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Some Kind of Paradise (butterfly0408/gray)

Hearing her concern, he gave a brief and admitting sigh. "Honestly? I'd been taking this last week as a sort of vacation of sorts, it had been a while since I'd had anything like that, so I managed to work it out with a bit of effort..." Letting his words fall short, he shook his head, knowing he was avoiding answering. "I have a short meeting tonight, and then am likely to return to my regular duties tomorrow." Giving an apologetic smile, he leaned forward and kissed tenderly. "But till, then, I'm all yours." He said, smiling again at the positive note.

((I believe it was the next day, I remember saying something about the day after next. Is that alright? ))
 
It was a little less time then she had hoped for, but it would do. She'd take it for all it was worth. "Mmm, then we will have to get started, won't we?" She rubbed against him a little suggestively, but then pulled away quickly, bouncing to her feet basically, a smile on her face, "Breakfast!" she giggled. "After last night, I am famished! Hehe!"

((That's fine... but I am going to be ruining this happy day off with a little visit...))
 
((Ooh? The plot thickens. ^^ Lovely. ))

Smiling readily at her words, Roland, laughed lightheartedly as she bounded to her feet, following after a bit slower, tilting his head and grinning infectiously. "A wonderful suggestion." He agreed, following after her and giving her a playful look. "As much as I enjoy the thought dinning in our present state, perhaps it would be best served it we were clothed first?" Stretching his arms out in full over his head, he moved slowly to his cabinet, pulling open the drawer and looking through his clothes, turning his gaze up to her, remembering she still needed some dry clothes as well, and beckoning her over.
 
Eden scurried over to his side and nuzzled against his side, kissing him on the cheek before putting her attention on the drawer for clothing. "Are you going to dress me up Roland? I like the sound of that."
 
Turning briefly to face her and give a light smile, Roland, nodded, turning back to the drawer. "Well, something along those lines at least." Sifting through his clothes, he contemplated the selection. "Hm, some of them may be a bit large for you though, and I don't exactly have any woman's underwear lying around.." Sighing bemusedly, he pulled on a pair of boxers. "Oh well, I suppose we'll make do. Anything you like?" Motioning to the drawer.
 
"Hmmm..." Eden mused as she crossed the room naked to look into his drawer with him. Her fingers. Then a smile crossed her face. She picked out a pair of breaches. Meant to be tight on him, would be just a little big on her. She then picked out at clean white linen shirt with a V neck and ties at the collar. "This is all I will need," she announced with a smile as she went about putting the two pieces of clothing on. "Oh... and perhaps a belt?"
 
Letting her pick out the clothes, Roland gave a light shrug and a small grin, taking out his own clothes for the day, dressing in a pair of darker trousers, and a wide sleeved long white silk shirt. Throwing on a plain dark jerkin over the shirt. "Ah." Hearing her words, and holding up a finger, rooting around momentarily until he found a belt for her, handing her it as he found one for himself.

Taking a moment to study her, Roland shook his head once more, smiling as he did. "Well, it appears you were right." He noted, remembering their brief conversation from the night before. Offering her his hand, he smiled a bit wider. "Well then.. Shall we?"
 
"Shall we what?" she said with a smile as she crossed to him as she finished putting on the belt. "What are we to do today?" she wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed against him suggestively, "Besides of course pealing these clothing off ourselves at least... five times today?" She was just leaning in to kiss him when there was a knock at the door.

"Pardon me my Lord," came the voice of the butler, "But Lord Dorshire is here. He must speak with you at once. Claims it to be urgent. He waits in the parlor."
 
Smiling blissfully at her words, Roland let his arms fall around her shoulders, leaning in as well. "Mmm, that sounds...." And then there was the knock. Blinking for an instant, he paused, look still at her, and then, finally, to the door. It took him about five seconds, before he fully comprehended what had happened.

