Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2004 1:57 am
<b>Chapter 9</b>
“Miss Elizabeth?” Abigail called.
Liz rubbed the sides of her dress down once more before she stepped out from behind the changing screen. “Yes Abigail?”
“Did you want me to send out this note?” Abigail asked. She stood next to Liz’s desk and held a small note in her hands. Liz looked at the note and frowned. She recognized it as her paper, but she knew she hadn’t written a note.
“I didn’t write a note,” Liz said.
Abigail laid the note back down upon the desk, “Perhaps you forgot about it?”
Still frowning, Liz shook her head and turned around for Abigail to finish up her laces. It was possible that Liz had written a letter and simply forgot about it, especially with all that had been happening in the past few days. She’d never been one to sleepwalk yet she would swear that she’d fallen asleep in the chair beside the window, but she’d woken up in her bed. Her only explanation was that she’d woken up sometime in the middle of the night and moved, not fully enough awake to remember it.
“Will you be needing anything else, Miss Elizabeth?” Abigail asked startling Liz.
“I… Uh,” Liz sighed, completely frustrated. She wished that she could pack up her bags and go home. That, unfortunately, wasn‘t likely to happen. Liz swallowed and then forced a smile, “No, I don’t believe I’ll need you again until dinner, Abigail. Why don’t you take that time off? I believe I noticed a few handsome stable boys the other day when I was down there.”
Abigail blushed and smiled. “All right then, Miss Elizabeth. Thank you.”
As soon as the door closed behind Abigail, Liz headed for her desk. With a sigh, Liz settled comfortably and then picked up the abandoned note.
<I>Elizabeth,
I came to your rooms last night in the hopes of speaking with you. Unfortunately, the hour was late and you were already asleep… in your chair. Do not be alarmed, I merely moved you to your bed, nothing more. I know, I said these two weeks would be spent with the both of us attempting to get to know one another, but due to urgent business I have to leave as soon as possible. I have strong doubts that I will be able to return to the party before two weeks are up. Be assured that I will find you once my business reaches an end so we can continue to further our knowledge of one another. In the meantime, I would strongly suggest you lock your door before retiring.
Until we meet again,
Your fiancée </I>
‘I would strongly suggest you lock your door before retiring.’ Now, she most assuredly would… if only to keep him from coming in! Although she wouldn’t have to worry too much on that front for awhile. Business indeed! Max, <I>Lord Colvister</I>, had just made the perfect excuse to get away from her. Honestly, like she was expected to believe he could not pry himself from his business for a week or two to get to know his fiancée! Could he really not spare the time? Or did he not want to spare the time? Liz’s frown deepened. She had asked Max not to spend time with any of his mistresses as he had asked her to not “encourage” other gentlemen. Yet, would he truly do as she asked? Despite being betrothed to her, Max Evans was ever the rake… nothing would stop him from living as he had been for years.
Throwing the letter down, Liz stood. Well if Max wanted to escape her to spend time with any woman he so chose then that was perfectly fine with her. If Max could break her rules, she most certainly could break his!
A knock on the door drew Liz’s attention. No doubt it was one of her cousins coming to escort her to breakfast. She looked down at her note and called out, “Hold on a moment.” Liz crossed the fireplace, the note still in hand. Reading it once more, Liz scowled and then threw it into the flames and watched as it burned. The edges turned to black and the note began to shrivel. If Max Evans thought she was going to be the perfect quiet wife he was absolutely wrong. Not only would Liz do whatever she wanted, she’d do it with a smile on her lips and hopefully drive him to run as fast as he could.
Liz crossed the room and opened the door with a sheepish smile. “Sorry I kept you waiting…” With a gasp Liz took a small step back into her room. Leaning against her doorframe ever so casually was Michael Evans. He grinned down at her, a wolfish smirk on his face. “No need for apologies. I don’t mind waiting.” His voice was husky and he stepped uninvitingly into her room.
“Sir-”
Michael waved away Liz’s protests. “We are soon to be family, Liz. I give you leave to call me Michael, or whatever else you feel quite comfortable with.”
“What are you doing here?” Liz asked, quite rudely.
Michael, it seemed, noticed and smirked. “Alex and Kyle have sung your praises while I have nothing to say of you other than that you are ravishingly beautiful. Since it seems as if my brother has other… matters to attend to, I thought I’d take these two weeks time to get to know you.”
Liz ran her hands smoothly down the sides of her dress. “And you came up here to tell me that?”
“I came to escort you to breakfast,” Michael replied with a smile. Looking into his brown eyes, Liz thought she saw a gleam in them - although she wasn‘t certain of what. Michael held his arm out to her. Steeling herself, Liz straightened and gave him her hand, allowing him to lead her out of the room.
“So tell me… Michael, what is it you do?” Liz asked once her door was closed and they were making their way down the hall.
“Do?”
“Alex and Kyle have told me you aren’t interested in the family business.”
“Ah,” Michael smiled, “The younger ones aren’t interested in it either, if they forgot to mention that. Being the eldest, it falls to Max to take over the family business. It would be awful for him if he hated it, but he seems to enjoy it.”
“And what do you enjoy?”
Michael stopped walking to look at Liz. Confused, she looked up in his eyes to see them suddenly darkened. In a husky voice he replied, “I enjoy what every man enjoys.”
Liz lifted her chin. She could see the challenge in his eyes. This was the type of man her father, uncle and cousins had always tried to shield her and Maria from. He, along with the rest of his brothers was a rake and Liz was completely inexperienced in that sphere despite her dealings with Max. Now would be a perfect opportunity to learn more, and Liz thought back to her previous promise to herself - to send Max running in the opposite direction of her. How better to accomplish that then “encourage” his brother? Liz tilted her head, “And that would be?”
Michael grinned, “Freedom. Pleasure.”
<I>Pleasure</I>. The way he said it sent a shiver down Liz’s back. His voice was so like Max’s… for a moment Liz thought Max had never left at all. She looked up into Michael’s eyes, to meet his gaze. Slowly, she saw his gaze travel over her face and neck before reversing and locking onto her lips. His head slowly descended to her own, while his arms locked about her waist.
Liz pushed at his arms, but once his lips met hers, her hands froze. The kiss was soft and innocent until his tongue ran over her lips. She had no idea what she had just gotten herself into. She should’ve resisted, but she didn’t. His tongue was running over the insides of her mouth and it took her only a few seconds before she was kissing him back, meeting his tongue with her own. Her arms were suddenly around his neck and she pulled herself up to meet him.
