Wandering

The Kiss ( I )

1818, London

Lord Dylan Wang, the sixteenth Earl of Dorchester, the only heir to the dukedom, stood stoically infront of his parents as they announced-NO-imposed to him that he is to marry Lady Shen Yue, the girl he abhorred.

Not HER

Most definitely NOT her.

Not NOW.

Not EVER.

With face devoid of any emotions, he faced his parents and bluntly refused them.

"NO" without batting an eye, the earl answered his father.

The duke and his wife had anticipated this from him. Their son had refused to see the Miss for no apparent reason. Refused was an understatement. He intentionally denied Yue's existence. The reason of their falling out is still yet a question long overdued to be answered.

They were inseparable. They were friends, best of friends, they were each other's confidant. They were neighbors. Their vast estates were adjacent to each other. Their families were close. Their fathers, the dukes, were best of friends and their mothers were cousins but considered each other as sisters.

Everything was perfect. Even their future together was already written even if it still did not happen.

As a sign of friendship and everlasting bond between two families, they were promised to each other. Their betrothal will be announced on Shen Yue's first Season.

They will have their marriage when Lady Shen Yue turns 20. They were not even against the idea. Everything went smoothly.

Until..

One unfortunate day, the young earl went home raging with anger and told every single servant in the house that whomever let Lady Shen Yue enter the mansion, will never see the light of the day.

No one dared ask why.

Not even his mother.

The Duke only chuckled and let his son sulked and locked his room. It was, after all, one of those many petty fights they have. They bicker every single chance but made up before the sun goes down.

They thought that tomorrow is one those ordinary days where Dylan and Yue can be seen riding their horses, laughing out their hearts content.

Unbeknownst to them, the young earl had already planned to move away from their ancestral home and already contacted one of those dormitories for nobles in his school. He successfully avoided crossing paths with her.

He made sure that he would not breathe the same air as her.

He did not attend every single family gatherings for the past five years. He was either in school studying, he was with friends on vacation, he was in his estate doing repairs or he was travelling for business.

They knew the true reason behind his absence but NO ONE tackled the subject as if it was forbidden.

" Why, pray tell, would I marry her, father?" He asked. Locked his gaze with the duke

"Because it is only you that can tame her." The duke said. Trying himself not to smile.

The Duchess who's sick, observed her son silently. She saw something in his eyes and she knew without a doubt what's in his mind. She is , after all his mother.

"Father, she is not a horse that can be tamed. She is a lost cause. I don't know what happened to her or what was she's thinking doing things that a proper lady shouldn't be doing. She is a walking disaster! She is a scandalous woman who isn't afraid to speak her mind! Dylan exclaimed.

The duke felt silent.

The duchess was in deep thought.

He knew that by the end of this talk, his marriage talks with Yue will end without even having to begin.

Regardless of their friendship with the Shen's, they foremost one of the richest and well connected family in the country. And he will inherit everything, therefore he needs a woman with high caliber just like him.

He will never choose her.

Even if her father is a duke.

Even if she has a large dowry.

Even if they were once friends.

His father hold his mother's hand and drank his port. He lovingly gazed his wife, gently tapped her cheeks and kissed the back of her hands.

Isn't that a good thing?Your wife has a mind of her own? And tell me, are you keeping tabs on her? why are you so into what she's up to? He was half amused half curious.

He lost his tonque for a moment.

"Father, my apologies but I cannot marry her. With finality in his voice he bowed to his parents and walked towards the massive mahogany door of his father's study.

The Duchess with a knowing smile watched his son's back.

"Viscount of Murlberry", she suddenly said when he turned the doorknob to open the door

"Connor Leong....she'll going to marry him if you declined, "his mother said to him.

He froze.

Floodgates of memories opened.

He remember him.

Him and her,

kissing under his favorite tree.

Five years ago

on the day he was supposed to propose to her.

A/N

I don't know if you like historical romance genre but I do. Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas are my favorites. 😁😁

And im contemplating if i'll do a multi chap with this plot or end it just like that. 😁😁😁😁 please do vomment ( vote and comment hahaha) and tell me your thoughts.

As Always

Sheilah