The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake) (19 page)

"Oh!" Both young women gushed in appreciation as they were fitted. Anne's dark hair was pulled up with delicate pins and flowers, as where Charlotte's hair was left mostly to fall and swish invitingly.

Her Grace sat in a comfortable chair sipping tea and nibbling on a scone, as she eyed her daughter and her friend happily. "I am so glad that I can see this. The home is very nearly ready. And you two shall be introduced together."

"Really!" Charlotte gasped "Thank goodness, I nearly fainted when I had to do that on my own."

 Her Grace laughed whole-heartedly "You know, I actually did when I was first introduced...And guess who caught me?"

"Who?" Both of them inquired.

"My husband." Her Grace Essex winked at them both before nodding at the maid who had brought in different adornments apparently from her own collection "Charlotte, I have never had need of these. I would like you to wear them."

Inside a velvet box, were diamond-encrusted earrings and a necklace with a large lovely ruby hanging off the end, it would snugly lie against the hollow of her throat and Charlotte pressed a hand to her mouth gasping. "Oh, your Grace! I couldn't!" They looked to be more valuable than the estate they stood in.

"It was a gift from a foreign friend that I have never liked...My husband did not approve of him giving me such things." Her Grace's blue eyes were sparkling with happiness. "He approves that this gift should be given to you, as Anne already has matching jewelry, and unfortunately none of us can pull off red so well."

Anne hooted in a most unladylike laughter holding her sides. "Indeed, mother you are so very right!"  All of them burst into smiles and fits of giggles as the women tied their hair, or pressed their jewelry to their throats or wrists to see what went with what.

Alexander sat in his chair scowling. News had reached him of Mr. Whitmore bragging about how he was escorting Charlotte. His teeth were on edge and his breathing felt like knives up his throat. "Damn it!" he slammed his fists on the desk. He sighed, and was not going to give her up not without a fight. If she gave him a sign...any sign that she still wanted him he would pounce. With determined strides he found Francesca and she eyed him curiously

“Done sulking Alexander?"  Her hands on her hips, he sighed feeling contrite.

"Francesca, I need your help."

"With?"

"I need to look...I need..." he was unsure of how to say what he wanted.

"You need to win her back." Francesca already had him by the arms.

She had spoken to Anne earlier in the sitting room and was grinning to herself. Soon, most of the staff was going in and out of his rooms making decisions on his hair, dress and look. Finally the outfit was decided, it was dark colors of black, gold and white.

Making his hair stand out even more when Francesca simply had him lean over as she mussed it and told him to fling his head back.

He did, which gave him a rakish and attractive look, some locks falling devilishly across his eyes when his head tilted just right, causing him to rake a large muscled hand through it.

The jacket fit him and allowed enough -just enough- room for him to move freely and he glanced down at the black gold boots he had worn for the masquerade. His shirt was nice fine cotton, loose enough to move in but tight enough to show the expanse and bunching anatomy beneath. He wore no adornments such as a watch or anything other than cufflinks.

The white cravat contrasted deliciously with his black vest and jacket as the white cuffs that circled his decidedly masculine arms and wrists caused him to grin with satisfaction. He knew she'd be a beauty and realized he had never- not even for the masquerade- made himself look as he had right then, attractive and intentionally so.

"Do you think it will do?" he asked placing his hat upon his head and getting his walking stick out.  The tailcoat of his outer jacket trimmed his already lean hips and legs as his breech enclosed legs made his height even more pronounced. In a simple way, he looked refined, but powerful. A perfect combination of genteel smoothness, and masculine power was in his stance, his air and manner of walk. The smile he had was confident and downright smoldering.

And in that moment, Alexander realized that he was walking into flames, dry tinder for her to burn and smolder. He hoped she would take the invitation.

Francesca looked proud. "I think you'll do nicely Alexander. Just don't make her faint." They both chuckled. "You're going to be late," she chided.

"Looking like this? I think it would be a shame not to be late." He kissed his lifelong maid and nanny on the cheek and departed.

Charlotte sat with Anne waiting for their moment to be introduced with the family. Her large dark eyes took in everything and the ruby near her lifted breasts quivered.

"I am so nervous,” she whispered to Anne who held her hand and patted it "What if he does not come?" Anne knew she did not mean Charles.

"I don't know if he will or not," she confided softly. In fact, Anne knew he was not there and was infuriated. She had told him what time to be there. They walked down the steps and waited where the spiral stairs would lead them to the grand dining hall.

"I feel like my stomach might float away." Charlotte confessed and Anne soothed her. 

"You are so lovely Charlotte."

"As are you." she smiled at her friend. "By the way, Precious has not been around." Charlotte said with a frown.

"Because she has been chasing my birds." Anne laughed "The servants are constantly in a tizzy over it."

“I hope she has not harmed any.” Charlotte said reproachfully.

Anne waved her hands “No, she is too small, my birds probably laugh at her.” They both smiled amused over the antics and walked to the staircase after His and Her Grace Essex were introduced.

