"Lavender! Lavender!"

Lavender lifted up her head from her mountain of pillows. She looked around in confusion. Why had her dreams been made up entirely of Lord Worthington.

"Lavender!"

"What is it mother? What is it?" she turned eyes half-mast. God it was so bright out, had she truly slept in today?

"Lavender!" Rose swung open her daughter's bedroom door in excitement. Footsteps could be heard down the hallway.

"Mother, why are you making such a racket?"

"Mama what happened to Lavender."

Rose beamed as she stared proudly at her eldest daughter. "Lavender he just made a proposal!"

"Huh?" She blinked in confusion.

"He went to your uncle early this morning and made his proposal!"

"Atlas?" She gasped. Had it been more than a dream?

"Yes--what---no...." Rose shook her head. "Lord Campote."

"Oh."

Rose cocked her head to the side. "Wait are you awaiting on a proposal from Atlas?"

Lavender blushed and grabbed her cheeks. "No, no of course not. I uh------oh mother that's wonderful news!"

"It is!" Rose said easily swayed by her daughter's enthusiasm.

"Lavender you're getting married!" Daisy exclaimed as she jumped on her older sister's bed. "Oh that's wonderful, so wonderful, you're going to be the most beautiful bride."

"He gave his proposal for Lavender?" Azalea choked.

"And on my birthday nonetheless." Rose hugged herself. "My eldest has secured a future."

"Oh mother! Happy birthday!" Lavender laughed as she jumped out her bed.

Her three daughters ran to her and wrapped their arms around their precious Rose. Lavender looked up with tears in her eyes. "Oh if father was here, he would have already sang happy birthday at such a ridiculous hour, waking us all up."

Tears ran down Rose's face as she laughed. She squeezed her daughter's cheeks. "No matter. The celebration will continue as it always has. The Marquess and his kids shall be here later this evening for my birthday dinner."

Lavender held her breath. Of course. The Marquess of Shirewest had been best friends with father. And mother extremely good friends with the late Marchioness of Shirewest. Lizze and the boy's mother. Their families always so close. Meaning every birthday celebration, they celebrated together. This is the first time in three years that Atlas was actually going to join once more in the private gathering of families.

**

"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

"What in bloody hell is the matter with you!" Reginald stared in confusion at his daughter.

"Papa! Papa look, it says here, Lavender is engaged to Lord Campote!" Lizzie exclaimed. "By God, she did it."

Atlas bit into his apple and snatched the paper from his younger sister as he made his way past her to his seat. He stared at the newspaper, looking for the announcement.

"Campote?" Matthew snorted. "We hate that guy don't we Atlas, he's a pompus-ass."

"Just like his father." Robert laughed.

"Only he does a much better job of hiding it." Matthew retorted. The boys snickered as their father gave them a stern look.

Atlas rolled his eyes and flung the paper to the floor.

"Send some flowers and congratulations to Miss. Candlewood." Reginald ordered the servant. "And make sure everything is in order for the dinner today."

"Father." Lizzie said sweetly as she took her old man's hand. "Now that my best friend is engaged, don't you think it's only right that these annoying devils that you call sons can allow even one caller to grace our doors. Papa please!"

"Hey we're saving you from a world of heartache dear sister." Robert protested. "We know those guys. They're perverted."

"You guys are perverted also!" she yelled defiantly.

"Aha---" Matthew wiggled his finger. "Therefore we know best."

Lizzie groaned and turned to her father with tears in her eyes.

"Boys, let your sister have gentlemen callers." Reginald, squinted from his failing eyesight. "Do you want her to grow to become a spinster."

"That sounds lovely actually." Atlas spoke up. "Maybe you and Miss. Candlewood can join a monastery in fact."

"Atlas...." Reginald shook his head at his oldest son.

"Father, it is our job to make sure our precious sister gets the best and nothing but the best. We will not fail you. I'll pick a suitable suitor for her."

"NO!" Lizzie screamed. "NO! NO! Absolutely not!"

"Dear me." Matthew chuckled. "It looks like we raised a brat."

Lizzie groaned and shot out of her chair. "This is---this is-----this is SHIT!"

"Lizzie!" Reginald scolded. She turned and ran out the room.

