Juliet headed out in the afternoon, eager to escape the tense atmosphere at home. Titania had locked herself up in her room and Mrs Rosewood was in one of her wretched, foul moods.

She decided to tailor a new dress for Titania since they were due to visit the theatre the next day. Sophie followed her dutifully as they sauntered past the shops.

"Lady Juliet?" Sophie whispered just as Juliet was admiring some fine pieces of silverware in the shops.

"Yes?"

"Pardon my imprudence but I fear that you should heed Cedric's words."

Juliet's face instantly hardened. "Don't mention that foul name again. Titania would never do such a thing."

Sophie slowly shook her head. "There have been rumors flying around, m'lady."

"Rumors are nothing but lies." Juliet spied a tailor shop across the street and waved her hand to close the topic.

Fancy Sophie suggesting that Titania was a whore! What unbelievable lies.

As she hurried into the shop, the famed dressmaker, Madam Ethel spotted her and put on a fake smile. "Lady Juliet, what brings you today?"

"I require a dress for Titania," Juliet said quietly. It was clear that Madam Ethel didn't welcome her at all because she wasn't a particularly good customer. Unlike the other ladies, she never bought dresses in bulk and would frequent only when she had spare money.

"Now, I'm afraid that you would have to wait awhile," Madam Ethel said in a artificial, clipped tone. "I do have to serve two very important guests first." She gestured to a corner where a tall gentleman was standing.

"I will wait." Juliet nodded. It was expected. Madam Ethel always made her wait, forever hoping that she would leave out of sheer desperation.

Madam Ethel disappeared into a backroom, leaving her immediately.

Juliet's eyes flick to the other gentleman out of curiosity. She instantly took a step back when she noticed that he was staring at her.

"Lord Aughust." Juliet curtsied. Fancy meeting him here. This was outrageous. Why couldn't she have a peaceful afternoon without meeting him?

Edmund Aughust walked towards her, crossing from the other side of the room. He was finely dressed today in a black doublet. There was a slight stubble that lent a dark and dangerous air to his face but she rather liked that.

He didn't seem uneasy to be caught staring. "Juliet," he said in a musical voice.

Juliet wanted to run out of the shop and hide but instead, she held her head high and fought the shyness that plucked at her. "What business do you have here, m'lord?"

"My mother is in need of a new dress," Edmund Aughust replied coolly.

Torn between annoyance and desire, Juliet looked away from his emerald green eyes.

At this moment, a middle-aged, elegant lady emerged from the backroom with Madam Ethel. Her face was porcelain white and she donned a beautiful violet gown.

"Lady Irina." Juliet bowed. Edmund Aughust's mother was a picture of beauty and elegance. She had never spoke to her directly before but she got the sense that she was a kind woman.

"Edmund, introduce me to this beautiful young lady here." Lady Irina smiled.

"This is the daughter of the late Lord Rosewood." Edmund Aughust gestured to her.

Instantly, Lady Irina's face faltered. Her lips curved into a displeased frown. "This is Lady Titania?" she asked in a sharp tone.

"M'lady, I'm Juliet, not Titania," Juliet said quietly. She waited for that disappointment that would always appear on her face- the same expression everyone wore when they realised that she wasn't the famed beauty but just the plain elder sister.

Surprisingly, Lady Irina's face lighted up and she smiled gloriously. "It's a pleasure to see you. You're nothing like your sister," she observed.

Juliet bristled at her words. Was she hinting that she wasn't as beautiful as Titania? If yes, it was abhorrently rude of her to be so outright. But judging from her smile, she didn't seem to harbour any ill-intentions.

"Does this dress suit me?" Lady Irina asked, gesturing to the lovely gown.

"Of course, m'lady," Madam Ethel gushed. "You have an absolutely lovely figure. Any dress is suited for you!"

"Juliet?" Lady Irina asked. "What do you think?"

Juliet stared back at the older woman. Nobody ever cared about her opinion. Her cheeks flame red at the sight of everyone staring at her intently.

"I would think that for your delicate frame, a more subdued shade would work better," she whispered. The moment she said it, she regretted her words. She was practically indirectly insulting Edmund Aughust's mother. Lady Irina would now think that she was a rude, useless girl.

Instead, Lady Irina smiled kindly. "Indeed, that was what I thought. I need a change of dresses immediately. This color doesn't suit me."

"As you wish." Madam Ethel threw Juliet one last loathing glance before ushering Lady Irina back to the backroom.

There was an awkward silence as Juliet struggled to ignore Edmund's presence. "You've been pretty quiet since just now," she said casually.

