.

[Tio_Narratore]

"Ah, Giles, my friend," called Edward, "the lovely Marie informed me that you had arrived. Never one to be a follower, as always."

"Now," he continued, "will it be yourself or her young sister who will introduce me to whom I presume is my ward, Isabella? I see you have already well made her acquaintance, Giles. And so ravishing a ward, so ravishingly attired; I fear this guardianship may be more difficult to command than was my regiment in the Iberian Campaign. You do remember that theatre, Giles, do you not?"

In Iberia, he and Giles had managed to seduce and enslave a half dozen women from every pueblo they entered; he knew Giles would understand his comment as an allusion to Giles and Isabella afternoon.

"And I expect, then that I should present the sweet lady Marie to you, good friend," and he led Marie forward on his arm to curtsy to Giles, ensuring him a good view of her alabaster bosom.

 

[kly400]

Giles smiled when he saw Edward, but said nothing as he nodded to his comment. Giles glanced at Marie's cleavage but only briefly, as he didn't want to anger Bella.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie Winced as she heard the Acid in her sister's greeting. It was surely bound to be an interesting evening if it was to start like this. Shaking herself mentally she offered Lord Edward and his friend a soft smile as she said "Gentlemen, shall we adjourn to the drawing room?"

Then gave her sister an imploring look. She did not want to see Bella work herself into a state. Marie knew that Bella was not happy that some stranger had been assigned as their guardian being as she was sure they could manage just fine on their own.

However, In her short experience with Lord Edward Marie had found him to be both gentle and firm when nessecary. His kisses were sweet and he had not immediately begun ordering the help about. In Fact the only fault she could find with the man thus far was that he had taken liberties with her.

As she remembered that fact her, she bgan to blush all over again and hid her face in Lord edward's arm.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"This will surely be a strange command, the guardianship of these two," thought Edward; "Already I am confused on flank and front. Giles, my intractable master of women, averts his eyes from a fetching bosom: does the ire of his latest seduction worry him away from her sister? And the sister herself! A greeting overflowing with vitriol for her new guardian when one would have expected at least a friendly pretense to help win him over as benefactor."

"Marie, at least, seemed to be taking a proper tack in suggesting the ease of the drawing room to lessen the obvious social strain, but now she buries her face emabarassedly in the crook of my arm! Just moments ago, her embarassment was due to me; now I seem to be its relief."

Lord Edward made a small foray towards taking command of the high ground, and disregarded both the curtness of his friend and the acid tongue of his elder ward.

"An excellent proposal," he announced, "perhaps we may impose on the staff to fetch us some refreshments."

Isabella was the elder, and should have been called on to summon the maid, but Edward feared an outright mutiny if he asked anything of this simmering hellcat. He turned to his juniour charge, instead, and asked, "would you be so kind, Marie, as to ring for the maid? I would like to meet her as well, if I am to be Lord of this manor."

"Dear Giles," Edward concluded, "would you be so gallant as to give Isabella your arm and have her lead us to the drawing room?"

He hoped this would assuage the response he expected for having slighted Isabella over the maid.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie sent her sister an apologetic look before leaving thier compnay to summon the maid. Once she had the petite woman in tow she returned to the drawing room. After introducing Lord Edward to her Marie took a seat on one of the chairs and let her thoughts wander while Edward spoke with the maid.

Her eyes fell immediately upon her new guardian. he was quite a handsome man.... and his hands had felt good, even when they were rough. Marie gave a soft smile and let her gaze travel to her sister.

Bella was dressed in the most atrocious and revealing gown, but marie knew that bella enjoyed looking thus. She couldn't wait to get her sister alone and tell her of the days occurences. no doubt they would anger bella, but marie would calm her. besides she had to tell her sister. that is what sister's were for. As she watched bella kept steeling glances at Giles and it carried Marie's gaze to him.

Giles was also a handsome man though he did not seem to have the presence of her guardian. He had obviously charmed bella into some naughtiness, though he did not seem quite the rake that Edward had made him out to be. thus bringing her gaze back to Edward and catching his eyes she blushed prettily and offered him a sweet smile before looking away.

 

[kly400]

Giles had sat down at the original spot he had when he first arrived, and was quite thankful for it. The tips of his scarred fingers met as they came to rest on his nose as he kept his gaze on Isabella, wondering what she was thinking about. Glancing at Edward, Giles spoke up calmly.

"How was your trip over here?" he inquired curiously, thinking if his even more forward friend had any problems on the way.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Lord Edward was polite and friendly towards the maid; though he noted her shortcoming in leaving her mistress to answer the door, his military experience had taught him that it was best to be somewhat easy in establishing a new command.

As she left to fetch a suitably fruity red wine for their refreshment, Edward glanced around the drawing room.

