A Courtesan Must Not Love - Fiona / Invite

[Arabella Balfour]

London - 1819

Rule #1 - Never fall in love with your clients..



It had been almost a month since that fateful night. The memories of which were hidden in a mist of extreme pleasure, and sudden fatigue. She had awoken the following morning, only to discover that it was not morning.. It was almost dark. She never slept so late! Even after attending late night soirees, and balls that ended at sunrise, she always managed to be up by mid-morning at the latest. Then her stomach had growled at her and she had succumbed to a ravenous hunger which her servants did not comment on. They had been in the employ of the Vicomte really, not her and they were well paid for their silence on anything they may see or hear..

Well paid.. Until recently. Because her Vicomte had not returned, to her bed.. or to her townhouse at all. No one had seen him, it was as if he had vanished. The bills on the house were due. The servants were expecting their wages and.. he was just gone! She had enough saved that if she left now, she could survive until finding another protector.. but she stubbornly clung to the hope that he would return for her. He hadn't wanted her body, which had been the selling point for Arabella's compliance in his desires.. He'd wanted something else..

Something hot.. and wet....


Her body shivered in half remembered bliss..

"Madame...?" A maid wearing a lacy white cap, stood in the door way.

Arabella looked up. "Yes..?"

"You have a visitor.."

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona was in the sitting room, waiting to be greeted by Arabella ::

[Arabella Balfour]

Pausing only to check her appearance in the gilded hall mirror, Arabella opened the study door to find the young woman from the other night waiting in the sitting room.

"Will you be wanting tea, Madame..?" The maid lurked, not sure what to do with present company..

"Not at this time, I'll ring if we change our mind." She shut the doors and held the woman's gaze..

"You knew.. What would happen to me.", it was not an accusation, just a stated fact.

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona nodded somberly ::

"I came as soon as I could."

[Arabella Balfour]

Slightly unsteady, Arabella sank grcaefully into a padded little chair, clinging to it's arms to steady herself..

"Do you know where he is now..?"

[Fiona Marsh]

"I imagine the Vicomte is hiding, or dead."

:: She took a certain pleasure in saying it ::

[Arabella Balfour]

If it were possible, she went a whiter shade of pale. Her heart lurched painfully in her chest and when she spoke it came out as a whisper..

"Dead...? Surely not! He was fine.. more than fine! I..", her head dropped a notch already feeling the truth of the words.

"I don't understand.."

[Fiona Marsh]

"He was warned by the community about taking liberties with you. He didn't pay heed."

[Arabella Balfour]

"Liberties?! With me...? Surely you jest.." She was slightly incredulous over that fact. Once it may have been true, but she'd fallen from grace and was no longer worthy of defending in the eyes of her former peers..

Something about the way this woman had warned her though, and even now, about how she spoke of this 'community'. There was something Arabella was not latching on to. Her hands stole up to the scarf wrapped around her throat, self consciously..

"What sort of community? Who are you people?"

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona touched Arabella's hand, so Arabella could feel the warmth. She was not like the Vicomte ::

"We should speak of this more privatley."

[Arabella Balfour]

She glanced toward the doors. The servants were not in her employ. They were, or rather, had been in his.. Arabella did not trust them and agreed completely with a relocation. She nodded curtly.

"Where do you suggest, and... what may I call you? This lack of information is bordering on tedious. May I at least know your name?"

[Fiona Marsh]

"Fiona Marsh." she replied, glancing at the doors. She hinted on leaving with her eyes.

[Arabella Balfour]

Being a fallen angel came with it's own advantages. Rather than having to wait upon a chaperone to escort her out and about, in some dignfied and otherwise boring manner, Arabella had obtained her own mode of transporation.

Rising, slightly irked, she opened the doors and called for a footman ordering her curricle to be brought 'round for her to leave. Tying her small satchel to her wrist she gestured toward the front doors and followed Miss Marsh outside where a stylish black and silver carriage, which would seat no more than two anyways, awaited. It was drawn by two prime, high stepping pieces of horse flesh who looked ready to bolt.

"Hope you don't mind getting a bit wind blown.. My boys and I stop for very little..."

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona seemed delighted by that, and allowed herself to be helped up into the seat ::

[Arabella Balfour]

She would never whip her horses, but a crack sounded above them, along with a breathless pant. "Ride on, boys..."

Then they were off at break-neck speed. Most traffic had the sense to get out of her way when they saw the sparkling black carriage hurtling toward them. If they were not fast enough, she would simply change direction and go around them, handling the pair of equines with expertise. They responded to her every whim and she was quite in control.

She took them out of the city entirely and out into the country lanes where she finally slowed, and traffic only passed them sporadically.

