“So you would not object to a life as Princess?” he asked.
I laughed. “No woman would.”
“You deserve more than the Marquess,” he told me. “He is a hideous man and it pains me to think of you with him.”
I swallowed to avoid throwing up. “It sickens me as well,” I answered. “But, I will hold my head high and hope he is away more often than home.”
Hadyn looked furious a second and then sick before he turned and smiled reassuringly at me. “I think that no matter where you end up, you will do great things.”
“I appreciate your kind words, milord.”
“Please, just call me Hadyn.”
“I will abide by that wish only when we are alone,” I whispered. “Which we should not be for much longer or mouths will run and I will be forced to hear the entire book of How a Lady Should Act Around a Lord from my Mother for the third time.”
We headed back to the front of the school and luckily we were still the only ones there. We put some distance between us and he stood silent in deep thought. What was he thinking about?
“If your betrothal was dissolved and you were free to do what you wished, what would you do?”
“You mean kicked out and penniless?” I asked.
“No, pretend this is a perfect dream world of yours. You dissolve your betrothal, you have enough money to buy a castle, what do you do?”
“Travel to foreign lands, attend balls while wearing stunning dresses, and dance with Princes from across the lands. Hopefully one might fancy me and I will become a princess.”
“A Princess? So, you would settle for a Prince?”
“Well, most Kings are old and already have wives,” I reminded him. I laughed bitterly and said, “Sadly I am not meant for the life of a Princess.”
“You would be a great Princess,” he assured me.
“I’m not Gifted and I am a terrible Lady. I think I would make a terrible Princess.”
“Your heart is pure and I believe that you would be most attentive to those people needing their voices heard,” he countered.
“That is the nicest thing anyone has said to me,” I told him honestly.
“You could do such great things in your life.”
My sadness at never being able to do those things was turning into anger. “Well it doesn’t matter,” I reminded him. “I’m betrothed to the Marquess and I’ll be forced to live in his manor out in the frozen mountains for the rest of my life. Perhaps if I bear him an heir soon enough, he might let me summer nearby here.”
“Why are you so quick to give up?” he asked and clenched his fists together at his sides.
“I’m not giving up! There is nothing I can do! I have a duty and an obligation. I do not control it.”
“You aren’t even willing to try,” he snapped.
“There’s nothing to try!” I yelled back at him. “You don’t understand because most Lords can at the very least tell their parents ‘no’ to specific Ladies that they want.”
“That has nothing to do…”
“I cannot allow myself to focus on dreams and fantasies! My fate is sealed and dreaming leads only to heartache!” I yelled at him. “You should have let that carriage run me over.” I walked away as he stood silent and stunned.
The rest of the day, I ignored him. He tried to talk to me after lunch, but I acted as if I could not hear or see him. It was completely childish, but thinking about what could be, made me feel broken and chained since it would never happen. I had just been able to resign myself to my fate and then he had to start talking to me! Why? What was his purpose? What did he gain with these conversations?
Maybe he just wanted to torment me. Maybe he enjoyed hearing how Ladies wished to be more while knowing that we never would be. I successfully avoided him the following day at school as well. The next night was a ball and I was required to attend because he would be there. My skin crawled just thinking about it.
Tanya promised to help run interference and cling to me so that he could not. I did not know if that would work though.
Without school the following day, I hid by the lake until the last possible moment. Then I stepped into a whirlwind of preparations for the ball. My dress was beautiful and no doubt picked out by my Mother to ensure Barnaby would still be interested in me.
I stared at myself for a few minutes and reminded myself that this was my fate and it was sealed. I had to find a way to deal with it. There was no escape so I had to deal.
CHAPTER THREE
Mother rode in the carriage with me wearing a silver gown with red beading and a diamond and ruby necklace that matched very well. She smiled warmly. “You look lovely.”
“Thank you. You look stunning as always,” I complimented with a smile.
“Your Father sends his regrets for not being able to attend. The King summoned him this morning to an urgent council,” she explained.
“Is everything okay?” I asked nervously.
She nodded. “Just preparations for the winter.”
A winter I would not be here to enjoy.
I shoved that thought and the feelings it brought with it down into my box and secured that lid. It was near bursting, but I would not allow it. Not yet.
I followed Mother into the mansion of the Duke’s, Tanya’s father, and put my court face on. I curtsied and had my hand kissed by countless men as they greeted Mother and I upon our entrance. For a moment, I felt relief because I had not seen him, but then Barnaby stepped forward and took my hand in his.
His greasy hair looked glued against his pasty skull and his ugly face smiled at me. “Milady Serra,” he greeted. “It has been too long since I was graced with your beauty. You seem to grow more beautiful every time that I see you.”
He kissed the back of my hand and I tried to hold in my revulsion as his wet lips left a slimy trail. I smiled dutifully and Tanya rescued me by greeting us and welcoming Barnaby specifically. Since it was her home, it was proper for her to greet us. I used the distraction to wipe my hand off discreetly.
“Would you join me for a dance?” Barnaby asked me.
I set my hand in his outstretched one and held my smile. “Of course.”
