Lidya steps into her ballroom alone, her husband having left on a business trip the day before. Men surround her almost immediately, much to the annoyance of their wives. It’s always like this at events such as these. Men are predictable when presented with a pretty woman, they all trip over themselves trying to get a taste.

But as powerful as the men are, their constant attention does nothing for her image and the gossip mill is constantly spinning around her.

Tramp.

Trollop.

Floozy.

There’s no end to what other women say about her, the whispers following her everywhere she goes. Sighing, she smiles politely at yet another nobleman who gives her a crooked smile and slow wanton lick of his lips that has her wanting to recoil away.

She is just about to make her excuses and leave, when she feels a steadying hand touch her arm. She snaps her head to the side, poised to pull away, when a pair of deep blue eyes meet her own.

“Countess.” Ansley says softly before turning to the nobleman. “Baron Wetton. What a pleasant surprise. Please forgive my rudeness, I had intended to ask Lidya here to dance. We are both without partners tonight.” He says smoothly and the Baron gives him a tight smile before stepping aside.

***

Ansley sweeps Lidya into a waltz and leads her across the dancefloor until they are in a quieter part of the room.

“Forgive my brash actions, it looked as if you might have needed assistance.” He whispers softly to her, still leading her in dance.

“I beg you, don’t apologize.” Lidya whispers back just as softly. “Thank you.”

“Have you been well these past months?” Ansley asks, gulping when he catches the fire in her eyes. It's gone so fast, that for a minute he thinks he's imagined it, but then she opens her mouth to speak.

“Yes.” She says, a spark of something more in her voice. There is a beat of silence before she speaks again. “I haven't been able to forget you.” Her voice comes out quiet, almost as if she hadn’t meant to say it at all.

Lidya goes stiff in his arms and pulls away slightly, her eyes sparkling with fear and in that moment Ansley realizes she hadn’t. His heart races in his chest and he feels short of breath as he pulls her back to himself and leans down to whisper in her ear.

“Nor have I you.” His voice is as soft as hers was and she pulls back enough to look him in the eyes. A pair of deep green meet two pools of blue and suddenly a kind of understanding seems to pass through them.

Ansley reaches out to place a hand on her face, his palm burning from the skin on skin contact. His heart hammering in his chest so hard he fears it might burst free at any moment. Every nerve in his body screams at him to pull her closer and without meaning to, he dips his head an inch closer to hers.

“Ansley.” She gasps softly, her breath ghosting against his lips and it’s like a dam breaks inside him. All rationality leaving him as a rush of emotions threatens to overwhelm him and before he can stop himself, he is leading her out of the ballroom.

They find an empty room somewhere in the upper levels of the mansion, their lips meeting before the door even closes behind them. Ansley leans into Lidya, desperate to be closer to her, his lips ghosting against hers. She tastes like salt and newly shed tears even as her hands tangle in his hair, not letting him pull away. She takes the lead this time, their movements like a delicate dance as she guides them backwards. Moving them along until they are falling against soft cushions, bodies tangling, drowning in each other's breathless gasps. 

***

They awaken early, still entangled in one another. The first rays of sunlight just slipping through the curtains, casting brilliant arrays of light across the room. The sight makes Lidya smile. The old familiar excitement of watching a sunrise coming back to her full force, as if it had never left. She looks up to find Ansley watching her, his own smile firmly in place.

Not being able to help it, she leans into him and connects their lips together in a bittersweet kiss. Ansley sighs contentedly and pulls her closer, his warm breath tickling her bare shoulder. They lay there for a long time, their worries nothing but a distant memory. However, nothing lasts forever and in the end even the most perfect fantasy must come crashing down at some point.

“Run away with me.” Lidya says before her mind can catch up with the words coming out of her mouth.

Ansley’s body goes taught and like a tea cup shattering on the ground, reality rears it ugly head.

“Lidya, I-” Ansley begins, his eyes filling with pain and Lidya presses a finger against his lips to keep him from continuing.

“No, please don’t finish that.” She says, her eyes already brimming with tears. “It was a silly thought.” She stands to leave, but Ansley grabs her hand before she can reach the door.

“I need time.” He rushes, not meeting her eyes. “Please give me time to think about it.” He begs and Lidya looks at him, really looks.

Noticing for the first time the deep loneliness hidden within his eyes. The mirror image of her own. Hope sours in her chest, lifting her to the sky and with a soft smile, gives a single nod of her head.