The Cruelest Of Lies

Disclaimer: I do not own Pirates of the Caribbean.

Chapter 5


‘Men are taught to apologize for their weaknesses, women for their strengths.’

~Lois Wyse


Days later…


Cassandra squeezed through people and groaned in irritation when a few stepped on her feet. She gritted her teeth but smiled at the gentleman she had just bumped into before she reached her hand towards the tray full of sparkling wine. She grabbed it tightly in her hand, her knuckles white from the force of her grip before she tiptoed towards the closest French doors. The cool Caribbean breeze hit the exposed skin of her collarbone and arms and she welcomed the coolness it left on her face. It was suffocating back there. Too many people in her home.
Home. She barely felt that it was her home. Wealthy men and their wives, single young fellows hoping to climb the social ladder and foolish young girls who thought they’d find their very own price charming by attending so many tedious parties.
Cassandra rolled her eyes at the ridiculousness of it all. How can someone be happy when so much hypocrisy is around them? Couldn’t any of those people see that the smiles, the sweet words and praise were all fake? But of course no one cared about honesty anymore. Everything was a mean to an end; a way to slither your way towards your most elevated goals. Seduction was no longer meant to inflame someone’s desire or affection; it was just a strategy that you used no matter the person it was directed to. It was sick really. Did any of those people actually care for her father? She doubted it.
“What are you doing out here?” her father’s voice broke her out of her reverie and she took a deep breath.
“Star gazing.” She replied shortly before she took a sip from her glass, “Is there a problem, father? Any of your guests want anything you haven’t already provided them with?” she turned her head to look at him, “Our linens perhaps.”
George shook his head at her, “You’re being ridiculous and unnecessarily rude.” He remarked and she rolled her eyes.
“Now, come inside. Nicholas will soon be here.” He said casually and she blinked.
“And I should care because…?” she cocked an eyebrow and he groaned.
“Cassandra, please. We’ve talked about this-…”
“Have we? Well, excuse me if I do not approve of your choice in company.” She spat before she turned away from him and leaned against the marble railing.
“Cassandra, Nicholas has been ever so kind to you. That meeting was an accident, yes. But you cannot hold such a grudge over something so…ordinary.” Her father spoke quietly, almost hesitantly.
Cassandra turned and her eyes shone with shock and incredulity, “Ordinary? A gentleman is to be expected to visit brothels, father? Oh, but how can I forget? I was conceived in one.”
George Holey flinched at her words and his features darkened, turned rougher, “Please, hold your tongue! Good God, child! Whatever is the matter with you?” he eyed her as if seeing her for the first time.
Cassandra stared back at him until she shook her head and turned her face away from his unsavory gaze, “Nothing. Nothing is wrong with me.” She murmured begrudgingly, “I think I shall stay out here for the time being. Besides, your friend is not here yet. He must have been delayed.” She said in a voice that oozed sarcasm, “You should go back to your guests.”
George stared at her for a moment longer before he shook his head and walked back inside.
Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief at being left alone again.


oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Loud laughter and music assaulted her the minute she stepped back inside. As she gazed at the various couples that were dancing in the middle of the great hall, she still couldn’t understand the meaning of this gathering. Her father had not explained her why he put so much effort in setting up this great party. As she gazed at a particular couple she couldn’t help but smile though. The woman was very young; barely seventeen and the young man twirling her around was probably in his early twenties. They were magnificent to look at and Cassandra felt a warmth she hadn’t felt in a while. At least their joy seemed real and not forced, painted on their faces as if by an artist whose only goal was to create an illusion of happiness.
She sighed and stepped forward, well in her attempt at passing towards the other side of the room but a hand fell on her elbow and warm, slightly calloused fingers encircled her arm, pulling her around. An arm slithered its way around her corseted back and a small gasp escaped her when she was pulled towards the dance floor.
She raised her brown eyes and every part of her body tensed up at the sight of the man who had just dragged her there with him.
“Ms. Holey.” Nicholas smiled down at her like always., “You look lovely this evening.” He murmured and she frowned.
“Excuse me, do I know you?” she smiled with sarcasm and started pulling away from him, eager in her attempts to put distance between them but he held her fast. His arm gripped her waist more tightly and he crushed her to his chest, preventing her from moving away.
“I had no idea that you were a child, Ms. Holey.” He whispered in her ear and she tried to pull free but when she noticed that some people were eyeing her funnily she stopped her movements.
“Whereas, I always knew you were nothing but a cad.” She hissed into his ear and his laughter vibrated against his chest.
“Cad?” he murmured with amusement as he eyed the side of her face, “Just because of that unfortunate meeting? Hardly the case, Ms. Holey.” He said as he tucked a curly lock of her loose hair behind the shell of her ear.
She flinched back and looked at him in the eye, “Unfortunate, Mr. Abraham?” she asked and his brow creased a bit at her expression.
Cassandra shook her head as he swayed them slightly with the music without really moving his feet, “Hardly. I think that meeting was highly illuminating for me.”
Nicholas’ smug expression fell right off his face and he licked his lips, “Ms. Holey, surely you realize what a lonely man must do for some…company. Nevertheless, I shall apologize if I must.” He said ever so quietly.
“Company? I’d hardly call it company.” She scoffed.
Nicholas gazed at her studiously for a moment before he leaned forward, “I did wonder what you were doing there. Forgive me, dearie, but a man is expected to be in such…controversial places. But a young woman of your standard?” he smirked and anger rushed through her veins like lava.
“You dare to assume that I…” she trailed off and then shook her head in disappointment, “Do not presume to know anything about me. I’ve told you this before. Now release me this instant or I won’t care who sees us slap you.” She warned and for a moment his hold on her loosened. Thinking that he’d let her go, she smiled with satisfaction but as she put some distance between them he tugged her closer again. With her wrapped in his arms, he started dancing and her eyes widened with shock.
“What…”
“Why makes you angry, Cassandra?” he asked her as he slipped his fingers through hers and brought their joined hands to his chest, “You really don’t know why I was there. And even if what you presume is true…don’t you wonder why I went there in the first place?” he asked her softly and she shivered from sheer fury.
“It sure as hell wasn’t because you wanted to forget me.” She spat and then looked at their hands, “Now let me go. This is ridiculous.”
“Is it?” his eyes narrowed in thought as he gazed at her irritated and slightly flushed face, “Why is it so hard to believe that I am interested in you?” he murmured as he dipped her low and gazed down at her for a moment before he pulled her up to his chest again, “Why?”
Cassandra blinked and shook her head, “Because most people aren’t interested in me, Mr. Abraham. They are interested in my vault.” She said quietly and he tensed.
“Vault?” he echoed quietly and she smiled sadly.
“Do not play me for a fool. Surely you know of the diamond. It’s why you’re here in the first place, isn’t it? I am just a bonus that will probably warm your bed.” She whispered and his mouth fell open.
“I…I don’t-…”
“Goodnight.” She muttered as she pulled her hands from his and turned away from him.
She pushed herself through the dancers and as she headed for the stairs that led to the upper floors her gaze locked with her father’s. He was looking at her peculiarly and his eyes held what she imagined to be discontentment and disappointment. Gritting her teeth, she carried on walking and by the time she had reached the stairs she became aware of the footsteps behind her.
She sped up her pace and picked up her skirts, already knowing who was following her with rapid footsteps.
“Cassandra!” Nicholas was close and she pursed her lips tightly together as she rounded the corner to the corridor that led to her room, “Cassandra, wait!”
His hand grabbed her arm and he whirled her around with force. His eyes widened at the angry expression on her face, “Wait, please. You’ve got a totally wrong perception…I don’t think I’ve given you the reasons to think in such a way.” He was slightly breathless from his short jog.
“I don’t need a lot of reasons.” She replied and his eyes softened.
“Yes, you do. I thought it was obvious.” He murmured and when he was sure that she wasn’t going to run away he let go of her arm and grasped her hand instead. She tensed at the gesture and eyed his fingers around her paler hand with suspicion and doubt.
“What was?” she asked as she brought her eyes back to his.
