Nora’s smile in return was sad as well. “Once, I thought you did,” she replied softly. “But it appears that you haven’t.”
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, and it was clear that this was not just an apology for the moment. “That you had to think that for so very long. I wasn’t sure…who I was, anymore, what I was, without her.”
“And now you know,” Nora said. She was still standing a distance apart from him, afraid to touch him; afraid to break the spell. This was a moment of clarity in all these dramatic weeks, and she didn’t want him to lose it.
Eventually, some noise outside the hallway alerted him and he shook his head, as if to clear it. “We should get you to the ball,” he said. “I’ll talk to the king when we have a moment. It won’t be a problem.”
“And as a guard?” She took his arm as they headed toward the door. “You think he’ll be alright with that?”
“Deals have been made by lesser men,” he answered. “I am still a marques, whether I like it or not, and the king has reminded me of that on more than one occasion. You should, however, find Ricardo. I am in no condition to be there on official duty.”
“Thank you,” she said and patted his arm. “For admitting that.”
8
CHAPTER EIGHT
Mary lurked in the shadows of the large ballroom, mostly behind a pillar as she watched Nora dance and swirl. She was veiled, pretending that it was part of her elaborate dress. However, it did nothing to hide her green eyes from Alexander, should he choose to look for them.
Nora's suitors were not plentiful, but there were still many men who danced with her, either out of politeness, duty or interest. After all, Mary knew that in this court, men would marry a dead woman if there was money and status involved. Nora had both of those things in abundance.
The guards were plentiful in the room, but the only one who would recognize her, Alexander, was not there. For the other attendees, it had been five years since she was seen in court as the marchioness. Between that and the veil, she was safe from prying eyes.
Nora's guard suitor, Ricardo, was standing no more than ten paces away from her at any time. However, Mary noted that his eyes were not always on her. They wandered throughout the room, glancing at other ladies, smiling at a few. Half of her wanted to congratulate him, a man after her own heart. The other half wanted to slap him for daring to insult Nora like that. If she was in love with him, then her heart would break when he strayed. For men like Ricardo, it was inevitable.
Still, she appeared to be safe here in the ballroom, the largest concern handled. Mary couldn't believe that this was the same girl she had left five years ago. Tall and slim, with an enchanting smile, the fire alone had ripped away her chance for beauty. She could have had anything she wanted, and Mary cursed the world for Nora getting none of it. She had never had any children. Now that her life with Alexander was over, it wasn't likely that she ever would. There were many suitors in Mary's life, but she took great pains not to become with child, for none of them were suitable fathers. They were all the means to another end, another stepping stone, another way of survival.
She had spent the last five years climbing the ladder all over again, going from a merchant to a noble man, a lord to a baron, a baron to an earl, and now she had the attention of a duke. She was better dressed even then when she was a marchioness. Alexander never saw the need for flashy lands, servants and other luxuries that they were supposed to be able to afford. Servants made him uncomfortable, and he felt undeserving of his fortune. Mary, however, always felt she had been born into the wrong lifestyle. She was born to be a noble and he was born to be among the masses, if only they could have switched lives as children.
It was already late, and she had meant to leave early. However, tearing her eyes away from the only child she’d ever really had was difficult. She knew, however, that this wasn't the time to approach Nora, to talk to her. Not now, when everything was still new and fresh.
She had no doubt that Alexander had told her; he would have warned her to stay away. Even dancing, Nora seemed half distracted by what must be the thoughts of the day. Alexander would have forbidden her to see Mary, even going so far as to up her security. Mary knew her former husband well, and he was predictable, even if he thought himself not.
She wasn't going to talk to Nora; not here where the girl could make a scene. Mary assumed that she still felt the same way, but Nora could have changed in five years. She was once such a clingy child, desperate for affection and for love. The woman she had grown into might be no different, or she might be worlds away.
Settling for a happy medium, Mary pushed her way through the crowd, keeping her face low as she tried to exit. However, before she did, she made sure that she brushed past Nora and her latest partner, her perfume spreading through the air. The older woman could practically see Nora's head turn in her direction, trying to figure out where that lingering scent was coming from. Mary was already gone, lost in the crowd and leaving the palace.
Her latest patron had been good enough to send a carriage for her and she made use of it. The first year away from Alexander she had spent walking a good deal of places, and she had sworn that she would never do it again. A carriage was usually the first thing she included on her list of womanly wiles, usually after she had bedded someone of power and influence.
Leaning her head against the carriage as it pulled away, she closed her eyes, focusing on the night. Alexander and Nora, back in her life within hours of each other, back within her reach. It was almost surreal; she had waited for this moment for far too long.
He was angry; of course he was angry. She was angry too. She had been shocked by how the years had aged him, or perhaps how the alcohol had ravaged him. His hair had flecks of white in it; the bags under his eyes were huge. His voice was gruffer, his hands more scarred. However, none of that compared to his eyes -- so dead. It was like talking to a zombie, a man who had given up anything emotional. She knew that he had been celibate…that he had been taking to the bottle like it was his new lover. She had always had her eye on him over the years, but never so closely. The state of him, tonight, she wondered how he had survived this long.
