Absolute chaos. That was the word that crossed Liliana Delouise's mind as she looked around her otherwise clean room. Wherever Liliana looked, there were boxes of expensive clothes, shoes and other expensive items everywhere. Liliana wanted to take a look inside one of the boxes, but did not dare, for fear she might break something or that her mother might just come into the room at that moment. Her mother, she was a different story. For two weeks, Sophie Delouise had done everything possible to prepare for tonight. Liliana remembered that it had all started two weeks ago when Mr. Lucas Wenden, a business partner of her father, came to visit him.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Two weeks ago ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The day had started like any other. Liliana had gotten up with the help of one of the maids and had gone down to have her breakfast. After that, she had planned to read one of her favorite books, if the weather was fine, she thought, she wanted to go under the Old Oak in the garden and read a bit. Today was Thursday and for once Liliana had one day off. She had just started reading Jane Eyre. The story of the young governess had fascinated Liliana from the beginning. She was curious how the story would develop.

With that thought and a happy smile, the young girl entered the dining room. Emilia, her older sister was already sitting at the table, taking a sip from her cup when she heard someone entering the room looking up to see who it was. When Emilia realized that it was her younger sister, she relaxed. "Good morning, Lily, did you sleep well?" Liliana crossed the room and kissed her sister on the cheek before she sat down. "Yes, I slept well. And you ?!" As an answer, her sister just nodded. For a long time, the two said nothing and ate their breakfast. "Where are mother and father?" After a while Liliana asked. Emilia just shrugged: "Father is in his office and mother is, I think in her room."She rolled her brown eyes. Liliana understood immediately. Her mother always needed a bit longer in the morning.

"What are you plant for today?" Emilia asked to change the subject. "Nothing special, reading, gardening, I could not do much in the last few days, I'm a little worried about my the roses." Emilia smiled lovingly at Liliana. The younger girl was just, too cute sometimes.

"Why does that not surprise me? You and your roses Lily, but do not let mother hear that, she does not like you working in the garden, you know that." At that both girls giggled.

On the way to her favorite reading place, she had briefly stopped at the roses to make sure that they survived the cold of the last few days. Liliana bent down over one of the red roses to smell there fragrance, when she noticed a movement out of the corner of her eye. She looked in the direction to see what or who it was, there at the window of her fathers study was standing a Man, she had never seen before. He was tall, had broad shoulders and he stood there and watched her with interest. There was something about this men, Liliana thought. She could see his incredible authority and strength, but he also had a gentle expression on his face and Liliana wondered why. The man watched Liliana's every move, and to be honest it worried her a little. She had noticed that the man was still handsome despite his age. He wore an expensive tailored suit and Liliana could see that his Hair had started to turn grey on sides His face had a few wrinkles here and there, which was far from unusual. But what impressed Liliana most were his warm piercing blue-green eyes. A Color she had never seen before. As he saw her looking back at him, the man smiled at her and bowed and she in return made a slight kink and smiled back. For heaven's sake she hoped that her mother has not observed the whole scene, because if she did, Liliana was in for big trouble, because she didn't respected the etiquette.

The man said something to someone behind him, probably to her father, without letting her out of his sight and still smiled at her warmly

A few moments later her father came up behind his friend and waved at her, as he agreed to something the man had said to him, pointing at her. Liliana was sure that her Father was letting his friend know who she was.

The friend of her father patted his fathers shoulder. The stranger took one last look over his shoulder at Liliana out of the window and was gone.

After her father and the stranger had disappeared in the study, Liliana had no longer dared to sit down under the oak to read her book, as she had originally planned to, instead she had gone back to her room. She had gone back to read Jane Eyre as she had wanted to. She was reading the site where Mrs. Reed sent Jane to Lowood, as the door to her room jumped up and her father came in with a big grin on his face, followed by her mother, who insistently tried to stop her husband from something.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Present ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

She could still remember the shocked expression of her mother,s face as her father had explain to her, that Mr. Wenden had invited Liliana to the Springball, and most importantly was that Mr. Wenden had insisted that Liliana had to be on the ball, come what may, most to her mothers dislike.

