"I won't tell a soul."

"I already know that man isn't Sir Lewis, in fact, he's my closest friend." Flora's eyes widened in surprise but when she opened her mouth to speak she could not. After a moment of thought she managed to utter,

"Why is your closest friend, masquerading as Sir Lewis?"

"That would be because he's Havar's Blacksmith..." I felt somewhat ashamed, the back of my neck covered in prickles of heat.

"The Blacksmith!" she cried out, her astonishment quickly muffled by my hands.

"Hush!" I warned her, looking around afraid we had been overheard.

"Oh Amelia," she hissed, "that is completely illegal!"

"I know," I responded, "I cannot fathom what must have prompted him to do something so absurdly dangerous."

"You most certainly can." Flora's expression was shrewd as she fixed her blue gaze upon me. My cheeks grew hot and I scoffed at her suggestion.

"Don't be ridiculous. I am nothing more than a dear friend in his eyes, which is beside the point. We could never be together."

"Would not a barrier like that provide the perfect motivation to risk one's life?" said Flora, watching me intently.

"Only if one is a fool," I muttered. And a fool he is indeed. I looked at the manor, warm light still spilling out onto the immaculate lawn from two dozen windows, equal parts anxious and amazed.

"There you are!" My uncle's voice soon disrupted our secret conversation and I almost leapt from my seat when I noticed Charlie in tow. Flora shot me a sly grin and dipped her head respectfully to my uncle, made her excuses and left me to face them alone.

"I've just spent the last forty minutes speaking with your uncle, you should have introduced us sooner!"

Now you're just being reckless.

"Indeed!" agreed Uncle Henry wholeheartedly, "You both looked wonderful out on the dancefloor, but I should have known you would sneak off with Lady Flora at the first opportunity."

"My apologies, uncle." I chuckled nervously and he glanced at me oddly, prompting Charlie to shoot me a pointed look over his shoulder. I quickly regained my composure and dipped my head blaming my odd behaviour on the night air and one too many glasses of champagne.

"As you were saying?" prompted Charlie, eager to steer the conversation back to its original purpose.

"Ah yes! I didn't get to tell you before you met him but Sir Lewis here is Lord Byron's boy and it has been a pleasure to make his acquaintance once again."

"The pleasure is entirely mine," responded Charlie with an astonishing level of ease and propriety.

Uncle Henry beamed and led the three of us back into the ballroom, inviting Charlie to sit with him. Much to my relief the vast majority of attendees had already departed for the evening, leaving the remaining seats empty. I monitored their conversation closely, ready to interject at the slightest hiccup, but the conversation flowed smoothly.

For the most part.

"You certainly have changed since you were a young boy, I don't recall you having such light hair!" Uncle Henry exclaimed noticing his companion's appearance for perhaps the first time. I flinched at his words and looked at Charlie. His blond hair was slicked down and tidy but his blue eyes sparkled as mischievously as ever when he replied,

"Yes, well I do enjoy the outdoors, so I shall lay blame to the sun for the lightening of my hair." My uncle simply laughed.

"Yes, yes of course! It has been such a long time! You were just a lad of five years; last I saw you." I relaxed with an inward sigh and watched the rest of the room. As the evening came to its conclusion, only a few guests remained, most of which were sitting and talking to one another in quiet voices, politely stifling yawns every so often.

Catching my eye from across the room, Lady Anna flashed me a grin and I smiled back, waving farewell to her and her cousins as they departed. Neither of the sisters returned my gaze and I felt a small swell of satisfaction as I watched them leave.

A handful of couples remained on the dancefloor for the final dance and prompting my uncle to suggest that Sir Lewis and I should dance together one last time, but when I insisted that the pain in my feet was too great he conceded.

After giving my uncle and I a short bow, Charlie strode over to where Flora was seated and invited her to dance. She looked up at him in alarm, but accepted nonetheless. A small pit of jealousy formed in my stomach but I ignored it. He is a Blacksmith, you are a Lady. It can never be.

The room fell silent as the final set began but soon we were singing along, while the dancers spun and twirled around one another, switching partners and clapping their hands in time to the music. When they were done, we applauded the musicians and our gracious host, though many had begun to wonder why the esteemed Lord Richard Marsh had not once made an appearance. Uncle Henry stood and motioned for me to follow him and personally thank Sir William for hosting us. In the presence of my uncle, he was the perfect gentleman, offering his humblest gratitude to our compliments.

"With your permission, I wonder if I might have a private word with Lady Amelia?" he said, rather quickly. My uncle looked at him with mild surprise before he answered cheerfully,

"Of course."

Sir William led me out of the ballroom into a small drawing room. Closing the door behind us, he struck. Taking me completely by surprise he wrapped his hand around my throat and pushed me against the wall. His breath hot beside my ear as he whispered,

"You really do look lovely tonight. You can't imagine how difficult it was to see you dancing with other men. Particularly that Sir Lewis fellow, but no matter, you'll be mine soon enough."

"Let go of me!" I choked out almost inaudibly, my hands scrabbling at my throat as I tried to pry his hands away. I knew a handful of ways to get out of the situation but one by one they slipped away from me as my oxygen supply thinned and panic set in.

"Oh, don't be like that Amelia," he hissed, his other hand snaking into my hair, pulling my head back as he released his grip on my neck. I sucked in a huge breath but he quickly clamped his hand over my mouth, his lips meeting my throat, as he trailed them down from the space below my earlobe. I suppressed the bile rising in my throat as I struggled in his clutches, wanting nothing more than to plunge my dagger straight into his heart. He pressed his lips forcefully against my own and I struggled harder, my neck aching, scalp burning where he pulled at my thick hair. Despite my desperate efforts to thrash, scream and even bite him, his grip on me remained vice-like as he continued his onslaught. It was when I became certain I was going to suffocate that he was gone.

I fell back against the wall clutching my throat as I coughed, my lungs heaving while I struggled to reclaim my breath. Sir William was sprawled on the ground, Charlie towering over him, his knuckles bloody as he hissed through a clenched jaw,

"I don't believe Lady Amelia appreciates that level of familiarity, mongrel." Sir William got to his feet and brought his bloodied face close to Charlie's, their noses almost touching as he glared at him. When Charlie didn't back down he stormed out of the room without another word. A dizzying wave of relief washed over me and I realised I had been afraid. Charlie caught me as I fell, my knees buckling beneath me.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice still filled with rage.

"I'm fine," I responded, taking in a deep breath to calm myself.

"That's a lie. If I hadn't arrived in time..." He clenched his jaw and helped me rearrange my hair and gown.

"I'm glad you were there to aid me," I said softly, looking up at him, "but I don't want you caught up in this. Charles if you get caught impersonating a nobleman your punishment will be far worse than anything that could happen to me." With those words, I left him and hastily returned to my uncle.

"What did Sir William wish to talk about?" he asked eagerly as we entered our carriage once more and set off for home.

"He wanted to thank me for dancing with him. The usual flattery," I lied, trying to ignore the happy grin spreading across his face. I leant against the carriage window, fighting back tears as I longed for sleep.