9. Paradise

"Genevieve..." I heard someone say softly in my ear. I felt soft lips caress the skin at the base of my neck. "Geni...wake up my dove." Another kiss to my bare shoulder.

"Mmm...Emmett?" I mumbled groggily.

"Genevieve, sweetheart wake up." I felt another kiss pressed against my temple.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You fell asleep." he chuckled while rubbing his hands up and down my arms. Suddenly it sunk into my sleepy brain what he had said.

"What time is it!" I gasped.

"Don't worry, you only slept a little while. You have plenty of time to get back to your room without anyone noticing." He assured me. I smiled.

"Thank you, Emmett." I kissed his chin seeing it's all my lips could reach. He helped me stand and hugged me tightly.

"Tomorrow?" He asked tentatively.

"Tomorrow." I agreed and disappeared into the night.

Sneaking back into my home was a lot harder than sneaking out of it. Even though it was the wee hours of the morning a few of the servants were already about, preparing for my father and I to wake. I quickly made my way back up to my room and slid into bed. I closed my eyes and immediately fell asleep and what felt like five minutes later Minerva was shaking me awake.

"Wake up Miss, it's time to start the day. " she says.

"Nooooo." I whined and rolled over to hide my face.

"How many times must I tell you, a woman rises with the sun. What man will want to marry you if you sleep late into the morning and behave like such a brat when its time to wake up? But then again you could do just about anything and that handsome Count would still be quite taken with you." She giggled.

"Ugh Minerva would you stop talking about him as if he thinks I walk on water? We're just two people that enjoy each others company." I said nonchalantly.

"You'd better take this seriously missy, he's a great match for you and this pairing would make your father very happy." She scolded me. My thoughts immediately went to Emmett, how could there ever be someone better for me than him? I smiled internally as I remembered our kiss last night, it was our little secret. I couldn't wait to see him again.

"What is on the agenda today Minerva?" I asked.

"Nothing, you will be mostly left to your own devices." she replied.

"Perfect, I would like to continue my riding lessons." I told her.

"I shall draw your bath immediately Miss." she quickly disappeared into my bathroom. Soon I was bathed and dressed for the day and after a quick breakfast with father I was off to see my love.

As I reached the end of trail that led to the stables I started to feel a bit uneasy. How would Emmett react to me in the light of day? Would he be as cold as he'd been the day before or would he be back to his normal self? Would things be awkward between us? I had no clue what things would turn out to be when I saw him but I called out to him still.

"Emmett?"

"In here!" he called from inside. I walked in and stopped just inside the entrance. He looked over at me from his position grooming Forest and smiled. "What are you doing all the way over there?" He put the brush in his hand down and stepped out of the stall with his arms open for me. A smile was immediately plastered across my face and I ran over, flinging myself into his embrace. He chuckled, "Well you're rather excited this morning."

"I can't help it...after last night it's hard to keep my happiness from bubbling over." I blushed. He tilted my chin up and stared deeply into my eyes.

"I couldn't stop thinking about you for the rest of the night." He placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "Would you like to go somewhere?"

"Where did you have in mind?" I asked

"I know a place...do you trust me?"

"Of course." I stood and watched as he got Ash and Forest saddled up. I took his hand as he helped me mount Ash and then he mounted Forest.

"Stay close." He told me as he led me down the trail and into the forest. we continued on the trail for quite some time and then suddenly Emmett had taken a left off the trail, heading in a different direction. I just followed along quietly behind him and soon enough he'd stopped. I made my way to the ground and tied Ash to a tree so that he wouldn't wander off.

"Where are we Emmett?" He took my hand and led me further into the trees.

"This way, only a little further." we took a few more steps and then we broke through the trees and into a clearing with a small lake and beautiful flowers covering the ground.

"Oh my goodness, Emmett how did you know this was here? It's so beautiful."

"I stumbled upon it by accident when I was a boy... I've visited often since then. It's a peaceful place for me and well, I wanted to share it with you." he blushed slightly.

"That is so very sweet of you Emmett. Thank you." I squeezed his hand gently in mine. "What do you do out here?"

"When the weather is nice I swim, but mostly I just come here to think."

"What do you think about?"

"Everything...nothing...I guess it depends on the day." we stood in silence for a while just taking in the scenery and enjoying the presence of one another.

"I feel like I barely know anything about you." I said suddenly.

"Well, what would you like to know? You can ask me anything." he said as he took a seat in the grass, I followed his lead and sat down cross legged in front of him.

"You once said you lived here with your uncle...where were your parents?" I asked.

"They died when I was very young. I think my Uncle said it was a carriage incident...I don't remember much. Uncle Liam was the only parent I've ever known." He smiled softly.

"Where's your Uncle now?" I asked.

"His old age caught up to him a few years ago...he died in his sleep. It's just me now." He looked off, sadly, into the distance. I crawled over into his lap and hugged him close.

"Not anymore." I whispered. I felt his arms slip around me.

"Yeah...I guess you're right."