by Honor James
She licked her lip and shook her head. “Don’t apologize, Andries.” She bit her lip for him and touched her finger to it, bringing it back to his lips. “I am your wife. You don’t apologize to me for this. I want to be able to give this to you if it’s what you want.” She knew what she was saying. “Don’t hold back because you think you will scare me or hurt me, Andries. You are a warrior. I know that, but I also know that you won’t hurt me. You would never truly hurt me, and I feel that.”
The temptation was too much. Capturing her finger with the smear of blood, he licked it off before letting her pull it away. “I won’t hurt you, Xandra,” he said softly as he leaned close and kissed her lightly, his tongue sweeping over her wound to close it. “I have to go,” he murmured as he pulled back. “Be well, wife,” he said with, for the briefest of time, a look of longing. “I shall return as soon as I am able.”
“I know you won’t hurt me, Andries. Go, go before I can’t let you go,” she said with a smile and stepped back from him. “Thank you for having breakfast with me. I know that it took up much of your time, so thank you.” She made a shooing motion with her hands. “Go, Andries, I will be fine, I promise you.”
Hesitating a moment longer, he nodded and left her where she stood. Moving quickly, he headed out the door and to the lift.
Chapter Eleven
Nodding to the escort who knocked on the door, Aleina stood to the side and waited with her hand demurely folded before her. This would be the last position she accepted. If not for the lord colonel personally requesting her taking this challenge, she would already be living the last years of her life in peace on the land she and her husband had carved out. At least it would provide a distraction while her husband finished his duties. Only a year to go and he would be retired.
Xandra looked out the viewing panel and saw the insignia and smiled. Opening the door to Aleina, she spread her arms in welcome. “Please, come in, Aleina. Thank you again for agreeing to help me.” The woman was older than her and made her feel more at ease. “I will unfortunately be asking you many questions because, frankly”—she looked to the guard behind Aleina—“my knowledge is lacking when dealing with my new husband’s people.”
Bowing her head to the escort, Aleina moved into the suite and paused to wait on the lady to shut the door. Once it was closed, Aleina turned to her. “My lady, your husband hired me to assist you in adjusting to your new station and your new life on this new world. I may, at times I’m sure, seem strict, but I hope you will understand that when I give you information that it is in your best interest only and that I do so in the hope that you will, by taking the advice, have a much happier life with us. That said, when one greets another person of our world at the door, whether you are servant or the lady and mistress of the home, you should bow, greet them by name if you know it, and invite them in. Anything more exuberant should wait until the door is closed and only if the other person you are meeting with is of the same mind-set, for example a handshake or hug for family.”
Xandra nodded. “Thank you for correcting me.” Xan moved from the door and turned. “We will adjourn to the den on this level, if that is acceptable?” She had a feeling she was going to need the harsh lines and structures of the lower levels in order to remember that she was on another world and that she was no longer under her father’s control, but his coldness would be there with each turn she made.
“That will work well, I believe,” Aleina said and, as the lady turned, she let out a soft sigh. She’d offended the lady while that had not been her intent at all. Following her, Aleina stepped into the room and looked about without appearing to and moved to the long, low sectional. Waiting as the lady paused, Aleina smiled faintly. “I am sorry. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable, my lady. Your husband may have mentioned that I was a school teacher before I had my own children and, because of that, I tend to correct anything immediately or as soon as I can. I find it keeps everyone from confusion and so that it is fresh in your mind. As I mentioned, I tend to come across as strict and, or so I’ve heard whispered, rather bossy.” Pausing, Aleina watched her for a moment. “Inviting a guest to sit is common practice on any world under our protection, my lady, but, I think today, I should be the one encouraging you to sit so we may talk about our laws and anything you wish to know.”
“No, you did not offend,” Xandra said and took a seat only when Aleina herself did. “I’m just realizing how greatly lacking I am in all things that any wife should know for a husband.” She folded her hands demurely in her lap. “My education is severely lacking and the surroundings I have chosen will help to keep me on task.” And on her toes, but that was beside the point. “I want to make my husband a good wife. I fear that I continue to offend him, however.” Because of her desire to touch him, her need for a warmth that had been missing far too long in her life. “Where do we begin, Aleina?”
Nodding as she realized the lady truly was willing to learn, Aleina relaxed slightly. “I think we should begin with anything your husband may have already spoken with you about as to our customs. I will likely be able to better explain than he since he thinks as a man and I see things from a woman’s point of view, which on our world is very different.” She smiled slightly.
“From there, if you have any impressions or questions of what you’ve seen and heard to this point, I will answer as best I can, and then I think I will tell you the laws of our world. By that time, you will likely have a great many questions that I will answer as we await the clothier and perhaps have a cup of tea as we discuss them. That is, of course, if you agree?” she asked, knowing that the lady could not be treated as one of her charges, young and stubborn. She had a good head on her shoulders, was willing to take everything in, and that had to be taken into account.
