The Mandate of Heaven (27 page)

His breath caught in his throat when he finally spotted her and time seemed to stand still.  He’d seen her before of course, many times, dressed in anything from a silk camisole to rough spun work clothes, but never before had he thought she’d looked more beautiful. Wearing a daring scarlet satin evening gown with her waist-length hair tied back with a black ribbon.  Her gown had become bunched in the middle and the lace around the neckline wrinkled down, exposing a bit of extra cleavage, but she did nothing to correct her garment.  A fact that her dancing partner seemed to particularly enjoy, as his eyes rarely strayed to her face.  She caught sight of him, as her steps faltered for a moment, before she shot him a patronising smile and then turned her back on him.

Alex ground his teeth together in frustration, resisting the urge to make a scene by marching over to the pair, tearing her from the arms of her dance partner and insisting that she right her dress.  Somehow Alex thought that was exactly what she expected, and he hated to be so predictable.  So instead he found his attention being averted by the yapping of Lucifer, who’d also decided to attend the celebrations, which pretty much meant that the entire household had now ignored his edict not to go there.  Shrugging, as he became accustomed to being ignored, he ambled off in the direction of Lucifer and a couple of children.  In the absence of a pony, they had obviously decided that Lucifer would suffice instead.

Alex decided that he’d better intervene before Lucifer mistook a couple of the younger ones for hors d’oeuvre.

*****

Jessica could feel the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end and it wasn’t from the approaching thunderstorm, but instead a tempest of a very different kind.  She glanced up to confirm the fact and was momentarily taken aback by his searing gaze.  It was like a live electricity conduit arching across the room, connecting them.  He was furious, that was painfully obvious, but beyond that there was something else, far more elemental.  She would almost call it possessiveness.  Never one for taking others’ advice, having repeatedly been warned against baiting angry bears, she instead smirked, before purposefully turning her back on him.  She smiled in anticipation of the scene, him stalking over, demanding her attractive dancing partner immediately release her, which he would obviously do, to avoid grievous injury.  She would protest, of course, before graciously, but reluctantly, agreeing to dance with him instead.

Any minute now…

Ten minutes later, and having her partner step on her foot, one too many times, she felt her own temper start to boil.  Where was he?  What in Hades was he doing?  Didn’t he know his part to play?  Unable to stand the cumbersome dolt she was currently paired with any longer, she feigned exhaustion, quickly agreeing to his offer to get them both a drink, before promptly abandoning him and went hunting instead.

She searched everywhere for him, but to no avail; food and drinks first, men were always hungry, followed thereafter by the gambling tables because if they weren’t eating or drinking, most men would probably gamble away money they could hardly afford to lose, especially in Alex’s case.  By now she was starting to get anxious, worried that he’d abandoned the party altogether, especially after all the effort she had made to get him there in the first place.   She was just about to give up entirely and admit defeat, when a dark blur shot from underneath the food table, a string of sausages in tow, vanishing into a thick crowd of children and adults alike.  Knowing that wherever Alex was, Lucifer was sure to be close behind, she wandered over to the crowd.  Her tall height giving her an advantage, as she spied Lucifer over the top of the crowd, with an assortment of items at his feet.  The children were all laughing delightedly while the adults clapped admiringly.

“I hope that you’re not encouraging larceny,” Jessica asked Alex archly, having spotted him at the centre of the onlookers.  “You’re already in enough trouble as it is, what with the kidnapping…”

“Lady Hadley,” Alex said looking up, giving her a broad smile that made him look at least a decade younger.  A smile that Jessica thought should be banned, having caught a dark look from more than one of the younger girls, who had obviously been enjoying his attention.  “How goes the dancing?  I hope that you still have some toes left?”

