So like everyone I have games on my phone. Unlike most it's one of those chose your adventure stories and I love it so I wrote this. This story and Elena got me through finals. This does move rather quickly because why not I was writing it on the fly here lol. I love what if's here it goes. I have other stories coming out too hopefully this January!

Enjoy!

Henrietta took the mail from Mr. Woods as she was hoping that the letter from Miss Parson's mother arrived. The young man bowed to her before leaving for his other duties. There were several letters for Vincent as her eyes glued to the letter that was familiar handwriting. Very familiar, she thought, as she ripped open the letter.

Her eyes skimmed across the first line as she tucked it away in her pocket. Mary Mills request was never going to be seen by the Earl of Edgewater.

EdgewaterEdgewaterEdgewater

It was a nice clear and sunny day as Ernest narrowly missed the two young women that were walking alongside the edge of the road. He had left the house just too late as he was in a hurry. Vincent would be kind, but it was still rude to keep him waiting. One of the girls gasped as he galloped by as he slowed down. Hopefully he hadn't hurt her in some way as he got off his horse, just a quick check.

Clara and Briar shared a look as the man on the horse stopped ahead of them. Her eyes grew wide as Briar bit her bottom lip as she watched as the man walked toward them. "Is anyone hurt?" asked the rider as he looked them both up and down.

"We're fine," said Clara as she looked the man up and down. He had to be wealthy as he had fine clothes that was made from materials she didn't even recognize. He was quite handsome with almost wispy brown hair and clear blue eyes. "Thank you for stopping and asking although you should have been looking where you were going."

He nodded at them before he glanced at his horse. "My apologies for my horse narrowly missing you," he said as he raised his eyebrow at her.

"I don't think that it's the horse that should be apologizing," she said as he stiffened up. He inwardly smiled some as he had yet to have someone wittily banter as such with him.

"Then I formally apologize ladies. To make it up to you I offer my services to escort you home. Or I trust you will get home okay miss," he asked smoothly as Briar gently nudged at her to say yes. Clara eyed him as she contemplated on what people would say if a man escorted her to her mother's home. Then thought of his motives as he didn't seem like the type. The man looked at them both as he was waiting for an answer.

"Clara and this is my friend Briar. We would be honored," said Clara brightly as she looked at Briar ready to go for a small ride. "Mister..."

"Sinclaire," he said curtly as he raised his eyebrow, as if he was surprised she didn't know of him. She smiled lightly as she giggled as he kissed her hand. Then he proceeded to kiss Briar's hand as well as she had a twinkle in her eye. She was up to something but before Clara could say anything her friend seemed to have made up her mind.

"I have to meet my mother," said Briar. "But I'm sure Clara wouldn't mind being by herself."

Clara only smiled at him as he nodded before stepping aside as Briar headed up the hill toward her home. She led the way to his horse as he offered her a hand. Mr. Sinclaire took her direction well as they headed toward her mother's cottage. This time at a much slower pace so she couldn't fall off from behind him.

Because of such pace, Briar was already there looking distressed as Mr. Sinclaire helped her off the horse. Briar opened her mouth as she let out a choked sob.

Clara put a hand over her own mouth and before she could properly thank Mr. Sinclaire she threw opened the door. Confused Mr. Sinclaire just followed her inside as he saw the one thing that he knew all too well from the women in the shelter. Briar had left the doorway as she let them be as Clara let out a small wail from her lips. Ernest made his way over the young woman as he put a hand on her shoulder. Forgetting that she had barely knew the man she threw herself on his shoulders as she cried on him.

Despite having a rather distraught girl on his shoulder Ernest took that in stride as her mother's glassy eyes stared at the ceiling. "I missed her," said Clara into his shoulders. "I wasn't here when she passed."

"I'm sorry," he said as he gently rubbed her shoulder. This was his fault for nearly running her and Briar over. If he hadn't stopped, they might have been on time to hear her last words. "If you need any help with anything, I offer my assistance."

"I don't even know what I'm going to do," she said as she pulled away from him. "I suppose I should pick up my mother's sewing job. Or I could go and live with Briar and her parents. I..." She let out another sob as Ernest hugged the strange young woman into his chest.

Ernest supposed there wasn't a father in her life at this point judging from the way she was talking. He glanced down at her mother as he gently reached over and closed her eyes. He looked around the cottage as she didn't seem to have much. He gently brushed a piece of her brown locks away from her face. Clara was quite pretty he thought as he gave her a small smile. It would just be too odd to bring her home with him as he thought about his meeting with the earl. He was so late as he didn't know what to do about that.

"Would you stay with me?" asked Clara as he looked startled by that. If this was another woman, he would have assumed she wanted to bed him. Instead, he noticed that her eyes never left her mother's unmoving form. She was clearly hurting and wanted company as he pursed his lips. It wouldn't be right to do so. "I don't think I could be alone..."

"Will you be here later today?" he asked as he made she that she was sturdy in a chair as he found her a something to snack on.

"I'd imagine so," she said sadly as sat up straight as she looked apologetic. "I'm sorry to have you bothered with my problems and my distress. You should probably be heading to where you need to be. I will be..." Clara paused as she had to pick out her words. "Here. I will be here sorting through... things."

