To everyone who has reviewed, thank you, you've only made my story better.
To those who haven't, it only helps me.
The disclaimer is in chapter one if your looking for it.
Chapter 3
"Lord and Lady Roxton are cordially invited to the dinner party honoring the Challenger Expedition" the invitation said. "John, I'm so glad were going" Anne said. Roxton gave her a placating smile. "John, how good to see you, Where is Marguerite?" George asked. Roxton gave him a look. "George, this is Anne. Anne is this George Challenger" John introduced them. "Lady Roxton, welcome" he led them into the foyer.
"V, are you ready?" Finn asked as the maid finished. "Just about, I don't know how Marguerite wears these clothes" Veronica replied. "Veronica, can I talk to you?" Ned pulled her aside. "I'll see you two downstairs" Finn walked away from the couple. "What? You're sweating" Veronica asked as he led her into the study. "Just sit, please" he begged her.
"Ned, please tell me what's wrong" she asked. Nervously, he pulled out the box. "I know it's not much, but..." he started to ask. "Yes" she pushed him onto the floor. "Yes?" he asked. "Yes, you fool" she kissed him. "Wait, what about Gladys?" she asked, remembering the woman who had indirectly sent Ned to Plateau. "Gladys is happily married and expecting her second child" her informed her. "I love you" she told him.
Downstairs, John kept looking for Marguerite. "John, are you listening?" Anne asked. "Yes" he told Anne, not taking his eyes off the door. "Marguerite, you look lovely" he turned as George embraced the woman he had come to think of as a daughter. "Thank you George. Mrs. Challenger, it's so nice to finally meet you" he couldn't take his eyes off her. The sea-green gown highlighted her green-gray eyes. The dress hung on her body, her familiar curves seemed to be beckoning him to her side, until he saw who stood next to her. "Call me Jessie" Jessie told Marguerite
"Professor Challenger, I've heard so much about you. Marguerite adores you" Edward gushed. "George, Jessie, Finn may I present my escort, Lord Carlton and Dr Lorenzo and Maggie Rivera" Marguerite introduced her companions as Finn stood next to George and Jesse. "Welcome, enjoy the party" Jessie told them as Ned and Veronica walked down the stairs.
"Marguerite!" Veronica called out. "Veronica!" Marguerite hugged the woman who had become her sister. "Marguerite, you clean up well" Ned teasingly noted. "Nice to see you too, Neddy boy" Marguerite used Roxton's pet name for the reporter when she noticed the ring. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Of course" Ned replied. "Congrats" she hugged them both.
Downstairs, John watched the crowed. He watched her smiling, walking with Ned and Veronica. George, Jessie and Finn were eagerly chatting with their guests. Ned and Veronica were looking into each other's eyes as if they were the only people in the world. Marguerite was engrossed in conversation with Edward and the Riveras. Edward's arm was wrapped possessively around her waist; John would have liked nothing more to tear it off.
"Ladies, Gentleman, dinner is served" the butler announced. "Ladies and gentleman, a toast to my fellow explorers, I couldn't have done without you" Challenger toasted before dinner. "Another toast, to Arthur Summerlee, wherever you are, you're never far from our thoughts" John stood up. "Here here" Veronica replied. "Ladies and gentleman, before we enjoy this delicious dinner, I have an announcement to make. Veronica and I are to be married" neither could stop smiling. They were greeted by congratulations by all.
After dinner, the orchestra began to play. The crowd moved from the dinner table to the dance floor. He watched as Marguerite and Edward stepped onto the dance floor. They looked very cozy. "Two can play at this game" he thought to himself. "Anne?" he held his arm toward her. "Of course" she replied. He watched the couple, wishing he could switch places. Later that night, Marguerite stepped away from the crowd.
"Ned and Veronica look very happy" he commented. "Go back to your wife, Lord Roxton" her words were like ice. "Please, I need to talk to you" he begged. "Lady Carlton has a nice ring to it" she told him. "You wouldn't" he threatened. "The child will need food, clothing, and an education. If that means marrying another man, I will" her words were cold and calculating. "Marguerite that is my child you're carrying. I will not allow you to marry anyone but me" he told her.
"I would not talk if I were you, Lord Roxton. I did not go on this expedition, seduce and impregnate a woman, knowing full well that I hade a wife back home" her eyes flared in anger. "Marguerite, we will get through this. I will marry you properly" he again begged her. "John, where are you?" Anne's voice could be heard. "I suggest you go back to your wife, Lord Roxton and let me lead my life in peace, good night" she stormed out.
"Marguerite, what's wrong?" Edward asked. "I've had too much to drink, I'm a little tired" he explained. "Marguerite, we should go" Maggie knew why her friend was pale and it wasn't the wine. "No, you stay, I'll be ok" Marguerite told her friends. "No, I think were all getting a little tired, and I want to make sure that Charlie went to bed" Lorenzo told her. "George, Jessie, thank you for a marvelous evening. I'll be in touch" she thanked them.
