ã€ŠAshlyn&#x2019;s choiceã€‹


 Ashlyn

    London, 1830

    ?I am so jealous of you Ash! Tomorrow is the start of your very first season!¡± My little 10-year-old sister Jane sighed dramatically. She fanned her reddened cheeks, jumping up and down on the bed in our modestly decorated bedroom.

    It was the beginning of June and it was already hundred degrees with heat seeping through the heavy, thick velvet curtains. Once rich d¨¦cor was now replaced with vacated spaces of portraits and still life paintings, mahogany closets and empty shells of disintegrating cabinets. All the exquisite pieces were bargained off in exchange for a few precious, desperately needed pounds. But the lack of extravagance bothered me little ¨C far more troublesome where the ever-deepening wrinkles on my parent¡¯s once youthful faces.

    I smiled at Jane¡¯s bouncing blonde ringlets which surrounded her still childish face like an angelic halo.

    ¡°You will meet your prince and fall in love. Just like Cinderella did. You remember when Mama read us about her?¡± Her eyes sparkled with excitement when she dived into the land of magical beings ¨C the same beings that regretfully cannot stitch back our moth-nibbled garments.

    Still so na?ve. I envied her innocence and her yet unspoiled dreams.

    ¡°Of course, I remember. So, you think I¡¯ll get my own godmother? With a pumpkin carriage to ride in and a glamorous silky dress to wear?¡± I ruffled her hair and pulled out a leaf that somehow got caught in her rich mane. With a patient smile I turned to her innocent face. ¡°You will soon become a Lady, Jane. I believe that prince would love to marry an educated and well-behaved young woman.¡±

    ¡°But I had to save Misty! He cried and I had to climb a tree to get him down!¡± She whined.

    ¡°I believe Misty could save himself.¡± Our old, shabby cat had more lives that anyone could count.

    ¡°You know I love him; he is my only friend,¡± she sniffled.

    ¡°Excuse me!¡± I playfully swatted her hand. ¡°And what do you call me?¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t count anymore. Soon you will marry a prince and abandon us,¡± she pouted at me, stubbornly stomping her foot. ¡°You won¡¯t care about us anymore, with all those silky dresses, exquisite Arabic horses and posh friends.¡±

    ¡°Hardly,¡± I sighed heavily, trying to hide the fact that I didn¡¯t want all those unnecessary and overly expensive possessions. ¡°I will always be near you, and Mama and Papa of course.¡±

    ¡°I want you to marry Jared, Ashlyn!¡± Her sweet green eyes were wide open, her hands gripping my shoulders in an almost frenzied plea.

    I tried to hide my embarrassment of her mentioning him as I quickly raised to my feet and smoothed out the invisible wrinkles on my cotton day dress. ¡°Lord Jared,¡± I corrected her. ¡°And no, he is like a brother to me, I don¡¯t think he sees me as his possible future bride,¡± a treacherous blush covered my cheeks before I bit my lower lip to divert the attention elsewhere.

    ¡°But he is your best friend¡¯s brother! Wouldn¡¯t that be marvelous?¡± She beamed.

    Yes, perhaps in a fairytale or in my wildest imagination we would be a perfect match. I¡¯ve known Jared and his sister Edith ever since I was a mere toddler. We used to do everything together, we were practically inseparable. But these days Jared became a man and running around with two girls was quite inappropriate for a young gentleman like himself. He was quick to join the infamous clubs - gambling away his father fortune or indulging himself in scandalous pleasures I couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine. Even if he¡¯d hold any affection for me, our marriage would be rather impossible. He needed a spouse with a plump dowry that would cover the holes in the roof of his property which wasn¡¯t properly managed over a decade - ever since their parents passed away. Jared as lovely as he was, certainly couldn¡¯t care less that everything their ancestress built was falling apart.

    And sadly, the rich matron he so desperately needed wasn¡¯t me. I wasn¡¯t foolish or blind enough to know that our family¡¯s wealth wasn¡¯t nearly extensive enough.

    If my aunt Abigail wouldn¡¯t kindly volunteer to sponsor mine and Edith¡¯s first season, we would never have the chance to meet the eligible gentlemen for the holy union. We¡¯ve already missed the last year when we both turned eighteen, which was originally planned to be our first debut. Nevertheless, better late than never I suppose. My Papa would¡¯ve most definitely had a heart attack if I¡¯d become an old maiden.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    It was not so much that I didn¡¯t want to marry, but rather that I wished to taste the sensation of love and sweet forbidden desires all the sinful novels I¡¯d read told me about. I was aware I was nineteen years old, therefore I should perish those impractical romantic thoughts out of my mind. I realized marriages weren¡¯t based on love, they were meant to serve as a simple transaction between the families - a business deal between an eligible man and a woman. Satisfaction of carnal desires in exchange for a wealth and a social status.

    But yet, I still longed for more. I¡¯ve loved Jared ever since we grew out of mud pies and jumping ropes and ever since he probed on his very fist necktie. We¡¯ve always known that he would turn out to be a handsome man, but quite frankly, he was devastatingly dazzling. With his blond, neatly combed hair and icy blue eyes, he was a sight to behold. No wonder that every woman, no matter if young or aged, cranked her neck just to catch a glimpse of him.

    I closed my eyes and shook my head to banish the foolish thoughts. ¡°You know me all too well Jane,¡± I sighed, smiling kindly at her.

    ¡°Lady Jane! Cease with this childish behavior at once!¡± Mother¡¯s otherwise bright eyes turned into ice, but their corners suspiciously wrinkled as she attempted to conceal the laughter in her voice.

    ¡°Yes, Mama!¡± Jane obediently jumped off the bed and rushed to kiss the older woman on the cheek.

    ¡°Now out with you! Papa is waiting for you in the stables,¡± she lovingly caressed Jane¡¯s hair, before the little one bolted out of the room, screaming for Papa.

    Mother shook her head and wrung her hands in sheer desperation. ¡°Will that child ever learn some manners?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry Mama, she has plenty of time to grow up. She might be a little untamed now,¡± I chuckled at my beastly little sister¡¯s conduct or lack thereof. ¡°But sometimes she can be wise beyond her years.¡±

    She nodded, her warm eyes carefully assessing me. ¡°How about you Ashlyn?¡±

    ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡± My eyes widened in mock horror. ¡°Well since I am to be introduced to the ton, I do believe my manners are quite pleasant, are they not?¡±

    ¡°Britain¡¯s high society won¡¯t believe their eyes when they see the new, striking debutante,¡± she announced loudly before she circled around me.

    ¡°Mama, don¡¯t you think you are exaggerating a little? Do you realize how many young and beautiful women will be there? I am sure gentlemen won¡¯t even notice my presence. I might be mistaken for a plant or something equally ridiculous.¡±

    She gazed at me as if I completely lost my wits.

    ¡°And even if they do, I can only hope I won¡¯t stutter or trip over myself. Surely after that there will be no wedding proposals, only a one-way ticket to Bedlam,¡± I giggled at the disgraceful thought that crossed my mind.

    Mother clasped her hands behind her back and looked up at the ceiling with anguish. ¡°Hush, dear. Those poor souls,¡± she ushered with a faint tone before she gathered herself. ¡°I am quite certain your dancing card will be filled the minute you set your foot in the grand chamber of the formal ball.¡±

    ¡°Your faith in me is astonishing Mama,¡± I shook my head in disbelief. ¡°Besides, we both know I have to be practical and calculating with the choice of a dance partner. We wouldn¡¯t want a gentleman calling on me with empty pockets, would we now?¡± I stated bitterly.

    She raised her chin when she sensed my ineptly covered distress. ¡°I am so sorry dear. I wish nothing but the best for you - a life filled with love and laughter. Believe me, these are the things I want for my daughters. You and Jane mean more than life to me.¡±

    ¡°No, it is me who should be apologizing. That was rather selfish of me. I know that father¡¯s investments backfired Mama, we are tight for money. But what is done is done, and now it is my duty to help you out,¡± I grasped her hands in mine, squeezing them gently. I noticed how older she looked, filled with bothersome thoughts that plagued her mind. But no matter the wrinkles, she was still one of the most beautiful women I¡¯ve ever seen. Her bronzed, smooth skin and long jet-black hair showcased her Greek heritage. I was proud I was handed down her exotic looks, appearing rougher and wilder than my angelic sister, who on the other hand looked exactly like father. Mother¡¯s eyes were like mine, smaragdine, pretty much in contrast to our sun-kissed skin tone.

    Whilst my sister¡¯s hair was shorter and curlier, mine was long and straight, reaching down to hug the line of my waist. I never wore them loose of course, that would be considered inappropriate. But I did enjoy when Jane or Mama brushed or braided them when we retreated in the quiet privacy of our rooms.

    ¡°I am so proud of you Ashlyn. You grew into an intelligent young lady, but still, it shouldn¡¯t be your burden to carry,¡± her fingers lightly brushed across my cheeks. ¡°I know how much you adore that boy.¡±

    I looked away in embarrassment, my cheeks burning under the heaviness of her perceptive gaze. ¡°Apparently everyone notices but him,¡± I mumbled under my breath.

    ¡°Ashlyn¡­¡± Her eyes watered.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s all right Mama. I promise it is nothing more than a girlish infatuation. When I find an eligible gentleman, he would be long forgotten,¡± I bit my lip, not daring to look straight into her eyes in case she spotted my poorly covered lie.

    ¡°I hope for your sake it will be this easy, I really do,¡± she grabbed the bronze door knob, her head hanging low. ¡°I can promise you one thing. We will choose the man worthy of your heart.¡±

    ¡°Oh Mama,¡± I clicked my tongue. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be worthy of him?¡± A soft smile slowly spread across my lips. ¡°I only wish he would be good to me. Like Papa is to you. That is all I desire. I cannot imagine marrying a short-tempered and evil man,¡± the latter made me shudder with fright.

    ¡°We will choose the one that will suit you the most,¡± mother put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a squeeze of encouragement. ¡°Now come, supper is almost served.¡±

 Ball at Duchessâ€™s Arrington (part 1)

    ¡°Dear Lord!¡± Auntie Abigail burst through the door of my and Jane¡¯s bedroom. ¡°How can you stand this blasted heat? You poor souls!¡± She vigorously swung her hand back and forth, cooling her overheated heart-shaped face.

    I glanced at my best friend Edith, who covered her mouth with her hand, trying to hide her laughter. I had to bit my lip as we shared a knowing look to quench the giggles that threatened to bubble out of my chest.

    To put it bluntly, auntie Abby wasn¡¯t a really slim person, actually, her hips were so wide she had to move sideways to fit anywhere.

    And let¡¯s not forget to mention her generous bosom. I was sure some gentlemen enjoyed the view of her low-cut bodice, but respectable ladies most certainly didn¡¯t. Every time she bent over; her breasts almost spilled out of her tightly-woven corset.

    Edith grimaced distastefully as aunt Abby grabbed our fine embroidered vase placement and wiped off the sweaty stream between her voluptuous breasts.

    ¡°Ehm,¡± I discretely cleared my throat. ¡°Aunt Abby¡­¡± I bashfully averted my gaze as I pointed at her exposed breasts.

    ¡°Oops,¡± she giggled before she sloppily pulled the fabric over her bared chest. ¡°Maybe this dress is a tad bit too daring, what do you think girls?¡±

    I just stared at her in pure horror, only hoping that all respectable bachelors won¡¯t run off at the sight of my reckless aunt.

    ¡°Girls you both look absolutely enchanting!¡± She wildly nodded in approval, her oddly glazed eyes travelling over our evening attire. With her head bouncing like that it was inevitable for her extravagant feathery fascinator to slip over her eyes. ¡°Oh dearie, I shouldn¡¯t have drunk that last glass of mead.¡±

    Now that I thought of it, her cheeks were indeed suspiciously flushed. Well, I suppose a sinfully rich widow didn¡¯t really care about her reputation all that much. As a matter of fact, her proposal to sponsor our first season came as a big surprise. My aunt was an incorrigible stingy person, and she wouldn¡¯t part with a single penny to help my family out of financial problems.

    ¡°My Lady, you most certainly shouldn¡¯t!¡± Edith said in bewilderment. ¡°They will throw us out before we even have a chance to secure our first dance!¡±

    Abby adjusted her fascinator, letting out a very unladylike snort. ¡°Please! I have my title and my riches; those snobs wouldn¡¯t dare to put me on the street!¡±

    I didn¡¯t know if I should be horrified or relieved at that. Being so engrossed with my aunt¡¯s boisterous demeanor I almost screamed when I felt a sudden tap against my shoulder.

    ¡°It is time,¡± announced my mother, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. ¡°You both look so beautiful,¡± her voice quivered with pride as she pressed her hands to her cheek.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    For young ladies like Edith and myself first debut was a critical ceremony we had to perfect. Doing it properly ¨C with splendid poise and elegance ¨C meant a guarantee for a suitable spouse-to-be. If I¡¯d say I wasn¡¯t skittish I¡¯d either be a fool or a blatant liar.

    I pivoted back to Edith, deeply relieved my best friend would be by my side through this whole experience. She truly was a vision in a champagne-colored satin dress that fell all the way to the heels of her slippers, careful to cover her ankles. Her wild coppery locks were braided and pinned on top of her head crown with few runaway strands curling about her lovely freckled face. Edith was a true epitome of innocence and gentleness. Her mother would be certainly proud of the woman she became.

    While smoothing the invisible wrinkles on my new breathtaking emerald silk gown, I had to admit my aunt had an impeccable taste in fashion. The cut off shoulders with low d¨¦colletage and tight bodice made my cheeks flush since I never wore anything similar to this. The gown appeared simple, yet its fullness and color made it stand out against my darker skin tone.

    I lifted my head to meet Edith¡¯s gaze. ¡°Are you ready?¡±

    ¡°Well, not quite. But we don¡¯t have a choice to turn and run like the devil himself is hot on our heels, do we now?¡± She grimaced.

    ¡°I am certain it won¡¯t be so disastrous,¡± I tried to reassure her as I looped her arm through mine. Her hand was almost child-like and her frame frail and petite compared to my taller one.

    ¡°Oh please, ladies! No dramatics! It¡¯s only a marriage for Christ¡¯s sake! Your only hard work will be to satisfy a man in the bedroom, after that you can do as you please,¡± Abby¡¯s chest puffed as she was awfully proud of her own advice.

    ¡°Abigail! Language please!¡± My mother said horrified.

    Well, if you thought about it, she was actually right.

    I turned toward an old wooden mirror on my toilette table, intensely looking at my reflection. Would be I considered pretty enough to be wanted by a man? I hadn¡¯t had the slightest idea about how to properly please my future husband. The only thing Edith and I had, were very embarrassing lessons about human reproduction, given by our old governess. Not to mention she was a maiden herself, so I was pretty certain she hadn¡¯t had a clue on how things worked.

    One time we stole a book from my father¡¯s study, which very graphically depicted relations between two human beings. It was rather embarrassing.

    My hands flew from my hair ¨C a nervous twitch to adjust my elegantly woven updo - to the golden cameo earrings my mother had given me.

    ¡°Do not worry yourself, you look striking,¡± Edith assured me when my eyes met hers in the mirror¡¯s reflection. ¡°All bachelor¡¯s eyes will be on you tonight.¡±

    ¡°Oh please,¡± I nervously giggled. ¡°I am still deciding if I should simply blend with the tapestry to evade their gossiping mouths.¡±

    We were about to head toward the doors when we suddenly heard a loud crash.

    ¡°Ladies I hate to bother you, but I am afraid we are already running late!¡± A loud voice announced from downstairs.

    Jared. My cheeks flamed at the thought of him accompanying us to the ball. Will he add his name to my dance card? Will he think of me as anything else but his sister¡¯s bothersome best friend? But I shouldn¡¯t be thinking about this, should I? I should set my sights on a certain rich gentleman.

    Do not mistake me for a moneygrubber for I by any means wasn¡¯t the type of woman who was preying on man¡¯s wealth. For me, it would be nothing better than to settle down with a nice man who would see me for who I really was. But I had no choice but to help my father out of the hardship our family has encountered.

    Like a captivated girl by her sweetheart, I enthusiastically rushed my friend out of the bedroom and almost sent us tumbling down the stairs. I wisely ignored my mother¡¯s worried stares, which told me how much she really knew about the depth of my feelings toward Jared.

 Ball at Duchessâ€™s Arrington (part 2)

    At the last second, I remembered my manners. Gathering the thick garment of my dress between my fingers I gave him a respectful curtsy. His eyes widened as he took me in while standing there completely speechless. The wonder in his eyes was flattering, almost as if it was the first time he has recognized me as a woman and not only his childhood friend. And just maybe he truly has.

    He was devastatingly handsome in his black double-breasted west and a dark silk bowtie. His honey-colored short hair was neatly combed backward and his blue eyes sparkling with emotion I couldn¡¯t quite place.

    My mother loudly cleared her throat, reminding us we weren¡¯t alone. ¡°Jared? Why don¡¯t you accompany Lady Abigail and Edith to the carriage? I need a word with Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°Of course, My Lady,¡± he slightly inclined his head and spun on his heel toward auntie and Edith. He extended his elbows for both of them to link they arms through his. Aunt Abby seemed ecstatic as she pressed her bosom against his side with her lashes fanning her cheeks, half-covering the sultriness in her eyes which held undeniable wicked promises. Jared offered her a wide smile making her nearly melt from the attention he was giving her.

    Mother caught my wrists and stirred me closer to her. ¡°Please, be careful around him. I know he is young and handsome, irresistible to young ladies like yourself,¡± she ushered with a hushed voice. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you heartbroken.¡±

    ¡°And I won¡¯t be,¡± I wanted to appear confident, however I sounded anything but. The brave smile I worked so hard to maintain faltered, exposing my badly composed cloak of determination.

    ¡°Go now,¡± she lovingly placed her hands on my cheeks and pecked my forehead. ¡°May luck be in your favor.¡±

    I was about to follow the direction of my chaperones when I heard her call my name one last time.

    ¡°Whoever you choose, try to follow both - your heart and your instinct.¡±

    ¡°All right Mama,¡± her advice caused the sorrowful trembles inside my chest. I was quite certain there was no need to worry about matters of my heart for it was already taken.

    ***

    ¡°My Lady,¡± Jared politely offered his hand to me as I stepped out of the carriage. His courteous attitude and newfound manners were unfamiliar and quite suspicious to be fair. Looking up, I found him smirking at me, his lips dangerously close to my earlobe. ¡°Isn¡¯t this fun? Ashlyn Caldwell playing a graceful Lady. Honestly, I thought I¡¯d never see the day.¡±

    I was pretty sure my mouth hit the floor at his rude remark. ¡°Pardon me?¡± I made sure no one was eavesdropping before I threw him a glare. If he will have the audacity to ask me to dance this evening, I will stomp his feet until he cried from the excruciating pain.

    ¡°You were always the one wearing man¡¯s breeches and sneaking around. Rather taking interest in man¡¯s affairs than ladylike activities,¡± his expression suddenly turned from teasing to warm. His eyes lovingly darted to his sister and than returned to me. ¡°I will really miss you, kiddo. When you¡¯ll be given away, there won¡¯t be much time for us run around like we used to.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    I wasn¡¯t sure which caused me more pain ¨C the fact that he called me a child, or that I¡¯ll soon be parted from him forever. For a moment I was almost convinced that the look in his eyes held a certain undertone of yearning, but now I wondered if what I saw was just my imagination playing cruel tricks on me.

    I tried to banish the troublesome thoughts that twirled inside my mind. I gripped Edith under her arm as we slowly followed Jared¡¯s lead. I could not stop myself to openly admire the large property, surrounded by a beautiful park with flamboyantly carved hedges ¨C the grandiose mixture of concepts variating from mazes, boxes to sculptures and topiaries. Bushy creatures of all sorts stared at us as we walked by, encircling the stony fountain which stood in the middle of the gravel driveway. Arrington¡¯s manor was without a doubt a beauty to behold, built and designed in Georgian architecture style. The u-shaped estate consisted of several different wings, including a red-brick cylindrical tower which topped over the grey mansard roof.

    The line of carriages parked at the side was waiting impatiently for gentlemen to accompany the fashionable looking ladies inside.

    At last, we stepped into the great hall, adorned with a large stony fireplace and a grand display of mounted deer, boars and antlers. A short walk on a colorful lotto carpet led us out of the hall and straight into the ballroom. The details of the long rectangular space were absolutely astonishing. There were frescos decorating the walls on either side of the golden-rimmed spacious windows. Eight wide chandeliers hung from vaulted stone ceiling with crystal pendalogues sparkling in the flickering light of the candles. The flooring was an expressive mosaic formed of the mixture of stone and glass. A refined piece of art must¡¯ve been freshly manufactured as it was still unblemished and held an emotional glorification of the romantic era. My eyes traced the exposed bodies as they melted into one another in a grotesque depiction of a battle, their hands reaching out in a desperate manner to grasp the Holy creature rising above them. Napoleonic wars I wondered?

    I straightened my pose the minute I noticed we were being watched and hurriedly let go of Edith¡¯s arm.

    ¡°Oh dear. Here we go,¡± I hear her murmur under her breath.

    Cautiously, we descended the imperial staircase with marble angelic statues sitting on top of the wrought railing ¨C each accountable for a different task. I reminded myself not to gawk and most importantly ¨C to keep my hands to myself as I¡¯ve never been on the estate this large and spectacular before. We¡¯ve permanently moved to our London townhouse as we were forced to sell our family property back in Sussex.

    ¡°Oh! Viscountess Abigail, I am pleased you joined us,¡± announced a large-framed man with a protruding stomach. Buttons on his tux were dangerously close to succumbing under the pressure of the stretched fabric.

    ¡°Duke of Arrington! What a delightful sight you are, Your Grace,¡± my auntie batted her eyelashes, clearly enjoying the lustful stares of our host, albeit not directed at her face but rather at her generous bosom.

    Gentleman clearly forgot his wife was standing behind him, shooting daggers at aunt Abby. I smiled apologetically, but she brushed me off with an arrogant glance as if gazing down on underprivileged and diseased vermin. I reminded myself to be brave underneath the harsh stares of the ton for I was but a minor nobility - similarly to Edith - a daughter of a bankrupt baron in a dire need of securing a prosperous marriage.

    We¡¯ve barely arrived and yet I felt a presence of ominous energy hanging heavy in the air. Jared must¡¯ve sensed my dampening spirits as he placed a hand on the small of my back. ¡°How about I introduce you two to my loyal friends and gambling companions?¡± He smirked at his sister¡¯s poorly covered outrage.

    ¡°Should you be mentioning such a shameful flaw in the company of two ladies, brother?¡± Frowning Edit hurriedly plastered a smile on her face as she realized where she was.

    ¡°Well, I wouldn¡¯t, but you two are hardly called ladies,¡± Jared leaned forward and whispered confidentially, his blue eyes gleaming with playfulness.

 Ball at Duchessâ€™s Arrington (part 3)

    ¡°Unbelievable! I cannot comprehend why women find you so irresistible... Lord Jared,¡± I muttered under my breath.

    ¡°Is that so? I am handsome and charming, I suppose,¡± he smirked at me, his smile widening as he noticed the exposing redness on my cheeks. ¡°At least that¡¯s what all the rich matrons say.¡±

    ¡°Brother!¡± Edith spat in horror. ¡°This truly isn¡¯t the time nor place to talk about your outrageous lascivious daily habits!¡±

    He dramatically rolled his eyes at her before he finally stopped in front of the group of young aristocracy. Two breathtakingly beautiful brunettes - apparently twins stood in the middle, surrounded by young men. Even their gowns matched, sewn in a light-yellow color that radiated across the ballroom like a spark of sunshine, making them noticeable to the young and keen gentlemen.

    Both of them wore a wide smile as Edith and I approached them. ¡°Lord Jared! At last!¡± One of them said enthusiastically before clasping Edith¡¯s hands in hers. ¡°I was wondering when your little sister will be introduced to the society,¡± she gave her a warm and welcoming smile - quite a pleasant contrast compared to the Duchess¡¯s behavior. ¡°Oh dear!¡± The brunette giggled. ¡°Pardon my ill manners. My name is Alison,¡± her hand elegantly moved to her twin. ¡°And this is my sister Bonnie.¡±

    ¡°Who is the Lady in your company?¡± Bonnie looked at me, wearing the same kind of expression as her sister, but with a slight twinge of mischievousness glinting in her eyes.

    ¡°My name is Ashlyn, My Lady,¡± I said politely, while I lowered myself in a polite curtsy.

    ¡°Oh please! Drop the formalities. Ladies, I sense we will be great friends, won¡¯t we Bonnie?¡± Alison looped her arm through her twin¡¯s.

    ¡°Since this is your first season, you have much to learn from us,¡± Bonnie nodded seriously and pressed a long elegant finger to her heart-shaped lips.

    ¡°Oh dear, don¡¯t listen to them, girls.¡± Jared stated mockingly. ¡°This is their third season and still, they remain unwed.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps because all of the eligible bachelors are too busy chasing skirts to be willing to settle down!¡± Bonnie spat, smiling at the nearest scandalized matron who accusingly glared at her loud outburst.

    ¡°Oh, Bonnie dearest, now where is the fun in that?¡± Said one of Jared¡¯s friends, a man with a curly dark hair. ¡°My name is Andrew Richards, Duke of Edinburgh,¡± he slightly lowered his head in greeting.

    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to be acquainted with you, Your Grace.¡± Edith and I curtsied before the man. I instantly noticed how Edith¡¯s eyes lingered on him a second too long before she timidly averted her gaze.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°The pleasure is all mine, ladies,¡± his eyes were like a molten dark chocolate when they travelled from me to Edith all the while he kept his full lips curved into a lopsided smile.

    ¡°Don¡¯t mind him, girls. He¡¯s just an irredeemable Casanova,¡± Alison frowned at his vulturous gaze. Her voice morphed into a confidential tone as she leaned in to whisper into our ears. ¡°Whatever you do, do not fall for his charm. He is as bad as Jared - if not worse.¡±

    Alison¡¯s advice apparently fell on deaf ears as Edith ¨C completely mesmerized by the Duke¡¯s attention ¨C nervously addressed him. ¡°Have you known my brother for a long time, Your Grace?¡±

    ¡°For a few years now, we¡¯ve met at White¡¯s,¡± he cleared his throat, his face betraying embarrassment as he realized his transgression.

    ¡°White¡¯s?¡± I asked eagerly.

    ¡°Yes, a gentlemen¡¯s club for private members here in St. James¡¯s,¡± Edith hurriedly quenched my curiosity.

    Andrew¡¯s brows rose in question. ¡°My Lady, I hope for your sake that you aren¡¯t privately acquainted with the establishment.¡±

    Edith¡¯s cheeks flamed in horror. ¡°Oh no, Your Grace! Absolutely not! It¡¯s just that my father used to be a member and my brother is very outspoken about his whereabouts,¡± she bit her lip in distress, peaking at him from under her long fiery lashes.

    ¡°It¡¯s just a horrible excuse for men to squander their profits on ridiculous wages and poker games,¡± Bonnie shook her head in distaste, her brown curls furiously bouncing about her face.

    ¡°Oh, Lady Burton, no wonder you are still unattached, no gentleman in the right man would propose marriage to such an uptight Lady as yourself,¡± Jared snickered behind her back.

    ¡°My Lord!¡± Bonnie quietly cried out. ¡°Mind your language! I will be more agreeable when I meet a certain affable gentleman ¨C without all these atrocious quirks,¡± she stubbornly lifted her chin. While raising her tastefully groomed eyebrow, she gave him a dismissive look, indicating that he most certainly wasn¡¯t the one.

    ¡°Then you are searching on the wrong side of the ballroom, my dear,¡± Jared¡¯s hand signified at the right side. ¡°You should be looking over there.¡±

    Alison laughed at her sister¡¯s horrified expression. ¡°Now, now, calm down you two,¡± she petted Bonnie¡¯s shoulder, hoping to cool down her offended sister. ¡°Don¡¯t mind them. They are always like this,¡± she smiled at Edith and me. ¡°I swear they are bound to fall in love and marry someday.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Bonnie gasped with shock before her beautiful full lips curled in distaste.

    I couldn¡¯t help but feel a sharp pang of pain at the thought of Jared and Bonnie becoming a couple.

    ¡°So!¡± The bubbly twin ¨C Alison clasped Edith¡¯s and my hand in hers. ¡°If you are to find the right spouse you absolutely must be searching on the left side of the ballroom.¡±

    ¡°How come?¡± Edith¡¯s forehead creased in confusion as her hazel eyes darted across the vast space. ¡°What is the matter with the right side?¡±

    ¡°Everything,¡± Bonnie grimaced after sharing a look with her sister. ¡°Here on the left side, you have your fair share of handsome, rich and young men,¡± she glared at His Grace Andrew who tried to hide his laughter behind a glass of champagne.

    My eyes darted to the dancefloor, comparing the two sides. Instantly I recognized she was telling the truth. The left side was brimming with eligible gentlemen ¨C indeed young and handsome. On the other hand, the right side was a total opposite. Men were rarely dancing and even if they were, they were either wed or their partners consisted of older matrons. Others just stood at the sides ¨C like wallflowers drowning and paling compared to the beauty of the grand tapestry - or simply diving into the boundless bottoms of Scotch.

 Ball at Duchessâ€™s Arrington (part 4)

    ¡°The right side consists of old, mundane gentlemen. Surely, most of them are drowning in their wealth, but...¡± Alison¡¯s body shuddered. ¡°They are not very agreeable companions.¡±

    ¡°What Alison means to say is that they are boring, old farts,¡± Bonnie whispered, hurriedly looking around if anyone heard her.

    ¡°Sister!¡± Her twin swiftly covered her mouth to suppress the treacherous giggles. ¡°Sometimes I cannot believe your audacity.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please,¡± Bonnie dramatically rolled her eyes. ¡°If you absolutely must wander to the other side than by any means possible avoid looking men in the eyes. They are like starving hyenas, waiting for nothing more but a single clue to devour you.¡±

    ¡°Dear God,¡± Edit¡¯s innocent eyes widened with worry.

    Alison nervously fiddled with the golden ornament on her wrist. ¡°Exactly. Remember to stay away from Lord Tinley, he¡¯s a truly vile and twisted old pervert. Nothing good can come out of his mouth,¡± she discretely pointed at the chubby and undersized, but elegantly dressed man with overgrown sideburns.

    Lord Tinley was leaning against the refreshments table, greedily filling his plate with chocolate desserts. His face was unusually small and round, with barely noticeable black eyes which comically reminded me of a famished rat.

    ¡°Tinley is ancient,¡± Jared added. ¡°I am sure your father would never allow for this man to put his glutinous hands on you. And neither would I entrust him with my dear sister. Besides he is hardly the one you should warn them about, Lady Alison,¡± his voice turned from stern to derisive.

    ¡°You are right,¡± Alison glanced at her twin sister before she faced us again. ¡°Never, never, ever,¡± she emphasized her words slowly and loudly. ¡°Address or peek at His Grace Baxter Read. Never, do you hear me ladies?¡± Her bright eyes darted to me and then back to Edith.

    I heard Jared and Richards howling with laughter, clutching they stomachs as their bodies shook with uncontrollable tremors.

    ¡°Is he that bad?¡± I watched Alison¡¯s and Bonnie¡¯s widened eyes as they nodded in unison.

    ¡°Oh. What has he done to deserve such hatred?¡±

    ¡°Nothing offensive or such,¡± Alison assured me before glancing up at the ceiling. ¡°However-¡±

    ¡°-He is as mind-numbing and bland as a drying paint on a brick wall,¡± Bonnie finished for her, her eyes twinkling with humor.

    ¡°Actually, haven¡¯t young ladies made up a rule about him?¡± Andrew Richards turned to Alison.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace. You see, he is very young and wealthy. At first debutantes¡¯ mothers were very keen to offer him their daughter¡¯s hand in marriage. But when the poor girls actually had the chance to speak with him, well, let¡¯s say they ran like the wind to get away. After that they made a sacred set of rules. First and foremost: never ever acknowledge him. Second, never glance his way. If he does initiate the conversation, a Lady must be apathetic and vague ¨C however still polite - keep in mind he is a Duke. And third, at any cost remain on the left side of the room.¡±

    ¡°Is he perhaps that arrogant?¡± Edith inquired.

    Most often badly disliked gentlemen, however wealthy and young, must¡¯ve carried a large flaw in their character to become this undesirable. Either they were egotistical or so vain, it was impossible to stand them or they had certain displeasing physical impairments. The first reason seemed rational to me, but second was hardly something one could fault - especially not on a wealthy and influential man like a Duke.

    ¡°Oh, Lord no!¡± Richards laughed loudly. ¡°Not arrogant, that man doesn¡¯t have an ounce of arrogance in him.¡±

    ¡°His Grace simply lacks a character,¡± Jared gazed at his sister. ¡°Or spine.¡±

    ¡°All that man can talk about are his precious horses,¡± Bonnie¡¯s nose crinkled with distaste.

    ¡°And weather,¡± her sister added bitterly. ¡°The last time my father forced me to talk to him I swear I learned the forecast for the whole United Kingdom,¡± Alison pursed her lips.

