“No. They respect me more than any other people I have ever met.” Her voice became naturally wistful as she thought of her home and the people waiting there for her. “They are good people, when the old Lord had nearly bankrupted the estate they helped me restore it, they have worked hard to make the farms viable. We share in the good fortune, and the bad.”
He studied her face as she spoke, and almost involuntarily, she licked her lips, wanting to know what he tasted like. How soft his lips would be when they pressed against hers. As if woken from a dream she jerked her head back, and decided that dancing would be a good idea after all, because at least then they would not have to talk.
He had an intoxicating effect on her, making her want to share things with him in a way she had never done before. Not even with Mrs Draper. With her housekeeper, their talk had always revolved around the house, and practical things. Captain Stuart made her want to share her hopes and dreams, and those were the only things she had ever kept to herself, because they were the only things she had ultimate control over.
Marianne watched the couples dancing, acutely aware of the man standing with his body pressed against hers, while trying to remember the steps to the dance. As one, they picked up the beat, and he guided her forward and they joined the lines of men and women, moving apart and then drawing back together in the formal dance.
He moved with elegance and grace, and yet there was nothing about him that did not shout that he was all man. The women that he encountered, as they danced the rounds, all heaved their bosoms at him, batting their eyelashes and fluttering their fans to cool the heat he drew from them. In any other circumstances, she would be a lucky woman to have ensnared such a man as this.
Marianne had to remind herself she had not ensnared him, she had been given to him, and when pitched against the other women in the room she did not appear to be a good catch. She lacked the manners and etiquette of her fellow dancers. Now she understood what he had meant by taming her, next to the women of the court she was like some wild horse that needed breaking. Marianne's heart felt heavy, and the joy of movement left her when she watched him smile and flirt so obviously with other women. Up until now she had given no thought to how he felt about having such a wild thing forced onto him, she had only considered her own position. Yet if he had done such great deeds to be given a Lordship, he must surely feel cheated by having a woman such as her thrust on to him as baggage. In reality, he should have been given a title and lands freely, and again she questioned the motives of the King and the Court.
The dance ended, and he came to find her, weaving through the courtesans, women often stopping him to make eyes at him, he exuded a potent power. Yet, few men who spoke to him, and the difference between Captain Stuart and the felines was obvious even to Marianne. They were from a different social class, and the big cats stood aloof in the presence of this wolf.
It was before he had reached her that Marianne had an encounter with a feline herself. Ruby Heathcote, the daughter of Lord Heathcote, one of the King's advisor's had been dancing, and stopped by Marianne as the music ended. Marianne knew she was whispering behind her fan to her friend, a man she did not know. Strains of the conversation drifted to her ears, and she tried to ignore them. However, the words were intended to be heard, and so when Marianne did not rise to them, Ruby took things a step further.
“Hello, Marianne. I thought it was you, but I had to take a second look because I was sure that I had seen your dress somewhere else. I have been standing here trying to decide where, and then it came to me. Helena Villiers wore it to her birthday party last year.”
Ruby had made no attempt to keep her voice quiet, indeed this conversation was meant to be heard by all those in close proximity. Marianne did not know what to say, she felt again like a child, or some poor relation. She could not blame Lord Villiers for lending her the dress, if anything it was her own fault for coming to court so unprepared.
Looking at Marianne with undisguised disgust, she moved forward, the aloof feline, ready to pounce and kill her prey. It had been so long since Marianne had been treated like this, indeed not since she had left her family, and so she stood like a frightened deer. The fight left her, she became the same little girl that her family had bullied and abused.
“Look at you, you do not belong here Marianne.” Slinking forward, eyes amber slits of delight as she played with her prey. Her smile so smug as she said, “Oh, I forgot the King is prostituting you again, marrying you off to a wolf. I can only pity your kind, no one to care for you, to protect you.”
Marianne felt tears prick her eyes; she was defenceless against Ruby's words, because they summed up her life completely. Willing herself to do something, to say something she took a step forward.
“Careful,” Ruby said, her voice lowered in threat. “You are no match for me, Unmarked. My claws would rip your face off and what would you do in defence. Cry? Scream? But who would care for one such as you? The wolf would get his land and title and not be burdened by someone so truly worthless.”
Struggling to breathe, Marianne felt desolate at the words so cruelly said. She knew Ruby was only being nasty because she could, yet her words rang so true.
Then behind her, she felt a warm presence, pressing against her, giving her strength. Instantly she knew Captain Stuart was there, and she leaned back, pressing herself against him, needing him. If he spurned her now she would be lost, and Ruby would gloat and sneer at her.
She had never needed a protector, or at least she had thought she never had. All her life she had tried to be strong, now she saw how wrong she had been. Despite what she believed, people had protected her, no matter her true nature. Lord Villiers, the Drapers and her other servants, they had taken her for what she was, and now she hoped and prayed Captain Stuart could do this too. Had her cruel words to him turned him against her, or was Ruby right, he did not want or need her.
