by Allison, Kim
On the other hand, Percy felt a twinge of unease, for Daniel was certainly much more imposing and self-assured than he'd been years ago. Daniel made a striking figure, for he had grown taller in stature and more muscular in build. He had taken his mother's dark hair and eyes and Percy's heart skipped a beat at the thought of his sweet Mary. She had been the one person in this miserable world that had understood and loved him.
Determined to keep Elyssa from Daniel’s clutches, Percy sought an idea to get his wife away until after his son left. Perhaps send her to visit her family. They were only an hour's ride away and surely Elyssa would jump at the chance to spend time with her parents and siblings.
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"I have no desire to see my parents," Elyssa replied stubbornly as Percy stood nervously within her chambers, watching curiously at the undignified figure Elyssa presented. He couldn't recall ever seeing her without her hair done up prettily, or without a lovely gown on. Still, her beauty could not be denied, even with her hair pulled back unceremoniously, her drab dress looking that of a servant's. Even a streak of dirt was smudged across her cheek. Still, in all her simplicity, Elyssa was a delectable creature and it galled Percy anew to know that after his eventual death she would most likely grace the arm of many a rich, handsome gentleman. The thought made him more than a little angry and bitter.
"I am not asking, but insisting that you leave Greystone for a few days." escaped her lips and toward ">CHAPTER
Exasperated at his curt tone of voice, Elyssa blew a strand of hair from over her eyes and stood, hands on hips. Irritated at Percy for being the cause of her falling into another man's arms, a stubbornness uncharacteristic of Elyssa came to head and she replied, "You may insist all you want, but I will not be bullied into leaving my home to visit the family that has not once concerned themselves with my welfare these five months past."
Elyssa was surprised at herself, for never had she dared show disrespect to anyone, whether they were her elder or not. She was brought up to be a refined young lady, to appear the typical dim-witted female that men so loved to trophy about on their arm. She had always allowed that front, though truth be known, she'd read every book in her father's library over the years besides having been tutored, and was actually quite a learned and bright young woman.
She’d had enough though. Having been merely a catalyst to her parents' newly financial success, only to become a virtual prisoner in a loveless marriage was finally taking its toll on Elyssa. What had she to gain by remaining quiet and meek any longer? Percy's attitude that she must obey him without question rankled at her last nerve and Elyssa determined to stand her ground.
Shocked at her daring, Percy reluctantly admired Elyssa's bravado, for very few had ever dared stand up to him so adamantly. Likewise, it amused him a bit to see the mild mannered chit finally show a bit of pluck, not unlike his Mary. It was one of the things he'd loved most about her.
A rare look of admiration flashed across Percy's features, which was not lost on Elyssa, and she was pleased to hear his acquiescence. "As you wish, Elyssa. I would encourage you, however, to refrain from appearing downstairs for the next few days. If you insist on staying here, it will be necessary to keep away from my business associates." At Elyssa's dubious look, he continued, "There is a potentially dangerous man staying here briefly although I cannot go into any detail. I have no desire to try protecting you from his mean-spiritedness. Do I make myself clear?"
"Quite," Elyssa bit out. "I am to make myself scarce, staying in my room as if I were an unruly child being punished."
"See it as you wish," Percy replied tolerantly, "I only seek to maintain your peace of mind during this man's stay and the only way to do so is to keep you out of sight. I appreciate your cooperation." too close for comfort, g">CHAPTER
The door closed soundly behind Percy and Elyssa suppressed a scream of frustration. He was of course talking about last night's stranger. So the man was to be here only a couple of days. Under the same roof, she mused, and a shiver crept up Elyssa's spine. She doubted that the man was at all a danger to her life, but that Percy merely wanted to keep her away from an obviously philandering, very attractive rival for her attentions.
If Percy were jealous, why then would he not compromise just a bit when it came to their becoming closer, physically speaking? Perhaps it was a sign that she might be able to break through Percy's hardened heart after all, though the thought gave little comfort.
