I realise that I missed the cut off date for the Watty Awards but I have managed to finish this book today! So expect to get the rest of the chapters some point today.

Enjoy! And please, vote and comment!

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Lord Alder was invited back to Aunt Julie's home for a celebratory dinner. They had won and saved Lavinia's reputation. After the game she had been surrounded by several young gentlemen who had congratulated her and asked to be saved a dance at the next ball. Lavinia had flushed with shyness at all the attention and Caleb had watched, on guard to step in at any time, as she graciously accepted their praise.

Judith had also joined the crowd, coming straight up and hugging her 'friend' as she let out an excited squeal.

"You did it! I cannot believe you did it Lavinia!" she exclaimed with true disbelief. "That was an amazing final run, I had no idea you played so well."

"I had two ruthless teachers," Lavinia laughed off Judith's comment and gestured to her two brothers standing in a crowd of young debutantes.

The crowd around them laughed and Judith struck up a conversation with Henry as Lavinia was dominated by another young suitor.

***

Several hours later she was sitting at the dinner table between her Aunt at the head of the table and Caleb on her left. Her two brothers were sitting across from them and they were all chatting excitedly about the game.

"We had drawn and if Lavinia hadn't got that final run we would have had to play another round but we were all exhausted and probably wouldn't have lasted another one," Charles was explaining to their Aunt who had found the sun too glaring and had come home before the end of the game with a slight headache.

"I still cannot believe you got that," Edward said, the disbelief clear in his voice.

"I must have a guardian angel watching over me," Lavinia laughed modestly.

"No, you have skill. I've never seen your equal," Caleb complimented and Lavinia looked up, surprised. Their eyes met for a brief moment and again the feeling of flying returned.

Across the table, Charles noticed their eye contact. He had had his suspicions that something might have been beginning between his friend and his little sister but he had thought Caleb didn't see her as anything more than a sister himself. However, he had noticed him watching her today and now they had shared a look that had made his sister turn beetroot. He knew he had to step in soon.

After dinner, the women retired to the drawing room and the men stayed in the dining room for their separate conversations. Charles subtly let Edward know that he wanted some time alone with his friend by tugging on his ear the way they used to when they were younger. Edward took the hint and excused himself for half an hour before they would join the women again.

"Is he feeling alright?" Caleb asked, concerned about Edward. They had both become friends over the course of their stay at Aunt Julie's and Caleb hoped he wasn't coming down with anything.

"He'll be fine," Charles assured him. "In fact, I'm glad we got this time alone, there is something I would like to ask you."

Caleb raised his eyebrows in interest and motioned for him to continue after he took a sip of his drink.

"What are you intentions towards my sister?" Charles questioned abruptly, watching his friend's reaction.

Caleb's face turned into one of surprise and then immediately a firm determination took over. He had known that with his present feelings for Lavinia that at some point he would need to have this conversation with his friend. He had wondered in the past what he would say and how he would ask Edward and Charles for their permission to court her, but he knew it was too early for that. They had been through a lot more than your average season debutante and suitor but Charles didn't know about Mr Black and he wanted to keep it that way.

Instead, he looked straight into Charles' eyes and said "My intentions are entirely honourable. I have come to admire your sister in a way I did not expect to and I would love to continue our acquaintance with the hope of it growing into friendship and possibly more."

Charles' eyes grew wide in shock at such an open declaration. He immediately stood up and Caleb followed his motion, standing tall and ready to defend his feelings.

"Has she given you any indication that she returns these feelings?" He asked angrily.

"Indeed she has not," Caleb answered honestly. He felt she may only see him as another older brother, there to help and protect her, but he hoped that one day she would realise that it wasn't obligation but admiration that fueled his actions. Until then, however, he would have to show her.

Charles was satisfied with this answer and with a great sigh, sat down again. Caleb remained standing out of respect.

"Lavinia is only seventeen, Caleb," he said quietly looking into his drink. "This is her first season and although I agreed to allow her to go on outings with suitors, I am not ready to agree to her being married until she is a little older. She needs to make friends, expand her social circle, meet new people this season. She cannot be distracted by someone trying to impress her. I am asking you, please just keep your distance for now. Wait until she is older and I'm ready to let her be courted. Then you can scare away all the other suitors."

He said the last bit with a chuckle before downing the rest of his drink.

Caleb sat down again. "I promise I will leave her alone from now on. However, I would like to know when you are ready to let her be courted."

Charles agreed to those terms and they drank to it, the way they used to when they made a promise when they were at Oxford.

