* * *As he made a bend, the light tapping on the piano reached him. It was fast and upbeat and it left Charles with curiosity. Was Beth dancing to such fast music? He wanted to see how she was going about it. Subconsciously, he hastened towards the room.There she was, standing metres away from the piano, hands posed in the air, as though she held onto someone. She was wearing a dark-coloured dress that gave a bit of colour to her pale skin. His inside did a weird flip. Oh, how beautiful she was.She had her hair down over her shoulders, and even though Charles loved it that way, it made him curious about her wound. Had it healed yet? Was it why she still had her hair down? He was getting angry, but he searched for control and found her voice. He found control. Charles huffed, breathing down, trying to control himself. He couldn't afford to be a monster, not after the last time.The pianist continued to pluck on the keys, increasing the tempo and Beth danced to it. She moved her feet

He took her waving hand in his and held it tightly and held her gaze, then he did what he had never done before. He pulled her closer to himself, and kissed her cheek, startling her. "Friends."* * *She woke up the next morning energized and ready for the day. She was spending it with Lord Carlisle.Over dinner, the previous day, he had proposed they spend the day together, and Beth had agreed without hesitating. They would forsake all of their duties and dilly-dally the hours away, going horseback riding.The day would be cold, but Beth did not care and agreed as soon as Lord Carlisle suggested. She had been so surprised at his preposition that she had jumped at it. A thick dress and an even thicker shawl should be enough to keep the cold at bay.A quick, warm bath was all it took to prepare her for the cold outside. At the vanity table, Anna brushed down her hair while she smiled uncontrollably. She could not help it. It was the happiest she had been in a while.Lord Carlisle h

The trees were now naked and the hill dry and devoid of grass, but from where they stood, it did seem familiar. It couldn't be. It was… She spun to him at once, excited. "This was the hill I ended up on the morning we first met!" His lips twitched. "How can this be? I do not remember this path.""That was the path you took." He pointed through the evergreens.Beth searched through. She couldn't make it out but he said it was, it had to be. She did remember seeing a bolder as she climbed after ridding herself of his presence. Unsatisfied, she ambled closer to the path he had pointed and saw the bolder. "You are right! It is the path!" She yelled out to him. Then, "The estate can be accessed through here too?!" She returned to the ledge."It is pretty far, don't you think?""Not if I were a bandit or a poacher." She shook her head. "What silly words I have uttered. I am sure Carlisle Crest is well secured." Beth adjusted her hat. It did not need adjusting."I came here that day hoping t

If all could be well as this, why had they spent months away from each other? Why had he spent time brooding and she locked away in the library? If she could, Beth wanted to tell him all the truth about her and be done with it, so no dark cloud could ever ruin their perfect days.She had left Westside Manor with a heavy heart, scared for her life here at Carlisle Crest that she had hidden away in her books and from the ton and their social gatherings. And from Lord Carlisle.But now, her heart felt light and the world floated with a wonderful ambiance. Lord Carlisle made her feel wonderful. He had asked if she preferred books to him. Few minutes ago, she had not been certain, she was now. Beth realized she would rather stay with him than live in any library.…tell him what troubles you.Anna's voice loomed close. Beth allowed her eyes to go to Lord Carlisle but he was looking elsewhere. He was looking at her hair. The man seemed to be obsessed with her red locks.…you say he would lis

At nine o'clock the next day, Beth went with Lord Carlisle to the administration office to meet with the solicitors, the head builder and the architect. She was eager to begin management of the project he let her in charge.She sat at the head of the table while Lord Carlisle resigned to a seat at the corner of the room.The head builder, Mr. Henry, was a kind man who was not prejudiced to her being a woman unlike the solicitor who had thought she had come for more money for the ball, or the architect who subtly told that she was not refined enough to understand his drawings on paper.Lord Carlisle remained silent in the corner, quietly smoking his cigar though his eyes remained on them.Regardless of their judgmental eyes boring into her flesh, Beth went ahead to make a number of changes she deemed for the project. She countered and rejected whilst agreeing to as many as possible."My Lady, this is not a ball. This is a building."She felt insulted. "I am well aware of that fact, Mr.