The look on my grandmother’s face was sad and yet determined at the same time. I was immediately worried and I placed my hand on her knee. “What is it, Grandmama?”

            She smiled slightly at my worried tone. “It is nothing too concerning, my dear; merely something I wish you to know. You must understand, however, that what I am about to tell you, I have told no one before. Not even your mother, or my husband.”

            I looked at her in confusion. How could she have not told her husband if it was about my grandfather? “What is it?” I repeated.

            She took a deep breath and looked toward the window. Though her body was with me in the library, it was as if she were many miles away. “When I was younger, before your mother was born, I went on a trip to visit some friends,” she started. “The duke was unable to attend, and the boys were away at school. We went to Italy, to Rome. It was beautiful and we spent our time shopping and flitting from party to party. And then I met him.” Her voice became wistful. “There was something about him, something mysterious. He was beautiful for a man; handsome, with pale skin and black hair. Long, much too long for a gentleman. It certainly wasn’t in style, but it didn’t matter. I was walking alone that night, back to where I was staying, and he saw me and crossed the street. There was just something about him that compelled me to him, darling, I can’t even explain it after all these years. He moved with this inborn grace, almost as if he were floating. Everything about his mannerisms….he was so gentle, as if I was a fragile thing.” At this point my grandmother blushed. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but I fell for him. I allowed him to escort me back to where I was staying. There was no one home and I….I asked him to stay.”

            I gasped. This was more than what I ever wished to know about my grandmother.

Ew.

            “He was gone the next morning,” Grandmama continued. “I returned to the duke and a few months later discovered I was increasing. I was worried, but there was no reason it couldn’t not be the duke’s. Then your mother was born, all blue eyes and white blonde hair, just like the duke. I thought I was safe. However, not minutes after the duke got his first look at his only daughter, he showed up, at the window. I’m still not sure how he did it. He tried to claim your mother as his, but I denied it. He left then, still stubborn about the fact that the child in my arms was his, ours.” She sighed wistfully.

            “I saw him again, about ten years ago. He hadn’t aged a whit, love. He looked exactly the same as he had many years ago. That was when I knew that there was something about him unworldly.” Grandmama gave a short laugh. “Oddly, it doesn’t bother me. When your brother was born, dearest, he looked so much like that man that I couldn’t deny your mother was his daughter any longer. Especially when your mother named your brother after him, with no prodding on my part.”

            “Marcus?” I asked curiously.

            “Yes, that was his name. I see so much of him in your brother. They share the same build and hair color. I don’t know about the eyes, they always seemed so dark.” Grandmama looked at me dead on this time. “Everything about your brother that reminded me of him increased tenfold when you were born and I first laid eyes on you. You are beautiful in the same ways he is. You can’t compare to even the Incomparables of each Season. Your grace surpasses even the most talented graduate of any finishing school; your sporting talent is greater than even the champions, in everything you do. Do you understand, my love? Everything from the man I knew years ago is present in you!”

Grandmother was as serious as I had ever seen her, and her words were troubling. “I don’t understand, Grandmama.”

She sighed, realizing she was frightening me. “I’m sorry, darling. I just wanted to let you know, in case he came one day, to speak to you. I didn’t want you to be caught unaware.” She kissed my cheek. “Now head on out, child. I need to rest.”

Unsure, I stood and kissed Grandmama’s cheek before leaving the library in search of someone else. My mother was in Papa’s study; I could tell by the giggling as I quickly walked by.

Ew again.

It was horrible having parents that actually adored each other. Libby Matheson never had to put up with her parents sneaking around and kissing at all hours of the day.

I shook that thought out of my head. Libby Matheson had horrid parents and I wouldn’t trade mine for the world. It was just inconvenient at times. I blushed to myself remembering when Alex and Angie had come over for a surprise visit and my mother walked out of the library with Papa just as we passed. Her hair was half undone and her dress was buttoned crookedly and she was missing a shoe. It was rather an awkward moment only made worst by Papa walking over in his shirtsleeves to see what was wrong with Mama.

I shuddered delicately, pushing that thought from my mind.

I rounded the corner and screamed as I collided with a huge chest. Marcus caught me before I hit the ground and I glared up at him through a curtain of black ringlets that had fallen over my face.

My brother laughed jovially as he brought me back to my feet. He didn’t look it, but he was one of the strongest men I knew. “Careful, poppet,” he laughed. “I always thought you were more graceful than that,” he teased. His words brought back my conversation with Grandmama.

My brother, always perceptive with me, looked at me in concern. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Nothing,” I said, pasting a fake smile on my face. “I just had an unsettling conversation with Grandmama, that’s all.”

Marcus looked at me with understanding. “Yes, she has been a bit out of sorts lately, hasn’t she?” He grinned. “Here I thought perhaps you just hadn’t seen Alex yet.”

I tried to hide my blush to no avail. “No, I’ve been over already this afternoon. Angie was still sleeping, so Alex and I went out and shot targets.”

“Did you win?”

I looked offended. “Naturally.”