    ¡°Oh, you poor thing,¡± Bonnie mocked. ¡°You weren¡¯t the one to go to the Hyde Park with him, horseback riding no less!¡±

    Alison turned her pity-filled eyes toward her. ¡°I imagine it was a very tiresome experience.¡±

    ¡°It was insufferable! I swear His Grace has more horses than I have shoes. And you know I love shoes,¡± she quietly confided. ¡°Luckily I survived. We spent the whole two hours talking about nothing but horses. Can you imagine?¡± Her nose crinkled as if sensing something spoiled. ¡°Well, it was mostly him who spoke. I kept quiet, like I¡¯d mentioned before - following the rules.¡±

    ¡°So,¡± I loudly recapped. ¡°Avoid Lord Tinley and His Grace Read.¡±

    Both twins gave me a curt nod.

    ¡°If you accidentally catch His Grace¡¯s eye, run the other way. As fast as it¡¯s socially acceptable for a young Lady of your status, of course,¡± Bonnie stated as she patted my wrist.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe that will be necessary,¡± I smiled bashfully and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. ¡°He won¡¯t even notice me.¡±

    She looked at me as if lost my mind. ¡°Oh, he will notice you. You are very pleasing to the eye.¡±

    ¡°Furthermore, he is desperately seeking a reputable noblewoman who would be willing to marry him. After his father¡¯s death, he inherited a title of a Duke of Manchester and it¡¯s necessary for him to produce an heir. Since none of the ladies and debutantes are willing to even glance his way, he is becoming more... Desperate,¡± Alison enlightened us.

    ¡°We cannot deny the fact that the man knows how to handle his business and finances. He more than tripled his wealth since his father died. Every young woman¡¯s father would be eager to marry his daughter off to such an accomplished gentleman,¡± Jared¡¯s eyes meaningfully settled on me. I instantly knew this was an indirect way to warn me. ¡°No matter how mind-numbing he is.¡±

    ¡°Oh, please My Lord, stop scaring the girl. I am sure her mother knows His Grace. She would never allow for her daughter to be this miserable,¡± Alison smiled at me encouragingly. ¡°Even our father saw reason, and that says something.¡±

    Bonnie nodded in affirmation. ¡°Besides, if you stay on your side of the playfield,¡± her mischievous eyes sparkled with humor. ¡°I believe all will be well.¡±

 Oh, for the love of God! (part 1)

    We¡¯ve barely made it halfway through the ball, but my legs already started to protest. Edith¡¯s and my dancing cards were completely full and I couldn¡¯t possibly bear to stand yet another dance. I was completely parched from the constant exercise and the heat that hung in the room like a suffocating mist.

    ¡°May I jump in, My Lord?¡± Jared smiled at my dancing partner, a young Lord from Yorkshire.

    ¡°Of course. It was a pleasure meeting you, Lady Ashlyn. May I be so brazen to ask you one more question before our ways part, My Lady?¡± He smiled kindly before he dropped my hand.

    ¡°Of course, Lord Aidan,¡± my cheeks flamed since I wasn¡¯t used calling a Lord like him by his first name. Upon his persistence I caved to the idea of using more of an informal way of address.

    ¡°May I ask, would it be too impulsive if I¡¯d call on you tomorrow after luncheon? I was thinking we could ride to Kensington Gardens; I hear the flowers are quite lovely this time of year,¡± he must¡¯ve detected the shock in my gaze as he hurriedly continued. ¡°Of course, you won¡¯t go unchaperoned, I am certain your aunt would be glad to accompany us,¡± he awkwardly babbled as droplets of sweat started to trickle down his forehead.

    ¡°Lord Aidan,¡± I interrupted his torment, politely smiling at his nervous expression. ¡°I would be delighted.¡±

    He was by far the most enjoyable dance partner I had this evening. Bonnie and Alison were right, all the men were young, rich and devilishly handsome, but also conceited and self-righteous. Talking to no end about fashion and ever so quickly depleting riches as they wasted it on meaningless extravagant goods. But Lord Aidan seemed different, he appeared thoughtful and compassionate.

    He humbly lowered his head. ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to our meeting tomorrow, Lady Ashlyn. My Lord,¡± he acknowledged Jared and stepped away from us.

    ¡°Lord Aidan?¡± Jared¡¯s smile slipped for a moment. I intently studied his face, trying to decipher what the sudden change in his expression meant. His look was grim, his mouth pressed into a hard line. ¡°Why settle on him? He isn¡¯t good looking enough nor rich like the others.¡±

    ¡°He is well spoken and polite. In fact, he is one of the gentlemen I liked the most.¡±

    He stood silently as if pondering over my words. Suddenly his troubled expression shifted into his usual radiance. ¡°I believe you promised me this Waltz, Lady Ashlyn,¡± Jared smiled. Without waiting for an answer, he extended his hand and positioned it on the small of my back.

    I nervously bit my lip as I placed my left hand on his shoulder, almost afraid to touch him. He was too close for my liking, his scent accelerating my already erratic heartbeat, making me fear he would somehow sense it.

    We started to move in unison when we heard the first notes of the sweet melodic symphony. He was an exquisite dancer, leading me around the ballroom with an astonishing grace and confidence. He spun me effortlessly to the mounting notes of the Strauss¡¯s composition with my slippers fluidly gliding against the polished surface of the mosaic.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    I was still painfully aware of his closeness and tried to avoid his eyes which unnervingly bored into mine. His hand adjusted on my waist before he pulled me closer to his body.

    ¡°Ashlyn,¡± he breathed into my ear and I was positive that I would lose my footing if he wouldn¡¯t have held me tight.

    I cleared my throat, feeling the heat spreading from my neck up to my cheeks.

    For Christ¡¯s sake! He was my best friend; I should be used to his antics by now. We¡¯d danced like this countless of times, but today was somehow different - more intimate.

    ¡°Jared?¡± I finally allowed myself to look into his bright eyes. I knew this was a huge mistake, one I had no luxury to afford. My heart was already lost to him and I felt my self-control and good judgment slowly slipping out of my grasp.

    ¡°You look lovely tonight,¡± he smiled and twirled me under his arm.

    I couldn¡¯t help but to beam widely at his compliment, ignoring my mind which chastised my hopeless naivety. ¡°Thank you, Jared, you look quite handsome yourself.¡±

    ¡°Can I call on you tomorrow after breakfast time?¡± He suddenly blurted out.

    ¡°I ¡­¡± His hasty inquiry came no less than a surprise, since I realized he had no intentions of courting a Lady of a lower station ¨C especially without a sizable dowry. It was not necessarily what he wanted, but rather what was expected of him.

    I sensed the trembling of his body right before he burst into laughter. ¡°Don¡¯t look so startled Ashlyn, it was only a jest.¡±

    Treacherous tears prickled my eyes, disclosing the hurt in my heart. I couldn¡¯t believe he would joke about such things. He apparently didn¡¯t understand how much I wanted and hoped for him to ask me this exact question. But even if he¡¯d be sincere, Papa would never encourage nor allow us to continue our relationship. My feelings toward him were futile.

    ¡°I am glad you find this amusing,¡± I spat, looking at everything else but him. The previous excitement morphed into weariness and at last into relief when the Waltz ended. The dissipating notes of the melody gave me a reason to excuse myself and an opportunity to run away from him as far as the room allowed.

    I left him standing there as I hurried off the dance floor and joined Alison who lingered near the wall.

    It took a moment for me to compose my erratic mind before I addressed her. ¡°Lady Alison, where is Edith?¡±

    ¡°I believe she is quite taken with His Grace Andrew.¡± The corners of her mouth quirked up as she tilted her head in the direction of the twirling couple.

    Edith¡¯s face radiated with happiness as she eagerly cranked up her neck to take in his every word. There was a complete fascination in her wide, luminous eyes whenever they rested on his face.

    ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t a mistake,¡± I admitted, worried about the well-being of my best friend. She was a type of a person who falls in love too easily and too fast.

    Alison sighed next to me. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know what to tell you, Lady Ashlyn. I cannot promise you that he will be the one to marry her. He has never asked for a Lady¡¯s hand before nor has he settled for one for that matter. Like Jared he is much more interested in...¡± She lowered her voice and hurriedly looked around. ¡°Well, light shirts.¡±

    Speaking of the devil - Jered made his way over to us, slowed down by the gossipy ladies and their insistent mothers who battled over his attention. Nevertheless, they were a welcoming distraction as I didn¡¯t want to face him nor the questioning looks he kept throwing my way.

    ¡°Excuse me, I think I need a glass of water. I¡¯ll be at refreshments table.¡±

    Alison watched me curiously, her eyes darting from me to Jared, but she remained silent.

    Swiftly and absentmindedly I made my way to the lavishly filled table. I grabbed a glass of water, overjoyed to finally quench the horrible thirst burning in my throat. I took a large gulp, but the unexpected potency of the strange liquid turned my insides into a fiery explosion. My eyes watered and I fought against the sudden and potentially very embarrassing coughing fit. ¡°Heavens! What is this?¡± I lifted the glass to my nose, sniffing its questionable contents.

    I heard a low amused chuckle. ¡°My Lady, you cannot be possibly drinking whiskey?¡±

    My insides froze when I spotted the familiar figure standing beside me ¨C precisely the one I was warned about.

 Oh, for the love of God! (part 2)

    ¡°Lord Tinley,¡± I said sourly, looking into his rounded, small eyes. His beefy figure moved slightly closer, his protruding double chin shaking with the quick movement. It was impossible to overlook the man and yet  somehow I managed to do it.

    His black eyes widened with surprise. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me?¡± His chest puffed proudly.

    ¡°I believe your reputation precedes you, My Lord. At least among the ladies,¡±

    His smile was shiny and wide as he seemingly completely missed the hint of the not-so-subtle sarcasm in my tone. The false compliment made this presumptuous man inch closer until I was within his reach. He let his plump fingers hover above my hip with the intention to brush against my skirts.

    I stifled the gasp of horror and sidestepped. Surely he must¡¯ve realized that people were watching us.

    ¡°Tell me your name, girl,¡± he demanded. His unruly eyebrows rose with dissatisfaction as he noticed my obvious need for retreat.

    ¡°I ¡­ Ashlyn Caldwell, My Lord,¡± I nervously licked my lips while putting a much needed distance between our bodies. I had the urge to pinch my nose at his revolting smell. It seemed to be a mixture of perfume, alcohol and sweat, added with a sharp yet indistinguishable sour odor.

    ¡°Ashlyn ¡­¡± He hungrily rolled my name on his tongue. ¡°Such a sweet and innocent little thing.¡±

    I watched him in horror as he backed me up against the table. I glanced around in despair, but no one seemed to be paying attention to us ¨C or rather everyone pretended to not notice my distress.

    ¡°My Lord, this is hardly appropriate. Please, I only wished for a glass of water.¡±

    If he touches me improperly, my reputation will be in ruins. There will be no other way but to marry him. He extended his fleshy hand, smeared with chocolate and grease, ready to brush against my cheek.

    ¡°L-Lord Tinley! B-behave yourself!¡± Suddenly a gentle and insecure voice ordered. I was certain that Lord Tinley will brush him off since the man¡¯s voice was not in the least intimidating. But to my utter delight he didn¡¯t.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± he instead humbly lowered his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t doing anything immoral, I swear.¡± Tinley¡¯s face was beet red with shame.

    At last, he dashed away with his head still submissively lowered and I was finally free to acknowledge my rescuer. He was young, probably somewhere around his mid-twenties. I wouldn¡¯t describe him as handsome, but he was nowhere near to be disagreeable either. His features were a mixture of boyish softness and masculinity. His honey brown hair was short and slightly tousled - its roguishness definitely not considered fashionable amongst the ton. However, what seemed to be painfully noticeable was his odd behavior. He appeared timid, his hands slightly trembling before he swiftly clasped them behind his back. His unusually gentle amber eyes were directed at the floor as if he didn¡¯t dare to look up. The man¡¯s tall frame was slouched as though he burned with utter discomfort and self-consciousness.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°I must express my gratitude, Your Grace.¡± I curtsied before him. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened. I should be more careful from now on,¡± I shamefully admitted. Now, feeling safe to gaze around, I was absolutely horrified upon realizing I¡¯ve found myself on the right side of the dance floor. How did that come to be?

    ¡°I ¡­ It¡¯s q-quite all r-right, r-really,¡± he stammered heavily all the while continuously avoiding my gaze.

    I let out a surprised sigh when his hand shot out to offer me a glass of water.

    ¡°I h-heard you w-were thirsty,¡± he said quietly, his eyes finally meeting mine, if only just for a short moment. Even though the trembles caused him to spill the liquid all over my fingers I excepted it gratefully.

    ¡°Thank you ¡­¡± I watched him in wonder as he stiffly walked off, joining his friend in the farthest corner of the room.

    Afraid of bumping into Lord Tinley I couldn¡¯t¡¯ve turned fast enough when I hurried back to my friends as though my skirts were ablaze. Bonnie and Alison watched me with stunned terror when I finally rejoined them.

    ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± Bonnie squeaked.

    ¡°I was unfortunate and unobservant, I know. I ran straight into Lord Tinley,¡± I sighed nervously. ¡°But do not fret, a kind gentleman was brave enough to rescue me from his claws!¡±

    ¡°This kind gentleman of yours is nobody else but His Grace Baxter Read,¡± Alison hissed.

    ¡°Oh dear,¡± I felt color draining off my face. ¡°What have I done?¡±

    ¡°I am sure the damage has not been inflicted yet. All you have to do is to stay away from them. And Heavens, whatever you do, do not look at them again!¡± Bonnie warned me.

    I discreetly rubbed my temples, trying to fight off an incoming headache.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Jared appeared beside me, a genuine concern written all over his strikingly blue eyes.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn managed to catch the attention of both disagreeable gentlemen at the same time ¨C Lord Tinley¡¯s and Read¡¯s,¡± Alison announced with dry humor.

    ¡°Pardon me? How did that happen?¡± He inquired, completely taken aback.

    ¡°Well, Lord Tinley was behaving rather uncivil and His Grace was there to help me out. That is all,¡± I said defensively, without looking at either one of them. I was still furious with Jared, if he hadn¡¯t joked so cruelly, I wouldn¡¯t have the need to rush off toward the refreshments table. Therefore, this whole unfortunate situation would¡¯ve never happened in the first place.

    Jared laughed quietly. ¡°You, my dear, are a magnet for a bad luck.¡±

    ¡°Actually, no. If His Grace wouldn¡¯t have intervened that would¡¯ve been a bad luck, yes. And because he did, I am feeling quite lucky,¡± I stubbornly lifted my chin.

    Bonnie pressed a hand to her throat. ¡°Do not say such things! Do you have a death wish? You will end up marrying him!¡±

    ¡°He came across as a shy person, but he seemed nice enough to me.¡±

    ¡°He is a stuttering, plain fool!¡± Bonnie spat. Instantly her eyes widened in horror. She slowly looked around and released her breath after making sure nobody had heard her outburst. Offending the Duke of Manchester was no joking matter.

    Alison glared at her sister. ¡°Enough Bonnie,¡± she clasped my hands in hers. ¡°Just stay away from him, we are saying this for your own good. Trust us on this, please?¡± She spoke with a hushed tone.

    I gave her an absentminded nod. ¡°I am sure he has already forgotten our brief encounter by now,¡± my eyes automatically darted toward the man in question. Similarly to his companion, he was leaning against the wall ¨C with a noticeable space between him and the dancers. His head was lowered like the first time I¡¯ve seen him, however his eyes ¨C almost hidden behind his disheveled hair ¨C gazed directly into my own. My breath caught in my throat as I felt myself freeze. He most definitely hasn¡¯t forgotten.

    ¡°Ashlyn!¡± Jared brought me back to reality. He almost panickily buried his hand into his blonde hair. ¡°What are you doing?¡±

    ¡°You do have a death wish!¡± Bonnie¡¯s eyes narrowed at me. ¡°All right, do as you please as you are apparently unwilling to take our advice. And when you¡¯ll have the pleasure to meet His Grace, you will remember our warning all too well,¡± she added sternly.

 Kensington Gardens (part 1)

    Yesterday night was a complete and utter disaster. It was not only Jared that squashed my dreams and hopes of our future relationship, but I also managed to get acquainted with two of the most notorious gentlemen of the ton ¨C Lord Tinley and Duke of Manchester, Baxter Read.

    ¡°Wake up sister! Wake up!¡± Jane barged into our room, excitedly hopping up and down.

    I groaned at her endless source of energy and pulled the covers over my head. ¡°Not now Jane, I have an excruciating headache.¡±

    ¡°Place them in here, Janine,¡± my mother opened the door for my lady¡¯s maid.

    I watched in amazement as she juggled a large bouquet of tulips in her hands all the while trying her best to maintain the balance.

    ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± I propped myself on my elbows, previous exhsaustion suddenly evaporating with the mounting curiosity.

    ¡°Ashlyn! You received at least dozen of these!¡± Jane''s fingers eagerly brushed against the exquisite colorful petals. ¡°Have you met a prince?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± I inhaled the sweet flowery scent. ¡°Only a few dragons.¡±

    Mother opened a card fastened around the vase¡¯s neck. Her eyebrows jumped so high I almost believed they will fly off her forehead. ¡°Lord Jared Collins?¡± Her eyes narrowed after reading his name aloud. ¡°Ashlyn, what is the meaning of this? I thought you-¡±

    I sprang out of bed like a wrecking hurricane and snatched the card out of her hand. ¡°Pardon?¡± I said in disbelief. ¡°But I thought¡­¡± I cleared my throat to compose myself. ¡°Which gentlemen sent the other bouquets?¡± I asked half-heartedly as I wasn''t sincerely interested in anyone else¡¯s presents.

    My thoughts kept jumping back to the extravagant flower arrangement. Why would Jared send me tulips? He knew very well they were my favorites.

    ¡°Several gentlemen in fact. Lord Aidan Sutton, Simons, Hamilton and Tinley,¡± Jane studied the cards with interest as she opened them one by one.

    ¡°Lord Tinley,¡± my stomach turned at the thought of how unpleasantly he behaved at the ball. ¡°Oh dear. Did I get anything from His Grace Baxter Read, Jane?¡± I was certain my eyes were wide as our porcelain plates when I whirled my head to face her.

    ¡°No, nothing from so called Baxter Read sister,¡± she gazed at me with suspicion. ¡°Is he your Prince Charming?¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Dear Lord, have mercy! No! So no Baxter Read? Are you completely certain, Jane?¡±

    ¡°As long as my eyes are not deceiving me - absolutely!¡± She threw me a big toothy smile.

    My shoulders slumped with relief. ¡°Good. One is more than enough.¡±

    ¡°Lord Tinley sent you flowers?¡± Even Mama¡¯s lips curled with utter disgust. ¡°He is a dangerous and vile man, Ashlyn. Stay away from him at any cost.¡±

    ¡°I intend to Mama. He is downright repulsive,¡± I forced a smile onto my face, trying to forget about Jared or Tinley. ¡°But let¡¯s focus on good news, shall we? I have a visitor calling on me this afternoon, Lord Aidan Sutton.¡±

    ¡°Sutton,¡± she smiled contentedly. ¡°His father was a business associate of ours. Aidan is a lovely and respectable young man.¡±

    I had to agree with her, he seemed like a fitting suitor. ¡°I liked him the most.¡±

    Apart from Jared, I thought to myself. I couldn¡¯t get him out of my mind, it was becoming rather worrisome.

    ¡°Where is he taking you?¡± Jane inquired with a dreamy look in her eyes.

    ¡°Kensington Gardens. Auntie Abby has promised to chaperone me.¡±

    ¡°What a lovely choice!¡± Mother grasped my shoulders. ¡°Although I hope aunt Abby will behave herself. We wouldn¡¯t want to drive away such an affable suitor,¡± she pressed her lips into a thin line. ¡°Now go and get yourself ready, luncheon will be served in an hour.¡±

    With that she left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

    ¡°Luncheon? Have I slept that long?¡± I asked, horrified.

    Jane giggled at my grimaced expression. ¡°Must have been quite a ball!¡±

    ¡°My head is still throbbing,¡± I massaged my sore temples, moaning with pleasure when the pain momentarily subsided.

    ¡°Ashlyn? What about Jared? Will you just give up on him?¡±

    I sighed loudly. Was I able to give up on the person that occupied my every single thought? It seemed as if I had no other choice. ¡°You know I can¡¯t marry him, Jane.¡±

    ¡°But¡­ Why not?¡± Her yellow brows knitted with confusion.

    ¡°I have to marry a wealthy man, Jane. That way you¡¯ll someday have big enough of a dowry to choose the love of your life,¡± I lovingly stroked her blonde curls. In the end, this was the thing I wanted the most ¨C my family to be happy and well situated.

    ¡°But then you will be unhappy¡­¡± Jane murmured, creasing her forehead.

    ¡°I can never be unhappy knowing you, Mama or Papa are well provided for.¡± I hid the shadowy thoughts that lingered in my mind and plastered a lively smile on my face. ¡°Speaking of, we¡¯d better convince Lord Aidan that I am the right choice for him.¡±

    ¡°Is he handsome?¡± She questioned with sparkly and wide eyes.

    ¡°Quite. Just wait until you see him,¡± I gave her a tickle with the intention to brighten her dampened mood so she could forget about her worries. There was no need for her to burden herself with such thoughts. ¡°He has a white horse. And you know what? I swear I saw him arrive in a pumpkin carriage yesterday,¡± I heard her giggle loudly.

    ¡°Liar!¡± She stabbed a finger at me. ¡°I¡¯m ten years old ¨C way too old to believe in fairytales,¡± she tried to maintain a straight face but failed miserably. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve got it all wrong! He should be Prince Charming, not Cinderella!¡±

    ¡°Oh well, you got me,¡± I playfully ruffled her hair.

    She dramatically rolled her bright eyes at my, oh, so evident mistake. ¡°Silly.¡±

    ¡°Come now. Help me choose what to wear, all right?¡±

 Kensington Gardens (part 2)

    ¡°Aidan Sutton!¡± My father cheerfully announced his presence when he entered the reception room.

    ¡°Janine, please serve us some green tea and a lemon tart, will you?¡± I heard my mother''s hushed whisper.

    At first I hesitated, gathering the courage to face the guest seated inside the adjacent room. ¡°Good afternoon, Lord Sutton,¡± I curtsied.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn, I thought we already agreed, please call me Aidan,¡± he smiled kindly.

    ¡°Aidan,¡± I repeated while biting down on my lower lip to prevent it from trembling.

    I caught my mother¡¯s wondering look. I knew she was over the moon about this. She and my father adored the Suttons.

    ¡°How is your father, Aidan?¡± Papa asked him before giving him a comforting pat on the shoulder. ¡°Is he holding up?¡±

    ¡°Well, he-¡± Aidan was interrupted by Janine who served us tea and a deliciously-smelling dessert. ¡°-Truth to be told, he is quite unwell. He has been unwell ever since he took a fall off his horse last summer.¡±

    ¡°What a terrible misfortune,¡± Mama added sadly, sympathetically shaking her head.

    ¡°I am sorry to hear that, Son.¡± Papa nodded solemnly. After a short moment of silence, he loudly cleared his throat ¡°So, you took a liking to our daughter?¡± He smiled, but his eyes held an unmistakable tinge of sternness.

    ¡°Seeing all the bouquets, I believe I am not the only one,¡± Aidan took a bite of a lemon tart while looking about the flower-filled space. ¡°But yes, I find her kindhearted and beautiful.¡±

    ¡°So you are looking for a wife?¡± My mother went straight to the point.

    ¡°Mama¡­¡± I muttered with an utter embarrassment. I heard my sister stiffle a snort. She gazed at his Lordship as if he was indeed a Prince Charming, an inhumanly being that was about to ascend right into the Heavenly Gates.

    Mama raised her chin. Her eyes darkened as she spoke. ¡°Well, we have to know if the gentleman has good intentions, don¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°Oh dear,¡± Jane giggled, causing Mama to glare at her.

    ¡°I most certainly do, Lady Caldwell,¡± Aidan''s eyes met mine before he once more focused on his almost emptied plate. I prayed for the butterflies to come and overflow my belly or at least a sign of interest, but nothing happened. He was the perfect choice for my future husband, so perhaps I will learn how to like him in time. But if  I wanted to secure the marriage I needed to appear like a good and attentive wife.

    It was quite a relief when my eccentric aunt burst into the room.

    ¡°Ah! You are already gathered! Lord Aidan!¡± She shamelessly and flirtatiously batted her eyelashes at him, not caring that we all saw right through her act.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!

    Mama simply stared at her, her mouth hanging open at her outrageous behavior.

    Aidan¡¯s cheeks reddened when his gaze darted to aunt¡¯s breasts, his otherwise restrained behavior faltering when his eyes slowly traced the outline of her generous bosom. His green irises glazed with emotion I couldn¡¯t quite place nor explain.

    The air in the small room suddenly thickened, morphing into a very unpleasant ambiance. Jane looked at me, grimacing her small mouth with disgust. ¡°That¡¯s an awful Prince Charming,¡± she whispered as she leaned closer to me.

    ¡°Shall we go then?¡± Aunt Abby stood up and greedily grasped Lord Aidan under his arm.

    ¡°Lord Caldwell, Lady Caldwell, it was a pleasure seeing you again,¡± Aidan politely lowered his head before he led my aunt out of the reception room. He was definitely not the one to complain at the fact how tightly she was pressing her body against his.

    ¡°Is he here for me or aunt Abby...?¡± I turned to my mother when our guests safely disappeared out of the sight.

    ¡°Oh ¡­ I ¡­¡± She shook her head in disbelief. ¡°I certainly didn¡¯t expect this. Darling?¡±

    My father was just as amazed. His mouth helplessly opened and closed, before he shook his head. ¡°You¡¯ll see how the day progresses, don¡¯t write him off just yet.¡±

    ¡°Good luck,¡± my sister smirked, ¡°You will definitely need it.¡±

    With one last glance over my shoulder I followed my coquette of an aunt and Lord Aiden to his carriage.

    And one thing I was absolutely positive about - it certainly wasn¡¯t carved out of pumpkin.

    The carriage bounced along the cobblestone road, slowly making its way toward the park. My aunt Abigail sat next to Lord Aidan, clutching his hand for her dear life and giggling every time the carriage jumped. She was sending him flirtatious and adoring looks, all the while pressing her over-exposed breasts against his arm. And he most definitely wasn¡¯t immune to her charms.

    I sat alone, right opposite of them, watching the unfolding scene with revulsion. Now I realized why my mother loathed my aunt. It wasn¡¯t just the plain fact that she was stingy, she was also incredibly inconsiderate. It was painfully obvious why she so eagerly agreed to chaperone me. Deciding to ignore the pair, I much rather focused on the beautiful environment. It was a delightful sunny day for a stroll with lush green tress and colorful flowers soaking in the warmth of the sun rays.

    The carriage finally came to a halt when we arrived at the main park entrance.

    Lord Aiden offered his hand to my aunt, his face nothing but wide smiles.

    Oh, please don¡¯t mind me, I shall manage myself. He released the doors upon my aunt''s exit, it surface almost smacking against my face.

    I exited the carriage, glancing around in awe. I visited Hyde Park many times before, but it was quite a while ago since we moved to Sussex. My father took me when I was little. I still remembered all the beautiful rose bushes. I couldn¡¯t deny the fact that I absolutely adored the gifts of nature.

    Lord Aidan took out the picnic basket and led us toward the meadow next to the marvelous, glistening lake. He stretched the blanket over the slightly damp grass. ¡°Ladies, you may sit now.¡±

    I didn¡¯t want to waste my time sitting down when there were so many fascinating places to explore. However, it would be quite rude to run away after he so kindly called on me. I folded my legs underneath me, careful not to expose my skin and sat down next to aunt Abby.

    ¡°So lovely, My Lord,¡± she chirped before placing her hand on top of his. ¡°Was this your idea?¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± he proudly beamed at her, completely ignoring the fact that I was sitting next to them.

    ¡°Well, I must say that I am very impressed,¡± her hand flew to his vest before greedily sliding over his chest.

    ¡°Oh please, it¡¯s hardly anything special, My Lady,¡± he licked his lips and leaned forward to gain a better view of her bosom. The move was hardly considered to be discrete.

    I jerked my head away from them, suddenly feeling disturbingly nauseated.

 Kensington Gardens (part 3)

    The ground beneath me trembled when the man galloped past us on a stunning black stallion, with his charcoal coat fluttering in the wind like a black raven. I had no choice but to admire the man¡¯s effortless movements. He was riding with such ease as if he had spent his whole life in the saddle.

    I noticed him suddenly grabbing the reins to stir his horse back toward us. He stopped right next to our picnic blanket, with his horse nervously neighing and shifting.

    After the mysterious rider took off his elegant black hat my eyes widened in shock.

    ¡°G-Good afternoon Lord Sutton, L-Lady Trengove, Lady C-Caldwell.¡±

    ¡°Good afternoon, Your Grace,¡± Lord Aidan lowered his head to greet Baxter Read. ¡°I have called on Lady Ashlyn to take her to the park. It¡¯squite a beautiful day, don¡¯t you agree, You Grace?¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Read answered him, his brows knitting with confusion as he assessed my aunt¡¯s and Aidan¡¯s joined hands. His amber irises met mine for only a brief second, before he hastily averted his gaze. ¡°W-Well, I¡¯ll be o-on my way. I bid you g-good day Lord, Ladies,¡± he politely inclined his head.

    ¡°Good day to you too, Your Grace!¡± Aidan nodded his head.

    Read nudged the animal to move forward and stormed past the hillock.

    I didn¡¯t realize I was holding a breath until I started to feel faint. This day was rapidly turning from horrible to worse ¨C the only one to further complete this picturesque occasion was Lord Tinley.

    I remained seated on the blanket, listening to Aidan¡¯s and aunt Abigail¡¯s flirtatious banter for the next half an hour. But after that, I simply decided I had enough. ¡°Will you mind if I explore the gardens for a little bit? I promise I will remain close by.¡±

    I didn¡¯t know why I even bothered to ask since they were more than delighted to get rid of me as soon as possible. The moment I''d vanished behind the nearest tree I heard my aunt¡¯s loud giggle. ¡°Lord Aidan, you greedy man! What if someone sees us?¡±

    ¡°Unbelievable,¡± I muttered under my breath. ¡°What am I even doing here?¡± I wished Jared and Edith would be by my side, they would know what to do.

    The park was beautiful, but I felt myself slowly slipping into a melancholic mood. I stopped near the lake, taking out a vanilla cupcake I¡¯d stolen out of the picnic basket. I threw the crumbs to a mother duck and five curious little ducklings which quacked hungrily. Apparently the cupcake was a great treat as they continued to open their small beaks, begging for more.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°I am sorry little ones, this is all I brought,¡± I laughed, spreading my empty hands for them to see.

    All of a sudden I heard footsteps behind me. I turned rapidly, my heart beating wildly in my chest.

    ¡°T-They are a-always hungry,¡± Baxter Read smiled at me.

    ¡°Oh! I thought you already left!¡± I said startled, inwardly cursing my foolishness as I failed to notice the tied black stallion.

    His face fell before he lowered his eyes toward the ground. ¡°I a-apologize, My Lady. I just s-spotted you back there and you seemed s-sad. It is not my i-intention to d-disturb you.¡±

    He was a true enigma to me ¨C somewhat odd, yet almost astonishingly polite and respectful. Never have I spotted his eyes darting to forbidden places nor a hint of pettiness inside them. Without a reasonable argument to condemn the poor gentleman, I sighed in defeat. ¡°You are not disturbing me, Your Grace,¡± I offered him a small smile.

    Our eyes met and I noticed how their corners crinkled when he smiled.

    ¡°May I i-inquire why are y-you here, by y-yourself?¡±

    ¡°Well, I believe that you¡¯ve noticed Lord Sutton¡¯s inclination toward my aunt. I didn¡¯t want to disturb them,¡± I looked away from his slouched, fidgeting figure.

    ¡°I c-cannot comprehend h-how¡­¡± He was nervously squeezing his hat, until it was nothing but a wrinkled mess.

    ¡°Comprehend what, Your Grace?¡± I asked in confusion.

    ¡°N-nothing, don¡¯t m-mind me,¡± he answered hurriedly, his cheeks flaming with embarrassment. ¡°I-It¡¯s a nice w-weathert-today, isn¡¯t it?¡± He looked up into the cloudless sky.

    ¡°Yes, I suppose it is.¡±

    He never tried to take a step closer to me, always maintaining a few feet distance between us.

    ¡°It m-must be around 80 d-degrees outside. Although some h-heavy showers are f-forecasted for the evening, m-maybe even a t-thunder. It will be q-quite c-chilly in the night time. I b-believe the minimum t-temperature will be around 70 degrees,¡± he chatted away.

    ¡°Oh, I-¡±

    ¡°-Wind d-direction is south-west, s-speed 7 mph,¡± he cut me off. I watched in disbelief as he licked his finger, sticking it in the air. ¡°H-humidity, about 40 %.¡±

    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s-¡±

    ¡°-Y-yes there definitely will b-be some s-showers overnight,¡± he nodded to himself. ¡°But t-the next f-few days are g-going to be drier and b-brighter. They s-said the w-weekend will be c-cloudy and breezy, w-with some r-rain on Saturday.¡±

    Oh, Heavens, Alison and Bonnie weren¡¯t joking. He truly was obsessed with weather.

    ¡°Do you s-smell t-that, Lady Caldwell?¡±He asked me, looking toward the sky.

