Lady Fitzgerald was the daughter of a land baron with humble means of living, whose sister had married Carlisle only the year before. How had she managed to captivate his brother, to cause a turmoil to a man who had never cared for anything else except him and the kingdom? He was not jealous of Alexander's growing affection for the lady. After all, Alexander was king and needed to produce heirs, and it would be all the better if it was with a woman he shared affection with, but he was confounded nonetheless.When they had visited the castle, Brand had noticed Alexander's behaviour toward the lady to be more than mere teasing. He was almost certain that, for her sake, he had convinced Carlisle to marry the elder sister after compromising her.He watched him now, seated across from him. His brother had never been known to hesitate when he wanted something. He was like an unrelenting greyhound. Why hesitate now?"I hold you in the highest regard, but I will not stand for you to be spoken
Alexander groaned as he stirred awake, the dim light of dawn filtering through the heavy curtains. His head throbbed with a dull ache, a wicked reminder of the previous night's revelry. The taste of stale wine lingered on his tongue, and he winced as he tried to sit up.Blinking against the light, he pressed the heels of his hands against his temples, trying to massage away the persistent headache. His memories of the night before were vivid - his dimly lit study, the over service of wine, anger, and loneliness.He swung his legs over the side of the bed, planting his feet on the cold floor. The chill sent a shiver up his spine, momentarily clearing his foggy mind. Taking a deep breath, he tried to steady himself, pushing past the discomfort. He needed to pull himself together; there were matters to attend to, and he couldn't afford to be seen in such a state. He was king.Alexander reached for the pitcher of water on the bedside table, pouring himself a glass with unsteady hands. He
It was the prince."Your Highness." Gwen saluted, bowing low."I do not believe we have been properly introduced. Brand Williams." He said."Gwen Fitzgerald, Your Highness." She replied, bowing again."Highness," he whispered, his right eye blinking. "I very much prefer to be called Brand."Gwen blinked, confused. How could he ask her to address him in such a manner? "I could never call you that.""It is my given name. The king calls me by it.""He is your brother. I am not." The prince's right eyebrow hitched. Gwen quickly reprimanded herself. "Forgive me. I meant to say, I am not the king." She corrected.Was the prince looking to stir up trouble? Alexander had asked her to call him by his given name, and months later, she had been brought to the castle against her will. What would the prince demand if she obeyed him? She was not curious enough to find out."I am not so highly placed to call you by your given name, Sir." She added."That is true." He hesitated. "It is simply a matte
Lady Fitzgerald laughed. "I do not rejoice in destruction; I only applauded your skills and talents." Then she raised her cup to her lips and, after a sip, returned it to the table."I'd say you applaud far greater than is necessary." Lady Farrington said, bringing her cup again to her lips. "Do you seek appraisal for your applause?""I most certainly do not!"Brand's mouth tightened, his instincts intrigued. "You think my skills do not deserve that much applause?" He asked.Lady Farrington quickly sat up. "Of course not. I was simply reminding Lady Fitzgerald to take control of her emotions."He saw no wrong in Lady Fitzgerald's emotions. It was honest at the least. "Men hail each other when we shoot.""Shooting is a sport amongst men, Your Highness." Lady Farrington continued. "As is politics and governance. Women tend to the household and bear children. It is as much as they should do."A serving maid brought him a cup of water. He took a light gulp. Lady Farrington's words were co
"What, then, is a proper lady to you?" He tapped his hand on his thigh, consciously blinking both eyes. "A proper lady is one who is true to herself," Lady Fitzgerald said. "one who is not always bound by the rules of society, but manages to obey them."Brand stiffened, unpleasantly surprised. He did not know what to think or what to say. She was a rebel, just like Alexander."Forgive my words."He found his words. "One should never apologize for being candid." Then, "Are you a proper lady?"There was hesitation. "I believe I am."A smirk began to form on Brand's lips. "Is Lady Farrington a proper lady?"She hesitated again. "I believe she is."Brand's face straightened. He had been sporting for an argument. "You believe so?"Lady Fitzgerald nodded. "Propriety comes from the person who believes they are proper. That is how the standard began."Brand stared, finally seeing her appeal. It was not her beauty, nor her clever words. It was her thoughts and how she represented them. There
Guinevere was bewildered. Her eyes widened, then a sweet smile surfaced, reflecting his own. "As enticing as that may sound, I do not want to be a traitor to my country." She replied with a shrug. Then, "I hate to be powerless.""But all men are powerless." Alexander said softly. She had rendered him powerless since the day she came to the castle, stealing his joy unless she was near."I hate to feel powerless." She looked afar off and corrected. "I despise knowing how powerless I am."He nodded carefully. Guinevere was undeniably smart, her intelligence shining through in her eyes. It was acceptable to feel powerless at times, but it was utterly unacceptable to remain so. He would grant her all the power she needed, and would teach her how to use it. Never again would such feelings plague her.Alexander rose to his feet. "Pick up that knife." He instructed, pointing to the knife on the table, his voice calm yet commanding.She did, rising to her feet as well. He watched her intently,
