Hurled up on the bench, Christine trembled in fear of the robber who was chasing her carriage. Suddenly the horses stopped and the cart door was opened. A strange man pulled her up and placed her in another, as she frantically screamed, โWho are you?
Where are you taking me? No answer was given and she, trembling with fear, cried, huddled in the corner of the car. She tried to pray, but despair stopped her.
. . She preferred to wait, as she was sure that her father would look for her, when he found out that she was captured by a bandit in the road.
Surely he would ask for some reward to return it. Night began to appear and the horses in the carriage were marching at a fast gallop. .
. In her head, many questions and no answers to that approach from the malefactor. During many hours of fast galloping, she tried to recognize the place where she passed, but the dark night prevented her from recognizing where she was being taken.
After another long time, the horses stopped and the door was opened. She was blindfolded and removed from the carriage. When her blindfold was finally removed, she was in a room in a castle.
In a panic, she cried. After a few minutes, he saw a man enter the room and couldn't believe that he was responsible for all the terror he was going through: Lord Vincent Jones Care He immediately remembered the only encounter they had had. It was on a special night, in his mansion, when the music of an orchestra filled the air with enchanting melodies, that she saw him for the first time.
As she chatted animatedly with a group of young women, a tall, imposing figure entered the hall. I learned from one of her friends that it was Lord Vincent Jean Care, recently arrived from his castle in the mountains. For her, the Lord had an air of mystery that attracted attention.
His green eyes shone with a rare intensity, and his serious expression suggested a deep and complex story. Furthermore, she also noticed that he was dressed in elegant attire, but seemed to feel out of his element. However, she felt strangely seduced by the beautiful image of the intriguing man who was looking at her full of desire.
However, even though she was attracted by the Lord's intoxicating presence, Christine didn't show it. He had a reputation to uphold and the family's good name to maintain. It wouldn't be a strange man, an outsider who would have her attention.
That's why, every time their eyes met, she looked away. Vincent observed Christine for a few moments, before deciding to approach her. He crossed the room with firm steps and stood before her, bowing slightly.
โMiss Robins, would you grant me the honor of this dance? โ โ He asked, his voice deep and soft, like the murmur of a deep river. Christine looked up, surprised by the interruption.
Her eyes raked Vincent up and down, and she frowned. I wouldn't dance with a stranger. โNo, thank you,โ she replied, with an icy tone and a condescending smile.
โ I prefer to dance with someone I know. โ Vincent was unfazed by the rejection. He bowed his head in a gesture of respect and walked away, disappearing into the crowd of guests.
Christine went back to talking to her friends, but Vincent's penetrating gaze remained in her mind, like a lingering shadow. She had openly rejected him, and although she found him irresistible, the pleasure she took in despising him was pleasant. A week after the event at her mansion, Christine left alone in a carriage to go to a friend's house and that was when everything happened.
Now she was there, in front of him. . .
As he looked at her shaking with fear and cowering in a corner of the room, he said: โWhere is that imposing woman who I met at the ball and who took immense pleasure in rejecting just one dance with me? ? โ At that moment, Christine understood everything: it was revengeโฆHe felt offended by the refusal and decided to take revenge.
For this reason, she raised her head and left aside the victim position, which was certainly giving pleasure to the Lord. She slowly walked towards him and said to him: โThat woman who rejected you that night rejects you once again now. There's no point keeping me in your castle, because you'll never have me in your arms, not even for a dance, much less for anything else, you monster!
โ He, upon hearing these words, gave a small smile, confident of his charm and power of seduction. He didn't answer anythingโฆ He just looked at her, delighting in what he saw. As she felt his eyes roam her body, Christine shiveredโฆThen, calmly, he said: โDon't worry, Miss Christine, I'm not a monster!
I don't want you in my arms against your will. I wonโt do anything to you that you donโt wantโฆโ โThen why did you bring me to your castle, against my will? โ -She asked, angrily.
He approached her slowly. As he got closer, his delicious smell filled her nostrils. It was a striking, masculine perfume, but not aggressive to the sense of smell.
