A/N This is a new story that I have written, something different from 'The forbidden'. It had been on my mind for a while before I actually wrote it out. This is more of a historical romance and I am going to play with it for a while.


Broken promises

By sushi-genius


London, 1910

She thought that he was mad.

That was the first thought that went through Sakura Kinomoto's mind when she first laid her eyes on the Duke of Wolfne. It was no ordinary meeting. There was no introduction between both of them, no dances nor even words of greeting.

Though she had never laid eyes on him until this very night, she had heard enough about him from her brother, the Marquess of Havenwood. Both went to Eton together but do not be mistaken that they were the best of friends. In fact they were far from it! Touya hated him with deep passion though the reason was not clear to her, she had heard murmurs that Li had stolen the girl Touya had been eyeing for right under his nose. For that, a duel had almost been fought but it had been prevented when Li had left for London on that very same day.

"That coward!" Touya had hissed under his breath when he had learnt of Li's departure. It was only due to the presence of his little sister that he had prevented from swearing profusely in front of many others. It was known to all that the Marquess of Havenwood was seriously overprotective of his younger sibling. It was the sole reason why many suitors have been dissuaded upon having her hand in marriage.

Though the Marquess's interference been one of the main reasons why Sakura was still unwedded, she herself had a role to play. Many a times a suitor would accompany her into the park only to come out drenched from head to toe upon rescuing her bonnet. And if that was not enough, She had a fierce companion that was half wolf and half dog that would growl fiercely at any men that would dare come near his mistress.

Her dear mother had often dismayed of her only daughter having had three seasons with many offers of marriage, still unwed. She had often cried out to her husband of this problem only to be met with chuckles from her husband. Many of her friend's daughters had been married with their first two seasons with fine catches.

Sakura knew her mother loved her very much but having been thrusted from one suitor to another and having mindless conversations, she was fed up and had told her mother that she was to become a spinster. Having heard that, her mother promptly burst into tears and it ended with Sakura promising her mother fervently that she would get married before her third season ended.

She had often complained to her brother only to be met with a pitying smile. Her brother was considered one of the best catches in the ton, being next in line for a dukedom. However, being only seven and twenty years of age, he had a long way to go before he would even settle down yet. Sakura, on the other hand, was twenty years old and was quite past the age of getting married.

She had once commented to her friend, Tomoyo, the Countess of Greywood that if she had met a suitor with half the bravery of her pet and the character and adoration of her brother, she would marry him without any complains. So far, she had never met a man meeting all of her expectations.

Her brother had told her to marry for love, just like their parents, having marriages unlike most of the ton. "Sakura, you can marry anyone you like and I will support you as long as you love him," Touya had told her with a grim smile. "Even if I may dislike him with great passion." She had then promised her brother that she would not like anyone he disliked as he was always behind her in no matter what she did.

She did not know that her promise to her brother would be tested the moment she met Syaoran Li.

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She had arrived at the Lutherford's engagement party with her parents and her brother. Her hair was up in a chignon with a flower hairclip to hold it up. Dressed in an emerald gown that showed just a hint of her bosom and a beautiful emerald necklace around her, she smiled brightly as she descended down the stairs with her arm around her brother's. They were a striking pair, the two of them. He was dark as she was light. Many of the ton had commented the fortune of their parents of having two beautiful children. Touya was tall and handsome like his father while Sakura was beautiful and petite like her mother.

Her beautiful emerald eyes brightened when she saw her best friend in the crowd. Disengaging her hand from her brother's, she rushed forward to join her friend, smiling at the greetings of everyone. Touya followed behind her. It was his duty to look after her since young. He could still remember the first time he saw her, all tiny and fragile in his mother's arms and she saw him, she broke into a toothless smile as though recognizing him as her brother.

As he walked behind her, he glared at any men whose looks have become too forward. It was true that Sakura had blossomed into a beauty. Since young, her eyes were the most captivating part of her features, sometimes darkening into moss green when angered. Touya had once too many times witnessed fierce suitors turning into milksops when his sister had focused her attention on them.