It was nothing like kissing Max. With Max there were fireworks, and every part of Liz’s body just knew… that it couldn’t get any better. With Max she couldn’t think of anything, nothing else mattered. Liz hadn’t kissed many other men aside from Max. None had ever measured up to him, now Michael didn’t either. It wasn’t that Michael was a bad kisser. He was far from it… he was excellent. With Michael it was pure fire, pure passion. With Max it was all that and more.
“Oh Liz…” Michael mumbled the words against her lips before smiling softly and pulling away, “If only you had been betrothed to me.”
Liz’s eyes opened and she took a hesitant step back. “That-”
“Shouldn’t have happened,” Michael said. He placed Liz’s hand back on his arm and continued down the hallway, “Let me tell you about my ship.”
---
Liz debated about what to say to Michael. After their kiss he’d been completely cool and calm, as if the moment had never happened. Well, if he was determined to make it so there was no awkwardness between the two of them, then Liz should in fact be grateful. She was engaged to his brother, there was nothing that was to be done about that unless Max abandoned the betrothal, and the last thing Liz wanted was for there to be a rift between any of the Evans brothers… especially because of her.
“So, what do you think?”
Liz practically jumped in her seat. She turned to look at Grant, who was looking completely amused. She narrowed her eyes at her cousin and then tried to remember what the group around her had been talking about. Horses? Yes. Oh! A morning ride. Liz smiled, “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Brody, another of Liz’s cousins grinned, “Fantastic! You’ll fetch Maria, won’t you? She disappeared so quickly after eating we didn’t get a chance to mention it.”
Liz blanched, “Yes, well… I’ll get her. We’ll meet you by the stables in half an hour.” Standing, Liz nodded to her cousins, Michael, Alex and Kyle. Before she had walked two steps she felt a hand grab her elbow, slowing her steps. She stopped and turned to see who it was.
Pierce.
He smiled warmly at her and motioned for her to keep walking, “I’ll walk you to Maria’s room. I haven’t had much of a chance to speak with her yet. You know how Nicholas loves to dominate her time.”
“You all love to dominate Maria’s time. So long as you’re with her, no other gentlemen can be,” Liz remarked. Pierce snorted, “Yes well, Nicholas more so than the rest of us. We’re only looking out for her you know. It’s what we’re supposed to do.”
“Yes, I know.” Liz’s reply was distant. Maria had only been looking out for her. Liz kept telling herself that, except she was still angry and upset. Maria was looking out for her, yet she would have betrayed her. Shaking her head, Liz tried to concentrate on Pierce. All of her cousins were fairly handsome but Pierce was the only who was incredibly so. An innocent miss, one whom had never had a conversation with him before, wouldn’t be able to remember a word he’d said after he’d spoken it. Liz was incredibly thankful she was related to him and the others.
“I’m thankful you’re practically already married off,” Pierce continued, “or else the others and I would have a hard time trying to watch other both you and Maria. You’re hellcats, the two of you.”
“It never stopped you before, my engagement I mean,” Liz said.
“Yes, well that’s because you’d never met Evans before. Now that you have, he can watch over you. If only we could get Maria married off…”
Liz rolled her eyes, “You know you don’t mean that. You and your brothers would much rather Maria living the life of a spinster instead of marrying.”
Pierce grinned, “Too true, Lizzie dear.”
The two cousins turned down a hallway. Content, Liz looked around at the paintings, smiling at the memories. Pierce tightened his grip on her arm causing Liz to stop and look up at him, curiosity in her eyes.
“Is something troubling you?” She asked.
Pierce sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. “It isn’t just me you know. Nicholas, Brody, Grant and Sean are worried about it as well.”
“Well that’s never good. What are the five of you worried about?”
“Maria.”
“Oh,” Liz forced her voice to not sound so deadpanned, “What about Maria?”
“The day we arrived we found her in her room, depressed about something. Not that she would tell us much of anything, of course. She scarcely comes down now, and when she does she’s quiet… and you know that Maria is never quiet! We’ve been wondering what could possibly keep her so unhappy and-” Pierce cut off.
Liz bit her lip, guilt quickly rising in her. “And what?”
“You’re her best friend, Lizzie. You’ve got to know what’s troubling my little sister. It isn’t a man is it?”
Liz was too shocked to answer.
Pierce took Liz’s silence as if she was confirming his fear. “I knew it! Brody was so sure Maria was upset about something else, but you know how he is. He still sees Maria as the innocent girl who used to follow us around everywhere. Nicholas, Grant, Sean and I see the looks she gets though, and we’ve tried to warn her about the men of the ton but you know how she is! She flirts with men in front of us, as if to bait us and if one of them has taken liberties with her… well! Tell me who it is Liz!”
Liz had no idea what she was supposed to say.
Pierce continued, “When we tried to talk to her about what was wrong she just mumbled about men and their seductive charms. Of course you can see what we’d think!”
Liz sharply turned her head to look at Pierce and fought not to laugh, “Well, this appears to be completely my fault.”
At Pierce’s curious look she explained, “It’s my fiancé, Pierce - who’s been on her mind. I’ve been whining to Maria about him and how unhappy I was with our arrangement. Maria was trying to console me and I sort of bit her head off and told her that she didn’t have a clue how I felt. I haven’t apologized to her yet and she must think I’m furious with her and in turn she was probably upset with Max for upsetting me. I am sorry to have worried the rest of you so.”
“What about the ‘seductive charms’ bit?” Pierce asked.
“Oh that,” Liz scanned her brain. What had Maria been thinking when she’d said that!? “That was just something I’d told Maria. I was being a bit overdramatic.”
Pierce still looked unconvinced.
“When Max and I first met, he kissed me so I told Maria and made it a bit more dramatic than it was,” Liz grinned in spite of the situation… it wasn’t a complete lie. When she and Max had first met he <I>had</I> kissed her.
Pierce nodded now and was smiling. He began to walk Liz down the hallway once more, “Wonderful! We were afraid Maria had been compromised and well, now that she’s not I can rest easily… and the others will as well. Thank you, Lizzie dear, for putting my mind at ease on that subject. Now, as to what else is bothering my brothers and I-”
“There’s more?” Liz groaned.
Pierce laughed, “Last thing, I promise. Now, tell me how you and your fiancé are getting along.”
