posted on 17-Sep-2001 10:50:29 PM by RoswellJen007
Title: Pirate & The Princess
Author: Jennifer007
E-mail: RoswellFanatics⊕cs.com
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell it would so have not gone the way it did last season.
Category: This story is AU (my favorite kind to write) M&L but if it takes off it will be a continuation with each main characters having the base story line and the others coming back in for updates.
Rating: Okay of course it's going to be NC-17 in parts, I can't write the soft stuff. But there is more to this story then just sex... okay well it's about sex but it's going to lead up to that.
Spoilers: Yeah right, maybe in a dream sequence.
Dedication: To Anne who heard about this story this morning, and to my baby Matt who makes me forgive him his faults even when I try not to....


Chapter 1

Spain-1835


The three girls stood in a group over near the terrace, their fans fluttering in front of their faces trying to cool down their heated skin. "Catherine Francis told me in full detail about it. She says if she knew then what she knows know she never would have gotten married."

"Really Maria, can it be as bad as all of that?"

"Well taking into consideration that it is Patrick Spencer I am talking about. He is naturally clumsy by nature. But still Catherine Francis says the whole ordeal was messy and not at all pleasant. She also says that once she has given him a son or two there will be no more visits to her room. She has even said that he can take a mistress as long as he is discreet."

Isabella laughed behind her fan, "Catherine was always the most snooty girl I ever met. When we were children she would cringe when the puppies would come to play with her. So it's no wonder that she doesn't like what husbands and wives do in the bedroom. I imagine that when I meet that special man that sweeps me off my feet he will not be clumsy and I will not be so timid as to try and try again to see if I really care for it or not."

Elizabeth gasped in surprise, "If your mother could hear you talking Isabella she would tell your father and he would take a switch to you."

Isabella waved her hand in dismissal, "My parents are never around long enough to do anything of the sorry, besides I have known you to long to know that your not really shocked by what I say anymore. And I am only stating the truth, have you not ever looked at a man who looks at you as if he is undressing you and wondered for one second what it would be like to have his lips on yours?"

Maria giggled and nodded, "Yes I have wondered, but I have not acted on it."

"Well of course not, women are not supposed to act that way."

"I wish that I could find a man who looks at me the way the Baron Stafford looks at his wife. At times he looks at her as if she is glass and would break, but then we will be talking and she will laugh or say something and I see him looking at her as if she were a favorite dish of his to be consumed, and then he comes and whispers in her ear and she blushes and swats him away. But I see the look in her eyes and it's not to long before she is finding some excuse to go looking for him. Yes that is what I imagine love and the act of lovemaking makes you feel."

Both Isabella and Maria nodded at each other as Elizabeth stared out at the dance floor. They had been here for three weeks now and she didn't feel any better about the situation she was in then she had when her mother had told her about it three months ago.

"Mija we are taking a trip to Spain at the end of winter."

"I've always wanted to see where we are from Papa, why are we going?"

"The land that I have there I have found that it is not being taken care of. The crops have not produced in two years, and there are a lot of problems with the workers there. We need to go back there so that I can take care of things."

She had stood up and kissed her papa on the cheek, "Anything you need my help with papi just let me know and I will do what I can."

He hugged her to him, "You have always been a big help to me princessa."

It had been a week later when her mother had came into her room just after she had woken up and sat on the bed. "Sit up Elizabeth I have to talk to you."

She could tell by the way her mom was talking that something was the matter.

When she had sat up her mother began.

"When your father and I were first starting out in Spain we barely had enough money to survive. We worked hard both of us doing jobs that made us very tired. Every time we would get ahead something would happen to knock us down again. Your father got a good price on a patch of land, and we planted crops and every time we sold the crop we would take the majority of the money and buy more land with it." She paused to see if her daughter was listening and then continued.