That kiss; she would never forget that kiss. It was enough to make her lose all her resolve as well, have it drip away and go back to being his wife in an instant if he asked. No other man in her life had the power Alexander had over her.
Yes, at first it had been a bid for power, a rise on the social ladder. However, she had loved him; she could have stopped all her games with him. In addition, for years, she did. She was nothing more than his wife, his lover, his constant companion.
Until the guards had come and she had known that this chapter in her life, like many before, was over.
The carriage rattled over the cobblestones and eventually pulled up to the church, her sanctuary for the night. It had started to rain and she pulled up her hood as the doorman opened the door, helping her down.
Inside the church, it was dry, but dark and cold. Only a few candles lit the way to the back, where the rooms and offices were kept. She didn't like to shiver; didn't like to show any emotion that she couldn't control. However, the cold sunk into her bones and she couldn't help her chattering teeth as she slipped behind the altar.
There were long hallways leading through the back of the church and to the rooms. Hers was at the end and she was more than happy to head there. A voice in the shadows caught her off guard, booming through the hollow walls.
“And how is the marchioness?” he asked, his voice eerie.
Mary paused a moment and then turned around, trying to fake a seductive smile. “She has returned from her journey, as we thought, rejected by the baron and quite desperate for a husband.”
“Excellent,” Bishop Alderman purred, taking a step toward Mary. He was at least thirty years her senior, and significantly overweight, but Mary pretended he was an attractive man as he touched her face. “You are right, my dear. This is much better t
han killing her. Controlling Nora’s lands and her money will place us higher than the king himself.”
“She had no shortage of suitors at the dance,” Mary said. “Men are willing to overlook her scars for her power, it’s no doubt.”
“Your next move?” he asked, and she met his eyes, smiling like a contented cat.
“The Duke of Savoy,” she replied. “A man who is always hungry for power. He will be a suitable match, and he is an old…friend of mine.”
“A friend,” the bishop replied. “I did want to ask you about another one of your ‘friends’.”
“Oh?” Mary feigned innocent. The bishop knew what she did; he was one of her most frequent ‘friends’. He recognized her powers of persuasion and assassination, and he had not hesitated to employ her not long after they met. She was an asset to him, so long as she continued to obey him.
“The guard Alexander,” he said. “What is he to you?”
Mary knew that her eyes must have flashed, but she swallowed it quickly. “No one,” she replied. “Another scorned lover who thought himself in love with me in another life.”
The bishop looked like he didn’t believe her. Then again, he had never had a reason not to trust her before. Any lies Mary had told him, she had carefully covered. “Are you sure?”
“Of course,” she purred, standing up on tiptoe to kiss his weathered lips. “Of course, my love.”
“Mmm,” he rumbled, low in his throat. “Fine. Freshen up and then I want you to come to my rooms tonight.”
“I won’t be but a moment,” she said, as if she wanted to be there more than anything in the world.
“So this guard, Alexander…he won’t be a problem?” he asked and Mary batted her eyelashes.
“Of course not. Nora’s security will be tightened, but he is predictable. I can get around him easily.”
“Or we could just kill him,” the bishop suggested, and Mary shrugged daintily.
“Whatever is easiest for you. I’ll see you in a moment.” She floated off down the hallway to her rooms. Only once she was inside and the door was closed did she collapse on the bed, exhausted. She played a character so often that she didn’t know who she really was anymore.
Eventually, she dragged herself up to her vanity. She brushed her hair and changed her chemise, glancing at herself in the polished silver mirror by candlelight. She hadn’t aged as much as Alexander, but there were lines under her eyes now as well. Her cheekbones were a little more defined and her waist slightly larger. She could no longer pass for an innocent young girl, but rather a dignified woman. Her dark hair tumbled over her shoulders, and her eyes were more hardened than when she had been married to him. Once sea green, they were more like jade now, deep and opaque. She still looked years younger than she was, but she knew it wouldn’t last forever. She needed to secure a future for herself that wasn’t dependent on men and their passion; they wouldn’t want her in a few years. Her power needed to come from somewhere else or she would be wandering the streets again, hoping for the charity of those far better than herself.
Let the bishop think that he controlled her for now. Let Alexander think he controlled her, that she would work with him this time. They were men, and she was a woman. She belonged to no one but herself, and she worked for no one but herself. She had clearly failed to teach Nora that long ago, but she wouldn’t fail this time. With any luck, by this time next year she’d be back by Nora’s side, a proud mother to her obedient child. This world of men had failed her; but Nora wouldn’t, she was certain of that.
There was a hope that lingered within Mary that she would never admit, not even to herself. There was a hope that things would go back to the way things were; that she and Alexander would be together again. That he would forgive her, and they could raise Nora to a noble marriage, and find success there, if nothing else.