“Good girl,” Marcus praised, kissing my head. “I happened to overhear, however, that we’ve been invited to the Cavanaugh’s tonight for a dinner party. Informal, naturally.”

“Why wouldn’t Mama tell me? I need to prepare!” I blushed, remembering what was happening in the study. “Never mind. Mama was, um, detained,” I said.

“Naturally,” Marcus repeated my words back to me with a wink. He looked at the clock in the hallway. “You have about two hours to prepare. Will you need it all or have you time for a race?”

I grinned. Marcus was 12 years older than I and was the only one who ever gave me any real competition in anything I did. Once again, my mind drifted to my grandmother, which I quickly pushed aside. “There’s always time for a race,” I replied.

My brother returned victorious that night to the house as I was scolded for the state of my hair. Quickly my maid redid my hair and helped me into a clean dress of deep blue shot silk. We gathered into the coach, Marcus and I bickering good naturedly as Mama and Papa affectionately held hands and rolled their eyes. Grandmama had elected to stay at home, claiming an illness and Mama had kissed her forehead in worry before being waved off.

Soon enough we arrived at the tree lined driveway and were whisked through the front door. Angie practically flew down the stairs and crushed me in a hug, all the while exclaiming over my dress. She curtsied quickly to Mama, Papa and Marcus before grabbing my hand and dragging me to the salon where her family waited.

“Charles, Anne!” Angie’s mama, Lady Rockhurst exclaimed as she rose with her husband, the Duke of Rockhurst, to greet us. Lady Rockhurst, or Sarah as she preferred, hugged us all and exclaimed over my growing beauty, which I tried not to blush at. That was made difficult when I caught Alex’s amused look from where he stood with his eldest brother Aidan in the corner. Rockhurst nodded amiably at all of us as Mama and I curtsied and Papa and Marcus bowed. Though dear friends, Rockhurst outranked Papa, the Earl of Ravenwood, and Marcus, Viscount Lancaster and courtesy dictated formality, at least for greetings.

Sarah scolded her family that had not yet greeted us. Alex kissed my hand a tad longer than was appropriate and I saw Mama and Sarah exchanging knowing looks while Papa looked mildly alarmed. I blushed all through the greeting of his elder brothers, who were all here – Aidan, the Marquis of Richton, Anthony, the second eldest, along with Andrew, the third brother.

Once all the formalities were out of the way, Angie pulled me over to a small sofa. On the opposite side of the room from Alex. “Isabel Constance Ravenwood, what happened this afternoon with my brother?” she demanded impatiently. “He has been walking around with the silliest look all afternoon.”

“Really?” I allowed my own silly look to show through in response to the thought that maybe he had been as affected as I had by the afternoon’s revelations.

Angie regarded me with a calculating look. “Confess.”

“Nothing happened,” I started, but quickly added when she glared at me, “I just told him that I thought him attractive.”

Angie squealed and Alex caught my eye with the devastating crooked grin I hoped was reserved for only me. He winked quickly before turning back to his brother as I tried to calm my friend. Luckily, Hastings came in and informed us dinner was ready. The duke and duchess led, followed by Mama and Papa. Marcus escorted Angie, and though Aidan should have been my escort, Alex spoke a few smooth words to him, even as he claimed my arm as well as the seat next to me, as my dinner companion, which caused a few raised eyebrows, but no comments.

Dinner was a friendly affair, though I remembered little later. Every time Alex brushed my hand with his, I could barely breathe. I’m not certain what I ate, just that Alex tried to scoop his vegetables to my plate when no one was looking and stole two spoonfuls of the pudding.

When dinner was finished, the men stayed for their port while the women retired to the drawing room. I was mid conversation with Angie when I caught sight of deep brown eyes peering through the crack of the open door. Alex motioned for me to meet him so I made an excuse and snuck into the hallway, shutting the door behind me. “What is it?” I hissed impatiently as I turned around.

Alex slid his large hands down from my shoulders to my wrists and then around my waist. I was paralyzed, unable to move as one hand went up to tangle in my hastily arranged ringlets. His thumb gently brushed my jaw as Alex leaned in, running his nose from my ear to my chin and back again. “I’m sorry, love,” he whispered, causing me to shiver. “I can’t resist anymore.” With that, I could only stare as he leaned forward and brushed his lips gently against mine for just a brief second. He did it again, once, twice, before staying there longer for what seemed like eternity and yet not long enough. I whimpered as he pulled away and gently kissed my forehead. “Remember this always,” he whispered. “Everything I do in my life will always be for you.”

And then he left.

I could only stare on in shock as he casually walked back to his brothers and the fathers. I held a shaking hand to my lips and then walked back in to Angie, who guessed immediately what had happened and mercifully kept from squealing.

I remembered very little of the ride home, but will always remember what happened after that. When we arrived home that night it was to the sight of one of the footmen hightailing it on a horse as fast as it could go. Papa jumped out in worry, Mama right behind him while Marcus fairly pushed me out of the coach. We walked into the house where I almost collided with Papa. Mama was on the floor sobbing over something I couldn’t see. I took a step forward only to be pulled back by Marcus, but it was too late. I saw what it was.