Summary:
A lady never goes against the rules for it would not be proper – maybe that's why she's unmarried and childless. Vowing to live an adventurous life Lady Katniss craves, she writes a list to carry out everything she's been missing. But to do those things she'll need a willing partner. One prepared to lose it all for a little fun. Someone sinful and cunning. Someone like Peeta, the Marquess of Mellark. Someone who might break the one rule even she wished to keep.
Prologue:
District 12, Panem - April
Katniss pov
My eyes burn as I flee the ballroom of the justice building, desperate to forget that embarrassing moment. Oh how could she let this happen? The cool air whips at my skin and dress dragging me this way and that way. Resilient, I rush down the stone steps and sprint towards the edge of the land, where the gravel meets the grass. The light disappears the deeper I venture into the gardens as I become shrouded by trees.
Certain I'm hidden from view, I slow my pace. A constant pulsating in my chest reminds me that I'm breathing heavily. Why do I let myself get so worked up? Mother would be furious if she new that I was unattended but I just couldn't stay there.
My first season - a delayed one at that! - and it's a failure. Maybe it would have been better if I let mother organise mine at my debut when I was sixteen rather than wait another two years. Perhaps it only gave her time to plot her revenge after I'd rejected her advice for so long.
Being the daughter of the Earl and Countess of twelve I'm sure I was expected to be impeccable tonight. That's what I've been raised for - to be an exemplar of my position. I need to dance every dance gracefully and be quiet yet stern. My manners must be intact and I need to look stunning while feeling void of any true emotion.
How can one smile with honesty whilst acting as another for fear of being called undignified?
No doubt I'm too pragmatic for such a role. Everything I do seems to be considered to be presumptuous regardless of whether I intended it to be or not. I sit down on an iron bench just where the trees and bushes begin to form a maze.
I was there for over three hours and not a single suitor had requested for a dance. Usually I wouldn't mind because such an awkward act makes me uncomfortable but that was part of my new debut. If I was rejected then, it seems that I'm just unsuitable for everyone. Well almost everyone. There was the odd man who must have been at least thrice my age but I'd like to think myself not that desperate - yet at least. I sigh. Not even my dowry could secure me an eligible bachelor. It appears that only the elderly and the deserted noticed me whilst everyone else merely stared mockingly - or was it with pity?
"Never again" I mutter to myself as I glance down at my gown. This was neither long nor was it elegant. It simple terms it was a monstrosity at best. The red plaid dress looks washed out and barely reaches my knees when I sit down. Its tight at the waist and without a bodice- that fashion usually dictates - it isn't flattering for my small figure thus making me look like a pre-teen. No wonder I've been avoided. A celebration for a young woman and what seems like a child about to have her twelfth birthday party shows up instead.
Mother was wrong. Regardless of the ridiculous fashion statements one should make at such an event, I looked awful. Not that I'd blame mother's helpers of course, but one can never really be happy being thrust into the spotlight moments after being belittled and poked and prodded to the satisfaction of others. I cross my arms. "I won't return. I'll simply live amongst the woodland creatures and become one myself".
A deep chuckle sounds and I shoot up, shrieking as twig snaps. My eyes dart around searching for a figure amongst the shadows, though I'm not certain I want to find one. I clear my throat and shift my arms, wrapping around my waist. "You know it's rude to sneak up on someone!" I call out.
"My apologises" I startle slightly at the voice. "Ah. I see I'm not along tonight". A figure comes forward and I look him up and down not really taking note of anything.
"How inappropriate".
He chuckles again. "Of course. Forgive me, I wouldn't want to ah, give you away" he whispers quietly. I push my shoulders back at the deep tenor in his voice. How unusual.
"Well your presence already has sir, so if you could just refrain from stomping around" I state angrily. As if I wasn't uncomfortable enough.
"My lady" he tuts advancing closer, "I'm only acting as one of the woodland creatures". I huff. That wasn't an invitation. I open my mouth to tell him so but a gasp escapes as he steps into the faint moonlight. No longer concealed, I can see who dared disturb me.
Peeta, the Marquess of Mellark is my companion. The nations most notorious rake is smiling - at me. No. I don't want this. Why won't he leave? He can't see me like this. I look ridiculous. He's going to make a mockery of me like everyone else..
"No" I whisper desperate to forget this meeting. Not him. Oh why on this night?