"Pretty soon we had a lot of land and not enough workers or money to buy seed with. Your father was worried that he was going to lose the land, but then he happened to meet a man named Senor Hector Delacruz who is very wealthy. The Senor talked with your papa and told him that he would help him as a friend and he wouldn't ask for payment back until he was sure your father could pay him. Senor Delacruz hired workers for your father he bought all the seed and grain to plant, we went from living in a shack on the land to a very nice house. And that is how we came into our money. Many times your father tried to pay Hector back but he said no that he didn't need the money and that he would rather have your father be able to do a favor for him if he ever needed it. Your father agreed and they put it in writing that your father would grant him whatever he asked for when it was asked of him."

She paused again and sighed. "When my sister died in childbirth we came out here and I was six months pregnant with you at the time. There was a lot to be done here with raising Maria as my own and then raising you after you were born. Your father and I liked it so much in London that we decided we wanted to raise you both here. Then with your fathers brother and wife gone all the time on different trips around the world well raising Isabella was never a bother, we loved her as much as we did you."

"I know all of this Mami, tell me what it is that is bothering you."

Her mother sighed deeply and when she looked up there were tears in her eyes. "Your father and Hector kept in touch over the years. When we left his son had already been running parts of the business for years, he was Twenty-two at the time. Two and a half years ago Hector had wrote to your father saying that he was ready to collect on the favor that was owed him. He asked for his daugthers hand in marriage to his son. It seems that Hector Delacruz II has been married before but lost his wife to measles, he has three young sons and a daughter who is now three. Well your father said that he couldn't do this. That you were going to stay here and you weren't old enough to be married. When your father refused and sent the money that was owed instead we didn't hear back from him except to get the money back in pieces. Then the problems started. The land hasn't been producing in the whole two years, there are no workers left they have all been laid off and the fields are overgrown, Hector was able to buy to convince and lie to people that the land was his because your father hadn't stepped foot on it in over eighteen years and he know owns it. We have almost no money now and we have no choice but to go back to Spain."

Elizabeth had sat there in shock letting all of it seep in and then finally spoke. "If we have no money to build the land back up with then what will happen?"

"You three girls will be going to Spain where you will have to either find rich husbands to take care of you or find places of work."

"Mother may I ask you something?"

"Yes."

"If I was to marry Senor Delacruz's son what would happen?"

"Your father doesn't want that for you mija, he wants you to marry for love like he and I did."

"Mama what would happen?"

She sighed knowing already what her daughter was thinking and that her answer would set her into what she was thinking. "He has said that if your father gives his consent to marry that he will forgive the old debt, and your father will have his land back."

"Then I have to do what I can to help the family Mama."

"Your father will not like this, in fact he will not allow you to do this."

"Then it is up to you and I to make father believe that I have taken one look at Hector Delacruz II and fallen in love with him."

And that was exactly what they had made people think. When they had arrived in Spain only her mother and her knew the truth about what was going to happen. Her mother had tried several times to talk Elizabeth out of it but her mind had been made up. The first Friday they were there they had all been invited to a ball and after dressing in their finest clothes they took leave for the ball.

Her mother had pointed both Father and Son out to her and Elizabeth saw two somewhat handsome older men, she had waited for her chance and made her move. Hector Delacruz was standing with a bunch of men and she had arranged it so her dress was able to get caught at the corner under his shoe. When she went to move away she stumbled about when she felt his arms catch her under the elbows.

""I am sorry Miss, it seems that I do not know how to look out for lovely ladies and their dresses."

"Oh I'm sure that it must be my fault."

He bowed low, "Permit me to introduce myself, I am Hector Delacruz II."

She held out her hand and he kissed the back of it, "My name is Elizabeth Juanita Romero." She saw the flicker of recognition in his eyes and it was gone quickly.

"May I say that you are by far the lovliest woman at the ball this evening."

She blushed and thanked him.

"May I ask the ladies permission for a dance?"

She looked down and then back at him before nodding.

They danced twice that evening. And then when she saw him at a dinner party on Monday she danced with him twice more. When they were riding in the carriage back to their house she saw her father watching her and she smiled. "Yes papa?"

"I noticed you dancing with a gentlemen tonight, the same one that I saw you dancing with at the Sanchez ball Friday. You two seemed to spend a lot of time with each other."

She took a deep breath and asked god for his forgiveness in the lie she was about to tell. "Oh yes Papa, the man is named Hector Delacruz, and he is very handsome and distinguished."

