Romance, Seduction, Torment, all take place in the Victorian era, within the brothel called The King's Court. Will Maria find love in Lord Valo's hand and will he open his heart, even if his soul is haunted by guilt and pain from the past. This is a...
Maria was red, as a tomato, or a cardinal in summer. Lord Valo cleared his throat and offered her a seat. "My Lady," he said. He looked so much more dashing up close, and that voice. Silk on roses.
"My Lord," Maria said, hoping he would not reject her, he already looked uncomfortable.
"I... So...tell me, how does a delicate flower like you come to be here?" he said kindly.
Maria was shocked, most men would straight up ask if she would get on with it and take them upstairs. Though he could be playing the flattering card.
"I...it is my life, I suppose but Madame is a blessing she takes care of us," Maria said.
"I can tell, still, I suppose you would have liked a better life for yourself, you seem gentle, so delicate," Ville said.
"I am not as frail as I seem to be, but, yes, unfortunately, I am what I am my lord," Maria said.
At that moment Lord Renold approached them and took Maria's hand, "I am throbbing sweet lady, ever since I set eyes on you, may we go upstairs, or are you otherwise engaged," he said.
Maria smiled meekly, she did not want to leave this man's side, somehow he made her feel safe, yet she could not refuse a client, not of his stature, especially if he was being gentle and respectful.
She panicked looking at Renold and noticed Ville's eyes scanning her, searching her face.
"I am sorry, it's just, are your needs urgent tonight, we have a room available, but I am, speaking to Lord Valo, I do not wish to be rude, but...if you would wait for me..." Maria said.
"You would make a Lord wait, hmph foolish wench, there are others here, better tasting than you most likely are, but no matter you will listen and serve me now....or pay in blood," he said fondling her breasts in a disgusting manner.
Peter had noticed and he was about to jump in but to his surprise, his wife stopped him. "Wait let us see what he does," Diana said. She was angry at Renold the gall, but she was also hoping...
Something inside Ville snapped when he saw the fear in her eyes, the tired gaze of always having to submit, it made him once more protective and his heart raced with a need to shield her.
He took her hand surprising her and pulled her away from the man. "She has made it clear she is engaged in conversation with me, now please let us be civil and take your leave," Ville said.
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Credit for pic to Beate
"If you don't want this to end in a damn bloody mess you will hand me that wench," Renold said. Not long before that Peter placed his hand on the man's shoulder.
"If you wish to stay well, fertile and with it stuck between your legs, you will exit the building and never return," Peter said growling as a frightened and offended Renold walked off cursing them and ranting idiocies.
"Are you both ok?" Peter said as Diana and the others including Alexi and Angel rushed to them. "I am...but... I only care about her," Ville said turning to a blushing and tear-eyed girl.
"Are you well, my lady?" he said. Maria sighed, never in her life had a man stood up for her, well, Peter had, several times, but aside from him, this was the first man, who is a complete stranger who seemed to value her as a human.
"I am...fine," Maria said, still a little shaky. "May I get you a drink, or do you want some fresh air?" Ville said, his concern was melting her.
"Air would be nice," Maria said and after Madame and the others were sure she was not harmed Ville took her hand and led her to the back gardens.
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"If that is not a sign of good things to come I don't know what it is," Angel said as June and the others nodded, now she only hoped Madame would accept Alexi's proposal to her.
They walked in silence for a while. The cry of the lark, chirps of the crickets, and song of the nightingale are the only sounds in the garden. This silence was driving her mad.
"I apologize, I should have not...now Lord Renold will be after you," Maria said and as always she was crying.
"That man is as Lord as I am a king, no one should treat a woman that way!" Ville said letting her sit on a little spiraled white bench.
"But I am a whore, I should have listened!" Maria said. "You are a sweet misguided child, a beautiful creature, and he was a vulture, so, please do not apologize on his behalf princess," Ville said, making her blush so deeply, it was a surprise she did not faint.
"I...I suppose I should repay you for your kindness, no one has ever, " Maria said then standing she kissed him rashly wanting to repay him as only she could.
Ville moaned slightly into her kiss, soft lips, yet he was not here for that, and he would never take advantage of her, "No sweetheart," he said pushing her back, "But," Maria said, afraid she had offended him and once more failed.
"It is not that you are not beautiful, and that I am not flattered, that you would kiss this old man, but...though I may have come seeking wanton, foolish, lustful, desires I....when I saw you...I thought, would you not want a better life than this flower?" he asked his eyes so somber and deep they were drowning her.
"You mean," Maria said, her heart pitter-pattering, like the water fountain nearby.
"I mean, come with me, leave this behind, I...I barely have met you, but I feel I was meant to, I have always been a foolish romantic at heart, and perhaps it was destiny that led me to aid you. For I cannot allow you to be hurt...though I do not know why....but you....your innocence..your heart...I see it in your eyes, and I..." Ville said, kneeling hoping she would say yes.
Was he asking for her to be his mistress? Oh had fate finally been so kind, yet he was unwilling to kiss her just now, was he playing coy, no...then what? No matter what Diana had to know, Oh she had to!
"If that is your desire, my lord, then I would say yes, but you must speak to Madame first, stir so that they may bless us, and so she may give me to you," Maria said.
She did not know who this man was, or where he came from, he could be a lunatic, a serial killer, but right now he was the only man to have treated her as such, and it warmed her all over.
"You are no item, let's leave it at the blessing," Ville said, making her melt. He inwardly smiled, William was going to get the wrong idea of course, but he was still going to tease him, all week, telling him he told him so. How he thanked his stubbornness at that moment.
