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She hesitated for a moment. He thought she would not dare turn to face him. She would run back inside, hoping he would not follow her. To be quite honest, he had no intention of following her. He had other people he needed to follow, other people he needed to speak urgently to. This lady, beautiful though she may be, was a distraction.
Then, she turned around. Her eyes were fierce, unyielding, although everything about her body assured him that she was one step away from running back inside. That was her first instinct. Yet, he seemed to intrigue her as much as she intrigued him, no matter how reluctant he was to admit this.
“I am Lady Lydia Lambert,” she announced, her voice trembling, but she managed to push on. “I am the daughter of the Earl of Russton.”
Edwin knew the Earl only superficially. He had been introduced to him on one occasion and exchanged a few pleasantries with him, but other than that, the man was a stranger. His daughter was even more so.
“I am–”
“I know who you are,” she interrupted him. For some inexplicable reason, it pleased him that she knew him. “You are Edwin Carter, the Duke of Combston.”
He expected her to curtsy in front of him, but she did no such thing. That amused him even more. He reached into his pocket, well aware of the fact that she was not taking her eyes off of him for even a second. He took out a cigar then proceeded to light it.
“Well, if that is all–” she started, but this time, he decided to interrupt her back.
“No,” he cut her off, inhaling deeply, enjoying the smoke filling his being. He knew it was a horrible habit. He was supposed to have quit it a long time ago. In fact, he managed to quit then this whole madness happened, and it was now the only thing that provided some solace in this tempest of troubles. “The least you can do now is keep me company for a little while,” he added nonchalantly.
He had spent so much time chasing ghosts for the past two years that he had already forgotten what it was like to be in the company of a lovely young lady. Perhaps he could be a normal gentleman just for a few precious minutes and just enjoy her company.
He thought she would refuse his request. After all, they were outside in the garden, alone. Unchaperoned. Her reputation might be at risk if someone came outside and saw them. Then he remembered what she had already done. She had already risked her reputation by coming out alone then eavesdropping on a conversation that was none of her business. She was obviously unlike any other young lady he had met before. That too intrigued him immensely.
“I apologize for my lack of manners,” she said, regaining some of her composure, although that blush on her cheeks was still as prominent now as it was several minutes ago. It suited her perfectly. He didn’t like that pale, porcelain complexion ladies preferred these days. He enjoyed some blush on a young lady’s face.
Her voice soothed him in a way he found surprising. While he was still angry regarding how this situation ended, he realized that he was eager for some company.Hercompany.
“I was simply worried because I heard two people arguing,” she added.
He grinned. “You thought you could talk some sense into us?”
“I…” she started, but once again, could not bring herself to finish. Her confusion was so endearing.
“You were curious,” he pointed out, taking another puff of his cigar.
She pressed her plump lips together so tightly that they turned into one single slit on her moonlit face. He was right. She simply did not wish to tell him that he was.
“I can’t blame you for being curious,” he finally said, wishing to take some strain off of her. Besides, it was true. If he heard someone arguing, he would probably have done the same thing. Claiming otherwise would be unfair. “Although, curiosity can be a dangerous thing, especially for a young lady.”
As soon as he said those words, he could not help but think of his sister. It had been two years since her disappearance. Two long years, with each passing day more difficult than the one that preceded it. Rachel had always been a wallflower. There was childlike curiosity in her, and that was how she perceived the world. She was gullible and trusting. She believed all men and women were good, decent people. She never even dreamed that someone might have any desire to harm her in any way.
Rachel was his younger sister, his only sister. As her older brother, he was supposed to be her protector. They were supposed to be each other’s harbor. They were supposed to keep each other safe from harm. He failed her. That was why he could not rest until she was found and brought back home.
“I think curiosity is what makes life truly worth living.” She surprised him with her reply, bringing him from his troubled thoughts back to the present moment. “If you aren’t inquisitive, if you don’t ask questions, if you don’t notice the mysterious things around you, why are you living then?”
For a moment, he was stunned into silence. He had to admit that he wasn’t expecting such a profound response, especially not in the situation they had found themselves in.
“You like mysteries?” he wondered, already sensing what her answer would be.
“Ever since I was a child,” she confirmed. “I think life is one big mystery. We all have this capability of trying to solve it, but not everyone wants to do it. Some are content living mediocre lives without questioning any of the whys or the hows.”
Suddenly, he realized that her curiosity might be a problem. She might start asking questions, and that was the last thing he needed right now.
“Did you recognize the man I was speaking to?” he asked her, sounding grave. She noticed the change in tone. He could see it in her expression.
“No,” she shook her head. “Who was he?”
“That doesn’t matter,” he replied with silent relief. This didn’t mean that she would not be asking any questions on her own, but at least she did not know who the man was. “Believe me, it’s better for you that you do not know him.”
“Why were you arguing with him?” she asked boldly, and once again, he was stunned by her determination to find out more about what just happened.
