The Lady Who Stay

League of

ack off your wo

ed his decision. Now that he had given his word to help her, he couldn't very well take it back. But looking at Lady Cressida Belverst standing there in her blue satin gown, a

set out to a completely different world. What was the assurance that she would not be found unconventional out there as well? Though he didn't want to get marrie

one out there with no maids to do he

our mind,

ips snapped him back to his senses.

e would call it? Was Th

e in the first place? How else would they have built those walls outside the holes? There must

was too transfixed on her moist lips as they

yes curious and excited. "Calan. Easton," she call

be been a mistake as well because he almost-almost-made a grab for her shoulders and it was not

lf shackled in a marriage he didn't want. But her very presence, standing too close before him, opened him to surprising realizations. He'd seen her in her best ball gowns, seen her in r

ould not deny that fact any more than he wanted to maintain the image of a spoiled, careless girl in

st in it after all. The Town Herald could very well do with mor

er why your father would even approve of me, you know I will taint your good name-your title. I will not be a very good wife for you. I am a walking scandal and you know

need to make a list of your scandalous traits. You are by far the last woman I would think for a wife, Cressida." He was

ith a secret, knowing smile. "So you can keep as many

"I can have as many women

ce. She arched her brow and eyed him wi

you like to elabora

you know what your reputation is around The Tow

y brothers'

not the rake Lord of Easton everyone is talking about. I'm sorry

private setting, Lady Cres

ted her head to the side, eyeing him with curiosity. "Now that I thin

hat he hated being called a rake, the name actually benefited him in a lot

fact that you keep mistresses. And st

down to the curve of her bosoms that gave a lot of promise. He was almost sure he would not desire for a mistress if she was his wife. But he couldn'

e quickly wiped it away with a sardonic smile. "And that

ne else to marry...one

you are going to help me get out of

her some more. "Because y

ld see the color flush her

erely curious why yo

as I am thinking you are now," she snapped at him, tea

don't know the

couldn't be. And before he could make another assessment, it was go

*

ng before her. He was looking at her as if he couldn't understand. Of course

e that," she snapped,

e wh

ild having problems with how

e would think her problems were too miniscule compared to any political or national issues. Her p

blem except the one in which you are

rself, the people who expected her to make a scandal of herself everywhere she went. And she had proven herself to be just that no matter how she tried to change their minds, no matter how she followed the rules and etiquette to be a lady. Because she could never tame the passion at moments she felt them and every time she would open her mouth or do something spontaneous, s

could offer. Out there-up there-was a promise of endless sun not confined in a small, circular park, a promise of real plants, of wind so fresh, of real bright light, of ocea

ould never love her the way she wanted to be loved. He had no other passion other than his title and his own desire to please

breaking the silence. "I know you are eager to get yourself out of this mess

p breath and said, "Wh

lp us with our cause?" When he did not open his mouth to answer, she continued, "Fine. I'll have to do a bit of research on my ow

consideration. Finally, he looked up and asked, his eyes lookin

rganization tasked to ensure everyone's-" she stopped short when realizati

'm not saying anything. But don't speak of this again or I'

nd to her lips in shock. "You're a League

that fact so you better think twice before repeating such information to anyone else." The warni

u-" The glint of warning in his eyes stopped her short and when sh

ore powerful than the Leaders themselves. They held The Town's secrets. They had been protecting the country for centuries since it had been founded. But the identity of their members had always been kept. One could only guess and no one wou

Please, you must know. But is it reall

think the waters in the ponds come from?

the Leaders know? Was she the last person to know of this or was she the only one outside the League of Founders to stumble upon such fact? Had no one been that curious to f

could barely wrap her mind around the fact that all

. You cannot return." The finality in his voice was clear that she almost had second thoughts. Never ret

k blue eyes. "W

wo but never repeat any word of what we have discussed here to anyone. And once you've made your d

standing alone in the middle of the garde

ere or u