Everlasting Love XII
MarshAngel
Watsonma@hotmail.com
Now alone with Serena, Darien found himself completely lost as to the reason for
his visit. He wondered the true status of her relationship with Manchester. Was he her
true love and she was simply being forced to marry him because of her Uncle?
He needed to get out of her presence so he'd be able to think this through. He
simply stared at her for a moment, fascinated with the way the morning light played of
her hair and her face, making it seem as though she had a golden halo encircling her
entire head.
"Is something the matter?" she asked softly.
"No, of course not. I simply stopped by to reassure you that there is no reason to
fear being married to me. I will be an honorable husband."'
To say she was disappointed would have been the understatement of the century.
She was devastated. She had hoped he would approach this wedding with some feeling,
any feeling at all. She sensed he saw this as an inconvenience. It was a merely a business
arrangement that he needed to complete. Why did fate see it fit for her to fall in love with
this man? He was so completely confusing. His kisses were full of passion and feeling,
but for the rest of the time he was cold and distant, as he was now.
"Well, I'm afraid I must take my leave now, I have some business to attend to,"
He said in a business-like manner.
Before he had the opportunity, to leave, Stewart entered, announcing the arrival of
new guests. With a swooshing of pastel skirts, into the room, floated Rachel, Mina and
her fiancé, Jason and Serena's brother Andrew and his wife Elizabeth. Serena was
surprised they had dared to visit. No one concerned with their reputation would want to
be seen with someone who had disgraced themselves in such a public manner until she
was properly married. She was grateful and touched that they cared.
Rachel greeted Serena and Darien warmly and Mina's eyes twinkled at Darien's
presence. In her odd way of thinking she thought of their situation as being delightfully
romantic. Darien and Jason greeted each other formally although Andrew didn't return
his greeting, obviously angry with him for what he had done to his sister. Darien prepared
himself to leave once more. He needed to leave her presence so he could concentrate, not
to mention if he said the wrong thing her brother might just try to kill him. He guessed
the only reason her brother had not confronted him before was because he had proved
himself honorable in agreeing to marry her. He had completely forgotten why he was
here but he was sure it was not the reason he stated. In fact hadn't he planned to tell her
about his love for her?
"Your grace," Rachel addressed him, "surely you do not take your leave so soon?
I came bearing an invitation for you and your fiancée." Darien found himself amazed at
how fast news traveled in society. He had barely found out her was getting married
before everyone else also seemed to be aware of the fact. He raised an eyebrow at her
invitation but said nothing, waiting for her to complete her announcement.
"Yes, yes," Mina said in her typically bouncy manner. "Our dear friend Rachel
has invited us to her home for an early dinner, tow days hence if neither of you will be
too busy to attend."
"Incidentally," Rachel began, "Lord Manchester will also be attending, He is a
friend of yours isn't he?" She asked, looking at Serena who nodded her head in
acknowledgement. "I saw him on the way out. I met him once or twice before, shortly
before I got married." She turned to face Darien who nodded in agreement.
"I would be happy to attend." He glanced over at Serena and she nodded in
agreement. "If that's all, I must be on my way. Good day ladies, Lord Whittaker, Lord
Graham." With that he left the room.
"This is so exciting," Mina said after Darien had left. "You're marrying the man
you love." Serena stared at Mina blankly. How had she known?
Andrew was far more serious however, he could see his sister was distressed by
her situation. She was just short of panic.
Mina, much like anyone else, couldn't possibly understand why anyone would not
want to marry Darien. There were many other young women who were simply quite
jealous of her for managing to trap him into marrying her. He was extremely handsome,
wealthy, titled, and seemingly perfect in every way. She had just assumed that their being
caught kissing in the gardens was a sign that they must be deeply in love. Of course she
wasn't far from the truth.
Andrew chose to change the subject, seeing his sister was not really in the mood
for Mina's chatter about weddings and the like.
Rachel was instructing the staff on the upcoming dinner party. She had not
expected her husband to be around for this considerably minor event in comparison to the
parties that they usually attended. Her husband was a horrid nuisance even more so when
he was sober, which he was now. But he wouldn't be later tonight.
Because he spent so much time drunk she was able to go about her affairs and live
like a free woman. She had been very upset when her father had suggested marriage to
the oily, Count of Mondale. It had been his deathbed wish that they be married however,
and for this reason she had gone through with the wedding. She hadn't thought much of
the Count before her wedding but once they were married, she had discovered he was a
pathetic drunk with violent tendencies and a gambling problem.
She had hoped he would have continued with his drunken foolery with his
gambling friends elsewhere but he had chosen this night to stay at home and possibly ruin
the dinner party she'd planned. She rarely invited friends because of his presence and he
had chosen this moment to show his presence again and embarrass her.
She paused for a moment after conducting the servants as to their duties. She
thought everything out in her head hoping she had gotten everything right. The sound of
heavy stomping feet came trodding into the room. She heard a derisive snort of disgust.
"I don't know why you're inviting that pretentious duke and his little whore," her
husband muttered. We don't need their kind ruining our reputation."
"Serena is a lady, not a whore."
"Whatever you say," he said nonchalantly.
Rachel was really beginning to wonder if she didn't prefer him drunk. At least he would
eventually pass out and she would no longer have to handle his presence.
