Lovers and Reprisals (Lovers Series) (43 page)

“Ona...”  The sound of his voice crisscrossed her senses; and instead of hearing him, his pronouncement had felt like the caress of his fingers.  In that moment he’d wheeled one word that had had the power to overtake her.  She felt the sway of the floor before completely losing the strength in her legs.  A range of feelings overtook her; uncertainty, hesitation, resolution, then abject misery, brought on by defeat.  When she heard Lucien recite her name, she’d been jolted by her refusal.  Seeing Lucien had forced her to accept what she already knew.  She didn’t love Geff and she couldn’t give herself to him in marriage.  She lifted red rimmed eyes, and her knees grew weaker.  Lucien encased her in his arms, steadying her.  He’d wanted to shepherd her away, taking her to a part of his apartment where she wouldn’t be seen.  And he would have done that, but when he turned them both around, Marisela and Chantel had been standing just beyond the foyers entrance.  

Chantel wrinkled her forehead, and her eyes did a slow up and down appraisal, before saying...

“Lucien...perhaps I should call Clive and tell him to meet us at the restaurant.  By the look of things, you might need my assistance.”

Ona lowered her eyes, avoiding their gaze.  She felt Lucien’s fingers when he tightened his hold, and she felt a firmness in his chest when he spoke.

“Maybe you and Marisela should join Clive at the restaurant.”  His eyes narrowed when he said...”As a matter of fact...that’s exactly what you two ladies should do.” 

He looked at the door, then back to Chantel, and his voice hinted that she shouldn’t cross him.

“Don’t worry Chantel.  I’ve got this covered.”

Chantel looked at Marisela, and she couldn’t bare witnessing her disappointment.  She didn’t know at what point her friend had made the mistake of falling in love with her brother.  More to the point; she didn’t know what foolishness Lucien had gotten himself involved in.  A Samaritan girl; really!

“Come on Marisela.  Maybe my brother will join us later this evening.  It is getting rather late.” 

She averted his eyes, and the late hour reference was a dig at the Samaritan transportation system.  Chantel and Lucien had talked about the Samaritan ferry and she knew that the last boat for the day would be departing soon.

Marisela stepped out into the vestibule, dejected and before Chantel joined her, she gave her brother the evil eye.  He waited and watched as she closed the door and once she was on the other side; he heaved a sigh.  They were alone.  Lucien directed his attention on Ona.

“Ona...the ferry...”  He guided her out of the foyer, directing her into the living room area.  His brain sprung to life, recalling the dock schedule, then he said... 

“You’ll never make it back in time to board the last ferry.  Is there someone we can call to ask the boat master to wait?”

He led her to a chair because he didn’t trust that she wouldn’t fall.  He’d placed his hand at the curve of her back, and through her layers of clothing he could feel her trembling. 

Ona’s voice quavered.  The tone possessed no vigor and the sound was flat with a metered cadence.

“I had been on my way to Geff’s to join my parents when I heard the sound, indicating that the last ferry for the day was leaving in route to the dock.  I don’t know how it happened, but...my feet turned and my brain willed me in that direction.  I don’t even know what I said when the boat master reminded me of the time.”

Lucien kneeled in front of her.  He touched her hand, intending to lace her fingers, but instead he cupped her hands with both of his own.  Conclusions flashed in his brain, and he didn’t much care for any of his notions. 

He masked his disapproval when he said...

“How did you get here?  Did you walk...or did you take a bus”

Lucien’s apartment wasn’t within walking distance of the dock.  Normally whenever Ona traveled to see him, he would furnish one of his drivers.  He cringed, considering what she’d done without the use of one of his limos.  He rubbed her hands, generating heat to warm her fingers.  It was then that he’d begun to notice other things.  Ona’s expression was flat, and her eyes were red, and by the look of them he was certain that she’d been crying.  He lifted from his knees, taking a seat next to her on the sofa.  He turned partway then he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her into the warmth of his chest.  He stroked her hair, and he soothed her with the comfort of his words.

