"okay honest questions need honest answers," pausing he shot them a sheepish grin for a moment, "if a man bid on a basket that belonged to a friend who he had no romantic interest in how bad would be kicked out of bed from the one he is seeing?"

eleanor could not help the amused look that fell upon her face as she observed the male standing before her , " it depends on why you bidded on your friend's basket , " she spoke cryptically , " after all , the hidden meaning behind this basket auction is for interested individuals to spend time with their prospective life partners . the one you are seeing may believe that your intentions lie elsewhere . "

a delicious but forbidden shiver ran down her spine as she both watched and felt graham's lips against her bare skin . there were other spots on her body that eleanor would have preferred to have his mouth but for this moment , she would have to settle for her hand . " have you studied poetry before , my lord ? " the dark haired woman jested slightly as a grin tugged on the corners of her mouth , " you have quite the way with words . if i was a younger woman , i would be blushed from head to toe . " dark hues simmered with barely concealed desire as she kept her gaze upon graham as her hand reached for a strawberry. with the fruit sitting between her thumb and index finger , eleanor offered him the red fruit to take from her fingers , " would you like a bite ? "

his heart hurt and tomorrow he's sure his head would hurt also, but in this moment he does nothing but pour himself and his sister another drink. ❝ please tell me that you surely have something interesting to tell me ? ❞ he questions as he gulps his own burning liquid down, refilling the glass before taking the two over to the woman. ❝ things have become a dreadful bore as of late. ❞

amusement was clear in her dark hues as she observed her brother before her . it was evident that he was going through something but eleanor could not put her finger on it . for someone who acted like nothing bothered him , it was clear that leo was not seem at ease . " lord pendlebury won my basket . i had a picnic with him . " the younger sibling hummed gently under her breath as a slight smirk graced her face and accepted the glass , " why do i have the feeling you're hiding something from me ? "

it would seem that fate was continuously putting eleanor and lord pendlebury in scenarios that brought them into close proximity . she had felt excitement spread like wildfire in the pit of her stomach when it had been announced that he had placed the winning bid on her basket . eleanor was not naive to know that it was extremely frowned upon for her pursuing any sort of connection with a married man but he was her lysander . who could keep themselves away from the handsome man ? as she sat on the makeshift picnic blanket , the dark haired woman waited patiently for graham to make his way over to her . as his voice reached her ears , dark hues looked up from the basket in question , over to the male , a grin immediately graced her lips , " my lysander , " eleanor jested before she patted for the other to join her . " i have a feeling that fate has other plans for us than to keep us separate from one another . "

❝ she lied to me, i'm innocent, it was worth it though. ❞ he chuckles his honesty towards his sister. ❝ you be careful, you never know what catty bitch will come after you, always fight dirty, remember that. ❞ he warned. ❝ i can be discreet, and why would i teach you and hinder my amusement. ❞

" i highly doubt she lied to you . omitted the truth ? perhaps . we both know that you wouldn't have stopped to ask those necessary questions before proceeding . " eleanor pointed out , amusement clear in both her dark eyes and her tone . at his warning , a soft laugh left her lips , " if the wife is so concerned about keeping her husband from straying from their marriage bed , perhaps she should not act like a catty bitch to him . " she had heard rumours of the relationship between graham and his wife ; none of it sounded like individuals who loved one another . " you have always been a terrible influence . "

"i'm so sorry to barge in like this," she apologized as she stepped through the door, "but it seems as though i've managed to gain a tare on my hem, is there a chance you could help me fix it?"

dark hues glanced up from the garment she was currently attending to and towards the young girl that now stood before her . " stand on the podium , " eleanor instructed softly as she abandoned her task at hand . " what caused the tear ? "

"if i were truly the master seductress i would have multiple partners willing and waiting lined up outside my door," she teased with a roll of her eyes. at the kiss to her lips she playfully swatted the other and shook her head. "oh you truly know no bounds," she jested before her lips curled into a darker smirk, "and what makes you think i am not prepared, perhaps i have been waiting all my life to hear your words?" she challenged joyfully.