"Well that may be true Mija but I just want you to be careful."

"Oh I will be papa, Mr. Delacruz is a very nice man though."

The next day he had came calling to ask her to go riding, and they had spent almost every day or evening in each others company. And when she told her father that she wished to marry Hector Delacruz because she was in love with him her father had been very hesitant. How could things be going the way that Senor had wanted them to. And when his daughter had cried at her fathers first objection he had finally determined that sometimes fate works in mysterious ways and he had consented to the marriage.




"Liz...."

Elizabeth had snapped out of her trance and looked at her cousin's who were more like sisters to her. "Yes?"

"All of our talk about kisses and looks probably made her think of Hector, tell us Lizzy has Hector looked at you that way? Do his kisses make you tingle and think of thoughts of what the marriage bed will be like?"

The girls both laughed and Elizabeth felt like crying, yes she had kissed Hector, twice in fact, but neither kiss had made her feel differently. The fact is that she couldn't see what was so great about it.

She just smiled at them and looked around, "I'm going to go out to the terrace for some air, I'll be back in a minute."

She walked away from them wanting to be alone with her thoughts. When she walked out on the balcony she saw a man standing there, his profile to her and her breath caught, he was very attractive. His hear was longish, the ends curling around his neck. His stance was one that made him look important and strong. He turned just then and looked at her.

"Hello."

"Hello, I didn't know anyone else was out here."

"If you had would you have not come out?"

"Oh well...No, I just don't want to disturb you."

"It would disturb me if you left. What is your name?"

"Elizabeth, Elizabeth Romero."

"I'm pleased to meet you, my name is Maxwell Evans."

She curtsied and then sat on the bench while he stood near the balcony. He looked at her again before speaking. "Did you need to get some air? Or did you come out here to think?"

"A little of both I suppose."

"Your only what sixteen, seventeen? Surely the weight of the world can't be on your shoulders."

Her back stiffened "I'll have you know that I will turn nineteen a month from know, and you know nothing about my problems."

He chuckled, "Let me guess your father won't give you money to buy a dress?"

She stood up walking, or more like stomping over to him and glared up at his face. "My father is a great man, and if I was like some of those shallow vain women who cried about a trinket of some sort my father would buy it for me. But I am not like that, I would do anything for my father including marry a man I didn't love so that he could get his land back." She clasped her hand over her mouth at this statement not believing she had told a total stranger what she was doing.

"Marrying a man so that your father can get his land back?"

"You incensed me sir, I spoke out when I shouldn't have." She turned around to leave and stopped when his hand pulled hers and she swiveled around to face him again.

"You have already given away part of your secret, I won't tell anyone. Why are you doing this and who are you to marry?"

She sighed and pulled her hand out of his grasp, "I'm to marry Hector Delacruz, his father and my father went into business before I was born. Senor Delacruz funded my fathers work and never allowed my father to pay him back. A little over two years ago he asked for payment, payment by my hand in marriage to his son. My father said no and Senor Delacruz got upset, he let my fathers land go to waste and the workers could not be paid and had to leave. We have little money now and we were going to come back here and work among other things and if all it takes is me marrying Mr. Delacruz to get my father his land back then I will do it."

He looked at her after he explanation and then nodded. "You are a good daughter, not many would do that for their fathers."

"I don't know about other daughters, I just know that I could not let my family be forced to work or marry men they didn't love when it would be much simpler for me to marry."

"Marry men?" He asked.

"I have two cousins that I have grown up with, they would have had to either work or marry rich men, and we were grown up to believe that you marry for love."

"So do you love Delacruz?"

She shook her head, "Maybe in time I will grow to love him, he does not seem to be a bad man."

"And what about when he takes you in his arms and kisses you, do you have to act then?"

She gasped, "You are taking liberties asking me such questions."

"You didn't answer the question princess."

"I can see that you will not stop your questioning till I answer." A little voice inside nagged at her why she didn't just leave. But she couldn't he was a compelling man and she couldn't have walked away any more then she could have stopped breathing. "His kisses are pleasant I guess, his breath is not bad."

