The Earls lie or a scoundrels promise

A Dangerous game

                  

Chapter 6 - A Dangerous game

As Lizzie lay in bed a few days since one of the strangest nights of her life. Had it been a dream? A wonderful dream where she got to dance with him and feel his arms about her, more like a fever dream, the type that came with a burning and had you hallucinating.

She stretched out on her bed wiggling her toes and smiling at the memories from that night, the ache of her feet from dancing had ceased and the white roses she received from Blake the day after sat in her room, they told her otherwise.

In the middle of the vase was one single red rose that stuck out on top. It was real, she couldn't keep the smile off her face. But as she stared at the beautiful red flower, her face fell as she told herself, it wasn't real, not really.

He wouldn't have danced with her and showered her with compliments if it were not for her plan, she was fearful for what had been set into motion. It only occurred to her whilst sipping her hot chocolate this morning, that since the Earl or perhaps 'the scoundrel' had been in her life, Thomas Winters had been very much absent from it, her nightmares too in fact.

She had barely suffered one as dreams of Blake had occupied her nights instead. He had helped her in more ways than he could ever realise.

She was playing a dangerous game, after only one night she had nearly forgotten why he was actually paying her so much attention, how easy it would be to forget and let herself believe in the charade.

He wasn't actually interested in her, it was part of his plan. Her plan. The plan in which they would let society believe Blake had intentions toward her, court her and then ruin her reputation and leave her. With that the smile and euphoria she had felt died away. She must remember it was not real. She feared her heart was going to take a bruising. It was ridiculous since the little time they had known each other, but Lizzie suspected Blake stole her heart the moment he placed his arms about her that first night, and let her sob in his embrace, a complete stranger.

Comforting her, despite the compromising position they were in. It's only on reflection, distance and time giving her some clarity, that while meeting had be so stupid, she had been holding herself together for so long it was a matter of time before she shattered, she should have tried harder to stay home that night, but now, now she couldn't come to regret it because she had met him, and she could t regret that, he didn't even know how he bought her back to life, he had done so little but to her, he had done so much.

How truly mortified he must have been at the time, that must be why he has agreed to help her, because he saw how pathetic and desperate she was. But at the end of the season she would leave and never return. And that would be it. That is what she wanted, what she longed for, for so long...wasn't it?

When Lizzie made her way down late morning after having breakfast in her room, she froze outside the drawing room before entering on hearing voices. She knocked lightly and entered to find her aunt in her usual seat upon the small green sofa. Victoria next to her and non-other than Mr Kendall on the matching seat opposite them, sipping tea.

'Good morning Mr Kendall' she went and took a seat next to her sister, waiting for someone to speak.

Vic had a big smile on her face. And couldn't keep her eyes off the man opposite them.

'We've had some good news Elizabeth, Mr Kendall has asked for your sister's hand, and she has accepted.'

She had been expecting as much but not quite as quickly. She was elated for her sister, she knew how she felt towards him. And it meant she might be saved from being tied to her when she...completed the plan.