I slowly walked down the steps to my fathers study, anxiously playing with my tie and trying desperately to bide as much time as I could before I had to meet the girl. I paused outside the door too the study, straining my ears to try and hear to girls voice. "Come on.." I murmured under my breath, "Just breathe and go in there, she's probably as nervous as you."

I heard my father clear his throat loudly, "I apologise Mr and Miss Gray, my son does not appreciate the values of time, as he wastes it. He should be here any moment now." My father's tone of voice was smooth, I could tell he'd planned what he was going to say in advance and learnt it.

"It's alright Mr Herondale, William will be a fine suitor for my sister. She doesn't like the organised and collected men anyway, do you Tessie?" I guessed that that was Mr Gray. I had assumed the girl had come with her father, but according to what I'd just heard, this was her older brother? Well then.

A few more words were exchanged between my father and Mr Gray before I decided to enter the room.

"Ah, here he is." My father had a big fake smile on his face as I entered the room. "The guest of honour." The corner of my mouth twitched slightly, my father was always a charmer. "William, I would like you to meet Miss Tessa Gray."

I turned around and sucked in a breath.

The girl was looking at the floor, smiling slightly, "Hello William." She said quietly, not looking up.

"Call me Will. Pleased to meet you Miss Gray." I flashed her a dashing smile and kissed her hand gently before dropping it. The girl looked up and her eyes met mine, causing my heart to ache slightly. Her eyes were a beautiful colour - it was like they couldn't decide if they wanted to be blue, like mine, or silver like my friends.

"Please, call me Tessa." The girl had a blush on her face which made her look absolutely adorable, and even more beautiful than before.

"Alright then, Tessa." I said, still smiling.

Mr Gray looked at my father grinning like a idiot. He had green eyes and sandy blonde hair which instantly reminded me of Gabriel and Tatiana's older brother - Gideon. Gideon was a nice guy, easy to get along with. The total opposite of Gabriel who was like the devils spawn. "Mr Herondale, I think we ought to tell these two what we have in store for them."

My father's smile had gone from fake to incredibly uneasy. "Ah. Yes." He looked at me, "As of now, you two are courting. We expect you to be engaged in four weeks and married within months. To the public, you must act like you were childhood sweethearts-"

"But she's from America!" I exclaimed, "How on earth do you expect that to work?" My father supressed a sigh.

"You work your charm William." He said, "Mr Gray has assured me that Miss Tessa knows how to work a crowd, plus the public are easy too fool. We've done it several times before William."

Mr Gray nodded, smiling. "Tessie knows her duty. She'll be willing to serve you in anyway, shape or form." Tessa flinched at that. "We have booked you two a place at a.. hotel. It's called the institute and it is run by one of my fathers old friends, Henry Branwell."

"The institute is a luxurious place for young lovers to spend months together getting to know each other before the wedding. James is going to be there too, William. I'm sure you three will have excellent fun, bonding." My father purred. "You will be sent to the institute at dawn, so go and get some shut eye."

I nodded and made for the door, before being stopped by my father who was smirking, "William, I expect you to make use of your double bed tonight." I froze.

My father was such a sick idiot!

"Y-yes father." I murmured, before looking at Miss Gray, "My room is this way." I said, opening the door for her.

Once Miss Gray and I had got to my room, I heard the door shut and be locked behind us, causing Miss Gray too flinch.

I sighed and sat on the bed. "I'm sorry." She whispered, sticking close to the wall like a frightened animal would. Her eyes were wide and innocent. "I cannot.. I cannot do what they intend me to do. I've known you for five minutes..." She trailed off.

She stayed by the wall for a few more moments before sighing, "Do you want to do it?" She whispered.

I shook my head, "I'm a flirt but I do have morals." I said. "I won't put a lady through anything she disapproves of." Miss Gray exhaled and came and sat next to me on the bed. "You can borrow one of my shirts to sleep in, as it appears that you have nothing else to wear."

She nodded, "Thank you."

I shrugged, "What did you expect of me?" I asked, moving to my closet and pulling a baggy shirt out and tossing it at her.

She paused, "I expected you to be like my brother.." She grabbed the shirt and stood up, "I expected you to be a hard and cold man, closed off and willing to screw the first woman in sight. That's what your father basically told Nate over the phone." Miss Gray had collected the shirt and folded it neatly over her arm, "Would you be so kind to cover your eyes?" She asked, shrugging off her dress.

I chuckled and did so, "Yes ma'am." This girl was very different to all the girls in London. I could see why Ella was so fond of her. "So your brother - Mr Gray, his names Nate? Short for Nathan?" I asked, my eyes still covered.

"Nathanael." She corrected. I heard a quiet thud and her dress hit the floor. "Nathanael Gray."

"And yours is Tessa?"

"Teresa." She corrected again. "I just think that names a bit.. old." She smiled slightly, "You may open your eyes."

Mwah. Hello my dears!

Thank you for the four reviews I got in the past 24 hours!

I do love my reviewers, so I'll credit them. Thank you to: I Love Will Herondale, bow down to me peasants, foolishmundanes and Guest xD

I keep forgetting to put a disclaimer so here it is.

Disclaimer - I do not own the rights to these characters and what not.

Badaboom.

Review, you'll get cookies!

~Clare