"Hohoho~"
The laugh was distinctive; a cheerful ringing that could command attention from across the room. Men stared as women glared and pulled their husbands back to reality. And yet, it couldn't be avoided. Despite the attempts by their wives and their own self-control--or lack thereof--all of the men were captivated, and rightly so. Rosalie Parnell was the most beautiful woman in the room, there was no questioning that. Really, there only was one question: who would she be taking home tonight?
"Hoho~" she giggled again, tossing her dark blonde locks over her shoulder, "Monsieur Dupuis, you are hilarious~!" The answer to the question seemed blatantly obvious, but Lady Parnell was known to surprise.
"Why thank you, Mademoiselle," spoke the man. He was well-built, probably in his early thirties, and though he was not a Lord himself, he was the younger brother of Lord Dupuis. "Might I have this dance?" he asked the woman, offering her his hand.
Smiling in her typical, seductive manner, Rosalie took his hand in her own white-gloved one. "It would be my pleasure~"
The band had just begun to play a new song as the two joined the lovers and dancers on the ballroom floor. Dupuis gladly placed his hand on Rosalie's hip, earning him many subtle jealous glares. As she rested her palm on the man's shoulder, Rosalie mentally decided that he would be the one. She had a complete hold on him, and the night was almost over anyway. The woman stepped closer, close enough to whisper into his ear.
"Monsieur Dupuis..." The Lady made sure that her red lips brushed against his ear. "... You wouldn't possibly be able to... escort me back to my estate after the party, would you? It's just that it's so~ late and I'll be oh~ so~ alone~" Peeking at his face, and being close enough to hear his heart racing, Rosalie already knew the answer. She continued all the same. "But, I wouldn't want to impose-"
"You wouldn't be imposing," he insisted without hesitation, "Not in the least."
"Oh, thank you~" she spoke, letting her lips touch his skin once more.
~*~
When he awoke, she was not lying next to him. Has it all been a dream? No, for this was not his own bed, and her scent lingered. Oh, that intoxicating aroma... The previous night flashed through his mind, and when he finally looked up, Lady Parnell was approaching him, as beautiful as ever. She sat on the bed next to him, and the moment he opened his mouth, she covered it with a kiss. Dupuis' eyes widened, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. When she finally broke away, Rosalie whispered to the man, "You should go."
"But-" he began in protest, but the woman placed a finger on his lips. She gazed into his dark eyes with her own crystal blue ones, and repeated herself:
"You should go."
But he didn't want to go! He wanted to stay and be with Rosalie! Why did he have to leave?! Keeping his words to himself, the man gave a small nod. Though it was probably more harmful than helpful, Monsieur Dupuis was awarded with another kiss before Rosalie left the room.
~*~
Now, one may have wondered if there, being a Lady Parnell, was a Lord Parnell. Well, there was--or, used to be. Louis Parnell had died three years previously in an unfortunate riding incident, leaving his money and estate to the Lady Rosalie. Not that she even noticed he was gone. To her, it was merely the loss of a partner, and repetition was known to bore her anyway. In reality, Lord Parnell was probably the only person to have believed that Rosalie was faithful, and even he had his doubts. It didn't really matter, though, after his death. Rosalie was left with land, money--and one less obstacle for when she brought home someone new.
One key thing thing that added to Lady Parnell's notorious reputation was her fleeting interest in men. It was a well-known fact that once she got a man to sleep with her she would show him little to no interest in the future, unless she decided she wanted him again (which was rare but not unheard of). Though she was not shy in the least about flirting, Rosalie tended to go for single men rather than married ones. It was not done in any attempt to be nice to the wives; rather, it was for Rosalie's own convenience. She found that taking a single man home was much easier than sneaking a married man away from his wife.
In spite of the obstacles present, however, once Lady Parnell had her sights set on a man, she would not rest until he was hers.
And one such target was Lord Luc Pomeroy.
