Brooke had spent part of the afternoon with Peyton and Anna Tagaro, with whom she had chatted a lot. This young woman was very pleasant despite her obvious shyness. Yet, Brooke knew, in just one afternoon spent with her, that she had a very pleasant conversation and that she was very kind and funny. She understood that she was not in the good graces of London and the gentlemen, but she found that a great shame. She wished her the best with all her heart because she fully deserved it.

Brooke later joined the Duchess of Hastings for tea when she invited her.

Alex : Miss Davis, I hope you're enjoying yourself...

Brooke : Very much so, your Grace. Your mother knows how to entertain, and everything she has planned is most enjoyable. I must admit, this is my first trip to the country, and I'm finding it a great pleasure...

Alex : I'm delighted. We've been living under the same roof for several days, but I haven't taken the time to get to know you enough, and I'm sorry about that. I know you're a wonderful singer, Lady Lee's niece, and seem to be in the good graces of my three brothers. I'm definitely intrigued!

Brooke : I didn't know, your Grace!

Alex : Call me Alex, please...

Brooke : Very well, Alex, I'll try that... Well, I didn't know your three brothers liked me. I spend more time with Lucas than the other two, even though I did get to chat with the Viscount a few times and get to know Julian during the game this afternoon. I must admit, all three of them are charming, but who would dare say otherwise?

Alex : Well, maybe me! I'm joking, of course. My brothers each have their own personalities and they're quite different. But getting them all to agree is no easy feat, congratulations! So you're French? Tell me about yourself.

Brooke : My mother is Scottish. She used to come to the English countryside when she was a child. She met my father at a dance, and they married soon after. My father is French, so they returned to his country for my birth before traveling the world.

Alex : You arrived in London when your parents left us, is that right?

Brooke : Hmm...

Alex : I feel sorry for you. I lost my father right here when I was a child, and it was a huge tragedy in all of our lives. But I was lucky enough to have my mother and siblings by my side.

Brooke : I feel sorry for your father. He must have been a lovely man to have helped create a family like yours.

Alex : I could return the compliment to your parents. You're very nice, Brooke.

Brooke : Thank you, Alex. I can't deny that my parents have a lot to do with who I am today. Each in their own way.

Alex : Were they both very different? Perhaps you don't want to talk about it; I'm being too intrusive. Forgive me...

She shook her head apologetically.

Brooke : Don't be. I don't really like to talk about it, to be honest; it's... too recent. But to answer your question, yes, they were very different.

Alex : I see, thank you for your honesty... And so, you do indeed spend a lot of time with my brother Lucas. Can you stand him? Because I must admit that even though he's my favorite brother because we're close in age, there are times when I feel like throwing him out a window!

Brooke burst out laughing heartily, followed by the Duchess.

Brooke : Lucas is charming. He always has a kind, reassuring word, and I enjoy his company. But yes, he can be annoying sometimes. His strength, however, and at least with me, is that he knows how to admit his mistakes and apologize. I greatly appreciate that, and I think it's a mark of nobility in a man.

Alex : I quite agree with you; I think you've got a pretty good grasp of my brother. I still hope he never plays tricks on you like he did on me when we were children!

Brooke : Let me guess... He's mischievous and very clever. With his adorable demeanor, anything goes with him. Wouldn't he have filled your shoes with insects?

Alex : Yes! But how did you guess?!

Brooke : Maybe that's what I would have done too if I'd had siblings to torment!

Alex giggled even harder before tucking into a small cookie.

Alex : I can see why my three brothers are singing your praises; you're so much like our family. And coming from me, that's a compliment.

Brooke : Thanks, Alex...

The rest of the afternoon went well. Brooke had a lot of fun and met some lovely people. She met Lord Morello again, with whom she chatted a lot. He was charming and made no secret of his attraction to her. But his courtship was so clear and obvious that it became touching. Brooke didn't push him away, but she didn't encourage him either. He was a pleasure to please. And that was different from Lucas. She loved him and was beginning to dream of a future with him. That would never be the case with Lord Morello. So she felt she could enjoy his courtship like any other young girl. Without talking about her in detail, just the weather or even deeper subjects that didn't concern her. He had been content to know that she embroidered and sang in tune, that had been enough for him. And that suited Brooke. So when evening came, she returned to her apartment in a very good mood and went to bed before sleep could take her away.


