Author's Note: Today is my birthday, because I am in a good mood I shall gift you a new chapter… ON MY BIRTHDAY! You guys had better give me plenty of reviews for my birthday! Lovelove
Sonnets 4 & 54
Unthrifty loveliness, why dost thou spend
Upon thyself thy beauty's legacy?
She examined herself in the mirror, looking at the high collar, thick shawl and long sleeves. She shifted her weight, the length of skirt that hung past her ankle rustled against her feet. She stared at herself, lifting her chin haughtily. Why did she feel so restrained all of a sudden? Why was it that she didn't want to be confined to her usual garb this day? She lifted her hands, unfastening her shawl.
Nature's bequest gives nothing but doth lend,
And being frank she lends to those are free.
She unpinned her collar, unfastening her dress until she let it fall around her waist, sliding her hands over her smooth, bare shoulders, following the paths his hands and followed before. She stepped from her dress, slowly reaching back and unfastening her petticoats, letting them fall to the ground. She wanted it all off, her heart raced in her chest.
Then, beauteous niggard, why dost thou abuse
The bounteous largess given thee to give?
Her breath caught in her throat as she stepped out of her shoes, lifting her hands to her corset, slowly beginning to unclasp the rigid piece of material. She heard a door close behind her and with half lidded eyes looked over her shoulder as he walked up behind her, she heard his words, but didn't understand them, as his fingers finished her job, letting her corset fall to the floor with her other clothes.
Profitless usurer, why dost thou use
So great a sum of sums, yet canst not live?
His lips met her neck as she pulled her camisole down, letting the sheer silk fall to the floor around her ankles. His gloved hands slid against her hips, up her abdomen to cradle her breasts. She flushed, the new sensation of the soft cotton against her bare skin sent goose bumps up her body.
For having traffic with thyself alone,
Thou of thyself thy sweet self dost deceive.
"Selfish of you, milady, to undress without telling me…" She leaned against him as his hand caught her knee, sliding up the inside of her thigh. She rested her head on his shoulder.
"I wasn't aware I needed to inform you of my every action." He caught her mouth with his as she turned her head, her fingers pulling his gloves off his hands and letting them fall to the ground.
Then how, when nature calls thee to be gone,
What acceptable audit canst thou leave?
"I should be informed when what belongs to me is on display." His voice darkened as she unfastened his jacket, sliding it down his shoulders and off his arms when he released her. She turned to face him, unbuttoning his shirt as he leaned his head down, pressing his face against her neck. "You're lucky it was me that walked in, you know if someone else would have they'd tell your grandmother you were performing lewd acts in front of a mirror." He nipped her skin, eliciting a gasp as they tumbled to the floor.
Thy unused beauty must be tomb'd with thee,
Which, used, lives th' executor to be.
She sighed heavily, lying in the sweet spring grass, watching the stars overhead. A servant had told her earlier that day that if one picked a star, and watched it, one could see the world turn. Being the fanciful sixteen year-old she was, she decided to try it. She had been watching the world turn for some time, watching the stars move across the night sky, a heavy leather book resting beneath her head.
"O, how much more doth beauty beauteous seem/By that sweet ornament which truth doth give." She whispered. "The rose looks fair, but fairer we it deem/For that sweet odour which doth in it live."
"You know it isn't healthy for a young woman to be out lying in wet grass in naught but her house robe." She looked up as someone stood over her. "Milady, how many times have I told you not to sneak out into the gardens at night?" His voice was playful, teasing, her eyes focused on his lips.
"I know very well, Xerxes Break." She responded primly, her dark blonde hair spilled in gentle curls across the grass beneath her head.
The canker-blooms have full as deep a dye
As the perfumed tincture of the roses,
"Oh really?" He sat down next to her. "Just out of curiosity, what is it that you're doing out here in the middle of the night anyways?"
"I couldn't sleep." She smiled over at him. "So I thought I'd come out and watch the stars." He flattened himself down on the ground next to her.
"You are a very curious young woman, you know that?" He turned his head to look at her, as she looked up at the stars. He watched the way her eyelashes lighted on her cheekbones, the delicate line of her lips, the way her lips parted when she took a breath.
Hang on such thorns and play as wantonly
When summer's breath their masked buds discloses:
"I do know that, my grandmother often reminds me of this…" she laughed. "Did you know that you can see the world turn if you watch the stars?"
"I didn't." He lied, he just enjoyed the sound of her voice.
"Well if you pick a star up there and keep watching it then you can watch the world turn." She smiled over at him.
"May I watch the world turn with you, milady?" His question had a deeper meaning, a deeper sense to it, and for a moment she paused, looking over at him.
But, for their virtue only is their show,
They live unwoo'd and unrespected fade,
"Yes, yes of course, how could I say no to you?" She smiled sweetly. "I love you, Xerxes." This time the words had a different impact on him.
"You keep saying that, but I don't deserve your love, Lady Shalon." He looked down as she slid her delicate hand into his.
"Who I love has nothing to do with deserving… when I decided to give you my heart I gave you my heart, simple as that." His hand clasped around hers as she laced her fingers through his.
Die to themselves. Sweet roses do not so;
Of their sweet deaths are sweetest odours made:
"I'm sure you can't be serious, you don't know what love is." He chuckled.
"Oh…?" She sounded offended. "Just because I'm young doesn't mean that I'm stupid, Xerxes Break." She sat up and leaned over him, hands on either side of his head. A smirk pulled at his lips before she leaned down and kissed him, just once, a quick little peck, but it still made his heart jump.
And so of you, beauteous and lovely youth,
When that shall fade, my verse distills your truth.