"Pleasant you guess? Breath not bad? Princess I would say that he is probably the first person to ever kiss you isn't he?" When she didn't answer he went ahead.

"Well we can't have that. Kisses aren't meant to be pleasant, pleasant is something you use to describe a nice stay at an inn." And before she could say anything he had hauled her into his arms, tilted her chin up so he could look in her eyes and kissed her lips. The first touch of his lips on hers and she was lost in a whirlwind of emotions. And when he used his thumb to urge her mouth open and his tongue swept into meet hers she clutched the hair at the back of his neck and wondered about how her hands had gotten there before she lost herself completely in this wonderful kiss.

It was not till he pushed her away from him and she noticed that her chest was heaving and she was out of breath that it started to dawn on her where she was and what she was doing. Her hand was clutched to her chest and her lips felt puffy and swollen.

"That Princess is how a kiss is supposed to be. I know that my breath is nice and judging by how you look right now I would say that kiss was more then pleasant."

She took a step back, "You are a vain and rude man. Your kisses are not nearly as good as Hector's."

He took a step towards her, "Should we try again so I can prove to you that your lying."

"You will never touch me again. I won't allow it."

He shook his head, "That is where you are wrong, I have not finished touching you, and the next time I do you will allow it, but this isn't the time for that discussion. I will have you though make no mistake of that." And with a slight bow to her he turned and walked down the steps into the darkness.


Chapter 2


Max sat in the Inn drinking his pint of ale his longtime friend Michael Guerin sat next to him talking to him but Max couldn't concentrate on what his friend was saying, he kept thinking of the kiss he had shared with that girl the previous evening. She had that innocence of a girl who was surprised by the feel of another person's lips on hers. But she also had that underlying spark of passion that would come to the surface if prodded by the right man. Hector Delacruz didn't appear to be the right man apparently.

"Maxwell."

Max shook his head when he saw Michael's fingers snapping in front of his face and turned to look at his friend. "What?"

"I asked you if you were ready to go? Where were you just now?"

"Just thinking."

"Ahh about the girl you met last night? It's better to just let that one go my friend. Tangling with property of Delacruz and his son would shorten your life."

"Yes I'm sure that they would hire someone to do their dirty work not wanting to get their hands dirty themselves, but I'm not worried about that, I can handle myself. I just don't trust either of them, you know that they have dabbled their hands in many things that men without money would go to jail for and they always get away with it. I vowed revenge, my sister was an innocent virgin and Hector Delacruz took advantage of her naivety, raping her, she wasn't made for a convent but that is the only place she feels safe. Tessa won't talk about it now but I know what she told me that night, no one would do anything about it and I was told it was better to forget but I won't it is up to me now."

"Your right, but there isn't anything we can do about it. They are rich and powerful and people have turned a blind eye to it that know how they really are, and the ones that don't know wouldn't believe it of them."

"That's the problem, come let's go."

They walked out of the Inn and got on their horses, they sat atop their horses as they made their way among cobblestone pavement of the town. Stopping every so often to talk to one person or another. They arrived at the leather shoppe and Michael went into to get his new boots while Max waited outside for him. As he was waiting he looked around and saw Elizabeth come out from the dressmakers shoppe with her lady maid and two other girls. They were walking right towards him and he saw Liz's face blanch and then turn red at the sight of him and one corner of his mouth turned up in a smile and he couldn't resist what he was about to do.

"Hello Elizabeth, your looking especially bright this morning." He said as he took her hand in his and leaned down to kiss the back of it, when he straightened he looked in her eyes and in a voice meant only for her ears whispered. "Could it be because of anything that happened last night?"

She gasped and pulled her hand from his, "I assure you that any brightness I have is most assuredly not because of you."

He looked at her knowingly and then turned to the two girls standing next to her that were looking at him and then back at Elizabeth with surprised looks on their faces. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Maxwell Evans, and you are?"

Isabel put out her hand first, "I am Isabella Donavan, and this is Maria DeLuca." He took both of their hands in his and kissed them as well and then looked back at Elizabeth. "I am afraid that Elizabeth thinks me to forward, I hope that you both will not think the same thing."

Both girls shook their head and then Isabel spoke up, "And where did the two of you meet?"

