As Emily prepared for her lunch with Lex, she couldn't get Lord Barkis out of her mind. She still felt the touch of his hand on hers. Saw his eyes looking back at her in the mirror. He sure was a captivating man, wasn't he?

Emily finished lacing her shoes and went downstairs to meet the carriage, which hadn't yet arrived. "Albert, where is the carriage?"

"Sir Hampshire is sending his own for you, Miss Emily."

Sending his own carriage? Emily was taken aback by this, surprised her parents would trust someone they hadn't personally hired to drive her anywhere. The carriage arrived a few seconds later and the coachman helped her in. They didn't travel far before they reached the best restaurant in town. Emily had never been there before because her parents hadn't the need, with kitchen servants of their own and all.

The coachman politely escorted her inside where they were greeted by a host. All the staff were dressed in vibrant red shirts and block pants, their shoes so shiny that you could practically se yourself in them.

"I'm here to meet Sir Hampshire." Emily said.

"Of course, milady." The host gesture for her to follow as he responded.

He led her past the tables that were dressed in elaborate red table clothes, the candlelight flickering off of the golden silverware. Giant chandeliers floated above their heads and Emily wondered how long it took to light all those candles. They arrived at the back of the restaurant where there was sheer curtains leading to a more private area. The tables were set just as nice, but the lighting was slightly dimmer allowing for a more romantic setting.

At the center stood Lex, one hand behind his back and the other already holding out a chair for her to sit in. as she walked to the table, she saw a bouquet of roses in a black vase, whose base was surrounded by loose petals. A bottle of champagne sat to the left of them.

"So happy you could make it," he said through a smile. As Emily sat, he slid her chair into position and pored her a glass of champagne. She took it from him.

"Thank you. What a gentleman." He sat across from her and poured himself a glass. He raise his glass for a toast.

"To new friendships, and the joining of two families."

Emily raised her glass and drank to his toast, her heart sinking. Sure, Lex was charming and all, but was it enough for her to look past the harsh truth? This wasn't just a lunch. It was a sentencing to the prison of marriage to a stranger. For the rest of her life.

"I've already ordered for us; I hope that's alright." He set his glass down on the table in front of him. "I Haven't much time between meetings and I'd like to speak to you with as little as possible. Your father didn't really help me get to know you very well. He's quite the talker."

"Yes, once he starts going on about the family history, he's a force to be reckoned with," Emily chuckled. "However, it is when I hear him the most so…I can't complain too much."

"Do you have problems with your father?" Lex leaned against the table, arms folded in front of him, as he awaited Emily's response.

"My father- "

She stopped short for a second, wondering if she should proceed with what she was going to say.

"My father hasn't always been the best. When I was a child, he used to take me for candy at the stores, bring me various gifts from his investors. As I got older, he's become more distant. I've realized that a child may not have been something he necessarily wanted, but anything that boost the family image or name is what he's after. I used to think that has I been born a male heir that he would treat me different. Have more respect for me. But, seeing as how him and mother never had another child, I now know differently. I'm sure it all sounds so dramatic to you, but I still wonder sometimes if it something I've done or if this is just how he is. Distant and cold."

Lex looks down, seeming deep in thought. "When I was young, it was just my mother and I. See, my father walked out on us when I was only 5 and left us with nothing. Since my mother was technically still married, she could not remarry, and no man wanted to help her as she was unavailable. We got by because she worked as a maid for a local family. The wages were quite low, so when I say we got by, it was only just. Hence my scar." He traced the mark on his hand. "By the time mother got home, she'd be exhausted from having to be there so early. I had to get myself ready for school, what little time I was in it. I had her teach me to cook so I could be the one to make sure she had dinner on the table upon returning home from long, overbearing shifts. I got a job at the local coal company as soon as I was old enough and quit school. I worked as an errand boy for the owner and was making a little more than mother and saved every penny I had. Eventually the company went under, and I'm not quite sure why. I bought it from my boss, despite people's doubts that I could build the company back up. What they didn't know is this errand boy had learned a lot more from watching his boss than they realized. After I bought it, my mother passed."

Emily gasped. "I'm so sorry."

"No, it's alright." Lex smiled. "It's what gave me the drive to work harder. For her. I built the company back up and now I have more money than I know what to do with and no end in sight to the money coming in."

"I guess absent fathers are something we have in common," said Emily.

"Indeed, it is."

Emily thought for a moment. "Can't I ask you a question, Lex?"

"Absolutely."

"If you have all this money, why did you seem so starstruck by my house? You'd think one would be used to it."

"Actually, no," he corrected her quickly. "Since I grew up with nothing, I view most things as a luxury and not a necessity. I still live quite humbly; in the same house I was in as a child. And outside of a maid who comes to my house when I'm out of town, I still do everything I can for myself. I cook my own meals, I clean my own clothing, I tidy the house and I don't regret a second of it."

"Wow, sir. Very humble it seems. I've never known anything else, so I wouldn't even know where to start if I'm being honest." Emily was stunned. She fully expected someone of Lex's stature to have tenfold the servants herself and her parents had.

Lex smiled. "I can teach you."

Then, he pulled out a small box. "I got you a small trinket of my affection."

Emily opened it and inside was a simple gold chain necklace. Hanging from that chain was a ruby the size of a golden coin.

"Lex, I couldn't possibly."

"No, Emily. I insist." He stood and helped her clasp it around her neck. It complimented her dress perfectly. He stepped back to look at her.

"Stunning."

Emily blushed for all the wrong reasons. Instead of lust or attraction, it was from guilt and shame. How could she accept a gift from someone whom she had no romantic interest in?

"Thank you, Lex. It truly is beautiful."

"Of course," he said. "Well then, I must get going. I still have quite a few meetings."

"But we haven't yet eaten," Emily started.

"That's fine. Service here seems to be slower than I thought. I'll make it up to you at dinner tomorrow."

Emily was confused. "Um, dinner?"

"Yes, your parents offered to have me for dinner again and I could hardly refuse." He got down on one knee in front of her and kissed her hand as he had the first time they met. "'til tomorrow."

As he left, Emily couldn't help but keep wondering how on earth she could get out of this engagement.

As the light dimmed and the darkness grew, so did Emily's excitement for the meeting with Lord Barkis. The second dinner was over, Emily went and freshened herself up and put on a simple cream-colored gown. She decided to wear the ruby necklace Lex had given her as the contrast was striking. She dug out an old red cloak to match, and as soon as the coast was clear, she headed for the park.