akela

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

No that's all great I promise. I'm sorry time has just flown by, and I thought I responded to this... a lot of times when I respond on the site the page will go white after I click submit. Most of the time it still goes through, but sometimes not.

Anyway, that sounds great I promise, sorry for the delay :(

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

who should play who in this situation to make it more interesting/work out best? :)

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

The week flew by for Claire both from excitement and anxiety. By Saturday evening everything was set, from the Hors d'oeuvres in the kitchen on glistening silver platters to the pins that held Claire’s hair in the most extravagant, lovely way to let a few locks cascade down around her neck to her left shoulder. For the night she had picked out a light purple dress, and of course the necklace Nicholas had given her before the wedding. Part of her was reminded of the more ‘negative’ days together, but she quickly dismissed it. The last week had been filled with time cuddling in bed, making her almost thankful for his wound; he never would have spent so much alone time with her if he’d been working.

To finish the outfit she had a black mask that covered the top half of her face, a couple flowers in the corner that matches ones in her hair. The guests had been arriving for the past fifteen minutes in groups of twos, threes, and fours. The entire estate was crowded with staff, friends, and of course those invited strictly for political reasons. They would be spoken to later; for now, Claire was surrounded by the women she hadn’t seen in much too long. It seemed her marriage to Nicholas and the wedding had helped her standing with them, and they all couldn’t get over how extravagant of a home someone that wasn’t nobility had provided.

“Where is his husband of yours, Claire? I haven’t gotten to see him, surely he isn’t hiding from you,” Martha McCoy said, fanning herself despite the cooling weather that evening. She was always doing it, Claire assumed it was just because she couldn’t sit still or wanted to remind people she was there even when silent.

“I’m not sure…I’m sure he’s busy greeting his own guests.” Honestly, despite her flirts of wanting to spend the night searching for each other in the crowd…Claire was eager for him to keep busy with his own devices. She needed to get vital information for the Professor, information that would hopefully be her last to pass on. Things were getting complicated, and she wanted out before they started a family, started a life. She couldn’t get close to her husband having something like this hanging over her head.

Claire had already spotted a couple of the higher military officials, her best bet to getting the job done quickly. With enough drinks and cute flirting she should get her way.

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

Claire couldn’t believe it. As soon as they were interrupted she let out a small, more animal squealing than actual ‘lady like’ sound, pressing her body against her husband. She stared at the maid with wide eyes, unsure if she wanted to yell at the woman or hide under the blanket in embarrassment.

His words about bleeding had already brought red to her cheeks, but this? Instead of saying anything she let Nick handle it, letting out a small groan as soon as she left. “I suppose it’s good she walked in, I don’t know how much longer I could have resisted you. Besides, I don’t think it’s the meal you originally spoke of finishing,” she answered with a guilty grin, getting comfortable beside him with a glance at the door to make sure they were really alone this time.

“Will you share this with me?”

“No I will not. You’re already not eating enough for a grown man lately, and I won’t take what little you’re having for this lunch.” She sighed deeply, running her fingers over his hair to straighten it out. He had a bad habit of doing it himself, only after his hand brushed through his gorgeous locks it looked like he’d just woken up. “You always mess it up,” she murmured, touching each piece until everything was in place again.

Her grin faded into a content smile. Claire sat back and looked at him with her hands in her lap, not saying anything for the longest time. “You’re beautiful,” she finally whispered. “I know that isn’t what a man wants to hear, but it’s true. I hated how charming and good looking you were when we met. I thought it must make you arrogant,” she giggled, reaching out to touch his cheek. “But I truly am falling in love you with you.” With a small blissful sigh she leaned forward again, placing a light, affectionate kiss on his lips. “I cannot wait to fall the rest of the way. Thank you for showing me how wonderful marriage can be. I don’t believe I could enjoy a single day of this with anyone but you.” Another kiss and she slipped off the bed, glancing at the door again.

“I know how much you enjoy speaking to your cousin, and I’m sure he’s terribly worried. I’ll leave you to it, all right? I need to finish preparations for the party, anyway. Try and get some sleep, all right?” She gave him a small blown kiss before heading out of the room and downstairs to tell Timothy he was welcome to come upstairs. As soon as she reached the sitting room Claire knocked before entering, forgetting that Nick had taken out a couple pins in the front of her hair, leaving a few blonde curls loose on the sides. It probably looked sexy, what with that and her silly smile giving hints as to what was on her mind.

“Hello, Timothy, it’s good to see you again. Nick is just finishing up lunch, you can go ahead up. Just- try to not keep him up too long, please? He didn’t get much rest, and while he won’t tell me what happened I’m just positive they put new stitches in. He’s got to be in pain,” she said with a shake of her head, the smile fading. Just talking about it made her want to ask him to leave so Nicholas would sleep.

“Oh! I’ll see you this weekend, right? You received your invitation?”

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

Ugh I swear.... lol anyway no big deal, happened to us last weekm

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

“You sound like you are in a hurry be get rid of me. With the way you’ve been acting the whole morning, I am worried that I didn’t meet your expectations last night. Tell me honestly, did I not?”

