teacup and inhaling in the scent. “Mm. This smells good. Do you think Avange would be able to make us this recipe, Leon? What kind of tea is this anyway?”
“Orange something,” Delilah answered. “Really good, isn’t it?” “Did your cousin make these?” Leon asked, as he took his share. “She did.”
“We should hire her as our cook,” Sheik said, munching away on another scone. “She’ll be able to replace Aidan and Avange when they’re not there.”
“Are those your other brothers, Aidan and Avenge?” Delilah asked, curiously.
“Aidan is, but Avange is our sister,” Leon replied.
“Avenge? That’s a rather unusual name for a girl. An avenger, quite funny.”
“It’s Avangelene,” Sheik explained. “Avange for short. A-V-AN-G-E, not like an avenger. She’s the best sister.”
“Oh,” Delilah colored and sat to drink her tea. “I’ll like to meet her someday,” she said, turning to Leon. “If you give me the opportunity to, that is.”
Leon had no idea what she meant by that and just shrugs.
“I think we’ll take leave after this,” Leon said after a while. He was growing a bit heavy in the head. “I’ll come again another time when your father is available.”
“No, you can’t!” Delilah said, jumping up. “You have to stay a bit and wait. He’ll be ready soon.”
“I don’t know what he’s doing but it’s taking forever,” said Sheik. “I do want to go nap a bit.”
“Well, actually, he’d been free for some time now,” Delilah admitted nervously. “I just adore you so much that I don’t want to–”
“Great! You mean we could have left this place hours ago?” Sheik was mad and threw down the scone he was holding.
His brother needed anger management. His temper gets spark easily from little things, but Leon guess it’s a good thing at the moment. He was feeling rather angry himself for having been fooled again.
“Sorry, I couldn’t help it,” Delilah giggled. “Aw…you are so handsome, Mr. Heartily. So very handsome.”
“That’s it, I’m ready to leave,” Sheik said, getting up and pulling on his coat. “This is ridiculous. Could’ve spent the last few hours doing something better.”
“Sheik, don’t,” Leon said. “I have to meet with Stanford. This is important.” He turned to Delilah and releases a breath of indignation. “If your father is available, then please lead me to him. I have many businesses to tend. I don’t have all day here.”
“Should have thought of that earlier,” Sheik said, falling back down on the couch. “I’m going to nap then. Hurry up.”
“I’ll take you to my father,” Delilah said, strolling towards the door. “Follow me.”
Leon nodded and said to Sheik, “Behave.”
Sheik scoffed and took his coat off again to cover him. “Just do your thing.”
With that, Leon followed out after Delilah and down the corridor to meet the old solicitor of his, Mr. Pierce Stanford, who was also the past solicitor of his father.
“Here we are,” Delilah said as they stop in front of a door. “This is father’s study now. He gave up the other one for his secretary. Simply walk in, no need to knock. I’ll miss you.”
“Please keep my brother company.”
Delilah nodded with a smile and walked away.
Leon took a deep breath and placed his hand on the door handle before knocking and entering into the room, hoping to resolve all his problems and fulfill the reason why he came here in the first place.
CHAPTER TWO
Dawson House
“You and that Lord Lansing were an embarrassment,” Susannah said
to Rose as they sat to have their afternoon tea. “Kissing and hugging on horseback in public. Please, you have higher morals than that.”
Rose hadn’t particularly lied to Madame Marionette about that part of having tea.
“Why? Leon and I always–” Rose caught herself and shrugs it off instead of responding.
“Leon and you what? This is Lord Lansing and you. I wouldn’t have minded if that was Mr. Heartily instead of that marquess, but–”
“It shouldn’t matter now, Susy. We’re getting married anyway,” Rose argued, reaching over to ring the bell for the maid to come and get the empty trays.
“But Rose, what if–” Susannah wasn’t quite sure how to put out the words, for Rose would never listen.
“What?”
“What if…what if there’s someone out there that loves you more than anyone else in the world but you just never knew? Would you…would you still want to marry his lordship and live in misery?” Susannah managed to ask. “Wouldn’t you want to be with that person that loves you?”
“There’s no such person,” Rose said with a sigh of despair, but her expression changed rapidly. “And stop making me