Chapter One :-

Lilian smiled as she sat in her father's office watching as the old man worked on stacks of paper before turning his attention to her. "So today I will take you to the mine, but under no circumstances are you to leave the carriage or even think of entering the mine, such places are inappropriate for young ladies." He twirled the side of his moustache in thought knowing of his daughters rather boisterous and adventurous nature.

She simply nodded and smiled sweetly. Ever since her mothers sudden death through her illness, her father had kept her close by at all times since when with her three older brothers, she was always doing things that were rather unbecoming of a young lady in a noble household. She watched as her father stood and joined him when he gently hugged her. "I'm only protective because your my only daughter and I would be devastated if anything should ever happen to you my sweetheart." He smiled placing her hand in the crook of his arm before making their way to the carriage.

Every week she knew her father took one day to visit his mines. Preferably his visits were conducted on a Monday morning or a Friday evening. So it was to her absolute delight when he had agreed to let her accompany him on one of his trips, seeing as she had often helped him as her mother had before she fell ill.

The ride to the mine was a rather tedious one, but Lilian had occupied herself with the beautiful changing landscape as they ambled along the well known route. She had always been curious as to how the miners lived and what the small town they had established looked like. To her joy she spotted a few farm stalls and various houses scattered over the quiet landscape then slowly they started increasing in number and all to soon she saw shops and businesses alike before they neared the mine itself.

She sat quietly and watched as her father left the carriage then waited some until he was out of sight before she left the confinements of the carriage. Without the help of a hand she opened the carriage door and peeked out squinting and the bright sun light filtered into the small cabin. With a delicate lace glove clad hand she picked up her hat, patting it down on her head opting to leave her parasel behind. Slipping out she merily hopped down raising an eyebrow at the small puff of dust that spread about the hem of her dress.

Pleased with this a small smile crossed her lips as she hitched up the front of the full skirt of her dress and ran down the street before she could be spotted, so she could go and inspect the shops. On her own for the first time she felt absolutely delighted as her eyes gazed over many items. However she didn't take notice of the pair of brown eyes that had followed her form, the minute she had left the carriage. Standing out a little with her hat she smiled when a small girl approached her, tugging gently on the silky fabric of her skirt. Kneeling down she came down to the small girls eye level and shook her small hand daintily brushing a little dust off the girls cheek.

"Hello there little angel, what might your name be?" She smiled sweetly as the little girl peered up through her eye lashes at her. She noticed the small girl had been crying and in so took her tiny hands in one of hers and offered the small child her hankerchief. "What's wrong little one, why have you been crying?" Her soft voice lilted over the small child.

"My name is Eleanor Miss, I can't find my mommy." The small child sobbed. Feeling her heart break she placed her hands delicately on the small childs shoulders in a comforting manner.

"Well little miss Eleanor, my name is Lilian, but please call me Lily, I can help you find your mommy, I'm positively sure she is worried out of her mind about you." Gently she removed her hat placing it on the small childs head then standing gracefully she took the childs hand. "May I enquire what your mother looks like?"

The little girl nodded. "My mommy is tall with curly brown hair and brown eyes, she was in a green dress." She smiled and nodded letting the young child lead her along. All the while the pair of brown eyes followed her form, unable to leave her as she walked along, oblivious to the eyes that where on her. It was only after a full hour of walking, stopping for a snow cone with the small child and more walking that the young girl was reunited with her relieved mother.

"Thank you so much my Lady." The woman bowed only to look up in confusion when the young woman waved her hands infront of her frantically.

"Oh no, there is no need for such formalities, it is truly a pleasure, you are so blessed to have such a precious child, my name is Lilian but please call me Lily." She extended a gloved hand capturing the mothers hand and patting it lightly with her other before saying farewell to the small child and her mother.

"Thank you Miss Lily!" The small girl said it a voice just below a shout, waving with a big smile. Lily turned tilting her head to the side in an endearing manner, with a gentle smile as she waved at the small child before making her way back towards the mine. She knew that by now they were all well aware that she had slipped away and in so made no effort to hide that she had left the carriage.

Following her again, Tyki walked across the street so he was opposite her, the way the lady carried herself was very strange for a noble woman. The late afternoon sun shimmered over her jet black locks as she slowly pried her hair pins out letting them tumble down her back as she continued walking. Unaware as one of the ornamental clips slipped from her fingers she continued walking. Tyki crossed the dusty street and glanced down at it, picking it up and examining it before he closed his fingers over it, sticking it in his pocket. He was entranced by the utter, unearthly beauty of the young lady and took returning her clip as an oppertunity to meet the woman.

Before she reached her carriage he paced beside her gently touching her upper arm. Gracefully she stopped and turned to face him a quizzical look on her beautiful face. Careful not to end up in a trance he bowed his head, smiling as a light blush tinted her cheeks before he spoke.

"My lady... You seem to have dropped this." He couldn't stop the playful lilt in her voice watching as her gaze fell to his hand where her clip was.

"T-there is no need for such formalities kind sir. Thank you very much for returning it." She smiled taking the clip delicately from the man. Tyki couldn't help but smile down at the petite woman causing her light blush to slightly darken.

"Would you do me the honor of gracing me with your name then my lady?" He asked as a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. She nodded in response.

"Lilian, but I prefer been called Lily and yours would be if I may enquire?" Taking her hand he smiled placing a chaste kiss ontop of her gloved knuckles.

"Its a pleasure to meet your acquaintance Lily, I am Tyki." He smiled as she bowed her head daintily and smiled up at him. Yet before they could exchange any other words, another voice interrupted them.

"Lilian, I thought I told you not to leave this carriage, I return to find you gone and then find you talking to a stranger, you know it is improper for a noble lady to converse with men unaccompanied before your ball." The small woman sighed and looked up at the man before her.

"I'm so sorry I must go. Thank you again... Mr Tyki." She turned and walked towards her visibly angry father. Tyki stood with his hands in his pockets as the old man, red in the face, scowled at him in a dissaproving manner while he offered his hand to the young woman to help her in the carriage. He watching as she delicatley declined it and climbed in herself only adding insult to injury, passing him one last glance she vanished into the carriage followed by the man and soon they were off, nothing but a trail of dust in their wake.