"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."

Mary Shelley, Frankenstein

The morning paper and countless reports laid above his desk before him. It was all discarded and ignored the minute her letter arrived. He opened the letter, he sat back relaxed and smiled to see her handwriting.

Dear Adrian,

            I pray that when you receive this letter you are in the best of health.
I apologize for not writing sooner for Madam Phelps has tired me tremendously with my studies and I have fallen behind. Needless to say I have slowly mastered my French. She assures me if I continue to practice I will speak it and write it better...

             I have spent my free time otherwise painting, riding Violet and helping Rosie with her chores. I tend to stay away from stitching.  Rosie says Stitching may not be my forte, she fears that as many times as I prick my finger, I will hand over blood stained hem work or mayhap end up stitching my finger to the fabric.
In truth I do not like needle work I find it tedious and boring...

He chuckled shaking his head imagining her tossing around the fabric and that cherubic face of hers pouting at Rosie in protest.

         On other days I have tried to assist Penniford in his duties but I always get shooed away. I don't think he likes my company after I helped with his last chore.  He is not a sociable man. He claims I am trouble and  that I must stay away from him. He is extremely angry with me after I accidentally trampled his Rose garden.  I swear I did not mean to, I was trying to catch a beautiful rabbit then I lost him....

He let out a boisterous laugh. She was a handful. He quieted down and slowly he continued down the last paragraph of her letter. As if calling out to his heart he read them.

               In all honesty, I try to occupy my time just wishing the days would go by faster and so that you would come back home. We all miss you so very much. I miss you very much and I pray you come home soon.

All my love,
Eva

He sat back smiling at the last words in closing. All my love,Eva.
She was a precocious creature he chuckled. Yet so innocent and lovely. He had to admit he missed her if not even more. She was such a delight to be around.
He found the smallest things about her, from the dimple that appeared in her cheek when she smiled at him to the softness of her laugh, ever fascinating.
~·~·~~·~·~

Anxious brown eyes watched as envelope after envelope was sorted through in the stacks of correspondences on the foyer table.

Penniford took his dear sweet time and she could tell he was deliberately taking his slow time with his search because ever so often he would stop to comment nonchalantly about the person it was from.

She wanted to scream. Her throat was beginning to tighten and her palms began to sweat. She had awoken early that morning got dressed and went to the stables. She rode most of the morning trying to grasp for some type of distraction. Although months had passed the wait was unbearable and her sanity hung securely by a thread only because of his letters.

When she returned it was in time to spot the courier leave. With an impatient trot of her mare she barely got through the entrance of the stable before hoping off and tossing the reins to Joseph the stable hand in haste. And ran towards the manor.

Now she stood before Penniford and his pinched visage. Stiff and snooty as ever as he flipped through the letters.

"Penniford, please," she huffed with a whine. Stomping impatiently. If he didn't hurry she would be old, grey and near blind to read it.

Honey brown eyes peered over the stiff butlers shoulder focusing on the penmanship on each letter. She would recognize his writing anywhere.

He straightened and she stepped back bit.
"Ay yes, here we have it young miss. A letter from m-"
Not needing a full description, she giddley snatched it from his hands and jumped with joy.
Taken back by the sudden display, he gasped watching her run up the stairs.

It was here finally, she quickly closed her door and hopped on her bed. She carefully took in the writing and soft parchment paper. Softly she glided her fingers over each letter of her name in his handwriting before holding it up to her chest. Excited as the first day she received his letter.

Slowly she opened it and shifted to lay on her stomach her eyes twinkled with delight as it scanned over the page too anxious to begin, she forced herself to focus on the words.

My dearest Evangeline,

          I pray that when you receive this letter you too are in the best of health. I am pleased to hear that you are doing good in your studies, I am very proud of you.
        From your last letter you wrote, I see you have chosen a new target to pester.... poor old Penniford. I fear I will not hear the end of it when I return. Don't vex him too much. We want to get good use out of the old duddy before you give him an apoplexy......

She fell into a cackle of giggles at that before quieting down to continue the letter.
             
           On a better note, I have finally gotten most of my father's affairs in order. Now I must see to all of my brothers and from there I can finally come home.
           Although, the time and date is not clear on my return, I want you to understand little one, that it is important for me that you do not fret. I miss you as well and can't wait to return to Fairhaven.
           Until then I want you to continue to behave. Give my regards to Rosie, Cook and Penniford. Stay sweet and stay out of trouble Peach.

All my love
Adrian
           
In a dreamy sigh she grinned rolling  on to her back like a giddy school room girl and held the letter to her chest.
"All my love, Adrian" she giggled.

