0 comments/ 10724 views/ 0 favorites Love Is Ch. 02 By: dylan_J Kasey was awakened by Mrs. Willows meowing and gently rubbing against her shoulder. She poked one eye out from under her pastel green covers and stared at the cat. "Is that all you ever think about? Food? And sleeping?" She slowly climbed from the bed and let her feet touch the floor. Mrs. Willows followed suit jumping from the bed and walking to the door to scratch against it. "You're always sleeping and always eating. You need to get some exercise," the cat meowed in disapproval and continued to scratch the door. "One day you're going to be too fat to pass through the door and I would have to get mother to make the door bigger." Just then the door opened and her maid, Emma walked in. she watched Mrs. Willows scurry out the door before looking at Kasey and smiling. "Good morning, my lady. I suppose you're ready for your bath. Gilmore has already readied the wash tub. "In a minute, Emma. I have only just awakened." She said opening her dresser and pulling out her blue dress. Emma stepped over to her frowning. "Really Miss Kasey it is my job to help you. If you go about picking out your clothes, bathing yourself, dressing yourself and packing your own clothes, I'll soon be out of a job. "Don't be silly Emma. You help me. I just think it's somewhat lazy for me to let you do things I'm perfectly capable of myself. You bathe and dress your self without anyone's help." Kasey gathered her clothes and clothed the drawer. The older woman smiled and followed her from the room. "I'll go see to your breakfast then" she said and headed in the other direction. As Kasey walked past the guest room, she could hear movement inside and talking. Apparently lord Garwood was an early raiser. She blushed remembering the way he had looked at her the night before and quickly hurried past. "She is beautiful, is she not Bradley," Jordan said as he struggled to tie his cravat. He gave up and cast is aside. His footman Bradley held up a coal black that matched his breeches. "You sound as though you are, my lord smitten. I have been rather unfortunate for I have not yet seen Miss Morgan. When I arrived this morning the entire household was still in bed." "I am not smitten. I'm just telling you about the Morgans. I told you about Jeff's enchanting mother; does this mean I am smitten for her as well? He scowled as he began pulling on his riding boots. "No but you did not spend half the morning telling me the colour of her eyes, how well she was shaped or how pouty her lips were and how many freckles were sprinkled about her nose." Bradley reminded him. He proceeded to pull on one of his master's boots. It was only because he had known Bradley his entire life he had not sent him packing. 'It is only human of me to notice beauty when I see It." grunted Jordan. He pulled on the other shoe and stood up. Bradley looked at him, his light blue eyes shinning. "Of course, my lord. I shall head to the stables and tell the stable boy to ready the horses." He looked at Jordan's clothes and gave a nod of approval before setting off out the room and down the hallway. A few minutes later the front door was heard opening closing. Jordan crossed the room and looked at his reflection at dressing table. His black wavy hair had now grown well past its normal length and rested casually on his nape making him look a few years younger than his twenty-six. His green eyes shifted from his refection to rest upon a porcelain figurine of two cats playing with a ball of yarn. He had seen many of them throughout the rooms he had been in the Morgan household. Figurines of cats playing sleeping, eating and other various cats activities. Mrs. Morgan had explained collecting porcelain was a hobby of her daughter's. He had even remembered seeing an unusually large cat roaming about the house. The rumbling of his stomach brought him back from his wool gathering. He replaced the porcelain and quickly heading from the room to collide with Miss Morgan. Unable to regain his balance he fell to the floor, Kasey's soft curvy body landing on top of him. Images flooded his brain as she struggled to get to her feet. When her breast crushed against his chest his blood eagerly rushed to the lower regions of his body. Bradley was right. He was smitten. Kasey stared at her brother's friend when she had righted herself. He remained sprawled on the carpeted floor looking at her with his eyes somewhat glazed over. For a moment she thought one of her dress buttons had come loose or perhaps had a run in her stockings, but then she remembered she had no buttons on her dress and she was not wearing stockings. "Are- you- al-right, my-lord?" she asked slowly and loudly as thought she was addressing her aunt Agatha who had a hearing problem. The confused look disappeared from his face and he smiled turning her insides warm like the cloudless spring day outside. "Yes I'm just not used to being ploughed over by beautiful young maidens as I leave my room. I've never been ploughed over by anyone for that matter." He slowly got up with her help and dusted himself. "I am very sorry. Mother is always telling me not to run in the halls, I'll knock people over and it has finally happened but you see I just remembered I forgot to pack one of my books for the trip..." her voice trailed away. She had remembered her mother telling her how most men thought women should only know how to do simple things like sewing and gossiping and giggling stupidly. Politics, books and science should not interest women. That was probably one of the reasons why she hated sewing and gossiping and had made every effort to learn everything her brother had learnt at school. She wanted to know what the big deal was. She remembered how she had to appear foolish when she had had her debut in London. "That must be quite a book if you had to forego your mother's