“That sounds very agreeable.” Xandra paused and asked the burning question. “Why does my husband avoid touch? I don’t wish to offend him but it seems as if I do by reaching to touch him, and he has told me, I am not to touch him ever if we are in public unless it is dire. Is this a custom for the planet, something that I will need to understand?” Humans, well the ones in the villages around her home, were very loving, openly touching and caressing their loved ones.
“On our world, about three thousand years ago there was an outbreak of a disease that has a very long and convoluted name but would equate to what I read of in your history as Black Plague. It killed thousands of our people and the Vampires, which, for a race that is nearly immortal, astounded many.” Aleina paused and, shifting, slightly leaned forward. “For many centuries there were isolated cases of the disease popping up, so it was law, for a very long time, that if at all possible, you avoided any undue contact. Only in the last millennia has our medicine become advanced enough that the disease was finally put to a halt. But because it was law for so long, our men and women just do not touch.”
Looking to Xandra, Aleina smiled a little. “Your husband is, and please know I mean no offense, he is fairly old. He was born during the development of the cure, but the law was still strictly being enforced for most of his younger and early adult life. During his training, it was part of what they taught to all men of military nature. To him it is natural to avoid touch where for you it is perfectly natural. Now, I know”—she held up a hand to calm whatever questions were coming—“it has been a great many years since then, but now it’s more tradition than anything else. Husbands and wives and families will touch casually, but with strangers it’s more reserved, thus why I mentioned waiting until your guests are inside your home to greet them warmly. It’s just how our world is, my lady. Give him time. He will likely unbend to a degree, but I very much doubt he will ever be completely comfortable with public touching. It goes against everything he’s been taught.”
Xandra nodded. “Lord and Lady,” she whispered in a half prayer of forgiveness to her husband. “I will try to remember that. It shouldn’t be hard for me, and I know that because I haven’t known touch in my life, but I have
craved it.” She knew that didn’t make much sense, but it was what it was.
Pursing her lips for a moment, Aleina knew she should leave it be, but the lady was alone here. “I beg your pardon, my lady. If this is too bold of me, please let me know and I shall never mention it again, but…” Pausing for a moment she reorganized her thoughts. “May I ask why you crave it, my lady? Touch that is,” Aleina asked softly.
“I never thought that I would,” Xandra whispered honestly. “I have never been touched before, except by my mother, but she died when I was young.” She wrung her hands in her lap . “But with him, I don’t know. From the moment that I realized that he was to be mine, I needed his touch, I wanted his touch. It’s simply”—she smiled—“it makes me feel better, to have his touch, to feel him touching me.”
“Understandable, of course,” Aleina said with a nod of understanding. “I would suggest that you stand close to him, but not touching in public. Brush against him casually when you can and apologize with a simple lowering of your lashes. Be coy but do not toy with him. There is a fine line that you may walk, my lady, but do not ever, ever cross it in front of his men. He is a leader, their commanding officer, and in that his power must appear absolute. That is the only time that you must not, no matter what, distract him or try for more. In private, behind closed doors, push him without appearing to do so. Touch him gently, those mindless touches women give men when they laugh, when they are talking and not paying attention. Kiss him as though distracted, when walking past him to another room,” Aleina said with a smile. “Most importantly, watch his eyes. Vampires are very sensitive to touch and scent. Their eyes will dilate and the more…” She paused with a blush and ducked her head. “The more”—clearing her throat she shifted slightly—“aroused they are, the more their pupils will change shape. The thinner and longer they appear, the more aroused they are,” she finished, lightly fanning her face.
Xan looked at the woman and breathed in deeply. Last night Andries eyes had all but turned into thin lines of color when he had come to their bed. “Thank you for that advice, Aleina. I will keep that in mind and ensure that I don’t touch him in front of his men.” That was why he had acted as he had when they had their dinner, because she had touched him. “I would like my clothing to complement Andries.” She needed to change the subject. “I would like silver and dark blue, my husband’s house colors. Do you think that is possible?” She paused and then asked, “And do you think they will be able to have me a partial wardrobe ready today?”
“The clothier will be able to accommodate your choices,” Aleina said, willing to go with the subject change. “He will already be aware of the lord colonel’s colors and will bring you several materials in those colors as well as complementary color choices. Likely he will bring several pieces from his establishment that can be easily adjusted here by his assistants or items that do not require alterations such as with ties and stays built in,” she told the lady.
“That would be lovely.” Of course they would, with her new husband being who he was. Of course they would bend over backward in order to ensure that he was happy.
“I should also mention that, with your new position of status, the clothing options, design wise that is,” Aleina corrected herself, “will be very extensive and, some would claim, risqué. Only choose what styles you will be comfortable with unless it comes to formal gowns. Then we will need to discuss the options and choose ones that relay your position. But for everyday wear you need not be so conscious of style unless you are going out in public. The clothier will offer you house wear, morning and afternoon gowns for wearing in public, evening wear for casual dinners, and evening gowns as well as function or, as I believe it was termed on your world, ball gowns.”
There was no way she could wear clothes that were revealing and risqué. She wouldn’t want to make her husband upset or question her weak claims of innocence. She had said the words. However, hadn’t she been the one constantly touching him, kissing him, hugging him?
