27. Dinner.

27. Dinner.
Caspian

I had to leave her.

But it almost killed me to do so.

The truth is I simply could not trust myself not to pull her close, and the feel of her hair as I removed the water for her... It was like heaven on my fingers, softer than the gentlest streams of water I have ever felt cascading through my hands. I shouldn't have done it, but she is still human and thus vulnerable to chills and illness. As much as it thrilled me to see her find joy in my power, I could not risk her becoming unwell.

But still the sight of her plays on my mind as I make my way to dinner; the way she danced and played, how her eyes lit up under the flash of lightning, the silken strands of her hair under my hand as I finally made contact with her, the way her tongue darted out to lick her lips .

She is radiance itself.

And I will not believe fate has given her to me as a mate, purely to torment me by keeping me from her eternally.

I enter the dining room, glancing briefly at the over done decor; golden finishes on the wall fixings, gaudy large carved statues. I should feel pleased by the depictions of my kind, magnificent horses rising from the water, yet they are just another example of these humans grasping for any tedious link to the ancient magesty this place used to hold. Even the table is set fit enough to feed at least twenty, yet there will only be six of us dining, all of it is completely over done.

An entirely wasteful display of overly conceited grandeur.

I stiffen my back in annoyance, as I wander through the room, it seems I am the first to arrive tonight. Unsurprisingly really, the others were far too impressed with their own conversational skills to bother much about time, and I expect Catherine is still getting ready. Female human fashions seem so complicated, so many laces and layers, not practical in the slightest. I find myself at the large window staring out into the twilight as I ruminate on how to get Catherine to the sea. The Duke and I are due to leave in tomorrow, to visit my ships in a small secluded cove by a quiet costal town. But, I am at a loss of how to ensure Catherine is brought along with us. It has been easy enough to convince the men that a trip is worthwhile, after all Lord Sorrell is the Duke's son and heir and should be involved in such a transaction, as should the attorney, and Doctor Hawkins definitely did not opt to stay here on his own.

But, Catherine? The humans do not typically mix their females in business decisions.

Taking in the enlightenments of this afternoon, Lord Sorrell may think it is too much of a risk to expose her to an environment that could reveal his nasty and true intentions towards her. Yet, there is always the possiblity that with the Duke's timeline hanging over him, I could convince him that such a gesture is too opportune to miss out on. He is on a countdown, and time away from her may not be the best way forward. Yet, that would mean investing myself and my time here with the leech himself, appearing that I am not only fully on his side, but on his wave length as well.

The thought alone makes my skin crawl.

What is harder is I am not entirely sure I will be able to talk about Catherine with him in the way I must to accomplish this. She is everything, and I cannot fathom how I could possibly demean her in the way that would be required. I respect her too much for such abhorrent behaviour.

I am sighing with discontent, when her sweet voice meets my ears.

"Oh, you must be Lord Varnur, I do apologise, I believed I would be the first to arrive." She smiles demurely, freezing when I turn around.

I love her recognition of me.

The silence between us stretches on for a moment as we take one another in. How I wish I knew what she was thinking as she stands there taking me in for the second time today. It is because of this moment that it takes me some time to register the gown she is wearing, so taken am I by the natural radiance of her eyes and the connection holding between us. But when I do, I am filled with a bitter anger, even I know enough of humans to see that he has purposely dressed my mate as a whore. Bright reds, cut low so her bust is almost spilling from the tightness of her bodice; even the pendant that sits upon her bosom is designed to attract the eye there. This is not the natural dress choice of my mate. I can tell by how she shrinks around herself, trying to use her shoulders to conceal as much of herself as possible.

This is how he expects her to receive his father? Dressed as though she herself was one of the courses on offer at dinner.

"Lord Varnur?" She asks hesitantly, pulling me from my anger as I still stand staring at her having not uttered a word.

I close my eyes, taking a deep breath to centre myself once more, before I offer her what I hope is a reassuring smile.

"Are you alright, Sir?" She asks, her voice betraying her rising nerves.

I am sure she can sense I mean more to her than she understands. It is just that her lack of understanding is making her wary and my behaviour will not be helping. But even in her current state I cannot help but notice just how beautiful she is, and it is making it difficult for me to restrain myself.

How I long to feel her in my arms again.

"Indeed, I am." I try to reassure her, wishing I could feel her body against my own. "I was merely lost in thought. I apologise, it must have seemed rude."

