"You're going to give yourself blisters if you keep that up." She remarked as she looked back down at her needle work.
"Why are you taking this so bloody calmly? The man is disreputable, and Ethan is trying to marry you to him!" Aidan slammed his fist against the wall.
Aidan looked in disgruntlement at the perfect picture of ladylikeness that his youngest sister presented. Charity was but seventeen, and their father was already trying to marry her off. She hadn't even had a season, the reason being she was too young.
Their mother had died nearly eight years ago, due to the same man who had left Aidan to eternal darkness. Her three children, Aidan, Honour, and Charity, had been left to fend for themselves with a father who had been absent all their lives. A father, who was now in the process of making the family go completely bankrupt.
"Aidan, enough talk of this. Let's discuss . . . " Charity's eyes lit with inspiration. "Tiiu Blade. Have you proposed to her yet? She is the same species as you, she'd understand."
"Charity, for Christ's sakes, Tiiu Blade? Wherever did you get that notion? Tiiu Blade?" Aidan shook his head in amazement. Charity lifted her eyes and gave him a fierce glare. He looked down first.
"Aidan, I'm going to have a long chat with you about your manner." Charity stood gracefully. Aidan started to rise, he quickly sat again as Charity turned to him. She stood there for a moment, before starting in on her chat. "Aidan Airianne, you have always treated women with less respect then you treat your dogs." He made to speak, but stopped as Charity waved a hand in the air. "I know, I know, you treat Honour, and I, with all the respect which is in your power. But it really is quite abominable the way you treat every other woman. Especially the young woman of society."
"They don't deserve any better, those half-wits." Aidan went quiet once again as Charity's gaze landed on him.
"It is not their fault. They were brought up to think that the only thing of any importance was finding a suitable man, and having children legitimately with him. It is only with the purest of luck that I had a mother who thought differently for at least the first nine years of my life, and then I had you, and Honour for the rest." Charity paused and took a sip from the dainty tea cup she lifted to her lips from the small table in front of her.
"You however, take after our father, however much you don't want to, you still do. The only difference being that you have not married for a title or money, yet." She took a sip from her cup again, and studied the delicate roses painted on it. Aidan looked like he wanted to say something, but he refrained from doing so.
"Now, Honour and I are throwing a ball tomorrow night. You are to be charming to each and every woman there, and you are to dance each dance with ladies of my choosing. Not yours, because I don't trust you enough with that task. If you do not, I shall never speak with you again. You, of all people, should know that I am quite capable of this." She said remembering when he had thrown one of her dolls out the window when they were younger. She had not spoken to him for two weeks. She had started again when he had bought her a new doll, and begged for forgiveness. He cringed, also remembering. His sister could be a viper when crossed.
"Fine, Charity. Are you happy now?" He said grudgingly.
"I am. Now, I have to go to town for the last fitting of my new ball gown. Would you like to join me?"
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"That will do." Charity told the maid.
Her silvery-blond hair was done up in tiny ringlets, with tendrils falling to surround her face. The ringlets were secured at the top of her head with tiny pearls. White glitter sparkled around her eyes making them appear even larger.
Her eyes were a very light violet, surrounded by luxurious black lashes. Her white, silk ball gown emphasized them to perfection.
"Charity? Are you ready?" Honour walked into the room. Honour was about six years older than Charity, and had been married for about five years.
She had retained her beauty through three childbirths, and was pregnant once again. Two of the children had survived, but the very first one had been born stillborn. Honour's true smile spoke of a great sadness.
Her husband, Concobhar McDaniel, was one of the greatest men Charity had ever known. An intelligent Irishman. He was also a Viscount, in possession of many estates in Ireland, England, and even one in the Americas.
He and Honour lived mainly in McDaniel Hall in Ireland, and Charity missed her older sister greatly. Lately, though, the McDaniel family had been keeping to their townhouse in London. Mainly due to Honour's pregnancy.
Concobhar wanted to keep Honour near the best doctors the country could offer for the duration of her pregnancy.
Their other two children, Siobhan and Airay, four and two years old respectively, took after their father in personality, but looked much the same as Honour physically. As Concobhar was always saying, he had three Honours to contend with now.
Both little girls had Honour's glistening straight black hair, and the trademark Airianne violet eyes. They were both also small for their ages, and would be slight in stature when grown up. Siobhan had both front teeth missing, which gave a decidedly mischievous look to her normally angelic features when she smiled.
"Yes, does my hair look good like this?" She asked hesitantly. Honour was pretty much famous for her impeccable taste, and appearance. Honour looked her over slowly before giving her a nod of approval.
"You look wonderful. White is very much your colour. How do I look?" Honour twirled slowly. Charity took in the aqua ball gown her sister was clothed in.
"Not many women would be able to pull that off, but you manage to. You look great. Concobhar won't be able to resist you." Charity smiled at the slight blush that rose in Honour's cheeks. No matter what, Honour was still very much an innocent at heart.
"Charity?" Aidan knocked on her door.
"Come in, Aidan." She replied.
"Are you ready? Hello Honour. I must say, you look positively radiant. I'm slightly envious." Aidan picked up her hand and kissed it.
"Enough to give up your bachelors' lifestyle?" Charity arched a cynical brow.
"I don't think that is any of your business, brat." He bantered back with a smile. Honour let out a peel of laughter at her siblings.
"Come you two. Else, we will miss our own ball."She walked gracefully to the door, where Concobhar intercepted her. "My dear, are you quite ready..." He trailed off as he spotted Aidan behind her. "Halys! I had not thought you were back in London. And just in time for the girl's ball." He went forward to shake Aidan's hand with a smile.
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"Charity, how nice to see you again..." Dimitri Knight stepped out of the shadows as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
"I would be much obliged if you would refrain from calling me by my given name." She said scathingly as she swept by him.
"But of course, Lady Airianne." He quickly grabbed her arm before she could go any further .
"Take your hand off my sister, sir." Aidan said cooly as he walked down the stairs towards them before Charity could say anything.
"Mr. Knight, I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting my brother, the Duke of Halys." She said naming Aidan's formal title. "Aidan, this is Mr. Dimitri Knight." Aidan smiled mockingly, and offered her his arm. "A pleasure."
"Yes, a pleasure..." Knight repeated softly as the siblings walked away from him. He frowned. The girl's brother was going to be a problem. A slight one, but a problem all the same.
Ethan Airianne, however, was sorely in debt to Knight, and not above using his youngest daughter to pay it off.
He smiled. Charity Airianne was a true beauty. She was also titled, and had connections and respectability beyond Knight's dreams.
"Ah, Mr. Knight. Do you wish to be directed to the ballroom?" Count McDaniel walked toward him.
"Count McDaniel. A pleasure to see you again. I would be obliged if you could point me in the direction."