Liliana had to giggle at the memory „What amuses you so much, Liliana?" The strict tone in her mother's voice brought her back to reality. „Nothing, mother" she lied. Liliana could see that her mother did not believe a word her daughter was saying, but she keeped quied.

„Come, we have to hurry, if we want you to be ready on time. You want to look pretty for your debut, don't you Child?"

"Which gown would you like to wear this evening?" Mrs. Delouise asked.

Liliana was about to grab a red dress that lying on the couch when her sister Emilia entered the room with a beautiful silver strapless dress in her hands. „Lilly, father gave this dress to me and said that you should wear it tonight."

With a frown on her face Mrs. Delouise looked at the dress and than at Emilia. It was clear, that she didn't want her daughter to wear such an beautiful and expensive dress.~That fool, is spoiling this brat way to much.~ „Oh no, that's not the right dress for her, my dear, Liliana is to young for it. Here Liliana try this one, this is perfect for your age." With a evil glance in her eyes she holding up a pink dress.

"God no, mother", Emilia nearly screamed at her mother. „the dress is horrible, that pink does not suit Lily! Besides, Father said Lily had to wear this one, I think that this one is perfect, but what we are going to do with your hair is another question, Lily? Maybe we should pin your hair up with my diamond hair clip? Mother what do you think?"Emilia said holding Liliana's hair up. Of crause, Emilia knew what her Mother was doing, the woman wanted to ruin the evening for her sister, but not if Emilia could do something about it. She would not allowed her mother to destroy the poor child with her behavior.

Mrs. Delouise just nodded with a frown on her face and said after a moment: "Of course, dear. Now, when you will excuse me I have to get ready myself." Her mother left the room leaving Emilia alone with her sister. After her mother was gone Emilia turned to her sister, „Don't mind her, Lilly she is still not happy, about you coming with us tonight." Emilia took her sisters hand and led her to the dressing table to start the make up and her hair. After a while Emilia said, „I'm curious how Lucas will react when he sees you for the first time. „I'm sure he is going to have only eyes for you. Poor guy."

"Who is Lukas?" Liliana didn't know what her sister meant with that.

"Lukas Wenden jr, dear. Didn't I tell you about him before?" As Liliana shock her head no, Emilia laughed. „Lucas is the only son of Mr Wenden. The man is not only very rich, he is also highly intelligent and one of the most handsome men I've ever seen." "Why, don't you marry him then?" Liliana asked. She couldn't understand why Emilia was telling her this

„Me and Lucas, no dear. Lucas is a very nice young man, but I dont think I want to marry him. Rumors say he is looking someone special. Well the man is a truely romantic.

There was something about what Emilia said, that made Liliana wonder who this Lucas was. Liliana had just tuned 16 last month, but she was not stupid or naive. She knew exactly what her sister was talking about. Liliana knew that Emilia was trying to tell her that this Lucas was searching for his true love and for some reason her Sister thought, that Liliana was the someone. His love for eternity. She had read many time about this kind of love in books. But why on earth was Emilia believing that she was this special one- she was not special, no not even a bit. This Conversation made Liliana uneasy. So she change the subject. „Don't you coming with us tonight, Emmy?"

„Of course I am Lilly, what makes you think I don't?" Emilia wondered.

„Well, you standing here helping me get ready, instead of getting ready yourself, that's why I thought you wouldn't come with us."

Emilia smiled warmly that the young girl. It was obvious that Liliana was very nervous about tonight. „Don't worry about me, dear, I'll get ready on time.

One hour later, Liliana was all dressed up. Her dark hair was flooding over her shoulders in long curls, down her back. Emilia knew that her sister would look beautiful, of cause, but now that her little sister was standing before her, the little Liliana was not only beautiful, no she was breathtaking. „Oh my!" Was all Emilia could get out of her mouth.

„Do you think that.. that I... I mean, do I look good? Liliana stuttered.

„If you look good? Of course, you do!"

After that Emilia went to her own room to get ready

½ Hours later there was a knock on the front door of the estate. The coach had arrived to bring all of them to the house of her father's friend, Mr Wenden.

