Chapter 9
The next few days went through in a flurry for Hermione. She was busy trying to find the right stuff she'd need for a week long house party. What did one generally bring to these things? After her maid packed her trunk Hermione enchanted it to hold just a little bit extra.
The Earl had consented to go and was in fact quite excited at the prospect of getting out of town for a while telling Hermione, "You know how my old bones hate this. I was born and raised a country gentleman."
In her spare time she read about the Peerage of Great Britain. She was absorbed in fascination. She read books about proper etiquette, laws that governed men and anything else she could get her hands on. She wanted that cool confidence that Draco always seemed to exude.
The night before their trip to the country it was decided they would stay in so they could leave at dawn for the Abernathy's country home. Hermione was so excited she fairly danced with it. The servants smiled at her easy ways and her obvious joys. Draco just seemed more strained in her presence. She wasn't sure why, it's not like they quarreled. He seemed to get up and leave when she came into a room, though.
It was that night in the parlor before dinner that she cornered him. The Earl had yet to come down and Draco held a snifter of the best French brandy.
She bore down on him with determination. By the time he noticed her it was too late, she was already upon him.
"Hermione," he said in a hard voice she hadn't heard him use since they were kids.
"Draco," she said matching his tones. "Is there a reason why you act like you cannot, for the life of you, be in the same room as me?"
He stared at her before replying. "Could I ever be in the same room as you, Granger?" His voice dripped venom.
A hand lifted to her throat momentarily. "What has happened to you?"
He thrust one hand in his pocket and took a liberal drink of his brandy. "Nothing has happened to me. Just the same as I ever was."
She shook her head vehemently. "You lie. You have changed."
"No, Hermione, I have not. Heed my words well, I have not changed now, nor will I ever. You will do well to remember that. Stop romanticizing everything." His words sliced through her.
She clamped her teeth down to keep her chin from quivering. She turned a heel and went to the other side of the room. She took a glass of red wine from the table and moved to the window seat that over looked the dark street.
Her heart ached at his words. He had changed, despite what he said. For some reason he was acting like his father. She couldn't piece together why. What had changed so that made him this way? She furiously blinked back the tears forming on her lashes. She would not cry for something she never had. She had thought they could share an easy friendship, at least until they got home.
Again the fluttering thoughts ran through her head, did she want to leave? All her relationships were failed. She had garnered too much fame and now she was never sure if someone was with her because of who she was or what. She understood this time period you have to worry about rakes, fortune hunters and abusive husbands you could not escape.
It just seemed easier to start over. Like she was on the verge of giving up…
Her thoughts stopped their dangerous direction when the Earl came in with his booming voice announcing how excited they'd be leaving for a week. He kisses Hermione on her cheek and moved to speak with Draco about their trip.
Dinner was a blur in Hermione's mind, which immediately left after the meal feigning a headache and tiredness.
Draco watched her leave in a swirl of mauve skirts. He almost excused himself to follow her but he knew he had to hold firm to his plan. He felt like a real bastard making her think he was him old self.
After the Earl excused himself to get to bed early also Draco found himself wandering into the library. Only a fire crackled lighting the far side of the room. He moved over there and sat in one of the arm chairs watching the fire crackle. He had another snifter of brandy letting it warm his insides. He felt a coldness that went to his bones.
He pulled the book he had purchased from the bookstore and enchanted it to its normal size and lost himself in the potions and spells. Most of the spells and potions he had never heard of. There were also a few banned spells he noticed.
He made a note to ask the Abernathy's about them being banned in this time. He continued to read until the early morning light crept through the windows.
When Hermione came down in a fresh, yellow riding habit she noticed Draco was still in his evening clothes. They were slightly crumpled and he had small bags underneath his eyes. She almost voiced her concerns before the night came racing back to her mind. So instead of inquiring after him she turned her head away and filled her plate at the sideboard.
The Earl came in jovially saying, "Is everyone ready?"
"Yes, Papa," Hermione murmured.
The Earl's eyes fell on Draco. "Well son, it looks as if you've been awake all night."
Draco gave a weak smile around his coffee mug. "I found a rather interesting book in your library, sir, so I read longer than I realized. By the time I was aware of how late it had gotten the sun was peeking through the windows. After breakfast I shall change and all will be ready."
The Earl gave a nod as he sat down with the morning paper. "Best to leave no later than an hour from now; we wouldn't want to spend all day on the road."
Draco immediately changed using a simple spell and came down stairs not long after. The footmen had packed the second carriage that was to have their valets and Hermione's maid. After helping Hermione up into the vehicle he climbed in opposite of her.
Hermione watched out the window for the first hour before looking across her at Draco. His blonde head was back against the seat, the bags on his white skin were more prominent in the sun. His face softened in sleep. He looked almost human.
The Earl had ridden his horse for the first leg of the journey. As the carriage came to a swaying stop in front of Inn for lunch the Earl told her he was going to go procure a room.
Hermione leaned forward to lightly shake Draco's shoulder. "Draco, it's time to get up." She said softly. He didn't move beyond her shaking. After a few moments she started to get a little annoyed. "Come on now; don't make us wait on you. Wake up, Draco."