After spending another hour polishing the tea set, Elyssa was pleased to see the shine that verily glowed from her tedious efforts. The set had not looked so new in years and Elyssa doubted that her mother would have bestowed the gift upon her had it appeared so valuable at the time.
Gazing longingly out her window, Elyssa desired to be outside on such a beautiful afternoon. Gracefully blowing leaves gave sign of a gentle breeze and Elyssa longed to feel the coolness of it against her face. To hell with Percy's orders! She was a grown woman and would not be shut up in her room for days on end simply to please her husband's ridiculous directives.
In all fairness, she would not parade through the main downstairs, but instead chose to take the servants' stairway and out the back door. Within moments Elyssa was alone outside, twirling about in utter glorious freedom as she headed toward one of her favorite spots on the estate. It was a good half mile from the mansion, and was in fact a potentially dangerous spot. The Cliffs of Greystone. It had been the site of a castle built by one of Percy's ancestors, long since destroyed and barely any sign that it had ever existed. The castle’s designer had built it too close to the edge of the cliffs overlooking the steep drop to the ocean below.
It was rumored that more than one unhappy Fredrickson wife had jumped to her death over the years. Percy's great-grandfather had begun destroying the castle himself after having lost his dear wife to a depression so severe that she had cast herself down before her husband's eyes. Her needless death gnawed away at him until he likewise joined her after seeing to the castle's near demise.
Elyssa found the view from the cliffs breathtakingly beautiful and haunting. She could see why the original builder wanted his family's home built near the edge of the cliffs. Its serene beauty gave a feeling of security, of being able to take on whatever life threw your way. on either side of ed to ">CHAPTER
It was that pull to the cliff’s borders, that urge to get as close to the edge as possible that bade Elyssa closer to the brink. Though she was in no real danger of falling below, Elyssa tripped over a tree root protruding above ground, and cried out as she stumbled forward. Strong hands yanked her up before she hit the ground.
"Careless little fool, what are you doing up here?" Daniel demanded as he pulled Elyssa away from the edge of the cliffs. She seemed not a bit affected and Daniel wondered if indeed the legends weren't a bit true after all.
Irritated at the domineering set down, Elyssa meant to deliver a tongue lashing to whomever was taking it upon himself to scold the earl's wife as if she were a young child. However, one look into those eyes of dark gray gave Elyssa cause to suppress her verbal rebuke. Her breath drew in sharply and she felt alarm at first, for Percy had been most adamant about her staying out of this man's sight. Why was he there at the cliffs? Had he perchance followed her?
The initial sense of fear faded immediately, for Elyssa recognized that any anxiety she felt over the stranger was not concern that he might do her bodily harm, but rather the chance she might fall prey to his wicked charms once again.
Daniel received only silence in answer to his query and he drank in the sight of the young woman. This was definitely the same lovely vixen that had caught his fancy the night before, although in the light of day Daniel could scarcely believe he'd been taken in so deeply by the young lady. She was admittedly beautiful, but was not the sultry enchantress he remembered from his dreams the night past.
Today she wore not a lacy nightgown with a revealing slit up the leg, but rather a servant's plain dress.
Her hair was pulled back behind her head rather than loosely drenched about her shoulders. She was obviously sneaking a break away from her chores, Daniel mused inwardly, and it would appear she deserved a brief respite, for her appearance displayed the look of a hard worker. Daniel smiled softly as he reached out to gently rub the smudge from her smooth cheek.
Elyssa flushed at the gesture, aggravated at herself for so quickly losing her self-made promise to remain unaffected by the man.
"It would seem you have a habit of oft being where you should not," Daniel said with a friendly smile. escaped her lips and toward ">CHAPTER
Frowning at his comment, Elyssa replied, "I beg your pardon?"
