Okay! I am back! I was going to post this yesterday, but I got home later than expected. I'll still try to do a double post today, if not I'll post again tomorrow. As always, thank you for reading!

;) linny

Two Worlds

Chapter Seven

She needed some air. Her cheeks felt warm and she could feel the trickle of a bead of sweat running down her spine. The doors to the terrace were opened to allow the cool night air to waft in, but with so many bodies occupying the room, the air became even hotter. She excused herself from her latest dance partner with a kind nod and escaped as quickly as possible. He'd been a very wonderful man, but he certainly couldn't dance. Her toes ached from him constantly stepping on them, so much so that as soon as she walked out on the terrace, she removed her shoes and stretched her toes.

She placed her shoes beside her on the stone railing of the patio and glanced up at the clear night's sky. The stars were twinkling high in the heavens and the moon was only a quarter full. It was such a beautiful night, a night supposedly for romance, yet her heart still felt empty. None of these Lords and Masters had even created a spark between them and only Lord Leland had even bothered to strike up a friendly conversation as he twirled her on the dance floor. But, that was only because they both knew that his heart would never be in their marriage.

Lucy was a fine woman and he was very lucky to have found her, yet she being a servant, it was highly unlikely that the two of them would have a relationship. She'd been a princess long enough to know his father would not approve of his choices. He didn't seem to be the type to go against his father, but people had been known to surprise her. Like David.

She couldn't help but smile as she thought of him. He'd been so kind to her. He was the son of a Duke, but so unlike all of the other nobility around her. He had a passion for gardening and during his last visit he'd even assisted the royal gardener into planting a rose garden just for her. 'But, that was months ago,' she frowned.

David had captured her heart in such a short time; she'd even imagined he was the man she was going to marry. But, as usual, she'd chased him away.

He'd arranged a romantic picnic in the gardens with flowers and candles surrounding them. Her senses had run wild that night. The scent from the roses was magical and the light from the candles had cast a golden glow upon the area. It was then that she'd realized that she was in love with him and with that love had come trust. So, she entrusted him with her secret.

'I'm deaf,' she told him, her lower lip caught between her teeth. He'd stared at her for what seemed like an eternity, but she could already tell that it had scared him.

He'd laughed nervously before taking a large gulp of wine. 'I'm sorry, I must have heard you wrong, I thought you just said that you were deaf.' His lips curled and his shoulders shook, heavy with laughter. How ludicrous was that? A deaf princess? What was she trying to pull?

She remembered crying on her mother's shoulder for hours, that night and well into the morning. Just the thought made a single tear fall down her cheek. She hastily wiped it away, but the emotional damage still remained.

If she did choose a husband tonight, how did she know that he wouldn't act the same way once he discovered that she was defective? Would he run just as David had or use her like Tony? Her heart couldn't handle the heartbreak all over again. But, did she really want to marry a man of her father's choosing?

She glanced back at those still twirling about on the dance floor. Haughty young men with everything to gain… No, she couldn't let her father choose.

Taking in a deep breath she glanced once more up at the sky. She stared in amazement as a star shot through the black abyss. A wishing star. Closing her eyes, she wished hard to find her true love tonight… or at least a man who wouldn't run away when he discovered that she couldn't hear.

Letting out her breath, she gathered her shoes and turned back to the party. She stumbled back as she collided with something hard and firm and felt her feet fly out from underneath her. A loud gasp escaped her when two strong arms caught her in their embrace.

"Whoa, easy there," Jack said as he held her firmly at the waist, one of her feet planted firmly on the ground while the other hovered in the air. He smiled at her surprised expression, the deep blush infusing her cheeks with a rosy tint that gave away her shock and embarrassment. "Are you all right?"

She nodded mutely as she stared into the dark, chocolate-colored brown eyes made clear to her by the contrasting mask fitted firmly over his eyes. From those eyes, her gaze traveled. His deeply-tanned skin was flawless and by the looks of things the tan went all the way to places very improper for a lady to think about. He obviously spent many hours in the sun and his strong muscles told her that he used his hands a great deal. She blushed to the roots of her hair as improper thoughts of what those hands could do flashed through her mind.

"Thank you," she whispered before she realized how he still held her. Lowering her foot, she prompted him to set her back on her feet and carefully drew back a step to take in the sight of him. Her hand flew to her chest as she fought to calm her rapidly beating heart. This man was no ordinary Lord; he was quite different, but also, in a way he was also familiar.

She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the eyes, the muscles, the smile; they all seemed so familiar yet she couldn't quite put a face to the attributes. She jumped slightly as he took her small hand in his and brought it to his lips. His stare seemed to bore straight into her very soul as he gazed at her with a longing she'd never seen in a man's eyes before. Well, she'd seen it, just not directed at her.

Her hand trembled in his. She needed to gain control of herself. Never before had a man caused such distress to her inner workings, but there was something about it that she enjoyed immensely. Could this be the sign she'd been asking for? Could this be the man she'd been asking for?

