《Eventually Yours》4 Endlessly
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I detested balls.
It wasn't that I was antisocial, as Benthem has suggested, or even that I disliked the outright debauchery and bastardization of wealth these inbred elitists foisted upon each other. It was the society, the expectations, the manners. I had far too much to do and far greater a mind than to debase myself with spending time wondering whether so and so would take offense should I not spare a dance for his eldest daughter.
That was another thing I detested. Dancing.
But I'd been born and raised knowing my place and, unfortunately, that was to be featured prominently at such balls.
The Harringtons, more specifically the Countess, had gone to great lengths to plan this charade for me so I may as well look the part of the dashing Duke they hoped to boast of hosting. I was trying out my false smiles when a knock came at my door and I bid my visitor enter, straightening my collar as I did. I heard the door open and shut behind me and looked in the mirror to see that Benthem had entered.
"They are starting to arrive," he told me and I nodded. At least, I wouldn't have to leave the estate to attend this party. The idea of adding a carriage ride to this mix made my nostrils flare in disgust. "Victor..."
"What?" I asked, turning at his tone. What was that there? Warning?
"The Countess," he said. "She can be... persistent. She'll want you in a receiving line to introduce you to everyone who enters. It's expected that you present yourself in such a way."
I refrained from rolling my eyes as I sorted out my sleeves.
"Is that all?" I asked.
He cleared his throat and I could tell that, in fact, was not all.
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"Word has gotten out," Benthem started, averting his gaze, and I could tell that I was not going to like this. "Of an eligible bachelor with a lofty title staying with Earl Harrington in the midst of the season. The Countess reports the most responses she's ever gotten from invitations to her balls. And it seems quite a few of those who are coming are young women or the mothers of young women."
I closed my eyes and took a breath. I closed my eyes. I supposed this wasn't a surprise. Truly, it should have been expected. But that did not assist with my irritation.
"Well then," I spoke more formally as I passed Benthem to approach the door. "Let us go then."
"I will meet you there. I must escort my wife."
I looked back at him and raised a brow. Was he truly to leave me in the clutches of the Countess in a town that he knew well but I was a stranger to?
"Elijah will attend you," Benthem promised, resting a hand on my shoulder for encouragement. "You can trust him. I do."
Unconvinced, I made my way out of my room and down the stairs where Elijah was waiting for me. He had been speaking with an older gentleman whom I did not recognize but dismissed him when he saw me approach.
"Benthem has warned you about the receiving line?" Elijah asked with a smile as I joined him and we walked on through the hallway toward the ballroom.
"He has," I assured him, straightening my lapel.
"Excellent. Unfortunately, it is custom but I will be at your side and I'll do what I can to keep my mother from prying."
I nodded a thanks though I wasn't sure if Elijah was at all capable of quelling the Countess. No one seemed to be able to take on that challenge, least of all her husband, the Earl.
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Servants opened the doors to the ballroom for us and we entered to a scattered crowd of the older elite, having arrived early to make a point of being there before retiring just before the party could truly begin. The Countess was waiting for us near the door and smiled broadly when we approached. She introduced us to the woman she had been speaking with, an older woman who had married into wealth long ago and dripped disdain for anyone she deemed beneath her newly elevated status. She alone had me wanting to flee this ballroom before the festivities could properly begin.
But I didn't. I maintained my smile and my polite affectation even as more guests began to arrive and I found myself having to abide by introduction after introduction. People who would remember me but I would never remember them. Men who bowed to my title, women who smirked at my wealth, and eligible girls who puffed out their cleavage and batted their eyelashes so fervently one would think they were suffering a stroke.
At one point, when one of them, a busty blonde who had taken the time to pencil in a mole upon her cheek for some reason, finally sauntered away, I heard Elijah snort and I couldn't help but smile as I looked up at him and saw him fighting to contain his laughter. I felt a bit of relief at that. Knowing that I wasn't the only one who felt how ridiculous all of this truly was.
