Chapter 44The urgency with which Derek opened the door had Nancy jumping to her feet. She was afraid that something had happened and at the same time angry that she was not yet asleep, she was also mad at herself for staying up to this moment thinking about Derek and when she turned to the door to enquire what was wrong, it was to find Derek there, shutting the door tightly like he was running from something. Now she was really alarmed, what was wrong? And why was he shutting them in? She waited for him to say something, to do something. But he said nothing, just stood there staring at her with dark stormy eyes that told her nothing either"Well…?" He still said nothing, but this time he advanced towards her slowly, too slow for her liking. His steps were not faltered, but all the time he kept his eyes trained on her, watching her with those eyes that unnerved her. "Derek, is something wrong?" It seemed like he had lost his tongue, or his usual hostile or humorous self because he
Chapter 45The first thrust was a force that had her grabbing the sheets even tighter, he paused after that first thrust and hugged her from behind, with him still inside her. Nancy could feel him, she could feel his whole length stretching her insides, urging her to open up to him, to let herself go. But at the same time, the pleasure was dulling her senses, she could barely keep her eyes open, even her legs were too weak to carry. If Derek was not holding her, she was sure she would have fallen a long time ago, but he was steadying her with his hands and his large form that covered her as she bent there. At the same time, his other hand was snaking to her breast, playing with it, he was fondling her nipples in a way that she felt like she would drop dead with sheer pleasure.Derek leaned against, licked her neck down to her ear and let his mouth remain there. He had noticed how she shuddered each time his mouth found her ears, it made him even harder than he was. Nancy could almost f
Chapter 46A chill wind coming in through the balcony door woke Nancy that morning, she shivered and quickly tucked her cold bare feet under the thick bed sheets. She tried to sleep again but the chill wind blew in again, she was still drowsy and hoping for some help, she reluctantly turned on the bed to see if Derek was still there, he was not in bed and neither was he in the room . He must have left the balcony door open on his way out, Nancy thought as she walked over to close the door, then she fell on the bed and went back to sleep. As she lay there tucked in a ball for warmth, the door opened and Nancy looked up. Derek stood there holding a large tray of food, then kicked the door shut with his legs and put the tray down on the table."What do you have against a little fresh hair, Coffee?" he asked sourly, not looking at her but at the balcony door, he went over and threw it open."And what do you have against a little warmth?" she returned fippantly. "It's morning and the air is
Chapter 47It took Nancy a week to wait for Derek to see reasons with her and change his mind about not letting her have her way concerning what she wanted to do. But she waited that long mostly because she wanted to heal totally, from the wound and to make up for the days she had spent away from Victory, who wouldn't let her out of it's sight now without trailing after her. The house was getting filled without activities again as the day went by and since Derek was always there to direct the servants on what to do, Nancy saw him daily now, in the mornings when he went for his customary ride, which Nancy found out was a tradition for him and most days in the afternoon too. But some nights he spent away from her, either avoiding her intentionally or busying himself with his book of accounts.Each time he returned to her after a night spent away, he would turn the sweaty stallion over to her to feed and clean. He had also taken it upon himself to make sure she took care of his horse, h
Chapter 48Derek sat alone at the long table, finishing a very nice stew and brooding on his solitude. Victory lay at his feet, her soft cry distracting and her low scratches on the cold floor occasionally distracting Derek. And reminding him too that Victory was patiently waiting l for a scrap of meat. The car had grown a bit accustomed and familiar with him after that night he had fed her, and though he hated to admit it, he found his new acquaintance comforting and he saw it as another milestone in getting closer to his unwilling and stubborn wife. Derek wondered how she would feel when she found out that her precious baby Victory was now finding comfort in her enemy's company, the thought harnessed a chuckle from Derek.Most times he enjoyed the peaceful quiet, but at other times like now, he almost wished he had remained at his parents' home instead of moving to this cold, empty house. He missed the warmth of his family, of good talk and companionship. He did not even have Harvey
Chapter 49He changed his mind about sleeping alone in his room that night and decided to join her in their bedroom. Nancy was surprised to see him come in fifteen minutes after she had put Victory to sleep beside the bed and was struggling to find sleep herself, she did not try to hide that surprise. Derek had no plans to say anything to her though, he just walked to his side of the bed and lay down there facing the ceiling. There was a lot to bother him and yet nothing to think about, he had decided long ago that he was going to go back with Carl. If anything, to keep him busy, being a warrior was something he enjoyed doing, fighting to save his life and his people and it was something he had trained himself to do very well, which was why he was in charge of his men, a battalion. The SmithVile and Ludaville were people he knew respectively in past times. Seeing them at loggerheads was not something new but seeing the fight escalate to a point of war and bloodshed. Naturally, Derek
