1798

Disappointed that the evening has been such a colossal failure, I search the house for Charlotte, hoping that she'll be agreeable to sneaking off upstairs and calling it a night. It's been a long day and after all I've been through, I'm ready for it to end.

I meander through the different groups of people spread about, but Charlotte is nowhere to be found. I search the main hall and even peek in the library, but only find a group of older gentlemen having one last nightcap in there. The next room down is Mr. Aberson's study, but the door is closed, so I continue on to the conservatory where it seems a sizable crowd has gathered.

I turn back when I hear the sound of a door opening behind me, and am surprised to see Ambrose, leaving the study. Preparing to call out to him, I stop when I see his expression. Ambrose is generally upbeat and vibrant, but even from here I can tell that something isn't right. He looks worried, buried in his own thoughts, and I don't want him to catch me lurking, so I hurry and duck into the conservatory before he notices.

For a while I mingle with the other guests, trading local gossip and making small talk, but when there's still no sign of Charlotte an hour later, I finally decide to retire on my own.

I'm about to step out into the corridor, when I stumble upon Levi Harrington and Nora Potter there on the other side of the door. They look as if they're having a private conversation. Levi's back is pressed up against the wall, and Nora is using her body to pin him there.

A thorn of envy burrows inside me, and I pray I have time to retreat before either of them sees me.

But just as I'm drawing back, Levi looks up, and quickly calls out my name. "Miss Blackwell!"

With nowhere to hide, I slap on a stiff smile and force myself to step out into the hallway.

"Mr. Harrington." I barely nod in his direction, avoiding his eyes. Perhaps I'm a little disappointed to have found him out here with Nora, of all people; especially so soon after we danced. Although, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me. The two of them make sense. I'm the one who comes from a different world.

"It appears as if we're developing quite a pattern here." Levi smiles, and that aggravatingly easy grin of his returns.

He squeezes out from behind Nora whose long skirts brush against the floorboards as she's forced to shuffle back. She scowls at me from behind him, furious that I've interrupted them, but Levi seems to have forgotten all about her.

He drops his voice down into a deep whisper and his eyes sparkle with undeniable charisma. "Why do I always seem to run into you at the most inopportune times...?"

For a moment the world stops moving, and all I see is him. His black hair falls over his gray eyes which search my face, like he's looking for some sort of answer.

I lick my lips, not quite knowing what to say.

"Perhaps you've been cursed," Nora cruelly mutters from behind him, just loud enough for both of us to hear.

Levi pauses. The infatuation that just had ahold of him is now replaced by curiosity. I see it ignite in his eyes. He shifts his head, and I'm pretty sure he's about to ask a question. Suddenly, I fear what it might be, or, worse, how Nora will force herself into my answer.

I step back, raising my hands in an apology. "Pardon me," I mumble, before either of them can get a word out. "I need to be going."

The emotions of the day have gotten the better of me and I don't care about proper etiquette anymore. I've had enough for one night, and I'm ready for it to end.

Turning down the hallway, I dash through the side door, rushing out to the garden and gulping in the fresh air like my life depends on it. The wind rips through my dress, which billows up around me as I head for the meadow out back. I run towards the old oak tree that we used to play under as children, and when I finally reach it, I grab on, feeling the bark under my nails as I try to calm down.

What a disaster this evening has been. What a disaster my whole life is turning out to be! Closing my eyes, the tears finally come as I slide down against the tree, melting into a pile of fabric and dejection at its base.

My whole life will be changing soon. I'll be losing my home, and my Ma and Pa, or whoever they really are to me. Everything will be different, and the fear of that unknown is more upsetting than I'd care to admit.

The crunch of dried leaves under heavy boots captures my attention, and I swivel around, surprised to see Levi there. He surveys my tear-stained face, and for a moment it looks as if he may turn away, but he doesn't. He just stands there, not saying a word.

Perfect, this is all I need: a spectator for my pity-party.

"What do you want?" I demand as the wind whips my curls loose and tangles them around my face.

Levi doesn't answer me. Instead, he slowly slides his jacket off, and cautiously, almost like he's afraid I'll lash out if he makes the wrong move, steps forward. He lowers the jacket down over my shoulders, and I blink up at him in surprise. The fabric smells of grass and dirt, and something else that I can't quite place but immediately respond to.

"May I?" He points at the grass next to me, waiting for an invitation, and I shrug, not trusting my voice.

He sits down, closer to me than necessary, and for the first time I notice the stretch in his crisp blue vest, and how it barely makes it around his muscular frame. The garment must be at least a size too small and looks a little frayed around the edges.

Levi leans back on his elbows and stares up at the stars. We're both silent. It doesn't bother me though, because for the first time tonight, I feel completely comfortable around him, and I don't want to ruin it.

I steal a small glance at him through my hair. There's something strong about him, his jawline, his body, his very presence... I'm not sure what it is. It's like, that same heat that burned through his touch seems to just exude from inside him.

"It's beautiful out here," he says, staring through the darkness out at the expansive property. "Quiet. So different from Boston. Does it get very cold in the winter?"

I bite my lip to keep from smiling, and his eyes dart over to me.

"Do you find something comical, Miss Blackwell?" His face is full of playfulness, which only makes my smile grow.

I toss my hair back, and boldly stare straight at him. "Well, it's just... the weather?"

I raise my eyebrows, and he laughs. It's a wonderful sound, deep and raspy.

"Hey now, I'm trying over here."

"Why?" I ask, unable to stop myself.