He swore under his breath when he saw the attention his sister's gown was attracting. He could see the lust lingering in many eyes when they fell upon her figure. Although her gown was not the least bit provocative, it still managed to outline all the curves she had to the maximum. Fighting the urge to remove his coat and covering her with it, he walked next to his sister, shooting a warning glance at all around. The lewd glances immediately stopped. Everyone knew how good the Marquess of Havenwood was with a pistol as well as with a sword.

"Having fun Touya?" Tomoyo asked, trying to control her giggles. She also had seen the attention Sakura had been attracting. In fact everyone knew except the person herself. Most of the times, Sakura was even oblivious to her own looks.

Touya refused to comment, his face darkening with displeasure.

"Why is it whenever you come out with me you seem to be in a bad mood?" Sakura asked her brother, her brows furrowed with worry. "I told you that if you were not free you need not accompany me. Otousan and Okaasan are here. You need not worry about me."

Touya rolled his eyes, his exasperation obvious. "It is not that. It is just that I don't like the looks that they give you."

"Who?" Sakura asked innocently. Touya sighed. Sometimes his sister was as dense as a doorknob.

"Nothing. Look stay put here while I go and greet my friend and I will come back as soon as possible."

"Don't," Touya continued, staring intensely at his sister. "leave this spot unless you have a valid reason to."

"What if I have to freshen up?" She smiled sweetly at her brother while inside she was seething. Sometimes his over protectiveness irritated the hell out of her. Even her father was not as overbearing as he was.

His hard glare showed that he was not amused. With a curt nod, he turned and went to mingle with his friends.

Sakura sighed. At times it seemed almost impossible to get Touya to leave her alone in parties like this. "Is he still looking back?" Sakura asked, a bitter smile on his lips. Tomoyo shook her head.

"Sometimes," Sakura confined. "Having Touya around is like having a ball and chain shackled around you. And I thought that only applied to men who are married!"

Both of them immediately burst into laughter, drawing attention around them. Mopping up the corner of her eyes, Tomoyo agreed. "I don't know how you are ever going to get married. However, his love for you is a bit endearing. If I was not married, I am sure I would have fallen for him myself."

Sakura smiled. Tomoyo's marriage to Eriol, the Earl of Greywood, was the talk of the ton two years ago. Their match was not a love match at first, in fact all they could do was not to kill each other within the month of their marriage. Somehow, they fell in love with each other along the way, often seen shooting endearing looks at each other even from a distance. That was the type of marriage Sakura wanted, not the type where the husband and wife went their separate ways, only recognizing each other in bed. However that was the type of marriage which most of the couples in the ton had.

"Speaking of which, where is your handsome prince charming?" Sakura murmured, lifting a glass of champagne to her lips. The cold liquid felt like heaven against her throat.

Tomoyo's face brightened up at the thought of her husband. "He is over there, talking business with the Baron of Treywood. You know him. Politics and all. I would be bored to death if I had to stand next to him. So in order not to sleep on my feet, I decided to wait for you."

"By the way," Tomoyo's voice lowered into a whisper. "Did you know that the Duke of Wolfne is back?"

"Who? The old Duke?" Sakura questioned, puzzled over Tomoyo's behavior. She had never once showed an interest in the Duke of Wolfne. He was a handsome man in his sixties who seldom showed his face in the ton.

"No. The old Duke passed away a month ago and his son had taken over his place as the new Duke of Wolfne. I heard that he is going to show up tonight" Seeing Sakura's confused look, Tomoyo continued, "Your brother's arch enemy, Syaoran Li is the new Duke of Wolfne!"

Unfazed by the news, Sakura continued to sip her champagne, looking nonchalant. "Duke or no duke, my impression of him will not change. Although I have not had the displeasure of meeting him before, I am sure I will not feel left out. I had heard many horrid tales of him for Touya."

Hesitant to point out that Touya's views may be biased as well as that her husband are on good terms with the new duke, Tomoyo just kept quiet. Oblivious to Tomoyo's sudden silence, Sakura carried on, "I am sure that just as Touya had said, Li is an incorrigible scoundrel who has changed as many women as he does clothes and does not have a single compassionate bone in his entire body."

