Fate

Chapter 5


They walked down a long hallway, down a sumptuous staircase, and through another, albeit shorter, hallway. Ella had never seen such luxury, and her head craned in every direction to catch sight of silky tapestries, somber portraits, innumerable vases, and bits of useless, but decorative, ornaments. Ana stopped by an oak door.

“My parents are through here. We will be dining in a moment,” She took her hands and gently squeezed them, “Take deep breaths, don’t look too awed or out of place. They know Sebastian’s got some eccentric habits, but please don’t make a fool of yourself. No one wants that, least of all my brother,” Ana smiled, “You are Ella Branson. Be her. Be the young woman you have always dreamed to be,” A final smile, and Ana knocked on the door. It was pulled open invisibly, and the two women walked into the dining room.

The Duke and Duchess of Dasz sat on either end of the table. Sebastian sat exactly across from them, in the middle. Two chairs were slightly drawn and angled from the table, awaiting the last two members of this lunch. Rows of silverware littered the sides of the two plates, and no less than two glasses sat for each person. Delicately rolled linen napkins awaited in ornamented, silver napkin-holders. Two carafes, one of water, the other of wine, stood on either end of the table, and a warming-plate awaited in the center for the main course.

“Please excuse us,” Ana said, curtsying. Ella hurried to copy her, though she could hardly take her eyes off Sebastian and the table. He winked at her and stood.

“Mother, Father,” he began, walking around the table to take Ella’s hand, “May I present you Ella Branson?” She curtsied.

“Pleased to meet you, dear,” The Duchess said with a smile. The Duke merely nodded. Ella noticed his glass was already half-full of wine. Sebastian led her to her seat, to the left of the Duchess, and sat her down. His sister, he ignored, save for a mouthed thanks. She blinked in acknowledgement.

“Well, shall we begin then?” said the Duke, and he clapped his hands.

Servants came and brought a bowl of chilled soup. Ella nearly panicked when she looked at the silverware. Discreetly glancing at Ana, who had picked up the outermost spoon, she copied her. Across the table, Sebastian smiled.

“How did you meet our son, Ella?”

She nearly sprayed soup all over the table, “I, ah, quite accidentally actually. We ran into each other.”

“Literally,” Sebastian grinned, “Neither of us paying attention to where our feet were going and, bam!” he chuckled.

They were onto the entrée of tuna and salad.

“…truly marvelous seamstress that woman is, I must consider giving her a rise…”

Now the chicken and veal.

“Remind me, who is that man who wanted to overthrow the Queen? As if such a scheme was even thinkable!” Laughs all around the table. Ella chuckled along, although she couldn’t read and had only heard distant rumors of him.

Another salad serving, this time only of lettuce. Cheese, bread, and more red wine followed. Ella didn’t know how many times that carafe had been filled. It was slowly going to her head.

“…now, now dear, don’t be rude! Give Ella the last drop…”

Onto the sweet apple and rhubarb pie.

“…Please, dear, call me Lilith. You can come anytime you wish…” this was the Duchess talking to Ella, who simply smiled and thanked her.

Finally, they were ushered into the salon for coffee and biscuits. Ella could not remember if she’d ever eaten so much before. How did Sebastian, the Duchess, and Ana keep their waists so perfect? The Duke clearly loved food too much, but he looked his part all the more.

At this point, Ella sat between Sebastian and Ana. She was reluctant to leave their comforting presence and volunteered little information about herself. Instead, she entertained them with various bits of gossip, the less offensive parts, she heard downtown. Another half-hour dragged by, and the two young heirs’ finally stood and claimed business, pulling Ella with them. Once they were out of earshot, meaning, in Sebastian’s private rooms, Ella expired.

“My shoulders hurt. Do you seriously eat that much every day?” she asked, before the concept of such a direct question and statement could be rude formed in her head.

“Oh dear Goddess no!” Ana cried, “It was some fancy of Mother’s I suppose, to have such a lavish meal. She loves to stuff Father.”

“Don’t your parents love each other?”

“Probably not… but they bear it together.” Sebastian said, “Ana, could you, um, go check on them?” A look was in his eyes. She rolled hers, and, biting on her lip to refrain from snapping a sarcastic remark, left the room. In an instant, Seb wrapped his arms around Ella, and drew their hips together. She looked up at him coyly, a small smile on her lips.

“You’re beautiful, you know…” he whispered, his head bending a little so their foreheads touched.

“Thanks…” She lifted her head just a little more, looking at his lips. She pulled herself just a little straighter, and they connected. A first kiss of love, she thought her eyes closed. Never with anyone else had a kiss been so perfect. She stepped closer and his arms shifted to circle her back, pushing their torsos together. Ella pulled back a little, then kissed his lips softly, quickly. His hand traveled to her throat, tracing the edge of the dress to the bottom of the V. She rolled her head back, exposing a long neck of light brown, as her own hands began to roam his body. In all her experiences, nothing had ever been so…right. She found the lapels of his over-coat, and slipped those over his shoulders. It slid easily and pooled at his feet. His hands now fumbled with the over-gown. ‘Hmm, yeah, he wants my gown off… ahh’ and that was the last Ella thought before her body completely took over her reactions. His fingers found the buttons, and slowly unhooked them. The gown pooled shortly after. Ella pulled him away from the first of the discarded clothes, and stepped out of her shoes. He grabbed at her, needing, craving the contact. “angel’s body” he murmured against her skin, as she unbuttoned his white silk shirt. “so perfect, so unbelievably perfect,” the movements of his lips against her skin made her shake with need. She shuddered, her breath ragged, and in a sweeping movement, pushed her against the bed. Her eyes fluttered wildly, as she pressed open-mouthed kisses on his now-bare torso. His skin peppered with gooseflesh, and he pushed against her all the more, grabbing her under-gown and wrenching it off her. Slowly he touched her, just barely, then with more eagerness. Her breath accelerated, before she gently pushed him away.

“I can’t. Not… Not with you. Not yet.”

He looked at her with concern, “I understand. And I’m patient.”