CHAPTER FIVE- A LADY BY ANOTHER NAME

The next day was a not even properly up yet as it was already filled with so many aspirations, Athena did not wait before the sun came out before waking up Emery, she was far more eager to meet the possible list of gentlemen who'll be coming to see her daughter especially the Earl whom was introduced to her by her newest friend even whilst her daughter was nearly a hopeless spinster she indeed was beautiful this brought also potential suitors even while her list of older bachelors still persisted. Emery on the other hand was not happy with the sudden awaking by her mother who seemed even more excited than herself who had the suitors. Her lady maids all there to get her dolled up for the arrival of the gentlemen who would be arriving with his mama for a formal visitation.

"You seem more excited than I do"

Lady Emery said while getting up, her hair a little messy

"Of course, I will be receiving an Earl in my home today, does it not sound exciting?"

Her mama asked while taking her leave from the room as her lady maids who had prepared a bath for her took her to have her bath.

"I wish to just run around for a while, at least before the troop of claptraps evade our drawing room"

She complained

"Well, you still have time even if its for a little walk"

Said one of the maids as the other gave her a nudge

"I most certainly can not....unless you help me out, I promise, I will be back before the acceptance of gifts begin, besides its still really early"

She begged

"If your mama"

Said the other

"Relax, all you have to do is just play the fool , but I will try to be back before anything goes awry"

Emery begged as the lady maids took pity on the child.

"If you must go, you must leave now, and you will need a somewhat simple outfit, you must go unnoticed"

Gertrude said as Emery immediately took to her feet and straight to her room. She wore the same size with Emery as she lent her a dress. It was simple and clearly not

fit for the daughter of a Baron, but she lived that kind of life before it was not much of a big deal at least to her. She wore an old white Muslim gown with a red spencer on top of it as Gertrude also changed her hairstyle, a braid

which changed her entire look, anyone who saw her would never believe she was the beauty at the ball last night. After all this was done, she took an old cape which went over her head, snuck a horse and rode out through the city into the woods where no one would see her. A little air was all she was craving as she saw afar off a lake where she used to play with her siblings as a child. She came off her horse and moved closer, there was a shirt spread on a rock as she took a closer look there was apparently no one there, which seemed unclear to her. She suddenly heard the sharp snap of a twig as she slowly bent over trying not to make a sound picking up a rather small wood as she gave a quick turn to place an attack as the quite masculine figure was indeed faster evading her futile attack.

"Who are you?"

The voice asked as his quick grip took the wood from her hand

"What are you doing?"

He asked further in a whisper trying not to call any attention as she then noticed the fine gentleman did not have his shirt on, only Pantaloons and riding boots getting a grip of reality turning around against the shirtless handsome gentleman

"Who are you?"

She asked with her back still turned

"I am supposed to be the one asking, are you spying on me?"

He asked sounding rather cold

"Spying on you? and who are you that I should spy on?"

She asked

"Why is your back turned against me, you have already seen me, no need to act modest"

He said as he picked up his shirt and put it on

"Whoever you are, you seem very proud of yourself"

She replied this time turning around to face the already dressed gentleman

"You seem proud yourself, for a common maid or probably a baker or a farmer"

He teased with a grin as she gave a wry laugh

"Another claptrap to add to the ton"

She said quite low

"I heard that.....what is a young lady doing here all on her own?"

He asked quite amazed by her confidence

"Its none of your concern"

She said rather coldly

"You are a chit, do you know that?"

He said with a smile

"Fortunately for you I know"

She retorted

"I am The Earl of Malton, Lord Carliel Knight"

He said as she laughed out loud immediately realizing herself and stopped

"I am sorry, I did not.."

"Why did you laugh?"

He asked cutting her off

"I am sorry"

She said again with no sign of remorse

"I think that's your cue to get your name"

He said

"Its.....Harrietta, no titles, no lady, just Harrietta"

She lied as she did not expect the Earl she was to marry to be one of such stature, his muscles were unexplainable, with his perfect black side part hair with a small quiff, the hair was brushed up into a small tufted section that resembles a small quiff. There's only about two inches of hair on top, but the brush up still contrasts against the much shorter sides. The hair on the sides is trimmed (but not buzzed), and there's a clear and defined part set into the hair to separate the top from the side. He surprisingly had no kept side beards like nearly all the men of London did, he was also quite tall.

"Well Harrietta, you shouldn't be here, the city is not far its only some footsteps away, you should go"

"The city is only a few steps away....And I am here with a....ugh, I must go"

She quickly said taking her leave as he followed

"You did not realize that when you were there all this while?"

He asked

"It was pleasant meeting you, Lord Knight but I must go"

She said in haste taking to her horse

"Hang on"

He tried to stop her but she took to her horse and fled the other confusing direction leading back to Mayfair where her home was.