predictions of knocking down innocent souls. What is it, a book of poetry, sewing techniques or a romance?" he asked her. Suddenly angry at his thinking she was another silly chit she decided to tell him the truth. "Actually it's a book on sixteenth century alchemy. My father bought it for my seventeenth birthday." She waited for the similar repulsed look one of her suitors had given her when she had made a slip of her tongue and argued politics. He had never spoken to her after that. Instead Jordan surprised her by smiling. "I remember Jeff mentioning his sister read his notes while we were in college. You did some of his projects, if I remember correctly. I even was annoyed at my parents at some point for having only one child. The nights I spent up completing my lessons stewing over the fact I didn't have a younger sibling to help complete my work. So tell me Miss Morgan what is your favorite subject? He grinned. "Mathematics but Jeffery stopped teaching me in his final year at school," Kasey pouted. "That's because you were getting better at it than me," Jeffery said from behind her. She turned around to see her brother walking in his somewhat lazy gait down the hall. He looked extremely handsome in his dark brown suit. His sherry brown eyes twinkled playfully as he made a grab for her. She quickly evaded him by running behind Jordan. "Don't you think you're a bit old to be trying to tickle me? You're almost seven and twenty" she said trying to sound stern from behind his back. "I'm afraid not. You shall always be my little sister," he made another grab for her but she had already ran halfway down the stairs. Somewhat annoyed that his friend had interrupted his interlude with Kasey, he watched her disappear down the stairs before turning to Jeffery. "About returning to Greenwich today..."Jeffery began. "What of it? I already sent Bradley to ready the horses." Jordan looks at his friend whose smile had disappeared. "I will not be going straight there. I have to make a stop in ..." "Is everything alright with...?" "Yes, I suppose. But I still need to..." Jeffery paused as one of the maids hurried past with some freshly laundered linen. "Straighten some things out. Kasey is still going to Greenwich. You don't mind do you? She will have her maid with her so she won't be much of a bother. If I postpone the trip she will be disappointed. I shall be one day behind you." "I don't mind. I could use the company." He assured him. "We could talk a bit of mathematics." Jeffery rolled his eyes skyward. "I forgot you enjoyed math as well. We better get some breakfast. We're leaving before lunch." "I think its dead," seven year old Dorothy Rosewood said as she poked gingerly at a wilted pink carnation plant that stood out in the garden which grew behind the Morgan's house. "It is not dead. It's sleeping." Kasey told her as she took a seat next to the girl's very pregnant mother in the garden swing. Dorothy senior shook her head and looks at her cousin. Her grey eyes twinkled mischievously. "Jeffery's friend, Mr. Garwood is very handsome isn't he? He seems very mysterious with his long dark hair and green eyes. Did you notice there are little bits of gold in them? I noticed when Jeff introduced us." she sighed. "I suppose all those dark clothes he wears give him a mysterious air," Kasey agreed dusting the remaining soil from her fingers. Little Dorie got up from inspecting the plant and climbed into her lap. "Almost roguish. Do you think he's a rake?" "I don't know Dorothy. I only met lord Garwood last night," Kasey sighed. Her cousin sometimes got carried away. "I've never met one before, you know. I suppose there just like every other man you've met. Just cast women as often as one casts spoilt food," she said for only Kasey to hear. "Really cousin the things you say!" laughed Kasey. "There's my beautiful wife," Patrick Rosewood exclaimed as he came from the garden gate. His grey hair shone in the early morning sun. At three and forty years he seemed to have no care in the world as he bent to lift up his daughter and spin her around. "Isn't my wife simply glowing, Kasey? Our child is expected any day now," said Patrick. Dorothy appeared to have swallowed one of the enormous pumpkins which grew in her grandfather's estate. Just that morning she had complained her feet had swollen. "Whoever said women glowed at pregnancy, lied," she said as she peered over her enormous belly. "Don't be silly dear," he told her. Just them his wife smiled. "I think my little girl agrees with you dear. She just kicked me." "Really? He just kicked," laughed Patrick. Dorothy took Kasey's hand and placed it on her stomach. She grinned as the child kicked again. "I think you're both silly," grinned Kasey. "I almost forgot. The reason I came out here is to tell you Jeff's ready to leave for Greenwich and you mother wants to see you. She is in the sitting room." Patrick said sitting in the seat Kasey vacated as she stood. "Thanks for telling me. See you all next week." With a last wave she left the family and went into the house. ... "Let's see I think I shall like yellow," Kasey heard her mother say as she neared the sitting room. She paused before entering. "Why not white?" a voice asked her. Kasey immediately knew she was speaking to Arthur Willows. She felt she should make them aware but she remained hidden behind the large potted plant near the doorway. "I simply cannot wear white. White is for blushing brides." Her mother explained to her fiancée. "If you stand any stiller I'd have taken you for one of mother's garden statues," Jeffery said from behind her. She spun around startled. "Don't you know it's not polite to listen in on other people's conversations?" he told her. "Yes but I didn't want to just barge in," she said. "Really?" He raised one of his eyebrows. "Yes. I'll go in now." I'll meet you outside in a few minutes." She