― E.E. Cummings

― Kiera Cass, The One

Hours later, Rhea laid in Hadrian's arms, in their bed, at the manor, completely and utterly satisfied. She couldn't remember being this happy in her life - not even during their honeymoon.

Rhea smiled against Hadrian's chest, lightly kissing his skin as he gently perused her hair; the blonde locks falling from his deft fingers. Several times, Rhea had expected for this heaven-like moment to disappear; vanish as she awakened into reality. But she had yet to do so, and when she subtly pinched her arm she knew this was no dream.

She still could not fathom how they had managed to get through all the past ordeals and tribulations unscathed. Well, mostly. Rhea found herself praying her thanks and fortune, grateful to have her husband at her side.

Thinking about past troubles had Rhea glance up at Hadrian with a pondering look.

Hadrian smiled at her, noticing his wife's curious stare. He knew, from past experience, that she had a thought dwelling on her mind and was about to let him know of it.

"Hadrian?" Rhea murmured, looking at him seriously.

Hadrian tried not to grin. How did one take his wife in such stern consideration? He didn't know how, but he managed to hold back his smile.

"Yes, my love?"

"Pray tell, whatever happened to Lord Utter-Beckham, Lord Ashwin, and that dreadful woman Pattie?"

Hadrian let out a small smile when Rhea purposefully called Lottie's name incorrectly. And then, thinking about the trio, he wondered if he should tell his wife. He did not want her to fret about such a group of as that one. Then again, he knew his wife would try and find out the answers on her own.

"Beckham is dead." He stated. He expected Rhea to be distraught, to gasp and cry out her shock, but, to his surprise, and even Rhea's, she remained silent.

Rhea had known on some instinctive level that Lord Beckham had been killed, she vaguely remembered another shot and then a ceasefire, of sorts.

"I know he was your brother," she said hesitantly. Hadrian gave her a quick nod.

"Half-brother," he corrected, "My father was a cruel man. He always had been. He had been the one to wrangle your parents into debt; into selling you, the child they loved, to me - the Devil's son."

Rhea was stunned into silence by Hadrian's revelation. Her parents had not been lying, then. All this time, Rhea thought despairingly.

"I don't blame Beckham for his hatred against our father. His hatred against me. In a way, I understand it. The old duke was a hard man to please, a harder man for everything else." Hadrian stated, somewhat dispassionately, "But I will never forgive him for going after you. That is where I draw the line. Had he done anything to me I would have taken it tenfold, but you . . . I cannot, I will not lose you. Not to anyone, Rhea,"

Rhea nodded reassuringly, when Hadrian continued to stare at her. Rhea had not said anything else, and once Hadrian had given her time to grasp the news, he went on ahead. "The disgruntled pup was thrown into the gallows. Good damn riddance. He'll be awaiting trial and then will . . ." Hadrian watched Rhea's expectant face and disregarded what he was going to say, ". . . suffer for an eternity." Or, more like, hang for his bloody crimes.

Hadrian gave no interest nonetheless, the young lord had tried to murder him in order to marry Rhea and take sail to America.

"What was his arrangement with Lord Beckham?" Rhea questioned.

"He had, apparently, expressed his desire to marry you before our engagement was announced. Beckham already pursued me for his own reasons, but, I believe in Beckham's mind, the more the merrier, I suppose."

"Good god." Rhea shook her head in amazement. How she had so misjudged a character, she'd never know, she'd been totally played by Lord Ashwin, believing him to be her friend.

Rhea thought again for another moment and then she sat bolt upright, recalling vital information that, hopefully, wouldn't be too late.

"Hadrian!" she practically shouted, "There is another accomplice. A woman! She is-"

"Lady Carolotta. Yes, sweet, I know." Hadrian's teeth clenched in anger at the thought of the blasted woman. Not just Rhea, but he, too, had been played like a puppet on strings.

"How . . . Why would she do such a thing?"

Hadrian gave her a hard look. "She thought she was in love with me. I knew better; she desired my wealth, my title, my heritage. I have rejected her several times over. I did not know she would go to these lengths. When she had learned of our marriage, she had taken up a conniving spirit, determined to claim my wealth as he own.

"Indeed, I must say, it had been found out she had been the one to ransack your adjoining bedroom, in a fit of rage, it seems. Dalting and his . . . friends, found her, preparing to flee the docks. They captured her and have also sent her to the gallows. When they investigated the warehouse they were inhabiting, they also found the missing letters I had sent to you and you to me. Tis why you had not heard from me, nor I you. They had also been using it to forge falsified papers, for Great Britain, France, and even America!"

"Goodness! To go to such lengths . . . But surely . . . A woman?" Rhea asked, surprised at the punishment. "Sent to the gallows, truly? Her jealousy has brought her this far?"

Hadrian had given her a quick, grim nod. "Do not worry, they will never bother us again. I swear it, on my lineages honor."

Hadrian hadn't looked away from her eyes, and his calm settled her overreactive nerves and she smiled gently.

"Thank you, Hadrian, for being my protector. I shall forever love you, for everything you have done for me."

Hadrian smiled wickedly, situating himself upon Rhea, keeping her in place. "Indeed, my love, you cannot possibly love me as much as I do. You have renewed me."

Rhea jerkily nodded, withholding happy tears as Hadrian made love to her once again.

May 5, 1857

Vale Manor

*Hadrian*

Another scream wrenched through the air and Hadrian anxiously paced up and down the corridor, at the expense of Devin and Matthew's amusement.

"Dear God, what is taking so long?" Hadrian demanded, glaring at the shut door, barring him for his wife, while Rhea struggled to free the child from her womb.

"Hadrian, you must stop. Stop at once. You are making me anxious for my own wife." Devin said unapologetically.

Hadrian scowled at this friend, listening as another pain filled yell echoed through the hallway.

He had enough. He wanted that child out from her body and her safe and sound from the painful sounds of childbirth. Finally, when Hadrian was she he were to collapse, the door to the chamber opened.

Hadrian had never been so terrified in his life. This was a child. His child. Their child. Would he/she break? Would they fall? Die?

Hadrian was unprepared for anything and everything, but when he finally had his son in his arms, Hadrian found it hard to let go. He stared in shock at the small bundle in his arms. Nearly everyone abandoned the room and he went to sit, gently, by Rhea's side.

Her eyes fluttered briefly and she smiled at Hadrian sleepily when she glimpsed their baby in his arms. Her heart, suddenly, could not take another beat. It was as if she had been frozen in time.

Rhea looked up at him and grinned. "What shall his name be?"

"Christopher." Hadrian blurted, and then flushed, something Rhea had never seen anywhere in his possible expressions. "It was my grandfather's. He was a great, courageous, and kind man, even when he was older. I cared for him very much as a kid."

Rhea grinned slightly at her husband, realizing just how big and deep his heart was. Hadrian slowly, and carefully, transferred their child into her arms for him to suckle at her breast.

When the babe was situated comfortably against Rhea, she ran a forefinger gently across his brow. "Christopher,"

Hadrian watched and beheld his wife and babe before him. His life, finally, complete. In fact, he felt as if he had more than enough now, and he was beyond grateful. He would never let go of them. They were his rock and heart, and he was theirs. Utterly and completely.