"No Rowlandsons here, he noted to himself, "but -imagine! - an original Ingres 'Odalisque,' her naked and polished olive-hued skin occupying the position of honor above the mantle."

Looking to the opposite wall, he found not a single nude, but a whole seraglio, another Ingres. The other walls held similar oils with similar themes, but by lesser artists. "I fear to even imagine what hangs in the chapel," he opined to himself. Then, looking at Bella in her revealing dress, "at least now I know which sister is the proper inheritor of the art of this manor."

He felt he understood Isabella's anger, and attempted to mollify her through a form of agreement. But first he must dispense with Giles attempt at light conversation.

"A decent coach ride, my friend," he said, "a storm seemed imminent, but never materialized."

"You know," he said as he took his seat," in ancient Egypt, the first-born always inherited, whether a man or a woman. They only found a problem with this, as the ancients say, when such a woman married, for their rule was also that man owned. And so, in nations such as ours, it became the law that any man-relative would have priority of inheritance so as to preserve the estate with in the male line, and not let is pass to another family through marriage."

He looked to Bella for her reaction.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie swallowed a groan as Bella geared up for a good tongue lashing. Before Lord Edward could respond she got up and grabbing her sisters hand said"come bella, there is something i must discuss with you. IN PRIVATE."

Hastily she dragged her sister into the hall. "Bella, Really.. you know this is just going to upset you." she said once they were alone. "and what is that gown you are wearing? I swear Lord Edwards friend has not been able to tear his eyes from you. you were being naughty weren't you?"

 

[kly400]

Giles watched as the two sisters left, and wondered what that was about. It then became awkward between the two friends.

"So..." he began to say, "How is the residence for you?" asked.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie was not shocked that Bella had slept with Giles. She knew her sister felt she should have all the rights of a man. She was, however, apalled that Bella would think so basely of her. " I did no such thing, Bella! He... " Marie blushed profusely and mumbled " he spanked me when i would not lower my bodice so he could see my breasts, so i did it..... He didn't touch them. He only looked but he made me touch.. and he kisses me..... i... i liked his kisses, bella." Marie turned and walked a few steps down the hall. Terrified bella thought her a trollop.

"please don't think ill of me, bella."

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie nodded " yes, bella it was horrible!no one has ever spanked me. I was horrified but i didn't want to recieve such treatment again so i complied."

How could marie explain that it had been her first kiss from a man. It had been a heady thing for her. " bella... he doesn't kiss like the stable boy did. it was so different, he was sure and posessive and strong. I never knew kisses could be like that bella."

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"Frankly, Giles," he replied to his friend, "I'm hardly in a position to consider it as a residence. I've seen the garden, but, aside from the foyer, this is the first room I've entered." Then he added, a tad sarcastically, "You seem to have made it more of a residence than have I. I daresay you've even tried a bedroom."

He didn't wait for Giles' response. "It was quite poor form of you to arrive before me and compromise my ability to establish a favorable position with my wards. This is my titled manor, now, Giles, not some nameless village in Spain where the first of us in town was the first in a woman. The one satisfaction I have in it all comes from seeing you bite off more than you can chew. You may have bedded her as a whimpering whore, but she surely has your tail between your legs now."

Now he turned his attention to the question of Isabella herself. "I admire her feistiness, Giles, and her ability to intimidate even the likes of you. She is a powerful and, all the more for her power, an appealing wench. She might have an ally in me were she not so impetuous in her distaste for her new guardian. Just now I offered her an opening in defense of her desire to rule herself when I alluded to ancient Egypt, but she seems to have taken it as an attack. Perhaps her more gentle sibling can persuade her to listen to my words rather than fly to arms at presumed affronts. However, it may be that she simply reacts against me in displaced social resentment at her sexual domination by you."

The two women returned to the drawing room, and Lord Edward rose to greet them, with civility and no hint of anger.

 

[kly400]

Giles said nothing in response to his sharp and accurate guess, but scratched the neck of his neck and chuckled.

"Well, what was I supposed to do? I was here first and nothing to occupy myself, so.... Anyway, it was not my fault of your late arrival." he said, sitting back. As the two sisters entered the room, he glanced at Bella's current emotion.

Standing up to copy Edward, he leaned in to his ear, "And we have occupied a bedroom. They are quite comfortable." he whispered before standing back to his original position and bowing to the girls.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Seeing the transformation evident in Bella's demeanor, Edward stiffled a guffaw at Giles last observation, lest he revive her acerbic tongue.

"No offense taken, my dear Isabella," he reassured her, then added encouragingly, "A temper is not in itself a bad thing, but it must be tempered, as it were, controlled and used to the benefit of its possessor. It should only be fully unleashed when loss of control is essential or desirable. I would venture, indeed, that such is the case for all emotions, including both love and its handmaiden, lust."