Once again she shuddered. . .
She realized that she was in great danger in that place, not because of him, but because she sensed that she was losing control of her emotions, in front of that man who was breaking down her defense barriers. โI brought you here so you can get to know me betterโฆIsnโt that why you didnโt dance with me at the ball? Well, as I'm very interested in you, I want you to know more about me.
โ-He spoke so close to her, that his lips brushed hers a few times. Which led her to a sudden dizziness, with her head spinning and being supported by his arms so she wouldn't fall. After holding her, he kissed her ardently.
Inexplicably, she was not reluctant. She gave herself over to the affections of that Lord who encouraged her so much. He took her to the bed, laid her down and, smiling, left the room.
After spending a while thinking about the madness she had just committed, accepting his kiss, tired, she fell asleep. The next morning, a beautiful outfit was laid out for her. She showered and got ready, coming up with a plan to escape the castle.
The first thing she would try would be to find a way to open the bedroom door. He moved the doorknob and was surprised to see that it wasn't locked. He went down the corridor to escape, arriving at a flower-filled courtyard.
He thought about walking around the place until he found a town and told his parents where he was. When he passed the courtyard, he saw that the castle was high up on a mountain, surrounded by forest on all sides. Disappointed, she realized that she could only leave there in a carriage.
He sat down in the garden to better plan how to escape from that place. After a few minutes, Vincent sat down next to her and said to her: โDo you see that you are not my prisoner? You are my guestโฆI know I was wrong to capture you like that, but if I asked you to give me an opportunity to get to know me better, would you accept?
No, I wouldnโt accept it! โ-Vincent said. She looked at him seriously and asked, โWhy do you want me to meet you so much?
โ He gave a sad smile and replied, โEver since that prom night, I havenโt been able to get you out of my thoughts. I am deeply in love with youโฆAnd I know you liked me too from the first day you saw me. โ At this moment, she laughed, saying: โI liked you from the first day I saw you?
Where did this idea come from? I did not like you! " At this moment, he looked at her deeply and said, โI saw how you looked at me at that ball in your mansion.
I see that you tremble when I get closer, I also notice the hair on your arms standing on end and the pupils of your eyes dilatedโฆ You want me! โ To confirm what he was saying, he took her arm and showed the raised hairs, saying: โDo you see what I told you? โ She didn't answer anything.
He got up and locked himself in the room. In his head, thoughts were in terrible disarray. I kept repeating myself: โIโm not in love with himโฆI donโt want to be in love with him!
โ After a few minutes, someone knocked on the door and she went to answer it: it was the housekeeper with breakfast . Thinking about befriending her to get help getting out of that place, Christine struck up a conversation: โThank you. What is your name?
" โMaria, miss! โ โHave you worked here for many years, Maria? โ "Yes ma'am.
I was the one who created the Lord. His mother died when he was born and his father died when he was seven. He was always alone and we, his servants, are his closest relatives and friends.
He has no one else but us. โ Christine felt her heart sink. A Vincent's story touched her deeply.
She started to see him from another angle. He understood why he sometimes noticed an inexplicable sadness in his eyes. My dears, Christine was a strong woman and when she saw Vincent at that ball, she recognized that he was a sexy, mysterious man, who messed with her strength.
To avoid giving in to temptations and losing control of her actions, she preferred to reject him, as she considered him a sin in the form of a man of extreme beauty, with a great power of seduction. Without being aware of his true feelings, refusing to dance with him was nothing more than self-defense. But, my dears, at that moment she was in serious trouble, because the barriers that protected her heart were falling every minute and there was little left for her to give in to her deepest desires for that man.
After a few hours, Vincent knocked on her door, inviting her to take a walk around the castle. Tired of staying in the room, she accepted. The place was as beautiful as the owner and walking next to him, sometimes Vincent holding her so she wouldn't fall, sometimes protecting her from some small animal, made Christine realize the care he had for her.
