Best friend's sister

Brandon looked towards his friend, slowly taking his hands away from Josephine. The young woman looking over towards her brother. Louis looking between best friend and baby sister.

"You." His gaze turned accusing. "You were one of the men that was outside with her, weren't you?" He demanded his voice deeper them usally with some anger. Brandon glanced towards Josephine who was watching Louis closely. She wasn't good with angry men. "I am." He confirmed not seeing any use in lying towards him as he would figure out eventually.

Brandon didn't even have time to react as he was pinned to the wall, not by the Rowlington he would have preferred and in a much  more aggressive way then he would have liked.

Louis looked at him, anger clear in his eyes. "What did you do to my sister?!" He snapped at him. Suddenly a presence was between Louis and Brandon. Josephine pushing Louis back as she blocked Brandon from his path.

"Stop it!" Josephine said roughly, she was sick of fighting and negativity. Louis looked at her in shock to see her defending Brandon after what she has gone through. But Brandon looked at her with pure awe, he couldn't help but notice if he moved forward just a inch her back would be pressed against his chest.

"He hasn't done anything wrong." She spoke calmer now as she moved forward. "He hasn't done anything? What about what Lady Whistledown has written, he is one of those men." Louis countered

"And yet you don't ask for the full story brother." Josephine planted her hands on her hips as she looked at him, reprimanding him for not even trying to understand what happened that night.  "And what would the full story be?" He questioned.

Josephine fell silent as her mind turned, her eyes turning over her shoulder to look at Brandon. Her eyes nervous. He stepped forward, standing closer to her as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Go bake, I'll tell him." He said reassuring. Louis's eyes on Brandon's hand that rested on the girls shoulder.

Josephine nods her head slightly as she walked off, glancing back again at her brother and his best friend. She couldn't let Louis hurt Brandon for helping her and she hoped that would be there end of this all. Of the fights, of needing protection and Brandon being so close to her.

Louis looked towards Brandon, with his sister gone he struck. Punching hin across the face. "That is for being alone with my sister." Brandon rubbed his jaw, the faint taste of blood in his mouth. "That's fair."

"Now go on, explain." He said as they walked into his office. The two sitting down at a distance. "Nigel Berbrooke is a not the man people think he is. He cornered Josephine, he made advances and I stopped him before he could do any harm." Brandon explained simply and easily.

The look that crossed Louis's face was unreadable. "That snake, I apologize for my previous actions Brandon." He said as he rose to his feet. "I must go have a talk with Berbrooke." He growled.

"He won't be bothering Josephine no more, I have warned him and given him something to remember me by," Brandon said as he stood up.

When Brandon walked out he saw Josephine leaning against the wall, listening in on the conversation. "Your mouth is bleeding." She commented dryly.

"Thank you for pointing that out, I did not realize." Brandon replied with sass in  his voice. Josephine laughed a small huff. "Come on." She gestured for him to follow after her. The boy confused but followed.

She brought him to the kitchen, grabbing a towel and dampening it with water. She gently grabbed his face, pulling him down to clean the blood off of him. His eyes on her but she didn't met them as she just focused on her task.

"You are confusing. You act as if you despise me but then you help me." Brandon commented as she placed the towel in a wash bin. "We just exist together. We are not friends, we are not enemies. Just leave it alone." She stated firmly.

Brandon looked at her, his eyes tracking her across the room. "And here I was thinking we were friends, growing closer." Josephine turned to look at him. "No. I'm sure I am growing aware of you intentions with me and trust me, I'm sparring you by having nothing to do with you."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Brandon asked with his eyebrows connected with confusion.  She closed her eyes as she took a deep breath, placing her hands flat on the counter. "You have read what Lady Whis-"

"To hell with Lady Whistledown! Why won't you just let me be your friend?" He asked as he walked closer backing her to the counter. His eyes boring into her. "Because you will be shamed. They think you'll be courting me and you shall be a laughing stock, farewell." She pushed him back so she could get away.

Brandon looked at the door she went through. "I am willing to be a laughing stock with you and they have my intentions correct." He said with a sigh, slipping out of the back door so he wouldn't bump into the girl.

The following day the ladies of the ton have all flocked for park with the loveliness that is the weather. The sun shining on all the lovely jewels of the ton even if only one is named a diamond.

Josephine melted closer to Thomas as they walked together. The disgusted looks the mamas and their daughters gave her was enough to ware down the brave girl.

"Josephine! Thomas!" Delilah said cheerfully as she walked with. Clara and Molly trailing behind the other Rowlingtons.

Clara's face brightened some when she saw her other friend. Molly smiling brightly. "Hello Delilah." Molly greeted, drawing her attention to her and Clara. "Hello Molly, Clara." She said with a smile on her face.

"I would like to formally invite you all to a picnic my family is hosting! I've already invited others but I want you all and your families to attend as well!" Delilah said with the overwhelming sunshine that is her personality. 

"We would be honored." Clara spoke up on behalf of them all, noticing how down Thomas has seemed since the last time him and Charles have meet up.

It's short but sweet