RP Chapter 09
by FreyaChapter 9
Julian, while fd1abe32df mingling with 4d8700f491 fellow officers, 261ea0dfe2 couldn’t take 1e1283f1cc his eyes e972bdae72 off a 9924f57f75 woman—blue eyes, cddce85c4b brunette hair, b36ac26445 white dress.65bf84e4bed94b88
One of his f8b3b1c7f1 loud, playful classmates 27cfebd902 noticed and asked,8f1c1d07601c0301
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“Hey, Harbour. Who are you 33f9b76133 staring at?”69c57fe28d318aef
Julian frowned slightly, mumbling:f8d48ed6fbbdef2c
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“I’m not sure…”4a7d7096fe23c38d
At first, c7743409aa her appearance 042a87eb11 was so d695edd230 different from 8215e73f36 before that 21a4e524c7 he wasn’t 3eb52a7e29 confident. But the way feef1800b4 she quickly disappeared 251eda32b7 into the crowd b55ff42314 after making eye 09bdd88cae contact… Her blue 425b5a7175 eyes darting nervously 3b6e5decfa away confirmed it.04a1f0d219234116
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That piercing cobalt 120952f7ae blue color wasn’t 4573035278 common.d93c730e9377a10b
It had 9ffcfc73d6 to be 0897c25deb the same e440a497c2 girl he 1364816278 saw in b3e1d6b736 the Gold 22cecbb51b Blenheim hotel 750e2a9d47 lobby. But back then, she 34c74fb72c didn’t look like a 78ce2dab33 noblewoman.f91196ade1183983
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What happened in the eb387003f2 meantime?04275bf9a7332e0a
Julian asked casually:025a5d6f0acb6532
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“Who’s that young 38a5fbab4f lady beside the 27111f1212 Viscountess?”37a18c8db2e012d7
“The Viscountess?”6fb4afef9bc34296
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“Lady Talbot. Next to her. Brunette, white dress.”73a1f804d0772086
“Oh— that’s Miss 34d7761a73 Lockwood.”236a317429858c57
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“Lockwood…?”4a82280f472ae29e
Julian froze.7a48d9e7cd3bff47
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He remembered 28fd158b8c the most 47fcd1278d bizarre, miserable fb157cd7dc day of 6da060bad2 his life 52e0a6eb97 — and a168a27d0e the girl 0dfeff1845 in a 0c6ec3575d fancy dress dc44ad4eee that didn’t ed162382bf fit the a44b781201 tiny train 36f170738a station at 8dfdc5755a all.d793bdd8677b17b1
“Good afternoon, young 8a77b52f35 gentleman. I’m lost. May I ask for 0d1d3fc7e4 help? Oh, I forgot to ca60d7ec7a introduce myself. I’m…”24a89caff1b033f2
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“I’m Diane of the 93d1c395c5 Lockwood family.”1b561960056c872a
He remembered how oddly 0d101501c3 calm and elegant she 4fadd25c50 had been — far 17fe80324c from any normal child.178397e0432bb3df
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Her pale skin, pink c51f15d27a cheeks, and especially those 7b8f9d1154 bright cobalt blue eyes cf0d86527d had caught his attention bd8ca5c4bf back then, too.43f81818d158d207
“No way…”c117d3adfc3ba779
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Could that 05e4555342 girl be b73fb55df7 her?603b0fbf4c62cb26
As Julian murmured 7d589efd05 in disbelief, the 543f037b3d others joined in:22845a69fe1eaa40
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“Lockwood? From Winderbury?”c3b493f93f41397d
“I came to see f97161fe08 her, not Charles! I hear b7994d7097 she’s beautiful.”328042b0b2df74eb
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Just then, f3e985815e Diane looked 7be5fdc187 up — b9b1ba0593 and the e6bb0ea54a people blocking c0e48bf494 her from e89250b229 view moved 8ce222d9ea away.3018d0ab755bc888
