17 BREATHER....

She sighed in relief when she successfully exited the ballroom and entered the main hallway which would then lead her to the back garden.

She started to walk down the hallways when she saw James standing at the intersection looking in between the three dividing hallways.

"I guess you could use some help over here" Evelina said calmly as she approached James.

The latter was startled and turned around to come face to face with Evelina who was looking at him calmly.

"I'd be glad" James said as he sighed in relief.

Evelina chuckled and nodded at him, she started walking but stopped shortly making James to bump at her from behind.

"I am sorry" James immediately apologised as he looked at Evelina in a flustered manner.

"As far as I heard about you, you are not the one to be easily flustered around girls, what happened now" Evelina asked calmly as she looked at James from head to toe.

"I am not flustered, I just apologised for bumping into you" James said as he managed to gather himself immediately.

"Was it because of the unintentional kiss earlier" Evelina asked calmly, completely unfazed by her question which stunned the poor boy standing opposite to her.

"T-that....It was completely unintentional, it was an accident, I did not try to take advantage of the situation" James tried to explain his stance to Evelina in a flustered manner.

Evelina laughed out loud in amusement, unbeknownst to her she let her true emotions out startling her. She cleared her throat and went back to her calm and composed self from earlier.

"When did I accuse you of taking advantage, why are you so guilty and flustered about it unless you have a guilty conscious" Evelina decided to tease him a little as she enjoyed seeing him so flustered.

James was stunned, he looked at Evelina and was clearly at a loss for words. He opened and closed his mouth like a goldfish.

"Okay, I guess it went a bit too far. Don't worry I know it was purely unintentional and we are cool" Evelina said in an easygoing tone.

"Well...I am no god, so you will have to tell me where you wanted to go" Evelina asked in a calm tone as she looked at him casually.

"I wanted to go out to get a breather, I heard father mention Wood's Manor has a beautiful garden personally tended by Aunt Selena, so I wanted to take this chance to visit it as well but was lost in the hallways" James explained in a casual tone.

He did not know why but he could not bring himself to keep his cool around Evelina, his guard is lowered without any notice and even if he wants he can't bring himself to wear his guard around her.

Evelina nodded and then started walking in the direction she intended to walk before. James wordlessly followed her behind but made sure to walk slowly so that he does not bump into her once again she stops abruptly.

Evelina stopped slowly, this time making sure James won't bump into her. She turned around and found James givin her confused look.

"It is not like I am master and you are my servant, so why not walk shoulder to shoulder. We are of same age as well why would you walk behind me" Evelina asked in a calm tone but it held a hint of amusement to it.

James looked at her for a complete minute, he took in every detail of her perfectly. A smiled broke out on his face, as he smirked lightly.

"Rose you really love to tease me don't you" James asked in a calm tone yet his playful smirk said the otherwise.

"Rose....Why do you call me by my second name instead of first" Evelina asked as she looked at him amused.

Only her closest family addressed her like that, even her only friend did not address her that way yet the teen boy she just met decided to address her like that which amused her slightly.

"That is because you are beautiful and pure like an ivory rose, I feel that addressing you as Rose is much more suited than Eva or Evelina" James said in a calm tone with a hint of warmth in it.

Evelina was flustered for the first time, her cheeks flushed light hue of red. She turned around and continued walking in the front without waiting for him. James who noticed the change in her jade white skin understood what happened and a satisfied grin formed on his face.

James took huge strides and effortlessly matched her steps within few steps. Evelina looked at him calmly, her previous flustered expression was back to normal.

They walked the length of the hallway in a comfortable silence. James would occasional glance towards her and unconsciously a warm and adoring smile would appear on his face.

They reached the garden and then Evelina stopped in her tracks, James realised her halt and stopped as well.

"What happened, is there any problem" James asked as he looked around to see the source of problem.

"No, it is just that I remembered the past memories" Evelina smiled casually and shrugged it off, she then started walking in the direction of the back garden.

"Where are we going" James asked as he looked around the surrounding and the area was full of greenery and well tended plants.

"You wanted to see the garden my Mum personally tended to right. This is front garden and everyone has access to it but the back garden is the one Mum personally tends to but is not accessible to everyone" Evelina explained patiently as she continued walking further.

They then entered a small wooden door which led into a series of grass walls. James was stunned for moment when he saw it.

"Don't be shocked, as I said not anyone can see the back garden, it is bound to be difficult to go there. This is series of maze, only the ones access to the layout can go through it or else you will stuck in it unless someone comes to take you out" Evelina said nonchalantly.