"At the party last night." Elizabeth stammered.
"Out on the terrace. Alone." Max said while winking at the girls.

Elizabeth once again gasped in surprise and then blushed remembering the way his lips had felt moving on hers.

"I should have known that I would find you in the company of beautiful women Maxwell."

Michael was now standing beside Max looking at the blond girl with the green eyes with interest. She was staring back at him and Max made the introductions. "Michael Guerin I would like you to meet Maria DeLuca, Isabella Donavan, and Elizabeth Romero." Michael smiled at all the women and then took Maria's hand in his bowing to kiss it. "I'm pleased to meet you."

Maria blushed and looked down and then looked up again not able to keep her eyes off the handsome stranger in front of her.

Elizabeth watched in horror as Isabel put her hand on Max's arm, "If you have any friends that are as handsome as the two of you I would not say no to an introduction."

"I think that could be arranged." Max answered.

Elizabeth pulled Isabel's hand off Max's arm more because she didn't want her touching him and that surprised her again. "It is really pass time for us to take our leave."

"Well I shall see you tonight at the Delacruz costume ball."

"You are going sir?" Maria managed to ask Michael.

"Yes and I will look forward to seeing you there, I hope you will save me a dance?"

Maria nodded.

As the girls left the men stood there watching them. "I think a ride down to the docks is in order, shall we see if Kyle is interested in attending a ball tonight?"

Max nodded, "Yes I think he would enjoy being introduced to Isabella tonight."



**********

It was not till they were home that the girls were able to pounce on Liz.

"He is a very handsome man, how did you manage to meet him?" Isabel asked.

Being that they were her cousins as well as her closest friends she was not able to keep secrets from them, and so she told them everything. When she finished they both sighed and Liz sat there watching their faces.

"Oh it is just like we were talking about, a man kissing you till your body goes limp and your heart pounds. Who kisses better Hector or Maxwell?"

"Maxwell does, in all honesty Hector's kisses have never made me feel that way, but it's no matter Max is not the sort of man you marry. I will still be marrying Hector on Tuesday."

"You are right, Maxwell is more the type of guy that you take for a lover after your married. But marriage to him could still be a possibility, I saw how he looked at you Lizzy."

"We can't always have what we may want, Hector will make a fine husband for me."

But none of the girls were convinced any more.

*********


Max, Michael, and Kyle stepped into the ballroom their masks in place and surveyed the crowd. Max couldn't see the girls as of yet but he knew he would and when he did well he was going to dance with Elizabeth, one dance would be all right, and if they stepped out onto the terrace later and he happened to kiss her well there was nothing wrong with that either.

They walked to the tables to get a cup of punch Max listened with one ear as Michael and Kyle were discussing shipping matters and he watched people. He saw Hector Delacruz whispering to his father and then point at a man peeking out from behind the curtains, the man looked dirty and definitely not like the sort that would be invited to a ball. Max watched as both Delacruz men left the ballroom and with his curiosity being peaked he left the ballroom as well. He saw them halt near a door with their hand on the doornob just as a servant beckoned them to get their attention. All three men turned and Max walked pass them and turned back to look, they were all looking to where a servant pointed at a drunken man. Max didn't wait for his chance again and slipped into the room hiding in the closet to wait.

Only one or two minutes passed before he heard Senor Delacruz and his son come into the room.

"So you know what you are to do?"

"Yes sir, early Wednesday morning after your son and you leave to go into town I will go into Senorita Delacruz's room and I will kill her."

Max blinked in surprise. They were plotting to kill, was Senor Delacruz tired of his wife? He was somewhat startled when he heard Hector speak.

"Even though she will have been my wife for a short time I don't want it to become messy unless absolute necessary. Smothering her would work, as well as using your hands to strangle her. I might as well enjoy the marriage bed for one night before she is gotten rid of that is why she is to be killed Wednesday morning. I plan to ride her long and hard all night she will not be around long enough to get pregnant with a brat so I will take her as many times as I can."

By god they were planning on killing Elizabeth. Max thought. He listened as they confirmed a price and then the door opened and closed and he could hear both Delacruz men still talking.

