Andrew walked up the stairs to his mother's room. He had visited Victoria that morning, although they had no dance lesson planned. He had done that quite a few times, and each time he had an amazing day. He would come home with a smile on his face, and he liked everything he did. Even the boring things he did not mind, for she seemed to make him happy about everything.

Lady Anne's door was open, so Andrew entered without knocking. His mother was ordering a maid around, telling her which dresses and corsets to pack, and which crinolines to leave at home.

"You called for me, Mother?" Andrew asked when the lady did not notice him coming in.

"Ah, Andrew," she said as she turned to him. "I have called for you indeed. I ought to remind you that you must look after the estate while we are gone. I know Thomas should too, but that man is quite useless in the household. He prefers being beat up in a bar - although I do not believe that story, and I know you know the truth. But I will not beg for the truth. So, Andrew, you are the head of the house when we are gone. Do not use that title to punish your brother - if you will ever see him, of course. Anyway, looking after the estate. You know what to do, yes?"

Andrew had expected his mother would keep on talking, but finally she looked at him and waited for him to answer. "Yes, Mother. You have told me everything more than once."

She smiled at him. "Good. Now, I have visited Elizabeth this morning, and she wanted me to tell you that Victoria has been invited to our estate, and that you would use the ballroom. I do not know what she meant with all that, but she said you would understand. Now that is all out of the way," she continued without taking a breath, "is this lady Blackburn she is talking about? The lady living at the Jones House, not attending many balls?"

Andrew sighed. He had still not admitted he visited the lady frequently, but he had a feeling his mother knew more than she let on. She had probably talked to Elizabeth many times, and he was quite certain his mother knew everything Elizabeth knew - including her fantasies.

"Yes, Mother, it is her."

"Whyever did you not tell me? I assume that is where you have been going all these days, yes?"

Her eyes were intense and solely focused on him. He swallowed, being quite intimidated. "Yes, Mother, that is where I have been going."

"She is a nice lady, I presume. I have not yet had the honour of talking to her, but Elizabeth has told me many things. She is really as odd as they say she is?"

Before Andrew could answer, she seemed to have forgotten she asked a question, and kept talking. "Well, odd or not, aren't we odd as well? Ha, she is probably more wise for not throwing herself to the wolves. But then what's the fun a ball? That is probably why she does not attend many. Wil she attend Elizabeth and William's ball? Oh, of course she will. You will convince her. Elizabeth is counting on it. Ah," he sighed, "how great it must be to be beloved by the two oldest Brompton children. She is in safe hands now. When can I meet her?"

Andrew looked at her and blinked.

The woman had said so many things, it was difficult to understand what everything meant. Andrew's mother knew of the lady? He ought to convince Victoria to attend his sister's ball? And what did lady Anne mean with "being beloved by the two oldest Brompton children"?

Lady Anne waved her hands. "Ah, never bother. I shall meet her soon. All I am saying," she said more calmly, "is that I approve of her."

He did not know why he needed to hear those words, but once his mother had said them, he felt relieve and happiness wash over him.

But then he frowned. "You just said you have not yet had the honour of talking with her. Then how can you approve of her?"

The woman smiled and clasped her hands together. "It is not because I have not spoken to her yet, that I do not know her. I have ears as well, and a sceptic mind about rumours. But I do remember facts. And I have seen her standing in the corner of a few ballrooms, all kind and innocent. And beautiful."

Very beautiful.

"And polite, I have heard. William told me." She looked at him and noticed he was not surprised. She sighed. "I should have known he would tell you. But it was quite interesting, was it not? Though what he repeated most often, was the deliciousness of her pastries. I should really go see the lady."

Andrew chuckled. Oh, if only she knew about the pastries...

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A few hours later, Andrew watched the carriage roll away from the house. His mother and Mary were to visit their aunt. He was glad his mother had not asked him to join them, for he would have to look for an excuse not to come.

They took the butler with them to protect them from anyone who meant evil toward two ladies. With him gone, it were Andrew and Thomas' valets that had to do all the chores. The first order of business Andrew accomplished that day was checking up on them. Then he arranged the menu for the week, after which he order for the ballroom to be cleaned. Then he let the maids know they had to clean the sheets from lady Anne and Mary's beds by the time they came back in three days. He also ordered for their dresses and his suit for Elizabeth's ball to be picked up from the modest.

