Love is like a...

Chapter one

-love is a like a breeze in the morning-

She had never longed for anything more. His lips on hers, while he held her and he let his hands float over her hips and her thighs. He kissed her again, intense and long. She needed to catch her breath and opened her eyes, watching and drowning in his ocean blue pools of love. "Oh, Eden," he said and he pushed away a bit of her long ebony hair so he could touch her cheek. "Alistair..." she answered. And as she did, his eyes melted away and his hands faded. She turned around and woke up, hearing the bells of the little chapel on the estate. One, two, three, four, five, six times. Time to get up.
A little sigh came from her lips as she looked around and saw she was alone and that the sun had come. She got out of bed and started to make herself ready for the day.

In another room, the eldest of lord Van Doren was still in his bedroom, staring at the ceiling.
He thought of his mother, who would love to be here today, when he would meet his fiancée. It hurt her when she learned what her former husband had done. It hurt her so much, she decided it was the first thing she would not agree with and so decided to divorce the man she once agreed to marry.
Lord Andersen Van Doren was a man of his word. Once he had spoken, that was truth. His words were the law. At least at the manor of Van Doren. Lord Andersen Van Doren had seen that his son Alistair would be the one to take over the household, as his two younger sisters, Hannah and Elodie, were the ones who would eventually marry other lords. And so lord Van Doren senior had looked for a right match for his son.
The lord's eye reached far beyond the borders of the United Kingdom, to the heart of France, where the family Morgan lives. The lord had invited the ladies over once before and the oldest daughter of Morgan seemed to have some kind of connection with him. Alistair liked the way she tried to pronounce the English words with her French accent. He liked her passion for her family and her horse. However, Anaïs Morgan lacked something. Something that couldn't be named or labeled. Something Eden did possess.
Alistair sighed and looked around his room. If only he could marry her. She already knew everything about the manor, she was warm and kind and well-spoken. Eden Smith was a wonderful daughter of a few simple smiths. And that was something lord Van Doren could not agree with. Alistair had heard his opinion on such subjects many times. Too many times. He wouldn't even bother asking again.
Alistair stepped out of bed and walked towards his balcony. He looked across the green fields that were close to the water and to the great way to Van Doren manor, curiously, might be able to spot his soon to be wife.

"D'accord madame Van Doren," Jasiel Ultera said when he first saw the estate of Van Doren. "C'est parfait pour vous." Anaïs Morgan smiled to her couturier and her younger sister. "Oui, c'est parfait, mais only English from here," she spoke with a French accent. An accent lord Alistair Van Doren was mostly amused with. Anaïs thought differently about it. She was about to move to the United Kingdom, so she should be able to speak English fluently and properly. She had brought Jasiel, her couturier, and Jova, her younger sister, to practice with her.
"Well, I am quite good in English," Jova exaggerated with her right pink in the air pretending to have some tea. "I have practiced all summer." "I believe you have," Anaïs concluded, "How about you, monsieur Jasiel?" "Mister Jasiel," corrected the couturier while skipping through his sketch book, "And I have been practicing a bit. It is hard to collaborate with the English for you wedding dress if I am not capable of speaking Anglais." "English!" Anaïs and Jova corrected them this time. "D'accord, d'accord, miss Morgan." He laughed and looked outside the window, admiring the beautiful view.
"How many people will be there, sister?" Jova asked. "A whole bunch," Anaïs answered and knowing what Jova was hinting to. "Maybe you will find your match on these grounds. But promise me one thing." Jasiel stopped looking outside and watched the sisters. Jova was waiting for Anaïs to continue. "Promise me you will marry for love." Jova smiled and nodded. "Prometts." The sisters held hands and squeezed a little before they let go.

In the dining room two gentlemen entered and ordered a cup of coffee. "Of course, my lord," Eden answered and she went to get coffee, biscuits and to signal the cook to make breakfast ready.
When she walked off, one of the gentlemen, Bastian Cabot watched her. Felix van Doren, his compagnon followed his gaze. "Not Eden, Cabot." Bastian Cabot frowned his eyebrows. "And why not? She seems kind, gentle, obedient. She knows what I like." Felix shook his head. "She is simply doing her job. She knows when it is time for breakfast and she knows me. When I have coffee in the morning before breakfast I like a few biscuits on the side."
Bastian looked at his compagnon. "How long have you known this woman?" "I believe she came here nearly eight years ago," Felix answered as he took place in one of the fine chairs, next to the dining table. "And in all this time, you haven't done a single thing to charm her?" Felix smiled. "I tried once. But Eden is a great help and a trustworthy woman. I don't want the same fate for her as the other young ladies who have crossed my path." "You pity them?" Bastian asked. "They strongly agreed with you when you satisfied them."
"Your coffee, my lords." Behind them, Eden stood with a tray and she placed it on the lower coffee table. "And your biscuits, as always, lord Van Doren." "Thank you, miss Smith," Felix answered. "I wonder, have you seen my cousin yet? It is a big day for him." "I have not seen him this morning," Eden said with rosy cheeks. "But he will join us for breakfast, so I will continue on making those preparations." "Gladly," Felix answered.
Bastian smiled when Eden walked away. "She blushed." "She overheard our conversation," Felix claimed. Bastian laughed, which caused Eden to turn around and look at the gentlemen once again.
Lord Cabot hasn't been here before and she had not figured out what his business was here. He seemed charming but hasn't said a word to her ever since he arrived last night. She continued her way to the kitchen, but wasn't paying attention and walked in on somebody. "Oh, I am so sorry," she excused herself. "I don't mind," she heard. It was a familiar voice. Then she looked up and saw the same ocean blue eyes she had dreamt about this morning. "Lord Van Doren," she stated, "good morning." She made a curtesy. Alistair smiled. "Eden, you know you may address me as Alistair." "I know you prefer that. However, lord Van Doren gave me a clear command to only address you formally, since your fiancée will arrive today." Alistair nodded and looked down. "Yes, about that..."
He looked up and immediately had eye contact with her. He saw her deep brown, warm eyes and thought he recognized the same thing as he felt. Then she looked away and mumbled to continue on making preparations for breakfast. "Eden," he said while grabbing her hand. "I want you to stay here. Even if I should marry." Eden looked back at him and fought any desire to come closer and hug him or maybe even kiss him. Instead, she took a deep breath and tried to continue her way.
"I am pleased to hear that, my lord. Your cousin and his compagnon are already having coffee. Do you also want a cup of coffee?" Alistair smiled and he stepped forward to whisper something in her ear. "With as much sugar as your sweet smile." Eden looked up, having her face turning red and answered quick-witted: "You may add the sugar yourself."
She left him with a smile on his face and rosy cheeks. He entered the dining room grinning. If only, if only...