InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Firebrand ❯ Unrequited Love ( Chapter 2 )

Firebrand

FaTaLfURy

Chapter Two - Unrequited Love

He only had one true desire in this life.

And that, which is unattainable to him.

Forever.

The Lady Kikyou Anne Winters.

She of the fair face and genteel manners every lady should try to emulate.

Well, they can try- and fail in the endeavor.

Lucas Onigumo Bradon, Marquis of Montmouth and heir to the House of Norfolk, sighed loudly and tucked his arms behind his head. He is in bed on that spring midday, along with a certain companion.

A shapely thigh draped about his calves, a feminine shape snuggling deeper into his frame.

"What's wrong, darlin'?"

The marquis cracked his eyes open to look at Yura, a farm girl in their family estate. They've been acquainted for years, although Yura has turned far better now than before.

She had been slightly plump to his taste, and her hair short-far shorter than a girl should have. Her skin was a little coarser back then for his own liking, but she is a good lass who strived to please him, so he put up with her.

Now is a transformation. Her past inadequacies, due to some minor adjustments she has made, is now turned into an enhanced version of herself.

Where she had been plump before to dress herself in tight, form-fitting gowns, she is now slimmer- though her shape still held it's past baggage- her luscious attributes showing quite nicely in some of the gowns he had given her as gifts.

Her hair grew out quite agreeably, and she preferred to keep it in their shoulder-length waves to keep the tangles out of it, and her skin is now smoother than before.

All because of him, and his want to see her for the better. After all, she made a good company in bed. It was the least he could do for her.

But it is also because she listens to him-his desires, his dreams, his ambitions-things he normally would not reveal to his fellow peers, but bared to her.

Today was no exception. Whenever she senses something wrong with him, she always asks. And he always replies-truthfully.

Onigumo sighed once again, and proceeded to tell her of his dilemma.

"It is my father. It seems the Duke of Norfolk is now sick and bedridden,"

"Then that's great news, isn't it? You are the heir to the dukedom, so you'll be the next one," Yura commented excitedly.

He gave her a scathing glance.

"I may be many evil things, Yura; but I am still a son. I will not wish for the old man to die, even though the thought of the dukedom being handed down to me holds great appeal,"

The girl is silent for a moment after his confession, but started once again.

"That's not all, is it?"

She knew him so well.

He gave another sigh.

"The Lady Winters,"

"Again,"

He removed her legs from his person immediately, and she complied, reclining on the bed almost the same way as he is.

"Yes, again. Kikyou will forever be imbedded on my mind, and will always be the first and foremost thought I will ever think about,"

Yura rolled her eyes at such passionate speech, but continued to listen to him.

"It is agony for me to see her with de Monteforte, knowing that they are planning their wedding soon,"

"They are? Well, it's about time don't you think so?"

At that, the marquis stood up quickly and looked at her in disdain.

"No, I don't think so! And I never will think of otherwise! In my mind, the Lady Winters should only be married to one man; none other than me,"

"Then why don't you propose to her? Surely it's that easy,"

"You twit. Of course it's not. Haven't I told you she's planning her wedding to the Duke of Windshire? She would reject my suit in no time,"

Yura thought for a moment. Then came up with an idea.

"Then pray that your father does die, and leave you with your inheritance. Then you'll be a duke too. There's no way she's rejecting you then,"

He strode to the window, and looked outside. He is pondering suggestion the girl has given him. In one point, she may be right but in this instance…

No.

Kikyou will not simply be bought by a title. Besides, the Lord Grey has that and more. Wealth, good looks, strength of character, prominence and connections.

Most of which he had none.

No, that plan would never do. Another plan should be brought out.

A rolling carriage stopping by his front door caught his attention. A slim young man emerged from it and proceeded to make his presence known.

Naraku Elliot Havemeyer, Viscount Sedrick-a dear friend of his.

Not to mention the Lady Winters' stepbrother.

=================================================

The butler announced the viscount's presence.

