Careless Blue
Chapter 3

Author:  Silent Moon
e-mail:  silentmoonstar@yahoo.com
Rated:  R
Genre:  Romance/Alt. Reality
Disclaimer:  standard

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sunrise burns my fortress down crumbling to the ground
i found my arrow my lightening spark buried in my heart

firecracker lightening seed it was always in me

this is how
you made my heart a hunter
			jenifer mclaren

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Darien watched in a mad blur as Molly ripped Serena from his company and rushed
her down the hall.  It was after his God Father greeted him and sat with him
in the lounge for an afternoon drink, that she re-emerged.

The Count was chatting with Darien about his travels and gave him a book he
bought for the boy while away.  

And then Serena came in, Molly at the head, "My Lord, here is your Lady."

A stranger walked into the room.

A stranger with startling blue eyes.

Molly had her in yet another stiff, starched dress, but this one was beautiful.
Her hair was all tucked up in a pretty bun, and she had make-up on.  She smelled
faintly of flowers or perfume...but most startling of all, she was a woman.

A beautiful woman.  Darien caught his breath.

She managed a curtsey for him but Darien caught the rebellious tint to her eyes
and noticed a cookie in her pocket--the price for her gesture.  He muffled a laugh.

The Count stood and Serena got her first good look at him--and gave a start.  The
dreadful man from her parent's party some months before...they hadn't liked him and
neither had she.  They had refused his request for her hand--saying she was too
young, but they promised her she would never wed him.

Now here she was!  And there was no where else to go!

She looked him over once again.  He was much older than her--possibly forty!  He
was a tall, heavy-set, dark-haired man with gaudy clothes and jewelery.  A rich man
who could afford whatever he pleased--and that included women.

But he did smile kindly at her, and kissed her hand gently.

"Hello my dear.  Don't you look lovely--just as I remember.  Come, sit down,
I have a present for you."

The present was a fine diamond necklace that he fastened carefully about her neck.

"I bought that for you in China."

"Thank you."  She said softly, looking at it strangely.  

Darien watched in silence.

"Are you sixteen yet my love?"  He smiled sweetly at her.

She shook her head, "Not for another week...my Lord."

His smiled widened, "Then I shall stay on for a week shan't I?"
He laughed heartily, "Molly!  Prepare a fancy dinner for us!"

The dinner proved dreadfully silent.  Only the Count spoke heartily.  He talked
for hours of his travels and company.  And never once did he ask what Darien
or Serena had done in the months since her arrival.

Then he whisked Serena away to the sitting room, leaving Darien to take his new
book to the study and stare at the same page for many hours.  He frowned thinking
of the Count and Serena.  She was too young to be a wife.  And something was 
bothering him--he couldn't put his finger on what it was.

Molly came in then, with milk and cookies for him.  She sat them on the table 
and then took a seat beside him.  Running a kind hand through his hair, she gave
him a gentle hug, "You're a good boy Darien.  You'll soon be a man."

She smiled at him, "Do you still want to be a writer?"

He nodded and then managed a small smile for her.  Molly had taught him to read
and write so that he could fulfill that dream.

"Is the book giving you trouble?"

"No,"  He said frowning, "My thoughts are."

He paused a moment, "Molly?"

"Yes?"

He was silent a long moment.

"Isn't...isn't Blue too young to marry?  I mean, God Father is so much older
than she...doesn't that make it wrong?"

Molly contemplated how honest she could be with him before speaking, "It makes
it feel wrong, I know.  But no, he is allowed to marry her, and she has no
choice really--she has no where else to go."

He frowned deeper and folded his arms crossly.

Molly smiled, "The Count will be gone again soon enough.  He's barely home.  Then
you and Serena can chum together again--alright?"

He nodded but there was still some lingering unease that would not dissipate.


Meanwhile Serena sat stiffly on the sofa beside the Count.  He smiled at her
innocent face.

"Did you know Serena, that you will be my fifth wife?"

Serena's eyes widened, she was speechless.

"Perhaps you will give me a son?"

She thought of Darien teasing her about having millions of babies and struggled
not to laugh.  She must not appear silly in front of the Count--the Maid's had
explained to her.  She must be silent and still and only speak when spoken
to.  It was dreadfully boring though--and she missed Darien terribly.

She knew she did not want to marry the Count--but she had no choice.  If she
ran away she might starve--and worse, she might never see Darien again.
That was unthinkable.  He was the one person--besides the kindly Maids--that
she loved and cherished in this world.  

So she would be the Count's wife.  He seemed to travel alot--so hopefully he
would not be home often.

