Chapter 45

"Ah, so you are here!" Ma'am Dodda called from the door as she came into the bedroom where Nellie had been all day, sliding her hand in Nellie's.

"Ma'am Dodda" Nellie greeted the older lady with a firm smile.

"My dear, There's a new arrival you simply must meet. If you don't mind leaving the room for a bit now, do you?"

Nellie quickly pulled her hand away from the lady's, whispering. "I'm afraid I can't meet any new arrivals, Ma'am Dodda. I'm running at a slight temperature.

The older lady's brow knitted up in concern, "From what I just heard, I would say I just arrived in time to rescue you from fever and boredom" Ma'am Dodda was already dragging her towards the door.

They were heading down the hall to the parlor before Nellie could protest, she had no doubt Ma'am Dodda was about to introduce her to another set of the high class ladies of the pack that graced the castle daily these days.

"That lady is a notorious gossip. I should have mentioned it sooner. You didn't tell her anything about your pack that you would rather not be known about, did you?" Ma'am Dodda nodded towards a white headed stout woman who stood in the middle of the parlor admiring a portrait on the wall. Nellie had met her the previous night but she couldn't recall the lady's name since she had picked the flimsiest excuse to leave the lady's company last night.

"Not that I remember, I don't have much wit for engaging in unnecessary conversations, especially not with older women" Nellie found herself remarking dryly. She hoped she was not sounding rude to her poor benefactor, and she couldn't quite blame herself for she would have preferred to spend the rest of the evening locked up in Earl's chambers.

"Good. Try to avoid her if you can, and if you can't, simply prevaricate. Be as scatterbrained as you have to, be careful not to tell her anything that she can sink her teeth into."

Nellie nodded. She totally understood and avoided the lady for the rest of the evening. She had a difficult time avoiding the formidable number of guests that trooped into the castle for the past two days. Few times, she succeeded in avoiding them and other times she was caught up between deciding either to shove past them and rush off to bury her face in the pillow or be the noble responsible lady she was expected to be and simply indulge them in honorable conversations to keep them company.

They were Ma'am Dodda's guests, and since she was temporarily staying in the castle, that technically made her their host as well. Nellie came to learn that asides housekeeping, Ma'am Dodda made the best dresses which she was now offering out to most of the ladies that trooped in, totally free of charge. Nellie had succeeded in persuading the older woman to market her craft when she was shown into her craft-room.

She had found an innumerable design of dresses which the woman just made for leisure over the years, she had dashed out most to Nellie, one of which she was wearing now and Nellie had even given out some to Ariel. The last two days was like a come-out for the beautiful ball gowns Ma'am Dodda wass sampling and since Earl was not around, it was a good way to keep the household busy- and to keep Nellie's thought from her captive.

Later that night, As Ariel helped her out of her evening gown, she debated discussing the situation of her thoughts with her maid-turned-friend and tried to come up with a suitable way to put it that would not sound like she had been thinking too much of the Alpha.

Ariel had not been in her best countenance these past two days either. Nellie sensed she was probably thinking of her supposed mate and maybe even afraid for him. Ariel had tried to hide her few from Nellie after the two men failed to return since they left four days ago, half the people that came in to see Ma'am Dodda's displays were already questioning the whereabouts of the Alpha and his Beta. Surely they could inform the town the two men had been gone for days and no one knew when they would be back or where they were? Most of the town would frown on that nearly as much as if they learned he was missing. Obviously, Ma'am Dodda had avoided the subject with her friends. She supposed she could simply do the same.

Nellie assumed the soft rap on the door was Ma'am Dodda calling. The two previous nights she had stopped by to say thank you seeing to it that the last of the visitors got home safe, and to find out if she had enjoyed the evening and spent less time thinking, not like she ever really admitted she was thinking- not about Earl at least, and if any of the men she had met had appealed to her.

Ariel had suggested she consider meeting new 'gents' as she put it to whirl away time and to see if any if them made her feel close to what Earl did to her while he was away. Nellie considered the thought and even mentioned it to Ma'am Dodda who had dismissed the plan as a waste of timw but finally gave in just to ensure that Nellie would finally realize she had 'something for Earl' as the two women put it.