After he had done those and many more chores, he was alone again. He still had a few hours to spend before Elizabeth and Victoria would come. He wasted his time reading a book and roaming the house and garden, until it was time to prepare.

While he was changing his clothing, his valet knocked on his door.

"Lady Victoria is here, my lord," he announced.

Andrew felt a smile curl his lips and he could not hold it back. He was happy she was here - the first time in his house where his memories lay - and wanted to run down the stairs immediately, for she ought not spend one second alone. He wanted to be with her every moment of the day, and to know she was within the same walls as him, excited him.

"Escort her to the parlour and tell her I will be there in a few minutes," Andrew told his valet.

"Yes, my lord." He heard the valet's footstep walk away from his door. Then he hurried. He quickly dressed and combed his hair. Standing in front of the mirror, he wondered if he should wear perfume. Was that too much?

He looked from the small bottle to his reflection, and back to the bottle. Eventually, he took it and sprayed a little bit on his vest.

He rushed down and calmed himself in front of the door before nodding to the valet to open it.

She was in the middle of the room, looking through the window that showed the road with its fair amount of horses and carriages riding passed. She was yet again wearing a dress he had not seen before. Twas brown with golden stamps and a golden hem.

She looked magnificent.

Andrew cleared his throat. "You are early, I believe."

She turned to him and smiled. He wanted to hold on to something, for his legs might give away if she smiled much longer.

"My horse drove faster than I thought she would," she answer perfectly composed. "I have not used my carriage a lot and misjudge my horse's strength."

"You ought to have known better," he said. "She is probably the strongest horse I know."

Victoria laughed and Andrew moved his hand, suggesting she sit down - mostly because he was the one needing it.

"Would you like some tea?"

She shook her head. "Elizabeth shall be here shortly. We should not make tea we will not drink."

"Very well," he said, smiling at her. He noticed her hair was up, tight in complicated braids. It showed her neck and the high collar of her dress. And though she looked gorgeous, he wanted to reach out and untie her hair like he had done in the meadow. He liked her more with her hair down because he knew not many people saw her like that. But he did not reach out, and tried not to think of it anymore – a difficult quest.

"My sister wanted to know if you will attend her ball," Andrew said.

Her smile lit up the room. "Yes, I will attend."

Andrew was surprised, but did not show it. That might make her doubt. Instead, he smiled and said: "fantastic. Then I hope I may have your first dance."

She laughed. "And probably my only."

He dropped his head. How can she think that no man looked behind him when she passed by? Did she really believe she was unimportant and invisible? Andrew was quite certain that once lords had seen her dance, they would all come begging for her next dance. And if they did not, than he would.

"Where is your family?" she asked, changing topic before Andrew could comment on her last statement.

"My mother and Mary are visiting my aunt for three days. And Thomas, I have no idea where he is. I assume he is at a bar somewhere."

"Does Elizabeth live close by?"

"About fifteen minutes on horseback, more in a carriage." He smiled at her. "She will be here soon."

He looked around the room, not quite knowing what more to do or say. Twas not like Elizabeth to be late, but he need not worry yet. Yes?

He looked at Victoria, who was uncomfortably looking around, avoiding his look. Andrew suddenly stood up. "I shall send my valet to see where she is."

Victoria nodded, and Andrew left the room. He quickly found his valet, relayed the message and returned to the parlour. He sat down in front of her and smiled. "Are you not supposed to bring a chaperone when you come to visit a lord?"

She looked down at her hands, quite uncomfortable by his question. He meant it as a jest, but she did not seem to notice that. She had never had her chaperone with her when she was with Andrew or Elizabeth, so he was not surprised she did not bring one now.

"I only call for my chaperone when I believe I need one."

He frowned. "You do not believe you need one when visiting a man?"

"No, I do not believe I need one when visiting you." Andrew stiffened. Did she trust him so much that she did not feel the need to bring a chaperone?

"And," she added, "Elizabeth will be here shortly to protect me if you decide to do something you should not."

"Like what?" he asked before he could think over his question.

Her head shot up, looking at him with her eyes wide in surprise. She stared at him for a while, and he kept a smile on his face, pretending to not be bothered with his own question. He knew exactly what she was thinking, for he was thinking the same. There were so many things he wanted to do with the lady, but it would not be proper. Her eyes glimmered, but Andrew was not certain she was aware of it, for her face kept expressing shock. Eventually, she cleared her throat and smiled. "Let us not talk about that."

