Tempest sat ramrod straight swathed in lace and silk on her chair in a garden humming and twirling with feminine laughter. She felt alone, out of place, and utterly miserable but dared not show it as her mother sat at her side.

Her first week was rather slow starting. Tempest entered the social world of the demimonde with light entertainment such as afternoon teas and garden parties here and there. Soon there were shopping excursions, walks in the park, and drives down to the Promenade which as her mother eloquently put it: would prepare her for her first ball.

It was the 3rd tea party she has attended. It was a go-to gathering hosted by Lady Hasburgh, the tons most influential socialite. Her thoughts had long ago drifted off since she sat at the table, decorously flooded with fine dinnerware filled with tea and crumpets.

She often thought of Justin. Her mind was battered by the memory of being with him on the floating Vengeance, together in his cabin; in each other's arms. She would trade all of the refinery and social events for a chance to be with him out on the open Sea. The days nearing until they would meet again seemed torturous.

A breathy whisper interrupted her reverie. " I feared the most for that poor girl all alone on that ship with those pirates." A female voice said. Lady Dabney soon interrupted. " I faint to think what she must have endured being in the company of those--." she paused for dramatic effect. "heathens."

Soon the table erupted with a collective buzz of gasps and whispers.

"I do say, Lady Fontaine, you are taking the horror of your daughter's abduction with a surprising calm," All eyes veered towards her mother. Some accusing glances softened with pity, and traveled towards her, making her extremely uncomfortable.

With an icy poise, her mother aimed her gaze at the voice over her table and tilted her chin up. "I can assure you that is the case, but I cannot go around simpering like a spineless ninny for something that is out of my control. What is important is that my Tempest is back and unharmed."

"Unharmed? Don't you mean untouched? After two months unchaperoned? I doubt it,"

Lady Dabney scoffed.

Tempest stiffened.

She watched as her mother brought her feathered fan up and relaxed with ease as the women uncomfortably shifted in their chairs at the insinuating question. The sparkle in her gaze became calculating and brimmed with a knowing smile.

"Are you questioning my daughter's virtue, Constance? Because if you are, I believe you need to check your own garden and put order amongst your own tulip before gazing at mine," her mother's smile barely reached her eyes as her gaze settled on Lucy, Lady Dabney's daughter.

The gasps and whispers grew as all eyes widened and mouths hung agape. Lady Dabney fumed and immediately stood. "How dare you?"

With a regal air, her mother stood slowly to face the pompous woman that in reality was beneath them in social standing.

"Oh! How I dare?" her mother began. "I will not standby and have my daughter's image be besmirched by a jealous pasty-faced harpy that cannot control her own light skirted daughter."

Tempest gasped and the women around her followed. 

"What?....," Her mother scoffed. "Did you think none would find out about the slight slip up in the park where she was found in a compromising position with Lord Averly up her skirt?"

The vulgar meaning was clear as a day.

Tempest watched the color drain from Lady Dabney's face. A slow sliver of guilt washed over Tempest. She truly was no better than Lucy. She was willing in the most compromising position with Justin. And he is a pirate.

"I suggest you mind your tongues ladies of what was said here today. This little skirmish needs no more ears," her mother spoke staring down at everyone. "I will take my leave. I have had enough excitement for one day. Come along Tempest."

Tempest stood slowly lifting her skirts and slipped away from the garden at her mother's heels. She could feel the heat of their gazes as she left.

The carriage ride home was an interesting one. She could feel the adrenaline rush from her mother as she sat quietly listening to her go on about the most notorious gossip mongers of the ton that delighted in destroying the reputation of young ladies, creating scandal with a mere whisper of an indiscretion. With that warning from her mother, it was imperative that there were no mishaps. She was already treading the waters of scandal with her return.

"Am I clear Tempest?" her mother settled her eyes on her.

Nervously, she swallowed and lowered her gaze.

"Yes, mother."

"Good because I will not tolerate our good name to be tarnished."

With those last words, she watched her mother settle herself against the cushions in the carriage seat briefly closing her eyes. Tempest looked down at her lap and twisted her fingers about nervously. "I know," she whispered settling herself back as well for the lonely ride.

After some time, the carriage came to an abrupt halt. She was finally home. With the help of two footmen, they entered the home without another word towards one another.

By the time she reached her room, she was exhausted. She sat before her vanity then began to take down her hair.

With all that has happened, she forgot about her own ball her mother insisted on having in her honor. Precisely a month away...

*******

On the understanding that her future was decided and she had no choice but to comply with her mother's wishes, Tempest resigned herself to the inevitable and followed in the tradition of all distinguished debutantes who found their hands tied.

She had attended the ball.

After her mother's display at Lady Hasburgh's tea party, she thought very few would attend. Without her in attendance, half of London would have considered the event not worth the effort. But to her surprise all turned out well.

Radiant in a deceptively simple pink silk and Lace gown, Tempest was surrounded by every eligible bachelor in attendance. From her position at the front of the ballroom, her mother could see Tempest quite clearly and was immensely pleased.

She was shortly taken around to every society matron and was properly introduced. It was only when she duped a gangly young man into fetching her some punch, she was able to slip away out of the balcony doors into the garden. Finally alone in the warm dark night she exhaled and walked further out until the violins and French horns to the rhythmic Waltz could be heard at a distance.

Her gaze lifted up to watch the few stars in the dark sky. She was so lost with her thoughts and taken with the starry sky that she barely noticed her company behind her until he stood inches at her back and gently wrapped his arm around her waist.

Startled into silence and unable to scream she stiffened. His lips pressed to her ear and the familiar tone sent her heart into a patter.

"You seem to have pulled off a coup of the season with your incomparable beauty. I congratulate you."

A soft kiss followed warmly behind her ears.

She quickly turned to face the person with the familiar voice. And her chest tightened. She swallowed at the exciting dip her heart took.

"Justin?" she gasped.

Time stopped for a moment as she locked eyes with him. She was lost in a sea of his cerulean blue eyes as his; lovingly drowned in her turbulent ones.

"Hello, love," a breathtaking grin formed on his lips before he lowered his head and pressed them to hers in a tender kiss.

Her eyes closed and the world began to spin as his mouth seized hers with a raw hunger equally measured by her parting lips.

He pulled her tight against him lost in the wild tumult of her emotions, forgetting where they were, as she clung to him. He didn't want to release her now or ever.

********

Here we go my peeps.

So sorry for the late post...

I'm still waiting to see who shares this story...

The more shares the more readers..

The better ...please...

I would also like to point out that Tempest Embrace is currently being translated to french...Woohoo...Oui! Oui! Oui!

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