When Dreams Are Made 50That morning, Nancy woke up unusually early to prepare for the day ahead, Derek was still sleeping soundly by the time she finished taking an early morning bath, not even arousing the maids to help her. She quietly slipped out of the bedroom and tiptoed into the parlor, making sure not to stumble on anybody on the way. She quietly opened the back door and slipped out into the cold morning, the dews were still fresh on the leaves and the livestocks in the yard were just waking up as well, daylight was just making it's way in to talk over the night.She braided her hair as she walked up the path that led to the stable, then entered to find Phil busy with the horses, he was particularly combing the mane of a white stallion. When he heard her come in and looked up to see that it was indeed her, he spared her a minute to say over his shoulders;"I was beginning to think you have lost interest in working in the stable, My Lady" he said as she approached him."Certain
When Dreams Are Made 51Nancy looked up to find Derek walking furiously towards them, her mind sank in her chest. He slowed down when he saw his cousin standing beside Phil, Night Walker's reins in his hands, Nancy was also beside the horse, petting it unconsciously with both hands and her eyes holding him as he walked towards them. Something about the way he walked briskly, his shirt roughly unbuttoned at the top and his tousled hair flying in the morning wind, even as it did, the sunlight shone on it brightly, creating a reflection. He wore the trouser he had worn yesterday, he had probably picked it from where he tossed it last night during their love making. Even the trouser was unbuttoned, only the zipper was done. Nancy gulped as he approached her, waiting for the worst."Good morning." She said to him immediately he was within hearing distance. Without answering her and without a word of greeting to either of the men with him there, he took a seat on a wooden stool by the sta
Chapter 102"ls Daisy asleep now?""Yes, My Love," Nancy answered as she crawled into bed to snuggle close to Derek. “I'm sure she sensed that her father was about to trouble her mother for the third time in one night. I bet that was why she woke up." Derek chuckled sweetly and drew her closer to himself, "Her mother loves the trouble." "She doesn't have much of a choice, does she?" Nancy grinned. "I'm afraid not." Derek said and kissed her tenderly, Nancy kissed him back with everything in her. When his hands began to roam down her breast and his kiss deepened, she didn't know when a loud moan escaped her mouth."Shh… you know we should be quiet if we are going to do this." Derek whispered softly.Nancy stopped and said with a frown, "We can always let Lydia keep Daisy or let her stay the night with Mitchelle in her room. You know I don't know how to contain my moans, especially when you touch me the way you do." "I won't let someone else keep Daisy until she is old enough to take
Chapter 101The woman was too old to run and she knew that she had been made, but she wasn't going to give up easily, no, she wouldn't let them catch her. She ran towards the only exit she had had her man make for her, but now that he was dead and she was running through this big house with an infant who won't stop crying, it was more difficult than she thought. She ran back the way she had come, and that was when she saw the guards, by now words had gotten out that the new baby was missing, and the entire house was in jeopardy. Guards were running helter skelter to secure the place, and the hope of her getting out of her was too thin. Hell, she had done this easier twenty four years ago, it had been easier! Old age sure came with it's own disadvantages, and regrets. She had a lot of them, why had she let the opportunity to keep that whiny little girl out of her sight and her hand? She had never thought her dreams would take her this far, back to her roots! Back to the very place sh
Chapter 100Nancy was too scared to breath, her breath was hitching and she was sobbing loudly as they ran through the hall. Derek was beginning to fear for her, but he knew better than to try to stop her from joining them on the search.When they found Scarlett, there was no question as to whether she had a hand in what was happening, the woman was beyond shaken and too scared to even get out any sensible word."What have you done with my child!" Nancy yelled in despair as she grabbed Some by her dress."Nothing! I didn't do anything!"Derek was beyond angry, in his present mood, he knew that he would kill her if he got his hand on her, which was why he maintained his distance and waited for her to say something sensible. "Where is my child, Scarlett?" He asked coldly. "I don't have her!" Scarlett began, hoping that her pity game would work, "Derek, why would you believe I would want anything evil to happen to you?" She tried to go close to him but Nancy dragged her back and gave h
