Owned by the Duke

Two

            In the study, Sebastian along with Henry had been called in by the attorney. Sebastian was still in shock. His Father's death had come as a great shock to him. Even though they had never bonded, never had a relationship, he was still his father nevertheless. Had the old man wanted forgiveness of his sins to ascend into heaven. Was that the reason he kept on requesting his presence? He did not know and he doubted he ever will. 

            "I am most sorry for the disturbances. Especially on such a day but this was certainly most urgent." Walter began adjusting his reading glasses. He cleared his throat. "Lord Martin, before his death informed me of something involving the both of you."

            "As you must know, the laws have changed recently and one cannot ascend the title of Duke still an unmarried man. And so, as the law states, if after one week of a Duke's demise, and his son or daughter is still yet to be married, the title of Duke along with the properties and inheritance is to be passed on to the closest married cousin. In this case if you are not to be made Duke, the title shall be passed on to your cousin George."

            Sebastian could hardly believe it. His birthright to be passed on to the leech George. All because he wasn't married. Never, not in this present life, not in the next. George was nothing but a deceitful man who wasted his money in useless gambling and was frequently beaten up in bars and thrown out. Not George who had almost drowned him when they were only thirteen after he had realized that Sebastian's life posed a threat to his inheritance. 

             But Sebastian had one problem. "I do not wish to wed."

            "I believe I am yet to be finished." Walter grunted. He turned to Henry. "Lord Martin requested a dying wish from an old friend. He has pleaded with you to spare your only daughter as Sebastian's wife as she is the only woman he ever deemed worthy of being called duchess of Kent. Beforehand, the Duke had sent personal hand written letters to each one of you. I believe you have seen them. So what I have said is just being repeated."

             Sebastian frowned heavily. Of course he had not seen it. He had never opened any of his Father's letters to him.

             Henry took a deep breath and spoke for the very first time. "I am aware of this arrangement. I thought very deeply about it and I have accepted to give my daughter up."

             Sebastian was getting very irritated. He had the slightest idea who this girl was, and she was to be his wife? He had no desire to marry. He never wanted to marry. He never wanted to have children. He never wanted to make the same mistake his father had made. "And if I say no?"

             Walter eyed him "You have then willingly given up your inheritance to your cousin. George."

                                                                           *

             "I do not understand what you speak of father." Abigail leaned on the wall for support. She couldn't believe what her father was saying. "I am to be married to a man I have never met? And in two days??"

             "You are a beautiful woman. You would make a good wife. After all he has met you before but you were a child." Her father sighed.  

               "Father, that does not really count, does it?"

              Abigail was only nineteen. Her hair was dark, her eyes brown, a petite body but a voluptuous figure. She was plain, not exactly beautiful, but pretty to the extent she received a suitor at the door once in two months. Most girls received weekly. Henry was worried Abigail would have no suitors good enough to marry. The truth was, he was afraid she was going to have none at all. Abigail was withdrawn but very smart and that seemed to chase away her suitors.

                The first time a suitor had come, he had held Abigail's hand, kissed it and said "A beautiful woman trained with the most manners I am certain."

                Abigail had fired back. "Are you insinuating that only beautiful women are well trained? And, I'm sure you are aware that I am no beautiful woman. I am plain. Do not lie."

               The suitor was so shocked. Of course she was not exactly beautiful! But he was a suitor, he had to lie. "I...I..I...I..mea..meant no harm." 

                "I an sure you did not. But now that we are gone past those lies. Are you ready to court me?"

                The suitor could not blink. In a few minutes, he gave the most outrageous lie and took to his heels. Abigail had turned to her Father. "Father, I certainly can not marry a man full of lies. It is very unreasonable."

                 With that incident having been spread round Edinburgh, very few men came to court her. Henry was very very worried about his daughter. He knew of the stories he had heard of Sebastian, but this was his best friend's son. Surely he was tameable. At least that was what Martin had said. He trupy hoped it was true. He had tried his best to raise her well after Angela's death. He hoped she was smiling at him from above for the decision he had made.

                "Sebastian is a good man. He would take care of you." 

                "Father I do not wish to wed." Abigail begged. 

                "It can not be changed. I swore to my best friend."

                Abigail had nothing more to say. She knew when he had made up his mind. 

                "We're going to attend the evening dinner at the Duke's estate. That way you can be introduced to him."

                Abigail frowned "London society is strange. Is it not strange to have a dinner after your Father's death?"

                "Abigail!"

                                                                                                   *

                Philip watched his friend pace the study back and forth. 

                "How can I marry someone I have never known in my life. It is bad enough I swore not to be involved in a marriage. Now to someone that I have never met. Bloody hell." Sebastian swore

                "Do not be absurd. You did meet her when she was about two." Philip folded his arms.

                Sebastian raked his hair. "I was fifteen. I do not even know what she looks like! For all we might know, she might be a very ugly troll."

                "Are trolls supposed to be beautiful?" Philip chuckled.

                "You are not being of any assistance!"

                "Alright." Philip walked up to his best friend. "I have an idea. Why do you not just hand over your whole inheritance along with the title to George. That way you do not have to go through this."

                "You like making jokes do you not?" Sebastian frowned. Philip gave a hearty laugh. "I would care less about the title or the inheritance, but to give it to George? Impossible. You can not have forgotten how many times he had attempted to kill me. That is me bestowing victory to my sworn enemy."

                 After a few minutes Sebastian thought aloud. "If a man is married and his wife passes on, he's declared a widower isn't he? No longer an unmarried man."

                "I believe so. You are married once that makes you a married man at least once." Then Philip exclaimed. "My God! Sebby you do not plan on murdering her do you?"