Catherine nods as she appraises me, "Nothing too distressing, I hope? You seem discontented." She froze, her hand raising to her mouth. "I am sorry, it is none of my business whatsoever. Please forgive me, I am still learning about the social intricacies and etiquettes of such esteemed company."

I laugh, casually waving off her worry and stepping closer to her. "It is of no brutal consequence to have such a charming lady offer me her concern. Please rest assured I am not offended."

Her cheeks blush, reddening at my compliment.

It is a beautiful sight.

"Please, tell me, am I right in assuming that you are the beautiful Miss Innes, I have heard so much of?" I ask, stepping closer to her, yet not as close as I want to be.

Her cheeks redden more, and I cannot help but smile at the sight before me.

"I am, thank you Sir" She smiles openly.

"And, it is you who we have to thank for this beautiful meal?" I ask, desperate for something to talk about with her.

I need to hear more of your voice.

Catherine looks at the table with a small frown. "I... I..." Her shoulders deflate somewhat and I could kick myself over her reaction.

However, before Catherine can find the words to answer me, the doors swing open and in enters Lord Sorrell.

"Ahh, Catherine, there you are, My Love." He states, in an almost proprieor like manner over her.

My body goes rigid as his hand slips about her waist, pulling her closely to himself, and I want to smash my fist into his face more than I have ever wanted anything in my life. This man will die painfully for the way he leers at her breasts, the way that his hand splays so his fingers brush against the underside of her bosom as he holds her painfully close to himself.

"Edward," she smiles back at him, though I can see how rigid she is; her smile does not meet her eyes.

I swear I can almost see her skin crawling under his clutches.

"What happened to the meal I arranged? There was supposed to be salmon, wild trout and fresh salads. As well as an onion soup and slices of ham." She asks him looking crestfallen, before turning away to the table full of roasted meats and vegetables.

I now understand her awkwardness now from before.

It was not of my doing.

"Ahh, yes, My Love, and a fine meal it would have been," he laughs at her. "If there was merely a table full of meek women to feed. But, this is my father's first night home in such a while, and as such I am glad I checked and changed the menu so as to not embarass you. You know, I always have your best interests at heart, Catherine." He states, squeezing her closer.

I could kill him on the spot, to speak to her in such a way.

Watching as he abuses not only her body but her mind, stripping away at her self confidence and making out he is doing her a service. He is beyond dispicable. How she has rallied herself against him is admirable, for despite his efforts I can sense he has not yet broken her.

And, I will not allow him to do so.

Catherine meekly nods, "Thank you, Edward. You are too kind to me."

Yet, this is not the confident woman I met on the beach. He has hollowed her out to a mere shadow of herself in his presence. Her confidence in her own ability has diminished so far that she thinks she must defer to him for all decisions and approvals.

"Such a shame," I cannot help but interject, just as the remaining members of our party join us. "I am very partial to salmon. Most fish actually. In my country we sustain ourselves predominantly on fish, though most of it would be from the sea. However, fresh water salmon would have been a rare delight indeed."

I cannot help but smile as Catherine's face lights up, despite the scowl upon Lord Sorrell's.

"We are having salmon? Wonderful, its been so long since I have eaten so well." Comes the Duke's booming voice as he joins us in the room.

I cannot help but contain my smirk at his son's expense.

"Alas father, we were. But I am afraid under my guidance we have instead, a richer and more fitting meal before us," Lord Sorrell replies unfazed.

To say I am shocked that he does not scapegoat my Catherine, is an understatement.

"I see," His Grace answers. "Not to fret," he adds, a smirk upon his own face, "After all our earlier talk, I find I am also quite partial to the plump breasts on offer, from that roast goose there on the table. What say you, Lord Varnur, are you more of a breast or thigh man?"

But before I can answer his eyes drift to Catherine.

"Forgive me my dear, I do not believe we have been introduced," he states, with his eyes struggling to maintain the level above her collar.

I hate these deplorable men.

"Ah yes, Father this is Miss Catherine Innes, she has captured my heart and agreed to be my wife." Lord Sorrell states, while pushing Catherine forward and more on display beneath his father's leering gaze.

She gracefully offers him a half curtsey of acknowledgement, and the moment her head dips down and her breatsts press against the bodice even more tightly, the Duke licks his lips.

