Thread: Southern Girl [ Ariamella & Reydan ]

RE Southern Girl Ariamella Reydan Are you in need of anything, Miss Rayne? the butler finally approached Lucy, walking to where she had been sitting long after the Bensons had left. Yes. Sleep. Family. Friends. Home. Virginia. No thank you, she said softly, shaking her head. If Caroline and Milly could ready a warm bath in an hour's time? It would do well after the long ride this morning and the... eventfulness of today. Hoskins nodded, sympathy crinkling the corners of his eyes as he flashed a brief, sad smile to her and then went away in search of the two serving girls. Lucy climbed the stairs back to her room, thinking to herself that she wished people wouldn't look at her like that. She didn't want pity, sadness, or sympathy from anyone she just wanted them to understand. But no one understood, and the only person in her life now who would have even understood half an inkling of what she felt was also the person who had just humiliated and insulted her family. The family that he had also grown up with the family that was also supposed to one day be a part of his own family. As she stopped at the top of the stairs, she heard voices coming from the far left, and her curious ears picked up on Camilla's voice. Would you like me to stay? her cousin asked, the sounds of shifting bodies and bedding following her voice, barely audible through the closed door. Lucy locked herself in her room, bitter emotions springing up. She had no right to feel disgusted and put off by the question. She had no right to feel the inexplicable annoyance and anger that the question brought forth, but Lucy felt all of it, her mind wandering back to when she had asked Virgil for such things. It was unladylike to seem wanton, but she had so loved him, and at almost 17 she had wanted nothing more than for him to be her lover as well as her love. A true gentleman, he refused to take her and instead wanted to honor his mother's promise of not ruining the her before their wedding night. But she knew even he wanted to act on the impulses of love, and in the heat of passion much like that first October night, he had given her glimpses into the bliss of pleasure. And he had left her like that, touched but not touched , still whole but also impure, her innocence taken away but reputation left intact. How upset Samuel had been when he learned of how far she had explored with Virgil.... Come, Lucy, Samuel urged her, tugging at the strings of her corset and grabbing a fistful of her skirts. Lucy was 19, almost 20, and he 24. We mustn't, she whispered back, pulling away and starting to detangle herself from his embrace. What if someone sees? Think of the shame! He chuckled, patted her cheek like one would a child, and said, Just teasing, Miss Rayne. I had just wondered if I could finally get something before one of those Abernathy boys did, but he probably hadn't been able to get past your virtue either, hmm? Which one was it again? Victor? Vernon..? Virgil, Lucy whispered, fidgeting slightly, her eyes cast downward. She didn't know what it was with the Collinses, but her fiance's family seemed to hate the Abernathys, always talking about tobacco growth and sales competition. But being the horrid liar that she was, she withered under Samuel's intense glare, who was suddenly suspicious of her past. You let him touch you? he asked quietly. No! No... yes... but never intercourse. Never. He raised his voice in vicious tone, grabbing hold of one of her wrists and gripping it much too tightly. Here I was, thinking you a bashful bride-to-be, but are you nothing but a common whore, Lucille Rayne? Lifting your skirts for that Abernathy boy when you were but barely a woman? Shameful. He released her and walked away, leaving her to wallow in the guilt of her broken past. Samuel never mentioned anything to anyone. He had not ruined her reputation, which Lucy was grateful for, but he hadn't treated her the same since that night. A part of her wondered if his behavior was partially due to his dislike for Virgil and his brothers, but she had never been able to ask him. Near the end of the war, not even the most privileged of plantation owners were spared as the Confederate Army was sorely in need of soldiers. Samuel was one of those to be drafted and he had never come back, but Lucy couldn't help but feel a little bit relieved. How would she be able to live with a man such as him? Caroline's voice penetrated her thoughts, and she opened the door to let the two serving girls fill the porcelain tub in the washroom with hot water, thanking them after they were done and undressing herself to step in the bath. Various thoughts and memories ran through her mind as she washed herself, all of which involved Virgil in some form or another. She compared them all to the man at the dinner table, unable to understand how he had changed so much. Her Virgil... her precious Virgil, who was most likely tangled up in the arms of her cousin. Lucy sighed and stepped out, beginning to brush the long blonde hair that hung down to between her breasts and navel. It was late, just reaching one'o'clock, and she dimmed the lighting in her room by blowing a few of the candles out, thinking that the darkness would help her fall asleep later. Then, a knock sounded at her door. A moment please, she called out softly. What was Camilla doing up so late? She quickly pulled a white linen and lace shift over herself and hurried to open the door, simply staring at the person standing out in the corridor. Mr. Abernathy, she greeted him smoothly after fighting to find her voice for a moment. Then, a pink flush colored her cheeks after she realized what she might have looked like, dressed much too inappropriately with golden tresses still wet and tumbling over one shoulder. She suddenly felt the need to cover herself. He's seen more than that , a tiny voice in Lucy's mind reminded her. But then, he was a married man now... Do you need assistance? Is Camilla alright? The hour is late, and I'm sure you know a lady must sleep. The reprimand was gentle, a ghost of the games she used to play, and Lucy returned to sitting at the bureau, and brushing her hair in the mirror that sat atop the dark wood. The door was left open with Virgil standing outside, and she flicked her eyes to look at him through the mirror. It was an unspoken invitation to come in, though the cautiousness and hesitation was written plainly on her face.