So according to what Sir Brooke had left for me to learn, I wanted to start with a small gathering of some of the nobles around the Duchy. A dinner party would be ideal, so it would seem. Could have started with a small tea party with nothing but ladies but had decided against that. The biggest part being, Blair really wanted to meet her 'husband'. Besides the few blurry memories she had of former Blairs life over the past year she really had no idea who this Price Blackoak was.
She figured he'd be hot as hell, as most male leads were, but was his personality any good? So far from what little she had heard of him, he seemed like a stuck up work driven individual. To be fair, as was the former Blair minus the work driven.
Her small memory she had of their first ' night' together, she didn't blame the Duke for not searching for her company. Any woman's or man's first time being as un-intimate as this couples, was bound to cause some complications for the future.
*sigh*
There first time was so so bad. It had seemed like the Dukes first time, and it was obvious it was Blairs first as she did nothing to help with the poor man's nervousness.
She swept that sad memory away. Granted her former life's first time wasn't all peaches and ice cream either but she had at least known how disappointing it was and went to find out how to better her carnal pleasure. Yes she was a sexual being, and she was horny as all hell at the moment. One could only pleasure oneself for so long until the wanting of the real thing took up most of ones mind.
Stop thinking about sex, you pervert.
Blair gave her head a shake.
Okay so dinner party, the drapes in the banquet hall needed to be updated, as did some of the table cloths...
She started writing letters, getting lost in the monotony of getting proper upkeep for the banquet hall, putting together a menu for the night.
Time passed in the study with nothing but the scratching of quill hitting paper until she heard a gentle clearing of the throat. She looked up spotting Trix.
" Your Grace, it is time for your bath."
Blair looked out the window realizing it had turned dark outside.
Jeez had she been working all day on this?
" Thank you Trix, let me just finish this last letter."
Trix nodded and left the room.
Blair stretched, massaging the back of her neck.
Scribbling one last sentence on the invitation, then stood up.
I'm going to have to do yoga in the mornings if this keeps up.
Her lower back was sore, and the little to no cushion on her chair left her backside numb.
She turned off the lamp in her study and turned in for the night.
-----
Price watched the Duchess' study light go off. Checking his desktop clock, the time was well passed midnight.
Odd. What was she planning. Curiosity racked his mind. Brooke had left him even more curious as he had said that the Duchess was trying her best at being a good Lady of the house. Seeming to have even left a good impression on his secretary. He had said that he left her with some book recommendations for bettering the Duchy as a lady of the house, but she would have to do all the studying herself. Brooke didn't like holding peoples hands when it came to work. From what the knights in the castle were saying she had spent most of the week in her study or in the library even taking her meals in one of the two places. The Duchess' study was in a wing directly across from his both facing the garden. He'd see her sometimes pacing passed the window, her hand at her chin. Sometimes playing with a lock of her hair, running it against her generous lips.
He had never seen her with such a habit, but found himself watching eyes following her hair over her lips, mesmerized by it.
He shook the memory from his mind. He had only found her bewitching once, and that was on the day of his wedding. She was overwhelmingly beautiful in her wedding dress, and when he had lifted up the veil and saw her green eyes looking up at him during the ceremony and finally sealing it with a kiss, he thought she was perfect.
Come that wedding night he had realized just how much she had hidden about herself during the few meetings they had had.
She was cold, passionless and in no way provocative. Even now thinking's about her that night and the weeks after, it doused him like a cold shower.
He looked back at her darkened study. Thinking of how a person like that could once again mesmerize him with her subtle alluring habits. Left him wondering what other odd habits she had picked up since her sudden near death, and if they too were just as sensual.
---
The next morning was just as busy as the last. Blair kept writing invitations whilst going through every house thoroughly before inviting them.
There were a few houses she invited that didn't like the Duke, just for fun. Every party needed a party pooper.
She chuckled to herself.
"You seem to be in good spirits, your Grace."
She looked up from her desk, seeing Sir Brooke entering her study.
" Sir Brooke, what a pleasant surprise."
Truly, she hadn't invited him, it was also in bad manners to invite oneself into a married womans study without notice. There's no way he couldn't have known that. The man lived and breathed competence. Plus he had been knighted which means he was dangerous.
Brooke gave Blair a once over before speaking,
" I'm sorry for coming unannounced, but I was sent by the Grand Duke so made haste."
Blairs eyebrows lifted in surprise, what on this earth could her cold husband want with her.
" Then you made the right choice in coming unannounced, please sit, Sir Brooke."
Brooke bowed before sitting down.
A heavy silence followed, almost like Brooke was thinking of ways to phrase what he was about to say.
" His Grace, wishes to know what you are planning."
Jeez buddy, just cut right to it then. What was with the wording, makes me sound like a villain, though; that was probably the point. Might as well be straight with the man, knowing Brooke, he probably said word for word what the Duke had said.
