* * *

As expected, mother was being her usual pain in the ass self. She’d locked herself in her rooms according to the servants and wouldn’t allow them to pack any more of her stuff. That’s okay, I have a key. I sent them to finish what they could. The movers would be here in the morning to help her on her way.

I wasn’t feeling that heavy burden of duty any longer. That weight had been lifted thank fuck, and I didn’t realize that I’d been carrying it all this time. Now that I’d broken things off with Helen, and told mom what was going to be, I felt physically free.

Not normal I think, for a man who’s about to be married. But that’s the difference between marrying for love and not duty. Thomas had reiterated before he left that he was going to be keeping an eye out to make sure nothing happened to her, and I can’t fault him for that, but she was my responsibility now.

I ignored and avoided my mother’s wing of the house for the rest of the day while I sat and planned. I had a list of names that I needed to call and put the fear of hell into. In war you must always know your enemy. It’s the only way to win.

I didn’t want to strip my mother of her dignity, didn’t want to show the world that she had no real power. Something like that would destroy her. But I knew if I went around her and let them all know what would happen if they messed with Lucia, they’d be of no help to her. In short I was about to cut her legs out from under her.

I didn’t call the women, but their husbands. The men who do business with my family. After the first six or so calls I was sure the word had gone out. Mom’s hands were now officially tied and there was nothing she could do, short of making my life miserable. That I could deal with, as long as she left my Lucia alone.

I opened accounts for her with all the reputable establishments, using my mother’s list as a guideline. Wherever she shopped, the bills will be sent to me, and she was to be treated with the respect due my wife from here on out. I let it be known in no uncertain terms, that one false move on anyone’s part would spell danger for that establishment.

Yes, I was using my money and power like a whip, but it was for a good cause. Lucia had done nothing wrong but be born on the wrong side of the tracks, for that she should not be made to face ridicule and disdain.

As my wife, no one would dare fuck with her, not if they wanted to stay in business. And I have no problem taking that stand. Whereas mom and her cohorts had used their influence for evil, I was using mine for the good of my future wife and her family.

Once that was taken care of and I was assured that all would be well on that score, I was able to relax completely. I knew she would be dealing with a lot of those people in the next few weeks or months while planning the wedding and I wanted this to be a time of joy for her. As any bride should have.

It was that old world, genteel character of hers that was so well hidden behind her brash attitude that I wanted to protect. Mom had never had the chance to see that the girl she was so opposed to, was imbued with all the characteristics of her ideal. That in fact, Lucia, had more of an aristocratic bearing than even Helen.

I’d seen it. It was one of the things that first drew me to her. That air of sophisticated dignity, and that beautiful heart of hers that I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life protecting.

That night, I invited my fiancée and my new in laws to dinner. Thankfully, mom didn’t put in an appearance but chose to take her meal in her rooms, which was fine by me. It must be hard for her, me not pandering to her as I always did.

For a man who’d learned honor and respect all my life. Something that had been expanded on during my years in the service, it was no small feat not to give my mother what she wants. I’ve taken care of her since dad died, and for a very long time she was all I had.

It was easy to spoil her, she’s my mother after all. But I see now that all I’d done was feed the monster. All those times I’d sat back and watched her do the things she did, because of my own disinterest, were now coming back to haunt me.

I don’t think I’d ever quite forgiven her for Daniel’s wife. That one was a hard pass for me. I’d learned to value life since my first years in the marines, and to see one ended over such frivolous bullshit hadn’t set well with me. She doesn’t know that I know about her part in that whole ugly mess, but it’s one of the reasons my decision is so easy to live with now.

I knew she’d give it at least one last try before she left, but my mind was already made up. I had a choice to make and I chose Lucia, plain and simple. As far as I’m concerned it was a done deal. Already the house had a different feel to it. It was lighter somehow and I enjoyed my first meal in years since dad died.