Her three brothers laughed, but their dad reached over and smacked the closest one, Robert, who unfortunately spilled his tea down his shirt.

"Hey! What did I do?"

"I told you boys to stop cursing around your sister, look at what you're turning her into. That is not proper ladylike behavior." Reginald sighed and tucked his trembling hand in his coat as he struggled to get up. "Allow her callers." He ordered. He pointed to his eldest son. "And I want you to stop frequenting that brothel, and make an announcement in the papers by next week."

Matthew and Robert snickered.

Reginald hit the back of Robert's head again. "Don't laugh, your brother does it cause he's bored. You do it because you're perverted."

Matthew snorted out his tea through his nose.

"Father I have a healthy sexual appetite." Robert protested.

"Don't come back to my house with syphilis." Reginald grabbed his cane and made his way out.

"What about me father?" Matthew asked eagerly. "Aren't I just the perfect middle son?"

Reginald grunted but didn't reply as he made his way to the stairs.

"You hear that brothers." Matthew turned to them. "The perfect son."

Atlas and Robert grabbed some fruit off the table and threw it at him, which he unsuccessfully ducked.

**

Lady Candlewood's birthday was always the most special of moments because their father had made it so. In honor of his memory, they kept up trying to make it as special for their mother in every way. It was an evening of laughter and games between the two families, always followed by a grand dinner afterwards.

It had been like this for as long as Lavender could remember.

"You hit the ball over there."

"I know where to hit the ball." she turned her head. "I know how to play lawn tennis."

"Yeah, hit it over there." Atlas grinned.

She ignored him, and took her racket and swung back. Atlas nudged her to the side just as she hit the tennis ball and it rolled to the other side. "Atlas!"

He widened his eyes in surprise. "Oh my, you're horrible."

"You moved her." Lizzie accused.

"Did not." He shrugged.

"Did too!" Lavender glared at him. If anything it made him smile wider.

"He didn't move her, Lavender just isn't very good." Matthew piped up.

"He did too move her." Azalea crossed her arms, defending her sister.

"Admit it girls, we're just better than you." Robert grinned. "And we'll always be better than you."

Lavender lifted her head. "I get another hit." she spoke defiantly and walked past him.

Atlas twirled his racket and whistled as he lifted up the edge of her dress, revealing a glimpse of her white knickers.

His two brothers covered their mouth at Atlas' outlandish behavior. Eyes twinkling with laughter.

Lavender swirled around and gasped.

"Oh dear me, my racket caught in your dress. I do apologize Miss. Candlewood." Atlas smiled innocently.

She opened her mouth and then closed it. Looking around, her mother sitting at a table, drinking wine and watching them carefully. She couldn't make a scene. Not today of all days. She turned back to him. "Well Lord Worthington, I advise you keep your racket closer." she spoke, refusing to turn her back to him.

He simply grinned.

"Come on girls! Let's beat them!" Daisy exclaimed. But the 10 year old was swooped up by Matthew.

"Miss. Daisy Candlewood, I thought you were on our side." He pouted.

Daisy laughed loudly. "Girls are the best!"

"You tell them Daisy." Azalea laughed. Matthew turned and watched the beautiful second Candlewood sister. He slowly brought Daisy down.

"Would you like another drink Miss. Azalea Candlewood?" He asked softly.

Azalea looked at him in confusion and then laughed. "You don't have to be so formal Matthew, it's only our family here this evening." She pointed at him. "But I will most definitely like a drink, so I can beat you without my throat getting parched."

Lavender took a deep breath and stared at where she was going to aim. They'd changed the rules for their lawn tennis, a couple years ago. Made it more interesting than just hitting the ball gently back and forth. Now there was an oak tree with a mark, they had to hit. She was further than she would like but she believed she could still get there. She bent slightly and pulled her racket back.

"Nice knickers." a voice whispered in her ear.

She completely missed the ball, almost stumbling forward.

"We won!" Robert exclaimed happily.

Lavender's shoulders dropped as she turned to Atlas.

He met her stare proudly. "Oh how unfortunate, better luck next time bumblebee."

Lavender pursed her lips and dropped her racket at his feet. She lifted her foot and stomped on his foot hard. She smiled. "Oh I'm sorry, I seemed to have dropped my racket." she bent down to pick it up and snapped back up. Walking away with her back completely straight.