    ¡°Smell what?¡± I gulped, all the while suspiciously watching him out of the corners of my eyes.

    ¡°The r-rain,¡± he inhaled deeply. ¡°I c-could put a w-wager on the f-fact that t-this summer w-will be a wet one. T-thank God, don¡¯t you a-agree, Lady Caldwell? No m-more d-damages to the crops.¡±

    ¡°Well, most definitely, Your Grace-¡±

    ¡°-S-southern part of the United Kingdom will h-have the most r-rainshowers,¡± he ignored my futile attempts to give him any kind of answer.

    Dear God, what did I get myself into?

 Kensington Gardens (part 4)

    The situation was becoming quite ridiculous. A hysterical laughter overtook me when a fit of uncontrolled giggles escaped past my lips. I clamped my mouth tightly together as I strained against it.

    He must¡¯ve noticed the treacherous redness of my cheeks as he cast me a confused look.

    ¡°I am so sorry, Your Grace,¡± tears poured out of my eyes as I couldn¡¯t contain the laughter any longer. So I let it out. Quite loudly must I add.

    Approximately one minute after my fit had ceased my body still trembled with the aftermath of the laughter. I wiped the dampness from my eyes. ¡°I apologize for my outburst, Your Grace.¡±

    He probably assumed I was deranged, ready to be transported straight into Bedlam. But that wasn¡¯t such a bad thing since the scarred man will most definitely avoid me like a plague from now on.

    ¡°W-what amuses y-you so?¡± He inquired, looking around to spot the reason for my insane behavior.

    ¡°Nothing, Your Grace, I assure you all is well now,¡± I cleared my throat and straightened my skirts.

    ¡°Oh, a-alright,¡± he nodded, his eyes nervously darting between me and a grassy patch on the floor. ¡°You know t-this climate-¡±

    ¡°-I apologize, Your Grace,¡± I said loudly. ¡°But I should be on my way, my companions will be waiting for me, wondering if I wandered off or was kidnaped,¡± I cast him an apologetic smile. I was pretty certain that aunt Abigail and Lord Aidan forgot all about me, but I desperately needed a reason to get away from Baxter Read.

    ¡°Oh, o-of course,¡± his cheeks reddened. ¡°I b-bid you g-good day, Lady C-Caldwell.¡±

    ¡°Good day, Your Grace,¡± I curtsied before turning away from him as fast as it was humanly possible. I picked my skirts and hurried through the apple tree nursery, speeding to get back to our picnic spot.

    I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Lord Sutton on top of aunt Abigail, his hands buried underneath her half-lifted skirts. Dear God! They surely realized it was still the middle of the very clear day? They were in a public place, what if someone notices their lack of discretion?

    I cleared my throat to gain their attention. Lord Aidan flew off my aunt as if I¡¯d poured a bucket of cold water over his head. They appeared less than pleased to see me standing there, interrupting their soon-to-be mating ritual.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t mind I would like to return home now. Or perhaps you can hail a Hackney for me, I can get there by myself.¡±

    ¡°Out of the question, My Lady,¡± Lord Aidan sighed. ¡°I will not allow you to wander these streets all by yourself. Your father will have my head if I do so.¡±

    How chivalrous. I barely resisted not to snort at him. That would be indeed very un-ladylike. ¡°Thank you, My Lord,¡± I plastered a smile on my face, pretending not to notice my aunt¡¯s murderous glares.

    The ride inside the carriage was incredibly unpleasant to say the least. Aunt Abby kept throwing me dirty glances all the way to our townhouse and Lord Aidan didn¡¯t possess the ounce of courage to look me in the eye. At least he had enough decency left in him to feel humiliation and shame.

    At last the carriage came to a stop. ¡°Lord Sutton promised to accompany me home dearest, is that all right?¡± My aunt gave me a bright, false smile.

    The man could¡¯ve at least escorted me to the door like a real gentleman would. But he was clearly afraid to face Papa¡¯s disapproval.

    I really wanted to say what was on my mind, but I kept my mouth wisely shut. My aunt Abby still sponsored Edith¡¯s and my first season and we both desperately needed to marry this year. If my aunt would withdraw her sponsorship, we wouldn¡¯t have the chance in finding an eligible bachelor who would save us from the inevitable bankruptcy.

    I plastered a smile on my face. ¡°Of course aunt Abby, Lord Sutton. Have a nice day.¡±

    My aunt gave me a triumphant grin; clearly delighted she would soon be rid of me.

    I planned to tip-toe back to my bedroom, just to avoid my parents¡¯ inquisition. Like a sneaking animal I managed to creep all the way to the stairs, but when I stepped onto it, the loosened wooden board creaked underneath my weight.

    ¡°Ashlyn!¡±

    I yelped at mother¡¯s surprised voice. Panickly, I cluched my chest to calm down my erratic pulse. ¡°Mama! You almost scared me to death!¡±

    ¡°So? How was it? Did Abigail behave?¡± Her green eyes studied me suspiciously, wondering why I haven¡¯t announced my return.

    I was about to answer when I heard loud steps rushing down the stairs. ¡°Sister! You are back! What happened? Where is Lord Aidan?¡± Jane¡¯s head whipped left and right to spot the man who was already long gone.

    ¡°Well,¡± I cleared my throat. ¡°I believe aunt Abby is a better match for Lord Aidan after all.¡±

    ¡°But I thought he will be your Prince Charming?¡± She pouted in mock disappointment.

    ¡°It seems I¡¯ll have to find another one, dear sister,¡± I turned back to face my mother. ¡°I am sorry Mama, but I cannot marry a man who appeares so¡­ intimate with my aunt.¡±

    ¡°Most certainly not!¡± My mother was now beside me, holding my hand in between her palms. ¡°I cannot believe this boy! Your father and I knew him ever since he was a little child!¡±

    ¡°Boys will be boys,¡± Jane half-shrugged.

    ¡°There has to be an exception. I refuse to give up,¡± I stubbornly lifted my chin. ¡°I will find someone suitable by the end of the season, Mama, I promise you.¡±

 The visit

    I sighed, looking down at my embroidery. It was quite horrid, to be honest. I never managed to master the craft of decorating fabrics. Somehow I always ended with my pierced fingertips. My sister Jane, on the other hand, was always an artistic soul.

    I still terribly missed our little estate by the peaceful beech forest. There, my father taught me how to practice the skill of archery and how to load and shoot a pistol accurately. I know it wasn¡¯t a very lady-like activity, but I liked to feel confident in how to properly protect myself in case if any unfortunate situation should arise.

    I also missed the horses and the feeling of wind blowing against my face when I galloped down the hill. I haven¡¯t ridden in years - ever since we had to sell our property to be exact. It was now about five years after we had to leave our lovely home behind.

    Well, my yearning for horses would definitely be quenched if I¡¯d marry His Grace Baxter Read. I put my hand over my mouth, quietly giggling at the ludicrous thought.

    Suddenly I heard the sound of horses¡¯ hooves clicking down the gravel road before stopping right outside our townhouse. Who could that be? Another suitor perhaps?

    I sure hopeed not.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn?¡± Not long after Janine knocked on my door. ¡°You have visitors,¡± she announced with a smile.

    Before I could ask her who it was a familiar feminine laughter filled the corridor.

    Edith, Bonnie and Alison burst through my bedroom door like a wild, wrecking tornado.

    ¡°There you are Lady Ashlyn!¡± Alison beamed.

    ¡°How lovely of you that you came to visit me!¡± I said joyfully before clasping my best friend''s hands in mine. I couldn¡¯t help but notice that Edith looked different somehow, much happier. Her eyes sparkled, paired with a wide and bright smile.

    ¡°Edith?¡± I probed. ¡°You are literally glowing! What is going on?¡± I glanced at Alison and Bonnie, who waggled their eyebrows at me.

    ¡°Is it His Grace Andrew?¡± I inquired her, but the mystery was quickly quenched after seeing her beet red cheeks.

    ¡°Well? What happened?¡± I plopped down on my bed and motioned for her to follow suit.

    Edith carefully smoothed down her skirts before sitting next to me. ¡°He invited me for a stroll around Hyde Park. Miss Lydia was with us, my lady¡¯s maid, you know, to chaperone me,¡± she bit her lip and met our curious stares before continuing further. ¡°It was really lovely.¡±

    ¡°And?¡± Bonnie pushed on. ¡°This can¡¯t be it.¡±

    ¡°It isn¡¯t,¡± Edith shook her head. ¡°When he brought me back home we were left to be alone for five minutes,¡± her face was even more flushed than before. ¡°He¡­ He kissed me,¡± she admitted.

    ¡°Oh, dearie,¡± Alison giggled. ¡°So how was it? Is he a good kisser?¡± She leaned forward, her eyes wide-open and ready to swallow Edith¡¯s every word.

    ¡°It was incredible,¡± she glanced back at me. ¡°It was everything we used to read in those secret romance novels¡­ and more, Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°Of course it would be! He is so handsome,¡± Bonnie pressed her hands to her heated cheeks, widening her dream-glazed eyes. ¡°I envy you so much.¡±

    ¡°Kisses with fine-looking gentlemen are indeed toe-curling,¡± Alison sighed.

    ¡°Wait,¡± I cut off their fantasizing. ¡°You two have already kissed a man?¡± I looked at the twins in sheer wonder.

    ¡°Of course we have,¡± Bonnie smirked. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you haven¡¯t tried it yet?¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    ¡°No, I¡­¡± I admitted. ¡°This is my first season after all.¡±

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe it! Not even a servant? Or a handsome gardener?¡± Alison laughed at my innocence and the lack of courting skills.

    ¡°But isn¡¯t it considered scandalous to kiss a man you aren¡¯t betrothed to?¡±

    ¡°No, silly,¡± Bonnie rolled her eyes. ¡°You simply mustn¡¯t be caught,¡± her eyes sparkled mischievously when she sent me a conspiring wink.

    This particular piece of information didn¡¯t bode well with me. ¡°You must be careful then, Edith! Promise me you will! I would hate to see you suffer if you¡¯d ruin your reputation,¡± I pleaded with concern, desperately clutching her hands in mine.

    ¡°I promise,¡± she nodded. ¡°You needn¡¯t worry about me.¡±

    After I was somewhat assured she will be careful, I turned my attention back to the mischievous twins. ¡°So, which gentleman have you kissed?¡±

    ¡°Lord Travis,¡± Alison blurted out, chuckling.

    Lord Travis. He was one of Jared¡¯s friends. Horrifically arrogant and entirely in love with his own reflection.

    I noticed how Bonnie suspiciously avoided our eyes. ¡°Just ¡­ Someone,¡± she mumbled under her breath.

    ¡°No need for modesty, sister! It was Lord Jared. Luckily it was me who caught you!¡± Alison¡¯s pretty features twisted with annoyance. ¡°You ought to be more observant Bonnie!¡±

    My world came crashing down when I heard her say his name. So Bonnie and Jared already shared a past and an intimate one at that. Was she in love with him?

    ¡°Do you love him?¡± I let the burning question accidentally slip out of my mouth.

    ¡°Pardon me?¡± Bonnie seemed taken away with my frankness. ¡°I ¡­¡± She nervously licked her lips, chuckling at the severity of my query. ¡°What gave you that idea? Absolutely not!¡±

    But I saw it in her eyes. She was extremely and unquestionably infatuated with him ¨C the way she hastily averted her gaze, the soft glimmer in her eyes and the blush that adorned her cheeks ¨C it was plain to see.

    ¡°Excuse me. It¡¯s rude for me to pry into your personal affairs,¡± I quickly apologized. My heart lurched painfully inside my chest, but I wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to believe he was a saint. He was anything but - deemed as a well-known and notorious charmer.

    Bonnie¡¯s father was a wealthy Viscount, which meant she had more than enough money. However, to marry a young daughter into the lower class and give her hand to the man without prosperity was also unacceptable.

    To rid myself of the plaguing thoughts I focused on the previous topic. ¡°What is so special about kissing anyway?¡± I inquired before meeting their disbelief-ridden eyes.

    ¡°It¡¯s an impulse one cannot resist. Like a magnetic attraction if you will,¡± Alison offered, looking at the two other girls for affirmation.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­¡± Bonnie fiddled with her golden bracelet, buried deep in her thoughts. ¡°When your lips touch it feels like an explosion of heat inside your belly,¡± she giggled anxiously. ¡°You simply cannot pull away.¡±

    ¡°Or say no to him,¡± Edith added dreamily.

    I rubbed my forehead in confusion. I loved Jared from the bottom of my heart and he made my heart skip a beat whenever I saw his handsome face. But never have I felt this potent need to press my lips against his ¨C it was true, his presence made me nervous, however what I felt was something far more tender compared to the feeling of desire they described. Perhaps I was simply too inexperienced to talk about these complex matters.

    ¡°Anyhow, how come you haven¡¯t kissed Lord Aidan? I thought you fancied him?¡± Edith asked.

    The difference between liking someone and having them as a potentially fitting suitor was enormous, my dear Edith. ¡°Well, aunt Abby beat me to it,¡± I giggled at the horrifying turn of events.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Bonnie¡¯s head snapped back to me, her eyes wide.

    ¡°A few days back he took me and aunt Abby to Kensington Gardens. The minute we were seated my aunt latched herself onto him. It was rather embarrassing.¡±

    ¡°Dear God!¡± Alison exclaimed. ¡°You poor thing!¡±

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t the end of it,¡± I stated meaningfully.

    ¡°Well don¡¯t leave us in the dark!¡± Bonnie¡¯s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

    ¡°I wanted to get away from them for a little while, so I went down to the lake. I was feeding ducks when I heard someone address me.¡±

    ¡°Who was it?¡± Alison squeaked.

    ¡°No one else other than His Grace Baxter Read,¡± I moaned.

    ¡°No! You must be jesting!¡± Edith laughed, slapping her hand over her mouth.

    ¡°I only wish I were. I have to admit, you were right.¡± I dejectedly looked at Alison ad Bonnie. ¡°... But I did learn all about London¡¯s weather forecast¡­ For a whole week!¡±

    A loud laughter erupted in the room.

    ¡°Ashlyn dear, you must stay away from him!¡± Alison wiped her tears away, still giggling.

    ¡°I only fear it¡¯s not too late. He clearly set his sights on you my dear,¡± Bonnie was suddenly far more serious than her sister, the light tone of her voice replaced by the evident caution.

    I was not foolish enough to dismiss their guidance the second time around. I had to avoid the man at all costs. If I failed to do so he would appear on our doorstep, asking for my hand in marriage. And I knew for a fact that my Papa wouldn¡¯t turn him down. No man in the right mind who so desperately needed to repay their vast debts would turn down a Duke.

 First kiss (part 1)

    ¡°How did Jared even afford such luxurious seats?¡± I leaned closer to Edith with wonder shimmering in my eyes.

    Her cheeks reddened. ¡°He didn¡¯t. We were invited by His Grace Andrew. Well, technically I was, you and Jared will be there to chaperone me,¡± she gave me a sweet smile. ¡°Say you will go Ashlyn! Please?¡±

    I¡¯ve never visited such a marvelous attraction as Covent Garden before and certainly not with Jared. My heart screamed at me to go, but my rational mind thought otherwise. Nothing good will come out of my infatuation with him.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t he invite Lady Bonnie? She is clearly taken with him.¡±

    ¡°You are our best friend! Besides, there will be plenty of eligible gentlemen,¡± her hands clasped together in a silent plea. ¡°Wealthy gentlemen,¡± she added meaningfully.

    ¡°Oh Edith, all right,¡± I sighed in defeat. ¡°But only because you asked me to. And as my Papa would say - a chance of meeting a new suitor won¡¯t hurt me either.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, thank you, thank you!¡± She let out a rather loud squeak. I winced as she placed her thin arms around my shoulders and squeezed the life out of me. ¡°This means the world to me, Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I returned her hug. ¡°I am so happy for you, my dear friend.¡±

    I released her small frame, looking into her radiant hazel eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s just hope that Lord Tinley won¡¯t be there.¡±

    ¡°Oh no, he won¡¯t dare to go near His Grace and my brother, I can assure you that much. But I heard that Lord Aidan is bringing your aunt Abby,¡± Edith grimaced at the thought of their passionate encounter in the park.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious? Is he thinking of marrying her?¡±

    She looked at me like I was losing my mind. ¡°Lord no! Haven¡¯t you heard the latest rumors?¡±

    ¡°I¡­ No I must admit I haven¡¯t,¡± I pressed my lips together, waiting for what was she about to say.

    ¡°She agreed to be his mistress,¡± Edith whispered, her lips curling in disgust. ¡°While he¡¯s still in search of a suitable wife.¡±

    ¡°Is she out of her mind? Does my Papa know about this?¡± I cried out. She was ruining our reputation with her selfish and downright reckless acts. ¡°Does she realize what could happen to our family? To Jane¡¯s and my future?¡±

    ¡°I believe he does, the whole London knows by now.¡±

    ¡°What will his future wife think of him? Or her family for that matter?¡± I asked, confused as to why the gentleman valued his reputation so little.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

    ¡°Well, they will have to share him with his new lady-love.¡±

    ¡°This is simply¡­ Outrageous! Which young lady would want him?¡± I gritted my teeth with annoyance.

    ¡°This is the life of rich gentlemen, Ashlyn. If there is no affection between husband and his wife, then mistresses are sadly unavoidable,¡± she explained with a shadow looming over her eyes.

    The fear of each young bride was that sole person than could destroy the illusion of the happy marriage ¨C a mistress. However, Edith was correct, not every couple was as happy as Mama and Papa, for many husbands sought a comfort in someone else¡¯s bed.

    ¡°I suppose you are correct,¡± I admitted. ¡°Do you like His Grace, Edith?¡±

    ¡°Oh, I really do Ashlyn!¡± Her full, rosy lips stretched into a wide smile. ¡°He is all I can think about! I can barely eat or sleep!¡± She sighed, staring out of the window with a faraway look.

    I took her hands in mine, gently squeezing her delicate fingers. ¡°Hold on to that feeling Edith. What you¡¯ve found is so very rare.¡±

    ¡°And let¡¯s not mention the fact he is a Duke!¡± She comically waggled her eyebrows. I will soon be a Duchess and you will have to call me Your Grace.¡±

    I curtsied before her. ¡°Of course, Your Royal Highness, Your Majesty,¡± I mocked back.

    ¡°Hey, I am not a Queen, although it does sound good, doesn''t it?" She laughed at my antics. ¡°Now I command you to marry my dear brother, so we could be sisters forever!¡±

    I felt my smile slip. ¡°You know that is impossible Edith. But we will always stay sisters, no matter what,¡± I assured her.

    ¡°Promise?¡± She bit her lower lip, trying to contain the anxious tremor.

    ¡°I promise.¡±

    ***

    ¡°Janine you are a Godsend!¡± Mama looked at our lady¡¯s maid in relief.

    She managed to alter my new dress according to my waist in record time.

    ¡°Oh, please My Lady!¡± She mumbled, while holding a pin between her narrow lips. ¡°It would be much harder if Miss wouldn¡¯t be so slender as she is.¡±

    I sucked in a harsh breath as she pulled at the laces of the corset, biding it so tight I could barely move. She helped me put on a stunning silver gown with low and narrow waist. The dress had collapsed sleeves with a low, elegant V-shaped neckline bodice that exposed my shoulders.

    I decided to wear only two pieces of jewelry ¨C one of them was a black Tahitian pearl necklace, which complimented my dress perfectly. My mother and I knew very well the necklace wasn¡¯t made of true black pearls, since they were extremely rare and thus very expensive. But no one else had to know that insignificant little detail because the piece looked genuine enough.

    Janine put my long, midnight-colored hair in a low chignon, adorning it with a simple, yet fashionable charcoal hair comb.

    ¡°Ashlyn!¡± Jane¡¯s bony fingers caressed the silky material of my evening gown. ¡°You look like a real Princess!¡±

    ¡°Oh, enough with the fairytale characters, Jane!¡± I playfully pated her head. ¡°I am only chaperoning. Edith is the real Princess.¡±

    ¡°Here they are!¡± Janine looked out of the window of my bedroom, announcing the arrival of Richards¡¯s carriage.

    ¡°I am ready,¡± I stated nervously while fidgeting with my skirts. It would be the first time Jared and I will be together like this. It almost seemed like a rendezvous.

    I kissed Jane and Mama on the cheek, all the while thanking Janine for her miraculous fingers. When I reached His Grace¡¯s carriage I couldn¡¯t help myself but to stop and openly admire it. It was drawn by two magnificent white stallions. The exterior was black with the exception of the painted Edinburgh emblem on both sides of the vehicle.

 First kiss (part 2)

    Jared slowly stepped out to offer me his hand and I immediately noticed his wobbly and uncertain manner of walking.

    ¡°Ashlyn you look stunning,¡± he whispered, his breath reeking of alcohol.

    ¡°You¡¯re drunk,¡± I accused him. Of all nights he had to choose this one to get this badly intoxicated. ¡°What are you doing? Don¡¯t dare to ruin this for your sister!¡±

    ¡°I had a few drinks at White¡¯s,¡± he slurred, his face dangerously leaning down. But instead of butterflies I only felt disappointment. He didn¡¯teven try to take care of his father¡¯s failed businesses, instead he carelessly wasted every penny they had left. He promised to take care of Edith, but apparently promises were less of importance than brothels and wages.

    I looked away from his unnerving, yet glossy stare. ¡°Shall we?¡± I pointed at the carriage.

    ¡°Of course¡­ My lady,¡± he opened the door, ushering me inside. I tried to ignore how he had to lean against the vehicle to maintain his poor balance.

    ¡°You Grace, Edith,¡± I respectfully lowered my head in greeting.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn!¡± Richards smiled at me welcomingly. ¡°I believe your family and yourself are doing well?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely Your Grace, thank you for your concern.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but to return his infectious smile.

    My eyes flickered to Edith, who was unusually quiet. She glared at her brother with disgust on her face. But when Richards whispered something into her ear, her face immediately brightened.

    I noticed how he looked at her, with affection evident in his brown eyes. Always close to her, but not close enough to be considered inappropriate.

    ¡°I believe this is your first time visiting Covent Garden?¡± He asked us, wisely ignoring Jared¡¯s incomprehensible mumbles.

    ¡°It is, Your Grace.¡± I nodded excitedly. ¡°I¡¯ve heard performers are quite brilliant.¡±

    ¡°What show are we watching Your Grace?¡± Edith inquired.

    ¡°Bellini¡¯s La Sonnambula, better known as The Sleepwalker. Lady Amina is accused of immorality when found in the bedroom of Lord of the Manor. Because of her supposed infidelity her fianc¨¦ abandons her. However, soon it turns out that the poor girl is just sleepwalking.¡±

    ¡°What a curious story!¡± I laughed, before my eyes flickered to the snorting Jared. His behavior was downright rude as his face twisted with mocking expression, exaggerated by the effects of alcohol. The sweet and potent scent of what must¡¯ve been Scotch hung heavily in the air and mixed with the carriage¡¯s rattling, it made my stomach lurch.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Oh it is. And diva Jenny Lind who performs Lady Amina is absolutely spectacular in her role,¡± His Grace assured us.

    ¡°I am so excited!¡± Edith beamed at him. For a short moment his eyes lingered on hers, softening when he noticed her adoring smile.

    I whirled my head toward Jared who hiccupped loudly and inclined forward. He leaned against his knees, before letting out a loud moan of discomfort. Apparently I wasn¡¯t the only one feeling nauseous.

    ¡°Lord Jared?¡± Richards frowned. ¡°Are you well?¡±

    ¡°He will be fine. Serves him right,¡± Edith mumbled angrily, trying desperately to ignore her ill-looking brother. His face held a strange shade of gray with droplets of sweat simmering at the top of his forehead.

    <hr style="font-weight: 400">

    When my prayers for the safe arrival were exhausted, we finally stopped in front of the grand venue. After the horrifying fire accident the first theatre was completely destroyed, later rebuilt by the ambitious architect named Robert Smirke, who designed the second theathre after the Greek inspiration. Stepping past the colossal Corinthian pillars, we entered the main hall of the building and started to mingle among the guests.

    ¡°When is it supposed to begin?¡± I asked Richards, but my eyes remained glued to the disheveled-looking Jared. His face was still awfully pale. He wobbled on his legs back and forth and without the support of the wall he would¡¯ve surely tumbled down.

    ¡°Jared! Behave yourself!¡± Edith hissed through the clenched teeth.

    He gave her a wide smile, his pupils dilating from intoxication. ¡°How long do we have to wait Richards?¡±

    ¡°Not more than fifteen minutes, I suppose,¡± His Grace answered patiently.

    Jared moaned and pulled my hand around his elbow. Similarly to before the sensation of elation somewhat evaded me, replaced by the tingles of uneasiness.

    My gaze darted around the impatient looking guests, all happy to showcase their high social status. They wore expensive looking and heavily decorated waist coats with colorful bowties ¨C so ridiculously flamboyant and exaggerated I had to force myself not to roll my eyes.

    Only one person stuck out like a sore thumb. They wore a plain dark gray coat and black vest, which hugged their lean frame flawlessly. Their deep blue bowtie was tied rather clumsily, as though the person didn¡¯t know what to do with it. My eyes ran from their chest and up to their face until I was faced with the vivid amber of their irises.

    I gulped loudly, suddenly feeling faint. ¡°Oh no. Dear God no,¡± I mumbled under my breath, looking away from Baxter Read as fast as possible. What was I doing, staring at his chest like that? I was only giving him an unnecessary incentive.

    ¡°Ashlyn? What is it?¡± Edith sent me a worry-filled glance.

    ¡°His Grace Read, three o¡¯clock.¡± I whispered back. ¡°But dear God, do not look at him!¡±

    ¡°Well, I believe it¡¯s too late, he has already noticed you. Oh, Ashlyn!¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was him! Besides, he is everywhere I go. God is laughing straight to my face.¡±

    ¡°At least acknowledge him now, it is rude not to. Especially if he caught you gawking at him,¡± Edith scolded my immature behavior.

    I knew she was right; but it was hard to force myself to look at him again. All things considered, it really would be inappropriate if I¡¯d just ignore him ¨C Duke or no Duke. I slowly turned my head back toward him, realizing that he was standing closer that before. Had he moved when I wasn¡¯t watching?

 First kiss (part 3)

    His gentle eyes were on me, still trailing me. To show him I wasn¡¯t completely lacking manners I curtsied, careful not to disturb half-sleeping Jared. The champagne-colored strands fell over his forehead, but were too short to hide the redness on his face. He rapidly, yet respectfully inclined his head before he lowered his gaze to the ground.

    For a Duke he was awfully bashful. I had to admit I was little disturbed since never in my nineteen years have I met this man before, but now I was suddenly noticing him everywhere.

    <hr style="font-weight: 400">

    At last, we were allowed to enter the vast fan-shaped auditorium. The cramped rows of seats in the middle were encircled by four levels of galleries stacked on top of one another, containing tiers of spacious Continental boxes. The boxes were completely enclosed at the sides, offering a total privacy to the spectators.

    ¡°Where are we seated?¡± I inquired Richards, looking at the seats in the middle of the theatre.

    ¡°Oh no Lady Caldwell, not those. I despise crowded seats. I reserved a box for this occasion,¡± he answered, laughing at my astounded expression.

    We ascended the wide, serpentine marble staircase with wrought floral metal railings. I still held Jared under his arm, or rather, he held me, since he was unable to support himself. What a gallant chaperone he was.

    Our box was the one closest to the front. Although many complained how the side boxes were positioned, I didn¡¯t mind cranking my neck to see the stage. I sank into the cushioned scarlet seat right next to Edith.

    ¡°Have you by any chance spotted aunt Abby?¡±

    Edith passed me her binoculars and pointed at the box opposite ours. ¡°There.¡±

    I peeked through the glasses, but did not expect seeing aunt¡¯s hand travelling down Lord¡¯s thigh. I jerked the binoculars away from the scandalous sight, focusing on the adjacent boxes.

    ¡°See anyone interesting?¡± Edith whispered.

    ¡°Nothing much ¡­ Oh! I see lady Alison and Lord Travis.¡±

    ¡°Lord Travis? What is this all about? Is he one of her suitors?¡± Edith grimaced.

    ¡°God, I sure hope not,¡± I wrinkled my nose. ¡°The man possesses some truly dreadful manners.¡±

    Jared cleared his throat. ¡°Travis¡­. Friend,¡± he dangerously wavered on his chair, his slur almost an incomprehensible mess of jumbled words.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    ¡°Oh, the one you went to White¡¯s with?¡± I shot back at him.

    ¡°I despise operas. I cannot survive this without the help of Scotch,¡± he murmured to himself. He barely kept his eyes open, since his eyelids drooped with exhaustion. I lowered the binoculars to glance into the bloodshot whites of his eyes. His drinking habits were becoming more worrisome.

    ¡°I wish you would stop, Jared.¡± I whispered.

    ¡°Every gentleman drinks, Ashlyn. Stop lecturing me.¡±

    ¡°I am not lecturing you! I am worried about you! You are supposed to be my best friend!¡± I exclaimed, desperately grasping his wrist. I let go of him the instant I realized I was causing a scene. Some nosy matrons were curiously glancing our way.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he answered dismissively. ¡°I can take care of myself. Besides, this is none of your business, so stay out of it.¡±

    ¡°Jared¡­¡± I watched him in disbelief.

    I wanted to say more, but didn¡¯t know how.

    Gas lighted stage came to life after the red grand curtain behind the proscenium arch revealed a colorful and lively scenery.

    Lord Andrew was correct; Lady Jenny Lind was indeed spectacular. She walked about the stage in a white nightgown with flowers tucked in her tightly woven hair.

    I haven¡¯t had this much fun in years. However, by the gentle snores coming from the seat next to mine, I believed Jared disagreed with me.

    His Grace leaned closer to Edith to quietly explain the ever thickening plot of the story. I lifted Edith¡¯s binoculars to my eyes, curious how Alison was managing Lord Travis. I noticed they were sitting too close, their hands slightly brushing against each other.

    How on the earth did she find him pleasing?

    I moved my head slightly upward, studying the balcony above them. My eyes widened when I spotted Baxter Read. I fought against the urge to drop the binoculars and mind my own business.

    I fully expected him to sit in a box like we did, not in a crowded area. He conversed with the same friend I noticed at the Duchess¡¯s ball. Read spoke enthusiastically, his hands shooting left and right as he engulfed himself into an evidently very interesting topic. I chuckled at the thought that he was probably discussing weather or his beloved horses.

    His dark haired friend seemed slightly older than him, probably in his early thirties or late twenties, same as Andrew Richards.

    ¡°You seem awfully taken with him,¡± Edith¡¯s head was titled to the side with a playful smile resting on her delicate face.

    I covered my racing heart which drummed with an erratic rhythm. ¡°Don¡¯t do that! You almost gave me a heart attack!¡± I glared at her amused expression. ¡°And I am most definitely not taken with him. I was studying his friend if you must know.¡±

    His Grace quietly chuckled. ¡°Lord Bradford Stanley, Earl of Yarborough. Now, character-wise he is a much better choice than Baxter Read.¡±

    ¡°He is quite handsome, Ashlyn,¡± Edith elbowed me.

    ¡°So why is he always standing on the right side of the ballroom?¡± I asked with confusion. ¡°If he is so suitable?¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know¡­¡± Richards raised his hands. ¡°Perhaps because he is His Grace¡¯s best friend and somewhat an adviser in a¡­ complex social situations,¡± the corner of his mouth twitched with amusement.

    ¡°And probably very much single because of him,¡± Edith giggled.

    ¡°Indeed my dear,¡± he confirmed. ¡°Women tend to avoid Read, therefore they also avoid Stanley. But I could introduce you to him if you¡¯d like, Lady Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°I¡­ Perhaps,¡± I tried to appear grateful, all the while a familiar feeling of dejection crept inside my chest. However, I had to be brave in my quest of finding a fitting husband, there was no time to be dwelling on my fragile emotional state. June was almost over and I was still no closer to saving my family from financial ruin.

 First kiss (part 4)

    I felt the seat next to me move when Jared suddenly arose from his alcohol-induced slumber. ¡°Is it already over?¡± He rubbed his bloodshot eyes.

    ¡°Still one hour left I am afraid,¡± Richards answered.

    ¡°Dear Lord¡­ Excuse me please, I think I am going to really be sick now,¡± he bolted from his seat, vanishing behind the curtains of the boxed space.

    ¡°I should go after him and check if he is all right. Excuse me,¡± I was about to stand up, when Edith¡¯s hand grabbed my wrist.

    ¡°Is that really wise Ashlyn?¡± She raised her perfectly shaped eyebrows. ¡°We don¡¯t want any rumors about you spending time alone with my brother.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll be right back, I promise,¡± I assured her. As discreetly as I could I sneaked out of the box and followed after him.

    I found Jared in the corridor, leaning against the open window. He was taking large gulps of fresh air, inhaling it loudly.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± I stepped closer to him.

    ¡°What are you doing here, Ashlyn? Are you out of your mind? What if someone finds us here, alone in the dark?¡±

    ¡°I only came here to check if you¡¯re well, Jared.¡±

    He let out a tired sigh. ¡°I am sorry I behaved rudely toward you before,¡± he lifted his hand and gently stroked my cheek. ¡°You were right. I don¡¯t know what am I doing with my life. I feel so lost,¡± he admitted. ¡°Ashlyn¡­¡± He whispered into my ear. ¡°I miss you so...¡±

    ¡°Oh Jared! I miss you too. It¡¯s just that I don¡¯t see you lately anymore and...¡±

    ¡°Hush my dear,¡± he cut me off. ¡°You look so beautiful tonight. I envy the lucky gentleman who will own your heart,¡± his exploring fingers moved into my hair. Seeing him this vulnerable, I made a terrible choice of confiding in him.

