Brooke woke gently in a large London bed after an emotional ball. After meeting the Queen and dancing with Lucas Scott, she had seen a horde of gentlemen arrive, ready to do anything to ask her for a dance. She had only been able to refuse after her dance card was full. She loved to dance. Her mother had taught her from a young age, and they both loved to twirl... Far from the conventions of the world. After this parade of gentlemen at the ball, Brooke hoped with all her heart that they wouldn't have the unfortunate idea of coming into her living room now, their arms loaded with everything and anything. Yet, something told her that would be the case.
So she didn't call Camila, getting ready alone, and quickly went downstairs to see her aunt.
Brooke : Good morning, Lady Lee.
Debie : Good morning, my child. Well, what is this outfit?
She was outraged when she saw the pants Brooke was wearing under her cape.
Brooke : I asked Madame DelaCroix for an outfit to go riding in. I'll be staying on your land today, so I shouldn't need a chaperone. I just wanted to let you know.
Debie : Do you think that's wise, Miss Davis? After the effect you made at the ball, a swarm of suitors should soon be arriving in this drawing room to ask for you.
She carefully put on her gloves.
Debie : So, you're running away...
Brooke : As I said, I'm not looking for a husband. So I won't embark on the throes of courting any gentleman. I enjoyed dancing with some of them last night, and I mean some, but that will stop at a quadrille.
Debie : What if love is found in one of these gentlemen?
Brooke : Well, that gentleman certainly wouldn't appreciate having a wife with my past and all the secrets that go with it.
Debie : What if, among these gentlemen, there was Lucas Scott?
Brooke : I beg your pardon?
The smile Debie wore made Brooke quite uncomfortable. And besides, why did that name, more than any other, make her react? She grabbed the sheet of paper Debie was holding out to her and examined it. A woman's silhouette was on the front page with the title of The Lady Whistledown Chronicles.
Brooke : What's that?
Debie : Lady Whistledown is an anonymous columnist who enjoys hunting down high-society gossip. Everyone here is eagerly awaiting her. And you're prominently featured in this issue.
Brooke : Me? What does she know about me?
Debie : Nothing incriminating, don't worry. She just reports that you're a pretty young woman who kept the dance floor going last night, that you've become a valuable conversation piece, and that your dance with Mr. Scott was one of the most enriching of the evening.
Brooke : Enriching?
Debie : Read on...
Brooke : Miss Davis attributed her first dance to Lucas Scott. You will therefore say that your dear columnist is not telling you anything new here, as all eyes were fixed on them during their waltz. However, I must point out that, if everyone saw them, it would seem that they had seen nothing other than the pretty face of their partner, as their alchemy seemed so obvious. I will even point out that, for the first time in a long time, the charming Mr. Scott danced with no one other than his sister after passing into the arms of Miss Davis. Your columnist is now wondering how many gentlemen will rush into Lady Lee's drawing room to try to seduce the sweet French girl and if the third born, it seems to me, of the Scotts will also be part of the challenge? A challenge that I will not fail to tell you about as it should be of course. ... I am not going to like this woman at all...
Debie : It's not very ladylike to mumble, my dear, nor to leave me with all these gentlemen who will be arriving soon.
Brooke : I'm sure you'll manage just fine, Lady Lee. See you later!
Brooke left the mansion, not without grumbling a few words a lady should never utter. She arrived at the stables, prepared her horse alone despite the protests of a squire, and climbed onto its back. The start of the walk passed peacefully until she put her steed into a gallop and once again enjoyed the wind whipping through her hair, the cold tears speaking on her cheeks, and the adrenaline making her forget all her worries. It was the only way to stop thinking.
Lucas Scott, for his part, was very keen to see the young woman he had danced with at the ball the night before. However, there was no way she was going to think he was courting her. She had said she wasn't looking for a husband, but he enjoyed her company. So he would go to her without any gifts, hoping that his presence would be enough to entertain her and that they could converse again. So he mounted his horse and rode off towards Lady Lee's home.
Finally arriving, he wasn't surprised, although it did upset him, to see a few gentlemen, a swarm at least, crowding around the door of London's coldest matriarch. All of them holding bouquets of flowers, each larger than the last. Lucas realized he wasn't going to see the young woman any time soon. This infuriated him. He was thinking of leaving empty-handed, but he saw a footman staring at him intently. When the latter caught his eye, he made an unconventional sign, summoning him to come see him.
Lucas, surprised but intrigued, approached him and followed him a little further from the house.
Valet : Mr. Scott, Lady Lee was hoping you would come. Is it to meet Miss Davis?
Lucas : Uh, yes, indeed...
Valet : She's not here. Lady Lee is having fun keeping these gentlemen waiting for nothing, but she wanted you to know that Miss Davis has gone riding on her land. She also wanted you to know that she won't cause any trouble if, by chance, you find yourself on her land as well. Besides, her estate and the Scotts' are neighbors, aren't they?
