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But I was muddying the waters, I was letting in someone they would never have accepted did I not have the power to keep them in check. I knew enough about them, the so-called elite, to know that they wouldn’t be as accepting of her if I didn’t let it be known that there would be dire consequences.
In the great hall we stopped in front of the life size portrait of Bridget. I knew why she liked this particular image so much. The woman in it bore a striking resemblance to her. The dark locks and those grey eyes that held so many secrets. I’d seen it the first time we met.
It wasn’t just the facial features that they shared though. There was strength in the bearing of the woman in that portrait. Her very stance, her regal beauty, the look in her eyes, was one of strength and spoke of the hurdles she’d had to overcome. I imagine that their story, hers and the earl’s had been very much like our own.
As the story goes, no one wanted those two to marry either. He being a nobleman and she, the lowly daughter of a warrior from another people no less. They’d fought the world they lived in to be together. Had gone against everything and everyone to preserve their love for one another.
We stayed there for the longest while, neither of us saying anything as she studied the beauty in the portrait. When she finally started asking questions I was only too happy to answer and the more we talked, the more similarities came to light.
I was tempted to get one of the books from its place in the special case they were kept in to preserve them, but there’ll be time enough for that later. For now I watched her take her time and enjoy the way she never could before.
The hallway was lit by a row of gold and crystal chandeliers as we walked from portrait to portrait. She looked at my ancestors while I looked at her, admiring her beauty and that look of pure joy on her face. She was getting more joy from these old paintings than I ever had.
As usual being this close to her for so long was having an affect on me and my lust for her was on the rise. It wasn’t long before I moved up behind her as she stood before a picture of a young mother and son. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and buried my face in her neck.
“I need to touch you, come with me.” She didn’t argue when I took her hand and led her from the room and up the stairs to my suite. Mom had moved out of the master suite years ago.
The way the house was built, the lady of the house had her own private rooms and she preferred to stay there. I don’t think she’d set foot in there since before dad died.
I hadn’t moved into the room, I saw no reason to. But now that we were to be married I’ll have to see about having it made ready. I’ll talk to her about that tomorrow though, right now I needed to feel her under my hands.
I had no plans on taking her tonight, not until we were married, it was important to me to preserve her maidenhead until my ring was on her finger. But at least I could share things with her that I daren’t when I thought I would be marrying someone else. I just hope I have the strength to keep myself from going too far.
In the room, I locked the door behind us and turned on the small night lamp on the bedside table before turning back to her and taking her face in my hands. “I love you Lucia. I won’t let anything go wrong. It took me a long time to make things right, to finally admit my love for you. Nothing is going to take that away from us. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“You don’t seem too sure.” Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. I know her so well already.
“It’s not that, it’s just…I hear what you’re saying, but when that woman came to see me, she was very sure that your mother would never let us be together.”
Ah, so she was still worrying. You’ve really fucked up Ethan haven’t you. So much so that your own woman can’t even trust you to keep her safe from a weak old woman. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I can’t say it wasn’t unsettling to realize that she really did believe that I couldn’t protect her, but at least I knew the fault was mine. Now it was time to correct it.
“I understand your fears Lucia. That was the very reason I tried to stay away from you. I was wrong, I should never have let misguided duty cause me to deny my feelings for you. For that I ask your forgiveness.
