Chapter 1

Lady Christine Hillshire, lifting the hem of her shirt a little as she rushed down the corridor quickly so as not to be late for Carson's arrival.

She stepped out the large double doors just as the carriage with the bear and shield crest on the side stopped beside the large tall stone staircase leading up to the doors.

Down from the carriage stepped the tall nobleman, his blonde hair glistening from the rise of the midday sun.

His sharp cheekbones and square jaw sat firmly with a slight scowl. As he begins ascending the stairs, he glanced up and his countenance softened slightly.

Lady Christine dips into a deep curtsy when he reaches the top step, she then rises again quickly to enter his outstretched arms.

"So lovely to see you again, my dear." He drawled in a seductive voice. "How have you been while I was away?" Lady Christine started to reply, but was cut off as he kissed her in a deep kiss, then practically flung her aside as he turned and headed into the house.

Stumbling a little Christine caught herself on the railing, a slight confusion entered her mind for a moment her smile faltering, she shook herself to herself. "He must have a lot on his mind concerning his business." Sighing she straightened her skirt a little and headed back into the house.

Knowing he would be busy in his study for quite some time, Christine heads out towards the garden and on down the path that leads to an old small greenhouse in the far east corner.

Light flowed abundantly through the crystal glass lining the walls and ceiling of the greenhouse. The wood was old and partially rotted that held the glass in place.

The damp atmosphere welcomed Christine as she entered with a waft of citrus tingling her nose as walked along the overgrown cracked stone path, past a large lemon tree with its branches reaching above her head.

Flowers and bushes grew here and there in an unkept fashion for a little ways. As she made her way past an overgrown rose bush with dead branches that grasped and caught at her skirts.

The room opened up to a large area where an intricately designed wrought iron table and chair sat with an open book and tea setting for one on it.

Christine couldn't help but feel peaceful as she took a deep breath in of the smells of the flowers. she smiled as she sat upon the chair and listened to the birds singing in the overgrown trees and bushes. Bees were buzzing around the flowers she had been cultivating earlier that morning.

With a sigh of happiness she picked up her teacup that was still steaming from when she had poured it earlier and took a sip.

Butterflies fluttered around as the sun reflected off their colorful wings. She picked up her book and began to read, her story engulfed her and the time flew by quickly.

A clattering behind her jolted her out of the world of her book, as she looked up to see a maid with her skirt caught on the half dead branch of the rose bush.

The maid was mumbling something under her breath as she worked frantically to free her skirt. "Are you okay? Can I help you?"

Tugging her skirt free the young maid gave a hastily curtsy and smoothed her white apron. "My lady, The Duke is waiting for you to arrive for the noon day meal." Christine scrambled to her feet and looked around her as if searching for something before she turned to the maid and asked the time.

"It is now just past one, your ladyship." The Color drained from Christine's face as she brushed past the maid and rushed towards the house, with flying steps she nearly missed a step on the stairs to the backdoor as the maid rushed to open the door for her.

Her hurried steps could be heard through the halls as she neared the dining hall. Pausing just outside the door, before patting the imaginary dust from her skirts and stepping into the room.

Duke Carson stood at the head of the grand oak table with a slight furrowing to his handsome brow. "What took your time my dear wife?"

Christine's cheeks flushed as she opened her mouth to answer, but was cut off by his next words. "No matter. Sit, let us eat." She saw his face darken slightly as he took his seat without her.

"I am sorry I was late, my love." Duke Carson lifted his hand and stopped her words. "Eat, Christine." He frowned, as he quickly busied his hands with cutting his steak. Christine looked down at the meat on her plate, which was her least favorite and hesitated before she lifted her fork from the table.

They are in silence.

A couple days later, Christine sat in the library reading, The door opened and Carson enters.

"What are you doing in here? Were you not told to be making preparations for the party? It is only a fortnight away."

Startled, Christine quickly closes the book and stands up. Stammering. "I'm sorry Carson, I will get to it now." She headed to the door but as she passes him he grabs her arm lightly pinching it.

"I expect everything to be perfect, this is a very important event for my business." Christine flinched from the pain in her arm as he held on to her. "Yes, Carson, I am doing my best."

"I know you will." He replied, then planted a possessive kiss on her lips as he let go of her arm. He then pushes her towards the door. Christine stumbles forward. "Go, see to it!"

Christine hastens to the door and heads to the study where the invitations she had been working on earlier lay out on the desk.

Sitting down she again starts painstakingly writing out the words inviting the Lord's and ladies of the kingdom to the important event.

The Hillshire hosted this event every year and it was known of and attended by all the nobility. Even the king and queen were sure to be there.

Christine sat hunched over the desk, her hands aching as she wrote the same words over and over again. She paused a moment stretching her fingers, sighing as she looked at the growing pile of finished invitations and then at the slightly larger pile of unfinished.

As she picked up the next one and set it in front of her, suddenly the door swung open with a forceful bang.

Christine flinched as Carson's booming voice entered the room. "What are you doing in here?" He quickly crossed the room and grabbed her from the chair and pulled her up to a standing position.

"You are supposed to be in the kitchen preparing the list of food with the cook!" With eyes wide with fright Christine acknowledges him with a nod and runs from the room as he pushes her towards the door.

Her arm stinging in pain she rushes along the corridor, slowing once she enters the servants area. She pauses and takes a deep breath, regaining her composure just outside the kitchen.

Clearing the fear from her eyes and putting a smile on her lips she enters the kitchen. "Jeremy, are you ready to go over the dishes and hors d'oeuvres for the banquet?"

"Yes, your highness." Jeremy sets down the ladle he had just removed from a bubbling pot and picks up a stack of papers, he comes over to where Christine is standing. "Here they are, my lady."

After spending an hour going over the list with the cook Christine makes her way out into the garden. The afternoon sun beat down heavily on her head.

Tiredly she makes her way into the green house and sighs heavily as she sits on the chair. Pulling up her sleeves she inspects the large bruise on her arm.

"I should have been more aware of the time. I must do better. I am sure he did mean to hurt me." She sighed. Slowly she got up and kneeled on the stone path.

She picked up the watering can and began humming as she watered the pots of flowers she had lining the wall.