Seeing the look on the lady’s face, Aleina smiled. “I know it seems rather extensive, but you are a lady with a powerful lord as her husband as well as a much respected and, forgive me for saying, feared member of our military. You will be expected to portray a certain style and decorum in public, even if it is only shopping in the markets. All members, high and low, will be watching you for the first weeks to see if there is a crack to your armor that they may exploit in order to get closer to your husband and beg favors of him for the return of remaining silent on any perceived faults of yours. It is going to be hard, my lady. I will not lie to you, but in time they will learn you are a good and kind woman who has made her husband a good match. But until then, every word, every move you make, and every action you take will be judged and often harshly.”
“And that simply won’t do.” She wouldn’t be a pawn to be used to gain her husband’s favor. Either people deserved him and his help or they didn’t. To her it was really and truly that simple. “All right, I will lean to your advice on the gowns. However”—she paused and looked at Aleina—“I don’t want anything that is far too risqué. I would prefer to retain some sliver of modicum and some sense of myself and keep the gowns high enough that I am not threatening to spill out of them, if you understand what I mean.”
“I do indeed understand, my lady, but, how shall I put this, the higher the station at which you perch, the lower the bodice becomes,” Aleina said with perfect intonation and without a hint of humor. “You, my lady, are very high on station, so…” Shifting slightly, Aleina had to now fight not to laugh. It would not be proper. “I would recommend learning how to pick up items without ever tipping forward.”
“I think that I will set a new standard in fashion then,” she grumbled softly but nodded with a sigh. The tone signaled another visitor to the door and she stood. “That must be the clothier. If you will excuse me, I will see him in.” She had to try to remember how to greet the man without offending anyone else.
Nodding, Aleina stood. “Of course, my lady. I would suggest having him set up in here. There should be more than enough space there for what I’m sure he will be doing.”
Looking to the guard outside, she nodded and opened the door to the man holding the bolts of cloth and the minions behind him. Bowing respectfully, she greeted him without name, as she didn’t know it. “Please enter, sir. We are set up in the lower den, if that will be acceptable?”
Chapter Twelve
Striding in like a force of nature, the man looked at her with pursed lips before sweeping past. Stopping in the middle of the formal sitting room, he turned back to her. “We will set up here,” he said in an authoritative tone and then clapped his hands. At the signal, his four assistants started wheeling in racks of materials, racks of pre-made, almost completed clothing, his machine, the perch the lady would stand on for fitting, a large tilted mirror, and of course, the clothier’s chair.
The man was a force of nature to be sure. He stormed in and simply took over control. “And what is your name?” she asked because he hadn’t given her the courtesy of his name, and that annoyed her. “Aleina, this is…” She turned to the clothier and waited.
“I am Jaron,” he said as he instructed his assistants to placement and to open all the blinds for as much light as possible. “Now.” He nodded as everything was placed as he wanted and turned to her. “If you will, my lady”—he indicated a spot in front of him—“stand here and please, chin up, shoulders back, and stand as tall as you can,” he ordered. Holding out a hand, he snapped his fingers and his measuring tool was placed into it.
Getting onto the small raised perch, she stood with back arrow straight, chin held high, and shoulders back.
It was a long and tedious several hours, but when it was complete, she had several outfits for day wear, one gown for accepting visitors, and was assured the remainder of her clothes would be ready in three days. The most embarrassing parts of her wardrobe had been when they measured her for her un
der coverings and for bedwear. She wanted to tell them she didn’t sleep with anything on, but then the chuckles with the clothier and the viewing of the sheer silver silk had her changing her mind. Something about the Colonel unwrapping his bride was what sent her over the edge.
She watched as they all left and sat down with a sigh. Alone once more with Aleina’s assurances that she would return the next day, she waited for her husband to return home.
He’d missed the clothier, or so the guards reported. He wasn’t so upset about that, but he’d missed out on helping Xandra choose her clothing and the pleasure he might have had watching her go through the process. Opening the door, he stepped in and looked around, frowning at the boxes and piles of items still sitting in the formal sitting area. “Xandra?” he called through the suites, pausing to see if he could find her. Heading up the stairs, he walked to the family sitting room and to where her heartbeat led. “Xandra?” he said her name again to alert her that she wasn’t alone.
She turned and looked up at him with a smile. “You have just missed the clothier, Andries.” Standing, she approached him and leaned close. “How was your day?” She wanted to reach out to him, but Aleina’s words hung in her mind, so she kept herself back from him, waiting for him to tell her how his day was.
“Long,” he said softly, looking down at her and leaning in to kiss her lightly. “I’m sorry I missed helping you with the clothier, Xandra. I did try to get back, but we had to work out a few things.” He lifted a hand to touch her cheek. “Are you still interested in coming with me during the mission?” he asked her.
She leaned into his touch, her eyes closing and hiding the pleasure he gave her from that simple touch. “I’m sorry your day was so hard and long.” When she opened her eyes, the pleasure was still there, but she couldn’t hide how she felt, not when he was touching her as he was. “I would like to do that, Andries. If you’re certain I won’t be too much in the way, I would very much like to come with you, please?”
