An Alone and Destitute Girl (#3, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel)

by Dorothy Green

  As Sir Norington pulled out a chair for her, she was scared to see Alex take a seat directly across from her, for she could not withstand his improper glances for an entire supper.

  Sir Norington sat at the head of the table and Emma sat beside her while Jane sat next to Alex. Now, here we were, one happy family. It was awful.

  “So Miss Proctor, I am sorry that I was not able to greet you earlier but I trust you are finding Norington to your liking?” Sir Norington asked as he nodded to the servant to begin the first course, flower soup.

  “Yes, I am. It is very beautiful. I never dreamt a place could be so stunning,” she said smiling and doing polite society chatter as was required. It was something being a courtesan had taught her to do well.

  “It is stunningly boring,” Alex added in, arrogantly.

  “Alex! Have more pride in your home. This is to be your responsibility one day!” Sir Norington erupted in such a loud roar it stunned her and his sisters, but not Alex. He just slumped in his chair arrogantly and slammed down the wine before saying, “Let us hope sooner rather than later. Perhaps you will go tomorrow father. Having a heart attack when riding one of your mares,” Alex laughed.

  Shock took its place in Katrina’s heart. How could Alex not be embarrassed by his lack of respect for his father and in front of a guest in the house? But even more so she was embarrassed that she might be that mare he spoke of.

  “That’s enough, son! Hold your tongue, we have a guest. I will have no more of your arrogant babble. It is time you take on responsibility instead of drinking the day away in the stables and rolling in the hay with the servants! Now be quiet and enjoy your dinner.”

  “No,” Alex said as he got up from his chair abruptly causing quite the ruckus. He bowed at her and said, “Miss Proctor...welcome to the madhouse.” Then he stomped out of the room.

  Everyone was silent and she was shocked. Finally Sir Norington looked at her and smiled and said, “Trust me, it will be a much more pleasant dinner with him gone. Now tell us about your travels. Where did you change horses?”

  Katrina answered the small talk questions he had, and it was a very dull but very delicious dinner. She almost wished that Alex was back at The table because at least he was entertaining and fun to look at it. After dinner they sat in the parlour for after dinner drinks. Emma played the piano, very poorly she might say, and Jane read out loud from a book. She sat glancing at the door waiting for Alex to come back in. She wondered where he had gone off to? He was probably with one of the maids, or all of them.

  Katrina tossed and turned about what she had done. Should she have accepted this invitation at all? She had nowhere else to turn to. She would be destitute again and out on the street. It was awful and yet she knew that she had to do it. She started to panic and realized that she could not breath. She shot up from bed and grabbed a night robe and tied it over her sheer white nightgown and left her room and ventured quietly into the gardens behind the house. Katrina was lost in thought through the maze of flowers and hedges when she suddenly heard moaning. She gasped and stopped in tracks frozen. It couldn’t be? Could it? A male groaned and suck in air sharply and she knew that must be Alex.

  There on a long garden bench adorned with blue and white striped cushion was Alex laying on his back completely naked! She gasped at the sight. She gasped so loud that she pulled back against the hedge, sure that they had seen, and was anticipating that they would stop and say things like – someone’s there. Instead, the moaning continued and she was safe. Quietly she made her way back to her room, mortified by this. What if Alex came for her next? No, she would not ruin this chance for a home, even if it was not true love.

  The next day she was still exhausted and slept in very late. It was almost noon when she finally stirred. she asked to have a light breakfast in bed, as she did not want to run into Alex, his sisters, or Sir Norington. She claimed that she had a light headache and would join for dinner later. The maid Ms. Michaels brought it in and she stared at her with a completely different view than she had previously. She blushed as she remembered what had happened the night before. It was downright embarrassing for her. “Here is your breakfast, Miss Proctor? I do hope that you feel better,” she said as she set it down on the table in the sitting room.

  “Thank you,” was all she said.

  “Would you like me to return in an hour to help you get dressed?” she asked.

  “No I will be fine on my own. Just return for dressing for dinner,” she said not wanting to see her again and wish there were other maids that could help her.

  “Very well, good day,” she said.

  Katrina sat down in her robe and drank of the strong tea and ate the scones and preserve jam breakfast. It was just what she needed. She had a mind to sneak out of her room and to the stables to ride. It had been a long time since she had ridden in the countryside and she longed to experience it again. She went ahead and dressed in her riding clothes and snuck out of the house. The stables were far on the other side of the estate and she was happy for the distance. It would be nice to get away from the Norington clan and the servants. She made her way across the fields to the stables and she was shocked for what she saw when she arrived. Alex was working in the stable. He was not wearing a shirt and his skin was glistening with sweat. His trousers and boots were the only thing he wore. She immediately had a flash back of what she saw the night before with his naked body. She took a step backward in order to flee but instead she hit a tool on the wall. Crash! It tumbled to the ground. Alex looked up startled and then when he saw that it was she, he grinned.

  “Miss Proctor, it is good to see you again,” he said. “And you as well,” she said with a small bow in the formal fashion.

  “I have not seen you since last night,” he said as he arched an eyebrow at her.