"Lord Havemeyer, Viscount Sedrick comes calling, my lord,"

Lucas has been waiting for him. Dressed now in his morning clothes, he went down to the dining room to partake in the afternoon meal he had the staff ready for them.

The viscount turned to him the moment he stepped into the room.

"Ah my good friend Lucas. Still in your morning clothes? Hmm, I wonder what sort of activity you had been indulging in before I came along?"

The mischief in Elliot's eyes could not be mistaken. He knows what the marquis has been doing… and with whom.

"Is Yura still upstairs?"

Lord Montmouth waved his hand in gesture and sat down at the head of the table, waiting for the kitchen maids to finish laying down their repast.

"Yes, she is still there. And before you ask, no you can't borrow her as of yet. I still have plans of ending my day with her,"

Viscount Sedrick also sat down, opting for the chair nearest to the lord's left side and proceeded to fill his plate with food.

"A pity, Onigumo. I would very much like to at least spend some time with the lovely Yura. Another time, I reckon,"

The marquis is busy eating away.

The girl in question arrives and sat down to join them. She is wearing a revealing robe, and nothing else.

Lord Havemeyer breaks the silence.

"I have heard of the news of your father's health. Is it true, Lucas?"

"Regretfully, yes. My father is now bedridden and seems to just be awaiting death,"

The viscount then put down his utensils and reached for the marquis' hand and shakes it.

"Congratulations are in order then! Behold, the new Duke of Norfolk,"

Naraku snickered mockingly, while Yura applauds.

"Stop it, both of you. There are far more pressing matters to attend to than my inheritance," he said irritably.

"Oh yes. The one we were talking about earlier, darlin'? About Kik-"

Before Yura could say another syllable, Onigumo's hand clamped on her mouth, stopping her dialogue. He ordered all of his servants to leave them alone in the dining room.

He waited and watched as one by one his servants left, and the butler closed the door behind him. He removed his hand.

"We have to be quiet about this. My staff isn't fooling me, someone's probably listening in on this conversation,"

"Let me take care of that for you, my friend. Now what is this all about?" Naraku asked, bored.

"Your stepsister,"

"Kikyou? What of her?"

"She's marrying de Monteforte in about three months' time, and I won't have it!"

Now the viscount's interest is piqued. It is of no secret that the Marquis of Montmouth wants the Lady Winters. But such vehemence coming from his friend on the said lady's behalf is unheard of.

It might actually be that this time, Onigumo is determined to have his stepsister-anyway he can have her.

"We have to formulate a plan so that the wedding will be stopped,"

"I was suggesting one earlier, but he disregarded it,"

Naraku quirked his brows.

"And what was it, Yura?"

"For him to wait to be the next duke. Then the Lady Kikyou would have a hard time refusing him, right?"

Elliot shook his head in disbelief.

"For once, you could have been right, my dear. It's just that Lucas' competition here IS already a duke, and more. Add that to the fact that my dear stepsister happens to be in love with him, and vice versa. Voila! An unshakeable relationship in the making,"

The marquis' hands slammed down on the table in objection.

"They will not wed-I will not stand by and watch her marry someone else. That someone should be me, and by God, I will do EVERYTHING in my power to make it so,"

Yura stopped sipping at her tea enough to ask a question.

"How do you suppose we stop them?"

The wheels on Naraku's brain are working overtime. In order to help his friend, they have to rely on drastic measures. To ensure their success, they have to plan carefully and discreetly.

"I have the beginnings of a plan. But it will take time, research and resources. Between the three of us, it should work out nicely. All we have to do first is find another lady-"

The doors of the dining room swung open, and enter the butler.

"The Mistress Woodbine has just arrived, my lord,"

The three conspirators looked at each other briefly, and in their mind one thing sparked:

`Bingo!'

=================================================

Kagome tiredly walked over to the staircase, waiting for the footmen to carry her luggage up the stairs and into the guest room reserved for her.

The Duke of Norfolk's health is failing, and since he is her initial guardian while she is in England, she had no choice but to follow his edicts.

The Duke felt that a proper young lady should not be allowed to stay inside a sick man's abode, much less his room. After her attempts at helping to care for him, he decided to send her to his firstborn son's home.