He nodded as they were close to each other as he could make out the tears hanging off her eyelashes. Her once rosy cheeks pale as he could make out a small smatter of freckles on her nose. She was quite pretty indeed, he thought, as he remembered the feeling of her silky hair.

Ernest bit his bottom lip as he shouldn't feel this bad for a young woman. He had seen numerous young woman lose their mothers and everything they owned. Abandoned by the man that said they loved them only to leave them with child. This woman had a home of her own as she was alone. Of course, he'd helped them find jobs, but this girl made him feel different.

They locked eyes as he could see flecks of gold in her green eyes. She looked startled by the invitation as she probably thought of his intentions with her. Then again she had asked him to stay as Clara only smiled as she could tell that his intentions were honorable. She bit her bottom lip as she thought of Briar who would be here soon as felt conflicted.

"Thank you," she said softly. "I appreciate it, but I don't think I should. That would be improper of me especially since we just met. However, I would appreciate it if you would like to come back here and stay with me."

Well, she was forward, thought Ernest as he nodded.

"Then I shall be back then," he said as he looked around as he stepped out of the house, straightened his collar, and got back on his horse. He had some explaining to do to the earl.

After apologizing to the earl up and down profusely, Vincent only proud to hear he was able to help the young maiden, did they get their business done. It was swift and simple enough as he was glad to have the excuse to avoid seeing the dowager countess. Dominique would sometimes moan about not having a granddaughter to marry him. Ernest could only hide rolling his eyes for so long. Right now, he was thinking of a girl with hair like silk and a small cottage by herself.

He rode slowly as he thought about what he would say. It would be simple enough to find her a job as she said that she could sew. Just by looking around he could tell that she and her mother had impressive skills. Part of him wanted to keep her around as he colored himself slightly intrigued. The way she bantered with him was slightly amusing. If she knew poetry, he could only imagine how that would have went. It didn't help that he thought the girl was rather pretty.

Ernest found a post to tie his horse to as he went to knock on the door. From the outside he heard something break as he knocked on the door. After five minute it opened as Clara blinked up at him.

"Oh," she said a bit surprised. "Come in, just be careful."

He saw that she had broken a plate as she went back to cleaning it up. Ernest looked around at everything as it appeared she had made a dent in cleaning things up.

"Are you hungry?" she asked as she had a plate of food in her hands.

"Not really, I just wanted to check back in and see if you're alright," he said as he felt slightly foolish. Today would probably be the last time he would ever see her as she laid the plate down in front of him anyway.

"You should eat," she said. "I'll go and get myself some."

And she was slightly pushy, it didn't help that he found that he enjoyed it. Clara came back into the room with food of her own as they ate in near silence. The only thing he could hear was the sound of nature from outside an open window. Her food she had made was rather good as he finished his meal.

"Sir, I wanted to apologize for earlier," she said rather confident. "I'm sorry for keeping you from your prior engagement, you probably didn't want to see my distress. I understand if this is just something you felt as if you had to do it."

Ernest was a bit surprised to hear this as he stood up and sat down next to her. "You shouldn't have to apologize, it was your grieving. If anything, it was my fault for staying here when I should have let you process what happened. I am happy to see you in good spirits and eating however," he said before compulsively adding, "Perhaps I should have you over for dinner where I live."

A cocky smile crossed her lips as she said, "but I could not cook for you."

"If anything, I think my chef would kindly do the honors," he said as her face dropped.

She cleared her throat as she took his plate from him. "If I may ask sir, what is it that you do? I'd assume that you're a member of the clergy. However, I'm not assuming anything right now."

It was quiet as Clara wouldn't know who he was as the town of Grover was considered the earl's domain. In a way helping her was like helping a friend.

"I am a land owner," he said after a minute of silence. "A squire if you will. My lands are close to the earl of Edgewater, whom I assume you know owns your town." It was even more quiet as Clara looked stunned as he was slightly amused. So, he could silence her as she abruptly sat up her face aflame. "I did not want to embarrass you. I only wanted to help."

"I should be cleaning these dishes," she said her voice low. "I can walk you to your horse. I don't want to keep you from your duties."

Did he say something wrong, he thought before nodding, as she needed to get adjusted? "I did not mean to deceive you Miss Clara. I know members of the clergy don't always wear their robes, but I thought it was quite clear that I was of a higher standing." She paused as she turned a little pink. In a way that was a little cute.

"Thank you for helping me with my mother even though you didn't have to," she said. "Is that invitation for supper still available or shall I be cooking for myself from now on?"

Pleased Ernest only pretended to think. "Only if you don't mind me checking on you." His face decidedly neutral as he didn't want to influence any of her decisions.

Clara only raised her eyebrows, see him again? Wow, she thought wondering if there was anything special she did today that might have impressed him. She felt torn as Mr. Sinclaire was clearly just trying to comfort her through her mother's death. She didn't want to get her hopes up that he just wanted to see her in general though. Until finally she found herself nodding.

"Deal."