  “Yes, dinner was quite interesting,” she said looking around to see how she could escape this conversation.

  “I did not mean later. I meant later last night. In the garden...did you enjoy the show?” he said as he smiled.

  “What! I...no...I” was all that she could say. she felt so embarrassed by his blunt statement. He had seen her?! But how and when? She felt her face blushing and turning hot. Then he took three long strides with his long legs and was very close to her.

  He took her chin in his hand and lifted her faced up to him. She gasped at his closeness. He was so attractive. He moved his lips close to hers and her lips opened instinctively. She wanted him to kiss her. She lost f in that moment and felt her body responding to him and did not know why. This man is a seducer! That’s why!

  Then he said, “Why would a lovely woman such as yourself with such a passion inside of you agree to be with a disgusting fool like my father? Hmmm? What does he have on you? What are you hiding from or running from?” he said as he searched her eyes.

  She wanted to tell him about hiding from the sapphire jewels scandal but she could not. She wanted him to save her from his father but she knew that he could not. Katrina opened her mouth to say something in defence, some sort of lie.

  Instead he pressed his lips against hers and kissed her deeply. His kiss was sweet and delicious.

  “Alex! Don’t. I’m here for your father,” she said. He pulled her close again and whispered in a deep low voice, “Come on, Katrina.”

  “No...,” she whispered the words but could not get a complete sentence out.

  She gasped and pulled away. She pulled herself onto the nearest mare with a saddle. “Ya!” she shouted as she kicked it into a gallop and it jetted out of the stable. she heard Alex laughing as he said, “I cannot help it. It’s in my nature!”

  She didn’t look back and felt silly. she had let her lust put her entire position with Sir Norington in jeopardy. She rode hard and fast through the large park around the estate.

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  It was a very beautiful green environment with running brooks and a pond
. Yet all she could think about was Alex, his kiss, and she knew why. It was all the things she wanted from Mason. She was a woman and she was ready, yet it had not happened for her and now she was in the path of a seducer who could bring her into destitution if his father found out.

  No matter how hard she rode she could not outrun the thought of Mason, and how they came so close to happiness. When she stopped at the pond to let the horse drink she almost wanted to jump in the cold water to cool off. But she knew that she could not do that. It was improper and she had already done a lot of improper things.

  When she returned to the stables a part of her was hoping that Alex would be there, the other half wanted him gone. As she held the reigns of the mare and led her back into the stables, she saw that no one was in there. She could only imagine he was rolling in some field with one of the maids, or all of them. She put the mare in a stall and walked back to the house.

  When she returned to the main house she was in for a big surprise when she walked into the sitting area of her bedroom chambers. Ms. Michaels was waiting next to a large red silk ball gown. She bowed to her and said, "Miss Proctor, glad you are feeling better. I have been asked to tell you that you are to accompany the family to a ball tonight.”

  Katrina gasped. She was not ready to be known to the world as the fiancé of Sir Norington, if that was his intentions, or his mistress.

  “Sir Norington has had this dress made for you and it just arrived while you were out. There is a hot bath waiting for you. There is tea and biscuits on the tray near the window if you desire a light eat before the ball. I will be back shortly after you bathe in order to help you with your hair and dress." She bowed low again to her before leaving the sitting chamber.

  Katrina sighed in despair, as she did not want to attend a ball. She knew it was every girl’s dream to go to the grand affair of the ball but not for her. She on the other hand longed for solitude and rest. Sure, balls were fun for dancing but they were also a hotbed of gossip and her last ball at Christmas was not fun at all. Since she had obviously been involved in a scandal, she would be a hot target for gossip.

  She did not want to go. She walked over to the dress and gave it a long look. She never wore red. She wanted to disappear and not stand out. This red ball gown was very lavish, something a duchess would wear. It was fitting that Sir Norington would pick out such a costume. She looked at the low-cut dress with high empire waist that would push her breasts up practically to her neck. It was a scandalous dress that would give her lots of attention. Proper for a whore, that is my place now.

  She paced the room back-and-forth wondering how she could get out of this. Should she force to vomit? She moved into the bedroom in order to disrobe and soak in the hot bath. Perhaps she could think of something while she was soaking. She submerged in the hot water that was filled with lavender oils. As soon as she hit the water her entire body relaxed and she felt immediate relief.

  However, she could not think of any reason not to accompany Sir Norington to the ball. He would no doubt take great offense to it. She wondered why he had not told her about the ball before this day. He obviously knew ahead of time as everyone knew when someone was invited to a ball, or even having a grand ball. The sisters have not spoken of it and usually women would be all a flurry about such a thing, discussing what they would wear and who they would see. Still, no one has said a word. It made her very suspicious about the whole thing. She doesn’t know how long she had been in the bath, but she guess it had been a while because Ms. Michaels returned.

  "Miss Proctor, are you ready to begin the dressing for the ball?" She asked.

  "Yes Ms. Michaels, I apologize. I did not realize how long I had been in the water."

  "No need to apologize, let me help you out," she said as she wrapped a sheet around her and helped her out of the slippery tub.