I saw her about halfway through the receiving line. She was on the other end of the ballroom, simultaneously looking around for someone and ducking into corners so as not to be seen. It was curious behavior and indecisive to boot. But I couldn't help but smile in amusement as I watched her take a few steps forward only for her eyes to widen and she would rush away again. I scanned the crowd, trying to determine who she was hiding from, but no one seemed particularly ruthless. Still, watching her gave me some form of entertainment during the beginning of this dreary ball.
"You man," I said then, gesturing at one of the nearby servants. He hastened over immediately to obey and I lowered my voice to give the command so that only he could hear. "There is a box in my- Elijah's study. It contains a dozen or so chocolates. See to it that it gets to the Lady Ella, won't you? Place it in her room or something."
He nodded in understanding and rushed off to do as I bid and I stood back up, smiling at the thought of her returning to her rooms to find a box of the chocolates she loved so dearly.
I caught Elijah watching me curiously from the corner of my eye so I cleared my throat and focused on greeting the next person in line. And then I did it again. And again. Endlessly.
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The Vampire's Pastry Chef (ONC 2022)
|| CO-WINNER THE AMBYS 2022 VAMPIRES CATEGORY || When single mother and baker Autumn Milford is hired to cater a high-end party in the Berkshires, she discovers the "special ingredient" she is required to use isn't just the quirk of an eccentric millionaire ...------------Autumn Milford has been determined to rely on no one but herself after her parents kicked her out at seventeen. With the money she's due to earn from catering a high-end party in the Berkshires, she'll finally have enough to open up her own storefront bakery. But her employer is not just another eccentric millionaire and his guests aren't your average denizens of high society. Autumn is about to discover that creatures of the night are real ... and they're eating her cinnamon rolls.Corbin Westbrook would rather cut off his own head than host the once-a-decade gathering of the New England Knowing. There have been sightings of a Fallen in the area and it is Corbin's duty to ensure that the creature is disposed of. But to decline such an "honor" is ill-advised. Left with no choice but to throw the party, Corbin stays as far away from the event planning as possible ... until he meets the baker.Hold onto your cinnamon rolls, it's going to be a sweet ride!------------ONC 2022 Prompt20. You manage a catering company. The latest request has a few ... interesting menu items.[Status: Complete][Word Count: 28,000][Content warning: PG-13 for mild swearing, violence, sensuality, and fade-to-black intimacy.][ [ Highest rankings ] ][#1 in Baking 2/26/22][#1 in Singleparent 4/1/22][#1 in Paranormalromance 4/14/22][#8 in Paranormal 4/11/22][#10 in ONC2022 4/14/22][#11 in Supernatural 5/3/22][#16 in Vampireromance 4/20/22][#20 in Romance 4/11/22]Cover by @chessaandersen
8 72Still Waters
Natasha has been in love with Collin since elementary school. But when Collin's random bursts of anger turn into even more frequent bouts of violence, Natasha wonders more and more who she's really dealing with. Natasha's best friend Kenney has always known EXACTLY who Collin is, and has never held his tongue about it. As her friend, Kenney has never turned his back on her, and has tried repeatedly to help her get out of her current situation. There's only one problem. Two, actually... Kenney is, has, and will always be completely and totally in love with Natasha. And Collin knows it. Natasha, of course, is completely and totally in love with Collin. So in love that she's willing to put up with anything just to keep him close. And the closer Natasha gets to Collin, the more he hurts her. The more Collin hurts her, the harder it is for Kenney to maintain his own self-control and not step in to get rid of Collin for her. Will Kenney get through to Natasha in time to save her life, without risking his own? Will Natasha finally see Collin for the abuser that he is? Will she ever realize that Kenney's love for her is so much more than just a friend thing? Will Natasha finally recognize the fact that every heart is a deep, dark ocean, and that what lies beneath is not always only what can be seen on the surface? Will she accept the fact that still waters do run deep, and that some waters are safe to jump into head first... While other waters should never be tested? Now available on Amazon! Get your copy today! ❤️ Still Waters: An HBCU Tale (The Still Waters Series) (Volume 1) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0692869409/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_BXNHzbEF6EW3C Still Waters [email protected] Love Is Blind [email protected]
