Everlasting Love XIV
MarshAngel
Watsonma@hotmail.com
Rachel was feeling particularly good. Dinner was going well and her husband had yet to embarrass
her. He seemed to be taking it slowly with the spirits tonight which though odd was a slightly welcome
change, at least at the moment. The conversation at the dinner table had been particularly stimulating and
Darien and Serena seemed to be relating better to each other.
Rachel had spent a good portion of the evening watching the two. She knew Darien well enough
to realize his every word and consideration involved her somehow even when they disagreed which they
had, often, much to the amusement of the rest of her guests especially Andrew who easily recognized that
Darien was completely in love. It wasn't so long ago that he had fallen head over heels with the beautiful
lady seated across from him.
It seemed all was going well until her husband chose the moment to prove perfection was never
meant to last. As they enjoyed their glasses of port in the library with light conversation, he came up behind
Rachel and Serena and said just loudly enough for both to hear: "So, my dear, how does it feel to be the slut
of society? You must be really wonderful to have captured one like the Duke."
Serena went pale and still, shocked and mortified at his suggestion. She began to shake before
bursting into tears and running from the room. Everyone turned to see her fleeing figure and hear the
sounds of her crying as she went fleeing down the dark hallway unaware as to her direction.
Rachel turned to her husband shocked and dismayed at what he'd just said. Fire blazed in her eyes
and she was surprised she'd tolerated the pathetic bastard for so long. She raised her hand and slapped him
hard across the face. He winced at the stinging pain in his jaw and touched a hand to his face surprised at
her defiance. "I always knew you were an uptight little bitch." He raised an arm to hit her across the face
but never got the chance as Nicholas had somehow crossed the room and punched him hard in the other
jaw.
Darien was disappointed that he hadn't got the opportunity to do the same, he'd always hated the
bastard and at the moment he was seething. Whatever he had done to upset Serena he was going to pay.
Unfortunately, Harrison seemed unfazed by Nicholas' punch and before anyone else had the opportunity to
pound on him, he left the room like the coward he was.
Everyone was disoriented for a moment. Suddenly Darien and Rachel seemed to have the same
idea at the same time and ran off to find where Serena had disappeared.
After the leaving the room, Harrison found himself a few moments later in his study. That had
been a mistake. He should have waited until he could have gotten a moment alone with the little slut before
he said anything. He needed a drink.
He'd first caught sight of her when she'd been swimming in the river, at that hunting expedition
the Duke of Mondale had put on. He had been planning to approach her himself when that stupid fop,
Wyndham had showed up and taken the opportunity himself. He had walked away when he'd seen them
kissing. Knowing Wyndham, he'd probably taken her right there by the river. It wasn't fair he'd seen her
first.
It was only later not long before the expedition ended that he'd realized that the little slut was the
Duke's daughter, pretending to be the innocent little virgin he knew she was not. And Wyndham had the
heart to pretend he didn't know her when the duke had introduced her to them. He didn't doubt by that time
she was quite happy enjoying her time in his bed. He also didn't doubt that her time would have been better
spent in his own.
He couldn't help laughing at the irony that it had been a mere kiss, mild compare to the other
things he knew she'd done, at some pitiful ball that had had the little whore ousted and shown up for just
what she was. He hadn't expected Wyndham to marry her of course. The pathetic man probably felt he had
to do the 'honorable' thing. What did he know about honor anyway, the pathetic fool.
He picked up the bottle of scotch, the most potent kind that had been resting in the wine cellars for
more than three times as long as he'd been alive. He picked up a crystal goblet, to pour the amber liquid in
but decided against it, instead putting the bottle to his lips and gulping it in a disgusting manner.
He was already well on his way to being drunk. Everyone had been too busy, chatting away to
notice the amount of wine he had consumed between that pathetic dinner party and the time they'd spent in
the library. Now that he was thoroughly inebriated, he decided it was time he got what he'd been waiting
for all evening, that frigid wife of his was no use so he might as well make use of this opportunity.
Serena ran fast down the hallway, unaware of tripping up a flight of stairs. She had never been so
insulted in her life. Her life had been turned upside down within the last year and everything seemed to be
going horribly wrong. Did society really think her a slut and a whore merely for kissing? It just wasn't
logical. Why was life always so unfair?
She managed to compose herself slightly, and began to dry her tears but she soon realized she had
no idea where she was in this maze of a house. It was dark and chilly and she was all alone in the hallway.
Looking at the old brick of the walls, she realized she must have run into the oldest part of the house, part
of which was still an old castle. She chose to go forwards as she could only see darkness behind her. Ahead
of her she could see light coming through a door up ahead.
