Morning came with a welcoming light. As usual, he awoke bright and early he got dressed. Eager to see his beautiful friend, he donned his boots and walked out of his room. He walked across the hall and met Helmsley coming towards him with a tray of breakfast.

"Good morning, Helmsley " he beamed.

"Good Morning to you, M'lord." He smiled back.

Eyeing the tray before him Helmsley pointed out the delicious contents of toast, strawberry preserves, fruits and a strong cup of coffee.

He eyed the old man with an arched brow who returned the silent glare with a calm look as he knew she would need it. The grin that pulled at Helmesly's lips made Dominic laugh.

"She will definitely be needing this." He eyed the black coffee in the cup and picked it candidly off the tray.

With an agreeing nod, he followed Dominic after a slight tap at the door. Slightly poking his head thru the door the room was quiet.

Slowly they entered with a gesture to be quiet Helmsley quickly placed the tray on the nearby table before the window. Drawing the curtains, he let in the splendid morning sunlight that illuminated the room. With a quick nod, he left them alone.

He placed the hot cup of coffee on the nightstand and sat at her side, leaning across her he looked down at her.

His playful baritone voice stirred her. "Emilia, wake up."

With a moan, she turned her face away from the light and burrowed deeper into the sheets.

"We will have none of that Miss." He chuckled, pulling the covers away from her face.

With another moan, she turned to open one eye slowly. Stirring more she turned and shook her head not wanting to get up.

"I must look the way I feel m'lord, don't look at me." She mumbled softly into her pillow.

He laughed, shaking his head.

"How do you feel?" He leaned closer and brushed all her hair from her face.

"I feel as if I were thrown on top of a boat." Her mocking grin turned into a throaty giggle when he caught on to her joke.

He let out a hearty laugh.

Calming down from the cackle of laughter that lit up their morning he sighed, shaking his head in awe at her humor.

"Minx." He sighed.

She wrinkled her nose with a grin that melted his heart. She was simply adorable.

With deep breaths, they looked at each other. Quickly he leaned over to the table and carefully placed in her hands the hot cup of coffee.

"I do believe young lady, that you are in need of this."

She gladly took the warm brew within her hands and breathed in the aroma that woke her senses and sent a wash of warmth over her body.

Meanwhile, she sipped Dominic stood and sat at the foot of her bed and began to examine her bandaged ankles.

He unwrapped the long white cloth and observed that the swelling went down a bit.

She watched as he lowered his head and concentrated on each one. Her heart began to race at the touch of his strong warm hands caressing her ankle and soles of her feet.

"There appears to be no more swelling," he said.

Gently he massaged and rubbed it, moving his thumbs over the tender spot of her ankle. He was torturing her senses and she was slowly melting with it. Calming the odd sensation she was feeling it brought a strange sense of awareness, she gently closed her eyes and looked away.

Breaking her thoughts away, he continued talking to her unaware of the hungry glare staring at him. He was gorgeous in every way. She licked her lips and pretended to pay attention to his questions.

"Does this hurt?" He looked up into her eyes.

"No." She said coolly hiding the quiver in her tone.

He continued until he was done.

With a frown, she could not see in his eyes, he hid it from his voice.

"In no time we will be able to return home." He looked up.

Her eyes turned sad, and sulky.

Not understanding what he said wrong. He watched her lower her gaze and hide her face.

Concerned, he crossed over and plopped to the pillow beside her.

Sitting up against the headboard beside her he leaned closer to her, tilted her chin up and looked down into her face.

"What is wrong?"

Lowering her gaze, she turned her face away.

He sat silently at her side. She broke the silence and told him of her unhappy existing life she lives in the care of her uncle. Although he was not cruel, he was indeed too rigid and uncaring. Her aunt Margaux, barely speaks to her because of the busy life of her tea parties and luncheons and other womanly affairs she attends. Her sister that was distant in body and soul because she did not live with her and when she visited they barely spoke. And, Stephen the vile scoundrel that at every chance he could, he would accost her and make inappropriate advances towards her.

His blood boiled at the story. It was incredulous to think she could live like that.

Head bent her eyes stared at her lap, she breathed words that his ears did not want to hear.

"It is what I am destined to live and it shall be so, until I am married."

She dashed away a tear.

He sat and fumed over the whole ordeal. She was young and vibrant with life and she lived amongst the very people that in the snap of a finger will draw the very life from her. He didn't want to return with her either. If he could, he would stay with her here away from all that did her harm. Her delicate nature undid his resolve to never marry.

But, that was not up for debate, he would not be able to bare her such a blow to be married to him. They would be the gossip and talk of the ton, she so desperately ran from. He gambled, drank and did immoral things with the ladies, Married women. Although it would be very shocking for most to see the delicate wallflower in the company of such a scoundrel as he. The scandal..Oh! The scandal!