clarkfan325: Thanks for reading! Yeah, I think I threw everyone on a loop with that Lois clone lol.. but I hope you guys had somehow an idea how Linda's powers work :) I tweaked it a bit from the official SV universe so it would fit the story

LoisNClark4Ever: Yup. Poor Clark was hexed. You'll see in this chapter if he resisted Maxima's advances ;)

Guest #1: Hmmm.. I think this chapter might answer your question :)

Eleid: To answer your question.. I think it's in this chapter :) and sorry, but Lois is still MIA in this one :(

twilighting: Thank you! Glad you gave this a shot :)

asaMade: uhmmm.. sorry to disappoint you…. *cries hard* but promise next update Lois will return :)

multi-shadows: Thanks for reading! Yeah.. darn that Maxima.. lol.. hope you like where this is going :)

Been pretty busy lately, as I have decided to study again. But believe me, I will never ever drop this story. Hope you guys like this next chapter!

Chapter 6

"I still think it is more than a coincidence, Clark disappearing the same time Lois went back to their home a month ago." Chloe said, the glee in her voice evident.

Oliver looked at his pleased-with-herself wife. "Love, may I remind you that Clark works for our king and that it may be possible that he was called up again for a mission?"

Chloe frowned at Oliver. "Leave it to you to ruin my matchmaking fantasy."

AC and Mera laughed, ribbing Oliver that he may find himself out of their bedroom tonight.

It was a glorious weekend, and Chloe could not resist inviting their closest friends over for luncheon. It has been weeks since she had seen the most them, namely the masquerade ball, and it was high time for a little get-together.

She was surprised however, when the messenger returned with regrets from Clark's butler, of all people, that the Duke was currently away on an important matter and that he has not returned since he left almost a month ago. This made Chloe's overactive mind conclude that it may be because Clark had followed Lois to formally court her.

"Come on love, if Clark had followed Lois, wouldn't you have received a message, a letter, from her telling you that Clark is there?" Oliver countered.

Chloe frowned. Oliver was right. She gave out a huff and frowned. "My pragmatic husband."

"My romantic wife."

"It may not be a lost cause. From the story you shared it seems like our boy has quite an interest in your cousin." AC pointed out.

Chloe smiled. "Thank you AC." And then turned to her husband. "Now that is a sound opinion."

Oliver raised his hands in defeat, and continued eating. "I reckon we'll see how this will all play out."

The luncheon continued, until AC asked, effectively changing the topic. "Isn't Bruce coming? I thought he would be back soon enough? I need to discuss business with him. Mera and I will be sailing in a fortnight. He has expressed interest in our cargo."

Oliver shook his head. "It was larger problem than it seemed at first. The solicitor he hired to oversee the estate has disappeared, along with a large sum of money."

AC whistled. "That is a tough blow to Bruce. That estate is his largest and most productive. No wonder the solicitor got blinded."

"Who would have known Cobblepot would end up a criminal? He had a good reputation here in Metropolis. And you know how discerning Bruce can be."

"And to think Clark has played with the idea of hiring him as well, with his estate sharing a border with Bruce's." AC replied.

With Clark's named being mentioned, Chloe once again perked up. "Would Clark be the type of man to whisk away a woman? Maybe the reason Lois has not yet written is because they have eloped!"

Oliver wanted to laugh, but instead remained silent. He wanted a soft bed and a willing wife in the bedroom tonight.

Clark could not help himself but be disgusted with his actions of late, specifically the past month. Was he such a wet-behind-the-ears-boy that when the minute the idea of taking her and making her his presented itself, he took it with such vigor, and ended up with him being married to a harlot?

Standing in front of the window of the study in his country estate in far-off Granville, he saw Lois walking purposely towards the stables. But he knew that it was not because of the horses. He was infuriated at first once he realized that Lois was cuckolding him, but the rage reduced when he realized he was angry because of what the others might say of him, not because the woman he was supposed to love found another.

Clark shook his head. He has to admit his mind was still a bit cloudy with regards to his wedding, and the apparent wedding night, with her. He was a man who thought things carefully and thoroughly before jumping into a life-changing decision. And this was the first time he had charged head on without any thought whatsoever.

And that was what confused him. It was as if there was a gap from when he left his stable in Metropolis to waking up to a naked Lois cuddling his also naked body. That morning, Clark had asked Lois to explain what had happened, and Lois told the story with fervor, and initially Clark matched her excitement with his own. But when Lois kissed him he could not help but feel that there was something wrong. If he was being completely honest with himself, he could have sworn that he was kissing a different woman, different from the one he kissed in Chloe's garden, which would be impossible.

And that was the beginning. Clark has not shared a bed with her since that morning, has not even shared a bed with anyone else, but Lois was the opposite. She had looked elsewhere and found one willing body in the name of Wes Keenan, the man in charge of his stables here in this estate.

