June 1819

"I still don't understand why I should be here?"

"Because, Oscar, mother thought having you here might make things a little easier. Familiar faces and all that," Henry replied.

Both men made their way from the stables to the front entrance of Lilywood manor-Henry's childhood home, where his mother would be waiting.

"So, what are we to expect? What has it been... eight years?" Oscar asked. He was at least curious to see who the vivacious Emily Hollyford had lived with after her parents' untimely demise.

"Yes, almost, and to be honest, I'm not sure what to expect. Mother and father do not know a great deal about the aunt and uncle. I have heard the daughter is pretty. Mother only managed one brief visit over the years, so they are predominantly unknown to us," Henry said.

Oscar only hoped Emily was not the same girl from eight years ago, when she had snuck into that ball. She had been seen by many guests playing on the balcony that evening, much to her mother's dismay.

After that night, his stay had been unbearable. She had followed him everywhere. He even cut his visit short to get away from her.

And now, as he made his way to the gravel path where she would soon arrive, he dreaded that same brazen girl was about to step from the carriage.

"Do you know why she has yet to marry?" Oscar asked. Also curious as to why she was one and twenty and still not wed.

"She is no doubt waiting for you." Henry winked at Oscar.

"That is not funny. Do not even joke about such a thing. I'm apprehensive of this reacquaintance as it is."

Henry laughed at him. "Relax my good man. I'm sure she has perfectly valid reasons for not settling down earlier. Their home is quite remote, you know. Perhaps the opportunity never presented itself. Mother mentioned they rarely leave."

"It would have been much more beneficial for her to have lived here with your mother and father," said Oscar.

"Yes, I agree, but it had been arranged many years ago by their parents. Of all the cousins, Cecily is closest in age to Emily. And as I understand it, there had been a tidy sum of money that came with the responsibility of looking after Emily. I dear say they would never have allowed that to slip through their fingers," Henry replied.

"Well, all we can hope for now is that they are pleasant company and the girls have grown into agreeable ladies." Oscar was not looking forward to seeing what surprises this visit might hold. It was going to be a long few weeks.

They joined Aunt Florence on the front steps. The party was due to arrive any minute, and his aunt insisted they greet them as soon as they exited the carriage. It seemed a tad over the top, but he would not tell his aunt that. She was the loveliest, but no one dared provoke her look of disapproval-it created a very unpleasant feeling.

"I'm glad to see you two are punctual," Aunt Florence said, her eyes never leaving the drive, hands clasped tight at her front.

"Mother, we know how much this visit means to you and we promise to be on our best behaviour. Do we not, Oscar?"

"Of course. Unless they prove to be most unpleasant, then I shall quickly and quietly remove myself back to London," Oscar said, his lips growing into a smirk.

"You will do no such thing, Oscar Trentham!" Aunt Florence arched a brow in disapproval.

It may be an unpleasant feeling he tried to avoid from her, but it was one he knew well. He had done many disappointing things in his short twenty-six years, and Aunt Florence was often there to remind him of his inadequacies as the recently appointed Earl. Scolding used to be his father's job.

He quickly pushed the sadness down. It wasn't the time to think about how much he missed his father. Instead, he winked and replied, "I wouldn't dream of abandoning you dearest aunt."

"Hmmm," was all she said.

Before his mind could wander back to thoughts of his late father, he heard carriage wheels rolling over the rocky ground. He Looked up in time to see a shabby-looking coach rumble through the gates and up towards the house. It looked sturdy enough, but by God, was it ugly and the horses looked positively geriatric. A sign these relations had fallen on hard times. Or had horrible taste.

The windows were dark when it pulled to a stop in front of the steps. They waited patiently as the coachman, who appeared to be as old as the puffing and panting horses, finally opened the door.

"Well, isn't this a fine house."

The first person to explode from the coach in a loud display of vulgarity was obviously the Aunt. The fat little woman with streaks of grey hair huffed and puffed as she hurriedly approached Aunt Florence.

Next to come was definitely the daughter. She was short like her mother, but instead of being quite rotund, she was nicely curved in all the right places. Looking directly at Oscar with a playful smile, she stumbled slightly, but caught herself with poise. A great deal more refined than her mother, but then again, she hadn't opened her mouth yet.

Before anyone else exited the coach, the mother and daughter were already reacquainting themselves with Aunt Florence and complimenting her large and beautiful home. The mother introduced them as, Mrs Prudence Andrews and Miss Cecily, to Oscar and his cousin, instead of waiting for his Aunt to introduce them-how vulgar.

"Just call me Aunty Prue," she added.

During the commotion, silently and without fuss, a thin girl, taller than her aunt and cousin, stepped down from the carriage. A hood covered her face as she looked at the ground. She stayed back, away from the others, head bowed, waiting for... what? Someone to notice her?

"And this must be my dear Emily," said Aunt Florence, finally able to get a word in.

Emily didn't move.

"Come now, young lady, show some manners to her Ladyship here. She is letting us stay in this lovely house, after all," said Mrs Andrews. Aunt Florence raised a discontented brow at her comment.

Oscar realised he didn't like her very much and would attempt to avoid her during his stay. And he most certainly, would not be calling her Aunty Prue.

Emily stood in front of her Aunt Florence and curtseyed.

"Come now, child, I have waited so long to see you again. I've been in much need of one of your famous hugs."

Before Emily could raise her eyes from the ground, she was embraced in a very uncomfortable-looking hug. She was very much taken by surprise and looked rather stiff and awkward, like she wasn't sure what to do. Which was odd. Even Oscar remembered her fondness for hugs. He had been the recipient of more than he would've preferred.

His Aunt stepped back, frowning. With Emily's head lowered, Aunt Florence put a finger under her chin and lifted her face. Oscar still hadn't seen her properly, as her hood obscured her face.

"Ah, there you are, my little cupid," she said. A nickname given to Emily after the night of the ball.

"Come, you remember Henry and, of course, Oscar."

With her head lowered again, she curtseyed for Henry, and then for Oscar. He couldn't quite believe this was the same girl who used to torture him with daily poems of love. She had become so quiet and shy.

"A pleasure to see you again, Miss Hollyford," he said.

Half expecting her to scamper back to Mrs Andrews' side, he was surprised when she quietly replied, " I thank you, Lord Trentham, a pleasure indeed."

At that moment, she looked up into his eyes and removed her hood. He felt his heart drop to his feet. She was beautiful, even with her golden brown hair pulled severely away from her face. But what really shocked him was the way she looked at him. Haunted was the only way he could describe it. So very sad and Haunted.