A/N: This will probably be the only chapter today. I spent most of last night finishing the last chapter so I need a nap. Plus I need to catch up on my fave fan fics and at nine I have a date with a hot, sexy Swede.
We are back in Sookie's bedroom where Amelia just dropped the bombshell that Eric knows what happened with the whole Godric situation.
"When Godric came over last night with the two letters he had quite a story to relate. Firstly and most importantly, Ravenscroft now knows of what Compton has done to Godric."
Sookie POV
Of all the things I had expected Amelia to come out with, that was not anywhere close to them. So Eric now knows that Compton is more than just an uncouth, socially awkward stalker of mine. Bloody Amelia made me promise to not interrupt when she knew damn well I would have questions.
"I know. I know. You already have fifty questions but just let me start at the beginning and tell you what Godric relayed to me and then you can start in on your inquisition. When he got here last night he looked drained. Emotionally drained so I let him sit up in my room with me."
"Like it was the first time he has been on your bed Amelia. I know just about every sound you make whilst making love. Don't feed me a line about letting him rest on the only flat space available. I may be an innocent but I am not stupid. And no, this doesn't count as my inquisition or an interruption. I had to call you on that," I said while daring her with my raised eyebrows to offer a differing opinion.
"Fine. You are right, but if you don't shush you won't get to hear what your duke said about you last night." Then she raised her eyebrows at me waiting for me to decide.
"Fine," I said but I was just trying to get her to go on. He talked about me after the ball. So he had thought about me. Good.
"Godric went up to check on the duke last night because he was worried about him. Apparently he had been pacing back and forth in his room for quite some time and Godric went to check on him. He wouldn't tell me all that was said no matter how hard I tried, and trust me, I tried. But it seems the duke met a woman last night at the ball who he was quite intrigued by. He described a blonde haired goddess with breasts so bountiful. Okay, I added that part, but he described you and was asking Godric for advice."
Oh Lord, what would Godric have said about me? I can only imagine the stories Amelia has told him about me. Fabulous. Bloody brilliant.
"He hadn't told Godric this goddesses name but extolled her virtues, as well as about her honorable father, and he may have said this blonde haired vixen would make him a good duchess. Godric agrees with that sentiment by the way. As they were sitting in the duke's chambers Godric told him he would tell him all he knew of Lady Susannah Brigant. The duke then asked how he knew that was the blonde in question. Then Godric spent some time listing your virtues and why it was obvious it was you that the duke was speaking of. This is where it got sort of buggered."
I was trying not to have my imagination get the better of me. I just want to know if he is going to kiss me again damn it but now he knows all about me and I know literally nothing of him.
"Godric went on about how you run the estates, keep the books, help the widows and that once someone was Sookie's friend, they always could count on her."
I giggled, "He probably had no clue what a Sookie was."
Amelia sniggered and nodded. "Godric had to explain it was a nickname and he couldn't call you that until you let him. Anyway, he added how your mum was pushing you off on that blighter Compton but that you knew better. He told the duke that you knew Compton had mistreated another peers servant and didn't like it. The duke could tell Godric was being slightly evasive about the servant being beaten and was concerned because he thought you were in danger because of it. So you see, Godric kind of had to tell him the story. The whole story."
"Did he tell him I growled at Compton?" I asked, utterly mortified.
"Afraid so love. Don't fret though. He also told him how you demanded that fool stop and when he laughed at you Godric said he was like a proud papa telling the duke how you used your "umbrella" to scare the arsehole right before you threatened to take away his ability to spawn more vermin with his dirty little whore. He also suggested the duke ask you to fence with him because apparently your stance is the best he has ever come across save for the duke."
"So to summarize he probably thinks I am a sword wielding, growling heathen who beds unsuspecting dukes for just one passionate kiss because she has given up on love?"
Before I realized what I had let slip, Amelia jumped from my bed, started jumping up and down and yelling, "YOU DID WHAT? DID HE KISS YOU? IT'S ABOUT TIME!" over and over.
"Amelia, you haven't finished and I haven't read my letter and I am still in my dressing gown. Help me dress and while you dress my hair I will explain my very short story and you can finish yours. How does that sound?" I said it in my most reasonable, believable voice and she seemed to be okay with the small evasion.
I wasn't even sure that he would call on me today. I could hope, but wouldn't know until it happened, but I would have some callers that was certain. What should I wear? Something for Eric in case he comes, or just close my eyes and pick? I will admit I am a little vain. I went with my just in case plan and picked out a lovely cream colored short sleeved dress with sage green and violet stripes. It brought out my eyes, and was yet another of my newly delivered dresses with a much lower décolletage than my other dresses. Once I dressed, I sat at my dressing table and Amelia, taking in my new daring dress, decided to leave my hair down, another faux pas for a single girl.
