VIVIENNE WATCHED FROM the window as the footmen loaded her trucks onto the carriage. Her dresses, gloves, hats, and nightgowns had all been packed to be delivered to the Earl of Westmorland's townhouse. She herself, was also due to arrive there soon.

"It's time my lady."

Vivienne turned around and gave a weak smile to Millie, thankful that the girl would be joining her at her new home. "I'll be down in a minute," she said softly.

There was a knowing look in Millie's eyes before she curtsied and left the room. Vivienne took a deep breath and looked around the room she had called home for the last couple of months. The room looked bare without her scattered belongings lying on the dressing table. She snuck a look on the bedside table, and it remained empty, unlike the countless number of books that would always be found there during her stay.

The room seemed hollow and lifeless. All traces of her presence had been scrapped away. There would be another guest that would reside in the place someday. They would place their dresses in the same armoire Vivienne had, lay in the same bed Vivienne slept on, write letters on the same desk that Vivienne penned hers. This knowledge surprisingly irritated her.

Today she was set to find herself in a new home, one that was more permanent, yet she was still terrified. Terrified of leaving the place she had grown to liking. The Mayfair home was not exactly the warmest place in London, but she could not forget the many memories she had made here. This was the home in which she learned the truth of her heritage, but this was also the house in which she had fallen irrepressibly in love with the duke. She needed to let go and move on. Moving into a new home with her uncle could help with letting go. She would no longer be in close proximity with the duke.

Plastering a wavering smile, she took a deep breath and exited the room, forcing herself to keep moving forward and not look back. She descended the stairs, surprised to see James waiting for her by the door. He was dressed sharply in a dark green coat, white cravat, and black trousers.

"Your Grace, I didn't expect to see you here," she said politely, holding onto the banister.

His eyes roamed over her body as if taking in every detail for one last time. "It would be quite rude of me not to bid you farewell, Lady Selina"

She forced herself not to flinch at the name. She still was not used to being called Selina, it seemed like it was going to take some time to adjust. Smiling slightly to herself, she shook her head at his words. The duke never cared about being rude or how his actions were perceived, but it meant more to her than she could ever express that he came to bid her farewell. They were not going to see each other much after this. After all, they ran in different circles. It was only by a mere coincidence had they been brought together for a moment in time. Vivienne cherished every single second of that time, and she would continue to do so for the rest of her life.

After lengthy discussions between her uncle and James, both parties had freed the other from the betrothal contract. Vivienne was unsure on how to feel about that. A part of her was hurt that the duke did not fight for her, but he had never made his feelings clear. She was not as naïve to believe that the duke did not care for her, he did. But in exactly what capacity, would remain a mystery.

They were both free to marry whomever they pleased. Yet Vivienne had still rejected Captain Rees' proposal. It would have been disingenuous to the man and besides, living with her uncle meant that she did not need to find love this season. Maybe things would be better next year. It was for the best she was leaving the duke's home. It singled a new beginning for this next chapter in her life.

Vivienne cleared her throat, "I must thank you for everything you've done for me," she said softly. "I've been quite the burden—"

He flinched at her words. Echoed back to him from that night, but she ignored his expression carrying on, "—to you, but you gave me something that I thought was lost forever. I sincerely wish you the best."

James nodded his head, as if wanting to say more but Lady Torrington came up behind him, walking cane in her right hand.

"So, this is it?" she said, raising her grey eyes to meet Vivienne.

Vivienne gave her a sad smile, "It is. Lady Torrington it was an honour being your student these last few months. The lessons you taught me have been invaluable and I will treasure them forever."

She thought she saw a glaze in the dowager countesses' eyes before it promptly vanished. The door swung open, and her uncle stood on the other side. He greeted both the dowager and duke before fixing his dark green eyes upon hers. Her gaze fell to the walking cane steadying him.

"Shall we?" he asked.

She gave one last linger look to the duke and dowager countess before accepting the earl's elbow, "yes."