Draco caught her wrist in his grip and pulled her towards him. She leaned hard against his chest and felt her breath leave her. His lips slanted down over hers. Hermione was shocked and just stayed there for a moment.
His lips were hot and hard against hers. She breathed in his musky scent and felt herself start to melt against him. His tongue slid along her bottom lip, opening her mouth for him. All the sensations overwhelmed her like nothing ever had. She pressed her breasts tighter to his chest as he held her waist closer to him.
Draco slowly came to his sense to find himself kissing Hermione. She felt pliant and soft against his body. His arm tightened before releasing her. He gently set her back against the carriage seat.
He stared into her passion filled eyes before saying, "Honestly, Hermione, couldn't you try a little more self-restraint?"
The passion immediately left her eyes, the color draining from her face. "I am quite capable of self-restraint. Mayhap you ought to learn not to attack the person whom wakes you."
She let herself out of the carriage and left Draco in the hot vehicle. His heart was starting to slow and his mind was starting to unclog. Her scent still lingered around him. Shaking his head from sleep and desire he climbed down from the carriage and followed in Hermione's path.
Lunch was a fast affair in which Draco still couldn't shake sleep from his head. There had been a spell he had run across that night that worried him. He wasn't ready to voice those concerns to anyone until he got a better look at it.
Just thinking about it made his insides run cold. They may never make it home if what he read were true.
It was Hermione who brought him out of his reverie. "Come along, cousin," She called sweetly. "We've still a ways to go."
He glared at her retreating back. He was tired and lacked any good humor he may have. Even though he was still exhausted he opted to ride next to the carriage than actually inside it next to the vixen that taunted his every waking moment.
It took another three to four hours before they reached the country home of the Marquess of Abernathy. When they pulled up Draco was covered in dust, sweat and the smell of horse. He'd gladly take that than sit across from Hermione. Liveried footman rushed around letting down the steps to the carriage, unloading luggage and taking Draco's horse.
The Marchioness rushed down the front steps to greet her guests. "How lovely you should get here before nightfall! Oh, I'm so excited. Come, Lady Sofia, let me show you your room. Lord Alexander," she said addressing the Earl, "A footman shall show you your accommodations. Your Grace, if you'd follow me I shall show you your room also."
They went up the front steps into a grand foyer that gleamed in the afternoon sun. "Once you two freshen up won't you join us in the parlor for refreshments? I trust that your journey went well?"
"Oh, it did. Splendid review coming here. I could hardly tear my eyes away from the landscape. Such breath taking beauty in these parts." Hermione exclaimed.
The Marchioness laughed heartily. "My dear husband shall surely fall over with such compliments you bestow on his country seat. He is rather proud of it."
Once they were out of ear shot of any servants the Marchioness ushered them into an upstairs parlor closing the door quietly behind her. She grew serious as she looked at them. "Tonight we shall meet here at midnight so we can plan our journey. While it may be easier to do this while we are all in the same house in essence it shall be harder. We have many guests to attend to and it would amiss of us to leave them to their own devices."
Draco gave her a grateful smile. "Madam we have no expectations of you ignoring your guests solely for ourselves. We are most grateful for any service you give us."
The Marchioness beamed. "Shall I show your rooms so you may freshen up?"
With that she had turned around and led them to separate rooms down the hall from each other. Draco quickly washed himself from the basin the best he could and put a charm around him to mask whatever else he couldn't clean. He sat down in a chair leaning back promising himself he wouldn't fall asleep.
Downstairs Hermione looked for Draco and didn't see him. Instead she ran into Lady Victoria. Hermione couldn't shake how much she looked like Ginny Weasley. She slide an arm through Hermione's and led her to the French doors on the terrace. Her heart lightened to have the person whom looked like her best friend.
"I know we have only met once, Lady Sophia, but he is mine." She said waspishly.
Hermione came to an abrupt stop. "The Earl of Canton?"
She gave her a sharp look and dragged her along the terrace. "No, you nit, the Duke. I have my eye set on him and nobody is going to stop me from getting what I want."
Hermione felt laughter bubble up inside of her. "You are quite welcome to have him if he'll have you. Though I shall warn you he sees everyone under his notice."
She gave Hermione a sly smile. "Perhaps you with your drab looks he does. He finds me quite irresistible. The man can scarcely keep his hands to himself around me."
"Is that so?" Hermione asked in a terse murmur.
"Of course it is. I have no reason to lie about such things. I feel quite confident that he is close to a proposal. He shall ask my Papa for my hand at the end of the week, you wait and see. So even if you do throw yourself on him he won't want such a plain looking woman." The words were calculated and spiteful.
Hermione didn't believe Lady Victoria but her old self-consciousness from being a kid came back to her. She didn't know what else to say to the viper tongued red head. She placated the woman enough to where she led her back to the drawing room doors so she could escape her.
If Draco wanted the nasty witch she hoped he was miserable with her for the rest of his days.
Thanks for the reading! I appreciate all the reviews you give me. :) I'm going to start working on chapter ten in a bit so I may have another one up later this evening. Enjoy your holiday!
