A Season for Love (Completed)

Chapter 1. 1812

She lay underneath him, shaking and sobbing. She had no idea, none at all, that she was going to be ruined on the evening before her wedding. Tears continued cascading down her cheeks as she watched her fiancé climb on top of her, pinning her down onto the massive bed of her chamber with his full weight.

George Churchill, the Duke of Cornwall, smiled down at her wickedly. His dark gray eyes had a stormy glitter to them. "Now I finally have you. And your brother and father can't do anything about it. You're going to be mine one way or another Olivia."

Olivia couldn't speak, couldn't even breathe. She was petrified of this man, and didn't love him. It was quite clear that he didn't love her in the slightest. She tried pushing him away, but her attempt was feeble, and in a split second, she felt herself being opened to him.

George moved his lips to her ear, his voice a low menacing whisper. "No one is going to want you after this night. No one is going to love you. After tonight, you're going to be nothing but damaged."

And then, Olivia gave a gut wrenching scream as pain exploded through her. She squeezed her eyes tightly closed, not able to do anything but lie there while George had his way with her. She knew from what her mother had told her that lovemaking was supposed to be beautiful and passionate, an act that a husband and wife who loved one another took part in. But this, this was not loving. This wasn't gentle. This was torture.

Suddenly, two pairs of feet could be heard thundering down the hallway, and when Olivia opened her eyes, she saw her brother William and their father Charles standing in the doorway. Her heart broke at the expressions on their faces, but she was too frightened to say a word. Then again, no words needed to be spoken.

Charles glared at George. "Take your hands off my daughter you bastard!"

George finally let Olivia go, gliding out of her as if he was an eel and cleaning himself off after he had spent his seed all over the sheets. He glanced over at Charles, smiling deviously. "I suppose now you want me to marry her?"

William. "That would be the sensible thing to do you bastard! You just ruined my sister!"

George. "Yes I know. However, I don't want to marry her."

Olivia quickly covered her naked body with a blanket, shaking have to death and still unable to speak. She couldn't believe this. Here she believed George was going to marry her after what he had just done. But apparently that wasn't happening. She watched William beginning to turn bright red in the face, watched as a vein in her father's temple started throbbing with rage.

Charles growled. "And why don't you want to marry my daughter? She is beautiful and kind hearted! And was innocent until you ruined her!"

George was getting dressed by this point. "Because I don't love her, my heart lies with someone else. I was just wanting Olivia for pleasure purposes."

William was on the verge of losing his temper. "Pleasure purposes? So you simply wanted to use my sister? She's only 18 years old and hasn't had her season yet! Do you realize what this is going to do to her?"

George. "I do indeed. This way, no one is going to want her.  She is never going to know love outside these walls, never going to have a loving husband or a family."

Suddenly, Charles became very pale, his skin going gray. He clutched his chest, dropping to his knees before falling face first to the floor. His beautiful Olivia, the apple of both his eyes and William's  eyes, was never going to be loved by anyone.

George smiled without a trace of humor as he watched William and Olivia struggle to get their father upright, at least onto his back. Without another word, he turned and left Gloucester Manor. His task was done, as far as he was concerned.  He could go and gloat to his friends and fellow Dukes that he had ruined the daughter of one of the wealthiest dukes London had to offer. However, before he did any of that, his mind and body were swimming with images of a certain duchess.

William and Olivia tried to revive their father, tried making him as comfortable as possible. But as they watched his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes that they knew and loved with all of their hearts become dark and lifeless, they knew their efforts were in vain.  But then they heard him speak, which made them both jump with surprise.

Charles stared right at his son, his voice soft and whispering as he spoke. "Promise me my boy..."

William came closer to his father, his heart pounding. "What is it father? I'll do anything, just tell me."

Charles was beginning to close his eyes, but he knew he needed to tell his son something important. "Promise me that you'll make sure Olivia is married to someone who loves her. Make sure that she is happy. And promise me that you'll find that same happiness."

William felt tears cascade down his cheeks, but he didn't have the dignity to wipe them away. "Of course father, I promise you that Olivia and I are both going to find happiness."

Olivia gave her fathers cheek a tender kiss. "We love you so much father."

Charles. "I love you both."

And then, as William and Olivia continued holding their father close, they watched the former Duke of Gloucester slip away.