I'm a little bit in love with everyone I meet.

“He’s lashing out because he’s scared,” Riya said, smoothing her hands along her dress skirt to dry her damp palms and soothe herself. “And perhaps envious, though neither of those are an excuse for his behavior. You did not deserve his judgment.” Suddenly, coming to England was one of the worst decisions she’d made.

His words made her look at him again. It was so strange, like seeing Aera in an entirely new person. She heard that twins were just one soul placed into two people, and she found some truth in that. The Lytton siblings were as wise as they were beautiful, and Riya was grateful to be in their sphere. “You truly think so? That I can better the family name? People will hardly look our way, whether together or separate. All they see is the ruinous family that pissed all over a title.”

"I didn't want to be at odds with Nalan. I wish we could be friends. I think we could have gotten along." He frowns. He was disappointed by it all- even more whenever Nalan and him bump into each other. It's never how he wished it'd go.

"Of course!" he looked at her and even held her hands. " People aren't just their family name... You can always be more than that. don't let them see the ruinous side of your family," he tells her, and he sounds like he means it. " It only takes one person to make people see the truth. You can be that person. don't let your brother be the one who decides how you are viewed either."

She wanted to explore, learn new things. Find ways to pick up new information, goals. Because that could really be life-changing. She let out a laugh. “Sometimes the best parts are surprising, though. Do you have a whole entire collection then?”

He beamed. "That is true, isn't it? Who doesn't love a little surprise?" He smiled at her even more when she brought up the idea of him having a collection. "I do! My office is full of books- I don't have any more space for more books in that room," He tells her eagerly. "Oh! If you'd like....you could come see it, if you have the time for it," He offered. "My sister is around home," He added.

It was, upon reflection, an exceedingly fortunate predicament. The handsome stranger had leapt to her aid without the slightest hesitation, as though Providence had stationed him beneath that ancient tree for no other purpose than to rescue foolish Venetian women from their own catastrophes. Francesca had long believed that misfortune was merely happiness disguised in garments too tattered to recognize at first glance. Every storm concealed a rainbow beyond its bruised clouds; every wrong turn uncovered a hidden garden; every locked door compelled one toward another left carelessly ajar. If Fate insisted upon throwing her into thorn bushes, it usually had the decency to plant something beautiful amongst the briars.

“No ladder!” She gathered the torn folds of her gown to free herself enough to peer down at him, dark curls hanging like ivy from the branch. “If anyone goes asking for one, the guests will wander outside to investigate. Then they shall begin inventing stories, and before long the banker will wake.” She wrinkled her nose dramatically. “That simply will not do.”

Another experimental sway made the branch groan beneath her.

“I believe I can free myself if I swing a little.”

It would scarcely be the most reckless feat Aunt Louise had ever encouraged. Louise, before life had gentled her into respectable company, had belonged to one of the travelling circuses that wandered between Rome and Naples, carrying marvels in brightly painted wagons and leaving behind little more than trampled grass and impossible memories. She had taught the albatross children—as she called them—all the secrets high society insisted they should never learn. Niccolò delighted in sleight of hand, forever making coins, cards, and ribbons vanish into thin air until even his own pockets seemed enchanted. Vincenzo abandoned every lesson the moment the animals appeared, happiest with straw clinging to his boots and a patient horse nudging his shoulder for apples. Francesca, however, belonged to the sky. She adored the trapeze—the delicious surrender of solid earth, the intoxicating heartbeat suspended between one leap and the next, where terror and exhilaration became impossible to distinguish.

Compared to flying through the air with nothing but a pair of warm hands awaiting her, this was scarcely worth mentioning.

She looked down at the stranger with a grin so bright it seemed almost irreverent beneath the moonlight, stretching both hands toward him as though they had been partners in this performance all along.

“Will you catch me, amore?”

What were a handful of scratches beside the promise of an adventure worth remembering?

"I wasn't- I wasn't going to ask someone for a ladder...I was going to borrow one." Back afterwards, he wasn't a thief....." and we don't want the banker to wake." He had no idea why not. "Bankers are rather boring." He glanced over at the house, and that Banker was a bore- if he remembers right. He winced as he remembered getting stuck in a long, drawn-out talk with him.

So no, it'd be good not to have him wake... He was so tired, and really he wished he just kept walking... he's sure the wild woman can get herself out- and yet he was still here. His eyes felt like they were going to close and he'd fall asleep on his feet.

"That's good, then!- It'd be terrible if we needed to get someone else." He shook his head. It's rather scandalous anyway. She must have come from a room- she was sneaking out....He could figure out why she wouldn't want the banker- or anyone else involved.

