�Benjamin!� she exclaimed. He laughed. Benjamin approached her and took her hand. He raised it to his lips and kissed it ever so slightly. He then offered his arm. She took it as they headed to the door. Together the two walked in. A lot of the men turned to see Ceidre, and to her prevail they didn�t stop speaking. The two she noticed that didn�t turn to look at her were her husband and Uncle Rian. Her uncle was busy in a conversation, probably about business. She didn�t mind him. Her husband was busy in a flirty conversation with a woman she knew from one other ball earlier in the season. She had a high title, something like Princess Eveque. Yes that was it, Princess Eveque Amber LeCloux. What her husband was doing with her on his arm was beyond her, but she was very curious. Benjamin noticed this.
At that moment her husband turned, and both Amber and Eric headed out to the garden. The only purpose for the garden was to be away from the people. Proposals, arguments, and the kisses of affairs could be held on without anyone else knowing. Otherwise the ton would have a field day with gossip. Scanning this information in her mind, Ceidre stopped. �AFFAIRS!� she thought to herself, �How could he?!�
Before she knew it, Benjamin had her swept up in a waltz of extravagance. She had to concentrate to keep step. Benjamin held her close to help her. He guessed by the ferocious glare given to Amber. He seemed to be reading her mind a lot tonight. When the dance was over he pulled her out to the garden as well. She figured it was probably an argument that Brian was going to start. Instead he took her out to where Eric and Amber were. He took her a ways away from the couple, in the shadows. Ceidre watched the two sit together. Eric's touch was gentle over Amber�s cheek. � So it�s true�, Ceidre thought, �he loves her.� Ceidre looked to Eric and then to Benjamin. She hugged Brian tightly and cried silent tears against him. He led her back to the front and escorted her home.
He came in with her not really caring what the ton thought of this. He led her to the library and they sat and talked. They discussed everything from the wedding night to what Ceidre felt when she saw Amber on Eric�s arm and embrace.
When Eric came home, he�d just heard the news that Ceidre had in fact made a dazzling appearance. As he walked upstairs he turned the knob on the French doors. It didn�t turn. He was locked out. He looked through the drapes that, thankfully, his wife had left open. He saw her lying on the bed. At first he assumed she was sleeping, but just at that moment she stood up. She was still in the sapphire gown. She never looked to the door and her husband standing there. She walked toward the closet and suddenly Eric remembered the key. It sat above the ledge of the doors. He reached up and pulled it down unlocking them quickly and quietly. He walked silently to her closet and started helping her with the small buttons, all delicate and difficult to remove. As he slipped the gown over her shoulders she thought nothing of it. She thought this was her servant. �Merci� she spoke softly.
He leaned to her and whispered so softly that she wouldn�t have known whether it was male or female, �Pas de qui�. He was glad he had learned some of her language, especially the �you�re welcome� that he had just told her. Then, risking it, he leaned down placing a soft kiss on the nape of her neck. She gasped as she spun.
�Eric!� she cried at the same time as his arms entrapped her so she couldn�t escape. She was glad she still had on her chemise, but bitter he hadn�t revealed himself before. Her voice was spiteful �Leave the room! Wait for me in the library! You�ve got no business here and now!�
�Of course I do Ceidre, I�ll wait outside this closet at most,� he calmly retorted. At the risk of not wanting to argue twice in one day, she gave up. His arms left from around her as she sighed her defeat. She turned away from him quickly.
He left to sit on the bed. He sat silently, waiting. She came out, wrapper pulled tightly around her. As Eric scanned his wife he realized her wrapper was probably around her so tightly because she was cold. Actually it clung to her figure tightly, flaunting every curve of her. �What do you want?� She asked sharply. He didn�t realize he�d be staring for a few minutes until then.
�Does you locking me out have anything to do with anything else?� he questioned. Ceidre�s look didn�t soften any as she replied.
