London 1816
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Lilliana stared at herself in the mirror as her maid put the finishing touches on her hair. Looking at her reflection she couldn't believe that the young girl staring back at her was almost eighteen. It seemed like only yesterday she had been fifteen, her hair in braids down her back as Elijah taught her how to waltz in preparation for her presentation to London society. They had been here almost two years and it was the longest they had ever stayed in one place. She had gotten used to enjoying the peaceful calm of not traveling to a new home every year and wondered often at her guardian's decision to remain in England for so long. It was very unlike him. In her time with him they had traveled all over the globe never staying in one place long enough for either of them to enter the social scene. Yet, here they were in London at the height of the season preparing to attend the Prince Regents ball at Carlton House.
"Is that to your liking, Miss Lilliana?" Mrs. Gantz asked as she pinned one of her mistress's last stray auburn curls into place.
Lilliana tilted her head admiring the elaborate hair arrangement her elderly maid had created. Tiny diamond tipped hairpins sparkled in her hair holding the normally errant strands smoothly in place. Mrs. Gantz had done a formidable job. Lilliana had no idea how her maid had gotten so good at doing hair as the woman's own locks were stiff and gray and always pulled back tightly into a lace mobcap.
"It is lovely as always, Mrs. Gantz. You have truly outdone yourself."
The maid stood, stiffening her spine with a sniff. "Well, it is isn't every day I get to send you off to a royal affair."
"It isn't any different than any of the other parties you have dressed me for."
"Hush. His Highness will be there," Mrs' Gantz said, a note of awe in her voice.
"He is no different then any other man. Only a bit more puffed up and pompous than most," Lilliana teased.
Her maid gave her a horrified look. "He is to be our next King."
"And as mortal as any other man. You should see the way he looks down the dresses of the ladies as they curtsy before him."
"Surely not," the woman gasped.
There was a whisper of a footstep into the room.
"Surely not what? What shocking thing you have said now to our poor Mrs. Gantz?"
With a small sound of pleasure, Lilliana turned around on her dressing table stool to face her guardian. "It is all your fault, Elijah. It is that untraditional upbringing you have given me. Allowing me the freedom to say as I pleased without censure. It has kept me from ever acquiring that lady like characteristic of holding my tongue.
"Let's hope you never learn that skill," Elijah mocked gently. "I quite enjoy your observations."
Dismissing Mrs. Gatnz with a small wave of his hand he moved gracefully towards her and once more Lilliana was struck by his elegance. Elijah was dressed in the height of fashion. His black dress clothes, the vest trimmed in silver fit his body perfectly, accenting his form. The cravat at his neck was perfectly starched and highlighted his sharp cheekbones. As her gaze lingered over his features, his dark somber eyes that always seemed to sparkle just for her, she couldn't help but look at his full, sensual lips. She wondered what it would be like to press her mouth to them. To taste the forbidden. As heat filled her cheeks, she yanked her gaze from him, focusing on her white-gloved hands in her lap.
Elijah moved to stand before her, tilting her chin up with his fingertip as she swallowed dryly. "I hope you realize it was never my intention to give you such a chaotic childhood. I know I haven't provided the best environment in which to raise a young girl in. Perhaps, I should have sent you to boarding school so you could have at least had some stability. I hope some day you don't resent me for the choices I have made."
At the serious tone in his voice her gaze went to his. He was looking at her so sadly it was a stab to her heart. Instinctively, her hand reached out to touch his. "No," she replied her tone quite firm. "That could never happen. You gave me the best, most wonderful childhood a girl could ever have and I count my blessings daily that you took pity on a stranger, welcoming her into her home. The life you have given me is what every girl dreams of. What other young lady can say she rode horses with the Sultan of Turkey, had tea with the Czar of Russia and met Napoleon Bonaparte when he was a mere soldier."
Elijah gave her a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes.
Lilliana squeezed his hand. "I couldn't ask for a more wonderful guardian. Without you I would have ended up in an orphanage or dead from the elements. Only you, with your inherent kindness would have taken in a girl you found wandering among the charred remains of a cottage. Even if my parents had survived the fire that took our home I would have grown up never knowing how to read, never knowing there was a world beyond the farm I would have toiled in from dawn to dusk."
"You still remember nothing?" Elijah asked and there was a strange quality to his voice that made her wonder if it bothered him that her mind was still as blank as a sheet of paper when it came to her early beginnings.