    ¡°My heart already belongs to someone,¡± I admitted while timidly glancing into his blue eyes.

    His expression twisted into a scowl. ¡°Who is it?¡± He inquired roughly.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

    ¡°You really don¡¯t know?¡± No matter how much I searched his bright irises there was no trace of recognition in them. ¡°It¡¯s you¡­ Jared. It has always been you,¡± I let out desperately. The strange mixture of relief, fear and guilt washed over me, but no matter how hard it was, I had to finish what I started.

    A moment of suffocating silence hung between us, threatening to unravel my false bravado. ¡°Me?¡± He asked at last, perplexed.

    I watched him wide-eyed as he slowly lowered his head, his lips stopping only a few inches away from mine. ¡°May I kiss you, Ashlyn?¡± He murmured, as his eyes glazed with lust.

    There it was ¨C a moment written in all of the grand romantic adventures, a magnificent affirmation of fondness between the two enamored human beings.

    He closed the distance between our bodies, roughly pressing his lips against mine. His thumb pulled at my lower lip, demanding an entrance. I felt his tongue force its way past my barely parted lips. The alcohol in his breath was downright revolting, his fingers pressed into a harsh bruising grip against my sensitive skin.

    I waited for the feelings Bonnie and Alison had described to rush over me. And waited some more.

    Eventually he realized I had stopped returning his kiss. ¡°Ashlyn?¡± He stepped away from me, griping my shoulders. ¡°What is wrong?¡±

    I was left utterly confused. There was no heat and no grand fireworks in my belly. Simply ¨C nothing. Was there something wrong with me? But I loved Jared so much.

    ¡°Nothing,¡± I answered hurriedly. ¡°It¡¯s just, this was my first kiss,¡± I blushed under his scrutinizing gaze.

    The lack of emotions was surely my fault as I haven¡¯t got the slightest idea what to do with my lips.

    ¡°Oh! Have I disappointed you somehow?¡± His fingers squeezed my shoulders to wake me from my dazed state.

    ¡°No! It was nice¡­¡± I lied.

    ¡°Ashlyn, you have to understand something,¡± Jared¡¯s hands slipped down my arms. ¡°I am so grateful for your feelings,¡± he raised my hand to gently kiss my knuckles.

    He is grateful?

    ¡°But I am not certain if I can return them. And even if I could, I cannot marry you. I am so sorry,¡± he admitted with saddened expression. ¡°I need money.¡±

    ¡°I understand Jared. I realize the difficulty of our situation.¡±

    ¡°If I could change things, I would,¡± he brought me closer to place a kiss on my forehead. ¡°Things are so complicated right now. I must admit my feelings are divided,¡± he stepped toward the opened window. The light evening breeze shuffled his blonde hair.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°I think about you a lot, but I can''t get Bonnie out of my head either.¡±

    His admission saddened me deeply, but I wasn¡¯t surprised to hear this.

    ¡°I am so sorry,¡± he once again tried to pull me close, but I evaded his extended arms.

    ¡°I should go back; otherwise people will start talking.¡± This didn¡¯t turn out the way I¡¯ve always dreamed it would. I felt hurt and confused. Tears burned in my eyes and I turned away so he wouldn¡¯t notice my distress.

    ¡°Ashlyn¡­¡± He said softly. ¡°Please.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Jared. Really. I¡¯ll go in first. Wait here for additional five minutes, then you can join me.¡±

    With that I left him behind, still standing in the hallway with broken expression frozen on his face.

 Lord Bradford Stanley (part 1)

    ¡°Are you going to wallow in misery for the whole day?¡± Jane gently shook my shoulders.

    ¡°Leave me be, Jane,¡± like a stubborn child I buried my head under the pillow and refused to talk to anyone.

    ¡°I am sorry,¡± she finally said with a dejected voice. ¡°This is all my fault.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I pulled my head out to look at her.

    ¡°If I hadn''t constantly pushed you toward Lord Jared, you wouldn¡¯t be this unhappy.¡±

    ¡°Oh Jane! No! This is none of your fault!¡± I said, squeezing her tiny frame against mine.

    ¡°So it is about Lord Jared than?¡±

    I froze at her words. My sister was very perceptive for her age. ¡°It is,¡± I admitted.

    ¡°What happened? You were so excited to go to the opera only a few days ago.¡±

    I sighed, contemplating how much I should tell her. ¡°He kissed me,¡± I admitted. Why was I confessing this to my little sister? Because there was no one else to talk to, I realized. Edith was Jared¡¯s sister and lately she was preoccupied with Richards.

    ¡°He did?¡± Her eyes went wide. ¡°But why aren¡¯t you happy then? You were so in love with him!¡±

    ¡°I was. I am,¡± I frowned at my muddled mind. ¡°Honestly I don¡¯t know what to feel Jane. He was there all my life and never have I questioned my love for him. But the moment we kissed, there was no¡­¡±

    ¡°Butterflies,¡± she finished for me.

    I snapped my head back to her. ¡°How did you¡­?¡±

    ¡°I overheard your friends talking about kissing. The day Edith and two other Ladies visited you?¡±

    ¡°Were you eavesdropping?¡± I said in horror. ¡°Jane!¡±

    ¡°I am sorry! Please don¡¯t be mad!¡± Her eyes filled with tears. ¡°I would really like friends like yours Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°Come here,¡± I said, feeling myself softening. I gave her a loving hug and patted her blonde head. ¡°You¡¯ll have friends like mine, but when you¡¯re a bit older, all right? Just don¡¯t do that ever again. Mama would be furious.¡±

    ¡°I promise,¡± she nodded earnestly. ¡°Will you now tell me why are you so sad?¡± She positioned herself on the bed, right beside me.

    ¡°I am confused as to why there weren¡¯t any butterflies. I mean there should be when you are in love. But what do I know,¡± I snorted at my naivety. ¡°One of the girls who visited me that day, Bonnie. Do you remember her?¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    She nodded, staring at me. ¡°Yes, the Lady with golden bracelets.¡±

    ¡°Exactly. Jared mentioned he is torn. He told me he liked me, but he also likes her,¡± I let out, uncertain if she followed me.

    ¡°And there is also the fact that he cannot marry you, Ashlyn. You said so yourself, he needs money.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± I whispered.

    ¡°So why are you sitting here and wasting your time thinking about him, when you should be searching for a prince Charming?¡± She said with annoyance.

    I gawked at her in astonishment. ¡°When did you get so wise, little sister?¡±

    ¡°I was always the wise one,¡± she playfully smacked my arm. ¡°You are still going to the banquet this evening, aren¡¯t you? Even if Lord Jared will be attending?¡±

    ¡°I have no choice. It is already the beginning of July, there¡¯s not much time left.¡±

    ¡°Are you meeting someone tonight?¡±

    ¡°In fact I do. His Grace Andrew promised to introduce me to Lord Bradford Stanley, Earl of Yarborough.¡±

    ¡°Is he handsome?¡± She inquired with sparkling eyes.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t care if he shows up with a potato sack over his head. I am only interested in his character,¡± I heard Jane giggle.

    ¡°You are quite desperate.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am, I most definitely am by now. Season will close by the end of September,¡± I sent her a meaningful look.

    ¡°Well, hope is not lost yet, sister!¡± Jane¡¯s eyes flashed with a mysterious gleam.

    ¡°What are you talking about? Should I be afraid?¡±

    ¡°It seems you have a secret admirer,¡± she mused before leaping off the bed. With that she dashed out of the room, only to return minutes later with a beautiful bouquet of white roses.

    ¡°Who sent these?¡±

    ¡°There is no card, that¡¯s why he¡¯s a secret admirer, silly,¡± her mouth twitched with humor.

    ¡°No card?¡± I echoed. ¡°But why would¡¯ve anyone sent me flowers without wanting me to know who they are?¡±

    Was it Jared? Or, dear Lord, perhaps Lord Tinley?

    ¡°Isn¡¯t it romantic?¡± She fanned herself.

    ¡°No. It¡¯s rather foolish,¡± I shook my head, touching the silky petals. ¡°But they are really beautiful.¡±

    ***

    I lifted my skirts as I entered Lord Aidan¡¯s carriage. I still gritted my teeth with annoyance when Papa told me I would be riding with my aunt and her newly acquired lover. But I suppose it was impossible to attend without being chaperoned. However this wasn¡¯t the worst part of it. I couldn¡¯t ride with His Grace Andrew and Edith because their carriage was already full. Jared was joining them ¨C with Bonnie by his side.

    So I had no choice but to sit next to my bubbly, half-drunken aunt, who couldn¡¯t keep her hands to herself.

    The banquet was hosted by one of aunt Abby¡¯s friends, Lady Wyatt. She, similarly to my aunt was rich and widowed, however much more refined. Lady Wyatt was well known in the upper society, so the whole cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of London should be present tonight. She inherited a beautiful mansion after her late husband, fit to host at least three hundred guests.

    Upon our arrival I immediately parted myself form my aunt and Lord Aidan. Standing on my tiptoes I searched for Edith¡¯s distinctive red curls amidst the crowd of arriving guests.

    ¡°That¡¯s it. I am choosing my suitor tonight!¡± I announced when I finally managed to catch up with her.

    ¡°Where¡¯s the rush, dear friend? Has something happened?¡± She smiled at my eagerness before looking up at me.

    If only she¡¯d known. ¡°Nothing,¡± I said too hastily, earning a curious look from her. My eyes darted to Jared¡¯s hand which rested comfortably on Bonnie¡¯s back. He was too preoccupied to even notice my presence.

 Lord Bradford Stanley (part 2)

    I followed them into the vast hall, where an appetizer and refreshments were already being served.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn,¡± His Grace Andrew stopped me. ¡°I believe I¡¯ve promised you an introduction to Lord Stanley, haven¡¯t I?¡±

    ¡°Yes, that would be lovely, thank you,¡± I smiled at his kindness.

    ¡°Follow me, I might have an idea,¡± his eyes sparkled mischievously. He grasped Edith¡¯s elbow and stirred us in the direction of the large L-shaped table. He intended to place me between Edith and Lord Bradford Stanley. Sadly, there, on the left side of Lord Stanley was situated no one but Baxter Read himself, who seemed to notice my presence the instant I¡¯ve entered the room.

    He awkwardly raised from his chair, almost knocking it over in the ill-fated attempt of a greeting.

    ¡°L-lady Ashlyn,¡± he lowered his head.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± I smiled stiffly, my mind screaming with pure dread.

    ¡°Please, My Lady t-take a s-seat,¡± he grabbed the chair next to Lord Stanley and pulled it out for me.

    I realized I just stood there like a fool, watching him in awe. He was a horrible conversationalist, but I had to admit, the man had astonishing manners.

    ¡°Thank you Your Grace, you are too kind.¡±

    Out of my peripheral vision I noticed Bonnie and Alison staring at me with utter disbelief. What are you doing? Alison mouthed.

    Digging my own grave apparently, what else.

    Baxter Read stepped back to his chair, but he was still sneaking glances at me, his face red with embarrassment.

    I felt Edith nudging me under the table before she indicated at Lord Stanley.

    I gently cleared my throat to gain his attention. ¡°I believe we haven¡¯t been introduced yet. Lord Stanley, I presume?¡± I gave him my best radiant smile, filled with false innocence.

    ¡°Yes Bradford Stanley at your service, Lady Caldwell,¡± he grinned back. The gentleman wasn¡¯t hard on the eye, with his reddish hair and bright green eyes that sparkled with passion every time he spoke up.

    ¡°You know who I am?¡± I asked with surprise.

    ¡°I heard quite a lot about you, My Lady,¡± he admitted, his eyes darting to his friend. Baxter Read suddenly erupted into a loud coughing fit, his eyes wide with sheer terror.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°I a-apologize for m-my poor m-manners,¡± he stammered when he finally calmed down. His face however remained beet red and his eyes fixated on his plate.

    Lord Stanley smirked at his embarrassed colleague. ¡°Anyhow,¡± he stated loudly. ¡°I think every man with a sharp set of eyes has noticed you.¡±

    Now it was my turn to blush. ¡°Oh, you flatter me, My Lord.¡±

    ¡°Quite the opposite, I am only stating the obvious,¡± he shook his head with earnesty.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen you dance; may I ask why?¡± I blurted out.

    ¡°I see; you¡¯ve noticed me too,¡± the corners of his mouth quirked up. ¡°To answer your question, I am not popular with the ladies. I¡¯m afraid they find me uninteresting,¡± he said with amused expression.

    ¡°I apologize, My Lord, but that is quite unreasonable,¡± I answered. My intention wasn''t to court him per se, but rather to show kindness.

    ¡°Why thank you, My Lady, now you¡¯re flattering me,¡± his green eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°I apologize for my frankness, but have you already chosen the most fitting suitor?¡±

    ¡°No, My Lord. I am not inclined toward anyone as of yet,¡± I admitted to him. It was only then when I noticed Baxter Read¡¯s slouched figure. With a loud rattling sound, he slowly set down the cutlery. His fingers trembled so badly he had to hide them under the table. His expression was a mixture of dejection and defeat. I didn¡¯t understand why, but I felt like a fool. No matter how dreary the gentleman was, he was nothing but nice to me. I wanted to fix the mistake I¡¯ve made, but what could I¡¯ve said? That he was one of the suitors I favored the most? That would be a lie, wouldn¡¯t it?

    I eyed Jared who was suddenly aware of my presence, carefully listening in to our conversation. He was shooting daggers at Lord Stanley¡¯s head.

    On the second thought becoming an old maiden would¡¯ve been much less complicated. The concept of love was an incomprehensible riddle which left me utterly lost and confused. Nothing made sense and nothing felt quite right.

    ¡°Your Grace?¡± An older man demanded Read¡¯s attention. ¡°Has your mare already gone into labor?¡±

    Baxter Read raised his head and smiled fondly. ¡°Why y-yes the f-foal is three m-months old now.¡±

    ¡°What breed is it?¡± The man asked.

    ¡°F-friesian, I only b-breed those. My s-stallion was t-transported directly f-from Netherlands.¡±

    ¡°Your stallion is quite mesmerizing,¡± the gentleman said and I quietly agreed.

    ¡°The h-horse is of a highest p-pedigree. It has 68 i-inches in h-height, a muscled t-torso and a beautifully t-thick mane. You c-can¡¯t get better that t-that.¡±

    ¡°I agree. Let me know when you¡¯ll be selling, I would like to make a deal.¡±

    ¡°O-of course, My L-Lord, it will b-be my p-pleasure.¡±

    ¡°Do you train them as well, Your Grace?¡± I asked, wishing I knew how to bite my tongue.

    His face reddened at my sudden attention. ¡°Y-yes I-I, t-train them m-myself,¡± his stutter notably worsened when he turned toward me.

    ¡°That is very admirable, Your Grace. I used to ride back at home on our country estate, but sadly those times are gone. However, I do miss horses,¡± I admitted.

    ¡°A-ah, what a s-shame, My Lady,¡± he looked back down at his plate. For a moment he appeared deep in thought, then his head snapped back up. ¡°The w-weather is q-quite d-dreadful these d-days, won¡¯t y-you agree lady A-A-Ashyln?¡± He stammered over my name, struggling to pronounce it.

    The nobles tried to stifle the mocking snickers directed toward his stutter and the obvious choice of topic. My eyes darted around the table and I felt deeply saddened by how badly ridiculed the poor gentleman was.

    ¡°Yes, quite,¡± I answered hurriedly, feeling sorry for him. He was painfully aware of their derisive glances, yet he pretended not to notice. His eyes were once again glued to the white tablecloth, his otherwise hypervigilance dampened with a sudden detachment.

 Lord Bradford Stanley (part 3)

    Edith¡¯s shoulders shook as she tried to repress the onslaught of giggles. I couldn¡¯t believe her.

    ¡°Enough, Edith! What¡¯s gotten into you?¡±

    ¡°I am sorry, but I¡¯ve never met anyone as tedious as him. It is true what they say, all he talks about is weather or horses!¡± She whispered far too loudly. I watched in terror as Read¡¯s eyes widened with embarrassment. Blast it! He had heard her! Suddenly there was a deafening silence around the table. Lord Stanley¡¯s mouth were set in a hard line as he most definitely wasn¡¯t thrilled with the fact that Edith was insulting his friend.

    ¡°Edith! Apologize this instant,¡± I turned toward her with outrage. Concern about causing a scene was the last thing on my mind. Frivolous gossip was tolerated, but insults were downright unacceptable.

    Her face was flushed, her forehead creased with guilt and regret. ¡°I am so sorry, Your Grace! What I said was rude an inappropriate! I didn¡¯t really mean it¡­¡±

    The damage however was done.

    ¡°I-it¡¯s f-fine, t-truly,¡± he gulped, desperately avoiding any eye contact. I knew he didn¡¯t believe a word of her apology. He was no fool; he knew very well what was said about him behind his back. And with shame, I realized I had behaved no better than the rest of them.

    ¡°Ladies!¡± Lady Wyatt tapped her spoon against the champagne glass. The cumbersome tension was cut by her high-pitched voice and for once, I was grateful for her self-involved character.

    ¡°I invite you to join me in the parlor and leave gentlemen to enjoy their port and cigars.¡±

    This time it was Lord Stanley who pulled out a chair for me, smiling politely. ¡°I hope we can continue our conversation later.¡±

    ¡°Of course, My Lord,¡± I curtsied and hesitantly followed the ladies into the adjacent room.

    We all gathered around the skillfully crafted pianoforte, no doubt imported straight from Vienna. Bonnie and Alison joined my side, both still slightly baffled by my previous outburst. Their wide open and curious eyes grazed my face every time I threw yet another anxious glance at the heavy wooden surface that separated the two rooms.

    ¡°I am so sorry,¡± Edith sniffled next to me. ¡°I didn¡¯t really mean it. I mean... I did, but I didn¡¯t want for him to hear it!¡± She admitted desperately.

    ¡°It¡¯s fine Edith,¡± Bonnie rolled her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s the truth after all, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Oh dearie,¡± Lady Wyatt patted miserable Edith on her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯ve done the right thing. It was about time someone gave him a piece of mind. Although tedious is a tad too gentle, don¡¯t you think ladies?¡± The oh so respectable ladies giggled.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, Lady Ashlyn?¡± She turned to address my defiance. Her voice cooled when her eyes drilled into my own. It felt as if dozen icicles pricked down my spine. ¡°The way you so fervently defended the gentleman¡­ It¡¯s quite... odd,¡± she cast me a mocking smile.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    ¡°He might be dull, but at least he is aware of his manners, unlike others¡­¡± I murmured under my breath.

    She pursed her lips and raised her perfectly groomed brows. ¡°Interesting,¡± she said while carefully studying me. When I thought I¡¯d be burned under her scrutinizing stare, she finally turned back to Edith. ¡°Darling I¡¯ve heard you have a voice of an angel! Will you sing for us?¡±

    ¡°Of course, My lady,¡± she curtsied. I watched her sit behind the pianoforte. Her fingers slid effortlessly through the keys with her lovely voice bouncing off the richly decorated walls.

    <hr style="font-weight: 400">

    My eyelids drooped when I listened to the endless trivial gossip and chatter around me. All they talked about was who was the most attractive bachelor, who had the most riches and how much they spent on a new evening gown. Even Edith who used to hate these things listened with utter fascination, drinking in every word that came out of Lady Wyatt¡¯s gloating mouth.

    After an agonizing hour I was about to stand up and join the rest of the gentlemen, no matter the consequences. I could cry in relief when somebody knocked on the door and stuck in their head to address Lady Wyatt.

    ¡°My Lady, can we join you?¡± Jared gave her his best heart-warming smile.

    She fanned her overheated cheeks. ¡°Lord Jared! But of course!¡± Her face turned scarlet when he sat in between her and Bonnie. From the conversation I was forced to endure for the past hour I found out that Jared, His Grace Andrew and Lord Travis were the most desirable gentlemen among the ladies. The yet unwed women were sick with jealousy as all the mentioned gentlemen appeared to be taken.

    Other gentlemen followed suit, ready to mingle with ladies.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn,¡± I heard someone address me. I pivoted on my heels to find myself face-to-face with Lord Stanley.

    ¡°My Lord! How was the port?¡±

    ¡°Excellent, thank you. Did you have fun with Lady Wyatt?¡± He smirked knowingly.

    ¡°A very pleasurable experience indeed.¡±

    He chuckled under his breath. ¡°She is quite¡­¡±

    ¡°Insufferable,¡± I quietly finished for him. Realizing I¡¯ve just offended our hostess, I slapped a hand over my mouth. ¡°Oh God. I shouldn¡¯t have said that. I apologize for my rude remark.¡±

    ¡°I won¡¯t tell if you won¡¯t,¡± he snapped his mouth shut, pressing his lips into a thin line.

    I gratefully smiled at his playful demeanor. ¡°Thank you, My Lord. If she finds out what I think of her, I believe my season would be done for. She would happily ruin my reputation.¡±

    ¡°Now, we wouldn¡¯t want that, would we?¡±

    I shook my head. ¡°Indeed not, I still have to find a suitor I¡¯m afraid.¡±

    ¡°May I be of any assistance, My Lady?¡± He cocked his head to the side, his eyes sparkling with boldness.

    ¡°I¡­¡± I noticed how Baxter Read slowly stepped into the room. He seemed awfully uncomfortable and uneasy, almost like he was about to enter a den full of starving wolves.

    Out of everyone in here he was the wealthiest, yet he wore the simplest and plainest clothes. Ladies mentioned he lacked a sense for fashion. He was chastised for he never slicked back his hair and his face was - as Lady Wyatt stated - disgracefully covered with a light stubble. And well, with his clumsily tied bowtie he did in fact appear somewhat disheveled and scruffy.

    ¡°Is His Grace well?¡± I asked Lord Stanley.

    He lifted his brows and studied me for a long second before turning his gaze to his tense looking friend. ¡°He will be,¡± was all he offered me.

    Read stopped a few feet away from us, engaging in a conversation with some older Lord I¡¯ve never seen before. I heard they discussed weather, and I couldn¡¯t stop myself from chuckling. The man sure did love a good debate about meteorological conditions.

 Lord Bradford Stanley (part 4)

    I noticed him sticking his index finger in the air, before he narrowed his eyes with concentration. Was he measuring the temperature? Surely not!

    The second Baxter lifted his head, his gaze collided with mine. He immediately jerked his arm back down and stuffed it inside the pocket of his trousers. While hastily averting his eyes, his face once more turned into a deep shade of red.

    ¡°What is he doing?¡± I mumbled under my breath, giggling.

    ¡°Well, Baxter is a bit ¡­ eccentric,¡± Stanley fondly smiled at his friend. ¡°But also an incredibly good man with the heart of gold.¡±

    Gentleman in question stepped backward, accidentally kicking the big potted tropical plant in the process. He spun around and caught its looming stem with admirable, lightning fast reflexes.

    Lord Stanley pinched the bridge of his nose, inhaling deeply. ¡°Oh, Baxter¡­¡±

    ¡°I a-am so s-sorry!¡± Baxter turned around, apologizing to every person the plant had smacked over the head. ¡°I a-apologize!¡±

    He painfully stood out in the circle of pompous and sophisticated upper-class society. Truth to be told, the poor gentleman was in fact sticking out like a sore thumb.

    ¡°Have you known him long?¡± I inquired Lord Bradford.

    ¡°Since we were little kids,¡± he nodded. ¡°He was the brains; I was the social butterfly,¡± he gave me a lopsided smile. ¡°His parents practically adopted me since I was always staying at their house. Really good people,¡± he murmured.

    ¡°I heard they passed away a year ago. I am sorry for your loss,¡± I said earnestly.

    ¡°Thank you, Lady Ashlyn,¡± he smiled warmly. ¡°It was quite a terrible experience, especially for Baxter. It hit him pretty hard.¡±

    ¡°I can only imagine,¡± I nodded with sadness. ¡°It¡¯s obvious he is very uncomfortable amongst the high society, so why is he here then?¡±

    ¡°For the same reason as you, Lady Ashlyn. He is searching for a wife,¡± he explained to me, while his eyes still lingered on his trusted colleague.

    ¡°I assume he wasn¡¯t successful in his search yet?¡±

    Lord Stanley¡¯s eyes darkened with concern. ¡°Ladies want nothing to do with him," his tone turned hushed when Baxter Read excused himself and joined us by the window.

    ¡°It l-looks l-like it¡¯s g-going t-to rain,¡± he tripped over his tongue so badly, I had to lean forward to understand him better. But soon as I did so, I noticed how small of a distance remained between our bodies. I immediately straightened my posture and carefully backed away.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°S-see these rain c-clouds?¡± He pointed at the almost black sky. ¡°And i-if you¡¯ll l-listen intently, y-you can h-hear the r-rumbling sound o-of the thunder,¡± his amber irises travelled between us. ¡°Did y-you know t-that sound t-travels considerably s-slower than l-light? This way we c-can estimate h-how far a-away the b-bolt of lightning is b-by timing the interval b-between seeing t-the flash and h-hearing the thunder.¡±

    ¡°Oh really?¡± I said, interested. ¡°How if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    ¡°T-the lightning is a-approximately one m-mile distant for e-every five seconds t-that elapse between the f-flash and the f-first sound of t-thunder,¡± he explained.

    ¡°Fascinating, I didn¡¯t know that, Your Grace,¡± my mouth curved into a bright smile. ¡°So¡­¡± I listened intently. ¡°About five miles away?¡±

    ¡°C-correct My L-Lady,¡± he nodded enthusiastically, his eyes sparkling.

    ¡°You must be quite a reader, Your Grace, since you possess such a vast knowledge.¡±

    ¡°I, uh.. Yes, I-I read a-a lot,¡± he massaged the side of his neck, appearing thoroughly embarrassed by my compliment.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn!¡± I suddenly heard Jared¡¯s call. ¡°Excuse me gentlemen, but I need a word with Lady Caldwell here,¡± he nodded at His Grace Read and Stanley before he slowly maneuvered us away.

    ¡°I have to ask you Ashlyn, what in God¡¯s name are you doing?¡±

    ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡± I yanked away my hand before I looked at him with a bewildered expression.

    ¡°Do you intend to marry him?¡± Jared threw his hands in the air. His piercing glaze was downright accusing as if I¡¯d lost my mind.

    ¡°Of course not! Dear God, why?¡± Lord Read was definitely not the kind of gentleman that I would fancy. We were simply too different him and I.

    ¡°Then why do I keep seeing you around him?¡±

    ¡°Andrew Richards introduced me to Lord Stanley and His Grace is his friend. Being around him is unavoidable,¡± I glared at him.

    ¡°So Lord Stanley? He is the one you are after?¡± He spat, his eyes blazing with irritation. His eyes scanned the room before he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t use the word after. It sounds¡­ wrong.¡± I once again pulled my hand out of his firm grasp. Why was he suddenly so interested in who I chose to speak with?

    ¡°What about me, Ashlyn?¡± Jared took a step closer, his eyes simmering with such desperation that made me uneasy.

    ¡°What about you, Jared?¡±

    ¡°You know what I mean. I miss you.¡±

    ¡°Miss me? What about Lady Bonnie?¡± I couldn¡¯t believe him. ¡°You¡¯re a grown man Jared, you cannot simply wait for a heavenly sign to show you which Lady should you choose.¡±

    His face looked pained. ¡°I am so confused, Ashlyn. I am wrecking my mind every night, barely getting any sleep. I think I love you both.¡±

    ¡°This is insanity! Well, since you cannot marry me anyway, you already know your answer. And your answer is coming this way.¡±

    He hurriedly clasped his hands behind his back, straightening his posture. ¡°Bonnie, darling!¡± He beamed at her as if nothing happened.

    ¡°I came to fetch you, My Lord. We are about to leave,¡± she smiled at us both, clueless of what lied inside Jared¡¯s scrambled thoughts. ¡°It was nice to see you, Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°Likewise, Bonnie! Well, I¡¯d better find my aunt and Lord Sutton before they depart without me," I plastered on a joyful, yet overly polite smile before whirling around. It didn¡¯t take long for me to realize that my aunt was nowhere to be found. I frantically combed through the rooms in case I¡¯d spot her extravagant dress, but had no luck. I pushed open the main door to look outside, but was horror-stricken upon noticing it was pouring now.

 Lord Bradford Stanley (part 5)

    Shielding my head, I ran toward the parked carriages just to realize they had left without me. The ever-mounting wind violently slapped my disheveled damp hair against my face, soaking my new dress with mud and dirt. The abandonment hurt badly, causing me to lose the battle against the treacherous prickling tears. How could my aunt forget about me? Or maybe this wasn¡¯t just some innocent mistake. Maybe she knew exactly what was she doing.

    ¡°L-lady Ashlyn!¡± The familiar voice caused me to twirl around. Baxter Read stood not far away from me, his appearance similar to mine - wet to the bone. His honey-colored hair was plastered against his forehead, the cold drops of rain trickling down to his mouth.

    Foolishly, right now I saw him as an answer to all of my troubles. Angry as I was I raised my skirts and stormed toward him. I halted right in front him and stubbornly lifted my chin. I had to tilt my head back as he was at least a head taller than me.

    ¡°Your Grace! Why on earth are you following me?¡± I yelled through the heavy rain.

    ¡°F-following you?¡± He answered in confusion.

    I unleashed the devil inside me, as I stabbed my finger into his hard chest. ¡°Yes! Suddenly you are everywhere! Here, Kensington Gardens and then the... The Covent Garden? Are you stalking me, Your Grace?¡± I pressed my mouth into a hard line before throwing him a dirty glare. I tried hard to appear intimidating, however my drenched appearance was hardly angst provoking.

    ¡°I w-was simply l-leaving, Lady A-Ashlyn. And I ride t-to Kensington G-Gardens every S-Saturday. I already s-sat by the lake, y-you just failed to n-notice me,¡± he shook his head with droplets of water flying from his soaked hair.

    ¡°Oh, I¡­¡± I didn¡¯t know what to say to that. I felt like a dimwit. Was I so full of myself that I automatically assumed he was there because of me?

    ¡°I o-only wanted to offer y-you a r-ride, My Lady. I n-noticed your aunt and L-Lord Sutton h-had left a w-while ago,¡± he explained quietly.

    I hung my head low, like a regretful child caught stealing candy. ¡°I am so sorry, Your Grace¡­ Thank you for the kind offer, I¡¯d be very grateful if you¡¯d take me home. If your proposal still stands that is¡­¡± I murmured with shame.

    ¡°P-Please, if you¡¯ll f-follow me,¡± he motioned for me to go after him. I noticed him turning his head every few seconds, almost as if he was making sure I won¡¯t stumble and fall. We finally reached his carriage which was far humbler than Richard¡¯s. He opened the doors and stepped aside for me to enter. I lifted my skirts to prop myself onto the elevated platform, but in that moment the wet fabric got caught underneath my slipper. Wobbling dangerously, I was certain I¡¯d have fallen if he didn¡¯t prevent it. I found myself plastered against his chest with his hands wrapped around my waist to help me regain my balance. I grasped his lower arms to gain support.

    ¡°M-My Lady! Your h-hands are l-like ice! You a-are f-freezing!¡±

    With that I realized I could barely feel my numb limbs. My teeth chattered so violently I couldn¡¯t even give him a proper answer. I felt his hands tightening around me, before he lifted me inside the carriage. As I shrank in the far corner, I watched him search the seats.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°I h-have a b-blanked stashed s-somewhere. Oh, h-here it i-is!¡± He unfolded it and wrapped it around my shoulders. ¡°Are y-you f-feeling well, M-My Lady? I d-don¡¯t want for y-you to get s-sick.¡±

    The puffy, warm blanket was already taking an affect as I felt myself warming up. ¡°Thank you, Your Grace. You¡¯ve already saved me twice and I was nothing but rude to you in return,¡± I said with utter shame.

    ¡°You w-were n-never r-rude to me,¡± he buried his hands inside his pockets. ¡°A-Are you s-still cold? I can g-give you m-my coat, but I am a-afraid it w-won¡¯t b-be much o-of help,¡± he looked down at his dripping-wet clothing.

    ¡°You¡¯ve already given me your blanket Your Grace, it¡¯s you who will catch a cold.¡±

    ¡°I-It¡¯s quite a-all right,¡± he shook his head and glanced outside. ¡°H-Horrible weather,¡± suddenly he looked deeply embarrassed again. He kept clearing his throat and twisting in his seat as if he simply wished to jump out of the vehicle.

    We fell into a very uncomfortable and excruciatingly painful silence. He seemed awfully busy studying the lines on his palms. I really didn¡¯t know what and how to talk to him, even if I¡¯d really wanted to find a mutual subject we could discuss. But for some reason my mind was blank and my lips sealed.

    ¡°D-Did you k-know Friesian h-horses w-were widely u-used during M-Middle Ages?¡± He blurted out.

    ¡°No, I-¡°

    ¡°-B-Because of t-their muscular p-physique they w-were breed a-as war h-horses. Their size and s-strength enabled t-them to c-carry a heavy w-weight ¨C a knight in a-armor and the a-arms,¡± he once again ignored my attempt to communicate and blabbered on.

