15 Tessa

Dinner with the Bramfords was splendid. Nesta met Quinn's sister, Lady Bramford, and she thought she looked beautiful.

Tessa had violet hair which rested on her shoulder, and reddish-brown eyes. Her smile could brighten the stars, but there was a mystery about her, and each time Nesta thought she might look past it, Tessa looked away.

Nesta was pleased with how Quinn had welcomed her and her father to his home, and he had also made the appropriate introductions to his sister.

Nesta recognized Preston, and saw other servants, all organized, all welcoming.

Quinn had taken her arm and led her inside, and Tessa and the Earl of Devonshire had walked together into the mansion.

Nesta was taken with the home that with her drink in hand, she let her eyes stray to the parts of the house in her view while Quinn and her dad spoke.

Tessa leaned forward to Nesta, and said, "Would you like to join me outside, Lady Weaver?"

"I'll be pleased to," Nesta said.

"Excuse us, gentlemen," Tessa said, and together, she moved to the balcony with Nesta. Together, they watched the dark streets of London.

"I didn't know Quinn had a sister," Nesta said. "More like I failed to ask him."

"No, it's okay," Tessa said. "We all have pressing concerns, so sometimes, we forget people who are dear to us."

Nesta smiled. "I'm sure you don't mean your brother can forget you."

"Every man can. But I don't stick with him out of loyalty, but for truth only.

He's my blood, and anything or anyone that would make him sad instead of bringing him happiness, I'll tear out their heart if they're human, and if they aren't human, then, they will hurt."

"Such a fierce sister," Nesta said.

"So, you've had no siblings? How does it feel living alone?"

Nesta again grinned. This was easy to answer. "First, you have all the love and attention. You'll have the best share, and everyone will look out for you to make sure you don't hurt yourself. It will all be fun for a time, until it is not.

You get to realize that there's really no one to play with, read with, learn with, fight with, and share certain secrets with. My father taught me that it was wrong to argue.

He said I don't have to prove how right I am. So, well, you can say I never had the liberty to fight with anyone.

I grew up sensitive, and although spoilt, I learned to read people quite well."

She looked back to where Quinn talked with her father. "You're lucky you have him."

"Now I'm about to lose him to you, I'll say you're the lucky one," Tessa said.

Nesta gave her an odd look, but Tessa didn't meet her gaze. She kept her focus on the street. "I don't understand."

"Don't act like you don't know, Lady Weaver," Tessa said, not forgetting her curtsey. She turned to look at Nesta.

"He talks a lot about you. I see the way he looks at you. Forget his business talks with your dad.

Since he came back from Devonshire, you've been the only one on his lips."

Could it be true, then? Could it be that Quinn saw her the way she saw him? No, no. It didn't mean anything.

"Anyone could talk about anyone, and—" Nesta was beginning to protest.

"Not like he does," Tessa said. "He talks about you fondly, like someone of worth and value. Like someone who has caught his eyes, and heart."

Nesta looked into the night. She loved what she heard. This was the closest she had come to know what Quinn felt for her, and it made her joyful, even though she concealed her smile.

"Not sad, are you?" Tessa asked.

"No," Nesta said. "Personally, I wouldn't know what to feel. I don't know what love is. At least, if it's what I feel, then I don't know that it is. It's the first for me."

"I see what you mean when you talk about being an only child."

Nesta laughed.

"Strict father?" Quinn's sister asked.

"No, not exactly," Nesta said. "My dad used to be very respected. His position made me understand that, and he hired tutors he asked to teach me things about society.

Everything I learned was from books. The friends I made were those from high society too. Really, I grew up spoilt.

The scandal my dad went through which also affected me and made me see how much false news can hurt someone, it changed my life.

I had to make a friend out of my maid, and her company is well appreciated."

And Nesta did learn. The year of feeling like an outcast, literally, like she had been cut off from society made her cultivate a better view, one she learned to appreciate.

It made her see deeper, and with the afternoons she spent at the garden in her father's manor, everything began to make sense.

There was so much Nesta was clueless to. So much about this world, she didn't understand. She had sensed a few oddities about herself, but these were things she had discovered alone.

She didn't understand them, and they weren't exactly things you discussed with your father, or a maid.

However, it had all come to be from that time alone in the manor. She didn't know what it was, and thinking it was only a phase, she was happy to realize it was still there.

"I've had a lot of lovers," Tessa said. "Some, my brother did approve, and some he didn't. But it's part of growing up.

Getting your heart and trust shattered. I guess it came to you as a big blow…the scandal.

I'm sure you felt a shattered heart and trust there. Your friends I mean."

"Only one responded," Nesta said, and inhaled the cold night air. "She came to check up on me, I heard, or so my father's maid said. I will send her an invitation. She's really nice. The best of those I used to call friends."

"At least, she's still a friend. I guess none of them know that you're back."