Chapter 44

IT WAS FINALLY THE DAY OF FLORENCE'S BIRTHDAY BALL. Magnolia had watched her friend over the past few days as she struggled with her mother's introductions to the lords who were attending.

She wanted to help her, but there was nothing she could do. She even asked Daniel if he could intervene, as the duke. But he told her that only Richard could, but he listened to everything his mother said, unfortunately.

At the ball, Florence was juggled from one arm to another. Every time the music started, she was dancing with a different partner, her mother made sure of that.

She was finally relieved when everyone was invited to step out into the gardens. She immediately found her friend and told her that she was going to sneak away.

"Would you like me to accompany you?" Magnolia asked.

"I am only going for a walk to get some fresh air." She shook her head. "Enjoy the show in your husband's arms," she whispered to her before winking. Then, she disappeared into the crowd.

Florence used the distraction caused by the fireworks to finally escape her mother's close watch. She walked away from the crowd as the noise slowly decreased. Even the explosions began to sound farther and fainter.

It was dark, but she knew her way very well. She walked through the trees and the bushes until she reached the lake.

She always came here when she felt upset or angry. She could not break away from her mother these past few days though. It was suffocating.

Florence walked on the wooden pier until she reached its edge. She took off her uncomfortable shoes and sat down, dipping her feet in the cold water.

She looked up to the starry sky, the full moon was high and bright. She remembered when she was a child, she came here with Richard, and they used to go swimming in the lake. Of course, they would get scolded afterwards, but that did not stop them from doing it again.

"Richard has changed so much," she said to herself.

She could not even recognize her brother anymore. All he cared about now was making money, even though he already had so much.

She begged him to talk to their mother, convince her that she did not need to meddle in her marriage, that it would happen naturally when she would meet the man she would fall in love with. But all Richard said was that mother only wanted the best for her.

"The best for me," she scoffed.

It was clear that the dowager countess favored Marquis Galley.

'Of course, it had to be my least favorite candidate.'

There was no attraction whatsoever, not physical nor intellectual, and certainly none personality wise. But her mother did not care, she did not even care that he could barely use magic. The wind power he used was so weak that it could only move a few locks of hair around the room. It was pathetic.

Florence sighed.

She sat there for a long time, pondering on what options she still had left to convince her mother. Running away was one of them, but she knew her brother would not spare any resources to find her within days, and he had a lot of them.

Suddenly, she heard rustling not too far from her. She spun around in alarm but could not see anything.

"Who goes there?" she asked, pushing to her feet.

"My apologies, my lady, I–" Aa male voice came, but Florence was in such a rush to stand that she twisted her ankle and lost her footing.

She fell from the pier with a loud splash.

She was a bit shocked, mostly from the cold water. No one usually came to this lake, but she could tell that whoever the man was, he had no ill intentions since he apologized first.

Florence knew how to swim, so it should not have been an issue to reach the shore in a short time. However, the dress her mother had made for her birthday ball was quite heavy when soaked in lake water. The fabric became heavy and clung to her body, preventing her limbs from moving freely and thus keeping her under water.

Florence's heartbeat quickened, she was panicking now. She moved frantically, trying to pull on the dress but it was in vain. She struggled to keep her face above water, the weight was pulling her down.

"Help," she finally called.

She knew that the man was close enough to help her. Even in that situation, she prayed that it was not Lord Galley.

"Please, help," she called again, more urgently this time, right before she went under water.

Henry watched the whole scene with wide eyes. He had walked away from the party to seek some much-needed silence.

His feet led him all the way to the lake, he did not even see the lady sitting at the end of the pier until she enquired about his presence. His whole attention was drawn to the full moon before that.

When the lady fell, he immediately ran while taking off his jacket. He jumped into the water without hesitation.

Florence was already sinking, thankfully, the moon light penetrated the water a bit. That, along with the lady's movement, helped guide Henry to her.

When he reached her, he tried to pull her up, but it was very difficult. He could tell that the dress was a death trap for her.

He reached for his dagger and cut right through the corset first, then through her skirt and crinoline. He had to do it fast but also carefully, not to injure the woman.

As soon as she was free, Florence rushed to the surface, coughing while taking in some much-needed air. Henry was up next to her in seconds.

"Are you alright?" he asked after her breathing had calmed down.

He could tell she was trembling, but he was not sure whether it was from the cold water or from the adrenaline rush.

"I am, thanks to you, sir," she answered.

"Please, allow me to take you to shore," Henry asked for permission, which Florence gave him with a nod. She knew she was too shaken to swim by herself.

Henry placed his left arm around her waist and started to swim toward the shore while pulling her.

When they reached shallow water, he helped her to walk as she stumbled a bit. He guided her to a nearby tree to lean on.

"How do you feel, Lady Kalwen?"

Florence looked at him closely, she recognized him now. Henry Flock, the duke's assistant and friend.

She had met him a few times when she was a guest at the Van Konigl castle. He was also a friend of her brother's. Florence was grateful that he was not a complete stranger.

"Thank you, Lord Flock," she said with a weak smile. "It would have been some tale if I had died on the same day as my birthday," she tried to make a joke but failed miserably.

Henry watched her for a moment, not sure what to say to that. "Can you walk, my lady?" He finally decided to dismiss her comment. "We can stop at the pier to get my jacket before walking back to the castle, you must be freezing."

Florence watched his face for a moment, he was quite handsome. He had been very gallant to her every time they met, they had even danced together once.

'He is a gentleman and can use magic. He is also rich. The fact that he will not inherit his father's title should not be an issue.'

A sliver of hope tickled her chest. Maybe she could convince him to help her with her scheme before her mother promised her to Marquis Galley.

"Lady Kalwen?" Henry called.

"Ah, yes," she uttered.

As soon as she did, they heard voices approaching. Henry immediately placed himself before her, hiding her from sight. After all, she was only wearing a wet sheer undergarment. Florence recognized her brother's voice immediately.

'Richard.'

A thought rang through her head. Her breath hitched. She knew it was not fair, but what her mother was doing to her was not fair either.

"My lord," she whispered, making Henry turn to look at her. "I deeply apologize to you."

Henry frowned, but before he could say anything, Florence pulled him from his collar and crushed her lips against his so forcefully they both fell against the trunk of the tree.

'I am sorry, Lord Flock, but I hope this works.'