Greetings, everyone! Thank you for your reviews, and here's the next chapter!

Oh, and if Miss Toni has a problem with my title, I'll be happy to talk it out with her, but I chose this title because it really does describe the story, FYI. And I'm perfectly fine with you alerting me to a mistake I made, but you don't have to insult me while doing so.I'm not out to make enemies, though, so please, just enjoy the story!

I do believe I'm being observed, She thought, But by whom? And should I let them know that I know? Melisande wondered if what she was feeling was fear. She had never had any cause for fear, so she wasn't exactly sure. But she was certain she felt anger at that person for merely watching her and not saying anything. Finally, she turned around, hands on hips, to find… No one. Now she was truly confused. She had distinctly heard footsteps behind her…

"Ghosts do not haunt in the middle of day, if they haunt at all," she told herself, and continued to make her way toward the managers' office.

About half an hour later, she emerged, quite displeased with herself. She had gone to end the contract with the opera house, considering she had enough expenses already and never even attended the theater, and she had left with another contract for the season! She sighed. Her accountant had told her he should accompany her; why had she not listened? Those managers were obviously dirty dealers.

What Melisande de Chagny did not realize was that the gentlemen were forced to keep her there or suffer at the hands of a certain "O.G.".

There must be something wrong with her. That was all there was to it. There was something horribly wrong with her mind and she needed to have it examined. Here she was in her garden, with a strapping young gentleman, and she was not enjoying herself! Damien was kind to her, respectful, and had been here often, courting her. Everyone in her household believed they were soon to be wed. Melisande wanted to still be a child—but that had been taken from her along with her parents. If she couldn't have her childhood, then she would at least have independence for a little longer than three years! She knew that if she didn't do something drastic, and soon, that she would be forced into slavery—er, housewifery. But what to do? She turned a kind smile to Damien, who was presently reading sonnets with great skill. His light brown eyes met her dark green-blue ones, and she saw the love there. The poor boy… He wasn't going to like this.

"Damien… darling…" she hoped that wouldn't give her away. "I… have something of great importance to tell you." She thought that with her mother being an actress, she would've at least inherited the ability to lie!

"Anything. You may tell me anything, Melisande." He took her hand, eager to hear news of her willingness to wed him.

Well, I'm certainly grateful for your permission… "You are a dear friend to me, Damien."

"And you to me," he added quickly before she could go on. She was slightly perturbed by this, but refrained from showing it. She had at least inherited that much.

"And since you are such a close companion, I feel that I can make this confession to you. But," she lowered her voice for dramatic effect; "Do you swear… not to tell a soul of this?"

"If it is that dire to you, my darling, then yes, I do." She knew his honor would hold him to that, even if he didn't know what he was swearing to…

"I am… a Sapphist." She turned away, not from shame, but to hide those rebellious lips that were curving into a smile.

"Wh-what!" Damien was going to have to call the doctor soon; his hearing was failing him!

"It's true…" She turned back to him, hoping her expression was one of distress, as well as her voice. "Oh, please, Damien, don't shun me! I truly make an effort to alter my ways, I swear to you!" And she did. Just not the ways he thought she meant.

Damien stood. He knew he shouldn't be angry with her, but he couldn't help it. He felt betrayed. Why had she waited until he fell in love with her to tell him this! "Very well, then," he tried to keep his voice level, "I should take my leave of you. I will no longer come calling since it… displeases you." He walked out of the garden, not needing to be shown to the door. He was certain his tone had been bitter and sarcastic, and he was being rude by showing himself out so abruptly, but his pride was greatly injured, though he would rather swim with famished sea serpents than admit it. There was, however, a carriage already outside when he opened the door…

I could've kept going with this chapter, but I decided to leave you guys hanging! Lol! Anyway, let me know if you guys want the chapters to be longer!

And I wasn't aware of this before I read Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty, so I figured I'd tell you guys! ASapphist "prefers the loving of women to men," as they put it. In other words, she was telling Damien she was a lesbian, lol!

Hearts to reviewers!