"I will finish first I suppose," Amelia sighed. "Godric told the duke of how we cared for him after the beating and also mentioned that you had decorated the house because Godric was not up to the task. Before you freak out, Godric said that the duke has been going on about how lovely the house is since he got home. He kept telling Godric that it was fit for his future duchess and then last night Godric told me he looked the duke straight in the eyes and told him little did they know the duchess of his dreams used his house to design the house of hers. One last thing from Godric. He told me to tell you that the duke was not quite himself last night after the ball, he seemed distracted and frustrated and that first thing this morning he went to White's to meet with the earl. Godric wasn't sure what said meeting was about."
Meeting? Really? Hmmm. I looked at the small cameo necklace on my dressing table and opened it to look at the clock inside of it. It was just shy of 10:30 AM. Far too early for conventional callers. She was completely ready for the day and had no more excuses to put off Amelia. They had thirty minutes until brunch was served and she had to endure it alone with Amelia and Arlene because her dad was at White's. With Eric. Hopefully, Arlene will ignore me as she usually does.
"Amelia let me tell you a story about a bored little girl, dressed up like a princess with a smart tongue that tended to get her into trouble. Last night wasn't any different. I was surrounded by Lord Merlotte, he smelled like a dog again and signed for two dances, Compton who had penciled his name in for BOTH waltzes of the night, our local clergyman Mr. Fortenberry had penciled himself in for a quadrille and then howling at the moon due to too much punch I had Earl Herveaux penciling himself in for 2 of the last four dances. All the while they were asking if I wanted to wear their coats to cover up my shoulders and "bosoms" Merlotte called them, because they on display for the entire ballroom. I don't think any of them understood that the whole point if the dress was to showcase one of my best assets."
Amelia was looking at my cleavage and just shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe the duke can give them tips on how to seduce a woman. They need help. I bet the duke didn't complain about your dress," she quipped and when I started to blush she started clapping in excitement
"Out of nowhere I felt this tingle run up my spine, it felt like the air was caressing my neck. It felt like a magnet was pulling me to turn, so I did. I looked across the ball room and standing there looking straight at me, into my eyes, from across the room was a man I had never seen before. The first thing I noticed, because of his black mask, were his ice blue eyes. I felt like he was looking inside of me from across the room. Then I started at the top and worked my way down. Just like you taught me to do."
Amelia POV
So much has changed in the last 24 hours for my mistress and I couldn't be happier for her. Her green eyes are sparkling like emeralds in the sun and her lips can't seem to do anything but smile. As anxious as I am to hear the rest of her story about last night my thoughts drift back to Godric's visit.
The duke was already certain that Sookie was the one for him and probably at this very moment he was speaking to her father about permission to court Sookie. This was amazing. She deserved it. Plus, if it worked out I would be living in the same house as Godric.
Last night he had asked me to marry him after the duke married hid .duchess and I had accepted. For now we were keeping it quiet. It was their time to shine! Now how to get out of her how she ended up with her dress buttons all messed up. Hmmm.
Sookie POV
"He has hair the color of mine and wears it tied back at his neck with a piece of leather, but the hair goes down to his shoulders when it is unbound, or at least it does in my dreams." I didn't even blush when I said it. I figured nothing I was going to say would shock Amelia so I just went on. "He was wearing all black evening dress and the breeches were so fitted I could see the muscles in his ass shift when he walked. He had knee length boots which made him look even taller than the about 6'4" tall that he is. His nose is perfectly straight and he looks like a Norse God come straight to life. While I was doing my perusal of his body, he was doing one of mine. His eyes seemed to like my breasts, lips and eyes the most. All of the sudden he started walked toward me, the group of fools surrounding me and as he came the people in the ball room parted for him."
"You make him sound like he is some god or something," Amelia joked. I doubted she would be joking if she saw him any time soon. He is extremely handsome.
"Herveaux introduced everyone and the duke asked for my dance card but by that point the blasted thing was almost full. I had the last two dances of the night open but I didn't want to dance with all those bloody idiots while he stood around. I felt him scribble his name and when I looked at my card I noticed he had scratched out the names on the first two lines. One was a waltz with Compton and a quadrille with Merlotte. While I was reading the card he was apparently telling Compton to bugger off and Compton got mouthy. The duke told him to respect his betters and the music started."
Amelia's shoulders were shaking and she was laughing out loud. ""I wish I could have been a fly on the wall. I bet Compton's face was priceless."
"I wouldn't know. I was too busy being pulled up against the tallest, hardest and most muscular body and set of arms I have ever danced in. We talked, we laughed, we danced. Maybe a little closer than they like at Almack's but it was nice. When the second dance was over we went out onto the terrace and he steered us to the opposite side from the only other couple out there."
"Are you getting to the part where you mussed up your hair and your buttons ended up in wrong loops? Because that is the part I have been waiting for!" Amelia huffed, pretending to be upset. She knew it was coming.
"I had decided earlier that night that a love match might not be possible but when I saw the duke I knew I could at least have on passionate, heated kiss. One stolen moment. I decided that I wanted it to be him that gave it to me. As we walked to the edge of the terrace I took both of my opera gloves off so that if he kissed me I could touch his face and feel his warm skin as I did it. He backed me up to the rail and stood in front of me. Then I asked him to kiss me. I started out all formal sounding and he got this weird look. He thought I was asking him to marry me. I assured him that I was attracted to him and told him I wanted to touch him. I mean I know I am not beautiful enough to snag the attention of a duke, especially this duke and I told him that."