The carriage rolled up to the grand circular drive in front of the mansion, its wheels crunching on the gravel. The coachman swiftly jumped down and pulled open the door. It was well past eight o'clock by the time she had left the castle, under the cover of the dark, starless night, its black cloak, a perfect shroud.Jane descended from the carriage, her movements swift and deliberate. She hurried up the familiar steps and into the house she had known so well since childhood. Bellingham House.She had visited this house countless times, spending plenteous moments with her beloved aunt. But tonight was different. Tonight, she had come not for comfort or nostalgia, but to secure her future. The butler stood waiting at the door. "Good evening, Lady Farrington." He greeted her with a slight bow. "Lord Denney is in his study in the company of Lord Featings. He has asked that you join them there as soon as you come."Jane nodded in acknowledgment. Though she knew the way, the butler led on
***Alexander entered the piano room, his heart heavy from the happenings at Brand's birthday dinner. He was hoping to see Guinevere, to catch a glimpse of her graceful presence at the piano forte. However, as he looked through the room and found it empty, there was an unexpected sense of relief.He was somewhat drunk. She should not see him like that. Lady Wilmot's presence had caused him to overindulge in wine.The room was serene, bathed in the soft glow of the lit candles. He moved toward the piano, his fingers brushing lightly over the keys, then went over to sit in the only other chair in the room. The absence of Guinevere allowed him a rare moment of solitude, a chance to gather his thoughts without distraction.Brand, the ungrateful scoundrel, had worn a scowl the entire evening, even daring to glare at him. How dare he openly protest that he was unhappy with the presence at dinner. Why had he been unhappy? He should be glad to have his brother and mother at the same table. It
Alexander grunted loudly, his body lurching forward. He sat up at once, grabbing a hank of her hair, blinded by passion. He was gasping for air. With her tongue, Guinevere scraped and laved at him, pushing him higher, closer to that cliff's edge where he knew she intended to take him. She pulled back, and rubbed her thumb over his tip. He moaned savagely, his control unravelling, as he now was at the edge. At once, he moved, and she was beneath him, in his arms, with her hair sprayed out and her eyes regarding him with lust and danger and love, breathing as heavily as him. Under the moonlight, she shone like something divine, radiant and marvellously breathtaking. In that instant, he knew with certainty, she was everything he had ever desired. No one else could ever hold his heart the way she now did. He was entirely, irrevocably hers. Was this the perfect view of the world? Was this the perfection of the world? If it was, then the world - his world - was the most perfect. He
***Guinevere led him, and he followed, trailing behind until they reached the grove – his secret place. He stood at the edge, where she had left him, watching her. She laid out her shawl on the ground and pulled the pins from her hair, tossing them away, moving with such grace, her gown fluttering about her like a whisper carried on the night breeze. Alexander inhaled when her golden locks tumbled free from their confinement, cascading down like liquid sunlight.Above them, the branches swayed in the breeze, responding almost as violently as his body did to the sight of her. Her jewellery glinted softly in the silver light, while her hair shimmered in its glow. She moved toward him, her eyes locked with his, and his heart became erratic. He wished the moon would shine brighter, so he could be thoroughly lost in the depths of her eyes – those enchanting blue pools. In that instant, he realized that more than her golden hair, he had come to love her eyes. He loved how she looked at him
September 1827Alexander's fingers mimicked hers on the opposite side of the piano, its deeper tones providing a rich contrast to the lighter melodies from her side. Soon, he eased away, and she smoothly transitioned from duet to solo, her touch effortlessly commanding the keys.Their guests watched, and she played.It was a ball to celebrate the change of seasons. Fall had finally arrived as did the harvest, and it was tradition to celebrate it. There had never been such a celebration since Alexander became king, she was told, as he had long abandoned it. Gwen had been eager to revive the tradition. They had gone hunting during the day, and now, held a feast to celebrate. She was relieved to see that he was, despite his protest, thoroughly enjoying himself.They had left the main ballroom for the piano room, where still, some guests followed.She was enjoying herself as well.For days, Alexander had patiently and consistently guided her through the complexities of the nation's affair
