Dedicated to AnnSumesh

I stared at him, unable to say anything. Have you ever gone through a situation when someone whom you consider as only a very good friend proposes to you and you have some feelings for another chavinist, cold miser, with whom your relationship goes definitely beyond that of a employer and employee, but has more chances of expressing his feelings for you than Patsy falling in love and now you have to reply to your friend who is currently wearing out his kneecap waiting for you to answer, hopefully in a yes?

Holy whiskers of hell! Blast and double blast and a whole crate of bombs! I was in deep, deep trouble tonight, and not the easy one consisting of gunfights and knife swinging thugs attacking sweet little yours truly and Lord Dalgliesh trying to find out your secrets! No! I would readily accept that trouble if it meant that I could get out of here this instant, or probably learn the art of disapparition!

I was in the 'I-absolutely-have-no-idea-how-respond-to-Captain-Carter-and-if-I-hurt-him-I-will-lose-my-only-male-friend-who-is-not-any-other-suitor-which-can-be-chased-away-and-probably-regret-my-decision-all-my-life-what-the-hell!' kind of trouble, and I am telling you, it is definitely not the most enjoyable one!

I took another glance at his face and immediately regretted my action. He was looking at me very...lovingly...and...hopefully...and....some other emtions swirling in his eyes, which I chose not to decipher, and painfully swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I...um..." I whacked my head for something to say, but came up with nothing, after all it had been wired to usually answer such codswallop with a firm and resounding 'hell no!', but it definitely would not do in this tricky situation.

Bloody hell! When had things between us escalated so quickly, without me noticing it! It was not fair, sneaking upon a respectable lady and confusing the stuffing out of her, without a prior notice was absolutely dastardely cowardly!

Noticing my hesitation, he masked the tiny hurt in his eyes with his usual cheeky grin, getting up to his feet again, " I don't want to force you into any decision, if you do not want it. I want to know your honest opinion, which is why I am asking you in private; anywhere else you would not really have a choice, you know, with your beloved aunt glaring at you and all." He gave a small chuckle, and my lips pulled in an smile against my will, but it quickly disappeared when I remembered what were we talking about.

I stared at him some more and sorted through my scrambled thoughts. Damn! All this thought was giving me a headache! For the second time tonight!

"I...uh...I need to...um...think about it."

Wow. What a well thought response was that. Just great. Couldn't have done better.

Shut up. I did not ask for your opinion. Currently I am waiting for his, you know.

Oh, I know. But what if he takes it as a no? If he no longer wants to be your friend too? What are you going to tell him then?

Another pang of guilt and dread shot through me, as I looked at him.

I don't know. Really. But I hope he won't.

So you'll tell him no, then?

Ye-no. Sigh. I don't know, okay?

"Let's go, Ms. Linton. Its getting late, and your family will be worried." Damn. His voice had so much hurt in it, that I almost told him yes, just to get the old, cheerful and jolly Captain back. Almost.

If this happened even once more, I was sure I would give in. Blame friends for having control over my decisions. Majorly. I bit my lip. "Captain?"

He stopped in his tracks, and spoke without turning behind."Yes, Ms. Linton?"

"Can I go alone? My home is not that far away."

Please say yes. I can't handle the other option.

"No. It's quite late. I can't let you go home alone at this time." He turned around to look at me, the hurt in his eyes changing to some kind of determination. For what? Not letting me go? Now? Or forever? "Wouldn't want some drunk to get his head bashed in just because you thought he was following you, would we?"

I gave him a small smile at his attempt at humour. He too had a smile on his face, but it was not quite his normal one. Still a forced one. I sighed.

"Only this time. I need to think." He opened his mouth to object me there, but I continued,"Alone. Please. But I can't guarantee the safety of any stalkers, though." I smiled at him, but his lips pressed together in a thin line, still unwilling to let me go alone.

He glared at me, trying to make me relent, but since I had recieved so many cold ones so often, I was used to handling the iciest ones of them.

Finally he gave in after a few minutes of our glaring competition. "It's really difficult to be angry or stubborn with you, Ms. Linton, you know that? Especially when you have got that face." He waggled his finger at my face, and finally gave in to a grin.

"I know." I grinned back at him. "So can I go?"

"Fine."

"Fine? Just like that?" I narrowed my eyes at him, but he still grinned at me.

"Yes. Just like that. Of course, you are a very strong, responsible, gallant young lady, braver than soldiers and captains and able to terrorise all drunk stalkers and other men who dare to wander out at night-"

I tried to frown at him, but finally gave in to my grin. "No need for flattery, but just like that?"

"Do you want to really go or not, Ms. Linton?"

" Yes, but-"

"Then come on." He extended his hand, which I took after a moment of hesitation.