“We’ve only just met,” Liz replied, “and we haven’t had much chance to get to know each other yet.”
“Well, this would appear to be the perfect time, would it not?” Pierce waved his hand at their surroundings, “A two week house party, with only those familiar with both of our families.”
“Yes, that is what I imagined as well. Unfortunately, he was called away on business.”
“Hmm…” Pierce mumbled.
“Apparently it was very important,” Liz continued.
“Yes?” Pierce looked down at Liz.
“Yes.”
“You aren’t making excuses for him, are you, Lizzie?”
“Of course not! I’m merely repeating the excuses he made for himself to me,” Liz snapped.
“So he ran, did he?” A look passed over Pierce’s face. It was gone when Liz tilted her head to see what it was. He smiled, “Nevertheless, that will be dealt with shortly.”
“Dealt with?” Liz questioned. “What do you mean-”
“Ah! Here we are,” Pierce knocked sharply on Maria’s door and then bent to kiss Liz’s cheek, “I’ll see you both in half an hour.”
“I thought you wanted to see Maria!” Liz said.
“Yes, well, I have to talk to my brothers. I’ll talk with her on the ride.” Pierce began to move away from Liz.
“No, wait!” Liz grabbed his hand. “Tell me what you’re up to.”
Pierce took Liz’s hand up in his own, “You are my favorite cousin, Lizzie. I am up to nothing other than making you happy.” His kissed the back of Liz’s hand, dropped it and pinched her cheek. “Be good.”
With that he was gone, leaving Liz to stare after his retreating back. She glared and then turned back to the door, wondering what was taking Maria so long. She knocked again. When still there was no answer she threw the door open.
Maria was facing the window, away from Liz. She moved her head to the side of the chair, leaning against it. “If the five of you wouldn’t mind, I’m busy.”
“Yes, well I can see that,” Liz said. She picked a pillow off of Maria’s bed and threw it at her cousin who turned in shock, at the sound of her voice. Liz plopped down on top of Maria’s bed and watched as the pillow she’d thrown hit Maria fully in the face.
“You were supposed to catch that,” Liz stated.
Maria blinked. Then, in a rush of action threw herself at her cousin. “I’m really sorry I upset you Liz!”
“Good, because I’m sorry I upset you in the first place… and then got upset with you for it,” Liz replied, “I know that you were only trying to protect me and I appreciated it, I was just too upset with being betrothed and not having the type of freedoms you have and I was too blinded by anger to see that you were only helping me.”
Maria was smiling, “I really was trying to help, you know. I didn’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.”
“I know. Do you forgive me for being completely wicked and moody?” Liz asked.
“Of course!” Maria grinned. She hugged Liz again, “I love you!”
“I love you too!” Liz smiled back and then jumped off the bed, “Now we have to get ready. Your brothers want us to go on a morning ride with them in half an hour and you have to be all smiles. They’ve been incredibly worried about you. They were sure that you’d been seduced and compromised by a man - whoever you were raving about. I’d assumed it was Evan and told Pierce that I’d upset you by complaining about Max and then snapping at you. He ran off to tell the others they were mistaken in their assumptions.”
Maria was frowning, “Raving about? What are you talking about?”
“The night that Pierce arrived. Last night. You were raving about some seductive man…”
Maria’s jaw dropped, “Oh! Oh, no. I wasn’t talking about Evan. I was talking about the <I>Viscount of Wilden</I>.”
Liz frowned as she racked her brain for who that was. After a few moments she looked up at Maria, “Who?”
Maria waved her hand in the air, “Michael Evans.”
“Oh!”
Maria got up and walked to her closet, looking through her riding habits.
“What’d he do to you?” Liz asked. “He’s been perfectly friendly with me.”
“Yes, well that seemed to be his problem. He was a little too friendly with me, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I think I’m slightly confused. Pierce told me you haven’t been coming out of your room all that much. When did you have a chance to meet Michael?”
“<I>Lord Wilden</I>,” Maria corrected, “It was late at night and I’d heard a sound downstairs so when I went looking I ran into him. I could smell the brandy on his breath and he must of drunk a lot for he thought I was a maid.”
“How do you know he thought you were a maid?”
“His hands were far too wandering and he invited me back to his room,” Maria found a habit and laid it out for Liz, “Here, wear one of mine. We’ll be late if you have to go back to your room and wait for you to change.”
Liz took the habit and turned her back for Maria to undo the laces. “What did you say to him?”
“Who?” The laces were undone. Liz pulled her dress down and pulled the riding habit up instead, again turning her back to Maria, who did the laces up. Once done, Maria turned her back to Liz. Liz, in turn, undid Maria’s laces.
“Lord Wilden!” Liz finished with Maria’s laces and pulled the jacket of the riding habit on while Maria dressed.
“I slapped him, of course,” Maria pulled the habit on and then turned her back to Liz again, ignoring the look of shock and amusement on her cousin’s face.
“You <I>slapped</I> him?!” Liz gasped, pulling a little too tightly on the laces. She mumbled an apology and then finished the lacing.
“Yes, well… he seemed as surprised as you.” Maria pulled her jacket on, and then grabbed her boots. She sighed and then looked around for her gloves. “Drat! I can’t find them.”
“It’s all right. We’ll stop by my room, I have an extra pair of yours. I need my riding boots anyway.” Liz looked at the clock, “We’d better hurry. You know how your brothers hate waiting.”
“In that case,” Maria crossed her room and held the door open for Liz, “do you think that you have a hat that would match my habit?”
Liz laughed and followed Maria.
“I think it’s only fair to warn you that Lord Wilden will be coming on the ride as well.”
Maria scowled then shrugged, “It’s not as if I have to ride next to him. I’d much prefer riding with one of his brothers.” She muttered a curse, “I forgot to ask you! How did the meeting with Max go?”
“Oh, it went. He laid out a set of rules for me,” Liz opened her door as they reached it and then shut it after Maria entered. She searched through her drawers and then pulled out a pair of gloves. She handed them to Maria, “I’m not to ‘encourage’ any gentlemen until we are married. Once we are married I’ll have to give him heirs before I even think of becoming the mistress of another man.”
Liz took her slippers off and pulled her boots out of her closet. She sat down to put them on.
Maria, was cringing, “It doesn’t sound as if your meeting went too well.”
“It didn’t. I told him that I’d follow his rules as long as he followed mine,” Liz finished with her boots and began the search for her gloves.
