you,” he continued a wicked gleam in his eyes as he was transported back to his own youth.

A gasp escaped her at her husband’s rather inappropriate remark, “Milord, I do not think that is a proper subject,” she quietly scolded. Her cheeks reddening at her own memories, of her wedding night and how her mother’s words had little bearing on what actually occurred.

Clearing his throat he glanced back again upon his wife, “Apparently Ava is truly upset over the entire event. Thus she hastily agreed to leave for Gretna Green .” His tone was suddenly serious.

“She cannot, the scandal!” Beatrice cried out incapable of containing her astonishment.

“Alexander was of the same opinion,” George hurriedly interrupted. Raising his hand in signal that he required silence.

“They leave for London this morn where he will apply to the magistrate for a special license.” His blue eyes darkened with sadness as he dropped his gaze to the letter. “He has requested Gertie be sent as her companion.”

Before he could continue Beatrice flew from her seat, her eyes wild with anger. “Absolutely not, I must go with her!” she hollered her face twisting in confusion and disbelief.

“Beatrice, I have already dispatched the handmaid,” George calmly explained shooting her a wary glance. “Now if you would so kindly let me finish,” he continued.

“We have two days time to prepare for the nuptials." He finished wanting to take her in his arms and soothe away her discomfort, yet knowing that there was nothing he could do. For he himself was not happy with the entire event…

Frustrated and heartbroken Marianne rushed from the house. Ignoring Henry’s fervent and pleading cries, flinging the door open she bolted into the chilled morning air.

The Cold winds cutting through the thin linen of her house dress.

Still she did not stop until she reached the carriage house. Hurriedly she cried out to one of the stable hands, ordering him to drive her…

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To Be Continued...