“Can’t a man be proud of his mate? Kids must think their old man is insane.”
If the moment wasn’t so serious, Elvira would have laughed. Instead, she hugged him.
“Darling. Husband. Lover. My mate.” she started, stepping around him so she could see his face. He was actually pouting. It was so adorable. “Your children are grown adults with minds of their own. They live with their parents. They were teasing you, love. Don’t you realize that they understand what we have between you and I…it’s a bond that no one…in all the centuries we’ve been together…has ever tried to break. They wouldn’t dare. None of their friends’ parents can hold a candle to the kind of love we share. They are pleased that we show each other and them that we are an unbreakable unit. What was it I said to you on our wedding day? “In this world and the next, forever bound, forever yours. You are my heart, my soul, my spirit, my laughter, my joy, my sadness, my pain, my fear, my one true love. You are the best of me, just as I am the best of you. You are my light on the darkest of days…my reason for breathing. And I will continue to love you until the end of time.” Dominique and Damion are the most precious gifts you have ever given me. And they are the proof of our everlasting love. Take what they say with a grain of salt…for they truly understand the both of us…probably better than we understand ourselves. They are your children after all.” She smiled at the end of her speech. She waited patiently for his reaction, positive or negative. But the love she held for him shone from her eyes.
Elvira stepped around and with eyes that showed her true adoration, she reminded him that the children were not babies anymore, but adults with knowledge of what their parents experienced. It was just that they didn’t want to have to picture their parents at it like young wolves. From Elvira’s perspective they were playfully teasing him, and he took a low blow all cause of his pride.
Slowly he lowered his head, to touch his forehead to hers, a sign he was at least paying attention to her. Her speech from their wedding made his heart swell with pride once more, and if she listened she could hear the affectionate growl sound come from his stomach and rise up his throat.
“Guess they do take after me. Damion is a handsome devil so we know where he gets that from. Dominique…well, lets just say I am glad to own an arms company. More guns than most to blast away any young wolves that try and tempt her from the family den.”
A father through and through.
<3>
“Guess they do take after me. Damion is a handsome devil so we know where he gets that from. Dominique…well, lets just say I am glad to own an arms company. More guns than most to blast away any young wolves that try and tempt her from the family den.”
She laughed good-naturedly as she pressed her hands to his cheeks. “She’s Daddy’s Little Girl and you know she seeks your approval on just about anything she does. I’m pretty sure any man that comes into her life, she will bring him before you for your approval.” she smiled warmly. “And I do not worry about Damion too much. He has a good head on his shoulders.” Elvira made a showing of straightening the lapels of his jacket and adjusting his tie. “So…we are good? No more pouting?”
“So…we are good? No more pouting?”
“Only if you promise that we can try again after dinner for that baby.” He said, actually joking but it was worth it just to see that look on her face. He had a wicked grin, wolfish almost as he then looked back at the door where he had come through.
“I bet you anything the kids think I am going to drag you off into the bushes right now and have my way.” Virgo said with a laugh, and wrapped his arms around her waist, drawing her in for a passionate kiss.
<3>
She grinned at him. “Anytime darling. Anytime.” she stated, wrapping her arms around his neck, more for comfort and physical contact then initiating anything sexual. They were both sexual creatures for sure, but they were more than that. They were a man and woman, mates for life, devoted to one another in the most basic of ways.
“I bet you anything the kids think I am going to drag you off into the bushes right now and have my way.” he grinned as he pulled her closer.
“And risk scratching myself on the thorns?” she gaped, looking over her shoulder at the rose bushes behind her. “I don’t bloody think so!” He laughed before pulling her in for a kiss. Even after all these years, his kisses still had the ability to make her swoon like a virgin on her wedding night. She drew back so she could see his face. “I love you, Virgo Marulo. So much.” she whispered tenderly.