Lucas had spent all day wandering around town, and when he finally found what he wanted, he returned to Aubrey Hall. The excitement had died down because it was getting late, so he went into the private room where he was sure he wouldn't run into anyone but his family. And indeed, he ran into Alex.

Alex : Good evening, brother...

Lucas : You're still not in bed?

Alex : No! There's so much to finish by tomorrow that I can't get my head to rest. And this storm isn't making things any easier... You're home late, Lucas.

Lucas : Yes, I didn't notice the time go by. I went into town, and there's so much to see that the hours went by faster than expected. Was it a good day?

Alex : Excellent, the guests seemed delighted. As was Miss Davis. She's charming, by the way...

Lucas : Have you spoken to her?

Alex : We had tea together. I wanted to get to know the young woman who makes my beloved brother's heart beat faster and who inspires unanimity among the other members of the family. Mother talks a lot about her, our brothers praise her, Peyton and Lily adore her...

Lucas : She doesn't make my heart beat...

Alex : Oh yeah? Don't you care that she finds you charming and physically adorable?

Lucas : She said that?

Alex : Yes... Word for word.

Lucas felt his heart soar but tried not to show it to his younger sister.

Lucas : Alex, can I ask you a question?

Alex : Of course. I'm listening.

Lucas : How did you know you could trust Chase?

Alex : Well, he listened to me. He told me about himself too, and I think that plays a huge role. Both parties have to open up to each other. If Miss Davis is having trouble opening up to you, then do that first.

Lucas thought long and hard about his sister's words. Brooke had always managed to see much more in him than anyone else. Yet, he hadn't confided much about himself in her. In truth, he didn't know if anything about him could have been interesting. He was charming, pleasant, but everyone only saw the surface of him, so much so that he had ended up seeing only that much of himself.

Lucas : Thank you, Alex. Good night, see you tomorrow.

Alex : Good night, Lucas.

Lucas wandered the halls until he reached his room. He was lost in thought when he heard screams. This wing of the house was empty, yet he knew what he was hearing. And in an instant, his blood boiled. This part of the house wasn't empty this week. Brooke was staying there. Lucas didn't think any further and ran to his bedroom door. To hell with decorum, he didn't even think about it, in fact, he flung the door open, feeling nothing but his heart pounding in his chest. She was in danger. Yet, through the darkness of the room, lit only by the moon and the lightning streaking across the sky, he saw only her in her bed. And she was asleep. Or rather, she was trying to escape nightmares in her sleep. She was writhing between the sheets, moaning, and looking like she was in agony.

He should never have approached, but seeing her in such distress broke his heart. So he went inside, closed the door behind him, and crept up to the bed. He sat down and placed his hand on her shoulder. Instantly, she stopped moving, and her eyes immediately opened.

Brooke : Lucas... What are you doing here?

Lucas : I heard you screaming, I was worried something had happened to you.

Brooke : I often have nightmares...

Lucas quickly realized that she wasn't really aware of the situation. She, not dressed enough to be decent, in her bed and he sat beside her. Without any chaperone...

Lucas : I'm sorry. But if you're okay, I'll leave you...

Brooke : No! Don't leave me. They'll come back. The nightmares.

Lucas : Brooke, I can't...

Brooke : Please... please, Lucas...

She begged him, her eyes closed. Seeing her so fragile and begging for his help made him vulnerable. He couldn't leave her like this. So he sat back down on his bed, careful not to slip under the sheets by propping himself up on a large pillow. Instantly, she snuggled up to him, burying her head against his chest.

Brooke : Thank you...

Lucas stroked her hair, running his fingers through the beautiful brown curls that fell over her cheeks. He thought that another man would surely have taken advantage of the situation, taken advantage of her. The thought was unbearable. Anger rose within him at having imagined that. He shook his head slightly as if to chase away the bad thoughts, then looked at her again. He finally dozed off, and the first ray of sunlight woke him. Brooke was sleeping soundly, still against him. A sweet thought awakened his mind when he realized that today was the most beautiful morning of his life and that he wanted them to become systematic. Minus the aches and pains from his bad posture, of course. So he got up, stretched because he was aching all over, and left quickly, not without checking that there was no one in the hallway.

Arriving at his quarters, he decided to sleep a little longer before getting ready. However, sleep never came to him. A gentle warmth was missing from his left flank.