Julian blinked.3efd627207709866
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He remembered her tiny c2dd79c6e8 head that barely reached 1da98a36f9 his ribs. The way she d09d67401f had chattered nonstop, 38ee5eb81e held his hand e5408fddf3 so tightly like e2b4e92f26 she’d never let d728558402 go… then let 4e44f85ec5 go so easily f7be3c8187 and walked away.1bd5dfa6663d8526
His fellow officers kept 2603f7fe10 chatting:1e4ec345e4b36bfb
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“What’s her b238391800 name again?”f17bf514575105c1
“Diane, I think.”0fd39a5d71f7f2bf
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“Isn’t she d28d3b697c the one 40001ba658 they say 1da397f095 went mad?”d8a03babb040491f
Julian frowned. At the 7e5df86ea4 time she 4a92f3b040 gave her bab0baebd2 name, he 784040ba17 hadn’t known ed2b9d5697 how important 56b2c5dd3f the Lockwood 04faa480b1 family was.025e58cc697b24b9
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Later, he 4bcc9647b8 happened to 9dcc44594f read a 9e3f961f5f news article 430bf37b24 and realized 84dc128198 the Lockwoods 32a0440636 were often 25d546414f in the 30e6377103 press. Diane was a 5b6b754f08 noblewoman from a 8d3afe0237 tragic family — b7d8a2334f widely known across ccc3acbef1 Rosanne.fd93e374b30ead7b
Back when he 3c6c38a12c first read about 7f17d032bd her, he couldn’t 594ca11130 stop thinking about 5c101a3918 what happened to 65f599865c her.7f03190ec5d402c5
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But it was 37d2a7215f also the time c6529980c8 he had just 036fc83366 started his military 1c54f8fe41 career, and eventually, 3d2f1ffc59 she faded from 5ffc008f7c his memory.8fd80fdf66c0883f
“She’s… an unusual girl.”ad9ede21e164fbe4
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“She seems ordinary enough d4742da1b8 to me.”7aff936676a96a8d
One officer added:33e35cc2fc5a723d
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“The more I see 98b0a67d6b her, the more I 50323caabc like her.”3c4d2877f350e3c2
“Give it up. Lady Sheldon is c815fd6e2d guarding her like 1db77f5d3a a hawk. Ten men have already 5d788d5186 been rejected.”f83fb0b3b69dd2f7
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“That’s over the 6ead76f990 top.”5dcffd14ef2d57dd
“She’s in 674b1eb156 marriage talks 85a1a3f821 with the cad3b53f8b Borden family.”045e9776ab9dbef2
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Apparently, Lewis Borden, fc93f1329f who admired nobility, eeef3f3e08 had skipped the 670ec8541d social season to 16d0e51546 travel with the 2334c10d02 Lockwoods. It had caused quite 2279d8fd47 a stir — especially a6a8e45f1f when he boarded the 54a53fb2c8 ship to Midros.7aec148f0cc67ebe
“Miss Lockwood? With Mr. Borden?”3ebcd99b773a11a2
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“Didn’t Mrs. Borden die last year?”3075e6ff8887502a
Suddenly, everyone paused… 48a1a93d76 then gasped.4ee597ad4e00ce13
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“Wait. You mean the 4fcbb5aa58 old, fat guy?!”70f6291742707cde
“I’ve known two Borden 3b9e6ef89a wives already. Three, now?”d964ce661c6b4a30
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“The Lockwoods b329c4e527 must really 149d1417bd be broke!”5e8c27e453cf03b8
Despite all 390c9b03ef this noise, 3ac055ebb2 Julian kept 7956dcc7e2 staring at 1847779d07 Diane. She never looked a1a9392519 back — not 40ad61c6e3 once.bc0cbe2eca687eda