MarshAngel
Watsonma@hotmail.com
Now alone with Serena, Darien found himself completely lost as to the reason for
his visit. He wondered the true status of her relationship with Manchester. Was he her
true love and she was simply being forced to marry him because of her Uncle?
He needed to get out of her presence so he'd be able to think this through. He
simply stared at her for a moment, fascinated with the way the morning light played of
her hair and her face, making it seem as though she had a golden halo encircling her
entire head.
"Is something the matter?" she asked softly.
"No, of course not. I simply stopped by to reassure you that there is no reason to
fear being married to me. I will be an honorable husband."'
To say she was disappointed would have been the understatement of the century.
She was devastated. She had hoped he would approach this wedding with some feeling,
any feeling at all. She sensed he saw this as an inconvenience. It was a merely a business
arrangement that he needed to complete. Why did fate see it fit for her to fall in love with
this man? He was so completely confusing. His kisses were full of passion and feeling,
but for the rest of the time he was cold and distant, as he was now.
"Well, I'm afraid I must take my leave now, I have some business to attend to,"
He said in a business-like manner.
Before he had the opportunity, to leave, Stewart entered, announcing the arrival of
new guests. With a swooshing of pastel skirts, into the room, floated Rachel, Mina and
her fiancé, Jason and Serena's brother Andrew and his wife Elizabeth. Serena was
surprised they had dared to visit. No one concerned with their reputation would want to
be seen with someone who had disgraced themselves in such a public manner until she
was properly married. She was grateful and touched that they cared.
Rachel greeted Serena and Darien warmly and Mina's eyes twinkled at Darien's
presence. In her odd way of thinking she thought of their situation as being delightfully
romantic. Darien and Jason greeted each other formally although Andrew didn't return
his greeting, obviously angry with him for what he had done to his sister. Darien prepared
himself to leave once more. He needed to leave her presence so he could concentrate, not
to mention if he said the wrong thing her brother might just try to kill him. He guessed
the only reason her brother had not confronted him before was because he had proved
himself honorable in agreeing to marry her. He had completely forgotten why he was
here but he was sure it was not the reason he stated. In fact hadn't he planned to tell her
about his love for her?
"Your grace," Rachel addressed him, "surely you do not take your leave so soon?
I came bearing an invitation for you and your fiancée." Darien found himself amazed at
how fast news traveled in society. He had barely found out her was getting married
before everyone else also seemed to be aware of the fact. He raised an eyebrow at her
invitation but said nothing, waiting for her to complete her announcement.
"Yes, yes," Mina said in her typically bouncy manner. "Our dear friend Rachel
has invited us to her home for an early dinner, tow days hence if neither of you will be
too busy to attend."
"Incidentally," Rachel began, "Lord Manchester will also be attending, He is a
friend of yours isn't he?" She asked, looking at Serena who nodded her head in
acknowledgement. "I saw him on the way out. I met him once or twice before, shortly
before I got married." She turned to face Darien who nodded in agreement.
"I would be happy to attend." He glanced over at Serena and she nodded in
agreement. "If that's all, I must be on my way. Good day ladies, Lord Whittaker, Lord
Graham." With that he left the room.
"This is so exciting," Mina said after Darien had left. "You're marrying the man
you love." Serena stared at Mina blankly. How had she known?
Andrew was far more serious however, he could see his sister was distressed by
her situation. She was just short of panic.
Mina, much like anyone else, couldn't possibly understand why anyone would not
want to marry Darien. There were many other young women who were simply quite
jealous of her for managing to trap him into marrying her. He was extremely handsome,
wealthy, titled, and seemingly perfect in every way. She had just assumed that their being
caught kissing in the gardens was a sign that they must be deeply in love. Of course she
wasn't far from the truth.
Andrew chose to change the subject, seeing his sister was not really in the mood
for Mina's chatter about weddings and the like.
Rachel was instructing the staff on the upcoming dinner party. She had not
expected her husband to be around for this considerably minor event in comparison to the
parties that they usually attended. Her husband was a horrid nuisance even more so when
he was sober, which he was now. But he wouldn't be later tonight.
Because he spent so much time drunk she was able to go about her affairs and live
like a free woman. She had been very upset when her father had suggested marriage to
the oily, Count of Mondale. It had been his deathbed wish that they be married however,
and for this reason she had gone through with the wedding. She hadn't thought much of
the Count before her wedding but once they were married, she had discovered he was a
pathetic drunk with violent tendencies and a gambling problem.
She had hoped he would have continued with his drunken foolery with his
gambling friends elsewhere but he had chosen this night to stay at home and possibly ruin
the dinner party she'd planned. She rarely invited friends because of his presence and he
had chosen this moment to show his presence again and embarrass her.
She paused for a moment after conducting the servants as to their duties. She
thought everything out in her head hoping she had gotten everything right. The sound of
heavy stomping feet came trodding into the room. She heard a derisive snort of disgust.
"I don't know why you're inviting that pretentious duke and his little whore," her
husband muttered. We don't need their kind ruining our reputation."
"Serena is a lady, not a whore."
"Whatever you say," he said nonchalantly.
Rachel was really beginning to wonder if she didn't prefer him drunk. At least he would
eventually pass out and she would no longer have to handle his presence.