- Frank Lane

Nearly a fortnight has passed and Rhea had not received another of those letters. She trusts that it was likely a mistake and was glad that she did not share such unnecessary problems with Hadrian. In fact, she's ecstatic. Hadrian is also quite well; seeing as there have not been any incidents towards his wife or himself.

Hope that the situation has settled begins to rise and Rhea is anxious. Something is not quite right with the situation, but she has been dreadfully desperate for a break from all this madness. Hadrian spends an obscene amount of time with her now that they have insight on Lord Utteridge.

Everything is falling into place, they have never been better. Rhea's sickness is fading and Hadrian has finally relaxed, even becoming playful, at times. It lightens Rhea's heart to see him in such spirits.

Lately, her thoughts have trailed toward having a child. She could easily picture her husband with a squalling child in his arms, with his features and knowing eyes, cradling the babe to his chest.

Rhea's face heats up with emotion and she cannot hold back the desire to feel her own babe in her arms. She found no opportune time to mention it to Hadrian, yet she knew he desired an heir. But is that what's to become of the child?

An heir to dukedom, without love and care?

Rhea had no wish for such meager situations on her child's behalf. So immersed was she in her thoughts that she did not hear the footsteps enter into her drawing room, stopping right behind her, until she felt the soft brush of Hadrian's mouth on her nape. She shivered involuntarily.

God, this man was beautiful. He brought her to her knees and made her want to worship him and all his glory. The intensity of her emotions frightened Rhea, but she eagerly opened herself up to them, knowing that it was a privilege to look upon him and his splendor.

Rhea's eyes closed as she felt Hadrian's finger's trail down her arm and back up again. She let out a shaky sigh and opened her eyes again. Hadrian continues to lay kisses on her nape, coming over to her jawline.

After several moments of him holding her just so, he whisper's in her ears, "Do you know how stunning you look, little wife?"

Rhea's entire body bursts into flames. Hadrian always had a way of shocking her with his words. She did not know how she managed to survive them each day, they always broke her down and melted her from the inside.

"Hadrian . . ." Rhea whispered.

"Now, now, you know I cannot resist you. Must you distract me so that we cannot go on this excursion with the Brighton's?"

Rhea giggled, she knew Hadrian had no desire to go on this outing with Lady Amelia and Lord Daniel Brighton. She had heard quite the stories about the pair of them, but did not believe them to be true; merely petty rumors.

"You would find any excuse to not attend. Pray tell, what bothers you?" Rhea asked, turning around to face her husband.

As always, the man was breathtakingly handsome. His hair had been combed back and his attire fit just right. Rhea always reveled in his beauty. He was like Adonis, a god, and she was no less than willing to please him.

Hadrian scowled, "The entire lot. Their household is utter misfortune, I do not enjoy having you tainted by such."

"Ah, my love, who says I am not already tainted?" Rhea grinned cheekily.

Hadrian returned her grin, "That is wholly different and you know it."

Rhea shook her head. She opened her mouth to retaliate when Clarke interrupted, announcing the arrival of the Brighton's.

Hadrian grimaced and cursed under his breath. He looked down at his wife and sighed. Offering his hand to her, she accepted, he led her to the entryway and greeted their guests.

"Lord and Lady Brighton, how wonderful it is for you to join us," Hadrian greeted.

Rhea took a moment to survey the couple. Lord Daniel Brighton had golden locks for hair, rich and plentiful. His eyes were pure blue, almost the lightest blue she'd ever seen. He stood as tall as her husband, perhaps a bit taller. He was lean in form and very handsome. Rhea smiled slightly, remembering her husband's reluctance to accept luncheon with them.

Rhea moved over to observe Lord Brighton's wife. Lady Amelia was just as beautiful. Her hair was black and raised into a chignon, dark locks had been gently position around her face, making her features appear softer. Her eyes were green, not very prominent, but Rhea could see them quite well. Lady Amelia was also quite tall, coming up to her husband's nose. Rhea had seen tall women, but Amelia must have surpassed them all.

"I would like to introduce to you my wife, Rhea, the Duchess of Vale. Rhea, my love, this is Lord Daniel and Lady Amelia, the Count and Countess of Brighton," Hadrian presented.

Rhea curtsied smiled pleasantly, "How do you do?"

"How do you do?" Daniel bowed and Amelia curtsied. After ridding of the pleasantries, Hadrian led the group outdoors to the fields.

