Part 15 (1/2)
CHAPTER XXIV.
Aura was late for the party, which was permissible by anyone's standards. She pulled her hair back off of her face, held it with the gold combs her step father had given her and let it fall in waves past her waist. She walked with a confidence that her stepfather knew had not existed before she had left. He smiled with pride at the woman she had become. The changes he had noted in his stepdaughter added to her charm and he noticed he was not the only one to appreciate her beauty.
Ryan, Lord Bertram's younger son, stood by his side and watched her with amazement written across his face. Aura's stepfather smiled in amus.e.m.e.nt, as the lad's thoughts seemed to change from the topic they had been discussing as he asked.
”Pardon, but is that Aura?”
”Aura?” Her stepfather pretended to act as if he had not noticed her from the moment she had entered the room. He made a show of locating her. ”Ah, yes. So it is. Would you like to meet her? She is really a charming girl, perhaps a little too solemn at times though.”
”I know,” the young man replied. ”I see her from time to time at the University hospital. I am into my final year of residency there, but I have never seen her looking like this before.”
”I know what you mean. Usually she has her hair done up in that hideous braid. And before you ask, yes, she does know that it does not suit her.”
”Then why does she wear it that way?”
”I have no idea, you would have to ask her yourself.” With that he waved to catch her attention then motioned her over.
”Yes father?”
”Aura, I would like you to meet Ryan, he has been after me to introduce you to him ever since he saw you enter the room.”
Aura turned a light pink, but said nothing of the compliment as she offered Ryan her hand, greeting him with a cool civility as she did. She was not, nor had she ever been, impressed with Ryan Bertram. ”How do you do Ryan? You are enjoying my mother's party I hope?”
”Of course, I always enjoy your parent's parties. They are good hosts.” Ryan replied with practiced charm.
Aura smiled as she pulled her hand back from his firm grasp and replied. ”They will be pleased to hear that you think so.”
Ryan gave her a light frown. Aura looked as if she was going to be difficult and although it might add a little excitement to the chase for some, he preferred more cooperative prey. He moved from the foursome they were creating as his father joined them, pulling Aura along by the hand as he spoke in a polished fas.h.i.+on.
”I have often seen you at the University and at the hospital. You do not seem to remember me very well though, I am crushed.” He tried to look the part and was rewarded with a skeptical frown from Aura.
”I remember you Ryan. You spend half of your time chasing every presentable nurse on campus. Your reputation is notorious.”
Ryan laughed at that and replied. ”So that is what bothers you about me. Might I tell you that after seeing you in your true form no other woman will ever hope to compare?”
Aura gave him a crooked smile and answered. ”You are good Ryan. You must stand in front of your mirror and practice for hours.”
Ryan looked at her in shock as he replied, not even thinking about what he might be saying as he spoke. ”Obviously I am still not quite good enough.”
”In that case might I prescribe more practice and all things considered, you are in luck, for there is a whole room full of people for you to practice on. Good luck Ryan.” Aura tried to dismiss him. She moved away, leaving him standing alone in the middle of the room with his mouth open. She really was not interested in carrying on a flirtation and certainly not with a Casanova like Ryan Bertram.
Ryan continued to watch her as she made her way through the crowd. She had made him feel as if he were a servant who had just been dismissed. He was in the midst of mulling all of this over when his brother walked up behind him.
”Something wrong little brother?” He asked with amused indifference.
”Yes, no, I mean, I am not quite sure.”
For that bit of uncertainty he was laughed at. ”Not susceptible to your charms is she?”
Ryan did not like that coming from his brother, so, to put him on an equal footing shot out a challenge. ”I doubt if you could do any better Derek, although you might enjoy the chase. Delinda might not like you pursuing her though.”
”Delinda and I understand each other very well and she is very sure that a diamond awaits her in the near future. Anyone else in the meantime is just the sowing of wild oats.” Derek remarked smugly.
”And is there a diamond for Delinda in the near future Derek?” Ryan asked.
”With a bank account of over twenty million I should hope so.” Derek replied. He didn't care how jaded the remark made him sound.
”Well if you should ever decide otherwise, let me know. I would be more than happy to take your place.” Ryan wasn't joking either. Delinda and her bank account made a very attractive package.
”You and a million others, but as long as she is in New York visiting her mother over the holidays, I can play for a bit, and not get caught.” Derek grinned.
”Unless I tell.” Ryan threatened.
”With my ring on her finger, and a shot to become the future Lady Bertram, Delinda would forgive me anything. Even Aura.” Derek was too sure of his chances to concern himself with the blackmailing attempts of his younger brother.
Aura had grown tired of the superficial sn.o.bbery of the guests very quickly and after taking all she could stand, she made her way out to the small fountain in the gardens. She sat on the side of the collection pond and watched the water as it sprayed over a mermaid. She ran her fingers through the liquid and sighed as she listened to the Christmas music. It wafted across the dead bushes over to where she stood and dreamed and she felt so empty, so alone. She closed her eyes and imagined that she sat beside her love and his arms encircled her to draw her against the great expanse of his muscled chest.
The scene seemed so real to Aura's mind that she could almost smell the scent that was part of Thorn's chemistry. She opened her eyes and forced her mind back to the present. The past was too painful to face at the moment.
”Why would you choose to be alone when you could be surrounded by young men who would be more than happy to pay you compliments and make you feel beautiful? You are beautiful you know.” Derek's voice brought Aura's mind back from her musing.
Aura looked at the intruder, wis.h.i.+ng he would just disappear and sneered. ”Perhaps, then perhaps not. This is a matter of opinion I have no wish to discuss with you. I would rather be on my own right now if you do not mind.”
Derek ignored her rudeness as he sat beside her on the rim of the fountain pool and smiled, not willing to be sent away by a mere slip of a girl. Besides, if he left now his bother would never let him live it down. ”My name is Derek.”
”I know. You are Ryan's brother.” Aura replied.
”You know Ryan?” He asked, making it sound as if it was news to him.
Aura gave a sniff and answered: ”By reputation everyone on the campus knows Ryan.”
”I gather you disapprove.” Derek smiled showing his amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Truthfully, I could care less. What he does is nothing to do with me, as long as he leaves me alone.”
”Is that perhaps the voice of injured pride talking?” Derek was curious in this case, most women loved his little brother. He was a very charming and charismatic man. They both were when it suited them.
”Why should it be? I very rarely run into Ryan on campus, we function on different levels.” Aura could actually care less and she was less than impressed with Derek. All she wanted was to be left alone.
”That does not indicate that you are not attracted to him.” Derek pushed. He didn't seem to be getting the hint.
”Is the possibility that someone is not attracted to your brother so hard to comprehend that you have trouble understanding it?”
”I must admit, total indifference to my over charming brother is hard to comprehend, or believe.”
Aura just shrugged her shoulder and voiced her thoughts. ”He just is not my type Derek, neither are you for that matter, so you can quit trying so hard.”
”That could be almost taken as a challenge. Tell me Aura, if we are not your type, who is?” Derek had a hard time believing all his efforts were being brushed aside and he was curious about what it would take to attract this pretty little ice princess.
”Suffice it to say n.o.body you know. Just leave it be Derek and be satisfied with the answer you got.” Aura was getting very irritated. Why wouldn't he just go?