Chapter 30

Kent's POV

I entered Margaret's home, and it was relatively quiet.

“Lord Kent.” Her butler said curtsying slightly.

“The ladies are in the garden if you're wondering.” He added pointing me in the direction of the garden.

I enter the garden seeing a scuffle happening and Donna.

Of course, she'd be the center of attention in the worst things.

I can't hear what she's saying to Margaret, and her face contorted into anger, telling her to leave. She falls on the floor; the ladies giggle, seemingly amused. She gets up and goes to Lilith with a face of rage holding a steaming cup of tea.

I don't even wait. I rush immediately to the scene standing in front of tea, scalding hot tea poured against my chest.

Lilith's POV

I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact of whatever Donna wanted TJ to do to me. I waited for a few minutes but I felt nothing but a masculine scent all around me.

I opened my eyes to see a broad back in front of me.

“Kent!” I gasped pulling him away.

The damage was already done the front of his pressed linen shirt wet with turning warm eucalyptus tea.

“Lord Kent!” Donna said paling visibly. She stuttered like a fish, her mouth opening and closing but no words falling out from her lips.

“You almost poured scalding hot tea on Miss Lilith.” He said, an undertone of rage overlapping his voice.

“I-I wasn't going to. It was all a funny joke. I was about leaving even.” She stuttered stupidly.

“You caused intentional harm to Miss Lilith. You could have scalded her badly if I wasn't here. You would have done far worse.

“Kent, I-”

“It's Lord Kent to you, and trust when I say you would pay the cause of your stupid actions.”

“You-” Donna started to say when Matilda began to pull her.

“It's best if we just go.” She whispered to her quietly.

They left immediately, their heads crouching down.

“Kent, are you all right?” Lady Margaret asked looking at him with twisted eyebrows.

“I am.” He grumbled.

“I think I'd better get going. Thank you for the invite, Lady Goodbye ladies.” I said to them, curtsying slightly and grabbing Kent's hands to leave.

We walked in silence to the carriage.

When we settled in. I turned to him, my eyes on his wet shirt.

“Why did you do that?” I said quietly.

He didn't answer, his hands still on our intertwined hands.

With blushing cheeks, I hurriedly let him go, settling my hands on my lap.

“I couldn't stand you getting hurt.” He answered turning his head to look outside at the moving trees.

“You hurt yourself because of me,” I said quietly.

“It wasn't because of you, and I did hurt myself.”

I moved my hands to the area of his wet shirt, pressing the skin beneath slightly.

He winced in pain.

“You said you didn't hurt yourself,” I said moving my hands away.

“...”

“You shouldn't have done that,” I said again.

“You could have bruised badly or worse. I couldn't let that happen while I watched. I need to do something anything at all.”

“Thank you for this.”

“You don't need to thank me.”

“Yes, I do. I'll take care of your injuries when we get home.”

“You don't have to do that-”

“No!” I said a bit too loudly. “I insist; it's the least I can do, considering you saved my life.

The remaining carriage ride was in comfortable silence. I moved into the house swiftly, getting a towel and some cold water from the kitchen.

Kent walked quietly behind me, his boots hitting the hard floor.

“Take off your shirt,” I said, about too forward for my liking.

He arched an eyebrow at me, smiling slowly.

“I- I don't mean it that way,” I said hurriedly. My cheeks flamed.

He took off his shirt laying it down on the table next to him. My breath seized as I looked at the hard rushes and planes of my body. The way his muscles popped as he slowly took up the shirt, almost in a teasing way.

I take in the sight in front of me, remembering it for dark and cold nights. I look up again at his chest seeing the blaring hot skin caused by me.

I take a step closer, tentatively. My fingers reach to brush the inflamed skin.

“I'm sorry,” I said quietly in the empty room; no one was there but us. Just the mere thought made my heart beat wildly.

“You don't need to apologize. It wasn't your fault.” He said looking into my eyes.

I turned away, wringing the rag in my hands and gently dabbing it on the red skin on his chest.

He winced as I repeated this a few times. His eyes steadily trained on my face.

The rag dropped, but I was too far gone to notice anything of the sort In this money, it was only me and him. Just us.

My hands traced above the injury, his skin warm to my fingertips.

My hands moved over his shoulder as I stepped even closer.

I could feel his eyes darken as they looked at every expression.

I gulped visibly, feeling the room's temperature get hot.

His hands went to my waist, gripping it slightly as my hands caressed his hard but tense shoulders.

We looked into each other eyes. Desiring something.

I stepped even closer and the hands on my waist tightened. Our faces going closer at every passing second.

He winced as I stepped back, breaking the wonderful moment.

“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to brush over the injury.”

“Lilith, it's okay.”

I loved the way my name brushed off his tongue. It made me feel good. It made the desire in my veins burn even hotter.

“I guess I'd better go. I have some things to attend to.” Kent said, picking his shirt from the side.

“I won't waste your time any further. I'll see you later.” I said a bright smile on my face.

He walked away as I stood there awkwardly wringing the rag in my hands.

I move up the stairs, intending to go to my room when I see a door.

When Kent showed me around the house he didn't expressly state what this part was for or why it was there.

Should I pass or should I see what's in it?

I struggled with my conscience, eventually giving up and walking to the door. Surprisingly it was open.

I entered, seeing it was an office just like the one on the ship. Wide windows, a large desk, some papers, and a bookshelf lodged by the side.

I moved around the table, wondering what I'd find.

My hands glided over the deck, passing through some papers when I felt a leather book.

Curiously, I picked up what was on the pages. Flipping it over, j began to read.

It is night time and Grandpa just left. He said he was going to come and see me soon and brought me this journal for me to write in. I hadn't seen mother and father in a few weeks, and Emmett did too. Grandpa said they don't want to see me and they earn him as he goes down to see me. I miss them so much and I miss Emily too.

“Who is Emily?” I thought quietly to myself, bitter jealousy coursing through me.

I miss sitting at the table with them and I miss chasing down butterflies. I miss piano lessons with Father and I miss classes too.

I remembered Kent telling me about his brother but not giving many details. He said his mother started panting flowers after his sister had died of pneumonia.

I was finally let out today. I was so happy. I ran to hug Mother and she moved away from me like I was some rabid beast. Emmett wouldn't talk to me either; he visibly shivered when I touched him, and Father avoided my eyes. During dinner they were seated so far away from me.I tried to move closet but they didn't let me. I didn't get it. I didn't do anything wrong why are they so scared.

I closed the pages confused at what was going on and what I was reading. I looked at the papers on the desk, glancing through them.

Shipment details from ships that went his. Goods delivered that sounded a lot like weapons. What was going on? Who was the man I was fated to? Do I even know him?

I went through some of the papers, my eyebrows creasing more and more as I read through.

“Maybe all these aren't his,” I said to myself but I knew I was wrong, the journal was Kent’s seeing his name was boldly written in front and the handwriting from the papers was too similar to be a coincidence

“Who was Emily and why did he seem so smitten with her?”

A thousand thoughts ran through my head as I paced in the office.

“What are you doing here?”

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