“That I want you.” He replied without preamble and she tensed up.
“Want? What a low sentiment. Animals possess the inclination towards desire and lust.” She replied cynically and he cocked his head to the side.
“Is that so? With such a cynical response I will be bold enough to assume that you have never been in the receiving end of a man’s desire.” His hold on her hand hardened and he stepped closer, gradually backing her towards the wall.
Cassandra raised an eyebrow at his words and eyed him with hesitance and slight confusion.
“Indeed. I am not as experienced as you. I am neither as bold as to corner a servant in the house where I am a guest in. Remember Bianca?” she asked and he laughed. His amusement angered her.
“No, I do not recall Bianca but I assume she is the girl who is your confidant. But that’s beside the point. I didn’t know you back then.” He murmured and as her back hit the wall his eyes were drawn to her lips and then to the exposed skin of her neck and shoulders.
“But now I do.” He whispered hoarsely and he leaned close to her.
“You sure can be rather charming when you want something, sir. But what is it exactly?” she whispered as she looked into his dark eyes.
He grinned a bit and placed his hand on the wall beside her head, trapping her between the hard surface and his body.
“I want a lot of things, my dear.” He murmured as he tilted his head to the side and moved closer to her already parted lips, “But first I want this.” His grin left his face as he closed the distance between them and captured her lips with his own.
Cassandra’s eyes widened and she went almost crossed eyed in her effort to look at him. She heard his chuckle once he had opened his eyes as well. Without pulling back completely, he spoke again.
“You’re supposed to close your eyes, darling.” He breathed before he pressed another kiss to her scowling lips. He chuckled once more, “Your…timidity is rather endearing when you’re not scowling, love.” He told her and a feeling of indignation washed over her as he smirked at her. He thought she was clueless.
In an act of boldness, she placed her hands against the expensive fabric of his dark blue vest and pushed him away with such force that he hit the opposite wall with a satisfying thud. He groaned but his eyes widened when she followed him there and trapped him against the wall before she slanted her lips against his surprised ones. A low growl of satisfaction escaped his throat and Cassandra almost smirked against his lips but he didn’t let her. His hand grasped the back of her head and he pushed her hard against his lips, their noses colliding painfully as he bit her lower lip sharply and then parted her lips with his tongue. A surprised little noise escaped her lips and he grinned against her mouth as he grasped her hip with his free hand and pulled her pelvis closer. Once she was pressed right up against his groin, he slipped his hand down to her thigh and bunched up the material of her skirt. Once he had his hand under it and her stocking was pressing against his palm he broke the kiss for air.
“Secondly, I long for your attentions. Have you not noticed yet?” he breathed against her lips and she exhaled shakily as she raised her eyes to his. He grinned, “Of course you have. Such passion is not given so freely, is it?” he murmured and her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
He cocked his head to the side and brushed his fingers over her lips in a caress, “I am not the only one who’s burning, am I?”
“Lust is easily inflamed, Nicholas.” She replied in a hoarse voice.
“Indeed.” He murmured before he covered her lips with his again and pushed away from the wall. He walked them backwards again and as he slammed her against the wall once more, his hand left her leg and covered her chest, just above her heart. He groaned into the kiss when he felt how rapidly it was beating and then pulled back again.
“But how can you have the chance to love me when all you do is reject me?” he asked her breathlessly and she opened her eyes to look at him. She blinked to clear her blurry vision and swallowed hard as she watched him slip his hand into his pocket.
He pulled something out of it and then grasped her hand while tilting her chin up with his free one.
“You have to let me in, love.” He told her before he slipped something cold on her finger.
Cassandra looked down sharply and saw a silver ring on her pale finger. She blinked rapidly and eyed the intricate ruby lined design with wide eyes before she lifted her shocked face to his.
He was staring at her intently, “I know it’s not the proper way to do this and I am sure your father will be disappointed but I think you’d appreciate it more if we were alone.” He smiled and she was speechless.
“The proper way to do what?” she asked and he paused.
“Um…you don’t know what…tonight is supposed to be?” he asked her hesitantly and she shook her head violently.
“Why did you give me this ring, Nicholas?” she asked as the feeling of dread started creeping up her body with excruciating slowness. The ring felt as if it weighed a tone on her thin finger.
Nicholas pulled slightly back and for a moment he looked panicked, “You father did not-…
“Just tell me what this means!” she cut him off in a clogged up voice and he bit his lower lip, his golden teeth catching the light of the candles as he did so.
“Cassandra, tonight was meant to be our betrothal ceremony.” He answered at last and when her vision blurred he was there to catch her and cradle her into his arms.
His shirt and vest felt warm against her freezing cheek and as he wrapped his arms around her and started murmuring her name in worry she realized that he, Nicholas Abraham, the man who wanted to marry her, was not her enemy. Her real enemy and the one who had betrayed her was her own father. And it was worse; so much worse because she realized that he did not care enough to even ask her if she wanted this. But she should have known he’d do something of this sort. What he wanted, he always got it. No matter the cost.

End of chapter 5

Xxx Lina :o)