"Wednesday you will have Ian take care of him right?"

"Yes father, he will not have a chance to spend one shilling, and Ian will take the money we give him as payment for taking care of it, and throw whatever Owen takes into the river."

"Ian has been very trustworthy but we don't want it looking like anything but an act of burglary and murder. I don't want it getting back to us, because Romero will ask questions about everything. Then when a month goes past it will be devastating when the fire burns the Romero house and all in it down to the ground. Then the land will be mine once and for all and the gold and diamonds will be ours."

"Just a short time and we will have more money then we know what to do with."

"To true son. But we need to leave before anyone truly misses us, and you need to go and do your duty by spending time with your fiancee. Stupid chit that she is, she fell right into our laps, you needed to marry her and she fell for you just like we wanted."

The door opened and closed on those words and Max waited ten minutes before coming out of his hiding spot. He made sure that no one was around when he opened the door and walked back to the ballroom as if nothing was amiss. He spotted Michael and Kyle talking to Isabella and Maria and made his way over to them. He stood there while they were talking and watched Elizabeth on the dance floor with Hector. He noticed now that her smiles seemed forced and there was no light in her eyes the way there had been when he had kissed her.

The song ended and Hector returned her to her parents and then went off to the gaming room with a couple friends of his. Elizabeth made her way over to where he stood and stood next to Isabella and Maria. She couldn't help sneaking looks at him, he was very handsome his hair curled around his neck naturally, he was dressed like a pirate. A red sash around his waist, black tight breeches showed the muscles in his legs, and his white shirt billowed around him and was open at the neck and you could see the golden color of his skin. When she looked up she saw the smile on his lips and knew that he had noticed her looking at him, she blushed and then fanned herself hiding her own smile and embarrassment, she couldn't help smiling, the man was a devil in disguise and knew the effects of his charm no matter that he shouldn't.

Max addressed the group at large, "I believe it is to hot in here for the moment, I am going to get a breath of fresh air, excuse me ladies." He walked away without a backward glance, if she came outside after him he would have his answer, though it didn't matter he already had a plan in his mind and was going to do what he had to do to keep her safe no matter her feelings or lack there of for him.

He stayed out of sight behind a large palm tree and it was only a few minutes before she appeared looking one way and then the other searching for him. He had his answer.

He stepped out of hiding walking up quietly behind her, he put his hand over her mouth and one around her waist and pulled her back into the bushes. When he turned her he could see the surprise and panic turn to anger. "If I remove my hand do you promise not to scream?"

His other hand was running up and down her back and making her shiver, she nodded and when he removed it she hissed at him. "How dare you drag me into the bushes like some loose woman."

"I thought you had came out here looking for me."

"Looking for you? Why would I do that? I am engaged to be married."

"Yes I'm all to aware of that." He answered a second before his lips came down on hers. She remembered what he had taught her last time and was pleased when her tongue touched his before his touched hers. She was very passionate and had an aggressive side to her. His mouth trailed from her lips to the line of her jaw and then down to her throat where he nipped it lightly. Her hands were threaded through his hair and when he lightly bit her ear she moaned against his. He captured her mouth again and when both of them were breathless he eased back from her.

"Come away with me Elizabeth, I will make you happy both out of bed as well as in it."

A few months ago if she had met him she might have just done that, but she had responsibilities now. Shaking her head she looked at him, "You make me forget myself sir, I admit that your kisses make me feel things but I am to be married and I can't turn my back on them no matter how you make me feel."

"Hector Delacruz and his father are evil, I can't allow the marriage to go forward."

"Allow? You have no control over me, and what do you mean evil?"

"If I told you now you would not believe it, but I meant what I said, come Monday you will go with me willingly or you will be dragged kicking and screaming if need be, but you will not marry him."

Her temper flared, "You can not tell me what I will do and what I will not, I will not run away with you just so to appease this lust men have and then have you throw me away when you no longer lust after me. I will marry Hector, he can offer me things you can not."

He grabbed her by the back of the neck forcing her to look him in the eyes, "Thank god that I would not offer you what Hector would. You will not marry him princess and before Monday is up you will apologize to me, and you will willingly go to bed with me, you will beg me to make love to you before that night is out."