She released his hand, turning to once more face her reflection in the mirror. Her dark blue eyes, fringed with long, black eyelashes stared back at her, guilt heavy in their depths. "No. Would you think less of me if I told you that sometimes I am grateful to that fire because it brought you into my life. That I don't regret the loss of my parents so terribly since I have known nothing but happiness since that night you rescued me."
"There is nothing to feel guilty about, Ma Belle."
Elijah's sweet French endearment caused a warmth in her insides that spread through her all the way to her toes.
"Our meeting…it was meant to be. Destined in the stars, I think," Elijah said with what seemed bitterness.
"You don't regret it?" she asked with hesitance. "I know that it couldn't have been part of your life plan to raise an orphan."
"You would be surprised," he replied so softly she was sure he thought she hadn't heard him. But she had and she wondered what he meant, but was afraid to probe further. Her guardian was a gentleman who carried his emotions, his thoughts tightly inside him and she was grateful for the little he deigned to share with her. She used to question and pester him relentlessly, however, she had learned long ago that prying information from Elijah was useless. He would reveal nothing until he was ready.
There was a soft rustle and then a heavy coldness on her throat as a necklace was draped around her neck.
"A birthday gift."
Her fingertips flew to the diamonds shaped like stars that sparkled in the candlelight. "You shouldn't have," she whispered, her voice stolen by the beauty that hung just above her cleavage peeking out from the top of her white silk dress.
"How could I not? When I saw this in this shop window I knew it was made for you."
"It isn't even my birthday yet," Lilliana replied as her eyes pricked with unshed tears at the touching gift, the expense it must have been. "We don't even know when that day really is."
"The exact day of your birth doesn't matter to me. The day I found you is as good as any day to measure your years and while I realize that our anniversary is in a few days, but you must have something to outshine all the other young debutantes at the ball tonight."
"You are so good to me."
Elijah placed his hands tenderly on her shoulders. "I hope you always believe so."
"I shall never think otherwise. You mean everything to me," she vowed as her gaze in the glass flew to his reflection. She found him staring back at her, a look in his eyes she had never seen before. It was one of what seemed adoration, like he wished to forever savor this moment. She knew the feeling. She didn't know when it had happened or even what to do about it, but the last few months she had noticed a stirring deep in her soul when he looked at her, when they were together. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Elijah cleared his throat, breaking the moment as he removed his hands from her and walked away. "It is time we left."
Lilliana gazed after him, feeling as if she was missing something very important. With one last look at herself in the mirror, she smoothed her white dress over her slim hips noticing how it almost seemed to match the paleness of her face.
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The carriage ride to Carlton House was quiet, both Lilliana and Elijah deep in their own thoughts. The few times they did converse it was about the most inane things, like they were dancing around something that couldn't be spoken, a truth that couldn't be acknowledged. Arriving at the Prince's residence they made their way through the crowds to the dance floor. It didn't take long before Lilliana was surrounded by her admirers. While she was not the most popular debutante of the season she still had a respectable following. Of course it helped that her guardian had the ear of the Prince and was known for his extreme wealth. Everyone assumed that she was his heir, but they had never discussed it and it was a subject she couldn't bear to think about.
"May I have the honor of this dance?" The Earl of Sandford asked as the orchestra struck up a waltz.
Freddy was a dear boy and while she genuinely liked him there was nothing about him that got her heart racing. He was comfortable and very safe to dance with unlike someone else dear to her.
"No, it is my turn, Freddie. You had the last dance with Miss Samaelson at the Grenville's ball the other night," The Marquis of Vannington argued holding his hand out for Lilliana to take.
"I really can't. I am afraid this dance belongs to my guardian. It has been too long since he has accompanied me on the dance floor." Lilliana replied very much aware at the breathy quality to her voice as she looked at Elijah.
At first his eyes looked back at her with what seemed a hungry gleam in them, but then with a shake of his head they became distant. "I think you have more than enough suitors to entertain you. If you will excuse me I am going to get a drink."
With that polite dismissal Elijah left her.
"That dance?" The Marquis insisted.
Lilliana ignored him as she watched Elijah make his way towards the refreshment room and disappear. What had just happened? He had never refused to dance with her before. Then as she thought about it she realized that he hadn't danced with her in several months. He always seemed to find something else to entertain himself with while she spun around the dance floor; cards or talk of politics and business with his elder peers. He had never fit in with the young men who gathered around her, choosing instead to spend his time with those twenty or more years older then himself, but then they were the ones who held the true power in London. She did know he was much sought out by them as well due to his business investments that had made him incredibly wealthy over the years.
