"Well sit down and eat your breakfast," Jericho said icily. "I have to go into the village to finish some estate business and then we can get back to London for your precious Season."
Stephanie looked at Jericho in shock. What the hell was a season? She had read one or two romance novels in her time, but she wasn't exactly sure what he was talking about. She looked down at her hands folded in her lap and said, "We do not have to live if you do not wish to your grace."
"Stop pouting and stop calling me your grace Daphne," Jericho said angrily. "You need not act as if I were a monster. I have stayed away from you since Robbie was born, as you asked."
She blinked at the hatred she heard in his voice. "No need for you to be so angry James." Stephanie wished she could control her own words, but it was as if someone else was controlling the words she said.
"You come into the room and whisper your lover's name and expect me not to be angry?" Jericho asked angrily. "Then you look at me like you used to when I used to come to your bed. I have not visited you there in nearly four years!"
Four years, Stephanie thought. He had said it was she who had asked him to leave her alone. Why in God's name had the woman told Jericho to stay away from her bed. Not Jericho, James. He was handsome enough. His black hair curled slightly and his blue eyes were incredibly bright. He looked so much like Chris Jericho. His voice sounded like Jericho's too.
"James, I don't know where we went wrong," Stephanie said. She was in control now.
"Maybe you told your gossiping best friend that you married me because I was seventh in line for the throne," Jericho said. "And Celeste told the entire set."
"I did not mean it!" Stephanie protested. She didn't know where the information she had in her brain was coming from, but she knew it was the truth. She was still in control of what she said and did. "I was angry at you because you had not yet dismissed your mistress!"
"I had not visited her," James said, thumping his fist on the table. "I was too swept up with your beauty and charm to deal with trivial things like telling someone who meant very little to me that I thought I was in love!"
Jericho was in love with her? Stephanie felt some emotion surge through her. She wasn't sure if she liked the feeling or not. Of course she didn't, Jericho was a pig. He could never be her soul mate.
"Your words don't fool me," Stephanie said. She was dismayed. Daphne's temper was flaring and she was taking control again. "You never loved me!"
"Neither did you!" Jericho replied.
"I did!" Daphne screamed as she threw down her napkin and fled from the morning room. Stephanie was shocked at that revalation. Daphne had loved that conceited oaf Jericho? That was beyond repulsive.
Stephanie sat down at her vanity again when she returned to her bedchamber. She noticed a locket on the vanity. It reminded her of one that Vince had given her when she turned sixteen. Hers had a picture of Vince and Linda on one side and Shane and herself in the other. Stephanie always carried it with her.
She opened Daphne's locket and saw two handpainted miniatures. One was of James, looking very dashing. The other was a small dark-haired boy who could only be Robbie.
"My son," she whispered.
Stephanie stood and walked to the window and looked out. There was a forest a short distance away from the house. Something told her that's where Daphne went to think. That sounded like as good an idea as any.
Within minutes Stephanie stood on the outskirts of the forest. She prayed she wold be able to find her way back as she plunged into the forest.
"Stephanie," a dark voice said.
"Where are you?" she asked. She knew it was the Undertaker.
"Just sit against this tree and you will see all you need to see," his voice promised.
Stephanie looked at the tree in front of her and sat down. She suddenly felt very sleepy. She tried to stifle a yawn as she closed her eyes.
"I am Duchess Daphne Harrington," the woman said to her. "i have been married to James for five years. He tricked me into loving him. A mistake I quickly remidied. Though James is certain I have taken a lover in the past year, I have let no other man into my bed."
"Who does James suspect?" Stephanie asked.
"Christian Masterson," Daphne said. "I have known Chris all my life, indeed I thought I would marry Chris until I met James. I need you to find our soul mate Stephanie and get me away from James. You are my only hope."
"There's absolutely no way James is your soul mate?" Stephanie asked.
"I cannot believe he is the man I was meant to love for all eternity," Daphne replied. "He may be as handsome as the devil. I think perhaps he is the devil."
"Just making sure," Stephanie said. "I doubt I could ever live with myself if I thought Jericho was my soul mate."
"Jericho?" Daphne asked.
"The man James is in my life," Stephanie replied.
"Is he handsome in your life also?" Daphne asked.
"When I first met him I thought he was as sexy a man as I had ever met," Stephanie answered honestly. "I was engaged at the time. When I did get married to someone else, he decided to call me whore on national television."
"They both seem to be more than willing to call us horrible names," Daphne said.
"You have no idea," Stephanie said.
"Wake up!" a voice said, as Stephanie was lightly shaken awake.
"James!" Stephanie exclaimed. His eyes were so blue. She felt like she could fall into them...if she actually liked the jerk.
"What are you thinking falling asleep in the forest?" James asked.
"Are you worried that I would let animals share my bed before I let you?" Stephanie asked. Boy, it was as fun insulting this Jericho as insulting her own Jericho.
"I should have let you be," James muttered as he hauled her to her feet. "You should go get dressed for dinner."
"Fine," Stephanie said huffily.
"And an animal would be a step up my dear," James said.
Stephanie turned back to James. She raised her hand to slap him. She smiled in satisfaction. Hopefully she left a palm mark. She turned to walk away, but James grabbed her painfully by the wrist. He pulled her back towards him.
"I told you what I would do the next time you decided to strike me," James said. His blue eyes flashed as his head descended and he kissed her furiously. It was like the two times Jericho had kissed her. She was breathless and surprised...and excited. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
Stephanie hadn't expected to melt into James' body. Now she understood why Daphne had married this man. She had never felt this passion before. So what if it was fueled by anger and hatred. Nothing had ever felt this good.
What about Kurt? Stephanie's brain screamed she liked the way Kurt kissed. But Kurt was just too upright. The only person Kurt had a chance at beating as her soul mate was Jericho.
James finally pulled away from her. His eyes looked bewildered. She was surprised to see no hatred in those blue eyes. He really had the most beautiful eyes.
"I will see you at dinner," James said as he turned away.
Stephanie watched as he walked away quickly. Stephanie really needed to meet this Chris guy before she started thinking crazy things.
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