Claire’s eyes widened and her eyes darted toward the few in front of them. How could he say such a thing around them! Still she grinned, putting a hand to her cheek. “You went beyond my dreams, but perhaps I need another night to make any final judgments,” she answered in a whisper before they were approached by the doctor. She watched the two go back and forth with a guilty look on her face, starting to regret she kept him busy last night. He should have just laid still and gone to sleep.

As it was, Claire couldn’t bring herself to regret it. She nodded with a worried look as the two left, standing there alone with her thoughts. Someone, one of the maids, asked her a question but she didn’t hear. She wanted to still live in the dream of love, in what they had while alone. It seemed by his words Nicholas had brought that dream back with them, keeping it alive and well. But what if he was just flirting, and had no intention of spending so much time together again?

No, she couldn’t think like that. It was her own lying that made her assume Nicholas must be doing the same thing in his life, which was very foolish of her. Wasn’t that exactly what they’d spoken of at the river, exactly what had hurt him? Claire shook her head, heading inside to make the final arrangements for that weekend and see who had sent notes back agreeing to come. There were some key people that needed to attend.

******

Claire was visibly pouting as she walked down the carpet laid hallway carrying a silver tray with chicken soup and French bread. When she reached the master bedroom she knocked quietly before entering carefully, having difficulty with looking graceful while opening a door with full arms. Yet at the sight of her husband in bed yet again her features softened and she let out a soft sigh.

“I waited a full five minutes in the dining room before someone finally informed me you would not be able to join me. How difficult is it to just pass along that kind of information? Especially at lunch time, when I know the staff is aware since they were going to bring this up for you. Well not this exactly, the doctor was going to give you that gruel again but I convinced the cook this would be better for you,” she told him, placing the tray on his bedside table before going to the other side of the bed to sit by him.

“Be honest. No lying to me. How are you? Are you going to have to stay in bed even longer this time?” Claire said sadly, reaching out to touch his cheek. “I feel guilty. I swear I'm not touching you again until the whole wound is healed not even a scar.” She paused, blushing again. "All right, that's not true...but I'm still being careful. You obviously don't know or follow your limits, so I have to be the responsible one here."

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

Dang it i didnt know she had been on my computer! lol well at least I actually POSTED on mine.

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

"My wife and I are hosting a masquerade ball this coming weekend. We will be honored if you would consent to attend, right Claire?"

Words failed her at first. So much for forgetting her worries and duties to ‘the other side’. Claire stared at the professor, wishing he would just decline before she had to answer. But he didn’t. “Well…” Telling him the guest list was full would only make her look like a prude in front of her husband, and she didn’t want to give Professor White the impression she was trying to distance herself from him. Thought that’s exactly what she wanted to do.

“O-of course. It starts at seven o’clock. There will be hors d'oeuvres served. Be sure to wear your best costume, quite a lot of our friends will be there, we’d love to introduce you.” Her voice was timid, much different than her tone throughout their morning so far. They’d been teasing and flirting since they woke up, and now her arm that had been around Nick’s fell to her side. “I didn’t catch what’s bringing you to London, Professor.” It’s your turn to lie to my husband, she though, wondering what his excuse would be. Was it really for work?

“I am meeting with a fellow colleague on business. We are hoping to give a lecture together in the future,” he answered casually, to which Claire gave a small nod. Figures, he was able to give one line and get off the hook.

She looked back toward the ferry before giving Nick her attention again. “Should we move along? Don’t want to be stuck away from home much longer,” Claire said, nodding back toward the water. Others were already boarding, but her hurry was obvious. Even once on the boat Claire claimed sea sickness, leaving the deck she’d been eager to stand on to watch the water during their first ride. She wanted nothing to do with Professor White until the masquerade. Would want her to talk there? She would find out there, probably; he was always good about being clear in her plans.

A couple hours later the couple was pulling up to the estate looking worse for wear. Claire was tired and worried, and seeing their home only made reality crash down on her harder. It was quiet on the outside, making her wonder if his family was there waiting or not. “Would you like me to leave you be with the doctor when we get inside? I have plenty to keep me busy with the ball this weekend. Or perhaps I can call for your father, if you’d like to speak with him?” she asked when they’d stepped out of the carriage.

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

Uh...I think she'll forgive him fairly easily. I mean she'll be angry when they get to sit down and talk, but she'll be so afraid of what he thinks of her and want forgiveness that it won't be an issue at first. It really all depends on how he treats her for the next day or two.

Okay. So she'll pass on the info, and be called in as a witness and confess. That the plan?

All is Fair in Love and War [Akela & Nuada]

yeah, I can bring in a side character. Or you can if you have somebody in mind.

I like that, though. And how about she doesn't actually do it? He realizes he doesn't want to lose her, and she doesn't give up the information...that's why she spends a lot of time with the middle man, he's trying to convince her to give it up (despite it being false information like we planned).

I just feel like if she does this, there's no way he can forgive her. I want her to have a redeeming quality after committing murder and lying so much for the wrong side. What do you think? After the party she confesses the next day or after however much time he needs to fall for her and asks for his help.