I want to kill him as well. Slowly.

"I am honoured to meet you, Your Grace." She states flawlessly, and I am astounded by her courage and grace.

"Edward, I can see why she has you so enraptured," The Duke responds, a wry smile on his face. "I think you now only have a week and not a fortnight as previously discussed though, son. Now, Miss Innes, please come and sit by me. I am in need of a fairer company than the gentlemen here can provide."

A week.

My face is as pale as Lord Sorrell's. But for an entirely different reason, he is at a loss over losing what he deems a prize to his father. I am at a loss because the Duke intends to rape my mate in a week.

I will kill him before that happens.

We take our seats around the lavishly set table and I am on the other side of the Duke, directly across from Catherine. My abilty to watch her, is seconded only by my disappointment that I am not beside her; in a place where my arm can brush against hers, and I could block that blasted attorney from staring down upon her breasts on her other side. Her value is so much beyond this, and I must be strict upon myself to ensure that I do not throw my fork directly into his eyeball, and only allow myself such an enjoyment in my imagination.

It is a while before Catherine's sweet voice reaches my ears again as we begin to eat, but when it does I am thrilled that it is because it is me she is addressing.

"Lord Varnur?" She speaks up, pulling mine and everyone else's eyes to her; not that my eyes were very far from her in the first place. "Tell me if you will, you stated your country has a diet of fish, does that mean you are near the sea?"

She seemed nervous in her questioning, but I can tell it was playing on her mind long before she asked.

I am in her thoughts.

I smile openly at her, "Yes, we do. In fact we are a rich nation surrounded by the ocean." I do not miss how her eyes light up at my words, "I am to take it that you are fond of the water then, yes?"

"Most definitely," her eyes light up. "The coast is a place which has brought me much joy throughout my life, I miss the sea air most feverently."

"Catherine, you have never told me this?" Lord Sorrell, chimes in admonishingly.

"I am sorry, I had never intended to keep it from you. You have cared for me so well here, Edward, it must have simply slipped my mind." She answers easily, rolling her eyes at him when he looks away contented by her compliment.

Ignorant fool.

I smile at the sight of Catherine's disdain towards him, noticing her blush and panic when she sees I have spotted her.

Finally, I have it.

"Then you must join us all tomorrow on our expedition to see the ships I am hoping to sell to the good Duke here. There will be plenty of time for you to meander along the coast as we discuss business, and what a wonderful breath of fresh air your company shall bring to us as we travel," I blurt out.

"What a capital idea!" The Duke adds enthusiastically, unwittingly bolsetring my argument, although I dread to imagine what his lecherous reasons are.

Lord Sorrell is the only one who seems flustered, and it kills me that Catherine so easily defers to him for his opinion on the matter; refusing to even answer until his thoughts are known to her.

"My Catherine is not the best traveller, Lord Varnur. She became quite ill upon her journey here and I worry it will be too much for her constitution." He began.

"I understand," I say ruefully, uncaring that I am completely interrupting him. "It is a shame though, with only a week to enjoy such wonderful company, I thought such an expedition would be worth your efforts. How long has it been since you have seen the sea, Miss Innes?" I ask her directly, sewing what I hope are reasonable seeds of thought in Lord Sorrell's mind.

"I believe it has been at least seven months, My Lord." She responds quietly, and I can sense she is afraid to hope.

"That long? I know I would be most grateful to the man who returned me to the ocean after such a long period away. Most grateful indeed, and it is closer to Court is it not? Where I am sure Lord Sorrell would be most eager to present you afterwards." I acknowledge.

I hate myself for these musings.

But, I can see the seeds planted growing within Lord Sorrell's mind successfully, as he conjures up his opportunities should Catherine accompany us. Her gratitude is something he can manipulate further, and the location would be easier to offload her as he plans, plus with his father's shortened deadline, it may be his last opportunity.

"My dearest Catherine," he states looking at her warmly, "Would you like to accompany me on my trip with my father, to partake in some of the bracing sea air that will be on offer?"

"Oh Edward," she simpers out, "Do you really mean it?"

"Of course I do, I only wish to secure your happiness. Just say the word." He answers all too smoothly.

"Yes, yes I would love to!" She almost bounces with excitement.

Her face could light up the room with a smile so broad, which is just as well, otherwise the one on my own face may have brought me some undue attention.

I am taking you home.