A lady must control her flutterings or better yet avoid every flutterings, but alas it is easier said than done…
Shropshire 1811
She hadn't recognized him. Orion Talbot Duke of shewsbury considered this line of thought as he walked down the empty hallways his footsteps echoing. That had been his first thought after leaving Artemis in one of the several rooms, the door guarded by footmen because he couldn't have her trying to escape and hurting herself. he should be glad she hadn't remembered him, he was a stranger to her now but he'll be damned if somewhere deep down he hadn't hoped she did. despite convincing himself he had harbor hope that she would run into his arms and.. and what? He asked himself as a pained laugh escaped him he couldn't change all that had happened.He had left because he hadn't much choice at the time and whe he had wanted to come back for her he couldn't. he had told himself he was too late to come back for her. turns out no time would have been right to come for her because she had forgotten him as easily as one forgets a night with a woman after imbibing too much drink, he couldn't put to words how he felt knowing that she had so easily severed ties with her past a past that had kept him sane all this years. Could she really not remember? Was she putting up some kind of drama? He had arranged for the vicar but he will have to calmly explain to her the need to marry him. Something he wasn't quite sure how to go about he was not in the least perturbed by what his duchess to be thought of him infact he didn't care in the least that Artemis had called him a manipulative green eyed beast as he had left her room . It didn't bother him at all. So why exactly couldn't he focus on anything, her pale face crowded his visions but she was something fierce . She seemed calm on the outside but he knew better, he knew she wanted to shout and out him in his place, he had needed to clear his head so he left but no matter how he shut his eyes he could still see her bitter expression of disgust at marrying him, bah! was his reputation in London that bad? That even his Artemis would bulk at marrying him despite his peerage? And to think he was doing this for her, he groaned and sank his head into his hands. things weren't exactly going as planned but then again how could it he had gotten the damned special license and yet he couldn't force her hand she had to choose to marry him, he had to make her choose to marry him, and somehow he would.
When he had informed her about the upcoming marriage plans he hadn't meant to rush off but his emotions were getting the better of him and he knew he couldn't maintain that passive expression for long so he had left .He planned to return later that evening giving her time to process his words from earlier. Stepping into the room he saw her standing near the window pane and somehow he knew where her thoughts were going..
"You wouldn't"
he said stressing both words, he knew she wasn't that daft to attempt jumping off a 15 story mansion but how well did he know her. she turned to him with that fierce determination in her gaze that kicked him in the guts yet again, cor! He thought he had recollected himself and was ready to face her again, apparently not.
"We'll just have to see how far I can go to get my freedom" hmmm..
She had developed a smart mouth over the years and the sudden urge to kiss those lips was so strong it took him by surprise, he frowned, then He sighed and decided he'll have to simply be straightforward and truthful about this. All this exchange of words was going to get them nowhere and being near her he couldn't help but think of a thousand ways to wipe that expression from her face so instead of taking her by the shoulders and shaking her to remembrance or rather kissing her to rememberance he took a step back and said rather truthfully," I'm here to help" she looked at him unsure,
"So you go around kidnapping women and claiming to help them?"
He smiled at that "No Artemis only you"
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Ooh but when he smiled like that she suddenly forgot how to breathe and that she was a victim of his mad schemes he looked at her wearily and continued..
"Listen Artemis I guarantee you your freedom, marriage to me won't curb you in anyway if anything it will give you all you've wanted"
She considered his words for a moment and a rebellious idea of going against her fathers wish for once in her life sprung into her mind..
She was a bit surprised at his sudden calm explanation but she still didn't know what he wanted or what he was up to
"Pray tell how would you know anything about what I want ?"
Her intense gaze was searching for dishonesty in his green ones but she couldn't help but feel like he was really out to help her which of course was ridiculous because she wasn't in any danger until he came into the picture.
" you would be suprised how much I know about you"
her heart leapt at his intimate words but she yielded it to be calm, there would be know flutterings for this man. however big he loomed, how ever familiar he seemed She had to be level headed she had to be angry at him, she had she reminded herself.
" why me? What's in for you this marriage thing" she had to know his true intentions "I don't even know you"
Orion repeated the words in his head over and over "I don't even know you" she had said He shrugged "I have a score to settle with your father it's only right I take my pound of flesh by marrying his daughter without his permission" he looked almost apologetic and if she didn't know better she would think there was a more personal reason for marrying her but alas there it was. the truth about why he had kidnapped her in the first place, it all came back to her father and once again she was a puppet, a pawn in all these men's game of cards! she fought down the rising disappointment and before she could speak he started forward only to stop almost immediately and she realized she had held up her hands to stop him.