***

Vivienne nervously looked at the house in front of her. Although it did not look as large as the duke's Mayfair home, it was still extremely large by London standards.

"Lady Westmorland is quite delighted to meet with you," her uncle said, his moustache twitching with the words.

She gave him a weak smile, as she stepped down from the carriage. "As am I."

There was a flurry of activity around her as the footmen began unloading her various trunks, but the earl ignored it all and continued onwards. The door swung open, and the butler bowed, "Good afternoon my lord."

The earl took off his hat, handing it to the butler. "This is Lady—" he turned to her and paused, as if unsure on how to introduce her.

"Lady Vivienne please," she gave her uncle a smile. "It is what I grew up with and feels much more authentic."

He shrugged his shoulders, "If that is what you wish. Let us go meet my wife now, I must admit she's been quite anxious the last few weeks."

That made two of them, Vivienne thought. She took in the rest of the house's details. It was nicely furnished, the evidence of a lady's touch apparent in the trimmings and texture, which was sometimes found lacking in the duke's home. She shook her head; it had only been a couple of hours. She needed to stop thinking about James, this was her new house now.

She followed her uncle as they approached the parlour. The door was open wide, and Vivienne glimpsed a lady sitting on the chaise drinking her tea and reading what Vivienne assumed was a gossip column.

"Priscilla," the earl said, drawing the attention of his wife.

The countess turned towards them as Vivienne's smiled politely. Lady Westmorland was not exactly what Vivienne had imagined. Her black hair was pulled back tightly, and her dark eyes bore into Vivienne.

"This is my niece Vivienne," the earl took her hand, moving her forward.

"I thought her name was Selina," the countess replied flippantly.

Vivienne spoke before the earl had a chance. "It is, but I prefer Vivienne and my hope is that you can respect those wishes."

She gave a small nod, returning to her paper as if Vivienne were no longer there. Vivienne stood in the parlour awkwardly, not knowing what to do or say. There was a clearing of a throat beside her, and Vivienne grasped the opportunity, turning back to the earl. "May I see my room now? I need to ensure that the servants are placing everything correctly."

The earl nodded, grabbing the attention of a passing maid. "Do show the lady her room, will you?"

The maid stopped, waiting to lead her to her new bedroom. The uncle gave her a weak smile, as he leaned into his cane for support. "I must go back to my business but if something is not to your liking, you can always approach the countess or I."

There was a little humph from the parlour, but the earl ignored it. Bowing once, he left her with the maid. The maid let her up the stairs to her new bedroom. It was much smaller than the one Vivienne occupied in the duke's townhouse, but it was not terrible by any means. The green accented walls were not her favourite colour, but it would make do.

She would not be ungrateful for the kindness her uncle had shown her. Although things were a bit strained between them, when he found out, he had not hesitated to invite—more like demand that she live with his family. Seeing it as the appropriate choice, Vivienne had agreed.

Vivienne opened the armoire, making sure that all her dresses were in place. Her eyes narrowed onto a small furry item in the corner. She did not remember having anything like that. She went to touch it and screamed as loud as she could.

The door opened quickly, with Millie rushing to her side, "My lady, what is wrong?"

Vivienne covered her mouth in horror as the wretched stench filled the air. She was about to cast up her accounts.

"My goodness, what is that terrible smell?"

Vivienne raised a shaky finger to the rat that lay at the bottom of the armoire. Millie gasped, but her actions were much milder than Vivienne.

"I have no idea how this got here Lady Vivienne," Millie said, her eyes wide. "I'll get it cleaned up right away."

"I'm going to be sick," Vivienne mumbled.

Millie paled, "Maybe it's best that you step out of the room for a bit. I'll open the windows to allow for some fresh air to enter."

Vivienne barely heard her, rushing to the door as quick as she could. In her haste, she knocked into someone.

"Oi!" said a voice.

Vivienne looked down to see a boy with dark hair scowling at her from the ground as he got up and brushed himself.

