The only characters that are mine are James Colchester, Randolph, Henry Tompkins and Richard Hutton. As usual, the rest belong to J&G, Coote Hayes, etc, I'm just borrowing them.
Based on William Shakespeare's Taming Of The Shrew.
Thank you to sassyrox (Tracey) for being my beta reader, it has made the story ten times better than I had originally thought.
The Taming Of the Krux-Chapter 1
Ned sighed as he exited the party. Of course Gladys would marry another, why did he think that she would choose him? James Colchester was educated, handsome and the heir to the Colchester shipping fortune.
"Ladies and gentleman, I have wonderful news. My daughter has just accepted James Colchester's proposal" the room exploded in cheers as Gladys stood on the podium between her father and new fiancé.
Knowing that there was no way she would ever look at him that way, he took a final swig of champagne before taking his coat and walking out.
"Neddy, wait" Gladys followed him out.
"Congratulations, I hope you're happy" he said quietly before walking outside.
"Where to, sir?" the taxi pulled up.
"No thank you" the taxi pulled away.
Walking past the gates of Hyde Park, he hoped the fresh air and the cool night sky might help to heal his broken heart.
As he watched the night sky, a gold streak passed through, temporarily lighting up the dark night.
"What the?" he followed the streak through the park until it disappeared.
Stopping at the edge of the park, the streak disappeared.
"Pardon me sir, we have to close up the park" the policeman tapped him on the shoulder.
"Of course" his shoulders dropping, he walked out of the park and toward his flat.
The next morning, forcing himself to work, he was called into his editor's office.
"I'm assuming you saw the streak last night?" Richard Hutton was, if nothing else, no nonsense.
"Yes, sir".
"You have a 12:00 appointment with Professor George Challenger; he's a professor at Oxford and a member of the Zoological Society, I'll expect a draft on my desk by four o clock this afternoon".
Richard Hutton, although he had worked as a journalist for nearly 30 years, considered himself to be an amateur scientist and was particularly interested in astronomy.
"Yes, sir".
Two hours later, Ned sat nervously, waiting for the professor when he heard two voices. He knew of Professor Challenger, as did most of the academic and journalistic world. He was a genius, but he was arrogant, known to talk down to almost everyone he came into contact with.
"George, look at the evidence…."Marguerite protested.
George grumbled, now he knew why he hated to work with women, especially this woman. The woman was brilliant, but she often wore on his last nerve.
"Not now, Marguerite".
"Professor Challenger" Ned stood up.
"You must Mr. Malone from newspaper. Marguerite, this is Ned Malone, from the London Tribunal. Mr. Malone, this is my colleague, Marguerite Krux".
Ned had also heard of Marguerite Krux, as did most of London society, though this was the first time he had ever met her in person. She was certainly beautiful, as the rumors suggested, but the questions of how she became an heiress and a widow depended on who provided the answers.
"And what brings you to Oxford, Mr. Malone. Another of George's brilliant lectures? Perhaps it would have been best to bring a pillow and a blanket; you might be here all night".
"Don't you have a class to teach?" the ginger haired professor grumbled.
"I do, perhaps one of my students will be able to best you one day" with a wicked smile, she walked out.
"Have you ever worked with women?" George asked as he closed the door.
"Never" Ned replied.
"Don't, they're too much trouble" George warned as Ned pulled out his pad.
Nearly an hour later, Ned walked out; satisfied he had enough for a story.
"Thank you, professor, if I need any more information, I'll give you a call".
As he walked out, he walked right into her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't see you" he helped her to her feet.
"No, it's my fault; I wasn't paying attention. I'm supposed to meet someone and I got lost" for a moment he though this was how he was to begin the story of how he met the mother of his children.
"Who are you looking for? Maybe I can help you find them?" Ned offered. She was beautiful; there was something almost ethereal about her, far different than the jaded London women he had met.
The interlude came to an abrupt halt when he heard a familiar voice coming from the other end of the corridor.
"Veronica, thank god, I was worried about you" Marguerite stepped out of her office, her eyes locking on the young blonde couple.
"I'm sorry, I got lost, Mr.…".
"Malone, Edward T. Malone" he stuttered, introducing himself.
"Mr. Malone was trying to help" Veronica explained.
"Thank you, Mr. Malone, if you excuse us, we have plans" Marguerite started to hustle Veronica into her office.
"What's your name?" Ned asked.
"Veronica Layton" she replied as the door closed.
"Veronica Layton" he repeated. The image of Gladys with her new fiancé faded as it was replaced by the ethereal blonde who had instantly captured his heart.
"He seems nice" Veronica said inside Marguerite's office.
"No" Marguerite said with a finality in her voice.
"I came to find a husband, Marguerite".
"You will, I promise you, will find a husband, but trust me; I've been around these men long enough to know a few things and with that one, you're consigning yourself to a dreary, mundane existence".
Then her phone rang.
"Miss Krux, Lord Roxton is here, he insists on seeing you".
"Tell him I'm busy".
"He insists that he will not leave until he sees you" the operator apologized.
"Tell him I'll be right down" rolling her eyes, Marguerite hung up the phone.
"What?" Veronica asked.
"You'll see" she replied.
As the elevator stopped at the bottom floor, the smell of expensive alcohol, cigar smoke and cheap perfume was an obvious sign of who called on her. Lord John Roxton was physically attractive, but his arrogance and air of self righteousness was a turnoff.
"Lord Roxton" Marguerite asked with a dull in her voice "What brings you to Oxford?".