"Unexpected." Frowning, he bit his lip, taking a moment to weigh his options. In his world, 'urgent' was almost never good. He also didn't like the way this seemed to already be getting out of his control. "Very well, tell him I shall meet with him in the library, if you'd be so kind as to direct him there." Calling out his instruction to the butler, Roland knew it was a minute effort, but details could add up if you were careful. Making Dorshire come to him, upsetting his own plans, was a simple way of lobeying for power in a meeting. "Care to tag along?" He asked Eden, for some reason getting a bad feeling about the idea of leaving her alone.
 
"Me? Tag along?" she asked in shock. Then she shook her head a bit, "Roland, I might have lived a sheltered, abusive life, but I have watched how you noblemen work." She looked down and indicated to her clothing, "Do you truly think it a good idea to walk in to an urgent meet with fellow noble with a slave in your clothing?" She shook her head, "I think it would be better if I stayed out of sight. At least until I have proper clothing."
 
Roland knew she was right, had in fact made the same argument to himself in fact even as he suggested it. Still, something about this didn't sit right with him. Realizing however, that he needed to get to the library soon, he slowly moved away from her, fixing his clothes up a little bit more as he composed himself. ".. I don't like this." He admitted, frowning once again. "I suppose your right, but.." Shaking his head he opened the door, turning back to her, he offered a parting smile. "I'll be back soon as I can. Stay here and don't let anyone enter, I know I sound a bit silly, but I can't seem to shake this odd feeling." Shaking his head, he smiled in spite of himself. "Take care." And with that, he was off.
 
Eden had not really felt anything out of place, but his obvious discomfort started to make her worry as well. But still, it was not smart she go with him. "It's going to be alright Roland," she said as she kissed him in parting, watching him leave the room. A chill went down her spine. Why did something inside tell her that her happiness was over?

Meanwhile, Lord Dorshire was standing by the window as Roland entered. He turned, and did not look happy at all as he pulled a folded piece of paper from his coat pocket. Without even greeting Roland, he started to read from the paper, "Lord Dorshire, As a business partner to Lord Roland I felt it should be brought to your attention that your Lord Roland has taken a slave as his lover. Not a mistress, a lover. I keep this news between us for now, but how do you think your mutual business ventures will fair when the rest of the noble ton discover this scandal?" He lowered the paper and looked Roland in the eye, "We'd be RUINED, that's what! He tossed the note into the fire to destroy it without a second thought, "This letter had best not be true Roland. A slave for a lover? It's social suicide! And social suicide is business suicide!"
 
As he walked toward this most unusual and sudden meeting, Roland ran over just about every possibility in his mind. Business? A problem perhaps with an recent investment? I any case, he prepared for the worst, and as it turned out, that was a smart move, for it was only through this that he was able to keep control over his expression as he herd the contents of the letter.

It wasn't much time, but in the seconds it took Dorshire to read the letter, Roland threw together a plan that just might work. watching the paper burn in the fire, he let his brow furrow, as if in concern over something uncertain. Moving forward, he moved to the window, looking out for a moment as he began to speak, turning to face the man as he did. "Lord Dorshire.. I'm afriad the content of that letter imply something even far worse then even such a ridiculous lie could bring." Pausing, he Bit his lip, as if troubled. "To put it simply, I did indeed purchase a slave recently... Very. Recently, hardly a few days ago.." Giving the man a moment to let the idea sink in, he dropped into a chair nearby. "Perhaps it's on simple prank.. However, if not.." Shaking his head he indicated the ashes of the paper. "..No 'business partners' have visited my estate for a week or so now, and I myself have been holed up here for the past few days..." Leaning forward in his seat, he brought the tone of his words down lower, attempting to bring the seriousness of the situation to Dorshire. "Frankly? I think this letter is a red hearing. Someone, is trying to tell us that we're being watched... Now.. Who do you suppose would take such a keen interest in the future of our business?" Arching an eyebrow, Roland waited, praying the man would take the bait.
 