walked away before he could tell her anything. Her mother looked up and smiled as she entered. She was dressed in a red dress with tiny gold buttons which marched down the middle. She was wearing the chain and matching earrings Kasey and Jeffery had gotten her for her last birthday. Arthur was in the height of London fashion as well in dark blue coat and riding breeches. "Good morning mother, Mr. Willows." She curtsied. "Patrick. Said you wanted to see me before I left." She looked at her mother. "Yes I just wanted to give you a farewell hug and kiss." The two women exchanged goodbyes. On an afterthought she hugged Mr. Willows as well. He looked at her startled. "Congratulations, sir. I hope you know just how special my mother is," she told him. "I do," he smiled. "I better go before Jeff gets tired of waiting and leaves me." She left the room and was about to open the front door when her mother called out to her. "You've made me very happy." She hugged her daughter again. "When you're happy mother, so am I," was Kasey's reply. Jeff stood shifted his weight at he stood at the front of the house. Two carriages waited patiently behind him. Turning to the carriage nearest to him, he spoke to Jordan. "I just left her inside and I'll bet ten pounds she's probably forgotten some silly female paraphernalia," "It is in a woman's prerogative to be like that" was Jordan's reply from within the carriage. "Laura has never been "like that"" muttered Jeff sourly as he gave his pocket watch a glance for the twelfth time. "Ah yes, Laura, the beauty in the village you've taken a liking to," his friend chuckled. "I thought I would never have lived to see the day you fell for someone. I must admit you caught me by surprise when you told me last night." "I thought I never would ever since Gwen laughed at my proposal and told me she desired a man, not a boy fresh out of college," Jeff said bitterly. "So tell me what does this Laura have that makes your heart stir?" Jordan asked quickly changing the subject of his friend's first love. Jeff expression turned from one of sour to happy. "She has the face of an angel, the body of a Greek goddess and the mind I will never understand if I live to be a thousand," he smiled. "Tell me does your Laura have a sister?" laughed Jordan as he watched Jeff's star struck expression. "No, my dear friend, the mold was broken when she came into this world. Why? Thinking of settling down yourself?" asked Jeff. "Of course not." was the reply. "Just the proverbial "roll in the hay"? Laura's not that kind of girl. She's a kindred spirit, you grow old with her, you love her..." Jeff said dreamily. "Have you considered giving up the life of a banker and joining Shakespeare in London to write sonnets and plays?" Jordan laughed so hard he was close to tears. "Laugh now my friend. Your day will come when a female enters your mind ever waking minute and finds a permanent place in your heart." Jeff told him. "Does Laura love you as well?" Jordan asked. The door at the front house opened slowly. "She loves me. She just doesn't know it yet." Kasey stood on the top of the stairs watching her brother and his friend at the carriages. Their heads were so close together as they whispered; they looked like they were up to no good. "I hope you two are not planning anything mischievous," she began as she climbed down the stairs, "I'm sorry for keeping you, but Mrs. Sobers proved to be quite slippery when I tried to catch her." She nodded towards the cat she was holding. "I swear Kasey you could have left that feline at home." He opened the empty carriage for his sister to enter. "Mrs. Sobers will be lonely if I left her here," frowned Kasey. Just then Emma came outside. She paused to sneeze into a well worn handkerchief. Jeff waited for her to climb in alongside Kasey before closing the door. "Your allergies are acting up again?" he asked her. "Yes my lord and it will only get worse, I'm afraid." She sneezed again. "I'm sorry to hear that." he said. "We better be off if we are to reach the village by nightfall," the Morgan's groomsman Peter said. He moved his stocky body to the front of the first coach. "I'll be in the next coach with Jordan. Do you think you can keep yourself busy till we get there?" Jeff asked Kasey. "I'm not a child Jeff. I can be left on my own you know." She made herself comfortable in her seat. "Besides you are going to be in the coach behind me aren't you?" Jeff shrugged and placed his hands in his pants pockets. "If you say so, sister dearest." "Do you think Mrs. Patrice will be in Greenwich this summer? She did mention her niece wanted her to visit her in Italy when I was there last Christmas, imagine traveling all the way to Italy. That must be so much fun. She's even been to India. Twice actually," Kasey said to Emma. "I don't know Miss Kasey. A lady her age traveling so often...My mama said when a lady reaches a certain age she should relax." Emma replied looking up from the book she was reading. "But traveling is relaxing, somewhat. What does your mama see as relaxing? Kasey asked the girl. "Well you know, sewing and gardening and going to church." "But all those things are boring! If one spends all their life traveling why one would settle for drab, monotonous things like that?" Emma shrugged before answering. "I guess you just have to do the things you like when you get down in your years. What so interesting outside? The girl looked out the window. "I think Mr. Cambridge's coach is slowing down." Sure enough the coach slowed until it came to a complete halt. Kasey's coachman followed suit. Jeff came out smiling. "Is something wrong? Has something happened to Mr. Cambridge? Kasey asked "Has the horse gone lame? Are there robbers about?" Emma asked almost hysterical. Kasey shook her head. Her maid spent too much of her spare time reading fiction. "Hardly. I just thought