“You don’t have to answer that question.  You’re here now...and you’re safe; nothing else matters.  Whatever happened...you needn’t worry.  Whatever it is...we’ll figure it out together.”

Lucien felt a tug from his brain and the warning cautioned him not to make promises that he might not be able to keep.  As much as he wanted to sit, giving her the peaceful quiet that she seemed to need; he had to know what had occurred between her and her family.  What had been so awful, that she would risk coming to see him; all the while knowing that she would never make it back to the dock on time. 

He said her name, hoping that his calm would coax her out of her protective shell.

“Ona...you’re cold and you’re wet.  Baby...you’ll catch your death of cold if you don’t get out of these clothes.  Come on honey...follow me to the bedroom.  I’ll lay out something dry and warm for you to change into, and don’t worry--I’ll leave, giving you your privacy.”
She didn’t say a word, so he stood, and when he offered her his hand, he noticed her robotic movements.  Not long after she’d slipped out of her wet coat, then the dress that she’d worn for the party; Ona put on the dry clothes that Lucien had laid out for her to wear; a Yale sweatshirt that looked and felt like it had never been worn.  The matching pants were too large, and she’d rolled the band twice to shorten the length of the legs.  Her feet had begun to warm and she was beginning to feel the tips of her toes.  She heard a knock on the bedroom door, then she heard the knob slowly turning.  He partially opened the door, sticking his head in to peek.  Ona sat on the foot of his bed, dawning a pair of white sweat socks.  She didn’t know what she looked like to him, but when he walked into the room, his face held a pleased expression.

He said...

“Feel better?”

She nodded, because words still escaped her.  Ona had never defied her parents, her Sect or the Creeds.  She’d never considered action that went contrary to her Samaritan roots and to her, these events had gone far beyond her comprehension.  She felt as if she’d been living a dream.  Surreal or not; she had to regain control because by now, she was certain that her absence had been discovered.

Ona closed her eyes, because she couldn’t stomach the humiliation she’d heaped on her parents.  They deserved so much better. 

She raised her eyes, and when she looked at Lucien, her confusion doubled. 

She said...

“I’m sorry.”

Lucien crossed the room, joining her at the foot of his bed.

“What do you have to apologize for?”

“Allowing you to become involved with me.  I shouldn’t have done that.  I blame myself for breaking that Creed.”

“Ona...I am not a Samaritan and you don’t have to apologize for anything because we haven’t done anything wrong.  I love you...and the fact that you’ve risked everything to be here with me now; that says to me that you must love me as well.”

She sniffled, and she watched his hand when he placed her’s on his lap.  He said...

“What happened tonight?  Did you argue with your parents?  Did they tell you to leave...because of me?”

“No.  There was no argument.  Well...that isn’t quite true.  My brother Caleb...he was upset.”

Lucien frowned but not for the reason’s most would suspect.  In fact, he hadn’t been shocked when he learned about Caleb’s behavior.  He also surmised that more than likely, Caleb’s anger didn’t explain Ona’s presence, because her behavior was way out of bounds, and was contrary to Samaritan reasoning.  In the past, she’d practically set her watch, using the ferry schedules like most people rely on Atomic Clocks.  There was more to this tale, so he asked...

“Ona...why are you here?”

He was beyond thrilled that she’d come to him, but he needed to know what the cost had been.  What had she perceived to be so unbearable that her only choice was to resort to drastic measures?    

Ona said....

“My parents do not know that I am here.  I left because...I had no choice.  I...I cannot marry Geff...and I cannot marry you.”

“Ona, I agree with you; you can’t marry Geff, and I don’t want you to marry him, because I want you to be with me.”

“But how?”  she said.  Tears rolled down red cheeks.

“Ona, the time has come for me to talk to your parents.  There has to be a way.  Maybe, if they knew me...perhaps they could come to accept me and...”

