The next day what frightfully dull. I didn't see Lord Basset or Lady Danbury since last night's dinner- something I was both grateful for and a bit disappointed by. Knowing that nothing legally forced me to obey Lord Basset, I couldn't bring myself to go outside the next day. It was a shame too since it was so sunny and delightful out. Every window, every ray of sunshine tempted me to visit my beloved garden. I never thought about it before but Uncle really made an effort to always be near me, altering his sleep schedule and coming out into the sun with me. Always under an umbrella or in the shadow, of course.

I suppose I just internalized Uncle's protective nature over the years. After all the man did raise me, and I think Lady Danbury is right in that as time went on, he did come to see me as a rational person than a defenceless creature. But it did take a long time. And for the first time since I left my uncle I considered what my situation might be like when I arrived outside of London with my family. If Lord Basset- a total stranger- desired my protection so greatly, what would my actual family members be like? What would my mother or Anthony be like? How would they treat me? It began to dawn on me that I might be entering an institution where everything might be tailored to preserving my safety. In essence, I might be handled with kid-gloves in the future again.

Damn it all.

Board out of my skull, I wrote Uncle and Anthony each a letter in the morning. When was that was done, I decided to go play piano in the parlour. Lady Danbury was asleep and I wasn't sure about Lord Basset; I hadn't seen or heard him anywhere in the manor today. Oh well. I closed the door behind me- not locking it- and made my way over to the piano. Playing it was nice but didn't feel as cathartic as usual. I already was starting to feel like a cage bird and it was only my first day inside. What can I say? I'm a human; I love the sun.

After playing to myself for about an hour or so, my fingers came to a halt on their own. I stared blankly down at the keys for a moment, my lips parted a little. What's it going to be like living outside of London? How are they going to treat me? Is this my future? On par with a caged song bird, constantly protected and petted? Without my first thinking about it, my hands suddenly balled up into fists. They unconscious slammed down onto the keys in a rage. Of course I immediately realized and regrated my actions a second later and let out the world's long sigh. My gaze wandered out into space again. "I wish you could go back home, Uncle….. I wish you would come and take me back home…..

I wish Anthony would sell me to you."

Another defeated sigh fell from my lips. My spirits were only raised by a few small birds chirping and fluttering near the parlour window. Grinning softly, sadly to myself I rose up from the piano bench to go open the window for them. Some flew in, landing close by me. They looked up at me with their tiny heads and I smiled back down at them. "Tell me, little birdies. What's it like to be free? To have no one tell you where to go or what to do? You can fly wherever you like, as far as you please….." My chin rested overtop my crossed arms as they hopped about merrily, completely unaware of my situation. This only made my grin grow. "Must be nice."

"Why have you stopped playing?" Lord Basset's voice made me jump. A quick check revealed the shadow of his feet underneath the door. My heart skipped a beat. He came to listen to me play again….. My hand rose up to my chest, a bit startled and remembering that I hadn't locked the door behind me. Wait, why didn't I lock the door? I know there's a male vampire in the house who's thirsty for my blood. And yet I…..

"I just wanted to look outside the window…. The garden is so green and lush today," I hinted in code, hoping he would get my meaning. "You're not going outside alone if that's what you're thinking." Apparently not! I let out another very heavy, long sigh, turning my gaze back outdoors to the rose bushes and cherry trees. "No, your grace. I've stayed inside, as per your request," you could detect the peppering of annoyance in my tone just now. I'm sure Lord Basset could tell I was displeased but didn't know how to bring it up directly. Instead he simply asked: "So… why have you stopped playing the piano then?"

This was also a coded question. I assume he took my lack of playing to mean that I was unhappy, though he couldn't put the pieces together as to why. I guess I shouldn't be too harsh on him. Vampires have no idea how joyous it is to be out in nature or in the sun. It's funny that they cultivate the most exquisite gardens but don't spend any time in them. And they certainly aren't creating them for my kind's sake. No, it's all for aesthetic purposes on their end; a real shame, if you ask me. It would be too much to expect the duke to understand my needs, just like I can't comprehend his. Still, he could tell something was wrong. He could tell….

I sighed for what felt like the millionth time and put my cheek in the palm of my hand wistfully, keeping my gaze outside. "I know you're worried about me, my lord. It must be mystifying, having a human stay in your manor. You have such a lovely manor…. And I know you're not used to my kind. But…" I sucked in a deep breath before continuing. "But you don't have to concern yourself so much with me. Humans are sturdier than you may think; I've survived for this long already, haven't I?"

