A Part Of The Sky.

Chapter 1

1819, London

Sir Alfred Ayles had always been the first man to be welcomed at a party and amongst the last to leave. Day after day and night after night, he'd spill some cheer and goodwill and let himself loose, running on the creases of life like a man free from leashes.

And as the bickering mamas of London would heartedly disapprove of his reputation, Sir Alfred did very little to care.

He'd loftily dance a lap wherever pleased, and he drank freely till the sun set and the city draped itself in the cocoon of dishonorable principles.

And maybe, just maybe amidst everything he did, he felt right.

With a heart outgrown with unleashed emotions and a mind afflicted to its very core, Alfred had somehow learned how to hide his feelings. He'd flash smiles after smiles but barely anyone knew what went on in his mind. 

Alfred shook his head and fought a sigh. Folding his newspaper onto his lap, he stood and paid for his tea at the counter.

Adjusting his cravat, he stepped out of the tea shop, gazing at the skies laced with the mystery of the approaching rains. The birds flew close to the disappearing sun while the clouds with their silvery silhouettes jiggled close to one another, centering the damask of the lilac sky when the horizon hinted at some enigma that was bubbling close to eruption.

Alfred squinted. Something felt amiss. He could feel it. He looked about. And squinted again.

But when he looked to his right with his gaze averted, he knew what exactly felt amiss.

Lady Arabella Hemmington. 

His world slipped away from under his feet for the slightest of moments. The tea shop seemed to disappear and every single person faded away. He stood there. And she stood there. 

Alfred subconsciously felt his face fighting off air to jutt forward. He felt breathless. This one woman had the power. She was strong. And for one moment it didn't occur to him to hate her. 

Because as she stood there, all he could do was look at her. She had changed. She very well had.

And not only in the way she looked. But in the way she walked. And in the way she talked. She smiled and the ambiance around her glowed. She laughed, and suddenly he felt his ears syncing with its melody. There was this certain twinkle in her eyes and when he looked slowly at the sky, he realized that she'd stolen the sparkle of the sun. The sparkle that cleverly sat in her blue eyes. Those eyes were bluer than the very sea. An amalgamation of cyan and azure when the waves crashed into the moonlight on a silvery night. She was exceedingly enchanting and he was surprised how he'd never noticed her in that form. 

Darn it all. Darn the very devil. What the hell was he thinking? Lord, he hated her. 

And what was she doing in London? Shouldn't she be rotting in the countryside with the goats?

Or was she back in season to fool a fella into marrying her and wrecking his life?

Alfred gulped and looked to her side. Her mother, Lady Hemmington was with her as well. And as much as Alfred loathed Arabella, Lady Hemmington was dear to his heart.

But he didn't feel like conversing with either of them. Not today. Not ever probably.

The only wise action would be to escape from the back of the shop and run away from them. But what if-

"Sir Alfred!" he heard a voice.

With his entire being rocked with fear, Alfred looked to his side.

Arabella.

Curse. 

"Mama!" he heard her say "look who I just met!"

From the corner of his eye, Alfred saw Lady Hemmington make her way toward him. Alfred wanted nothing more than to escape. The thought of even making eye contact with Lady Arabella unnerved him. 

But the very gentleman that he was, he straightened his posture, feigned a smile, and bobbed a bow as gently as he could "Lady Hemmington."

He turned to his left, his eyes wary "Lady Arabella."

Lady Arabella smiled. He noticed the slyness in her smile but also caught the curve in her lower lip "How do you do, Sir Alfred?"

"Graced with the presence of two beautiful ladies, you tell me."

"Alfred dear" Lady Hemmington blushed "why don't you come to visit us in the country? It's been years. You were so little when you had last been there. Are you too occupied to pay us a visit now?"

Alfred smiled. The Hemmington's were the neighbors of Alfred's cousin in the countryside. He'd known them for a long time since the families were extremely close.

"My apologies. I believe the baronetcy has kept me a stiff bit preoccupied lately. To add to that, I've had several urgent matters that required my attention."

Alfred flashed his deadliest and his most devastating smile "I believe I'll pay a visit soon."

Lady Arabella scoffed silently and rolled her eyes while her mother grinned "Oh Alred! You'll need to come, and not just for a visit but a stay!"

"Lady Hemmington-"

"Our little Arabella is getting married!"

For the littlest of seconds, Alfred felt his heart skip a beat. He looked at her. Her rosy lips were pursed in a smirk that didn't quite reach her eyes. He looked at her strangely "My best wishes..are with you."

Arabella smiled graciously with a nod.

"She's set to marry Lord Fenworth of Birmingham."

Poor Lord Fenworth.

"I suppose congratulations are in order."

"Yes! We have umpteen preparations set-"

But he didn't hear the rest. His eyes lingered over at Lady Arabella.

When had she changed so much? And why did it matter to him? Why were her eyes lacking an unfamiliar emotion? Why did the corner of her lip crumple so tightly against her cheek? 

A lot had changed and even though the rivalry was the same, Alfred felt a huge piece of himself disintegrate and dissolve into her while she stood there with a smile plastered across her face.