Story: Eternal Flame
Chapter: Clandestine Trajectory
Author: Lady of Enchantment
Disclaimer: About the most originality that any writer can hope to achieve honestly is to steal with good judgment.
Josh Billings
Warnings: Story contains mild language and slight sexual implications.
Clandestine Trajectory
It wasn't that she didn't respect Luna. She was just… too much of a lady. Always on her backbone, her governess was a constant buzz in her ear, never giving her any peace. Even now, as she sat with her in the carriage, she had a nagging itch to shut her up.
"You have no one to blame but yourself! As it is, you agreed to the marriage, so you have no right to keep talking ill of him."
Serena grounded her teeth together in frustration, practically launching herself across the carriage. "I 'agreed' to the marriage before I realized who it was that I actually agreed to marry!" she snapped back.
"Don't be an idiot." Luna answered calmly, "You were informed."
"Yes, but the name did not process. It hadn't occur to me that he was the one."
"Well," she continued smoothly, "Why should it even matter?"
Serena blanched, "Have you gone daft? Darien Westford?"
Luna frowned at the mock display, "Many ladies would kill to have your new found status."
"As long as they don't kill me, they can have it," she said dryly.
The elder woman nearly fainted at the careless tone in which Serena made her statement, "Do you even know of the young Duke Westford?"
"How could I not? He has quite the reputation."
"Abundance in wealth-"
"That he doesn't seem to use."
"He's handsome-"
"Just like various others. Depends on your taste, don't you think?"
"He's an excellent lover-"
"A male whore, you mean, like every man alive on this planet between 14 and 50. Besides, how would you know?"
Luna nearly threw her hands up in exasperation, but she pressed on, hoping to appeal to the young lady's favors.
"He's intelligent-"
"I'll be sure to debate politics with him on my free time," came the sarcastic reply.
"He's a great fighter-"
"All the easier for him to beat me up."
"He's a gentleman," Luna protested.
Serena's eyes filled with scorn, "The word 'gentleman' only infers the privilege of four added letters to his name. Hardly consistent, if you ask me. I wonder how many bastards he has had already? Probably murdered them all. Really, men think monogamy is something you make dining tables out of. And believe me, I actually asked a-"
"You are being insolent," Luna hissed, taking a quick peak under the curtains. Straightening again, she replied a bit more calmly, "We're here. Don't say a word until I tell you to. Once I leave, then you may throw your tantrums."
"When are you leaving?" Serena asked innocently.
"Once I see that you are situated, of course. I have already arranged for Lady Mina Aino to show you around and teach you the ropes of the city. Now hush, and wait for my signal."
With that, she took a firm hold of her skirts and gracefully glided out of the carriage.
Serena sighed and readjusted her veils, which covered her face completely. When she had agreed on taking up a husband, she had pictured a shriveling, aging man who will bend completely under her firm touch.
She had been wrong. Dead wrong.
Her new husband wasn't old. And if the rumors were any indication, he wasn't weak either… or shriveled.
"Lady?" the sweet, honeyed of Luna floated through.
Rolling her eyes at the irony, she daintily accepted the waiting hand and allowed the footman to help her down. The mansion was beautiful, she admitted. The driveway was an oval in front, and spring grass waved their welcome merrily from within it. Golden gates separated the rest of London from this beautiful home made of white marble. The roof shone the brilliant color of a gold layer.
This wasn't too bad, she admitted to herself. The oval driveway would be perfect for her to race her horse. Being in London, after all, such opportunities were rare. Despite herself, she had been delighted when she found that Westford had a stable. Right away, she had made arrangements for her horse to be transported. He should be here by now, she mused. She would have to check on him later and make sure that he's settled comfortably. Then she can perhaps take him on his daily exercise routine and-
She gasped as she felt Luna jab her elbows into her side. Nasty obscenities were already rising up her throat before she realized where she was. Smiling nervously, she swallowed the words and turned to face her fiancé.
She recognized him instantly. It was in the way he lounged on the marble pillars that gave the first indication of who he was. A gentleman would never lounge in the presence of a lady with that mocking smile, but he did.
Serena held herself straight, tilting her chin up and flashed her own cool look toward him. It was doubtful that he saw it through the filmy material of her veil, but it was more to serve her own nerves than anything else.
What Darien did see, however, was that arrogant tilt of the chins. Already, he could sense that this was going to be one hell of a boring marriage. In one month, he'll be a married man. In two years, he'll be a father. In thirty years, he'll be a grandfather. Dear God, what a depressing thought.
He didn't bother with introductions, thinking it unnecessary. Instead he turned toward his mansion without a word and strolled inside, trusting them to follow. He didn't turn back until he reached the staircase and beckoned upward, "Your room's upstairs. Stop a maid along the way and she'll show you the way.'
Serena couldn't help but feel a prick of resentment at his dismissing attitude. He hasn't even given an introduction! She had expected a cold welcome, but this was just too much. "Where are you going?"
"Stables."
It wasn't the right time, she decided. Once the wedding ceremony is over, she'll give him a piece of her mind. But now, she'll keep up her masquerade just a bit longer.
"I shall see you later then," she murmured politely.
When two ladies meet each other, society dictates that each tries their hardest to be courteous. Serena didn't give a damn.
If she didn't like her new escort, she would very well say so.
No prissy lady was going to drag her around the so-called 'glorious' London. She was twenty, and way past the age for a babysitter.
Holding her chin a notch higher, she sailed down the stairs and rounded the corner to step beside Luna. Her first sweep of the room revealed that her guest had not yet arrived. On closer observation, however, she noticed a woman busily scanning the bottom bookshelves in the corner.
