Twenty One Part Four

Alfred was absolutely smitten, he was falling in love for the very first time in his life. He felt as though he floated, as he sat atop his horse, riding down the dark lane that would lead to the apartments he rented for his mistress. He had left Lady Harrison's ball with one thought in mind.

His mind wandered now, however, as he took note of how the lanterns shone, glinting off the storefronts and the street, lighting up circular patterns on the stones below him as he passed.

He thought of Terese, and the morrow, he would definitely call upon her as soon as it was an acceptable hour to do so. Supper had been a delightful half hour, spent talking of their likes and dislikes, they found that they both enjoyed riding and dancing. There had been light teasing and witty banter. Terese was intelligent and funny, she had a wicked sense of humor, and already, Alfred could not imagine himself ever becoming bored in her company. Thoughts of her in his arms as they danced, made him positively giddy. He suddenly realized, he had not stopped grinning since leaving her company.

Terese had introduced him to her mother, which seemed a very good sign. Her mother had been gracious and kind, making him feel as if he had her approval already.

Apparently, Terese was an heiress, her father was a businessman in New York, and her family was in London for a few months, while her father attended to business here. Terese had encouraged Alfred to speak with her father the next day and gain his approval to court her while they were in town.

Alfred arrived at his destination and tied his horse, quietly letting himself in the back door of the small, rented abode where his mistress dwelled.

Merry was awake, he saw the light still burning in her sitting room. As he joined her there, he saw the look of resignation that came upon her face. He knew she assumed he was there to exert his rights over her.

Merry sighed, putting down her pen, as she had been sketching a statue that sat in front of her. She began to rise.

"Do not bother yourself Merry, I am not here for that." Alfred came around behind her, laying his hand upon her shoulder, keeping her in place. He looked down at her sketch and realized it was quite good. "Why Merry, I did not know you were so talented at drawings."

Merry noticed a subtle difference in this man that used her. She looked up, and back over her shoulder at him, taking note of the fact he had not been drinking this eve.

He seemed different, his voice was kinder than usual, his facial features had softened somehow. His eyes did not pierce this evening, they showed honest interest, as if he really saw her. They were not distracted, as if he was focused upon himself, which he usually was.

"Thank you, Alfred, 'tis very kind of you to say, I do enjoy sketching," She gestured to a book on a low table in front of the settee, it was filled with drawings she had previously sketched, "Would you care to see others I have completed already?" Her eyes shone under his kind attention and the unexpected compliment.

"Why, yes, I would like to see your work, very much, if you are willing to show me." Alfred admitted.

They spent the next hour looking over her sketches, and talking. He told her about Terese, and Merry admitted to wanting to become a famous artist.

He offered to help her turn a room in the apartments into a studio, to buy her paints and supplies, and to help her by showing her works to the right people when she had enough completed to display.

She was really quite good and Alfred did not think she would have a problem selling them one day.

Merry was quite surprised by this sudden change in a man she had only known before as self serving. She found she had mixed feelings, and a little fear for her future, as she realized he would no longer want to use her body as he had before.

They became friends though, in that next hour, as they laughed and talked, and put their heads together over her drawings. She told him about her past, her hopes for the future, and he told her about his mother, and Marcus. T'was then that she better understood the man she had known him as before.

Merry's apartments were not expensive, they were not in the elite part of town. Alfred told her he would keep paying her rent, if he could use the spare room to sleep when he stayed in town.

Mayhap, she could sell her art soon, then he would not have to pay her rents any longer.

Once he courted his Terese and convinced her to marry him, he doubted she would understand if he kept helping Merry for too long.

But Merry was a lovely girl, he had been the ass in the relationship, he knew. He was glad he could try to make amends before cutting her out of his life.

They parted amicably in the hall, Merry kissed him upon the cheek before she retired to her room, he then retired to his, and they both turned in for the night.

She lay with thoughts of creating her works of art, he with thoughts of the lovely Terese and how wonderful she had felt in his arms.

************************************

Violet and Betsy had spent the evening playing cards. They now cuddled together in the window seat, wrapped in furs, watching lightning light up the sky.

"Oooooo, that one was bright." Betsy turned to look at this man that she loved. He lay behind her, giving her the best view of the flashing lights above the town.

His arm lay around her, holding his hand against her breast. He could feel her light heartbeat and closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness they shared.

"What are you thinking?" She asked softly, as she watched his eyes drift closed, and a contented look came to reside upon his face. He smiled softly, then opened his eyes to look upon her.

"Only how good you feel in my arms, Kitten." He whispered.

His eyes were filled with a warmth she knew was reflected in her own. She turned in his arms and lay her head upon his chest, holding him, as he held her.

He stroked her hair, loving the feel of the silkiness sifting through his fingers. He drawled lazily, "Here I was, in such a hurry to get this done, and now a storm delays us." He thought aloud, "I have only known the sea for so long now I am not sure how it will be to dwell on land, but I find am ready to try it. 'Tis been a great many years since I spent more than just a few weeks at a time ashore." Violet admitted to his uncertainty, here he had thought a mere couple of months ago, that he wanted a new ship, and that he wanted to ply the waters for quite a few more years. This slip of a girl in his arms had turned his world upside down, he revelled in the deep feelings of love and caring for her, even as he wondered at the unknown.

"I can imagine t'will be much different, just as the ships were for me." She commiserated. "It did not help that we were attacked by pirates soon after leaving port." She chuckled at her pirate husband as she rubbed his chest over his heart. She could hear it beating below her ear as she watched her own hand caressing him.

He brought his hand up and held hers, kissing her fingers before he then let it go and put his hand beneath the furs to trace the small scar upon her thigh. "I am grateful to God that Trent showed up when he did. That you did not have to jump to the sea, or be taken captive. I am thankful your Lady did not hesitate to kill when she needed to. I owe your Lady an apology, for she did not meet the real me, and I did many things purposefully to unsettle her." He knew Arianna had mistrusted him and he had played upon that to keep her unbalanced.

"She is a very good person, Violet, she only feared for me if I allowed you to turn my head, you know." Betsy assured him Arianna was a caring, devoted person under her wrath.

"I know, love, and she will hear my regrets for not reassuring her my own self when we next meet." Violet only knew that when he had met Betsy, his life had changed forever. It had been a heady thought, upon the island, that he may not get to leave with Elizabeth in hand. He had not been sure what to do.

He had worried more about the Duchess, and had gained her approval, but something about Arianna had irritated him. Mayhap the fact that without even knowing him, she had judged and condemned him. He did know, that he had done nothing to help her opinion of him, but he was determined to do something about that at the first opportunity he was given. Elizabeth loved her Lady, and he wanted them to be able to remain close.

"She will readily approve when she hears the whole truth." Betsy smiled against his chest, as his hand continued to rest over the scar on her thigh.

"It seems the lightning has stopped for now, let us go to bed, and hope the storm lets up enough to visit your Papa's grave on the morrow." Violet rose slowly and took her fur wrapped body up into his arms.

She draped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek as he bore her to their bed. "I love you, Violet, I am truly blessed to call you mine."

He answered her with passion, kissing her deeply, as he laid her down and came atop her.

He pulled back a mite and stroked her cheek, "You are no more blessed than I, kitten." His eyes smiled down into hers.

She pulled his head down for more kisses, and they loved one another until rest claimed them both.

**************************************

Is anyone surprised at Alfred? He surprised me, lol