October 1811

The morning meal unfolded amidst a cacophony of voices, yet for Mina, it seemed a solitary affair. She found herself seated at a considerable remove from Roy and Eleanor, with Victor Stirling, Earl of Westhaven, occupying a place six seats distant. Thus, she had little choice but to listen in on the exchanges between neighbouring peers who shared an apparent familiarity, orchestrating their own agenda before the official proceedings began. It was as if Mina had become an unseen presence amidst their midst, feeling as conspicuous as a sore thumb. While she harboured no offence, the prospect of initiating conversation or inserting herself into their discourse felt contrived and lacking in natural inclination.

Therefore, at the earliest opportunity, she wrapped herself in her greatcoat and resolved to take a turn about the grounds, observing the various clusters of young people and elders as they pursued their own diversions. Mina briefly wondered about the whereabouts of Lady Langdon and Royston, but it seemed Roy was in attendance upon Eleanor – or so gossip whispered – and Polly... well, she appeared to be engrossed in conversation with other acquaintances.

What Mina didn't realize was that her seemingly innocent stroll would herald a momentous turning point in her life. Had she known, she might have chosen differently—perhaps to forego the notion of seeking solace in the garden altogether, or better yet, to avoid attending the accursed house party entirely. Yet, there she was, wandering amidst the vast expanse of the garden, her footsteps guiding her toward a secluded bench. It was there that she discerned a peculiar sound carried upon the breeze.

"Pspsps."

The whispered summons emanated from beyond a meticulously manicured hedge.

"Kitty-cat, come hither, psps."

Mina's curiosity was aroused, for not only could she not discern the face behind the voice, but there was an undeniable familiarity to its tone. With a flutter of anticipation, she resolved to unravel the mystery and skilfully navigated around the imposing foliage. After all, she reasoned, what harm could there be in peering behind this formidable hedge?

She swiftly traversed the grounds until she reached an open expanse, where a majestic oak tree stood tall. To her surprise, she spotted a gentleman beneath its branches, gesturing urgently toward the canopy above. Perched high in the tree, a white-striped, orange kitty meandered along a thick bough. Though she could only discern the gentleman's silhouette and tousled blonde locks from behind, she had little doubt that it was none other than Royston Langdon himself.

A peculiar character, indeed. He was the very man who had lured her into a daring wager, all the while making occasional advances and proving altogether insufferable with his smug countenance. And now, it seemed, he was endeavouring to rescue a stranded kitten, despite his usual airs of arrogance and indifference.

Ah, it appears there's a glimmer of compassion beneath that veneer of haughtiness, Mina mused silently. How unexpected. One would have thought he'd be in Eleanor's company, lavishing her with honeyed words until she capitulates entirely.

A soft chuckle escaped Mina's lips, reaching Roy's ears and causing him to start. His gaze snapped toward her, brows knitting together in a mixture of surprise and irritation.

"What's so amusing, Miss Mina?" he inquired, his voice carrying a serious tone, as though she had caught him pilfering some precious items rather than merely being a fool for an unruly kitten.

Undeterred by his stern countenance, Mina approached him, her hands gesturing to encompass the scene unfolding before them.

"Everything transpiring here," she remarked, her tone playful.

"I assure you, I am not engaging in anything of note," he retorted, his posture remaining defensive.

"No?!" she countered, stepping closer to the branch where the kitten remained stuck. "So, what was all this – 'kitty, kitty, come hither,'" she mimicked his gesture with a wave of her hand, "merely a product of my imagination, Lord Royston?"

His gaze softened, a faint glimmer of amusement flickering within. "Quite possibly. I wouldn't dare to speculate how much you may have indulged in wine at the repast, for you were seated too distantly for my observant eye."

She placed her hands on her hips and assumed a playful pout.

"Heaven forbid anyone should uncover the compassionate heart hidden beneath this facade of indifference," she remarked, her tone teasing. "Should anyone be so bold as to pry, they would surely be met with thunder and lightning. I find it quite offensive, dear Lord Roy, that you have chosen to play the part of a benevolent Christian, a role typically reserved for my own endeavours. How dare you! Your true talent lies in inspiring dread and respect, in exuding mockery and menace. Assisting innocent creatures is hardly your forte!"