He just moved even closer as if to make sure she didn't fall as she swung around trying to get unlatch. "Careful-" He warned her, but from how she talked, he didn't think she knew how to be careful. He had a worried expression on his face while she grinned at him- he did stretch out his arms for her without a second thought. "I've got you, promise," He said, even if it meant that when she managed to escape from her foot being stuck. He didn't expect her to swing her full weight, making him tumble onto the ground with her. He worried about the woman when he fell, so he held onto her and let her land on top of him so he was the one who took the brunt of the fall. "

she reaches out and pats the man's shoulder before her hand retreats, "nobody is ever truly boring, and to be a foreigner in this country is all the more interesting." she knew from experience.

"most definitely, happier than i have ever seen a person tormented by the notion of love and lust." she misses her cousin for they gave her hope back home, perhaps she will write and invite them over to england. perhaps they could become friends with this young man. "there is no time limit on discovering one's self, sir, it merely takes acceptance." she spoke as if she were a wise woman, older than her age and one that had lived through many lifetimes. "i am more of a listener, so i do not mind," and it was no lie. her clients often wished to have her listen to their woes or their made up achievements in hopes it would woo her to offer a discount or extra services. it never worked.

"i understand the appeal, i am quite partial to a love story of my own here and there," and yet as she spoke, her mind wanders to niccoló and she has to cough to clear such thoughts. "and with your new station a break is well needed, i do not understand those who wish to be lords and ladies. it sounds too much."

He was slightly suprised by the touch, and he slightly moved away- not because he hated but it was just surprised. "Oh well, you say that, but I've been called boring," He laughed alittle.

"I see..."It looks like he's thinking about it. " I don't know what it's like to be tormented by such things...i wish I could speak to someone who understands what I feel..." He thought for a moment.” I do wish...to understand it," He trails off as he thought about it." You must, right? You say it as if you are tormented by such things." he looked at her like he was waiting to hear more. He wasn't wanting to hear because it was scandalous to ask a lady, but because he wanted to know what a real person thinks.- how it feels....

He tilted his head towards her. "So will you tell me... then? What your partial to love stories are?" He loves to talk himself, but there was something about Liliana that made him want to listen. " Well, make sure to let anyone who says they want to be a lord- or lady that it's not fun at all. Lots of boring paperwork"

"You may sit," she said, voice percetively softer than before. She subtly wiped a tear, not needing her emotions weaponized by anyone who would pass by. The silence between them wasn't tense, but there was no comfort present either. They were strangers, so what harm would silence offer?

But finally, Riya broke it. "I told him his impulses would land us somewhere here. In this pitch black nothingness of confusion and ruin," she began. "I told him, and just as Nalan does, he did not listen. He only heard his own ruminations, and ruined the family."

"I am sorry for it," she said. "For everything dealing with my brother. Truly."

"Your brother is something else..." he sighed. " I do not understand him. He goes on about me and my place..., but yet he's the one with disgrace to his name. I don't have such things." He then lets his eyes flutter over to her.

"You don't need to say sorry- you aren't him. To be honest, he has ruined his own name, but i don't think the Das name." He promised her. "You can make it better; clearly, just do whatever your brother isn't doing...do not let your brother's foolishness ruin everything for you"

"Oh gosh, I will need to check on him too then! I had to see you first though, Junnie." When he mentioned Tim maybe having a crush her eyes lit up. "Do you know on who? There is so much I've missed!" Aera pouted a little bit too, but she really was glad to be back with her family. There was plenty of time to catch up with everyone!

Junho insisted that he was actually a Lord now, a Viscount more specifically. Aera's humorous smile faded, now knowing he was not playing a joke on her. "What?" She asked, a little panicked as she followed him quickly to his office. Her brother had an office now. Carefully she took the papers and read them over.

"Well... You are the heir and a Lord now." She said quietly, repeating what he said. Her eyes from the paper to her twin's eyes, searching his face carefully. Their parents may have been happy, but he was certainly not. She felt the need to do something, but it would have to be sneaky. Junho was a stubborn man, which sometimes she loved it but other times it really irritated her.

She putt he papers down and looped her arm with his. "We will get through this together, Junnie-ah. Just like we do with everything else." She promised with a gentle kiss to his cheek. She was his big sister, it was her duty to protect him. "How about... We go to that fair that I've heard so much about since arriving? I desperately need to stretch my legs, and... Well, Viscounts need to promenade in public, right?"

"It's really true," He said as he picked up some of the papers to set them back to where they were before. He had lots of papers on his desk- almost twice as much as he once had before.

