Chapter 4

"That bastard had corrupted her until she collapsed in heap on the floor. Leaving her to rot there on the ground, if it weren't for a few select slaves and my self to piece her back in concert. She's a very strong and virtuous woman, mind you, but he exposed his antipathy to her in a savage like way, that it tormented her until she was black and blue. But of course, being a man of high order, he wasn't placed in detention for the beating of his wife. But had cowered against all odds and had fled with his wretched tail between his legs that very same night.  We were all unaware of when he might return, too busy aiding Noin to give a damn where he went, what he did."

"Anyway, it seemed that word had extended to every corner of New Orleans. Catching the attention of many, and drawing the attention of one…" 

~~~

Many voices rang softly through the hallways of the Casanova Plantation house the night after the hostility between Estefan and Noin had arose. Among them was a family physician, who did very little to help Noin for she was still in mild shock and what seemed like perpetual slumber. Hilde, at her side, watched her intently as she slept, patting a soft sodden cloth against her forehead. She prayed for her, knowing she was strong enough to fight… Her attention was slowly brought up towards the bedroom entry, as a stranger Hilde wasn't known with knocked on the white-washed door frame. She stood, "Can I help you sir?" The man proceeded within, his jaws parting as he took note of Lucretzia within the settee.

"What in God's named happened?" He demanded breathlessly, propping his weight on one foot and a knee as he remembered his place and impeded the want to touch her. Hilde watched him, her eyebrows furrowing as she took in this man's gestures, realizing only moments later who he really was. "You must be Baron Peacecraft…" She smiled slightly as he nodded in return. The silence that followed was mainly unsettling, but was quickly interrupted by his previous question. Hilde frowned, "When she arrived home this past night, I suppose Lord Casanova and she had a bit of a squabble after her pass by at my extent. This is true for I was awoken by this…Time, was just not on my side by the time I reached her…" "How rigorous are her abrasions?'" Hilde looked at him a moment, a look of disapproval lingering about her eyes as she reached over to gently grasp the edges of the fine silk between her fingers.  "Since her opponent, or so to speak was a man; she was left with multiple wounds to the body. Mostly within the region of the shoulders, neck…" He didn't wait for her to finish as he stared aghast at what had been done, "That brute had reached her right through the textile of the sleeves adorning her arms…" He whispered with bated breath, although anger hinted through the abrupt wintriness of his eyes and intonation as he spoke. 

Silence again…How ironic…

"His next words were shocking to say the least, but I was all the more happy to agree. For he was a kind gentleman, a little enigma, just a little…And very lyrical he was, although his words proved nothing but the honesty they meant to convey." 

"Perhaps, if it seems not out of place, she should remain within my care until she fully recuperates." He turned towards her, strands of pale silk tumbling slightly over his broad shoulder, "I am a trifle worried of what demonic visions of him remain dormant above the surface until those purple eyes may see once again." The corners of her lips lifted into a concurring smile, although she had to insist on joining them after mending matters here. Off course, he was more than willing.

Her transfer was with out delay, Milliardo wishing the young miss well at her duties that remained within that small portion of hell. Hilde only smiled and thanked him, waving her short good-bye through the small window of the carriage as it road away.

~~~ 

Something disturbed her. Irritating her, tearing her into the awaking world as it shot its thorny feeling through the veins of her body. It stopped and spread on a certain place, bruising her, causing her to jolt in anguish and pain. "Uhnn..." A little moan escaped her lips, followed by a shrill but withering cry as she struggled against the pain, against the renovation of a nightmare! Pargan, told to alert him at the first signs of stirring, had quickly managed to inform him before her abrupt blast from the comforts of the bed. Shooting into his arms with a powerful determination to be saved, a fight for love and freedom from him, that damned soul.

She heaved and lightly cried, "Impure…So...unclean…" as she clung to him, this man her mind had yet to register. Only knowing that it held her within an angelic like hold, making the demons diminish from her thoughts. Milliardo soothed with her, gently running the pads of his fingers along her spine as he gently rocked her. "Shhh…Don't be afraid, nothing will harm you…" He looked at his hand, seeing the thick scarlet liquid coating their fingers. "Fetch me a portion of water and a cloth, will you Pargan?" He asked quietly, watching Pargan nod and disappear only to return within seconds holding a white ceramic bowl. Placing it on a small trolley beside them, Milliardo supported her with only his body and arm, as he delicately unlaced the folds of the nightgown, exposing to him the opened lesion. His heart wrenched as she emaciated, the motions of his hand as gentle as possible as he cleaned and dressed it properly. Pushing away the cart, he gently lied her back down against the pillows watching as her flustered breathing surrendered to dependability.

"He loved her, yes…Even though it seemed as if it was merely an obsession, his love grew during every moment of her reside. The love burning so hot that he would not allow her to walk out of his life… With out being aware that she held his heart within the palms of her hands…" 

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On the Chapter 5!