“Brilliant!” Maria grinned, “What rules did you give him?”
“The same as he gave me. As long as I could encourage no one, neither could he. After our marriage, should he wish to have a mistress he can.”
“How’d he take it?”
Liz shrugged, “I doubt he’ll give up any mistresses he has or comply with any of my rules.”
Maria watched her cousin closely, “I see. So, you’re…”
“Not going to follow a single one of his rules,” Liz finished. She grinned at Maria, “He has no idea who he’s marrying.”
“So, then are you going to continue with Evan?” Maria asked.
Liz shook her head, “<I>That</I> was a twist I didn’t expect.” Straightening, she crossed to the bed where Maria was patiently waiting. She sat next to her with a deep sigh and leaned against one of the bedposts, eyeing her cousin to see her reaction, “It turned out that Evan Carmichael, was in fact Maxwell Evans.”
“<I>You’re joking</I>!” Maria said. Her emerald eyes searched Liz’s. “That’s <I>impossible</I>.”
“If only,” Liz sighed.
“No wonder he gave you rules. I thought that was a pretty strange topic for your first meeting,” Maria rubbed Liz’s arm in comfort. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ve had a day or two to get used to the idea,” Liz’s gaze fell to the clock beside her bed. She groaned and stood up, pulling Maria with her. “We’re already late.”
Maria looked at the clock too and then quickly followed Liz to the door. “So, is Max going to be riding with us as well?”
“No,” Liz locked her arm with Maria’s. “This morning I found a note from Max. He said that a pressing business matter had come up and he had to leave immediately. He doesn’t think that he’ll be coming back within the two weeks we’re here.”
“And?”
“And that he’ll accompany me to any events I choose to go to when I return to town,” Liz said.
“Do you believe him?”
“Yes. I think he believes that he has to keep an eye on me ever since he was Evan and I was Beth,” Liz gritted her teeth, “Ridiculous, of course.”
“No, well yes, that is ridiculous, but what I meant was whether or not you believed that he was leaving for business.”
Liz was silent for a second, “I don’t know.”
“When I was talking with Michael, Lord Wilden, I wasn’t at all sure. I’d had doubts ever since reading the letter though. It doesn’t matter, I never expected him to follow my rules,” Liz waved to Abigail as she neared the stables.
Maria waved as well and laughed as they saw the stable boy Abigail was talking to blush furiously and pull her inside the stables.
---
“It’s about time you two showed up!” Sean grumbled. He and Brody were closest to Maria in looks, while Grant, Nicholas and Pierce all took after Amy’s dark coloring.
All five of the DeLuca brothers were casually leaning against their horses while the three Evans brothers were leaning against the stable walls. Two mares were nearby.
“We’re late by merely five minutes,” Maria shot back. She shot the mares a disgusted glance and exchanged a look with Liz who was also eyeing the mares.
“Well, then, are you ready?” Michael asked, joining the conversation. He treated Maria as if they’d been friendly all their life, as if the incident between them had never happened. Liz noticed that that had been the same as he’d treated the kiss between them. She smiled and then approached the mare.
“Aren’t you a pretty girl?” she asked, running her hands along the mare’s mane. “Too pretty for me to ride.”
Maria joined her, rubbing her own mare. She grabbed the reins and began to lead her back into the stables, Liz close behind her.
“What are they doing?” They heard Sean ask, irritated.
“Mares!” Maria hissed with a roll of her eyes, “This was deliberate, you know that, right?”
“Of course.” Liz said. She spotted the stable master and beckoned him over with a brilliant smile, “Dackins!”
“G’morning Miss Elizabeth, Miss Maria.” George Dackins was an elderly man who’d been with the Parker family since he’d been a boy. His father had been the stable master before him. Liz and Maria treated him as if he was one of the family.
Maria gestured to the mare next to her, “As beautiful as these mares are, Dackins, I believe we’ll have to have Monty and Letty saddled. You don’t mind, do you?”
Dackins’ eyes twinkled, “I imagined as much. The sirs wouldn’t listen a’ course. They’re saddled and waiting.”
Beaming, Maria leaned forward and kissed his cheek, “You know us so much better than my brothers, Dackins.”
Dackins blushed and beckoned two stable boys towards him. The first took a hold of the saddled mares while the other went towards the back of the stables.
“We’ll wait outside, shall we?” Liz asked. Dackins gestured them off.
“It’ll only be a moment,” Liz said to the others, who were still waiting outside.
“Where are the mares?” Nicholas asked.
“Inside,” Liz replied, waving towards the stables.
“Well, go get them back so we can leave,” Nicholas demanded.
“Why? Letty and Monty are both here. We can ride them,” Maria’s voice was hard and defiant. Maria’s brothers glowered and scowled. The Evans brothers watched in amusement.
“You both shouldn’t be allowed to ride those beasts,” Grant stated.
“Well we are.”
“Aw, here comes my baby,” Maria grinned at the sight of Letty approaching. The stallion was big and black, his mane and tail long and brushed.
“<I>That’s her horse</I>?” Michael hissed. “The <I>stallion</I>?!”
“Yes,” Sean grumbled. “Bloody beast. He won’t let nearly anyone else ride him. They shouldn’t, not that anyone listens to us on that front.”
Letty snorted as he neared, as if laughing at the comment. Maria shot her brother an amused glance and rubbed Letty’s long nose affectionately. “They’re silly to even try to stop me from riding you, aren’t they?”
Letty stomped his hooves as if in agreement. Maria shot her brother a sweet smile. The stable boy near her gave her a disbelieving glance.
“You let her ride him?” Michael asked Nicholas.
Gritting his teeth, Nicholas moved on his own horse, “We don’t let her do anything. She has our uncle and father wrapped around her finger.”
Kyle moved forward to help Maria mount the stallion. She smiled gratefully down at him, “Thank you.”
Liz almost jumped in glee at the sight of Monty.
“There’s another one?” Kyle asked. “Good God.”
Monty was the exact same as his brother, except he had white spots towards the bottom of his four legs. He trotted towards his mistress and stopped obediently in front of her. This time, Alex came to help her mount. She rubbed Monty behind his ears and then grinned at the others. “Well, are we ready to go?”
“Unbelievable,” Michael muttered, throwing a disapproving look Maria’s way. She, in return, smiled triumphantly.
-Erin
“Miss Elizabeth?” Abigail called.