The house was bigger than the one they lived in. It was a beautiful Victorian house with a beautiful garden. Liliana had never seen a garden like this, this was not just a Garden it was more like a private Park. Liliana wondered how it would be to sit in this garden to read a book or pictured it with a lot of roses.

When they entered the house, Mr. Wenden and the other guests had been informed, that Mr. Delouise and his family had arrived. Mr Wenden, only hoped that that Marcus held true to his word brought his daughter Liliana with him. When Marc

us and his wife entered the room, none of the other guests seemed to notice them. Mr Wenden nodded in welcome them and waited for this special girl. Liliana was differed from all of the girls who where here tonight, no one of them was comparable to this girl. When he went to Marcus Delouise two weeks ago, it was just to discuss business with him. After a while he had come to the window to look out, he had already noticed the beautiful rose bushes on his arrival and he remembered that he had wondered who was responsible for this sea of roses and then there was this beautiful girl, She had touched the rose petals softly, as if she were afraid they would break. As she bent down and smelled the roses, she had such a happy expression on her face that he he had to smile himself. Something about her behavior led him to suspect that this girl had created this garden and then she had noticed him and for a moment, he feared she would run away. That he scared her, but she just smiled at him. She had big brown soulful eyes that reached something inside him. Mr. Wenden had noticed him bowing down a little and came to stand by his side. "What are you looking at, my friend!" The other man asked, when he saw his daughter, his eyes went sad and happy at the same time. "Ah, Liliana!" "Who is she to you, Marcus?" Mr. Wenden asked. "My youngest daughter, my friend. Isn't she a beauty?" That she was, a true beauty. She looked a lot like her mother, Mr. Wenden thought. He was sure that it sometimes was hard for Delouise to see her.

Mr. Wenden's thoughts were interrupted when Liliana entered the room. Unlike her parents, the other guests noticed the beautiful creature and murmur and whisper was heard as everyone asked who she was. Liliana did not seem to notice all the attention and stopped close to her sister. He stepped in a corner of the room and took a closer look closely at the young girl, who stood beside her mother. She truly was a beauty and again remembered him of her birth mother, Adriana. He heard many good things about her. One thing was that Liliana was very intelligent, rumor was that she could speak five different languages, which was impressive for a girl her age.

Without letting Liliana out of sight, he turned to one of the passing staff and whispered in: "Go upstairs and make sure that my son comes to the ball!" The younger man bowed slightly, "Yes, sir!" and disappeared immediately. The girl nodded at something her step-mother said to her. Whatever this awful woman had told Liliana, the poor girl had a frightened look in her eyes. It pissed him off and made him want to protect her. Although he had not heard it, he could well imagine what this woman had said to the poor girl. Sophie had been aware of why he had invited the young girl to this ball and she did not like it. He had heard that she was trying to introduce her daughter to his son, hoping that would eventually result in a marriage. But not if he could prevent it. If everything went as he imagined, it was not Emilia who would become the next Mrs. Wenden but her younger sister, Liliana.

Mr. Wenden turned towards the newly arrived guests and approached Delouise. "Marcus, how nice that you could come." He shook hands with the other man, next to Marcus Delouise, stood his snooty wife, who was looking at him expectantly, apparently waiting to be greeted by him, too! This terrible woman, he thought. He still could not understand why Delouise had ever married her. Sophie was always wary of her own advantage. Her's and her own daughter's advantage. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it, I am glad you are here. Sophie, you look fantastic as ever." Mr. Wenden lied, with a fake smile on his handsome Face. He took her hand an kissed it than he turned to Liliana an smiled gently at the girl, "And who is this young Lady?" Liliana's eyes widened as she realized who was standing in front of her stand. The man she had seen in her father's study, however, immediately recovered and smiled shyly at him as he also took her hand to kiss it. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the shocked look on Sophie's face, ~served her right~, Mr. Wenden thought. "Well, Lucas, that our younger daughter, Liliana" Her father said proudly and took the girl's hand.

