Athena looked at the gathered crowd from her room, wrapping her arms around her waist. Practically she wondered whether the extracted lightning impact should somehow be displayed in the pagoda at the centre of the lake. Emotionally her mind was completely stuck in the depths of last night.   She could not believe how brazen she had been. Of course, if he was as familiar with the whorehouses of Europe as rumours suggested, her actions were probably routine, perhaps even boring. To her, every interaction with him was an awakening of another locked piece of her soul.   Looking out onto the gardens she felt like one of her bulbs bursting into bloom. Her skin was brighter, smile wider and eyes sparkling and he was the source.    She had matched his supposed indifference by i

Down in London, the past twenty-four hours for Oliver had been a roller coaster. He had spiralled between despair and elation multiple times as Fate had toyed with him. Now as he sat eating a quiet lunch in his hotel room he tried to go over the turn of events and rationalise his situation.   Upon arriving at the Gilded Falcon from Lady Daphne's gathering, he was surprised to be denied entrance for the first time. Despite his title and connections it appeared his name had a red creditor mark against it. The odious bald gatekeeper had politely and in a quiet voice reminded him that his previous visit was still unpaid.     Sulking angrily at the bar he watched the other gentlemen gamblers come and go. Sipping a claret, his mind was a torrent of self-pity and unfairness.  

The arrival of Oliver's letters announcing his plans the following day caused enormous upheaval and welcome distraction to both Athena and Felix.   Both buried themselves away in their respective studies focusing on arrangements, business and contractors. Oliver returned to Fairfax Manor without any sense of the raging tension between the two people.    He was entirely focused on his mission to dazzle his party guests with the completed project. He had even begun to expedite Craig directly, no longer using the lake as an excuse to flirt with Athena.    Oliver had to admit that they had performed an amazing transformation. Within two weeks the lake was completely dug, lined and slowly being pumped full of water. The ironwork pagoda had been delivered and was assembl

The following morning Athena woke to a grimy, cloudy sky that fit her mood exactly. She packed her portfolio and drawing book strapping them to the saddled sides of Tempest. The black mare seemed to read Athena’s downbeat mood, nuzzling her shoulder and behaving impeccably as she prepared.   Thomas Mellor had offered her the other horses but Athena begged the use of Tempest. Her temperament was no longer frightening, it was a reflection of their bond and she adored the black eyes that shone out of her shiny black coat like something from another world.   The ride to Paven Hall was twelve miles and by the time she arrived at the house her optimistic energy had resurfaced. Determined to put her best foot forward she shook off Felix’s warnings. In all the gossip rags she had ever cast her eye over or parties attended she had never notic

Athena was forced to remain in her room for several days after the visit to Lord Trimble. The doctor ascertained she had suffered a mild concussion. Oliver sent gifts of chocolates, fresh flowers and funny notes. Lily was a never-ending supply of tea, biscuits and blankets and Athena felt herself turning into an old woman as she quietly rested by the fire. There was no word from Felix, not that she expected anything seeing as she had shouted at him yet again. She was more convinced than ever that her future lay away from the rigid manners of rich men and their properties. His whisper "I am afraid...of you" she dare not trust as a memory as it formed a part of the black haze of her faint. Craig visited, somehow always at the same time as Lily but she decided not to tease them about their secret affection for each other. His eyes and s