    ¡°Your Grace, I didn¡¯t know-¡±

    ¡°-They a-are a remarkable b-breed. But b-buying the right h-horse is b-becoming a great d-difficulty, because o-of close i-inbreeding. Quite h-horrible, you s-see. Many h-horses have genetic weaknesses a-and defections, l-like dwarfism and w-weakened immune s-system,¡± he kept talking over me.

    ¡°That is-¡±

    ¡°-I h-hear the c-chronic dermatitis c-can also be a p-problem, it causes t-thickened and itchy s-skin.¡±

    ¡°Really? I-¡±

    ¡°-But I-I can assure you m-my horses a-are in e-excellent c-condition. A single s-stallion costs a-around 50 pounds and 45 pounds p-per mare,¡± he finally looked at me.

    I was truly grateful to this man for everything he has done for me, but now I was gritting my teeth, trying hard not to jump out of the carriage myself.

    Was he trying to sell me one of his horses?

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace, but I have no need of a horse ¨C at least not anymore.¡±

    The carriage finally came to a stop and my legs restlessly twitched to get inside the safety of my home.

    ¡°Thank you so much, Your Grace! I will be forever grateful for your kindness,¡± I said truthfully, handing him back his blanket.

    ¡°You c-can keep i-it, if y-you want,¡± he pointed at the damp cloth.

    ¡°Thank you, but I won¡¯t be needing it anymore. Only a hot bath,¡± I smiled at him and got up from my seat. ¡°Have a nice evening, You Grace.¡±

    ¡°You t-too, My L-Lady,¡± he nodded in return while staring down at his shoes.

    Without another glance I hurried toward the doors of our townhouse, slamming it shut behind me. I leaned against the heavy wooden surface as I listened in on the gradually distancing sound of horses¡¯ hooves. I felt utterly relieved he didn¡¯t try to follow after me and introduce himself to my parents. If my father would¡¯ve met him, I would¡¯ve been betrothed to him first thing tomorrow morning.

    Not ever and not under any condition would I ever marry Baxter Read. The thought of our union was unquestionably absurd and impossible.

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 1)

    ¡°I am so grateful His Grace Andrew allowed me to ride with you¡±, I turned toward Edith. ¡°Otherwise I would be forced to endure my aunt¡¯s presence.¡±

    ¡°At least there would be no Lord Aidan, since he is the host of the ball,¡± she spread her arms wide. ¡°So, how do I look?¡±

    She spun around in her copper evening gown before she fastened on her venetian golden-white feline mask. ¡°I simply adore masquerade balls!¡±

    ¡°You look absolutely stunning,¡± I smiled at her excited demeanor.

    ¡°Why, thank you,¡± she indicated at my disguise. ¡°Why raven? Isn¡¯t it supposed to be a symbol of death?¡±

    I carefully tied my black lace raven mask around my head and straightened my midnight-colored dress.

    ¡°It is believed that the animal holds various magic abilities. Raven is a highly spiritual and intelligent creature, so I am using its power to guide me tonight.¡±

    ¡°So you hope to bewitch someone tonight?¡± She snickered under her breath. ¡°Like Lord Stanley? Or perhaps His Grace Read?¡±

    ¡°Edith Collins!¡± I glanced at her with mock outrage.

    Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she pressed on. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be wearing your riding attire?¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I crossed my arms over my chest and narrowed my eyes at her.

    ¡°Well, since His Grace will probably wear a horse mask,¡± she exploded in a fit of giggles, covering her mouth with her hand.

    ¡°You are evil!¡± I stabbed my finger in her chest, but I couldn¡¯t contain the laughter. ¡°Stop teasing at once!¡±

    Suddenly her eyebrows were raised with curiosity. ¡°I heard he brought you home from the banquet last week. Is that true?¡±

    ¡°If my dear aunt and her lover wouldn¡¯t have forgotten all about me that would never happen! Anyhow, it was very kind of him to offer me a ride. I would most definitely die of pneumonia if he hadn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°Horses or weather?¡± She leaned forward, trying to keep her face straight.

    ¡°Edith¡­¡± I warned her, rolling my eyes in annoyance.

    ¡°Oh come on, Ashlyn!¡± She pleaded while pursing her lips. "Humor me just a little bit."

    ¡°Fine! Horses if you must know!¡±

    The corners of her full mouth twitched. ¡°I knew it! Next time it will most definitely be weather!¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    I let out a very unladylike growl. ¡°There won¡¯t be a next time.¡±

    ¡°Oh dear God! Do you hear that?¡± She whispered while her eyes dramatically widened.

    ¡°Hear what? Have you lost your mind?¡± I listened intently but heard no sound whatsoever.

    She tapped her finger against her lips and bobbed her head. ¡°No, there is most definitely a sound.¡±

    ¡°Edith, what are you talking about?¡± I cast her a bewildered glace.

    ¡°Oh I know!¡± She laughed. ¡°Those are wedding bells!¡± She shook her hand above my head, pretending to ring the imaginary bell.

    My mouth was hanging open with sheer disbelief. ¡°That is enough! I am walking!¡±

    ¡°I am sure His Grace would somehow find you at the side of the road and offer you a ride.¡±

    ¡°Someone get this madwoman out of the house!¡± I threw my hands in the air.

    I heard someone laugh behind the door of my bedroom.

    I tiptoed toward the door and swiftly pulled it open. My sister was crouching on the floor, with an empty glass firmly tucked between her hands.

    ¡°Jane! Are you eavesdropping again?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not? What gives you that impression?¡± She hurriedly hid the glass behind her back and gave me her best innocent smile.

    I raised my eyebrow. ¡°I am sure.¡±

    ¡°Who is His Grace Read?¡± She dashed past me to address my friend. The little one was being awfully curious these days.

    I swirled around, before I put my hands on my hips. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare Edith!¡± The severity of my glare apparently didn¡¯t hold a wanted affect on my very amused friend.

    ¡°How can I put this?¡± Edith¡¯s eyes were positively gleaming. ¡°Ashlyn¡¯s prince Charming.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± My sister beamed at me before turning back to Edith. ¡°Is he handsome? What is he like?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely charming,¡± like a Cheshire cat, Edith¡¯s mouth curved into a wide smile.

    ¡°You!¡± I pointed at her. ¡°He is¡­ Not!¡±

    ¡°Handsome, entertaining and downright flawless!¡± Edith covered her mouth with her oriental hand fan, hiding the fit of giggles.

    ¡°Are you marring him, sister?¡± Jane¡¯s bright eyes went wide at the possibility of a new arrangement. ¡°Mama! Papa!¡± She called out loudly.

    I couldn¡¯t move fast enough as I clasped my hand over her small mouth. ¡°Dear God, Jane! Hush this instant!¡± I exclaimed with horror. ¡°You two will be the death of me, I swear! I am most certainly not marring him!¡±

    ¡°Is he you secret admirer?¡± She asked after I released her.

    Edith¡¯s head jerked in my direction. ¡°What secret admirer?¡±

    ¡°Every other day Ashlyn gets a bouquet of white roses,¡± Jane announced excitedly. ¡°But we don¡¯t know who he is since he never leaves a card.¡±

    ¡°Every other day, you say?¡± Edith asked in astonishment. ¡°Where in God¡¯s name the man buys so many roses?¡± She pressed her fingers to her lips, carefully thinking about the curious matter. ¡°Oh dear God!¡± She dashed to her feet.

    The girl¡¯s eyes were round as two glimmering orbs. She started frantically fanning her flushed face.

    I couldn¡¯t stand the suspense any longer. ¡°What is it, Edith?¡±

    ¡°Jane¡¯s right! It is Baxter Read!¡± Her hysterical laughter was a mixture of amusement and terror.

    ¡°But how do you know for certain?¡± I grabbed her shoulders and forced her to face me. I swear I felt my insides turning into ice.

    ¡°It¡¯s impossible to get such quantity of roses, unless you grow a rose garden on your property. It¡¯s a common knowledge that he owns the most beautiful rose bushes.¡±

    ¡°You are just making fun of me again!¡± I shook my head in denial as I remembered the rumors about his green thumb.

    ¡°I swear on my life, Ashlyn! You¡¯re welcome to ask His Grace Andrew if you don¡¯t believe me.¡±

    ¡°That is¡­ No! I¡­¡± I stumbled over the words. ¡°I am sure this is only a coincidence!¡±

    ¡°We all cautioned you to avoid him as much as you can, Ashlyn! Everyone is gossiping about you two already!¡±

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 2)

    I unhappily plopped myself down against the soft cushions of my bed, burring my face between my hands. ¡°What are they saying?¡± I moaned in horror.

    ¡°That he¡¯s going to propose to you. They even placed a wager on it,¡± she sighed and put her hand on my shoulder. ¡°They made a laughing stock out of him.¡±

    ¡°I cannot believe this! Fools! Are their lives so trivial and boring they have to meddle with somebody else¡¯s?¡± I spat angrily. ¡°Why won¡¯t they just leave him be?¡±

    ¡°And there you go defending him again¡­¡± She quizzically raised her eyebrows.

    ¡°I am not defending him, Edith! I just really dislike this constant ridicule!¡±

    ¡°Just leave him alone! He can handle himself! Stay out of his way Ashlyn, it¡¯s as simple as that,¡± she stared at me with a stern expression plastered on her doll-like face. ¡°Or do you want to marry him?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± I winced at my high-pitched shriek. ¡°But how else am I to get close to Lord Stanley?¡±

    ¡°We will think of something, all right?¡± She rubbed her chin as if deep in thought.

    Jane leaned out of the window and furiously waved her hands at us. ¡°I believe His Grace¡¯s carriage has just arrived.¡±

    Edith stood up and grasped my hands in hers. ¡°Ashlyn, you have to promise me! Otherwise, you will be trapped in a very long and miserable marriage. Once you are wed, there is no way out.¡±

    ¡°I promise Edith; I will stay away from him,¡± I squeezed her hands reassuringly.

    ***

    I followed Edith and His Grace inside the Lord Aidan¡¯s mansion, which mind you was much less extravagant as Lady Wyatt¡¯s. We entered a spacious ballroom and I immediately plastered myself against the wall on the left side of the chamber. I was absolutely adamant that there won¡¯t be any coincidences or accidents this evening.

    ¡°Your Grace, Lady Edith, Lady Ashlyn!¡± the joyful twins joined our side. Bonnie was accompanied by Jared, while Alison held Lord Travis under his arm.

    My eyes automatically darted toward Jared and Bonnie and I was immediately stricken by a deep felling of loss. We¡¯ve barely talked or seen each other since the day of our kiss.

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn, why didn¡¯t you tell us you needed a ride from Lady Wyatt ¡®s house?¡± Alison scolded me. ¡°Lord Travis and I would¡¯ve gladly taken you home.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know my aunt was gone, not until I saw her carriage was missing. By then His Grace Read already offered me to ride in his carriage.¡±

    ¡°So, how bad is it?¡± Richard¡¯s brown eyes stopped on each and one of us, analyzing the gravity of the situation.

    ¡°Pretty bad considering he is sending her roses with unsigned cards,¡± Edith shook her head.

    ¡°How do you know it¡¯s from him?¡± Bonnie scrunched up her face.

    Edith pointedly raised her brow at Bonnie. ¡°A dozen roses every other day?¡±

    I watched as recognition dawned on her pretty face. ¡°Oh dear! His rose garden!¡±

    ¡°See? I told you!¡± Edith let out a harsh breath, before turning back to face me.

    ¡°No, I am certain you¡¯ve got this all wrong,¡± I shook my head to reject her absurd argument.

    ¡°The man is giving me goosebumps. First, he followed you around like some stalker-¡± Jared added.

    ¡°-And now he is sending you flowers like a lovesick pup,¡± Bonnie finished for him, looking around for affirmation.

    This was getting out of hand pretty quickly. ¡°All right!¡± I raised my hands, demanding their attention. ¡°He doesn¡¯t follow me around and he is not a stalker. I bumped into him a few times! And he did nothing wrong, in fact he saved me! Twice!¡±

    ¡°And there you go defending him yet again¡­¡± Edith sighed.

    ¡°How am I defending him? I am only stating the truth! See? This is how false rumors are spread,¡± I raised my voice while glaring at them.

    It was only then, that I realized I¡¯ve drawn an unwanted attention upon me, including my aunt¡¯s. Her eyes were unusually bright and her mouth twisted into a calculating and malicious smile. This meant nothing good.

    ¡°Dance with me, Ashlyn,¡± Jared suddenly appeared beside me. My eyes instantly flickered to Bonnie who was busy talking to her sister.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think that would be appropriate,¡± I shook my head and glanced away from him.

    ¡°Would you rather face your aunt?¡± He stepped even closer. ¡°Just dance with me. I promise, no antics.¡±

    He was right, I needed a proper reason to evade my aunt¡¯s boasting clutches. ¡°One dance,¡± I whispered, but my eyes remained stony cold.

    Jared tried to hide his smile as he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. Thankfully the next dance was Quadrille, which was far less intimate than Waltz.

    I curtsied in front of another couple we were paired with.

    Jared stood at my side when the melody started and then elegantly pulled me in front of him. ¡°Ashlyn?¡±

    I haven¡¯t had a chance to answer him since the steps demanded for me to approach the other gentleman. The man clumsily spun me under his arm before guiding me back to my dance partner.

    ¡°Yes, Jared?¡± I breathed out as his hand gently covered mine on the small of my back.

    ¡°I cannot stop thinking about you,¡± he admitted when we walked in a circular form.

    ¡°You promised!¡± I hissed trough the clenched teeth, throwing a forced smile at the masked people around me.

    ¡°I know, but you won¡¯t dance with me otherwise,¡± he whispered.

    ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t! What do you want me to do, Jared?¡± I hurriedly glanced at him from the corner of my eye.

    I walked into the middle of our square formation, clasping a hand of the Lady from the opposite couple, carefully spinning around her.

    ¡°I want to kiss you again,¡± Jared stated boldly the second I returned to him. The unexpected admission made me almost trip and lose my footing.

    ¡°So, this means you are not marrying Bonnie then?¡± I spat at him with anger flaring inside my chest.

    ¡°I would be only marring her because of the money, Ashlyn.¡±

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 3)

    For the love of me I could not keep up with his ever-changing thoughts. ¡°I thought you love us both?¡± I raised my brow with skepticism.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore¡­ I am so confused,¡± he murmured with a tortured voice. ¡°That¡¯s why I need to kiss you, to know who I love more.¡±

    My jaw almost hit the floor. If we¡¯d be alone right now, I would¡¯ve most certainly slapped him. ¡°Under no circumstance!¡± I laughed bitterly. This man was more confused than my aunt after inhaling a whole bottle of mead.

    ¡°Ashlyn, I need this! Please!¡± He squeezed my hand with a desperate motion.

    He needed this? ¡°I said no,¡± I glared at him in a very unladylike fashion.

    I almost screamed with joy when the Quadrille finally terminated and morphed into another, slightly slower dance. Dancing with one partner was unacceptable, at least if you didn¡¯t want any undesirable rumors following you around. I did not care for my next partner or about the fact that the following dance was Waltz, but was simply relieved to be away from Jared.

    The fist gentle notes of pianoforte resounded through the room and forced me to put my hand on the gentleman¡¯s shoulder. Our fingertips barely touched, yet compared to the other males I danced with, his skin wasn¡¯t as smooth but hardened as though he was used of hard labour. Although I was considered pretty tall for a woman with my 5.7 feet, he towered over me by at least five inches. I had to tilt back my head to see his silver-black mask of a wolf. The warm amber color contradicted the almost threatening nature of his disguise, but was still unable to take away from his subdued character.

    ¡°Your Grace? How come you are dancing?¡± Never have I seen him on the dance floor, only standing by the wall, quietly observing others. He was notably surprised I¡¯d recognized him so quickly ¨C as if so inconspicuous.

    ¡°I¡­ am n-not, I¡­ I w-was worried a-about y-you. You h-haven¡¯t caught cold or f-flu, h-have you?

    ¡°No, I am completely healthy, You Grace, thank you for your concern.¡±

    I promised myself to avoid this gentleman, and yet somehow, I ended up dancing a Waltz with him. A Waltz!

    ¡°You¡¯re a-attire is very b-beautiful,¡± he stuttered while he twirled me under his arm. His dancing expertise were barely modest to be fair ¨C his movements stiff and uncoordinated.

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace. I must admit, I am quite curious - why wolf? I thought you are rather fond of horses,¡± a red burning flame crept up my cheeks when I realized I might¡¯ve offended him.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    ¡°A W-Wolf is an a-admirable creature ¨C c-courageous, intelligent, l-loyal and a-above else, d-devoted to its f-family.¡±

    But also highly social, they lived in packs did they not? Baxter Read was more of a lone wolf, but perhaps by putting on a fa?ade made him braver, made him feel as if he belonged.

    I tried to maintain as little contact between us as I possibly could. But when his hand rested on the small of my back and my arm on his shoulder, the concept of space was virtually nonexistent.

    It felt awfully peculiar to be this close to him. I persistently avoided his gaze and kept my eyes fixated on his black vest. It was astonishing how athletic his figure really was. Some gentlemen were slim, but lacked the built like his. Did he perhaps train at Jackson¡¯s?

    I shook my head to clear the scattered ways of my mind. I had no business staring at his chest.

    ¡°A-Are you a-all right, L-Lady Ashlyn?¡± He inquired with worry in his eyes.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± I answered a little too hastily which caused to paint my cheeks pink. My very evident embarrassment was thankfully lifted as he clumsily stepped onto my slipper and almost tripped over.

    ¡°I-I apologize! T-Truly!¡± He nervously stammered with horror in his eyes.

    I was however glad for his graceless distraction. ¡°It¡¯s aright, You Grace.¡±

    While I had him this close, I might as well address the pressing matter that gnawed my mind. ¡°May I ask you something?¡± I let my eyes met his.

    ¡°O-of course,¡± he nodded.

    ¡°Was it you who sent me the roses?¡± I carefully studied his face, not missing the surprise and finally embarrassment reflecting in his eyes.

    ¡°I¡­ I, oh. Yes,¡± he finally admitted with downcast gaze.

    Edith¡¯s prediction was correct than.

    ¡°But why didn¡¯t you add your name? Why hide your identity?¡±

    Baxter¡¯s jaw tightened painfully. ¡°Y-you would¡¯ve p-probably t-thrown them in t-the trash, k-knowing who i-it was.¡±

    I had to admit, his effort frightened me, however I would never toss away such a beautiful gift ¨C well, maybe if it came from Lord Tinley. ¡°Of course not! They are very pretty, thank you,¡± I said politely. My mind urged me to ask him to discontinue his efforts. It was utterly meaningless for him to send me anything as I had no interest in his courting. I would never marry him. But like always my heart was too soft, I didn¡¯t have it in me to tell him the same things others whispered behind his back. It felt cruel to reject his advances so directly.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard you have a lovely rose garden,¡± I instead smiled at him.

    ¡°Yes, h-here in L-London. M-my g-great-grandfather already had a f-fondness for rose b-bushes,¡± he explained while spinning me under his arm.

    I should¡¯ve ran away as soon as I noticed that look on his face. The look full of tenderness and admiration. I was only leading him on and I felt like I was no better that Jared - I felt guilty. And guilt at last surpassed the feelings of compassion. To remedy it I needed to be firmer - for both of our sakes.

    ¡°How lovely, Your Grace,¡± I said dismissively. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask you, do you by any chance know where Lord Stanley is? I truly wished for a chance to dance with him tonight.¡±

    I foolishly believed I¡¯d be relieved but instead it felt awful. It was a cowardly move to escape. My stomach sank when I noticed his crestfallen look.

    W-Well,¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°I believe he is d-dancing with his b-bride to be,¡± he said carefully while briefly gazing at my expression.

    ¡°He is betrothed?¡± I asked with astonishment. He must have mixed my surprise with disappointment for his pained look deepened.

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 4)

    ¡°I am afraid so, My Lady,¡± he whispered. ¡°It w-was a r-recent arrangement.¡±

    I knew this was the perfect opportunity to let him believe I was interested in Lord Stanley, so I remained silent. It felt mean, however far less comparing to outright telling him I had no interest in him.

    The Waltz slowly came to an end and I yanked my hands away as if licked by the scorching flame. ¡°Thank you for your dance, Your Grace,¡± I stated awkwardly.

    He wore a forlorn smile as he slightly bowed. ¡°I-I think t-that was supposed t-to be my l-line.¡±

    His smile however fell when I averted my gaze. ¡°I should find my companions. Enjoy your night, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°You too, My Lady.¡±

    He didn¡¯t move as I rushed off the dance floor and I still felt his eyes burning into my back, even after I was long out of sight.

    ¡°Who was that?¡± Alison stepped on her tiptoes, straining to spot my mysterious dance partner.

    I dismissively waved my hand. ¡°I don¡¯t know; I haven¡¯t recognized his face.¡±

    ¡°Weren¡¯t you talking to him?¡± She dubiously raised her eyebrow, closely studying me.

    The false smile I plastered on my face was so stiff it was almost painful. ¡°It was only a meaningless chatter, a pure formality.¡± I was never going to tell her it was Baxter Read, because I would never hear the end of it. And this time around it was definitely not my fault that I stumbled into him.

    ¡°Well¡­ What about Lord Stanley?¡± She pushed on.

    ¡°Lord Stanley is apparently betrothed,¡± I sighed. He indeed was a good suitor, but somehow the expected disappointed never showed.

    ¡°Betrothed?¡± She squeaked. ¡°Are you certain?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely.¡±

    ¡°Lady Ashlyn, what are you going to do now?¡±

    There was a feeling of pity in her eyes which I disliked greatly. Correct, the season was storming by like a summer breeze but I still had a little time left.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, Lady Alison,¡± I turned to her and lowered my voice. ¡°Tell me about you¡­ What are you doing with Lord Travis? He is a terrible choice for a husband!¡± I hissed at her.

    ¡°I¡­ Love him,¡± she admitted, her eyes softened when they landed on the man standing a few feet away. ¡°I realize that this may go wrong someday, but right now it feels right. Please, don¡¯t judge me,¡± she exhaled. ¡°I was already scolded enough.¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°Oh, Lady Alison,¡± I clasped her hand in mine. ¡°I only want for you to be happy.¡±

    ¡°I am,¡± she assured me. ¡°I really am, Lady Ashlyn. Besides love is blind, so let me be blind for a while longer,¡± she whispered with a hushed voice.

    ¡°Just be careful, all right?¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± she smiled at me fondly. ¡°I am a grown woman; I can take whatever is thrown at me.¡±

    Not long after we joined a bigger group that gathered on the left side of the ballroom.

    ¡°Where is Jared?¡± Edith leaned into me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, isn¡¯t he with Bonnie?¡±

    ¡°No, Bonnie is standing right there,¡± I followed her finger, discretely pointed at the brunette. She indeed was surrounded by the circle of knowledge-hungry debutantes, cheerfully sharing advices about the art of seduction.

    ¡°I am sorry; but I haven¡¯t seen him.¡±

    The awful summer heat stuck to my overheated skin and suddenly breathing seemed impossible. I badly yearned for some fresh air.

    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, Edith,¡± I whispered to her. ¡°I need to use the restroom. I will look around if I can spot him somewhere, all right?¡±

    I hurried out of the chamber to the great hall, looking around to find a room where I could relieve myself. The grand house was a maze in which I became lost quite rapidly. I blindly stepped into the space that was probably a drawing room and prayed to God I wasn¡¯t trespassing. Seeing this most certainly wasn¡¯t the right way to the ladies¡¯ rooms, I whirled around but halted abruptly when I heard giggling noises.

    Cursing my curiosity, I crept closer and peeped through the door where the noises were coming from.

    My body jerked with pure shock at what I¡¯d witnessed. I covered my trembling lips with horror, stuffing the fist into my mouth to prevent myself from gasping out loud.

    I saw Jared between the bare legs of Lady Wyatt, frantically pushing into her. Her eyes rolled with pleasure as she shamelessly moaned into his ear.

    I fought the overwhelming waves of nausea as I slowly stepped backward, one step at the time. I couldn¡¯t believe my eyes.

    Of one thing I was certain - Bonnie will not marry Jared. I won¡¯t allow him hurt her so.

    When I was far enough for them not to hear me, I raised my skirts and ran. I ran through the endless corridors and into the safe embrace of the lush gardens. I did not fear the looming darkness for I only sought solace and peace.

    I plopped myself down on a cold marble stone and hopelessly stared into the distance. The chirping of the crickets drowned the soft tones of the instrumental music, the evenly pulse of their rubbing wings making me calmer.

    I knew Jared was a charmer, but I certainly didn¡¯t expect him to do such a vile thing. He claimed to love Bonnie, he even said he would marry her and yet there he was with Lady Wyatt. Lady Wyatt! What on earth possessed him to go after my aunt¡¯s self-centered friend? Her sublime riches, I presumed.

    I sat there for a while, hidden in the shadows of the trees, completely invisible to the naked eye. I should¡¯ve been worried about rumors, especially if someone saw me sitting in the dark - by myself - but I had no wish to leave the safe heaven I found. I was buried deep in my thoughts when I suddenly realized that I - as a matter of fact - wasn¡¯t alone at all. There, in the distance, behind a hedge wall of a beautifully constructed maze lingered a dark figure. If I hadn¡¯t raised my head, I would¡¯ve missed the movement entirely. But now, looking closely and straining my ears was able to distinguish evident sound of heaving. The person was bent over while struggling to breathe ¨C almost choking. Their hands desperately grabbed at their chest to stop the torturous pain, but to no avail. The terrible anguish of the person was enough to send me running.

    The closer I got, the more panicked I felt seeing who the man standing in the darkness was.

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 5)

    ¡°Your Grace!¡± I yelled with alarm.

    His face was pale and twisted in pure agony. His knees gave way I and realized he was about to collapse. I acted out of my instinct and wrapped my hands around his waist. However, his larger frame was much heavier compared to my smaller one. He was half-unconscious when we both tumbled to the ground. The collision made me wince at the stabbing pain in my arms, but I managed to protect his head by pressing it against my chest.

    ¡°Your Grace!¡± I shook his senseless shoulders. ¡°Baxter! What is wrong?¡± I was certain the man was having a heart attack. ¡°I need to run inside and alert the others to call for a doctor! I promise I will be right back,¡± I somehow managed to push his body away from mine, but at the last moment he caught my hand.

    ¡°Your Grace, I need to call for a doctor! Please unhand me!¡± I franticly tried to pry his fingers away from my wrist, but his grip was like a stone.

    He feebly shook his head, his breathing still horrifically irregular. My heart broke when I heard his wheezes. I brushed his hair off his clammy forehead. ¡°But you¡¯re having a heart attack!¡± I cried out desperately.

    He, once again shook his head. ¡°N-no,¡± he managed to say through the spasms. ¡°P-please d-don¡¯t l-leave.¡±

    I relaxed with his head on my lap, threading my hands through his soft hair to calm him down. He seemed to enjoy it as his breathing started to even out. However, his body still shook horribly and I didn¡¯t know what to do to make him feel better.

    So, I did the one thing that came to my min - I sang.

    I sang an old love song my governess used to sing to me when I was a little child and terribly afraid of the darkness.

    My love''s like a red, red rose

    That''s newly sprung in June;

    My love is like a melody

    So sweetly played in tune

    As fair art thou, my bonnie lass

    So deep in love am I;

    And I will love thee still, my dear

    Though all the seas gone dry

    Though all the seas gone dry, my dear

    And the rocks melt with the sun;

    I will love thee still my dear

    Though the sands o'' life shall run

    And fare thee weel, my only luve!

    And fare thee weel awhile!

    And I will come again, my luve, The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    Though it were ten thousand mile. (A Red Red Rose ¨C a 1794 song by Rober Burns)

    I knew I wasn¡¯t as talented as Jane or Edith, but it will have to do. I lowered my head to look at him. His formerly pale skin was now almost back to normal and his labored breathing vanished completely. I let out a harsh breath of relief at the thought he will be all right.

    He slowly opened his kind, soft eyes, looking directly into mine. I didn¡¯t care for our close proximity as I was far more concerned for his well-being.

    ¡°Your Grace?¡± I said, gently nudging him as he seemed somewhat lost in thought. ¡°What happened if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±

    He looked awfully uncomfortable and embarrassed.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to explain anything if you don¡¯t want to.¡±

    ¡°I s-sometimes f-feel these s-spells of o-overwhelming f-fear,¡± he stumbled over his words. ¡°The c-crowds, their a-appraising looks, they o-often overpower m-me,¡± he lowered his amber eyes. ¡°You m-must t-thing I a-am a weak f-fool.¡±

    ¡°No. You are brave enough to admit your fears and face them head on. Most of us are just cowards, hiding behind lies and other people¡¯s expectations,¡± I answered him truthfully.

    ¡°Y-you can n-neve be a c-coward,¡± he shook his head which still rested on my lap.

    I¡®ve never touched a man like this before ¨C ran my fingers through his tousled hair or caressed my thumb over his cheeks. And I was doing it now, with no other than Baxter Read - the single man I wowed to run from, and yet the touch felt oddly comforting.

    ¡°You¡¯re wrong,¡± I stated.

    The memories of what I had witnessed came flooding back. I could not stop the rush of words that came out of my mouth. ¡°I saw Lord Jared with Lady Wyatt in the drawing room, they were¡­¡± My cheeks reddened at the thought of what they were doing. ¡°He was supposed to love Lady Bonnie. He was supposed to marry her! Why did he do that?¡± I looked back at Baxter as though he held the key to my answer. ¡°He¡­ He said he loved me too,¡± I didn¡¯t know why was I telling him this, he needn¡¯t hear this, but somehow I could not stop. ¡°And I loved him ever since we were little children.¡±

    Baxter¡¯s face was now pained, but he still listened intently.

    ¡°But love isn¡¯t supposed to feel so wrong¡­ Does it? It¡¯s supposed to feel like something beautiful,¡± I froze in horror when I felt a single tear slip down my cheek.

    He slowly raised his head and sat beside me. ¡°I w-want to m-make you f-feel better. I h-hate to s-see you sad,¡± he lifted up his hand as if to brush away my tear, but changed his mind at the last second.

    ¡°You already did,¡± I smiled at him. ¡°I am sorry I bothered you with my troubles when you¡¯re hurting. It¡¯s quite selfish,¡± I bit my lip, trying to drown the feelings of guilt which seemed to plague me every time I was near him.

    ¡°You c-cannot ever b-bother me, L-Lady Ashlyn. You h-helped me and I-I want t-to return t-the favor.¡±

    ¡°But you already helped me numerous times!¡± I laughed with amazement while stifling soft sobs which still rocked my body.

    ¡°T-That doesn¡¯t c-count,¡± he smiled and I noticed how the corners of his eyes crinkled. But the gentle wrinkles were gone just as fast as they appeared, concealed by his once again serious expression. ¡°L-Lady Ashlyn, c-can I a-ask you s-something?¡±

    ¡°Of course, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°May I call on you tomorrow after breakfast time?¡± He looked terribly nervous while asking for my permission.

    ¡°Your Grace, I¡­¡± I shook my head with misery. ¡°I hate to disappoint you, but¡­¡±

    ¡°I o-only wanted t-to show y-you my r-rose garden, n-nothing m-more. I a-am not a-asking you t-to marry m-me, Lady A-Ashlyn,¡± his gaze slipped toward the ground. ¡°I am very w-well a-aware that s-someone like you w-will never be f-fond of s-someone like m-me.¡±

 Simply Baxterificâ€¦ (Part 6)

    It was impossible not to notice someone like Baxter Read for he stood out painfully. However, he didn¡¯t solely wish to be seen, he wanted to be loved.

    ¡°No, Your Grace that¡¯s not¡­ I simply¡­ I see you more as a¡­ Potential confidant,¡± I finally admitted out loud.

    His face fell before he gave me a solemn nod. ¡°Of c-course, My L-Lady. I u-understand.¡±

    Sometimes Baxter Read appeared like a misbehaving juvenile ¨C slouched and mournful - waiting to be reprimanded. I stifled a moan while searching his never-waning hopeful eyes. The man will most definitely be the cause of my demise and yet again I was too feeble to deny him. ¡°But I would still like to see your rose garden,¡± I smiled warmly.

    ¡°T-Truly?¡± The Duke¡¯s face lit up like a promised land, bathing in the early warmth of the sunrise.

    ¡°Yes. But now it¡¯s time to go inside. Just imagine all the rumors they¡¯ve already started,¡± I grimaced at all the horrid possibilities that crossed my mind.

    ¡°T-thank you, My Lady. For s-staying with m-me. You w-were the o-only one w-who never l-looked at me a-as if I w-were s-some kind of o-oddity.¡±

    ¡°Well, that¡¯s because you are not, Your Grace,¡± I encouragingly patted his shoulder. ¡°Come now, we¡¯d better get going.¡±

    I went in first, leaving His Grace to wait for another ten minutes before he re-joined Lord Stanley and his newly-acquired fianc¨¦.

    ¡°Where were you?¡± Edith hissed at me when I finally found her standing next to His Grace Andrew.