Jessica frowned, wondering if mind reading was one of his many talents, and then followed his gaze to her mud splattered slippers.  So much for her polished debut, she thought dryly, before casting aside the illusion entirely.  “You’re late,” she snapped, appalled by her spiteful tone.  “You promised me a dance, almost ten minutes ago.”  He’d done nothing of the sort, except for the heated gaze that they’d shared earlier.  Still, he was too much of a gentleman to call her out over it and therefore simply bowed apologetically, took her hand and led her back towards the dance floor.

“My apologies, your invitation must have gotten lost, in the post, perhaps?” he whispered knowingly into her ear.  “And such terrible timing as the orchestra seems to have just played the last tune of the evening.” Indeed, the few remaining couples were currently vacating the dance floor, when suddenly the orchestra struck up a new melody, a waltz.  “What the hell,” Alex groaned, before catching sight of Sanderson.  Standing beside the orchestra, grinning like an idiot, giving Alex a less than subtle thumbs up.  “I’ll kill him in the morning,” Alex muttered under his breath.

“What did you say?” Jessica asked, giving him a perplexed look.

Hardly able to explain about the duplicity of his soon to be ex-colleague, he instead said the first thing that came to mind.  “You look absolutely stunning tonight.” 
Whoops
.  While completely true, it wasn’t the sort of thing you were meant to just go blurting out.

Jessica gave him a quizzical look, obviously thinking he was jesting, but upon realising that he was being sincere, flushed.  “Thank you.  In all honesty I thought that you would be angrier.”

“Angry?  Why?” Alex asked, honestly confused.

“My father certainly was, every time that I disobeyed him.”

“Oh,” Alex said, as understanding finally dawned.  “I was never angry about that, in actual fact you’ve far exceeded my wildest expectations.  The harvest festival celebrations have been fantastic, the best that we’ve had in years, I’ve heard nothing but glowing praise, ever since I arrived.”

“But you said…” Jessica’s eyes widened in understanding.  “You set me up,” she growled, but with little rancour, too busy basking in Alex’s admiration.  How often had she wished to hear such words from her own father?

“In fact I’ve been constantly asked if you will be in charge of the preparations next year?” Alex continued on, oblivious to her internal thoughts.

“Next year,” Jessica sighed, biting her lip.  She’d purposefully tried to ignore thinking of the future overly much, but it was easier done when she was being shot at.  Much harder when dancing in the arms of this man, as it felt like the two of them were alone, floating in a dream where nothing could intrude on her happiness—except for the weight of responsibility resting on her shoulders.  Never before had she noticed its weight so keenly, but now it pressed down on her on all sides.

“You need to contact your father to let him know that you’re safe and well.  It’s been almost a month; he must be frantic with worry by now.”

“I know, I just need a little more time,” she admitted.

“Time that you no longer have.  I’ve given you as much as I can afford, but even I have my limits.  Tomorrow you must call your father.”

“Very well,” she sighed.  For he had a point, she’d been selfish, thinking of nothing but herself and the opportunity to postpone her pending nuptials.  Alex was right, as her father and sister must be frantic by now.

“I need you to give him a message from me, it’s important.  Can you do that?”

“A message?” Jessica blinked in surprise, so caught up in her own thoughts she must have misheard.  “What message?”

“Three days from now, he’s to meet us on
Elysium Fields
, your father will know of it,” Alex added, noticing her confused expression. “You’re to tell him that he’s to come alone, if he wants you returned safely, and—” he faltered.

“And?” Jessica prompted, having a premonition that she wasn’t going to like what was coming next.

“He’s to bring fifty million credits, in raw Al-Keishi pearls.”

“And if he doesn’t?”

“Then he’ll still get you back, but High-Lord Stanton certainly will not marry you.  He won’t want soiled goods.”

“Why?” Jessica met his gaze, searching desperately for something, a reason, anything.

“Honestly? Because I need the money.  Have you taken a good look around you recently?  I’ve got a house that is falling down around my ears, tenants that I cannot even afford to house, not to mention putting food on my table.”

