At Water's Edge - Chapter 14.1

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                                                                       Chapter 14 .1

‘He cradles my face gently in his hands; his gaze penetrates deep into my soul revealing all my wants and needs, his breathing accelerates as he realizes they mirror his own.  His gaze travels to my parted lips, my breath hitches in my throat as he wet’s his lips. Caressing my cheek he lowers his face until his lips are mere millimeters from my own, I prepare myself for a sweet surrender. Smiling that cocky grin he bridges the gap and…’

“Rise and shine!” belts out Olivia as she pulls the curtains letting in the morning sun.

"NOOOOOOOO…nooooooooooooo” Nina groans pulling a pillow over her head trying to block out the sun.  She burrows herself deeper into the sheets trying to recover the dream and follow through with the ending.

“No my dear it’s time to get up there is much to do before tonight’s festivities, up, up, up with you.” Olivia Laughs as she pulls the sheets off Nina.

“It’s not fair, just not fair I was so close, I can’t even get what I want in my dreams”  Nina wines slamming her arms on the bed as she stares up at the gilded ceiling.  

“I am sorry Miss but it really is time to get up.  Breakfast is being brought up I need you to eat well, as most likely you will not get much more for the remainder of the day.  I am preparing the bath and after last night’s shenanigans we shall have to scrub you raw, until your skin is soft and supple.  Evangeline has already brought all of the gowns, they are stunning, I know I say it every time but you truly have outdone yourself.”

“Thank you” Nina replies shyly.

The maid knocks at the door and enters with the breakfast; Nina eats more than her fill.

For the remainder of the day she is scrubbed, plucked, powdered, oiled, brushed, quaffed, corseted and finally dressed.  To her surprise not once does anyone invade her room, she was certain Vanessa would not stay away after learning that she spent the afternoon in Stevens company.

“Where is the Duchess?” Nina inquires.

“She has her hands full making sure everything is ready for tonight her Grace gave me a message to relay to you.”

“And what would that be?”

“It is a rather strange one but she said you would understand its meaning, she said ‘Lucy you got some splaning to do’.”

“No she didn’t” Nina squeals barely able to contain he laughter. “Did she really say it like that!  That is priceless, go figure she would remember that of all the things I’ve taught her.”

Olivia looks on with a perplexed expression “Whatever are you going on about Miss Nicolette?  What was her Grace referring to, and who is this, this Lucy?”

Catching her breath from all the laughing “Oh Livy that is a well know expression where I come from, it means that I will have to explain myself.  Vanessa has no time today I gather tomorrow will be a very long day, as Vanessa will be having her very own inquisition.”

“She is living vicariously through you, her Grace loves you deeply I have never seen her take to someone so quickly.  Why if someone didn’t know better they would say you were sister or at the very least that you have been by each other’s side since the day you were born.”

“I am thankful for all that she has done for me, never in my life did I ever expect such kindness and love.”

“Well my dear I do believe you are done.”

“Already!”

“Let us get that gown on you and you can see how beautiful you are.” 

As she steps into her the gown Olivia buttons her in and Nina looks up into the mirror.  She sees herself done up in a way she has not been before.

Her hair is brushed to a high gloss, curled in rich waves, Nicki’s combs are intertwined on the right side holding up her hair away from her face.  The hair on her left is curled from root to tip falling in luxurious uniform curls down her shoulders.  Noting how her skin is glowing Nina finally takes in the whole picture and affords herself a look in her best creation yet.  It fits her as if it was drawn on her body; the silver overlay makes her look ethereal. 

“Miss you are glorious, your gown is the most enchanting thing I have ever seen and I have been a maid for some time. Off you go down to the balcony the Duke is having a small gathering before you all depart.”

“Thank you Livy, I know not how you make me so beautiful every time.”

“It isn’t hard at all my dear, when one is as attractive as you. Now go, I am certain they cannot wait to see you.”

Nina makes her way down nervously, but manages to compose herself by the time she reaches the doors.  She takes a deep breath and steps on into the moonlight drenched balcony.  All eyes turn to her and she bashfully averts her eyes from her audience. 

Vanessa is first to approach her, she grabs her by her hands and whispers “You are breathtaking; try not to break too many hearts tonight.”

Stepping away from her friend Nina laughs “I will try my hardest not to, now let me see your dress!  Oh you look divine in it, do you like it?”

“Like it! I adore it, it is the most stunning work I have seen in ages.” Vanessa gushes.

Declyn joins his wife by her side “Miss Martin you are very beautiful tonight, why if I was not shackled and chained I would brawl with any and every man here tonight to have the great fortune to be at your side.”

“You are most magnanimous your Grace.”  

As the two of them step away Nicki makes his way to her.  He bows before her taking her hand and placing a kiss upon it “My ice Princess, how enchanting you are tonight, you have taken my very breath away.  I more than have my work cut out for me tonight.”

“Thank you Nicki, you look very dapper and handsome, you clean up rather well.”

Scrunching his face he looks her over. “What is it?” Nina inquires.

"Something is missing.”

“Whatever are you referring to?”