"You, Miss Krux" he flashed his usual charming smile, hoping that she would say yes to his invitation this time.
They met six months ago, at an event at the Zoological Society. The rumors of his latest paramour, a countess who has been widowed just a few months before, were finally dying down, though he had yet to deny or confirm the rumors. The first time they met, he was enchanted, she was disgusted and he saw the challenge.
But that wasn't why he was drawn to her. He found her to be abrasive and her disposition rude, but something about her drew his attention like no other before. She carried herself like royalty, but she wasn't and yet, he felt like an untested school boy begging for her favor. Now here he was months later, still chasing her like some young swain – he hated himself for it, but he couldn't seem to stop himself either.
"If you excuse us, Lord Roxton, we have an appointment" she started to pull Veronica away.
"Aren't you going to introduce us?".
"Lord Roxton, this is my cousin, Veronica Layton. Veronica, this is Lord John Roxton"
"Well then, this is a surprise, I see beauty runs in your family" Marguerite sighed, seeing right through his charm and smooth delivery of a line she was sure he had perfected years ago.
"What do you want, Lord Roxton?" With clipped tones, she looked straight at him.
"I'm glad you asked. Carmen will be playing at the opera house for the next few weeks and I was wondering if you and your lovely cousin would accompany me one evening; my mother is spending the next few months abroad and the family box is quite empty".
"Good day, Lord Roxton" without giving him an answer, she walked out, with Veronica behind her.
"What was that about?" Veronica asked as they got into the cab.
"He, cousin, is what you don't want" they drove away.
Back on campus, feeling the mid day grumble, Ned decided to take in a lunch break. He hadn't been on a campus since receiving his degree in journalism from Columbia five years earlier, but it still felt the same.
Picking up a cup of coffee and a sandwich, he settled down to go over his notes.
"Is this seat taken?" he heard a voice ask about the seat opposite him.
"Go ahead" Ned replied absentmindedly, still looking at his notes.
"Women" John grumbled.
"Pardon?" Ned asked.
"Never mind" John continued to grumble, letting the coffee slide down his throat. He was getting too old for this, cheap women and expensive wineand a seemingly endless line of meaningless, temporary and boring relationships.
"You're Lord Roxton" Ned finally looked up.
"Have we met?".
"Ned Malone, I'm a reporter for the London Tribunal. We've met at the Zoological Society last year".
He vaguely remembered meeting the young American reporter who was hung up on his publisher's daughter. Then he remembered the news about the debutante's upcoming marriage.
"Sorry about that, her marrying what's his name".
"That's okay. Actually, I've met someone else just today as a matter of fact" Ned replied, letting the picture of Veronica sink into his memory as Gladys slid in the background.
"Mr. Malone, what a surprise" they were greeted by Arthur Summerlee, a long time professor at the university and a good friend of Richard Hutton.
Both men stood in deference to not only an esteemed scholar, but to the amiable reputation the doctor had developed.
"Professor, how are you?".
"I'm splendid! I was just passing through on my way to an associate's office. What are you doing here?" the older man was invited to sit down.
"Working a story, actually. I just met with Professor Challenger; my editor wants me to write a story about the streak in the sky last night".
"Oh yes, it seems to be the only thing the students and the faculty want to discuss today. How are you and Miss Newton doing? Last I heard, you two were quite the item".
"Actually, Gladys found someone else and I've met someone else that I would like to get to know – if I can get past her cousin".
"May I ask, who is the young lady you speak of and her cousin who prevents you from your courtship?" the professor asked.
"Marguerite Krux– I think she's on the faculty here" answered Ned.
Roxton groaned into his coffee. The woman seemed to have placed a spell on him, the more she claimed to dislike him, the more he wanted her.
"Lord Roxton, this is a pleasure, how are you?" Like Ned, Arthur Summerlee knew Lord Roxton through various social events.
"Bloody peachy" John returned to his coffee.
"I didn't know Miss Krux had any family – but I know that she is very private."
"She does, her name is Veronica, but Miss Krux wont let me near her" In the younger man's eyes, Arthur instantly saw himself as a young man, the thrill of new love, eager to reach out and to share the affection of one's heart.
"Perhaps I can be of assistance, I happen to know Miss Krux quite well maybe she just needs some assurance that your intentions are honest" a smile light up the older man's face.
"Thank you professor, but that's not necessary".
"I understand Mr. Malone- love must find it's own path. Well, I must be going then. I wish you the best of luck on your courtship, but I feel I should caution you – I know Marguerite, if she is determined, Miss Layton will surely be engaged to another man in no time at all …" Summerlee started to get up. "It's just some well meaning advice from an old man who has seen a few things".
"Wait, professor, maybe you can help".
"Well my boy, I suggest is getting Miss Veronica away from Miss Krux, so that you can get to know her better."
"How do I do that?" Ned asked.
"Lord Roxton, you maybe of some assistance to us as well. You both will my guests at the Appleton ball tomorrow night, which I happen to know Miss Krux is attending. What I suggest is that I distract Miss Krux, you, Mr. Malone take the opportunity to speak her cousin"
"Thank God, he didn't suggest that I distract her", Roxton thought to himself, "or the boy will never have a chance". His ego could not take another hit from the ravishing brunette.
In fact, if he'd known she was attending the ball, he might have reconsidered attending himself. But he couldn't let down his new friend. It was obvious the boy needed help and it would give him time to study the mysterious Miss Krux and find out what made her tick.
The more he thought of it, the more he liked the idea……
End of chapter 1, reviews are greatly appreciated.