SEMPER PERSONAE

by Eliza
elizawpg@shaw.ca

CATEGORY/RATING: Montoya/Tessa PG13
LEGAL STUFF: Tessa and the Colonel don't belong to me, Fireworks Entertainment has the paperwork. No copyright infringement intended. No money made.
FEEDBACK: Always appreciated
DEDICATION: I'm sending this one to Eng -- as thanks for putting up all the pretty pictures and clever comments. I had her Counterfeit Queen page on the other window while writing this story. http://7parabian.com/QueenofSwords/qos26a.html
As always, thanks to Rach, the fastest beta west of the prime meridian.
NOTE: 'Semper Personae' - Always a mask.

*-*-*

"Doctor Helm. How nice to see you here this evening."

"Senorita Alvarado. If you will excuse me, I see someone I need to speak to." With that brief comment Robert Helm moved across the room.

Tessa Alvarado was left standing alone and stinging from the rejection. She knew that Helm was intrigued by the Queen of Swords and barely saw Maria Teresa Alvarado, but she didn't feel that common courtesy was too much to ask. For the past couple of months he had been treating her with more and more disdain, yet the few kisses the Queen had stolen were becoming increasingly passionate. Tessa was bridling at the disparity between her two personas. She wasn't asking Helm to fall in love with Maria Teresa, just some polite conversation.

The room suddenly felt too close and she felt the need to escape the crowd. As she drew her shawl close against the chill in the evening air, she realized that someone was giving her assistance with the garment. The voice at her shoulder was cultured and pleasing to the ear, but the speaker was not one she would usually welcome. "Leaving us so soon, Senorita? I am very disappointed. I was looking forward to a dance this evening. Where is your escort? I can not allow you to travel such a distance alone."

"Do not worry about me, Colonel Montoya. I am not leaving, just stepping outside for some air."

Montoya sent a glance across the room to Dr. Helm and Tessa was surprised at the anger in the look. When he turned back to her, he had regained the charm he always demonstrated at these events. "Even if you are going for a walk in the square, I can not allow you to go alone. The streets of our fair town are not safe with that band of thieves on the loose. Allow me the honour of accompanying you, myself. It is not often that I have the opportunity to give a beautiful woman my undivided attention."

She could hardly use the excuse that the bandits were no longer a problem. No one knew that the Queen had routed them the night before. Montoya was also playing the courtly gentleman--something that appealed to him at this moment. But she also knew his other face--the Queen had frequent experience with Montoya's vicious nature. However Maria Teresa had not, and would have no qualms at being escorted by him. Tessa was getting tired of having to sort out all of the players.

"Thank you, Colonel. You kindness is appreciated." Again, she noticed the scathing look that Montoya sent at Helm. She wondered what had prompted the animosity. The colonel and the doctor may not be friends but they both made a point of putting on a polite, public facade. This obvious annoyance was something new.

The colonel escorted her out the door and into the square. She could see the shadows of a few couples in the darker corners near the entrance and made a point of ignoring the indiscreet lovers. The moon was really too bright tonight for such trysts.

Once beyond the lights of the doorway, Tessa realized that small talk would be appropriate coming from Maria Teresa. She couldn't quite bring herself to chatter about frivolous gossip tonight so she picked a topic that actually interested her. "It has come to my attention that you have been receiving books on a regular basis, on the stage from Monterey. Was there anything interesting in the latest shipment?"

Montoya smiled. "A beautiful copy of 'Don Quixote' arrived recently. I assume you are familiar with Cervantes?"

"Oh, yes. But I can't see you as needing a lesson in the dangers of romantic idealism."

Tessa was startled at Montoya's chuckle. "Which do you have trouble seeing in me, Maria Teresa... romance or idealism?"

The colonel was flirting with her! And very well. The source was unexpected, but this was the type of conversation Tessa had been looking for tonight, the kind that she missed from the parties in Spain. "You mean I have to chose one, Colonel?" she teased, batting her eyelashes in mock innocence.

