<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0080FF"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">House of D'Aries</span><br/><span style="font-size: 130%; line-height: 116%;">Castle Asture</span></span><br/><br/><a class="postlink" href="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o793/Galvin_Fugazi/4d346bf9-c817-405c-b853-1d680fc1dba7_zps5271719f.jpg">[ img ]</a><br/><br/><span style="color: #0080FF"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;">Lord Alexander D'Aries</span></span></div><br/><br/>Marina's words brought a sense of relief to Alexander. Perhaps he had been waiting for someone to support him or maybe he had just needed to hear that he wasn't a bad man--whatever it was, Marina had said it. She was right, there was a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone, and he had a feeling he did was not in love with Danielle.<br/><span style="color: #0040FF"><span style="font-weight: bold"><br/>"Thank you, Marina. Your words ease me greatly...you certainly are different from any other lady I have ever met, and I appreciate the refreshing view you provide,"</span></span>Alexander said with a small smile. His smile faded some,<span style="color: #0040FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">"I just worry about the consequences of not marrying Danielle. Her father is not known for being...merciful. I would like to think he wouldn't kill his own daughter, but the truth of the matter is the men in Erathia are sometimes unknowingly cruel. They do what they believe is best, but sometimes what they believe is best is very damaging. Danielle isn't innocent and I think any father would have been angry, but Danielle's father is the only one who would be angry enough to kill her--outside of Sir Robert. I think Ravenshire just produces brutes. It must be the cold weather that hardens their hearts,"</span></span>Alexander gave a sigh and looked up to the sky. There was a merciful breeze and it wasn't nearly as warm as the previous day,<span style="color: #0040FF"><span style="font-weight: bold">"At least the skies are blue,"</span></span>he said looking back down at Marina, her brown eyes reflecting all the beauty around her while adding their own.