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Chapter 14
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2024-10-29 19:42:56As dawn rose the next day, in the eaves of the fourth floor servants quarters Sophie prodded Lily awake. As she yawned and came to Sophie's blue eyes sparkled mischievously.
"When he came in all soaking wet and serous last night…"
Lily couldn't help but roll her eyes and grin back in agreement. "He is very nice to look at, I cannot lie. Certainly not worth waking me up for"
"You should have offered to take his wet clothes off" Sophie giggled and gave her a cheeky wink.
"Sophie!" Lily admonished quietly, trying not to wake the others, "you would never be so bold surely?"
This time Sophie was the one to blush and avert her eyes.
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The next month saw a concentrated effort from both Athena and Felix to avoid any further interactions. It was a thoroughly miserable month for both as she buried her head in a newly delivered greenhouse, ensuring she was out of reach every day. Felix visited London on business twice but just found himself at the club mulling over those green eyes, failing to keep up with the conversations of the gentlemen around him. Achilles had never seen so much exercise as every local landlord and the business owner found themselves the victim of unplanned visits by a distracted Baron Fairfax. Keeping his resolve not to pursue Athena strong was the fact that Lady McDonald and Dacre had bestowed their highest praises upon Athena. Her actions brought their husbands safely home and they considered her a remarkable treasure.
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The past four weeks had been much more pleasant for Craig. Despite Athena working him and his men hard, there had been opportunities to enjoy Fairfax Manor. He found himself making excuses to visit the kitchen. Though their eyes frequently met, they were always amongst bustling strangers and unable to form any meaningful conversation. Her happy smile and bright eyes had started worming their way into his daily thoughts as he shifted earth and laid foundations. The secluded bench near the stable block where Athena had cried the previous month had subsequently been discovered by Craig. He enjoyed its privacy from the windows of the main house as a peaceful place to take his lunch during the day. Today he strolled up to the bench as usual with his satchel and
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Baron Oliver headed to London well before dawn. Athena entered the main foyer and seeing no sign of Felix decided to head into the library and go over her designs. There was no need to hide away in the greenhouse now. She wore a delicate yellow linen dress tied under the bust with a pale green ribbon. Her brown hair was pinned up but already some stray tendrils were framing her oval face. Her expression was serious but content as the hours passed by at her drawing board. When a glum-looking Sophie fetched her lunch, forcing her to look up from her work she gasped at the change in weather. Huge black clouds were rolling over the horizon. "Look Sophie, there will be a storm tonight. Can you see it approaching?"
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Silently, deftly he peeled away the ruby silken robe leaving her standing in her white nightdress. Her hands replaced against the windows she let out a fresh pant of pleasure as his hands felt the outline of her body. The bumps in the fabric where her buttons rose caused his fingers to judder as they caressed up and down. Pushing herself more firmly against his rigid body she felt the teasing stubble on his chin and the increasing firmness in his trousers. Still kissing her neck, teasing her with rough and smooth embraces, his strong hands roamed her stomach, waist and rib cage until he reached her breasts. Lightning continued to crack across the sky and the pelting raindrops down the windows drowned out her heavy breathing. As he gently embraced their roundness,
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The morning after the thunderstorm saw a hive of activity in the gardens of Fairfax Manor. An immaculately clear blue sky had emerged from the storm, the spring flowers were in full bloom as they hugged the wide gravel driveway. Muttering servants milled around the edges of the lightning strikes impact mark which had burnt dozens of deep vein-like marks into the grass for several metres. "It looks like a bloodshot eyeball," the grizzled Jackson offered to a nodding group. "It's beautiful," murmured Lily to Sophie, "I wonder if it's still hot in the middle?" Craig appeared behind the girls and spoke up, "the centre should be like glass now if it is similar to what I have seen before. It's the heat of the lightning. Like turning sand into glass, same thing." Jackson wandered towards and announced to the group, "Mr Thornfiel
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Athena looked at the gathered crowd from her room, wrapping her arms around her waist. Practically she wondered whether the extracted lightning impact should somehow be displayed in the pagoda at the centre of the lake. Emotionally her mind was completely stuck in the depths of last night. She could not believe how brazen she had been. Of course, if he was as familiar with the whorehouses of Europe as rumours suggested, her actions were probably routine, perhaps even boring. To her, every interaction with him was an awakening of another locked piece of her soul. Looking out onto the gardens she felt like one of her bulbs bursting into bloom. Her skin was brighter, smile wider and eyes sparkling and he was the source. She had matched his supposed indifference by i
