I had a lot of admirers. I was a woman now. Well almost a woman, I was 14 and it would be another year until I had my coming of age ceremony. Then I would be able to enter society as an eligible Lady. Grandmother wanted me a husband, she had her eye on many young men, and often invited them to her manor when I was due a visit. I was always polite to such young bachelors, I behaved as I was taught to. Smile always, glances under eyelashes, curtsy gracefully, always sit straight, extend your hand gloved, etcetera. Obeying such rules, these boys were guard less against my charms.

I did not love any of these men.

This was my problem grandmother told me. I do not LOVE them.

"What is love?" she would ask.

I would respond in a general fashion, reciting things I had read in books. But knowingly I was not sure. Of course I took a fancy to certain men, I found the confident dukes that entertained my grandmother rather handsome. I knew confidence, strength, and kindness were great attributes to a husband. But until I was of age I cared not for such things. I was a child in many respects still.

"Who was the eligible young soon-to-be husband this time?" Xerxes smirked, sitting perched upon the staircase wall which led down into the garden.

"Hush. I shan`t talk of such things" I replied dryly.

"Oh dear. Was he not to your tastes? Shall you be a lonely lady to be? Living all by yourself in that big manor ?" He laughed, plucking cotton threads from his clothes uninterestedly.

"Of course I shan`t get such a pleasure. I have you remember. You'll forever haunt me I'm afraid. Spending my riches on petty cakes and treats" I sighed, folding my hands and gazing up at the clown that had taken to doing a balancing act upon the stone. "Perhaps it is You my grandmother should be finding a partner"

He stopped and looked down at me.

" Perhaps so…."

I looked into his eyes, looking for some thread of a thought he was having. This was the general problem with our communication with one another, sometimes I feared his thoughts were a place I would never quite reach. I looked away heatedly.

"Never mind. Come we have to entertain the Vessalius heir soon, it is his coming of age ceremony, and grandmamma would quite like me to meet him~

"Oh she would. …Perhaps he is the chosen Heir to the Rainsworth household also." He said dryly from beside me. I had not noticed he had dismounted from the wall, and this made my heart beat slightly faster. He was rather close after all, and by not sensing him it gave me quite a fright.

"Goodness Xerxes a slight warning would be quite appropriate" I said.

"Did I frighten you my lady?" He flashed his pearly whites. "I did not mean to so"

I never quite noticed how perfectly straight his teeth were, why had I not? Eating treats as much as he did, it was quite a wonder how his teeth were not properly rotten and blacken. I had caught myself stare, and looked up to see him looking directly into my eyes. It was tense second, and thankfully i noticed the carriage had arrived.

"Ah here it is!" I exclaimed rather loudly, thankful that I was given excuse not to be in said conversation any longer. "Let us leave Xerxes"

"As you wish, my lady" He said quietly from behind. I dared not look at his face.