Yeah, it's been a while. Still hope we have readers out there.
Chapter Fourteen
It was quiet, too quiet. Cal could hear his own footsteps as he entered the darkened servant's quarters and walked down the corridor to what he hoped was Gabriella's room. He had waited until after everyone had settled down for the night and all was silent before he made his excursion.
He had crept into his mother's rooms earlier while everyone was downstairs. He searched her large secretary that held most of the inter-workings of the household for the all the servants names and their perspective sleeping areas. Seeing Gabriella's name he felt a sense of elation at the prospect of seeing her.
His mind ticked with questions as he passed every door until he finally came to hers. He stopped, unsure of what to do. Should he knock and take the chance of someone hearing him? If he just walked in unannounced that may frighten her and cause her to scream out.
As he stood there trying to decide what to do, he thought he heard a noise and then in the distance he could hear the sound of muffled footsteps. Somebody was moving about besides him and if he were caught there, that might put Gabriella's position in danger, not to mention his own with his father.
Making his decision, he grabbed the handle and pushed the door open as quietly as he could. He quickly stepped inside and shut it behind him. His eyes scanned the dim room, letting them adjust to the shadows. Then he saw her… she was lying on her side, her dark hair spread out behind her across the pillow.
Cal stared at her for a moment as she lay asleep and his heart beat wildly against his chest. He drank her in as if he had been in the desert and she was a fountain. She was beautiful, more beautiful to him now that he had been denied her for so long. He was angry and elated at the same time. He wanted to lash out at her for disappearing without a word but he was too grateful that she was here, within reach of him, so close he only had to reach out and touch her.
He inched forward, careful not to make any unnecessary noise. He reached her bed and sat down on the edge, just barely leaning over her.
"Gabriella," he whispered her name. When she didn't respond, he leaned closer to her ear and said her name again.
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open in startled awareness upon seeing him so close to her. She cringed back, gasping in her fear.
"Gabriella, it's me, Cal," he said quickly, reaching out for. "It's okay, it's just me."
She glared at him for a moment, "What are you doing in here?"
"Isn't it obvious?"
"Leave this instant, I don't want to see you or talk to you."
"Look," he held up his hand in surrender. "I know what you must be thinking, but you have to let me explain."
"I don't have to do anything," she retorted coldly. "You lied to me repeatedly about who you were. I trusted you, so I don't have to listen to any explanation you have to offer."
"I have a reason for why I wasn't completely honest with you," he countered calmly. "I don't blame you for being upset, but it's not like you are totally guiltless here. You disappeared without a word as to your whereabouts. Then I find you here, in my home of all places."
"I didn't disappear, I left you a letter," she pushed herself further away from him, sitting up against the headboard. "But, that's beside the point. You lied to me."
"I didn't lie, I just didn't tell you the whole truth and I got no letter."
"I left it with Lyle and yes you did lie to me."
"Gabriella, I am entirely too frustrated to keep this up with you. I didn't get a letter from you from anyone. All I knew was that you disappeared without a word and I've been searching for you everywhere. No one would tell me anything, you don't know how worried I've been."
"Worried that I would find out the truth, you mean," she retorted.
"No, worried that something had happened to you or that… that you had found someone else."
"Of course not," she fumed and pushed him back. "Do you know how I felt standing out there and seeing walk in with your family? I work for you!"
"You do not work for me, you work for my mother," he corrected.
"It's no different," she fired back and stood from the bed. She grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself in it. "I want you to leave and never come here again. I don't want anything to do with you."
"You don't mean that," he said looking at her doubtfully. "I can't believe you're acting this way. Don't you realize what this means? We can see each other any time we want now."
Gabriella laughed curtly, "You must be joking. That is the last thing that can happen. As a matter of fact, it will never happen because I'm leaving tomorrow!"
Stunned, Cal stood and reached for her. "Hold on a minute here."
"No, I will not hold on! I can't see you anymore. You're a Hockley and I'm a nobody who works for you. Now, leave and don't bother me again."
"I can't," he grabbed her and pulled her to him. "You aren't a nobody, you're the woman I'm in love with. Fate brought you to me, right to my doorstep. Can't you see that?"
