Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. They are the property of Hajime Kanzaka and Shoko Yoshinaka.

Author's Notes: I know it's frustrating, but for anyone who's not used to the way the British used to address single females - the oldest daughter was always called "Miss insert last name>, while the young sisters were called Miss insert first name>. So, any time I say "Miss Inverse", I'm talking about Luna. Okay, so now that I got that out of the way - please enjoy the show.

Chapter Five

Zelgadis had an interesting time explaining to his mother why he had left the manse in the middle of the night. When she questioned him, he ended up telling her that he had gone out to work off some steam.

"What on earth is wrong with you? I understand that you probably needed to do something, but couldn't you have just had a brandy like a gentleman?" she asked impatiently.

"I think Zelgadis had had enough," Rezo said calmly at the other end of the breakfast table.

"Is that so? Well, I hope you didn't embarrass me at the Ut Copt's by being tipsy enough for anyone to notice," she said stiffly.

"I didn't embarrass any one," Zel said, trying to defend himself.

"But tell me Zelgadis, what did you think of Miss Inverse? Rezo tells me that she's just inherited twenty thousand pounds. I would never have imagined it could be so much, you know, considering her background. With a fortune like that behind her, she could probably choose any man she wished. I don't know what you've done to deserve her taking such a fancy to you," his mother said, taking a dainty bite of her toast.

"What makes you think she has taken such a fancy to me?" Zel asked.

"Well, I can't say that she did much to mark her preference, but you were more favoured than any other man there. When a lady acts, she must act with subtlety, and I think she behaved admirably, considering that Lady Filia told me that Luna had a good look around the hall before she came down, and you were the only man to turn her eye. Ha, isn't that wonderful? You must go visit her this morning, so she knows you're interested."

"Well, I'd like to do that mother, but I'm afraid that not once during this visit have you asked me if my feelings were engaged elsewhere. Now that you have made your sentiments known about whom you feel I should marry and even though you have done nothing to encourage my confidence on the subject – I find that I must protest and explain that my feelings are engaged elsewhere," Zel said with ease.

His mother looked at him angrily, and then exclaimed, "Why did you not say something before?"

"Truly, I would have explained sooner, had you asked me. However, I hadn't decided for myself if the lady I have been courting would be a good choice, but with your confidence in Lady Inverse and her situation, it seems unlikely that you would reject my preference."

"Who is it?" she demanded.

Zelgadis felt a certain satisfaction rising in his chest as he answered her, "Miss Inverse's younger sister – a Miss Lina Inverse."

Rezo dropped his fork on his plate with a clatter. "What did you say? How did you ever get her to consent to your court?"

Zel stared. He had never seen Rezo react this way to the mention of any female. Did Rezo know Lina? He said that he had met her when they talked at the ball the night before, but was his association with her more than what he claimed?

"Why should you be surprised?" Zel asked.

"Yes Rezo, why should you be surprised? Zel is a fine young man. Why would it be so strange that Lina would like him? So, Zelgadis," she said, suddenly turning warmly on her younger son. "Where did you meet her? Has she a fortune similar to Miss Inverse's? Are you planning to marry her?"

Zel turned to answer his mother's questions as Rezo resumed eating. "Well, I met her in the park. She was with a great many friends and I joined them for awhile. After that, I just went to go visit her regularly," Zel said, considering that what he said was not exactly a lie. "As for her fortune, it is equal to Luna's, but I was so concerned mother, that you wouldn't approve, because their father was in trade."

"Ah, Zelgadis," she said with a knowing smile. "Their connections are good even though their past may not be. Don't worry about it in the least. I'm just so happy that you are able to marry for love."

Zel nearly chocked as he heard his mother say the last line. She didn't care at all if he got to marry a woman he loved as long as he married someone who brought the bank with them. He wanted to counter her and tell her that he knew she didn't care at all, but was only being this generous with him now because she could afford to be. Only minutes before she would have married him off to Luna without a backward thought as to whether or not it would make him happy. He crunched his fist around his napkin on his lap and decided to let it slide. If she was going to allow him to marry Lina with a smile spread across her evil cheeks, than so be it. That was part of the reason he was doing this anyway.