Lucas grinned, thanked the valet, and mounted again. He set off at a gallop and rode across his estate in search of the young woman. But what would he do once he found her? They would be unchaperoned and alone. He had no ill intentions toward Miss Davis, of course, despite her dazzling beauty, but he hoped she wouldn't interpret their solitude as an improper gesture. He would leave the choice to her. That is, if he found her. He found it exhilarating, in fact... To ride in order to flush her out... To embark on this quest that Lady Lee, strange as it may have been, had left him. He didn't know her well. In any case, he only knew what she was willing to show the world: a woman who didn't mince her words and whom many feared. And yet, by telling Lucas that Miss Davis was on his estate, she had just given him a very generous helping hand.
This search was exhilarating, as was the thought that he might find her. What would she be like today? What might they discuss? What mysteries would he be able to unravel? He had never desired anything more than to see her. As if this investigation were his most important goal today. But wasn't it?
After an hour of riding, Lucas reflected that he wouldn't find her after all. The disappointment that gripped him at this realization left him perplexed. Beyond the disappointment of not having succeeded, it was above all the fact of not having met her gaze that disappointed him. Yet, she would certainly be at the races this afternoon. But he wanted to see her now. And as he began to turn back, he saw in the distance a black horse tied at the edge of the forest. A genuine smile crossed his face and he set off at a gallop.
He slowed his pace as he approached the nag and dismounted. He looked everywhere around him but saw nothing. It was actually a noise in the bushes that caught his attention. He tied up his horse and followed the sounds. Finally, he arrived at a small pond, and turning his head, he saw her. He saw her as he had never seen another woman before.
She wore wide gray pants tucked into high black leather boots and a white blouse with balloon sleeves topped with a black corseted jacket and a gray cape. Lucas was captivated by her figure and beauty. He had never seen a woman wear pants and thought it was a shame as it emphasized the length and curve of her legs. The jacket cinched her waist in the prettiest way, and while the neckline was much less prominent than that of ball gowns, it outlined its contours even more attractively. With the hood over her head, Miss Davis looked into the distance and seemed lost in thought. Her profile was a delight for Lucas, and a warmth he could not name seized him when the young woman's black hair flew in the wind.
Brooke had always needed to withdraw from the world, to isolate herself sometimes in order to put her thoughts in order. Since leaving her family a few months ago, she had constantly protected herself from everything and everyone. In truth, she had done it much earlier in her life, from the moment danger began to cross her path, and had never left her until now. She had erected a barrier, a facade to display before society. A perfect young woman filled with good manners, pretty words, and a little wit. Just enough to not appear stupid, but never too much to avoid attracting attention, in both good and bad ways. No man likes to surround himself with a woman smarter than him. As for women, there was a fine line between jealousy and friendship. Perhaps that was why Brooke had never had a friend in her life. For that, and because she had never stayed in the same place for more than a year.
She believed in love. Deeply. Even though she had never seen or experienced it, she knew it existed. And like everyone else, she longed for it. But for the young woman, love meant trust, devotion, and commitment. She couldn't give any of these three things to a man. And even less to the one she loved if that ever happened to her. Because if she fell in love, she knew she would do anything to protect that person. And to do that, she would have to never tell him the truth, never show him that she cared too much, and abandon him. Because getting attached to her was too dangerous a game. Ghosts would never stop haunting them. Brooke knew that with these three principles, she would end her life alone: omission, disinterest, abandonment. She had experienced them all, and it hurt. But they kept her alive. When you love, you protect others.
In this society, it was women who were supposed to be protected. Yet Brooke didn't care about her status as a woman and didn't seek safety. She wanted to live and certainly not endanger anyone. But that did indeed condemn her to eternal solitude. And that hurt. She was thinking about that as she watched the water sway in the pond. Deciding that her moment of contemplation was over, she bent down, picked up a flat pebble, and threw it as hard as she could. It skipped three times and sank. Would she be able to bounce back like that, or would she sink too?
Lucas : Well done!
Brooke turned around, visibly surprised. Yet when she saw the look in the eyes of the one who had found her, a smile spread across her face.
Brooke : Hello, Mr. Scott. What are you doing here?
Lucas : I came to visit you, and Lady Lee told me I'd find you riding around here.
Brooke : You came to visit me?
Lucas : Yes, like all the gentlemen at your door. Well, they're mainly here to court you, and far be it from me. Well, it's not that I don't want to court you; you're charming! I just know you're not looking for a husband, so I only sought your company to discuss various things with you.
Brooke : Various things?
Lucas : Yes... Your travels, your discoveries, or anything else you might like to discuss with me. But maybe you don't want that, and I completely understand.
Brooke : I'd be very happy if we could talk about our respective travels, sir...
Lucas : Lucas! Please call me Lucas.
Brooke : Very well, Lucas. But the same goes for you. Call me Brooke if you don't mind.
Lucas : It would be my pleasure.
He seemed to catch a breath and turned slowly toward the pond.
Lucas : It's very beautiful here. Lady Lee's lands are magnificent.
Brooke : Indeed. I love finding quiet places to reflect, and this place is perfect.
Lucas : If it's solitude you're looking for, I can leave you, you know.
