The Rake and The Rose (A Rake's Mistake)

by Amelia Clearwater

  "...is already in ruins. I don't give a damn." He snarled at her as he turned again. Her mouth held in a firm line she sighed.

  "You cannot keep me with you."

  "Watch me."

  Charlotte steeled herself, "I am not your prisoner Alexander!" she whispered furiously as they glided together closely and fell apart, nearly nose to nose in anger as he leaned down to hear her barely audible words.

  "No, but you are mine." His voice was velvet and she felt a tremor go down her spine. Thankfully other partners were too busy amidst the music and movement to notice their quarrel.

  "I don't see the papers stating that." That was my best reply? Goodness I don’t think I can keep this up!

  The dance ended, and his chest heaved in emotion. The frustration and anger in the depths of his eyes startled her. "You cannot keep me against my will…" she said softly. She felt as if she tumbled about in a world of strangers- which she did. Society was only so pleasant to those who were spick and span, without a splotch on them- hypocrisy at it’s finest. “You cannot keep me and save your standing in Society.”

  But he wanted to. He wanted to demand that she stay near him for the rest of her life. Society be damned. He knew, somewhere deep in his being that he could not, would not let her go.

  When the dance finished she quickly went back to Anne's side. Alexander yet again was pulled away, and Deirdre was clawing at him. He was beginning to get annoyed with her and decided to say yes to take a turn about the room with her. She talked nonsense, frocks and frilly things.

  She went on with what she wanted to do with the Cromwell estate. For God's sake she acted as if she already owned his estate. The idea made his anger slip a notch, but he kept it in check. "How lovely, Lady Deirdre." he grimaced, but she seemed to not take notice.

  "My Lord has other distractions?" She whispered and suddenly he found she had led him to a secluded hall.

  Alexander did not like the looks of this, nor where he thought it was going. “What are you prattling bout?” he snapped- his calm façade slipping.

  "So you show your true colors? No matter, you know I can be a distraction." She purred and flitted her eyelashes at him. He was thoroughly repulsed. She was beautiful to be sure, but inside her heart was ice and stone. She showed no compassion for anyone, but herself. He desperately wanted to find Charlotte, to gravitate to the warmth of her being and bask in it as one does the sun and light after being starved of it.

  "It's that girl, isn't it?" she growled at him, a petulant pout on her lips. "I would make a good wife. One that could bring you heirs of pedigree.”

  "You would make a good expense, Lady Deirdre, and I am afraid I am not interested in paying the price," he said smoothly.

  "I can make you interested,” she whispered nearly in desperation and reached out for him. He backed up and found he was against a wall. Being a gentleman, one does not lay his hands on a Lady, but what on earth was he supposed to do now?

  She ran a hand up his thigh and came precariously close to the front of his breeches "I can make you forget all about that little lost pet you have. She is just that, a pet, with no background, or standing in society. And I will not let her take what is supposed to be mine."

  So suddenly he was owned. The thought caused a sneer to appear on his face. "Listen, Deirdre, you will remove your hands from my person at once, or I-" he was silenced when she roughly pressed her lips to his and wound her arms like a snake about his neck. She released him long enough to say what apparently clawed at her the most “I cannot fail this time…” Amidst trying to find a way out of his current state- he hardly registered the words.

  Charlotte walked the floor trying to find Alexander It had come to her attention that he might be walking with Lady Deirdre and the thought made her blood curdle like sour milk. She ran into Lady Carlisle and they had chatted about where she would be staying. A group of people soon flocked her- mostly women.

  She informed many as she moved through the people swamped floors that she had no idea where she would be until it was discussed with Lord Cromwell. And that now that she was better from her traumatic accident- it would be completely improper for her to stay with a bachelor without being chaperoned.

  This, pleased all circles of people as it passed from mouth to mouth. Soon it was over embellished as Anne was wont to tell her in passing “You know, Alexander’s reputation was not exactly clean. Now a comical story of a red headed beauty- you of course- was caught in Lord Cromwell’s web and fighting off his advances- you apparently had to flee to the comfort of my families estate just to breathe!” Anne whispered the tale through gasping laughter behind her hand.

  This of course gained her many “Oh what a poor dear.” And “Such a Lady you must have been raised, that without a memory propriety is still in place!” Charlotte was told by Lady Jessica that she had passed Societies Rules with flying colors. Everyone was not a twitter about the “Poor lost lamb.” Charlotte did not like the idea of being a lamb.

  During her search for Alexander- finally free of the flock of women- upon rounding a corner, her heart stopped in her chest. Deirdre was leaning forward, with what seemed like abandon and was locked in a passionate kiss with none other than Alexander. In the low light, she couldn't really tell much, but his hands clutched at her waist and hips, her fingers tangled into his chestnut hair and yanked, causing something of a deep growl to come from him.

