Loreliee

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

How should he explain to her that him showing up late was out of tradition and not a lack of manners without telling her that he was the Earl of Summershire? He decided that silence would suffice his intentions. It would give her the false impression of being in the right and dampen the situation. No matter the consequences, he made sure that this evening would not even come remotely close to a disaster.

Whilst she was discussing their shared future, Adrian, unobtrusively analyzed her body language. After all the secret emails and messages they were finally sitting opposite each other. Almost unbelievable, but not too good to be true. To his astonishment, she didn't bother with small-talk but preferred to come straight to the point. No false flattery or compliments. She did not even pay attention to his dear watch. Her eyes were directed at his face and her hands rested in her lap. Ironically, she reminded him of his own mother when she had one of her angry moments. Forthright, but still managing to couch her words in polite terms.

"I am not going to pretend that my intentions are honourable." Adrian cleared his throat. "On the contrary, my sole object of interest is your fortune." There, said it. "The last few months have been less profitable and now it is my duty to save my enterprise from bankruptcy - or even complete ruin."
He leaned towards her, as if he was about to let her in on something. "Dear Azariah, your threats fall on deaf ears. Do you actually believe the public court would interfere in our affairs'? Trust me, they know me and they know better than to meddle in things that ought not to be meddled in."
Sitting back, he gave the waiter a small gesture to fill their glasses with champagne, his eyes still resting on Azariah's face.
"Now tell me, how do you plan to make this, I mean, - us work?"

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

After he had entered the room, Adrian noticed two things: Firstly, that Azariah lived up to his expectations, as she was even more beautiful in reallife than on the photos. Especially in this revealing dress. Secondly, that she was upset.
"Because surely, someone with the slightest smattering of manners would have let me know he would be so late."
Okay, upset was an understatement. Furious described it better. Not the reaction he had hoped for, but rage was easier to deal with than disappointment. It could have been worse.

"Lovely to see you Azariah. I wouldn't necessarily call our situation a cellular disruption. It is more like a whirlwind marriage out of a bad film. Why don't we sit down and have a drink?" Taking a few slow steps forward, Adrian pulled one of the chairs back and looked at her in anticipation.

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

Adrian was late. On purpose. As a noble, he had the privilege to be the last person to enter a festivity. It was even expected of him. As his future wife, Azariah should rather accept her fate and get used to it. Not for a second did he bother to contemplate whether she could consider his behaviour as an affront. Construe his lateness as a lack of dedication. No. After all, he had organised this dinner.

"You are looking handsome and powerful as always", reassured him one of his closer butlers, who was about to open the door to the dining room.
"What would I do without you Carl", Adrian replied. He checked the time on his Jaeger-Lecoutre watch and mentally prepared himself to set foot in the saloon. Was he nervous? He couldn't tell. His whole life had revolved around him being as confident as possible in any scenario. Timidity was an alien concept to him. This whole marriage is the reason for my sweaty palms. What else could it be?

Straightening himself, Adrian gave his butler a subtle nod and entered the room.

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

"She will wear the same ring every Countess of Summershire had worn before her, including me." With a flick of her wrist Lady Summershire revealed the huge engagement ring on her annular finger, that combined the elegance of floral-shaped diamonds with gold. The latter was, according to her, "timelessly beautiful." Generation after generation had shown off the family piece and now Azariah was expected to follow into the footsteps of the ladies before her. Not an easy way to perpetuate her name.

"She will without a doubt like it. Nevertheless your unconditional acceptance of her astonishes me. You never shared the same sympathies with my former girlfriends, who were English and well - you at least KNEW them. " Adrian voiced his thoughts, knowing that he had touched a sore spot.

The Dowager Countess pursed her lips. "Well, you never brought a decent woman home in the first place. Most of them were unemployed young girls looking for a rich man to fulfill their needs. Not competent enough to be either wife nor countess. Why do you need to mention this topic now? Don't tell me you had feelings for one of them."

"Of course I had feelings for them. Mostly physical, but some went deeper. I simply think you tend to forget that some women rejected my offer to enter a serious relationship with them. Not everybody can and wants to handle notoriety."

"Good. Your new American wife is famous enough to endure the downsides of this life."

Adrian knew the conversation was over and he shouldn't try to convince his mother any further. The more information he inquired, the more she was convinced that she had made the right decision. Instead, he would focus his energy on this evening, on plotting a favourable outcome for the sake of both of them.