***Gwen lay in the quiet aftermath of their lovemaking, her body still thrumming with the fervour of their union. Slowly her breathing came to her and she could breathe again. Afterwards, sanity drifted and met her in Alexander's bed. She began to realize that she had just experienced passion – with her husband!Naked in his arms, her cheek nestled against the warmth of Alexander's chest, one hand resting on him. His arm was draped possessively around her, with one of her legs caught between both of his. His hand sat on her bare waist.Her smile came.Good gracious! She had made love to her husband, and it was the most extraordinary feeling she had ever known. She was drifting with ecstasy, her heart swelling with love. Slowly, she licked her lips and shyly raised her eyes to Alexander's face.He was watching her, regarding with a tender expression. Her heart leaped wildly. His deep blue eyes darkened, searching hers."You seem pleased." He murmured.Gwen knew she flushed. She was pl
Before she could protest further, he picked her up, and she shrieked at the sudden movement. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as his hands went firmly to hold her buttocks. Beads of sweat formed on his temples, his blood heating with desire. He started for the bed.As they sank onto the mattress, he flung the sheets aside and positioned himself between her legs, his lips immediately finding her neck. He kissed the sensitive spot just above her collarbone, and down to her breasts until his mouth closed around a nipple.Her breath caught as she arched upward, unknowingly pushing herself to him. He agreed and continued, sucking slowly, again and again, and pulled."Ooh." She gasped and collapsed back onto the bed. When he kissed the space between her breasts, she giggled."Do I make jest?" He asked, aware of how rough his voice had become. His need for her was explosive, and he wondered if she understood the effect she was having on him. He kissed beneath her left breast,
***Gwen sank into the settee, and Alexander followed, sliding closer to her. His eyes ran the expanse of her body slowly from her head down to her waist, and she felt herself softening under the intensity of his look. His eyes burned with passion and desire."You do not know how you look right now."She averted her gaze, her toes curling beneath her night garment. "How do I look?"Alexander gently lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. His dark brows lifted. "I shall never tell. It is my secret." Then, with a grin, he kissed the tip of her nose. She clenched her hands, breathing out sharply. He paused. "Are you scared?"The fire in his eyes was blazing, and she no longer spoke of the reflection from the fireplace. His tone was casual, but the question was not in the least. He was serious, and she knew it.Gwen blinked, slowly relaxing her grip. "There is nothing to be afraid of." She said, meaning her words. They pleased him.Alexander moved even closer, his voice dropping. "
"Close the door behind you." His voice reverberated through the chamber, deep and commanding. Gwen shuddered and not from fear.She exhaled slowly, her erratic heart leaping with a strange, pleasant feeling. She was curious now of what was to come. Underneath her night garment, a warmth began. Her thoughts briefly wandered to that day in her bedchamber, when he had touched her on the table. She flushed, surprised at herself.Slowly, she closed the door. "Is it not rude to leave our guests to themselves?" Her voice was quieter than she had wanted.A breeze drifted through the room, rustling the open curtains. Alexander emerged from the chair, bringing a candle with his rise. "I am the king," he replied, "my authority grants me the right to be rude." He set the candle atop the fireplace and turned to face her. Gwen swallowed hard.He had only his dress shirt on, having rid himself of his jacket and waistcoat. The top buttons were left undone, revealing his bare chest. Gwen's eyes were d
One week later.The air was thick with the mingling sounds of chatter and gay laughter, and the clinking of glasses controlled every breath. Elegantly and warmly dressed guests sat to dinner and topics of conversation were never in lack. Lord Michaelson and a couple other gentlemen raised their glasses in a raucous cheer. Lady Carlisle giggled to something Carlisle whispered.It was well past 7 p.m., and though the wedding had ended hours ago, the wedding dinner was anywhere but. Alexander sat at the head of the table, sawing absentmindedly at the slab of meat on his plate. He picked the tiny piece and shoved it into his mouth, only to realize he had eaten a tomato. He did not care. His thoughts were elsewhere. And so were his eyes. They were fixed on Guinevere – his wife.He was openly gawking and he gave no care.Her smile was effortlessly charming, her appearance impeccable. She commanded the space about her and her presence filled the room. She sat at the other end of the room, ca
***The doormen eased the door open, and Gwen slipped inside as quietly as she could, giving a small nod to Edmund and Paula. They bowed in return. At the far end of the room, Alexander sat on his throne, his elbow resting on the armrest, his head leaning into his hand. She had come to recognize the posture all too well. He was brooding.Since the moment Gwen had awoken, thoughts of Alexander had filled her mind, and as soon as she learned that the proceedings had ended and he had dismissed the court, she felt an overwhelming urge to be near him, to ensure he was not consumed in the thoughts of his sentence, and to offer whatever comfort she could.It was great that she had come.Gwen moved slowly, closing the distance between them, silently placing one foot before the other. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, and her hands clenched involuntarily.The large room was unusually dark, even for the afternoon, and far colder than the weather warranted. Why had the curtains bee