we'd let the horses rest a bit. It's a nice out. You could have a picnic or something." Kasey looked at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?" "Of course I'm sure," was the reply. "Okay then. I guess we could have a picnic." She said slowly. "We could spread a blanket under that tree right there, my lady" Emma suggested already warming to the idea "Great. Do you mind keeping Jordan company for a bit? I need to take care of something." "What is that?" Kasey looked at him suspiciously again. "Nature calls." He said disappearing behind their coach. "Oh." A few meters away, a young woman, no older than twenty stood tapping her foot impatiently. Her horse whinnied. A river gurgled happily behind her. Just then Jeff approached her dusting leaves from his hair and grinning. "Who are those women you're traveling with?" she said suspiciously. "They're wenches my friend and I picked up along the way. We thought we'd have fun with them. You're welcomed to come and watch." His grinned increased when he saw how his words made the woman even angrier. "You really are disgusting. I don't know why I even bother." She turned away from him and gathered her horse's reins. Jeff's hand closed over hers. "Could it be you've fallen madly in love with me Laura?" he whispered drawing near. She forced a laugh. "Hardly." "Perhaps it's my intoxicating kisses that leave you wanting more." "I don't think it's that either." She swallowed and tried to remove her hand from his. He only tightened his hold and turned her towards him. "Really? Now I'm traumatized. I thought you fancied me. You just want my money!" He looked at her shocked. "No don't be silly!" "I knew it! You fancied my body! Yours isn't so bad either." He kissed her tenderly before deepening the kiss. Then he pulled away only to rest both his hands on her hips his brown eyes looked at her filled with emotion. "Your body? Don't make me laugh Jeff. I have seen better at my uncle Chester's Farm. The men there are usually shirtless during the summer." Love Is Ch. 02 "Ah so you spend your summers there ogling them. And I have been accused by you of having a filthy mind. You are what they refer to as "Pot calling the kettle black", my love." "Hmm." "Hmm indeed." "Now are you going to tell me who those women are?' she asked again. "Why is it all the women around me seem to be suspicious today? They're my little sister and her maid." He pulled Laura closer. "Aren't they going to come looking for you?" "I told them I had to take care of something. Kasey isn't the type to poke her little nose about," he kissed the exposed part of her shoulder and sighed. "Yummy." "Apposed to me poking my nose about?" Laura pulled away from him. "I didn't say that. What are you doing out here anyway?" "I was getting some vegetables from the farm not far from here. Are you listening to me?" "Of course I'm listening. It's just that I want to kiss you again." He looked at her lips intently. "Can't you be serious for once?" she scolded. "I am serious." He combed his fingers through his hair and placed his hands in his pockets. If he didn't he would have been compelled to reach for Laura again. "Do you want to meet Kasey? You two have a lot in common. You're both obsessed with traveling to places you've only read abut of in books" "I don't think I'm ready to meet you're family. I better start heading back to the village" she took the reins of her horse again. "They don't bit like me you know," he grinned. "I'm heading back now," she said ignoring him. "Be careful." "I'm always careful," was the reply. "I'll visit you tonight," Jeff suggested. "You can't. The inn is short staffed so I shall be helping out till about ten. I'll be pretty tired by then." "That's okay. I shall give your weary soles a rub and we shall chat a bit," Jeff suggested taking her hands in his. Whenever she was near he always found himself wanting to reach out to touch her. "I'll be too tired to talk. I shall only wish to sleep." "You're even more beautiful when you sleep." Laura sighed. "Jeffery if my father finds out about you, he won't like it. Chances are, he'll hate it. He shall be away on business all of next week. You can see me then. Till then, stay away, for your sake. Remember what happen the last time you were almost caught? Promise me you will." He had fallen asleep in Laura's room some time ago and had to hide under her bed for an entire day and sneak out at night since he could not have escaped through the window. Her room was on the third storey over the inn. "I promise I shall stay away until next week." Jeff looked at her intently. "Thank you. Until then, let this be your last memory of me." Standing on tiptoes, she planted a kiss on him. As he moved his hands to encircle her slender waist, she deepened the kiss by placing her hands around his neck. Her breast crushed deliciously into his chest and his desire became apparent when their lower bodies touched. Moaning softly, Laura offered her tongue which Jeff accepted greedily. The pair remained like that for a while, tongues mating, arms entwined, bodies pressed intimately, until Laura pulled away from him without warning. She laughed playfully as Jeff made a grab for her and she jumped out of his way. "You are quite awful," he muttered darkly. "Am I?" she looked at him and feigned innocence. Her lips were red and swollen from the kiss. She looked down at his aroused state and tilted her head curiously. "One day, it won't just end with a kiss," his brown eyes almost black with emotion. Taking her horse's reigns again, she looked at him seriously and said so softly "I await that day with bated breath Jeffery." With that she and the horse disappeared behind the bushes. It was the very thought of embarrassing himself that had kept his feet planted where they were or he would have run after Laura like a lovesick school boy. Gwen's words rang in head