Back in his bedroom, Adrian decided to put a classic black suit, coupled with a tie in dark blue, on for dinner. He didn't want to give away his noble status by wearing one of his ancestors' pieces. For the moment, he enjoyed the luxury of Azariah's lack of information about his rank. As soon as her 'lawyer' would advise her about her future life, her behaviour would change. It always did. And Adrian was determined to keep her, as long as possible, oblivious. A few days of freedom, of being treated like a normal person. He wasn't a commoner and he had never contemplated giving his title to his cousin, but like everyone else he was curious. What was it like to be treated as if you are inconspicuous? Today he would find out.

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re: Its a date...

Azariah,

What a hilarious story that would be! Although we should meet each other in order to write it. I hope you are prepared to meet me in an hour. Don't forget to bring your souvenir.

Adrian

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

Adrian had spend the last two days partying with his fellow lords, drinking whiskey and clinking glasses whenever someone shouted "God save our Queen". On one jolly evening, he even went so far as to declare that he would marry an American millionaire soon. A beautiful American heiress. Stunning through and through. If he had only refrained from showing them her travel photographs, the reactions would have been more enthusiastic ... or should he call it sympathetic?
Lord Douglas had wrinkled his nose and put his index finger on Adrian's screen. "She is delicate, my lord. But her style is too eccentric. How do you intend to tame her when everything about her screams recklessness?"
"Oh and those plush lips, I shall recommend her doctor to my wife", Lord Woodbridge chimed in.
"Not only her lips are lush. She somehow reminds me of my former mistress Sophie", another one added.
And then they all started a lenghty debate about the role of the American woman in the noble society. How she had to prove herself even more than an English woman and completely bow down to the unspoken rules of aristocracy. Had they only continued to keep themselves busy with the less controversial talk about their wives voluptuous bodies...

Adrian, who was already drunk, didn't bother to contradict their statements. Partly, because he knew that it would end badly and on the other hand because he shared most of their values. Probably not to the same extent as the older generation, but he had grown up with these men nevertheless. They were his family. Even though he couldn't choose his family, it still influenced and shaped him. However, the way they stated their opinions annoyed him. Was it necessary to be so vulgar and offensive? To an outsider the discussion must have sounded more like a dispute than an 'mature' exchange of personal views. When the fourth person commented on Azariah's 'ample bosom', Adrian had enough.
"My lords." He cleared his throat, as nobody paid attention. "Would you..." Again, the loud noise of the crowd drowned his voice. Someone chanted "God save our gracious Queen". More drinks were poured.

"EVERYBODY NOW SHUT THE FUCK UP!" 30 heads turned to Adrian. Shocked. There we go. He gave them a smug smile. "The party is over. You can discuss your business outside. Thank you."
Not waiting for their reactions, he turned around and left the parlour.

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re: It's a date...

Our eagerly-awaited date will take place tomorrow evening. I have sent a little present to your hotel room. I'd be pleased to see you wearing it tomorrow. Sleep well,

Adrian

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

Adrian chocked on his whiskey, after he had read Azariah's mail. "Anything amiss, my lord?" Lord Douglas eyed him apprehensively, attempting to put an arm around his shoulder. He was not only the the oldest lord in the room, but also the only Scotsman. The others had arrived from all over England and Wales, using the 'mens night out' as an excuse to escape their dull lifes at home. The meeting today had the sole reason to entertain the lordships and celebrate being part of the inner circle.
"I have never felt better." Adrian forced a smile on his lips and stepped aside, leaving Douglas to grasp at nothing.
As if nothing had happened, the Earl added: "How is your dear sister Magdalene? Is she still pursuing horseback riding in France?" Instead of riding other things. Lord Douglas coughed slightly, still recovering from his faux pas. "Well, my sister, my sister Magdalene..." And then he started to tell him about his sister's new married life in Paris, how happy she was and what her future endeavours were. Adrian stopped listening as soon as Douglas mentioned the word 'marriage' and rather concentrated on the words Azariah had just sent him.

certain it is a very lovely thing to see, set up exactly the way people expect, and no different than photographs available online. Truthfully, I have no desire to see the place, nor to throw support in anyway to what has historically been a very oppressive regime
Oppressive regime? The Queen? Azariah would be part of the oppressive regime mentioned. And for better or worse, she would have to deal with it. As controversial as his whole life might be, Aidan had never known anything else and would definitely not wait for an American to revolutionise his world and mindset. He was dead set on showing her the perks of being noble. Never in a thousand years would he allow her to spark criticism among his servants. They would marry, as refusal was off the table, and then silently file for divorce, just like she had suggested. No changes required, his affluence secured.

