Everlasting Love
MarshAngel
Watsonma@hotmail.com
The carriage came to a stop in front of the grand London mansion. Darien stepped out into the
street and began his walk up to the front steps. As he raised his hand to rap on the front door, the door
opened and out stepped the Duke of Muncaster.
"Your Grace!" Darien was very surprised to see the Duke.
The Duke did not, however, seem very surprised to see him. "Good day, Lord Westmoreland, And
how has the day found you?" without waiting for an answer he continued. "I certainly hope you're not here
to inform me that you refuse to marry my niece after what we talked about."
"Of course not sir. Serena's honor is very important to me."
"I'd most certainly hope so. She is after all going to be your wife."
"Actually I was hoping to see Serena."
"Yes, of course. I was surprised she was actually accepting visitors this morning. She was rather
understandably upset last night, but she rose early and composed herself. She's in the garden
with young Nicholas Manchester, just returned from Europe, he says. He's an old friend of hers."
The man was very blunt, Darien thought to himself. It was strange. When the Duke had first met
him he'd seemed angry as he'd expected. He had after all compromised his niece's integrity.
Strange how easily compromised women were. If they same rules applied to men… the thought made him smile.
After having one of the strangest conversations he'd ever been involved with the Duke seemed to
relax. For the entire time they had conversed, it seemed the man had been studying him intensely. He had
seemed genuinely concerned with Serena's welfare and it had reminded him of his father.
Serena had not been expecting anyone and she did not welcome the idea of visitors. Her mood was
hardly welcoming. Her feelings were a confusing mass of emptionds. She was angry at having her
life controlled in such away and confused as to whether she shouldn't be happy that she actually
had the man she loved, however round about way he had come to be hers. When Stewart, the butler
had announced a Lord Manchester to see her she had been surprised and se aside her feelings momentarily
to welcome him.
Nicholas was her childhood friend and former fencing partner. He had always been her best friend.
He was only a few years older than she was but not as old as her brother Andrew. He had gone on
a tour of Europe as was usual for young men of his age at the time. But after returning to the
shores of England he had once more felt the pull to return, and within a year he had gone
once again to expand on his travels.
Serena had wondered if he had not had some sweet European beauty pulling him back to Europe
when he'd left for the second time. She had been somewhat jealous and genuinely upset by
his leaving a second time. It was merely a childhood crush however. The truth was she was
probably more jealous of the fact that he had the opportunity to travel Europe while she had to
stay at home defyingher mother's wishes to teach her how to embroider and play the piano.
Nicholas had walked in the room looking more handsome and arrogant than she had seen him
before. Despite her mood she had smiled at his familiar face. He obviously had learned some of the French
arrogance on his second tour through Europe. Travel quite obviously agreed with him.
"It is wonderful to see you Nicholas. I can't believe you are back already. You look wonderful,
traveling most definitely agrees with you. How have your journeys been?"
"All went well as it always does. How are things with you?" Even as he asked the question he
instantly knew something was wrong. Her eyes were tired and sad, a look he rarely saw on her face but
knew quite well all the same. He took her hands into his. "Tell me everything."
The Duke's butler let him in and took his coat. From the foyer he could hear muted conversation
coming from a room close by and instead of letting himself be announced to Serena and her guests
as was usual, he simply entered on his own.
He stood in the doorway surprised at the sight that greeted him. Serena and a tall young man with
dark auburn hair stood near the center of the room, holding each other closely. He felt an odd but burning
bitterness in his stomach signifying an emotion he couldn't identify. He clenched and
unclenched his jaw. Who was this man and why was he hugging his Serena.
"Ahhem." He cleared his throat
Realizing they were no longer alone, Nicholas withdrew himself from Serena's arms and brushed
a few tears off her cheek urging her with a simple look to compose herself so Darien wouldn't
see her face and realize how upset she was. She managed an acceptably composed look and he moved
to the side so Darien could see his fiancée.
"Good morning Your Grace," Serena said with a small curtsey, her face red from being caught in a
situation that could be easily misconstrued. Darien's face held no emotion however, he did not
seem the least bit upset. That disturbed her.
"Good Morning Serena, I trust the morning finds you well?"
His greeting was without emotion, but Nicholas had not missed the look in his eyes, or the
implications od jos words. Serena was wrong; Darien cared very deeply for her. If he didn't,
Nicholas wouldn't feel the intensity of Darien's warning gaze from across the room.
He could feel Darien's jealousy from across the room. Darien probably didn't even recognize
hos own feelings.
"Forgive me Your Grace," Serena said, "I do not mean to be rude. She gestured towards Nicholas;
"this is Lord Nicholas Manchester, an old friend of mine."
Darien shook Nicholas' hand none too gently. "I didn't think you were old enough to have old
friends Serena?"
Day had dawned but five hours previously and already he was teasing her, and in her own home at
that. "Perhaps I should have said childhood friend. I'm sure you would find that much more pleasing to
your ears?" she said with just enough edge to her voice to show she wasn't going to let the comment slide.
Darien smiled slightly. Nicholas was confused at the exchange between the two. Just moments ago
he had the impression teased her mercilessly and she was a helpless lamb before this terrifying
beast of a man who had no love for her, but in the short exchange, he could easily see that she gave as
good as she got. These two would certainly not lack conversation after the wedding.
"I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me," Nicholas said preparing himself for his exit. I have business
to attend to. As you two are engaged, I'm certain you no longer need a chaperone, besides I doubt I'd make
a good choice in that department. It was an honor to meet you, Your Grace." Darien simply nodded
politely, as Nicholas excused himself from their presence.