She hadn't met any new men tonight other than that young Lord who she considered too clumsy for a man, she had mentioned him to Ariel, who had a good time laughing at the disgust on her face when she talked about his nosy clumsiness just last night. Ma'am Dodda had probably heard that he'd come by today and wanted to know if there was any progress in the way she viewed him now.

It was quite a big shock to find Richard on the other side of the door, rather Ma'am Dodda. She certainly wasn't prepared to see him, though, and was literally holding her gown up with a hand over her breasts. And Ariel practically slammed the door in his face until she was presentable again, quickly fastening her gown back up, it was no doubt the man was nosy and too clumsy like she had thought he was. There were no guards at the door when or in the hall when Nellie and Ariel rushed out, which explained why he had made it this far without being sent back out.

Nellie called out for him to wait. He did. When she opened the door again, he mouthed,

"I'm sorry I came in at the wrong time, I was wondering if you would care for a nightcap?"

She raised a brow. After the way he glowered at her tonight and hadn't said a single word to her in the parlor, this was certainly unexpected.

But it was another golden opportunity she simply couldn't pass up. She still wanted to explore the possibility of becoming more 'friendly' with him, to find out if it was even possible for her to think of him half as much as she thought of Earl today.

The man really had no wind of how to be a gentleman and he certainly had no idea how to respect boundaries, she could imagine what Earl or any of her guards would have done if they found him anywhere near this hall, but she ignored that thought, none of those people were here.

"Why yes, thank you," She replied, leading him towards the steps after giving Ariel a pleading look. And then she added with a grin, "I have really missed my daily portion of rum."

He chuckled and extended an arm for her to take, "I never knew noble ladies take rum"

"Ah, some of us do. It is a good way to get your thoughts back in track"

She led him down the hall. She'd only been teasing about the daily portion of rum, but she had a feeling he thought she was serious. In fact, considering what he seemed to think about her after having heard Ma'am Dodda boast of her fighting prowess and how she defeated a number of Rogues on several occasions to whoever cared to listen.To Ma'am Dodda, it was often part of Nellie's portfolio each time she had to introduce her, Richard probably assumed she was used to imbibing strong spirits. He certainly still had a lot to learn about her, and she doubted if she would give him the opportunity, because Richard Lorey had most definitely moved from the middle to the bottom of her list of interest.

She was so centered on the man walking behind her, she didn't even notice that Ariel had followed them downstairs until they reached the parlor and she heard the maid yawn loudly. The house was quiet at that time of night. Most of the servants had gone to bed. She knew if she suggested to Ariel that she do the same, she'd get a stern refusal. Ariel took her chaperoning seriously and she was not about to let Nellie alone with this clumsy strange who most certainly had no respect for boundaries.

A low fire had been left in the parlor, lit earlier just to take the chill off the room. Only one lamp had been left on, and it, too, had been turned down low. The heat still wasn't enough for Nellie, so she moved to stand in front of the fireplace, she was even considering stroking the fire a bit more, but Richard distracted her as he looked over the contents of the bar in the corner of the room.

"As I thought, no rum in this house. Your choices are cognac, brandy, or port or maybe Vodka."

"Port sounds interesting" she replied. "Don't think I was serious about the rum now, do you?"

"Am I supposed not to?" Richard raised a brow which did not seem to surprise Nellie.

She ignored the question and asked instead, "How do you intend to get home this late?"

"I have a coach waiting outside. It would do no harm to have a drink with the most beautiful woman I've met before being on my way now, would it?"

"Most likely not," Nellie replied, obviously bemused by his flattery.

She'd almost succeeded in getting off from going out today just as she'd done last night. She had pretended not to be feeling well, enough so that she would have to leave the room. It was a lie, but Ma'am Dodda did not question her too much about it after Nellie implied it had to do with her monthlies. And besides, she might not really be sick, but she certainly felt sick at heart.

She had been staying in her room in order to avoid the guests and hopefully to have enough time to prepare if and when her captive eventually came home. Finding out what Richard really thought about her just now did not hurt her terribly like she would have wanted. She could try to correct his opinion, but she had a feeling he wouldn't believe her.

The perception the people had for her ran too deep. And there was nothing she could do about that. Just the previous day, Nellie had overheard two or more young women talk about how she was here to 'warm the Alpha's bed' at night and whenever he wanted her to. Which didn't surprise her the least bit, there was no logical explanation as to why she was in the castle, or even the blood pack, that could pass for one.