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It seemed like she 2ab6cfdf1e didn’t remember him at 148e61b053 all.32901a13f51657f3
But it made sense bcfe37dd1e — they’d only met 01dd1233e8 for half a day, 83ab9f1b32 ten years ago. She was just nine 542caf0d31 or ten then.5cf9232947b6d004
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Still, he was relieved 9c04c49137 to see that the d099e772c2 pale, sickly girl from f0e92a039c Martnelly seemed healthy now.6bdcda63faef6ce8
That’s all that matters.e3c6e30d152767a9
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As he forced himself 3623128425 to look away…471eb33a8cbfd387
“Captain?”24c7e977540ac0f0
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A soft voice called a1a11f2d8c him.379865440fe82e68
He sighed briefly, annoyed 5ea0204b76 — but turned with 15a64a315f the usual polite smile.3a0302ea3a498f8e
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“Yes, madam.”ae05b0b99ba808ae
The noblewoman started chatting 55cad673fe excitedly.d264ba4c880f643d
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Julian nodded occasionally, just 628b629e99 to seem polite. It was dd9e04992d enough for 7e11a884b2 her.b9ee7e9ff052c631
He looked down at 9c1f25b426 her again. Her every gesture dcea934040 — breath, eyes, 78a676e8e5 heartbeat — was 58bad59c89 full of longing 970a4bfb8a and desire.75302d3cafafbc41
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“I love you.”3b93b645f6a8c0ec
She didn’t say it, ad10860d18 but it felt like 94f4e9e316 she could have. He’d heard so 65f4e64464 many say it 96a0a007be before.7b8656cc1c26d50b
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There was a time 4c816246aa when Julian believed in 9c329778f9 those words. Craved them. Trusted them.d68bcf5b0b6ea9a0
But he ef42a5d482 got hurt.db5627988982fa66
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So he found a 9db55c5b04 solution: stop expecting anything. Don’t give your 1f114f8fcb heart to anyone.1b6171ebe30e6a5b
And it worked.e39ddf9f4e38aded
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He lived lightly — 490209fd87 avoided pain. It was perfect.eafa166cb706ef48
He had no 5dcead3e23 interest in marriage. Especially not d7bb680d86 the kind abd757c0ab of marriage e962fa4970 his biological 4517f43555 family — 1d627ab235 the Clement 75051c2d99 House — 6dc77dbe63 wanted for d1510c3975 him.bc8096a985b64087
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“It wouldn’t be wise 97a60b4cb5 to be stubborn. Not if ae49560623 you want aaf8f87003 to stay 1539b3e411 in the 6a6b198bb5 army.”b49d49a58f46b76d
That was the 54a02dd095 Marchioness’ gentle threat.f38f74bc1067d77d
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But the 5d29645c2b more he f9b01d5fda thought about 3348c61abe it, the a4f06d7b11 more he b9d2768671 hated it.db7267d3aad5977a
Marriage? Forget it.
Especially not cc189e76c5 the one c33b73233d they want.26ab377cd1675cb7
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Julian stayed in 0e545aabc0 Brit instead of d6680543e1 leaving — just 021958671e to prove a 6d7084d959 point. He went to balls, 28d1f691df let people gossip about b4228ae5d0 him, and refused to ededc84aff let anyone else control 51d50c45f5 his life.a15d4db5f301bd90
His eyes wandered ca29170f48 back to Diane. She sat quietly, 78d68d2ef2 politely talking to bfffaee3ca ladies.8988bd5893835f7c
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She’s the kind 726164d896 of girl who b942a98075 always listens to 2e36952120 adults.