  Soon Ms. Jacobs arrived and both of them went to work applying scented creams and oils to her freshly washed body. They brushed and fixed her hair and applied a minimal amount of powder and rouge to her lips. She was quiet and sort of numb throughout the entire process. So it was a bit of shock when they said, "All done. Doesn't she look a sight?"

  Katrina snapped out of her daze and she looked in the mirror. She gasped at what she saw. Her blonde hair was piled high on top of her head with ringlets of curls cascading down like a chandelier around her face. Small white flowers were pinned into the curls here and there along with small clips that sparkled with the tiniest of jewels. As she moved her head, the light caught the jewels and made them sparkle. Indeed she almost did look like a living chandelier.

  As she moved down from her hair she noticed that her lips were as red as the red dress. She had very full lips and it definitely made a statement on her face. Her cleavage was pushed up high out of the dress, leaving nothing to the imagination. The powder that the maids applied to her cleavage had a sparkle to it as though it was made from some crushed mineral that sparkled in the light.

  However, it was the massive ruby necklace around her neck that was the biggest statement of all. Each ruby was in the shape of a teardrop. The biggest one was directly over the crease of her cleavage. The smaller teardrops of rubies went all around to the back of her neck. It matched the teardrop ruby earrings that hung from her ears. she could only imagine how much this jewellery was priced at. The red dress was cut low and the bodice portion was pulled tight on her back making it fit snugly. The empire waist directly under her breasts gave way to a long flowing skirt portion of the dress with a train that trailed out a few inches behind her. She thought she looked like a Christmas ornament. But in Sir Noringtons eyes, she would look like a Duchess, his Duchess. Oh if Miss Eleanor Dawson could see me now.

  "Oh, do not forget this,” Ms. Jacobs said as she handed her a white lace fan. It went well with the white flowers in her hair. Everything else she wore was red, including the red satin slippers on her feet. She knew that everyone would turn and stare at her, because how could they not witcolourh a colour. She was going to dread this evening more and more by the second.

  There was a knock at the door. "Sir Norington is ready for departure!" The Butler yelled through the door. Ms Michaels scurried to the door and told the Butler she was ready.

  Katrina followed the Butler and maids to the grand staircase where they parted ways to allow her to descend the stairs alone. She suddenly swallowed hard as she saw Sir Norington, Alex, and the awful sisters standing in the entry room waiting for her. Sir Norington smiled a wide repulsive grin as he saw her. The sisters looked at each other and narrowed their eyes in hate. She assumed out of jealousy. Perhaps she was wearing the ruby necklace that they were supposed to wear instead. She looked over at Alex who she thought would have an indecent grin on his face as he always did, but he did not. Instead he looked at her with almost a look of anger.

  His jaw was locked and his lips were in a firm line as though he was grinding his teeth together. His chin was low and he was looking up at her through menacing eyes. What was his problem? Slowly she dissented the stairs with her back straight doing her part to convince Sir Norington that she could be his Duchess, just so that she could once again see hide from the sapphire jewels scandal. She was an actress after all and she could play a Duchess if needed.

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  "My Miss Proctor, you look absolutely ravishing," Sir Norington said as he took her hand in his and kissed the top of it.

  "Why, thank you Sir. I must thank you for such a lovely dress and jewels. It was very kind of you to allow me to accompany you to the ball this evening," she said with a small curtsy to the entire family.

  "Shall we?" Sir Norington said, addressing his entire family. The maid laid a black velvet hooded cloak over her shoulders and tied it up her neck. She gently placed the hood over her head as not to mess up her carefully done hair. Now she was ready for the night air, and she was glad for the extra coverage that the cloak provided even though i
t was only for a short while.

  They moved out of the ground doors of the house and outside instead of one of the biggest carriages that she had ever seen. She gasped under her breath at the side of it. The carriage box and its size was twice as long as a regular carriage. It was painted white with gold leaf intricate accents on the moulding that were very ornate. The wheels were very large and almost as big as her. Six white beautiful horses that had their own feather head dresses pulled it. She could not believe it. Such a beauty took her breath away. The foot man pulled on the lever and gold stairs ascended from the open carriage door.

  "Allow me," Alex said as he pushed his way in front of the footman to extend his hand out to mine in order to help her into the carriage. She gave him a look as he gave her a slight grin. However she could not exactly refuse his help, as it would look very suspicious. As far as everyone knew it, he was her future stepson helping his future stepmother into the carriage.

  She placed her hand in his and as soon as she did his thumb caressed the top of her hand sensually and then he squeezed it. As she looked at him he bit his lower lip. Once seated inside the carriage, she was glad that she was not sitting next to Alex. Instead she was sitting next to Sir Norington as he rambled on about who was going to make an appearance at the ball, all the important noble men and ladies.

  Alex and his sisters side across from us in the carriage, and she was very glad for the distance. That was until she looked at Alex and saw that he was staring directly at her cleavage. His look made her very uncomfortable, but also very aroused. In that moment she remembered how it felt to have his strong hand on her breast as he squeezed in the sized it in the stables. She opened her fan and began to give air by fanning her face. However, it also served another purpose, it effectively blocked Alex's view of her cleavage. He looked up at her and made eye contact acknowledging what she had done.