Almost, Completely His

Chapter 3

Celeste

Enrique woke me up from my nap and told me I had an hour to get ready.

A maid prepared a bath for me and I asked for citrus bath salts. Citrus usually was a very strong smell but I toned it down with body cream and let my body air dry before dressing.

I picked out a light orange dress and the maid helped my style my brown curls.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

“Pearl my lady.”

“Nice to meet you Pearl. Also... call me Celeste.”

Pearl blushed so hard that her face almost matched her hair.

“Oh I could never my lady.”

“Of course you can. Please I insist. We’re going to be spending much time together, I think it’s for the best.” I smiled at her, hoping that she’d agree.

“Whatever you prefer my l-I mean.. Celeste.”

She smiled at me and finished my hair. She had let ringlets fall over my face but pinned the rest back into a bun.

“Well...” I sighed. “Time for dinner. Wish me luck Pearl.”

“What for?”

“For dealing with the younger brother. I’m sure it’ll be interesting to see him.” I said smiling, remembering how much I enjoyed annoying him as a kid. “It always has been.”

Arthur

Charles and I waited in the dining hall with father, Enrique and the Viscount.

“Truly, how long does it take for women to get ready?” I asked.

Enrique, father and the viscount sighed.

“More than we’d like,” the viscount said laughing.

The man had aged but was still the same kind and intimidating man I remembered. Enrique seemed to be his clone but was a bit more serious. Still cheerful, but serious.

“Of course, you must have enough experience with the opposite s*x Arthur! You should know this.” Enrique teased.

I laughed and ran my hand through my hair which reached my jaw. Father hated that I didn’t cut it but mom found it charming.

“Only a certain amount. I definitely don’t stick around till morning.” I grinned at father who just sighed and shook his head.

“My son, the ever so charming and shameless rake.”

I patted my brother’s back who sat next to me and grinned. “Well, at least you have one perfect son who won’t disappoint.”

Charles just smiled and drank his wine.

“How old are you again Arthur?” The Viscount asked.

“25 sir.”

“A ripe age! I’m sure you’re enjoying it.”

“More than you know.” I laughed.

“I do hope you haven’t started without us.” Mother said as she entered the room. We all stood and father took her hand.

I was about to tease Mother about how long she had taken to get ready when my eyes fell on the person walking behind her.

I petite figure in a light orange dress stood at the end of the table and I felt my jaw drop.

A young woman with voluminous brown curly hair, large black eyes and round face looked at us. At first she bowed and when she smiled at us, I felt like lightening had struck.

“Sister, finally you join us.” Enrique walked over and led her to her seat... which was right across from me.

“Arthur you must remember Celeste.” My mother said smiling.

“Yes.... of course.” I said.

Celeste stood before me. Her pale skin glowed next to the candles and the flames brought out the red of her hair.

Her lips were full and pink, and her beauty mark was dark against her soft cheeks which were turning pink.

Could this be the young girl I remembered? The one who I detested having over? Who annoyed me and tested my patience?

Her eyes were wide when we made eye contact and she forced a smile.

Surely it was her... her eyes were full of that fire and chaos that I remembered. But instead of feeling agitated by them, I was being drawn in.

She blinked and looked away, as if trying to break from a trance.

I don’t know who spoke or what they said. But next thing I know we’re sitting, and I’m trying my best to eat.

I glance over at her and we make eye contact a couple of times. She fidgets in her seat and my body reacts as if we were magnets. I move too, even though I don’t know why. She keeps her head down but when she speaks, I don’t hear any words, just the melody and sharpness of her voice.

Even though I try not to look at her, her face is seared in my mind.

The way her dark curls fall over her face, how her full lips parted and pouted before she spoke. How soft her skin looked, and how inviting her petite figure seemed. She radiated warmth and I desired nothing but to be enveloped in it.

Was this real? Was this the same Celeste?

I couldn’t believe it. But I also didn’t wish for any clarity. For I only cared about her being here.

“Don’t you agree Arthur?” Father asked.

Charles coughed and kicked me under the table.

“What was that?”

“I said don’t you agree that it’s a pleasure to have the Cortez family with us after all these years?”

I glanced at Celeste who was looking at me, waiting for my response.

The idea that she might care about what I had to say thrilled me. I smiled at her and then turned to my father.

“It definitely is.”