“Ah I know you are missing… these.” He pulls a box out of his pocket and opens it, inland within the velvet folds is the most stunning pair of sapphire and diamond teardrop earrings. 

"Nicki NO!” she argues “You did not, those are not, no I cannot accept them that is just too much.”

“You do not like them?” he inquires faking shock and insult.

“Oh no they are gorgeous I have never seen such beauty” she whispers as she caresses them.

“Well I have and they pale in comparison, you must wear them they are a gift and I will not take no for an answer.  Please indulge me chere.”

“You must wear them Nicolette they compliment your gown perfectly” says Vanessa as she admires them.

“Very well” she surrenders looking at the pleading face of Nicki and giddy smile from Vanessa.  Going back inside to put them on she is in awe of their beauty as she admires their sparkle in the candlelight. 

With one last glance at herself she turns to rejoin the others when she sees Steven leaning against the pillar watching her.

Jumping back clutching her chest she whispers “You frightened me.”

“My apologies I wished not to disturb you, I enjoy watching you when you think no one is” pushing himself off he is before her side within two strides.  He takes one earring into his hand admiring it, releasing it he allows his hand to graze down her neck continuing down her arm until he has finally come to  her hand, which he pulls up to his lips.  His eyes boring into hers cause a heat to erupt through her as the memory of her dream slams to the forefront of her mind. 

“Did your mother not teach you it isn’t polite to gawk?”

“I do not believe I was gawking merely admiring a beauty that takes my very breath away.  You know not how it pains me knowing that I shall not be the one at your side tonight.”

“Steven please, of such flattery I am undeserving.”

“You deserve much more than mere words my dear, so much more” he whispers as he pulls in closer, towering above her he looks down at her and with the crook of his curled index finger pulls her chin up to look him in the eye.  Nina looks at him through her lashes and he whispers “You know not what you do to me…” his voice trails off and all Nina can do is breathlessly whisper “Steven”.

“There the two of you are!” exclaims Vanessa.  Steven drops his hold on her and takes a step back as Vanessa appears at her friends side looping her arm through Nina’s escorting or rather pulling her out, as Nina has completely lost the ability to walk.  Stevens’s words have rendered her mute and turned her legs into boneless mush.  Walking on to the balcony the fresh summer air hits Nina like a slap in the face, she is crimson with embarrassment that Vanessa caught them in such an intimate moment.

‘Did she hear what he said, oh the embarrassment!  I cannot believe he said that to me.  What is he thinking, NO NINA what were you thinking’ she chastises herself.  ‘You need to say away from him, he is soooo much worse for you than Nicki.  Nicki you could resist but this one you obviously can’t, you need to put a stop to this at once before you are in too deep and you hurt yourself and him for just a few selfish stolen moments.  Ok, Ok’ Nina takes a deep breath and sees Vanessa looking worriedly at her, brows closely knit together.

“Are you alright?” asks Vanessa.

“Yes I am, other than my mortification that you witnessed that”. 

Taking her by the elbow Vanessa guides Nina away from the crowd “My dear there is nothing for you to be ashamed of, you are not the first of my friends that Steven has tried to seduce.  I wish for you to know what you are entering into if that is the course you wish to take.  He isn’t like Nicki; Steven is a different creature all together.  With Nicki a romance it can be gay, playful and romantic but with Steven it is a whirlwind of emotion and unbridled passion.  I know it may seem enticing but he is intense and very proud, extremely guarded and rarely shows his true self.  If he does he loses himself so quickly, he is incapable of holding back and when he gets hurt, which he does easily because of his foolish pride, he retreats and cuts himself off completely.  That is when we lose him all over again, eventually when he returns he is less and less the Steven we knew.  It really is quite a sad tale one I wish for you not to have to live, but I cannot stop it or you or him for that matter.  Just be careful and be certain before you proceed.”

“Is that why Nicki has been the way he …”

Vanessa smiles “Yes.  He knows Steven well and he does not wish for you to fall into the same snare.  Moreover, I think that his pride also plays a part in his dislike of Steven.  He does not wish for you to choose Steven when you did not choose him.  

"Yes, well that I have gathered, there is a bit of rivalry there.”

“When it comes to you yes, but usually no, they have very different tastes.  Now let us return my love they shall wonder where we disappeared to.”

As they rejoin their party Nina takes her place at Nicki’s side “They are beautiful, thank you again.”

“No mon cour thank you for bestowing upon me the honor of being the man by your side tonight” he says looking at her tenderly. 

She looks up at him as he takes her hands in his, Nina smiles up at him as tears threaten to overflow.  The family is making their way out and when they are the only ones left Nina hugs Nicki tightly whispering “your friendship means more to me than all the jewels in all the world, promise me you will never leave me.”

He smiles down at her and kisses the top of her head “I could not even if I wanted to mon chere, not even if I wanted to.”

“Good” she says with a laugh as she wipes away the tears that have escaped.  “I am such a foolish chit.”

“No mon ami you are strong and beautiful and as hopeless as I am, come” he grabs her hand “this night will be something to remember, but not without us” he bellows as they race through the house and into the carriage in order to catch up to the rest of the family.

                                                               To Be Continued.....

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