"Together," he echoed. He can see that look on her face- that she's worried.... and when She kissed his cheek, he relaxed a little.... " You want to go to the fair...well, you can go-" he said, but realized she wanted to go with him. " I've got work, Noona..." he tells her as he gives her a frown. "I can't be promenaded when I've got every English lord staring at me for slacking"

Enzo smiled politely as he got cornered by yet another debutante. He had already been trapped in a far too long conversation with another miss, who had gone on and on about her accomplishments with the pianoforte and her embroidery needle. Apparently, the London marriage mart had not changed that much in six years. Perhaps making his debut back into society at such a public spectacle as the fair had been a bad idea, yet he had decided to go simply to get Isabel out of the house and in a better mood.

"I am sure you are a delightful young lady, but you will simply have to excuse me. I need to return to my daughter." The debutante was about to speak, but he gently raised his hand. "Alone." His voice was gentle, but firm, leaving no room for argument.

Instead, he turned around and went back to the tent he had left her in. A tent belonging to a man selling all sorts of wooden-carved statuettes. She had enjoyed looking at them, and he thought she would be distracted long enough for him to entertain polite chatter from a mother who simply had to introduce him to her daughter.

A chill ran down his spine, and his whole body froze as he returned and found that Isabel was no longer in the tent. She was not rebellious. If anything, she was shy and dependent on him. His head instantly filled with terrors he tried to push away. He could not allow himself to panic. Not yet.

"The little girl with the dark hair who was just here. Where is she?" he snapped at the man currently sitting and carving his next piece of art. "Tell me." He snatched the knife out of the man's hand, then quickly dropped it, realizing how threatening that might appear. "Forgive me. But she is my daughter, and I must know."

"I... I do not know, sir. I was carving," the man said, his eyes wide with concern. At least he did not look angry. That was something.

The gray daylight of the fair suddenly felt blinding as Enzo exited the tent. Or perhaps it was all the light he was letting in by how wide and panicked his eyes had become as they scanned the area. He could hear his own pulse pounding in his ears. A rapid beat that reminded him danger was in the air.

"Isabel!" he called, walking quickly through the nearby tents. "Has anyone seen my daughter? My Isabel? She is six. Dark hair. Brown eyes. This high." He gestured with his hand, showing her height. Everyone shook their heads. Several groups began staring at him in horror and confusion at the scene he was making. Enzo found he did not care. Not when Isabel's safety was on the line.

He carefully made his way over to her. "Are you lost?" He asked her, and she gave a nod nudge of her head.. She looked up at him, and it was like she knew his face but couldn't place it.

"I'm Junho." He greeted her, and she sorta mumbled out her name- he thinks it sounded like Isabel....He hoped he got it right. He looked around; he didn't see anyone looking for a child yet. " Hey, I'll help you find your ma and pa, alright?" He promised her. She sniffled, and more tears kept falling. A few hiccups left her. "I have no Mama. Mama passed away the day I was born," she said as if it was common- as if it wasn't something filled with grief.

"O-h, I'm sorry." He hoped that wouldn't make her cry further. He looked around to distract her for a moment. He wanted to calm her down...maybe her father was nearby… " Do you like bunnies? Is that why you're here?" He asked gently.

She gave another nod. He noticed a stand, and he walked over and picked up a stuffed rabbit. He could feel the young girl's eyes on him while he paid for it. She had stepped closer and had almost followed him over. He then bent down to her level with the toy in his hand. "Here, he'll protect you until we can find your pa. Alright? hold it tight to make sure his magic works," He told her seriously, like the toy really would do that. She held the toy tighter as if maybe she did believe his words. She still had tears in her eyes, but she wasn't crying hard. "Where were you with pa last?" he asked her. "I'll see if we can find it." She sniffled as she wiped at her nose. " They were cavin' with wood!" She told him finally loud enough for him to hear, and Junho realized that wasn't so far.... " Come, we'll start heading that way. I bet we'll see your pa in no time!" He said as he walked with her at her pace. He kept his hands behind his back while they walked. He did try to speak with her- mostly she just nodded and looked shy….He kept an eye out for the little girl and maybe a frazzled dad…It didn’t take long before he started to hear shouting of a name before he saw the frantic father

|| LOCATION || Hyde Park

The world had devolved into white noise. A vibrating buzz that rung in her ears, numbed her fingers. The Das Residence was in shambles. Chaos had reached its depths. Her father shouted, her mother mulled in silence. Their fabric shop did not matter anymore. Not when a soiled reputation was the means between success and failure in Mayfair. And so, Riya sat herself on a bench in Hyde Park, eyes vacant and lips parted as the wind tangled her glossy hair.