It was especially magnificent this morning. The heavens were clear and not a cloud marked the sky. The fields were green and healthy, rich with color and smell. The trees were already beginning to show the presence of autumn. Leaves were becoming brown, orange, and red. They fell and scattered on the ground.

The area was peaceful and calming. Rhea immensely enjoyed coming out here and wandering the gardens. It was one of her favorite pastimes. Usually Hadrian would accompany her and they'd walk the manor's grounds together.

"If it is alright, I'd like to see your flesh in the stables. I've heard rumors of the wealth and impressiveness, but I am not certain they would rival my own." Lord Brighton smiled, his teeth showing openly.

Rhea was unsure if it was meant as a joke or if the man was being serious. Hadrian looked calm, there was no tension in his shoulders and he took the other man in ease. Hadrian moved his gaze to her own.

"Are you quite alright, my lady?" he asked. Rhea nodded. She watched as Lord Brighton and her husband stalk towards the stable houses. She stood in union with Lady Brighton.

"I must say, my lady, that you got quite a catch," Lady Brighton murmured.

Rhea smiled, "So have you, it would seem. Lord Brighton seems to be a wonderful man."

Lady Brighton looked ahead, not revealing anything. "Hmm,"

"Have you any children, my lady?" Rhea wondered.

"Ah, yes, little Robert and Emma," Lady Brighton smiled. "Four and six years."

"How wonderful, congratulations, my lady-"

"Yes, yes," Lady Brighton snapped. "It eludes me, my lady, as to why you wedded so swiftly. "One wonders if there was another reason behind it."

"My lady!" Rhea gasped, Lady Brighton continued.

"How did you manipulate the duke into wedding you? Did you blackmail him?" Lady Brighton demanded.

Rhea was speechless, she could not grasp anything solid to stabilize her in this tumultuous wave.

Lady Brighton glared at the young woman, her eyes like daggers, stabbing into Rhea. "You will never be worth the value that your husband is. You are merely a little girl with a man whose needs are much too high for you to satisfy."

Lady Brighton trailed ahead of Rhea, leaving Rhea in the dust of a disastrous spectacle. Rhea could not believe the gall of the other woman. How dare she step into her home and accuse her of such horrid themes? Tears threatened to spill out and Rhea struggled to maintain, at least, her dignity.

Rhea wondered what she had done to deserve such cruelty. She could never imagined that she would give up her humble means for a life of unjust hate and malice for a man who did not return her love.

Rhea shook her head. She would not allow those hateful words to influence her. She was the wife of the Duke of Vale. She would march out of this debacle with her head held high. She was not a . . . a spectacle to be laughed at, to be hated.

Rhea slowly settled her breathing and closed her eyes, waiting for herself to calm down before she returned to the group. After a moment of doing so, she gradually came to meet up with the Brighton's and Hadrian.

Hadrian looked worried before he caught sight of his wife. He gave her a relieved smile and she returned it slightly. Hadrian frowned at the lack of affection but continued to smile at their guests.

Rhea sighed and caught Lady Brighton's sneer. The woman knew she was disrupting her bond with Hadrian, hoping to get some satisfaction. Rhea couldn't understand this deviousness. Why would Lady Brighton care about her marriage? Why would she care about whether or not Rhea could be a sufficient wife?

Rhea's eyes widened with the sudden realization.

Unless Lady Brighton was a part of Hadrian's before their marriage.

Hadrian could not figure out what was wrong with his wife. She seemed distraught when she came into the parlor, but now she looked physically ill. He wondered if she was sick again, hating the thought of her suffering those bouts of sickness.

He observed her as they sat down to begin eating lunch. He dwelled on the moments that they spent together before he showed Lord Brighton his horseflesh.

She had been quite alright before he left her.

Hadrian's gaze shifted to Lady Brighton who was happily eating her meal and chattering about some damn ball that they attended the day before. His eyes narrowed as she shifted and gave him a small smile.

Could Amelia cause the change of Rhea's mood so swiftly? He did not doubt it. That woman was a snake, always trying to cause trouble wherever she went. She had cunning and relentlessness that made her ruthless. She was the cause of rumors and dramatics.

Damn it, he had no doubt now that she could've troubled Rhea. He dreaded what the woman said to her to cause Rhea to look so distressed. He glanced at his wife once more as she ate her fare.