There was a hope that perhaps they could love again.
For Mary, living with the idea of hope was all that she had. However, she was not an idiot; she had seen the glimmer in Alexander's eye, the way he’d pretended not to look at her.
Perhaps this was a new start for all of them. Perhaps love had to come after such pain.
9
CHAPTER NINE
Alexander scanned the ballroom from the outside, trying to make sure all was safe. He saw Jerrico and Nathan standing together in a corner, talking in whispers, but they both smiled at him, which told him everything was fine.
“You trust them?” Nora asked, and he nodded.
“With my life, as much as I trust Ricardo or Peter. This is going to be a new beginning, Nora, don't worry.”
“I'm not worried,” she said with a smile, thinking of the kiss Ricardo had planted on her. She knew that they had surpassed the barriers between them. True love awaited her, whether it was noble or not. She had come to the city to find hope, but she hadn't expected to have options. Now, her options seemed endless. Mary was alive, Ricardo loved her, and Alexander was at her side.
“I will not put you in danger again, Nora, no matter what that means. You won’t leave my charge until I am satisfied that you are safe in the arms of your future husband. It’s what your parents would have wanted, I think.”
“I think so,” she smiled in brief broken memory of her parents. “I guess they never gave you any instructions on what to do if…something happened to them? They obviously never intended it to be so tragic.”
“Every time they dropped you off,” he replied. “They'd remind us to take care of you. Those were their instructions and I promise you they will not be forgotten any time soon.” Her scars were an all too blunt reminder that he had failed in his duties. In truth, many nights he had woken up wishing that it was he who had burned in that fire. Life didn't suit him; it hadn't for the last five years. However, duty kept him here, and he would never walk away from its calling again. At least, not while Nora still lived.
“Well,” Nora said as they came to the grand hall. They could hear the musicians playing inside, the party already in full swing. “Here's to a new life then.”
“A new life,” he said, and let her find Ricardo inside the hall. A new life that hopefully they would all survive.
PART FOUR
WILL THEY LOSE THEIR LIVES BEFORE ITS TOO LATE…
____________________________________
Princess Loyalty and Nora
&
Nathan, Ricardo and Alexander
____________________________________
“I don't want you going anywhere without an escort,” he said, as he pulled on his sock.
Loyalty rolled her eyes. “I know, you tell me this every day,” she said and then smiled devilishly. “You never told me not to go out when I wasn't being considered for being a princess.”
“I would be dead,” Nora said with a shrug. “I couldn't stay at my estate, not with the throne in such jeopardy.”
“I have a request,” Nora blurted out, turning back to George. “If you are going to send me back on the road, I would like a lady to serve me.”
1
CHAPTER ONE
When Nora awoke, she could tell that it was still barely dawn. The sun was just starting to creep through the shadows, and it was still dark in her room.
Nearby, Ricardo was still fast asleep, although she could tell that it wasn't a deep sleep. King's Guards always slept with one eye open, and King's Guards who weren't supposed to be in their current sleeping position slept with one and a half eyes open.
It was hard to believe how they had even gotten to this point; how this could even be normal. Then again, at the same time, the throne was in jeopardy at any given time, so it shouldn't have been surprising.
Nora had spent the first part of her life living peacefully on her family's estate in Calais. Her nearest neighbor, Alexander, also a marquis, and his wife Mary, were her legal guardians while her busy parents ran the estates and traveled often. Everything was fine one moment, and then within a few years, her whole life fell
apart.
Mary had died, or so she had been told, and Alexander had run off in his grief. Her father died shortly thereafter, and then she and her mother were the victims of a terrible fire that had left her orphaned and scarred. There was no one who agreed that this young female child should inherit the fortune her father had left her; everyone from fellow nobles to members of the clergy frequently attacked her.
Eventually, she was brought to the palace under the protection of the king, and assigned guards until she married safely. No one wanted to marry a scarred, half French marchioness, it turned out, at least not for the right reasons. Nora had guessed correctly that she would not find a noble marriage easily. However, it was the only thing she was right about in this case.
She had not expected one of her guards to be Alexander, in hiding after the grief of Mary's death. She hadn't expected to fall in love with Ricardo, another one of her guards. She hadn't expected that Mary was still alive, having actually run when Alexander found out her torrid past.
She had not expected the king who protected her to die, leaving a prince who had no heir. Moreover, she had not expected Loyalty, who was quickly becoming one of her best friends.
Loyalty had spent most of her life living the opposite lifestyle of Nora. She had lived as a poor laundress, a birthmark obscuring half of her face. She lived quietly, her best friend and King's Guard Jerrico providing her with work from the palace. She was engaged to a lowly navy service man, Nathan Rambles. She probably would have been happy with her life, except it quickly began to unravel as well.
Revealing A Marchioness's Heart (The Chronicles of Loyalty) Page 20