“Miss Heathcote.” His voice was polite, but laced with danger.
Marianne breathed again, pulled back from the darkness that had threatened her. “Ruby was telling me how much she liked my dress.”
“Then she has good taste, because it looks stunning on you. Don’t you agree, Miss Heathcote?”
He spoke loud enough that the people who were around them would hear. For Ruby to do anything other than agree would be seen as an insult, but Marianne did not know if that would be enough of a deterrent for Ruby.
“Yes, the dress is stunning. I thought so when Helena wore it first.” Marianne should have known this was not going to end easily.
“Ah. Yes, I believe we are indebted to Lord Villiers for lending Marianne some clothes. It is so fortunate that both women have such exquisite figures, don’t you agree?” He looked at Ruby, and this time she had to agree, to do otherwise now would be an insult Helena Villiers.
Ruby nodded, not intending to speak in an agreeable way about Marianne. The exchange fascinated Marianne, if she let her eyes go out of focus slightly she could almost glimpse the lioness trying to gain control of Ruby, but Captain Stuart was completely under control, despite the frisson of excitement in the air.
The mood had spread to those around them, the primal side of the Marked catching the scent of conflict. Slowly the room became quiet, only the musicians, all professionals, and no doubt witness to this in the past, kept playing.
There was a stirring and murmuring amongst the people around them and they parted, revealing the King moving towards them. Marianne could not tell how in control he was, but he was majestical, and everyone felt his presence. Ruby fought for control, breathing deeply to gain her composure.
“I hope we are all enjoying the evening.” The King spoke forcefully, and Ruby quailed before him, he was not simply her King, he was also from the upper hierarchy of her Marked family.
“Your Majesty,” Ruby lowered her eyes, and curtseyed not daring to rise until he relaxed a little, this subtle body language almost lost on Marianne.
“I hope you ar
e wishing Captain Stuart and Marianne good wishes for their forth coming marriage?” He bore down on her with his very presence, nothing physically passed between them, yet it was almost tangible.
“Yes, I was just about to.” Ruby looked directly at Marianne. “I hope you get all you deserve.”
No one could mistake the undertone of her words, least of all the King. In a flash he had half changed into a powerful lion, something Marianne had never seen before. He lashed out at Ruby, who ducked but still caught the full force of his giant paw. She cried out, and fell back, only the outstretched arm of Captain Stuart stopping her from hitting the floor.
Now even the musicians had stopped, Lord Villiers appeared by the King's side and placed his arm on the King's, speaking quietly to him, in almost a purr. Marianne felt sick; she had never seen this side of the Marked, and certainly not the King. As far as she knew no Marked normally let their animal side be shown so openly unless under extreme conditions, usually fear or love.
“Marianne.”
Someone was speaking, but she could not focus on whom.
“Marianne. I think it would be a good idea if Captain Stuart accompanied you to your chamber. It is your wedding day tomorrow, you should get some rest.”
She looked around, still dazed. Lord Villiers was speaking quietly to Captain Stuart and then the wolf moved and took her arm, guiding her out of the hall. Behind her, the music struck up again, and slowly voices began to talk amongst themselves. As she looked back, everything seemed to return to normal.
Just like that, she thought, and then she realised why. Everyone else present, except for the servants were felines. The King could vaguely control them; soothe them as Lord Villiers had worked to calm the King. This was a whole world that was hidden from Marianne. It made her long to go home where she knew who she was and how things worked.
Chapter Six
They reached her bedchamber, neither of them had said a word, they had been in too much of a hurry. Marianne was frantically trying to figure out what was going on. They were in danger, or at least she was. Ruby and her clan were not going to let this drop, surely.
“I don’t understand.” She voiced her thoughts in the simplest of terms to Captain Stuart.
“I don’t pretend that I do. Not fully. But then I am not a member of this Court. I am used to the rules of wolves. The cats seem to do things differently.”
“Why did the King do that?” Marianne asked, shock evident in her voice.
“You tell me? I asked you if you had ever slept with him.” His voice held a certain degree of accusation.
“I have already told you I have never been bedded by the King. You know what I am, and you heard what Ruby said about my kind. There is no way the King would open himself to resentment and ridicule by mating with an Unmarked. Can you imagine what would happen if I bore him an heir?”
He took a step away from her, his hand running through his hair as he thought about the night’s events. “It doesn’t make sense. But then...” He stopped, looking around as though worried someone might have heard.
“What?” she asked, her voice merely a whisper.
“It’s nothing. You should sleep.”
“Do you think I will be able to sleep after all this?”
“No,” he said, coming back towards her. His face broke into a seductive smile, and he lifted his hand and trailed his finger along her arm, chasing away her fears and replacing them with something equally unsettling. “If only today had been our wedding day I could think of lots of ways to chase your worries away.”