                "Of course not. I simply plan on annulling the marriage."

                Before Philip could reply the door was opened and George stepped in majestically.

                "What do you want George?" Sebastian said stepping towards his cousin ready to pounce, but was restrained by Philip. 

                George rose his hands and smiled. "Younger cousin I am here not for a fight, but to offer my condolences."

                "Snakes are not allowed into my abode. Get out if you do not want to die by my gun." Sebastian spat out.

                "I am most hurt." George feigned hurt, then laughed. "If I let you kill me, victory is already yours. I would never let it be too easy for you. In fact, I would never let that occur. At least not by a bastard."

                Sebastian almost pounced on him but Philip intervened. "You are not welcome here. Leave before it would be too late for you."

               George smiled. "But of course. Time is ticking." With that he left the study. 

                                                                                      *

               The noise at the evening dinner was unbearable. The never ending chatter, the music playing, the requests for dances. Abigail's father was nowhere in sight, she had sat by a curtain hidden from most of the people in their extravagant outfits, forced open cleavages and ridiculous make-up. She hid in the darkness to avoid being asked for a dance. She suddenly felt hot and wished she had brought a hand fan. Just as she was about to rise she watched three women gather towards her. Fortunately enough, they had no idea she was there.

               "Such a beautiful mansion. I can not believe it is going to be yours soon." One with a puffy face said.

               Then a woman in blonde curls and an outrageous show of oversized breasts said. "Of course it is, you had better start believing. I, Duchess of Kent." The woman laughed. Abigail could hardly believe what they were saying. She hated to admit but the woman was beautiful. 

               "But I heard he is to wed someone else." The third lady, a woman with a long nose said. Oversized breasts frowned and Long nose started to rephrase her statement. "I mean, ever since your ordeal with Sebastian there are rumours you would never be seen with him."

               Blonde curls twisted her beautiful face and became very ugly. She shrieked. "How dare you!"

               Puffy face emphasized. "Yes, How dare you say such?!"

               "Do forgive me Veronica." Long nose apologized. But the leader and the follower had stalked off in anger, leaving Long nose trying to catch up with them.

               Abigail decided she had had enough of being indoors and stepped outside to receive the cool night breeze.She glided into the garden and hedges. The deeper she went into the garden, the less she heard of the noise from the mansion until it disappeared completely. The only noise heard were the insects of the night and flow of a fountain. She sat by the fountain and played with the fish. She thought she saw a golden fish and she leaned closely to take a clearer look.

               "You should not lean in too closely." A deep dark voice said

               Abigail yelped and almost fell into the water but was saved by very strong arms. She turned to look at her intruder and savior and discovered it was Sebastian.

               "You....you...I..I could have fallen in." Abigail pouted.

               Sebastian rose a brow. "I saved you, did i not?"

               "I would not call that saying. And moreover i would not have needed saving if you had not intruded. By the way, I was fine on my own. Now will you let me go?"

               Sebastian let her go and she adjusted her self. "What are you doing in my garden anyway?"

               "I came for fresh air. Is that restricted in your garden?"

               "Women should not be out alone. At night." Sebastian said. Then he looked at her closely. "I saw you, at the funeral."

               Abigail's face grew hot. So he remembered her. 

               "You were staring at me. You are not as beautiful as the high society women." He said. He was the first man who had told her she was not beautiful. He was the first man who had been sincere to her about her looks. 

              "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Abigail frowned and folded her arms. 

              "There is something about you." He said

               He looked down at her until she realized he was looking at her chest and she took a step back.

               "Why are you looking at me like that."

               He came closer and looked into her brown eyes. "Has a man ever touched you?".

               Taken aback she bumped into the hedge behind. "Yes..I...No...I mean of course." She watched as he pulled a half smile on his breathtaking face and trailed a finger down her neck bone. "I see you can be silent for once. If you say you have, so why do you fear?"

               "Then this must not be new to you." With that, he leaned and took his lips to hers. Crushing her, shattering her into a million shreds. It was nothing like Abigail had ever felt. She felt his hot tongue inside her mouth and heard herself moan. He picked her up and launched her by the fountain and ground himself into her. She was on fire. His fingers went searching beneath her dress and tore at it. He put his fingers in between her already warm and wet legs. Unable to hide her pleasure she wrapped her legs around him tighter and screamed. 

                He carefully laid her on the grass of the garden and undid the front bodice as he kissed her. She wanted to stop, she really wanted to stop, but her body would not let her. She felt his hard erection in between her legs and shuddered at the abnormal but overwhelming effect it gave her. He bared her chest and bent down to suck her n*****s. She gasped and cradled his head. She couldn not stop herself from moaning and then she felt his hands once again in between her legs. She felt hot, how could something so wrong feel so right? His fingers quickened in between her legs and she begged him not to stop. He took away his hands and spread her skirts and brought his manhood towards her. She could feel it through his breeches. 

                 Then reasoning got the best of her and she snapped out of if. She was doing what husbands and   wives did. This was against her moral upbringing!

                 "Please stop." She said softly, but with reluctance. Sebastian continued but she said. "Please get off of me."

                 Sebastian snapped back to reality. He quickly got up and started adjusting his clothing. Abigail got up adjusted her skirt and redid the bodice of her dress. She adjusted her hair and was quite certain nothing she could do would stop her from looking disheveled, and so she abandoned it. 

                "Excuse me." Abigail said attempting to walk out. But Sebastian caught hold of her wrists. 

                "Where do you think you are going to like that. You look like hell."

                Abigail rolled her eyes. "No thanks to you. Now would you let me go?"

                He hesitated and then he let her go. She hurried away, aware he was simply staring at her.