MarshAngel
Watsonma@hotmail.com
The carriage came to a stop in front of the grand London mansion. Darien stepped out into the
street and began his walk up to the front steps. As he raised his hand to rap on the front door, the door
opened and out stepped the Duke of Muncaster.
"Your Grace!" Darien was very surprised to see the Duke.
The Duke did not, however, seem very surprised to see him. "Good day, Lord Westmoreland, And
how has the day found you?" without waiting for an answer he continued. "I certainly hope you're not here
to inform me that you refuse to marry my niece after what we talked about."
"Of course not sir. Serena's honor is very important to me."
"I'd most certainly hope so. She is after all going to be your wife."
"Actually I was hoping to see Serena."
"Yes, of course. I was surprised she was actually accepting visitors this morning. She was rather
understandably upset last night, but she rose early and composed herself. She's in the garden
with young Nicholas Manchester, just returned from Europe, he says. He's an old friend of hers."
The man was very blunt, Darien thought to himself. It was strange. When the Duke had first met
him he'd seemed angry as he'd expected. He had after all compromised his niece's integrity.
Strange how easily compromised women were. If they same rules applied to men… the thought made him smile.
After having one of the strangest conversations he'd ever been involved with the Duke seemed to
relax. For the entire time they had conversed, it seemed the man had been studying him intensely. He had
seemed genuinely concerned with Serena's welfare and it had reminded him of his father.
Serena had not been expecting anyone and she did not welcome the idea of visitors. Her mood was
hardly welcoming. Her feelings were a confusing mass of emptionds. She was angry at having her
life controlled in such away and confused as to whether she shouldn't be happy that she actually
had the man she loved, however round about way he had come to be hers. When Stewart, the butler
had announced a Lord Manchester to see her she had been surprised and se aside her feelings momentarily
to welcome him.
Nicholas was her childhood friend and former fencing partner. He had always been her best friend.
He was only a few years older than she was but not as old as her brother Andrew. He had gone on
a tour of Europe as was usual for young men of his age at the time. But after returning to the
shores of England he had once more felt the pull to return, and within a year he had gone
once again to expand on his travels.
Serena had wondered if he had not had some sweet European beauty pulling him back to Europe
when he'd left for the second time. She had been somewhat jealous and genuinely upset by
his leaving a second time. It was merely a childhood crush however. The truth was she was
probably more jealous of the fact that he had the opportunity to travel Europe while she had to
stay at home defyingher mother's wishes to teach her how to embroider and play the piano.
Nicholas had walked in the room looking more handsome and arrogant than she had seen him
before. Despite her mood she had smiled at his familiar face. He obviously had learned some of the French
arrogance on his second tour through Europe. Travel quite obviously agreed with him.
"It is wonderful to see you Nicholas. I can't believe you are back already. You look wonderful,
traveling most definitely agrees with you. How have your journeys been?"
"All went well as it always does. How are things with you?" Even as he asked the question he
instantly knew something was wrong. Her eyes were tired and sad, a look he rarely saw on her face but
knew quite well all the same. He took her hands into his. "Tell me everything."
The Duke's butler let him in and took his coat. From the foyer he could hear muted conversation
coming from a room close by and instead of letting himself be announced to Serena and her guests
as was usual, he simply entered on his own.
He stood in the doorway surprised at the sight that greeted him. Serena and a tall young man with
dark auburn hair stood near the center of the room, holding each other closely. He felt an odd but burning
bitterness in his stomach signifying an emotion he couldn't identify. He clenched and
unclenched his jaw. Who was this man and why was he hugging his Serena.
"Ahhem." He cleared his throat
Realizing they were no longer alone, Nicholas withdrew himself from Serena's arms and brushed
a few tears off her cheek urging her with a simple look to compose herself so Darien wouldn't
see her face and realize how upset she was. She managed an acceptably composed look and he moved
to the side so Darien could see his fiancée.
"Good morning Your Grace," Serena said with a small curtsey, her face red from being caught in a
situation that could be easily misconstrued. Darien's face held no emotion however, he did not
seem the least bit upset. That disturbed her.
"Good Morning Serena, I trust the morning finds you well?"
His greeting was without emotion, but Nicholas had not missed the look in his eyes, or the
implications od jos words. Serena was wrong; Darien cared very deeply for her. If he didn't,
Nicholas wouldn't feel the intensity of Darien's warning gaze from across the room.
He could feel Darien's jealousy from across the room. Darien probably didn't even recognize
hos own feelings.
"Forgive me Your Grace," Serena said, "I do not mean to be rude. She gestured towards Nicholas;
"this is Lord Nicholas Manchester, an old friend of mine."
Darien shook Nicholas' hand none too gently. "I didn't think you were old enough to have old
friends Serena?"
Day had dawned but five hours previously and already he was teasing her, and in her own home at
that. "Perhaps I should have said childhood friend. I'm sure you would find that much more pleasing to
your ears?" she said with just enough edge to her voice to show she wasn't going to let the comment slide.
Darien smiled slightly. Nicholas was confused at the exchange between the two. Just moments ago
he had the impression teased her mercilessly and she was a helpless lamb before this terrifying
beast of a man who had no love for her, but in the short exchange, he could easily see that she gave as
good as she got. These two would certainly not lack conversation after the wedding.
"I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me," Nicholas said preparing himself for his exit. I have business
to attend to. As you two are engaged, I'm certain you no longer need a chaperone, besides I doubt I'd make
a good choice in that department. It was an honor to meet you, Your Grace." Darien simply nodded
politely, as Nicholas excused himself from their presence.