Liz rubbed the sides of her dress down once more before she stepped out from behind the changing screen. “Yes Abigail?”
“Did you want me to send out this note?” Abigail asked. She stood next to Liz’s desk and held a small note in her hands. Liz looked at the note and frowned. She recognized it as her paper, but she knew she hadn’t written a note.
“I didn’t write a note,” Liz said.
Abigail laid the note back down upon the desk, “Perhaps you forgot about it?”
Still frowning, Liz shook her head and turned around for Abigail to finish up her laces. It was possible that Liz had written a letter and simply forgot about it, especially with all that had been happening in the past few days. She’d never been one to sleepwalk yet she would swear that she’d fallen asleep in the chair beside the window, but she’d woken up in her bed. Her only explanation was that she’d woken up sometime in the middle of the night and moved, not fully enough awake to remember it.
“Will you be needing anything else, Miss Elizabeth?” Abigail asked startling Liz.
“I… Uh,” Liz sighed, completely frustrated. She wished that she could pack up her bags and go home. That, unfortunately, wasn‘t likely to happen. Liz swallowed and then forced a smile, “No, I don’t believe I’ll need you again until dinner, Abigail. Why don’t you take that time off? I believe I noticed a few handsome stable boys the other day when I was down there.”
Abigail blushed and smiled. “All right then, Miss Elizabeth. Thank you.”
As soon as the door closed behind Abigail, Liz headed for her desk. With a sigh, Liz settled comfortably and then picked up the abandoned note.
<I>Elizabeth,
I came to your rooms last night in the hopes of speaking with you. Unfortunately, the hour was late and you were already asleep… in your chair. Do not be alarmed, I merely moved you to your bed, nothing more. I know, I said these two weeks would be spent with the both of us attempting to get to know one another, but due to urgent business I have to leave as soon as possible. I have strong doubts that I will be able to return to the party before two weeks are up. Be assured that I will find you once my business reaches an end so we can continue to further our knowledge of one another. In the meantime, I would strongly suggest you lock your door before retiring.
Until we meet again,
Your fiancée </I>
‘I would strongly suggest you lock your door before retiring.’ Now, she most assuredly would… if only to keep him from coming in! Although she wouldn’t have to worry too much on that front for awhile. Business indeed! Max, <I>Lord Colvister</I>, had just made the perfect excuse to get away from her. Honestly, like she was expected to believe he could not pry himself from his business for a week or two to get to know his fiancée! Could he really not spare the time? Or did he not want to spare the time? Liz’s frown deepened. She had asked Max not to spend time with any of his mistresses as he had asked her to not “encourage” other gentlemen. Yet, would he truly do as she asked? Despite being betrothed to her, Max Evans was ever the rake… nothing would stop him from living as he had been for years.
Throwing the letter down, Liz stood. Well if Max wanted to escape her to spend time with any woman he so chose then that was perfectly fine with her. If Max could break her rules, she most certainly could break his!
A knock on the door drew Liz’s attention. No doubt it was one of her cousins coming to escort her to breakfast. She looked down at her note and called out, “Hold on a moment.” Liz crossed the fireplace, the note still in hand. Reading it once more, Liz scowled and then threw it into the flames and watched as it burned. The edges turned to black and the note began to shrivel. If Max Evans thought she was going to be the perfect quiet wife he was absolutely wrong. Not only would Liz do whatever she wanted, she’d do it with a smile on her lips and hopefully drive him to run as fast as he could.
Liz crossed the room and opened the door with a sheepish smile. “Sorry I kept you waiting…” With a gasp Liz took a small step back into her room. Leaning against her doorframe ever so casually was Michael Evans. He grinned down at her, a wolfish smirk on his face. “No need for apologies. I don’t mind waiting.” His voice was husky and he stepped uninvitingly into her room.
“Sir-”
Michael waved away Liz’s protests. “We are soon to be family, Liz. I give you leave to call me Michael, or whatever else you feel quite comfortable with.”
“What are you doing here?” Liz asked, quite rudely.
Michael, it seemed, noticed and smirked. “Alex and Kyle have sung your praises while I have nothing to say of you other than that you are ravishingly beautiful. Since it seems as if my brother has other… matters to attend to, I thought I’d take these two weeks time to get to know you.”
Liz ran her hands smoothly down the sides of her dress. “And you came up here to tell me that?”
“I came to escort you to breakfast,” Michael replied with a smile. Looking into his brown eyes, Liz thought she saw a gleam in them - although she wasn‘t certain of what. Michael held his arm out to her. Steeling herself, Liz straightened and gave him her hand, allowing him to lead her out of the room.
“So tell me… Michael, what is it you do?” Liz asked once her door was closed and they were making their way down the hall.
“Do?”
“Alex and Kyle have told me you aren’t interested in the family business.”
“Ah,” Michael smiled, “The younger ones aren’t interested in it either, if they forgot to mention that. Being the eldest, it falls to Max to take over the family business. It would be awful for him if he hated it, but he seems to enjoy it.”
“And what do you enjoy?”
Michael stopped walking to look at Liz. Confused, she looked up in his eyes to see them suddenly darkened. In a husky voice he replied, “I enjoy what every man enjoys.”
Liz lifted her chin. She could see the challenge in his eyes. This was the type of man her father, uncle and cousins had always tried to shield her and Maria from. He, along with the rest of his brothers was a rake and Liz was completely inexperienced in that sphere despite her dealings with Max. Now would be a perfect opportunity to learn more, and Liz thought back to her previous promise to herself - to send Max running in the opposite direction of her. How better to accomplish that then “encourage” his brother? Liz tilted her head, “And that would be?”
Michael grinned, “Freedom. Pleasure.”
<I>Pleasure</I>. The way he said it sent a shiver down Liz’s back. His voice was so like Max’s… for a moment Liz thought Max had never left at all. She looked up into Michael’s eyes, to meet his gaze. Slowly, she saw his gaze travel over her face and neck before reversing and locking onto her lips. His head slowly descended to her own, while his arms locked about her waist.
Liz pushed at his arms, but once his lips met hers, her hands froze. The kiss was soft and innocent until his tongue ran over her lips. She had no idea what she had just gotten herself into. She should’ve resisted, but she didn’t. His tongue was running over the insides of her mouth and it took her only a few seconds before she was kissing him back, meeting his tongue with her own. Her arms were suddenly around his neck and she pulled herself up to meet him.
