She turned slightly behind to look over where both the men sat. Leonard in a plush seat she often saw him sit. His legs crossed and back leaned against the seat, one of his arms rested on the armrest.

Suddenly she remembered a memory of the time when he had only arrived back in the mansion after his long stay. The time when he had removed her shoes from her feet to inspect something which she hadn"t asked him about. She felt her skin tingle as if his hand held her ankle, pulling it towards him gently. The grip was not painful yet firm in its hold.

When her eyes met his red brooding ones, she couldn"t resist smiling at his previous action which only narrowed his eyes. Quickly looking away while hiding the smile, she looked at the little trinkets decorating the stand next to her.

She heard Jerome speak, "What do I owe the invitation to the Carmichael mansion?"

It made her wonder what Leonard wanted to speak with the vampire, unless, thought Vivian to herself, unless it was about the marriage to Lady Charlotte.

But did they consult regarding this with Lady Charlotte?

The last time Vivian talked to Charlotte, she was in love with the man named Rory who was a humanMythweald interested in her? A person whom her father had chosen for her. Pureblooded parents never let their offsprings to marry someone out of their own kind. Not even a vampire, at least that was so with what she had heard. For the Easton"s to consider Jerome Wells only showed their broad-mindedness in accepting people.

If Charlotte hadn"t told her brother about it then there were fewer chances of Leonard knowing about it as he was working on the alliance of Easton"s with Jerome. Should she intervene? But what would she say? It was not her secret to tell but she didn"t understand why Charlotte hadn"t objected to the marriage. She must have stopped talking to the man named Rory, thought Vivian to herself, maybe if she could speak to Charlotte she could clear her doubts. After all, before the mishap took place in this very mansion, she and the daughter of Easton shared a good friends.h.i.+p with each other.

"Jerome, your capabilities on how successful of an architect you are have made quite some rounds in the pure-blooded world," the sound of fire crackling in the fireplace accompanied with what Leonard had to say regarding the man who sat in front of him, "My Uncle and Aunt, the Easton"s are looking for a suitor for their daughter, my cousin Charlotte. She"s a beautiful young woman and if you"re interested, my Aunt Priscilla would be happy to make arrangements so that she can come down with the family to meet you officially."

Vivian who had previously been looking at the trinkets, turned completely when Leonard praised Jerome about his work. Not once had she heard him praise anyone. Not one until now, for him to be doing it meant that the Easton"s meant a lot to him. They were his family.

Jerome cleared his throat, unsure with the sudden proposal which he had least expected, "Duke Carmichael, as pleased as I am to hear that my work has been acknowledged by the high society, I don"t think I would be able to accept your generous offer."

"You don"t have to give your answer right away. Please do take your time to reconsider the offer. You will only have to meet," Leonard tried to sway the vampire.

"Pardon me but I don"t think I will agree to take any woman as a wife at the moment," Jerome hadn"t completed his sentence. He paused for two seconds and said, "Unless it is the woman in this very room, I have no claims to marry another."

Vivian was glad to not be sitting with them as she could only see the back of Jerome"s head facing her, but then she didn"t miss the fury pa.s.s through Leo"s eyes.

"We aren"t here to speak about Vivian"s hand in marriage but my cousin Charlotte"s," Leonard was firm with his words, his eyes blazing as he looked the man in the eye.

Jerome smiled at Leonard, "I am aware but it is she whom I plan to make my wife," Leonard"s hand clutched into a tight fist that was resting on his lap.

"Fortunately she isn"t available, Mr Wells."

"That is for Ms Vivian to decide," replied Jerome to Leo"s statement.

Did they forget she was in the room? thought Vivian while drowning in water of embarra.s.sment. Getting up from his seat, Jerome walked to where Vivian stood as if lightning had struck her and soon she would crumble into dust.

"Ms Vivian, I don"t want your answer now but is there a slight or remote possibility that one day you might end up having feelings for me?" asked Jerome earnestly.

Vivian wasn"t the kind hurt anyone"s feelings, at least not when the person had nothing but provided kindness and respect to her; Jerome was one of them.

Like a child as if making sure that no one"s feelings were hurt, she looked at Leonard who looked calm. Her eyes s.h.i.+fted back to Jerome when he spoke to her,

"You don"t have to be afraid. I will take your answer as it is without holding any ill emotions against you," he spoke to her gently which only made it harder for her. Vivian pressed her lips, opening it to speak while keeping caution to what she was about to speak that would affect both the men in the room.

But instead of being subtle, she blurted out the words, "I like Leonard."

"There you have the answer for your curious mind, Mr Wells," Leonard came to stand next to Vivian and kissing the side of her temple to both Vivian and Jerome"s surprise, "If your doubts have been cleared can we get back to the proposal?"

Jerome being true to his word only smiled at Vivian who looked utterly embarra.s.sed at the display of affection Leonard had shown in front of him.

"I will need time for it, Duke Leonard. It would be disrespectful if I meet your cousin when I still have feelings for another woman," he gave his honest reply to Leonard who gave a slight nod.

"A week or two is the maximum I can hold my relatives. I hope to receive a positive answer," replied Leonard before they sat back again to finish the drink Jan had brought for their guest.

After making small conversation with the vampire architect, Leonard asked Jan to see their guest off. It was good to maintain a good relations.h.i.+p with the man from now especially if he was going to be his future brother-in-law. Once Jerome was completely off his grounds, Leo went in search of Vivian for the terrible trick she had pulled on him.

Vivian had tiptoed outside the mansion admiring the wildflowers that had managed to grow in the garden when she yelped out of surprise suddenly finding the world upside down with her feet hanging in the air.

"Leo! Put me down!" she banged his back with the small of her hands but it did nothing to him. He instead carried her on his shoulder inside the mansion, walking up the stairs which made her feel dizzy, "Leo, please!" she pleaded.

"You need to be punished for what you did a while ago, Bambi," his response made her stomach churn.

"But I did nothing wrong!" she cried out. A maid who was walking across the hall couldn"t help but gawk at her master and the former maid who was being carried in such fas.h.i.+on.

"Let me help you jog your memory then," Leo kicked his bedroom door open and closed it with the same intensity before throwing Vivian on the bed, making her bounce softly.

Before she could scramble off the bed, Leo hovered above her, pinning both her arms above her head with just one hand. She had tried rolling over but he had blocked any possible movements by placing both his legs on either side of her body.

She didn"t struggle because she knew well that she was no match for his strength.