His lips quivered with the hint of a smile, though he managed to maintain a composed countenance. The kitten emitted a plaintive mew, seemingly in agreement with Mina's words.

"Have you concluded your jesting?" he inquired, his tone tinged with mild exasperation, prompting her to incline her head.

"Far from it. I've scarcely begun," she retorted playfully, but before she could continue, he raised a hand to quiet her.

"Save your jests for later. At present, we must attend to rescuing the kitten. I have no intention of prolonging our stay here. Assist me in retrieving the creature, for it belongs to Mrs. Colton and the entire retinue is in search of it, having eluded its mistress' grasp early this morning."

A satisfied smirk graced Mina's countenance, basking in her minor triumph. "Say you implore me," she insisted.

Royston regarded her with a hint of impatience, his composure starting to fray as his lips twitched once more. "I implore you," he acquiesced, his tone carrying a touch of feigned resignation.

"And what, pray tell, do you implore of me?" she inquired with feigned innocence, relishing the challenge of testing his resolve.

"I implore you to aid me in retrieving the kitten from the tree, Miss Mina," he conceded, a mixture of amusement and irritation flickering in his deep blue eyes.

"Very well," she replied, her satisfaction evident. "Wrap your arms around my waist and hoist me up. I believe I can reach the kitten from that vantage point."

Roy's brows furrowed once more, a hint of concern crossing his countenance. "Wouldn't that be deemed improper? I recall your firm stance against any hint of impropriety between us."

Mina waved a dismissive hand. "It is only improper when there are prying eyes. Now, take hold of me," she commanded. "But only at my waist, mind you, and nothing more."

With evident hesitation, Royston leaned in and cautiously secured his grip around her waist, endeavouring to lift her higher. "Goodness, you're quite substantial, woman," he muttered under his breath, his tone strained.

"Sir, such remarks are hardly becoming of a gentleman," she scolded him gently, extending her hand toward the kitten, determined to rescue the tiny creature from its precarious perch.

Come here, kitty, I almost have you, she mused silently. Yet, as she reached for the kitten, Roy took a fateful step backwards, tripping over a loose stone. The sudden motion sent them both tumbling to the ground, the uneven terrain causing them to shift until Royston found himself sprawled atop Mina. More precisely, his face became rather acquainted with her bosom. Flustered, he hastily righted himself, checking to ensure she was unharmed, his cheeks tinged with a blush. Mina's eyes remained closed, and for a moment, he feared she had fainted.

"Mina, are you well? Can you hear me?" he asked anxiously, gently caressing her countenance.

The sensation of his touch compelled her to open her eyes. Good Lord, who bestowed upon this man such an unfair measure of attractiveness? was her first thought, arriving out of the blue.

"I... I'm quite well, thank you," she managed to stammer.

According to the dictates of propriety, they should have promptly risen, maintaining a respectable distance between them, and consigned this unexpected intimacy to the past, never to be acknowledged again. However, they remained ensnared in a shared gaze, seemingly ensorceled, reminiscent of a moment shared in the attic.

"You are indeed a striking example of a woman from this vantage point," he murmured softly.

"You are equally so," Mina blurted out before she could stop herself.

A mischievous smile tugged at his lips. "I must contend, however, that I am most assuredly not a woman."

She would have chuckled if his countenance hadn't been perilously near to hers and if his lips hadn't been inching closer to hers with such deliberate intent. Mina found herself flushed with a mixture of emotions, eagerly awaiting the imminent kiss from this audacious, yet strangely captivating man.

However, their enchanting connection was abruptly interrupted by the sound of approaching voices. Never in his life did Royston disengage from a woman quicker, only to capture and push her into the nearest shelter of thick shrubbery akin to a lifeless figurine. Mina, overcome with a sense of apprehension, remained frozen, allowing herself to be guided by Royston's firm hands, for she would certainly become prey to a scandalous situation if it wasn't for quick-witted Royston who also made sure that her skirts didn't peek out from beneath the thick foliage.

"Pray, should we not part ways to hasten our search for the poor kitten?" inquired a voice that struck a chord of familiarity in Roy's ears, causing him to momentarily hold his breath.

"I believe the younger members of our party may have better luck in locating the creature," replied the Duke of Eldridge casually. "And besides, I wished to ascertain whether your position remains unchanged."

"In what regard?" queried Polly as they approached the vicinity where Roy and Mina were concealed.