    It was only God I had to thank, for my dress miraculously remained unscathed and unwrinkled.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°I just witnessed something terrible, Edith,¡± I gulped nervously. ¡°I needed some time to calm myself after that.¡± I explained, leaving out the important fact of meeting Baxter read in the gardens. They didn¡¯t need to hear that part. Looking around I spotted what I¡¯ve feared the most - Jared and Bonnie dancing, with him courting her as if the secret affair with Lady Wyatt never happened.

    ¡°I need to talk to you and Alison, urgently.¡± I announced, licking my suddenly dry lips.

    Edith signified Alison to come over and join us.

    ¡°Dear God, where were you, Lady Ashlyn? We were worried that something might¡¯ve happened to you!¡± Alison hissed with outrage.

    ¡°Well... Something did happen,¡± I stated with pained expression on my face. ¡°And you won¡¯t like it.¡±

    Edith gripped my wrist. ¡°Just tell us! You are making me nervous!¡± She urged me with anxiety glimmering in her hazel eyes.

    ¡°We cannot let Bonnie marry Jared,¡± I blurted out.

    ¡°What? Why in God¡¯s name not?¡± Alison shared a confused look with Edith.

    ¡°I stumbled on Jared when you were unable to find him. He was with Lady Wyatt in the drawing room. They were¡­¡± I was unable to finish my sentence.

    ¡°They were, what?¡± Edith inquired, but then I saw recognition dawning on her face as she grimaced with horror. ¡°Oh, dear God! No!¡±

    ¡°I am sorry Edith, I know he is your brother, but¡­¡± I turned back to Alison. ¡°We must stop this nonsense at once. Bonnie deserves better.¡±

    ¡°Sometimes I hate him so much,¡± Edith spat. ¡°I agree, there will most definitely be no marriage.¡±

    Alison¡¯s posture considerably stiffened. She took a few deep breaths before she was able to unclench her fists. ¡°I cannot believe him!¡±

    ¡°Please, under no circumstances must you say it was me who caught them!¡± I could only imagine the horrible consequences.

    ¡°Of course not!¡± They both assured me.

    ¡°Thank you for saving my sister from a horrible fate, Lady Ashlyn,¡± Alison¡¯s expression was grateful, however underneath the picture of serenity there was a turbulent storm brewing inside.

    ¡°She is not saved quite yet. You have to be the one to talk to her, Lady Alison. She will only listen to you,¡± I said sternly.

    ¡°I realize,¡± she lowered her head. ¡°She will be devastated, but this is for the better.¡±

    We all turned to look at Bonnie¡¯s bright face. She clutched Jared¡¯s hand, giggling at something he whispered into her ear. The man was an irremediable womanizer ¨C from the way he talked to the way he smiled, as if weaving a silky spider web to entrap his prey.

    I realized she won¡¯t be just saddened; she will be devastated.

    But better devastated than living a life in Jared¡¯s web of lies.

 Rose garden (part 1)

    ¡°Janine, thank you so much for chaperoning me,¡± I turned to my lady¡¯s maid and my dear friend. She was indeed a sight to behold. A little on the rounder side and with her plump and ever so flushed cheeks she was an epitome of bubbliness. Never have I seen her bitter nor pessimistic, but rather cheerful with a streak of hopeless curiosity.

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing, Ashlyn.¡± she smiled sweetly. It took a long time and plenty of insistence to persuade her to call me only by my name.

    ¡°Mama and Papa mustn¡¯t know about this,¡± I conspiringly whispered to her as I leaned forward in my seat.

    His Grace Baxter Read lived on the outskirts of London, so it took us considerably longer to reach his townhouse - therefore if not prepared, such a long trip might rise suspicion.

    ¡°Is this some kind of a secret engagement, Miss?¡± She stared at me wide-eyed. ¡°Are you certain this is completely safe...?¡± There was a nervous twitch in her lower lip. She continued to anxiously fidget in her seat, cranking her neck to assess the unfamiliar surroundings.

    ¡°Nonsense, His Grace would never harm me,¡± I stated with an utmost certainty. ¡°And no, this is not some kind of a secret rendezvous, Janine.¡± I sighed with exasperation. ¡°I only promised him I will take a look at his rose garden.¡±

    ¡°Then why Lady and Lord Caldwell mustn¡¯t know about this?¡± Her expression was a mixture of confusion and wonder.

    ¡°He is a Duke, Janine. And really wealthy one at that.¡±

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand,¡± she pouted, looking out of the windows of the hired carriage.

    ¡°If my Papa would¡¯ve found out about him, or this,¡± I widened my arms to indicate our little secret expedition. ¡°I would be instantly married to him.¡±

    ¡°But you said that he is wealthy, kind and handsome. So, what do you have against marrying him?¡±

    I never said that he is handsome!¡± I hissed, feeling my cheeks redden.

    ¡°Oh,¡± she hurriedly straightened her slouched posture. ¡°I must have heard wrong then.¡±

    My eyes wildly flickered toward her. ¡°You must have!¡± I hissed with outrage.

    ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why didn¡¯t you take Lady Abigail, wouldn¡¯t she be much more suitable chaperone than your lady¡¯s maid, Miss?¡±

    ¡°Under no circumstance!¡± I laughed bitterly. ¡°That woman is as mean as they come and I don¡¯t trust her!¡± I had to take a few long breaths to calm my nerves. ¡°Besides she is probably preoccupied with Lord Aidan.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

    Not to mention all the preposterous rumors she would spread about me and Baxter Read.

    ¡°What made you despise her so?¡± Janine inquired while resting her head against the door.

    My dearest aunt was a piranha, with her sharp gritting teeth readied to chomp off everything and everyone that threatened her well thought-out plans. ¡°That is a story for another day,¡± my eyes widened when I recognized the coachman¡¯s description of Baxter¡¯s estate. ¡°Look. I believe we are here.¡±

    I turned to Janine, suddenly feeling very self-conscious. ¡°Janine, whatever you do, just... behave yourself.¡±

    Her eyes went so wide I was afraid they would roll out of her sockets. ¡°But of course, Miss!¡±

    ¡°Good, because here he goes.¡±

    The door of our carriage flung open. ¡°L-Lady Ashlyn!¡±

    And there he was, Baxter Read in all of his glory. His honey brown hair disarranged by the soft blows of the wind, his tousled strands obviously a normalcy to him. The amber in his eyes sparkled as he took me in.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± I curtsied after he helped me exit the carriage.

    He finally noticed Janine standing beside me.

    ¡°Oh! P-Pardon me, M-Miss¡­¡± His forehead creased with confusion when he couldn¡¯t recognize my companion.

    ¡°Oh, don¡¯t mind me, Your Grace!¡± Janine dismissively waved her hand and clumsily curtsied in front of him.

    ¡°This is my lovely and very capable lady¡¯s maid Janine,¡± I gave her a brief smile. ¡°She is chaperoning me today, because my aunt¡­¡± I trailed off. ¡°Well, you can probably imagine why she isn¡¯t with me.¡±

    ¡°Y-yes, I a-am afraid I can,¡± Baxter Read stuttered.

    Janine gaped at him as if he was a wild animal - the kind adventurers described from their travels to exotic foreign lands. The poor woman¡¯s mouth was hanging open as she was clearly taken aback by his very pronounced speech impediment.

    I threw her a warning glare the minute he turned around. Stop it!  I mouthed.

    She immediately jerked her head away, ashamed of her improper manners.

    That was when I had a first chance to admire the view in front of me.

    I took a step forward, gasping at the lovely three-story red brick house. Its exterior was riddled with ivy which ran past green shutters, climbing all the way to the roof. There were no flamboyant decorations, the building was spacious yet simple.

    ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful!¡± I exclaimed, completely stunned by its cozy and comforting atmosphere.

    ¡°Y-you think s-so?¡± His Grace Read smiled proudly. ¡°T-Thank you, M-My Lady.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely!¡±

    What made his estate so captivating was the astonishing variety of plants. The charming mixture of beech, maple trees and weeping willows towered over the impressive collection of tropical flowers and shrubs. It was as though he created his private little paradise ¨C so lush and surreal it made me forget I was still amidst the noisy and dirty streets of London. As we walked along the sandy path, both me and Janine admired the rich apple trees. Their branches were curved underneath the ripe scarlet fruits, inviting me to pick one.

    ¡°I a-am normally rarely here, s-so my housekeepers e-are taking c-care of the h-house t-through the y-year. I am m-mostly at m-my estate in M-Manchester. I o-only come h-here to t-tend my garden.¡±

    That explains why I¡¯ve never seen him before.

    ¡°I p-prefer solace, r-rather than the c-crowded and s-smelly s-streets of the city,¡± he continued.

    The latter didn¡¯t surprise me. From what I¡¯ve witnessed at Lord Aidan¡¯s ball it was apparent he preferred to withdraw from the constant suffocating noise.

    ¡°I understand,¡± I nodded sympathetically.

 Rose garden (part 2)

    ¡°So, you are forced to suffer through the season because you are looking for a wife?¡± I stated the obvious.

    ¡°Y-yes,¡± the way he averted his gaze made it clear he did not enjoy the pursuit for his bride-to-be. A slight grimace rested on his face, which looked almost comical for his soft features deepened his boyish appearance.

    ¡°Well, there is still a month and a half to go, Your Grace,¡± I encouragingly smiled at him.

    He looked a little disappointed with my answer, but I brushed off the reason as to why. I came for one reason only ¨C to take a stroll along this ethereal growth and after that, Baxter Read and me will part our ways forever.

    ¡°How old are you If you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± I questioned him curiously. Most eligible bachelors - at least Jared¡¯s friends were somewhere around 30 to 34 years old.

    ¡°I just t-turned 26 two m-months ago.¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, you¡¯re still very young. Why are you in a hurry to find a wife? Most gentlemen settle down later in life.¡±

    He stopped and crunched down to inspect a maple sapling. His fingers bushed against its green sprout before he gave me an answer.

    ¡°I-I had promised my f-father to produce an h-heir. But m-mostly because I am q-quite lonely o-on my estate and s-sometimes wish for a c-company. For s-someone to c-cherish me the w-way I cherish t-them.¡±

    ¡°Well, Your Grace, I must admit I admire the clarity of your goals. Most men your age either gamble their riches away or spent them on women,¡± I smiled when he looked up at me.

    ¡°N-nothing good c-comes out o-of gambling. As f-for w-women, I have n-no desire to s-seek a false c-compensation just b-because I wish to f-feel wanted. I b-believe it wouldn¡¯t f-feel good nor r-right.¡±

    He finally raised to his feet.

    He was nothing like those gentlemen I met at the ball and nothing like Jared and his friends.

    ¡°Your Grace, you are so¡­. Peculiar,¡± I glanced into his eyes with the intention of figuring him out. Ever since I was young ¨C like every lady - I was being schooled to become a wife someday, however the painted picture of gentlemen¡¯s character was nowhere near as sensitive and timid as his.

    ¡°I-I am sorry,¡± he mumbled, once more looking down at the ground.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t meant as an insult, Your Grace. You are a good example for other gentlemen,¡± snickering, I stepped past him. ¡°You could perhaps start with Lord Tinley.¡±

    With a rapid glance over my shoulder, I noticed his clenched fists. ¡°W-was he b-bothering you again, My Lady? B-because if h-he was¡­¡±

    ¡°No, not since that night you chased him off,¡± I saw him visibly relax after I assured him the presumptuous Lord wasn¡¯t a problem.

    ¡°Y-You must i-immediately t-tell me if h-he will. P-Promise me, L-Lady Ashlyn?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause you any troubles, Your Grace.¡±

    ¡°You a-aren¡¯t c-causing troubles, My Lady. I a-am not a-afraid of L-Lord Tinley,¡± his tone was flat and his irises burning with graveness.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I whispered, grateful for his support.

    As we continued our way through his mystic garden, I noticed a small stream, trickling over slick stones overgrown with moss. There was a big oak tree standing next to it, casting a shadow over the wooden bench that laid lazily beside its thick trunk.

    ¡°T-There,¡± I trailed his extended finger, pointing at something in the distance.

    ¡°Rose bushes,¡± I exhaled with wonder. And what bushes those were - opulent and overgrown. Rosebuds¡¯ colors variated from white, coral, pale pink to pale peach, mixing with the shades of red. I neared the plants that were bathing in the afternoon sunlight, eyeing their fragile beauty with awe.

    ¡°Your Grace!¡± I exclaimed with a scolding tone. ¡°And to think you cut so many just for me. What a waste of such beauty,¡± I traced my fingers over their silky petals.

    ¡°B-beauty for a b-beauty,¡± he whispered, his cheeks turning scarlet.

    I heard Janine giggle behind us. She let out a loud snort and hurriedly slapped her hand over her mouth. ¡°I apologize for my indiscretion,¡± she cleared her throat, straining to stifle yet another onslaught of laughter.

    No matter the warning glances I was shooting her way, the joyful spirit was dampened with the thick awkwardness that had laid upon us.

    ¡°I grew up in Sussex,¡± I let out, trying to alleviate the sudden uncomfortable mood. ¡°We used to have a rose garden like this, but much smaller.¡±

    ¡°W-which part?¡± I heard him say.

    ¡°Crawley. We had an estate there, but we had to sell it a few years ago,¡± I sighed wistfully. ¡°I really miss the fresh air and all the animals.¡±

    He nodded knowingly. ¡°I c-cannot imagine w-what would I d-do i-if I¡¯d be s-stuck here in L-London. My e-estate means e-everything to me.¡±

    And then, when I already started to believe there was so much more than weather and horses beneath the thick layer of his exterior, he went and destroyed it all over again.

    ¡°It is q-quite misty t-today, isn¡¯t i-it?¡± He proceeded to blabber. ¡°They s-said that c-clouds are g-going to c-continue to t-thicken tonight, b-bringing even m-more rain t-than we h-had in the past d-days. Wind w-was also s-supposed to be r-really strong, s-somewhere around 35 mph.¡± his eyes turned toward the cloudy sky.

    ¡°How do you-¡±

    ¡°-M-Monday will be b-better. Rain s-showers will m-most definitely c-clear, but the b-breeze will be q-quite cold,¡± he cut me off.

    ¡°Your Grace, will you-¡±

    ¡°-This s-summer was q-quite short,¡± he murmured to himself. ¡°Ah, w-what can b-be done.¡±

    ¡°Your Grace-¡±

    ¡°-By w-weekend, the w-weather will b-be drier w-with lighter winds, overnight a-accompanied by f-frost and f-fog, which may t-take a long t-time to clear on m-mornings.¡±

    It was fruitless trying to talk to him when he went on one of his endless rants. He completely ignored me again, rambling on and nodding to himself.

    My eyes darted to Janine, who stood a few steps behind us, her eyes wide with astonishment and suspicion.

 Rose garden (part 3)

    She crept closer when His Grace wasn¡¯t looking. He still studied the sky, muttering something about the atmospheric pressure.

    ¡°Miss, are you certain that we are safe? He is completely bonkers!¡± She hissed, her eyes nervously flickering back to Baxter Read.

    ¡°We are safe, Janine,¡± I assured her, whispering. ¡°He¡­ He does this constantly.¡±

    ¡°This k-kind of low p-pressure can b-be troubling, don¡¯t you t-think so, Lady Ashlyn, M-Miss Janine?¡± He suddenly turned to face us.

    I instantly jerked my head away from Janine¡¯s while plastering on a sweet smile. ¡°Why yes, I-¡±

    Blast it, the gentleman chuntered on - far worse than an old gossipmonger.

    ¡°-C-Changes in barometric p-pressure can induce h-headache, especially m-migraines among l-ladies.¡±

    As if a disorderly galloping horse, he talked right over me ¨C his sentences a spew of chaotic and rushed words.

    ¡°I really don¡¯t-¡±

    ¡°-They o-often experience headaches when it¡¯s r-rainy and humid o-outside,¡± he bobbed his head, not listening to a single word that came out of my mouth.

    Janine appeared utterly perturbed her wide eyes as owl¡¯s, fearfully flickering to the way we came from.

    ¡°Ah! R-Raspberry juice! T-Thank you, J-James,¡± Baxter Read grabbed two glasses, almost knocking the plate out of the poor butler¡¯s hands. He gave one to me and Janine, before he took another glass for himself.

    ¡°This is excellent, Your Grace!¡± I hummed when I tasted the sweet yet pleasantly cool liquid on my tongue.

    ¡°H-Homemade and f-freshly squeezed,¡± he beamed at me.

    ¡°Oh, Lady A-Ashlyn!¡± He turned around so fast; I was afraid he would drop the glass he was holding between his hands. ¡°H-Have I t-told you about m-my horses?¡± He asked enthusiastically.

    I was unable to stop the dread that crept up my spine.

    ¡°I am pretty certain you have,¡± I smiled at him while gritting my teeth.

    He completely ignored me as he dived further into his monologue. ¡°I a-am selling o-one of my F-Friesian stallions. T-Thor is a v-very nicely d-developed animal w-with excellent m-motorics! Perfect f-for sports and e-especially suitable for hunting. W-Would you l-like to take a l-look at him? I c-can agree on 45 p-pounds, but n-normally my p-price would be h-higher.¡±The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Heavens above, was he trying to bargain with me?

    ¡°Your Grace, I am not intending to buy one of your horses. Truly,¡± I almost choked on my juice. Under my lashes I rapidly sneaked a peek at Janine, who watched him as though he just landed from the Moon.

    He approached me all the while wildly waving his free hand right in front of my face.

    His avid gesticulation simply called for a disaster.

    ¡°W-We can s-settle on a l-lower price. How a-about 40? What d-do you s-say?¡±

    How utterly maddening. How do I make him aware of the fact that my family was on a brink of a financial collapse? Surely, he has heard the rumors. Taking a long deep breath, I put on a mask of serenity.

    ¡°You Grace, I am very humbled by your generous offer, but I must decline.¡±

    ¡°Oh. A-Are you c-certain?¡± He asked, somewhat disappointed.

    ¡°I am absolutely certain, Your Grace,¡± I nodded firmly, hoping he would let the subject slide. ¡°May I ask you a question?¡± I desperately wanted to divert our conversation in another direction ¨C any direction that didn¡¯t include horses or weather for that matter.

    ¡°Have y-you ever s-seen a F-Friesian in a h-horse race, My Lady?¡± He once again dismissed my inquiry.

    One who wasn¡¯t acquainted with him would think him bad-mannered or offensive, but I knew enough by now to know he wasn¡¯t trying to be impolite on purpose.

    ¡°I can¡¯t say that I have, Your Grace. I¡¯ve never been to a race before.¡± I tried my hardest to stifle a yawning reflex, hiding my mouth behind a glass. ¡°Your Grace, how about we-¡±

    ¡°-Many of m-my sold h-horses were u-used in horse r-racing and o-often came o-out as v-victorious,¡± he shot out his arm to point at the stables at the edge of the property.

    Regrettably, that was the same hand he was holding the glass with. As if in slow motion I watched with horror when the bright red liquid spilled all over the bodice of my cream-colored dress.

    ¡°Oh, dear!¡± Janine squeaked, hurrying toward us.

    I simply stood there, completely stunned, watching as pastel red flowers spurted all over my new gown.

    ¡°O God!¡± W-What have I d-done?¡± His Grace nervously buried his hands into his hair, frantically pulling at the ends. Upon waking from his dazed state, he drew out a handkerchief, fully intending on dabbing my bodice with it.

    ¡°Your Grace, what are you doing?¡± I shot him a glare of disbelief before taking a step back.

    ¡°I¡­¡± His face went beet red as he read the unease in my eyes. ¡°Oh! L-Lord! I d-didn¡¯t mean t-to touch y-you, Lady A-Ashlyn! You h-have to b-believe me!¡± He waved his hands in front of him. ¡°I d-destroyed your d-dress and I o-only wanted t-to help!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s fine, Your Grace, really,¡± I sighed with exasperation. The main source of annoyance wasn¡¯t the dress itself but rather a certain gentleman in front of me. Coming here was a dreadful mistake and I had only myself to blame. Now, what was left to be done was to get out of here ¨C as fast as possible.

    ¡°I am sorry Your Grace, but I am afraid it¡¯s time for me to depart. I really need to clean myself up,¡± I forced a smile on my lips, but such pretense was hard to maintain.

    I haven¡¯t got a slightest idea why was I so foolish when I agreed to meet him. Why was I so mellow and caved in to his pleas?

    ¡°B-But, My Lady!¡± He rushed forward to stop me.

    ¡°Please, Your Grace. I am all right, I swear. Thank you so much for showing me your lovely garden,¡± I glanced at Janine, willing her to help me escape.

    ¡°Miss!¡± She at last awoke from her baffled stupor. ¡°We¡¯d better get going or you will catch cold,¡± she grasped me under the arm.

    ¡°W-Wait! Lady A-Ashlyn, please t-take my c-carriage. I w-will accompany y-you to y-your home,¡± Baxter Read pleaded with me. His was forced to pick up the pace, taking rapid strides in order to keep up with us.

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace. But that won¡¯t be necessary,¡± I pointed at the carriage parked on the other side of the street. ¡°We hired a hackney when we came here. He is waiting for us.¡±

 Rose garden (part 4)

    ¡°B-But¡­¡± He proceeded to trail close behind me.

    I tried to ignore his frantic glances and endeavours to prevent me from running off. ¡°Thank you, Your Grace,¡± I curtsied, noticing Janine imitated my moves.

    ¡°Let m-me at l-least buy y-you a new g-gown, My Lady! He pointed at my ruined bodice. Thank God it was thick enough, otherwise I would be in trouble.

    ¡°It¡¯s all right, Your Grace,¡± I smiled, while I tugged at the carriage¡¯s door, swinging them open with more force than I intended to.

    ¡°Please w-wait. I w-will b-bring you a b-blanket so y-you won¡¯t g-get cold. In t-this humid w-weather ¡­¡±

    ¡°Your Grace!¡± I sternly cut him off. ¡°Enough with the weather! I already assured you I am fine, now please-¡± I exhaled deeply, gathering all the patience I could muster. ¡°-Please just allow me to return back home.¡±

    He looked as if I¡¯d splashed him with ice cold water. His face fell with disappointment and his eyes stayed fixated on the ground. ¡°All right, My Lady. I a-am truly s-sorry,¡± Read whispered dejectedly.

    I jumped onto the seat, shutting the door behind me.

    ¡°Have a good day, Your Grace,¡± I nodded through the open window.

    I felt his eyes on me as the carriage began to rock, and I still felt him watching when we slowly distanced ourselves from his estate.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    ¡°Miss, I am almost afraid to ask but, what was that? Is he... Well, how do I put it? Imbalanced?¡± Janine leaned forward.

    ¡°No Janine, he is not mad, just a little peculiar,¡± I smiled absentmindedly.

    ¡°Why did you even come here, if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡± Her forehead creased with confusion.

    ¡°I had promised him I would take a look at his rose garden. Janine?¡± I suddenly turned to her. ¡°Was I too harsh on him?¡± The claws of guilt scraped at my heart every time I recalled my hasty retreat. ¡°It was only an accident.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Ashlyn!¡± She gave a dismissive wave of her hand. ¡°Please! The way he wielded that glass it was bound to happen,¡± Janine glanced heavenward.

    ¡°I suppose,¡± I sighed before turning my gaze onto the busy street.

    ¡°Now Young Miss, I realize promises must be kept, however outing of this nature is extremely reckless. Promise me you¡¯ll cease with this behavior! Someone is bound to find out about this endeavor of yours!¡±

    ¡°I will, Janine,¡± I cut off her scolding. I propped my chin on my hand, exhaling loudly. Melancholy wrecked my soul as I cursed myself for my foolishness. I was stupid enough to agree to visit him and in the end it managed to hurt us both.

    Him, by giving him hope where there was none and myself ¡­ Why did it affect me? Truth to be told I saw something in Baxter Read, or perhaps it was solely an illusion. He was vulnerable and kind, so different from the rest of the London¡¯s snobby noblemen. I thought I saw something deeper in him the night of his bout of panic. In that moment, I though Baxter Read didn¡¯t have to be a stranger I must avoid, but an ally ¨C a friend perhaps. However, in the depths of my naivety there lied a savior complex ¨C an aggravating quirk that made me believe I could save him from his troubled mind. That I am able to pull him out of his bubble and show him what life could¡¯ve been without the constant fear breathing down his neck. Only to realize I in fact cannot save Baxter Read, for his biggest enemy he has to battle is himself. Our worlds were stretched too far apart ¨C in the eyes of the ton, under their waging tongues - we had to remain what we always were - strangers.

 Roses and tears (part 1)

    I stiffly dragged my feet into our townhouse with Janine following right behind me. My hair was horribly disheveled from the persistent gusts of wind and my dress completely ruined. I certainly looked like I had a row with the innkeeper himself.

    ¡°Dear Lord, sweetie! What in God¡¯s name happened to you?¡± My eyes immediately widened when I heard my aunt¡¯s falsely honeyed voice.

    ¡°Aunt Abby,¡± I forced myself to curtsy all the while being painfully aware of my drastically increased heartbeat. What was she doing here? ¡°Only a slight incident. Nothing to worry about.¡±

    The only thing I wished for was to barricade myself in my bedroom ¨C away from her curious scrutinizing gaze which travelled from my toes all the way up to my bird¡¯s nest. I fought the impulse to shrink away from her sharp, all-knowing eyes as I straightened my posture.

    ¡°Ashlyn!¡± Dear God!¡± Papa and Mama rushed into the reception room.

    I defensively put my hands in front of me. ¡°I was only spilled with a raspberry juice. I can assure you that all is well.¡±

    ¡°So, how is Lord Stanley, my dear?¡± Mama asked me, before she plucked a stray rose leaf out of my hair.

    How in the name of Lord did that get tangled in there?

    ¡°Lord Stanley? What has Lord Stanley to do with this?¡± My aunt suspiciously raised her eyebrow. That woman ¨C like a bloodthirsty hound ¨C had an astonishing ability to sniff out all the nonsense. I didn¡¯t count on her visit and now I found myself trapped inside the web of deceit I¡¯d so clumsily fabricated.

    ¡°I was invited for a visit...¡± I said hesitantly. My eyes nervously twitched to horrified Janine, who twirled around and dashed into the servants¡¯ quarters.

    ¡°Were you now?¡± Aunt Abby unglued ger gaze from the leaf. ¡°So, was his fianc¨¦e, Lady Hewitt aware of your appointment?¡± Her voice was like a sharp steel knife.

    She was well aware of the fact that I was lying and she was prepared to toy with me until I admitted the truth.

    ¡°I, uh ¡­¡± I helplessly turned to my parents ¨C ignorant of what to say or how to evade the impeding predicament.

    ¡°Ashlyn? What is the meaning of this?¡± My father pinned me with his piercing look.

    But before I could open my mouth, I was rather fortunately rescued by the loud knocking noise. Janine rushed into the hallway, gasping with astonishment as she hesitantly ushered the visitor inside. I am quite certain my jaw dropped to the floor when the person entered the reception room.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    This day was without a doubt a very unfortunate day.

    ¡°Heavens! What are you doing here, Your Grace?¡± I hissed at Baxter Read.

    ¡°Ashlyn, your manners!¡± My mother barked out with outrage.

    ¡°This a-accident was m-my fault,¡± he pointed at my now almost pink dress. ¡°It¡¯s o-only f-fair that I p-properly apologize. Lord Caldwell, Lady Caldwell,¡± he lowered his head with respect, but only fleetingly acknowledged my aunt. ¡°L-Lady Abigail.¡±

    She appeared positively radiant ever since he entered the room, but definitely not because of his charming presence.

    ¡°But of course, Your Grace! Please do not trouble yourself with such things!¡± Exclaimed father with wide eyes before sending me a questioning look.

    I couldn¡¯t help but to feel dread in my stomach as I knew where this was leading. I was absolutely certain my father ruminated over the possible ways how to rescue her defiled daughter.

    ¡°Please do not misunderstand us ¨C we are very honored you graced us with your presence, however, do tell us what exactly is going on here?¡± My aunt smiled sweetly, while feigning ignorance.

    ¡°I a-accidentally spilled L-Lady Ashlyn¡¯s d-dress with r-raspberry juice,¡± he admitted with embarrassment.

    Aunt¡¯s face lit up like a Christmas tree. ¡°Oh?¡± She turned to me with mock surprise. ¡°Prey tell dearest niece, weren¡¯t you at Lord Stanley¡¯s townhouse?¡±

    ¡°Ashlyn...?¡± My mother hissed all the while glancing between me and His Grace.

    ¡°No,¡± I admitted begrudgingly. ¡°His Grace here kindly invited me to take a look at his spectacular rose garden.¡±

    ¡°Oh, of course!¡± My aunt nodded. ¡°It was His Grace who sent you these beautiful bouquets after all,¡± she indicated at the vases filled with white roses, occupying every available space in the room.

    ¡°Is that so?¡± My mother¡¯s head snapped back to Baxter Read. Her previous suspiciousness hastily replaced with calculating curiosity. ¡°That is very kind of you, Your Grace.¡±

    I pinched the bridge of my nose, sensing the uprising of the impending doom. ¡°Auntie how do you know who sent me the roses?¡± I inquired distrustfully.

    ¡°Well, I overheard you and Edith at the masquerade ball,¡± her voice dangerously lowered. ¡°But most importantly; don¡¯t you think it¡¯s quite scandalous that you were alone with this young Lady... Your Grace?¡± Aunt Abby gave him a slow, malicious smile.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t alone with him!¡± I jumped in before he could answer. ¡°Janine was with me.¡±

    ¡°Oh really? Who can confirm that?¡± She challenged me.

    ¡°I c-can,¡± Read told her sternly. ¡°M-Miss Janine and m-my servants c-can confirm t-this as w-well.¡±

    ¡°Servants?¡± She laughed rather mockingly. ¡°Servants are easily bribed, Your Grace. As for you, you can say anything you like, but it doesn¡¯t make it believable.¡±

    ¡°A-Are you t-threatening me, M-My Lady?¡± His Grace¡¯s eyes dangerously narrowed at her.

    Without thinking I placed my hand on his forearm, willing him to calm down. However, this miniature gesture turned out to be quite crucial ¨C a grave mistake I should¡¯ve foreseen.

    Aunt¡¯s eyes darted to where our hands touched, smiling widely. ¡°I see you two have grown very fond of each other. When you so suddenly disappeared during the masquerade ball, I noticed he was missing too. What a coincidence, isn¡¯t it so, Ashlyn?¡±

    It appeared as though the witch had planned for such an inescapable outcome. And I just served her a brilliant solution on a silver platter.

    ¡°I was in a need of visiting ladies¡¯ room,¡± I snapped at her.

 Roses and tears (part 2)

    Aunt Abby let out an irked snort. ¡°Of course,¡± her hands shot in the air in a gesture of helplessness. ¡°Ah, what is done is done.¡±

    ¡°What are you talking about?¡± I asked with bewilderment.

    ¡°I am afraid I cannot sponsor your season anymore. At least not after such a... dishonourable misdeed. It¡¯s ruining my reputation,¡± she pouted dramatically while inspecting her scarlet nails.

    I could no longer maintain my composure. ¡°What reputation? Of a drunk, bitter matron? Or mistress of a man who could easily be your son?¡± I yelled at her.

    ¡°Ashlyn! What came over you?¡± My father watched me with disbelief.

    Aunt Abby winced at my sudden outburst, giving me her best venomous look. ¡°You, ungrateful little child!¡± She sneered. ¡°Good luck finding a proper husband, because now ¨C without any funds - you are done for!¡±

    ¡°My Lady, there i-is no n-need for i-insulting L-Lady Ashlyn!¡± His Grace¡¯s jaw was painfully clenched as he watched her retreating figure.

    She pivoted on her heel and shot him an appraising glare. ¡°You¡¯d better fix this mess quickly, Your Grace. We don¡¯t want it to become a public scandal... don¡¯t we?¡± The corners of her mouth turned up into a sinister smile, before she ¨C without another word - stormed out.

    ¡°Abigail!¡± My mother called after her, her face twisted with horror and disbelief.

    I watched the scene unfold with numb dissociation. This was the outcome I feared the most and now my unspeakable nightmare seemed to be turning into reality.

    There had to be another way for I was not marrying Baxter Read. Not even over my dead body.

    ¡°Your Grace, please step into my study. I believe we should talk about this¡­ Situation,¡± father gestured between Baxter and me.

    ¡°Papa! No!¡± I rushed forward and grabbed his hand. ¡°Please! Nothing she says is true!¡±

    He pried my fingers off his wrist. ¡°It¡¯s not me you should be begging, daughter. If my sister should spread the rumors, your reputation will be in ruins.¡±

    And without a doubt in my mind, I knew she would. She planned this right from the start. She wanted me to have a miserable, terrible marriage and who was a better candidate than Baxter Read?

    ¡°Come now, Your Grace,¡± said my father, indicating for the younger man to join him.

    ¡°Papa! Papa no! Don¡¯t do this, Papa!¡± I yelled out desperately. ¡°Don¡¯t do this, please!¡±

    I felt Mama¡¯s hands around my waist, pulling me away from my father.

    ¡°You promised me I could chose the man I loved!¡±

    ¡°This was before you behaved this irresponsibly!¡± My father spat, glaring at me.

    I felt tears running down my cheeks as he and Baxter disappeared out of my sight.

    ¡°Mama, you have to help me! I cannot marry His Grace!¡± I cried shamelessly. Like a little child I let myself be swept into her comforting embrace.

