Chapter 3 #3
They each made a sound at the contact; the sensation was electrifying and seemed to hit each of her nerve endings.
He pulled back then, as if stunned, and stared deeply into her eyes, looking at her features as if they were new to him.
Visibly confused, he shook his head then pulled her close once more. She met him halfway.
My God, this man could kiss.
Rational thought fled Amanda’s mind as he all but devoured her, feasting upon her with such need he took her very breath. Lost in sensation, he pulled her against his body, crushing her breasts to his chest. A groan escaped his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
Alexander, suddenly, seemed to be an anchor, not someone to be afraid of, and she found in him, what? Salvation? Was this where fate had been leading her ever since that moment in the opening of the cave, the moment when everything had felt perfect and right?
Whatever it was, this kiss felt like none she’d had before.
Demanding, powerful, and so consuming she didn’t realize her feet dangled above the ground as her hands moved up to cover the back of his head.
Too late she was lost again, lost in his strength and the thick hair now tangled between her fingers.
Suddenly he pushed her away, swearing under his breath, “Damn you.”
It was all he said, but she remembered then that he hated her, or at least, hated the woman he thought she was. For some reason that realization hurt more than the others she’d been crassly exposed to tonight.
Before she knew it, he picked her up roughly and placed her on the saddle.
She grabbed the knob, terrified of falling, and when he came up behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back against him.
He didn’t say anything but made a clicking sound and tugged on the reins to urge his mount forward.
They wound along the path for long, tense, seemingly endless minutes before the gardens came into view. The marble veranda stretched across the back of the castle was now filled with people, the tall iron lamps casting a glow.
Everyone was dressed impeccably, and she was again taken aback by the opulence of everyone’s costumes.
Men in formal tails and cravats and snugly fit trousers tucked into tall, polished boots.
And the women in beautiful dresses the likes of which she’d seen only in history books.
Tight-fitting bodices, bell skirts, and ornate jewels fixed around their necks and even laced in their hair. Who were these people?
Amanda scanned the faces around her, but none of them were familiar. None of Robert’s friends, none of her own guests. No, this was not the party she’d left earlier!
Alexander spoke then, “Why do you shake? You love these gatherings.”
“I hate parties,” Amanda corrected him, still focused on finding at least one person she knew, and definitely still tingling from their kiss moments earlier.
“You’ve tried my patience enough, Rebecca,” he snapped. “Dress quickly. I’ll retrieve you once I’ve changed.”
He dismounted then his hands encircled her waist as he pulled her down, before letting go quickly, as if burned by the touch.
Disappointed, she followed him through the doors, knowing she had no choice but to go inside.
The sights in front of the castle were just as unsettling as those behind it.
Carriages circled the large courtyard, footmen helping guests as they stepped to the ground below.
Amanda held back a gasp as she stepped through the doors. The entrance took her breath away—a foyer grand and opulent with marble floors and glowing chandeliers. Certainly not the castle she’d left earlier.
A woman came forward and quickly took her hand.
“M’lady, hurry. We must get you dressed.
” Amanda was pulled up the stairs—stairs which were familiar, as was the basic structure of everything else around her, but the runner was covered in burgundy and gold.
In fact, all of the décor was different, the furniture, the art.
And the lights that had been dim this evening were now ablaze with oil wicks and candles.
Alexander followed from behind. He hadn’t looked at her again, which was probably a good thing, because if he did, scowl or not, she knew she’d step right into his arms. They reached a landing at the top of the stairs and turned left up another short flight.
Then she was led into the first room and watched from the corner of her eye as Alexander disappeared down the hallway.
Amanda crossed the threshold into a room that was not her usual bedroom.
It was also in utter chaos. Dresses were everywhere, strewn across the bed, the couches in two sitting areas, and over the privacy screen she’d never seen before.
The room was decorated in hues of blue and gold with sitting areas on either side of the bed, a large full-length mirror in the corner, and two large armoires on either side of the bathroom door.