She walked forward in the hallway, turned the corner, and entered the room. The room was all
shadows and moonlight coming through an open balcony door that seemed horribly out of place in this
section of the house. It must have been added on later. She wondered why the doors were open but didn't
spend much time dwelling on it as she walked out onto the balcony.
She was surprised to find herself much higher up than she had expected. The land under the
balcony must have been lower than the parts of the house, because she couldn't remember going up that
many steps. There was a gentle breeze coming in and the sky was still light, despite the late hour.
She found herself relaxing as she stared up at the unusually bright half moon, high in the sky; it
was a beautiful night. She frowned as the perfection was ruined by the blue-gray clouds covering the light
that had seemed to be shining down on her. She was about to go inside when she felt hands on her waist
and warm breath on her ear, and the smell of liquor and hot stale breath drifted unpleasantly across her
nostrils.
She jumped surprised at someone being in the room with her. She tried to turn around but the
strong hands wouldn't let her. She started to panic as she felt his hands moving up her body and his tongue
on her cheek
"I just thought you could do me the same favor you did that pathetic fiancée of yours. I bet you're
quite good at it."
"Get off me," She squealed as she tried to wriggle free of him.
"Stop acting like you're so innocent you little slut. Just relax and enjoy yourself"
"Let go!" She screamed and stomped on his toe for good measure.
"Why you little bitch," he yelled angrily, grabbing her and pushing her onto the balcony edge. He
pushed her down, trying to get on top of her struggling body, but a kick to the stomach sent him flying
back. A pair of hands grabbed him from behind and tried to pull him away. Harrison turned in a rage to see
his wife pulling at him, attempting to defend her friend.
He lashed out in his rage and hit her hard sending her flying backwards into the room and into
Darien who'd rushed in. He turned back to face Serena who stood as if frozen leaning on the balcony edge.
He stumbled towards her and Serena realized that he was completely drunk. He grabbed her but instead of
pulling her towards him he pushed her backwards sending them both flying over the edge.
Serena screamed as she felt herself falling towards the ground. He hands flailed hoping to find
something to hold on to. Her hands caught the balcony railing and she grabbed on and held to it for dear
life even as she heard Harrison's body hit the hard ground below with a sickening thud.
Darien was stunned as he fell to the floor as Rachel's limp body slammed him into the ground.
She seemed to be unconscious but Serena was still in danger. A chill ran through his body as he saw
Harrison stumble towards her sending them both flying over the edge.
In the few short seconds it took him to get to the balcony he found himself praying that this was
all a dream and she would just turn around and call him pompous inconsiderate, rude, and any other insult
she wished to toss at him. He wished she he was holding her wet body in his arms again and he prayed that
by some miracle, if this wasn't a dream that she'd just appear before him.
In the next few moments he blessed his mother's immortal soul for the fairy tales she'd told him
when he was young of dreams coming true. His dream was realized as he looked over he balcony's edge to
see a frightfully pale Serena hanging on to the edge of the balcony for dear life. Without a second thought
he grabbed her hands even as they had begun to slip from the metal bars and pulled her up.
He didn't say a word as he held her close to him kissing her hair and touching her face, reassuring
himself that she was ok and she was real and not a ghost. "I love you," he whispered in her hair repeatedly
making sure she'd never forget the fact should she ever try to leave him again. "I've loved you since you
since I challenged you to that fencing match. Don't ever leave me."
Serena's eyes opened in shock as she heard him professing his love to her. He loved her. She
could hardly believe it. All this time, all this pain and all this worry and he'd loved her. With that thought
she kicked him hard in the shin.
He stared at her in shock as she separated herself from the warmth of his embrace.
"You mean to tell me that I've been upset for all this time. I spent a good portion of my nights
crying myself to sleep and you love me? Good heavens, couldn't you have told me this before I was forced
to marry you, instead of sullying my reputation?"
Darien stared at her in shock, and so did everyone else who had entered the room, including
Rachel who had woken up to find herself in Nicholas' comforting embrace. She turned to Lita and asked,
"Are men always this inconsiderate or is it only him?"
They simply stared at her blankly. Darien sighed in exasperation. "Serena will you please be
quiet?" With that he pulled her back in his arms and planted a long passionate kiss on her lips.
When he'd stopped she stared into his intense blue eyes. "Are you trying to shut me up again?"
"Of course." He kissed her again much to the amusement of their audience.
"I thought you said they wouldn't lack conversation," Rachel said, addressing Nicholas. "It seems to me
they'll be far to busy to argue."