Tomoyo had a scandalized expression on her face. "Touya should learn to curb his tongue around you. Imagine the uproar you would cause if you repeated that everywhere!"

Sakura shrugged. "He did not tell that directly to me. I overhead his conversation one day, with his friend outside his study. You know how Touya tries to control his language around me. Ever since when I was nine and I heard him using the word 'hell' once, I used it in every sentence that I said. Touya had gotten his ears blistered by my mother then for using such language in front of me."

"Poor Touya," Tomoyo sympathized, shaking her head. "I bet you purposely did it to get him into trouble. The problem is that your innocent face makes people believe that you are incapable of doing such things."

Sakura laughed. It was an appealing sound that lingered around. "Come. Let's tour around the house. I heard that the rooms here are as every bit delightful as they are welcoming."

Being the elder between the two of them by two years, Tomoyo was the more sensible one. "But didn't your brother asked you to stay put?"

With a sly grin on her face and her emerald eyes twinkling. Sakura made a very fetching picture. "He did say so but I have a valid reason to leave."

"And what reason is that?" Tomoyo begin to feel nervous. At times, Sakura was too rebellious for her own good. She had known Sakura for a long time to know that it was hard for Sakura to take orders and carry them out obediently. Instead, she would twist and turn the words until it seemed as though it was the person's fault for not stating it clearly.

"I need to 'freshen up' or I will go mad with waiting," Sakura concluded, fanning herself dramatically with her hand. She looked exactly of an overheated female. "The heat here is excruciating. I think I might faint."

Tomoyo immediately became worried. She could not handle this situation herself if Sakura had indeed fainted. "You wait here! I go and get some smelling salts. I am sure Lady Lutherford have some around here."

Sakura waited until Tomoyo went out of her sight before straightening up. Tomoyo was acting just like a mother hen! She was not like that before, always joining Sakura in her tricks. Marriage had changed her. Tomoyo became less playful and more motherly. It was not that Sakura disliked Tomoyo getting married, she was happy for Tomoyo as Tomoyo was happier than ever before. However, somehow it was taking Tomoyo away from her. Marriage changes people and she was afraid of it.

Upon seeing Tomoyo coming back, Sakura quickly walked into the sea of people, hiding from Tomoyo's sight. She turned and walked to the balcony, hiding at the corner. She heaved a sigh of relief, she needed some time alone for a while and between Touya and Tomoyo, all she could do was to breathe as much as she could before being suffocated.

The balcony was long and turned at a corner where she was hiding. Luckily there was no one out here, many enjoying the dances and music inside. Sakura took a step forward, inhaling the fresh air. She was being stifled inside with the strong smells of perfume and cologne that she had longed to step out long ago.

Upon hearing people coming, she quickly pressed herself against the pillar, trying to blend in with the surroundings. She felt relief when she saw that it was not her brother or Tomoyo coming to look for her.

A couple had walked out of the room and onto the balcony, hoping for some privacy. Sakura winced at the woman's high pitched voice and laughter. "Well my lord. Now that we are out here, what do you plan to do with me?"

The man replied. His voice was deep and husky and it sent chills down Sakura's spine. "I suppose I could kiss you?"

Sakura's eyes widened. Just her luck to witness an intimate scene from a couple. She was literally trapped, the only way to go into the room was through that door which she had entered from. However if she was to present herself, it will most certainly be a most embarrassing situation for the three of them.

Sakura closed her eyes just as she saw the man lowering his face to the lady's. The moans of the lady were most arousing and she could definitely see that the man enjoyed it, lust obvious in his amber eyes.

Opening her eyes to see if they left, Sakura looked and nearly collapsed against the pillar in shock. The lady's gown was lowered until her heavy breasts were bared for everyone's view and the man was shocking trailing down kisses on her chest. Sakura's stomach tightened in disgust at the image they presented. Why could not they get a room? It was blatantly obvious what they were doing for those in the room even if they did not see it as the sounds coming from the lady would surely alert the whole of London!

Thankfully, after a while the man lifted up his head from the lady's chest. Pulling the lady's dress up, she could hear him murmuring against the lady's ear. "Pray we will continue with this another day. Any longer and your husband would be looking for you."

