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While at the Wellstons' ball, there is more going on between Nicholas and Althia than just dancing.
The music began and Nicholas prayed that it would never end. Despite the other couples on the floor, he felt and saw only her. Her eyes never left him. They appeared searching, begging, pleading for all that he could provide--love, acceptance, security. He smiled, his heart swelling with love and pride.
"Has it ever occurred to you how Sir Langston ever gets his vest to button?" Nicholas wondered aloud.
Althia, shocked and taken aback, could do nothing but laugh.
His heart fed off of her laughter. He continued making remarks and observations about various people in the room. His only goal was to make her laugh--now and forever. They danced a number of times after the first waltz, their eyes never daring to leave each other for more than a few seconds at a time. Soon, they had the pleasure of a second waltz.
"I never realized you were such a graceful dancer, Lady Shevington," Edward called over to her, dancing with Cordelia.
"Yes, Althia," Cordelia chimed in. "It has been ages since we have seen you actually enjoying yourself."
"I must say, I do not know why you seem surprised, Lady Vaughn. It is often the company we keep that determines our happiness or lack thereof." Nicholas smiled as politely as possible as he whisked Althia away from the couple.
Althia could hardly hold back her laughter. "Cordelia shall not forgive you so easily for such a remark."
"It is not Cordelia whom I wish to impress upon." Nicholas looked down at Althia, the light from the candles reflecting in her eyes. He couldn't believe that everything he had imagined was now reality. This night could not be more perfect. However, as they spun to the music, he thought he could hear Catherine's voice. He turned his head quickly, but she was not there. He directed his attention back to Althia, but soon he could swear he heard Catherine call out his name. His head turned again.
"Is there someone you are looking for, Captain Metcalf?" Althia asked.
"No, no. I only thought I heard someone call my name. I apparently was mistaken." He attempted to keep his eyes and attention on her, but he could still hear Catherine's voice and--was that a baby crying in the background? His forehead and palms began to bead with sweat.
"Are you feeling well, Captain?" Althia began to become concerned. Maybe this was too much too soon?
"I assure you, I am quite well. Perhaps we could find a spot to cool down?"
Althia nodded and they gracefully exited the dance floor. Althia led him to the drawing room down the hallway. They separated as she moved to a large window at the back of the room looking out into the clear night sky.
Nicholas slowly made his way to her. "I believe the moon has found a rival for the affection of the stars," he murmured in her ear as he stood behind her.
"I am not a rival, Captain, merely an admirer. I do not think the moon will have much to fear from me." Althia refused to look at him, fearful of losing the last remaining pieces of her heart.
"Ah, but I can see already that two stars have taken refuge in your laughing eyes. It will only be a matter of time before the entire host find rest in your hair." He kissed the top of her head. "On your fingertips." He reached beside her and brought her fingers to his lips. "And on your mouth." Althia quickly moved away from him and the window over to the fireplace.
"Pray tell--what must I do to gain access to your heart?" Nicholas sounded as heartbroken as Althia felt and she kept her back to him so that he could not see her tears.
"It is not I who bar you entrance, but your wife and child. You are a man too worthy and too honorable to betray your vow." She quickly brushed the tears off her cheeks.
"Marriage!" he roared. "I have no marriage, Lady Shevington. What I have is a game of deceit and trickery that I had the misfortune to fall into. Would you like to hear about my marriage? Would that please you?" Nicholas could not stop the torrent of emotions coursing through his veins. He felt angry, betrayed, hopeless and damned. He had to explain it to her--somehow make her see that his marriage was a sham. Then Althia would understand and everything could be as it should be. He ran his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath as he tried to calm down.
"Catherine--my wife--was a friend of my sister's. She was affable enough, pleasant enough, but there was nothing about her to move me to marriage. I would come home on leave and she would come calling and we would have..." he paused and laughed slightly to himself, " "'rendezvous' shall we say? On one such holiday she informed me that she was with child and most assuredly it was of my seed. So, I did the honorable thing and we married." He laughed again, a bitter, angry laugh, and then turned to Althia.
