THE WALLFLOWER

Chapter ONE

Caitlyn

"I just don't understand why we can't skip the season all together, Mom." My daughter Gabriela – or Lita as my grandfather, Diego de Palma, had dubbed her- complained the night before we left Riverside Hall and went to London for the season. I was waiting for Luke and getting ready for bed. Lita went on "My last season was a disaster! Why do I have to I go back?"

At eighteen, my daughter already thought herself a failure in the marriage market. "Lita, you have to give it time. You will meet a very nice man soon enough."

"Mother, please! No one ever asks me to dance, only Michael and Papa and Michael's friends when all the other girls are taken. I'm not like you Mom, I'm not popular."

"Love, I wasn't popular when I was your age. Actually I never went to a ball until after I married your father. I was the most picked on wallflower at school."

"See! More on my favor! I'm a wallflower like my mother before me." Lita said with great solemnity.

"Lita, you will find someone who will love you and cherish you just as you are. You just have to be patient. Believe me, I was no great catch when I married Luke."

"But Papa fell in love with you and married you and…."

It hadn't been quite like that but neither Luke nor I had ever told the kids the real reason why we married. "Your father is a remarkable man, and I can only hope that you – and your sister- find someone like him one day."

She sighed dramatically. "I shall never marry then."

Just then my little six-year-old, Sophie, came running into my room and climbed into my lap so I would braid her hair. Both Lita and Sophie had the same dark hair and the same tanish skin; Sophie had my eyes, Lita had Luke's and he said they both looked like me. I guess he was right. On the other hand my boys, Michael – Lita's twin – and James, had both inherited Luke's dark good looks, though Michael had my eyes.

"Don't despair, Lita." I told her and we dropped the subject.

"Come, Sophie, I'll tuck you in."

"Okay," Sophie said and kissed my cheek and went to take Lita's hand. They opened the door and I heard Luke's deep voice.

"Off to bed, already?" He asked.

"Yes, Papa." Both of them answered at the same time.

Luke kissed them both and then came into the room, closing the door at his back. "I can't believe how big they are. They make me feel quite old."

I turned to see him; his golden brown eyes bright as ever, his hair still dark and thick with just a little hint of gray at his temples. And he could still make me melt with the sound of his voice.

"You're not old, Luke." I answered. I knew my prompt response had pleased him. "Now me, on the other hand… I'm well past my prime." I moved closer to him and as soon as I was within arm's reach, Luke snatched me up in his arms and held me tight against his long, solid body.

"You," Luke corrected. "Are more beautiful each time I see you."

"Why, my lord, I think you're flattering me."

"Yes I am. Now be quiet and accept the praise."

Well, indeed I kept quiet and accepted the praise… up until I couldn't keep quiet any longer on account all the delicious things he was doing to my body. What can I say? Luke can still keep me up till the wee hours of the morning, making me cry out his name in utter ecstasy. And, to the great joy of my ego, Luke isn't very quiet either, if you get my drift…

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Lita

"Mom, you can stop giggling now." I said a little bit sullenly as the carriage rolled about as we made our way to London. Mom always giggles like a crazy person each time we are in the carriage… and she and Papa whisper into each other's ears like a couple of scheming children. Like we don't know what they are talking about… well, I think I know… and it has all to do with those long carriage rides Mom and Dad take alone, together each time they can

I really shouldn't think such things

"I'll behave myself now." Mom said trying to control her laugher. Papa engulfed Mom in a hug and Mom snuggled close to him, settling in and after a little while she was asleep. And Papa spent the rest of the trip, watching Mom. It was indeed rare to see a married couple so in love as my parents.

Michael was reading one of those big books no one but he likes… well, okay, Jenny likes them too, but she wants to be a governess, so go figure. Anyway, he was reading a boring book and James was teaching Sophie to play poker.

Why a six-year old girl needs to know how to play poker? Don't ask me, I guess it's because Michael thought her to play pool and James doesn't wants to be left behind in the big-brother department.

When we arrived, the London Villa was up in an uproar. That was on account of my grandmother already being there, planning the ball my Dad always gave for my mother each year at their anniversary.

Mom and Papa were almost immediately snatched away by Grandma to see about the ball; James and Sophie were taken to their rooms. Michael was walking around with his head buried in his book and I went to my own room to sulk a little bit more. I hated London and I much rather prefer Maldon and Riverside Hall.

"Gabriela?" Michael said suddenly and he was right behind me, placing his arm around my shoulders, he is a great deal taller than me and we both are practically completely grown.

"Thought you were still busy with Mr. Plato." I said sarcastically.

He smiled and shook her head, "Tell me what's wrong, sweetheart? What's bothering you?"

There was no point in denying it, Michael was my twin and could read me like an open book. "It's nothing, Michael. It's just that you know, I don't like the Season, that's all."

"Lita, you worry way too much. Don't push yourself towards marriage. When your time comes you will marry, don't try to push or rush yourself."

Yeah right, like I don't know everyone's saying I'm in the rapid road to spinsterhood. Everyone thinks I'm more a wild-child than a proper, biddable, marriageable lady… and not even Papa's fortune has been enough to tempt any young bachelors.

Besides, everything is easier for Michael. Last winter when he went to escort our grandmother to France, Michael met a young Frenchwoman and fell in love, madly in love. And this summer he's going back to France to make the proper arraignments so he can marry Miss Adele Duval. He wants to be married soon after our 19th Birthday, in about five months.

"I'll try." I allowed as we reached the door to my chamber. "I'm going to take a nap now."

Michael reached out and ruffled my hair. "You do that."

Michael went across the hall to his own chamber and I walked into mine. I sat down in my head and sighed… and I remembered something Mom had said, long ago when I was Sophie's age and Mom was pregnant with James.

Mom had sat me in her lap and stroked my hair and said, her voice sweet and soft, that there would be someone special in my life one day, that he might not be like me in character but that he would love me.

If only I could find him…

.-.-.-.-.-.

End of Chapter One.

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Notes:

New Story, second in The Evencorts trilogy.

Hope you like it.

The "guy" will be introduced in the second chapter, and his name is Derek Kirrier