A door slammed with a bang and footsteps could be heard clattering down the stairs.
Lord and Lady Montague looked up as their eldest daughter Sofia came panting into the room.
“Sofia, it is not ladylike to go running around the manor.” Lady Montague gently scolded.


Halting suddenly she dropped into a polite curtsy and addressed her father. “Milord, you’re meeting with Lord Royson is ended. I would like to pay my respects… where is he?”
Her dark eyes, so like his own pierced his and Lord Montague felt himself flush in anger at her boldness and lack of respect.
Seeing her husbands raising ire, Lady Montague spoke quickly. “Why, Lord Royson is staying until the morning. You and he will be leaving together then. I believe right now he is taking a walk near the lake. He says he enjoys the water.” She glanced sideways at her husband, who was glaring angrily at her.

Without another word she turned and ran out the door again her feet again clamoring noisily on the stairs.

Rushing out onto her balcony she scanned the horizon and sighed in relief not to see any signs of a departing guest.

Peering through the trees she thought she spied a bit of color near the waters edge and gave a relieved smile at seeing it was indeed Lewen skimming rocks along the water. She hesitated at first, not sure if she should go to him but then her fathers words came back to her and she knew she had to set things right between them. She would die before she ended up in a loveless and bitter marriage like that of her parents.

Barely slowing on the steps she made sure to walk sedately past the drawing room, so as not to gain her mothers disapproval once again. Seeing the couple absent from the room she again lifted her skirts and dashed through the door on her way to the lake and the sulky man moping there.

Lewen watched the splash and ripple of the water as he tossed the rock in. It sank instantly not skipping once. His concentration was off. He could feel her watching him. He turned his head away and smirked slightly. The little minx. She was out for marriage all along he had no doubt. He was certain she’d sought diligently to escape her abusive and overbearing father in any way she could. He just happened to be the means to an end.
He smiled wryly. A willing means.

“Lewen?” Sofia whispered his name softly her eyes filled with anxiety. Turning to her he couldn’t help but soften a little at her fearful demeanor. No doubt her father enjoyed such looks from his wife, he thought angrily.
Seeing his angry frown she took a step back.
“I, know you think I did this on purpose, but I assure you it was never my intent to trap you into a marriage you didn‘t…” her eyes lowered and her voice trailed off.

Frowning Lewen started to say something but she put her hands up. “No, it’s alright. I know you didn’t want this. I will go to my father and demand that he stop this at once.” Turning she stormed away from him, her eyes intent on the ground before her. She prayed he would not follow her. She didn’t think she could accept his rejection. Not now, when she felt so very vulnerable to the whims of both  him and her father.

“Sofia wait.” Lewen called. It had never occurred to him that she might not want this marriage either. Perhaps they could come to some form of aggreement. He would rather not be tied down. And if she truly wanted only to escape her fathers house… He shook his head ruefully. There was still the matter of whether or not she was with child. He just couldn’t see a way out of this. It was the noose for him at last. Turning she stared at him for long moments her eyes searching his face for some kindness, for some understanding of her situation. Finally she shook her head and exclaimed in exasperation
“Wait for what? For it to be too late? Maybe, maybe I can convince him somehow to let this matter be.”

He laughed mockingly taking a few steps in her direction.  “How can he let this matter be, when there may be a child involved?”

She gasped and pressed a hand to her flat midsection. “No, there is no child. I never said…” Her eyes closed for a moment in horror. Was there a child? When had her courses come upon her last?

The sun chose that moment to sink behind the clouds, thrusting the countryside into sudden and alarming darkness. Blinking rapidly at the dimmnes she looked away and didn’t notice Lewens approach. She gave a startled cry as he grabbed her and pulled her away from the waters edge. The tips of her slippers, wet with how close she had come to taking a swim slipped on the grass and Lewen hauled her up against him, dragging her out of sight of the manors windows.

The scent of gardenias filled her senses and she glanced around as the moon rose in silvery magnificence. They were on the far side of the lake now and surrounded by bushes and trees. The familiar scent of the flowers bought to mind the first night they had been together and a soft sob escaped her lips.
“What is it?” he asked her quietly his eyes searching for hers in the faint light.

She reached out and grasped his arm lightly in her hand, her fingers skimming the fine fabric of his tunic. “I was just remembering. When we were first here. The first time…” her words trailed off as he brushed her hand away from his arm. A small sarcastic chuckle escaping his lips.

“That was a long time ago. And I was very stupid. Thinking with my cock and all that.” He turned and began walking back towards the manor.
“You should get back inside, it’s getting cold. And we leave at first light, sniffles or not.”
Sofia stood there staring at the bush that so reminded her of how it once was between them. How; she was sure, it would never be again.