~~~~~~~~~
Marcus had arrived early for dinner at the
Kensington's. He sat broodingly in a dark library, the room
decorated for the tastes of Luciana's father. He tapped his foot,
impatiently, waiting for Luciana to grace him with her presence. He
needed to see her, needed to remind himself of why he'd chosen her
in the first place. Besides, her beauty always brought him to his
knees. He needed to be utterly enraptured with someone, and it
couldn't be Kira.
“
Marcus...” a voice whispered
softly at the door. He looked up from the large chair with a start.
Luciana was standing at the entrance of the room, looking more
alluring than she ever had. He felt his heart jump into his
throat.
“
Kiss me,” she whispered
provocatively, closing the door behind her. Marcus was on his feet
in no time, driven in part by desire, in part by determination. He
would marry Luciana Kensington. It was meant to be.
“
Hello...” Luciana smiled softly
at him as he reached her. He took his large hands and placed them
softly around her face. “Kiss me...”she breathed.
Marcus felt his frustration building, the conflict
of the past weeks wearing on him. He pinned her to the wall,
holding her shoulders down with brute strength. A look of shock ran
through her eyes, and Marcus felt his heart start to race.
“Ow...”she cried out in pain. Marcus' eyes danced, her helplessness
stoking his desire.
As he leaned in to kiss her, Kira's fragile face
popped into his mind. Marcus stepped back in disgust, grunting with
frustration. “Get out...go!” He turned his back to Luciana, reeling
with anger and confusion. Luciana's eyes widened in dismay, her
face flushed from his now-removed attention.
“
What?!” She screamed angrily,
feeling embarrassment beginning to color her face. Her mind raced
with ideas and she found herself settling on her auburn-haired
guest. “Is it that
girl
?” she cried with contempt, trying to keep herself from
shaking.
“
It's nothing,” Marcus said
forcefully. “Please,” Luciana spouted with disgust, “I've known you
too long for that too work.” She slithered up to him from behind,
massaging his tense shoulders with her feminine hands.
“
You've always been true to me.”
Luciana moved her palms across his back, then slowly wrapped her
hands around his torso, clinging to him. “What has she done to
you?”
Marcus blinked hard, trying to wipe away the
confusion that was clouding his judgment.
“
You know what we have is more
powerful than the temptations of a fleeting dalliance. You'd never
be happy with a mere
girl.
” Luciana purred.
She unlinked her arms and moved towards the door.
“I'd certainly hate for you to ruin everything we've built
together. You know you and I will run London. We can have anything
we want. Don't mess it up.”
Spite soaked her words and she
could feel her fists tightening in anger. If this little strumpet
thought she could take
her
man, Lady Luciana Kensington's man, she had
another thing coming!
~~~~~~~~
As Kira walked down the hall and stepped into the
landing, the sound of polite conversation came floating up the
stairs. Several unknown voices carried on below and Kira felt
sudden alarm.
When Luciana had requested her for dinner, she had
no idea this meant there would be guests. Sliding her palms down
the structured ribbing at her waist, Kira tried to convince herself
she was the picture of elegance. Calm, unaffected. She could stare
Marcus O'Hare in the eye and not feel a thing. She would be
fearless tonight.
~~~~~~~~
Sir Richard Hampton cut a dapper figure in his
sharp formal attire. His dark hair was slicked back, revealing a
strong brow, mysterious brown eyes and an aristocratic mouth. He
stood patiently in the elegant foyer, making polite conversation
with Luciana's closest friend, Lady Regina Proust.
She was a slim blonde woman with a pale complexion
and a piercingly high-pitched voice. She had a small spattering of
freckles across her petite nose, and her full lips were most often
curled into a large smile.
Sir Richard found himself nodding repeatedly, as
Lady Regina went on and on about an unseemly occurrence that she'd
witnessed at the park. Her shrill laughter seemed to get higher and
higher with every detail that she added to the story. He found
himself searching for a way out when he noticed a luminous redhead
floating silently down the stairs.