His gray eyes examine my face, and for some reason I can tell that he's deciding how honest he should be. He dips his head, and squints over at me before nodding like he's made up his mind. "Well, let's see... I'm new here in town and I've bumped into you three times already, and on each occasion you... Well, I always find that you're running away from me."

He smiles lazily and that adorable dimple of his appears again. "And I do like a good chase, Miss Blackwell."

His gaze attaches to mine and a slow burn spreads across my skin.

"You also get the most extraordinary blush around me," he murmurs.

Ever so lightly, almost like he's not even touching me, he lifts his hand and traces the side of my face. I suck in my breath. No one has ever spoken to me, or touched me, like this before. If there is a color redder than red, surely I've turned it.

"You can call me Ellie," I whisper, not recognizing the sound of my own voice.

"Are you having a difficult night, Ellie?

He removes his hand and my cheek tingles against the frosty air, already missing his heat.

"I've had worse," I sigh, because, honestly, right now, my night doesn't seem so bad.

"I know it isn't any of my business, but why were you crying?"

The question alone is enough to break the spell, and I drop my eyes down to my lap. I'm not sure what to tell him; after all, we've just met, so I decide to be vague. "Oh, nothing really... family matters, that's all."

"Family matters, huh?" He sounds unsatisfied with my answer.

"I thought it wasn't your business?" I remind him.

"Touché." He' smart enough not to push me any further, and switches the subject. "Who wants to hear about what makes you sad anyway? I'd rather talk about what makes you happy. More chance I'll have to discover what causes that blush of yours."

My face ignites again and I pluck a dead leaf up off the ground, attempting to distract myself by breaking off its dry edges. For some reason it's like he has more control over my body than I do right now and it's horrifying.

"So...?" He lets his voice drift off.

"So...?" Gazing back at him, I become completely mesmerized all over again. This must be what it's like to be smitten. I've read about it but never experienced such a complete loss of concentration first hand.

"So, what makes you happy, Ellie?"

"In general?" I laugh.

He nods.

"Um... being outdoors, sewing, reading."

"And what do you read about?"

"Anything I can get my hands on, really. It doesn't matter the subject."

"Oh? And here I thought you were going to say politics." He's teasing me again, reminding me of my little exchange with Martin Cissell earlier, and I drop my head.

"There goes that blush again," he chuckles. "You're really making this far too easy."

I look up, slowly absorbing in his face. His nose is a bit bent, like maybe it's met a fist or two in its day, and I'm not surprised with that brash sense of humor of his. His lips, however, are full and thick, and it's not hard to imagine kissing them. Suddenly, for some reason, that's all I can think about. I guiltily glance around. Anyone could see us out here. Being caught alone with him like this wouldn't do anything for my reputation.

I try to gather my senses, something I'm finding increasingly difficult to do, and force myself up from the ground. "Thank you so much for keeping me company, Mr. Harrington." The formality has returned to my voice, and he seems to understand what that means.

He pushes himself up, dusting the leaves from the seat of his breeches. "You can call me Levi."

I nod, like a mute fool, and go to slide off his jacket, but he puts a hand up to stop me.

"I can't take that back yet, Ellie. What kind of gentleman would I be if I let you catch a chill?"

A small smile sneaks onto my face as we stroll back to the house together. His hands stay by his sides, and yet at one point his knuckles somehow graze mine, sending a dull ache of longing through me.

"Will you be staying at the Aberson's tonight?" he inquires.

"Yes. It's too far for me to travel home tonight."

"You'll be leaving in the morning then?"

I nod.

"How will you be going?"

"I'll walk."

He appears surprised. "The Aberson's won't provide you with a carriage?"

Smiling, I shake my head at the very idea.

"I'm lucky I was invited tonight at all," I tell him. "Charlotte's mother doesn't think very highly of me."

He blinks in disbelief, and I laugh, dropping my guard.

"It's true! She thinks I'm a horrible influence. I imagine she'd have preferred her daughter be friends with someone a little more suitable than me."

Levi's eyes fall to my throat and I remember the necklace I'm wearing. Oh. I'd forgotten about the large emerald that hangs there.

Lifting the jewel, I feel the need to explain myself. "This is Charlotte's. She made lent it to me."

His eyes darken and his easy-going smile disappears. Despite wearing his jacket, the atmosphere between us has shifted and I've now grown cold. Levi appears irritated and doesn't say anything else, so I leave him to his thoughts until we reach the door.

When we step inside, I remove his jacket from my shoulders and hand it back to him.

"Thank you again, Mr. Harrington."

It doesn't seem right to call him Levi anymore. The clock has struck midnight on our little moment together, and I nod and start to walk away.

He reaches out and gently places a hand on my waist. "Ellie..."

I stop and just stand there, soaking in the feeling of his touch.

He steps up to me and speaks in a low voice. "What time will you head home tomorrow?"

"Early," I answer. It takes some courage to look at him, but I make myself. His eyes are full of indecision. He can't possibly mean to...

"I'll escort you."

He doesn't ask, but I still shake my head.

"You can't."

"Don't say no, Ellie."

He looks down at me with those gray eyes and I think of a million different reasons why I should say no, but can't seem formulate any of them into a coherent thought. And just like that, I feel myself give in to what I already know is a bad idea.

"All right," I relent, "but meet me down at the main road, not here."

He recognizes what's not being said. There would be a lot of talk if he was to call on me at the Aberson's, and no good would come from it.

Levi takes my hand. "Tomorrow then." His lips brush against my skin, and I dip into a slight curtsey, my own smile matching his.

He turns and walks down the hallway, and as I watch him leave the butterflies in my stomach go wild with anticipation.