As the lone mansion came closer, Victoria slowed down her horse. The white beauty was damp with sweat, but Victoria was fulfilled with the speed she could manage. She will surely receive many treats.

At a slow pace she entered the property and went straight to the stable boy.

"Good day, lady Blackburn," the young lad greeted. Victoria smiled at him and padded her horse.

"You may give her many treats," she said. "She deserves it."

"Did she ride faster than last week?" the boy asked enthusiastically.

"Yes, she did, for today there was barely any wind."

A wide smile appeared on the boy's face. "Then I shall spoil her, my lady."

"Thank you," Victoria said with a smile, after which she turned and walked to the butler of the mansion who was waiting for her near the side door.

"His lordship is in the garden, my lady," he said when she reached him. With a smile she thanked the man and turned to the garden.

As she rounded the corner, she saw a small table surrounded by four chairs. On one of the chair was a man sitting, his gaze at the fields behind the mansion. He turned when he heard her shoes clicking on the stones.

"Victoria," Malcolm said while his smile grew wide. "I would say I am surprised to see you here, but I am not. You seem to be here more often than you are in your own estate."

"You know I love Blackburn more," she said while sitting down on the chair next to him. The sun was shining bright today, and she understood immediately why Malcolm decided to sit outside.

"As do I," he said with a laugh, "making it unfortunate for you to be the younger sibling."

She narrow her eyes at him. "You will never stop tormenting me, will you?"

"Of course not. That is what a brother is for, is it not?" Victoria laughed seeing the glimmer of amusement in her brother's eyes. She enjoyed seeing him that way, for there had been many years in which she had not seen that happiness.

"How is London?" Malcolm asked, breaking the short silence that had settled between them.

"Same old," she simply told him. What was there to say about a city where she did not show herself. "I am merely glad my name stays off the newspaper."

"I would like to see your name on the newspaper," Malcolm said, his eyes fixed on Victoria, "for that would mean you actually did something."

She sighed and waved her hand. "I prefer not being the centre of attention," she told her brother. "The only names on the newspaper are of people who are involved in a scandal. I do not want those problems."

Malcolm let out an exaggerated sigh. "I wish I could be there with you, so that I could convince you to live a little."

"You would throw me to the wolves," she said with a stern look.

He waved his hand. "Tis all a matter of perspective." Before he could say anything else, the butler arrived at their table and looked at his master.

"You have a visitor, my lord."

"My sister is here already, Tores," Malcolm said while laughing.

Victoria assumed the butler would roll his eyes if he was allowed to do so as he waited for Malcolm to finish his laughter. "It is lord Brompton, my lord. He asks if he may join you and lady Blackburn."

Victoria stiffened. What on Earth was lord Brompton doing at her brother's estate, and how did he knew she was here? How did he even know where Blackburn was?

"Lord Brompton?" Malcolm silently asked. "Whatever is he here for?" He looked over at his sister, assessing the horrified look she tried to cover up with a smile.

"Do you wish for me to send him away, my lord?"

"No," Malcolm said, eyes still on Victoria. "Guide him here."

Tores bowed and left the Blackburn siblings alone to fetch lord Brompton.

"Victoria, why is lord Brompton here?" Malcolm asked, eyeing his sister with suspicion.

"I do not know, Malcolm," she answered, hoping he would not question further. But she knew all hope was lost as he tilted his head and kept his gaze on her.

"What are you not telling me, Vicky?"

She saw Tores returning with lord Brompton, and, knowing Malcolm would not be able to question her further, she hastily whispered "why do you not read the newspaper?"

She could see question marks in his eyes, but she squared her shoulders and watched as Tores showed lord Brompton to the table. Malcolm had seen them now as well and quickly threw his sister a mean look before he shifted his attention on the lord now standing next to him.

"Lord Blackburn," Brompton greeted with a bow. Malcolm bowed his head in an attempt to return the man's greeting.

Lord Brompton turned to Victoria with a look on his face she could not quite place. She ignored it and stood up to receive his kiss on her hand. "Lady Blackburn," he said with meaning before his lips touched her gloved hand.

"Tores," Malcolm said to the butler, "prepare another cup of tea for lord Brompton and bring us some scones. My guests must be famished."

Finally lord Brompton's eyes left Victoria's, and she sat back down on her chair. Lord Brompton occupied the seat in front of her.

"Lord Brompton, to what do I owe the honour of your presence?" Malcolm asked after both were seated.

"I was hoping to speak to your sister," he said with confidence. "There are quite some things I would like to discuss."

Malcolm's eyes found Victoria's, but she refused to keep looking at him and turned her face to look at the fields.

"What would you like to discuss with her?" Malcolm asked with suspicion in his voice.

Lord Brompton must have felt the tension between the two siblings as he did not answer right away, and when he did, he stuttered. "I would... I would like to eh... to talk to her about the er... rumours."

Victoria felt her brother's gaze on her. "What rumours?" he asked. When the people around the table stayed quiet, he said: "Victoria, what rumours would the lord like to discuss with you?"

Victoria sighed, but refused to meet his gaze. "Silly rumours," she responded.

"I would like the specifics," he said.

Lord Brompton cleared his throat. "There are rumours that lady Blackburn and I are lovers."

Victoria felt her cheeks heat up as her brother's gaze stayed on her. For what felt like hours he did not say a word, nor did anyone else. She was frightened for what his response might be. He told her to live a little, but he knew that rumours like this don't make a person live more. No, the people involved would pull back and hide, and Malcolm knew very well that that was exactly what Victoria would do.