"You are very welcome, Princess," he whispered and bowed his head as a real gentleman would. "I was just coming outside for a breath of air, but this encounter certainly seems more appealing to me. Tell me, do you run into men like this often?" His smile widened with a teasing glint which made her blush only increase.

It hadn't been the whole truth. He had actually come outside to look for her, because he'd somehow lost his place in the crowd of suitors as she took the floor on her father's arms, but he definitely had enjoyed running into her. Literally.

She smiled, her teeth lightly nipping at the corner of her lower lip. Jack's breath rushed out of him at the sight. "I'm afraid I haven't caught your name, good sir." He certainly wasn't a usual hanger-on at court. "I must thank you properly." She would give any excuse just to learn his name.

"I'm sorry?" He couldn't give her his real name. If she discovered who he really was, the king would have his head for impersonating a member of the Royal Court.

"I asked what your name was," she giggled with a shake of her head. He was handsome when he was smooth-talking her, but he was very much adorable when he bumbled over his words.

It was at that moment that D had chosen to make an appearance. Jack's back was to him so he would never know he was there. He would just need to alert Lady Sue that there were still quite a few young men left on her dance card and she had until midnight to make her final decision. Time was running out.

Yet, he'd caught the shimmer in her eyes, a trait he'd become familiar with when Master David was still around. Her eyes had held that familiar glaze until the day he'd decided that he couldn't love a woman who was deaf and that sparkle was replaced by tears and pain. He wasn't certain whether or not he was glad to see it return.

He waved his hand in the air to gain her attention. Her hazel eyes were the only body parts that moved, but it would be enough for him to get his message to her. 'You dance, find husband' he mouthed to her and though his phrasing hadn't made much sense, she'd gotten the message.

Returning her gaze to Jack who was still staring at her with panic in his eyes, she took in a deep breath and asked, "Would you care to dance?"

"I'm sorry?"

She chuckled and couldn't help but think that perhaps he was just as deaf as she was. Knowing it wasn't the case she shrugged it off and offered once again. He'd accepted with an eager nod. "But, there is just one thing that I think you must know." She glanced at D, seeing the look of shock on his face.

He waved his hands at her with urgency, telling her that telling him her secret would not be the best option at this point. She merely ignored him and waited for Jack's obvious response.

"And what would that be, Princess?"

Her eyes held a teasing glint as she stared up at him. "I find that dancing is much better if I know my partner's name," she quipped with a playful wrinkling of her nose.

Despite the warmth of the weather, Jack shivered as an icy chill ran down his spine. Her dazzling gaze mixed with her heartbreaking question made his insides twist and turn until a wave of nausea washed over him. Before the night began, he knew he couldn't reveal his true name and would try to sidestep at every turn, but there was something in her eyes that told him lying was not an option he wanted to choose. He needed to tell her the truth; she deserved to hear it.

"My name is Jackson, my Lady," he said honestly and with a slight bow of his head. He took her hand in his and raised it to his lips. Her knuckles were like silk upon the soft flesh of his lips. It felt like if he pressed hard enough, he would be breaking through the surface of a warm stream of fresh milk; a taste he would find to be so delectable if he was honored with a simple lick.

Pulling away abruptly, he cleared his throat and gave a slight shake of his head. He couldn't let himself be consumed by those thoughts. "Jackson Hudson."

He'd never seen an expression change so quickly. Her sparkling smile instantly faded at his surname as confusion filled her eyes. "Hudson?" It couldn't be true. The entire family had been lost in a tragic fire over a decade and a half ago; the flames supposedly had taken all three lives that terrible night. "You're a Hudson?" She glanced over his shoulder at Dimitrius who looked like he was frozen in the path of a runaway carriage. Surely he could explain.

Jack followed her gaze, swallowing hard at the sight of his adoptive father and the look in his eyes. Why did his name bring so much strife upon the princess? And why did D look like he was standing in line for the guillotine?

Clearing his throat, D took a few more steps onto the patio, unsure of what to say. He'd known that reaction would have been expected of the older nobility, but not Lady Sue. She'd been far too young to remember that news. "Perhaps it's time to go back to the party, my Lady?" he suggested, receiving a venomous glare from Jack. He understood Jack hadn't gotten to dance with her, yet, but this matter was more severe than he could ever realize.

She nodded. "Yes, that would best… perhaps we could have that dance later… Lord Hudson?" It felt so strange to say the name aloud. It had rolled off her tongue smoothly, but left a chalky aftertaste that she didn't quite care for. She managed a week smile at his affirmative nod before heading back into the ballroom, sharing a speculative glance with D as she passed.

Turning desperate eyes to D as well once he was sure Sue was out of sight, Jack asked, "What was that about?"

Nervously glancing back to the party, the older man shrugged. "I can't be sure," but the tone and tremor to his voice told Jack that D was lying.