Atlas chuckled as he watched her walk away from him.

Lizzie stared curiously at her older brother and then slowly to her best friend who'd joined her mom on the bench. She looked back but her eldest brother was still focused on Lavender Candlewood. Lizzie Worthington crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "Hummm...."

**

Dinner was lively as everybody talked at once, replaying the gossip they heard recently. Who was with who, who wanted who and the next drama that was sure to unfold.

"But I am curious Atlas, you left us empty handed and came back with a beautiful blushing snow white." Lady Candlewood replied.

All eyes turned to Atlas.

"Well Lady Candlewood, father held a gun to my head and is forcing me to marry." He chewed his chicken heartily. "And Miss. Charter is a remarkable match. Beautiful girl, respectable family, loads of money."

His brothers chuckled as his father glared at him from the end of the table.

"What's not to like?"

Lavender resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she brought her second glass of wine to her lips.

"I simply informed the future Marquess of Shirewest that is was time to start acting like one." Marquess of Shirewest remarked.

"Good luck with that." Lavender muttered inside her glass.

Atlas, being right next to her, turned his head, having heard her comment.

"Oh but enough about me." He spoke loudly. "Congratulations are in order for the future lady Campote."

Lavender almost choked on her wine.

"Here, maybe if you stopped playing grown-up." He took her wine glass from her hands and everybody at the table watched as he downed Lavender's wine.

"I am very grown, thank you Lord Worthington." Lavender replied in shock that he'd finished her glass.

Atlas bit into his chicken and chewed contently. "Oh are you now?"

Everybody at the table shoot each other a look, unsure of the underlaying sexual tone Atlas seemed to have put into his comment.

Lavender lifted her head and looked at the servant. "Can I have another glass please."

"I heard Lady Ivory is with child." Lizzie announced, getting the focus off her best friend. "Can you imagine the scandal? Who is the father?"

"No way?" Azalea exclaimed.

The chatter went up again as everyone tried to guess who the widowed Lady Ivory's secret lover was.

Lady Candlewood carefully wiped her mouth as she stared at her daughter and the Lord Worthington.

"Probably your future viscount." Atlas whispered.

"Excuse me?" Lavender turned to him.

Atlas arched an eyebrow.

"It's probably you." She whispered back.

Atlas crossed his arms and grinned. "And what do you dear, bumblebee know about how babies are made?"

Lavender inhaled sharply and looked away from him. She didn't. She hadn't a single clue but she knew that this conversation was completely inappropriate. She was glad the guests around the table couldn't see her blush. She looked down at her plate, vowing never to look in Lord Worthington's direction again.

But then she felt his leg brush against hers. She held herself perfectly still, feeling his eyes on her. His leg pressed against hers and stayed for a couple seconds before he released the pressure.

Atlas bent his head to her. "That was completely inappropriate of me, I apologize." his warm breath near her ear was causing her heart to pound through her chest. "Forgive me?"

Lavender refused to look at him, but nodded stiffly. Anything, anything, just move away. She couldn't breathe right with him so close. He finally moved back.

"I'll have to excuse myself, I'll be right back." Atlas stood up and walked away from the table.

It was only then that Lavender dared to lift her head , her lips parted as she watched him exit.

Lady Candlewood, having kept a close eye on the young adults, brought her wine to her lips.

"I do apologize for making a late appearance. Hope it's not too late."

Lady Candlewood's heart jumped upon hearing his voice. Her head snapped to her husband's twin brother.

"Lavender, I believe you've heard the great news." Lord Candlewood grinned. "Congratulations."

Another round of applause went out, but everybody slowly came to realize that Lavender Candlewood's thoughts were millions of miles away as she stared off into nothing.

**

Lavender carefully reached into the bushel. A tradition she'd done every night before her mother retired to her chambers. She would find a beautiful handpicked rose for her by her bedside.

Lavender hissed as she retreated her hand. These thorns were relentless today.

"What are you doing out here?"

She groaned and put her hand through again, ignoring the pain as she pulled at the stem. A shadow came besides her and crouched down.

She whimpered slightly but she finally held the brightest red rose in her hand. Lavender looked up. "A rose for my mother. I do it every year."

