A lady must follow her own rules, so far as said rules don't include the bedroom, for that madame is another matter entirely…
Artemis realized two things, one, there was no sound of a click at the door meaning he hadn't locked the door which also meant he had given her a choice, two, she wanted to marry him! The latter came as a shock, she couldn't understand the sudden urge to wed this stranger, she told herself she was trying to be prodigal but there was more to it, something drew her, compelled her, it was those seeking green eyes that made her feel like he knew her and could see through her. Oh dear had she really made up her mind without knowing? Something told her he knew she would accept his suit. He was so sure of himself and his ability to convince her, A marriage that offered freedom? Very tempting but did she want her freedom? Did she want freedom from him? She couldn't answer that and she didn't want to think on it. She sagged back into bed. When the door opened again looking up expecting to see him but she saw a young girl instead, a maid she presumed, she couldn't be more than 18, she had ebony hair and freckles littered her face, Ah freckles reminded her of penny, penny was very freckled and very well very penny she almost laughed at the thought that penny would have called on her father a thousand times to ask for her. She had to see penny soon and with this thought her mind shifted back to the maid who maid curtsy with her hard bowed "I'm Jules my lady, His grace has made sure that your every need will be taking care of and I'll be attending to you as you wish" she maid another curtsy.
Her tummy chose that moment to grumble reminded her that her last meal was well behind her. Jules gave her a shy smile and said "your meal will be served soon my lady, in the mean time I figured you'll care for a bath" a nice way to put it .She raised her arms and sniffed herself and oh she didn't care for a bath she needed one, however her new efficient maid knew just what to do cause the door opened and a line of footmen handling buckets of steaming water filed in to fill the tub. When they were finished Jules helped her undress, and she was glad to finally be rid of her corset, not like she particularly needed it to be in shape, Papa had ensured she missed the necessary meals to be in shape and meet up with the trend societal ladies use to acquire husbands. she stepped into the Hot tub, and closing her eyes she allowed herself a moment of no thought to bask in this little pleasure, This was her little heaven, her little escape. she enjoyed hot soaks in cold evenings, tubs were her turf, she thought back to when growing up, everytime papa and mama had quarreled she would run into her room for a hot soak it always helped. Water was therapeutic mama had said. When papa scolded her for every disappointment she would cry in a hot soak. Oh this was indeed heaven, after all the strange events happening in her life this little familiarity almost brought tears to her eyes. she let Jules soap her body with the jasmine scented soap washing away the weariness and ooh she could feel the rose balm added to the water soothing her, she exhaled in blatant pleasure and gave into the moment refusing to think of the man whom she would be married to by tomorrow and yes she would marry him. Somewhere deep down she knew he didn't need to do much. She was his..in marriage she reminded herself, he was marrying her for his selfish reasons, so she mustn't be carried away by his size and his eyes, oh those familiar green eyes. She sighed, He was clearly using her to get back at her father but she would use him too, they would use each other and no one would get hurt "except you" that disturbing voice said again.
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Orion had failed. He had tried and he had failed, he had failed to put her from his mind ever since thier encounter earlier that evening, he had ensured she dined in her rooms as he wasn't sure he could control his basal impulses, and just like that he felt like an untried little boy just out of the school room, damn it all he couldn't possibly Walk around with a boner all evening, could he now? he had payed a call on the widow that evening in hopes to forget Artemis but he couldn't so much as kiss the woman. Artemis face kept flashing before his eyes. Why did she have to torment him now with those crystals blue eyes. He had adjoined to his study were the castle butler Adonis had brought him a glass of Duston brandy he welcomed the burn as the liquid slide down his throat numbing everything but his awareness that Artemis was just a few floors away. He had her under his roof, she was going to be his wife and there was nothing her father could do about it, she would be safe and for that he was more than thankful, she could hate him for leaving her no choice but she was safe and that was all he wanted. Oh but still he wanted more he didn't know precisely what he wanted but he wanted more from her. He had promised her freedom in their marriage and that meant a marriage of convenience but the more he thought of it the more the thought appalled him. He knew though that she deserved that much after everything he had put her through. The fact that he was a stranger to her made his heart squeeze, he had promised her father he'll stay away but when he had heard the bastard planned to wed her to that damned Earl for his selfish reasons, not caring that her life would be at risk, the only solution had been to wed her and give her the protection of his name and if she wanted to be married only in name then so be it, but if the tightness in his groin was any indication he hoped to hell she didn't want that. She had to let him into her bed and clear his body and mind of this lust.
He heard the door to his study creak open slowly and her figure swam before his eyes, perhaps he had indulged too much and was suddenly seeing her before him His Artermis, she would be his sweet little Duchess and he would keep his word to her, she wouldn't want for anything he would give her everything, and if she wanted the stars then he would bloody well give her the galaxy,he was still in his blurry moments when her next words brought him back to reality and with reality came the realization that she was really here and not in his imagination..
"I don't care much for a husband who spends his days in his cups my Lord" did her lips just twitch?
he felt the beginning of a smile on his lips because it meant she would willingly be his Duchess.
She was Lady Talbot, She was married to the Duke, Lord Talbot, Orion Karl Talbot, she tasted the name on her tongue "Orion" how vaguely familiar and the way he had watched her after his name had been said like he challenged her to admit to something. Hmm how very strange indeed she was sure she had never met this man, she had heard of him natural seeing as his reputation preceded him, she recalled hearing he was one of Englands most notorious rake, she had also heard his majesty the king fancied him a great deal-Not that she paid attention to the rumors but one couldn't help but notice talk of a libertine skilled in bed. She almost choked on the water she sipped. she had heard tales of his endeavors and how women married and unmarried swooned when his name was mentioned she had of course never participated in such conversations but people talk and nothing could be hidden from the ton. As she watched his lip curl at the sides in what seemed like a smile she wondered how many women he had kissed and she felt an unpleasant feeling like a tight ache in her gut she couldn't and wouldn't name it. she had also heard of his ravenous appetites and how he could entertain 3 women at a time. She almost choked. she wanted to laugh at it all. She wanted to laugh at herself for it only just dawned on her what she had gotten herself into, in her childish attempt to anger her father The final agreement last night had set boundaries on their marriage and ensured the freedom she sort. The only price was he had his own freedom too! Freedom to keep his many women and indulge his desires elsewhere. She was seeing red. Seeing as the morning passed in a blur she hadn't had the time to fully process everything , A priest had shown up and she had been wed she had said her vows and pledged to love this man with all her heart, her husband, her duke, who sat at the other end of the table for the wedding breakfast. He had sounded so sure as he had said his vows, but she knew better that he couldn't wait to get into bed with his women and abandon her hopeless, she was being ridiculous she knew, seeing as she had set the rules and had set him free. Her mind couldn't help but wonder to his vows he had sounded like he had waited a lifetime for her and she wondered again if he had personal reasons for marrying her but the idea was ridiculous seeing as she was a means to exact some form of revenge on her father, she had a lot to think about and she silently prayed for the strength to follow through with all the agreements they had in his study the previous night. As she meted out her conditions he had said he planned on being faithful to her as long as she granted him access to her bed and when she had refused him she saw the set of his jaw that told her he could easily seek his pleasure elsewhere she had immediately regretted it but her pride didn't let her take back her words she sighed at this thought and the gesture brought his seeking eyes to her her midriff clenched and studied him from across the table, he hadn't said a word to her but she felt his gaze trailing her every move from the garden when they had been declared man and wife up to this moment he looked.. well rather hungry she wasn't sure why, seeing as different courses of food lay out between them, those green eyes were saying a lot of things she didn't want to decipher..