As the Marquis once more began harping about his dance she found she didn't want to spend one more moment in the stuffy ballroom. The gilt covered walls began closing in on her and her breath seemed to stick in her throat. She needed to get away, needed to be alone. Needed some time to think and figure things out.
"If you will excuse me, gentlemen, my head is killing me."
At once there were sounds of worry from her suitors and offers to procure refreshments.
"I don't need anything. Just a breath of fresh air."
"You must let me accompany you, " Freddy, the Earl of Sandford, begged.
"No," she answered more sharply then she intended. Then offering a gracious smile she continued, "I only need a few minutes and then I will be back to dance with all of you."
Without waiting for an answer she left them all at the corner of the marble dance floor and avoiding the balcony where she could see couples dancing she headed right to the gardens. Colored lanterns lit up the night and the scent of jasmine and roses filled the air as she found a secluded spot beneath a towering tree. Breathing deeply, she tried to clear her head. As she racked her brain for some reason to explain Elijah's behavior she only became more confused. When they had arrived in London it had been him that insisted on these two seasons. He had wanted her to have the experience, had even suggested she might find a suitable husband. She had thought at the time he wished to marry her off and be rid of his guardian duties, but he gave no outward sign of it. It hit her then how much he had changed since her first year as a debutante. With every suitor that had asked for her hand he had approached her with a serious look in his eyes asking her opinion, her wishes. She had laughed at each of the offers easily dismissing them all. She had no desire to be wed and leave him and the life they had together. Then lately it had all changed. Everyone who had ventured to speak to him about marrying her had been coldly and sternly dismissed. He no longer discussed them with her. Was it possible he was also experiencing the same strange feelings that she was?
No, it couldn't be. She was nobody. An orphan from peasant stock and he was a wealthy gentlemen from an honorable family. There had to be another reason. She must have offended him in some way and that thought sliced her heart right in two and she exhaled in pain.
"Such a heavy sigh for someone so young," drawled a voice from the darkness.
"Who is there? And how dare you spy on me!" Lilliana exclaimed her tone as haughty as if she was speaking to an errant servant.
A low, sinister chuckle filled the night air sending a cold shiver right down her spine.
"Spying? Do you have something to hide, love?"
For some reason the endearment coming from a stranger made Lilliana bristle with anger. "Of course not. Now if you will excuse me." As she attempted to make her way back to the ballroom the stranger grasped her arm spinning her around to face him. The light from one of the lanterns hit his face, revealing him and the retort she had planned halted on her lips. He was beautiful, but in a way completely different from Elijah. His gold hair gleamed like a halo around his head, the curls slightly mussed as if he had just run his hands through them. His eyes, she had never seen any like them before. They were the color of a deep blue sea and she knew if she stared into them too long she would drown in them. There was a magnetic quality to them, a pull that kept her from glancing away no matter how much she tried. He must have been struck similarly as well because he stared back at her with a stricken, haunted look and then with a blink it was gone.
"Lilliana?"
The way he said her name swirled around her like a ghostly caress and once more she shivered. "We are acquainted?"
"I wondered when I heard he was traveling with a Lilliana, but I never dreamed…never thought it possible," the man murmured, his hand leaving her arm to hover perilously close to the curve of her cheek as if he wished to touch her. "You are all grown up."
Lilliana held her breath until his hand fell once more to his side. "I need to go back inside."
"Not yet, Lilliana."
At his use of her name once more she froze in place. It reminded her of something, a memory she couldn't capture as it slid through her fingers like grains of sand.
"There is so much I want to learn about you."
It was a demand not a request and she snapped out of her daze. "My guardian will come looking for me."
"Of that I have no doubt," he replied with a slight smile like he rather enjoyed the thought. "But until then let us have some fun."
"I think not," Lilliana retorted as she turned to walk away. She had only taken a few steps before she was captured, pressed against the man's chest in a lovers embrace. His muscular form molded to her slight body and at the strange closeness fire raced through her veins. His suit coat was soft and silky against her cheek and his scent surrounded her, a tantalizing mixture of wild forest and sandalwood that sent her heart racing. The unknown feelings he aroused in her scared her and she struggled in his arms. "Release me."
"Not until you promise to give me a chance to get to know you…Lilliana" he murmured and she swore his voice trembled slightly as he repeated her name once more.
