Sitting in the carriage on the way to Roseglen, Miranda pointedly stared out the window, while the various ladies chattered among themselves. Cissy had been repeatedly trying to catch her eye, but Miranda was ignoring her. Ever since she got back from her ride that morning, Cissy had immediately been at her side, peppering her with questions about how it went.

On the outside, Miranda feigned indifference, stating it was just a ride like any other. On the inside however, she felt as if she were flying. Flying high but unsure if she was going to continue soaring or turn downward and crash. Miranda hated lying to Cissy, but how was she supposed to share that she had fallen in love with a man who did not want a wife? One that was actually going to great lengths to avoid matrimony?

It left Miranda in quite the conundrum because she knew she needed to marry by the end of this season. But how could she marry one man while she secretly pined for another? Miranda didn't have the answers.

While the ladies rode in the carriages, most of the men rode their horses. Miranda was glad Alex was riding near the back of the line, for she was sure if he had come into her line of sight, her blushing face would have alerted Cissy immediately that something was up. Even now, Miranda was trying to avoid thinking back on her morning with Alex, and was failing miserably.

She couldn't stop thinking about what might have happened if Athena hadn't interrupted them. Miranda had never hated or loved a horse so much. Although the horse halted their kiss, she also gave Miranda an excuse to ride with Alex on the return trip. And that had been almost as exhilarating as their almost-kiss.

"I think I see Roseglen up ahead," one of the ladies gushed. "I heard Grayside can't even compare to the beauty of the Earl's estate." Realizing that Cissy was in the carriage, the lady suddenly became abashed. "That is, it's unique in its own respect."

Cissy smiled good naturedly. "Not to worry, I have also heard of Roseglen's splendor being unmatched."

Perking up, Miranda craned her neck, hoping to catch a glimpse of Alex's estate. Seeing it from a far off distance was not nearly enough to satisfy her curiosity. All she could make out was that the house was red-bricked in color.

Fortunately, she didn't need to wait long, for as the carriage cleared the copse of trees, a magnificent house came into view. Miranda had to make sure her mouth wasn't gaping open as she took in the view of the estate. For although the house was beautiful, with three floors of windows, trees planted evenly on each side of the driveway, it was the rose bushes that took her breath away.

Miranda had figured that the name Roseglen was just that, a name. But now she saw that it was the landscape that gave the house its name. Everywhere in front of the house red roses were planted. Amazingly however, it was not overwhelming or gaudy. The bushes blended perfectly with its surroundings, so as to add to its environment instead of taking away from it.

As the carriage came to a stop by the bottom of the stairs, footmen approached, opening the door for the ladies. Miranda was the last to come out, and she was still looking up in awe at the building that she didn't even notice who held her hand as she stepped down.

"Do you like it?" a voice murmured in her ear.

Startled for a moment, Miranda turned her head to see Alex at her side. It was then she realized it was he who was currently holding her hand. A bright smile broke out onto her face. "It's incredible Alex," she whispered back. "I can see why now you never wanted to leave."

He beamed back at her then silently moved on, no one the wiser at their intimate exchange. It made Miranda's heart swell that he cared about her opinion of Roseglen. She couldn't help but secretly wish that he had his own ulterior motive for asking her such a question. For why else would he seek her out to hear her thoughts on his home?

Before she could give roots to the train of thought, Alex began leading the crowd around the side of the house, instead of through the front doors.

"I had requested that the picnic be held in the rose garden, for it is what Roseglen is most famous for," Alex explained.

Miranda couldn't fathom there being more roses, the front gardens seemed adequate enough for making Roseglen famous. But as the group moved together into the back of the house Miranda saw why she was sorely mistaken. The front of the house only boasted of red roses, whereas the back consisted of so many rose colors, Miranda couldn't keep track of them all.

Pink, yellow, purple, orange, all seemed to be intermixed throughout, creating a cacophony of color. It made Miranda want to run throughout the various paths and discover every one.

The ladies all cooed over the flowers, bending down to sniff them and fingering some of their petals. Some of the men however were not as impressed.

Harrison let out a snort. "Still kept all the roses, eh Carlisle? You could fill every house in the county with these."

Miranda's face fell at the slight to the gardens, but she eyed Alex seeing how he would choose to react.

Alex gave a tight smile. "These rose bushes are hundreds of years old. It would seem inappropriate to uproot them after they have persevered for so long."

Miranda admired the tact that Alex employed, and couldn't help but appreciate his gallantry.

Miss Chism swooped in and hooked her arm through Alex's. "And I'm sure they will survive another hundred years under your care my lord," she said while batting her eyelashes at him.

Pursing her lips so as not to let out an unlady-like snort, Miranda ignored Miss Chism's adulation and instead decided to move toward the tables that were set up with various sandwiches and confections for the picnic.

As everyone settled in and began chattering among themselves, the warm sun that was blanketing the garden was suddenly replaced with dark stormy clouds. Eyes anxiously watched the storm, waiting for the first drops of rain.