The maid entered then, bearing a fine silver and crystal wine service, the decanter a deep scarlet with its fruity contents. "Thank you, Sarah," he offered, "you may go now."

To Giles, then, "Would you be so good as to decant for us, dear friend?" before turning to the ladies and asking if they, in turn, "Would be so kind as instruct me on the current practices of the household," as he would be loathe to cause excessive disruption to their comfort.

Giles gave out the wine, and Edward proposed a toast: "May our coming days together be as fruitful and as delightful as this wine promises to be."

They sat, and Lord Edward turned to the senior sister to explain the running of the estate. His thoughts, however, kept wandering to the decolletages of both his lovely young wards.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie returned to her seat and though her eyes appeared to be down cast she was watching Bella and Edward closely through her eyelashes. She knew she had given her sister information that could fuel her acidic tongue but was surprised when Bella's ire seemed to have fizzled with their return.

Edward seemed to take it in stride though As he raised a toast marie smiled and blushed... if their new guardian only knew of her developing crush on him what would he say? as he spoke to bella about the running of the house, He was polite and friendly with her yet still managed to give Marie the impression that he was well aware he was the one in charge.

Marie noticed his gaze finding it's way to both her sister's and her own bossom. for some absurd reason she actually felt a twinge of jealosy whenever edward looked at bella. However, Marie supposed as a man he was wont to look at any bossom displayed as bella's was. Marie wondered if he had lost his interest in her though with his attention fully on Bella.

 

[kly400]

Giles raised his glass and nodded, still staying silent as he took a sip, glancing at Edward and immediately noticed his gaze, but didn't react as he knew that he had no jurisdiction in the household.
Other than that, Giles turned his head to take in what he hadn't before.

The paintings were nice as Edward had said, but it wasn't his type. He couldn't say why or what. The drawing room wasn't his most favored room, and neither was the bedroom. It was in fact, the gardens at which he found actual sensual feelings for Bella. She knew how he felt, but didn't want Edward to find his friend not the same he had found him after he had left.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"Giles, as usual," thought Edward, "always at a loss for words; thank God he has his actions to carry him through."

He smiled at Bella and thanked her for all the information. "You seem to have things well in order here, Bella," he commented, "I see no problem in your continuing as head of the household; I will, with your permit, give the greater part of my attention to the estate and its finances. My predecessor did leave some minor problems behind that warrant serious attention. I will discuss them with you at a more businesslike time."

He was aware of Marie's slight discomfort, and he realized she must have seen him glancing at her sister's full and nearly exposed breasts. He turned to her and endeavoured to assuage her fears, "And Marie, if you will, shall assist me with concerns of the gardens and grounds; she has shown me the delights of her own garden, and I daresay the rest of the plantings could benefit from her supervision." As he spoke, he looked affectionately on her, paying particular attention to her eyes and lips, and, of course, breasts.

Then Edward stood and announced, "The afternoon is still young, and there is more for the new comers to see. I've seen the garden, but not the house, and I believe Giles has seen the house but little of the grounds. Which of you fair young ladies will rectify the situation for Giles? Which for me?"

He stood smiling at the situation he had intentionally created for his comely wards, and he waited to see what would transpire between them.

 

[kly400]

Giles stayed quiet once again, and wondered what the girls would choose. Ruffling his black hair into a more comfortable and good-looking position. He began to wonder what Marie was like, and thought that she was less like her sister, more innocent than Edward has told, or maybe vice versa.

"Edward... is that really such a good idea? I know you mean well that you would like to get to know both of them, but..." he then stayed silent once again as he stopped a quiet argument from erupting.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie nearly choked on her wine as Edward gave her the cohice of staying with him or accompanying his friend to the gardens. Marie had noticed him paying a bit more attention to her after giving bella control of the house. She wasn't sure what Edward wished but knew that she was not quite comfortable with Giles knowing that he had been with her sister.

" I can show you the house if you like, Lord Edward" she said rather demurely giving her sister a secretive look that sisters sometimes share when one has told another their secret.
"unless you'd prefer that bella escort you."

 

[Tio_Narratore]

"Oh no, dear Marie," Edward said, "I would be delighted to have you guide me, but I did have to give you ladies the choice. I would not wish to slight Bella as head of the household by asking you for the tour. Not that I wouldn't be as pleased to be guided by your sister. That is why I left the choice to the two of you."

He offered Marie his arm, and said, "with your leave, then, dear Bella, I'll view with Marie's direction. And, Giles, do pay particular attention to the pond, I believe there are some deeply secluded banks attainable only by punt. Do let me know how you find it."

As Marie led him down the now vacant hall, Edward halted and took her hand in his. He gently turned it behind her back and pulled her close to him.