"Out in thunderstorms, nearly falling off of cliffs....I would say you are drawn to danger, miss." That thought brought a twinge of fascination for the young woman and already Daniel was wondering how he'd found her beauty lacking for even a moment. Her emerald eyes sparkled in mischievousness, the hint of a smile leaving Daniel wanting fervently to be the one to make her genuinely smile, to amuse her, for surely she had a lilting, irresistible laugh.
Though she didn't see herself as someone drawn to danger, Elyssa found she did want to join the handsome man in conversation for a bit, so indeed, perhaps he was right after all. And if he found her the least bit interesting and perhaps a little mysterious, why should she destroy that notion so soon?
"It may be that I am not enticed by peril, but rather by some chance, danger is attracted to me. After all, you are here, are you not? And I sense a definite menace about you."
A smile tugged at his lips, for his suspicion that her voice would be sweet was indeed true. Daniel relished her flirtatious words, the wicked gleam in her eyes, seeing a glimpse of the enticing female he'd held in his arms mere hours ago. Only now, rather than her provocative appearance of last night, it was her words and silky voice that threatened to make him succumb to her charms.
"On the contrary," his husky voice replied, "I believe it is you who are dangerous, for already I am in fear of losing my heart to you."
Elyssa smiled in amusement at the blatant flirting of the cad, and she was helpless to enjoy their simple banter. Rarely had she ever had the chance to enjoy a man's attentions, thanks to her parents’ strictness, and Elyssa was determined to enjoy the brief chance now. She would certainly not encourage the man on any higher level, but meant only to talk to him, perhaps learn a bit more about him. Never before would she have been party to such familiarity with another man, but Elyssa was tired of feeling so completely alone. It was nice to have someone take an actual interest in conversing with her.
"I wonder how many hearts have been lost by just that declaration alone," Elyssa remarked, smiling.
"None that ever mattered," he responded softly. Elyssa self- consciously cleared her th too close for comfort, g">CHAPTER roat, his words giving the distinct impression that he actually cared what she thought about his amorous affairs. She turned away from him as nonchalantly as possible, walking a bit closer toward the cliffs.
It was easy to see that she was not a simpleton, eager to hear any man's words of admiration, and it pleased Daniel that she was not simply a coquette ever in search of a tryst. He saw no ring on her finger and assumed her to be unwed. Not that that always made a difference, but Daniel was pleased nonetheless.
She was a servant, to be sure. Of course, he'd already figured that from the night before. Her clothes and smudged face gave evidence that she was indeed a hard working employee of his father's, and suddenly he pitied her, for surely Percy was a harsh employer.
"Do you enjoy living in the mansion?" he asked curiously.
Surprised at his abrupt change in subject, Elyssa thought for a moment before replying, her arms wrapped about herself. "It is rather lonely," she admitted ruefully.
"Yes," he agreed, "it does get overwhelming at times. A person could get lost within its walls."
"How true," Elyssa commented. She turned back to face him, the hint of a smile gracing her lips. "It is so beautiful though. The most lovely romantic mansion I have ever seen."
Daniel felt a touch of sadness in her words and wondered just what it was that had the lovely woman so melancholy. Perhaps she and her stable hand had had an argument. He hoped she wasn't planning anything rash by coming to the cliffs. She didn't seem the type, but then who could explain the past mysterious deaths?
"I must admit I've never thought of Greystone as being romantic or beautiful, but I suppose it is grand to someone who has not been surrounded by wealth his entire life. Frankly, I find it rather cold and foreboding myself."
Elyssa gave him a confused look and assumed that he must indeed live in a fine mansion if he found Greystone lacking in the least. He was most likely wealthy beyond imagination. She wondered unconsciously if he'd made his own fortune by the sweat of his brow or had simply been born with a silver spoon in his mouth and another waiting in his hand. Most likely it was the latter. escaped her lips and toward ">CHAPTER
"And where do you live?" Elyssa asked, stepping closer to him, her tone of voice betraying a bit of aggravation at his obvious snubbing of her home.
"Wherever I please," came the hesitant response. "I most recently resided in Paris. Have you ever been there?"