Cissy's mother was the first to speak up. "Do you not think it is time we move the party inside my lord?" she said to Alex, a patronizing note in her tone.

"I believe you are right Mrs. Benson. I'll have the servants bring everything into the drawing room and we can have tea."

The workings of society baffled Miranda sometimes. Alex had been extremely kind to open up his home to them, and on such short notice, yet she felt he was being treated quite rudely. It was no wonder he had decided to stay away from London and its seasons.

As the group began to make their way inside, Mr. Archer boldly offered his arm to Miranda to escort her inside. For a second she hesitated. Now knowing her feelings for Alex, it made Miranda want to curtail Mr. Archer's attentions toward her, especially since he was Alex's cousin. However, though her feelings may have changed, her circumstances have not. And so she accepted his arm though begrudgingly.

Heading up the steps onto a stone veranda, Miranda couldn't help but be eager at what the inside of the house looked like. She was about to get a glimpse into Alex's personal space and it sent a tiny thrill through her. Having only recently begun opening up to her, Miranda knew that there was still something that he was holding back. She hoped his home would gain her some insight as to what that was.

Entering through the back of the house, Alex led them through various hallways heading back towards the front. Miranda unabashedly tried to peek through some of the doors and she may have spied one that led to Alex's study. Arriving in the foyer, Miranda had only a moment to admire the paintings and of course the numerous vases filled with roses. She inhaled deeply their floral scent before being whisked away to the drawing room.

The rain was coming down steady now, and so the card tables were brought out to help pass the time while the storm passed. As Mr. Archer took to a table of whist, Cissy came over to Miranda. "Mandi, why don't you be my partner and we can show Mr. Archer how the game is really played."

Miranda appreciated what her friend was trying to do, but she had other plans. "Actually Cissy, I feel a dreadful headache coming on, it must be the weather. I thought I might head back and take a turn around the ballroom since I can't go outside for fresh air."

Cissy looked momentarily confused and Miranda thought she was going to call out her blatant lie. (It was becoming a bad habit of late). She instead nodded in understanding. "Very well, but don't be gone too long. We can't let the other ladies get a leg up on you."

Miranda forced a laugh. "I just need to clear my head. You won't even notice I'm gone."

Silently leaving the drawing room so as not to bring attention to herself, Miranda began backtracking to see if she could find the study again. Her conscience pricked her that she was purposely snooping, but she couldn't help but wonder that if she learned what made Alex so opposed to marriage, then maybe there would be hope for her. She knew she couldn't enter into another marriage until she knew for sure that marrying Alex was impossible.

Approaching a door that was slightly ajar, Miranda peeked in to see that it was indeed the study. A giant mahogany desk sat at the far end of the room, while a fireplace with two winged-back chairs was off to one side. Opposite, two large arched windows with gold drapes let in the natural light.

Slipping in and closing the door behind her, Miranda walked over to the fireplace mantle where she could see different miniature portraits were displayed. A few of the faces she didn't recognize, but believed she could make out the Dowager Countess as well as Lady Evelyn. She didn't see any of Alex, but hanging over top of the fireplace was a large portrait of whom she could only guess was Alex's father. There was a great resemblance between the two of them and Miranda marveled at how Alex took on so much at such a young age.

Realizing there was a bookcase behind the desk, Miranda strode over as she didn't remember Alex ever mentioning books he liked to read. Bending down to read the titles, she immediately became lost as to their order. There was no semblance of organization at all. A book of poetry was beside a tome on farm irrigation. Then following that a gothic novel. It all seemed incredibly irregular. The farm irrigation she could see Alex reading for the purposes of his tenants, but poetry and a gothic novel?

"Find what you were looking for?"

Miranda stood stock still. Slowly she turned around to Alex leaning casually against the door though his face was serious. She hoped he wasn't too upset at being found in his personal study.

Miranda opened her mouth to give some poor excuse about wanting a book, but knowing Alex, he would see right through it. He had gained an uncanny ability of reading into her of late. "I was curious," she said.

Raising an eyebrow at her admission, he joined her in the room, leaving the door open a crack. "And was your curiosity satiated?" he asked.

Miranda saw that he was trying to make light of the situation, but in his eyes was something more somber. Like he cared more about her answer then he cared to admit. "Unfortunately my curiosity has only grown." She motioned to the books behind her. "I didn't take you for a man who would enjoy poetry or gothic novels."

Alex stiffened at her words, his eyes sharpening slightly. "They are just for show."

Miranda furrowed her eyebrows. "Do you not enjoy reading at all then? I thought you would have at least kept something from your time at Cambridge or Oxford."

Alex hesitated for a moment. "I never attended university." Here he tried to give a small smile but Miranda saw that it was melancholy in nature. "My mind never was one for books." He cocked his head to the side, his eyes slightly narrowing in suspicion. "Why are you really here Miranda?"