as fresh as had been yesterday. "You're a fun roll in the hay Jeff luv, but marrying and settling down? I don't see that in your distant future." Did his Laura see him as that? Some practicing tool until some better man came along? Shoving his hands in his pockets, deep in his thoughts, he turned and headed back to where he had left his sister. "Look its Jeff, in one piece. See Emma there was nothing to get the vapors over." Kasey smiled as her brother emerged from the woods. They had spent the past twenty minutes listening to maid's synopsis of a novel she read about a young man who was attacked in the woods while relieving his self. While Kasey did her best to calm her maid by telling her bears did not exist in these woods, Lord Garwood's footman, a skinny fellow by the name of Bradley did little to assist as proceeded to tell them about an article he had read in the paper two days before about a packed of wolves which had rampaged through a neighboring village injuring one person. Lord Garwood did even less to aid the situation as he had decided the entire state of affairs hilarious and had doubled over laughing. Kasey glowered at him now. She was seeing him in a whole new light. He had indeed enchanted her with his tales of other islands and his handsome looks last night but now, she was not so taken in. True she still wanted to run her fingers through his luxurious hair and she felt light headed whenever he looked at her with those beautiful green eyes, but it was now becoming more apparent to Kasey that Jordan Garwood hand similar attributes to that of her brother. It was as thought he were Jeff's long lost twin. "We were so worried my lord. Though my lady doesn't believe there may be bears lurking about." Emma told him. "Or wolves." Bradley added. "Don't be ridiculous. There aren't any bears or wolves or any man eating creatures about here," Kasey told them. She folded her arms together and nodded furiously. "If you say so my lady," Emma said slowly still looking unsure. "Now that all that is settled are there any more sandwiches left?" Jeff asked changing the subject. He took a seat next to his sister, before rummaging through the picnic basket their cook hand packed for the trip. "All you ever think about is food. Serves you right if everything was eaten, you took so long to come back." Kasey looked at Jeff suspiciously. He shrugged and began eating a sandwich. "Don't keep me guessing, what did happen to the lady when she discovered the purse filled with gold?" Kasey asked Emma. It had been almost two hours since they had stopped for the picnic lunch in the woods. They were now traveling along a road which was cut through a wheat field. The road led to a small village, the first of two situated before Greenwich. Emma was now telling Kasey about the latest book she had completed, As the World Turns. Purses filled with gold, beautiful maidens, rakes, pirates, gypsies, Kasey just did not get it. She indulged her maid all the same. Miss Emma Whitley had been her maid and closet friend since she had been the tender age of nine. Six years Kasey's senior, Emma had preferred a simple life reading romances and other grown-up Fairy Tales as Kasey had called them. Her beauty and kind character would have made her a catch had she been brought up in London. Her father had decided against this and brought up his only child on his small farm. Her mother had died in childbirth. When Emma's father had died when she was just fifteen, Mrs. Morgan had taken her in. Her husband and Emma's father had been good friends. She saw to it that she was brought up right. At eighteen, she became Kasey's maid. Now at twenty five, she and Kasey were complete opposites but best of friends. While Kasey's hair was dark, Emma's was brown and her eyes were green. Her skin was almost flawless from spending most of her days inside reading or sewing aside from the times she reluctantly ventured into the sun to escort Kasey on her adventures. A few freckles littered her nose and arms, Kasey was covered with them. Finally while Kasey was tall and slender Emma was short and petite. "Well Gwyneth decided that she could now see the world like she had always dreamt! Imagine how grand that would be!" her maid exclaimed. "Yes I could." Kasey thought about the ocean. "Unfortunately, the pirate Jack came back, the one with the eye patch, remember him? " "Kasey nodded and repeated what Emma had told her earlier. Captain Jack who didn't really need a patch, he simply wore it to look more gruesome and daunting." "Yes, yes." Emma smiled excitedly. Kasey knew how this story was going to end; the roguish sea man was going to fall for the lady, and vice versa, of course. Just then their carriage gave a lurch, sending both girls sprawling onto the floor. Wearing confused expressions, they untangled themselves and peered out the window. "Don't you worry Miss Morgan, Miss Whitley, just a small animal ran into our path," the coachman told them. They resettled themselves again, and Kasey silently thanked the creature which had run into their path. Emma began guessing what animal had run into o the horses' paths. She had completely forgotten about the pirate, the lady and the gold. Love Is Ch. 03 As they passed the first village, they stopped for the horses to rest a bit before continuing on. Jeff seemed uneasy when they had gotten out, as though looking for someone. He laughed when she had told him this but seem reluctant to leave when they had resettled into their carriages. "Maybe he has a sweetheart in this village," Emma had volunteer when Kasey had passed her inner thoughts to her maid. They passed the second town without stopping and headed on to Greenwich. Greenwich was a quaint town approximately 15 miles from the country which Kasey had lived. Two small villages, a couple of farms and a large expanse of forest separated the two. When her