"Does the Alpha intend to make you his new Luna?" Richard suddenly asked.

The question caught her by surprise, she should have known he wasn't any different from the rest of the locals who looked at her with curiosity, "Why does that matter to you, Lord Lorey?"

"Not that it matters, you are quite a pretty lady, Nellie. I wouldn't want you to be tossed aside by the Alpha after having his fill of you and…"

"I guess I was wrong to assume you came for a little chat as you implied?"

"I did, My lady. And I would actually love just more than a chat with you, if you would oblige." When he saw the scrawl on Nellie's face, he added, "Rest assured I'll treat you better than the Alpha does, I wouldn't leave you alone in the castle and go off on a joy tour with my healer while you wait in vain for me at the…"

Ariel was not within hearing limit as she understood they might need space to talk, but occasionally she glanced at Nellie and raised a brow to ask if she had any problem if needed help handling the 'clumsy fellow' as she called him. Nellie shook her head to tell her she was perfectly okay.

"I never imagined men indulged in gossip" She started, she saw his face darken but she ignored it, "I came down here to have a chat with you, Lorey, ignoring your clumsy attitude and your lack of social etiquette. I suppose I have been opportuned to see this side of you just to confirm my assertion of you"

Nellie knew the women carried gossip about her but did he have to paint her with the same brush, and assume she was a woman of loose morals because she was speaking to him? And yet, what had she done to prove otherwise? Drink with him? Let him bring her down here at this ungodly hour? She winced at the memory of her own wanton behavior. In trying to get to know him better, she had actually reinforced his low opinion of her, so it was her own fault.

God, she wished she hadn't been so flustered that she had gulped down that glass of port that night in the parlor. It had gone right to her head. She never should have let him take such liberties, wouldn't have if she had been clear headed, well, she liked to think she wouldn't have, but oh.

"You are taking this in the wrong light, Nellie. I don't intend to just make you warm my bed, although that will come first. I also intend to make you an honorable woman, I will marry you. And we will leave this pack to one of my many properties in a neighboring pack where no one would recognize you, think about it."

Nellie suppressed the urge to laugh, she could feel her anger rising, her wolf begging to surface. But she told herself she had to control it, "If you are so good at gossip like you just proved, I suppose you should have heard that I am not just any lady. I don't care what you or any other person thinks about me and I don't care about your honorable title"

She hoped he would take the bait in her voice and leave but he did the exact opposite,

"You don't understand, Nellie. I am asking you to marry me, I'll take you away from this place. I am a purebred…"

"Get out!" Nellie muttered harshly.

Again, he did the exact opposite. It was a very sudden move that surprised both Nellie and Ariel who sprang to her feet immediately but Nellie raised her hands to stop her. Ariel understood and maintained her position, watching with keen interest.

She had not forgotten why she why she decided to come down to have a drink with the clumsy arrogant Richard Lorey, it was to compare what she felt with him- or any other man to what she felt with Earl, her intimidating captor who seemed to have acquired a place in her thoughts… and possibly her heart.

So when Richard Lorey, the arrogant brute who had just trampled on her ego in every way imaginable made the move, she simply stood there, unmoving. It was a sudden move, Richard drew her in so hard that her breast crashed into his hard chest.

He raised her head to face him and crushed his lips on hers, it was a rough and hard kiss, Nellie waited for the usual butterflies she felt each time Earl was an inch close to her, nothing. She waited for the sparks she felt whenever they kissed, nothing, instead she felt disgusted, almost like she was committing a grave sin.

At the sudden realization that it was only with Earl that she felt the way she did, he was the only one that made her feel things… She raised her hands to Richard's chest to push him away, it was in this state that she heard the door push. She quickly disengaged from Richard immediately she sensed the too familiar scent even before the person came in sight.

Earl stood there, a look of surprise registered on his face immediately he saw Nellie standing there. He blinked a few times just to be sure it was her, for a split second, Neliie thought she saw relief on the too handsome face she had missed so much, but it was immediately replaced with a deadly glare the moment he sighted Richard beside her, in a not too decent position.

"What the bloody helll is going on here?!"