The conversation was light and happy. I didn’t see any difference between them and the many dignitaries who’d sat at this very table over the years. I watched the easy play between her parents. Something I’d missed with my own parents. Dinners with them were usually quiet and stilted.

I played with her fingers under the table like a lovesick schoolboy, until she trailed her hand up my thigh. I gave her a look, not wanting to bring her parents’ attention to what we were doing and she smiled at me with a mischievous gleam in her eye. I raised my brow at her and mouthed the word ‘behave’ which made her laugh out loud.

“Can I go see Bridget now?” She was like a little kid asking for a treat.

“Sure, I’ll come with you. Would you two like to come with us?” Dinner had been over for a good twenty minutes and we’d just been sitting there talking the four of us, like we’d done it a hundred times before.

Her parents declined the offer and said they would see us in the morning. They were ready to go back to their cottage for the night. They didn’t seem to mind that she was staying behind with me even though I had all intentions of taking her home later. I knew if she stayed I would break my word to myself.

I took her hand and led her from the room and we made our way all the way to the other side of the house. The place was big enough that I could’ve invited her parents to move in with us, but I knew a man like Thomas would never go for that, so I wouldn’t even offer.

Over dinner it had been obvious that the three of them were waiting for the other shoe to drop even as we laughed and talked. It was plain to see the my mother’s influence and reputation had not been exaggerated in my mind. I guess only time will put their fears to rest. And to think they didn’t even know the half of it.

She was tense as she walked beside me and her hand still held a slight tremble. I’d seen her sneaking around these hallways more times than I can count, and she seemed more hesitant now that it was going to be her home than she did then.

“Why are you so afraid baby? Don’t you trust me to take care of you?” She had every right I guess. I’d been an ass this last year, denying my feelings and hers. Letting my mother run my life, even bringing another woman here in her face.

I’d been so stupid, I’d allowed the bands of duty and honor to some outdated ideal rule my life and actions. My lack of interest had a lot to do with it I know, but once I realized my feelings for her were more than just a passing fancy, I should’ve acted. Instead, I’d gone along with the same old same old, and my mother had tried to destroy her. That too was on me.

She probably saw all that as weak, she had no idea of what I’d been trying to spare her. Maybe I’d gone about it all the wrong way, and it was I who hadn’t trusted her to be strong enough to deal with whatever came our way.

But that specter of a young girl taking her life had never truly left me. It was the perfect lesson to keep someone like me on the ‘right’ path. The thought of my little angle suffering at the hands of anyone while I wasn’t there to protect her was enough to make me want to commit murder.

If anyone did to her the things that had been done to that poor girl, I wouldn’t stop until I’d destroyed them completely. So in my mind, it was better to leave well enough alone, even if it meant denying myself the joy and love I saw reflected in her eyes towards me.

I didn’t fool myself that everything was going to be smooth sailing from here on out. I know my mother and her reach. I know that I’ll have to be on full alert until she was settled in here. Until I was sure she could hold her own I won’t rest easy.

I might’ve warned off the others, but there was always someone willing for the right price to do my mother’s bidding. My biggest fear still was for those times that I might have to leave her. I guess it would be a long time before I got over that. I’d do my best before that day to arm her as best I could.

By marrying her I was in essence raising her above the station of all my peers. Something I am sure would stick in the craw of many. Had I gone ahead with the farce of a marriage to Helen, things would’ve continued as usual.

But I was muddying the waters, I was letting in someone they would never have accepted did I not have the power to keep them in check. I knew enough about them, the so-called elite, to know that they wouldn’t be as accepting of her if I didn’t let it be known that there would be dire consequences.

In the great hall we stopped in front of the life size portrait of Bridget. I knew why she liked this particular image so much. The woman in it bore a striking resemblance to her. The dark locks and those grey eyes that held so many secrets. I’d seen it the first time we met.

It wasn’t just the facial features that they shared though. There was strength in the bearing of the woman in that portrait. Her very stance, her regal beauty, the look in her eyes, was one of strength and spoke of the hurdles she’d had to overcome. I imagine that their story, hers and the earl’s had been very much like our own.

