When they arrived at Easterwel, Oliver paused, watching the country side house, as Callum referred to it.  It was anything but a country house. The building was a bit smaller than The Fernsbury Manor, but at the same time there was something that made the place different.  Magical. Oliver almost slapped himself for gaping like a complete idiot at it, and since when did those associations came to his mind.  Nevertheless, he continued admiring the piece of art. Because that was what he was looking at. That was the place the household maids talked about occasionally. It very much resembled an actual castle, it was as if taken out of the stories Emma used to read as a little girl and dreamed of living in. Seeing one of those in front of him made Oliver feel out of place. The other time he'd felt that way and so strongly about it had been during the ball.  It was dark, but he coul

They left an hour later.   The carriage took them somewhere north from Easterwel.  Oliver didn't lose orientation, but one didn't exactly need specific tracking skills to know they were getting pretty far away from everything that included people wandering around.  The coachman stopped at the end of the road and the two of them headed to the place Callum was given the address of. They paused before the old, presumably empty building.  "Did they choose this place?" Oliver asked and stopped to take the place in.  " I wasn't in the position to negotiate. " "How many of them are going to be in there?" "Two."  Oliver took another look around, confirming there really wasn't anything nearby. That was never a good sign.  "You know they'll be more than that. " "I should hope not that many."  The Lord adjusted his hat and straightened up.  "

He crossed the spacious hallway, the butler politely showing him to Charles' study. "Allow me to say- I'm glad you're visiting us again, Mister Liam, " the man said and gave him a warm smile. "I'm glad to be here as well. And I'm always delighted to meet Charles." The numerous Chinese vases were decorating the long corridor and Liam took a mental note Charles had brought with him even more things from Canton this time.  The place had started resembling a mansion that didn't belong in England and was more like one that was in the East. Liam really liked that. The butler retreated and Liam knocked on the door. "Yes?" Charles answered from inside and quickly got up once he saw the visitor was Liam. "My dear boy, " "Charles, I'm so glad to see you're fine and well." They shook hands and Liam remembered how welcoming Charles had always been with him. He always got that strange feeling he was very

Charlotte was sitting in the spacious parlor, wearing in a dark purple dress. The color made her hair impossible to miss- the same deep red as Callum's. The only difference between the two was that hers was neatly arranged in a fashionable hairstyle, while Callum's had begun growing longer again. She was watching the rain, falling quietly outside.  Oliver paused at the entrance. He'd seen her, even though it had been briefly before, and not only in Tennyson's mansion, but that was the first time he'd seen her like that- by herself, oblivious to the presence of someone near and Callum's striking resemblance to her gave one a pause.   The thought that one of the reasons behind Tennyson's behavior could be the fact that Callum took so much after his mother passed Oliver's mind for the first time ever.  He wondered how it had taken him so long to realize it. He waited for her to notice him and smiled once she turned to him.

Two Weeks Later     Oliver and Callum had returned back to London a few days ago. Tennyson was supposed to be leaving the city soon, so Oliver had gotten the chance to go out, telling everyone he had a day off and that he was supposed to meet a friend. Well, he hadn’t really exaggerated when he’d called the person he was hoping to meet a friend.     Oliver was now comfortably sitting in the dimly-lit bar, finishing his third gin.   The truth was he wasn't sure if what they served here actually tasted like anything, though. His senses had already been dulled enough by the strong, cheap perfumes and the cigarette smoke, encompassing everything.  Oliver called the waiter for another drink and relaxed back in his chair. He looked at the stage.  The graceful figure up there was moving beautifully, dancing to the sound of the music p