"And it looks like every year, you don't know how to simply get a servant to cut it for you." Atlas remarked.

"It means more that I picked it myself." she replied.

Atlas grinned and took her hand.

"What---what are you doing?" she tried to pull back, that hand was currently gloveless. She hadn't wanted to ruin her new gloves in the bushel of thorns.

"Checking for damage." Atlas replied. His bigger hands held hers carefully. His fingers warm. His entire touch warm as he inspected her hand. "Hummm....might need to bleed you out." he remarked seriously, wiping some blood off her finger.

"No." Lavender pulled her hand back but he held it firmly.

She looked up to meet his gaze. Lavender inhaled deeply. With his other hand Atlas traced the three cuts on the back of her hand. His touch felt as light as a feather, a caress in the wind. Like the kiss of a butterfly. Her lips parted and he looked up.

"Then should I bite it off?" He whispered huskily.

Lavender knew she was breathing too hard, but she couldn't stop. She didn't know what to say. She didn't even remember what words were.

"Okay, I snuck you a pair of sciss----" Lizzie quickly clamped her mouth as she stared at the scene in front of her by the rose bush.

Atlas knew he should let go of her hand. He'd broken every rule possible right now. But he just couldn't bring himself to do so.

He lowered his head, and parted his lips. Allowing her slim index finger to slip through his lips and enter his mouth. His tongue tasting the faint copper of the blood on her finger. He twirled his tongue around and gently sucked.

Her uncontrolled moan caused him to lift his head to watch her, and he wish he hadn't. His dick now straining against the confinements of his pants. Her finger was not all he wanted to taste. Her eyes so wide, so innocent, begging him to show her. To bring her to her knees.

Atlas slowly released her finger from his mouth. "All better right?" he whispered, leaning towards her.

"Mmmmm...." Lavender stared at her finger.

He reached out carefully, his hand almost shaking as he caressed her cheek. His thumb moved down her cheek, tracing the suppleness of her thick lips. Lips he immediately imagined would feel wonderous on his body.

Lavender looked up at him longingly. Her tongue coming out ever so carefully as she licked his thumb on her bottom lip. Her eyes closing as she twirled her tongue over his thumb. Her lips closing over it with a soft moan.

Atlas groaned and cupped her face, bringing his head down with an uncontrollable need to have her.

"Where is Lavender?" Azalea stepped outside.

Lizzie whirled around. "I'm looking for her too!" she shouted loudly. "Lavender! I have the scissors!" Lizzie giggled. "Dear me, I can't see anything out in your backyard."

Lavender gasped and broke free from Atlas, before his lips could touch her. She scrambled up, heaving, bringing her hands to her chest.

Atlas stared at the ground in shame. What had gotten into him?

"What are you two doing out here?" Azalea questioned as she stepped towards the rosebush.

"Mama's rose!" Lavender exclaimed. She quickly bent down and grabbed it along with her discarded glove. "Dear Azalea, do you want to put it in her room before she retires?"

Momentarily distracted Azalea beamed. "Yes, lets. Mama is talking to uncle right now. She should retire soon. She's had a quite a bit to drink."

"Great!" Lavender gasped as she grabbed her younger sister and rushed back inside.

Atlas ran his hands through his hair and stood up, only to meet the glaring hazel eyes of his baby sister. "Lizzie----"

"Brother, I'll tell everyone you've had quite a bit to drink and that is why you left so abruptly." Lizzie stated. She frowned at him before turning and rushing back inside.

"Fuck." Atlas punched into the air

**

Daisy giggled as she skipped into the parlor. "Mam-----" she froze seeing her mother against the piano and uncle holding her in a tight embrace. His mouth moving urgently on top of hers.

Lady Candlewood pushed Lord Candlewood off and stared in horror at her youngest daughter. "Daisy!"

Lord Candlewood quickly turned his back and adjusted his pants. "Sweet Daisy, we didn't hear you come in."

"I wanted to give mother a kiss before I was sent to bed."

"Miss. Daisy!" Fiona scrambled into the parlor. She grabbed the escape artist. "I'm sorry, she was too excited to stay in her room." She pulled the quiet girl. "Come on, back to bed you go, come on...."

"Daisy, I'll be right up love." Lady Candlewood, called out worriedly.

**