An adultery! Although Sakura was not so innocent until she did not know that many of the members of the ton took lovers even when they were married, she was still shock at the infidelity of the woman. Marriage was suppose to be sacred!

The lady pressed a kiss against the man's lips before bowing and left the balcony. To Sakura's dismay, the man did not follow but instead lingered at the balcony, smoking a cigar. She was going to be stuck here forever!

She took a step back. Unaware of the plant behind, she crashed against it, upsetting the pot. "Damn it," Sakura cursed. It was most unladylike but it had escaped out of her mouth unknowingly.

The sound startled the man who walked around and spotted her. She did not notice his presence as she was occupied with setting the pot straight. She stood up and turned, crashing into his solid chest. She felt as though she had struck a wall.

She looked up and gasped. It was the man just now and the worst of all was that he was devastatingly handsome. He was tall, at about six feet around the height of her brother. His brown hair looked windblown and messy but yet added to his appeal. The most obvious feature was his amber eyes that were piercing and cold. He had a strong jaw line with a small cleft in his chin. He was absolutely masculine was radiating sex appeal.

"Now what do we have here?" His husky voice appealed and frightened her. She had never met a man like him before. His body was radiating strength and power. None of her suitors had the raw appeal as he had. She flinched when his hand caressed her face. "Spying?"

She shook her head, the ability to speak gone. Her voice was robbed by this impressive man in front of her. She walked back until she felt the pillar against her back. There was no where to escape this man in front of her.

"I have never seen you before and if I have, I am sure I would not have forgotten a face like yours," he murmured, his words weaving a spell on her. She froze, her mind robbed of the ability to think as his hand reached up to her hair. "What lovely hair you have. All soft and silky. It's a pity it is all tied up."

With that, he removed the hair clip and her long tresses tumbled down in waves and curls down her back. "Now that is better," he whispered, his lips dangerously close to her ear. Sakura felt a shiver down her spine. "You look so seductive and yet so innocent this way."

Sakura was confused. She could not understand her attraction to his man. He was dangerous and she knew she was playing with fire. Yet, she felt herself rooted to the ground as he weaved his spell around her.

"I-I-I. . .," Sakura managed to stumble out but stopped when she felt his thumb grazing her lips. His thumb moved back and for, each touch sending a shock down her spine. "Your lips are so soft and appealing. I wonder if you have been kissed many times before."

Caught in the moment, Sakura shook her head. The man smiled, his white teeth contrasted against the tan of his skin. "Then," he said, his lips descending down. "let me teach you."

The moment his lips touched hers, Sakura froze. Her mind blank. The man molded his lips against hers, licking the corner of her lips. She was pressed up against the pillar with his body and she could feel the hard contours of his body. A strange feeling pooled in her stomach as she held on to him, his arms bulging with muscle.

She let a moan, clinging desperately onto him as she felt her legs give way. His kisses were urgent and passionate and she felt that with her body. His arms went around her, pressing her against him. He could feel the softness of her body, inhale her sweet scent. She was unlike the woman he had just held, unlike any women he had taken before. He could feel her breasts straining against her gown, their softness pressing against his chest.

He growled, a sense of desire shot through him. His tongue probed into her mouth and when she granted him entrance, he slipped his tongue between their joined mouths and tasted her sweetness. He wanted more. He wanted all of it. He wanted her soft and willing in his bed and when he had her, he would repeat it all over again.

He was drugging her, she thought, intoxicated. He was invoking a feeling that she had never felt before. She had been kissed before, kisses stolen from urgent suitors but she had never been kissed before. So thoroughly and she liked it. Hesitantly, she touched her tongue to his lips and the kiss exploded.

The kiss deepened and soon she was tasting him as well. Her hands traveled down his chest, feeling the tightening of his muscles. He lifted his lips from hers and proceeded to kiss her neck. His breath on her neck made her hairs stand. She ran her hands through his hair, marveling at its softness.

His lips trailed lower and lower and was about to meet her breasts when Touya's voice shouted out. "Sakura! Damn it! Sakura, where are you?"