She did not want to hear her brother say she should not hide in her mansion, for she still would, but with a feeling of guilt for betraying his words.

When Malcolm finally said something, Victoria stiffened with surprise. "And are you lovers?"

She snapped her head toward her brother, angry that he would think of her as the lover of a lord. Sharing a bed while not being married was the most scandalous thing to do! And although Victoria did not wish to marry and be tied to a man, she also did not desire making love. However her brother considered the rumour, she could not comprehend.

"Of course not!" Victoria shouted, her voice hard and her eyes on her brother. "Do not be so ridiculous, Malcolm, as to believe those silly rumours. You of all people should know I do not dally. And you should very well know that if it were true, you would be the first I would tell."

A mischievous smile played on Malcolm's lips as he shrugged and said "I had to ask."

An uncomfortable silence fell around the table, but Malcolm's smile did not leave. Victoria did not understand what he thought was so funny about the situation, for she did not want to be part of a scandal that was not true. She wanted to live a quiet live where she was happy by being on her own. She wanted to be forgotten by people, not involved in their newest rumour!

"What are you smiling at?" she snapped at her brother. She did not want to look at lord Brompton, for whatever reaction he would have, was not one that would please her. If he were carrying a smile, it would mean he was having fun in tormenting her - just like her brother. But if he felt as devastating as she did, she would feel insulted by his uncaring attitude.

Tis true, they do not know each other. And mayhap she was uncaring about him, but as a person who would rather be ignored, she did not mind people not liking her, for that meant they would not spend much time with her and she could go back to living her silent and peaceful life.

Malcolm shook his head. "I cannot understand they picked you to be their star of the rumour, tis all."

"I think it is not a surprise they picked you, my lady," lord Brompton said.

Victoria finally looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Whyever not?"

"You are a mystery to the ton, a person no one really knows. By spreading false rumours, they hope to provoke a reaction from you and get to know the true Victoria Blackburn."

She considered his words. It seemed like a thing the ton would do, she must admit. But what she did not understand, was why now? She had been living in London for a few years. And when her father was still alive, he would sometimes take her to the mansion on Lyne Avenue. The people knew who Victoria Blackburn was, why would they want to know more?

Malcolm shrugged and said: "or it the curse of the Jones house."

Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. "Do not start, brother."

"It is a possibility, Vicky," he said.

"You were the one who told me the curse is not real."

"You were the one who proved me wrong by pushing my face in the facts."

"You know the facts are not proven."

"Are you saying you believe in the curse?" Malcolm had a smile on his lips. Victoria knew her brother liked arguing - especially with her, for she was a sore loser. He would smile and laugh while she got angry and stubborn.

Victoria breathed in deeply and slowly let the air out. She calmed down enough to kindly say "we shall not discuss this."

Malcolm's chuckles filled the silent, and lord Brompton also looked like he was holding back laughter. Victoria tried to ignore it, for she did not want to fight with her brother in front of a guest - no matter how much she hated him at the moment.

"Very well, then," Malcolm said. He turned his head to lord Brompton. "What did you think of the Birmingham ball, lord Brompton?"

"Lady Birmingham is an excellent host, wouldn't you say? Her balls are always magnificent."

"I have not frequented many of her balls, but I do recall many people loving it." He turned his head back to his sister. "And you, Victoria? Did you enjoy it?"

"It was a great feast," she vaguely answered. She did not have a great time at the ball, for she did not like balls. But she never told her brother, for she knew he envied her. She always felt guilty over hating something he could not have.

"I expect you danced a lot," her brother said.

"No, she did not," lord Brompton said before Victoria could speak a lie.

"You did not?" Malcolm asked surprised.

Victoria avoided his gaze and narrowed his eyes at lord Brompton. Why was the bloody bastard here?

"She refused every gentleman," lord Brompton spoke, ignoring her look. "Including me."

Malcolm sighed while a look of disappointment appeared on his face. "Vicky, please..." If his face was not painful enough, the crack in his voice while saying those words was.

She dared not look in his eyes while she said "No. I am not going to dance on a ball or soiree."

Malcolm sighed again, one filled with powerlessness. "Dear sister-"

Before he could finish his sentence, she stood up and said "I believe I must go home now."

Lord Brompton suddenly stood up as well. "Allow me to walk you to your carriage."

Victoria's eyes widened, but she quickly covered it up with a smile. Her head turned toward her brother, who had a hand in front of his mouth to hide the smile was probably playing on his lips. She turned her head back to lord Brompton with a stronger smile. "It is quite alright," she politely said. "I can walk myself."

She started to walk away, but lord Brompton stopped her by saying: "no, really, I insist." His eyes were filled with something mischievous Victoria could not quite place.

She turned her head back to her brother, hoping he would be able to read her begging on her face. He simply shrugged and, with the smile still intact, said: "you brought this upon yourself."

Victoria sighed. This was a losing battle, and she'd better admit the truth than be defeated by his keen mind. Her brother was of no help, and if she were to tell lord Brompton a lie, he would be the one to tell the truth and give her the fatal blow.

"My carriage is not here," she admitted. "It is still at home."

A self-assured smile played lord Brompton's lips, telling Victoria he already knew the answer to the question he asked. "Then may I ask how you arrived here?"

"I rode horseback," she simply said, hoping he was done with the subject.

"Father could not teach me to ride horseback, so he taught his only other child," Malcolm said.

Lord Brompton's eyes stayed on Victoria, the same, all knowing smile remaining on his lips. "Then allow me to fetch your companion."

Victoria sighed - again. She did not come with a bloody companion!