A/N: this is my first posted real Sweenett story so reviews and thoughts are welcomed and encouraged so I know things are not to far out of the grasp of the mind so I ask please Read, Review and Enjoy!

Chapter 1.

The sun had broken through the heavy morning clouds and bathed the streets of London in rich and golden mid-spring sun light. In the shade of willow tree a young women with pale skin, wild and unruly auburn curls, and deep brown eyes relaxed it's the warmth of the afternoon, a worn and well read book in her hand as she rested her back against the trunk of the willow above her. A soft breeze rustled the branches and joined the joyful babble of the near by stream causing her to smile and close her eyes inhaling deeply with a purr as her head tilted back enjoying the feel of the breeze as it ruffled her curls and danced over her skin.

All at once the patches of soft jade light that had been playing on her eyelids was gone making her huff her annoyance blowing a curl from her face as she opened one eye then closed it again upon seeing the form of her older, by less than a year, sister Lucy. Unlike her own wild auburn locks Lucy had ringlets of golden hair that almost paled the sunlight around her, though she too was pale she had more the appearance of a carefully crafted porcelain doll, her coral lips were like two rose petals and her eyes would put the bluest ocean or sky to shame in one glance.

"There you are Eleanor! I've been searching all of London for you, we have to get home before.."

Eleanor opened her eyes rolling them as she snapped her book shut.

""As anyone told you that you sound to much like mother? Nagy and demandin.'"

Lucy pulled a face like she'd just drank sour milk and watched as her sister stood and stretched her arms above her head.

"And you like father, ways day dreaming with your head in the clouds..."

Eleanor rolled her eyes again putting her hands on her hips in annoyance.

"There ain't nothin' wrong with 'aving a day dream or two for your information."

Lucy rolled her eyes this time.

"And talking like a common street beggar, be thankful your not on of the less fortunate Eleanor now come along."

Bunching up her pale gold skirts Lucy began to walk away making a face of disgust as she over the stream and into the mud only pausing when her boots were on the pavement side walk across the stretch of grass over the stream. Eleanor sighed and fallowed after not bothering to lift the skirts of her pale blue dress as she stepped over the stream her boots splashing mud onto its hem as she joined her mortified sister.

"Honestly Eleanor why must you be so immature?! Just look at your dress!"

Eleanor opened her mouth to speak but was beat to it by a silky smooth deep voice from behind her.

"It's healthy to act like a child from time to time Miss Walker, your sister is not immature just having fun for her inner child."

Both girls turned to face the owner of the voice and smiles broke over their lips, Lucy more so then her as she flipped her golden locks and batted her blue eyes stepping closer to the young man behind them. He was undoubtedly handsome with deep brown, almost black, hair, skin that was a soft blushed white, but his eyes were the most beautiful thing about him, deep onyx pools that acted like a mirror into the soul of anyone who looked into their depths.

"Why Mr. Barker what a pleasure seeing you here."

Eleanor rolled her eyes but she smiled at the young Mr. Barker as well but spared him the flipping of her messy auburn locks or fluttering her eyes, though she did blush upon finding he was looking at her not Lucy.

"'Ello Benjamin, enjoyin' the sunshine today?"

Eleanor ignored the leer of disbelieve Lucy was aiming at her and kept her eyes on Benjamin as he smiled a breath taking smile and bent down picking a daisy from the grass before straining and handing it to her still bent at the waist in a half bow.

"Very much so Nellie."

Nellie took the flower her cheeks reddening again as she closed her eyes and inhaled it's scent. Beside her Lucy made a small growl like noise before she smiled, less enthusiastically, at Benjamin.

"It was lovely to see Mr. Barker but Eleanor and I must be going, lot of things to do before this evening."

She began walking away nose held in the air ever so subtly, if only.

"Come along Eleanor."

Nellie rolled her eyes but didn't move to fallow her retreating sister instead she smiled brightly at Benjamin who returned it making her heart race in her chest.

"If it isn't an intrusion may I ask what is so special about this evening?"

Nellie tore her eyes from Benjamin's face to glance at her sister who was near the end of the street clearly leering back at her.

"Suiters comin' by for dinner tonight, four of 'em and each one of 'em are stiff upper class heirs."

Benjamin's smile fell as he observed the annoyance she wore on her sleeve and the sadness in her eyes as she twirled the daisy in her fingers.

"Now that sounds horribly dull."

Nellie nodded tucking the flower behind her ear with one of her auburn curls.

