Chapter 7

To burn with desire and keep quiet about it is the greatest punishment we can bring on ourselves.

- Federico Garcia Lorca, Blood Wedding and Yerma

"Good heavens," Leia murmured. She looked at her friend excitingly. "He kissed you? Like in mama's novels? The heroine's always receive a kiss . . . oh, Rhea," Leia squealed.

"Please, Leia spare me." Rhea groaned, thinking about the horrific moment. "It was a mistake."

Leia lifted a delicate brow. "You must be mistaken, Rhea. T'was your first kiss!" Rhea waved a hand of dismissal. She had not time to dwell upon such nonsense. She was to prepare for Lady Wellington's Soiree tonight.

"Oh, Leia. We were in such a compromising state . . . oh, no. It t'wasn't like the novels." Rhea shook her head. She could convince Leia to believe it was a mistake, an accident.

But she couldn't convince herself. She thought about Hadrian and the kiss in the carriage and how wonderful it was. What a kisser he was! Rhea blushed at such blatant thoughts.

It was improper to think of, speak of, such things, much less think upon them. That is why she mustn't tell her friend . . . or so Rhea thought.

"Rhea," Leia whispered, glancing at her maid. Lily was busily doing her hair. Leia had arrived early on in the day and so was invited to attend the soiree with them.

"Yes?" she asked.

Leia leaned forward. "How was it? What was it like? What was he like?"

"Oh, Leia!" Rhea blushed at Leia's barefaced questions. Rhea bit her lip when Leia urged her on. She took a peek at Lily and saw her maid still plaiting her hair.

Leia noticed her pointed gaze and said, "Oh Lily, don't worry about her hair. I'll tend to it."

Lily gave Leia an uneasy glance and then quickly scurried away. Rhea hadn't been paying attention to the present, wondering about Hadrian. She thought about them together . . . as man and wife.

How would he be as a husband? Rhea wondered.

". . . am I not right, Rhea?" Leia asked. Rhea blinked and looked at the mirror into Leia's eyes.

"What?" she asked. Leia narrowed her eyes and sighed.

"Utterly dreadful company you are, Rhea." Leia pouted. Rhea flushed and looked away.

"I'm sorry; I don't know where my mind is of late." Rhea closed her eyes. "I shouldn't be ok with this marriage. I should be livid and vile . . ."

"No. I've known you since we were babes, Rhea. You are not such a person. You are kind and sweet and forgiving. You love your parents and, in the end, you will do as they wish . . ." Leia said softly. She finished up Rhea's braids and had her turn to inspect the pattern.

"'Tis beautiful." Rhea smiled, "Thank you."

"You should never say such a thing." Leia scoffed. "I am your friend and always will be." Leia quirked a brow.

"Of course. We must hurry; Mama and Papa must be waiting." Rhea urged, she and Leia quickly donned on her satin gloves that matched her lavender gown.

As they walked, Leia nudged her elbow; she looked to her friend in questioning. "Think you Lord Vale might be present at the ball?"

Rhea didn't get a chance to answer as her mother excitedly chirped at her daughter's entrance. "Oh Rhea . . . you look magnificent."

"Thank you, Mama." Rhea blushed lightly. The praise helped relax her clenched stomach. She was sure it would be a long night, as it was her first debut, and was experiencing the late nausea of nervousness.

Leia smirked at Rhea knowingly, "Do not fear, Rhea. It will be perfect tonight."

"I am not afraid," Rhea lied. Leia gave a un-lady-like snort.

"Shall we be on are way then?" Lady Hemmingway interrupted. Leia and Rhea nodded dotingly and followed Rhea's mother to the carriage that awaited them outside. Lord Hemmingway had been tending to the servants outside and upon gazing at his daughter he gave a magnificent grin.

"Oh, Rhea, my dear!" he smiled widely; Rhea blushed at the obvious approval of her father. "You look absolutely beautiful."

"Thank you, Papa." Rhea said softly. He nodded and ushered them into the carriage. During the short ride to Lady Wellington's Rhea couldn't help but have her thoughts carried away by a darkly handsome man that gazed at her, as if seeing into her soul.

Rhea shivered. She mustn't dwell on this madness! It was making her loose her wits! Rhea took the chance to look out the window for a distraction.

They were nearing the ball and Rhea felt excitement and fear mingle together and bubble forth. She couldn't believe that it was finally her debut and she was already being married off!

She sighed lightly. She looked at the blazing lights that lit up Lady Wellington' manor, she felt Leia's hand slip into hers and gave her friend a nervous smile.

When the carriage drew up to the front of the manor, the door was pulled open and Lord Hemmingway was the first to exit, after helping down the two young girls and then his wife, he gave a coin to the servant who rushed off to put the carriage away.

Rhea gripped Leia's hand tightly, feeling her nerves tingle. She looked ahead and saw Lady Margaret and her mother Lady Pommings.

"Just look at her," Leia whispered furiously to Rhea. "How dare she wear that?"

"Leave it be, Leia. We are not here to gossip." Rhea reprimanded. Leia harrumphed but nodded tersely, leaving Rhea behind, and her father and mother rushed off excitedly. Before Rhea could step through to the front gates, though, a strong arm encircled her waist and Rhea gasped.

"Do not worry, love." A familiar voice assured. Rhea breathed a sigh of relief but then caught herself. How could she easily excuse his presence?

Rhea felt her heart flutter nervously. She tried to glance at him slyly and had to strain. She caught sight of his hard, masculine features and felt some fiery liquid pool in her stomach. How could she be affected by him so?