  She suddenly felt as if her world were falling away, that must have been what had happened. The pieces of her heart that Alexander had caused to come to life died like the embers of an aged fire with no one left to tend to it. The sight was revolting, but she found herself trapped like a mouse in a snakes gaze…and the green snake like eyes opened and saw her, a smug grin curled on Deidra’s face. Charlotte turned and quietly fled from the sight. Before she rounded a corner, she ran straight into Anne

  "Dear what on earth, good heavens what's happened?" her friend exclaimed.

  "Anne…" she gasped softly. "Oh, God Anne." She tried to maintain her composure and Anne, seeming to digest the information and come up with what looked a brilliant expression- glanced at all the masked bachelors and simply cried "Oh! Good heavens, dear! You look faint!" and began fanning her profusely. Gentlemen staring at the beauties flocked to her and offered an arm, but it did no good, it simply made her breathing worse.

  Alexander growled in disgust and finally writhed from her grip. "Deirdre!" he snapped. The green eyes narrowed at him, but for some reason she looked smug. "I don't want you."

  "Fine…but you can't have her,” she said in a knowing tone. It rather frightened him how much malice came from a woman's gaze. But on the edge of that harsh look, he could see chips of it fall away to show unease and…was that guilt? It was quickly replaced as he pushed her away, glaring at her.

  "Wait and see," he challenged her and walked away after righting his mask.

  He glanced over his shoulder seeing the young woman’s face warring between disappointment, and something he couldn’t name as her mother swooped and shadowed whatever it was that lurked in those green eyes.

  They sat on a lounge chair in the ladies room. Anne had pretended Charlotte was faint- not that she wasn’t close to it- and assisted her to the back room for women. Where once she was slapped from a hysterical breathing fit and her corset undone; she broke down and wept openly upon Anne’s delicate shoulder. The young woman’s hair sticking to her tear streaked face.

  "Oh, what happened?" her friend gasped while patting Charlotte’s stinging face. "Deirdre…" she whispered into her handkerchief. "She was with him…in the hall."

  "Wait…with…with whom?"

  "He was kissing her,” she whispered " of all people, quite ardently." The loathsome sound of her own misery cracked at the end. Anne flew up and spun to face her after walking a few paces forward, trying to think.

  "Are you certain?" she asked “I mean it couldn’t…well I don’t know what else it could have been…”

 
"Oh Anne, do not be a fool. Alexander just decided to not want a woman and kissed her anyway…come now."

  Anne for all she was worth thought on the subject and sighed shrugging her shoulders "Dear, it's alright. Do not cry,” she exhaled trying to find a way to calm her friend “For you shall move in with us tonight. I shall send my butler to get Precious and-"

  "You do not mind Precious?" Charlotte's hope was evident.

  `"No! I think she is adorable. And we'll sort out this mess with your identity post haste!"

  Charlotte sighed inwardly, her chest felt as though it might cave in with the lack of a heart. "Can one die of a broken heart?" she whispered.

  "You won't! Not on my watch," Anne firmly declared. Hoisting her up, she got Charlotte all patted dry and fixed to look as pretty as ever, and they rejoined the fray.

  “Anne I cannot.” Charlotte gulped Anne turned to her- her brown waves coiled at her ears. She realized that her friend truly was a beauty, at merely sixteen too. “I can’t…” her voice broke.

  "Come now darling! You shall be the belle of the ball and you shall have every man in Britain begging for your hand. Heritage or NOT!" Anne was like a young General talking to her troops. Charlotte gulped her fear down and followed suit. Sure enough- men flocked about them without fail.

  Alexander had desperately searched for Charlotte through the evening, but at each moment something would pull his gaze, Deirdre was ever persistent, as was her mother, to hunt him down coyly and request certain things. He wanted to leave…with Charlotte. He wanted to take her home and kiss her the way Deirdre had tried to kiss him, with passion. He wanted to be rid of the plotting snake's touch and lips.

  Charlotte walked the rooms one by one. There were people everywhere that faltered in drink. Some ran into one another good naturedly and she decided that they had had a bit too much wine. It made her chuckle, but the weight on her heart was worse than before. He had been so sweet to her, had acted as if he loved her.

  Fool, you had no such declaration her mind told her.

  She knew that in her heart she was right. She had no proof of his love, perhaps his tolerance what with Precious and a few other things, but nothing of him told her that he loved her. And she was not sure, which was more depressing. She overheard Lady Devon even speaking of how accommodating Alexander had been to Deirdre, and it made her chest ache.

  Oh, why did it have to be him? She felt her weariness creep in and, as if she had called upon him herself, he appeared. "Alex!"

  He stood tall, and brooding before her. His breath came out short and quick. It startled her how quickly she had been found. "Charlotte." The way he said her name, it was so rich and deep that she nearly forgot what had happened.

  "What do you want?" she demanded.

  It was his turn to be startled. She was so curt with him! "Charlotte what's the matter?" He took a step closer and she backed away.

  "I would rather not speak with you at this moment my Lord." My Lord…but not Alex. His heart caved in with fear.