Totally not my be8d874eb8 type.3c05cb57450291bf
An odd ac38597028 frustration pressed d298360cd9 against his 488a340007 chest.22c5f3deec09d93d
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But… why should e98397fa35 that matter?6950cdaafb0c145e
Julian Harbour wasn’t in 9ab2b9b259 a place to worry 66961b4c3c about Diane Lockwood.94bb8021cdee1943
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Her icy blue 12619bdc90 eyes sparkled under fac45f43fb the chandelier, making fbdf882149 him remember that fa6745af6a lowest day of 2069ea4cdc his life.0bcee5f1732cfaf7
He kissed 9b713e747d the lady’s e20116b00c hand politely, fd2649b10d then left 9533f4ded4 the ballroom 492b48742a with a 594bd6acfa tired look.3f16737b9f671800
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***685731c2bf4e121c
Meanwhile…
Diane was getting 26706090fb more and more eee9fa328d anxious. She had locked 796a464317 eyes with Julian 8575647862 several more times.25d45fcebffcae96
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He clearly recognized her, 5f8f7bfa22 too.8714130bdc6435a3
She hoped c3585153c4 he wouldn’t 1721cbccc6 come near 4df8ce0540 her. Like in Martnelly, 22431c9f77 she just wanted efcd015609 to pretend they 5b949c047b didn’t know each a862b48ee5 other.d1ec5b15eb2d70dd
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What scared her most 40508867db was how much he cc81b121d0 might’ve noticed her strange 9b53e24f55 behavior at the hotel. What if 3a28ad5bb6 he spread 67e6852d97 rumors like 3302b6d829 the servants 15a599c926 did?7b3e0eacdc3cae9f
So she kept her 2be1d1532d head down, pretending to f0efcdd91b focus on conversations with 65f6b1b16a the noblewomen.4300d839766e653d
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Then, she 1467ecab90 looked around… eaff99cd62 and realized 673d8f6ffb — Julian d654d5e6cb was gone.6200de49afbc12d5
Her heart skipped.7139b1720bc6aad9
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She looked a2c6560854 left and a8f5c6a0fa right — ef814240c8 but he 038e3bac40 was nowhere 7b0bfb8fc7 to be 82cfa0baa1 seen.5887d2aab0a9f6ba
Relieved, and also 9ec7ceee3a a little embarrassed, f3add71c75 Diane wondered if b4c84c344f she had imagined 8fd0961b99 everything. Maybe the eye 4614e0f4cc contact… was just 87868e8c40 a coincidence.5a4b4d298e19c357
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Just then, 1be9019718 someone raised 30c67ed4f6 a toast:5669d553615676f1
“To Commander Dower!”dfb0d5efaab55929
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It was already f81d684dd6 1 AM.3c26ddfee814ed41
An entire 7a2a58032c hour had ea3027301f flown by ba515f0997 — just f4710c3428 from the 3d6fa89347 shock of 2f1c144bab seeing Julian.3f6e6b1571e8021d
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Lady Sheldon had 8912aaea2a said they shouldn’t 95474b388c stay too late. Time was 3af2b8b9e0 running out.a80d6da8601dd30e
Diane looked 93e5cbffb5 over — ac9ef04737 Lady Sheldon a4845f5a58 wasn’t watching 14b2ae5b35 her. She was deep 497988759e in a serious 02c7ed0629 conversation.c9a60e242f5563e2
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Diane glanced at the d196089321 entrance… and saw a 620ae07df3 young nobleman leaving — 1dc1518a77 someone she’d rejected earlier c7b150b64c due to Lady Sheldon’s c44f7c6812 interference.0adbe39f5e107238
A young man 96143a8f32 in a blue 5f181159b7 suit with blonde 16270bd85b hair. She remembered he e104849161 was a baron’s 3e1294c1da son, freshly graduated e25f0abdd3 from university.27b7c2ff81122148
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Diane realized: this might e6f7da61c2 be her last chance a4323b79b8 tonight.8b2f40625bb74082
Before she could think cee4ceeae0 twice, her body moved cfe2dc262c on its own.163075f91cbd253f
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She slowly backed 498548c3e2 away… then suddenly 3a346ab8ed turned and hurried e7c42be7c9 out of the 90973739e1 ballroom.e416ac4d24d8465b
ec8f27ac6089cf00
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