Brooke : I like solitude, but I also appreciate company. Although a gentleman recently told me that being alone with a man was inappropriate and risky for my reputation...
Lucas : If you're worried about your reputation, I can leave too...
Brooke : I was just teasing you, Lucas! I'm delighted to spend this time with you away from the hustle and bustle of gentlemen in the drawing rooms. I'm not worried about my reputation at all, there's no one here. Unless you're Lady Wistledown herself...
Lucas : She's a woman. No man would be foolish enough to pass himself off as a lady. It's quite the opposite, if I'm to believe my sister Peyton.
Brooke : I'm sure petticoats would suit you very well! But what does your sister say?
Lucas : That there's nothing enviable about women's circumstances. That we men can decide our own destiny, while you women have to wait for us to dictate yours. You're tied to us. And I don't know about petticoats. If I wear them as well as you wear trousers, then maybe I'll make a very good Lady Whistledown! Besides, you're the first woman I've ever met who wears trousers. That's... daring, if you don't mind me saying so.
Brooke : Your sister is an enlightened woman; I think I'd get along just fine with her. As for my trousers, I wear them when I'm sure I won't run into anyone. Especially not a man. But I can see it's a failure even if you don't count in that rank, Lucas.
Lucas : What do you mean?
Brooke : You're not courting me. You said so yourself. So, I can consider you a friend. And a friend doesn't judge. They can tease and joke, but under no circumstances should they pass judgment. Don't you agree?
Lucas was stung by the young woman's words. A friend? Of course, he'd said he wasn't courting her. But he enjoyed her company, her smile, her conversation. A friend indeed. Yet, the term displeased him. The fact that he didn't count among other men displeased him. Did he want to be her friend? Of course. Did he want to be more? He didn't know. Did he want to be just a friend? No. The line was thin.
Lucas : Of course...
Brooke felt the distance he'd put into his response, and it broke her heart. Had she said the wrong thing? She absolutely didn't want to hurt him. Not Lucas.
Brooke : Tell me a little about yourself, Lucas...
They started walking towards their horses.
Lucas : What? What do you want to know?
Brooke : Well, everythings you see fit to tell me!
Lucas : Understood. I'm the third son in a family of eight children. My oldest sister is already married to a Duke. As for the others, we're still on our own, even though my oldest brother, Nathan, is looking for a wife this season. My father died 10 years ago, so he became Viscount and runs the household. My mother oversees many things as well. If you meet her, don't tell her what I'm about to say, but she's an admirable woman. She'd be harping on about it for a hundred years! My father and she were very much in love, a true love match in all its splendor.
Brooke : It must have been nice to grow up in a loving home.
Lucas : Indeed, I was very lucky.
Brooke : And you, Lucas? Just tell me about yourself. Your interests, your passions...
Lucas was taken aback by this question. Usually, men were the ones who asked women about themselves. To see if they were conversational, well-bred, and if they would make good wives. No one had ever tried to find out anything about him. Nathan ran the house, Julian was an artist, Rachel was the perfect girl, Peyton the rebel, Alex the wise one, Jamie the troublemaker, and Lily the youngest and naive. But him? He navigated all of that. He was charming and charming, everyone liked him without reservation because he was kind. But no one paid much attention to him. Yet Miss Davis wanted to know what made him tick, what made him, himself. Lucas was deeply disturbed.
Lucas : Well, I like to travel. I think that's what I enjoy most right now. Discovering countries, cultures, and wonderful people. I love coming home to my family, and I feel good here.
Brooke : But?
She gently pushed him as they were reunited with their horses.
Lucas : I don't feel completely at home... I like to travel, but I do it alone. To "teach myself," if you'll allow me the expression. But I think I'd like to find something I could share, something I could be passionate about, something that would make my home more than London. My home would also be this beautiful passion.
Brooke : I'm sure you'll find that, Lucas. You're an intelligent, kind boy with a lot to show the world. I'm sure that little something you're looking for is much closer to you than you think. Let yourself go.
Lucas looked at her intensely; she seemed so determined and so calm at the same time.
Brooke : A passion vibrates within you...
She places her hand on her heart.
Brooke : It beats in your chest like a sweet melody; you just have to understand the notes, be willing to listen to them. A passion is you. I think the expression "teaching you" is very apt. And your sister is right, take advantage of being a man: you have time and lots of possibilities. Take advantage of it. Go for it, Lucas. You deserve to be happy.
Lucas was overwhelmed. No one had ever paid him so much attention. No one had ever read him like an open book. She was stirring up things in him he hadn't even suspected. He had come to her hoping to discover her mysteries; she had opened new ones in him.
Brooke : We should go back... The sky was darkening, and I wouldn't want to catch a cold.
She climbed onto her horse, and Lucas did the same.
Brooke : Are you a player, Mr. Scott?
Lucas : Do I need to remind you that I come from a family of eight children, Miss Davis?
Brooke : So you won't mind me getting ahead in the race...
She galloped off, bursting into laughter. Lucas was surprised to see her acting so childish, but he found it quite to his liking. So he rushed after her, laughing in turn.