Woodyer
NewBee
Joined: 23 Jul 2008
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: The Discarded Duchess: |
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I tweaked this a bit, hope it helped.
Okay, here is something I'm working on.... It may very well be crap, I’m not sure… I love the story line but am not sure of my writing skills. Any advice?
A brief synopsis:
The Duke and Duchess of Hartford were married 5 years ago, he abandoned her at the church directly after the Priest declared them man and wife and just came back to reclaim her. She was humiliated (as you can imagine) as all of society witnessed her greatest humiliation and heartbreak, they'd even dubbed her The Discarded Duchess. Their engagement came about by a complete misunderstanding...
She was teary eyed on the balcony of the Dukes younger brother's engagement party, having been rebuffed by her cad of an escort. Taking pity on her, Devlin gallantly offered her his handkerchief and she gratefully accepted it. Once he'd managed to put her at ease and even make her laugh (at her escort’s expense of course!) she'd exclaimed how beautiful the detailed lettering of his name was on embroidered on said handkerchief. He replied if you like it as much as that, then it is yours. A raging gossip overheard the private exchange and had the hostess (the Duke's own Mother) announce his impending engagement to the ton at large. This would usually be cleared up in an instance, but it was a well known fact that the Duke was to announce his engagement within the fortnight (to another Miss-though they didn't know to whom). They (the ton and his family) just assumed he'd decided earlier than the time frame give. He also was loathed to embarrass his mother, ruin his brother’s engagement party and sully his apparent bride's father's good name, who was a very prestigious member of the house of lords as well as a well respected member of the ton. Each tried pressuring the other to end the phony engagement, but for the scandal it would cause could not seem to do it. They had to go through with the marriage to both of their everlasting disappointments. Now he's back due in part to a new scandal that is evolving around the chastity of his very own Duchess! It is whispered that she may be seeking a lover..... She'll have a lover all right, but it will be him and none other!
[b]The Discarded Duchess
He kissed her tentatively at first his lips meeting hers, leisurely exploring the softness and taste of her. Gently, he eased her into the sensation of their mouths molded together, losing himself to the moment entirely. Devlin groaned softly, she was agonizingly delicious… He didn’t want to frighten her with too much too fast, so he tried reigning in his desire as best he could.
His eyes opened abruptly in absolute shock, as he’d felt her trace her tongue against the crease of his lips seeking entry! He abruptly swelled to rock hard proportions, of which he was certain was stretching the limits of his britches. That she was able to send him to his knees with wanting, at her apparent expertise instead of his-coupled with the fact that she was so obviously skilled in the art of kissing-infuriated him as nothing else could. He tore his mouth away and wrenched her from him, which was rather difficult as she’d fisted her small yet seemingly strong hands within his lapels.
His eyes glittered with fury as he demanded through clenched teeth, “Madame, kindly explain as to where you have learned such an artful seduction.”
Still floating in a fog of passionate confusion, Gillian was taken aback by his barely restrained anger. As the haze of desire lifted and her vision began to refocus, she found her footing once again. She lifted wounded eyes in his direction but would not look directly at him, she couldn’t help feeling hurt that he was so angry with her. After all, any woman would have to be a simpleton-or a block of ice-not to respond to his masterful advances. Still, she couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased that she’d managed to get to him. Imagine! He’d thought her so accomplished, that he assumed she was trying to seduce him! A small smile crept across her face, of which clearly was not lost on him, as his narrowed gaze moved quickly past her blushing cheeks and riveted instead onto her insolent kiss swollen lips.
Instantly wary, his steel gray eyes met and clashed with her mirth filled chocolate one’s, as she implied quite brazenly, “Your Grace, five years is a rather long time to be absent from one’s husband”.
Devlin Michael Rufus Clayborne, the fifth Duke of Hartford-possessor of one of England’s noblest titles, stared down at his wife, his eyes practically buldged out of his head as he sucked in his breath through clenched teeth. She was baiting him…God’s balls! Heads of state didn’t dare to cross him, but apparently his mad little duchess had no such qualms.
Trying unsuccessfully to check his rage, he grabbed her arm roughly and hissed, “Are you intact?”
Gillie’s eyes widened with righteous anger at his insinuation, as she wrenched free of his grip or tried to rather. “How dare you!” she spat in contempt, eyes flashing “Are you, sir?” she boldly challenged (Both of them knew full well the answer to that impertinent question).
Her tone and bearing were regal enough to rival the Queen of England. Another man would be quaking in his boots; she had become that formidable Devlin thought. He was summarily, albeit reluctantly, impressed with her commanding performance and masterly reversal of the inference at hand. That being said, any thought of another man anywhere near her-especially her lips-sent him over the edge, again.
“I will pretend that you didn’t ask me that. “He said pinning her with his blistering gaze. Then continued just as severely, “There is however, but one thing for you to remember Your Grace” he used her title scathingly, “I do not share!” and with that slammed out of the parlor.
She couldn’t help it, as childish as it seemed she poked her tongue out at the closed door. Then Gillie bit her lip to keep from laughing outright, mollified by the fact that he himself, had been just as juvenile. He had looked for all-the world like a sullen boy, one who had just been told to hand over his favorite toy.