As the story goes, no one wanted those two to marry either. He being a nobleman and she, the lowly daughter of a warrior from another people no less. They’d fought the world they lived in to be together. Had gone against everything and everyone to preserve their love for one another.

We stayed there for the longest while, neither of us saying anything as she studied the beauty in the portrait. When she finally started asking questions I was only too happy to answer and the more we talked, the more similarities came to light.

I was tempted to get one of the books from its place in the special case they were kept in to preserve them, but there’ll be time enough for that later. For now I watched her take her time and enjoy the way she never could before.

The hallway was lit by a row of gold and crystal chandeliers as we walked from portrait to portrait. She looked at my ancestors while I looked at her, admiring her beauty and that look of pure joy on her face. She was getting more joy from these old paintings than I ever had.

As usual being this close to her for so long was having an affect on me and my lust for her was on the rise. It wasn’t long before I moved up behind her as she stood before a picture of a young mother and son. I wrapped my arms around her from behind and buried my face in her neck.

“I need to touch you, come with me.” She didn’t argue when I took her hand and led her from the room and up the stairs to my suite. Mom had moved out of the master suite years ago.

The way the house was built, the lady of the house had her own private rooms and she preferred to stay there. I don’t think she’d set foot in there since before dad died.

I hadn’t moved into the room, I saw no reason to. But now that we were to be married I’ll have to see about having it made ready. I’ll talk to her about that tomorrow though, right now I needed to feel her under my hands.

I had no plans on taking her tonight, not until we were married, it was important to me to preserve her maidenhead until my ring was on her finger. But at least I could share things with her that I daren’t when I thought I would be marrying someone else. I just hope I have the strength to keep myself from going too far.

In the room, I locked the door behind us and turned on the small night lamp on the bedside table before turning back to her and taking her face in my hands. “I love you Lucia. I won’t let anything go wrong. It took me a long time to make things right, to finally admit my love for you. Nothing is going to take that away from us. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“You don’t seem too sure.” Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. I know her so well already.

“It’s not that, it’s just…I hear what you’re saying, but when that woman came to see me, she was very sure that your mother would never let us be together.”

Ah, so she was still worrying. You’ve really fucked up Ethan haven’t you. So much so that your own woman can’t even trust you to keep her safe from a weak old woman. Looks like I have my work cut out for me. I can’t say it wasn’t unsettling to realize that she really did believe that I couldn’t protect her, but at least I knew the fault was mine. Now it was time to correct it.

“I understand your fears Lucia. That was the very reason I tried to stay away from you. I was wrong, I should never have let misguided duty cause me to deny my feelings for you. For that I ask your forgiveness.

“There’s nothing to forgive Ethan, I understood. But the fact still remains that your mother will never accept me and there’s no telling what others may do to tear us apart.”

“Is that your fear? That someone is going to tear us apart?

She hung her head and nodded. “Yes.”

“Look at me.” I waited for her to raise her head.

“All that happened occurred before I made my feelings known. Now that they know that you belong to me, they’d be mad to try anything like that again.” I wasn’t above punishing anyone who fucked with her no matter who that person may be.

Seeing the uncertainty in her eyes, drastically changed my intentions. Instead of ravaging her as I’d been dying to do since dinner, I traced my finger gently along her cheek until she turned her face into my palm and placed a soft kiss there.

So touching, and so unlike my wildflower. I drew her into my arms and just held her before ordering Alexa to play something nice and slow. I swayed with her held against my chest as the strains of the love ballad floated through the air.

I closed my eyes in appreciation and thanks that we were finally here like this. That I no longer had to resist the urge to touch, to embrace; to love. “I love you more than life and one day you will know that. Shh.” I shushed her when she begun to speak. I’ll let actions do the talking from now on. It was the only way to put her mind and heart at rest.