"That I am a libertine."

"Ah, that remains steadfast. However, I must indeed be a coquette, for how readily I embraced familiarity with you," she retorted with a hint of playfulness.

Ciarán let out a soft chuckle. "Typically, I would take a more proper approach to such a daring request. My apologies if it has left a stain on your impression of me, Polly."

They paused just a few steps from the shrubbery where the two culprits hid. Roy sensed Mina's trembling form, her nerves stretched tautly. The thought of his mother discovering them there... the following dash to the nearest chapel would be swifter than a bolt of lightning.

"The impression remains favourable, my dear Ciarán," Polly replied with a playful smile, "but I can't help but wonder what else you have in store to impress me."

The Duke approached the age-old oak, scanning its bare crown in search of the missing kitten, but found nothing.

"Well, I have arranged for a quartet of talented musicians to perform tonight, and I sincerely hope you will favour me with a few dances," he replied, glancing down from the tree, his gaze momentarily sweeping over the shrubbery as he took a few steps toward it, casting a sidelong glance at Polly. "I understand that a ball was anticipated on the first night of the house party here, but I also had anticipated a greater influx of guests arriving later in the evening. Therefore, I feared they might retire early if the dancing were to proceed as initially planned," he explained, his attention returning to the shrubbery.

And so it occurred.

Ciarán caught sight of the hues peeking from beneath the dense foliage, intriguing him enough to draw him nearer. His eyes first met a pair of blue orbs, then a set of brown ones, and soon he recognized the two young individuals staring back at him with deep apprehension. The corners of Ciarán's lips twitched slightly as he suppressed the urge to chuckle at his discovery. Swiftly, he turned to Polly, who regarded him with a knowing smile.

"That's very thoughtful of you," she remarked, taking a small step forward, but the Duke quickly intercepted her, offering his arm.

"I always endeavour to be considerate, especially toward those who capture my keen interest," Ciarán replied smoothly, guiding Lady Langdon away from the potentially compromising situation for the two young people.

Thankfully, Polly noticed a movement nearby, indicating with a subtle gesture of her delicate hand.

"Do you perceive those leaves rustling? I could swear I glimpsed a pair of pointed ears," she observed.

"Indeed, it appears to be Mrs. Colton's kitten! Let us endeavour to coax the creature to us, so that we may return it to its rightful owner."

As they deftly cornered the elusive kitten, successfully capturing it before vanishing from Mina and Roy's view, they both audibly exhaled.

"I can scarcely believe your mother is on such familiar terms with the Duke!" Mina whispered urgently. "What if he rattles to her about seeing us?!"

"And I can scarcely believe what I'm witnessing," he replied with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Given his discretion, I doubt he would breathe a word."

"Hmm?" she inquired, only to feel the sudden, possessive grip on her bosom. "Oh, release me this instant, you rogue! Let go at once!" Mina demanded but was met with his scoff.

"Why the hurry? It was only moments ago you returned my compliment, and we nearly shared a kiss."

He had her seated between his legs, her back nestled against his chest as his arms encircled her torso. It afforded him the opportunity to feel her bosom, but also breathe on her neck, to inhale the subtle fragrance of her hair, and were she amenable to lower her greatcoat, Roy could steal a fleeting taste of her skin...

"I was merely startled by the fall, nothing more," Mina protested, her voice tinged with indignation. "Let us return before we're discovered by anyone other than Eldridge."

"Agreed, but only if you grant me the honour of the first dance this evening," he insisted.

Mina shook her head. "I cannot. I've already promised it to Westhaven."

She felt yet another grip on her bosom, causing her to inhale sharply in surprise.

"You mischievous liar," Roy remarked with a teasing tone in his voice, "you haven't even exchanged a word with him yet!"

Mina furrowed her brow as she questioned, "And how do you arrive at such a presumptuous conclusion, Royston?"

"Because, my dear Mina, I possess an abundance of knowledge," he replied with a playful smirk. "The first dance is therefore mine, settled! Unless, of course, you wish to face that hag Lansing alone the next time she attempts to distress you."

Royston then released his grasp, allowing her to extricate herself. She wasted no time in rising and swiftly making her way back toward the house, ignoring Roy's amused chuckle as he remained hidden in the foliage, ever watchful for any passersby.