“
...And that's when I told them
I'd never seen such a horrifying sight!” Regina continued, unaware
that she had lost Richard's attention. His eyes were fixed on the
beautiful goddess that was approaching the foot of the
stairs.
“
May I, madam?” Richard asked,
stepping forward to offer his hand to the radiant female that stood
blinking her wide eyes at him. Kira took Sir Richard's hand,
clearing the last step with ease. She looked up uncertainly and
Richard could feel her nervousness. His dark eyes were fixed on her
face, taking in the soft feminine beauty and radiance of her
delicate features.
“
Oh,” Kira replied softly. “Thank
you.” “From the look on your face, you'd think you were headed to
the guillotine,” Sir Richard said with a wink. Kira
blushed.
He gave her an appraising look up and down then
flashed her a devilish smile. She realized he was blatantly
flirting with her. A surge of confidence ran through her, easing
some of the trepidation she felt about seeing Marcus again.
“
Oh goodness, are you the dock
girl?” Regina cried loudly. She managed to scoot her way between
Sir Richard and Kira, feigning interest. “It must be so horrible to
have been out on the open sea with such brutes. Oh yes, Luciana
told me all about it.” The bright red hue of Kira's face increased
and she tried to nod politely.
“
It was a very difficult
experience.”
Looking up, Kira noticed Sir Richard's dark eyes
lingering on her. He was a dashing man, handsome and distinctive in
his way. There was a slight air of danger about him, despite his
polished manner and clothes. Kira felt her heart jump a little at
his gaze, trying to dismiss the smoldering attention he sent her
way.
The three walked into an elegant
dining room that sat directly across from the sitting room. Sir
Richard had offered his arm to both ladies while Lady Regina
launched into another story. Kira took a seat at an ornate table
next to Sir Richard and across from Regina. Looking around
constantly, she tried to brace herself for the moment
he
would walk
in.
“
Oh, goodness, forgive us for
being late.” a perturbed Luciana swept in from the back of the
room, Marcus following close behind her. A distinctive older
gentleman entered the room as well.
“
Sir Richard, Regina, darling, so
glad you both could make it. Kira, dear, this is my father, Lord
Arthur Kensington.” Doing her best to smile politely, Kira nodded
at the man. “A pleasure to meet you,” he said with a warmth his
daughter lacked.
“
I've been very enthralled by the
stories Marcus has told of your harrowing adventures on the open
sea.” The older man smiled warmly and Kira tried to decide if he
could possibly be as genuine as he seemed.
“
Yes, it seems Kira is quite the
heroine. Surviving such atrocities and managing to continue on.”
Sir Richard smiled openly at Kira, taking her hand to kiss
it.
Kira felt a tingle run up her arm and tried to keep
herself from blushing. When she looked up, Marcus was glaring at
her from across the table. Flustered, she blinked rapidly and tried
to think of something, anything to say.
“
Oh, please,” Kira smiled,
directing a flirtatious glance at Sir Richard. “You make it sound
as if I were Joan of Arc.” She felt her pulse start to race as Sir
Richard's interested glance dropped to her plump lips. The
attention had her undone, but she couldn't resist the urge to take
another look in Marcus' direction.
His green eyes had turned dark and
he seemed to be seething.
Victory!
Kira thought, wanting to laugh at his
displeasure.
How dare he think he had any
right to be angry? She could speak to who she wanted, how she
wanted. He was engaged!
“
Oh, yes, I have to commend you,
Miss Kira, for making it through such an ordeal,” Lord Kensington
said, nodding in Kira's direction. “I have a feeling Luciana would
have been absolutely hysterical!”
His good-natured laughter warmed the whole table,
but Luciana looked furious. “Oh father, please...Fortunately, I
don't spend time unaccompanied on docks, so strange men aren't
something I have to fear.” The table fell awkwardly silent, and
Kira could feel humiliation seeping into her gut.
“
As I understand it,” Marcus's
low, masculine tone started, “Kira was trying to aid her father,
who had rescued another girl in danger.”
