He ignored the annoying thought in his head. He had been in London for almost two days when bored out of his mind he'd called his mother. To his utter disappointment,the castle was running smoothly and no they didn't need his help with the business. She'd then proceeded to recommend a few place to him and this had been on the top of her list. Ashlayin was sure his mother was unaware of the state of the place if not she'd have swooped in but one thing was certain, the music was very good. He proceeded to the front row,nodding softly to the woman by his side and he focused forward. He watched the stage as the musician seated themselves themselves and soon caught himself looking for traces of blonde hair. In a flash, the glimpse of whitish blond hair caught his eye,grinning he settled for the music. The first draw of the violin enraptured him,as notes swelled and echoed with harmony, music was something that had captured his interest from the earliest. As a young child, his mother had carted them to concerts whenever she had the chance and for a while he had believed that if he had not been born a prince he would have been a musician. But he was a prince and he – to his mother's dismay – couldn't carry a tune to save his life.
He watched her play the mystery woman from the night before, she was totally engrossed in the music she didn't seem to be aware of anything else, he found it mesmerizing. Safe to say she intrigued him, she had since she'd spoken back to him the night before.
Ashlayin was used to people bowing and trying to gain his goodwill,either for his position or out of fear of his physical appearance. Although she'd been scared she'd spoken back and that made him curious.
The music ended with a flair and unable to resist Ashlayin traced her with his gaze as he stood hastily apologizing to the people beside him,he found her arguing with a portly man, they both looked distressed and he heard whispered words of bankruptcy, letting off and closing down which confirmed his suspicion of the state of the Riverdale.
"You know,its rude to stare" a feminine voice queried. It was light and soft like the woman who owned it. He shook himself realizing he paused just outside where she and her companion were likely having a serious discussion and where he'd ended up looking like a spy.
" I'm sorry, good evening" he offered, the portly man smiled slightly
" I'll leave you with your guest, Selina" he said and she looked ready to protest as the man shuffled away. Her name was Selina, a beautiful name " It really isn't a good habit you know" she murmured drily
" What?" " Staring, it's not a good look on you" she replied gesturing to his face
"Not when the image is enticing" he countered. She scoffed
" I'm sure you say that to all the girls" " They aren't many girls I find enticing so no" he replied. She huffed staring at him with a curious expression, he wondered what she hoped to find " You seem familiar" she muttered, coming closer
" Maybe" he answered simply, she slid closer and gasped
"You- your the man I bumped into" she accused and Ashlayin shrugged
" If you say so" " I do say" she replied irritably, he had to try hard to stop himself from grinning
" Who are you" "Ash Benedict at your service. And what's your lovely name " he asked "Selina Covell" she replied, then scowled
" why are you here" she asked and he grinned
"I was hoping to see you again,so I could invite you for dinner" he responded.
She glared at him her cheeks a bright pink he continued
"I know we didn't start off properly but I want to correct that" she watched him warily
"I am busy-"
"Surely not at this moment" he said interrupting her polite refusal,she glanced at him with curiosity and suspicion
" Are you a stalker" she asked, unable to help himself he laughed, sobering when she glared " No I'm not a stalker, I'm a business man, who thinks you look gorgeous and would like to have dinner with you"
" And then what" she asked " What do you mean" he questioned, confused
" What comes after dinner" she asked and he grinned, he took his time stalking towards her as he replied
" Well, miss Covell, if we still like each other after dinner, then I'd like to have you in my bed" coming to stand over her. She swallowed looking flushed " Alright let's have dinner" she answered and he nodded, quite pleased with himself.
*******************
Selina wondered for the umpteenth time how she had ended up here. When she had realized that the man before her was the same man she had bumped into days ago, she had been - a bit surprised. The darkness had hidden certain attributes, that were worth looking at. For hours at a time. She admired his physique as they found their way out of the back room. He had muscular arms and a wide chest that tapered to a narrow waist, his face wasn't that great no. It was a normal face, but then his eyes a warm cobalt blue just sat in his face and made it alluring, that and the luxurious shock of black hair that sat on his head, a straight nose and lips that were firm yet supple. God! She sounded like a nineteenth century poet.
Sighing she face forward, it seemed Ash Benedict pressed all her libido's buttons.
They walked out of the theater, Selina tried looking for Deb before remembering she's rushed off to pick up her son. Sighing again, she stole glances of Ash from the side
"Are you certain you are up to dinner" he asked and she smiled " And if I weren't" " Then I'd take you home" he replied pausing " Are you okay with this, you must be tired" he said frowning softly and she had to stifle the urge to smile
"I am. I could eat" she's been surviving on beans and toast unwilling to ask her parents for money, she'd chosen this path so she was going to do her best, on her own.
He nodded and led her to his car and opened the door, she got in murmuring a quick thank you. She was behaving out of the norm, Selina Covell did not have dinner with strangers but somehow this man had compelled her, and so here she was. He opened the back door and placed her violin then joined her. Inhaling deeply she turned to him
"So where are you from, your accent is - peculiar" she questioned, as a young girl she had made it a mission to learn as many accents as she could and his was a bit familiar whispering beneath her memories like a mischievous sprite. " Agryll - "he replied and she gasped " Australias " she breathed in awe, she had read of the continent country, run by a monarch and minister elected by the people, she had always wanted to visit but somehow she'd never gone.