She shivered as his arms tightened against her waist. They were quickly nearing the door and Rhea struggled to get free of Hadrian. She was grateful of the darkness of the night and focused on getting him to loosen his hold upon her.

"Leave me be, my lord." Rhea pleaded.

"Why? Are we not to be wedded?" Hadrian asked mockingly, "You should take pride, my love, that you are mine."

"I will not have my reputation tainted, Lord Vale." Rhea explained firmly. "Please, we are nearing the entrance."

Hadrian paused for a moment then let out a deep sigh, "Very well. But I believe the first dance is mine, my lady."

Rhea held back another shiver that over-powered her body. He felt her do so before he let her go and chuckled . . . he leant close to her ear and blew gently.

"You look magnificent, sweet siren. I look forward to appreciating your beauty when we are alone." Rhea didn't have to look to a mirror to see her cheeks flame and felt her cheeks flush further as she stepped into view of curious eyes.

"Lord and Lady Hemmingway . . . along with their daughter Lady Rhea Hemmingway." The announcer bellowed.

"Lord Hadrian . . . Duke of Vale." He spoke again.

Hadrian looked at Rhea as she floated across the ballroom with her parents and away from him. He sighed gently; the need to pronounce she was his became an obsessing need.

He was confused by this wanton act to possess her fully . . . never had he experience such feelings with any woman as he did with Rhea, his sweet, beautiful, innocent siren.

He felt himself harden at the thought of finally making her his. He wanted to kiss those sweet, succulent lips, to taste the sweet nectar of her body, to revel in that wondrous smile of hers.

God, he was loosing his mind.

That kiss he had taken from her occupied his entire mind, making him think non-stop of her day and night. Damned be the marriage, he'd consummate this contract right now, right here on the dance floor.

Although, as tempting as it sounded, he did not want witnesses when he took her, nobody would get the privilege of her body other than himself.

He looked around for a sign of her beautiful blonde curls. He cursed himself, realizing how foolish he must seem right now. He was acting like a love-sick pup, a senseless young boy.

"Vale." Hadrian turned at the sound of his title. He grinned when he saw his best friend, Matthew Dalting, Earl of Wiltshire.

"Dalting." Matthew smirked, he watched as his friends' gaze was drawn back to the dance floor and raised a brow as Hadrian was obviously looking for someone – much likely a woman.

"Who do you scout for, friend?" Matthew inquired with a light grin. Hadrian scowled.

"No one." Hadrian returned his gaze reluctantly to Matthew. Matthew chuckled, amused at his friends dire situation.

"Does not seem as if this one is 'no one'. You are searching the crowd like an eager little boy. Tell me who the lucky one is." Matthew prodded gently. Hadrian hardly had any interest in anybody, and so it surprised the Earl of Wiltshire that Hadrian was gazing longingly at an innocent on the dance floor.

"Tell me; is it the beautiful Lady Rhea?" Matthew's mouth turned upwards. Hadrian looked at his friend with narrow eyes.

"What makes you say?" Hadrian demanded. "Was she your next spar, Matthew? By god, I swear, you better say not."

"Calm your anger, friend. I was only watching how you scoured for the young gal like a hawk." Matthew smirked, enjoying his friend's discomfort.

Hadrian scowled again. He looked away from his friend and then scanned the crowd to see that Rhea was now on the dance floor in the arms of-

Hadrian narrowed his eyes. The imbecile, how dare the man! That was his fiancé! Hadrian watched as Lord Ashwin, the young man who fancied himself attracted to Rhea; take her to the dance floor for a waltz.

A waltz none the less!

With only the thought to stop Lord Ashwin's ministrations, he excused himself from his grinning friend and approached the couple with eyes that could kill.

Rhea smiled indulgingly as Lord Ashwin asked her for a dance, placed his name on her card, and took her to the dance floor. The man was pleasant enough, but she found herself yearning for the brooding brown eyes of Hadrian.

Oh the pity!

Rhea shook her head of her silly thoughts and faced Lord Ashwin. Why couldn't she fancy him? He would most likely be better for her, he'd love her easily, he'd support her, and he was not hard on the eyes . . .

But she found herself wishing that Hadrian was in his place and would reciprocate the feelings. She sighed gently; there was no mistake that her crush was hopeless. After all, it was an arranged marriage.

"Is anything amiss, my lady?" Lord Ashwin asked, nervously gazing at her, his blue eyes seemed to pierce hers and showing her his open affection.

"Of course not, my lord. I was just thinking of how delightful this evening has been." She lied smoothly.

Oh Hadrian, she thought hopelessly, why do you avoid me so?

Lord Ashwin gave her an encouraging smile, "I should hope so. Did I have a chance to say how lovely you look? Your gown compliments your features most astoundingly!"

"Oh, my lord, thank-"

"I feel as if I have not made myself clear," a sardonic voice cut through their conversation, "This dance is mine, my lord."

Rhea's eyes widened. He had boldly walked onto the dance floor and was calling Lord Ashwin out!

Oh, but this night could not get any better! Rhea thought.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh gosh! I'm SOO sorry. I'm an idiot I know, but the only reason that I have as an excuse is that I was very sick and a lot of things have been going on in my life. I was in the hospital for about a week, when I got out I was in and out of the doctor's office and . . . ugh, I'm just really sorry guys!

I was working on this chapter for at least . . . two and a half weeks? I'm sorry I didn't just give you a small teaser or chapter but you guys deserve better!

I hope your not mad and you all love this chapter and vote/comment and want to fan me forever :P

I am feeling better now, so hopefully more writing on the way especially with me on Spring Break! YAY!

Thanks guys!

Anna