"You presume to much sir." She walked out of the bushes as dignified as she could and jerked away from him when she felt his hand on her wrist. "Stay away from me, I don't need complications in my life. Go find some girl who is willing to kiss and bed you, I will not."

She walked away from him going to her parents side and staying there for the rest of the night. When they went back home she told her cousins all about her conversation with Maxwell and instead of taking her side in things they breathlessly said that it was all very romantic. She shook her head and went to her bed and found that sleep was hard to find that night even long after her cousins drifted off.

***********

That night after they were back on the ship Max poured another glass of brandy for all of them while he once again told what he had heard in the study. "This will be his second wife, and his other wife died not to long ago."

"There was a lot of talk when she died though, his father had a harder time covering it up then what he normally does." Kyle said as he sipped his brandy.

"Why would he cover it up she died from measles."

"You were gone at the time, she was fine on Friday and Monday morning she was dead and buried they said they had done it quickly so as to not spread the disease. They got Doctor Winslow to say that he had examined her and she had measles and died from the fever. But he's a drunk and would say most anything for any amount of money. And from what I know when Yvette turned thirty she inherited her father's fortune. Hector and his father had to wait till that time to get their hands on her fortune, she died three days after her thirtieth birthday."

"I won't allow her marriage to take place to Hector, he will not have another wife to kill."

"Well of course not, if you sat back her death would be on your hands, what do you plan to do about it though?"

Max smiled and told them of his plan.

***

Sunday came and when Elizabeth went down to breakfast there was a note on a tray next to her plate. She read it and gasped in surprise, the man was bold that was to be sure. She walked to the front door opening it and saw a man standing near a rose bush, she beckoned him closer. "Did you bring a message for me from Maxwell?"

"Yes my lady."

"You can tell him then that my answer is no and will be no always, no matter how many times nor the way he asks. I will always answer no."

"He thought that would be your answer my lady, I am to inform you if you answered no that it is all right, he will change your mind."

She managed to smother her scream and bid him good-bye before closing the door and then running up stairs. Isabel saw her running past then and a piece of paper fall. She picked it up and read it and then ran to find Maria who was in library embroidering. "Maria listen to this. Elizabeth one of my men is outside waiting for your answer, will you come with me willingly? I don't want to have to resort to drastic matters but I will if need be. You have only till Monday night, your marriage to hector will not take place. Say yes and save both of us the time and struggle of a long drawn out battle. Send your answer of yes and I will be there within the hour to take you away."

"My he really wants her."

"What do you suppose he will do if she continues to say no?" Isabel asked.

"I have no idea but I wish it was me that it was happening to. A handsome man sweeping you off your feet and refusing to take no for an answer. Michael is handsome, but I don't think he is the asking type no if he wanted something he would take it no means yes to him I would think."

"Kyle is very handsome as well, his blue eyes seemed to see to the very soul of me. A couple of times I felt my pulse racing, and honestly if he had suggested whisking me away like Maxwell is doing with Lizzy well I do not think that I would be able to resist."

********

Monday came and it was a flurry of activity, the house was now clean from top to bottom. People were in and out of the house all day getting things ready for the wedding the next morning. Elizabeth was in the library when the butler came in and handed her a note. Elizabeth I am giving you one last chance to say yes if you say no I will not ask you again.

She walked to the door opened it, saw the man standing waiting for her answer. She shook her head, "My answer is no."

"Yes my lady." He got onto his horse and rode off.

She walked back inside not knowing whether to be grateful or sad that it was finally over.





To Be Continued...


[ edited 2 time(s), last at 13-Oct-2001 2:13:28 AM ]
posted on 4-Oct-2001 4:50:24 PM by RoswellJen007
I just wanted to thank you all for the feedback I really appreciate it.

GODBLESSEVERYONE!!!!!!!!
posted on 10-Oct-2001 2:23:07 PM by RoswellJen007
Just Testing

posted on 12-Oct-2001 2:18:04 AM by RoswellJen007
I'm bouncing this because I need to see if the testing thing changes in the window on the main page.