Luna cleared her throat, "Lady Aino?"
The woman turned and gave a small laugh, "I'm sorry. This wonderful book caught my eye and I couldn't resist taking a-."
She stopped mid-sentence, her blue eyes widening in shock.
Reaching up, Serena undid the chain that held her hair together. Walking over to Mina, she snatched the chopsticks from hers as well. Together, their golden hair tumbled down their shoulders.
"What do you think, Luna? Don't we look uncannily alike?"
Luna could only give a soft moan in answer as she stared upon the two girls standing together. Dear god, one Serena was enough.
"Well," Serena announced, "I've always wanted a twin. I have a feeling we'll be great friends."
She turned to smile at her new friend. Encouraged, Mina smiled back.
"Well then, shall we take our planned stroll through the city?"
"Yes," Mina answered, "But on horseback. It'll make things so much easier. What do you say?"
"I say," Serena grinned, "That you are finally talking my language. Give me some time to change and saddle my horse."
"I'll wait out front."
Ten minutes later, she had struggled out of her full evening gown and into her custom-made riding habit. She had often found that riding astride a horse often made her habit split and slide up. Sidesaddle, however, made it hard for her to control her horse. So finally, she split apart the skirt, added more material and sewed it up again. Luna nearly had a heart attack catching her try out her new habit atop a horse.
Whistling, Serena headed for the stables. A sudden surge of self-confidence had caught up with her, and she was not going to give up this opportunity to gloat. She couldn't wait till her future husband finds out what sort of wife he had snagged.
He would be horrified.
She sighed in contentment, picturing the whole scene in her head. As she walked on, she passed a group of people lounging on the pasture fence, pointing inside and whispering to each excitedly. Curious, she turned about and headed for them. Her ears caught onto the pounding of hooves and she was interested right away. Forgetting all ladylike behavior, she proceeded to push herself forward, shoving aside stable-hands, grooms, lady and gentleman admires alike.
She was halfway through when she caught sight of red ribbons and a blur of black. A mixture of possession and fury washed over her as she recognized her beloved horse being led out to paddock. With a snarl of impatience, she nearly flattened those who still stood in her way. Without breaking stride, she vaulted the fence and stormed her way onto the field.
It irked her even further when she recognized the thief as her own fiancé, the duke. Her horse is her most prized possession, and by all rights takes a position higher than that of some damn husband. He was violating and she did not care for it.
Her voice was icy as she extended a hand to restrain him from mounting "And what do you think you are doing with that horse?"
Darien was unfazed, "Mounting, my lady." His voice was mocking, his eyes contemptuous, "Do you have a problem with it?"
"Yes," Serena answered boldly, "Because that's my horse. I demand that you get your filthy hands off him and apologize."
The duke's brows shot up at the challenging tone, and his lips pursed, "Evidence, my dear lady."
"Very well," she answered, "His name's Invictus. He loves to chase dogs and eat sugar cubes. He hates both men and women alike and only tolerates me because I raised him for the 3-year duration of his life. Most importantly, he responds to various oral commands, such as this-"
She whistled three high notes. Invictus' ears perked up and he broke free of the grooms, circled them twice and coming to a stop behind Serena. Smiling triumphantly, she patted him and passed him a sugar cube.
(Note: Invictus is a Latin word meaning "unable to be conquered or overpowered)
"Still unconvinced?"
Instantly, the snobby tone struck heart. Darien could feel that trickle of white fire crawling up his belly and him mind screamed at him to retaliate. To be corrected by a lady… no, woman… was humiliating. Bred and educated by a family that held pride and power in the highest regards, his whole life had been dictated by the singular belief of his father. His father, in turn, had been a strict taskmaster, severe and unbending in all matters. His view of women, like those of every other male during the time, was strictly based on the fact that women were incapable. That alone undermined them all in his eyes.
And who could blame him? London was all about survival. Every move is a strategic battle and it was that attitude that gave him such success. Through a brilliant and well thought out series of conquests of potential businesses, the Westford family had risen to the peak. And it was all through father and son. No where was his mother even remotely involved. Her only purpose, and her only ability, was to manage the household and provide an eligible son. Her own son never even spared her a look.
Darien eyed the woman standing smugly by his side, idly waiting for his outburst. She was intelligent, he had to give her that. There was little doubt she could read men like a book. Unfortunately, he wasn't so easily beat at his own game.
"My grooms must have made a mistake," he admitted, bowing his head in a show of apology, "I'll be sure to have a talk with them later. May I know your name, my fair lady?"
Serena started, staring in disbelief at the bowed head. She had been so sure of his fury. Was it possible that she made a mistake in her judgement of him?
Her answer came when he raised his head to face her. It was apologetic at first, but as she looked on, a slow, lazy grin formed and his eyes crinkled in amusement.
Her mistake was simple. She had used her father as a basis for Westford's actions, terribly underestimating him in the process. Vipers recognize each other, she thought grimly, and she just spotted herself a snake.
Returning his mocking expression, she dipped down in a curtsey, "Lady Moonhaven, your grace" she rose, straightening her spine and giving him a devious smile, "Your future sister-in-law."
End Chapter 2
Author's note:
- Starting from the edit of the next chapter, there will be a few quotes that I do not put a claim on. However, in the interest of making this story realistic, I will not interrupt in the middle of a chapter to tell you so. Should there be a quote that you have heard previously from another word by word, then it is safe to assume that I am not the one have thought it up.
- I'm most likely making a big deal out of this, but I'm want no misunderstandings or accusations.