She pulled back, the meaning of his words evident in the way his body had become aroused. Marianne knew enough about men to know the signs, not least of all the big bulge in his pants. And oh, he looked so big, her eyes widened in fear at the prospect of their marriage bed, and the pain that would come with their mating.
“Marianne? Are you alright, you look so pale.”
She smiled weakly, “I’m tired, that's all. Good night Captain Stuart.” She opened her door and went to go in, and then stopped and turned back to him. “Thank you.”
He raised an eyebrow in question. “For what?”
“For what you did with Ruby Heathcote. Her family are very dangerous, you risked a lot for me simply by speaking the way you did.”
“I am not afraid of those feline families. They need the wolves, they know that. Why do you think you have been given to me?”
“That’s just it. I do not know. But, I thank you all the same. It would have been easier to have let her have her way.”
He came to her swiftly, and his arm encircled her waist and he pulled her to him. “You are to be my wife, Marianne. No matter what else you think, I take that very seriously. No one will dare to insult you once we are married.”
With that, his lips met hers, and he kissed her in a way she had never known before. The small seed of desire that had been dormant for so long took root, and warmth filled her body. However before it had time to truly grow he pulled away.
“I apologise. There will be time for that tomorrow, and every day after that.However, now you should get some rest,” he said, taking note of her stunned face before turning away he added. “And do not open the door for anyone. Not until the morning when your maid comes.”
He left then, and she felt confusion fill her body. What had he done to her to make her body react in such a way? She touched her lips, feeling them slightly bruised by his, and then her hand covered her belly, trying to figure out where the heat had come from.
Tired and scared she lay awake trying to fathom out all that was happening to her. Was she diseased, perhaps she had been poisoned in some way. Yet above all else, she worried what would happen tomorrow after she had been given to Captain Stuart, and he took her to his bed to consummate the marriage. She curled herself up into a ball and cried, finding sleep in exhaustion as the sun was beginning to rise.
***
Marianne refused breakfast, telling Dawn she wanted some time alone, and to come back at lunchtime with some food and to help her dress. Then she went back to bed, pulling the covers over her head and trying to blot out the fear that threatened to consume her. If she could get away, she would do so now, running as far and as fast as she could from all the things she did not understand.
Her whole life she had seemed out of step with everyone and everything. Could being Unmarked make her so different from others that she found no sense in the things that happened around her? The fact that she could not change like her family, and almost everyone else, must mean she was broken. That something else inside her must be missing. Perhaps that was why she hated the thought of mating with a man when most other women seemed to find the act pleasurable.
These were the thoughts that filled her brain, not the image of the King turning into a lion, or why Captain Stuart had been given the Lordship at Marsh Hall. Therefore, when Lord Villiers arrived with food for her she opened the door looking haggard and unkempt.
“By the Spirits Marianne. You cannot get married looking like that!”
“Then cancel the wedding!” she said exasperated beyond reason. “I have no wish to take a husband and I would be surprised if Captain Stuart would not be happier with a prize that did not include me as a wife.”
Lord Villiers quickly shut the door and set the tray of food down.
“You should keep that kind of talk to yourself Marianne. Now eat, and then I will call for your maid. There must be some way to make you look presentable. Have you tried on the dress yet?”
“Dress? You mean the wedding dress that you have so conveniently provided. Dare I ask where that has come from? Will Ruby know? Because then she could humiliate me again.”
“I doubt Ruby will ever cross you again.”
Marianne stopped her ranting and looked at Lord Villiers closely for the first time since he had come in. “You have black bags under your eyes too. I guess you have not had a good night either. Is Ruby all right?”
He sighed, �
��Yes, although I am not sure the King has heard the last of this. Her father will be unhappy he struck her, over you.”
“You mean it would have been fair if I was not Unmarked?”
“Come one Marianne. You know how politics work.”
“No, Darius I do not. If I did I would perhaps be able to work out why Captain Stuart had been saddled with me, instead of a nice shiny new Lordship. I am quite sure that the King could have found another way of rewarding him if he really wanted to.”
Lord Villiers looked at her, worry creasing his brow. Marianne came and sat next to him, placing her hand over his.
“Come, Darius. As old friends, you must tell me all that you know. I believe there is much more going on than it appears on the surface. Have you found anything out since we arrived yesterday?”
“You have spent many years away from all of this, Marianne. It is something I envy you of.”
“You envy the fact I was given to an old man because the King decided I needed a husband?”
“It goes so much deeper than that, Marianne. However, you could never see it. It was the one thing we both loved about you.”
“Loved. What are you talking about Darius?”
“The reason you were given to Lord Marsh was because the King and I decided that it was best you we're sent out of our reach.”
“I still don’t understand,” she said, her voice deathly quiet. She had always thought it was some bad luck on her part. That she had to marry someone, and her family had agreed to it being the old Lord because no one else wanted her.
“We spent many years together, and watching you grow up and blossom into the young woman you are now. You can not blame us for having feelings for you.”
“Feelings? I do not understand.”
Marianne : Unmarked (His) Page 5