"No, I can't," she replied stubbornly.
"Gabriella, don't be foolish. This is the answer to our problems. Here, we can see each other without interruption from anyone."
"What?" her eyes blazed up at him. "Do you expect me to stay here and sneak around to see you like a… a…" she was so incensed at his proposal she couldn't even finish the sentence.
"No, of course not, but we can see each other without anyone having to know. At least I don't have to hang around at that damnable club and wait for a few minutes of your time."
"I can't," she shook her head and pulled away from him but he brought her back and enveloped her in his arms.
"I can't lose you again," he said simply, his dark eyes boring into hers. "I was mad with worry, a crazy person running around trying to find out any piece of information of where you'd gone. I thought you were lost to me and now here you are, in my arms."
"Cal, please don't," she sighed and turned away from him, not wanting to hear what he was saying.
"Gabriella, I love you. I don't know what's going to happen and I can't even promise you it will work out, but if you leave we'll never know."
"It won't work, why can't you see that?" she asked turning back to him.
"Because I can't, I won't. Stay… please…" he cupped her face. "Don't leave me."
Closing her eyes, she bit her lip. "You're asking the impossible of me. I don't even know what to think or do anymore."
"Do you love me?" he asked quietly.
"I…" she started, but paused.
"Do you love me, Gabriella?" he asked again, lifting her face to his. "Do you think of me as often as I do you? Do you dream of me as I dream of you?"
"Cal," she shook her head.
"It's a simple question. Do you love me?"
Sighing, she leaned forward against him. He pressed his lips to her forehead and then down the side of her face.
"Yes," she whispered. "But, I can't stay. It would be too hard. Our roles are very defined and if we were caught it would be terrible for both of us."
"Gabriella, you're looking at this the wrong way," he smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose. "Do you know how many rooms there are in this place, not to mention the grounds? Am I not Caledon Hockley? I do have some pull around here."
She turned her face from his and grimaced. "Yes, you are Caledon Hockley, heir to all of this. Who am I but one your servants now? At least at Verdetti's I didn't work for you and what about your family? What would they think if they found out?"
"Stop," he brought her face back to his. "Let me worry about all of that. I would never let anything happen to you."
Cal reached up and traced the outline of her bottom lip with his finger and all thoughts flew from her mind. What did any of that matter when he was here in front of her, touching her, loving her? She had missed him and as much as she wanted to be mad at him for lying to her, she couldn't.
"Tell me you love me again, I want to hear you say it," he whispered against her lips.
"I love you," she breathed huskily. "I love you, Cal."
She felt his smile as he covered his mouth over hers. He kissed her warmly, passionately. All of the pent up frustrations at not being together grew in that one kiss and came they together more fervently than they ever had before.
She felt the blanket slide from her shoulders and was suddenly and acutely aware of the fact that she was only in her gown and chemise underneath. She felt exposed but still she did not stop him. Being in his arms felt too wonderful and his kisses were driving all other thoughts away.
"I love you, Gabriella, I love you so much," he groaned and pressed her body against his tightly.
Alarms went off in her head when his hands reached down to cup her bottom. "Cal," she pushed at him. "No, please."
"What?" he asked frowning.
"I love you, but I'm not ready for that," she said firmly. She meant it, too. Her virtue was something she valued and she didn't take it lightly.
He sighed and lifted his head. "Sorry, I got carried away."
"Me, too," she smiled.
"Forgive me?"
"Of course," she cupped his cheek. "I've missed you."
He laughed softly. "Does that mean you're staying? No leaving in the middle of the night?"
"Considering it is the middle of the night, then no. I'll stay, but this is my job and I won't have you interfering."
"Yes, ma'am," he lifted her hand and kissed it. "But, it will be hard."
He kissed her once more and released a deep sigh. "I should be going before one of us gets caught."
"Yeah, one of us," she grinned. "Be careful leaving. Don't let Ambrose see you."
"She won't. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, but no interfering, you promised."
"I did and I won't," he said as they walked to her door. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight," she wrapped her arms around him. He gave her one last kiss and then he slowly and quietly opened the door and stepped out in the hallway. He winked at her and then he shut the door and was gone.