It was nothing like kissing Max. With Max there were fireworks, and every part of Liz’s body just knew… that it couldn’t get any better. With Max she couldn’t think of anything, nothing else mattered. Liz hadn’t kissed many other men aside from Max. None had ever measured up to him, now Michael didn’t either. It wasn’t that Michael was a bad kisser. He was far from it… he was excellent. With Michael it was pure fire, pure passion. With Max it was all that and more.
“Oh Liz…” Michael mumbled the words against her lips before smiling softly and pulling away, “If only you had been betrothed to me.”
Liz’s eyes opened and she took a hesitant step back. “That-”
“Shouldn’t have happened,” Michael said. He placed Liz’s hand back on his arm and continued down the hallway, “Let me tell you about my ship.”
---
Liz debated about what to say to Michael. After their kiss he’d been completely cool and calm, as if the moment had never happened. Well, if he was determined to make it so there was no awkwardness between the two of them, then Liz should in fact be grateful. She was engaged to his brother, there was nothing that was to be done about that unless Max abandoned the betrothal, and the last thing Liz wanted was for there to be a rift between any of the Evans brothers… especially because of her.
“So, what do you think?”
Liz practically jumped in her seat. She turned to look at Grant, who was looking completely amused. She narrowed her eyes at her cousin and then tried to remember what the group around her had been talking about. Horses? Yes. Oh! A morning ride. Liz smiled, “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
Brody, another of Liz’s cousins grinned, “Fantastic! You’ll fetch Maria, won’t you? She disappeared so quickly after eating we didn’t get a chance to mention it.”
Liz blanched, “Yes, well… I’ll get her. We’ll meet you by the stables in half an hour.” Standing, Liz nodded to her cousins, Michael, Alex and Kyle. Before she had walked two steps she felt a hand grab her elbow, slowing her steps. She stopped and turned to see who it was.
Pierce.
He smiled warmly at her and motioned for her to keep walking, “I’ll walk you to Maria’s room. I haven’t had much of a chance to speak with her yet. You know how Nicholas loves to dominate her time.”
“You all love to dominate Maria’s time. So long as you’re with her, no other gentlemen can be,” Liz remarked. Pierce snorted, “Yes well, Nicholas more so than the rest of us. We’re only looking out for her you know. It’s what we’re supposed to do.”
“Yes, I know.” Liz’s reply was distant. Maria had only been looking out for her. Liz kept telling herself that, except she was still angry and upset. Maria was looking out for her, yet she would have betrayed her. Shaking her head, Liz tried to concentrate on Pierce. All of her cousins were fairly handsome but Pierce was the only who was incredibly so. An innocent miss, one whom had never had a conversation with him before, wouldn’t be able to remember a word he’d said after he’d spoken it. Liz was incredibly thankful she was related to him and the others.
“I’m thankful you’re practically already married off,” Pierce continued, “or else the others and I would have a hard time trying to watch other both you and Maria. You’re hellcats, the two of you.”
“It never stopped you before, my engagement I mean,” Liz said.
“Yes, well that’s because you’d never met Evans before. Now that you have, he can watch over you. If only we could get Maria married off…”
Liz rolled her eyes, “You know you don’t mean that. You and your brothers would much rather Maria living the life of a spinster instead of marrying.”
Pierce grinned, “Too true, Lizzie dear.”
The two cousins turned down a hallway. Content, Liz looked around at the paintings, smiling at the memories. Pierce tightened his grip on her arm causing Liz to stop and look up at him, curiosity in her eyes.
“Is something troubling you?” She asked.
Pierce sighed and ran his free hand through his hair. “It isn’t just me you know. Nicholas, Brody, Grant and Sean are worried about it as well.”
“Well that’s never good. What are the five of you worried about?”
“Maria.”
“Oh,” Liz forced her voice to not sound so deadpanned, “What about Maria?”
“The day we arrived we found her in her room, depressed about something. Not that she would tell us much of anything, of course. She scarcely comes down now, and when she does she’s quiet… and you know that Maria is never quiet! We’ve been wondering what could possibly keep her so unhappy and-” Pierce cut off.
Liz bit her lip, guilt quickly rising in her. “And what?”
“You’re her best friend, Lizzie. You’ve got to know what’s troubling my little sister. It isn’t a man is it?”
Liz was too shocked to answer.
Pierce took Liz’s silence as if she was confirming his fear. “I knew it! Brody was so sure Maria was upset about something else, but you know how he is. He still sees Maria as the innocent girl who used to follow us around everywhere. Nicholas, Grant, Sean and I see the looks she gets though, and we’ve tried to warn her about the men of the ton but you know how she is! She flirts with men in front of us, as if to bait us and if one of them has taken liberties with her… well! Tell me who it is Liz!”
Liz had no idea what she was supposed to say.
Pierce continued, “When we tried to talk to her about what was wrong she just mumbled about men and their seductive charms. Of course you can see what we’d think!”
Liz sharply turned her head to look at Pierce and fought not to laugh, “Well, this appears to be completely my fault.”
At Pierce’s curious look she explained, “It’s my fiancé, Pierce - who’s been on her mind. I’ve been whining to Maria about him and how unhappy I was with our arrangement. Maria was trying to console me and I sort of bit her head off and told her that she didn’t have a clue how I felt. I haven’t apologized to her yet and she must think I’m furious with her and in turn she was probably upset with Max for upsetting me. I am sorry to have worried the rest of you so.”
“What about the ‘seductive charms’ bit?” Pierce asked.
“Oh that,” Liz scanned her brain. What had Maria been thinking when she’d said that!? “That was just something I’d told Maria. I was being a bit overdramatic.”
Pierce still looked unconvinced.
“When Max and I first met, he kissed me so I told Maria and made it a bit more dramatic than it was,” Liz grinned in spite of the situation… it wasn’t a complete lie. When she and Max had first met he <I>had</I> kissed her.
Pierce nodded now and was smiling. He began to walk Liz down the hallway once more, “Wonderful! We were afraid Maria had been compromised and well, now that she’s not I can rest easily… and the others will as well. Thank you, Lizzie dear, for putting my mind at ease on that subject. Now, as to what else is bothering my brothers and I-”
“There’s more?” Liz groaned.
Pierce laughed, “Last thing, I promise. Now, tell me how you and your fiancé are getting along.”