brother Jeffery had turned three and twenty, he had inherited a large townhouse in Greenwich from a distant relative. Seeking independence, he had moved there the following year. Kasey visited him on many occasions and had made friends with his neighbors, Mrs. Amber Monroe and her step brother, Lord Archie Gair. Kasey had envied her brother's freedom since the only way which a woman had that ability to come and go as she desired was if she was a widow, old or God forbid, a harlot. The town itself was large enough to boast of its own historical library, and Kasey had spent many days there looking through the countless books. Jeff had teased her that someday she would transform into part of the décor of the two storey building. As they entered the town, Emma remarked on how crowded it was. "Don't you remember Em? This month is the annual festival of St Rose. Baron St Rose and his wife Baroness Edna must be really busy. Bentley manor must be packed to the rafters!" "Oh of course! When we attended year before last it was marvelous wasn't it? It was a pity I was unable to go with you last year," Emma sighed. She had taken ill and had remained home that year. Her brother had chaperoned in her place. "Last year was not as enjoyable for me. Jeff kept leaving me to chase skirts. There was this one gentleman, um Sir Beddinfield, he kept making advances. And Baroness' nephew Newton kept trying to pinch me. Frankly I think that child needs a good scolding. And on top of that I fell into the lake during the picnic." Jeffery hand laughed uncontrollably after he had fished his sister out. "Oh you poor dear. I was wondering why you came back all wet but I was afraid to ask." Emma gazed out the window. Just then she gave a start. "Look at that dress in the seamstress' window. It's beautiful!" "Yes, it is..." breathed Kasey. It was the height of London fashion and green in colour. It was a shade she had seen somewhere before. "That dress would be perfect for you to wear at the St Rose festivals. It looks just your size," Emma told her. "Not me. I've got freckles all over. That dress shows an ample amount of skin." Suddenly Kasey regretted spending so much time in the sun. "But that dress suits you. It matches you brown eyes." Emma eyed the dress for one last time before their carries disappeared into the distance. That's where she had seen the colour green before! Lord Garwood's eyes! They drove past the last of the buildings in business area and entered the streets where the townhouses were located. In no time the carriage pulled up in front of Jeff house. The door was yanked open and Jeff help the two women down. "I'm heading over to Jordan's place for a bit, you think you can keep out of trouble for a while?" he asked. "I do not get myself into trouble. Purposely. I may pay Mrs. Monroe and Lord Gair a visit." She told him. "Those two are a handful. As a matter of fact, you three have a lot alike. Okay then, I'll see you for dinner then, Kasey, Emma." With a wave, he returned to the carriage. Leaving Emma to her own devices, Kasey headed to the house next door. After two knocks, Dwight, Mrs. Monroe's butler answered. His round face lit up when he saw Kasey. "Miss Morgan! I shall announce your arrival," he smiled as he ushered her inside the house and into the sitting room. Within minutes, Amber Monroe appeared looking regal in a maroon evening gown. She pulled Kasey into a tight embrace before taking a seat next to her. "When your brother told me you would be coming, I ran out and got us some tickets to the theater. The actors aren't as good as Kean and those others from London I'm afraid but the playwrights are marvelous. Archie is out with Mrs. Masters and her daughter" The older woman stated excitedly. "Now tell me, how have you been?" "As unpredictable as the weather, I'm afraid. Mother has told me her desire to wed the family lawyer but I'm not so sure. I mean I'm happy she is happy. Not to mention she was thinking about selling Kinsley manor. Life would be a lot easier if I were a man!" Kasey grinned. "I beg to differ, my dear." Lord Gair had just entered the room and overheard the last of Kasey's statement. He limped into the closest chair. "What happened to you Archie?" Amber asked. "Some brute snatched Miss Masters' purse. Being the gentleman I am I pursued, caught the brat and twisted my foot in the process. Life would be a lot easier if I were a lass! He grinned at Kasey. "Oh dear. Someone should tend to that. I shall get Dwight!" his stepsister exclaimed rising from her seat. Lord Gair waved his hand and looked nonchalant. "Don't bother dear; it's a lot less painful than it looks." He turned to Kasey. "Now tell us what is this about your mama's plans to wed?" he said, getting more comfortable in his armchair. When Kasey had finished, he let out a sigh. "How do you feel about all this?" he asked handing Kasey a cup with chocolate milk one of the servants had just brought in. "To be honest my lord, I don't know. I am happy for mama but then..." her voice trailed off as she took a sip from her mug. "I suppose it will take some getting used to." Lady Monroe bobbed her head up and down. She got up and walked over to the window. Just then lord Gair looked at his pocket watch before remarking "look at the time! I must be off before Chester's closes," he exclaimed referring to a popular men's clothing store. He gave Kasey a quick hug before leaving the room. Mrs. Monroe turned towards Kasey. "That reminds me, what are you wearing to the festival of St. Rose? I saw this beautiful green dress at Rockwell's that would look darling on you." "I saw it too! But I don't know if I'll be attending the festivals just yet, remember what happen to me the last time I attended?" Kasey shuddered as she remembered Newton's pinches. She also thought of her freckles. "Oh nonsense dear everyone attends the festivals once they