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

He hadn't slept much this night, due to obvious reasons, but decided to rise early nevertheless. Seize the day. Not that he solely lived by that motto, he preferred the mysteries of the night, but the recent changes to his life made it impossible for him to escape his reality for too long. Adrian randomly chose a dark jacket out ouf his wardrobe and also took the trousers and shirt next to it. When he was younger he used to consult Lord Melbourne when getting dressed in the morning or for a special occasion, but he had grown tired of it and now did everything himself. He only allowed his butlers to assist him outside his private rooms and even Lord Melbourne could not enter without his approval.

Whilst on his way to the men's parlour, he fished his phone out of his pocket and began typing:

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re: Is this for real?

Azariah,

I hope your flight is going well and you are as thrilled for England as I am to meet you. Unfortunately, this will not be earlier than our planned dinner in two days. I cannot afford to be seen in public, but I am more than certain that you will be fond of the market place. By the way, you are the first person who mentioned this as their first destination they want to explore. Most people opt for Madam Tussauds, the London Eye or Buckingham Palace. I hope you can use your time wisely as long as you're still single and American. And most importantly, have fun.

Adrian

He reread his message and then sent it. As a man, he couldn't resist the urge to check out her photograph again. Even with only a hint of makeup on her face she looked gorgeous and she undeniably beamed with joy. It could have been worse. Observing her selfie for one more second, he also remembered the etiquette she was supposed to follow soon. Which translated to no social media, no unprepared outings and most importantly no public opinion.

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

"Dear son. I didn't presume you would arrive during tea time." The Dowager countess scrutinized his outfit, a plain polo shirt coupled with a pair of beige-coloured trousers. "And you look... modern."
Adrian knew that modern meant unsuitable for someone whose every privilege originated from the deeds of his predecessors. And therefore his mother expected him to dress just like his grandfather. (His grandfather, who had claimed to have fought the German threat in both world wars, despite never having set foot on the battlefield. The medals and rewards were benefits of his title, not actual proof of his military service.)
"My pleasure to see you, too, mum", Adrian retorted and gave her a brief kiss on the cheek. Unlike himself, his mother was dressed to the nines in her Edwardian-esque dress. Slowly, she put down her afternoon tea and asked her two guests, young girls, presumably ladies, to leave the room for a short period of time. Adrian watched them giggle and bat their eyelashes at him, before following his mother's plea.

"No wonder people compare our life to Downtown Abbey", Adrian realised whilst looking over the impressive drawing room, as if he saw it for the first time. Without waiting for his mother's permission to sit down in his own house, he settled himself in the sofa opposite to her.
The Countess sneered. "Are you trying to say that I am comparable to the old Lady Grantham?"
"Not at all. I was just complementing your arrangement of the furnishings. But wasn't Lady Grantham just a great, witty character?"
Ignoring his comment, his mother clutched her hands in her lap and tilted her head to the side. "Why are you here?"
"We both know why I am here. To talk about us."
"Us? We haven't had a mother-son conversation in years."
"No, not us. Azariah and me."
"Oh, you are already an item?"
Adrian closed his eyes for a second, before shaking his head. "No, of course we're not", he said with vehemence.
"Then why do you know her name?" The countess impercebtibly raised her eyebrows.
"Melbourne has told me", Adrian lied. "And it is not like she isn't famous enough to be known." He gave her an awkward smile, hoping that she wouldn't call his advisor. She didn't.

"Then tell me, what is it that you need to know? Your wedding will be soon and everything has been sorted out, you shouldn't have to worry about it anymore."
Adrian stifled dissent. "Well, does she know my name for instance? Does she know who I am?"
"Who you are? A wonderful British gentleman looking for a well-mannered and well-educated bride, what else would she need to know? As long as she pay- I mean plays her part, everyhing will be fine. Your title will only help with persuading her to stay."
"Thank you, mother." Adrian knew everything he needed to know. He gave his mother a respectful nod and then left the drawing room. On his way out, he couldn't resist to pause next to the girls, who were patiently waiting in front of the door. "By the way ladies, you are more than welcome to try the delicious tea in my private rooms later." Leaving the chuckling girls behind, he headed back to his rooms, deciding to take a shower before his guests would show up.

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re: Is this for real?

Azariah,

8pm sounds good, but I have changed it to 10. Heeding my advice, the manager will arrange a private dining room for us. The discretion will save us from unsolicited photographs whilst enjoying the evening. I can also guarantee you that you will reside in the best rooms available. This will not effect your expenses in any way, as it is just a small favour I asked for.
I am looking forward to seeing you soon.