Would Charlotte want to see her anymore? Surely an opera singer speaking with the sister of the disgraced Nalan Das would not bode well with the Ton. But it was her sister she was most concerned about. Poor Kavika. Her title, her chances of a suitable marriage. They had all been stripped from her without so much as a shift in the air. She was supposed to attend the fair with Lottie tonight, but what kind of sister would she be? Would it matter? She'd come to Mayfair to find a spouse, and now her own chances had circled the drain.

He was on one of his few breaks- he had practically been thrown out by his sister, something about getting a break for his eyes... He looked over and noticed Riya... he hesitated before he stepped a little closer. He wasn't even sure what he'd say to her. A sorry from him might be more like an insult than an actaully apology.

"I had a feeling; you are nothing like your brother," He said carefully. "May I sit next to you? I won't be saying anything hateful about your family," he promised. The hate between their families- it wasn't Junho that wanted it. It was fueled by their parents. He only really had issues with Nalan.

It was easy to admire Junho and how he was wanting to do good for his family and wanting them to have chances for their dreams. He wasn’t like that and didn’t care what they wanted. Some people were just good and Junho was one of them. “Just don’t forget your own,” he adds softly. “And don’t burden it alone. Your family are part of that title now.” He hoped that would help.

“Oh please make it as hard for them as you can! I think this place could use some American influences, it might loosen everyone up a little or at the very least make them aware of life outside their own halls, it would be interesting to see their reaction.” 

There’s a small shrug. “Well, not really. I sometimes just like the peace from everyone trying to make a match or the arguments that happen in the Thorne house and it’s close to the sea as I can get.”

His eyes fluttered upwards towards Tobias. He wanted to say he wouldn't do those things that he won't forget himself or how he shouldn't burden it all alone... and yet he knows himself that he would. "They are, but...it's hard to explain." He slightly pouted. "I'll...try. I know my sister will want to help..." He sighed but he didn't want her too.

He gives a grin at the thought of the English lords- and how they might look. It's one of the only things he's looking forward to. "I won't get their respect no matter how hard I try. I've got enough to worry about... old english lords aren't my problem," he huffed. " I wouldn't be American if I just let the english do whatever they want!" He was proud of where he came from. No English lord will make him feel shame for it.

"I see...." He thought for a moment. "You've got a lot of your mind as well? "he said while he looked at the pond. "It seems you go to the water often?" He asked

Despite the need to be in society more than ever after the ball, since, Mary has been somewhat withdrawn since her families ball. She wanted to make a single house call though, and she did so with her head held high and a smile wide upon her lips despite how simple her dress was, how plain her hair was done up and the paler of her skin. Two books sit in her lap, wrapped perfectly and tied with a golden bow, a small bouquet of daffodils and sunflowers in her hand. She traced her fingers up and down the stem as she waited, but her face lights up the moment that she sees him.

When he heard she was visiting from the butler, it made him perk up. He looked at his overload of work and shook his head. He can deal with it later. He'll always have time for one of his dear friends!

He got up to meet her. He smiled at her brightly. "Mary!" he said as he walked over to her. "You didn't have to come if you were under the weather." He looked ready to fuss over her. " I've been well- as much as i can be with my new title," he told her as he looked at the flowers. "How have you been?" He asked her. "You know, aside from being a little under the weather?"    

"I am as graceful as a swan." Kitty promised with a soft chuckle. Junho Lytton was perhaps too good of a person for somewhere like Mayfair. But perhaps the town could use more kindness.

"Tea it is then." She nodded and began walking towards the tea shop with Junho. "Yes! Well, my papa of course does many things! Our family owns the Thorne Bank. But papa makes his brother handle it since he has more important things to do. Like... papers and other such things." Honestly, Kitty didn't know much about what her father did. She wasn't a lord, she wasn't the heir (as much as she wanted to be.) She had no reason to know. "He works in his study quite often. I go in there sometimes but only to ask him for something or if I am so terribly bored that nothing else will cure it." Her face scrunched up a little and she looked up at Junho apologetically. "I am sorry, perhaps I'm not making it sound very exciting. I'm sure it is!"

He listened to Junho, and then Dominic crossed his arms over his chest. It was like talking to one of his brothers. He was refusing to see sense or listen to advice that would help him. “I’d make sure they were English,” Dominic said, pressing his lips into a thin line. “If it’s love you want, it’ll probably grow in time. If you want someone kind, there are a few Barnett’s looking for a match.” He couldn’t outright suggest Mary. If someone else married her, Frederic would be free from her grasp. If any other Barnet married Junho, he didn’t care. It would be one less thing for Dominic to worry about.