𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 (𝐓𝐞𝐰𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫)

𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

✿ Tewkesbury POV ✿

"Come on mate, we've got to get going." My friend Charles voice echoed in my ears but I stood frozen, my gaze locked on the girl whose presence had bewitched me. Her figure grew smaller with every step as she was lead away by another man, the moment between us slipping like sand through my fingers.

  I hadn't even learned her name.

Her face remained etched in my mind, a vision I vowed to remember. Her delicate nose, the curve of her lips, and the light that danced in her eyes. She was unlike anyone I had ever encountered, and yet she was gone, swept away before the connection could deepen.

   "Do you know who she is?" I asked Charles, raising my hand to point towards her fading silhouette.

   He shrugged, his disinterest apparent. "No idea. But I do know who the boy dragging her along is."

My attention snapped to him, my brows furrowed. "Who is he?"

"That's Phillip Golding," Charles said, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Rumor has it he's set on courting Lord Bradbury's daughter."

  I stiffened at the mention, my thoughts swirling. Was she the one they spoke of?

  Charles adjusted his coat and straightened his hat, his attention already drifting to another girl walking past. "Do you think she's the daughter?" He asked, turning back to me with a smirk.

  "I'm not sure." I muttered, the frustration evident in my tone. The girl lingered in my thoughts, her name a mystery, her absence a quiet ache.

  Charles chuckled, his amusement grating my preoccupied mind. "Do you fancy her or something?"

I shrugged, unwilling to answer, though my heart already whispered the truth. Did I fancy her? Perhaps.

"If you do, you could always go to the ball Lord Bradbury's son is hosting in a couple days. The mystery girl might be there." He said casually, clapping a hand on my shoulder. "I'm definitely going. Plenty of ladies to meet. Are you in?"

  My thoughts lingered on her— the brief, fleeting moment that had tethered me to her. The thought, Love at first sight, sprouting in my head. Even when she had declined the rose, I had felt a pull, as thought fate were threading our lives together.

  "I'm in." I said, determination settling in my chest.

                  ✿  [Y/N] POV ✿

I met Daisy's excited gaze, her blue eyes alight as I recounted my encounter with the Basilwether heir that had occurred two days ago.

  "This is so exciting!" She squealed, clasping her hands together. "Finally, a boy you seem interested in!"

  I raised a hand, silencing her before she got carried away, "I'm not interested in him." I said, scoffing at the notion.

Daisy tilted her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, "You should see your eyes when you talk about him, [N/N]. They tell a different story."

  We sat outside at a table overlooking the lake near my family's home, the wind gently teasing her bangs. I took a sip of a tea, trying to steady myself.

"Oh! Do you think he'll come to the ball your brother is hosting tomorrow?" She asked eagerly.

  "I don't know." I replied honestly, my thoughts straying to Tewkesbury and the lingering memory of our brief exchange.

"And what about Phillip? Is it true he's set on courting you?" Daisy asked, her voice filled with curiosity.

  I nearly choked on my tea, "God, no!" I have no interest in Mr. Golding." I exclaimed, shaking my head.

Daisy grinned slyly, "That's what they all say."

  I narrowed my eyes at her teasing, watching as she rested her chin in her gloved hand, daydreaming.

"And who are you thinking of?" I asked.

"Phillip," She admitted with a dreamy sigh.
"I can't begin to comprehend how you're not interested in him. He's quite handsome."

  I sighed, brushing a strand of my [h/c] hair from my face, "It's not that I don't find him attractive. Quite the opposite actually. He's perfectly fine and charming. But my mother wants me to love him, and I just... don't. He's nothing more than a friend to me."

"And who would you love, do you suppose? The Basilwether heir?" She teased— grin widening.

  I rolled my eyes. Though the thought lingered longer than I'd liked to admit.

"How are things with Lorenzo?" I asked, referring to her soon to be husband. Did I forget to mention that innocent Daisy is engaged with a to-be lord?

    She sighed, seeming a little bit saddened and I perked my head up. The last time I had asked her about him she sounded madly in love.

"Things are great! In fact I want you to come with me to find my wedding dress." She told me and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"You don't seem happy." I observed, putting my hand on top her hers. "You can tell me anything."

  She smiled and shook her head, "I'm happy, I promise. Lorenzo is very caring towards me. I love him." She sounds like she was trying to convince herself, I could tell she didn't want to continue talking about so I moved on.

"What about you? Does your mother truly want you to marry for more power?" Daisy asked another question, sympathy in her smooth voice.

"It seems so."

Daisy shook her head, "I'm here for you too."

       I smiled and held her hand. We stayed talking for another half an hour before Daisy told me she had to leave to plan for her wedding. I hugged her and told her goodbye.

  After Daisy left, I returned to the house, evening settling around me. As I walked toward my room— a knock at the front doors broke the quiet. Assuming Daisy had forgotten something again, I dismissed the guards and opened the door, a teasing remark ready on my lips.

But instead of Daisy I found him.

The boy from the market, the one who stayed in my thoughts for days. Tewkesbury stood there, his presence filling the doorway, and for a moment— I couldn't breathe.