Dorshire at first did not seem to be falling for it, but the longer Roland spoke, the more Dorshire started to bend to him until he was fully under Roland's influence. "I'll bet it was Lord Bromland. He's a sly one. His been after us for ages. Well he won't get to us! Not like this! Such lies." Dorshire paused them... looking to Roland, a curious look in his eyes, "It IS a lie, isn't it Roland? You have not yet denied that you have taken your slave as your lover..."
 
A wave of relief passed over Roland at the hearing of the words, but his face showed not a speck of it. Instead, he merely gave a grave nod, realizing he may actually be able to turn this twist of events into a positive gain if he were clever enough. However, first, he had to deal with this question, one he had hoped he wouldn't have say aloud. And suddenly, he was quite glad Eden had decided to stay behind after all.

"Indeed it is." He started, letting a smile fall upon his face, conniving to make it look tired and wistful. "My apologies for the delay my lord, but I'd rather like not to dwell on the thought of such things.. You of all people should know how unlikely I should be to ever find a lover, let alone from such an unlikely person." Shaking his head he receded into his chair looking contemplative. Dorshire was one of the very few people who knew of the Alice indecent. It was funny, in a twisted sort of way, that his harshest and most feared memory might just have helped him. One thought bothered him above that however, and he thought of Eden, of his lie about her not being his lover. He knew he would have to tell her, and could only hope she would forgive him.
 
Roland should learn to keep his doors closed. Or perhaps it had been and someone opened it. So as a certain someone else walked near, coming to see if her master was done and she could surprise him with a little romp in his library... Eden slowed to a stop near the door. Missing the first half of the conversation, she only caught the end part. The part about taking such an unlikely person for a lover. Eden's heart sank suddenly to new lows. She had believed him. She had actually believed what they has shared under the willow and in front of the fire had been real. She thought it was different from before. It felt different, but the same lies she had been feed before. Was finding her daughter a lie as well. Oh she didn't even want to think about that. Dear lord... it was a lie. Bait to reel her in. Roland really was like all the others.

Looking down at the clothing she wore, his clothing, she felt sick. Dashing back down the hall, she returned to the room they had spend the last night together in and removed his clothing. Donning her own, still wet clothing once again, she departed the room and returned to her own. How could she be so stupid! She had thought for a moment it was okay to dream. Dreams only made one weak and as a slave, she could not afford to be weak or she'd be eaten alive.
 
For a moment Roland had thought he'd herd someone outside the door. However, he dismissed it a moment later as nothing but his imagination. It took a little more talking, but he eventually settled the affairs with lord Dorshire, bidding the man a fond farewell after sorting out a few plans for execution the following day. Returning eagerly to his room after the man had left, he entered only to find a disturbing sight. A pile of his clothes, and Eden's own missing. The implication was simple enough, but the further meaning... He suddenly felt as though something were very wrong indeed.

Hurrying out of his room now, he was stuck for a moment as to where to look. It took him a short while, but he eventually worked it out, the place he had found her before. Walking to her room, Roland found her at last, upon opening the door to her room, he slipped in, shutting the door behind him, and approached her, suddenly looking very concerned indeed. "Eden? What is it, whats gone wrong?" He inquired, looking at her old clothes as his confusion grew. Slowly, however, his mind was working it out, and his eyes widened as it came to him. "Oh no..." He murmured, realizing he had made a grave mistake indeed.
 
Eden was a blank. All the progress he had made was done. Slipped away in all the time it had taken him to find her. Suddenly, she was the lost slave once again. The perfect picture of what masters wanted. Rising as he entered the room, her face was so neutral it was frightening. She did not even hold a look of hate towards him. Nothing but... neutral.

Eden bowed her head slightly in respect to him, as any good slave would do, "Master." She was once again in her neutral state as she stood, hands clasped in front of her as she just stood and stared. "What would be wrong master? Everything is quite clear now in fact. My eyes are open once again."
 