Ona’s head shook violently, when she said...

“No, no, no...  It doesn’t work that way.  They would never accept you.  You aren’t Geff.”

“Sweetheart.”

Lucien didn’t have all the answers, but he wanted to relieve her torment, and he would do whatever she asked of him.

“Tell me what to do baby.  You tell me...and I’ll do it.  I love you Ona...and I’ll do whatever it takes; as long as it means that you won’t give in by marrying Geff.  Tell me that you won’t marry him Ona...and I’ll do whatever you ask.”

Her voice cracked when she said...

“Lucien...if I return to my Sect, I’ll come face to face with what I’ve done.  When I see my parents, I’ll have to confront the way that I’ve disgraced them.”

“What about Geff?  Will you be forced to speak to him?  And will he still want you to marry him, after what you’ve done?”

“Geff will marry me because he has accepted my parent’s blessing; and when I return home, I won’t be strong enough to decline his offer, because I’ll know that my refusal of marriage will disgrace my parents as well as my brothers.  There’s no way out for me now...I’ll have to marry Geff.”

“Ona...you don’t have to marry him.  You can say no...and if your parents love you, they will understand.”

“No...you don’t understand.  If I go back...”

“If?”  he said, and suddenly he began to comprehend.

“Ona...do you want to go back?  Do you want to return to your Sect?”

“Yes...I do...but I cannot.”

“Sweetie...you can stay here with me.  You don’t have to go back.  We can call your parents and tell them that you’re all right.  We can meet them tomorrow and discuss this.  Honey, we can meet them wherever they want.”

He pulled her into his arms, when he said...

“I’m sure, after we’ve had time to talk, they’ll understand.”

“No, they won’t.  My parents will request that I return with them...and I will.”

“But....”  he said, and he pulled back to stare into her eyes.  “You just said that...”  Lucien tried to recall what she’d said and he wondered if he’d misunderstood.  Had she come simply to tell him that she could never be his?  Did she risk all, simply to tell him that she was being forced to marry Geff?

Ona bit her lower lip, and he strained to hear her because her voice was a breathy whisper.

“I must be disgraced.  I must take the shame upon myself.  It’s the only way.”

“Ona...”  Lucien didn’t particularly care to hear her speak in those terms.  He said...  “Honey, call your parents now.  Get them on the phone, and we’ll figure this out.”
“I must be disgraced Lucien.  If I’m disgraced...then I cannot return to my Sect.”

He looked at her, and his expression was the definition of perplexed.
“Honey...what are you trying to say?”

“You must deflower me.”

His brows knitted into a frown, and he didn’t linger on her words.  From the start, he’d always known about her innocence; Ona was an unfolded flower--and he’d made every effort to keep her that way.  Nevertheless, she was suggesting the unthinkable and the idea went against every moral bone in his body.  He released his hold, unfolding their embrace and when he spoke, resolve laced every word.

“No.  Absolutely not.  I won’t do that Ona.  Not for the reasons you’re suggesting.”
“It’s the only way Lucien and I want you to do it.  I want you--and it’s the only way that I can make that happen.”

His lips pursed but before he could collect his thoughts, Ona said...

“You must take me...because we love each other.  And...if you refuse me...”  She couldn’t fathom her choice.  She couldn’t believe that she’d been brave enough to make the suggestion.  She reached out taking his hand into her own, then she drew from her well of confidence, choosing her words with care.

“I have loved you even though I knew that our love was forbidden.  I nurtured our relationship, even though I knew that my parents would never give their blessing.  I left my home, refusing to attend a dinner party, where Geff would propose to me, in the presence of both of our families.  I am here...in your home,--alone, unaccompanied by a member of my Sect or my family.”

Ona’s eyes fixed him with an earnest expression, when she said...

“I have done these things--and still, there is one offense that remains to be done.  I must give myself to you--and you must take me.  Lucien...it is the only way.  If I lose my innocence--the offense will demand that my Sect expel me.”