"YOU WHAT? You are propositioning a hot, sexy man and tell him you are not pretty enough for him? Sook, seriously girl you need to stop. You don't belittle yourself in front of someone you are wanting to form an attachment to. Especially one that has physical benefits. Plus, you are beautiful on the inside and on the outside. Blonde hair, shiny green eyes, and a huge rack. You are hot. Anyway talk faster!" Amelia finally sat on the edge of the bed and quit jumping around.
"When I got to the part about not being beautiful enough he looked shock, so maybe he does think I am beautiful. Anyway, he agreed to kiss me but he gave me two conditions. The first was that I had to put my hands on him while he kissed me, which was fine with me because I wanted to feel the hit of his cheek under my palm. As he leaned in to kiss me he gave me his second condition in the sexiest voice I have ever heard. He said that once might not be enough and he kissed me."
Amelia was grinning like a crazy person so I kept going.
"He tilted my head to the side and put his tongue in my mouth. At first it was bizarre but then he started moving around with mine and it was, I don't know. I couldn't think anymore. My hands were roaming all over his face and neck and he put one hand on my back and I could feel the heat of his hand through the fabric of my dress and he pulled me closer into his body and I think I moaned. Then he started to move his hand around toward the front of my body and brushed the side of my breast and I really moaned. It was making my blood tingle. I stood on my tip toes and licked his ear which he really, really liked. He growled. Then I put my lips to his ear and whispered the word more and sucked his ear lobe into my mouth."
Amelia was grinning like a cheshire cat. "Girl you have put my instructional talks to very good use. I am so proud. Crap we have ten minutes to be downstairs for brunch. Hurry and finish the story so we can read our letters."
"When I sucked his ear into my mouth he pushed me into the rail and I pushed my hips back out at him and I felt him. I mean, I felt his, er…"
"ERECTION!" shouted Amelia. "He totally thinks you're hot if he was hard for you. Was this hardness long or short?"
"AMELIA! The man is 6'4" and I would say he is probably quite proportionate but I wouldn't know. That was all that happened. He made us stop."
"Letter time!" Amelia chimed as she handed me mine and began to open hers.
I sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the wax seal. It was a beautiful seal. A large R with a small N linked together resting on top of crossed Norwegian broadswords. The wax was a burgundy color. It was beautiful and almost too beautiful to open, but I had been waiting for some clue as to Eric's feelings. I slid a finger under one corner of the seal and released it, then pulled the card out of the envelope.
He had really elegant handwriting and I ran my fingers across the written words and felt the indentations the pen had left. He must use a lot of pressure when he writes. Stress. He needed to relax more, or he needed a wife to help him with his estates. I held my breath and began to read.
Lady Susannah,
It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance tonight at the ball. I just wanted to let you know when I got home tonight I spoke to Godric and he told me what you and Amelia have done for him and I find myself at a loss as to how to thank you for saving the life of the man I consider a brother. Please know if there is anything that you or Amelia need assistance with I would be happy to help.
It is a special woman willing to stand up to a cruel man for someone she does not know and after our time together tonight I did not think anything could make me want to pursue your hand in marriage but I was wrong. Upon learning the extraordinary depths of your character, I learned that your inner beauty is as apparent as your physical beauty.
Out on the terrace you said that you did not believe yourself attractive enough for a duke. That upset me and I wasn't quite sure why, other than the fact you are wrong and are the single most beautiful, exotic flower of a woman in the entirety of the ton. Like a candle in a cold mine you light up even the most boring of ballrooms. Don't even get me started on all of the terraces.
It is my sincerest hope that your father will allow me to formally court you when I speak to him this morning. Even more importantly, if I gain his permission, I would greatly desire you to accept it as well. I like you and you make me laugh. I want to spend more time in your company. I have, however, saved the most important reason for accepting my suit for last.
The other night on the terrace I mentioned conditions and the first one was met beautifully and beyond measure. If all goes well with your father I will be calling on you around midday to discuss, in great depth, the second condition of our agreement. I hope this is convenient for you and that this letter finds you in good spirits.
E
I find that I have spent all my time since our last meeting with you on my mind, and yes I do mean all of the time since our last meeting. I can only hope that I have at least crossed your mind enough to cause you some of the frustration you have caused me.
I read the letter three times, smelled it and it smelled of him. I smiled and put it back in the envelope. I saw a tear escape Amelia's eye and went to give her a huge.
"He seems like a good man, Sookie. He thanked me for helping Godric, then said we had his blessing if we want to be together. He also extended his protection to me and my family. I am glad he is your duke Sookie. Was your letter a good one?"
I opened my mouth to answer but before I could get anything out, there was a knock at the door and my body was humming. I heard the butler open the door and then the butler replying in his rather loud tone, "Good morning, Your Grace.