For a long moment, all Roland could do was stare. Looking at her, so perfectly composed, it was almost hard to believe that anything could be wrong. But that was not true, everything was wrong, and if he needed any proof of that fact, the words she spoke, especially that first, was more then enough.

Quite suddenly, his hands raising to his face, Roland dropped to his knees. Unsure of what to do. He had much knowledge of political dealings, but in this, once again, he was lost as for what to do. Slowly, he raised his head, looking into her eyes, his voice almost a pleading whisper. "Eden... that man, I had to lie to him.. if I hadn't, he would have taken you from me, I wouldn't have been able to protect you.." Pausing he shook his head, knowing the reason didn't matter. "I'm so sorry, please.. I sorry."
 
"So I see," Eden said in such a cool and composed manor it was almost frightening that she had no reaction to his falling to the knees. "Well then, you are in quite a spot aren't you?" She remained so still as she spoke. Like a statue. "If you try and love me, you risk loosing me, now don't you? And we would not want that. So you see, it is best we just carry on the way we were meant to. Master and slave. No more. I will spread my legs for you when you need me to and return her to my room when you have had your fill. I ask for nothing more then a roof over my head and clothes on my back when you do not require me to be naked for you."
 
Hearing her words nearly toppled him completely. Kneeling there, upon his knee's still, he cursed himself internally, kicking himself. He should have known better, should have realized just how careless he was being.

"The bark... the willow tree bark." Speaking low, a whisper, growing to a louder tone. It was a long shot perhaps, but maybe.. "Do you still have it? Eden, not to you, your the only one I could never lie to. I swear it. I love you. I was foolish and weak, I shouldn't have lied, I should have found a way to stay with you without lying..I should have.." His voice trailed off as he looked up to her again, eyes blazing with sorrow, regret, and passion. "I swear, I meant everything I said to you. Everything. Even about your daughter, I promised you I'd find her, and so I shall."
 
"My daughter is gone!" She almost yelled. He had hit a cord and it was not a good one. "I never should have told you about her. There is nothing to be done. More than likely, she is already dead. And if she is not, then she is much better off, I am sure, where ever she may be." Eden knew none of that was true. She knew that if her child was alive, she was going to suffer her same fate. But she would not dream of a better life for either of them any more. There was no use in it. "I ask you kindly master to never speak of my dead child again." She lowered her head, "And as for the tree bark... I tossed it into the fireplace in your room. I don't need it anymore."
 
"You can't know that!" Roland exclaimed back, almost as forcibly. Frankly, he knew what he was doing was possibly very stupid, but her outburst had given him hope, she was still there, hadn't completely shut herself away yet. "Eden..." His voice was softer now, desperate to reach her, he stood, taking a single step toward her. "please don't do this, if you want to be mad at me, thats fine, I deserve it, but don't do this, don't shut yourself off again." Stopping his speech, he considered his words slowly, wondering if it was worth explaining the situation in full.
 
"Why master..." Eden said in an almost mocking tone to him, "I don't know what you are talking about. Things are just the way they are suppose to be." And to her it was. She was where she belonged. Safe inside her own head and heart where no one could touch her or hurt her or make her promises that could not be kept.
 
Hearing her speak like this, Roland knew he had done far worse then simply hurt her, what he had done was far worse then that, and the damage ran far further then he could measure. "Eden, please, you herd me talking to Dorshire right? I lied to him to protect you. At least thats what I told myself, I was wrong to do so, I should have figured a way tell him and still stay with you. Had he found out, in all likelihood they would have taken you away, in an effort to play the whole thing off as untrue." Trying once more to explain to her he realized it was no good, after all, one he had said it out loud, he realized just how wrong what he had done was. Pausing for a moment, he looked down to the ground collecting himself. "I can't expect you to forgive me. But... as the least I can do... I'm meeting with him once again tomorrow. I'll tell him. I'll tell him the truth, I owe you that, at least."
 
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