She allowed herself to become limp, complaint in his arms to allow him to think she had given up all thought of resisting. "If this is your idea of wooing then I pity your former conquests." Then like a tightly wound spring suddenly released she sprung into action stomping on his foot, digging her heel into his toes before moving her knee perilously close between his legs. Her unexpected movement startled him and he instantly released her with a cry of surprise. She backed away from him, eyeing him to see what his next move would be. To her surprise, he only smirked at her with an almost pleased sparkle in his eyes.
"Your guardian taught you that?"
A frown furrowed her brow at his reaction. "That and how to shoot a man right through the heart."
"Of course he did. A skill most important for a young society lady to know," he mocked.
"I wouldn't laugh. I am an excellent shot."
He cocked his head flashing her a look of amusement. "I would expect nothing less. Although," his voice sharpened, "have you ever wondered why your guardian thought it necessary to teach you all these things so inappropriate to a young lady of your position?"
It was true. She had often wondered when it was quite obvious that none of the young ladies she had ever met had received the kind of training Elijah had given her. Lilliana could with a few moves disarm an opponent and if need be she could shoot to kill, a bullet right through the heart. She could only assume that with all the traveling they had done he had thought it necessary that she know how to defend herself. Still, it puzzled her why within the safety of London he expected her to carry a gun. A small pistol inlaid with mother of pearl that he given to her long ago always insisting that she carry it when she was out without him. So far she had never had to use it.
"It was necessary with all our travels," she explained with a dismissive shrug.
"Another odd characteristic of your existence. Never in one place for longer than a year. " A sly, playful look settled over his features. "What has your guardian hid from you?"
"Nothing – nothing," Lilliana stammered. "He has investments everywhere and his company is much desired." The stranger pinpointing her very own concerns and laying them bare brought her anger once more to the surface "And who are you to question my life and that of my guardian?"
At her rude demand a small smile graced his face. "A very interested party. You might say Elijah and I have known each other forever and what he holds dear so do I."
He met her gaze, his eyes burning right through her and she bit back a gasp at the intensity, how it seemed to touch her right to her soul. "You are friends with Elijah?"
"So much more than friends," he answered with a wide grin, his teeth flashing very white in the candlelight. "Almost as if, dare I say it – we were brothers?"
Even though her instincts were screaming at her to run far away from this man she stepped closer to him. She had never met anyone close to Elijah. Someone who would think of himself as his brother. The man had always been an enigma; a mystery. "How do you know him?"
"We grew up together."
"You must tell me about him," she commanded, stepping even closer to him and as she did so his grin became almost predatory.
"I would be pleased to do so, but first you need to answer a few of my questions, love."
With one stride he towered over her and as she looked up into his face he caught her gaze. As she stared into his eyes they seemed to grow darker, the pupils practically dilating and consuming the blue irises. "Tell me everything about your time with Elijah."
The compelling, hypnotic sound of his voice called to her briefly and there was a pull from deep inside of her, a desire to please him at any cost and it sickened her. Rather like she was a puppet on a string forced to do his bidding. Panic engulfed her as images of every moment she had ever spent with Elijah, every conversation they had ever had, every thought she had experienced about him blew like wind through her mind. All of it sat on her lips to reveal when a strange thing happened. It was like a locked door had sprung open inside of her and everything that had been pulled from memory dissipated into a blur of colors and feelings that she swept away.
"Where did Elijah find you, Lilliana? Tell me about your time with him."
There it was again, the pull to reply, but she found this time it was more of a gentle tug that she could easily ignore. "You first."
His eyes widened in surprise and for a second she thought she had shocked him to his very core, but it took only a second for him to compose himself, his features slipping into a stone mask. He prowled closer to her, removing what little space existed between them and instead of stepping back in fear she held her ground. Then he inhaled sharply. "How did you do that? There is not a scent of vervain anywhere near you."
"Vervain? I have no idea what you are talking about."
He stared at her long and hard before replying, "You are full of surprises. It is no wonder Elijah keeps you so close. It seems my plans have changed."
Lilliana shook her head in confusion. This strange man made no sense at all and if it wasn't for the fact that he had knowledge about Elijah she would have run away as fast as her feet would carry her.
"Let us start over. I am Klaus Mikaelson," he said with a small respectful bow.
Unable to ignore the etiquette the gesture implied Lilliana dipped into a curtsy. "Lilliana S —"
"Samaelson," he replied in unison with her. "Ward of Elijah."
"It seems you have the advantage over me, Mr. Mikaelson. I know nothing about you."
"We shall soon remedy that, my dear. A small stroll and you will know everything and more," he replied, offering his arm for her to take.