"Now... as you were saying..?" She sat back, keeping the reigns in her lap, and brushing a long lock that had tumbled into her face, our from her eyes.

[Fiona Marsh]

:: It took Fiona a bit to overcome her giddiness, but she managed to explain a bit about Vampires, which she was not, and what had happened to Arabella that night with the Vicomte ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"If they killed him for breaking the rules with me, that does not exactly leave me feeling in the bosom of safety myself.." Arabella shuddered..

Most young ladies would likely be somewhat overset by the revelations she was being made aware of. Vampires and such like.. The most pressing thought to her mind at the moment, was sorrow at the loss of both the beautiful sensation he'd given her, and the protection he'd offered her. To continue her way of life, she would have to go.. back on the market, as it were.

"What will I do...?" She wondered aloud.

[Fiona Marsh]

"Travel with me." she grinned, preening the loose hair from her face.

[Arabella Balfour]

She looked over, slightly scandalized by the idea. On the other hand, they might accomplish much working together. Perhaps Miss Marsh knew of others like her Vicomte..

"Where will we go?"

[Fiona Marsh]

:: There was a twinkle in her eye ::

"Where would you like to go?"

[Arabella Balfour]

The Hell with the townhouse. They could pack what they needed in clothes and jewels, she had a bank account that they could live on until they figured something else out.. Arabella's mind began to work furiously and then her eyes lit up suddenly.

"Let's go to Bath. I've always wanted to take the waters.." Besides, it was deserted right now, everyone had moved on to Brighton. They would be able to talk and make plans...

[Fiona Marsh]

"Bath? Are you certain?"

[Arabella Balfour]

Arabella frowned.. No, she wasn't certain of anything. It sounded safe and boring, but that wasn't really what she wanted either. What did she want exactly..? She had no idea, but having a little revenge and mischief sounded like a good place to start..

"Brighton then.. but next time you pick." She grinned..

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona beamed in approval ::

"There it is. :D I knew you had imagination." ;)

[Arabella Balfour]

"Imagination is not something I am lacking in, to be certain." Naughty plans were being twisted together in her mind. Plans involving the removal of a great deal of money, from some very ungentlemanly former acquaintances of hers..

Arabella mentioned the idea, casually.. but she need not have been so concerned. It was met with a good response.. They returned to pack what they would take on the road with them and were travelling that night.


*********


The following night found them checked into a hotel, dining in their rooms for privacy. Later they were sitting on a secluded beach, just talking, tossing back and forth some ideas on how they might proceed with their plans. If Arabella did as she wanted, it would mean she would not be able to come back for a long time. It would socially ruin her family, who was as just happy prentending she was dead, now that she'd erased their financial debt.

She didn't care. They hadn't cared what she had put herself through to help them.

Arabella lay back on her elbows, on the big fluffy blanket, looking up at the stars. Every so often she tilted her head in thought, then rattled off another detail that they must be always aware of in their games..

"We can't fall in love with any of them.." She said with a sigh..

"and we'll have to keep moving..."

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona reflected on that, and understood it better than Arabella could imagine. She'd been living that way for centuries ::


"Yes." she agreed, leaning over to pet her hair. Standing up, she stripped out of her skivvies, and stood ankle deep in the water. She glanced over her shoulder, inviting Bella to join her with a wink.

[Arabella Balfour]

Was it not enough that she had come down here in her red satin nightgown and a robe?

Arabella was a bit shocked at Fiona's free spirit, but also engaged by it. Herself, she had been raised a bit more rigid and until recent times, she had been very sheltered.

She stood up and shrugged out of the robe, tossing it besides her shoes on the blanket. "You know.. this is going to be good for me, I haven't quite landed, on my big fall from grace. I do believe having you around will hasten the matter.."

Arabella grinned and poked her toes into the water, careful not to get too wet.

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona smirked, and gave the water a tiny kick in Bella's direction. War had just been declared ::

[Arabella Balfour]

A splash of cold wet sea water had already darkened, and dampened the entire front of Arabella's prized nighty. She stood there frozen in shock, first from the cold, then from what Fiona had just done.

Then she gave a brisk nod, accepting the facts.

They were at war.

Arabella drew back her toes, then skimmed a high arc of the same, icy cold water, straight back at Miss Marsh with a scowl.

[Fiona Marsh]

:: Fiona shrieked as the water hit her bare skin, and she leaned down, scooped up water with her hands to flick back at her friend ::

[Arabella Balfour]

"Oh no!"

Arabella squealed and alternately heaved handfuls of water back at Fiona, and tried to run away, but the gown was sticking to her skin making a graceful attempt impossible. Already figuring that she was soaked she waded out deeper just to get away from the crazy woman..