Chapter 99When Scarlett saw Phil being dragged into the house by Derek's men a few minutes after she saw the other man in bounds too, she became alarmed. But that was not the end of her troubles, following closely behind them was a woman who looked too much like Nancy, if she had not seen Nancy leave the room with Derek a few minutes ago, and of she didn't know that the woman had put to bed just yesterday, she would have thought that this woman was really Nancy because the resemblance was uncanny.Scarlett was too scared for herself because Phil did not look like he could withstand pressure. The foolish man had taken too long to finish the task she had sent him to complete, and had nearly lost his own head in the course of it. And now he was being taken by the very same people he was supposed to be running from, Scarlett knew Derek too well, he would not hesitate to kill Phil, or even her if she found out that she had masterminded this whole thing. As she waited behind the shadows f
Chapter 98Nancy stood rooted to the spot, her mouth agape and her eyes widened, she was too shocked to speak, and too stunned to even move. But it appeared she was not the only one who was momentarily paralyzed by the shock in the room, Derek was equally transfixed to the spot, he could definitely not believe his eyes. Lydia on the other hand had to see and feel things for herself, she had heard the stories and witnessed a few horrors herself, but when she set out on this journey to return to her parents and to see the imposter pretending to be her, it had been because she probably just wanted to help her parents even though they did not deserve it. And she had come with the mind to let them know her disappointment in them for their inability to tell her apart from someone else.But now, seeing this person for herself, it was like looking at her own reflection through the mirror. She reached out and touched the person in front of her, she herself appeared shocked and stepped back in
Chapter 97Derek received Harvey's news with mixed feelings of happiness for his friend and misery at his own misfortune. Harvey had returned to his own house where his new family awaited him after congratulating Derek on the arrival of his daughter and soliciting for Rosey's freedom, which Derek had no trouble giving. His father had come the previous evening too, to see his new granddaughter after his mother sent him the news. Barry Gates, his supposed in-law was present and they were all celebrating the arrival of the child down with the rest of the house. But Derek was far from happy, his last conversation with Nancy left him with a mixed feeling of guilt and emptiness, an emptiness that felt all too familiar yet repelling.He didn't want to spend the rest of his days like that, no. This was the second time he admitted to himself that he loved a woman, and yet again, he could not have her, because of that little bridge between them. He had lost her before, and now that it seemed li
Chapter 96Nancy was led into the room, the same room she once shared with Derek. She recalled what Mitch and Rosey had told her, how he had ordered everything that would remind him of her to be burnt and yet here she was again. She was angry at herself for having let him bring her here, but then at the time, the thought had given her so much joy. When she entered the room, the first thing that caught her eye was the large portrait on the wall, Lydia's portrait. She was first filled with mixed feelings, but then her anger grew. How dare he leave the portrait there? Was it to mock her? Or to make her think there was still a place for her here? She shook her head and slowly walked to the bed but she stopped short at the sight that met her eyes. Derek was sitting on a chair beside the bed, holding the baby and playing with her little fingers. He looked up and was surprised to see her walk in, but Nancy did not notice. She saw only the way he held her baby lovingly and how happy he was. H
Chapter 95For the first hours after the baby's birth, every time she opened her eyes, she was filled with fear, and she could not dispel her feelings of apprehension until she assured herself her baby was all right. Lauren had told her that her child was safe and being fed at the moment, because according to her, the baby was too weak to wait for her own milk. Nancy asked if Derek had been allowed near her child, and she was told of how he had been of great help during the birthing, but she could not bring herself to believe it. She recovered slowly from the birthing, and all the pains were forgotten the moment Lucille brought her baby, wrapped in warm sheets and now dressed in sweet little clothes for her to hold for the first time. It was a grievous disappointment to Nancy that most of the child's features had been gotten from Derek, and very little from her, but Lauren told her that all that might go away as the baby grew. She wanted so much to give her baby the nourishment she
Chapter 94Roberts had exhausted every ounce of his strength on this wild goose chase, but the man he was going after was having a field day running through the steep path. He considered swinging his knife into the horse's back like he had seen Derek do several times in the field, but he decided against it, the animal did not deserve such barbaric treatment, and he was certainly not a heartless man. Luck smiled on him when he saw the black horse on which his target was riding stop and let out a sudden deafening neigh, the animal went ballistic, raising to legs in the air and then he launched forward and flung the man on his back off. The hooded man came flying off the horse with a thud that surprised even Roberts. His first impulse was to circle the man, who was now totally at his mercy with his own horse, then he drew his sword and slashed, first at the area above the man's knees and then his hand, this was to stop him from drawing his own sword or making any attempt to run. "You a