Lilliana only hesitated for a moment before laying her fingers lightly over his forearm, allowing him to lead her deeper into the garden.
"Samaelson. It is an interesting name. Has Elijah ever told you what it means?"
She shook her head. The only time they had ever discussed his name was when he had told her it was now hers. When he had solemnly renamed her after her amnesia seemed permanent.
"It is an ancient Hebrew name. Samael is the Angel of Death and Son m—"
"Means son of," Lilliana finished for him. "So Samaelson translates to son of the Angel of Death."
Klaus smiled with pleasure at her answer. "Exactly. Very apt, don't you think?"
"I don't understand."
"It seems Elijah would rather keep you ignorant," he replied, his voice indicating how little he thought of this idea. "I have no doubt he thinks he can keep you safe that way. He probably prays that you will not notice the monsters in the dark, but they are there, love."
Lilliana turned her head to look at him sternly. "He tells me what I need to know and I don't need anyone to keep me safe. I can protect myself." In a flash, Klaus had her pinned to a tree his lean body pressed against hers. She nearly swooned as every hard line and ridge of his form burned her right through the thin silk of her dress.
"Like you are now?" he asked as he looked down at her, his pupils so very dark.
Wide-eyed she stared back at him. When he looked at her like that her words failed her.
"What if I told you I was the monster in the dark?" With his gloved finger he lightly traced the side of her cheek, the line of her jaw.
"I would believe it," she whispered as she trembled with what she thought was fear. Forcing it back she gathered her anger at his ungentlemanly actions around her like a shield. "Do you know what happens to monsters?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
"They are always defeated in the end."
"Is that the fairytale Elijah tells you when he tucks you into bed at night?" Klaus asked, his mouth twisting into a smirk.
"No. It is the truth. It may take time, centuries even, but goodness and light always prevails over evil and darkness. It is inevitable."
He stared hard at her, like he was struggling with something deep inside himself. Then with a cruel smile he spoke, "One day I shall show you differently. I shall rip the very idea from your mind and you will see the truth at last."
"What truth is that," Lilliana retorted with anger.
His hand fell from her face and he stepped away, holding his arm out once again for her to take like the last few moments had never happened. "I have known Elijah my whole life."
Taking a shaky breath she considered racing back to the safety of the ballroom, but her curiosity about her guardian won out. Taking his arm in her grasp she let him lead her through the gardens once more.
"Growing up where he went I followed. I am sure I annoyed him as I tagged after him, but he was always patient with me. Kinder to me then my own father," Klaus said with a tight, pained smile. "Then one day we had a great row. He just couldn't understand the things I did, the way everything had to be and he disappeared."
"And now you have found him? And you wish to make amends?"
Klaus turned to look at her, his gaze lingering over her face. "Yes," he agreed. "It is time for us to make amends. There is so much that needs to be explained."
"I am sure he will hear you out. He is the most fair and considerate gentleman I have ever met."
"Generous too it seems." Klaus reached out to finger the diamond necklace draped around her throat. "You wear a fortune in diamonds."
"An early birthday gift," Lilliana explained, knowing that her cheeks were now as dark a red as the roses that surrounded them.
Klaus's tugged on the necklace and the clasp bit into the skin at the back of her neck. "When is the joyful occasion?"
"The end of the week."
"And how old will you be, love? What birthday are you celebrating?"
Lilliana lowered her gaze shyly. "It shall be my 18th."
"So very young," he murmured, his voice low and husky.
"Elijah is hosting a dance in my honor. I could procure an invitation for you? You could meet and speak then?" The words rushed from her lips as she tried to distract herself from his nearness.
"You would do that for me?"
"Yes — yes"," she replied breathlessly, hating the affect being close to him had on her. She had never felt anything like this before. It was exhilarating, dangerous.
"Such kindness and generosity surely deserves a reward."
"No, really. Elijah's happiness is reward enough."
With what sounded like a sound of disgust, but couldn't possibly be, Klaus released his hold on her necklace. Lilliana relaxed at the gesture, only to tense once more as he cupped her face with his hands. "Have you ever been kissed, sweet Lilliana?"
Her gaze flew to his with surprise. He stared back at her with a look that spoke of desire of all the forbidden things she had dreamed of. Swallowing dryly, she managed to croak out, "That is none of your business."
"There was a young girl long ago much like you and a kiss I never gave that I have spent an eternity regretting," he said, his eyes glazing over, his voice sounding very far away."
"What happened to her?"
"She was murdered long before she reached her eighteenth birthday."