***

Over the next week, Caleb avoided all contact with Lavinia, as difficult as it was for him. He danced with others at balls and escorted other debutantes to dinner each night, but none of them were anywhere near Lavinia's equal in beauty, kindness, strength and conversation. Her natural good nature had attracted him at first and now, seeing her talking and laughing at other men's jokes was one of the hardest things he had ever had to do. But he had promised, and he knew it was important to show Charles that he respected his decisions and his sister.

He still watched her from a distance, he needed to make sure Colin still took his warning. Every time he thought back to that night, he hated that he had let it go so far.

As he was now keeping his distance, Judith saw it as her time to attract his attention. She often spoke to the hostess of the dinners and hinted that she would like to sit next to him and she followed close behind him after each dance so as to make it rude for him not to ask her. Her mindless chatter and attempts at flirting irritated him, but his good breeding and gentlemanly manners refrained him from hurting her feelings. He allowed her to speak but tried to keep their conversations short.

Lavinia felt Caleb's distance and she couldn't understand it. Had she said or done something that he did not like? She had thought that they had almost become friends, but now his actions said otherwise. Judith was all over him and Lavinia noticed it and felt it keenly. Judith called most mornings and told her of her many conversations and outings with Caleb. One particular morning, Lavinia had woken late after the ball the night before and Judith joined her for breakfast. Her Aunt had already left to visit some friends and Charles and Edward had gone to meet with other debutantes.

"I cannot believe you slept in for so long," Judith remarked, lightly mocking her friend.

"You would too if you could get away with it," she remarked as she piled her plate with toast and boiled egg.

"How true," Judith replied, sitting across from her friend and pouring herself some orange juice before starting on the subject she had particularly come to talk about.

"Lord Alder is a gentleman far superior to all others!" she gushed. "He spoke to me all last night and we danced twice. He told me all about his meetings with your brothers and how he spent most of the morning with him and how they met in the bookshop and..." and so she went on for the best part the morning speaking of everything Caleb had told her of his week and exactly what he had been doing and how he felt about her. Judith was oblivious to how Lavinia was reacting to Judith's boasting. She felt betrayed by Caleb, she had thought they had some form of friendship and yet, ever since the game of rounders he had hardly spoken two words to her. Not once had he danced with her or escorted her into dinner. Her brothers only met him in town, he never came to the house anymore, and he spent so much time with Judith, according to her, that she almost felt betrayed.

Lavinia endured Judith's chatter for most of the morning until she finally managed to change the topic to books and they decided on walking into town, as the weather was still remarkably pleasant, and visit the bookshop.

"Have you ever seen Caleb's library?" Judith asked, but before Lavinia could reply she simply continued. "So many books! He truly is an intelligent man as he must read so much."

Lavinia's attention became diverted with this statement. Had Caleb not told her himself that he did not like reading factual books outside of Oxford?

"What kinds of books does he like?" Lavinia said, cutting Judith off mid-sentence. Judith, however, was undeterred as she was glad of her friend's interest.

"All sorts of factual books, he has stacks of them and apparently he has read over half of his library," Judith replied matter of factly. This confused Lavinia however, the Caleb she knew could not have said something so different to her as he had to Judith. He would not lie like that and she doubted he would brag about having read over half of his library. He was cocky, that was for sure, but he was not proud.

As the ladies turned the corner and began heading down the street where the bookshop was situated, Judith let out a little squeal of excitement and squeezed Lavinia's arm, causing her to look up.

"Lord Alder!" Judith called out as she rushed towards him to make him stop before crossing the street.

The subject of Judith's one-sided conversation all morning was standing before them and for some reason Lavinia felt nervous. She knew she was blushing a little which made her blush all the more and she didn't know what to do with her hands. She eventually clasped them politely in front of her, clutching at her purse.

"Lady Wetherton, Lady Bradley," Caleb bowed his head to both of them as they curtsied. "What brings you this far into town?"

"We were visiting the book shop. Perhaps you would like to join us as we know reading is a favourite pastime of yours," Judith invited, fluttering her eyelashes and pouting her lips a little.

Caleb, however, had his eyes fixed on Lavinia. He had noticed her blush and was a little confused by it. Was she embarrassed by her friend's behaviour or was she simply feeling awkward in his presence? He hoped it was the former, but feared it was the latter. He knew that keeping his distance from her would probably make her question their friendship but he had hoped she would always feel comfortable with him, even if it was just as an elder brother.

When he finally registered what Judith had said, he was again confused by her declaration that reading was a favourite pastime of his. He had never spoken of books with Judith before. All she ever talked of with him was gossip and dresses.

Shrugging this off, he accepted her proposal, granting that with Judith there he was not only spending time with Lavinia and therefore not breaking his promise to Charles, but he would also be able to make sure Lavinia got home safely. He offered both ladies an arm and together they walked to the bookshop.

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Thank you for reading, I'll get the rest up soon.

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