Chapter 29

"The tea party's today, you know?" Kent said, holding the reins of the majestic horse.

"It is? Good grief. I didn't even realize."

"It's at noon, so you have quite some time to get ready."

"I know, I know. But I like to ride with you. I like this." She smiled, looking at him, her eyes shining.

Kent's breath caught as he looked at her, starstruck. Wisps of her hair blew into her face, the golden sunlight radiating beautifully on her skin.

"I-i like this too." He said, his ears turning red, turning away slightly to dust something off his boot.

"Do you have a fever? Why're you all red?" Lilith asked, laying a gloved palm on his head.

"Oh," He jumped slightly from her touch. "It must be the weather; it's getting a bit too hot, don't you think?"

"We're approaching Fall. It is anything but hot." She laughed, throwing her head back.

He laughed too, tipping his head back. "I guess we better start going back so you can get ready for tea with the ladies."

"Oh yes! That'll be delightful."

Kent guided the horse back to the stables, lifting Lilith effortlessly from the horse and setting her down gently.

"Thank you, Kent." She said, her cheeks red and her eyes dreamy.

"I'll see you after tea." He said, smiling back at her.

"That'll be more than delightful."

"I can escort you if you wish." He said expectantly.

"That'll be nice; I'll get changed and I'll be right out."

They exchanged smiles with blushing cheeks, both going in different directions.

A slow smile spread over Lilith's face. He was just… There was no word to describe how good Kent was. Her heart thudded slowly in her chest as she thought about the way he looked at her when she was on the horse, his strong but steady grip on her waist as he lifted her into the house and brought her down. The unspoken promise in his eyes as she looked at her.

She screamed into her blankets, her legs skidding off the floor.

"Oh my! Tea." She remembered, ripping her face out of the blanket and going to pick a dress.

Lilith went through her wardrobe, settling on a dark green dress with long sleeves and some sort of collar at the neck, then threw on a matching hat as she slipped on her flats. She added a bit of color to her lips, punching her cheeks for a natural blush.

"There we go." She thought, looking at the mirror.

"I wonder what mother would say if she saw me now. She'd probably run her hands through my hair and lay a waiting kiss to my forehead, telling me that I looked beautiful."

Lilith's heart clenched at the thought of her mother. She missed her terribly.

She sighed, realizing she was wasting more time than she should and wasting Kent's time, and she would be late for tea.

She hurried down to the stairs, careful not to trip or fall flat on her face, moving outside to the waiting carriage.

Kent was outside, by the side of the carriage, waiting for her, and he looked incredibly dashing in his suit, almost identical to the one he wore to take her riding.

"All ready?" He asked her, stretching his hands to her.

"Yes, I am."

He helped her into the carriage, signaling the driver when to stop the carriage.

The ride was almost silent apart from the occasional neighs from the horse and the tap of Lilith's foot against the floorboard.

"We're almost here; I'll come and pick you up afterwards." Kent said, finally breaking the silence in the carriage.

"Oh, thank you. Are you sure that won't be too much of a bother?"

"That's alright."

They soon reached the gate of Lady Margaret, Kent's friend who saw them and was kind enough to invite her for a tea party with the other ladies so she could get acquainted with high society.

Lilith's POV

We were at Lady Margaret's house. My nerves were on edge, and I hoped everything would go well, as today started well.

Kent guided me down from the carriage, stopping to wave goodbye as he went back in.

I walked into the beautiful house of Lady Margaret, feeling stares bouncing off my back as I made my way to the garden where the tea was to hold.

"Miss Lilith." I heard a voice behind me, turning to see it was Lady Margaret.

"Lady Margaret, Good day." I said, curtsying slightly.

"I am very much happy you made it; I cannot wait to introduce you to the others."

We made our way to the garden, seeing even more ladies and more stares.

"Ladies, gather around. The tea party's about to begin."

I sat to her left as everyone else sat down too.

"Thank you, everyone, for making an appearance at my tea party. I am more pleased to have you all here. We have a new addition here, Miss Lilith, of... I'm not so sure." She said, gesturing to me.

I felt weird being the center of attention now. Every eye in the room was on me. My skin prickled as I nervously drank my tea, lifting my head and giving a small smile and a small head nod.

I saw the smile being returned by some, and then some snickers and eye rolls.

"I do hear that you're staying in Lord Kent's manor. Is that true?" A particular bright-eyed lady asked. She had orange hair and wore a yellow dress and an orange fascinator in her hair.

"Oh, my days, Meredith. Not even a soft question?" Meredith said, laughing slightly, then lifting her eyes slowly back to me, eager as well to hear the answer.

"Um. Well, it is true; thank you. I am staying in Kent's manor." I said, giving them the answer they most desired.

Collective gasps came from the women.

"You called him Kent, not Lord. You didn't address his title." She noted, hands to her mouth.

"Oh, yes, you could say we're friends." I said, grimacing at my answer.

The ladies gasped at such a weird answer.

"Permit me to ask, but I could say we're most curious. You mean to tell me that a man and a woman are friends and live in a house without a chaperone as just friends." Another lady said, rolling her eyes.

"Yes. That's exactly what I'm telling you." I said, lifting my tea cup up.

"Could he have some kind of illness in that department, or perhaps he's not interested in ladies?" A green-eyed lady said, covering her mouth as soon as the words left.

Her words invited murmurs from all around; the women looked at me with interest to clear their doubts.

"Kent, I mean Lord Kent, is perfectly normal as far as I'm concerned."

"Yes, you do know. Because you're a whore." A haughty voice sounded.

"Excuse me?" I said, lifting my eyes to look at the lady.

"You heard me." The woman looked at me, then at Lady Margaret, waiting for a face-off.

"It seems you have the wrong impression, Miss Matilda. She said she and Lord Kent are friends. Just friends." A woman said, stressing the "just friends" part.

"Of course, she did. She's a gold-digging whore determined to climb Lord Kent's thigh and get into high society." A familiar voice said.

"Donna." Lady Margaret called out, her face set in a grim line.

"Lady Margaret, thank you for sending me an invite. I very much appreciate it." Donna said with a sly smile.

"Miss Donna, it's good to see you." I said with a tight smile.

"It is anything but good, seeing you." She said, moving closer until her lips were close to my ear.

"I am a bit surprised that you're still alive, you little bitch." She backed away, a strange smile on her lips.

"Ladies, let's ignore what just happened and talk about the coming ball." Lady Margaret said, attempting to clear off the tense atmosphere.

"No." Donna said, rising up slightly.

"Sorry?" Lady Margaret said, looking at her incredulously.

"I said no." Awkward silence settled over the garden.

"Let's really address how this shipwrecked skank used her witch powers to seduce a man that was rightfully mine." Donna said, her face marking to a twisted frown.

"Lord Kent was anything but yours, and you know that." Lady Margaret said, rolling her eyes as she sipped her tea.

A few ladies giggled as Donna stood, reddening with embarrassment.

"Very funny, Lady Margaret. What's funnier is your husband running away with your maid and leaving you here." She said, moving towards me.

"Get out, right this instant." Lady Margaret stood up, pushing Donna away.

She fell on her ass, her face crumpled with anger as the other ladies snickered and giggled.

She stood up from the ground, glaring at me.

"You caused this. I'm going to get you." Donna said, lifting her tea cup, pouring it straight onto my face.