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

by Amelia Clearwater

  Charles, on the other hand, was in a snit. "I dare say Alexander It's a waltz...highly inappropriate." His hand clutched Charlotte.

  "I'd love to." Charlotte gasped and took his hand quickly.

  Alexander did not even look twice at her escort and as soon as the music played, he swept her into the dance floor. She gasped. She had never known a dance like this. They did not line up...no, he held her close to his body and their legs seemed to touch intimately as they floated on air in circles. She noticed mostly wives and husbands danced this, and her heart raced.

  Charlotte tried to take a small step back, "Alex...People are-"

  "Let them stare." he whispered into her ear with a low groan. "You smell of earth and sinful delicious want Charlotte," he growled.

  "You know nothing of my wants," she whispered as he twirled her. She easily followed him and he adored the way the white dress swirled about her legs.

  "God, you are magnificent Sweetling," He worshiped her in soft tones murmuring compliments that near made her blush.

  "Alex..." her voice broke. "I had Charles escort me..."

  "I know." the masculine tone was bruised with anger. "The whole damn town was talking of it." The snarl was underneath that less than genteel talk.

  "I...I..." she stopped as he twirled her again and they came even closer, his hand sliding along her lower back to keep her locked to him, in the perilous momentum of the dance. Her hair glided around her shoulders and his eyes raked over every inch of her frame.

  "Mine." he crooned as he nuzzled her jaw, she melted even more.

  "Alexander..."

  "I love you." he whispered "I didn't know it till you were gone, but I do...I love you. I didn't even want Deirdre near me. You have to believe that, Charlotte." His hand clutched her waist tighter to his body. "Please." his eyes begged her as his countenance stayed strong.

  Charlotte wanted to believe him with all her heart "You hurt me..." she whispered tightly and his face did not betray what his eyes did.

  Agony.

  "It will take more than a waltz to earn back my favor."

  "I want you, don't you see that?" he demanded.

  "Prove it,” she challenged. Her black eyes desperate, he saw her want to believe him. He felt his heart clamoring in his chest trying to show her his affections. One more turnabout the floor was all they had as the music came to an end. He wanted to swoop her into his arms and drag her home and keep her there forever.

  "Stay with me." he whispered.

  "It would be inappropriate Alexander..." her voice spoke that had she not been with Charles...

  The dance ended and they were no better off than before, if not even worse than before. They separated and bowed to each other, his hands and her body burning from where they had touched. She had felt every lined and taut muscle that had pressed against her and shuddered at the memory. He caught the movement and a slow, confident smile crossed his lips. He watched with green envy as she placed her arm on Charles's.

  He watched her walk away and nearly leapt upon Charles to knock his head in. But instead, he followed, wondering what would happen.

  He was lucky he did.

  Charlotte wondered where they were headed and realized that Charles had nearly herded her into a secluded room. She gulped, and did not like where this was going.

  Where is Alex? Her heart questioned desperately looking for a way to escape. Charles looked happy as he watched her "You are quite lovely Charlotte."

  "Thank you."

  "I do hope you are happy to be here with me."

  "Of course I am Charles." She smiled at him and he stepped closer.

  "Hm, I think you need to forget all about Cromwell."

  "Whatever do you mean?" She asked warily, not wanting to hint at what they had shared.

  "Well, you two just seem. Close."

  "He saved my life Mr. Whitmore...Of course I am close to him." She pretended to be examining a bookshelf intently, her face feeling hot.

  "I think it's very close...so I thought perhaps I'd wipe that pretty head of all thoughts Hm?"

  "I beg your-" she turned to question him and Charles's mouth slammed into her own roughly. Her squeak of surprise did not match the ferocity with which she struggled, but his weight kept her pinned to the bookcase. He released her lips and she gasped.

  "Charles, what the bloody hell are you doing, get off me!" She hissed at him as his hands groped her through her dress and corset. "Get off!" She slapped at his shoulders, but he was not taking no for an answer. She felt his hips lean against her and her eyes went round with terror. He was kissing her throat, biting and demanding a response-, which was to writhe not in pleasure, but in revulsion. He yanked her head back messing up the delicately placed style.

  "I'm going to have you Charlotte. Whether you like it or-"

  The final thing he was going to say was cut off by something of an inhuman roar. He was lifted off his dandy feet and hurtled by his outer jacket to the floor, with a loud oomph! Her hand was caught in a heated grip and she was yanked behind a large mass.

  "Alex." She nearly wept with relief, as she clutched him from behind her hands digging into the material of his coat. "Thank God." She exhaled and pressed her nose into the warm scent she knew so well. Every inch of his body was taught with male outrage, she shuddered as peace took over "Alex?"

  He on the other hand had not even heard her. His chest was heaving and she saw in the mirrors in front of him that there was a blank look in his eyes. Deadly. Within two moments he had gently dislodged her hands and leapt upon Charles smashing into him with accurate force.