I joined him as we walked through the now empty ball room, save for a few guests saying their goodbyes. Lord Dalgliesh stood with them and noticed my glare, giving me an icy cold smile in return. Perhaps Captain Carter noticed it, since he tightened his grip on my hand as Dalgliesh excused himself and walked towards us.

What did he want now? A broken nose perhaps? Or a sharpened parasol up his ass? That were the only things I would willingly, if not eagerly give him.

My glare did not waver as he reached us, and the Captain stiffened.

"Hello, Ms. Linton. I see you are leaving, with an escort. Won't you introduce him to me?"

I smirked at him. Who cares if it was against the rules of the society? I turned to Captain Carter who was still standing there with a blank expression on his face. "Captain Carter, I would like to introduce to you, Lord Dalgliesh. He is the host of this magnificent ball tonight. I am sure you have heard of him."

Captain Carter nodded at him."It's my honor to make your acquiantance, Lord." He gave me a cheeky sideways grin, before turning back to look at Lord Dalgliesh who was glaring at both of us so coldly, that if looks could kill, we would already be playing hide and seek with worms and other creatures twenty feet under the ground. Not that I fancy it.

"The pleasure is mine, Captain Carter."Dalgliesh shook, or to be precise, squeezed the Captain's hand, and he winced. Poor Captian, I thought, my wrists were still aching from the 'soothing massage' he had obliged me with earlier.

I gave a squeeze to his other hand, and he squeezed back, but I abruptly let it go when Dalgliesh pointedly looked at my hand in the Captain's.

Blast! I hope I have not got Captain Carter in trouble! If Dalgliesh thinks I am romantically interested in him, he might try to hurt, or even kill him! Damn! If he's injured then who will protect me from Aunt Brank's suitors, and make boring balls fun?

Is that all he is to you? Just a means of escape? And, anyways, you can escape from them very well on your own.

I...um...yeah, you are right. I do care for him. Much more than simply a means of escape. More like a friend. Even more than a friend. But like a lover? That's what I need to find out.

"Miss Linton, could I talk to you for a moment?"

No. I don't want to. I just might slap the hell out of you if I do, you son of a bachelor. Nonetheless, I continued glaring at him.

When a few moments passed and neither Captain Carter nor I had moved from our positions, he finally spoke up, but his blinding sweet smile did not waver from his face. "It's about your brother, Miss Linton."

"Fine." I did not have any valid excuse to give, and anyways, I was curious to hear what he wanted to say now.

He gestured to the side, out of the hearinfg distance of the Captain, but still in his sight, and I followed him with a scowl on my face. Three words. What's his problem?

Technically, that's four words, Lilly.

Shut up. It's three if I say so.

"What do you want now?" I looked into his clear blue eyes and the cunning streak in them, along with the glint of victory made my hands fold themselves in defiance, and if I would admit it, for some kind of instictual protection. Bah! Protection from whom? Him? I was not afraid of him!

"Lord Ambrose did not attend the ball tonight." He stated, and waited for my reaction.

I huffed, trying to disguise my suddenly racing heart. Had he guessed our secret? Putting on my best sarcastic face I spoke,"How kind of you to notice, my Lord. Can you explain to me how is it of any relevance to me?"

"Neither has your brother." The dangerous tone in his voice was back, like when he was threatening me, but this time I refused to be affected by it.

"So? He must be busy in some work. His employer works him like a mule, regardless of the time." I shrugged. It was a truth, anyways. My aching derrière after every overtime could easily attest the fact.

"He seems to be socially quite inactive. Only a handful of poeple seem to know about him."

Damn! I think he is trying to get the truth out of me! Well, he could try until kingdom came! And had a cup of tea and left! Only one option: lie like your life depends on it!

Actually it does...

"He does not prefer much social contact. He is quite a...shy person you can say."

"Really?" His eyebrow raised."So shy that his own sisters and aunt claim to not know him? That's really strange isn't it, Ms. Linton?" His voice dropped to a menacing whisper. "Or, should I say, Mister Linton?"

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Dear ladies and gentlemen,

This was a loonnng looonnng update! 1850 words! I hope this makes up for the delay!

So, Lord Dalgliesh finally guessed the truth behind the identity of Victor Linton! What do you think will he do next? What do you think will Lilly do next? Even more importantly, what will she tell Captain Carter?

Keep your votes and comments coming! I love to read and reply to each one of them! Don't be a silent reader; vote, comment, and even suggest ideas for the furthur plot! Any corrections and feedback are appreciated.

See you soon!(Hopefully)😉

P.S. We reached 900+ reads and 90+ votes! I am literally freaking out! Thank you so much! I love all of you, even the silent readers!❤

P. P. S. We reached 1K reads and 100+votes!! Only four words: thank you sooooo much! I'll soon start the next chapter when I am done hyperventilating.....