My Idiotic Protector – Part 5
By: Ghostwriter
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'I can't believe we're finally in London," Serena squealed in delight, poking her head out of the window of their traveling chaise. "There are so many people around here. And look, that man is swallowing the sword," she said in awe. "How does he do that?"
Darien permitted himself a little smile at her enthusiasm as he laid down his book gently pulled her back into the chaise. "There are so many things to see! So many things to do!" she continued talking in the same excited tone of voice, her eyes still looking out of the window. "And all the dresses here are so fashionable," she said, looking down at her peach colored traveling costume. "I feel like a country bumpkin here."
"Which you are," Darien said dryly as he picked up his book once more. "It would have helped tremendously if you had paid more attention to Madame Beaumont's instructions."
Serena shot him a glare that could have pulverized rocks before turning her attentions back to the busy London streets as their chaise pass them by. "I have the feeling that I'm going to have the best time in my life," she declared.
**********
The chaise pulled up at number eleven at Upper Brook Street. The footmen quickly rushed up to open the door and bring out the folding steps.
"Aunt Rowena!"
In a flash and flurry of skirts, the two women were hugging each other.
"How are you my child?" the older woman in dark blue outfit, her blue eyes searching Serena's face. "Oh, you're absolutely beautiful!" she gushed out.
"Aunt Rowena! I've missed you!" Serena cried hugging her tightly.
After a while, they finally broke apart, did Lady Rowena notice the tall and handsome man standing behind his niece. He struck her somewhat familiar. "And who might this be?" she enquired politely.
"Oh," Serena said, finally remembering Darien's unwelcome presence. "This is Mr. Shields, he is my – guardian."
"Please to meet you," Lady Rowena said as she offered her gloved hand to him.
Darien took it and kissed the back of it while saying, "The pleasure is all mine, milady."
Lady Rowena smiled as she withdrew her hand. "You all must be very tired. Let's get inside and eat the sumptuous meal Monsieur LeBlanc has prepared."
**********
Serena stood upright as the modiste measured her and held swaths of cloth to her body. "Aunt Rowena, this isn't unnecessarily," she said.
"Nonsense, we cannot have the Countess of Rockbourn looking like a virtual pauper when she makes her bow," Lady Rowena said. The modiste continued to insert pins every where.
"But I've got lots of gowns I've never worn," Serena objected. "There is no need for more gowns!"
"Oh, fashion never stops changing you know," Lady Rowena replied in an offhand manner. "Besides, the gowns you have are made two years ago, and your shape has changed since then. You have filled out most nicely," she said, eyeing Serena's curves in an appraising manner. Serena blushed at the comment and kept quiet.
Finally, the modiste finished her work and left the two ladies.
"I've just the thing for you to wear to the Linsworthy ball tomorrow night," Lady Rowena suddenly bolted out of her chair and gracefully moved across the thick Aubusson carpet.
"I thought you say fashion never stays," Serena said laughingly, following her aunt to the large baroque cupboard.
"But this is different," Lady Rowena said as she threw the heavy oak doors open. She flitted through the brightly colored outfits and finally extracted something from them. She laid it lovingly on the bed.
Serena drew a breath. Across the dark blue satin coverlet was the most gorgeous gown she had ever seen. It was silvery white with a high waist. Intricate embroidery adorned the bosom and the hem of the gown. If one looked close enough, the embroidery formed a pattern of roses intervening with one another. (Ghostwriter: I modeled it after the princess gown. Winks) Serena touched the frothy material gently, almost afraid that it will get soiled under her touch.
"It belonged to your mother," Lady Rowena said softly, almost tearfully. "I'm sure she wants you to wear it to your debut ball."
"It's very beautiful," Serena whispered. "Thank you," she said as she hugged her aunt.
When they finally broke apart, Lady Rowena wiped her tears and sat down on the bed with Serena. "How is your father?"
"He is fine."
"Does he still blame himself?"
"Sometimes, did you know he forbade Ilene to try to get pregnant? He says he doesn't want to take the chance and lose her too. Fortunately, Ilene gave birth to Sammy safely and managed to assure him that there isn't a curse placed upon him."
"Your father has the most dreadful luck with wives, I must say," Lady Rowena declared, "to have lost his first and second wife to childbirth. But I guess his luck in love runs thick, to have found true love three times."
"Do you blame him?" Serena asked, her blue eyes looking at her aunt questioningly.
"Sometimes I do," Lady Rowena admitted. "But I know it wasn't his fault that your mother died. He couldn't have done anything about it. And they loved each other so much. But I do miss her dreadfully. You're just like her, you know," she said as she brushed a lock of golden hair away from her face, "a spitting image. Your father called you Serena because you look just like the wife he had just lost then."
"How was my mother like?" Serena asked, as her fingers caught hold her aunt's hand. "I never got the chance to know her," she said sadly, trying to hold back her tears.
"She was very beautiful, serene, and loving," Lady Rowena said, wiping a tear away. A small smile formed on her lips, "We were complete opposites. Your mother was named Serena because she was so serene from the day she was born. I was named Rowena because I caused a row from the day I was born with my squalling."
Serena gave a small laugh. "I'm sure you weren't as bad as Sammy was when he was born," she joked.