“We’ve only just met,” Liz replied, “and we haven’t had much chance to get to know each other yet.”
“Well, this would appear to be the perfect time, would it not?” Pierce waved his hand at their surroundings, “A two week house party, with only those familiar with both of our families.”
“Yes, that is what I imagined as well. Unfortunately, he was called away on business.”
“Hmm…” Pierce mumbled.
“Apparently it was very important,” Liz continued.
“Yes?” Pierce looked down at Liz.
“Yes.”
“You aren’t making excuses for him, are you, Lizzie?”
“Of course not! I’m merely repeating the excuses he made for himself to me,” Liz snapped.
“So he ran, did he?” A look passed over Pierce’s face. It was gone when Liz tilted her head to see what it was. He smiled, “Nevertheless, that will be dealt with shortly.”
“Dealt with?” Liz questioned. “What do you mean-”
“Ah! Here we are,” Pierce knocked sharply on Maria’s door and then bent to kiss Liz’s cheek, “I’ll see you both in half an hour.”
“I thought you wanted to see Maria!” Liz said.
“Yes, well, I have to talk to my brothers. I’ll talk with her on the ride.” Pierce began to move away from Liz.
“No, wait!” Liz grabbed his hand. “Tell me what you’re up to.”
Pierce took Liz’s hand up in his own, “You are my favorite cousin, Lizzie. I am up to nothing other than making you happy.” His kissed the back of Liz’s hand, dropped it and pinched her cheek. “Be good.”
With that he was gone, leaving Liz to stare after his retreating back. She glared and then turned back to the door, wondering what was taking Maria so long. She knocked again. When still there was no answer she threw the door open.
Maria was facing the window, away from Liz. She moved her head to the side of the chair, leaning against it. “If the five of you wouldn’t mind, I’m busy.”
“Yes, well I can see that,” Liz said. She picked a pillow off of Maria’s bed and threw it at her cousin who turned in shock, at the sound of her voice. Liz plopped down on top of Maria’s bed and watched as the pillow she’d thrown hit Maria fully in the face.
“You were supposed to catch that,” Liz stated.
Maria blinked. Then, in a rush of action threw herself at her cousin. “I’m really sorry I upset you Liz!”
“Good, because I’m sorry I upset you in the first place… and then got upset with you for it,” Liz replied, “I know that you were only trying to protect me and I appreciated it, I was just too upset with being betrothed and not having the type of freedoms you have and I was too blinded by anger to see that you were only helping me.”
Maria was smiling, “I really was trying to help, you know. I didn’t want to see you hurt, that’s all.”
“I know. Do you forgive me for being completely wicked and moody?” Liz asked.
“Of course!” Maria grinned. She hugged Liz again, “I love you!”
“I love you too!” Liz smiled back and then jumped off the bed, “Now we have to get ready. Your brothers want us to go on a morning ride with them in half an hour and you have to be all smiles. They’ve been incredibly worried about you. They were sure that you’d been seduced and compromised by a man - whoever you were raving about. I’d assumed it was Evan and told Pierce that I’d upset you by complaining about Max and then snapping at you. He ran off to tell the others they were mistaken in their assumptions.”
Maria was frowning, “Raving about? What are you talking about?”
“The night that Pierce arrived. Last night. You were raving about some seductive man…”
Maria’s jaw dropped, “Oh! Oh, no. I wasn’t talking about Evan. I was talking about the <I>Viscount of Wilden</I>.”
Liz frowned as she racked her brain for who that was. After a few moments she looked up at Maria, “Who?”
Maria waved her hand in the air, “Michael Evans.”
“Oh!”
Maria got up and walked to her closet, looking through her riding habits.
“What’d he do to you?” Liz asked. “He’s been perfectly friendly with me.”
“Yes, well that seemed to be his problem. He was a little too friendly with me, if you know what I mean.”
“No, I think I’m slightly confused. Pierce told me you haven’t been coming out of your room all that much. When did you have a chance to meet Michael?”
“<I>Lord Wilden</I>,” Maria corrected, “It was late at night and I’d heard a sound downstairs so when I went looking I ran into him. I could smell the brandy on his breath and he must of drunk a lot for he thought I was a maid.”
“How do you know he thought you were a maid?”
“His hands were far too wandering and he invited me back to his room,” Maria found a habit and laid it out for Liz, “Here, wear one of mine. We’ll be late if you have to go back to your room and wait for you to change.”
Liz took the habit and turned her back for Maria to undo the laces. “What did you say to him?”
“Who?” The laces were undone. Liz pulled her dress down and pulled the riding habit up instead, again turning her back to Maria, who did the laces up. Once done, Maria turned her back to Liz. Liz, in turn, undid Maria’s laces.
“Lord Wilden!” Liz finished with Maria’s laces and pulled the jacket of the riding habit on while Maria dressed.
“I slapped him, of course,” Maria pulled the habit on and then turned her back to Liz again, ignoring the look of shock and amusement on her cousin’s face.
“You <I>slapped</I> him?!” Liz gasped, pulling a little too tightly on the laces. She mumbled an apology and then finished the lacing.
“Yes, well… he seemed as surprised as you.” Maria pulled her jacket on, and then grabbed her boots. She sighed and then looked around for her gloves. “Drat! I can’t find them.”
“It’s all right. We’ll stop by my room, I have an extra pair of yours. I need my riding boots anyway.” Liz looked at the clock, “We’d better hurry. You know how your brothers hate waiting.”
“In that case,” Maria crossed her room and held the door open for Liz, “do you think that you have a hat that would match my habit?”
Liz laughed and followed Maria.
“I think it’s only fair to warn you that Lord Wilden will be coming on the ride as well.”
Maria scowled then shrugged, “It’s not as if I have to ride next to him. I’d much prefer riding with one of his brothers.” She muttered a curse, “I forgot to ask you! How did the meeting with Max go?”
“Oh, it went. He laid out a set of rules for me,” Liz opened her door as they reached it and then shut it after Maria entered. She searched through her drawers and then pulled out a pair of gloves. She handed them to Maria, “I’m not to ‘encourage’ any gentlemen until we are married. Once we are married I’ll have to give him heirs before I even think of becoming the mistress of another man.”
Liz took her slippers off and pulled her boots out of her closet. She sat down to put them on.
Maria, was cringing, “It doesn’t sound as if your meeting went too well.”
