Started 3/18/05

Chapter 22 – A summer ball

The Count made a spectacular entrance, although it had not been planned, for behind him came a lovely figure wrapped in a cloak of rich midnight velvet.

“By heavens,” Debray breathed. “It is Monte Cristo himself and his fair Greek!”

Lorelei kept her eyes down as she followed him. She felt at ease, but this house… and that man over there…

Fernand Mondego. We meet again.

But I shall keep control. Lance wouldn’t like it if I a panicked and caused a scene. So she smiled timidly, made little curtsies to the women, noticed several young men eyeing her to her disgust… and…

Looked up into the dreamiest pair of dark eyes she had ever seen.

Koga bowed. “I am Monsieur Koga Andrews, Lieutenant of the Spanish cavalry.”

“Pleased to meet you.” Lorelei offered him her hand, hearing a few muttered groans and curses come from the young noblemen. Idiots, all of them!

Maybe it was a good thing Lance was allowing her free rein…

This Koga was a soldier, not an aristocrat, and from Lance’s words, he had a good family… perhaps…?

Meanwhile, Ash had made his way to Lance’s side with a smile. “Welcome to our humble home, Count. I am so pleased you decided to attend.”

“How could I refuse an invitation from Madame de Morcerf?”

Ash winced slightly. He should have known that it wasn’t for his sake… however; his distraction did not completely escape notice.

“I enjoy your company as well, my dear Viscount…” The Count smiled.

Ash grinned. “Shall I show you the gardens? They are spectacular, and it is truly too warm to stifle inside the ballroom.”

“That would be lovely.” The Count murmured.

Delia watched with an irrational burst of fear. What did she have to hide from in her own house? Resolution set, she walked after them.

“Excuse me, Count, but I believe my son should keep his fiancée company. I would be glad to accompany you in his stead.” Delia said quietly, but with sufficient force behind her words to make her intentions clear.

Ash scowled. Just because his mom was so suspicious… sighing, he left and went to go find Sabrina.

“I would be honored to accompany you, Madame de Morcerf…” Monte Cristo smiled with a bow.

They walked along the shady paths. It was already late in the evening, and the sun was beginning to set, painting everything in warm hues of lavender and palest pink. “Do you know where I am leading you?”

“No, Madame, but as you see, I offer no resistance.” He replied softly.

“We are going to the greenhouse at the end of this path.”

Now that is interesting… why on earth… a quick scan before he realized with the woman was trying to trick him into doing. Well, he would not fall for the trap that easily… golden eyes darkened imperceptibly. Foolish woman.

Luscious purple grapes glittered on stems, lightly sprinkled in droplets of dew. Delia reached up and picked a bunch off, smiling. “Count, I know that our French grapes must be nothing compared to yours of Cyprus and Sicily, but you must make allowances for our northern sun. Pease, try them.”

And please, please eat it… I need to know that you are my friend, that you will not harm my son…

My little Ashura…

“Pray excuse me, Madame,” Monte Cristo replied with a bow, “But I never eat muscatel grapes.”

Delia sighed inwardly. This was not going well. Casting a glance around, she spotted a lovely ripe peach. “Take this peach then.”

He shook his head. He didn’t need to eat anymore, but he liked doing so. Sometimes. However, whatever Delia was trying to pull, it would not work.

Now if Ashura offered, on the other hand… well, she didn’t know, did she?

By now, tears were beginning to stand out on her face. “Count, please, just for me?” Her façade of hospitality dropped, revealing raw tension.

She was suffering? She deserved it. A few seconds was nothing compared to years and years…

“Madame, although your fruits are quite lovely to the eye, I must confess that I have no appetite.” There, that ought to be politely distant. Perhaps later, he could try something…

“Count,” Delia was close to begging, “There is a beautiful Arabian custom, that makes friends of two who have shared bread and salt underneath the same roof.”

“I have heard of it, Madame, but we are in France and not in Arabia, and here eternal friendships are as rare as the custom you have just mentioned.”

“But we are friends, are we not?” She almost begged.

“Certainly we are. Why should we be otherwise?”

Unfortunately, this response was not what Delia had expected to hear, and she was close to breaking down in front of the stranger. She must protect her son, somehow! What else should she do?

“Then…”

What a wanton whore this woman had turned out to be! He cringed in disgust as she glanced at him with a gaze totally fixated on carnal pleasures. “We are alone…”

“I will not betray my friendship with your son to indulge in a few moments of sin.” He snapped, turning around to leave.

Behind a convenient orange tree, Ash had just spotted what had gone on. Anger curled in his stomach.

What was his mother trying to do?

Hadn’t he given her his word that he and the Count were friends? She was trying to force him to eat, first of all, and then!

He felt immensely sorry for his father now.

What other men had his mother had? That was a rather sickening thought.

Delia grabbed Monte Cristo’s arm. “Please!” She begged.

“Let go of me.” He hissed in response, leaving the greenhouse. Along his way back, he spotted Lorelei and Koga engaged in an active discussion about foreign military affairs. He also didn’t miss the shy glances they cast at each other.

Interesting.

Well, Lorelei deserved someone to truly love her. He was happy for her. Koga was an upright man, as his father had been before him.

Sabrina…

Suddenly, the prospect of marriage and getting away from his mother did not sound so unappealing.

Ash knew he could do far worse. She was clever, musical, and cold. At the very least, he could knock her up and then live the rest of his life out in a state of luxury. Her parents were far richer than his.

So it would be okay… right?

End Chapter

Completed 3/18/05

Yep, she’ll do anything for the son… right? *Laughs*