Lord Brighton picked up where Lady Brighton left off and continued to speak about the ball before switching to boasting about his gain from hunting last season and what it would be like this season.

Hadrian barely managed to stay awake during the tedious speech when he felt a hand – a woman's hand – trail up his thigh. Immediately he knew it could not be Rhea, her hands were too short to reach him.

He shot out of his seat with a loud yell.

He turned to Lord Brighton with a furious expression. "Control your wife, Daniel."

Lady Brighton's eyes widened and she sputtered. "I say!"

Lord Brighton also stood, his eyes bleeding fury. "Is this how you treat your guests, Hadrian? This is poor manners."

"How dare you accuse me of such! I'll have the constables on you in a matter of seconds!" Lady Brighton screeched.

"I would not be surprised, seeing as you most likely slept with the entire force." Hadrian commented monotonously.

Lady Brighton let out a furious screech and Lord Brighton's face became purple in his pent up anger.

"I would suggest you leave my presence and my home now," Hadrian proposed.

"This is preposterous, Hadrian! I demand to see justice!" Lord Brighton cried.

"You and your little trollop of a wife-"

"I," Hadrian said loudly, startling Lady Brighton, "do not take threats lightly. Especially if it is to my wife. I'd advise you to remember that. This is the last time I'm warning you. Should I hear the slightest murmur or rumor of my wife, I will ruin your name and leave you cut off from the ton. Now get out."

Lady Brighton looked indignant and spiteful as she walked ahead of her husband who called out, "This is not the last you'll hear of us," and left.

Hadrian looked around the room for Rhea and found her still seated, having left her food alone. She was looking down at her hands. Hadrian moved towards her and she stiffened. He ignored it and continued until he had her in his arms.

He held her tightly to him, holding her close, making sure to be gentle at the same time. Rhea kept her arms to her sides, she did not reciprocate his embrace. Hadrian closed his eyes, anguished that she had to witness what happened.

"I am dreadfully sorry, my love. I would never want you to witness such a scene."

Rhea only nodded. Hadrian clench his teeth. He put a hand under her chin and forced her to look up at him. When he saw the tears threatening to spill his heart stopped beating.

"Please, tell me what it is I must do. I shall do it. Anything." Hadrian pleaded. Rhea tried to look away but Hadrian had her locked on him. "Do not turn from me, Rhea. I must know what you need. Tell me, please."

Rhea inhaled a unsteady breath closing her eyes. When she opened them she looked into Hadrian's eyes and uttered the words that nearly destroyed him.

"Did you take Lady Brighton to your bed?"

Hadrian's mouth dropped open in shock. He could not believe that she had said such vile words. Dear god, he would never take Lady Brighton to his bed, never would he.

"My god, Rhea, no. Pray tell, why would you say such things?" Hadrian cried.

Rhea let out a small whimper and shut her eyes, Hadrian did not know if it was in tiredness or plain relief. Perhaps both.

"She . . . that horrible woman . . . she said things that I could not – I would not believe, but she insinuated that-" tears began to spill onto her cheeks and Hadrian could not bear his wife's distresses.

"Enough, I will hear no more. She is gone now, I will not allow her to come near you again; I vow this." Hadrian promised.

Rhea finally wrapped her arms around him and Hadrian let out a sigh of relief. Anger came again swiftly at the trouble the Brighton's had managed to cause yet again. Hadrian would crush them and destroy them, slowly, without care to what it would cause.

"Do not," Rhea whispered. Hadrian stiffened.

"What, my love?"

"Do not cause them additional harm." Rhea murmured.

Hadrian reined in his anger, "Why should I not make them grovel at your feet and worship you? Why should I not make them compensate for the trouble and hurt they have caused?"

"Because it is not your right." Rhea said, "Their due will come, leave them. You will destroy not only their lives but the lives of their children. Children do not deserve the vindictiveness and animosity that their parents have earned. Let them be and take care of your wife."

Hadrian exhaled and turned to kiss Rhea's temple. They stood together for several moments before he nodded. "Alright, my wise wife. I shall heed your command." Rhea slumped in relief.

Hadrian gently rubbed her, thinking how quickly their lives faced dilemma after dilemma. Would they not ever get a break? Was their lives meant to face such opposition? Hadrian looked down at his wife, so small and vulnerable in his arms. How strong she had become to face this day.

He would protect her no matter what they faced.