Arranged Marriage To An Egotistic Vampire... But Which One?? (Book 2)

The Past... But What Is It This Time??

********Renaissance Period France********

(JAMES' POV)

I stared at her from across the ballroom floor. The most beautiful woman in all of France and the most sought after belle as well. She had hundred of beaus, myself included and we all awaited her decision of who'd she choose to marry.

She danced gracefully and elegantly along the ballroom with all her different suitors and I just stood watching and awaiting my time with her. The music came to a slow end and the gentleman bowed to her and walked towards another belle in the room to dance with.

Maria surveyed the room and looked at her dancing card. "Monsieur Jones?" She called to the crowd my fake name and looked around. "Ou est vous Monsieur Jones?" Her French accent was smooth and felt like smooth honey flowing over me.

"Je suis Ici mademoiselle." I stepped forward and she smiled a smile that could literally stop hearts.

I walked over to her and smiled down at her petite frame. "You look stunning tonight Maria." I commented even though it was unusual for a gentleman to call a lady by her first name.

Her brow creased in confusion as she stated at me. "Je ne sais pas..."

"Dance with me." I interrupted and the music stared playing through the room as the band started a slow song.

It was only after we moved further away from her potential beaus that she spoke. "Who are you sir and have we met before?" Her english was as good as her french.

"You don't know me but I am an admirer of yours and have been for a while." I bowed my head slightly in respect, not breaking the fluidity of the dance.

She flushed and it lightened up her entire face. "Thank you very much kind sir." We danced in silence for a few moments before she asked, "and may I get the kind sir's name...?" Her hesitance in asking made me smile.

"My name is jean." With the French accent my name sounded more like a posh version of John which was a very popular male name of the time.

She moved slightly closer to me as we danced in affection and remained silent for the rest of the dance.

Once the dance ended she didn't move away from me and I didn't either. Smiling up at me I gently caressed the side of her face and stared into her mesmerising eyes. "Would you..." I began but a hand on my shoulder cut me off and I immediately stepped back and turned around.

To see Alexander stood there staring at Maria.

"May I cut in?" He asked and moved fluidly towards Maria.

I turned towards her to wait for her protest against the intrusion but she stood there smiling at Alexander and I knew that this was another losing battle like the others. I smiled tightly at her and bowed, knowing this would be the last time I saw her. "Good evening madamouiselle." I said formally and headed towards the door.

Stopping at the door I turned back to see Maria's enraptured face gazing at Alexander as they danced like they were already married and had been dancing for years.

"One of the times she might choose me." I sighed and walked out into the darkness.

The next day Maria died by falling off of a balcony.

**********Present Day**********

(ROSE'S POV)

"She... She was murdered by my father wasn't she?" I asked without turning to James.

"Yes. She chose Alexander, who was still not strong enough to protect you in our world. You would have been killed as a vampire and your father would have never seen you again." He sounded so calm and reasonable about killing me in the past.