Intently, he watched her from across the grand ballroom. Every
move that perfect body made, his eyes followed with delight. She was his
goddess. It was so simple to him, he wanted her. Badly. He wanted
Marguerite Blakeney like he had never wanted a woman before. He was not a
celibate one, quite the opposite really, and he had never experienced such
a longing for a creature like he felt for her. Perhaps it was that she had
blocked his every attempt, she had of course talked with him and been
polite but she would smile and nod but never see his true intentions. Or if
she did, she never let on. As another figure stepped up to his adored
Goddess, a sigh turned to a bitter growl as Sir Percy Blakeney lead his
beautiful wife out onto the dance floor. What an idiot! Inane fop! Fool!
The fact that she was married did little to stop his attentions; many women
he had bedded had been married. No, this only caused his longing to become
deeper. He, Lord Albert Jackman, would have Marguerite Blakeney, in one way
or another.
Chapter 1
"Percy! You promised me a week.. and give me two days instead! You promised me!" They had escaped the ballroom and found a secluded part of the gardens, where he had told her that he would leave for France in the morning. With an exasperated sigh, the tall figure of Sir Percy Blakeney turned from his wife. He never could bare to see her cry.
" Margot.. You know I would stay if I could. But--"
" No more! No more buts, Percy. " With a glare at his rigid back, she turned from him in a swirl of red skirts and white lace and stormed out of the garden. In her haste to leave, she failed to notice that Sir Albert was standing directly in her path. With a thud, she ran right into him. She swayed for a moment, as if she was going to fall, before the strong arms of Albert had latched onto her and held her up right.
"Milady, I am profusely sorry! I was not paying attention, seeing as how beautiful the night is.. Though it does pale in comparison to you, my dearest lady." With a curt bow, he kissed the delicate white hand. This was his chance. Standing back up straight, his eyes searched her face. "Why, you look quite upset milady. Shall we take a walk to clear your mind?" Offering his arm to her, he nearly died between the pause when his arm was offered and when she took it.
" That would be lovely, Sir Albert, positively lovely. "
They took a walk around the gardens for an hour or so, carefully talking of subjects overseas and her days an actress. Sir Albert was as kind and courteous as she would expect, but he gave her an uneasy feeling.. This walk in the garden had been a sort of stab at Percy; perhaps he had even seen him grab her to help her stand up right! Percy had always been one to be easily jealous. She regretted running away from him deeply now, she knew very well that he could not help when duty called him away. Awaking from her thoughts to try and concentrate upon Sir Albert's words, she forced a smile to her lips as she looked back up at him. Talking of Paris again? She bit back a sigh of frustration and tears. No, she would not let him see that. She could not help but admire him for a moment, he was quite handsome. She had heard all the horrible stories of him using women as he pleased, and she had also heard of his complete infatuation with her. So deep, it was becoming an obsession..
"... You must be so happy to have married Sir Percy and acquire so much money." His tone was almost bitter, and it was then she released what a mistake it was to come with this man. No doubt, he did not have honorable intentions. She could even smell the liquor on him..
"Well, I did not marry Percy for money. I was doing quite well with out so much, after all, prior to our marriage." They had stopped and were standing amidst a dozen rose bushes. He turned to face her, sliding a thorn less rose into her hair and carefully arranging it.
"He is a lucky man. Quite lucky to marry such a perfectly beautiful woman such as yourself.." His hand moved down to brush over her cheek. No. She did not like where this was going at all. "You deserve better than that fool, Marguerite. His luck must end somewhere." She took a step back, only to have Albert's arm end up around her waist and pulling her back to him. She began to protest when his lips overtook hers and kissed her passionately. Ripping herself away, she raised her hand to her lips in shock. He was smirking! The nerve of him! That same hand rose to slap him, but was just as quickly caught in his much larger hand and kissed. "You can not deny me, Marguerite. I do not suggest running back and screaming about how I forced myself on you. Who will London believe? Me, or the French actress?" He couldn't help but grin. Yes, this was perfect. Just how he had planned it! He could see the shock rise to her face as she realized what he said was true. "And in case you were thinking about telling your husband, I will simply announce to London how you seduced me into making love to you out here in this very garden! My, and considering that you have not been seen in the ball for an hour or more now will certainly prove that even more."
"What do you want from me!"? Oh, how simple it was..
"You. Marguerite, I want you." She shook her head profusely, glaring at him.
"I am not a piece of meat for you to simply take as if I belong to you! I do not! I am married; I have every intention of remaining faithful to Sir Percy. Whatever your plans were for this, for me, they will not work. I will die before I am unfaithful to Percy.." With that, she broke away and started to hurriedly move back towards the ballroom. Quickly, Albert had caught up with her and grabbed her arm.