To say that her daughter lived well would have been an understatement. The estate was huge, larger than the one they had lived in London. Bess sighed gently and closed her eyes as the cab pulled up around the huge fountain that divided one side of the courtyard with the other. When the car stopped, Bess handed the fair over the seat and stepped out. Dressed head to toe in black, Bess looked like she was heading to a funeral and not a sorely needed family reunion. The dress was long but sleeveless, the stockings were black, the shoes were black, the hat she wore was the same deep dark ebony of her own curls that were packet tightly below it. Bess cleared her throat and headed for the front door, the thing loomed above her, two brilliant brass knockers sat on either side of the double doors. Bess shifted her bag from both hands to one and went to use the one of the left. She lifted and dropped it twice before standing well back, like she was worried her very standing there would soil the wood or the stone walls of the manor.
Front Hall
She didn’t have to wait long however, the door was opened in a heartbeat and on the other side a tall but elderly man stood. He smiled at her, it was a kind smile, one that made her smile back instantly. “Ah, Ms Roxburg. Do come in.” he said, his voice as clear as the pale eyes that stared at her from under a pair of white, bushy eyebrows. Bess nodded her thank you and stepped into the hall. “May i take your coat, gloved, bag and hat?” he offered, holding out his arms slightly. “Oh-yes, thank you” she replied. She handed him the bag, her gloves and then her hat but before he coat help her with her coat, Bess had is shrugged of. He took it with another warm smile “Mistress Marulo will be down shortly, may i get you anything in the mean time?” Bess glanced away from a large portrait of a man she didn’t recognize and shook her head “No, but thank you for the offer”. The old Butler nodded, smiled again and proceeded to hang up her effects before heading of down the hall and through a small wooden door at the end. Bess watched him go with a smile, however when the door closed behind him she was painfully aware of how large the hall was and how alone she was. Gulping back a nervous breath, she clasped her hands in front of her stomach, wringing them together. Spying another portrait by the stairs, Bess headed over, trying to get her mind of the impending doom of meeting her daughter again. Her heels clipped against the marble as she paused in front of it. Elvira sat proudly in the middle, her husband behind the chair and their children sat and either side of her. Bess smiled softly, the picture reminded her of the one she had hung in the study of their old London Manor. This one seemed more expensive though, larger and a lot more colorful.
After lunch, they had all seperated to do personal things. Elvira had retreated to the sitting room and was sitting by the fire reading a book when Gerard found her some time later.
“Madame Roxburg has just arrived, Countess.” he announced. Elvira felt her heart pound in her chest.
“Thank you. I’ll be there in a moment.” she stated softly. He nodded and left Elvira to her thoughts.
It had been years since she had seen her mother, almost since the day of her father’s memorial service. Bess had become a hermit practically overnight and had little interaction with her children. Eventually they all fractured and seperated. Alice had run away, Juliette vanished, Bart stayed behind to run the family businesses and Elvira had married Virgo and started her own family.
To say she was nervous would be a huge understatement.
She got to her feet and went to finally meet her mother again.
Front Hall
The clack of her heels on the marbled floor announced Elvira’s presence to Bess as she headed toward her. She paused a few feet from her, taking in her features. Her mother was ageless, still looking the same as she had the last time she’d seen her, but there was an immense sadness in her, as if she was weighted down by it. Elvira stared into Bess’s eyes.
“Hi, Mum.” Elvira greeted in a soft voice, clasping her hands in front of her.
The Count had chosen to go and attend to some business while the rest of the family scattered around the estate. In the large oak lined walls of his business sanctuary, he was meeting with a fellow expat from the UK, Lord Chamberlain, who happened to have brought his daughter along with him. Lord Chamberlain’s daughter, Annabelle, was about the same age as Dominique, a pretty blonde however with soulful blue eyes. As the two men were discussing import deals, Annabelle was admiring the portraits and trophy cabinet of the Count. Every so often, she would glance over, and it seemed she found the Count attractive in a mysterious kind of way.
Lord Chamberlain was too busy going over signing documents, to worry about what his daughter was up to, and kept his head down, with the smoke from his pipe billowing around his head. The Count had already signed everything on his end, and had gotten up to pour himself a glass of brandy, when Annabelle sidled up next to him.