Looking up hesitantly, Kira saw
his kind eyes gazing at her and her whole body went weak. She
couldn't stand it. He couldn't be nice to her. No, he wasn't
allowed
to be nice to
her after smashing her heart into so many bits. She wanted to hate
him but couldn't find the stomach for it.
Luciana flashed Marcus a loathing glance, then
whispered something under her breath.
Trying to rescue the somber conversation, Richard
started with a jovial laugh, “Lady Regina, tell them the story you
were telling me earlier. You've just got to hear it, Lord
Arthur.”
Looking up at the dark stranger next to her, Kira
felt a wave of gratitude. He flashed another, more sincere smile,
revealing a perfect set of teeth. She knew nothing about this man,
but his polished manners and gentlemanly efforts to save her had
her distracted.
Maybe she didn't need Marcus O'Hare, she reasoned
with herself. Maybe that was just a girlish crush intensified by
the severe nature of her experience at sea. Perhaps she could
forget him entirely.
After the dinner had ended, the entire party
retired to a large parlor in the back of the house. It had several
large windows and doors giving way to the view of a beautiful
garden.
Luciana and Regina were deep in discussion about a
trip they were planning, shopping in Paris. Feeling rather out of
place, Kira walked uncertainly into the room, noting the three men
relaxing near the fireplace.
“
Miss Kira,” Sir Richard jumped to
his feet, escorting her into the parlor. “Would you like to take a
walk in the garden with me?”
Kira felt herself blush, feeling his gaze on her
face. Looking up, she smiled confidently, noting that his dark eyes
seemed to be dancing in response to her shyness. Sir Richard
whisked her out the door quickly, and as Kira glanced back she saw
Marcus glaring intently in their direction.
Soon, they were walking amid a dazzling maze of
flowers and greenery. The air was fragrant with the smell of the
blooms and a light breeze rustled Kira's hair. She found herself in
rapt discussion with the man, listening to him describe the
shipping company he had started.
“
It's not usual for someone of my
stature to start an enterprise such as this, but I feel restless
going about my life without working.” His gaze kept lingering on
her face and Kira could feel herself trying to ignore the
attraction. The attention was like a soothing ointment on her
wounded soul. It felt good to be wanted.
Pausing next to a blossoming rose bush, Sir Richard
picked one and presented it to her. “For the most elegant lady in
London,” he said with a cheeky grin. She smiled up at him,
wide-eyed, then took the rose.
Their eyes stayed locked and Kira could feel the
intensity of his gaze. Suddenly, there were hands around her waist
and he was kissing her hard. Kira felt her body fall limp against
his and she did little to fight his kiss. Richard's arms moved up
and down her back, holding her tightly. A heady feeling enveloped
Kira and she returned his kiss softly.
The sound of someone clearing their throat cut
loudly through the moment. Startled, Kira looked up to see Marcus
standing on the path, his eyes dark and unreadable. It seemed all
the heat of a bright summer sun was emanating from her face. Sir
Richard also seemed embarrassed and put a small amount of distance
between the two of them.
“
There's a messenger here for you.
Something about a shipment.” Marcus clipped.
Sir Richard nodded in response and quickly made his
way back to the house. Hoping Marcus would follow suit, Kira
glanced around the garden for a moment.
When she looked up, she realized he hadn't moved.
His eyes were fixed on her; his face unreadable. Kira was so tired
of it; the brooding glances, the misplaced anger. She willed
herself to stay silent but failed.
“
What?!?” Kira stammered. “What is
it, Captain O'Hare?” She said with a mocking tone to her voice.
“Why must you insist on staring at me like that? It's rude!!” She
could feel the anger start to build in her, finally finding a
release. “Do you think it's your job to watch my every move?
Because, guess what, it's not!”
Marcus started moving towards her rapidly, his jaw
set in a determined line. Startled by his intense gaze and
movement, Kira stepped back nervously. She watched him run his
hands anxiously through his hair, then rub his forehead as if
trying to find words.