"Yeah it will be, 'specially if Lucy can 'elp it."

She nodded her head in Lucy's direction giving a small grown as she seen her sister walking back to them her porcelain face tinted red making a spoke sigh before looking at Benjamin her eyes screaming for him to help her get out of the whole ordeal as Lucy came to a stop in front of her looking beyond cross.

"Come on Eleanor!"

Nellie winced when Lucy grasped her wrist and yanked her forward with enough force Nellie had to shuffle forward as not to fall face first on the pavement, but she didn't move any further yanking her hand away.

"I can walk on my own! I ain't a baby! I know 'ow to get 'ome by my self Lucy!"

Nellie snarled her cheeks as red as her hair as she leered at her sister, Benjamin could see all the foul names Nellie was calling her sister in her head and he placed a gentle hand on her arm making her look at him her anger retreating from most of her body. Benjamin kept his eyes on Lucy who was starring daggers at her sister until he cleared his throat drawing her attention to him.

"I will escort Nellie home Miss. Walker, it'll be no trouble and it will give you both time to calm down."

Lucy looked aghast for a moment, all anger forgotten, before she gathered herself and straitened her skirts before meeting his gaze.

"Very well Mr. Barker, if you would like to join us for dinner after you will be welcome to do so."

Benjamin nodded bowing his head to her as she walked back down the street mumbling to herself as she went. Nellie smiled looking at Benjamin as he watched Lucy leave.

"She's jealous you know, that's why she pitched a fit about leavin' like that."

Benjamin turned to face her looking rather confused making Nellie laugh, a sound that caused him to smile as well offering his arm to escort her. She took his arm and began walking with him taking the longest way back to her home.

"Jealous of what?"

Nellie giggled again sending his heart into a fast sprint against his ribs as he glanced at her.

"She's jealous 'cause the most bloody handsome man in all of London seems to like me over 'er."

It was Benjamin's turn to chuckle as her hold tightened around his arm as she smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. They walked in silence for awhile as the sun began to set over the city bathing it in liquid amber and lilac hues, they neared her home and Nellie signed her steps becoming slower making him peer down at her to find her content smile had gone and was replaced with an annoyed but sad frown making him stop and place a finger under her chin to make her look up at him, she obeyed raising her chocolate eyes to his face.

"Now what has caused such a horrible frown to grace your lovely face my sweet?"

Nellie blinked in surprise at being called his sweet but her cheeks grew warm and her throat became dry making her unable to speak though the fluttering joy reflected in her eyes until she found her voice.

"I don't want to leave your side and face those strangers, I'll be forced to marry one not that I want to, not at all, I want to marry for love, you understand don't you?"

Benjamin listened to her words thinking them over as they began to walk again nearing her home. He didn't speak until they were standing outside the door.

"I understand completely Nellie, love is something very fleeting and fragile but it's also the most precious thing in the world when one has it he should treasure it more so than any gem on the planet and you Nellie outshine any gem to come from this earth, it would be a shame to see that shiny dulled by unhappiness."

Nellie now blushed crimson but couldn't look away from the onyx pools holding her chocolate eyes as their owner lifted her hand and placed a feather soft kiss to the skin before smiling and leaning closer so his lips brushed her ear causing her heart to hammer away in her rib cage beating so loudly she wondered if he could hear it.

"Meet me at the willow tree tomorrow morning."

He pulled away to look her in the eyes before placing a soft kiss to her cheek leaving her knees shaky.

"Until then my pet."

And with that he was gone walking down the street and away from her. Her heart gave a sharp twinge of pain as she watched him disappear into the darkening night but she smiled entering the house slamming the door behind her and heading for the stairs leading to her room only pausing when Lucy's voice called her name from the parlor.

"I ain't hungry Lucy, I'm goin' to bed."

Without another word she hurried up the stairs not caring how angry her sister would be, all she cared about was a hot bath and falling asleep as soon as possible so she could see Benjamin again. She marveled at how even the near thought of the man sent her heart into a tizzy and the memory of his breath on her skin sent a chill down her spine despite the nearly scaling water in the tub around her. She sunk deeper into the water she her feet hung over the front lip of the tub and her head was submerged in the water her eyes watching the blurry and shimmering forms of bubbles as they floated to the surface creating ripples above her.

Slowly she surfaced when her lungs burned for air and brushed her water logged curls from her face with a heavy sigh as she leaned back pulling her feet back into the water and her knees to her chest as a knock sounded on the door.