"Then, by a great miracle, Lady Shevington, she was no longer with child. I also learned that I was not the first, nor only...suitor. She wished only to gain my father's fortune when he died, since I was now the eldest son. She had deceived me into marriage so I retreated to the sea. I spent every moment I possibly could on a ship. The child that was born to her--I know this to be true in my heart and I would swear it on everything holy--that child is not mine. My lovely wife has kept herself entertained in the manner to which she had become accustomed and I have become ashamed to return home."
Althia looked at the ground and then at him. "I am most sorry for your misfortune," she said at last. She wished to be able to reach out and somehow comfort him, to hold him in her arms and give herself to him. But whatever her desires, she knew that she could not allow herself to do so. It went against everything she believed in and held dear. To complicate matters thusly had already caused harm and put him in the situation he was in. "But it does not change the facts."
"You would rather me be alone and miserable? You can not mistake how I feel, Althia. Tell me you do not love me." Nicholas couldn't believe what he was hearing. This wasn't how it was supposed to be at all.
Althia removed her handkerchief from her handbag and held it to her mouth. She felt as though something was tearing her apart, ripping her entire body into shreds.
Nicholas reached for her shoulders. "Tell me you do not love me! Tell me!" He began to shake her, his emotions and rage beginning to control his actions.
"I cannot," she squealed, causing Nicholas to stop. "I cannot tell you I do not love you," she sobbed. "But my feelings change nothing. You are still married and, until you are not, we cannot be together. A man of your character and integrity..." She could not go on.
He started his defense again, but then stopped and sighed. He let go of her shoulders, defeated. "I'm afraid you are mistaken, Lady Shevington. You have more honor and integrity than I could ever hope to possess," resigned Nicholas. He reached for her hand and with his other hand gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "I am forever in your debt. I can only hope that my heart will suffice as a down payment." He kissed her hand and then somehow forced himself to leave the room.
Althia turned back to the fireplace and shoved her handkerchief to her mouth, hoping to stifle the sobs that were welling up inside her. She couldn't stay here and have everyone staring and talking. She had to get out of here and get back to the comfort of home.
Sir and Lady Langston peaked around the corner of the room. They had been looking for the two lovebirds, hopeful for news concerning an impending engagement. They saw a young woman with her back to them shaking almost uncontrollably, a muffled noise coming from her.
"Lady Shevington?" Sir Langston questioned. She turned slightly to see who it was. Recognizing Sir and Lady Langston, she turned and ran to them, throwing her arms around the large man.
"Althia? What has happened?" Sir and Lady Langston exchanged concerned looks.
"Get....John," were the only words Althia could articulate.
"You stay here with her," Sir Langston ordered as he handed the sobbing Althia off to his wife. "I'll go and alert her man to prepare the carriage." He then left the room, the echo of Althia's sobs still ringing in his ears.
Nicholas walked around the outside perimeter of the house. He wished for something to tear apart. Fabric, paper, his wife--anything to rip to pieces with his bare hands. She didn't want him. No, that wasn't completely true. She did want him, but not like this. What could he do? He tried to think of some line of reasoning that would cause her to change her mind, but everything revolved around Catherine. Even when she wasn't present, her treachery still reached him. He looked down and kicked a rock as he rounded the corner toward the front of the house.
"Captain Nicholas Metcalf?" a strong male voice asked.
"Yes?" Nicholas looked up to see two naval guards standing in his path.
"You are under arrest for the unauthorized abandonment of your station and conduct unbecoming an officer." The other guard produced shackles for his hands.
"What? What is going on? Who ordered this?" Nicholas sputtered as the guards apprehended him.
"All will be disclosed at your hearing, Captain. Now, if you'll just come along quietly." The guards began to lead him to the awaiting carriage. Nicholas could see a number of naval guards sitting atop and alongside the carriage. As he and his captors walked toward them, another carriage quickly took off. Nicholas looked in time to see John driving and a gloved hand gripping the inside ledge. Dejectedly, Nicholas followed the guards to their carriage and the fate that awaited him.
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