    ¡°Hush my dear. I am afraid I can¡¯t do much to help. Why would you visit the gentleman if you don¡¯t want to be involved with him?¡±

    ¡°I only wanted to be nice,¡± I whispered. ¡°He saved me from Lord Tinley once and he also brought me home from Lady Wyatt¡¯s ball. I would freeze to death if it weren¡¯t for him.¡± I admitted.

    Her forehead creased with confusion. ¡°I thought Abigail and Lord Aidan brought you?¡±Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°Well, she claimed she had forgotten me. How convenient,¡± I snorted, studying the amazement reflecting in my mother¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°I have to admit I was quite surprised when she offered you and Edith a sponsorship, but your father agreed so I didn¡¯t question it. I wish there was another way...¡± I watched her rub her temples. ¡°I am so sorry.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not your fault Mama, neither is Papa¡¯s. It¡¯s solely aunt Abigail¡¯s and mine. I should have stayed away from Baxter Read; to avoid all this mayhem,¡± I added, sniffling.

    ¡°I¡¯ve heard of his reputation, but I believe he¡¯s a kind and a generous man, Ashlyn. Didn¡¯t you say you wanted that? Someone who would treat you right?¡± She reasoned with me while gently patting my hand.

    ¡°I did Mama, but Baxter Read -¡± My shoulders sagged as I exhaled loudly. ¡°-He is too different.¡±

    Mother sympathetically nodded at me. ¡°I know that you wanted love, but love can come in many ways. It may not be a wild, passionate bond between you two, but respect and friendly affection can be just as good,¡± she took my hands in hers. ¡°It¡¯s not the end of the world.¡±

    I gulped as I felt the tears streaming down my face. ¡°Then why do I feel like it is? He is so hard to understand, Mama, so hard to like.¡±

    She closed her eyes ¨C to hide the traces of pity and sadness. ¡°You have to be brave now, my daughter ¨C no matter what shall befall you.¡±

    **

    I sat on my bed with knees pressed tight against my chest, rocking back and forth as I quietly hiccupped into the juice-stained material.

    Jane sat beside me, gazing at me with pity in her eyes.

    We waited in silence for His Grace and Papa to finish their discussion about my future, awaiting the dreadful verdict.

    I felt like one of those colorful parrots auntie had in the parlor ¨C once free to fly, however when captured - confined within the bars of their irony cages. The murky thought pushed my mind into the contest of swirling ideas, no matter how absurd or unattainable they were.

    I suddenly stilled, widening my eyes. ¡°I must run away!¡±

    ¡°How?¡± Jane scrunched up her nose. ¡°You don¡¯t know the first thing about surviving in the real world.¡±

    She was right, as always, but I was stubbornly insistent. ¡°I will marry a wealthy merchant or a captain of the vessel! After that I will sent for you or¡­. Or I¡¯ll send you some money. I don¡¯t know, but I will think of something!¡±

    ¡°Sister, that is insanity!¡±

    ¡°Jane, I am not marrying His Grace Baxter. There is no way,¡± I said with a low grain of confidence.

    ¡°Maybe you won¡¯t have to! Just wait for Papa to tell you what they¡¯d decided on a matter,¡± she reasoned with me, probably afraid my desperate state will maim me into committing something brash and foolish.

    No matter how much I wanted to, I could not act so selfishly. My family needed the money and for them and only them I was prepared to girth my teeth and stand my ground.

    I heard the inevitable knocking and the supposedly soft sound turned into a shuddersome thundering noise. Stubbornly wiping away my tears, I straightened the hopelessly wrinkled dress and opened the door.

    ¡°Papa,¡± my voice came out choked and raspy. I felt a horrible sense of dread filling my insides which transformed my body into an icy sculpture.

    ¡°So? What has been decided?¡± Jane hopped off the bed and joined my side.

    Father appeared pained as he looked away from us. ¡°Your betrothal will be announced in the newspaper first thing in the morning.¡±

    My face paled at the horrifying news. I had to tightly clutch the bed frame to prevent myself from collapsing. I was never prone to fainting, but this situation was simply calling for it. ¡°No,¡± I whispered. ¡°Why, Papa?¡±

    ¡°Be grateful to him for wanting to do a respectable thing by you,¡± Papa said angrily.

    ¡°Can we just persuade aunt Abby to keep quiet?¡± I begged him, willing him to change his mind.

    ¡°It¡¯s not just about Abby. What about the servants or the people who spotted you there? They talk, Ashlyn!¡± His face was now scarlet with bulging veins scattered on his forehead.

    ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t...¡± I sighed, looking toward the ceiling.

    ¡°Exactly, you didn¡¯t think! Now stop weeping and face the reality. He¡¯s a good and respectable gentleman. He may not be the handsomest or the most pleasant man to be around, but he will treat you right,¡± he repeated what mother said to me.

    I knew my father was right, this wasn¡¯t Baxter¡¯s fault and I needed to accept that marriage will happen in the near future. But I couldn¡¯t fight the sorrow that raged in my wounded heart. And what about Jared? What about all the happy hours we spent together while growing up? No matter his foolish behavior I still felt a pull toward him, I still missed the boy I used to know. The same boy that picked me flowers, held my hand when I was scared and carried me home when I got hurt. Because Jared was always just that - everything I ever knew.

    But now I felt hurt and confused for the same man was now distancing himself from the kindhearted, happy boy I used to spend my days playing with.

    I buried my face in my hands as I could no longer control my emotions. I felt like screaming. If only I could rewind the time and fix mistakes that led me to this unavoidable faith.

    ¡°His Grace Read will be here tomorrow first thing so we can discuss the details of your marriage. You¡¯d better get some rest,¡± with that my father left the room.

    I felt Jane¡¯s slender arms slip onto my shoulders. ¡°Everything will work out sister,¡± she caressed my head as though I was the little child. ¡°Have faith.¡±

 Marriage arrangements (part 1)

    I raised my skirts as I descended the stairs to join my parents and His Grace Read in the office. I entered with my head held high, ignoring my quivering chin.

    ¡°Good morning, Your Grace,¡± I curtsied in front him. He immediately raised from his chair, almost tripping over his freshly polished shoes as he did so.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± I forced my smile as he hastly pulled out a chair for me. ¡°Can I ring for some tea? Or perhaps biscuits?¡± I smiled sweetly.

    Out of my peripheral vision I saw my mother giving me an approving look. That is how a nice, well-mannered lady should behave.

    Except I felt numb and empty, like a marionette hanging on invisible strings and left at the whim of the puppeteer.

    ¡°N-No, thank y-you,¡± Baxter gave me a pained look as if he sensed my resignation toward him. ¡°Should w-we c-continue?¡±

    Even with all the pleasantries, the atmosphere was melancholic, hanging thick and heavy between us.

    ¡°Of course, You Grace. What do you suggest? When and where should the wedding take place?¡± My father turned to face the Duke, while clasping his hands and placing them on the table.

    ¡°I-I recommend t-the St. M-Mary¡¯s Whitechapel and a-after the c-ceremony a b-brunch could b-be held in m-my townhouse. D-Dining room is b-big enough to accommodate at least 50 p-people,¡± he looked at me for affirmation, but I kept my gaze fixed on the cup, pretending I was absorbed with my steaming black tea. He didn¡¯t need to see the tears glistening in my eyes.

    ¡°That is an excellent idea, Your Grace!¡± My mother beamed, nudging me under the table.

    ¡°After a m-month or so w-we will retreat t-to my e-estate in Manchester.¡±

    His unexpected announcement turned my blood cold.

    ¡°What?¡± My head snapped toward him with sheer dread.

    ¡°H-Honestly, I a-am tired of London¡¯s p-pace of l-living.¡±

    I could not control my overflowing emotions any longer. ¡°What about Mama and Papa? And Jane? Or Edith?¡± I turned to my mother, quietly willing her to say something. What about Jared, I thought to myself.

    ¡°T-They can v-visit as m-much as t-they like. T-They are w-welcome anytime,¡± he said tiredly but in such a manner that left no room for conflict. He¡¯s eyes didn¡¯t shine as they usually do, instead they looked defeated and downright drained. The shadows under the eyelids showed he didn¡¯t sleep any better that I did.

    At least he didn¡¯t cry himself to sleep.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°Of course,¡± I averted my gaze and glanced out of the window. I will be trapped with him in the middle of nowhere, without the company of my family and friends.

    ¡°T-The wedding w-will take p-place one w-week after t-today,¡± I heard him say.

    ¡°I agree, Your Grace. There is no need to delay the ceremony and risk spreading the rumors,¡± my father added.

    ¡°Alright.¡± Mother rose to her feet. ¡°We should leave His Grace and Ashlyn to talk,¡± she pointedly looked at my father and discreetly nudged him out of the room.

    I stepped toward the window, pretending I wasn¡¯t aware of his presence behind me. Painful and heavy silence hung in the air, making the situation even more uncomfortable.

    ¡°L-Lady Ashlyn, I k-know this will be v-very difficult f-for you. B-But I can assure you I-I will make this easy for both o-of us. T-This¡­ Arrangement w-will be beneficial to your f-family. And I-I need an h-heir.¡±

    I discretely grimaced at the thought of sleeping with him. I was scared - or better ¨C I was petrified of giving my body to him.

    ¡°I am a-aware this m-marriage is a necessity, but a-at least we could be friendly and p-polite t-toward each o-other,¡± he reasoned.

    Of course, his statement was perfectly rational and practical.

    ¡°I agree, Your Grace,¡± I pivoted around to face him. ¡°What is done is done,¡± I tried to stifle the creeping tremble in my tone, but failed magnificently.

    ¡°I-I am s-sorry; it is my f-fault. If it w-weren¡¯t for m-me, you wouldn¡¯t be m-missed at the b-ball and most c-certainly you w-wouldn¡¯t be seen e-entering my h-house,¡± he said dejectedly.

    ¡°Nonsense, Your Grace! This is none of your fault!¡±

    I was warned to stay away from him, yet I didn¡¯t listen. I¡¯ve made my own bed, so now I had to lay in it.

    ¡°S-So... The w-weather has c-cleared out,¡± he announced after another period of silence.

    We were about to marry and he wanted to discuss the weather?

    ¡°It s-should be s-sunny today, w-with 75 d-degrees. A-Although n-nights will be q-quite chilly, I b-believe.¡±

    This was not happening.

    ¡°Your Grace,¡± I cut him off. ¡°I wish to deliver the news to Edith if you don¡¯t mind. Can we discuss this matter later?¡±

    I knew my mother would die from a heart attack if she found out I dismissed a Duke. However, she was not present and I honestly had enough of weather for a lifetime. Sadly, I will be hearing a lot more on the subject when him and I would be married.

    ¡°Of c-course. Can I o-offer y-you a r-ride?¡± He asked politely.

    ¡°Thank you, Your Grace, but Janine already hired a Hackney, so it won¡¯t be necessary.¡± I felt bad when I noticed a glint of disappointment in his eyes, but one week of freedom was all I had left and I wasn¡¯t keen on spending it on weather or horses.

    I waited for his carriage to disappear out of my sight. I peeked over the window like a bandit in ambush.

    ¡°Now Janine!¡± I called out to my loyal helper. We rushed down the stairs and straight into the awaiting Hackney.

    ¡°Oh Miss!¡± She giggled like a misbehaving school girl. ¡°You can¡¯t avoid him forever!¡±

    ¡°No more weather and horses!¡± I hissed. ¡°I will try my best to bear it when I marry the man.¡±

    ¡°I sympathize,¡± she puckered her lips and glanced down at her hands. ¡°You will be dearly missed... Ashlyn.¡±

    ¡°Janine?¡± I turned to her. ¡°I was thinking last night and I wanted to make a proposal.¡±

    She tilted her head and curiously raised her eyes. ¡°Anything Miss.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve known each other for quite a while now and I must say the thought of not having you around pains me. So... I was wondering, if you¡¯d like to go with me? It is your decision and I understand if you¡¯d rather stay in London.¡±

    Janine¡¯s eyes immediately watered. She leaped at me and grasped my hands. ¡°Of course, I will go with you! I cannot imagine being here without you, Miss!¡±

    I wrapped my arms around her shoulders, fighting against the wave of tears. ¡°Thank you, Janine. This means the world to me.¡±

 Marriage arrangements (part 2)

    ¡°Can you please explain what is the meaning of this?¡± Jared roared. He looked downright livid as he certainly didn¡¯t try to hide how displeased he was with the news.

    ¡°What is this, Ashlyn?¡± He laughed bitterly. ¡°Why in God¡¯s name are you marring him? Don¡¯t tell me you care for this fool because I know you¡¯d be lying!¡±

    Edith winced at her brother¡¯s sudden outburst.

    ¡°Jared, enough!¡± She glared at him.

    ¡°No, Edith! I want her to explain!¡± He slapped Edith¡¯s hand off his shoulder.

    ¡°My aunt suddenly withdrew her sponsorship and he offered to save me from the scandal by becoming my husband. Of course, my father would never refuse him, so here I am - betrothed to him.¡± I straightened my posture.

    ¡°No... But why would she do that?¡± Edith inquired with astonishment.

    My aunt¡¯s recklessness hasn¡¯t affected only myself. I was painfully aware that Edith¡¯s season was also in ruins. And the fact that she might not be able to choose whom she desired ached more than my marriage with Baxter.

    ¡°She never indented to help us. My parents¡¯ situation amused her and served as an opportunity to wreck our reputation further. This was her plan all along and I am truly sorry you were caught in the middle.¡± I carefully let out the detail that I got cornered after visiting His Grace¡¯s gardens.

    Jared franticly pulled at the ends of his blonde strands. ¡°Nonsense! Can¡¯t it be fixed somehow?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. The wedding will be held in St. Mary¡¯s Whitechapel, so I came here to extend the invitation,¡± I said bitterly.

    ¡°This is madness!¡± Jared banged his fist against the wall. The horrid state he was in wasn¡¯t because of me. His bloodshot eyes and disheveled appearance were the result of Bonnie¡¯s rejection. Apparently, he decided to mend his broken heart with Cognac.

    ¡°Is it true that you are courting Lady Wyatt, Jared?¡± I glanced at Edith who disappointedly shook her head.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted. ¡°Since I lost Bonnie,¡± his voice cracked and he took a swig of liquor to drown the pain. ¡°I have no other option.¡±

    For a swift moment I felt guilt burning my chest, for I was the reason that Bonnie didn¡¯t want him any longer. But deep down I knew I made the right decision. Jared, the boy I once adored so much was now a changed man. He indulged in alcohol, women and gambling to fill the empty void inside him.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

    ¡°I always teased you about His Grace Read, but I¡¯ve never imagined it would turn into reality!¡± Edith stepped closer to me and grasped my hands between hers. ¡°I am so sorry, Ashlyn.¡±

    But unfortunately, it has.

    ¡°We¡¯ll remain here in London for about a month, then we¡¯ll be traveling to Manchester.¡± I gazed at her with grief. ¡°Promise me you and His Grace Andrew will visit.¡±

    ¡°Of course, when we marry, we¡¯ll be there first thing.¡±

    My arms instantly wrapped around her thin figure. It somehow felt as though I was already saying goodbye to her. I realized I must cease with this kind of negative outlook and focus on the positive.

    ¡°What?¡± Jared bolted from his seat and dangerously wobbled on his feet. ¡°You will be leaving London?¡±

    At this point the fall was inevitable. He tripped over his boots and collapsed like a heavy sack of cement.

    ¡°Jared!¡± Edith rushed toward her brother. ¡°Hold on! I will fetch the butler.¡±

    As she disappeared, Jared raised to his feet. His expression was a grotesque mask, twisted into a mocking sneer. ¡°If that fool thinks he can take you away from me, he is very mistaken! I won¡¯t let it, Ashlyn! You hear me? I won¡¯t let it!¡± He roared drunkenly.

    I watched him in complete horror and he spat and cursed.

    ¡°Damn fool!¡± He shouted, his booming voice resonating through the space. ¡°He is weak, Ashlyn! A coward!¡±

    I was relieved when the butler finally burst into the room and grasped the stumbling Jared by his waist. The enormous man hoisted him up with a surprising ease ¨C as if he was used of doing it - supporting his sagging body as he half-carried him out.

    ¡°I apologize,¡± Edith murmured.

    ¡°What happened to him, Edith? I cannot recognize him anymore.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ve lost a lot of money Ashlyn, more than he led on. When I glanced at the ledger... The amount of debt is harrowing,¡± she sighed with sorrow. ¡°It¡¯s necessary for us to marry as quickly as possible.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Edith,¡± I placed my hand over hers. ¡°I am so sorry about your season.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about us. I am going to marry His Grace Andrew. He already proposed, Ashlyn. We wanted to announce it in a few days, but with your wedding coming on perhaps we should wait for a little bit longer,¡± she admitted enthusiastically, beaming like a ray of sunshine.

    ¡°Edith!¡± I leaped at her. ¡°Congratulations! I am so happy for you!¡±

    Although ecstatic, I couldn¡¯t help myself to feel a pang of jealousy of the love they had for each other.

    ¡°Thank you! But quite honestly, I can¡¯t stop worrying about the horrid news you¡¯ve delivered today,¡± she admitted.

    ¡°I will be all right, Edith.¡± I assured her as I put on my bravest face.

    ¡°It¡¯s His Grace Baxter Read we are talking about. How can one be happy at the thought of marrying him? He is a walking disaster and we all know it. And the wedding night,¡± she continued to wring her hands. ¡°Oh God, Ashlyn. I cannot even imagine ¡­¡±

    ¡°Edith please, let¡¯s not think about it any further.¡± I pleaded with her, feeling dread creeping into my belly.

    ¡°I just want you to be happy, my dear friend.¡±

    ¡°And I will be.¡±

    There may never be a wild passion or the kind of love novels spoke about between me and Baxter, but I will do my best to build our relationship on a mutual respect and understanding. My family needed me, and I had to swallow my pride and childish desires and do what was expected of me.

 Wedding bells (part 1)

    I walked down the church aisle, clutching my father¡¯s hand for a dear life. I tried to hide my fear and terror from all the gawking guests who stared at me with pity and sympathy. Their looks made me feel even more miserable and I gulped down the tears which threatened to spill down my cheeks.

    I fiddled with the fabric of my white wedding gown. The veil covered my face, acting as a shield as it hid my very evident feelings of misery from the crowd and the groom. My hair was clipped into an elegant twist updo with a coronet of flowers sitting on top of my head. The coronet was woven out of pale rose buds and gypsophila stems, picked from Baxter¡¯s garden.

    I tightened my hands gloved with white kid into fists, taking a few deep calming breaths. All I thought about was to take one step at the time without glancing around.

    I was partially aware of Edith, Jane, Bonnie and Alison walking beside me as my bridesmaids, each carrying a basket of herbs. It was considered a tradition to scare the evil spirits away while scattering about the fragrant mixture. I would much rather see they¡¯d dumped the baskets on aunt Abby for she was the only demon allowed to enter the Lord¡¯s house.

    Eventually we stopped in front of the clergyman and the parish clerk, standing next to the mahogany table.

    Baxter Read looked rather comical and uncomfortable in his extravagant blue frock coat with white rose boutonniere fastened on his lapel. Underneath the upper layer of clothing, he wore snowy white waistcoat paired with lavender doeskin trousers.

    The best man, Lord Bradford Stanley stood next to him and contrary to the groom he seemed absolutely delighted.

    ¡°Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony,¡± the plump clergyman announced with opened arms.

    I stopped listening to him, allowing my eyes to travel around the church and at last halting on Jared.

    He was slouched in his seat next to Lord Travis and Andrew, all the while shooting deadly glares at my future husband. His clothes were awfully wrinkled and smudged as though he spent the night drinking clothed in his formal attire. Apparently, Lady Wyatt didn¡¯t mind his disheveled state, since she kept lustfully ogling him. My aunt sat next to the lustful woman; her face adorned with a smug smile. There was no doubt how pleased she was with the turnout of her scheme.

    ¡°Do you Lady Ashlyn Caldwell take His Grace Baxter Read to be your lawfully wedded husband and live together forever in the estate of holy matrimony? Do you love, comfort, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    I suddenly awoke from my daze as I felt how the guests¡¯ eyes expectantly flickered to me. They were like vultures, curiously leaning in as if expecting a juicy scandal.

    The minister discreetly cleared his throat.

    ¡°I-I do.¡± I hurriedly stuttered before nervously glancing at Baxter. My heart screamed at me to turn away and run as fast as my legs carried me. But I remained motionless.

    After we exchanged the wows, Baxter put a ring on my finger. It was a simple, yet beautiful golden band, engraved with our initials.

    This was the first time I actually looked him straight in the eye and by his solemn expression, there was no doubt he wanted to be finished with it as much as I did.

    ¡°I now pronounce you husband and wife,¡± loudly announced the clergyman and blessed our union. ¡°You may kiss the bride,¡± he urged, smiling.

    Panic enveloped my whole body as Baxter slowly stepped closer to me. I couldn¡¯t do this. I wanted to move, to protest but my limbs were numb. He slowly raised the veil, but instead of kissing me he briefly brushed his lips against my cheek.

    I let out a sigh of relief, but it was short lived when I realized I¡¯ll still have to go through the wedding night.

    I could hardly believe as the ceremony finally came to an end. I shakily signed my name in the parish register.

    As though in a hazy dream I exited the church while holding Baxter under his arm.

    With his help I stepped into the carriage that planned to drive us to Baxter¡¯s townhouse - now my new home.

    We sat there in choking silence, listening to horses¡¯ hooves clicking down the rock-strewn path. The long line of guests¡¯ carriages trailed right behind us, with Papa¡¯s being the closest.

    It felt like an eternity until we stopped at a beautifully and elaborately decorated house. Flowers and bouquets were placed everywhere. There was even a path made of rose petals, leading inside the reception room.

    After the finished morning ceremony, a banquet for the newlyweds and their guests was to be held in the grand dining room.

    Crispy white linen covered the heavy mahogany surface, embroidered with pale yellow sunflowers. There was another bouquet of white roses placed in the middle of long u-shaped rectangle tables, which were pushed together and already served and prepared for the feast.

    Lit candles were placed on top of wooden chestnut pillar holders, their flickering flames mixing with the faint forenoon rays. Every table carried a pitcher, filled with either red wine or water, crystal glasses, brand new silverware and hand-woven wicker baskets filled with succulent fruit.

    I followed my husband to sit at the head of the table, surrounded by my family.

    My father¡¯s cheeks were bright scarlet, his eyes glistening with pride and joy. He seemed ecstatic that his debts will finally be settled, therefore he was completely oblivious to my inner turmoil. On the other hand, Mama and Jane knew exactly how I felt, since both of them kept sending me worried and sympathy-filled glances.

    Even Edith, Bonnie and Alison were all unusually quiet. Bonnie¡¯s eyes - reasonably so - were fixed on her filled plate. Her otherwise bright face was now ghostly white, whilst she avoided Jared¡¯s stare which desperately bore into her.

    Frowning, he filled his glass with wine and greedily chugged the liquid down his throat.

    Next to him sat Lady Wyatt, who possessively rested her hand on his knee, glaring at everyone who dared to raise their eyebrows and question her peculiar preference for the young gentleman.

 Wedding bells (part 2)

    Without the need to interpret his behavior ¨C as it was painfully obvious ¨C I knew he was miserable. Every now and then he looked over the rim of his glass, his eyes travelling from me to Bonnie, his grimace deepening every time he did so.

    Realizing I was paying more attention to Jared than my own husband, I forced my body to face Baxter.

    He looked painfully out of place amongst the guests, even though it was his own wedding. His eyes were fixated on one particular piece of fruit lying on his plate, his brows knitted with uneasiness. I noticed small droplets of sweat forming on his temples as his chest rose and fell with rapid breaths. He wanted to pour himself a glass of water, but his shaky fingers almost knocked over my father¡¯s glass of wine.

    I pushed my untouched glass toward him, ignoring all the raised brows and mocking glances directed his way. I even heard ¡°a poor fool¡± coming out of Lady Wyatt¡¯s mouth.

    Baxter didn¡¯t seem to appreciate my assistance as his cheeks flamed further.

    ¡°Excuse me,¡± he swiftly raised to his feet, trying to avert his face as it burned with humiliation. Stunned, I watched him rush out of the dining room and almost colliding with a waiter who desperately tried to balance plates of meat in his hands.

    Spiteful snickers and snorts circled about the room, their echoes resonating in my ears like a discordant melody. I glared at everyone who dared to so blatantly mock my husband, but my desperate attempts to quench the impending disaster were fruitless.

    ¡°I¡¯d better go after him,¡± I sighed before I stood up.

    After combing through every room, I still came up empty, for the man was nowhere in sight.

    ¡°James!¡± I noticed Baxter¡¯s butler standing in the kitchen, giving out instructions for the servers.

    ¡°Yes, My Lady?¡± He pivoted on his feet and raised his thick graying brows. If I didn¡¯t know better, I¡¯d be cowering under his severe stare. His hands were clasped behind his back and his chin proudly raised. Although James was not a tall man, his firm posture and serious demeanor compensated for the obvious shortfall.

    ¡°Have you perhaps noticed His Grace?¡± I asked him with slight impatience. ¡°I am unable to find him.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I believe he stepped outside for a minute,¡± the older man pointed at the back doors that lead to the gardens.

    I thanked him and rushed outside whilst glancing around in hopes of spotting him.

    Baxter sat on the bench beneath the big oak tree. His shoulders were sagged and his head lowered.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Your Grace!¡± I called out to him, but he didn¡¯t seem to hear me. ¡°Your Grace, are you feeling all right?¡± I inquired, out of breath as I finally managed to reach him.

    ¡°Y-yes, go b-back inside, p-please. I w-will be r-right back,¡± he didn¡¯t raise his head when he spoke. His fingers nervously played with the delicate rose bud, twirling it around until the petals slowly fell off.

    ¡°Can I join you?¡± I nodded toward the bench he was sitting on.

    ¡°I-I don¡¯t w-want to be impolite, but I-I would like t-to be left alone,¡± he said with a barely audible voice.

    ¡°But-¡± I started to protest.

    ¡°-Please, I w-will join y-you shortly. I p-promise,¡± he murmured, still gazing at the now wilted flower.

    ¡°If you insist.¡± I said hesitantly. I was torn between the need to comfort him and the compulsion to selfishly desert him. With guilt settling in my chest - as if hot branded into my soul - I twirled around and remorsefully walked back inside the house.

    I was appalled by the notion how guests haven¡¯t even noticed his absence. Inebriated, their cheeks became pink and their eyes glazed as they slowly drained his wine. Once hushed voices were now loud and jumbled, riddled with brazen commentary. As though mere pigs in the sty, they squealed over one another, their teeth glimmering in the dim light as they greedily tore the meat off the bones. Grease trickled to their chins, staining the collars of their lavish, undoubtedly recently purchased attires.

    ¡°How are you?¡± My head whipped at the unexpected question. Edith scooted to Baxter¡¯s empty chair and placed her hand on mine.

    ¡°Stunned,¡± I admitted. ¡°This,¡± I indicated at the luxuriously filled table and guests. ¡°Doesn¡¯t feel right. It¡¯s more like a twisted play pretend.¡±

    Edith winced at the crude belch, coming from across the room. ¡°Straight from the playhouse, indeed,¡± she nodded. ¡°Just look around,¡± she discretely pointed at my aunt and her snobby, completely drunken company. They howled with laughter while shouting obscenities at each other.

    ¡°I wish my father hadn¡¯t invited her,¡± I sneered at my aunt¡¯s inconsiderate behavior.

    ¡°True, but she¡¯s hardly your real problem,¡± Edith¡¯s tone suddenly turned serious.

    Peeling my gaze off my aunt, I caught Edit¡¯s stern, yet sympathetic look. ¡°And what would my real problem be?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe your life with Baxter Read? Or your incoming wedding night?¡± She lowered her voice so nobody could overhear her.

    ¡°Edith¡­¡± I started.

    ¡°No, Ashlyn,¡± she cut me off. ¡°Have you even thought about how lonely your life is going to be? Filled with misery. And how in God¡¯s name will you get through the wedding night? Or every night to be exact! It will be painful and terrible,¡± she shuddered at the thought.

    As if this situation wasn¡¯t already complicated enough, I noticed my husband taking a vacant seat next to my father. His stony face indicated he¡¯d heard every single word that came out of Edith¡¯s mouth.

    I suddenly felt nauseous and faint. We were barely married but there was already a thick and an unpleasant wall standing between us.

    ¡°Your Grace¡­¡± I stammered to apologize.

    He pretended not to notice. He avoided my pleading eyes whilst he calmly raised and walked off to join Lord Stanley.

    ¡°Why would you do that again Edith?!¡± I hissed at her, glaring into her completely stunned eyes.

    ¡°I am sorry, Ashlyn! I didn¡¯t notice him, I swear! He moves like a phantom!¡±

    Behind her frantic gaze there was a visible glint of shock and remorse.

    With a disbelieving sigh, I raised my head toward Baxter whose lips were now formed into a smile. The strain was gone, masked with calmness, as if nothing happened, as if nothing that others whispered behind his back had hurt him.

 Wedding bells (part 3)

    But it did hurt me.

    And after that the banquet spiraled into the worst nightmare.

    ¡°I hope the poor fool realizes she wouldn¡¯t touch him even with a cue stick,¡± Lady Wyatt loudly hiccupped.

    ¡°Oh dear! I believe she does feel something for him ¨C pity,¡± my aunt roared with laughter. They were so drunk they haven¡¯t even realized how loudly they were conversing.

    ¡°He¡¯s a coward, a stuttering fool. He¡¯s lucky he trapped her into a marriage,¡± an older Lord added.

    ¡°Revolting,¡± Lady Wyatt shuddered to emphasize the depths of her disgust.

    ¡°E-Enough!¡± Somebody roared. My jaw dropped as I saw Baxter looming above them, his hands clenched into fists.

    Lady Wyatt¡¯s eyes widened in horror and she hurriedly nudged Jared, who sat beside her. ¡°Darling!¡± She squeaked. ¡°Will you just sit there and leave this man to threaten us?¡±

    I haven¡¯t even realized the moment when I raised to my feet. ¡°How was that a threat?¡± I snorted in disbelief, glaring at the immoral matron.

    Intoxicated Jared lifted up his swaying body and leaned closer to Baxter. ¡°You better back off Read or I will demonstrate how a black eye looks like,¡± he slurred. People around him laughed, excluding my family who watched the incident, completely stupefied.

    In mere seconds I stepped around the table and forced the drunken man to step back. ¡°Jared, that¡¯s enough!¡±

    ¡°And you!¡± He stabbed a finger at me. ¡°Your own stupidity brought you here.¡±

    Baxter was instantly in his face, grabbing Jared by his collar. ¡°Y-you will not s-speak to h-her in such m-manner!¡± He hissed at him.

    A collective outraged gasp travelled around the table. Ladies clutched their hands, their eyes wide in astonishment.

    ¡°W-w-what w-will you d-do?¡± Jared mocked his speech impediment, before proudly looking around as guests maliciously grinned at his ill joke.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    And then everything happened in a blink of an eye. Baxter¡¯s fist collided with Jared¡¯s face with such force the man simply slumped to the ground.

    Ladies started to scream hysterically, calling Baxter a madman.

    ¡°I believe this celebration has come to an end!¡± My father announced loudly, positioning himself in front of Baxter. ¡°Leave,¡± he commanded, staring down at anyone who dared to disobey.

    I gaped at the disaster before my eyes. His Grace Andrew and Lord Travis lifted the unconscious Jared by his arms, intending to carry him outside.

    ¡°I apologize, Your Grace,¡± nodded Richards. ¡°He¡¯s a drunk, miserable fool. Oh, and congratulations on your wedding.¡±

    Lady Wyatt arrogantly brushed past me. Her hawk like snout sticking so far up, I could see the protruding dark nasal hair. ¡°Good luck, you poor wench,¡± she mused. ¡°May God bless you with house full of children.¡±

    ¡°At least I won¡¯t be an old miserable witch who has to buy off a drunk to love her,¡± I mumbled loud enough for her to hear me.

    Her jaw dropped in astonishment and pure shock. ¡°You unmannerly commoner!¡± She stubbornly stomped the ground. ¡°You will get yours, you¡¯ll see,¡± she pivoted on her heel and rushed out of the house.

    ¡°That was an utter disaster,¡± Jane¡¯s head peaked from behind my mother¡¯s skirts. She apparently assessed it was safe enough for her to make her presence known.

    ¡°I am sorry, daughter,¡± Papa placed his hand on my shoulder. ¡°I believe things should get better once you leave London.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to run, Papa!¡± I exclaimed with outrage. ¡°Just because of my aunt and that old witch!¡±

    ¡°Ashlyn!¡± My mother scolded, although the corners of her mouth twitched with a poorly concealed humor.

    ¡°I think it¡¯s time for us to leave the newlyweds to talk,¡± father sent a meaningful look to his wife and his youngest. ¡°We should depart.¡±

    ¡°Where is His Grace anyway?¡± I glanced around the disarrayed space, but he was nowhere to be found.

    ¡°He retreated into his study. Good luck, my little dove,¡± Papa leaned in to peck my forehead, before he nudged a waving Jane out of the room.