She looked over at his aged face and studied it briefly.  He might once have
been a fairly handsome man--but no more.  He merely seemed old.  She knew
he was allowed to touch and kiss her--but she did not want him to.

He moved closer suddenly and leaned down to kiss her and she instinctively jerked
away.

"I-I do not wish to be kissed."  She said carefully.

He started to frown but then stopped.  

"May I kiss you on the cheek then?"  He asked gently.

She nodded slowly.  She didn't want him to, but she felt guilty when he was
obviously trying to be kind.

He kissed her cheek and then her neck, whispering in a voice suddenly thick,
"I cannot wait until we are married."

And Serena felt a pang of something--unease--why was that?


The week passed swiftly as the Maids prepared Serena's trouseau and baked
a tall cake.  The Count spent all his time with Serena, chattering her ears
off and boring her to tears--trying to steal the occasional kiss but more
often than not carrying her to bed after she'd fallen asleep listening to him
late into the night.

He would chuckle as he passed Molly, "Put her to sleep again." 

Molly would manage a smile, but then look over at Darien's wide eyes watching
it all.

He sulked in the library, reading his book until she began sewing Serena's dress.
Then he insisted on helping--using his oddly learned needlepoint to carefully
stich her sleeves and train for her.

Molly and the other Maid watched him with something akin to awe.

Serena passed by the kitchen while they sewed, being led by the Count on yet
another walk and talk.  She wore another pretty dress and fancy bun...her shoulders
were slumped in defeat however--until she spotted Darien.  Then her entire
posture changed as she grinned out at him, grinding to a halt and making the
Count actually stop what he was saying.

He mistook her glee to be over her dress and pulled her away, "Come along my
dear, you're not to see that till it's done."  He said laughing.

She made a quick face at Darien, whose eyes lit up and he stuck out his
tongue at her in response.  But she smiled as she followed his fingers
to find he was helping sew her dress.

Then she was yanked away by the Count.



The Wedding ceremony was strange.  Held in the study with just the Maids and Darien
present along with the Minister.  Darien had been stuffed into formal wear--very
much against his will, and tugged at his merciless collar with rebellious anger.

The Count stood in his Sunday best, a broad grin across his face.

Then Serena swept up the aisle in her pretty white dress and veil--clutching the
roses Darien had picked for her.

And Darien's mouth hung open.  His chum was suddenly an angel all in white.
Nothing could have prepared him for the sight--not even seeing her dressed up
a week ago.

It had happened so slowly...so deftly...this change in the way his eyes saw
her...in how is body reacted to her....now it began to come home.

She was beautiful.

But he saw in her eyes, the one thing that tapped her femininity back to girlhood.

Innocence.

She was still Careless Blue.  Still a wreckless, unbidding girl.  And for now
that was what he loved best about her.

So he watched her walk up and reluctantly exchange vows with his God Father.  Watched
as he stooped to kiss her and she pulled a bit of a grimace.

The Maid's hadn't any time to explain what was expected of her as a wife.  And it wasn't
until after the wedding supper, when they were eating the cake and the Count had
become very drunk.  Too drunk.  That realization hit Darien.

The one thing sitting badly with him.

The Count bent to kiss Serena's neck wrecklessly and her face betrayed it.

He grabbed Molly by the arm as she brought out more wine, his eyes wide,
face pale.

"Molly!"

She looked at him in surprise, "What is it dear?"

He hurried her into the kitchen, "Did you speak with Serena about being a wife?"

"What do you mean?"

He became panicked, "She doesn't know!  She doesn't know anything!"

Molly began to catch on, "Surely her parents explained to her--?"

"No!"

The other Maid sucked in a breath, "Oh no...you mean she has no idea what is coming
tonight?"

Darien shook his dark head fearfully.

Molly shook her head as well, "And the Count is drunk..."
Then she turned to Darien, trying to calm him, "We'll speak to her love, don't
worry."

But worry he did.  The Count drank more and pawed her shamelessly before finally
excusing himself to the bathroom.

Then Molly whisked Serena into the kitchen and did her best to explain the birds and
the bees to her before the Count returned looking for her.

Unfortunately such a brief explanation only served to terrify the girl
and Darien watched in horror as the Count led her upstairs, her eyes wide as
saucers gazing after her.

His own stared painfully back with helplessness swimming in their grave depths.

Their eyes met and then she was gone behind the bedroom door.

Darien did not sleep that night.  Sitting in bed in horror, worrying for her.
~She's just a girl...just a girl...~

And when a sudden, pained cry broke the silence, he balled up his fists and buried his face
in his pillow in anger and frustration.

The night seemed to stretch to forever...

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