He could not help but smile at her discomfort. Even when she felt that way, she still looked stunning. He kept his eyes on her, but decided to change the topic. "Tell me about your brother."

Her eyes met his again, and if he had wanted to look away, he could not possibly do so anymore now. "Why do you want to know about my brother?"

Andrew shrugged. "I want to know if what people whisper about him is true."

"That depends on what they whisper about him."

"Ah," Andrew said, "they do not tell you, do they?" He shook his head. "I know they do not, for I only know of the whispers about me because they often forget I belong with my family."

Victoria nodded. "I believe we have already established that most rumours are untrue. Look at ours," she laughed.

"What rumours have you heard about me?" He moved forward, leaning his elbows on his knees. He knew what rumour was whispered about him, but he did not know the details. But would she – the lady who was almost invisible in ballrooms?

"I have only heard you are thief – which your friend, lord Hawthorne, already denied."

Andrew shook his head. "Tis true, though. Well, not completely. I have stolen when I was younger, but only once."

"Yes, so lord Hawthorne said. To please your mother with jewels."

Andrew nodded. "I did not know it was wrong to take things without asking. My brother did it, and he told me it was fun."

"Fun?!"

"Yes, he said he liked the excitement of having the chance of being caught."

"So he knew it was wrong?"

He shrugged, feeling indifferent about his brother's opinion. "Arthur had a different view on what was wrong and what was right. I heard my parents get angry with him all the time, and I never saw them smile anymore. So I wanted to make them happy. My mother loved jewels, I knew, for my father often gave her some. I had no money to buy her anything, but Arthur said I did not need any. He told me that there were kind people who did not mind if you took their jewels and other precious belongings without asking. I know it was dumb of me to believe him, but I did not see him as a bad person yet. I did not think he would ever do something so horrible to me."

He remained silent for a while. How to proceed the story if he was not certain she understood the mind of his young self? But then again, this was Victoria. She was different from everyone else.

"Someone saw me as I was walking down the stairs, a beautiful candle holder and a diamond necklace in hand. The owner of the house got called to me, and my parents had to come as well. I was twelve, I was expected to behave like a grown up lord. But when I saw the disappointment on my parents' faces, I started crying. I had hurt them."

A silence lingering silence while Andrew composed himself. He still remembered the feeling like it was only yesterday it all happened. His parents had forgiven him once they knew why he did it, but Andrew had never forgive himself – or Arthur.

"Five years later, my parents banished Arthur. He is not to return to our estates, or any city near them."

"What did he do to have them make such decision?" she carefully asked. He smiled at her, showing he did not mind his question. Arthur did not feel like his brother anymore, so he did not mind speaking ill of the man.

"My parents did not tell us when they banished him. Twas only years later that my mother said he was a case of violence on the servants. He would try to abuse the women and fight the men. My parents knew they could not go to a higher court with the story, for no one cares for servants. So they decided to make the decision and banish him from our family. He was stripped of his title and it was given the me."

"That is why you do not like the title," she said. Twas not even a question for she seemed to understand. "It reminds you of your brother."

Andrew just nodded, for he could not say anything else. He had not visited the estate ever since it was his, and he did not feel like ever going there again.

"It does not belong to him," she said. Andrew looked up at her kind face, smooth and beautiful. "The place. The memories. It's yours now. You must own it, make it your home."

He shook his head. "I would not know how to do that. Even if I wanted to, I could not enter the estate without the awful reminder of Arthur. I cannot possibly make it my home."

Victoria smiled kindly, showing him her support. "You ought make new memories there. Make those overwhelm Arthur's echoes. Every corner, every room, every hallway, you must give it a new purpose. Make the dining room a parlour and turn his bedroom into the stables. Make your own memories in a place that now belongs to you, and not to him. So that when you look at that parlour, you see a parlour where you have invited friends and family, shared stories and had laughs, and not an old dining room where Arthur is waiting for you. You can make it a home."

He smiled at her vision of the house. She was so positive about it, yet she had not seen the estate yet. Mayhap that is why it was easy for her to take the bad out of it. Or was it just his stubborn mind that prevented him from doing the same?

Before the silence could settle again between them, there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Andrew shouted, to which the door opened and his valet entered.

"Lady Elizabeth is not coming, my lord," he announced.

