Mia Anne Konesdale adjusted her lavender sarcenet as her eyes glazed over the crowd, following a certain gold head. Ever since she had arrived at Lady Carmicheal's ball, the Ice Queen as society had dubbed her, watched the man with golden hair and the most peculiar violet eyes. Since she had been occupied, she ignored the advances of her many admirers…however, no one noted this behavior as strange because she would do this at every party she attended, thus earning her nickname, the Ice Queen. Facing Lord Ackensburg, a most ardent admirer, she curled her lips ever so slightly; her dark turquoise eyes still cold as the polar ice caps. "Milord, do you see that blond man dressed in the forest green jacket?"
Lord Ackensburg was surprised. Never before had the Ice Queen asked about a man before. He was suspicious and highly jealous. No matter, he would do as she said. Fumbling for his spectacles, he finally brought it up to his eyes and carefully surveyed the crowd that attended Lady Carmicheal's ball. Finally, he found the said man, and nodded, dropping his spectacles most clumsily. "Yes Lady Konesdale, that is Lord Sage Date, Earl of Wensworth."
"Hm," Came the small sound from Mia. "Could you tell me something about him?"
Lord Ackensburg scratched his head
as he tried to ignore the wave of jealousy. Lady Konesdale had never bothered
to talk to a man very much, much less require information about him. Coughing
slightly, he sat down next to the Lady and cleared his throat. "Ah yes…Lord
Date inherited his Earldom from his now-deceased uncle. However, he only
inherited that and Wensworth Castle for everything else went to his
half-brother, Cary Date."
"Hm," Mia murmured again. "How
very odd." She added after a few moments. While watching Lord Wensworth figure
throughout the crowd, she could sense Lord Ackensburg scrutiny. Turning her
face to him for a brief second, she smiled, the simple action lighting up her
face. "I am dreadfully parched,"
Lord Ackensburg shot up and bowed. "Say no more," He said before hurrying off to the punch table.
Calmly gathering her reticule, Mia Anne Konesdale, scoured the crowd for the forest green jacket and the bearer of it. Finally catching a glimpse of it disappearing around the door, she dashed after him, knowing that her action would surprise more than a few people. However, with any luck, her strange behavior at the ball wouldn't be the talk of the ton tomorrow but something else, something much more interesting.
~*~*~*~*~
"Thank you," Sage Date, Earl of Wensworth politely spoke as he was handed his greatcoat, top hat, and oak cane. With the help of a footman, he put the coat on and set the tophat atop his golden tresses. Walking done the long hall, his decision came back to haunt him.
Out of all his admirers, he would have to marry Lady Moresby, a chit with a considerable amount of money. The thought severely depressed him. She was a beautiful girl, no doubt about that, but her accomplishments stopped there. All she could do was talk about the latest gossip or who did what. Marriage to her would kill him, he was sure, but pride kept him from selling the family castle to his half-brother. He had to do something for his tenants and the castle's wellbeing. Both were suffering horribly. With his title and Adonis looks, he was considered a good catch among the ton disregarding his let pockets. Fishing into his pocket, he took out a small velvet box and stared at one of the few family jewels that had been left to him. A beautiful ring adorned with a small sapphire stone and even smaller diamonds glittered in the well-lit hallway. He would hate giving this to Lady Moresby but anything for the castle. Careful not to slip on the snowy steps, he slipped the ring back into his pocket and signaled for his coach to be brought around. When it did arrive, he had just gotten in before a loud and demanding voice called out, halting his footman in the process of closing the door; followed by a flurry of fabric. The bearer of the fabric jumped into the seat across from him.
"Lady…Konesdale?" Sage asked, a bit shocked, more so than his poker face showed.
She bowed her head, ignoring the thoughts her conscience created. "Lord Wensworth," While she struggled to put on her pelisse, Sage allowed his eyes to wander over her lithe frame.
The Ice Queen, as society had dubbed, was applauded for always having the most faultless attire. However, in her franticness to catch him [which he had been puzzling for ever since she jumped into his carriage], her normally nothing but perfect hair had lost many pins; curls that had been arrange and entwined with pansies by the most experienced dresser were now in disarray. Pansies littered his carriage floor, her curls falling down from her face. By the small ray of light coming from the streets, he could see that in her exertion, a most becoming pink tinted her porcelain cheeks. She was a bit slender for his tastes but her bosom made up for it. He could feel something stirring in his pants as her breasts strained against the confines of the blue dress. Cursing himself for such thoughts, he couldn't stop but wonder how her skin would feel under his in –
"Lord Wensworth, I am sorry about this bizarre situation I have put you in by coming into your carriage," Her cold voice breaking his thoughts. She had given up on her pelisse and was now decorated with a silk shawl, the same shade as her dress.
Sage nodded, staring at her eyes. A tuft of his blond hair had fallen and now obscured the view of his other eye. "I accept,"
"Would you like to hear a proposition I have for you?"
If he was surprised by her question, he did not show it. In fact, he crossed his arms and legs, making him seem even colder than the Ice Queen herself. "Lady Konesdale, do you realize that this is most improper? First you jump into my carriage and now you lay a proposition before. However, my curiosity overrides all." His glazed flickered to her poker face. "What is this proposition,"
"Marriage," Came the simple reply.
"Now you puzzle me Lady Konesdale, why would you propose something as serious as marriage."
"It is known that you are let in the pockets so that if you were to make a match, it was to be for money. However, disregarding your financial circumstances, your looks and your title make you a most desirable catch among the crème de la crème,"
Her forwardness did not bother him one bit. In fact, he found himself thoroughly amused by it.
"I have just come into an inheritance by a cousin of mine however, it is not fully mine unless I get married and stay married for one year. In the meantime, it is in the care of a distant uncle. He has been spending it most foolishly,"
"So you need to get married to the first fool that comes across your list…tell me, why not one of your admirers? Lord knows they would jump at the chance,"
"That is the problem. They would jump at the chance and they would refuse to divorce me after the year is up. According to my solicitor, I have a good amount of money to my name, the actual amount unknown by anyone but my solicitor and I. However, it is quickly diminishing, thanks to my uncle," She flashed a smile at him, unsettling Sage who had never seen anything but cold politeness upon her face. "If you were to marry me, you can use all the money you want to refurbish Wensworth Castle and the tenants that reside on the land."
Sage chuckled. He had never heard a more outrageous thing. "This is most peculiar."
"Yes, it is, but it will be rewarding, I promise you."
"If I were to accept, I believe that we'll have the most interesting year; you amuse me."
"My goal in life," Was the dry reply.
"However,
can you go through with this Lady Konesdale? Have you not thought about
how divorce is looked down upon by society?"
"Do not take me for a buffoon
Lord Wensworth. I have thought it most thoroughly and I will admit that I care
naught for what society says. After one year, we divorce, you will have more
than enough to keep Wensworth Castle running and I shall have my money to live
life the way I want. If society talks, then so be it." She glanced at him
coldly. "You needn't worry about your standing in the ton. If anything,
it will be the wife's fault rather than the husband's fault as society have
always deemed."
Sage ignored the icy bite in her voice. Closing his eyes, he scratched a cheek, "I'll give you one night for us ponder over your proposal; tomorrow, I shall call on you and if you change your mind, I shan't be surprised at all. If you don't, then we can discuss the agreements." Tapping the carriage to stop, he flashed a pearly white grin at her. "I believe this is your stop,"
Mia smiled once more and bowed her head. "Be sure I won't change my mind at all," Allowing a footman to help her out the door, she looked at him and tipped her head once more, "Until then."
End Prologue