"Well, after our discussion about Miss Inverse last night, I decided . . ."

"Don't mention that now Zelgadis. It's all in the past. I'll talk to Lady Filia and we'll sort everything out," she said benevolently.

"Actually, mother, when I left the manse last night it was to send a note to Lina requesting that she join me at the estate. We talked about it briefly before I came away and we discussed accommodations and such. She'll be staying at the inn in town, but I need to go meet her carriage this morning, so that she doesn't have to come the whole way on her own. It's improper for a female to travel post on her own. In any case, if all goes well, she'll be joining us for dinner tonight." Zel was vague as to the location Lina was coming from on purpose, and hoped that his comment about young women traveling post had caught his mother's attention enough for her to rant about that subject without making further inquires.

He was right, because she immediately said, "But of course you must go and fetch her. She shouldn't be traveling with no companion at all. You must go at once, Zelgadis."

Zel smiled and got up from the table. "Thank-you mother," he said, quickly planting a kiss on her cheek before moving to exit the room.

"Maybe I should go with you," Rezo suddenly volunteered.

Zel stared again, but only for a moment before he got his bearings. Rezo certainly was behaving strangely today. "Oh no, old boy, you'd only slow me down, since you ride so slowly. Just let me go on my own and I'll be back with my lady love much sooner."

Zel didn't wait for an answer, but simply left the room without waiting for one. Above all things, he did not want Rezo accompanying him today.

The day he and Lina had planned was going to be quite a full one. First he needed to go out and meet her, which wasn't going to be easy. Unfortunately, he would need a carriage in which to pick her up, so he would have to travel to town to get that before he could even meet her. Then they had a full day of them in town visiting dress makers and the like. He had promised her that she would bear no expense for her wardrobe and that he would take care of it. Hopefully, they could be prepared by the time they were due back at the mansion for dinner.

As they talked the night before, they talked about many other things besides their plans for the next day. He mentioned the lawyer to her again and that she could draw up any deal she liked, but that would have to wait for another day, as he was certain they wouldn't have time.

"Can I lay out any conditions now?" she asked as they sat by the fire.

He added another log to the blaze and answered her that she could.

"Can I kiss you when I want to?"

Zel found himself turning very red. "Why?" he asked shyly.

"Would it make you nervous?" she asked, almost looking serious.

Zel realized that he had let his guard down in that moment when he answered her. He hadn't meant to leave himself so open. It wasn't masculine to blush, but he couldn't control the heat that flooded his cheeks when she asked him if she could kiss him. He would have to do something to show her that he wasn't shy or inexperienced.

"Wouldn't you be worried that you'd end up getting too involved with me? We don't mean for this to last forever, so why would you want to do anything to make yourself more attached to me?" he said icily.

"I don't think it would make me more attached to you. I think it would help me to have a little fun with this, since for the most part – I don't think it will be very fun. I mean, we'll have to go around and impress every fat cat that your mother pulls out of the woodwork until after the wedding. I'm not saying I don't feel confident enough to pull it off, but I do think it sounds like an awfully big hassle. Besides," she said, touching his cheek. "I like how you look at me."

She was drawing herself up closer to him, and slipping her fingers into his hair. Zel found himself lowering his head in order to be closer to her, and finding – as he looked into her eyes – that he really wanted her to kiss him.

"You know Zel," she said, seemingly examining his face very closely. "There's something about you that seems very familiar. I can't exactly say what it is. I wish I could remember. Never mind. Anyway, you should go. I'm tired and not feeling as playful as I ought to." She pulled herself away.

"And no good night kiss?" he teased.

"I dunno. I might get too attached to you and then you'd be stuck with me," she said with a wild smile and turned away.

Zel pulled up the reins on his horse as he set out on his day with Lina. It was foolish, but he couldn't wait to see her again.