“Rae, oh, how could I have missed you. You positively show out at every ball,” Jezebelle stated. She knew Rae, being so vain would take it as she was best dressed and spoken. What Jezebelle hid in the words was the meaning of Rae’s loudness. Rae smiled. ‘What do you want now, you lazy conceited bitch?’ Jezebelle thought.
“Have you met Rian Siqueland-Landon?” Rae bubbled.
“No. He’s old enough to be my father, and he’s married. Why would I really want to meet him?”
“But, Jezzy, He’s handsome! He doesn’t look a day past thirty.” She exclaimed, excited beyond herself. Jezebelle smiled and turned, not paying attention to what she said. She stepped back when she saw the man who stood not but three feet away. He stood much over her at perhaps six feet 3 inches. He had a dark colored hair that was neither black nor brown. He almost didn’t seem English. Then the stranger looked to her. He had blue eyes that shone. She smiled genuinely. She walked toward the people he spoke with.
“Milord, Milady, Please excuse me,” the man said, turning toward Jezebelle. His voice was deep and smooth and flowed sweet. The crisp black tuxedo he wore seemed to cling to him in certain areas, all the right ones, of course.
Jezebelle’s gown swept her ankles bringing her back from daydreams. She noticed his glance down the forest green velvet dress that sat off her shoulders. It seemed rather low cut for the innocent she was.
He took her hand and kissed her knuckled after his bow. “Duc Derack Mallorie, mademoiselle.” A soft blush rose to her cheeks. So he wasn’t English, he was French. She replied very softly.
“Mademoiselle Jezebelle Logau.” She smiled. ‘Not that I wouldn’t mind being a Duchesse.’ She thought.
“May I offer a walk in the gardens?” he asked offering his arm. She placed her hand on it gently and the two walked out.
They sat from the late time it already was until after three am and talked. It must have been five or more hours. They’d discussed everything from family to past gossip of the ton.
As the three am hour came, Jezebelle yawned. “Come, Belle, lean against me and rest.” Derack said more as an order than option. She smiled oddly at him. “What?” he asked.
“No one has ever called me Belle, before.” She said softly as she sat next to him, leaning on his shoulder. He ran his hand through her hair.
“Belle means beautiful, as you know. Fits you perfect.” He complimented. She blushed again. He certainly complimented well for the rake he was. She fell asleep as his arm snaked around her slim waist.
It seemed like hours to her mental health, but only seconds to her physical body. It was still before dawn. She rubbed her eyes. “Ah, Belle, You are awake.” She sat up. When he’d stood he folded his cloak and set the silver velvet under her head as a pillow. Her own blue velvet cloak of opposing colour lay over her. She blinked a few times and sat up straighter. There was another man with Derack.
“Papa!” Jezebelle exclaimed. She jumped up fastening her cloak around her shoulders.
“You are getting married, Jezzy. Meet your fiancée Duc Derack Mallorie. You came out here alone without a chaperone too long. I don’t want to, but I have to announce the wedding.”
Derack said not one word. Jezebelle said many. “Papa, this isn’t fair! He’s a rake but nothing happened. Why must you force this marriage?”
“Jezzy, candidly, shut up” her father said. Jezebelle obeyed. She sat again and shivered in the cool dark morning. Her body was begging for sleep, but it wouldn't happen.
Derack and Jezebelle’s father continued to have their little discussion. She was to be married before a sennight. Derack finally asked if he could have some time alone with Jezebelle so that they could introduce themselves better. Jezebelle didn’t think there was much more to say about herself. However she agreed and they decided to take a walk. They went deep through the gardens to a lake. They spoke almost no words. He picked up a rock and skipped it on the lake.
“Teach me.” Jezebelle finally said.
“Hmm? Teach you what, Belle?” Derack asked as he turned to her.
“To skip rocks, Derack” she said, thinking it was pretty obvious. When Derack nodded she approached him. He handed her the rock he was holding.
“The key is to find a flat rock. Flatter the better.” He said. She nodded so he continued. "Now hold it like so,” he said positioning the rock in her hand. His fingers curled around hers. Derack was surprised at how soft her skin was. Jezebelle was shocked at him being so gentle for his hands being so rough. He stood directly behind her. “The object is to propel it as far as you can with it skipping off the water. Let me fix your stance.” He rested his hand on her hip and the other hand wrapped around hers. She was truly shocked. A wave of passion swept through her.
“If all this is necessary to learn how to skip rocks, I’m not all that enthusiastic to learn, your grace.”
“And if you call me “your grace” once more, I shall make it even more complicated for you.” He said with a smile. She laughed. ‘Mon Dieu’, he thought, ‘ her laugh is also one of angels.’ He concentrated on her once again. “Just propel from the hips, Belle, and let it fly. I’m just holding your hand to make you let go at the right time. Make sure to follow through” he finished his little speech and she nodded, hoping she understood.
He pulled her arm back and let the rock fly. He let her hand go a little to early, but she watched the rock skip the water four times before sinking. His arm had followed through, encircling around her hips now. She smiled, lighted with joy at the simple act.
She absentmindedly leaned back against him. She was barely shoulder height to him. He leaned around front of her and kissed her gently. She responded by turning in his arms. His arms locked around her hips, hers around rested around his shoulders. She was so fragile, yet responded to him so eager. He didn’t know it was possible.
She blushed as they broke apart. “I don’t mind marrying you, Belle. Would you mind having me?” he whispered to her.
She shook her head. “Not in the slightest.” He smiled kissing her cheek.
“Turn. It’s time for the sunrise, Belle” he whispered. She turned and leaned against him as she watched the sun rise over the horizon.
Absently she asked, “What will you name your children?” Them blushed realizing what she said.
“Ceidre.” He said swiftly and positively.
“Ceidre it is, my love” a smile crept across her lips and he leaned to kiss her neck to show how much the love was returned.
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