" attend one of my parties with me and i am certain you will be the individual with the most attention on them , " her words were accompanied with a wink . eleanor enjoyed teasing the older woman but it brought a sadness to her to think that hua did not believe herself to be desired . " and yet you still do not wish to take a turn with me in my bed , " she jested back with a grin on her lips .

the air was always light between them and there had never been any ill will aimed at the other. they got along swell and hua-li treasured the other dearly. "well how else do you keep them coming back for more," she giggled softly. letting out a teasingly shocked gasp, hua-li let her hand rise to her chest before she fanned herself mockingly. "then i shall never change and hope that the day comes where you will keep your threat," pausing she grinned wickedly, "is it a threat or a promise or a promise wrapped within a threat, one could only guess."

" you are truly the master seductress of the two of us . i should only be so lucky to learn from you . " she teased lightly as she pressed another kiss to the other corner of hua's lips before she danced away behind her station . " you would not be prepared to know what i do to you . i have so many ideas already . " she purred with a wink . " it is whatever you wish , my lady . "

❝ i still maintain, i didn't know she was his wife, i would of been more discreet. ❞

a laugh left her lips as she watched her brother with amusement clear in her dark hues , " it would seem that we are both drawn to those who are married , " she jested . " i was not aware that you knew how to be discreet . if you do , you never taught me . "

the game they were playing was dangerous . he was married and a titled gentleman and she was a modiste assistant with no trace of nobility in her veins . however , the invisible string that linked her to him pulled her close instead of further away . graham wanted this as much as she did so who was she to deny them both ? " i believe it is i who has stumbled across the most treasured prize of all . " she purred slightly as she lifted her hand to caress the underside of his jaw . " then i have no shame in admitting that i have only dreamt of you since that night . there are so many things i would have liked to have done to you but never got the chance . perhaps now , i may indulge in such fantasies ? " her hands moved from his jaw , down his neck to his chest and finally to the clothed plane of his stomach . desire danced in her dark hues as she kept her gaze upon him .

"and may the lord save us all if that is to happen for we are surely to be dead before we know it," the giggles could not be stopped. yes it was improper to speak of one as such but there were a small, select, few that brought it upon themselves. taking note of the few steps that brought the other closer, hua-li couldn't help but smirk herself as she heard the others words. "just continue being you," she muttered softly as she leaned in and gave eleanor a teasing kiss to the corner of her lips.

a laugh left eleanor's lips at her friend's words . it was never a boring moment when she spent time with hua . they were similar minds and personalities , something that was extremely uncommon in the ton . another laugh left her lips as the older lady gave her a teasing kiss to the corner of her lips . " always the tease , aren't you , hua ? " she jested , pressing her own kiss to the corner of the other's mouth in response before pulling back slightly , " oh , how i would enjoy punishing you if i had the chance . "

"oh dear lord do not mention the cowper ladies, i fear if you say it loud enough they will start tramping through the door," she cackled loudly with a shake of her head. "we will never speak of them again!" a shudder ran though her body at the thought of the dreadful family. "well someone has to do the saving and i refuse to let anyone else do so, just get me a steed and we shall be fully set," hua-li teased in return, "if you're lucky you might even get yourself a lovely farewell kiss."

" i believe there is a saying that is most appropriate for this moment . speak the devil's name and he will appear . though , it is a she . " the smirk immediately graced her lips at the thought of the cowper ladies being the devil reincarnated . it would make sense . taking a few steps closer to her friend , the smirk turned devious , " is that so ? how can i make sure i am lucky enough to be graced with such a kiss ? "

" i can only offer the sound advice of avoiding any further conversations with either of them . " the modiste assistant nodded her head as she began to tidy up the counter , folding a piece of fabric . " i could help you but i must ask . are you in the market for new clothing ? "