CHAPTER 23
And For the first time in two years he had a decent conversation with a woman he wasn't associated with, and even if it was for a very short period of time he enjoyed her company but the thought of getting trapped in any woman game again made him feel the usually aversion he felt for all women towards her.
When she first entered the balcony just after him, he thought she was following him and wanted to flirt and get in his good grace but taking a good look at her he realized she didn't even notice him.
She was beautiful, simply enthralling and magnificent. he found her fascinating as she rambled about the stars, he was quite surprised as he didn't expect her to have such knowledge but she did.
she was good looking and smart, a lethal combination in any woman which made her vicious, he knew that now and he wasn't going to fall for any woman trick ever again.
they used their beauty to fool men and get what they wanted not giving a damn about the consequences and Catalina was a good example. He had known her for a long time as she was his very good friend, they had been childhood sweetheart in the past but now they were nothing more. she was the only woman apart from his lovers and mistresses he ever allowed to get that close to him and he neither bothered with them nor her and they all knew it but they didn't care because they were all opportunist.
He was void of any form of feelings towards a woman for the last two years but what he didn't understand was why this woman now suddenly had an effect on him.
He had stared right into her strange looking eyes earlier in the garden while he kissed another woman. He knew he wasn't a good person but he didn't care, life had though him a lot of lessons and he had learned to play along with it and no longer dance to its tones.
She seemed familiar at first glance and certainly her eyes were unmistakable. she was the same beautiful girl he met at one of the most talked about debutante ball five years ago. she had looked so lovely back then, and she still did and it seemed that not much had changed about her.
Robert didn't want to remember that night as if was the night he had lost everything that was important to him and all because of a heartless, vile woman.
Blocking out the thoughts and images that were beginning to taunt him he heard Stephen still blabbing on.
"What do you think about me asking for her hand?"
He snapped to look at him dumfounded "are you crazy, you have just met the woman twice, and from all you have said, it seems like she doesn't share the same affection as you do."
"With due time she will" he grinned like a maniac "and i am already old and In need of a wife don't you think?"
"You are only seven and twenty Stephen, that doesn't seem old to me"
"Well it certainly dose to me and I can't wait to wed her plus you're not getting any older yourself"
Robert only sipped more of his drink not replying Stephen comment. in due time he would have to get married whether he wanted it or not, his grandfather will make sure about that.
He loved the old man as he was the only close family he had left and the only person he respected at that. Getting up from the sofa he was seated on, he causally dropped his empty glass and then said his good bye before leaving the Wilsons estates.
...
Light humming could be heard in the room as Madison excitedly wrote to her sister telling her about all of what had happened today and how she had the most wonderful time with Ronnie, she had finally admitted to liking him and she wanted their relationship to move to the next level.
She was seated on her bed while leaning on the headboard, her feet were curled behind the sheets to stop the cold, and she rubbed her arms which were now full with Goosebumps because of the cold.
Standing up she walked over to the double balcony window and shut it close before drawing the curtains over and going back to complete her letter. she was writing detailed account on what happened today before she remembered the duke and what had happened in the garden.
The man had look straight at her as if she was the one he was kissing and she couldn't help but feel that his blue orbs were extremely familiar. but where had she seen him before? Had she even ever met him before or was her mind playing games with her? Either way she wanted nothing to do with him as he didn't seem like someone worth associating herself with.
...
It had been three weeks since the Philips masquerade ball and within those three weeks Madison have found herself falling more and more hopelessly in love with Ronnie.
It was the first time in her entire life that she found someone who understood her without trying, and her with him. they were like two matching puzzles destined for one another and she had never been surer of anything else.
Today he had invited her to the park for a walk as the both leisurely took strolls there.
"I particularly fancy lilacs" she bent over at a bunch of flowers and appreciated them, stroking their petals leisurely "don't you find them beautiful?"
"They are beautiful" he helped her stand up to her full length "but not as beautiful as you" he kissed her hands staring directly into her eyes and soul all together.
"You flatter me too much" she smiled up at him as he leaned down a dropped a chaste peck on her cheeks.
"Am afraid not enough, a woman of your caliber deserves a whole lot more"
"the only thing I deserve is you" she dropped her hands down to step forward and hug him banishing any space between the two of them as she pressed her body close to his and he held her tight with his jaw on her head he leaned down again to kiss her forehead before slowly moving too her lips.
"And you I. I will have to leave for a while Madison but I won't take long and I will be back before you know it" pushing her head off his chest she looked at him questioning.
"Why? Were? And when will you be back?"
"he gently cupped her cheeks "I was given an opportunity to sail with Mr. Michael and his crew to Scotland for a fishing festival and am sure I will be able to make enough money there to come back and ask for your hand."