Montoya's hand went to his heart. "You wound me, Senorita!" But the laughter in his voice belied the words.

Tessa was bemused enough to comment, "Laughter from you, Colonel. I have to admit my surprise."

"You only seek me out when you have a problem or there is a crisis. Where is the opportunity for laughter then?" Montoya was still smiling but Tessa sensed an undertone of regret. The smile disappeared as he continued, "And my involvement in the death of your fiancé..."

The appearance of genuine contrition from Montoya confused Tessa enough that she almost meant her next words. "I don't blame you, Colonel. You were doing your duty, trying to catch the Queen of Swords, and Antonio made his own choices."

"I was very distressed to be the cause of such sorrow. But your heart seems to be recovering."

"What makes you say that?"

"I couldn't help but notice the attention you have been paying the good doctor. Although, I must say that given his response, my opinion of him has dropped. The man is not only blind, but callous as well."

The acknowledgment of Helm's earlier snub, combined with the reminder of Antonio, was too much for Tessa at that moment. Her eyes filled with tears and she had to fight not to let them spill. She turned her back on the colonel to try to regain her composure. It was the remorse in his soft words that was her undoing.

"I am so sorry, Tessa. It was not my intention to cause you further pain."

Why she turned to Montoya, she would never know. Maybe it was just because he was there. Turn to him she did, though, resting her head to his shoulder. She felt him stiffen in surprise but then a hand came up to caress her hair. With that gentle touch, she allowed herself a sob. His other hand came to rest on her waist, and his cheek against the top of her head, as he whispered soothing nonsense into her ear.

She cried quietly, and only for a few moments, then she started to notice exactly what her position was. Her hand was resting on his chest and even through the thick layers of his uniform she could feel his heart beat. It was stronger and slightly faster than she expected it to be. They were of a similar height, but the shoulder she rested on was broad and the arm that was holding her was strong. Montoya's voice, which before now she had only noticed in anger or mocking condescension, was seductive, as was the hand running through her hair. The light touches to the back of her head had become sweeping strokes down the length of her tresses. She could feel that he would thread the strands through his fingers as his hand traveled down her back.

She moved back, and although his hands didn't hold her, they didn't leave her either. She found herself staring into blue-grey eyes. How had she ever thought them cold? At the moment she felt as if they would set her alight. His hand came up to rest at her neck and his thumb moved along her jaw line. The sensation of skin against skin sent a shiver through her and suddenly it wasn't enough.

She had never kissed like this before. With Helm, it was always fast and intense. Antonio had been a boy, careless and anxious, and they had not taken the opportunity for a moment alone in the few days before his death. This kiss was a leisurely journey. The tentative touch became a warm caress as her mouth opened easily under the encouragement of subtle pressure. His tongue brushed along the inside of her lips but it was hers that started the teasing duel. The thumb stroking the underside of her jaw relaxed her mouth further which encouraged him to increase the pressure of the kiss. It also allowed darting touches of his tongue to become languid strokes as he carefully began to explore her mouth.

With the deepening of the kiss, the hand on the small of her back pulled her closer so that her body was molded to his. This increased contact broke the spell his mouth had woven. Tessa pulled back, acutely aware of who she had been kissing and why. She briefly covered her face in embarrassment before trying to explain. "Colonel! What you must think of me?! I..."

"Consider the matter forgotten, Senorita." Montoya made an elegant bow. When he raised his eyes to hers, she knew that although kiss may never be mentioned again, it would not be forgotten either.

He offered his arm and said, "I think it would be wise to return to the party. You owe me a dance, I believe."

Tessa tried match the light tone but she found her voice a little shaky. "I owe you a dance? I don't recall being asked, Colonel."

"Then I think I will wait until we are back inside, to make sure that the doctor is nearby. He needs to be reminded that there are men in this town who know how a lady should be treated."

THE END