We spend the rest of the night engulfed in the stories of Samuel and Genevieve’s courting that led to their engagement, and my mother swoons at every detail. After a short while we are called into our large dining hall for dinner. One by one my brothers and their wives bid us farewell, and departed the main Hereford mansion to their respective townhomes on the estate. All but The Viscount and Viscountess, the twins, Samuel, Genevieve and myself are left in the Hereford home. Although they are soon to be married, it is still considered scandalous for them to be alone let alone share a home together. So they were forbidden to enter their future home, by the Viscountess herself, until they were dutifully wed. They were placed in rooms to operate wings on the mansion, so as to avoid the temptation of desire.

        I had the misfortune of attending a nightly tea with my mother to “perfect my etiquette in dancing, walking, talking, and dining” because that is what will capture my future match. I Mentally gag at the archaic presumption. I would do just fine as I am. Every other woman in London might believe marriage of convenience or money is the best way to a well off life, but I believe we could be more, and do more if we were allowed. I dreamed of being a writer and possibly attending Oxford like each of my brothers had, but my efforts were of no use. I was told that “it was simply not done”. So, I have settled with traveling the world and writing about the cultures I’ve experienced. If I can not be a professional writer then I will write as a hobby for my own pleasure.

        If I marry simply because of status, they might expect me to run the estate, host balls and high teas, and produce children to sell off in an “agreeable marriage”. My dreams, already shattered, died years ago and not to be dramatic, but so did I. A part of me anyhow. I may have grown tired of traveling, but I was not ready to give up my writing. Maybe later in life, but definitely not for just any old fool the Viscountess deemed agreeable. Once my mother thought I'd had enough practice in my refresher of the arts, she dismissed me to bed. I happily obliged. I hurried to my old room to get changed into my night dress. I gathered my paper, ink and a blanket. I checked the halls for any servants lurking about, and when the coast was clear, I quietly ran out to the gardens.

        I followed the neatly paved path until I came to the big old great oak tree.  I smile and inhale a deep breath as the memories of my secret midnight writing adventures flood my mind. I wrote my best work here. It had been two years since I visited my old friend Golly Tree. It was too cold during the holiday to sit out and write. I began my climb up the tree, and nestled myself in the branches and put my ink and pen to the crisp paper. I wrote of the day's events, and my feelings on finding a husband. Suddenly, a thought popped into my head. The only marriage I had experienced was my parents, and of course they were an agreeable match. I always loved their story. My dad would write his name on every line of my mother’s dance card, so she would only dance with him at all the balls. He sent her flowers hourly, and sat with her while she painted. He was the muse of a few of them. He took drawing lessons from her and paid her with Jewels. Their love was one I had swooned over time and again. I carefully climbed down my Golly tree. Love like that was rare.

        "Still writing in your Golly Tree, Beanie?" Sebastian's cool voice echoes behind me once my feet touch the ground ripping me from my thoughts.

        My lips form a quaint smile as I turn to face him, but it quickly turns into a mock frown. "Yes. It helps me think." 

        I pull my blanket over my body closely. As I focus in on the figures in front of me and they all smile. Samuel, Simon, Silas, Selim, Sebastian, and....The Duke of Hamilton. I focus on his fine features. His eyes are still perfectly green. His teeth are perfectly white. His skin looked smooth and was a perfectly tanned brown. My skin tingles and I avert my eyes to my brothers.

        "Miss Devereux, we meet again at last." he bows slightly.

        I curtsey quickly. "It seems so, Your Grace. I did not know of your acquaintance with my brothers." 

        "I attended Oxford with Sam and Simon. I met the twins at the opera a few years back," I glance at Silas and Selim as he continues. "And I believe Sebastian and I gamble at the same club." he smirks.

        I nod. "Well, you've certainly made good friends with the Devereux men."

        "That wounds me Miss Devereux. After our last encounter I thought we had developed a friendship." he feigns a hurt expression.

        I roll my eyes as Samuel speaks. "Last encounter?"

        "You mean what you said before dinner was true?" said Simon. 

        "Did you bed him?" a shocked Silas whispers.

        "Scandalous Beanie." Selim snickers.

        Sebastian smiles and shakes his head. "Beanie is too l smart to fall into the trap of this rake."

        "At least I can count on you to think highly of me, Bash. We merely shared a drink or two...as new acquaintances." I direct the last part at the Duke before I continue. "I only suggested a scandal at dinner to get out of being forced to marry some rich incomparable old fool. I will choose my own husband."

        They all laugh and I roll my eyes at their foolishness. "You'd better think of a better plan than rumors dear sister. I believe our mother has begun to match your wit." Sebastian chides.

        “Doubtful brother. I’m always one step ahead of the Viscountess. I bid you all a good night." I turn to leave, but the Duke calls out to me.

        "Miss Devereux. Would you be so kind as to join me for a promenade about the gardens tomorrow?" I face him and we are all wearing shocked expressions.

        "I'm sure one of my brother's would be more than happy to accompany you instead..." before I can finish they all reply.

        "I'll be away handling wedding business until the moon rises tomorrow." Samuel says with a sly smile.

        "Selim and I have worked with our father all afternoon." Silas and Selim jut in unison.

        "I will be visiting Olivia’s parents tomorrow." Simon coos.

        "And I, dear sister, plan to spend the entire day with my Aileen. Work has kept me away you see." Sebastian muses as he leans against the Golly tree and smirks at me.

        "Then you must accompany me. You wouldn't want to be inhospitable to your guest." He steps closer.

        "Guest?" I snort.

        "Your mother has invited me to spend the first half of the season here at Hereford, and I happily returned the gesture for you all to accompany me at my vacation home in London for the second half of the season. Just before the Hamilton ball." my brothers stifle a giggle as I realize what occurred.

        My eyes grow with shock. I look at Sebastian. He nods slightly with an amused smile. "So you are the suitor with the proposal the Viscountess mentioned earlier?"

        He hides a smile. "Did she say it was me?"

        "She did not say who he was." I place my hand on my hips.

        "Well I can assure you, Miss Devereux, I have yet to speak to your mother about a proposal. I simply want to walk about the gardens with my new acquaintance." He retorts.

        I stare at him blankly for a while before I sigh heavily. "Fine. I will be hospitable and join you for a short promenade about the gardens, but only because you shared your wine with me."

        "Marvelous. I'll meet you here after dinner tomorrow. I shall bring the good wine." he smiles brightly.

        "But Your Grace..." he stops me.

        "Please. We are friends now. Call me Elijah." he says confidently.

        I defy him of course. "It would be inappropriate to be drinking alone with you in the evening, Your Grace. It would also make me uncomfortable. Perhaps we go right before dinner, and Simone and Sienna could accompany us?"

        He pauses and nods. "That is agreeable. I shan't destroy your social status with rumors. Until tomorrow Miss Devereux."

He winks at me and I smile, unable to hold it back. He smiles back brightly, and my brother’s lead him away. Sebastian sends me an amused yet confused look, and I quickly snap out of it and hurry back to my room. I lie in bed and revisit the scene at Golly tree. He couldn't be? There was no way the Duke of Hamilton proposed after one night of meeting me. It was absurd. A smile lingered on my face at the thought. No. I wiped the smile from my face. I will not get caught up in this. I have to take this seriously. I just needed to focus on preparing for the next day. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. I was planning my future, and if all went well, I could meet the man of my dreams