**********
Serena sat still in front of the dresser as the maids worked her long golden blonde hair into an elegant chignon at the crown of her head held up by two silver clips with rubies set into it in the shape of roses. Tendrils of hairs fell loosely around to soften the effect. There were diamond and ruby earrings, bracelet and necklace to math the hair clips – all with rose patterns on them.
Her cheeks were dusty pink and light rouge had been rubbed on her lips to give them some color. Madison, Lady Rowena's dresser helped her into her mother's dress.
She still remembered her aunt's words from this afternoon.
*****FLASHBACK*****
"I have asked Mr. Shields to be your escort tonight," her aunt said gaily as she walked into the room.
"You cannot," Serena cried. "I thought debutantes do not need escorts to their debut ball?"
"Well, I thought it would catch much more attentions if you've arrive with a handsome companion. After all, Rockbourn is an extremely impressive estate. And Lady Ashton had spread rumors that the Countess of Rockbourn being an ugly spinster with mousy brown hair, a coarse face and a grating voice," Aunt Rowena said.
"Oh," Serena said, ashamed of her behavior the last time she met Lady Ashton. "It's my entire fault," she blamed herself. "I should have been more tactful when I met her."
"You must not blame yourself, my dear," Lady Rowena consoled her. She continued in a disgusted voice, "I never liked that woman anyway. Such a hypocrite I must say. And her daughter Beryl is making her debut tonight too. Goodness knows how that woman will behave then. No doubt she will push her to every unmarried man in the room."
"Beryl is going to be there too tonight?" Serena felt faint at the moment. Beryl Ashton was a beautiful but cruel girl. She treated her servants like dirt. Serena remembered her all too well.
"Yes, and I'll bet my new fur that woman spread all those untruths about you because she is jealous of you," Lady Rowena stated. "You're so much prettier than that girl, Beryl. That's why I think it is best you show up with Mr. Shields by your side. After all, he is your guardian," she said meaningfully. "You take a rest now, to be fresh for tonight," Lady Rowena said as she pressed a kiss onto Serena's forehead and left the room.
*****END OF FLASHBACK*****
She stole a look at the mirror just before she exited the room. Her eyes widened at the reflection. She didn't look like plain Serena Mary-Anne Stradtfield, the country bumpkin from her country manor.
Instead she looked like Lady Serena Mary-Anne Stradtfield, the Countess of Rockbourn, with all the dignity and grace of her noble ancestors.
*********
Darien and the Earl of Leicester, Howard Dudley waited for the ladies in the front hall. Awkward silence filled the air.
To Lord Dudley, Darien Shields seemed very familiar. The ruggedly chiseled features and piercing blue eyes – he seemed to have seen them from somewhere. But he just couldn't put his finger where or who is really is.
Lady Rowena swept into the room in an emerald green gown that complemented her dark features. She gave her husband her peck on the cheek, but Lord Dudley merely grinned as he swept her into his arms and kissed her fully on the lips. Lady Rowena blushed visibly as she smacked him lightly on the arm lightly with her fan, something all ladies do when the gentlemen are too forward.
"Howard, we have guests here," she chided her husband. Lord Dudley merely grinned as he winked at Darien, whose expression had not changed at all.
"Oh, Serena will be down in a minute," Lady Rowena told Darien. Darien nodded. Just then, there was a noise at the top of the stairs. Everyone looked up to see an extremely self conscious golden angel standing there, looking at them nervously.
Serena looked down from the stairs at the small company. Her aunt was dressed in a beautiful emerald green gown and his uncle's navy blue evening wear complimented her. Her breath got caught in her throat as Darien raised his head to look at her.
He was wearing stark black evening wear and with the help of the candlelight, she detected the reasonably sized sapphire pin in the midst of his snowy white neck cloth. The suit fit him to perfection and he looked so handsome in it, with his ebony hair and stormy blue eyes – just like a hero from a romantic novel.
Darien's jaw nearly dropped before he managed to get a grip on his emotions. Was this woman the same one whose life he had to repeatedly rescue for the past few weeks? She looked like an angel in that gown and her hair set that way. All she was lacking was a pair of wings to take her back to heaven.
Taking a deep breath, Serena started down the stairs with grace and poise. To her utmost dismay and Darien's greatest amusement, out of sheer nervousness, she stumbled at the last few remaining steps.
Darien rushed forward to steady her. With a deep chuckle, he realized that no matter what she wears, she will still be the same Serena he knows. He released her and offered her his arm, "Shall we."
Serena felt that she can die of embarrassment when he caught her before she landed on her face. With a regal inclination of her head, she laid her gloved hand on his arm as they followed the Earl and Countess of Leicester to the door.
**********
Disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon!
Hi!!!
I'm back! Sorry for not updating for so long, but I was busy with my mid year exams. But here it is, Part 5 of My Idiotic Protector.
Ok, Serena has two brothers – one elder and one younger. Her mother, Serena had died in child birth.
A bit of tidbit, the Earl of Leicester's last name should be Dudley. The Earl of Leicester, Robert Dudley was supposedly a lover of the English Virgin Queen, Elizabeth the First.
Ahh…I'll write the next chapter soon and thanks to those who reviewed all this time. And if anyone wants me to mail them for updates, do tell me so by reviewing. And remember to leave your e-mail!
Ghostwriter…
18 May 2002