"Who are you?"

"I-I beg your pardon?" Lily stammered.

"I asked who you are—older brother neglected to tell me we were having guests."

A young girl with beautiful blonde hair not unlike her own and piercing eyes stood facing her in the hallway. The older teen had just come out of her room and there she was, as if she were waiting for her. Aside from the fact that she was startling in appearance and demeanor, Lily was having a hard time comprehending her words. Was Lord Cain really her older brother?

"My name is Liliana—I'm here with Lady Katherine."

"See! That wasn't too hard! It's very nice to meet you. I'm Cain's half-sister Mary Weather," she suddenly beamed.

They certainly didn't look or act alike, that was for sure.

As Lily shook the girl's hand with a genuine smile, Katherine soon came around the corner and made her presence known.

"Good morning! Hello, Mary Weather! I see you've met my good friend Lily."

"She almost looks like she could be my sister, no?" Mary asked as she suddenly came to stand right next to Lily.

Then Lord Cain appeared, adjusting a pair of gloves on his hands. "There's no resemblance—don't fool yourself, Mary Weather."

"No one asked you for your opinion, Cain!"

For a little girl, she had a very large temper.

"Come—let's go this way."

The Earl pulled his guest by the hand and led her away from the meadow where everyone was playing hide-and-seek at the request of his young half-sister. She stood in the middle with her hands clasped over her eyes, and the sound of her melodious counting grew fainter as the two went into the small forest that bordered the Hargreaves Estate.

"Do you mean for us to hide together?"

"Yes, of course." He flashed her a sly grin and then we continued on our way.

She had to lift the skirts of her red and green dress as they crossed the leaf covered ground. Cain seemed to know where he was going, still holding her small hand, and Lily quickly glanced at the beauty all around them. Soon, they came to a secret waterfall nestled in a small hill and the pristine pool of water was enough to take her breath away.

"Astonishing, isn't it? It's a secret that only Riff and I know about. I don't bring many people here."

"Am I supposed to be flattered?" she asked in a sarcastic tone of voice.

He looked down and let out a smirk, but said nothing else.

Then he took her hand again and went around the little pool until they reached the waterfall. The roar of the water thundered in Lily's ears and the cold spray splashed in her face. Before she knew it, she was led through a tiny opening in the side of the waterfall, and was now covered head to toe in condensation. The pair finally emerged on the other side into a small cave where little cracks in the ceiling let in enough sun to dimly light the chamber. No one would ever find them here.

"How long do we plan on—"

Before Lily could finish her sentence, the Earl turned and kissed her. He probably meant to catch her by surprise, but she had already sensed his true motives as soon as he led her away from the meadow.

"You didn't blush like the others."

"That's because I know it didn't mean anything."

"That's what I like about you, Liliana. You're not easily misled."

"If that were true, then why did I follow you, Lord Cain?"

He further entranced her with those golden green eyes.

"You know the answer to your own question, my lady."

Then he grasped her right hand, put his on her slim waist, and they proceeded to waltz without any music. Lily was thrown off by this sudden gesture, but soon they fell into an invisible rhythm and danced for a few more moments. Once they were in the center of the cave, he stopped and drew her closer to him until their bodies were forced to touch. With her hands upon his chest, she looked up, and was soon immersed in another kiss.

This one lasted much longer than the first. His lips were small and sweet, and soon began trailing down her neck. Lily let out a moan as her desire began to burn like a hot pain, and she proceeded to wrap her arms around him. He reached behind and began undoing the laces of her dress, which slipped down her shoulders and off her chest. She in turn removed his coat and unbuttoned the white shirt underneath. His smooth, pale chest beckoned to be touched, and Lily immediately obliged as her fingers gingerly exposed more skin. Their caresses became more intimate, and thus did they proceed to commit the oldest sin in a most pleasurable way.