“Where did this garment come from?” the woman in front of her asked, not bothering to hide her disgust as she pulled Amanda’s sundress over her head. Amanda was about to retort when she noticed the scratches on her hands and the one on her stomach.
“Dear Lord, what on earth happened?” the woman asked and Amanda, still in shock from all that had gone on—was still going on—couldn’t think of what to say.
Within minutes, her wounds were covered with ointment and strips of linen and covered again with a soft sheer material that matched the dress she was stepping into.
Confused, she let the woman put it on her.
What else was she supposed to do? By now she’d realized that something was very, very wrong, but until she worked out exactly what was going on, she knew she needed to play along. It could be worse to fight back.
And so, the ties were secured behind her back, her hair roughly brushed before being plied with jewels and ribbons, and her feet encased in heeled shoes that buttoned on the sides.
“Check yourself, quickly,” the woman hastened.
“Then choose a necklace.” Amanda walked to the mirror, looking at her reflection.
The gown was beautiful. Blue and in style with those she’d seen on the guests earlier.
Her hair looked wonderful pulled back, but too severe and with far too many stones set in it. It simply wouldn’t do.
She pulled the jewels from their placement and loosened the ribbons so her hair fell gently around her face, wavy lengths cascading down her shoulders.
“M’lady, you instructed me earlier to fashion your hair as such. I apologize it was not to your liking,” the woman offered, her voice shaking, almost like she was afraid of Amanda. What was going on?
Before she could answer, another woman entered the room.
“Mother? Alice?” She quickly corrected herself when she saw Amanda.
“Callesandra is asking for you.” The new girl, obviously Alice’s daughter, looked at Amanda cautiously.
Like she was waiting for Amanda to berate her and praying she wouldn’t.
“I’ll be just a minute,” Alice called over her shoulder. “Come, Lady Rebecca. We must choose a necklace.”
Amanda turned, looking at the jewelry Alice held. She was Rebecca to these women too.
There was something familiar about that name now, something she hadn’t had time to realize when she was fighting for her life on the cliff, but that now tugged at the edge of her brain. Alexander and Rebecca. Where had she read those names in conjunction before?
Amanda saw then that Alice and her daughter were still watching her, Alice holding out a necklace. Amanda only shook her head. She wouldn’t wear any of the pieces she could see. Not only did they look as though they weighed ten pounds, they were truly gaudy.
“No thank you, Alice,” Amanda said, patting her arm. “They’ll weigh me down.”
Alice looked at Amanda like she’d lost her mind. Then she turned in surprise as the door opened again. “Callesandra, I’ll only be a moment. Go now. Quickly,” Alice said urgently.
Amanda looked to the door then, too, and saw an angel staring back at her. The child could be no more than five and Amanda knew at once that she was Alexander’s daughter. She had his dark eyes and determined mouth, though oddly her hair seemed to be the exact shade of Amanda’s own.
The little girl bit her lip and then turned to leave.
“Wait!” Amanda cried out. She didn’t want her to leave.
The child looked so scared, and feeling the exact same way, Amanda suddenly wanted—no, needed—to help her.
Callesandra came back then, her face cast down as she approached.
Her nightgown had a soft ruffle tied at the neck while another danced around her little toes.
They were the sweetest toes she’d ever seen.
Callesandra stopped when she stood right before Amanda, acting like she had no choice but to bravely accept the challenge.
Amanda bent down but still the child didn’t look up.
This little girl was scared—of her. Hoping to ease her fears, Amanda sat on the floor, and gasps sounded behind her as Alice and the other woman watched.
“Callesandra?” Amanda spoke softly, coaxing her to look down at her.
“Oui, Mama?” Callesandra whispered hesitantly.
Amanda almost fainted. First Rebecca and now this? Mama? Did this child truly think that she was her mother? Obviously this child was not hers, but she most certainly was Alexander’s.
She noticed then that he stood in the open doorway, filling its space completely.
His formal attire was tailored impeccably, and his hair was tied back with a leather thong.
The features of his face were strangely comforting, ranging somewhere between confusion and anger as he watched Amanda with his daughter.
At least that hadn’t changed, she mused, biting back a smile.