“I’ve heard a great deal about you, Count. My father speaks so highly, I had to come see if the legend was true.” The young girl’s eyes sparkled as she brushed her hand upon Virgo’s jacket arm. At first Virgo wasn’t sure what to make of it, and gave her a polite smile.
“I am sure whatever you were told was embellished. I am hardly a what you would call a legend.” He spoke with some authority, as the Lord Chamberlain coughed loudly and took off his glasses, turning around to see his daughter getting friendly with the Count.
“Annabelle…what have I told you about good graces and keeping your hands to yourself?” The Lord Chamberlain was a very serious man, rotund with a large mustache and a shock of red curly hair. His daughter didn’t take kindly to being told off, especially in front of the Count.
“Oh psh. You can hardly blame me with such…an engaging person like the Count.” Money was on this girl actually wanting to get to know the Count a whole lot better. Thankfully, he heard the sound of his wife’s footsteps on the marble of the foyer, and this gave him a good excuse to take his leave.
“Well, now that business is concluded, I feel I should attend to my family. Marcus. Lady Annabelle. Always a pleasure.” The Count said, bowing slightly, before exiting the room. Annabelle grinned like a Cheshire cat at her Father.
“Daddy…I want him.”
“He’s a married man….are you in sane?’ Marcus said, frowning at his daughter. Annabelle was used to getting what she wanted. Marcus then took her arm and escorted her out of the den, and out the back exit of the property. All the while, she looked back over her shoulder at the retreating Count. Plans were forming in her head….dark ones at that.
Front Hall
The Count came up behind Elvria as she greeted her mother, and he placed his hands upon Elvira’s shoulders, before leaning in to kiss her neck affectionately. Seeing Bess again was a rarity for him and he could only say
“Welcome to our home.”
<3>
Bess spun on the spot, her eyes wide and almost fearful. She nearly teared up then and there, “Elvira…” she breathed, a hand rising and laying flat against her chest. She inhaled sharply before exhaling with a breathy laugh “Look at you…” Bess stepped forward, pale eyes traveling from her daughters toes to her face. A smile broke out on the elder Roxburgs face whilst the hand that had been on her chest, came up to rest upon her lips. “I missed you…so much” she said softly, pressing her lips into a tight line and pleading with herself to show some restraint and not start bawling in the middle of the room.
As the count joined them, Bess glanced from her daughter to her husband and smiled, bowing her head “A pleasure to see you again and thank you” Bess turned her gaze upon her daughter “-For the invite, your home…it’s-” Bess looked up and around the huge opening hall of their home “-Beautiful..” she said, turning her attention back to the pair “Absolutely beautiful…”.
Bess lowered her hands and wrung them in front of her stomach again, Nerves had gotten the better of her again, there was so much she wanted to say…but was unable to find the words. So she just stood their, staring at the Count and her Daughter as if she were witnessing some miracle.
“Look at you…” Elvira smiled at her mother, tears starting to form in her own eyes. She took a deep breath, until her mother spoke once more.
“I missed you…so much.”
“I missed you too, mum. More than I can say.” Elvira whispered, stepping toward her mother. It couldn’t be helped. “I am so happy to see you.”
She felt more than heard her husband come up behind her and felt the comforting weight of his hands upon her shoulders as he greeted his mother-in-law to their home. Elvira took that brief moment to dry her tears with a hanky as she patted her husband’s hand upon her shoulder.
“A pleasure to see you again and thank you.” Elvira met her mother’s eyes. “-For the invite, your home…it’s…Beautiful..”
“Oh mum…don’t you realize that you’re always welcome here? You are family.” Elvira stated, seeing that her mother was as nervous as she was. She stepped up to her and pulled Bess into a hug, from daughter to mother, hoping Bess could feel the love pouring from her skin. “I love you. I never stopped loving you. I was a horrible child to you and for that I can never apologize enough. But now I understand…more than you know.”