“It didn’t. I told him that I’d follow his rules as long as he followed mine,” Liz finished with her boots and began the search for her gloves.
“Brilliant!” Maria grinned, “What rules did you give him?”
“The same as he gave me. As long as I could encourage no one, neither could he. After our marriage, should he wish to have a mistress he can.”
“How’d he take it?”
Liz shrugged, “I doubt he’ll give up any mistresses he has or comply with any of my rules.”
Maria watched her cousin closely, “I see. So, you’re…”
“Not going to follow a single one of his rules,” Liz finished. She grinned at Maria, “He has no idea who he’s marrying.”
“So, then are you going to continue with Evan?” Maria asked.
Liz shook her head, “<I>That</I> was a twist I didn’t expect.” Straightening, she crossed to the bed where Maria was patiently waiting. She sat next to her with a deep sigh and leaned against one of the bedposts, eyeing her cousin to see her reaction, “It turned out that Evan Carmichael, was in fact Maxwell Evans.”
“<I>You’re joking</I>!” Maria said. Her emerald eyes searched Liz’s. “That’s <I>impossible</I>.”
“If only,” Liz sighed.
“No wonder he gave you rules. I thought that was a pretty strange topic for your first meeting,” Maria rubbed Liz’s arm in comfort. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I’ve had a day or two to get used to the idea,” Liz’s gaze fell to the clock beside her bed. She groaned and stood up, pulling Maria with her. “We’re already late.”
Maria looked at the clock too and then quickly followed Liz to the door. “So, is Max going to be riding with us as well?”
“No,” Liz locked her arm with Maria’s. “This morning I found a note from Max. He said that a pressing business matter had come up and he had to leave immediately. He doesn’t think that he’ll be coming back within the two weeks we’re here.”
“And?”
“And that he’ll accompany me to any events I choose to go to when I return to town,” Liz said.
“Do you believe him?”
“Yes. I think he believes that he has to keep an eye on me ever since he was Evan and I was Beth,” Liz gritted her teeth, “Ridiculous, of course.”
“No, well yes, that is ridiculous, but what I meant was whether or not you believed that he was leaving for business.”
Liz was silent for a second, “I don’t know.”
“When I was talking with Michael, Lord Wilden, I wasn’t at all sure. I’d had doubts ever since reading the letter though. It doesn’t matter, I never expected him to follow my rules,” Liz waved to Abigail as she neared the stables.
Maria waved as well and laughed as they saw the stable boy Abigail was talking to blush furiously and pull her inside the stables.
---
“It’s about time you two showed up!” Sean grumbled. He and Brody were closest to Maria in looks, while Grant, Nicholas and Pierce all took after Amy’s dark coloring.
All five of the DeLuca brothers were casually leaning against their horses while the three Evans brothers were leaning against the stable walls. Two mares were nearby.
“We’re late by merely five minutes,” Maria shot back. She shot the mares a disgusted glance and exchanged a look with Liz who was also eyeing the mares.
“Well, then, are you ready?” Michael asked, joining the conversation. He treated Maria as if they’d been friendly all their life, as if the incident between them had never happened. Liz noticed that that had been the same as he’d treated the kiss between them. She smiled and then approached the mare.
“Aren’t you a pretty girl?” she asked, running her hands along the mare’s mane. “Too pretty for me to ride.”
Maria joined her, rubbing her own mare. She grabbed the reins and began to lead her back into the stables, Liz close behind her.
“What are they doing?” They heard Sean ask, irritated.
“Mares!” Maria hissed with a roll of her eyes, “This was deliberate, you know that, right?”
“Of course.” Liz said. She spotted the stable master and beckoned him over with a brilliant smile, “Dackins!”
“G’morning Miss Elizabeth, Miss Maria.” George Dackins was an elderly man who’d been with the Parker family since he’d been a boy. His father had been the stable master before him. Liz and Maria treated him as if he was one of the family.
Maria gestured to the mare next to her, “As beautiful as these mares are, Dackins, I believe we’ll have to have Monty and Letty saddled. You don’t mind, do you?”
Dackins’ eyes twinkled, “I imagined as much. The sirs wouldn’t listen a’ course. They’re saddled and waiting.”
Beaming, Maria leaned forward and kissed his cheek, “You know us so much better than my brothers, Dackins.”
Dackins blushed and beckoned two stable boys towards him. The first took a hold of the saddled mares while the other went towards the back of the stables.
“We’ll wait outside, shall we?” Liz asked. Dackins gestured them off.
“It’ll only be a moment,” Liz said to the others, who were still waiting outside.
“Where are the mares?” Nicholas asked.
“Inside,” Liz replied, waving towards the stables.
“Well, go get them back so we can leave,” Nicholas demanded.
“Why? Letty and Monty are both here. We can ride them,” Maria’s voice was hard and defiant. Maria’s brothers glowered and scowled. The Evans brothers watched in amusement.
“You both shouldn’t be allowed to ride those beasts,” Grant stated.
“Well we are.”
“Aw, here comes my baby,” Maria grinned at the sight of Letty approaching. The stallion was big and black, his mane and tail long and brushed.
“<I>That’s her horse</I>?” Michael hissed. “The <I>stallion</I>?!”
“Yes,” Sean grumbled. “Bloody beast. He won’t let nearly anyone else ride him. They shouldn’t, not that anyone listens to us on that front.”
Letty snorted as he neared, as if laughing at the comment. Maria shot her brother an amused glance and rubbed Letty’s long nose affectionately. “They’re silly to even try to stop me from riding you, aren’t they?”
Letty stomped his hooves as if in agreement. Maria shot her brother a sweet smile. The stable boy near her gave her a disbelieving glance.
“You let her ride him?” Michael asked Nicholas.
Gritting his teeth, Nicholas moved on his own horse, “We don’t let her do anything. She has our uncle and father wrapped around her finger.”
Kyle moved forward to help Maria mount the stallion. She smiled gratefully down at him, “Thank you.”
Liz almost jumped in glee at the sight of Monty.
“There’s another one?” Kyle asked. “Good God.”
Monty was the exact same as his brother, except he had white spots towards the bottom of his four legs. He trotted towards his mistress and stopped obediently in front of her. This time, Alex came to help her mount. She rubbed Monty behind his ears and then grinned at the others. “Well, are we ready to go?”
“Unbelievable,” Michael muttered, throwing a disapproving look Maria’s way. She, in return, smiled triumphantly.
-Erin