"Yes, I attended finishing school there for a year. I find Paris very lovely," Elyssa replied.
Daniel chuckled at her sarcasm, for the young lady had obviously never attended any finishing school in her life, else she'd not be employed as a servant at Greystone.
"You find that humorous?" Elyssa asked, her hands on her hips.
"No," Daniel replied, shaking his head slowly, regretting that he'd hurt her feelings. She obviously wanted to impress him, and while it would normally irritate him to be fibbed to by a female, he found Elyssa's charm too difficult to resist. Unwittingly, he reached forward and cupped her chin gently.
Elyssa found his scrutiny unsettling, for his dark eyes delved into her very being. She feared he could see her vulnerability, that he could sense her loneliness. Surely he could hear the thunderous beating of her heart. What was wrong with her? What was it about this man that threatened to steal her will and yes, even her heart, though he would do nothing but break it into a million pieces. It would be fatal to her heart to read anything more into their chance meetings than what they were, just coincidental encounters on Percy's estate.
The stark beauty of him left Elyssa near breathless and she struggled to breathe normally lest he think her a complete ninny to continue staring at him so. His strong jaw clenched as his eyes turned darker and Elyssa's fingers longed to caress the jet black hair fallen carelessly about his handsome face.
Expelling a shuddering breath, Elyssa pulled back from him, closing her eyes as she turned her back to him in effort to break his spell and gather her thoughts. A few seconds later she felt his hands come to rest upon her shoulders and she panicked. Stuttering as she stepped away, Elyssa said, "I must go now. I have to return to the mansion. Goodbye." emerald orbsethi
Daniel called out to her as she rushed away and he fought the urge to follow her. Staring at the fading sight of her, Daniel reached up and rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. It was certainly strange, this unlikely intrigue the girl held over him. He knew she felt something more than passing for him, but she was fighting it. Fighting an attraction toward him for what, or rather whom?
Perhaps she fancied herself already in love with another. It wouldn't be the first time Daniel had been the cause of a woman's heart turned fickle, and the challenge of that with this young lady was looking more and more tempting.
CHAPTER 3
"Wake up, Lady Fredrickson!" Elyssa cried out as the maid's hands rudely awakened her from a restless sleep. She sat up suddenly as her eyes opened, searching about frantically.
"What is it?" Elyssa cried.
"I am sorry, milady, but you seemed so distraught in your sleep. I was bringing in your breakfast, as Lord Fredrickson said you wouldn't be downstairs today. You were thr
ashing about and crying out about something. Please forgive me for waking you so abruptly."
"That’s all right. I was merely having a bad dream. Thank you for your concern." Elyssa's fingers glided through her long tresses and she moved to the edge of the bed, her thoughts on the troubled dream she'd been having.
It was a vision of her wedding to Percy. She had watched him slide the ring onto her finger, but when she'd looked back up into his eyes, it had been the mysterious stranger returning her stare rather than Percy, a smirk on his face. His dark eyes had turned cruel and he’d scorned her a fool. It was an intense doom she fearfully felt, her struggle to scream coming out as a stifled cry instead. That must have been when Cora awakened her, and not a moment too soon. Could she not even remain completely faithful in her dreams?
"You say my husband told you I wouldn't be down today?"
"Yes. He said you weren't feeling well last night and he wanted to make sure you get plenty of rest today."
"I see," Elyssa replied softly. She turned down Cora's offer to help change into a gown for the day and dismissed her. What would be the purpose in dressing up anyway, knowing she wasn't welcome downstairs? She felt like making a flamboyant entrance into Percy's business meeting in retaliation. Of all the nerve!
"I will not be forced to remain a prisoner in my room," Elyssa muttered aloud.
Still, Percy's decision was for the best, she mused. If she were to interfere with his wishes, there would be trouble for certain. Besides the inevitability of an argument with Percy, there would be the difficultdisappointmenthi him andy in trying to appear unaffected by the other man's nearness, a thing her husband would be helpless not to notice.