Chapitre 19

The next day the Count was out doing business with the Danglars and I sat on the balcony with Haydee; the two of us playing our favourite instruments as we listened to the lap of the waves against the walls. Ali put down a silver tray with two tall glasses filled with delicious tropical juice.

"Thank you Ali." Haydee said softly. We took our glasses and Ali disappeared again, I looked out at the sea.

"I think that we are blessed Haydee." I mused.

"I'm sorry?" She asked, lowering her glass.

"To live in such a wonderful place, to be surrounded and cared for by wonderful people..." I said softly, lowering my sunglasses to the bridge of my nose. "Don't you think Haydee?" I asked. She smiled gently and looked out into the sea.

"I think that if you suffer a life filled with misfortune and pain... is a few moments of happiness too much to ask?" She said, plucking a string on her harp. I nibbled my plastic straw and clutched my glass, glancing over at her tranquil face.

"Haydee..."

"Mmm?" She continued to play her harp.

"What was your life like? Before you met the Count?" Her music stopped, her face was covered by her elegant fringe.

"It was... It was..." Her voice cracked. I got off my deckchair and took her hand, looking at her face. Huge tears were rolling down her face, her lip was trembling.

It was an all too familiar face, a young woman in tears.

I sat next to her on her deckchair, wrapping my arms around her tightly.

"...horrible." Haydee shuddered in my arms. I clung to her tightly, remembering the way that Mina comforted me when I wept.

"I'm sorry Haydee. I shouldn't have said anything." I muttered into her ear. "I'm sorry." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me back. I felt her rest her smooth cheek on my shoulder, her tears seeping into my shirt.

"Estelle, the Count told me that he's taking you to the opera tonight." Haydee said. I pulled away and looked at her, she wiped her eyes.

"Y-Yes."

"He asked me if I could come too." I tensed up. "Is that okay Estelle? I-I've wanted to go out for awhile..."

"Of course Haydee." She looked at me and smiled a little.

"Thank you Estelle! The Count is very dear to me and even though I've been spending lots of time with him, I would like to go out to the opera." She said sweetly. I got up and took my drink inside.

'What does she mean 'spending lots of time with him'? I've seen very little of him in the past few days... has he been spending all his spare time with Haydee?' I thought. The jealousy bug nipped at my heart, making me feel sick.

I held up two of my dresses, comparing them against my body. I frowned as neither of them were what I had in mind, we were going to the opera and I wanted to wear something special. Especially since Haydee was coming with us, I wanted the evening to stand out. I heard a tapping at my chamber door.

"Come in." I said. Mina stepped inside, carrying a huge white box with a large black bow. My face lit up and I walked up to her.

"His Excellency has asked me to help you get ready for tonight's opera." She said, handing me the box.

"Thank you Mina." I took the box from her, it was heavy. I put it down on my bed and tugged at the thick black ribbon. "How have you been?" I asked her, looking over my shoulder. She was running a finger over my beautiful necklace the Count gave me, she smiled at me.

"Alright, Estelle. I've been thinking about what I said the other day-" My mind drifted away as I opened up the box, my eyes widened as I looked inside. I carefully lifted up the dress; it was so soft and beautiful. Taking it out of the box I held it up against my towel-wrapped body, it fell to the floor and seemed to be made out of lots of layers and straps. It was black, which contrasted beautifully against my skin and the opals it was adorned with shimmered in the dim light. "Estelle?" I looked around.

"Sorry Mina." I said quickly, running my hands over the expensive fabric. Mina walked up to me and her eyes nearly popped out of her skull.

"That's amazing! It must be from one of the designers of Janina or some other planet from Eastern Space!" She said. I placed the dress on the bed and walked behind a silk screen, dropping the towel and slipping on some black underwear. Leaving the bra in the drawer, it wasn't necessary. "I think he spoils you." Mina said. I shrugged from behind the screen.

"I don't think so; he likes taking me out and seeing me in different things..." I stepped out from behind the screen to see her mutter something, her face covered by her hair. "What was that Mina?" I asked, my breasts were hidden by my hands. She looked up and forced a smile.

"Nothing Estelle. Let's figure out how to get this on." She laughed. I knew that laugh... it was when she was pretending to be okay when she was lying through her teeth. I pushed this out of my mind and Mina picked up the dress.

"HOW DO WE GET THIS BLOODY THING ON?" Mina growled under her breath. I looked like I had a lot of expensive cuttings wrapped around my body, barely covering me and we were both red in the face.

"What in the world are you two doing?" I turned a thousand shades redder.

"Excellency!" Mina cried, instantly bowing. I covered my body up with the dress, bowing my head to try to hide my face.

"Do you require some assistance Miss Braque?" He asked, already dressed to go. Mina straightened up and looked at him.

"Shouldn't a gentleman knock before entering a lady's chambers?" Mina asked, her eyes were a little dark. The Count gave her a strange look and waved his hand at her.

"You are dismissed Miss Braque." Mina gave a half-curtsy and left the room. The Count placed a small box on my bed, and then smirked as he looked at me. "You really have no idea how this dress is supposed to look, do you?" He said. I clutched the dress tighter to my bosom and shook my head.