We joined the others on the dance floor, I felt relieved as the beat increased, and we joined in on a dance that required us to switch partners multiple times. As soon as I was spun away from him and to a new partner, I felt an almost real smile on my lips. The next pass had me dancing with Hadyn.
“Hello,” he greeted me warmly.
“Hadyn, I didn’t know you would be here,” I said nervously. We had not spoken since our argument a few days ago.
“One must keep up appearances,” he said as though quoting our teacher Ms. Emers.
I spun away from him, but our gazes continued to meet throughout the dance. I ended up back with Barnaby whose smile I did not like. The next song was slow and he pressed us close together.
“Marquess, you are too close for proper protocol,” I reminded him and tried to put some space between us.
He was not letting me. “Who cares about protocol? We’re to be wed in two months time anyways.”
I planted my foot and jerked back out of his hold. “You will observe protocol and act like a gentleman, sir.”
He smirked and said, “Let’s take a walk.”
Before I could object, he took my hand and led me off the dance floor. Hadyn watched us leave with a frown and I really wished this were a time that his protection could help me. Barnaby led me to the back of the ballroom and pinned me against the wall. “You are beautiful,” he whispered as he stroked the side of my face.
I held in my flinch and said, “Thank you.”
He took my hand again and pulled me out of the ballroom and outside onto the balcony. It was freezing outside and I immediately began rubbing my arms against the chill. He pinned my lower body against the railing and slid his hands around my waist. “I am looking forward to our wedding night.”
Do not vomit.
Do not vomit.
He kissed my cheek and left another wet spot before moving to my neck. “You smell amazing.”
“Marquess, this isn’t right,” I told him and pushed his chest to no avail. “We should not be out here unsupervised.”
“We don’t need supervision,” he whispered as he breathed in beside my neck. He spun me around making me gasp and ran his hand up and down my back. “We are alone, Serra, and I am ready to take you now.”
No! This could not happen! Even if I did like him, which I did not, we could not sleep together before our wedding and especially not outside during a ball.
He began to push up the skirt of my dress, his hand sliding along my leg.
“Stop,” I whispered as I shivered from fear instead of the cold.
“I will take you here,” he told me.
“No,” I begged, “We aren’t married.”
“I like the sound of you begging,” he snarled.
Rage filled me at his refusal to listen. I spun around and slapped him across the face. “Unhand me!”
He touched his cheek where a red mark blossomed, then suddenly I was on the ground on my hands and knees, and my face was stinging. “How dare you!” he bellowed.
He had hit me. He struck me.
I looked up at him and rage filled his eyes as he raised his hand to hit me again. “I will teach you your place,” he growled.
“You are the one who needs a lesson!” Hadyn bellowed as he walked over to us.
“Who the hell are you?” Barnaby yelled. “This woman is my betrothed. I have…”
“You have no right to hit a Lady.”
“I am the Marquess!” Barnaby yelled. “Who do you think you are trying to tell me what to do, boy!”
Hadyn squatted down in front of me and held out his hand. I did not know if I should accept or wait for Barnaby to say something to me, but he waited with a clenched jaw that made me think he would not leave me. I set my hand in his. He pulled me up and once I stood, he draped his jacket around my shoulders. I watched in disbelief as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to ready himself to fight Barnaby.
“You can’t,” I whispered to him. “He’s my betrothed.”
“It doesn’t matter what you two are to each other. He has no right to hit you.”
“I will have you flogged,” Barnaby told him. “And when she’s mine, I will do what I wish with her anytime that I wish.”
I shuddered and Hadyn looked at me with such revulsion that I staggered a step back. He spun around and punched Barnaby in the face. Blood sprayed and Barnaby clutched his face. “You’ll pay. You…”
Hadyn walked to him and whispered something into his ear. Barnaby’s face paled, his mouth went slack, and he dropped to his knees. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
“Apologize to her,” Hadyn ordered him.
“I’m sorry,” Barnaby choked out.
What was going on? Why was Barnaby apologizing and acting terrified of Hadyn?
Hadyn took my hand and led me away from Barnaby who sat on the ground with a stunned expression. He led me through a side door into the kitchen and when he entered he barked, “Leave.” Every servant ran out. He grabbed a towel and wet it before gently setting it on my face where Barnaby had hit me. “Serra,” he whispered, “Are you alright?”
I did not know. I did not know what to think. I had no idea what had happened. Except that…oh god he had threatened me. He was going to hurt me when we were married.
“What have I done?” I cried. “I struck him. I caused this. No. Oh god he…he’s going to make my life hell.”
I was near hysterical and could hardly breathe.
Hadyn shook my shoulders and he was talking, but I did not hear him.
“He’s going to hurt me again and again,” I whispered. “What have I done?”
“Serra,” he barked. “He is not going to touch you. Do you understand? I’m not going to let him touch you.”
“He’s my betrothed,” I bawled, “You can’t do anything. He’s going to be married to me in two months and then…”
I dropped to my knees and cried.
Hadyn squatted down before me and whispered, “Listen to me.” He tilted my chin up with his hand and asked, “Are you listening?” I nodded. “Your nightmares were about him, weren’t they?”