"Forgive me for being so forward, Marie," he said as he looked into her eyes, "but your are so exceedingly attractive, and we have already shared a certain degree of intimacy...". His voice trailed off, and he kissed her, full and warm on the lips, lingering there and prying hers slightly apart with his own until he slipped his tongue out to lick her lips and test their resistance. He thrust firmly between hers until she yielded and allowed his tongue full entry to dance and play with hers. His organ grew hard as he kissed her, and as he felt her breasts press against his chest, their nipples growing as firm as his manhood. He knew that she must feel his stiffening as surely as he felt hers, and he looked forward to her response, no matter what it might be.

 

[kly400]

Giles looked at the three of them, and shook his head. His fingers began to tingle as the scars began to slowly erupt. Without thinking, Giles stood up and walked out of the drawing room, his fingers twitching.

"Where's the restroom..?" he muttered to himself as he walked down the hallway, each step followed by a sound of sparking that could only be heard in the depths of his subconsciousness.

He finally found and opened the door, not caring if anyone was inside.

Luckily no one was present as he turned on the cold faucet and ran his fingers under the water. A sharp gasp of pain escaped from his throat as the water ran along his deep scars.

 

[cemetarygirl]

"Oh no, dear Marie," Edward said, "I would be delighted to have you guide me, but I did have to give you ladies the choice. I would not wish to slight Bella as head of the household by asking you for the tour. Not that I wouldn't be as pleased to be guided by your sister. That is why I left the choice to the two of you."

He offered Marie his arm, and said, "with your leave, then, dear Bella, I'll view with Marie's direction. And, Giles, do pay particular attention to the pond, I believe there are some deeply secluded banks attainable only by punt. Do let me know how you find it."

As Marie led him down the now vacant hall, Edward halted and took her hand in his. He gently turned it behind her back and pulled her close to him.

"Forgive me for being so forward, Marie," he said as he looked into her eyes, "but your are so exceedingly attractive, and we have already shared a certain degree of intimacy...". His voice trailed off, and he kissed her, full and warm on the lips, lingering there and prying hers slightly apart with his own until he slipped his tongue out to lick her lips and test their resistance. He thrust firmly between hers until she yielded and allowed his tongue full entry to dance and play with hers. His organ grew hard as he kissed her, and as he felt her breasts press against his chest, their nipples growing as firm as his manhood. He knew that she must feel his stiffening as surely as he felt hers, and he looked forward to her response, no matter what it might be.

Marie moaned softly as Lord Edward hauled her against him once more and kissed her. She had wondered if he woud kiss her again when they were alone and she was thoroughly enjoying being held captive for such an experience as this.

She could feel his member stiffen and press against her belly. Being quite virginal Marie was frightened by it's apparent size. She trembled slightly in his arms as she pulled away from the kiss. "Your kisses are so sweet, my Lord. they conjure feverish images in my mind. Things a lady ought not think about." she said softly looking into his eyes as the images of her sister's precious paintings ran through her mind.. for those were all she knew of what sex was.

 

[Tio_Narratore]

Edward and Marie were both startled to hear someone approach. It seems he had stopped in the hallway which led to the library, and here was Bella, flying towards that room, clearly distraught.

He released Marie so she could attend to her sister, but Bella seemed utterly unconsolable. It was with some difficulty that she finally could be convinced to sit, and as Marie spoke to her, Edward gently massaged her shoulders to help restore her to calm.

The massage more than calmed her, for Edward, quite unconsciously, was massaging her as he generally performed the service for attractive women. His thumbs pressed firmly to the back of the shoulder while the other fingers pulled up on the muscles in front. Now this had the unfortunate, or fortunate, if you prefer, effect of inconspicuously raising and lowering the woman's breasts with every purely innocent stroke.

The effect was obvious on Bella; the stiffening of her nipples clearly strained against the snugness of her low-cut decolletage. She herself seemed unaware of it, though, even as she became calm and relaxed, but it was quite apparent to Edward and, he presumed, Marie.

After some prompting by her sister, Bella at last seemed prepared to tell of what had so distressed her.

 

[cemetarygirl]

Marie watched Bella with concered eyes as she put on what Marie knew was a brave face.
"Bella? Are you sure? I am sure Lord Edward can spare my company for a bit if you would like to speak privately of whatever is bothering you." Marie had only on rare occasion seen bella cry. It worried her. She had already guessed that whatever had happened was Due to Giles.

 

[kly400]

Another sharp gasp left Giles' throat as his scars continued to burn with a tingle as he sat in Isabella's gardens, obviously remembering where they had the first kiss. Why in the world was it happening now?

He knew he had to explain things when he returned, possibly not to Edward, but to Bella and Marie, most likely.

The male rarely actually told the truth of the origins, the main reason because of memories that haunted him only once in a blue moon. With another twitch of his fingers, Giles leaned his head back as to take the pain off the scars, but to no avail.

With another try and another gasp, Giles opened his eyes and searched the gardens for something.