Pink Is The Color Of Infatuation

Chapter 9

Social ruin. That was his revenge. He had thought long and hard on it. He needed to teach her a lesson. A lesson that she would actually learn something from. It had come to him rather quickly after he realized that she was so easily embarrassed.

The woman blushed with every breath she took and thus the idea had hit him harder than he had imagined. She was utterly obsessed with her reputation and what people thought.

Ruining her social standing would be easy. She was a countess after all. Her family's name was prominent. Her face was well known.

People would know who she was and they gossip. Gossip travelled through the streets of London quicker than stormy weather. He was sure that the news of the fair, quiet Countess of Beckwith being the mistress of a Hugh would be whispered about for years to come.

He was convinced that he would enjoy every moment of her discomfort. He would torment her for a while and if and when she did bare him children he would put an end to the gossip. Proclaiming to have wed her months before her pregnancy.

It was the perfect revenge.

And yet he felt like an ass at the very idea of actually playing it out. The look on her face, in her innocent chocolaty brown eyes did something to him.

He grit his teeth, strengthening his resolve.

"No...No! Anything but that! My family...our name will be ruined!" She finally managed through shock filled lungs.

He shook his head, pushing the door open and urging her out. "Enough, get out of the carriage, Xael."

She tried to snatch away from him but he held firm, "Don't test me, woman."

She stiffened up entirely and he tsked in irritation. He climbed out first and reached for her, tossing her over his shoulder and storming toward the door. She gasped, her mouth hanging open.

This was beyond a level of meanness or cruelty that she thought he possessed. This was so much more than she bargained for!

She didn't mind so much that he was ruining her...but her family...doing this would drag her families name through the mud.

"Please, stop! Put me down! Don't do this!" She pounded against his back, "Alexander...please..."

He nearly halted in his steps at the sadness and desperation in her voice when she called his name but shook off the feeling. He stopped at the door, placing her back onto her feet.

The color had drained from her fair skin and he grimaced. She looked worn down and afraid. He cupped her face in his hands and slammed his lips on top of her hers. She was too surprised to react. He pulled away, assessing her face. Her face was red once more and he ran his thumbs over her cheeks, trying to bring some of her color back.

"I've seen you act, it's how you got me. Put it to use again."

He wrapped an arm around her waist and tapped against the door. The door flew open and a maid stood there, ushering them in. The maid stared at Xael for a brief moment before turning away, shock on her face.

Xael nearly stopped breathing. She was sure that she would never live this down. The maid brought them into the main dining hall where a long table sat, filled with guest whose eyes fell upon them immediately.

As they walked into the room a few gasps were audible as the guest took in Xael's appearance. Heat rushed up her cheeks and she was sure that she was beet red. Soft music was playing and a few guests were standing, mingling.

A swift hush fell over the entire room and everyone openly stared. Alexander's grip around her waist tightened and he literally dragged her forward into the room.

They stopped to talk to a few shocked patrons, many of them introducing themselves and blushing crimson at Alexander proclaiming her to be his mistress. After a while the silence became filled with a crescendo of chatter and whispers much of it, to Xael's dismay, pointed at her.

As Alexander mingled she heard the whispers of a few woman nearby.

"How absolutely disgraceful! And look how she's dressed...," one of them said.

Another one of them tsked, "I heard she's his mistress! The nerve of the little floozy-," Xael turned away, squeezing her eyes shut to block out the harsh criticism exploded around the room. Her knees felt wobbly and her legs felt weak. She felt as if she were going to faint at any moment.

The shame...the embarrassment. It was all too much. Just as she felt a wave of dizziness hit her a loud, soft, boisterous female voice boomed over her shoulder, "Alexander! What in God's name are you doing?"

Alexander stiffened next to her and sighed. The female crossed in front of them, a tall familiar handsome man at her side.

"We're a few minutes late and when we get here everyone's gossiping about our cousin and his mistress! What are trying to do to the poor girl? Look at her, she's looks like she'll faint any second!" The woman snapped at him.

"Why are you here, Lafayette? Isn't it past your curfew?" He snapped back.

She gasped, "Oh you pompous a-," the man beside her cut her off, "Alex, be honest...why are you doing this?"

"Leo, it's honestly none of your business, either one of you, what I do with what's mine. But if you must know, I'm getting revenge. Warm-blooded revenge."

"By ruining her reputation? That's too cruel! Stop this and admit she's your wife!" Lafayette said.

Leo nodded in agreement, he had never seen Alexander this way before, "I completely agree, you're taking this too far. I think the girl gets it. You're angry, she understands."

He shook his head, a smirk playing on his lips. "It's over when I'm ready for it to be over. What I do with my wife is my business."

His cousins went to protest once more but he tuned them out, turning to face Xael. He leaned toward her and for the first time since she had met him fear and anger exploded in her head. She was terrified of him and what he was capable of and yet for the first time in her whole entire life she knew what hate was. Because she was sure that she hated him. She hated this man.

"The look in your eyes...it's wonderful. Do you hate me now?" He mumbled.

She grit her teeth, trying to pull away from him. He grabbed her wrists and yanked her up against his chest. "I hope you do, I'm going to enjoy making you suffer for a little while."

Her nostrils flared but still she kept her mouth shut.

"You look angry enough to hit me, Xael. Do it, cause a scene." When she still did not respond he wrapped his arms around her, caging her in before planting his lips firmly on hers. He kissed her hard, being rough against her soft lips. She wiggled in his embrace, fighting, finally managing to pull away and as she did her anger blinded her and she slapped him.

It wasn't a hard slap, it barely turned his cheek red but all eyes were on them. Watching the scene with interest.

She flushed crimson as she realized that she had played right into his hands. Done exactly what he wanted her to do.

Tears pricked her eyes and the flood gates opened. She choked on a sob and just as she did he tucked her into his chest and headed briskly for the door.

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