Was that hurt she saw on his face, but like a flash it was gone and he was back to his schooled expression "you have nothing to loose, Artermis"he sounded exhausted
" except my choice"
she retorted,
That look of hurt flashed across his face again Or was she mistaken?
"We both know you didn't want to marry mordbridge anyway" and we both know I'm a better option than him. But he didn't say that part out loud
Artemis thought back to Brandon the Earl of mordbridge and how she had agreed to the marriage contract without any hesitation, always wanting to please papa, somewhere deep down she knew her birth was a disappointment to him but she only fully accepted it now. She wondered if her father was worried about her well being or if he had accepted her disappearance as yet another disappointment from her. Why this stranger wanted to marry her was certainly not be for her but as some kind of revenge to her father but she could make good use of the opportunity, she suspected she didn't have much choice in the matter anyway so she had to plan, she would use him too even if it was just to show her father he had know control over her anymore, the thought was almost liberating but getting shackled to yet another man who would dictate her every move? Was it worth it?
She had never had the opportunity to dream about a love match and though this wouldn't be one at least she wasn't doing papas bidding this time. "But you're doing another mans bidding" her subconscious screamed at her but she ignored it. He had said she'll have her freedom, she would finally be her own person, free from society's constant scrutiny ooh! It was tempting indeed she'll give marriage to this man a chance after all
"you have no idea what you're getting into" that little voice sounded a warning to once again she pushed it aside she would be lying if she said she wasn't curious as to what marriage to this big man would be like, she wasn't so ignorant about what happened between a man and woman on the marriage bed and her heart beat sped up just thinking about it, she swallowed taking the sight of him in and her gaze finally landing at his face, he smirked. Likely guessing where her thought was, she flushed and averted her gaze, she must remember to hate him. She could marry him and hate him, couldn't she?
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He had seen the look she gave him, the way her lips slightly parted and the way her breath quickened the way her eyes kept darting around anxiously, and the way she flushed under his gaze he wondered what other parts beneath her frock was flushed too, ah! Bloody hell he was so hard! One thought of Artermis flushed and writhing under him was all it took? he cleared his throat. He wouldn't entertain such distracting thoughts he had watched her expression and saw that she was seriously considering his proposals a little more pushing and he had her, he was about to say something when she spoke..
"I don't even know you"
It felt like she had slapped him. More like poured him a bucket of cold water from the Thames. It was one thing to realize she hadn't the faintest idea who he was but it was another thing entirely to hear her admit it
He cleared his throat once again so he wouldn't sound as hoarse as he felt
"Lord Talbot, Duke of shewsburry at your service madame, I believe we will be well acquitted after our nuptials" he cleared his throat again "pardon me that is if you agree to wed me…" she looked at him more intently
"I'm not a monster Artemis, I won't force you into this"
She raised her chin and squared her shoulders looking right in his eyes like a queen Orion thought
"And if I refuse you proposal"
He smiled he knew she was positively considering it
"I won't force you Artermis, however I believe soon you'll see how this benefits you too"
"You kidnapped me" she still sounded suprised
"It was the only way at the time" he explained
"Surely you don't believe that abduction harbingers marriage proposals"
"Artermis.."
He was saying something about the circumstance not being normal but she wasn't listening her mind was just catching up to the peerage part! Now Hold on a second did he say Duke at some point in the conversation? He was a Duke? This big man who made her feel like his prey was a duke? She looked at him more intently, he carried himself graciously enough she supposed, He had that proud aristocratic air around him but still he didn't at all seem the gentleman ignoring her obvious scrutiny he continued ".. and the vicar will be here by dawn, I trust you must have made up your mind by then.." he looked around as if considering the space and then he inclined his head "forgive my poor hospitality" He fought the urge to say more, bloody hell he fought the urge to kiss those pouting calculating lips the former wasn't difficult but the later was well almost downright impossible he had to leave.now. with her face engraved in his mind he stalked off quietly dismissing the footmen by the door. He was hoping they had an understanding now and she wouldn't try to flee, he was trusting her and he was hoping she would trust him too, hoping she would trust that everything he was doing right now no matter how mad it seemed was for her. His Artemis.