"Very pleased to meet you, young Lady" He bow a little down and kissed Liliana's hand. The poor girl was feeling uncomfortable, thats for sure, but she didn't show it to anyone.

"The pleasure is mine, Sir." Liliana answered a little unsure, almost shy.

Mr Wenden knew that this girl was special, but he didn't know that she was so lovely. ~Lucas will be very happy to meet you my dear. If this girl isn't the one he is searching for, I don't know who is. Oh my god, she looks so much like Adriana.~ He again thought. "Marcus, you didn't lie when you said she was a good girl bur you didn't told me how lovely she is. Adriana would have been very proud of her." At the mention of Liliana's birth mother Sophie Delouise was getting angry. It was clear that the woman didn't like to hear that.

~Very good!~

"Will you excuse me? I have talk to a partner of mine, I hope you don't mind?"

"No, of course not." Marcus said a little uneasy.

walked away to meet up with another guest. He reached his destination and began to talk to him, when he saw that his Son came down the stairs. It was obvious that Lucas, did not want to be here and would rather spend the evening in his room reading a book or writing one of his own, but he had come down anyway. Without greeting any of the other guests, Lucas came straight to his father and almost reached when the younger man suddenly saw himself struck by a lightning. Mr. Wenden smiled satisfied, his son had noticed Liliana and had responded as hoped. He turned in her direction just looking at the beautiful girl. As Lucas Wenden jr. had gone down to the ball, he had not had too high expectations. It was once again one of those events where all the rich Seattle's met to talk. It would be boring, he knew that too well. Lucas did not care. All these people could only talk about their wealth, business and politics, boring stuff. But what worried him were these wealthy women trying to pair him with one of their daughters. So Lucas did not have high expectations but he had not expected to see someone so beautiful. Lucas had heard a melodious laugh and wanted to see who it was and then saw her. The most beautiful face he had ever seen. Dark curly hair, full lips and dark soul-full eyes. She took his breath away. She was standing beside Emilia Delouise. Lucas made a mental note to ask her later about this Angel, when he made his way over to the both of them.

Mr. Wenden was pleased with the reaction of his son, so he didn't say a word when Lucas made his way over to her.

~Well, well, let's see what happens next~, his father thought.

Liliana was so absorbed in the conversation with her sister, that she had not noticed that a handsome man had stepped closer to them.

"Good evening ladies." The young man said without letting Liliana out of his eyes.

"Oh Lucas, so nice to see you again, how have you been?" So this was Lucas Wenden jr, the man Emilia talked about. She wasn't laying when she told Liliana that he was handsome, but most importantly was that he had the most amazing eyes, Liliana had ever seen, they were ocean blue eyes.

Emilia had to laugh, it was obvious that Lucas would not answer her question, he was to busy staring at her little sister, that she was sure, that he didn't even heard her. She decided to make a little fun out of it, "Oh thank you Lucas I am fine." The only answer she got was a slight nod. She took pity on the guy and said, "Lucas, may I introduce you to my younger sister Liliana Delouise, Liliana this is Lucas Wenden jr." Lukas smiled sweetly at her, but his eyes were still fixed on Liliana. Emilia shock her head. She knew that something like this would happen.

"Lucas?" Emilia said sweetly to him to bring him back to earth. "Uh...oh!" Finally, Lucas looked at Emilia and than back to, Liliana who on the other hand, was having trouble breathing. Her sister, told her that Lucas Wenden, was handsome, but dear Lord, this guy was not just handsome he was breath taking, and he looked at her like she was the only person in this ballroom, never in her life had someone looked at her the way he did.

As Lucas took her hand in his Liliana could feel her how her heart began to race.

Like his father, Lucas took her hand and bowed down and kissed it softly. ""Enchanté, Mademoiselle." He smiled and said softly to the Angel before him.

"Le plaisirest pour moi, Monsieur" Liliana whispered in perfect french, but she knew he heard her because his smile was getting even more beautiful.

The two of them didn't notice that Emilia had slipped away, and was watching the couple from a corner of the room, as was his father with a smile on his own face.