"Oh, I am very sorry," she sighed.
Klaus moved even closer to her, tipping her head up so she had nowhere else to look but the dark swirling abyss in his eyes. "I don't want that to happen again."
His lips swooped down to hover over her mouth until he was a whisper away. Klaus Mikaelson was going to kiss her. He was going to be her first ever. Not Elijah like she had always imagined. It wasn't supposed to be this way, but she was hopeless to resist. She was drawn to him like the stars to the night sky.
"Lilliana?" A voice called out, penetrating the fog that surrounded her brain.
"Elijah," she whispered.
"Damn!" Klaus released her chin. He laid a single finger against her lips. "Let this be our secret."
Lilliana started to argue.
"Shhh, love. It is only until your birthday dance. This is not the time or place for all of us to finally meet."
Pursing her lips she considered the matter. As much as she hated keeping a secret from Elijah the social event of the year was probably not the best time to facilitate a meeting between the two former friends. It would be much better to wait until her birthday dance where the two of them could retire to Elijah's study for a private discussion.
At her nod of agreement, Klaus moved his fingertip from her lips, sliding it slowly down the delicate skin of her neck all the way to her wrist in one delicious stroke. When at last he clasped her hand, pressing her gloved fingers to his lips in a heated kiss her knees trembled. "We shall continue this later."
His voice held the promise of things to come, of dark passion and nights of sin and she yanked her hand from his in protest, which only caused him to chuckle. The sound filled her ears as she rushed towards the lighted ballroom that shone like a beacon of safety in the shadows of the night.
"Lilliana! I know you're there. Is there someone with you?"
"I'm coming."
Reaching Elijah she noticed immediately that something was bothering him. While he looked just as pristine as before, every hair on his head brushed into place, his clothes without a wrinkle to be seen, she knew that something had penetrated that cool mask of his. She would be surprised if anyone else could see it, but because she had been with him so long she had learned to recognize the signs. The slight tension in the corners of his beautiful brown eyes, the telltale tightening of his lips into a polite smile that she knew was completely forced.
"What possessed you to go into the gardens alone?" He asked coolly.
"My — my head…I had a headache," she lied, trying to ignore the guilt that was currently eating at her insides.
Elijah frowned and stepped toward, removing his glove he pressed his hand lightly to her cheeks and forehead. "You do seem warm and your cheeks are all flushed."
Lilliana leaned into the small touch, relishing his care and concern even as shame washed over her at the thought that just moments before she had almost kissed another gentleman. What had she been thinking? "Forgive me. I —"
"There is nothing to forgive, Ma Belle," he interrupted, his voice thick and full of regret. "It is I who have been rude to you tonight."
"No." She reached out to lay her hand lightly over his that still lingered at her cheek. She wished she could tell him what had passed in the garden, her meeting with Klaus Mikaelson, but the words died on her lips. Never before had she kept a secret from Elijah and it killed her to stay silent. Still, to her shame she could say nothing. With tears that threatened to fill her eyes, she gazed into his face, hoping she could in someway communicate the depths of her feelings to him.
He looked back at her, his features drawn and shadowed and his hand dropped from her face as if it had been burnt. Glancing away from her he cleared his throat. "I have received some disturbing news that makes it imperative that we leave London."
"What has happened?" Lilliana asked with worry. Once more they were leaving a home and she had no real idea why. Would he ever let her in? Tell her what kept them permanent nomads?
"Nothing that you need to distress yourself over."
"My birthday dance? Shall I cancel?"
"No. It is only a few days away. We can leave the morning after. I don't wish your birthday to be ruined." Elijah held out his arm for her to take, but did not look at her. "Shall I escort you back to your suitors?"
"No. Please, if you could just take me home?" Lilliana asked in a small voice.
"Of course."
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Elijah did not speak once to her on the whole carriage ride home and at a loss of what to say she kept quiet. The silence between them grew until it was like an aching void she was afraid they would never be able to cross. Arriving at their home she quickly climbed the stairs to her bedroom unable to take the uncustomary distance between them anymore.
"Lilliana?"
With relief at his greeting she turned her head eagerly towards him.
Elijah gazed up at her intently, his eyes seeming to beg her for something she couldn't quite comprehend. He opened and closed his mouth several times before he looked away with what seemed dejection. "I hope you feel better in the morning."
Overcome with a sudden weariness she nodded her head and continued up the stairs, feeling his gaze heavy on her with every step she took away from him.
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Forgive any mistakes. I am currently without a beta.