~*~
The laugh was distinctive; a cheerful ringing that could command attention from across the room. Men stared as women glared and pulled their husbands back to reality. And yet, it couldn't be avoided. Despite the attempts by their wives and their own self-control--or lack thereof--all of the men were captivated, and rightly so. Rosalie Parnell was the most beautiful woman in the room, there was no questioning that. Really, there only was one question: who would she be taking home tonight?
"Hoho~" she giggled again, tossing her dark blonde locks over her shoulder, "Monsieur Dupuis, you are hilarious~!" The answer to the question seemed blatantly obvious, but Lady Parnell was known to surprise.
"Why thank you, Mademoiselle," spoke the man. He was well-built, probably in his early thirties, and though he was not a Lord himself, he was the younger brother of Lord Dupuis. "Might I have this dance?" he asked the woman, offering her his hand.
Smiling in her typical, seductive manner, Rosalie took his hand in her own white-gloved one. "It would be my pleasure~"
The band had just begun to play a new song as the two joined the lovers and dancers on the ballroom floor. Dupuis gladly placed his hand on Rosalie's hip, earning him many subtle jealous glares. As she rested her palm on the man's shoulder, Rosalie mentally decided that he would be the one. She had a complete hold on him, and the night was almost over anyway. The woman stepped closer, close enough to whisper into his ear.
"Monsieur Dupuis..." The Lady made sure that her red lips brushed against his ear. "... You wouldn't possibly be able to... escort me back to my estate after the party, would you? It's just that it's so~ late and I'll be oh~ so~ alone~" Peeking at his face, and being close enough to hear his heart racing, Rosalie already knew the answer. She continued all the same. "But, I wouldn't want to impose-"
"You wouldn't be imposing," he insisted without hesitation, "Not in the least."
"Oh, thank you~" she spoke, letting her lips touch his skin once more.
~*~
When he awoke, she was not lying next to him. Has it all been a dream? No, for this was not his own bed, and her scent lingered. Oh, that intoxicating aroma... The previous night flashed through his mind, and when he finally looked up, Lady Parnell was approaching him, as beautiful as ever. She sat on the bed next to him, and the moment he opened his mouth, she covered it with a kiss. Dupuis' eyes widened, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. When she finally broke away, Rosalie whispered to the man, "You should go."
"But-" he began in protest, but the woman placed a finger on his lips. She gazed into his dark eyes with her own crystal blue ones, and repeated herself:
"You should go."
But he didn't want to go! He wanted to stay and be with Rosalie! Why did he have to leave?! Keeping his words to himself, the man gave a small nod. Though it was probably more harmful than helpful, Monsieur Dupuis was awarded with another kiss before Rosalie left the room.
~*~
Now, one may have wondered if there, being a Lady Parnell, was a Lord Parnell. Well, there was--or, used to be. Louis Parnell had died three years previously in an unfortunate riding incident, leaving his money and estate to the Lady Rosalie. Not that she even noticed he was gone. To her, it was merely the loss of a partner, and repetition was known to bore her anyway. In reality, Lord Parnell was probably the only person to have believed that Rosalie was faithful, and even he had his doubts. It didn't really matter, though, after his death. Rosalie was left with land, money--and one less obstacle for when she brought home someone new.
One key thing thing that added to Lady Parnell's notorious reputation was her fleeting interest in men. It was a well-known fact that once she got a man to sleep with her she would show him little to no interest in the future, unless she decided she wanted him again (which was rare but not unheard of). Though she was not shy in the least about flirting, Rosalie tended to go for single men rather than married ones. It was not done in any attempt to be nice to the wives; rather, it was for Rosalie's own convenience. She found that taking a single man home was much easier than sneaking a married man away from his wife.
In spite of the obstacles present, however, once Lady Parnell had her sights set on a man, she would not rest until he was hers.
And one such target was Lord Luc Pomeroy.
~*~