"What do ya want? The rooms occupied!"

Her voice was horse from holding her breath but the door opened any way and Lucy stepped in her arms over her chest and a stern look on her face.

"What is it I'm in the middle of a bath?"

She narrowed her eyes at Lucy who leaned on the vanity holding a white washing bowl.

"Where were you all evening Eleanor?"

Nellie rolled her eyes at her sisters oh so subtle approach to the subject.

"We walked 'ere the long way that's all."

She snapped as she stood grabbing a towel from its hook on the wall and wrapping it around herself.

"Now I'm goin' to bed so good night Lucy."

She tried to sound less angry than she was with her sisters poking her nose where it didn't belong as she moved to the door placing her hand on the brass knob ready to turn it when Lucy's pale fingers rested over hers making her look up at Lucy.

"Don't do anything stupid Eleanor, Benjamin is a good man and you have been known for your foolishness."

Feeling her anger rise again Nellie threw open the door, narrowly missing Lucy's nose, and stormed out of the down the hall to her room slamming the door hard enough the framed photos and paintings rattled on the walls before she flopped down onto her bed burring her face in the pillows ignoring how her wet hair was soaking the fabric. She closed her eyes letting her mind wonder to what her handsome suitor could have planned for them the next day. Somewhere between a vivid image of the pair of them walking through the park and another beautiful image of them taking a boat ride up the river the images became dreams playing out like little stories in her mind but one kept showing in everyone. At the end of each story Benjamin would lean in close and whisper "I love you" softly before kissing her lips with the most love and tenderness she could imagine.

The honey colored rays of light seeped through the red velvet curtains as they fluttered in the early morning breeze that made goose bumps erupt over Nellie's bare skin. She groaned and opened her eyes giving her mind a moment to register the still damp pillow under her head and the chill over her skin causing her to shudder and sit up wrapping her arms around herself registering she had fallen asleep in only a towel the night before. After stretching she quickly dressed herself in a deep rose colored dress and ran a brush through her mated locks deciding to let them fall over her shoulders and down her back for a change, once content with how she looked she made her way down stairs and to the kitchen grabbing an apple from the counter tossing it between her hands as she leaned against the counter enjoying the quite morning, quite meaning Lucy either wasn't awake or she wasn't home both worked for Nellie because it meant she wouldn't have to face a barrage of questions as she left to meet Benjamin.

She looked at the clock ticking on the wall and smiled seeing it was just about 7 o'clock. She set the apple on the counter in favor of a slice of bread as she went about putting her boots on and shrugging into a jacket not bothering to button it as she left locking the door behind her. She made her way through the streets until finally the park with the willow tree was in view, under it pacing and wringing his hands was Benjamin. Smiling again she quickened her pace and soon found herself standing just arms reach from the young man though he hadn't noticed her yet until he caught sight of the new shadow. He smiled and turned to face her with a slight bow.

"Good morning Nellie."

Nellie curtsied to him before taking his arm as he offered it to her and they began to walk along the path leading away from the willow and to the heart of the park. The pair spent the rest of the morning and a better part of the afternoon walking the paths of the park hand in hand ignoring the gapping looks from other couples they'd pass, Nellie really could care less she was more than happy to hold the young man's hand and rest her head on his shoulder listening to him talk about everything and anything letting her interject with questions and thoughts of her own. The sun was slowly being covered by clouds and most people sensing the on coming rain headed for home but the young pair strolled happily pausing for a moment as Benjamin bent down and plucked a daisy from the grass handing it to Nellie who beamed and replaced her head on his shoulder closing her eyes as they walked.

Next thing the pair knew the sky let loose a down pour of rain soaking them as they laughed rushing for the cover of a tall tree near by. Once under the tree they panted still smiling like children at each other, Nellie watched as Benjamin held her hand and stepped closer to her eyes locked with her own as he leaned closer to her, their lips mere inches apart.

"I think I've fallen in love with you Nellie Walker."

His breath ghosted over her lips making them tingle while his words made her heart pitch a fit. Her eyelids dropped as she leaned closer barely a breath between their lips.

"I think I've done the same with you Benjamin Barker..."

She trailed off as their lips finally came together and her heart skipped a beat as his arms coiled around her waist so their soaked bodies were pressed together. Not wanting it to end even though her lungs burnt for air she wrapped her arms around his neck closing her eyes as they became oblivious to the world around them including the prying pair of blue eyes under the cover of a near by tree.