Jessica had to look aside, for she didn’t need to look far to see the truth in his eyes, more than that she could feel the intensity behind his words, he didn’t want the money for himself, but for others, she could hardly blame him for that, yet—

“No.  I won’t do it.  In which case go ahead, do your worst.”  The words caught in her throat, when she felt the pressure of his arms tighten around her momentarily, and for a brief second she wondered if he would really carry out his threat.  She jumped nonetheless, like a skittish colt, when he pressed a soft kiss just above her collarbone.

“I thought you might say that,” he took a step back and bowed politely.  “Thank you for the dance, Lady Hadley.”  Then he took another step backwards, vanishing into the crowd, leaving her standing there alone and bewildered.

What had just happened?  What did he mean by that?

*****

Alex stepped out into the stifling night air, casually putting his hands in his pockets and waited.  It wasn’t much cooler outside than in, but at least it was a different type of hot air.  Looking up he could clearly make out the thunderheads rapidly gathering, it was going to be a once in a lifetime storm.  He could already feel the wind whipping at his clothes, a static charge running across his exposed forearms, he tipped his head back observing the stars overhead disappearing one by one.  He was standing on the very precipice of the storm and wanted nothing more than to open his arms and embrace it.  This was what he had missed most during his captivity, the pure elemental fury of nature.  He often felt that if he could look inside himself, peer into his very soul, this is what it would look like, a thundercloud ready to shatter.

“Who the
hell
do you think you are?” a furious voice demanded from behind him.

With his head tipped back, Alex let his eyes fall shut, hearing the tenor of her voice drift over him, just like the earlier breeze.  Yes, a mighty storm indeed.  He made sure that the smile was gone from his lips before he turned around to face her.  She was standing exactly as he imagined, with hands on her hips, a provocative posture indeed, which along with her scarlet dress made her look as tempting as sin.  He briefly considered indulging in his earlier threat, as he was certain that they would both enjoy it.

Immensely.

Unfortunately, he fully planned on keeping the promise he intended for her father, not that he was going to tell her that.  He wondered what it would’ve been like had they met in another time, a different life, perhaps his old one?  He thought they would have suited each other well, both possessing strong traits, with a stubborn nature to match.  All that she lacked was his rage, but she hadn’t had the benefit of years locked away in a deep, dark, pit to sharpen that to the degree he had.

“Excuse me?” he eventually responded, allowing a hint of his earlier smile to seep through, knowing it would only infuriate her more.  He’d frequently dealt with strong personalities while in the marines, knowing how to use their own emotions against them.  To keep them off balance and not give them time to think things through.

“Do you get off on threating people like that, then simply walking away?”

“That’s the second time you’ve questioned my sexuality; it’s becoming a reoccurring theme with you.  I’ve certainly no shortage of women in my life, or my bed.  Young and old, single, married or widowed, I’m not particular.  I turned down several tempting offers only this evening.  I looked forward to sampling your charms, but alas it seems that I’ve been outbid by High-Lord Stanton, so I’ll just have to accept the fifty million from your father as recompense.”

“You
bastard
!” Jessica exclaimed, lashing out at him.

But Alex wasn’t some backwater thief.  Easily sidestepping the blow, he quickly darted forward, catching her wrist, spinning her round and pulling her tightly against him.  With her arms pinned to her side, he quickly, and effectively, immobilised her.

“Hardly an insult, as it happens to be true,” Alex said quietly.  “Now stop and listen for once,” he added as he felt her squirming in his hold while trying to escape.  “If I wanted to threaten, or hurt you, I could have done so at any time.  Certainly at a more opportune moment than in the middle of a dance floor with witnesses all around.  I was actually trying to be sincere with my offer.  Talk to your father and explain the situation to him.  He’ll be so relieved that you’re unharmed he won’t blink an eye about the money, after all it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what he has.  The alternative will be far less pleasant, namely I’ll talk to him myself.  Tonight.”