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Realising he had been quietly lost in his own thoughts for several minutes, Felix coughed, causing her to turn around. He softened his face to give her a gentle grin, allowing the pleasure of her company to show on her face. “Anything you wish to learn about me Athena, it seems only fair…I hear I come with quite the reputation these days?” Her solemn face yielded into a soft smile “I do not know whether I wish those rumours to be true or not Sir, some are so deviant as to be impossible.” “Well this is an opportunity, I shall tell the truth. You may decide if I am truly deviant” “Hmmm, I think I might already know you are less than virtuous Sir” she muttered as he pulled Achilles up alongside her. Their
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“You don’t think there is enough there to make with work with Octavia then?” “There isn’t, but to turn back now would condemn us both.” “What changed?” “You did. I saw how happy you were in the hotel the other week and I realised I am never going to experience love like that. My life is a sham. Octavia is a sham.” “Is there a chance that in time love will grow or are you fundamentally different people? For my part I thought you two would prove a good match in time,” Felix offered in consolation, trying not to provoke Oliver into anger but eager to learn the truth.” Oliver sighed and continued to stare at the ceiling, his dark eyes glittering with the threat of tears. “I treat her poorly on our engagement meeting. Bit too rough with her if I am to confess and it has ruined any…possibility of future relations.” “Have you apologised?” “No.” “That might be all it takes. When there is no apology, the heart hardens. But it ca
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The evenings darkness had enclosed London's streets as Oliver travelled towards his destiny with ever increasing anger. Bouncing along the cobbles his mind tortured him with all his errors. The loss of Lady Daphne as a potential love, his upcoming marriage to a woman be did not love. Overarching all of these was a wild jealousy of Felix and Athena. Their easy way with each other and the transformation in Felix was unbelievable. Finally carriage pulled up around the corner. Oliver threw some gold coins at the carriageman, requesting he wait outside. As he walked towards the casino his resolve melted away. Stood outside the nondescript building he was baffled as to why the place had held such a hold over him. Why had this standard columned building haunted his dreams and pulled at his sanity. He knew inside was a bar, a ledger with his fat credit line ready to play and a bar stocked with enough alcohol to drown out the misery. This time winning money wouldn't s
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He spent a few more minutes wandering back up to where the horses were, his mind racing with a strange mix of fear and excitement. Weaving his way back through the glade path he heard the noise of the waterfall once more.“Felix…” came a sultry, low call that made him almost trip over the overhanging tree roots. The temperature dropped noticeably once out of the midday sun, the cool shady air was delicious. He realised he was sweating and damp from his searching after her. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks. In the small lagoon, the water at waist height, wearing nothing but a small smile stood Athena, her curling, chocolate-brown hair completely free and hanging down past her rib cage. Her eyes sparkled with victorious happiness as she registered the surprise on his face.“Athena…what are you…&r
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Deep in one of the groves of the Haddon Hall estate, Oliver paced in an agitated state. The days since Octavia’s letter had dragged and he was eager to know her grand plan. He was also keen to be intimate with her, certain she would want to be, given that she had no qualms at his party. He had a weakness for pale blue eyes as Claudette and Sophie could attest but Octavia’s were unique. The iciness to them never seemed to fade, even in the throes of passion she appeared to be calculating her next move like a boa constrictor whereas he was a man of pure instinct. The fact those instincts had almost left him bankrupt and homeless he did not consider flaws in his character. Finally a gentle pattering of feet amongst the fall leaves alerted him to her presence. She was wearing a fine, lace covered day dress of cornflower blue, her cle
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The hotel was the grandest money could buy. A royal suite had been arranged and every other room on the floor too to ensure absolute privacy. Felix wanted to avoid snooping guests or waiting staff and paid handsomely to avoid being troubled. They arrived via a back entrance, the day had only just passed midday and Athena realised she was faint with hunger. Felix recognised her pale look and immediately requested one of the other suites he booked be prepared for dining. Feeling like a boat caught up the crest of a wave she watched all of these events as a bemused onlooker. In only five minutes she had been exposed to the true grandeur of Felixs wealth. Just in the suites he had spent more money than Athena had ever earned with her contract. The yacht he had charted was eye-wateringly expensive and now she was part of tha