Adrian

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

Disappointed by his findings, or rather the lack of it, Adrian shut the Google browser and shaked his head in utter disbelief. Even the best stories about Azariah did not seem... truthful. They were meaningless. Unsubstantial. Unfavourable photos that didn't emphasise a possible dark side to her. For a few seconds Adrian had actually believed the tabloid story and contemplated calling Melbourne, but abandoned this plan as soon as he had watched an interview, which featured other celebrities describing Azariah's fit of dizziness as a cause of her illness after a trip. In spite of her fame, Azariah remained down-to-earth, making her even more likeable. And probably relatable to ordinary people. After all she was a commoner, her money did not come with blue blood. Not that it had any impact on her as an eligible partner nowadays. Meghan Markle represented just one of the many renowned examples. And a small, almost nonexistent part of Adrian was glad about it. He couldn't explain why, as he was a passionate advocate of noble prerogatives (not a surprise), but she awakened his curiousity in everything common.

Adrian mulled over the limited options he had, deciding that a marriage might not be as horrible as it had sounded just an hour ago. Frankly, he needed her dowry more than she needed his title. And on top of that, they could still settle for divorce afterwards, couldn't they? The innocuous procedure was uncomplicated and assured him to be able to pay his debts and lavish lifestlye. Nobody expected him to be her forever loving husband and Azariah herself had certainly no interest in fulfilling her duties as his wife. His wife. The sheer thought of it forced him to sit upright in his chair.

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re: Is this for real?

Azariah,

Everything has been sorted already? It almost sounds like they know of our intentions to thwart their plans. Regarding the news, I assume that I will meet you soon. Have they also told you that we are only allowed to see each other on our wedding way? I have almost forgotten that I am 25 by now.

PS. I recommend you the Lanesborough, a former countryhouse, that has been converted to a hotel. (Several reviews endorse my suggestion and the photographs are stunning.)

Adrian

Adrian stood up from his chair and left the room to find his mother, the Dowager Countess. At the same time he wondered if Azariah had any clue about her future match. It was conceivable, unless she already knew about him, that she was busy looking up British people named 'Adrian'. Sooner or later she might come across his name and then - then what? What would she think of him? And why did it even matter? Did it matter to him? Shaking his head, Adrian decided to postpone his speculations until he had talked to his mother.

A Perfect Match I Can Be Anyone and Loreliee

Adrian

Was that her casually chatting with George Clooney whilst sitting on a bench in L.A.? And on the next photograph she was without a doubt hugging Adam Levine. Adrian exhaled loudly, before he scrolled through more Google pictures. In his world, beautiful women were no rarity, but Azariah's looks went beyond a pleasant face. On every single shot her smile radiated joy and self-confidence, her eyes playing with the camera. And even her posture was flawless. This woman knew how to carry herself and ensure her long legs and blonde mane were the center of attention, whilst still managing to make it look effortless. Despite her young age she acted like a professional. She must have been born like this. Gifted by God or Mother Nature. Even the ladies I know do not posssess a fraction of her aura. Another few photographs popped up, showing her holding a cup of tea in an extravagant café in Paris and another one petting pandas in China. Always dressed for the occasion, clearly without having to worry about the cost of her glamorous lifestlye. Surely her many friends helped with that as well. However, as many celebrities as she seemed to be acquainted with, she did not share a 'past' with any of them. Only vague assumptions, but no bulletproof footage. No naked photos on a yacht or smooching with a big name. Just Azariah discovering all the places the world had to offer.

Adrian bit his lip, knowing that she exceeded his expectations. It was no coincidence, his mother had chosen the wealthiest and at the same time most discreet candidate for him. On one occasion Melbourne had mentioned Azariah's virginity, but after having seen these photographs, Adrian couldn't believe a word. (Not that he had ever cared about this particular prospect.) She might fool the world with her pictures, but not him. There was a catch to everything and now he was determinted to find it. Somewhere in the depths of the internet he hoped to detect a scandal that was convincing enough to stop this marriage. His mother wouldn't accept a 'bacheloress' with a dubious reputation and neither would the rest of the noble clan. Relieved at the thought, he pondered his words carefully. In the end, a prevented marriage would suit both parties, wouldn't it?

To: Azariah
From: Adrian
Subject: Re Is this for real?

Azariah,

The end of the week is in no less than three days. Has your lawyer applied for a Visa for you? Not that this would be legal in the first place, but with sufficient financial means he might have done anything, really.
I should go and ask my mum, she has probably asked the Queen herself to deliver your new British passport to you. Who knows, I wouldn't be suprised.

Adrian

Pleased with himself, he continued with his research about her. Azariah on a trip through the deserts of Australia, Azariah reading the newspaper whilst taking a bath in the Dead Sea, Azariah... unconscious after a night out? Barely blinking, Adrian scanned the article, convinced that he struck gold.