A David Romance, Part 4
Aura Thundera
deonii@yahoo.com
 

    "Did your lessons go well?"  David asked me.

    "Yes.  The servant's training that my uncle beat into me serves me well at unexpected times.  I already knew the High tea well--your mother had only to teach me what to do as a lady hostess."

    "Mama is rather fond of you.  She was not pleased with the thought that I might dishonor you in any way."

    I giggled.  "She sent me to you, with her blessing to kiss you as much as I pleased.  I think she hopes to marry us."

    David's smile revealed his dimples again.  "Did she, now.  Well, there's a thought.  Mama takes pride in the Catesby reputation for having the best-mannered ladies, and she must be pleased with yours if she thinks that you're fit to marry me.  That's a compliment, if you like."

    "I think it is more than that.  I can make you laugh, and she's seen it.  She wants you to be happy, David.  She never made you treat me as a sister.  She could have, you know."

    "Ry-Ry and Jack were making jokes about how you had turned me 'silly' as they put it.  They'll understand when they become men."

    "Ry-Ry... however did your brother get that ridiculous nickname?"  The question had been swimming about in my mind, and David's mention of his brother brought it back.

    "When Jack was young, he stuttered and couldn't say Ryan.  It offended Ryan's dignity, and he spent hours coaching Jack to say 'Ryan'.  By then, though, I had picked up on how much it annoyed him and I started using it too."

    I laughed.  "It is too perfect.  His ego is huge."

    "He was Father's favorite and he knew it.  Father favored him for the title of Lord Catesby and he knew.  He has always been jealous of me and takes it out on little Jack because he is too weak to challenge me to a duel.  He knew that he would lose.  For all that I'm smaller, I can hit harder and aim better than he can."

    "He was jealous!  Your father was jealous of your skills!  That's why he insulted your looks whenever he could!"  I burst out.  "That was at least subjective!"

    "Perhaps.  I was always Mother's favorite, and the heir by law though.  The girls were always around anyway, because of my money, I thought."

    "I'm sorry."

    "Don't be.  As you yourself said, he's dead and it's over.  Jack and Ryan only remember him dimly.  It was before your father died and sent you to live with your uncle that my father died."

    "Ryan and Jack haven't even started noticing girls yet, have they?"  I asked, to break his meditative silence.

    "No, or they wouldn't call me silly.  They'd understand."  The room was warm, and as he spoke, David unlaced his tunic partially and let the collar fall away from his skin.

    I sighed and watched the fire to ignore the sight that presented itself.  His pulse throbbed in the hollow of his throat.  The loosening of his velvet tunic revealed the smooth curves where his neck met his shoulders, and the beginning of a sleek, lean chest.

    "Hey," David said softly, using his hand to bring my head up to face him.  "What's wrong?"

    His tone held all the gentleness I had ever wished for in a lover, and David's eyes had regained their enchanting sparkle.  He was making himself more irresistable by the moment.  I turned away again, trying to control myself.

    "What happened? Did you have an arguement with my mother or my brothers?  Did I accidentally say something that offended you?  David was in consternation.  "Are you ill?  You're flushed and your breathing is uneven."

    I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing would come out.  His presence was overwhelming, and I was rapidly losing control over my emotions.  David leaned over me, his tunic flopping loosely down, granting me a view of his delicious chest.  An intense flame of longing sprang up in me, and I fled the room, my cheeks burning.

    As I darted across the hall, I saw Shirley at the top of the stairs.  She had come up just in time to see the whole scene.  A few minutes later there was a knock on my door.

    "It's Shirley, Dawn.  Will you let me in?"

    I opened the door.  Shirley was frowning, obviously worried over the prior events.

    "David's crying over in his room," Shirley said.  "He says that you ran away from him and wouldn't tell him why you were upset."

    "I suppose you might understand best," I said.  "David... he unlaced his shirt a bit, and he was so handsome, I felt out of control.  I had to run.  I've never felt anything like that before!"

    "You never felt like what before?"

    "I...I wanted him..."  My hands gestured vaguely, and my face reddened in shame.  "I wanted him as a lover."

    "Oh, I understand," Shirley said.  "Dawn, there's nothing to be ashamed of about that.  It just means that you're a woman.  David's father made me feel the same way when we were courting.  And I didn't have to live in the same house with him, so I had a refuge.  You know I want to see the two of you happily married?"

    I nodded.  "David's passions frighten me.  I never knew how long he had watched me, or that he pretended an interest in courting Diana so that he might catch glimpses of me.  I'm not even sure if what I feel goes beyond a physical attraction to real love for David."

    "Be careful of his heart.  Run from him only if he threatens to hurt or dishonor you in his passion.  Otherwise, enjoy the physical attraction.  After all, are there not many other girls who would gladly trade places with you to enjoy the embrace of David's arms?"

    "How do I confess to him that I find him attractive and that is why I flush and breathe oddly?"

    "He knows already.  He knew what the problem was from the moment that you fled from the sight of his bared chest.  He is crying because he feels that you have rejected him and that he isn't handsome enough for you.  My God, child, hasn't he told you what his father did to him over so many years?"

    "You know?!  He told me, but I thought it a secret that he kept from you, and you hold his father in such high regard..."

    "I hold his father high in my affections because of the love, gentleness, and charm that he lavished on me if not my child.  I'm not blind or stupid, Dawn.  I saw his actions and heard his speeches.  And I did what I could for him.  I treasure David--every one of his tears burns my heart."

    "Then how should I let him know that I'm not rejecting him?"

    "Go back to him.  Let him touch you and strut his masculine charms.  Even if you feel out of control, do not be afraid.  You might find that you enjoy that sensation of having your senses excited."

    I slowly got up.  Shirley smiled and gestured for me to go.  I walked back to David's room.  He lay in bed, the covers pulled up to his chin.  I sat on the edge of his bed, and he rolled to face me.  As he moved, his creamy-skinned shoulders emerged from beneath the sheet.  He slept nude, and Shirley hadn't warned me.

    My first impulse was to run away from the intense desire that he stimulated.  Then I remembered Shirley's warning and remained still.


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