And so here she is.

Kagome wanted nothing else but to return to America since her guardian is in hardship, but the Lady Bradon is adamant about her staying and fulfilling her grandfather's wishes.

If they weren't such nice people and weren't her grandfather's friends, she would have told them to go to Hell.

As it was, she had no choice but to either follow in the duke's request… or be off to the palace and stay with the king and queen.

Although that would sound lovely, and the royal couple has been extremely wonderful to her, she felt as though she's intruding into somewhere she doesn't really belong to.

Add in the fact that the arrogant duke would also be there, and it just won't do.

So she chose to be here.

Oh, but how she missed her grandpa and wished she could go home…

Her reverie is interrupted by the sound of a door being slammed shut, coming from the directions of the dining room.

She supposed it is her temporary guardian, and knew that is customary to present one's self to her host, but her tired body and exhausted mind would not permit her to.

The bed is calling her, and she places one foot up the step…

"Ah, you must be Miss Woodbine!"

Kagome whirled her head around and was surprised to see three very different people staring back at her.

The one who spoke is still in his morning clothes, and she supposed he's the Marquis of Montmouth. She passed him off to be idyllic and lazy in nature.

The only lady (if she could be called as such by her garb) in the room is looking at her with an eyebrow arched haughtily. In accordance to her dress, Kagome summed up she's the reason the marquis is still in his morning clothes and is the marquis' mistress. Therefore, she's suffering from jealousy bouts because of Kagome's arrival.

`Oh please. As though I would willingly latch myself to him,'

Kagome fought the urge to roll her eyes back at them. Luckily, she turned to the third party.

A wiry man dressed in the latest expensive fashion stood there with the two. Black wavy hair cascaded down to his shoulders in a half ponytail. The man could be dubbed handsome if not for his eyes.

`This man has malice in him as well. And why for God's sake does he wear violet eyecolor!?'

The last discovery unnerved her, so she schooled her face into serenity and approached the marquis delicately.

"Forgive my untimely arrival, my lord. But it was imperative to your father that I arrive here right away. Yes, I am Kagome Rose Woodbine,"

After that, she made a perfect curtsy. The marquis seemed to be hypnotized by her. He didn't move.

The lady had to nudge him twice before he reacted. Still in her curtsy, he caught her hand in his and urged her to rise. Then he kissed her hand.

"Mistress Woodbine, I am enchanted," he murmured.

And still he refused to let go of her hand.

"My lord? My hand, if you please,"

The marquis seemed to be shaking out of a dream, and he reddened profusely while giving her hand back.

"Forgive me, my dear. It's just that you remind me of someone…"

`The Lady Winters. Not again,' she groaned silently in her head.

"And by the way, this is my good friend visiting for the day, the Viscount Sedrick, Elliot Havemeyer,"

Kagome made another curtsy, and withdrew just in time to avoid the viscount's courtesy kiss.

"I have heard so much about you, Miss Woodbine. It would seem you charmed the king and queen right away,"

"Begging your pardon, Viscount Sedrick, but I did not. And if you would excuse me, I would really like to retire now,"

"Of course, my dear. Drummond will see you up to your room. I hope you find it to your liking. Drummond?"

The butler comes running out of nowhere to stand before his employer.

"Take Miss Woodbine up to her room and see that she is comfortable,"

"Yes, my lord. Miss, if you may?"

"My apologies once again, my lord. And thank you for your hospitality,"

"A pleasure, Mistress,"

=================================================

The trio stood, still staring at the girl. After the sound of footsteps disappeared, they went back to the dining room to talk.

"So that is Miss Woodbine. The ton seems to be talking about her frequently. The king and queen seems to be taken with her, along with other suitors taken with her beauty,"

"Are you alright, darlin'?"

Onigumo shook his head from his stupor.

"She looks like Kikyou. They could be passed for twins,"

"Exactly. That's why she'll be perfect. Come to the ball tonight, and escort the girl. We'll find out more there,"

`More's the pity since I seem to be taken with her too…'