"What's wrong love?". I glare at the endearment. How many times has he called other women that? I glance around for an escape. I could run again or go up but how? I can't climb trees.
"I need to go. You're just... too close" I stutter out. He must know what being near him could do to her. People would surely talk and she doesn't need anymore of that.
His eyes narrow but I can't make out their colour too well in the darkness. "Wait..." he murmurs as though starting to recognise me. "You're Everdeen's daughter aren't you? I've seen you before". I keep quiet though I silently wonder if he liked what he saw. I shake my head, ridding the thought from my mind. A woman shouldn't have such thoughts about a single bachelor. Not that I believe he is.
"I'm sure you have sir. It would be rather difficult to overlook someone so faultless as they stumble around the room" I say sarcastically before slapping a hand over my mouth. Goodness, he's already making me speak boldly - and on another's property!
"Well is the gown to blame?" he teases. I breathe out heavily and drop back onto the bench. Gown? What nonsense.
"I know how I look" I say lowering my hand.
"On the contrary I think you'd look great in anything - even a burlap sack". I laugh.
"I doubt so" I comment. The thought does seem freeing somehow though. Mother would never let me try it. I smile knowing that he can't see it. "I'm still waiting for my sister to grow up and distract mother so I have some time away from her and her disturbing fashion sense".
He sits down next to me and I lean further away.
"How old is she?" he asks.
"Eight" I reply.
"I see she has a long way to go".
"Unfortunately" I say. "That leaves me rather limited with my choices".
"How so?".
"Well I can engage with the old and the poor. The single and the dreadfully boring" I state remembering all those I conversed with this evening. "I'm typically avoided by the likes of young bachelors. Anyone can see that".
"I can't" he whispers. I inhale sharply as he softly strokes the back of my hand.
"What's your name?" he asks softly, shifting closer to me.
"Katniss". I squeeze my eyes shut embarrassed by my name. Who would name their daughter after a plant?
"Katniss", he says testing my name. "My sagittaria". I wrinkle my nose, blushing. "I need to better acquaint myself with your parents".
"Don't" I warn. "Its horrible. Don't draw more attention to it".
"Nonsense. I'm fond of it". I don't mention that he can't be as he's only just heard my name. "You could be an Empress with a name like that". I smile and open my eyes to thank him but he's already stood up. I look up at him.
"Forgive me but I must take my leave and you must return to where you belong". He stops touching my hand and leans down. His lips graze my ear and I stiffen at the contact. "Hold your head high my ladyship". His breath tickles and then he's off, disappearing into the maze.
I don't know why I jump up to follow him. I'm too curious. My first pleasant conversation today! Mother will be proud - as long as she doesn't know who I spoke to. Several yards in, the maze opens up to a scene of vast greenery. A large fountain rests in the middle surrounded by stone benches. A small pathway leads back out of this area and I assume it goes back to the building I came from. There in the middle he stands. I open my mouth to call out but inhale sharply and stumble backwards. There's a woman in his arms. She gasps, eyes closed and her blonde locks fall off her shoulders as she leans her head back.
I step back into hiding. Why did I follow him? A shriek sounds followed by a giggle as she leans further into him - or at least her chest does. I blush watching them. Oh my. I want to turn away from their embrace so I don't have to see her arms hanging onto his shoulders or his arms wrapped loosely around her waist as he whispers into her ear.
His head dips down and I can only assume he's nuzzling her neck, the same playful way he acted towards me. Except less modest.
"Mellark" she gasps out before biting her lip. I turn away and tug the neckline of my dress up higher. It still doesn't show anything but it seems comforting almost. A distraction. Spinning away, I dash back through the maze and past the trees, as I head back towards where I belong. This is why a lady should never intrude. Or eavesdrop. It does one no good. I ignore the sorrow at what I saw. It doesn't matter. This is what happens when you aren't given much attention I suppose. You latch onto whatever hope you're offered regardless of the consequences. He's cunning - spinning words to delight and manipulate her before leaving to find another.
No. I'm not an Empress. I'm a simpleton, and that's all I'll ever be.
Authors note ~ (Loosely based off of nine rules to break when romancing a rake) Hi! Another new fic - wow. I am working on updates I promise. Hope you guys liked this! What do you think of the prologue? Please review and tell me! I love hearing your feedback! Thanks for reading. :)