Sakura's mind cleared through the haze of passion and jumped back in shock. She behaved like a brazened hussy. Totally unacceptable of a lady of her status and kind. She would be ruined for life if anyone saw her and her family would be disgraced.

The man took a step backwards, his face entering shock. Sakura felt like crying. What had possessed her to behave in such a manner? Now he would think that she was a cheap woman when she was actually the daughter of a duke!

Sakura bowed her head and was about to flee when he grabbed hold of her hand. "Who are you?" he demanded, lust and desire gone from his eyes, leaving coldness.

Sakura hesitated as Touya's calls grew louder and louder. Surely by now, everyone in the ballroom would have learnt of her disappearance. She tried to pull her arm away, only to have him tighten his grip. "Sakura Kinomoto, the daughter of the Duke of Havenwood."

She could have sworn that upon her announcement, his face grew grim and darken. His amber eyes grew colder until she could see shards of amber in them. He immediately released her hand and without looking back, she ran into the room.

She nearly ran passed Touya who was shouting furiously for her. He grabbed hold of her and held her against his chest. She fought against her captor only stopping upon realizing that he was her mother. She buried her head against the folds of his cravat and started shivering.

Touya was about to wretch her away from him and give her a good lecture when he felt her shivers. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, murmur words of comfort to her.

Sakura could feel tears filling up her eyes. If only Touya knew what she had been doing outside the balcony with the stranger. He would be furious. He hunt for the man and when he found him, he would do him bodily harm for making use of her innocence.

The only thing was that she welcomed the man's kisses and the passion that rose within her was real. She wanted to feel it again. She knew she was shameless for wanting so and that was why she could not forgive herself.

Touya pulled her from his arms when the last of her shivers subsided. He could see that his sister was vexed, her eyes filled up with tears. He could feel his heart wrenching. Someone had done something upsetting to her and he was going to do something about it.

"What is wrong?" Touya asked, worry evident in his eyes as he raised his sister's face up. He could see that her lip trembled, her eyes not meeting his. "What happen to your hair?"

"I fell down," Sakura lied, her face flushed. She could not tell him the truth. "My hair got caught in a plant when I fell. That's why it had gotten undone."

Stroking her hair softly, Touya smiled. "That's nothing to get upset about. Why the problem with you females is that you get your emotions in the way of everything! Crying at the slightest thing!"

He chuckled when his sister glared at him. She was going to be alright. She was just shocked by her fall. For a moment, he thought that she had been subjected to a man's unwanted attentions. If that happened, he would blame himself for not looking after her.

"I thought I told you to stay put!" he reprimanded, getting angry at that thought. "Next time I must tie you to a pillar."

"I did. I was getting so suffocated and overheated that I went to the balcony to get fresh air!" she argued.

His anger dissipated. After all it was not easy for his sister to stay put. He sighed, not knowing what to do with her. Suddenly he stiffened, his eyes grew cold and hard.

Sensing the sudden change in her brother's behavior, Sakura turned to look what he was looking at. She felt a sudden panic when she saw her brother eyeing the very same stranger she was with a few moments ago. Had her brother seen what took place at the balcony?

Tomoyo appeared and handled a glass of champagne to Sakura. "Where did you go?" Tomoyo asked, disapproval obvious in her eyes.

Sakura ignored her question. Her eyes never wavering from the stranger that was pointedly staring at her now, his amber gaze piercing. "Who is that man that Touya is glaring at?"

Somehow in her heart she knew the answer and that scared her to bits. Not only did she betray her brother, she had been in a passionate embrace with him. She needed to get out of there fast, before Touya found out, before everything went out of control.

She felt faint for real and she held on to her brother's arms for support. Her world begin to spin "I think I am going to swoon," she whispered to herself.

No one heard her, Touya and Tomoyo were both staring at the stranger.

Answering Sakura's question without taking her glaze away from the man, Tomoyo replied. "Syaoran Li, the new Duke of Wolfne."

With that, Sakura's legs gave way and she fainted in her brother's arms.

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A/N so how was it? This is very different from what I have been writing so far and I hope that you all enjoyed it.

Review!