Andrew stared at the man. What did he mean, Elizabeth is not coming? "What do you mean, Elizabeth is not coming?"

The young man cleared his throat. "She wishes to remain at home today."

"She wishes to remain..." he trailed off, not understanding his sister. She had invited Victoria to the estate for a dance lesson, but was the only one not coming. And since she did not give a reason, he was certain she had a secret agenda. The only thing Andrew wondered now, was whether he liked the secret agenda or not.

He pinched the nose of his bridge with his fingers. "Thank you, Nathaniel. You may leave." He heard the door open and close, after which a silence fell. After a while, he looked up at Victoria and gave her a sorry-smile. "I believe my sister sends her apologies."

She smiled back at him, a genuine and beautiful smile. "No bother. It does not feel like a waste coming here."

"You may stay, if you wish."

Her face lit up, and Andrew assumed it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She looked relieved, happy and excited at the same time. The look made him instantly happy while his body felt odd – again. Everything inside him seemed to react to seeing her – even seeing her in his mind.

They both stayed quiet for a while, just looking at each other. Victoria moved her hand up and removed a strand of hair that had fallen in front of her face, founding it the perfect moment to look away. But he did not. He kept his eyes on her, for he did not want to look away.

He started thinking of the future. If she found she could dance well, would she not need a dance partner anymore? Would she not feel the need to be with him anymore? He would still see her at every ball she would attend, for he would attend every ball in London so that she would never have to go to one alone.

But he did not need a ball to see her, yes? He could just go to her estate and invite himself as a friend. They would be friends, yes? And even if they would not be, Victoria would not leave Elizabeth behind. Yes? So there was still a chance he would see her? Mayhap?

He could laugh at himself at that moment. How did it come so far that he would attend boring ball after boring ball, just so that he could see one lady? And how come he was planning on visiting her? And why was he doubting he would see her? Of course he would see her! Even if she did not want to, he would never be able to get the lady out of his mind. Twas a picture no one could touch. Not even she.

"How do rumours come about, do you think?" she suddenly asked. He realized their minds were not on the same topic at all, but mayhap hers was safer.

He shrugged. "Tis not Mr. Jones' ghost, if that is what you are wondering."

She laughed and rolled her eyes at him. His heart felt like it had rolled along. "I mean, rumours that are not true. Who makes up those stories?"

"Ladies with too much time on their hands," he guessed.

"Or lords who wish to impress."

He laughed at her remark, but her eyes remained serious.

"Why would lords make up rumours?" he asked sceptical.

"Why would ladies?" she sceptically responded.

"Because they always do."

"Why, lord Brompton, I did not see you as one with conventional images."

"I am not," he reassured her. "But if you think of the topic of every rumour, you will realize that they were created by women, for they prefer love to be a part of their fantasies."

"Oh, truly? And you imply that every rumour is about love?"

"Isn't ours? Isn't your brother's?"

"Is yours?" she responded. But then her face fell as she realized what he had said. "My brother? What does he have to do with this?"

"You did not think he was safe from gossip, did you?"

"No," she said not convincingly. She shrugged and looked away, but then looked back at him. And then she looked away again. Not knowing what to do with herself, she said: "What do they say of him?"

"That he is not paralyzed, but merely ran away with a lover."

Andrew watched as her eyes widened and her mouth opened. It was clear to him that she had never heard the rumour before. He was glad she heard it from him, and not from a lady who thought her whispers were unheard by others, for he was certain the lady would not be safe from Victoria.

"What?!" she shouted. "How could they say that?!"

"Because they do not know him."

"Exactly! That is why they should shut their mouths."

"If it pleases you," he said with a mischievous smile, "they do not rumour about how he got paralyzed. I believe their lover's story is too convincing."

She scoffed as he crossed her arms. "My brother has never fallen in love, and now that he locks himself up in Blackburn, he will never even meet a woman."

"You'd be surprised where you can fall in love."

"Not Malcolm," she said firmly, not hearing his unspoken words. "He is convinced he is not worthy of anyone's attention or dignity."

He looked at the lady in front of him and tried to anticipate the answer to his next question. "Will you tell him?"

"Of course not!" He was correct. "There is no need to tell him such things."

Andrew thought lord Blackburn would merely laugh at the insanity of the story, but he would not correct the lady. She seemed quite angry, and the conversation was only feeding that. He thought she should rest her mind, so he proposed: "would you like to try some wine? I have stored a lot in the cellar."