Blair cleared her throat softly before her reply;
" I'm going to hold a dinner party, I'm inviting well known nobles from around Blackoak to come. My budget for this isn't too Grand but the sum used is certainly nothing to sneeze at. Should be held in a month as I still haven't sent out the invitations yet."
There.
You see husband, nothing nefarious going on here. Just a wife doing her wifely duties.
There was an awkward pause where he studied her, before Brooke nodded his head understanding.
" Very well, I shall report this to his Grace."
Brooke stood abruptly and walked out.
Blair let out a sigh of relief. There was no way of getting used to that man. He was her husband's eyes, after all. He could ( and would) probably kill her if she said one word out of line. She wasn't sure how the previous Blair had lived, or maybe she didn't. Maybe It was Brooke who had killed the previous Blair. They said it was a deadly 'disease' but from her blurred memories of Blair the woman was in perfect health and in this tight is right mansions she couldn't see any sort of pandemic getting in.
Blair shivered with that thought.
Then again the previous Blair probably had far too many enemies, and with her invitation list for the party showing just how many people could be suspects...
She quickly pushed that thought aside.
Picking up another thought to get her mind off that.
Still haven't seen my 'husband'. The suspense was killing her. The blurry memories this body had of him left her wondering just what he looked like.
Blair sighed.
No use wondering over some man who wanted nothing to do with his wife. He'd have to come to the party she was holding; She was sure to see him there.
Only a month to go until the veil was lifted on her.
Welp, back to work.
Blair massaged her shoulders, stretching out her right arm doing little circles before turning back to her work.
-----
She was in the garden again.
Price had grown accustomed to seeing his wife. She'd sometimes be reading, other times working on whatever task she set for herself. The maids would bring out a table and set her up for whatever she was doing that day. She didn't come every day but it was clear she must not have liked being inside.
Even now she sat under the sun's rays and looked to be basking in it. She was laid out on a blanket on the grass with a book.
She looked to all the world care free and relaxed.
Price had no idea what had changed in her. From what he heard around the mansion, coupled with Brookes reports about her, she seemed like a completely different person.
Yes near death certainly changes a person. The evidence was laying in the garden reading a book.
He had been watching her for days now. It had become a habit to look out into the garden, eyes searching for her.
With every laugh and sensuous turn of her lips he became more obsessed with watching her.
Even now she lifted up her dress to her knees, taking off her shoes and laying them beside her.
She started massaging her feet.
He watched the way her elegant fingers moved, stroking.
Price cleared his throat. Feeling a flush come to his cheeks.
What am I doing?
He gave the scene one last glimpse before turning away, sitting back at his desk.
----
Blair sat inside her office, it was mid afternoon. She had finished everything for the party, all invitations were sent out and there was nothing left to do but wait. The maids had their new uniforms as did her ladies in waiting. The buzz around the house was everyone had liked the new uniforms. Her ladies in waiting were a little uncomfortable in theirs.
The dark red and black stood out. The embroidery for all for them was in gold, showing each of their birth sign. Blair personally adored them. Thankfully all of them were autumns, The red bringing out their skin and hair perfectly. They would be the center of attention when entering a room.
Good.
She wanted them to find good suitors, each of them had been lovely to her so far, and she enjoyed their company. Before she could ask Trix a question on whether she was being courted there was a knock on the door.
" You may enter."
A regular maid walked in, she bowed, never looking up.
" Grand Duke Blackoak wishes to dine with you tonight, your Grace."
Blair dropped the quill she had in her hand. Shocked.
There was an awkward pause that seemed to last for hours but was not even a minute before Blair
recomposed herself, putting on her mask of nonchalance.
" Of course, I wait with baited breath."
The maid nodded her head to show she understood.
" It shall be ready at 8."
The maid gave another bow, before exiting quietly.
8pm.
So little time to knock the man's socks off, and make him regret never seeking his hot ass wife out even on her death bed. True, she was a bitch, but still. Blairs dignity was soiled, and now she had to build it back up from scratch as a new character.
" Trix, firstly prepare a bath with lavender oils and star anise. Secondly pick out the most scantily seductive red dress I own; The more cleavage and legs showing the better, and thirdly a waist sculpting corset that accentuates my hourglass figure, preferably the gold embossed one I have."
Trix, dropped what she was doing, hearing the impatience in my voice.
" R-Right away, your Grace."
She pulled the bell next to the door to gather the other ladies and waiting, leaving quickly.
The room now silent, except for her heart beat thundering in her ears.
Blair stood.
Walking to a mirror on the wall, scanning over her flawless face.
I light rouge on the cheeks would look well, a small amount of lip balm to accentuate her sexpot lips, hair up with a couple hairpins for easy removal. Oh yes, the scene was all coming together in her mind.
Be ready husband, it may be a mutual dinner but I'm laying down a seductive ball in your court. How will you react.
Blair smiled at her reflection, all perfect teeth and hungry eyes.
-----
Price sat at the large table in the dining room.
