Thousand Years

CHAPTER 5 - Dublin

Late 1920's, Fitzgerald Manor, Dublin

Dareanna O'Brien was of royal bloodline and she had married the mayor so that her father could gain some benefit to his business. It was a forced marriage, she hated the old man with passion but she loved her father and could not go against his words.

She hated going to balls and dinner dances with the mayor but she had to. Strangely, earlier today when she thought about the dinner dance at the Overlord's manor, she was a bit excited. She did not dwell on it much but put on her favorite dress and got ready.

As she got off the car with the mayor at the Fitzgerald Manor, she saw this handsome man looking at her intently. His eyes were so blue, she was instantly reminded of sapphires that she loved.  He was tall, built and even had a slight tan, and she wondered how he got that in Ireland. He seemed to around her age and she had not seen him before. She was so captivated by his eyes, she almost did not hear him greet them.

Dareanna then got to know that this was Aiden Roche whom she had seen being mentioned multiple times in the newspaper but without a single photograph.  She was suddenly curious to know more about this man who couldn't take his eyes off her.

Inside the magnificent ball room of the Fitzgerald Manor, there were about hundred finely dressed ladies and gentlemen with flutes of champagne in their hands. There was a band playing classical tunes at one end of the room. It was a pleasant atmosphere with slow music, hushed conversations and occasional clink of glasses. Everyone mingled  while having small talk.

Aiden was not interested in the ladies that were eyeing him now and then. They were all waiting till the Overlord announced the dance, so that they could get a chance to dance with him. Dareanna kept his eyes on the man while he moved about talking to the gentlemen most of the time while trying to avoid ladies as much as possible.

At a corner, the Overlord's two daughters were swooning over Aiden. They were planning to get to him alone. The Overlord Fitzgerald finally gave a toast and came to the dance floor with his wife. As the dance began, Aiden slowly moved to a corner and started observing the people on the dance floor. After scanning the crowd of slow dancing couples, his eyes stopped at Dareanna.

He then started dancing with a random woman who was all too eager to be dancing with him. He didn't even bother looking at the woman properly. Dareanna saw that Aiden has started dancing from the corner of her eyes. And when it was the time to switch partners, he was right there in front of her, asking for a dance.

She looked around to see that the mayor has moved on to the woman next to her. So she took his hand and started dancing. It was almost magical staring at his icy blue eyes as they swayed to the beat of the classical tunes. His sharp jaw lines and the unusually handsome facial features gave him an otherworldly look. Dareanna couldn't help wondering how it would be like to kiss those lips. "Like what you see love?"  she came back to reality as his dreamy voice reached her ears. She quickly looked up from his lips to his eyes only to see a mischievous glint in them. She blushed as she looked away.

Aiden was enjoying himself. He thought it was adorable how she blushed. Then again, he promptly put away that thought. But the  more he kept looking at her, he felt this urge to make her his. This was very new to him. He had met countless women , exotic beauties, countesses, princesses and duchesses as he roamed through the world for a century. He had associated them, made love to them and very inconveniently, had even made them fall in love with him. Not that he ever intended to. He just enjoyed their company for a while and moved on. Looking at Dareanna he felt like he would never want to move on. But, she wasn't even his to begin with, Aiden thought with frustration.

That was when the Mayor appeared at their side and decided to end their perfect moment. Dareanna seemed annoyed, but she gave Aiden a smile and took the mayor's hand and went with him. He felt his heart flutter at her smile.

Dareanna did not want the dance to end. She wanted to be in this gorgeous man's arms for as long as she could. She felt happy and contended after a long time. She was surprised how this stranger could make her feel alive just by being there. She eventually had to leave him to go with the old man who was her husband.

At the end of the sumptuous  dinner, everyone was ready to leave as it was almost 11pm. The mayor was bidding farewell to the Overlord as Aiden got into his car. He gave one last look at Dareanna to see her looking at him, as the car drove away.