Almost, Completely His

Chapter 7

Arthur

After helping in the garden I hurried to bathe and had breakfast delivered to my room. I was eager to see Celeste but I also was too nervous and unprepared.

She was so young... ten years younger. My experience, my attraction to her would be too intense. Even though some marriages had a greater age difference, that didn’t mean I could do what I want. She wasn’t out yet, and she wasn’t of age. She was only here to make connections, to get a feel of her options. In a couple of years she’d be out, and ready to marry.

My heart dropped at the idea of Celeste marrying. Of her looking at another man with interest with her large dark eyes full of curiosity.

Of being with another man dancing, laughing, being intimate.....

but even if she wasn’t out yet, if there was a match like no other for her, that wouldn’t be given up.

As I dried myself and dressed I thought about what kind of man she’d marry. Surely not someone too old, unattractive, uneducated and a bore. She wanted excitement, intelligence, strength, loyalty and she deserved it..

In the back of my mind was a little voice wondering if I could be that someone for her.

But I rolled my eyes at my own thoughts. I couldn’t... I didn’t have a title, grand wealth or promising future. The only thing that kept me afloat was my father’s title and bother’s loyalty.

And yet.... that stubborn part of me couldn’t stop picturing a future with her. She was so young, so innocent, so beautiful and so not mine.

Her father and brother wouldn’t approve. They knew the kind of lifestyle I carried. Gambling, parties, brothels and more. They wouldn’t want that for Celeste.

I didn’t either.

As I put on my boots I accepted defeat. There was too much in the way of Celeste and I even being a possibility. All she’d be this summer was a personal thought and daily fantasy.

But once summer was over I’d forget her. She had only caught me by surprise. I left the house and grabbed my shooting gear. My friends would be waiting for me in the nearby field to practice our shooting.

In three months none of this would mean anything. And I’d move on with my life without Celeste.

Celeste

When I went back outside Helen simply nodded at me and continued sipping her tea. The countess let me know that she had talked to her and she wouldn’t let it happen again.

“Thank you so much countess.”

“Please dear, it’s Theodora to you!”

I sat with her and Lady Thompson for a couple minutes talking and laughing. It was warm and cloudy and after a handful of cucumber sandwiches and a cup of tea I excused myself.

I shared my desire to walk the gardens and around the estate to stretch my feet and get some air on a lovely day.

“Go around back through a small trail we have. It truly is beautiful. It’s definitely worth the walk.” Theodora said smiling.

I nodded and walked around the gardens first. I brushed my fingers lightly on the hedges and flowers. They were all perfect, just like I remembered. The beauty of it made me feel at peace.

I walked to the back of the estate and through the trees. I found the padded trail and walked through it. As I walked I admired the trees and small flowers on the ground. I could see myself walking through here forever, it was all so peaceful.

I heard shouts in the distance and laughter.

Rough and hearty laughter.

I walked towards the sound, wanting to see who was out here. I knew I should stay on the trail and mind my business but snooping was much more interesting.

As I got closer I heard shots- gunshots. And more laughter. Would it be a duel? A murder? But, there would be no laughing in either right?

Despite my concerns I kept walking. I noticed a large clearing being the trees and a group of men laughing and guns in hand. Across them were multiple targets set up in different directions and distances.

I stayed behind a large tree, knowing better than to step into a clearing full of men, especially since I was alone.

I had always wanted to learn to shoot, and Enrique always said he’d teach me. But his meetings and my lady tasks kept us away.

I was about to turn around and make my way back when one of the men turned. I froze in place and realized he was looking at the thick branch slightly to the right and above me. There swung a large target. I didn’t know whether to run or stay still. The tree still covered me enough for him to not see me from afar but the bullet could ricochet, it could miss and I could be hurt.

The man raised his gun and my heart dropped as I heard the thunder of the gun going off. For a moment I stopped breathing but before I could react or blink I was shoved to the side and slammed into a different tree and hit my head.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here!?”

My vision was a bit fuzzy and my head hurt. I blinked a couple of times to clear my vision. So much has happened in a mere couple of seconds. One moment I was less than a foot away from a shooting target and a bullet heading my direction and the next I was pushed out of the way and hit my head.

“Celeste are you ok?? What were you thinking??”

The rough voice echoed a bit but when my vision cleared I saw Arthur standing in front of me with a panicked look in his eyes. His golden hair fell in waves to his jaw and some strands were behind his ears and others framed his face.

His soft shadow of light facial hair gleamed in the light sun and his green eyes were furious. His lips were parted , he was breathing hard and I could see his strong shoulders shaking tremendously under his white shirt.

“Arthur, are you alright?” My voice came out raspy.

His eyes widened and he gritted his teeth. “Am I alright?? Celeste you could have been shot!”

His voice was angry and hard but it was also scared.

“Well.... good thing I wasn’t.” I laughed a little and his eyes narrowed.

“What are you even doing out here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the estate drinking tea, embroidering or something?”

I clenched my jaw, my post adrenaline turning into anger. “I would very much prefer for you to keep your old timed expectations to yourself.” I straightened up and smoothed my dress which was dirty with moss and flakes of tree bark.

Arthur kept looking at me with an intensity that both angered and soothed me.

“Well, I’m going to continue on with my walk that was sadly disturbed by the wild antics of empty headed fools shooting in the open with no regard to who should walk by.” I began to walk away when Arthur spoke up.

“It would take an empty headed, insane and absurd woman to hear gun shots and walk in their direction.” He spat back.

I turned and glared at him. “I didn’t ask for your opinion. Now I’ll be heading back to the house, away from you and your reckless friends.”

I began to walk away and heard him cuss.

As I kept walking I didn’t hear him behind me and I didn’t look back. He could go back to shooting recklessly with his stupid friends for all I cared.

I was reaching the trail when I heard loud footsteps behind me. I turned and saw Arthur running, his hair in the wind, leg muscles rippling and a box under his arm. He caught up to me and looked down at me annoyed.

“I couldn’t let you walk back alone.”

“Yes you could have.”

“Ok. Yes I could have. But mother would kill me if she knew.”

“I wouldn’t tell her such thing.. there’d be no reason for you to come up in conversation.”

I felt my hair loosen a bit and felt curls fall. I tucked them behind my ears and let out hard breaths, not realizing how tired I was after all this walking.

Arthur laughed and I felt him shrug next to me. “ You wound me. No reason at all?”

I rolled my eyes and he laughed again. “You esteem yourself too highly Arthur.”

“Maybe, but I have always been able to count on you to humble me.”

To that I laughed and looked up at him. He was already looking at me and I couldn’t read his expression. He was smiling at me, his teeth shining in the sun and dimples appearing that I had never noticed. But despite his grin his eyes seemed confused and guarded.

I felt my cheeks burn as we held eye contact. My fingers tingled and my lips parted, allowing me to breathe more than I was.

The feelings from the night before came rushing back. All the heat, the desire, the confusion and need for him. And the yearning for him to see me more than the child he knew before.

I hadn’t realized we stopped walking until he reached out and tucked a stand of hair behind my ear. His touch was light but his large hands were hot against my cheek. I drew a breath in and held it. My head was spinning.

In the dim sunlight and among the trees Arthur glowed. He stood out like a ray of sunlight on a cloudy day and his green eyes were vibrant like fresh new grass.

This man was beautiful. I never thought I’d say that. But he was.

“Celeste?”

I felt my heart speed up as he said my name.

“Yes?”

He leaned forward and I felt his body heat radiate and it sent shivers up my spine.

His face got closer to mine and all I could feel and see was him.

“Can i kiss you?”