The disclaimer is in chapter one if your looking for it.
Chapter 3
"Lord and Lady Roxton are cordially invited to the dinner party honoring the Challenger Expedition" the invitation said. "John, I'm so glad were going" Anne said. Roxton gave her a placating smile. "John, how good to see you, Where is Marguerite?" George asked. Roxton gave him a look. "George, this is Anne. Anne is this George Challenger" John introduced them. "Lady Roxton, welcome" he led them into the foyer.
"V, are you ready?" Finn asked as the maid finished. "Just about, I don't know how Marguerite wears these clothes" Veronica replied. "Veronica, can I talk to you?" Ned pulled her aside. "I'll see you two downstairs" Finn walked away from the couple. "What? You're sweating" Veronica asked as he led her into the study. "Just sit, please" he begged her.
"Ned, please tell me what's wrong" she asked. Nervously, he pulled out the box. "I know it's not much, but..." he started to ask. "Yes" she pushed him onto the floor. "Yes?" he asked. "Yes, you fool" she kissed him. "Wait, what about Gladys?" she asked, remembering the woman who had indirectly sent Ned to Plateau. "Gladys is happily married and expecting her second child" her informed her. "I love you" she told him.
Downstairs, John kept looking for Marguerite. "John, are you listening?" Anne asked. "Yes" he told Anne, not taking his eyes off the door. "Marguerite, you look lovely" he turned as George embraced the woman he had come to think of as a daughter. "Thank you George. Mrs. Challenger, it's so nice to finally meet you" he couldn't take his eyes off her. The sea-green gown highlighted her green-gray eyes. The dress hung on her body, her familiar curves seemed to be beckoning him to her side, until he saw who stood next to her. "Call me Jessie" Jessie told Marguerite
"Professor Challenger, I've heard so much about you. Marguerite adores you" Edward gushed. "George, Jessie, Finn may I present my escort, Lord Carlton and Dr Lorenzo and Maggie Rivera" Marguerite introduced her companions as Finn stood next to George and Jesse. "Welcome, enjoy the party" Jessie told them as Ned and Veronica walked down the stairs.
"Marguerite!" Veronica called out. "Veronica!" Marguerite hugged the woman who had become her sister. "Marguerite, you clean up well" Ned teasingly noted. "Nice to see you too, Neddy boy" Marguerite used Roxton's pet name for the reporter when she noticed the ring. "Are you serious?" she asked. "Of course" Ned replied. "Congrats" she hugged them both.
Downstairs, John watched the crowed. He watched her smiling, walking with Ned and Veronica. George, Jessie and Finn were eagerly chatting with their guests. Ned and Veronica were looking into each other's eyes as if they were the only people in the world. Marguerite was engrossed in conversation with Edward and the Riveras. Edward's arm was wrapped possessively around her waist; John would have liked nothing more to tear it off.
"Ladies, Gentleman, dinner is served" the butler announced. "Ladies and gentleman, a toast to my fellow explorers, I couldn't have done without you" Challenger toasted before dinner. "Another toast, to Arthur Summerlee, wherever you are, you're never far from our thoughts" John stood up. "Here here" Veronica replied. "Ladies and gentleman, before we enjoy this delicious dinner, I have an announcement to make. Veronica and I are to be married" neither could stop smiling. They were greeted by congratulations by all.
After dinner, the orchestra began to play. The crowd moved from the dinner table to the dance floor. He watched as Marguerite and Edward stepped onto the dance floor. They looked very cozy. "Two can play at this game" he thought to himself. "Anne?" he held his arm toward her. "Of course" she replied. He watched the couple, wishing he could switch places. Later that night, Marguerite stepped away from the crowd.
"Ned and Veronica look very happy" he commented. "Go back to your wife, Lord Roxton" her words were like ice. "Please, I need to talk to you" he begged. "Lady Carlton has a nice ring to it" she told him. "You wouldn't" he threatened. "The child will need food, clothing, and an education. If that means marrying another man, I will" her words were cold and calculating. "Marguerite that is my child you're carrying. I will not allow you to marry anyone but me" he told her.
"I would not talk if I were you, Lord Roxton. I did not go on this expedition, seduce and impregnate a woman, knowing full well that I hade a wife back home" her eyes flared in anger. "Marguerite, we will get through this. I will marry you properly" he again begged her. "John, where are you?" Anne's voice could be heard. "I suggest you go back to your wife, Lord Roxton and let me lead my life in peace, good night" she stormed out.
"Marguerite, what's wrong?" Edward asked. "I've had too much to drink, I'm a little tired" he explained. "Marguerite, we should go" Maggie knew why her friend was pale and it wasn't the wine. "No, you stay, I'll be ok" Marguerite told her friends. "No, I think were all getting a little tired, and I want to make sure that Charlie went to bed" Lorenzo told her. "George, Jessie, thank you for a marvelous evening. I'll be in touch" she thanked them.