The Flower Path

22. In the Garden

Rhea was in the garden reading Althea's letter.

Althea and Cassius's wedding was soon to arrive.

All through the letter Althea spoke of her love for Cassius; and how chivalrous he was.

'You once asked me what love is, Rhea, love is...'

A hand grabbed the letter out of her hand and when Rhea went to grab it she found herself face to face with Raiden Zinnia.

"Please give that back to me, Lord Zinnia."

"I think not. I think I rather like seeing you reach out for me." His arm snaked around her waist pulling her close while the other tossed the letter behind him without a care.

Rhea pushed against his chest with no avail, "Kindly remove your arm from my person, now."

When he didn't only pulled her closer, his other arm became like a vice around her back. Rhea looked around trying to find a water source she could pull from. Wishing in that moment she could also summon wind like her father.

Finding nothing that could save her in that moment she began to pull and shove against the Marquis. She thought her strength was enough when she separated only for him to spin her around.

"Don't make a scene, wouldn't want to ruin that pristine reputation of yours."

His head went to burrow itself in her neck only for him to be suddenly ripped from her causing Rhea to stumble away. She turned back to see Lord Easton holding the Marquis's son up by his throat.

"You wouldn't do it. You are a coward, always have been, and always will be."

Lord Easton squeezed and the man in his grasp gasped. "I don't need to if I can make you disappear by other means just as easily. Guards!" Knights came from the walkway, "Raiden Zinnia, you are under arrest for crimes against the Empire."

No sooner was the Marquis's son taken away than Lord Easton was by Rhea's side. His hands hovering at her sides, as if afraid to frighten her or hurt her.

"Rhea, you are safe now. I won't let anyone harm you." He held his hand out, still not assuming anything even after he'd saved her. Rhea grasped his hand. His other hand hovered over her cheek, "You are crying." He turned as if he was going to go back and finish strangling the Marquis's son when Rhea grabbed onto his arm.

"Please don't go."

A light breeze tossed the thrown-away letter to her feet, Rhea bent to pick it up. One hand still holding onto Lord Easton. He felt safe and she didn't want to let go of that feeling.

Her gaze drifted over the letter, her eyes coming to where she had left off.

'It is when the other does something for you with no thought of themselves. It's when being with them isn't a chore or responsibility but a pleasure and one begins to wonder how would it feel if you never left their side.'

It was then that Rhea met Lord Easton's bespectacled silver gaze.

'I wonder what it would be like to stay by his side.'

As if he'd heard her very thoughts he drew closer to her and pulled her into an embrace and it didn't feel constricting instead it was comfortable. Rhea breathed him in, mint and old books.

---

They had been walking side by side in the garden, his hand resting on hers that was upon his elbow when Rhea made up her mind. For the first time, she felt herself willing to take a chance.

"Lord Easton, thank you for coming to my rescue."

He opened his mouth as if to dismiss what he had done and she raised her hand putting a finger to his lips. Her cheeks reddening trying to not think about how soft they were against her fingertip.

"I would be willing to take a chance." Rhea looked down and gathered her courage, "What I'm trying to say..." She was about to do something none in society would approve of at least coming from her lips first, "Will you court me, Lord Easton?"

His smile lit up his usually brooding features and his eyes shone with flecks of gold.

"I would be honored, Lady Rhea."

"Rhea."

"Rhea," he hummed her name beneath his breath raised her hands in his, and bestowed a gentle kiss upon her knuckles. "Please call me Easton."