Then her own eyes narrowed and she shook her head thoughtfully, what was she to do about him, she wondered? All of these years…With only correspondence between them-and very little at that-had left her rather inept at dealing with the full force of her own husband. She resented that he was so handsome and commanding, but mostly she resented that he had no firsthand knowledge of her virginity.
“Are you intact” she mimicked, insufferable lout!
Had the dratted man stuck around long enough to consummate their travesty of a marriage, he would know the answer to that blasted question! She imagined dealing with him would be a daunting affair at best, one that she’ll need all her wits about her if she wished to succeed. She glanced upward to the heavens as if beseeching them for divine intervention.
The next morning dawned gray and rainy, anticipating no callers on such a day, Gillie dressed her own hair by simply tying the thick auburn mass at her nape. Her ladies maid Amelia, who really was more friend than servant, helped her into her favorite morning gown which featured little pink rosebuds and matching pink trim. She gave herself a rueful once over in the looking glass and with a shrug decided this was as good as it was likely to get today. With nothing more to do than to read one of her favorite penny romance novellas, Gillian gratefully took herself off to her private sanctuary.
She was anticipating a wonderfully romantic read when she opened the door to the library, and was abruptly met by His Grace seated comfortably at her desk. He was dressed casually in a white lawn shirt opened at the collar, with rolled up sleeves which revealed rather tanned muscular forearms. He also seemed to be in the midst of some sort of correspondence and seemingly had taken over her territory. Frustration quickly filled her, as she watched him unconsciously shake his head to try and dislodge a stray forelock of jet black hair. Of which seemed to habitually fall across one eye, he did this before meeting her glare.
He hesitated smiling almost apologetically, “This was the only place to conduct my business”.
Silence met him. Devlin sighed somewhat put upon, “Gillian, surely we can dispense with our weapons for one afternoon and share the library?”
Trying to be engaging, he ventured, “what book have you there?” gesturing to the all but forgotten romance that she carried.
She blushed… again, fabulous! Would there ever be a time that she didn’t blush in his presence, she wondered exasperated with herself. Clutching the tome to her chest desperately, in the hopes that he wouldn’t notice her reading material, she tried casually to back out.
He raised an eyebrow at her, “Did you think I wouldn’t know you fairly devoured romance novellas?” He asked sardonically.
Gillie’s startled eyes widened, “How did-“ the question was abruptly cut off in the face of his amusement, as his muscled arm lifted making a sweeping gesture of encompassing the entire library.
Her mortified gaze swept the room and her heart sunk, as she took in what he must have seen upon settling in there that morning. On every surface available were her books, some were spine up to save places while others had bits of cloth rammed in them to serve as bookmarks. One thing was glaringly obvious, all of them were so well earmarked it was a wonder that the pages hadn’t fallen clean off.
He chuckled gently at her crestfallen look, showing off rather deep dimples in each cheek and wonderful little crinkles about the eyes, “Am I to assume you mostly earmark the naughty parts?” his gray eyes danced with devilment as he teased her. Then ducked abruptly as the book she was holding went sailing past his head, missing him by less than an inch! Looking at her in astonishment, he couldn’t help asking “What the hell was that for?!”
There she stood fists clenched and anger reverberating from the very core of her. “That’s for infiltrating every part of my life!” she shouted bitterly, and then stormed off in what he was fairly certain was a rather large snit. Only to hear her cry, from what one could only assume to be the top of the stairs, “Bloody beast!” To which his eyebrows and those of their unruffled butler Bernard -who happened to have the misfortune of standing in the foyer-raised considerably.
Devlin sat in bewilderment, when had his quiet mouse of a wife become such a fearsome cat with claws. He shook his head as if to clear it, God above he was truly baffled. He readjusted his breeches, which was fast becoming a habit around her and thought sourly, when precisely had his little wife become so incredibly alluring? Well, he reasoned he wasn’t about to find the answers he sought brooding here….He’d best take himself off to White’s , especially since it would seem he’d receive no stimulating conversation here today-nor anything else stimulating, for that matter. He groaned at his own wayward thoughts, once again adjusting his breeches. On second thought, maybe he’d head over to Gentleman Jacks for a turn and work off a healthy round of frustration. A few moments later Hartford was already on his way out the door when he encountered their staunchly dedicated butler.
Devlin inclined his head, “Bernard,is it not?” He asked uncertainly.
Bernard inclined his head respectfully, “Yes, Your Grace”.
After a brief pause as he adjusted his great coat, Hartford said, “I will be back later” just then a door slammed somewhere within the bowels of the family wing. With a glance each at the ceiling above them, both Devlin and the butler winced, “Much later” he surmised.
Bernard looked at his employer fully commiserating his predicament, “Very wise decision Your Grace” he intoned.
Hartford then took his leave, all the while muttering under his breath. Bernard couldn’t be sure, but he thought he caught something to the effect of, the suffrage of men brought on by temperamental women, who were seemingly unaware of their place in a man’s life….
The unswerving butler had to agree with His Grace, for he too had a wife and she could be rather fearsome herself at times, frighteningly so. He silently wished his grace the best of luck, then shuddered as he closed the grand door to his employers retreating carriage.
Last edited by Woodyer on Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:17 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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