They returned to the castle courtyard tired and sat down. He became serious, looked at her and said: โEarly tomorrow the coachman will take you back to your family. Don't worry they didn't know about you being here in my company.
Your coachman is my brother and your friend's family agreed not to say anything about it, after a small fortune offered by me. Therefore, your morals are intact. But I have a request to make of you.
โ - At that moment, he looked at her with affection and, despite being a man with an imposing countenance, he showed a pleading and affectionate look. โDance with me tonight? Surely I won't see her againโฆโ She nodded and fell silent.
That night was different from the ones Christine had seen in her entire life: the sky was more dotted with stars, a majestic moon reigned in the sky, while fireflies twinkled in the dark of the forest. . .
Everything was simply perfect. . .
When she left the room, Vincent was waiting for her in the hallway, with passionate eyes, gently offering her his arm, which Christine accepted. The two walked to the castle hall, where a violinist was waiting for them. As soon as they were in the center, the beautiful music sounded, starting the dance.
He made a gesture as if inviting her to dance, she made another, indicating that she accepted him as a partner. Then, they danced, turning and twirling around the room. For the first time, she saw great joy in his eyes.
Hidden behind the pillars, some servants, including Maria, the housekeeper, vibrated with joy because they knew that their beloved master was feeling happy at that moment. Many dances were repeated and, as in a fairy tale where the time determines the end of the enchantment, the end of the dance also arrived. He looked at her smiling, with moist eyes and said: โThank you very much for keeping me company these daysโฆ You will leave early tomorrow and I will love you for the rest of my life!
โ He turned and left the room. Christine stood there, standing still, without understanding much about the moment she was living in, nor about what she was feelingโฆ However, she would return home in the morning. Early in the morning, the housekeeper informed her that the coachman was prepared to take her back.
She was a little disappointed not to find Vincent to say goodbye. . .
She looked around to see if she saw him. . .
The coachman invited her to get into the carriage. . .
She asked for time, hoping to see him. . .
After a few minutes, the coachman said to her: โMiss, he wonโt come! Do you leave, leaving him alone, without your presence and love, and do you want him to say goodbye? Please get into the carriage!
โ When she returned to her home, no one knew what had happened. Everyone asked about her friend and her family. Christine answered everyone, pretending that she went to her real friend's house.
She was back in her home and her life. However, she felt that something had changed and she didn't know identify what it was. The parties and dances I used to attend were no longer as pleasant.
as before and the boys, all dull. Everything around was colorless, joyless and lifeless. When she went to bed, Vincent's face filled her mind.
. . The longing for him took shape in her heart and, as the days went by, it was unbearable to live without looking again at that beautiful man touching her lips and telling her that he loved her.
. . She wanted to be with him.
. . She needed to see him.
. . She needed to be in his arms and taste the lips that tormented her, filling her with kisses, in the dreams of love she had with him.
So, he decided to put on an act to visit his friend again. He informed his parents, took the carriage and left. On the way, he shouted to the coachman: โTake me to Vincentโs castle, please!
โ The coachman smiled and replied: โYes, miss! โ The carriage passed through forests, valleys and up the mountain. After a few hours, a carriage entered the grounds of the mountain castle, without the Lord being notified of its arrival.
When he heard the sound of horses trotting in the distance, he recognized Christine's carriage. The housekeeper hugged him, saying: โIf she came back, itโs because she loves you, Vincent! โ โIt could be something else, Maria!
Don't get your hopes up! โ He replied. The coachman stopped in front of the castle entrance, while Vincent was intrigued to know the reason for her return.
She got out of the carriage and when she saw him, she smiled. Without saying anything, he gave him a passionate kiss. The servants left happily , leaving the two alone.
She looked at him and said, with a mischievous look: I brought a small fortune so you can pay my friend's family so I can spend a week with you. What do you think? " He smiled and took her to the bedroom.
Months later, Christine and Vincent were married in a simple but love-filled ceremony. Together, they created a full and happy life. The love that began with apparent rejection blossomed into something eternal, proving that sometimes fate has surprising plans for those who have the courage to follow their hearts.