    My mother stepped closer to me while nervously twiddling with the hem of her gown. ¡°Try to relax as much as you can, daughter. That way it will be less... Painful,¡± she bit her lower lip, her eyes glimmering with concern. ¡°I promise you¡¯ll get used to it in time.¡±

    ¡°What are you¡­ Dear God, mother!¡± I gasped with horror when I realized what was she on about.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything else but lie still and suffer through it. It will become easier, eventually. Simply close your eyes and think about something you like,¡± she whispered.

    The message was however loud enough to send anxious shivers down my spine. Fright painfully pulsated through my veins, paralyzing my limbs.

    She must¡¯ve sensed how my muscles stiffened under her touch. ¡°It will be all right,¡± she assured me gently. ¡°His Grace is a good and polite man; he will not harm you I am certain of that. Good luck, my love,¡± were the last words she said to me before she disappeared out of view.

    And with that I was left alone with my swirling thoughts. Only a few moments ago the house was brimming with drunken sounds which now seemed almost less menacing than the defeating silence. I was left to face Baxter Read and I was nowhere near ready.

 The distance between us (part 1)

    ¡°Miss? Do you hear me?¡± Janine¡¯s fingers gently patted my shoulder.

    ¡°Hmm?¡± I hummed absentmindedly as I continued to stare at the needle tucked between my fingers.

    ¡°I¡¯ve already called your name three times, Ashlyn!¡± She scolded; however, her tone was laced with the evident trace of worry.

    With a loud theatrical sigh, she put away her dusting cloth and plopped down on my bed. ¡°All right. What exactly is going on?¡±

    ¡°You know what is going on, Janine,¡± I whispered, while I studied the harrowing attempt at embroidery on my handkerchief. What was supposed to be a rose, looked more like a somber pink potato.

    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be glad he hasn¡¯t tried to enter your chambers in the evenings,¡± she drawled with confusion.

    ¡°I am,¡± I nodded at her. ¡°But this feels so strange, Janine. Whenever we meet in the hallways, we barely acknowledge each other¡¯s presence. It¡¯s like we are strangers not newlyweds.¡±

    ¡°There was no love in your marriage Miss, so that¡¯s how it usually goes. It¡¯s only an arrangement. But be happy he isn¡¯t pressuring you into any¡­¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°Physical activities. You are free to do whatever you want.¡±

    ¡°I suppose so,¡± I sighed again.

    ¡°And you don¡¯t have to listen to him talk about weather and horses!¡± She exclaimed playfully.

    Her easy-going demeanor always made me smile, and I was entirely grateful for her effort. She was a wonderful ally and a companion.

    ¡°Oh, Janine! What would I do without you?¡± I hugged her small frame against my body.

    ¡°You¡¯d be done for, because you need me!¡± She winked as she pulled out of my crushing embrace. ¡°Now hurry up, breakfast is already served. James will have my head if the food gets cold,¡± her mouth grimaced distastefully.

    When I stepped into the dining room, I immediately spotted Baxter¡¯s sandy hair. He was slouched in his seat, completely engrossed in his newspaper.

    As usual I took the seat on the other end of the long table with at least five feet stretching between us.

    ¡°G-Good morning, h-have you s-slept well, My Lady?¡± He asked politely, plastering an artificial smile on his face.

    ¡°Yes, Your Grace, thank you,¡± I answered while pretending to dust of my dress. ¡°How was your night?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°V-Very well, t-thank you.¡±

    But judging by the shadows under his eyes I knew he was lying.

    Silence loomed in the room as we finished with pleasantries. There was nothing to say anymore, at least not until luncheon when he asked me how my day went. This went on for a week, ever since the awful wedding ceremony.

    I pushed the pieces of fruit around my plate, completely devoid of appetite.

    ¡°I think I will take a stroll this afternoon,¡± I announced, biting my lower lip.

    He didn¡¯t look up from the newspaper as he answered. ¡°G-Good. Just t-take Janine with y-you.¡±

    I wanted to scream out of frustration, jump on the table or tear his blasted newspaper out of his hands, anything to make him look up and acknowledge me.

    Jeanine was right, I should be happy with the freedom he was giving me. Any other gentleman wouldn¡¯t be so patient. I was scared of the unknown road this marriage was, but I was uneased by the silence more. I wanted to open my mouth, to say something, instead, I lowered my head in defeat. ¡°I will.¡±

    I abandoned my untouched plate and went to find Janine.

    *

    ¡°Such a nice day, Miss!¡± Janine stretched her hands above her head. ¡°But we mustn¡¯t wander too far. His Grace will be worried.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think he will notice, Janine,¡± I murmured.

    We walked down the street, greeting the friendly and the not so friendly neighbors.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you eat your breakfast, Ashlyn?¡± She remembered suddenly. Her round face transformed into a grimace, as if scolding a little disobedient child.

    ¡°I wasn¡¯t hungry. How do you know about that anyway? Oh, but of course ¡­ James.¡±

    ¡°Yes, James! The man is a nightmare, he is constantly reprimanding me. Janine you should know this, Janine you are doing it wrong!¡± She dramatically sighed and rolled her eyes.

    ¡°I saw how you look at him,¡± I playfully nudged her. ¡°You fancy him.¡±

    ¡°Is this supposed to be a joke, Miss? He¡¯s an old, grumpy man!¡± She said with a horrified expression; however, she was quick to avert her eyes.

    ¡°He is forty-five, hardly ancient and you are fifteen years younger than him. The age difference isn¡¯t uncommon.¡±

    ¡°Like I would ever consider marrying a man like him!¡± She snorted. ¡°Not likely! He¡¯s moody and domineering!¡±

    ¡°But he is such a charming gentleman, my dear friend! With his full pink lips like roses and eyebrows like bushes!¡± I covered my mouth to keep myself from laughing.

    ¡°You are mocking me,¡± she accused me with irritation. ¡°At least he doesn¡¯t talk about weather!¡±

    ¡°How would you know that?¡± I raised my brow while twirling toward her. ¡°Maybe he was the one who taught him that.¡±

    Her expression was horrified. ¡°One can only hope that¡¯s not the case.¡±

    She tilted her head to the side, her eyes warming as they landed on me. ¡°It¡¯s so nice to see you laugh, Ashlyn. I was worried about you. You were closed up behind the walls of your chamber for the whole week, barely coming out.¡±

    ¡°I am all right,¡± my eyes travelled skyward. ¡°It¡¯s just that I waited for some kind of miracle to prevent me from marrying. But when none came the reality crashed hard on me.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s not what you expected, Miss. You always were a romantic soul,¡± she smiled gently. ¡°Both you and your sister.¡±

    ¡°She believes in fairytales Janine, I don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°But I think you do. You always believed you¡¯ll find a nice gentleman who you¡¯ll fall in love and ride into the sunset with,¡± the corners of her mouth turned upward.

    ¡°Hardly,¡± I snorted bitterly.

    ¡°But you did. It¡¯s just that reality is much different, Ashlyn. There is rarely love involved when you marry someone for their wealth,¡± she stopped and forced me to look at her. ¡°But it will get better, I promise. You will get used to him. You still can have a somewhat happy marriage, just different from the one you dreamed of.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± I nodded. ¡°I should be happy I married a kind man, not some kind of a brute.¡±

    ¡°There you go! Now stop ruminating and worrying and start living!¡± She put her hand under my own and pulled me forward.

 The distance between us (part 2)

    Oh, and Ashlyn?¡± She suddenly added. ¡°Forget him, he isn¡¯t worth it. At least not anymore. He wandered too far from the respectful boy we used to know.¡±

    I instantly knew who she was talking about ¨C Jared.

    ¡°I am trying Janine, I really am.¡±

    But this time trying wasn¡¯t as hard when all the good memories of him were replaced with the bad ones. He was like a dream ¨C slowly paling with the time¡¯s uncompromisingly nimble pace.

    I was roused from my daze as soon as Janine¡¯s hand tightly wrapped around my wrist. ¡°Oh no! Dear God, anything but this!¡± She cried out in alarm.

    ¡°What is it?¡± I stared down at her paled face. The distraught woman behaved as though she has seen a ghostly figure.

    ¡°Oh! Lady Caldwell!¡± I could sense the gentleman¡¯s cold, low voice as it chilled me down to the bone. ¡°Pardon me! It¡¯s Read now, isn¡¯t it?¡± He announced mockingly.

    ¡°Lord Tinley,¡± I plastered a smile on my face, turning to face him with an absolute dread.

    He was even plumper than when I last saw him. His double chin wobbled as jelly whenever he spoke.

    ¡°It¡¯s an immense pleasure to see you again, Your Grace!¡± He barely managed to balance his wide figure when he attempted to bow in front of me.

    I still didn¡¯t grasp the fact that I was a Duchess now. The meaning of the prestigious title seemed somehow alien to me.

    ¡°Likewise, Lord,¡± I lied, my cheeks hurting from the false smile I plastered on my face.

    ¡°I would very much like to invite you for a tea, Your Grace. We have much to discuss,¡± he cleared his throat, watching me in such a manner that made my stomach roll.

    I had nothing to discuss with this man and I couldn¡¯t imagine what he wished to say to me.

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe we do, My Lord.¡± I shook my head, taking a step away from him.

    ¡°But, you see, I know what a pain it must be to be near such¡­¡± He lowered his voice, as he whispered conspiringly. ¡°Such an incompetent, foolish person.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what are you talking about My Lord, but you should stop insulting my husband,¡± I stated sternly.

    ¡°Oh, please, Duchess!¡± He licked his meaty lips, while his eyes darted over my body. ¡°Such a waste. You should have married me,¡± he murmured with lust simmering in his dark eyes.

    ¡°Behave yourself, My Lord!¡± I spat and took yet another precautionary step backward.

    ¡°For now, my dear. For now,¡± his voce held a threatening undertone as he looked straight into my eyes. ¡°I bid you good day, my love!¡± He lowered his head, before swiftly brushing past us.

    The second he was gone, I heard Janine¡¯s relieved exhale. ¡°What a repulsive man!¡±

    ¡°Most definitely. His kind are the worst. We have to be very careful not to bump into him again.¡±

    ¡°What did he mean when he said: For now?¡± She inquired. Usual joy was drained from her eyes, replaced by the undeniable fear.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Nothing good, I am afraid. That¡¯s why it¡¯s of an utmost importance to stay far away from him.¡± I grasped her hand with urgency. ¡°Let¡¯s get away from here. We already wandered too far from home.¡± I pulled her behind me, almost mindlessly running down the street. I couldn¡¯t shake the dreadful feeling that I was being watched and I had no wish to prove myself right.

    ¡°Miss! Wait!¡± Janine called out, completely out of breath when she hunched over. She placed her hands on her knees and attempted to catch her breath.

    I turned around to urge her to move forward, but in that moment my boot got caught in the cavity. I cried out in pain as I plummeted to the ground, clutching my leg as the excruciating pain radiated through my ankle.

    ¡°Miss!¡± Janine called, whilst rushing to my side. She pulled my leg free and examined my ankle. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s broken, but I am positive it¡¯s a sprain. Can you walk?¡±

    I nodded weakly, hoisting myself upward with her arm around my waist. I tried to take a step forward, but my leg gave way and I once again landed on a dusty road.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I can.¡± I moaned as I struggled to raise back to my feet. ¡°Janine you must fetch His Grace or James!¡±

    ¡°I cannot leave you here, Miss! What if that vile man decides to come back?¡±

    There was a sheer terror reflecting within her eyes.

    ¡°Then I will take his gun and shoot him,¡± I announced with dry humor. ¡°We can¡¯t be more than ten minutes away from home. I will be fine, I promise.¡±

    ¡°Oh, Ashlyn!¡± She wringed her hands in despair.

    ¡°Come on, Janine! Just help me to that rock.¡± I pointed at the barely visible rock positioned between the thick bushes. There was no way someone would notice me sitting there.

    She helped me to my feet, supporting my limping figure so I could reach the safety of the hidden haven.

    ¡°I will be right back!¡± Janine called out hesitantly. She turned on her heel and started running down the road.

    The uneasy feeling intensified with every minute that went by. The silence seemed ominous and every crackle in the forest behind me made me shudder. I wasn¡¯t raised to be a coward, but the way that Tinley¡¯s black eyes remained cemented inside my mind unnerved me deeply. I tried to distract myself with massaging my painful ankle, until I heard an undistinguishable sound of galloping. The sight of a disheveled Baxter Read jumping of his stallion was like seeing a light on a murky and hopelessly grim day.

    He didn¡¯t waste any time as he rushed toward me. ¡°H-How bad i-is it?¡± He went straight to assessing the damage on my wounded leg which was slightly swollen and red.

    ¡°Only a sprain I believe. Thank you for coming,¡± I gratefully smiled at him.

    ¡°Of-f course, I w-would never l-leave you like that. You a-are hurt,¡± his eyes were fixated on my ankle.

    ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. Where is Janine?¡±

    The touch of his fingers was gentle as they brushed along my foot. ¡°S-She stayed b-back at the h-house with J-James.¡±

    ¡°Oh, poor woman.¡± I scrunched my nose. ¡°I hope she isn¡¯t being scolded because of me.¡±

    ¡°I c-can''t say for s-sure, but I-I believe s-she is,¡± he finally raised his head. His amber eyes were like a warm cinnamon tea on a cold wintery day. ¡°We¡¯d b-better get h-home. Y-You n-need to rest.¡±

    ¡°I am not mortally wounded, Your Grace.¡± I smiled when I saw the intense feeling of concern in his eyes.

    I fully expected him to help me up, instead his arms swept me under my knees and lifted me up. He held me close to his chest as he carried me toward his horse. On every other occasion the man made me incredibly anxious, but now his presence was astonishingly calming. I couldn¡¯t quite ignore his appeasing fresh scent of roses and lavender sparkled with masculine notes of leather and sandalwood.

    ¡°Your Grace, I can climb onto the horse myself,¡± I protested as he lifted me into the saddle with such ease as though I weighed no more than a feather.

    My eyes unconsciously darted to his arms. He wore only a white muslin shirt with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His muscles bulged whenever his arms flexed. How was it possible that he was so strong? High society men didn¡¯t do any hard work to have chiseled figures like his. The only heavy lifting they did were poker cards and counting their coins.

    I looked away from his arms, aware of how improperly I was behaving.

    When I was safely positioned in the saddle, he gracefully hoisted himself up and sat behind me. He sneaked one of his hands around my waist, holding me firmly in place.

    There was nothing inappropriate in his touch, only the need to keep me safe. Even if it was within his right to touch me whatever he liked - I was his wife after all - but he has never tried. This came as a big relief to me, but deep inside I¡¯ve also wandered if he found me physically appealing or not. He once mentioned I looked beautiful, but was that only out of politeness or did he truly mean it?

 The distance between us (part 3)

    ¡°A-Are you in p-pain?¡± I heard him say.

    ¡°No, Your Grace, thank you.¡± I smiled, slightly stretching my neck to gaze at him. ¡°I believe you¡¯ve rescued me three times now.¡±

    ¡°A-Are you c-counting?¡±

    ¡°I am counting my debt to you, Your Grace. If I wouldn¡¯t be your wife now, I would¡¯ve had a big hole in my pockets,¡± I joked sourly.

    His eyes sparkled in the warm afternoon light. ¡°Y-you attract t-trouble, My Lady.¡±

    ¡°Well, it¡¯s hardly my fault Lord Tinley noticed me or that my aunt is as wicked as they come,¡± I pressed my mouth into a hard line.

    ¡°A-And that p-poor hole in t-the ground is t-to be f-faulted too?¡± He feigned curiosity, but the tone of his voice was riddled with amusement.

    ¡°Are you trying to be funny, Your Grace? Because I must tell you, it isn¡¯t working.¡±

    ¡°T-Than why a-are you s-smiling?¡± He tilted his head, whilst his eyes lowered to my twitching lips.

    As a strike of lighting, it dawned on me how close he was. Anxious tremors traveled down my spine as I desperately tried to regain my composure. ¡°What is his name?¡± I focused on the horse¡¯s thick, silky mane. As I ran my fingers through its smooth well-maintained hair, I could feel myself instantly calming down.

    ¡°Erebus,¡± he leaned forward to caress the stallion¡¯s neck.

    ¡°Named by a god of darkness?¡± I snapped my head toward him and almost collided with his chin.

    ¡°Y-You know G-Greek mythology?¡± He asked with surprise.

    ¡°Well, I am an educated woman, You Grace,¡± my cheeks reddened as I sensed his scrutinizing, yet gentle gaze on me. ¡°And my mother is Greek, she always loved to talk about gods and goddesses.¡±

    The yearning in my voice must¡¯ve given away how much I¡¯ve missed her for his hand tightened around my waist. The movement was barely noticeable ¨C not imposing but a slight gesture of support and sympathy. ¡°You must be v-very fond of h-her.¡±

    I bit my lip, pondering if I should bring up what resided in my thoughts. ¡°I talked with Lord Stanley and he mentioned you were very close to your parents. I am very sorry for your loss.¡±

    ¡°T-They were g-good people, I l-loved them v-very much.¡±

    There was an undeniable sorrow when he spoke, the kind that almost made me reach out and console him.

    ¡°How did they pass; if you don¡¯t mind me asking?¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    ¡°Their c-carriage was a-attacked by a group of b-bandits. By the time the n-news reached our e-estate it was a-already too late.¡±

    Bitterness hit me like a wave angrily crashing against the whiteness of the limestone. The sole thought of my loved ones being murdered made my eyes prickle with tears. ¡°Were they ever caught?

    I could feel him shake his head. ¡°There w-was no trace, n-no clue that c-could help us i-identify the attackers. S-Stanley and I s-swept the surroundings o-over and over, but c-couldn¡¯t find a-any lead. The took m-money and a-about everything t-they could c-carry.¡±

    This heart wrenching occurrence was too common on remote roads.

    ¡°I w-wish I w-was there t-to save them,¡± he added quietly. ¡°I f-feel like I¡¯ve f-failed t-them.¡±

    ¡°Your Grace, you couldn¡¯t have known what will happen! And you would only get killed. No parent wish to see their child suffer.¡±

    This time I put my hand over his and gave him a gentle squeeze. ¡°Besides,¡± I nudged him, hoping to make him smile again. ¡°I would¡¯ve never had the honor to become your wife.¡±

    The soft puff of air caressed my earlobe when he chuckled quietly.  ¡°T-the honor. I a-am certain t-that is t-the case.¡±

    We arrived at his estate and I felt a small pang of uncertainty at the thought of the divide between us. Will it be growing further or will we be able to escape its clutches?

    Baxter jumped off his horse then once again carefully swept me into his arms. He kept a slow pace as though worried about making any sudden movements and hurting me.

    ¡°Miss!¡± Janine squeaked anxiously the second we reached my chambers. ¡°Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°I am fine, thank you Janine - for fetching help.¡± I sent her a grateful fleeting smile, but my eyes were trained on Baxter who was about to leave.

    ¡°I-If you n-need anything, s-sent Janine t-to get m-me, all r-right?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡±

    It was as if my lips had a life of their own. The words that flooded out of my mouth made him pause. He seemed conflicted, with his brows snapped together and his eyes rounded with awe.

    ¡°I¡­¡± He appeared taken aback. ¡°Y-You would l-like me t-to stay?¡± It was a question filled with uncertainty and wonder.

    But I didn¡¯t want him to feel pressured into staying. ¡°Only if you wish.¡±

    While my words came out slowly, his were fast ¨C almost too fast.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he tried to hide his deepening blush with a cough as he covered his mouth. ¡°I m-mean. I-I would, M-my Lady.¡±

    I patted the spot next to me, encouraging him to sit down. I observed his robotic-like motions and evident hesitation as he proceeded to move forth.

    ¡°I don¡¯t bite, Your Grace,¡± I let a tinge of humour seep into my otherwise serious tone.

    He looked completely horrified as he sat beside me, his posture stiffer than a board. For God¡¯s sake it seemed as though he was barely breathing. My eyes darted down to his twitching hands and back to his nervous gaze.

    ¡°Your Grace? You mustn¡¯t hold your breath any longer.¡±

    Baxter¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°T-that¡¯s an a-astute observation, M-my Lady ¨C I s-should not.¡±

    ¡°Enough with My Lady, it¡¯s awfully formal. We are married after all, aren¡¯t we?¡±

    ¡°A-All right¡­ L-Lady?¡± He scratched his head with confusion.

    I couldn¡¯t help but laugh at him. ¡°Oh, Heavens, Your Grace. Please just call me Ashlyn.¡±

    His face turned crimson when he probed the word on his tongue. ¡°A-Ashlyn?¡±

    I nodded, satisfied. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s much better.¡±

    ¡°T-Then I h-have to i-insist that y-you call m-me Baxter.¡±

    ¡°Well then... Baxter, I don¡¯t want us to ignore each other anymore. I want us to try and be friends, can we do that?¡±

    His smile turned so bright akin to a child¡¯s when opening a gift on an early Christmas morning. ¡°I-I would b-be glad, M-my Lady. Ashlyn,¡± he hastily corrected his mistake.

    So just like that I¡¯ve opened a new chapter in my life and for the first time after the wedding I felt relieved. I was through with crying, through with self-pity and mostly done with looking back at everything I had lost as it won¡¯t change my fate. So instead of being stuck in the moment, I decided to burry a hatched with my husband.

 All about horses (part 1)

    ¡°Janine? What is this?¡± I picked up a beautiful yellow rose from my nightstand.

    The lady¡¯s maid snickered under her breath. ¡°Well, Your Grace wanted to give you a little present, but you were still fast asleep,¡± she leaned closer to me, whispering in a hushed conspiratorial tone. ¡°I think he was relieved you haven¡¯t woken up yet since he looked awfully embarrassed.¡±

    ¡°He was in here?¡± I questioned, suddenly very conscious of the bird¡¯s nest on top of my head. I sloppily fixed a few disobedient strands and tucked them behind my ear.

    Her eyes glinted when she dismissively waved her hand. It was quite indisputable she revelled in Baxter¡¯s every puzzling action. ¡°He only brought the flower. I swear he ran out like his boots were on fire.¡±

    Her words expelled the last of the sleepiness that hung upon me like a thick mist. ¡°Did he say anything more, Janine?¡±

    ¡°Yes, he instructed for you to join him in the stables.¡±

    ¡°Horses,¡± I stated dryly. ¡°Not such a good idea.¡±

    ¡°But you said you missed horses, Miss,¡± Janine¡¯s brows snapped together. ¡°Especially now when you know all about them,¡± she dragged out innocently.

    I moaned, burring my head into the feathery soft pillow. ¡°I do! But I swear I¡¯ll let them stomp me to death if he starts to lecture me again,¡± my voice was so muffled it was a wonder Janine heard me.

    ¡°Now, now Miss,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I am sure it won¡¯t be that bad.¡±

    I dragged myself out of the comfort of my warm bed and let Janine help me with my riding attire.

    ¡°Is there a chance I could ride in breeches?¡± I looked at her out of the corner of my eye.

    ¡°Miss, are you trying to give me a heart attack? What would His Grace say? Or the whole London for that matter?¡± Her eyes bulged out with sheer horror.

    ¡°Well, the truth is... I am awful in sidesaddle riding. People scream murder when I gallop past them.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± Janine¡¯s eyes sparkled mischievously. The woman was certain I was only jesting. ¡°Then, let¡¯s hope you gallop straight into Lord Tinley.¡±

    The mental picture caused a fit of uncontrolled giggles. ¡°Or the Crone clique.¡±

    ¡°Crone clique?¡± She asked with confusion. ¡°What in God¡¯s name might that be?¡±

    ¡°Lady Wyatt and my aunt,¡± I stated as I positioned a small, black velvet hat on top of my head.

    Janine let out a loud unladylike snort. ¡°Just don¡¯t let them hear that,¡± she warned with evident traces of amusement on her face.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯d be condemned to wander the wicked nine circles of aunt Abby¡¯s personally tailored hell.¡±

    Baxter peeked through the door, curiously listening in on our banter.

    ¡°G-Good morning l-ladies, w-what are y-you smiling a-about?¡± He inquired, his eyes suspiciously travelling between me and my lady¡¯s maid.

    ¡°Good morning, Baxter. I was just asking Janine if I could ride in bre-¡±

    Janine was beside me in an instant, covering my mouth with her hand. ¡°-Hush, dear child! Don¡¯t mind her, Your Grace. She seems not to be herself this morning.¡±

    Baxter¡¯s head tilted to the side. ¡°A-Actually, I was a-about to say how d-delighted she a-appears,¡± he studied me intently, trying to find a reason behind my sudden bubbliness.

    ¡°She¡¯s simply excited to hear more about your horses, Your Grace. The thought of riding puts her in good spirits,¡± Janine added while smiling with angelic innocence.

    She yelped softly as I stomped her foot.

    I will get you for this! I mouthed as our eyes briefly met in the mirror¡¯s reflection.

    ¡°Baxter!¡± I turned toward the poor gentleman¡¯s puzzled face. ¡°Thank you for the rose. It¡¯s beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Y-yellow rose r-represents our f-friendship, Ashlyn.¡±

    He was still unaccustomed to hearing my name on his lips. He always used a stiff tone when he pronounced it, as though he was embarrassed to say it out loud.

    ¡°Are we going for a ride, Baxter?

    ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve h-heard you¡¯re q-quite an e-excellent rider, My L-Lady,¡± he winced. ¡°I m-meant, A-Ashlyn.¡±

    I exchanged a worried look with Janine, seeing it finally downed on her that I in fact was not trying to be humorous. It was correct - I was an exceptional rider ¨C however in a man¡¯s saddle. I was terrible at riding astride and I will most certainly break my neck while doing it.

    ¡°You heard right, Baxter,¡± I gulped, avoiding Janine¡¯s shaking head. I stepped closer to him, looping my hand under his arm. ¡°We mustn¡¯t waste any time then. Lead your way, Your Grace.¡±

    I followed him out of the house and into the stables. It was so good being able to walk again without feeling the pain pinching at my ankle. I truly hoped the feeling would last.

    ¡°I-I have the p-perfect mare f-for you. N-Nyx is swift a-and sometimes s-stubborn, but I b-believe you w-won¡¯t have problems w-with her.¡±

    ¡°Nyx ¨C goddess of the night. Perfect,¡± I forced myself to smile, widening my eyes in panic the second he turned around to face his stallion.

    This will most definitely be my funeral. I studied the sidesaddle like it was louse-ridden not knowing how to properly mount it. My eyes anxiously twitched as I discreetly tried to hoist myself into the saddle, hoping Baxter wouldn¡¯t notice my ill attempts of climbing onto the nervous horse.

    At last, I succeeded and proudly straightened my posture. Never before I had a problem controlling a horse, but sitting in this manner - it was virtually impossible.

    ¡°R-Ready?¡± Baxter inquired, completely oblivious to my struggle.

    ¡°Born ready,¡± I lied as I grasped the leathery reins between my fingers. I followed right behind him, trying my best to hold the proper balance as I swayed left and right.

    My teeth chattered loudly as Nyx raced along the meadow and my body wobbled with every step she took. If someone watched my riding skills from afar, I am sure I must¡¯ve blessed their day with this tragicomic spectacle.

    Panic overrode my insides as I suddenly started slipping off the saddle. I tried to readjust myself only to accidentally nudge the horse and command it to move faster.

    I cursed under my breath as Nyx started to gallop as though a horde of wild hogs were hot on her heels. My body helplessly trashed in every direction and I could only pray I will somehow survive this dire circumstance I pushed myself into. Branches mercilessly snapped at my face and leaves tangled into my hair while I raced straight into the woods. Now, without a doubt I knew I would be thrown off the saddle if I didn¡¯t do something.

    ¡°Baxter!¡± I screamed loudly while I barely held myself upward. ¡°Baxter! Help me!¡±

 All about horses (part 2)

    I was just about to slip when I was grabbed by the waist and placed into the safety of his lap. Completely numbed by the waves of shock, I couldn¡¯t hear a word he was saying. He gently shook me by my shoulders whilst trying to gain my attention but was met only with silence. At last, the neighing and twitching stallion awoke me from my panic induced stupor and I realized I was wrapped around Baxter like a snake.

    ¡°I¡­ I apologize,¡± I quickly released my deathly grip on him.

    ¡°A-Ashlyn?¡± His head snapped down to mine the second he realized I am indeed alive and sane. ¡°W-What happened? You s-said you c-could ride!¡±

    His attempts of scolding were rather filled with worry than outrage.

    ¡°I do.¡± I sighed. ¡°But not like this,¡± I admitted, averting my gaze with embarrassment.

    Baxter¡¯s expression was absolutely bewildered. ¡°H-How on e-earth do y-you ride t-then?¡±

    ¡°On man¡¯s saddle in breeches,¡± I admitted sheepishly.

    I fully expected him to be repulsed, instead I could hardly believe my ears when I heard him snort. ¡°U-unbelievable,¡± my husband muttered quietly. ¡°W-why didn¡¯t you t-tell me in the f-first place? You c-could have b-been killed!¡± His almost amused expression was yet again wiped off, replaced by the otherwise uncommon traces of sternness.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. How does the Lady tell a gentleman she rides about wearing men¡¯s trousers?¡± I almost barked at him.

    His face reddened at my outburst and he once again looked toward the ground.

    ¡°I am sorry. That was uncalled for,¡± I sighed in desperation. ¡°You saved me yet again. I believe this was the fourth time now.¡±

    We silently rode back toward the garden, with his one hand firmly wrapped around my waist and the other gripping Nyx by her reins.

    ¡°N-no more h-horses. At l-least not in L-London,¡± he shook his head with disapproval. ¡°I a-am almost afraid t-to ask of your o-other secret talents.¡±

    I joined him as he started to unsaddle the horses. ¡°You are right to be,¡± I mused while picking up a brush. Nyx seemed as though she has forgiven me for the ungraceful handling since she appeared to enjoy the treatement. ¡°What do you do besides your business, books and horses?¡± I inquired Baxter, genuinely interested in what his answer would be.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

    ¡°I w-work on m-my estate. F-Field crops and l-livestock requires a l-lot of hard l-labor. I h-have employees, b-but I l-like tend to m-my land a-and raise a-animals myself,¡± he clarified whilst he carefully gazed at me as if expecting to see an outrage on my face.

    Instead, I only offered him a brief nod. ¡°I used to help my father on our estate, so I¡¯d be delighted to join you. If you want my help that is.¡±

    He stopped short, staring at me with stunned expression on his face.

    ¡°I am no weak lady, Your Grace,¡± I mused. ¡°I grew up on a farm and liked it. On the other hand, my sister Jane always preferred London. She was always more of an artistic soul, dreaming of dresses and balls. She is like my mother in that way.¡±

    He still stood there - puzzled - gawking at me.

    ¡°Baxter? Are you alright?¡± I nibbled on my lower lip before I decided to step closer to him.

    He still stared when I did so, but then hastily shook his head. ¡°Y-Yes. You s-surprised me, that i-is all.¡±

    ¡°Baxter?¡± I gently touched the sleeve of his dark riding coat. ¡°Hopefully not in a bad way?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± he whispered in return. ¡°M-Most definitely n-not in a b-bad way.¡±

    The man suddenly appeared very anxious again. He shifted from one foot to the other. ¡°D-Did you k-know that F-Friesians can b-be born in c-chestnut color?¡±

    ¡°No I-¡±

    ¡°B-But black coats a-are considered s-superior quality,¡± he ignored me, once again plunging into one of his illustrious and fervent sermons. ¡°They r-represent power and b-bravery.

    ¡°Oh.¡± I opened my mouth, but was not given a chance to partake in the conversation.

    ¡°Different p-pigments a-are considered to be evidence of c-crossbreeding. Horses l-like that a-are impossible to sell as they a-are not accepted as b-breeding stock,¡± he went on.

    It was as though an ever-expanding balloon suddenly erupted inside my chest. ¡°Baxter!¡± I called out loudly.

    The resonating tone of my voice made him wince.

    His wildly flickering irises strangely reminded me of a nervous horse. The predictable pattern of his behaviour seemed familiar enough now that I could point out its origin. Whenever he felt trapped, signs of neuroticism bubbled up to the surface and pushed his mind in overdrive.

    ¡°Why do you do that? Whenever you¡¯re tense, you talk about either horses or weather.¡±

    Baxter must¡¯ve been surprised that I caught on, since he stopped fidgeting at once. ¡°Yes,¡± he exhaled loudly. ¡°F-Forgive me. I tend t-to do that w-when I am n-nervous.¡±

    I patently waited for him to collect his thoughts. The shifting emotions on his face were like a garden, scattered with deep-coloured blossoms. At last, his eyes met mine as thought he made peace with his turbulent psyche. ¡°In fact, I... I d-despise weather!¡± The corners of his mouth turned upward.

    I could not deny that I wasn¡¯t taken aback by his admission. ¡°If you despise it, then why talk about it?¡±

    ¡°W-When I was y-younger I d-didn¡¯t know h-how to properly c-communicate w-with people, so my g-governess told m-me to p-pick two main s-subjects and l-learn them well. I a-already k-knew a lot a-about horses,¡± he explained. ¡°And my g-governess knew a l-lot about w-weather.¡±

    The explanation of the mystery behind Baxter Read¡¯s eccentricity was so simple and obvious, if only one cared enough to solve the puzzle.

    ¡°Your Grace?¡±

    His reluctant gaze was a mixture of worry and unease.

    ¡°From now on we¡¯ll work to change that - no more horses and weather.¡±

    His eyes sparkled as he chuckled softly. ¡°No m-more horses and w-weather. C-cross my h-heart.¡±