I should really proof read before I post things....

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I was aware that my mouth was gaping and closed it. "I am pleased to meet you." I said, bowing slightly just in time to see Cain walking past in the corner of my eye, and quickly looked away.

Dr. Disraeli apparently noticed my unease: "You were dancing with the Earl, correct?" He asked kindly as Cain walked by—rather slowly I might add.

"You mean Mr. Hargreaves?" I responded, very aware that the person in question was close by our group. "I was not of the impression that he was from noble lineage."

Dr. Disraeli laughed, his partner Ophelia having some sort of smile on her face. "She is very outspoken." Dr. Disraeli addressed Mr. Katran good-naturedly. "Surely she would make a fine daughter!"

"Yes she would." Mr. Katran agreed, exchanging a glance with Mrs. Katran and I. "But considering our ages, she is more like a granddaughter to us."

"Hopefully not to be spoiled." Ophelia remarked for the first time. Her voice took me aback; it was little higher, though thankfully not little girl-ish, than I would have thought.

I noted as the conversation leaned more to the party, Cain seemed to lose interest in eavesdropping and went to greet a rather tall, blond man that was by the doorway, politely turning down girls who had enough courage (or gall as the women here put it) to ask him to dance. I also tired of the conversation, curtseying politely out and headed out of the ballroom (Cain seemed to have gone elsewhere, thankfully) and up the stairs to the third floor, heading straight for the balcony that overlooked the vast gardens in Katran's back 'yard'. It was midnight, as far as I could tell, with the lights that shone from the mansion revealing the hundreds of shrubs and flowers and the entrance of the huge maze I had gotten lost in earlier. Noise and music floated from the downstairs ballroom into the garden. The half-moon was shining brightly enough to encourage some view of the rest of the maze and the gardens beyond that.

There was a gentle breeze, but some of the bushes just below me were shifting faster than the wind could match, and suddenly a girl stumbled out from it, giggling.

"Katie, are you alright?" A man's silhouette followed the girl, and I recognized him as Robert.

'Katie' Von Dam's voice floated dreamily upward. "Yes, I'm quite fine. Let us go somewhere more private…"

Robert, of course, agreed, and they both walked hand in hand toward the archway that became the entrance to the maze. I sniggered, shaking my head.

"Katie already, is it?" I said, continuing to watch them.

"Now, I wonder what they will be engaging in." Cain's head magically popped over my shoulder, also watching their progress into the hedges.

I had to stifle a shriek of alarm as I started. Vexed, I whipped around and pushed him away. "How did you get up here?! This is a private area!" I whispered angrily.

"Interested in what they are doing as well?" Cain smirked. "I am rather good at convincing servants—" I snorted. "—if not that Katran welcomes me into his home rather often."

"Really?" I asked skeptically. "And it's Mr. Katran; show some respect."

"Dropped the formal language?" Cain looked much too amused than I liked. "Mister Katran obviously did not inform you that we are related."

I grimaced, disgusted. I did not want to be related to this…person…in any way. In fact, why was I even conversing with him? "Leave me." I said as politely as I could, turning away and leaning on the balcony's stone railings.

He chuckled, making no attempt to obey my statement. "Still sore after my comment."

I pretended not to hear him, but still was aware of what he said or did. I heard his shoes tap against the marble, and he set his cane against the railing, joining me in watching the gardens, giving us a good six inches of space.

"I take it as a yes." He went on as if he enjoyed my silence (he probably did). "I must tell you, however, that you misunderstood me."

My eye twitched. "Oh? How could I misunderstand 'shortness of breath'? Mr. Hargreaves, I am equally adept at discerning innuendos as anyone who cares to listen and understand the 'delicate' matters the permeate through society."

Cain allowed himself to look amazed. " That is a bold statement, coming from a lady." He said bemused.

"Not as bold as yours." I said icily. "Now please leave me alone."

"If this is a situation where you do not want company," Cain said, unfazed, "then might I suggest that you offer the excuse of retiring to your room?"

I glared at him. "I do not want to leave. You are being rude."

"I might say the same for you." Cain replied. "What were you conversing with Jizabel about?"

I glared at him for the change of subject. "Wouldn't you like to know?" I said smugly, giving him a coy smile, though the conversation was really nothing.

"Yes, I would actually." The amusement in his face and voice was gone, his face hardening. I became weary. "It seems that Katran has not told you of Delilah."

"He has, in fact." I countered. "The Crimone Garden." I connected his earnestness to know to the subject. "Oh don't tell me Dr. Disraeli is a Cardmas—"

A sudden yelp caused both Cain and I to jump, Cain swiveling his head from me to the source of it: the maze. There were no more sounds but he still strained to see or hear anything else. I suddenly understood what had happened and started giggling. He looked at me and caught on, breathing "Oh…" and relaxed, a smile on his face as well.

"You surprise me, Earl Hargreaves." I said teasingly. "I would think that you would recognize the sound, having been acquainted with it."

"And I must express MY surprise that you are familiar with the sound as well." Cain said, looking very haughty and wiping the smile of my face.

"I hear things." I said, hmmphing and turning away. "I believe the situation is different with you."

"That it is." Cain agreed, his voice becoming softer.

"And this is supposed to help your argument that it was a 'misunderstanding'?" I said with my eyebrows raised. "Care to explain?"

Cain was silent for a while. I looked over my shoulder to see him look…haunted. I immediately wondered if the reason for his playboy actions was because…

"Every woman I loved," he said finally, avoiding my calculating eyes, "was tak—"

Another scream reverberated through the night, though sounded eerily different. Nevertheless, it still made us both stop and change the somber mood.

"Can they not think of something else to do?!" I mumbled exasperatedly as Cain and I looked over the railing, straining to see what was going on, when another scream shattered from the blackness. This voice was a man's, and I realized that both screams were like they were torn out their owner's lungs. I unconsciously stepped closer to Cain, who surveyed the maze.

"Stay here," he ordered, "I'm going to get someone to check it out and when I return let me know what has happened in the mean time—" He started to turn away when he—and I—realized that I was gripping his sleeve. I let it go hurriedly, and despite the situation he smiled at me.

"Never mention this again and I'll watch." I snapped and he rushed away down the hall, and I shrank into the shadows to watch the scene unfold.

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I think Cain's a little more reserved and haunted, but I'm just displaying his playboy side.