Here comes the second chapter. As I promised, it's longer than the previous one. Hope you'll enjoy it. ;)

I've made a music video about this story. You can find it here:

both the story and the movie!!

Mathilde

To VisualIDentificationZeta: It seems naturally to me to write about this wonderful couple. :)))))))Thank for the comment, hope you'll like the story.

Chapter 2

"Ahm, hm." Someone coughed discreetly. "Your mail my lady."

Charlotte looked up to see a tall valet standing before her holding out a tray with a letter on it. He wore the same unreadable expression on his face like every British footman. The room she was sitting in was without a doubt a sunny breakfast room, with an enormous table in the middle where she was the only seated, but she could see two more cover. She looked down and saw that she was wearing a cream colored, elegant day dress, and she felt her hair being pinned up fashionably. In one word she was in beautiful place, but something was amiss.

"Hm. I'm sorry my lady. This is for you." Said the valet.

"Really?" She found her voice than suddenly paled. On the letter the next was written: For Charlotte Redgrave.

"Are you all right?" He bent closer.

Charlotte took the letter with a deathly white face and her hand couldn't stop shaking.

"Thank you, everything is in order." She could hear her voice was higher from the nervousness she felt. It was understandable. Only one thing was in her mind: REDGRAVE? REDGRAVE? She had thousands of questions suddenly. But she didn't had the time to find answers as the door suddenly opened and no one else stepped in than Richard.

"Good morning Lord Redgrave!"

"Good morning Cartwright! Coffee please."

"Yes sir." And Cartwright disappeared closing the door behind him without a noise.

Charlotte thought she will faint. She was in one room with Richard, whose name she wore and this made her excited and afraid at the same time. The man looked at her, smiled and took his way toward her. Her heart beat a big, so big that she couldn't imagine any bigger. But she was easily corrected when he arrived at her side, bent down …..

…. And kissed her on her cheek.

"Good morning!" He greeted her as he sat next to her. "How does my little sister feel herself today?"

Charlotte's face turned from white to red in one minute to the other, than became pale again. She could understand that somehow, some way she was his wife, but being his sister was genetically impossible! As she looked up again, she found the man's caring face again.

"Are you all right? You're so pale! Maybe you get bad news?" And he nodded toward the letter in her hand.

"What? Oh, no. I don't think so. I haven't even opened it." She answered fingering the letter.

"And what are your intentions?" He asked jokingly.

"Oh, of course, of course." And she opened it.

"Well, what's in it?"

"The letter is from Miss Daisy Bailey. She regrets to tell, but she can't attend at the ball tonight, because she had to travel immediately. She sends her good wishes to the whole family. Especially to…"

"Me." Finished the man, and than stared at the fresh omelet on his plate. "You can't imagine how heavy was the rock, whish rolled from my heart hearing this news." He took his knife and fork and started to eat. "John ad I can't rid of her and her damned sister Honoria. But we can't do anything."

"John?" She arched one eyebrow.

"Hm." He nodded and swallowed his food before answering. "Who else? Haven't you seen him this morning? He told me he'll take you to your seamstress to take your ball gown."

"Ball gown?"

"Are you sure you're all right? The ball tonight. Your first ball. For two weeks whole London is expecting this event. The moment you came home from the institute, John started to organize it. You're acting like you don't remember a thing. I start to worry." He took down his knife and fork and turned to "his sister". He took her wrist with his one hand and with the other he reached for her face and Charlotte's heart started to beat faster the second time in one morning as he looked into her eyes and gently asked her. "Is something wrong? You know, you can tell me…"

His eyes showed honesty and she didn't know how beautiful it felt when that look touched her heart. She opened her eyes to answer, still holding his magnificent stare when they heard someone cough and looking up there was no one else than Lord John Roxton. It was a strange picture for Charlotte. He was without riffle and pistols, and wore a perfect suit with matching tie, but the thin mustache under his nose was the most disturbing. Is this man the bad dreams of the T-Rexes? The famous Lord Roxton?

The pair sat back to their original place. Richard continued his work with his omelet and Charlotte reached for a toast. Roxton also took his place with a "good morning" and the valet, who only God knows how appeared, again poured coffee to both men.

"You're a little pale today my child." The lord broke the silence as he looked at Charlotte. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, of course." Answered the girl automatically. It wasn't a miracle, till she found herself in this strange situation everyone asked her the same question. She wondered how they would look in her place.

"It must be the excitement. Because of the ball." Explained Richard.

"It must be. " Repeated the lord and started to eat. The scene which welcomed him a few minutes earlier wasn't the most wonderful start for his day. Since his cousin came home, he knew he had short time, but now, he had to make a move.

"After we finished breakfast, I would like you to spare some time for me. I have to speak to you in my study."

"Something important?" Asked Richard

"Indeed."

Richard looked at Charlotte who looked back in a same unknowingly way than without a word they continued their breakfast.

to be continued...

Well? What do you think?