He was drinking a glass of red wine, his fingers tapping on the table, a sign of his impatience. He was in no way early nor late, he was always a punctual man. It was now, he turned to look at the grandfather clock set against the far wall, 8:04. Still not the latest she's been.
He remembered a week after they're first night together. They had dined together a few times but hadn't exchanged more then simple pleasantries. When she had tried to follow him to his room after a night of dining together, he had politely declined. The next day and the other times after, Blair had showed up later and later until not at all. She was pouting, trying to get Price's attention or make him feel guilty. It was then that he had decided she was being childish and had decided to stop dining with her all together.
*sigh*
So childish. Was she doing the same tonight? only time would t-
The scent of lavender and spices hit his nose before he heard her, a clicking of heels on the marble floor.
" A pleasure, Husband. "
The voice sounded as smooth as rich brandy, and gripped at his manhood like a silk gloved wrapped hand.
His back shot straight with tension, unsettled by the carnal reaction to just a half sentence.
His blue eyes looked up.
God Almighty, what was she wearing?
She was in a red silk dress that wrapped around her elegant neck, the fabric plunged dangerously low showing her ample breasts, her hourglass figure on full display with a gold embossed corset cinching around her petite waist, a long slit on one side opened showing her gold strewn garters and stockings high on her thighs.
He felt a blush creep up to the back of his neck, surprised he still had blood enough for that considering where it was most focused in his body at the moment.
His eyes finally met hers. Her usual cold face was now all warmth and honey. Her eyes shone with mischief, she bowed, a stray large strand of lovely red escaping her hair pin cascading down. His eyes followed it, it rested on her left breast the sudden soft touch of hair through thin silk making her nipple jut out, and the scent washed over him anew. When she stood back up fully facing him again, His face betrayed nothing, years of being an aristocratic teaches you to keep your mask on at all times.
" Wife, please join me." Was that my voice? It was huskier then usual and a bit impatient. He adjusted himself under the table, thankful for the table cloth. He grabbed his wine glass.
No my hands aren't shaking, no his hand wasn't gripping the chair, wishing his hands were wrapped in her hair, feeding his length into that sexy mouth of hers.
Lord Almighty, where are these thoughts coming from?
Price had never lost his cool, even when work relations had brought him to all manner of debauched places, yet this woman, his wife, stoked a flame he didn't realize he had since he was a young lad.
Fuck.
-------
By the Gods this man was a snack. Broad shoulders, almost the same height as her sitting down, hair as black as piano keys sadly his gaze was looking down into his glass of wine, long eyelashes covering his ( must be) gorgeous eyes. Fuck yeah, jackpot guurrrrll.
" A pleasure, Husband." Blair purred appreciative. A smile matched her inner pleasure, he scanned her head to toe, face passive and unchanging. His eyes met hers.
Ah Gods, eyes like the ocean on windy nights, all dark blues and silvers.
Shit she was in trouble, her lace panties became wet just from the sight of him.
She bowed, the lock of hair she purposely loosened for seduction fell on her breasts. puckering her left nipple, she shivered growing more aroused. She stood back up, meeting his mesmerizing eyes once more.
" Wife, please join me."
His husky voice with a touch of impatience gave away his attraction.
Ho ho, what's this, is the cold Grand Duke aroused? Sure enough his pupils were dilated, and she could venture a guess where he was 'standing' elsewhere, but alas, Blair was only here for one thing. To tease, arouse and to sexually torture this man before her, not in that order.
She made her eyes go soft with regret, putting her elegant hand to her mouth.
" I'm sorry, husband, but I'm actually here to decline."
She saw his hands tighten around his wine glass.
" I beg your pardon?"
" It's just, after my near death, I've been prone to bouts of dizziness at later times in the evening."
She could almost feel her ladies in waiting looking at the back of her head, wondering at her brazen lies.
She also saw a crease form between her ' hubbies' eyes and a tick in his jaw.
" Then you should have sent one of your ladies to come and deliver this news."
Ugh that voice, that's some good ASMR right there.
" You see, they wanted me to, bagged me to let them so I could go back to rest, but I but I,"
Blair bit her bottom lip, looking at him from under her long eyelashes.
" I just really wanted to see you, your Grace."
His face slackened, eyes scanning her face.
He wasn't buying it, that was fine too. Surely she had piqued his curiosity.
He took a swig from his wine glass, placing it emptied back on the table.
" I see, please excuse yourself then."
Blair bowed politely, then left with a sway to her hips. She heard a cough come from the Duke. She smiled knowing exactly what her ass looked like in this silk dress, mouth watering, Blair took her hair down, it cascaded down to the small of her back, just for good measure.
Her ladies in waiting followed her out, Trix came beside her.
" What was all that for, your Grace, Grand Duke seemed annoyed."
Blair gave a graceful shrug.
" Perhaps he was."
Blair gave a pat on Trixs' shoulder.
" Perhaps." She smiled, thinking of ways to tease him at the dinner party.