"Apologies, I didn't see you there."

The boy looked at her, "Well that much is evident, maybe you should look down more often."

"I was in a rush," she said explaining.

The boy's eyes glinted as he pointed to the room behind her, "What, something interesting happened in there?"

"Yes, it seems that a dead rat made its home—"

"Master Grayson, must I remind you that you cannot leave the school room until you have finished your reading?"

The boy scowled at what Vivienne assumed was his governess. The governess looked up at Vivienne, "Oh, I did not see you there lady—"

"Vivienne," it seemed that the staff still did not know her name. "Although I do hope you might forgive Grayson here as I seem to have held him up."

She gave a conspicuous wink to the boy, but he did not seem impressed. "I am not returning to the school room and you cannot make me!"

The governess looked at him sternly, "Well if I cannot make you, I do know your father is in residence and he will be happy to lock you in the attic if you continue behaving like this."

Vivienne gasped in horror. Locking someone up for not doing their work seemed like quite the harsh punishment. In the moment, she was grateful for Agatha and her kindness. She peered at the boy, sensing his terror and displeasure. He promptly followed the governess back to the schoolroom feet dragging across the carpet, his only signs of resistance.

Vivienne looked at his retreating figure, if that was Master Grayson, it seemed like he was her cousin then. She did not know if he knew about her, but maybe it would be nice to have a child around her. After all, she did not have any siblings. Seeing Fiona and Marquess Headfort interacting did make her wish otherwise.

She continued her path of exploring the upper level, surprised to find an empty wing, without anyone in site. Frowning, she glanced around before hesitantly making her way to explore. With a single window illuminating the shadowy room, she was surprised and hacked a cough at all the dust in the air. It was clear that the servants paid little heed to his part of the townhouse. She glanced at the walls, marveling at the glorious portraits that lined the narrow space. She read the small, engraved writing on the golden plaques and realized that the portraits were of the previous Earls and their families.

Frowning, her heart began racing as the years on the plaques came closer to the 1790s. She reached the end of the hall where her father's portrait should have been, but instead came across a large white sheet in its place. Her heart thudded within her ribcage. Her father must be behind the cloth. Tugging on the corners, she pulled it down and gasped.

What should have been a portrait of her father, was one of her mothers as well. Vivienne drank in her mother's appearance. Golden locks of hair, pert nose, full lips—she looked like the splitting image of Vivienne except her skin was a bit darker, as if she had spent more time in the sun without her bonnet. Her father had dark hair like his brother, but his eyes, they were the same as Vivienne's rather than the darker green of her uncle's. He stood with his hand clamped on her mother's shoulder, with pride and sturdiness.

Her heart tugged at seeing them both together. They might not be with her today, but they had both passed down their features to Vivienne. She stepped closer, surprised to see the familiar green pendant hanging from her mother's neck. Her fingers clutched to her throat, only to come up empty. She remembered then that Millie had packed the pendant in a box to be moved here. That pendant, held a piece of her mother and father, making it more special than ever.

She read the inscription: Oscar, and Selina Moore, the fourteenth Earl and Countess of Westmoreland.

She gasped in surprise, her fingers tracing the words. Her mother's name had been Selina. James had told her that she had been an American heiress, but she had not thought to ask her name. So, she was her mother's namesake. She smiled at that; it brought a warmth to her chest.

She carried another part of her mother with her, without even knowing it! She was proud of her name and lineage. Although her resolve of being called Vivienne became firmer. Her mother had been one of a kind, and she was honoured to carry her name, but she was not the same as her mother. She was Vivienne Moore, daughter of Oscar and Selina Moore, and that alone, had to be enough.   

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What do you all think, is it better for Vivienne to move in with her uncle and his family? Or do you all wish she stayed with the duke? This story was originally supposed to be 40 chapters but we still have more than 15 chapters to go! Thank you all for voting last chapter, I've updated the cover :)