8 251Daminette Fanfic - Arranged Marriage Conflict: My Story
Hey guys, I'm back with another story. The title says it all. But if you want a little sneak peek then here: ~~~~~Please, Give me till December to find a match! I'm begging you! I'm tired of you choosing my future and trying to control my life! If you don't then I will run away again! Fine. But if you don't find one then we will choose your suitor! Understood? Yes, thank you. And to help you with that, we will be holding a ball every other Saturday night for all of the wealthiest people and our closest workers and associates. Don't mess this up. Yes mother, father. ~~~~~As I previously stated in my announcement this has: - Daminette- Jason x Marin- Rich Mari- Arranged Marriage- League of Assassins- Adrien saltPlease also check out: 1. Daminette Fanfic: My Story 2. Daminette/ Marin Fanfic: My Story 3. Daminette/ Teen Titans Fanfic: My Story 4. A Vampire and A Werewolf (Daminette) Fanfic: My Story 5. A Vampire and A Werewolf (Daminette) Fanfic 2: My Story 6. Daminette Spies Fanfic: My Story7. Miraculous One Shots Fanfic: My Story8. Daminette Mermaids Fanfic: My Story 9. Daminette Soulmates Fanfic: My Story11. Daminette Fanfic - His Luna, Her Alpha: My Story*Remember, the images and pics you see here aren't mine neither are the characters. Obviously. The credit goes to dc and miraculous ladybug and the original artists of the pics*Well that's all, Bug Out!!~EssyMLBDC~
8 194ᴍʏ ᴍᴏᴍ ɪs ᴡʜᴏ? ✔︎
Meet Cody, an average teenager, dealing with a rough home life and the school bully, who just so happens to be her Captain on the high school soccer team. Thinking her life can only get worse, not better, she jumps at the chance to go to a USWNT game with her best friend Jack. Little did Cody know, her life is about to change forever.⚠️ Trigger warning - this story contains/mentions alcoholism, addiction and abuse.
8 158Lucky Penny (MxB)
Work, eat, sleep, and look after his little brother. This was Austin's daily routine. All until billionaire Maddox Stone came bursting into his living room.Maddox wanted Austin the moment he laid eyes on the 18 year old. Now, all he has to do is convince Austin to sign the contract. By any means necessary.(MxB, Bdsm, Contract Sex, Age Gap, Dubious Consent, Kidnapping, Language, Explicit Content, Romance) [Un-Edited] Excerpt:"The contract and pen sat on the floor, maybe an arm's reach away. Of course, I didn't intend to find out. No matter how fiercely my traitorous body reacted to Mr. Stone, there was no fucking way I would reach for that contract. The empty dotted line seemed to taunt me as the scratch of Maddox's pen, and the lick of the flames, filled the silence."Best Rankings:#1 in abduction (10/28/22)#1 in Coercion (10/26/22)#1 in boyxman (11/14/22)#1 in bdsm (11/14/22)#2 in contract (11/14/22)#14 in manxman (11/14/22)#15 in lgbt (11/14/22)#18 in Debt (10/20/22)P.S. I know It's kinda a cliche type of book, but I had fun writing it sooooo why not :) I also wrote it on Inkitt last year, so my writing skills are a little outdated (Not bad...at least I don't think lol, but my punctuation awareness has improved) but I will edit eventually. When I stop being lazy :)
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🥇#1 in 'period drama' - 08/08/21 & 01/06/22Diana has a loving family but she's never really felt 'at home'. She and her family go and visit an old regency house one day but for some reason it all seems very familiar to Diana.When all of a sudden things take a turn for the worst and Diana wakes up 200 years in the past. However, once she starts getting used to things and finds herself falling for someone, it becomes difficult to understand where 'home' actually is.⚠️swearing, and some adult themes⚠️Note: all banners and covers used are not mine - I've gotten them off of Pinterest
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