"Yes, that was the name before my- the Queen changed it"
"I know,Queen Lorna took the throne after her brother was overthrown and made many changes" he nodded. This was wonderful of all the countries she'd been to Argyll intrigued her the most,thrilled to have a native citizen in front of her,she questioned him
" how complete is the monarch's rule" she asked
"complete, the king rules with his queen and he has two houses that make decisions with him, the house of lords, for the few royals aristocrat left and the house of commons for the citizen"
" that's quite simple " she replied
"Yes we have three officials from each state to make up the house of Commons making a total of eighteen , and the Queen runs a women's body that works closely with women and children" " That's quite wonderful, and the house of Lords " she asked
" They are aristocrat from the old days , some houses have died off but we have a total of ten houses" she nodded
" that is very nice. The country is mostly a desert, how developed is irrigation "
" We are blessed enough to be able to take care of our agriculture. We have lots of minerals that are essential to some countries, and our internal income of course"she nodded
" This means we're able to devote effort to developing agricultural technology"
The car came to a stop, and she looked and inhaled , this was no fish and chips joint "I can't afford this place, " she exclaimed and he laughed
"I don't expect you to, come on I made us a reservation" he said opening his door,she inhaled softly and came down.
He led her inside, and she had to make the effort not to squeak,though in glee or horror she wasn't quite sure. She was in the famous Bleur
"Mr Benedict ,please come this way" a maitre'd said softly and led them to their table. She could feel the stares of the customers mostly on her, the men probably wondering what she was doing here and the women what she was doing with a man like Ash. All of a sudden she felt underdressed. Most ignored her completely saving their glancing at Ash and she couldn't quite blame them, the man was a hunk of delicious.
He pulled a chair for her, she smiled at him softly as she sat determined to ignore them all and enjoy her meal. "Here are your menus,would you like something to drink" a waiter asked once they were seated
"We will have a bottle of wine, the best French you have" Ash replied, the waiter vanished. While he looked over the menu, she glanced at hers and was at loss- she wasn't quite sure what to pick. Despite his offer to pay, everything on the menu screamed expensive by the time the waiter returned with the wine she had not yet decided.
"I'll have a steak"Ash ordered, then both he and the waiter glanced at her and she flushed, his knowing gaze met hers and he turned to the waiter
"Get her the same" he ordered and the waiter rushed away
"Thank you, and sorry I wasn't quite sure what to get " she replied " That's alright, now lets enjoy. Tell me about you"
" What do you want to know" " how did you get involved in music"
" My parents were part of the musical scene. My mother sang in the opera and father did a lot of lyrical plays.
" At first I was certain I wanted to be a ballerina but then I realized I had farmers feet" she concluded and he laughed "Farmers feet, what the hell is that"
"Well,that's what my father called it he said my feet stuck out in opposite ends when I danced" she answered and he laughed softly
" They must be very proud then" he replied and she smiled sadly
" I'd like to think so" he frowned so she continued
"My parents passed away it's been about, twenty years" "Oh. I'm sorry," he said softly
" It's okay, it was an accident– a drunk driver. "
"Were you an only child" he asked and she nodded
" Yes," "I see- oh yes our meal is here" the waiter arrived with their meals effectively ending the conversation much to her relief, she thanked him softly. Taking a bite of the food , her eyes widened in delight, and Ash chuckled
"Good" she nodded furiously, taking another bite and moaning in pleasure, he laughed and she glared at him
" it's vari guut" she queried her mouth full and he nodded solemnly, taking a bite of his own meal.
They ate all the while talking, she learned that he was the first of his parents two children, and he had a twin brother, " Your parents must be so happy to have two handsome boys" she offered and he laughed
" She is now, when we were younger we were a handful" he replied.
They talked about themselves, politics and lots of music.She let him pick another dessert for her and she sighed in bliss at the first bite by the time they left she was feeling quite full and relaxed
" So I'm quite curious why did you leave home" she asked and he sighed
"My father is handing down his responsibilities to me and I was given some time to acclimate to the idea " he replied and she nodded,
"That's a very nice gesture, the only acclimatization my brother had was being tossed in the deep end the next day" she offered
" I thought you were an only child" he asked and she smiled
" I was adopted, my foster parents had a son two years after they took me home"
" Hmm. Well I'm glad I'm not your brother. What kind of business does he run" Ash asked and she stiffened,she wasn't sure why but she didn't feel quite comfortable talking about her family's business
" It's a small construction company very local" she said He paid the bill, and escorted her out the building, towards his car, it was cooler, and a bit wet.
He drove to her home, stopping in front of her decrypt building, she came down,taking her violin box she smiled at him,her stomach twisting on itself with nerves
" I had a good time tonight" he murmured, coming up to her, he stood close enough that she could smell his aftershave
" So did I" she replied
" Are you coming up" she asked just as he said " I would like to see you again" she frowned "Why,I don't understand" "Because I want to get to know you"
"I have a show tomorrow-" she stuttered and he smiled " I will be there" quite nervous and curious, she didn't realise how close to her his head was.
He pulled her towards him, using his left hand to hold her face, his lips hovered over hers, her eyes fluttered close just as he kissed her softly, his lips played with her teasing and luring then he pulled away murmuring
"Good night"
"Good night" she replied, dazedly Selina watched him enter his car " Go in I'll watch you " he smiled. She smiled nodded, shaking her head to clear it she walked to her building and up the old rickety stairs she was familiar with and into her almost bare apartment, she turned in her light and watched him drive away from her bedroom window, her fingers in her lips all the while she thought,
What the hell have I gotten into now.
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