"Dresses aren't my forte," he replied lightly. He leaned against the wall near the window and folded his arms across his chest. "Why are you buying a dress for your sister?"

"We are of similar size and frame," Juliet answered and wondered why he cared so much about it. Perhaps this was just polite talk?

"Don't you need a dress too?" He cocked his head puzzledly.

"Our finances don't cover both of our dresses," she raised her chin and replied stiffly. "Besides. I have no need for a dress."

"M'lady!" Sophie exclaimed from behind her. "It's only because you willingly give up everything for Lady Titania!"

"Hush." Juliet silenced her servant with a stern glare. "Do not show imprudence in front of me."

"Is what she said true?" Edmund Aughust scrutinized her face. She instantly flushed. It was no good. She couldn't lie to anyone at all.

"I feel no need to answer your question, m'lord," Juliet retorted.

Edmund Aughust looked at her in amusement and snapped his fingers. "Madam Ethel!" he called out with authority.

"M'lord!" Madam Ethel instantly appeared at his side. "Is Lady Juliet bothering you? I will tell her to leave this instant." She bared her teeth at her.

"On the contrary, I would like you to tailor a blue dress for her using the finest material. I presume you have her measurements?" Edmund Aughust demanded curtly.

"Of course I do have them, m'lord," Madam Ethel paused. "But sir, I'm afraid there's a question as to whether she can pay for it."

"Send me the bill." Edmund Aughust lips twisted into a smirk. "Now be off and leave us alone."

Madam Ethel shot Juliet a displeased glare before disappearing again.

"You didn't have to do that," Juliet protested weakly.

Edmund Aughust pursed his lips and tapped his finger against them, studying her. "You've been calling me Lord Aughust. I thought I told you to call me Edmund."

"Unfortunately, Lord Aughust, you've been away from society for long." Juliet laughs. "For an unwed man and woman to call each other by their first names will invite nothing but gossip."

"Does this apply to you and Viscount Jasper?" Edmund Aughust frowned.

"How do you know about Jas?" Juliet stared at him suspiciously.

"Word has it that he's returned to find a good maiden to become his wife."

"That's true." Juliet nodded. "He mentioned about a certain girl."

"Has he revealed her name then?"

"This is none of your business, m'lord," Juliet snapped.  A hot bubble of frustration rose up inside her but she forced it back down.

Edmund Aughust strolled to the window. "Does it bother you one bit? That he's getting married?" His face was impassive, revealing no emotions at all.

"Why would I?" Juliet frowned. "He's my good friend. I would love to see him marry a kind, pretty maiden."

Suddenly, Edmund Aughust's jaw twitched and his lips curved into a soft smile. "I'm glad to hear that."

"Lord A-" Juliet began.

"Please." He held up his hand. "Call me Edmund. Weren't we childhood best friends at the very least?"

That did make sense. "Fine. Edmund," she said slowly, swirling the name with her tongue. It felt nice, sweet and pleasant. "Will you answer a question honestly?"

"Speak."

"Did you dance with me at the masquerade?"

He didn't instantly reply. His gaze lingered on her for a long moment and he nodded. "That I did. Why?"

"Why did you do that?" she asked incredulously. "You had absolutely no need to torture yourself."

He raised his head sharply. When he looked up, his eyes are so dark and smothering that they seem almost black.

"You've a ridiculous perception of yourself," he said, holding her gaze. "Is it truly hard to believe my words? I'm not a liar. Believe me, you're beautiful in your own unique way."

Juliet stared at him, painfully aware of his scorching gaze while trying to resist the unexpected warmth his words brought her. "I haven't seen anyone pounding on my doors to court me."

Edmund Aughust shook his head. "You just haven't seen it yet. I myself know of one person who's pretty taken by you."

"Who?" Juliet laughed. What a ludicrous joke.

"It is obvious, is it not? If you can't see it, I think you're blind." He tipped his hat at her as his mother appeared by his side.

"Edmund, shall we go? Madam Ethel will send my dress in a few a days." Lady Irina turned to Juliet and gave her a kind smile. "It was a complete pleasure to meet such a young refined lady like you."

Cringing with embarrassment, Juliet bowed again and watched as the mother and son departed from the shop. She looked back at Sophie who was smiling secretly.

"Why are you smirking?" Juliet asked.

"Nothing, m'lady." Sophie smoothened her expression into a blank look.

Juliet longed to roll her eyes but obviously it won't do. She wondered once again how fate had brought Edmund Aughust and her together.