This turn of events made Clark conclude that Lois was an actress, and an exemplary one at that. The kiss was just one of many complete turnarounds with regards to Lois. Gone was her interest in playing poker: he had tried to recreate the card game the first time they met countless time, but her answer was always no. The horses were another huge matter. Clark was at first keen on showing her the stables and his horses, but lo and behold, Lois had called them smelly and foul and that she would never ride one. Gone also was her love for her family. She had not mentioned her sister Lucy or Chloe the entire time they have been together. Clark had told Lois that they should inform their families of their current status, but Lois adamantly told him no, that she wanted to savor their time together before she can share him with the world.

Where was the Lois he met during Chloe's party?

Walking back to his table, he sat down on the chair and leaned back. He thought about a quiet annulment, but that would be out of the question, apparently having a wedding night. Divorce would cause a scandal, and Clark was not the kind of man who wanted attention.

Clark closed his eyes, trying to forget the predicament that he was in. If only it were that easy.

It was the dead of night, and Clark was woken with a jolt. Someone was causing a ruckus outside the house.

Putting on his shirt and pants, Clark took his pistol and hurried outside, meeting a panicked and heavily perspiring Wes. Clark tucked the pistol on the waistband at the back of his pants.

"Please, Your Grace. Save her." Wes pleaded.

"What happened? Save who?" Clark asked, but somehow already knew the answer.

"Ma-" Wes swallowed. "Her Grace. My sleeping quarters. Left her to check horses. Came back. On fire." He said in between gasps.

He was not the only who was roused from sleep. Almost everyone in the household was up and about, ready to do their master's bidding. Clark gave out orders and was one of the first out of the door towards Wes' sleeping quarters, only beaten by Lois' chaperone, Linda.

Reaching the wildly burning hut, Clark heard a woman inside the hut screeching and yelling, and for a moment Clark thought that it was not Lois, for the voice sounded different.

"Please save her." Linda begged Clark, an emotion, seemingly like regret, readily seen in her eyes. "I cannot do anything. I can only… weakness… fire…" she said incomprehensibly.

Accepting finally that it was Lois inside, Clark looked for an opening so he can grab Lois, but the flames were everywhere. The others tried valiantly as well, trying everything to put out the fire. But they all knew it was too late. And suddenly an ungodly scream from the hut pierced the night, punctuating the short life of one Lois Lane.

Two individuals fell on their knees, but not one of them was Clark. One was stoic, the other crying and wailing uncontrollably.

Left with no choice but to let it burn to the ground, Clark stood rooted to the spot. One by one they left, with one farmer picking up Wes offering his home for him. He did not know how long he stood there, it seem both too long and too short. When finally only embers are left here and there, Clark turned around, only to find Linda now sitting on the dirt.

Silently walking over to her, he pulled her up and gave her a pat on the shoulder.

"I want to give her a proper burial." Linda said.

"She will get it." Clark said. "After that we return to Metropolis and we will have to inform her family."

Linda was once again crying, and Clark thought it was at the sorrow that her family would feel once they have been informed that Lois was now gone. Sensing that Linda wanted to stay, Clark slowly walked back to the house, leaving the grieving chaperone alone.

It was the next day, and the burial rites went smoothly. Now the only ones left where the marker was placed in the churchyard was Clark and Linda.

Clark got ready to leave, but was stopped by Linda's statement.

"This was your entire fault."

Clark shocked, turned back to Linda, whose back was turned to him. "Forgive me, but how can all this be my responsibility?"

Slowly Linda faced him, anger emanating out of her every pore. "If you had loved her, like you love Lois Lane, this would not have happened."

Clark was confused with Linda's choice of words, but he dismissed it, knowing she was still grieving and probably still not thinking straight. "I tried Linda. I tried doing the things that I thought we both loved, but she refused me every single time. It was her own choice to commit adultery; I did not push her to it."

"She is not an adulteress!" Linda shouted. "She is a good woman. She is a great woman!"

Clark just shook his head. "I do not want to argue with you, not at your state."

Linda studied him, and then scoffed. "You are relieved. You are relieved that she is gone!"

"Am I happy she is dead? No, knowing I will not experience again that joy I had in just being in someone's company that one night at Lady Queen's ball. But after everything that has transpired, I am comforted by the idea that I have buried all the emotions, the good and the bad, that I have felt this past month when I was with her. It is up to you if you would define that as relief."

Clark could see Linda was seething, but she did not offer any more words, so he continued. "I will immediately leave for Metropolis, to first inform Chloe, and then head over to her home to inform her father and her sister. I have left an ample amount of money for you. The housekeeper is waiting for you at the house."

"I take my leave. When our paths cross again I hope it will be on a happier note."

Linda looked on at Clark's retreating back. "When our paths cross again, it will be you who will be shedding tears. Mark my words, Clark Kent, Duke of Metropolis, on the grave of my sister Maxima, I vow to make your life hell."

There it is! In my original outline, I had Clark completely angry at Maxima-Lois up until the burial, but then thought that the real Clark would not be able to hold grudges, even if it just a month or less. I feel like he's just not that type. So I had him angry at first, then realizing the reason for his anger was the wrong one, making him, for lack of better word, indifferent, at Maxima-Lois' indiscretion.

Hope you guys liked this and this has not made you run the other way.. lol.. again, sorry for the mistakes as this is unbeta'd. Love you lots! :)