"I will send a letter to your manor tomorrow. Do as it says or I will personally make sure everyone in London knows about our.. liaison." He couldn't help but leer at her as she shrunk away from him. Releasing her arm, he watched as she moved back towards the ballroom in a great speed. Yes, Marguerite would finally be his.
Chapter 1
"Percy! You promised me a week.. and give me two days instead! You promised me!" They had escaped the ballroom and found a secluded part of the gardens, where he had told her that he would leave for France in the morning. With an exasperated sigh, the tall figure of Sir Percy Blakeney turned from his wife. He never could bare to see her cry.
" Margot.. You know I would stay if I could. But--"
" No more! No more buts, Percy. " With a glare at his rigid back, she turned from him in a swirl of red skirts and white lace and stormed out of the garden. In her haste to leave, she failed to notice that Sir Albert was standing directly in her path. With a thud, she ran right into him. She swayed for a moment, as if she was going to fall, before the strong arms of Albert had latched onto her and held her up right.
"Milady, I am profusely sorry! I was not paying attention, seeing as how beautiful the night is.. Though it does pale in comparison to you, my dearest lady." With a curt bow, he kissed the delicate white hand. This was his chance. Standing back up straight, his eyes searched her face. "Why, you look quite upset milady. Shall we take a walk to clear your mind?" Offering his arm to her, he nearly died between the pause when his arm was offered and when she took it.
" That would be lovely, Sir Albert, positively lovely. "
They took a walk around the gardens for an hour or so, carefully talking of subjects overseas and her days an actress. Sir Albert was as kind and courteous as she would expect, but he gave her an uneasy feeling.. This walk in the garden had been a sort of stab at Percy; perhaps he had even seen him grab her to help her stand up right! Percy had always been one to be easily jealous. She regretted running away from him deeply now, she knew very well that he could not help when duty called him away. Awaking from her thoughts to try and concentrate upon Sir Albert's words, she forced a smile to her lips as she looked back up at him. Talking of Paris again? She bit back a sigh of frustration and tears. No, she would not let him see that. She could not help but admire him for a moment, he was quite handsome. She had heard all the horrible stories of him using women as he pleased, and she had also heard of his complete infatuation with her. So deep, it was becoming an obsession..
"... You must be so happy to have married Sir Percy and acquire so much money." His tone was almost bitter, and it was then she released what a mistake it was to come with this man. No doubt, he did not have honorable intentions. She could even smell the liquor on him..
"Well, I did not marry Percy for money. I was doing quite well with out so much, after all, prior to our marriage." They had stopped and were standing amidst a dozen rose bushes. He turned to face her, sliding a thorn less rose into her hair and carefully arranging it.
"He is a lucky man. Quite lucky to marry such a perfectly beautiful woman such as yourself.." His hand moved down to brush over her cheek. No. She did not like where this was going at all. "You deserve better than that fool, Marguerite. His luck must end somewhere." She took a step back, only to have Albert's arm end up around her waist and pulling her back to him. She began to protest when his lips overtook hers and kissed her passionately. Ripping herself away, she raised her hand to her lips in shock. He was smirking! The nerve of him! That same hand rose to slap him, but was just as quickly caught in his much larger hand and kissed. "You can not deny me, Marguerite. I do not suggest running back and screaming about how I forced myself on you. Who will London believe? Me, or the French actress?" He couldn't help but grin. Yes, this was perfect. Just how he had planned it! He could see the shock rise to her face as she realized what he said was true. "And in case you were thinking about telling your husband, I will simply announce to London how you seduced me into making love to you out here in this very garden! My, and considering that you have not been seen in the ball for an hour or more now will certainly prove that even more."
"What do you want from me!"? Oh, how simple it was..
"You. Marguerite, I want you." She shook her head profusely, glaring at him.
"I am not a piece of meat for you to simply take as if I belong to you! I do not! I am married; I have every intention of remaining faithful to Sir Percy. Whatever your plans were for this, for me, they will not work. I will die before I am unfaithful to Percy.." With that, she broke away and started to hurriedly move back towards the ballroom. Quickly, Albert had caught up with her and grabbed her arm.
"I will send a letter to your manor tomorrow. Do as it says or I will personally make sure everyone in London knows about our.. liaison." He couldn't help but leer at her as she shrunk away from him. Releasing her arm, he watched as she moved back towards the ballroom in a great speed. Yes, Marguerite would finally be his.