"The Lady Anne of Essex, and her close friend Lady Charlotte Devisher." They walked down and she was instantly handed off to Charles, who for all intensive purposes seemed intent on keeping her away from everyone except himself. Charlotte saw no sign of Alexander and her heart fell like a rock to her stomach.

Alexander had loved watching her walk from the bedroom floor, the short staircase that led to the spiral stairs caused her delicate little ankles to flash their skin in a teasing glimpse. He growled low in his throat when he saw Charles take her arm, but was happy she looked displeased.

"Eh-erm." the introducer coughed at him and he told him his name "The Marquess of Cromwell."

He saw Charlotte's head turn, but Charles steered her away, failing as she turned and smiled at him as if to ask “Why?” and then cast her gaze at the top of the stairs. Her mouth dropped into a small little oval, and the black eyes lit like heated coals at the sight of him, that pretty blush crept up her throat and rested on her cheekbones. His stomach sizzled with heady heat.

He took his time down the stairs, his walking stick tapping the wood as his sheer size was estimated, when he walked past other gentlemen at the bottom. He caught sight of a few young women ogling him, but he only had eyes for her. And she knew.

Alexander knew that she held that precious knowledge like a candle in the darkness. Charlotte felt in her soul what he wanted. But as soon as the thought seemed to echo across time and space between them, her cheeks flushed in rage and she turned her nose up and away. He chuckled, that was the sign he had wanted. That lusty look of need in those dark eyes, the one he so loved to see. Alexander bided his time finding His Grace Essex and nodding his head after handing his hat and walking stick to a servant.

"Ah, I see you are fashionably late, Cromwell." 

A man at Essex’s side heard the name. "Cromwell eh? Oliver Cromwell perchance?"

"No, not those Cromwells," Alexander chuckled.

"Thank you Essex, I find that this was exactly what I needed." His eyes followed the red haired temptress around the room as people swept into a dance. His blood boiled when she took Charles’s proffered hand and they were swept into a minuet. His eyes regarded his love from across the room.

"I was wondering if I might request a dance." Alexander asked politely, and Essex raised a greying brow. "I want to request a waltz."

"Isn't that a bit inappropriate." Essex's friend coughed, but His Grace Essex seemed amused.

"Very well if you must."  He chuckled knowing exactly whom the dance was intended for.

Charlotte was dizzy with want. He had looked so handsome and daring. She also thought him a bit of a fool, but knew he had dressed so ostentatiously for her and her alone. She knew it when those eyes of his had landed upon her entire body and engulfed it in flames. She was not even aware of Charles and suddenly the dance was over.

"Might I ask for this dance?" The voice was a deep bass of yearning and she turned to see Alexander towering over her.

"Alex," her own voice breathless.

Charles, on the other hand, was in a snit. "I dare say Alexander It's a waltz...highly inappropriate." His hand clutched Charlotte.

"I'd love to." Charlotte gasped and took his hand quickly.

Alexander did not even look twice at her escort and as soon as the music played, he swept her into the dance floor. She gasped. She had never known a dance like this. They did not line up...no, he held her close to his body and their legs seemed to touch intimately as they floated on air in circles. She noticed mostly wives and husbands danced this, and her heart raced.

Charlotte tried to take a small step back, "Alex...People are-"

"Let them stare." he whispered into her ear with a low groan. "You smell of earth and sinful delicious want Charlotte," he growled.

"You know nothing of my wants," she whispered as he twirled her. She easily followed him and he adored the way the white dress swirled about her legs.

"God, you are magnificent Sweetling," He worshiped her in soft tones murmuring compliments that near made her blush.

"Alex..." her voice broke. "I had Charles escort me..."

"I know." the masculine tone was bruised with anger. "The whole damn town was talking of it." The snarl was underneath that less than genteel talk.

"I...I..." she stopped as he twirled her again and they came even closer, his hand sliding along her lower back to keep her locked to him, in the perilous momentum of the dance. Her hair glided around her shoulders and his eyes raked over every inch of her frame.

"Mine." he crooned as he nuzzled her jaw, she melted even more.

"Alexander..."

"I love you." he whispered "I didn't know it till you were gone, but I do...I love you. I didn't even want Deirdre near me. You have to believe that, Charlotte." His hand clutched her waist tighter to his body. "Please." his eyes begged her as his countenance stayed strong.

Charlotte wanted to believe him with all her heart "You hurt me..." she whispered tightly and his face did not betray what his eyes did.

Agony.

"It will take more than a waltz to earn back my favor." 

"I want you, don't you see that?" he demanded.

"Prove it,” she challenged. Her black eyes desperate, he saw her want to believe him. He felt his heart clamoring in his chest trying to show her his affections. One more turnabout the floor was all they had as the music came to an end. He wanted to swoop her into his arms and drag her home and keep her there forever.

"Stay with me." he whispered.

"It would be inappropriate Alexander..." her voice spoke that had she not been with Charles...

The dance ended and they were no better off than before, if not even worse than before. They separated and bowed to each other, his hands and her body burning from where they had touched. She had felt every lined and taut muscle that had pressed against her and shuddered at the memory. He caught the movement and a slow, confident smile crossed his lips. He watched with green envy as she placed her arm on Charles's.