She let out a breath, hoping all her frustration would come out with it. "Yes, please."

He smiled and stood up, motioning for her to follow him. They walked through the hallway - where Andrew called for his valet - and down the stairs to the dark and moist cellar.

Inside the walls were wooden cupboards, each one stacked with many wine bottles - both rare and common flavours. Andrew had proceeded his father's collection, making the big cellar too small for all its content.

"My father had dreamed of collecting so many good wines," he told Victoria as they walked through the undergrounds rooms, passing many bottles on shelves, "the entire cellar would be filled."

He watched as she looked around, noticing it was fully stocked now. "Has he ever seen it like this?"

He shook his head. "I believe it had only half of the current amount of bottles when he last entered this room."

"Do you still have bottles he collected?"

He walked to a smaller room on the end of the cellar. The room also had cupboards in the walls, every space filled with dusted bottles. In the middle of the room was a table with four chair around. A closed closet was near it. In it, Andrew knew, were wine glasses, knives to open bottles and clean napkins.

He spread his arms, pointing at all the bottles in the room. "These are my father's. This room was the first one he filled. He was so proud of it." Andrew smiled. O how happy his father would be if he could see his cellar now.

"Would you like to try some?" He looked at Victoria. She had her arms wrapped around her as she watched the bottles of wine on the cupboards.

She turned her head to look at him. "You would open one your father's bottles?"

For her, he would. So he nodded his head. "I'll have to drink them one day."

She looked back at the bottles and brushed a finger over the glass. "I have never drunken wine this old."

"Then you must certainly try." He walked to her and looked at the bottles she was looking at. He took one out, then proceeded to the next room. There, he took two more. He gave the three bottles to his valet, who had silently been following them. He saw her holding a bottle and looking at it, like she expected to find out its flavour by staring long enough.

"We could try that one too, if you wish."

She looked at him, startled that he had seen her. A shy smile curled her lips, and she nodded. Nathaniel came to her and took the bottle from her, joining the other three in his arms.

"So many?" she asked as she noticed the bottles.

"We shall only try a little of each," he reassured her. She nodded. "Let us go back to the parlour. It is quite bleak here."

She nodded and followed him upstairs, the valet close behind her. The difference in temperature was enormous, and he enjoyed the heat rather than the cool and dark cellar.

"Where is you ballroom?" Victoria question surprised him. He would not understand women - or at least not this one - for their minds were always in a different place than his.

Her cheeks turned red, and she looked at the floor while smiling apologetically. "My apologies. I was thinking of Elizabeth's proposal to dance in a ballroom, and I wondered what yours looked like."

He smiled at her. Why not go to the ballroom? She seemed to enjoy dancing now that she knew how to do it. So he nodded. Before he led them to the room, he send Nathaniel to the parlour to prepare it for wine tasting.

He opened the big double doors, bringing light into the huge, empty room. He heard Victoria gasp as she entered the room. She slowly walked toward the middle while watching everything around her. She looked from the big, golden chandelier hanging in the middle of the room, to the white and golden ceiling decorations. She slowly turned around and let her eyes roam over the white walls and blue curtains. Then she looked down and studied the blue floor.

Andrew could not help but smile as she looked around her in awe, soaking up every detail in the room. She was gorgeous, he thought – again.

"I love it," she said in wonder. "It is gorgeous."

Andrew knew that blue was an odd colour for a ballroom, so it was no surprise to him that she loved it. Many people found blue a cold colour, but his family had always felt the warmth when a ball was held. The feeling of a cold room was appreciated when everyone was warm from dancing.

"Is your sister's ballroom equally impressive?" she asked, bringing Andrew back to the present.

"It is more like other ballrooms. No white and blue."

"More brown," she concluded correctly.

"And pink," he added. She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "The walls have a vague pink shade."

"I am not quite certain if I like that," she said while her face contorted.

Andrew laughed at her change of face. "It is more beautiful than it sounds," he said through his laughing.

"I truly hope so." She walked back to where Andrew had stayed near the door.

"Shall we?" he asked, giving her his elbow. She took it with a small nod and a smile. He led her back to the parlour, where Nathaniel had put down the bottles of wine. He had prepared glasses, napkins and pieces of bread.

They sat down on the same coach, and Andrew took the oldest bottle and opened it. With a "pop" he pulled the cork out, unaware of what was yet to come.