I nodded again.
“What’s your Father’s title?” he asked.
“Viscount.”
He paused as he thought.
“I knew my fate,” I whispered, “I’ve always known my fate and yet I struck him. I am stupid. I’m so stupid.”
“Why did you strike him?” he asked me.
I chocked on a sob and whispered, “He…he was trying to…” I could not even say it.
Hadyn’s eyes darkened and his jaw popped. “Did he?”
I shook my head, but was crying again and unable to talk.
“Your betrothal is off,” he told me.
I jerked back and stared at him in disbelief. “What? No, it cannot be. My parents have had this planned. I…”
“I will not allow him to marry you. I will not allow that man to marry any woman,” Hadyn told me.
“You can’t control that,” I said sadly.
He smiled and whispered, “Watch me.”
“Mother is going to be so mad at me,” I whispered. “I’ve shamed my entire family. I’m a disgrace.”
“You are not a disgrace!” he bellowed. “You stood up for yourself.”
“I’ll be kicked out. My title stripped away. I’ll have nothing,” I bawled. I stood up and headed towards the back door.
“Where are you going?” he asked me.
“To sleep in a soft bed one last time before I’m tossed out into the slums.”
“Serra, stop!” he ordered me.
I obeyed, but the tears did not. I was losing everything.
He wiped my tears away and then grabbed my hand and dragged me out into the ballroom. I tried to stop him, but he dragged me right through the center of it and up to my mother who Barnaby was berating.
She looked at me with anger until she saw Hadyn dragging me towards them.
Barnaby stopped talking and took a step back as Hadyn approached.
“What is going on?” Mother asked me. “Is what the Marquess says true? Did you strike him?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, but Hadyn gave me a look and I stopped talking.
“Confess to the Viscountess,” Hadyn ordered Barnaby.
Barnaby did not move.
“Serra,” Mother snapped, “Why is this man holding your hand?”
Because I could not get mine free of his. He had a viselike grip.
“I’ll take my leave,” Barnaby said softly and tried to leave, but Hadyn grabbed him.
“Confess to the Viscountess or I will strip you of your title this instant,” Hadyn ordered.
Strip him of his title? How could Hadyn do that?
“I…I’m sorry. I acted inappropriately. I will dissolve the betrothal due to my behavior,” Barnaby said.
Mother’s eyes widened. “What? Dissolve the betrothal?”
“Marquess struck Serra after she tried to prevent him from engaging in relations with her before the marriage,” Hadyn announced loud enough for everyone in the ballroom to hear.
Many women gasped and men murmured angrily.
Mother’s face paled and then her cheeks flamed, as she grew angry. “How dare you!” she shouted at Barnaby. I thought she might strike him, but she kept her clenched fists at her side.
“What proof do you have of this?” Tanya’s father, the Duke asked Hadyn.
Hadyn tugged me forward and turned my cheek towards him and Mother.
“Leave my house this instant. You are no longer welcomed here,” the Duke told Barnaby in a deadly calm voice.
“Gladly,” Barnaby sneered. “You’ll never find a husband for that wild wench.”
I fought a sob and looked away from his hateful glare.
&
nbsp; “You saved me a lifetime of misery with that prude psycho,” Barnaby continued.
“Out!” the Duke ordered.
Barnaby was a lower rank than the Duke so he had to obey. He did not need to say anything else. He was right. No one else would take me now, whether it was my fault or not, my reputation sullied.
“That’s enough,” Hadyn growled at him.
He must have left after that because he did not say anything else. Mother turned my face to examine my cheek and tears brimmed in her eyes. “Are you alright?” she asked me.
I should have nodded, but I felt too drained to do anything.
“I’ll return home,” I told her and walked out of the ballroom without seeing anything or anyone. The servant outside jogged off to get Gustaf and I wrapped my arms around my stomach.
“This is your fault!” Barnaby yelled at me and before I could even gasp, he punched me in the face.
I fell onto the icy cold ground and screamed in pain.
“I don’t know how you know him, but you clearly have a relationship. I won’t let you sully my name without paying for it,” he told me with wild eyes and spittle flying from his mouth.
He wrapped his hands around my throat and squeezed. I hit him and tried to get his hands off my neck, but he was too strong. I struggled beneath him, bucking beneath him as I tried to get air into my burning lungs.
Stars danced around my vision and my ears began to ring.
Where were Gustaf and that damn servant?
I was going to die. I was going to die by this man’s hand.
Suddenly, his hands were gone and I could gasp in a breath. It hurt almost as bad as his hands had. I gasped and took several more breaths as my vision slowly started to clear.
“I challenge you!” Barnaby yelled.
Me? Surely he wasn’t challenging me.
“Serra!” Tanya yelled and dropped to the ground beside me with tears in her eyes.
It sounded like people were fighting with swords, but I could not move. Everything hurt. My head was pounding so hard that I worried it might explode.
Barnaby cried out in pain and then there was the sound of someone in boots walking towards us. Strong arms lifted me against a warm body and the darkness surrounded me.
Lady Serra and the Draconian Page 3