are in Greenwich." She rang for Dwight. She pulled out her purse and handed him some money. "There's a beautiful green dress in the window at Rockwell's. I shall buy it for you, consider it an early birthday gift," she smiled at Kasey. When Dwight had left on the errand, she smiled slyly at Kasey, "perhaps it will help in finding your future beau at the festivals." "I much doubt that but I do thank you for the dress." Kasey's thoughts ran on Sir Beddinfield and she shuddered. The elder woman shrugged in response. "Let's play a few games of draughts. I must say it has been rather boring since your last visit. Archie has proven to be rather useless at the game." Five rather lengthy games later, Dwight returned with the news that someone had already purchased the dress. Kasey was both relieved and disappointed. She still thought the gown wouldn't do her freckles any justice. "I guess we'll have to find something which equally does your figure justice," her friend vowed. They're so beautiful," Emma sighed running her hand over the two dresses which had been delivered while Kasey had not been at home. One had been the very same green dress they had seen at Rockwell's and the other was an equally beautiful, deep brown, off shoulder dress. The only other thing which came with the dresses was a card which read "enjoy" "Let's see how they fit you!" her maid said excitedly. She helped her into the brown one. "I wonder who sent them." Kasey looked at herself in the mirror. Freckles danced across her shoulders. She frowned at them. "Perhaps you have an admirer," grinned her maid. She nodded at the freckles "no one is going to notice those, they're barely noticeable." "You're just being nice Em. They're gigantic." "Oh posh, they're just barely noticeable." Just then, there was a knock on her door and Jeff entered. "Jeff! Haven't you heard of privacy! Just because we're family..." she watched him stroll over to her bed and sit. "It's not only because we're family, you've got nothing to hide as well." He grinned and patted the seat next to him. He scowled at her brother before obliging. "I may not be as endowed as the women you know, Jeff but I am a girl all the same." Her brother shrugged then laughed at his sister's scowl. "What do you want?" she grumbled. "Why should I "want" something? Perhaps I want to spend time with my favorite sister?" "Most of the time you spend with your only sister is spent making it miserable and comparing her to a skinny lad." "I have? I'm sorry lass I shall try to make all the time we spend together miserable," her brother vowed stressing on all. She hit him on his arm. "What do you want Jeffery?" "We have been invited to a party by the Masters. It's the general's birthday. "Oh. They have such boring parties, I usually hide out in the garden," Kasey grinned. "You really are horrid Kasey," he brother laughed "I fall asleep in some corner of the house!" Kasey climbed off the bed. "You're going to get caught one of these days." "Not tonight, I'm bringing Jordan along to wake me should I drift off. Say that's a splendid dress." "Thank you. My secret admirer sent it." Kasey twirled around for him to see." "How do you think it is?" her brother made himself comfortable against a pillow. "I don't know. I hope it's not Sir Beddinfield," she contemplated stuffing the dresses in a dark corner of her trunk. "Perhaps its some shy haggled toothed bloke wi9th an eye for fashion?" Jeff closed his eyes. "Don't be silly Jeff. Do you think so?" he could hear the worry in his sister's voice. The seed had been planted. He grinned. "Wear it to the party, maybe your admirer might be there tomorrow night." "I don't know. Maybe you're right. Jeff? Jeff? Jeffery are you falling asleep? I have to change! Get out of my room! "We bathed together as children Kasey." Jeff made himself more comfortable. 'I have changed a lot since I was ten, you know." Kasey glowered at her brother's back. He muttered something as he dozed off which sounded like "I beg to differ." "Maybe I should faint." "Don't be silly, you look as healthy as a hippo. No one is going to believe you have a case of the vapors." "I don't like that analogy. I don't look like a hippo" "Just dance with him." "I don't want to." Kasey and her brother were at the Master's party which was packed to the rafters with people, old and young all wanting to test their moves on the dance floor and catch the latest gossip about youngest female Master's interest in a not so popular earl and eat the food prepared by Arnold, the best cook in all of Europe, according to Annabelle Master, the General's wife. Kasey fell into none of the fore mentioned categories, she wanted to escape into the garden where to air was clean, the stars were lifting up the cloud free night and she was away from Sir Beddinfield who was making his way towards her for a second dance. She love dancing but not with Collin Beddinfield pressed so close to her and trying to trail his hand on he derrière. "Excuse me Miss Morgan, may I have this dance?" a familiar voice asked over Kasey's shoulder. "Yes, yes of course!" she said quickly, spinning around and grabbing a gloved hand. She practically dragged her rescuer onto the dance floor as the band began a waltz. It was only then she realized that it was Earl of Royston who had come to her aid. His penetrating green eyes looked down on her as she breathed a sigh of relief Sir Beddinfield wolf like face had disappeared somewhere behind a sea of ruffles, powered faces and wigs. "Jordan, um lord Garwood, um ah ...," she sputtered. "Jordan would suffice," he grinned. "That wouldn't be right, to call you by your Christian name. I have to call you my lord, my lord," she said trying to mentally still her stomach from doing a faster version of the waltz. "Oh right. I forgot how frivolous England's etiquette can be." He looked above her shoulder for a