  "Alex!" she screamed. He was not stopping this time as his fists easily found their mark. People ran to the source of the sound. Anne came hurtling in with her parents and gasped seeing her.

  "Charlotte!" she ran to her and clasped Charlotte's hands, as her mother and father watched wide eyed at the men...well rather man who was in battle as Charles was desperately trying to not get hurt, not that it did him much good.

  "Charles trapped me here...It isn't Alex's fault. He was protecting me." It all came out in a rush and Anne hugged her close leading her away. Alexander stopped, mid grapple as he had Charles in a headlock

  "You." he eyed Charlotte with his maddening gaze. "Stay. Right. Where you are Sweetling." she froze.

  Anne froze.

  Everyone simply, just froze.

  No one dared move when his voice had hit the gravelly, low and quiet rumble.

  "When I'm through with this filth-" he spat the word down at Charles, who was gasping and clawing at Alex's arms for air. "We are going home." it was not a request, or the voice of a gentleman that came from this man.

  "But-" she started as if doing so would make him see reason.

  "Don't argue Charlotte,” he growled "Not right now, or by God I'll make him pay." Charlotte had never seen Alexander like this. He looked enraged, beyond the point of return and she stepped forward despite Anne clutching at her and everyone's audible gasp.

  "Alex," she whispered but he did not hear her. She took two long strides and was running her fingers through his hair, he growled low in his throat much like a wolf defending a kill. "Alexander. Stop. He is not worth smudging your good name."

  "He's worth every smudge I'll earn Goddamn it! He tried to touch you!"

  The word you was emphasized. She realized it was not that she had been touched, though that was part of the issue, but that anyone, especially Charles, would even think of touching what belonged to him, was what had started his rage.

  It lit her entire being up like a torch with hope. He really did love her... "I want to go home Alex." she whispered, and he froze.

  "What?" he blinked as Charles gagged, not quite losing enough air to kill him, but Alexander's arms loosened slightly as her words went into his rage-addled mind.

  "I said, take me home Alex. I want to go home. With you." Her voice was steady and suddenly she stepped back. Alexander yanked Charles up with him and promptly slam
med him face first into a wall causing blood to spurt from his already beaten in face.

  "If you ever, so much as look at my Sweetling again. So help me, but even she will not save your worthless hide, nor God Himself should He choose to try and intervene, Whitmore!"

  "You're mad," Charles coughed. "You're absolutely mad Cromwell!"

  "You'd do well to remember the next time you see Charlotte. And remember, she is mine. No one else's." The deep riveting growl from inside his chest sent electrical surges through her frame, as the bright green eyes bore into her for a moment of utter possession.

  Anne and Charlotte, along with everyone else in the room, stood stock-still. Some, who had been watching them together, smiled approvingly, having never liked Charles to begin with. (Some even had bets on how long Alexander would last in his temper.) Ladies swooned at the sight of such a heroic and romantic declaration by the Lord who supposedly would never marry after his betrothed had abandoned him.

  Said Lord straightened himself out, his mouth bleeding from a slight cut where Charles had gotten one good hit, and that had been the end of it. Charlotte walked closer and dabbed at it with her handkerchief, startling him, his narrowed green eyes caught her own.

  "Charlotte." Her name on his tongue sounded like heady ale and it swamped her senses and fogged her mind.

  "Yes?" she whispered as his hand closed against her own against his face.

  "Let's go home," he murmured a soft gaze tracing over her face.

  She nodded and took his arm, glancing once at Charles, who was crumpled on the floor with only a few besotted women crooning over him. They walked to the carriage and he gently helped her in. And then The only sound was the clopping of hooves, and the squeaking of wood on the ground.

  CHAPTER 15

  The carriage ride would have been warmer if it was filled with corpses, for it was silent as the grave. And Charlotte had no idea how on earth to break the stormy demeanor Alexander had about his face.

  "Alexa-"

  "Do not speak Charlotte." the reply was like a whip cracking through the air.

  "But-" her voice was soft and supple.

  "No," the reply was quick and his snake-like eyes coiled around her as if to squeeze whatever information he thought she was hiding from her being.

  “What," he asked after a moment, "in God's name," he inhaled again, as if to control him, "were you thinking!" He finally burst out, failing in keeping his tone calm.

  "I was thinking you wanted nothing to do with me!" she snapped.

  "What gave you," his mouth hung open in half concealed rage “that impression?” his eyes became hardened.

  "Over a week, Alexander! A week! No word! No Apology! No anything! And all of a sudden, you're in love with me? Forgive me, but I accepted Charles's request out of pure necessity, not of want!" She stamped her foot in the carriage, and blinked her eyes rapidly, damned if she would cry in front of him now.

  "I sent you letter after letter, with no response!" he cried. He saw her face go still. "What?" she whispered.

  “I sent you so many damned letters, did you not get them?" he exhaled as if in pain, the expression upon his face finally showing his true self.