There was a long pause on his part. Now what he said next didn't make me think the duke is stupid; certainly not! Rather, it just confirmed that he saw no flaw or fault in his way of thinking and was not determined to change it- something I feared my family would be like when I left for London. "What's your point?" This almost made me bang my head into the concrete windowsill. What's my point?! I just….. Ugh! I can't deal with this right now.

"My point is I am perfectly able to be in the garden, especially on such a sunny afternoon as this one. There is no reason for me to stay inside like this." That's when it finally started to click for Lord Basset. Not that this changed his mindset, course. "I just want to ensure nothing bad happens to you. Why can't you see that? It's my duty as head of this estate to protect all its inhabitants, including you." "It's just as Lady Danbury said, you're treating me like a child. I'm not a little girl anymore," I swiftly countered. Lord Basset did not like that. "I am not treating you like a child; I'm treating you like a human. Whether you like it or not, your physical strength is not on par with ours. Furthermore, it's up for me to decide how best to keep you safe, at least your brother picks you up. It's your job to let me protect you. Why don't you understand that?" "Because you're not protecting me. You're cloistering me! There's a difference!" "I don't think so. Believe me, if locking you in a room is what it takes to keep you safe and alive, I'll do it without a second thought, Miss Bridgerton."

I stopped, eyes widened and heart sinking. Locking me away in a room? What?! No! I don't want that! What kind of future is that? What kind of message does that send to my brother? Nugh, this is a nightmare! My hand slammed down harshly onto the windowsill; it hurt but I didn't really notice nor care at the moment. I was too busy glaring at the door.

"Why? Why are you even doing this? Why is it so imperative to you that I stay alive? Is your thirst really driving you to such misguided thoughts?" "Don't be ridiculous. My thirst has nothing to do with this," he scoffed. Of course I didn't believe that. His thirst was probably urging me to protect me and keep me close so if he was ever pushed over the edge and wanted to drink my blood… My lips unconsciously opened a sliver on their own accord. Well, it's best to have the source around when one needs to feast.

But to my utter astonishment, Lord Basset continued to speak as if reading my mind. "You're wrong about this only having to do with my thirst. I-It's true, it is a factor, but that is not the whole picture. For someone who was raised by vampires, you sure have a low opinion of my kind, Miss Bridgerton." "M-My lord!" My heart leapt up through my chest into my throat. "I'm not a mindless savage who's always on the brink of eating you alive. I do…. want you to live. I don't…. I don't know where these feelings come from; I've certainly never had them for anyone else before. But with you…. I don't know how to explain it. I see you and want to keep you from all harm- it's just that simple. And you're right: I don't have any experience with humans, so obviously I'm not going to have a good idea of what I'm doing. But that will come with time, so please…. Be patient with me. You may feel a little suffocated but that's what I feel I need to do…. to keep you safe." "Lord Basset…." My heart was racing again.

For the first time since he arrived, his grace chuckled gently to himself from the other side of the door. "So no, you're still forbidden to go outside on your own." I sighed, rolling my eyes. But he went on; his tone much softer this time. "But I never said you couldn't go outside with an escort…" "Y-Your grace!" I blinked to the door suddenly wide-eyed. He cleared his throat from I'm sure was a smile on his lips. "It's a fine afternoon, you say? Very well then. I'll meet you down by the back door in precisely ten minutes."

"Oh no, Lord Basset! We can't do that! The sun is really bright today and you're liable to get burned," severely burned. It was as if he was anticipating for me to say this however. "Not to worry. I'll bring my parasol and we'll stay mostly in the shade. Then maybe you can show me what it is you like about being out in the garden so much." "No, my lord; it's too risky. Sunburns on vampires heal very slowly and can be very dangerous. Let's not." "That's enough, I've already made up my mind. I'm the one who told you that you can't leave the manor unaccompanied. So if you want to go outside it is my job to escort you." Lord Basset, I fell back a bit in my seat in mind awe. Wait so…. He's going to risk his own safety just to come in the garden with me? All just to….. make me happy? My heart was beating a mile a minute in my chest. The only person who's ever done something like this for me was Uncle…. Of course this made me smile. I have no idea why the notion of going out on a walk with Lord Basset in the garden made me so happy, but it did. It really, really did.

"I'll go get changed directly, your grace."