moment before looking down at her. "It appears you have an admirer, my dear," he murmured. Sir Beddinfield. Bloody hell. "What should I do?" she asked Jordan. "Well a lady usually curtsies and accepts the gentleman's offer," he offered. He then watched the blood drain from Kasey's face. "Or you can feign sick and I help you to the nearest seat." "I can't. No one's going to believe that. Everyone knows I'm as fit as a horse. Just look at me." Jordan quickly looks the girl over and silently cursed himself. Jeff doe eyed little sister looked ever better close up and felt like heaven in his arms. She wore one of the dresses he had made Bradley hurry to Rockwell's to purchase and send to the Morgan's house anymously. The brown dress exposed all the right places and left any red blooded man with little imagine of what was covered. Curses. There was no way he was getting a peaceful rest tonight. Still caught up in his thought, it can as a shock when Kasey stopped in mid waltz and dropped to her feet. "Oh dear, my lord, I seem to have broken my shoe. No more dancing for me I'm afraid," she said, just loudly for the couples around them and the man making his way towards them to hear. She then proceeded to drag him through the dancers over to the first available seat. "Or you can do that," chuckled as she sighed then frowned. "I really like these shoes. Pity I had to destroy them to evade sir Beddinfield's grubby hands. I'd destroy a ten of my favorite's slippers if it meant never having to dance with him again." Kasey covered her well shaped mouth. She couldn't believe she had said her thoughts out loud. With Jordan looking as handsome as he did, anything seemed to escape from her lips. She took in his dark suit that held his well muscled form snugly, from the tip of his glove to his well shinned black boots. A thousand curses on the fingers of lord Royston's tailor. Kasey's heart began doing waltz faster. She had to get away from the man. "Um would you mind getting me some lemonade, my lord, I am a bit thirsty, from all the dancing," she asked politely. Jordan looked at her for a moment as though trying to assess whether she was really thirsty, nodded and headed to where the refreshments were situated. Kasey waited until his dark head disappeared behind an outrageous looking wig before heading in the opposite direction. The night air was slightly chilled and smelled of the lavender which grew surrounding the entire Master's house. Careful not to disturb a couple meeting in the gazebo, Kasey hurried along a path which led to a water fountain, a stone bench and a swing. A wall, covered in thick green moss and a locked gate prevented her from going any further. Crickets and the sound of water from the fountain were the only noises Kasey heard, the ballroom noises couldn't be heard as the garden was on the western side and the ballroom lay to the east. She stumbled into the stone seat and sighed. Her mind flashed on the face of the young man she had left in the ballroom. There was no point in denying it; she had done so during her flight to the garden. Kasey Morgan was smitten. "Why?" she pondered out loud to the cupid stone sculpture which was shooting water out of his mouth in the fountain. She tried desperately to remember what her brother had told her about Jordan, but it had not been much; they went to school together and he lived in the Americas for some time. "This won't do me any good. He's Jeff's friend, which means he will be in his company quite a bit and if he speaks to me I shall sound like a ninny because I can't get my words out right because my heart beats so fast and my chest feels strange like I am about to swoon although I have never swooned in my life, so how should I know how that feels?" Kasey took a deep breath. "This is crazy. I can't like someone I met only three times, can I?" Jordan's smile danced about Kasey's head. Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by someone approaching. At first she thought it might be Jordan, coming to look for her and the butterflies in her stomach began getting restless again. However, as the person approached, she realized the person was much too short to be the earl. It was the girl she had passed earlier in the gazebo with the mysterious gentleman. Although she had hurried by so they would not notice her, she had observed the girl was wearing a lavender gown. The girl did not seem to notice Kasey's presence on the bench as she ran to the swing, sat down and began crying. In a matter of seconds, she had resorted to bawling as she withdrew a handkerchief and proceeded to soak the delicate material with her tears. "Um excuse me, are you alright?" Kasey began. The girl did not seem to have heard her as she continued crying. Walking over to the crying girl, she tried again. Without warning, she stood up grabbed Kasey and began crying into her shoulder. Now Kasey didn't know what to do in this situation. After all, it was not a norm for her to go fleeing into gardens, away from gentlemen with midnight hair and green eyes she fancied. Thus she had never found herself being drenched by young ladies who seemed to have enough liquid within her to match that of Thames. She thought about what her mother would do in such a situation. She patted the girl motherly. "It's going to be alright," she soothed. The girl cried louder. As Kasey contemplated her next step, the girl stopped and looked at her teary eyed. She stepped back and looked at her wet shoulder. "I'm so sorry," she began. "That's okay," Kasey grinned. She hoped the girl wouldn't begin crying again. "It's just that...James Masters is a jackass!" she covered her mouth and her cheeks reddened. "My name is Natalie Andrews. You're Jeffery Morgan's sister right?" "Yes Kasey," said Kasey. "Are you alright?" Natalie looked as though she was about to cry again, but shook her head and smiled at Kasey.