  His confusion mounted. "Charlotte, tell me what I have done and I can surely fix it.,” he implored stepping closer to drag her into a separate room that was open. He shut the door and turned to her. "What is this about?"

  "As if you didn't know!" she snarled. He had never seen her like this. "I cannot believe you Alexander, now let me pass!" She stamped her foot and he crossed his arms with a scowl at the show of temper.

  "No, what the devil is going on?" He saw liquid spill from her mask edge and stepped forward, but she denied him.

  "It has come to my attention that although you were very… um- forward about your affections, whatever type they may be, I find it rather amusing and horrid how I found out about you and Lady Deirdre, through talk."

  The confusion knit on his brow angered her even more.

  "Furthermore I am shocked…and hurt that you had not told me, not that I guess it's any of my damn business what you do with your person but…but…If it had been you're intentions to treat me as the whore that I am not, I'd have rather you never have touched me to begin with!" she yelled at him.

  "Charlotte I have no idea what-"

  "I saw you,” she whispered. Suddenly his expression changed to shock, and then realization.

  She took it as a sign he had been caught. But on the other hand, he was not reveling in that he had been caught, he had a realization; he was horrified by it.

  So that was what that little harpy was so smug about? No, this can't be happening. "Charlotte, please believe me," he began.

  Her half hidden face looked disgusted. "What that she means nothing? For God's sake Lord Cromwell! If you had any decency in your body, you'd have just told me and left me alone!" She started to walk around him.

  "No, you are not leaving," he said in a low tone, as he caught her wrist trying to tug her to his body.

  "I can go anywhere I damn well please, Alexander.” He was taken aback by her language. “Now move aside this instant!" she thundered.

  "Charlotte there is nothing between she and I. Listen to how foolish you sound!" He looked so astonished as he yanked his mask off…but she had seen it with her own eyes. Her heart felt like breaking in front of him. He took one long stride, and slammed her with a deep kiss, his hands clutching her to him.

  When she resisted, he nipped her full mouth and went in for another attack. Charlotte felt as if he was making siege upon her body and mind. His fingers branded, and his lips coaxed. He was so beautiful, and strong.

  For a moment she lost herself, her mouth tangling with his and her fingers gripping into his hair. Alexander was desperate. He felt the need to protect her claw at him. She couldn't have possibly mistaken what he was doing with Deidra as affection? Could she?

  But a dreadful feeling pitted in his stomach. Yes she could. From where he had been it had been dark. His look of distaste was probably not visible because of the mask, not to mention; how he had tried to push her away. Where his hands had been might have looked…more like he was trying to hold her to him- like he was trying to do to Charlotte. He grimaced into his kiss at the realization.

  "You. Are. Mine," he said into her lips finally, tangling his fingers into her carefully arranged locks. "You will not leave me." The command held fire and he felt his demeanor crack. He couldn’t lose her now.

  With a sickening realization of what she was doing, Charlotte cried out and flung him away as hard as she could. With two steps, she was at the door. "The devil take you, Cromwell. I shall never forgive you," she wept brokenly as she dove through the doorway and into the crowd of curious drunks.

  Alexander stood, shocked to his core. How could this be happening? They had planned it all along, Deirdre and her mother. And now Charlotte believed the ruse. He should have never gone with that girl to begin with! Rage swept through him and he slammed his fist into a nearby wall. He felt his hand bruise at the force and felt his rage subside for but a moment.

  "I have to find her,” he said through gritted teeth. as he strode through the rooms looking for her desperately, trying to maintain his composure as the predatory looks of society leeched into his mind and awareness.

  Charlotte rushed through the rooms, before finding herself leaning against a wall in the darkness, Alexander stormed by and she held her breath till he was gone. Her heart was broken and she felt the world drift into a sea of masked faces.

  No one she knew, no one to lend her a word of comfort. And no one who knew who she was or where she belonged. Her heart ached and she longed for the comfort she had felt with Alexander in his embrace. But not even that was available to her anymore. She inhaled trying to steel herself for the upcoming internal war.

  She had to win and not succumb.

  For if she had succumbed, she might very well give up who she was all together for just one moment more, had she not thrown him away from herself.

  Even if that moment, were the only moment for happiness, and the rest of her life was to be spent with her heart locked away.

/>   CHAPTER 13

  Charlotte all but flew back to Anne, but upon finding her friend flocked with numerous bachelors looking for her hand, she gulped down the nerves and found a room full of terraces to go and sit for a moment. She had an idea that Alexander was looking for her near the dining area, but she had no inclination to talk to him at all. As she headed over to an empty balcony, it so happened that none other than the last person on earth she expected to be her savior arrived.

  "Why, Mr. Whitmore!" she gasped. The bear masked man grinned at her with twinkling eyes.

  "My, look what I caught! A little Fox."

  "I was heading-" she began.

  "To the terrace? Allow me to escort you, dear." He seemed perfectly genteel, and she took his arm in a timid manner, as with people watching she feared to cause a scene.