  Her heartstrings twanged at the sight.

  "But-but I sent you letters, as well," she stuttered now looking confused. "I sent one my first day! I asked you to come to tea to talk...but...you never came . . ." She wrung her hands, looking at his shoes.

  It was Alexander's turn to look stunned. "You sent me a letter?" The whisper was barely audible.

  "Yes, though the boy said Giselle got a hold of it. I should have known she wouldn't want you to have it." She sighed heavily and tossed her mussed hair back. He watched her for a time, looking at her face, her hair. And wondering how on earth he had forgotten her beauty in only a week.

  "So, did Anne find anything out?" he coughed.

  "Oh- no I was a bit indisposed to answer questions . . ." Charlotte's tone was embarrassed. Alexander wondered if she had been as miserable as he.

  Charlotte was watching him, perplexed, as if trying to figure something out. But he felt the rage boil again when he looked at her neck, the one that Charles had been trying so hard to kiss a mere hour earlier.

  "Alexander?"

  "Hm?" he growled.

  “Um...what is wrong?" Her lips pursed. He had a feeling she knew what was wrong. Her eyes seemed to travel fully along his form and they gleamed in the moonlight as the dress hugging every supple and womanly feature of her body. "Anne invited you,” she whispered.

  "I know. I received a call from her earlier."

  "So that was where she went!" Charlotte's mouth agape, she laughed incredulously. "Sneaky woman..." the rest of it was lost as Alexander chuckled, his anger dying slightly.

  "You look lovely, Charlotte," he purred in appreciation.

  "Looked lovely Alexander, looked! Then you had to go all barbaric and ruin my flounces and pretty sleeves..." She pouted like a child and tried to straighten her dress, that had gotten a bit tossed about when Alexander had launched himself at Charles and ripped her away and behind himself.

  He leaned over and kissed her thoroughly after dragging her across the gap between the seats and onto his lap. "Alex-" he smothered her protest in another lingering kiss.

  "Sweetling, do hush up." He let his fingers play across her features, savoring what he had missed for what seemed years, spanned out over seven days. Her skin, her taste and her scent all wrapped up in one womanly figure and steel tempered spine. "I'm going to have you. No more waiting." He whispered in a low tone that had been borrowed by a demon against her lips. She shuddered visibly and he caught the dilation of her pupils. "I love you. And you're going to be mine, Sweetling."

  When her only response was to nod, he kissed her, tracing his tongue along her mouth invitingly. Before Charlotte could answer the carriage stopped, and he leapt out. The moment her feet touched the ground, Alexander picked her up and walked briskly up the stairs.

  For a moment he felt red hot rage, it was the second time he had to hit Charles, and now within an inch of his life. This time he had nearly done it to the point of not stopping. But now she was here, and safe…and she felt so soft in his arms, looping his neck with her own.

  "What are you doing?"

  "Hush." He did not trust himself to speak yet. They walked briskly past the staff that for all better reasons kept a good distance. He glared at Giselle and the others and growled low as he passed. "We are not to be disturbed unless there is a fire burning the estate to the ground...even then. Get some damn water and deal with It." he reached her room and he walked in and shut the door soundly; set her down.

  Charlotte watched his eyes. They had again dilated to where the green disappeared, that animalistic hunger taking over. He took a step to her, but she backed away. "Alexander we need to talk," she said softly.

  He did not look like he wanted to talk at all. But with gritted teeth he growled and leaned against the door. "Fine."

  "What you did was not acceptable. Someone could have really been hurt…" She crossed her arms. "I'm afraid I don't approve at all. You embarrassed the Essex family. And, I am rather...I will not...I did not approve at all," she finally said.

  "Why?" he asked a brow rose.

  "It was…it was…" she sputtered unable to really tell the truth. It had been invigorating! At the sight of Charles trying (and failing) to do what Alexander had done with her had driven him into a rage. And the fact that he had stopped his assault, from no one else’s word but her own, sent a thrill through her heart. The fact that he had fought for her, and won was the epitome of primitive and yet she loved him for it.

  "Why?" He seemed to get an inkling of her problem. "Did it confuse you Sweetling?" She gulped, and he stalked forward. "Hm? Did it confuse you to have a man go near insane that he'd be willing to kill over jealousy?"

  "Jealous-"

  "Yes…Jealousy, and didn't I warn you?" he asked conversationally. "What would happen if t
hat man ever so much as looked at you again?" He stepped closer each length of muscle cording and relaxing in agitation.

  "Alex…" she backed up and felt the bed against the backs of her thighs.

  "Oh yes, I love how you say that…Alex…" he growled at her "You're the only one to ever call me that you know. So supplicating in that tone, you are. It makes me nearly want to show mercy . . .Nearly, but I don't think you understand what you've unleashed Charlotte. Not bloody well by half."

  She was not terrified. She knew he wouldn't hurt her. She was more afraid of her body's response to such a primitive way of thinking.