"I have a hard enough time with outfits from Earth, let alone Eastern Space." I said, walking over to my full length mirror. He chuckled and walked behind me, lifting one of the straps. I smiled as the reflection showed me alone, making the strap appear that a phantom was holding it.

"Do you want me to help you?" He said softly, his lips against my ear. I nodded and let the material drop, it still covered my body... but barely.

He ever so slowly moved the straps around, instructing me to move my arms or my legs when needed. His hand moved slow and sensual over my skin, making goose bumps erupt. I watched as he took me in his strong, caring hands; moving the dress so it fitted perfectly on me. The skin of my chest was exposed but covering my breasts, a huge cluster of opals was in the middle of my chest, long bell sleeves of see-through black fabric covered my arms and more opals adorned my hands, a long slit up the front of the dress exposed my thighs and the train of the dress caressed the floor.

"Do you like it Estelle?" He purred. I rested my hand on his and looked up at him.

"Words cannot describe how beautiful it is." I said. He removed his hands and I sat down at my vanity, applying smoky eyes and pale lipstick. "I'm glad Haydee's coming tonight too. She hasn't been outside in a very long time and I think it'll do her a world of good." I said, running the lipstick slowly over my lips. Movement behind me...

"Indeed." I put the lipstick away. "Turn around for me." I swivelled around in the chair, my breath caught as I saw him on his knees before me. A little red box was next to him.

"Count?" I whispered.

"Give me your foot." He said. A small smirk was on his face, I extended my right leg first. His gloved hand took my ankle, the other opened the box. Inside was a pair of shoes and some stockings, the shoes seemed to gleam in the candlelight.

"Are those for me too?" I asked. He nodded and took one of the stockings out, my heart pounded. "I-I can do it-"

"No." I looked at him. His eyes gazed up at me, his hand moved down my calf. "Let me..."

I watched as he encased my foot in black silk; very, very slowly he unrolled the rest of the stocking. His hands moving up my leg, watching as more and more skin was revealed to him. I shuddered as his hand stroked my inner thigh, my knuckles turned white. He snapped the stocking into place, his smile widening as I clamped my thighs tighter. A tiny diamond adorned a little bow at the top of the stocking; he did the same for the other leg. This time... his lips were less than a centimetre away from my skin; pleasure invaded my system as he kissed the very top of my thigh.

"Count..." I moaned. His hands slowly caressed my leg and I instantly folded the revealing dress back over my body.

"Shy little thing aren't you?" He said, looking up at me and reaching for the shoes. "Skin as white as snow..."

"Eyes like fire and gold..." I said. He revealed the shoes to me, my heart leapt. They were made of glass! Black tinted glass with shimmering opals adorning them, high heeled and very fairytale-like. He took my foot again, slipping the shoe on.

"Scent as sweet as a forest in spring..." I turned my foot, examining the shoe. He slipped the other one on, removing his hands from my legs. Suddenly he took my hand and made me rise to my feet, he made my arm drape around his shoulder.

"A smile to make a lady's heart tremble..." I whispered. Our lips almost met, I lowered my hand to his coat and smiled at him. He pulled something out of thin air. It was a slivery headband with a single tear-shaped opal dangling from it. With a flourish he placed it gently on my head, the opal dangling between my eyebrows. He reached out and cupped my chin, my eyes closed. Slowly he ran his thumb over my bottom lip, his cool breath danced across my cheeks.

"Lips... as soft... and as pink... as the sunsets on the Imperium..." He closed the gap. His arms wrapped around me and mine 'round him, caressing his strong shoulders and back. Parting my lips with his devil tongue he slowly traced my pink mouth, I moaned softly.

"I love you." I moaned, he smirked and tilted me back. His tongue sensually danced with mine, his hand cupped the back of my head and deeper he kissed me. I tilted my head as his kiss became fiercer and more passionate, I wrapped my arms around his neck and my body locked against his. A low growl came ripping from his throat as his hand caressed my side, his thumb touching the side of my breast. Suddenly he pulled away, one hand still behind my back. I opened my eyes and looked up at him.

"In my hand is the strap that holds this entire dress together." I froze. His eyes were low-lidded and he lifted me back on my feet. "If you so desire..." I lowered my arms from his neck. "... I can pull this and we can forget about going to the opera." He purred, his forehead against mine. "It's up to you my dear." He said. I looked away and blushed, but my mind was made up.

"... we-we should go to the opera." I said. He instantly lowered his hand and instead went to my dresser, pulling a long hooded cloak out. "When we finally... I mean when we..."

"Make love?" He said, wrapping the cloak around me. I blushed and he pecked me on the neck playfully, entwining my fingers with his.

"Yes. I think I will know when the timing is perfect. Then I'll let you know." I said. He spun me around and kissed the top of my hand, reaching out to my chest.

"Very well my dove. Let's go, I'm sure Haydee is wondering where we are." He said. He pressed a few of the opals and the fabric of the dress rippled, several long strips that trailed behind me came to life. Wafting in an invisible wind, like the sails of a ship. "I'm sure this is a night that we won't forget..." He said, taking my arm and we walked to the carriage. My heart still pounded from his sensual, powerful magic.