~·~·~·~~·~·

He stood before the fire, shirtless in his black evening breeches. The soft lithe fingers and familiar perfume caressed him from behind and soft lingering fingers glided over his taught stomach.
"Come back to bed Adrian. I need you desperately," she whispered.

He grinned and turned to face the beautiful woman before him.
Alicia.
She was Lady Alicia Thornton a Widow of the late Edgar Thornton, Viscount Mallory.

They had become lovers since last spring. They had met a year earlier at Lord Westons ball.

"What are you thinking about, Milord" she gave him a sultry smile.

He glanced down into her eyes with the same delicious grin that stirred her insides. The soft caress of his finger passed over her lips.
"Nothing of importance,"  his gaze dropped to her bare breasts and taught nipples that called for his attention.

Her heart fluttered with his stare. And his lips lowered to hers hungrily.
Slowly he walked her back to the comfort of the soft bed, to continue their evening of erotic play. He removed his breeches and cradled himself between her thighs. He pushed his manhood into her and they were both lost in their heated union.

Sated and winding down from their lovemaking she lay with her chin on his chest admiring his gorgeous feature as he lightly slumbered.

"Adrian," she called to him.

"Hmmm.."He answered lazily with his eyes still closed.

She hesitated biting her lip.

"Have you ever thought what it would be like if we married," she whispered.

Slowly his eyes opened to focus on her.

"Do you want to get married?, he asked huskily.

With a grin she rubbed his chest.
"Tis all I think about lately."

That bit of news certainly was not expected. With a sigh he looked away from her anxious gaze and stared at the ceiling above them.

Slowly he pulled away from her, sat up and placed his feet on the floor. His shoulders rigid, flexed and unflexed as he raked his hands through his hair.

Nervously she knelt behind him and placed her fingers on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry I did not mean to anger you," she whispered.

"No, I am not angry," he spoke.

She inched closer pressing her breasts to his back and placing kisses on his neck.
He groaned.
"Then what is it?" she continued kissing him.

He gently tugged her forward until she sat flush beside him.

"It is not what, but whom," he said.

Confused she frowned. Then understanding his words she gave him an incredulous stare.

"Do you have another lover, Adrian," she gasped pulling away.

With a chuckle he stopped her from pulling away.
"Let me finish," he grinned.

Searching her eyes, he hesitated.

"Her name is Evangeline," he whispered.
Alicia sat to attention noticing the sparkle in his eyes as he mentioned her name.

Noticing her panick, he smiled.

She is a sweet kind creature that I met long ago. A spirited young beauty I have become fond of.

Flabbergasted, Alicia pulled away. Livid that he would describe another lover that way.

He laughed out loud because she fell for his bait. She recoiled from his outstretched hand as he yanked her into his lap.

Fuming with anger she fidgeted to get free.

"She is my young ward, Alicia" he said softly with a teasing grin.

Abruptly she stopped in shock.
Ward?

"You have a ward, Adrian?. She gasped.

Lowering his head, he grinned.
"Yes, and she 15"

"Oh!," Alicia shyly pulled away very embarrassed with her jealous outburst.

Stuttering she fixed her composure and sat up straight.

"Why have you not told me about her," she eyed him with narrow eyes.

His calm gaze fell on her face.
"Very few people know of my personal life Alicia. The less that is known the more difficult it is to gossip about," he pointed out.

"She is a very innocent and sweet girl that has had a very hard life, I am all she has and I swore to protect and care for her," he continued with emotion in his voice that made her shiver.

She slumped in defeat at his words and understanding.
"Oh! I see," she whispered.

"Understand me Alicia," he tilted her chin up. "I must speak with her first,"

A slight pang of jealousy churned in her stomach for this child that has obviously gain his affection.

"So she would decide Adrian, whether you marry or not?" she asked with an edge of irritation to her tone.

With a frown he looked at her.
"Whether I decide to marry that is my decision and no one else's." He bit out. "I just feel it is better that she hears it from me, not gossip and she is prepared to accept such a drastic change in her life,"

"You of all people, Alicia should understand that. She is a child in a difficult time in her life, no mother or father to guide her. Then here I come after I've sworn to keep her safe, fought to gain her trust, thrived to make her environment calm. Only to arrive with a wife in tow and upset that balance!. It would be wrong, Alicia. Simply wrong." His jaw clenched in agitation.

Nervously she bit her lip.
Your loosing him Alicia!!!

"Ok, we can wait until you talk to her," she breathed.

Inching closer to him she caressed his jaw. His eyes searched hers. As if searching for something.

He pulled her closer. He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her passionately. He moaned with the feel of her nakedness pressed to him.

His thoughts clouded his mind. Deep down the idea was not bad he needed a wife and Evangeline needed a mother figure. Such a change is good. He thought.

Change is good...
Isn't it?