�Does you holding Amber close to you have anything to do with anything else?� His flinch was involuntary yet still evident. Ceidre�s voice raised �LEAVE!!� Eric stood and faced Ceidre. He had no intentions of leaving and instead started to walk toward Ceidre. She backed up as far as she could until she slammed into the wall. Scared, she shut her eyes and took a deep breath. He took the opportunity and pounced toward her. He stood just inches in front of her and placed his arms straight out, which equaled both sides of her neck. Mostly so she couldn�t duck when he moved to her. She opened her eyes, saw him, and crushed back further into the corner. It was quite impossible, but she tried anyway.
�Sit still, Ceidre!� he said. He meant to say it strong and forceful, but it came out as a quiet whisper. Even so, she stopped and stood rigid against the wall. She was staring up at his eyes. Perhaps it was just her, but she saw love in his eyes. He, in turn, was doing the same, looking into the vibrant baby-blueness of her eyes. Tears started to slip down her cheeks as she put the evening into view. Eric leaned down and kissed each tear away. The kisses seared her skin with gentleness. She struggled to get away. Instead had pulled herself closer to him.
�No! Eric!� she yelled only loud enough for him to hear. Nevertheless, she wanted to continue to argue further. However, what works, should not be left behind and Eric knew cutting her off with a kiss worked. His gentle lips touched her pouting and tear covered ones. His lips were locked tightly to hers and he wasn�t going to let go. The kiss was making her dazed, disoriented but regaining her sense, she twisted her heard to the side and broke it. He smiled gently knowing how she was responding to him, even though she wasn�t looking at him. He noticed her shivering. As he touched her cheek he felt the cold on her. He pulled her close to him and dragged her to the bed. He sat down and took a blanket in his arms. No matter how much she defied him at the moment, she could not resist the warmth he offered. She went to him and took the blanket, wrapping it around her shoulders. He grinned at her.
�Now what�s wrong, Lovely one?� Eric questioned.
�You know exactly what's wrong! You at the ball with that� girl!� She snapped back. She didn�t realize it but her voice was pure jealousy. He did however.
�Amber LeCloux?� Eric said, grinning still.
�Yes! Her! What are you grinning for, do you think this is funny?� spoke her voice spitefully. He laughed.
�No. Her husband died a while ago�� he started.
This was only to be interrupted by, �and already she�s got a person to warm her in the cold nights!� she finished furiously, tears coming to the corners of her eyes. Eric�s eyes widened.
�I�ve never cheated on you Ceidre!� he yelled, �This is Amber�s first ball since her husband�s death. She was using me as an escort and the waltz song� the Viennese one, hurt her. It brought back memories of her and her husband. I was comforting her!� Ceidre�s look softened a bit but her voice sharper than ever, more accusingly.
�She didn�t need your embrace!� Her voice then softened greatly �I don�t� like it when you hold other women the way you do me� she sat on the bed and pulled her bare feet under her to warm and pulled the blanket more. He went behind her and pulled her close. The difference was she didn�t resist. She actually snuggled to his warmth. The jealousy was pure and consistent. Eric felt it when his hand brushed her cheek. His voice was soft, luring, comforting.
�Ceidre, I�d never cheat on you. I love you. I care about you. I was consoling her, nothing more.� She pulled away from him, taking the blanket with her. He was beginning to worry that she was still mad. She actually turned toward him, making his fear only temporary. She sat directly in front of him.
�Is it true? Do you love me?� she said timidly. He looked at her, amazed she could ever think different.
�Yes, Ceidre, I love you more than life itself. I�ve been in love with you for a long time!� she quickly moved to him and hugged him tightly. He placed his hands on her chilled cheeks, stopping her and forcing her to look at him. His kiss he then offered was accepted generously. It showed how much he really loved her and the passion in her mind was awaken. He could feel it in his touch, in their lips. As he pulled away from her, she smiled at him. Their eyes were aflame of a deep sensual passion, one that owned their hearts, their souls. One� that made them wonder if there ever was a life before each other.