Chapter Text
Dearest Gentle Reader,
As the ton returns from their winters away in lavish, expansive lands, many are anxious to start the social season’s events. Mamas hope for a successful season of matching their daughters with the most respectable suitor as possible. Even if these suitors might not always appreciate the watchful gaze from across the ballroom. Take the new Duke of O’Khasis, Garroth Ro’Meave for example. Last season was definitely one left to be desired, as he much preferred to be in the company of whiskey and his mates from university. He only made three appearances throughout the season. Which came as a shock as most Dukes seem to be rather urgent to name a wife. Especially if they find themselves earning the title before reaching the altar. Perhaps he finds comfort in knowing that he has two younger brothers, one of which is already married. Or perhaps, for hopeful mothers of the ton, he just hasn’t found the right woman for the role of Duchess of O’Khasis.
Maybe the right woman wasn’t even on our country’s soil last season. Perhaps it’s a woman from the Americas that the Duke of O’Khasis needs. Yes, indeed, dear Readers. According to the winds of the sea, Miss Aphmau has made a return to London after years in the new lands with her mother and father. With a bright mind and, with no doubt from this Author, a beautiful smile, she is surely expected to make heads turn during her debut season. With any luck, she’ll receive a proposal in no time. And this Author believes that it will be from someone from a higher stature…a Duke, possibly?
Or, unfortunately, the mothers of the ton may be disappointed that once again the Duke is not ready to settle down and would instead rather spend his days hunting and drinking with his best companion, Mr. Laurance Zvhal. But who can blame him? The adopted brother of Viscountess Zvhal is surely the one to make any event memorable with his charisma and magnetic personality. Surprisingly, he has made his notion clear that he has no desire to marry any time soon. It wouldn’t be a challenge if he did have those intentions as many of the young ladies of the ton line up to have a waltz with the young man. And with no title to his name, it’s definitely an accomplishment on his part.
All that is for certain this upcoming social season, is that it will be one to remember. And this Author intends to record every bit of it. Just you wait, my dear Readers. Just you wait.
Your’s truly,
Lady Whistledown
—
Well, Lady Whistledown did get one thing right. Garroth Ro’Meave, Duke of O’Khasis, was not one who enjoyed balls. Or any event that the ton held for that matter. Even before the death of his father, he always felt eyes on him. As heir, Mamas were desperate to put their daughters in front of him to possibly earn a dance from him and if he dared to make a mistake, it definitely would linger not only on his reputation but his father’s. And he never wished for that. The glaring eyes of his father and the venom that would come from his mouth any time Garroth would as far as drink the wrong beverage at a party, made the young man hate any social gathering. Even after his father’s death and earning the Duke title, he despised them. Sure, he had more respect and freedom to do as he pleased but that didn’t stop the pressures that lingered over his head. Hell, last season, his first season as a Duke, he was criticized for not wearing black long enough as it was deemed disrespectful to leave a period of mourning that early. Rumors flooded the ton of the possible strained relationship between him and the recently late Duke, which wasn’t necessarily false but he hated the fact that he had to lie right through his teeth just to avoid any more gossip. He did, afterall, wanted his family to enjoy the social season without whispers surrounding them. His mother did indeed need to be around the company of others after losing her husband. And his brother, Zane, did end up meeting his future wife, Miss Nana Ashida, who was a wonderful addition to the family. So yes, Garroth was willing to suffer through a couple of balls or fetes if it meant his family was happy. Unfortunately, this season was already looking to be a more painful one than the last.
As he road in the carriage with his younger brothers, mother, and new sister-in-law, he couldn’t help but dread the arrival. He would have to guide his mother inside, arm-in-arm, have his name and his family announced as they entered the room and then watch in terror as all those sets of eyes peered daggers right at him. Taking note of how he entered afterwards and how his expression looked upon his face. Then, as always, the moment his mother left his side, at least three debutants would come over, showing off the cards that dangled from their wrists. Garroth always did find that formality a bit…animalistic.
“Garroth, are you feeling well?” Zane asked, from the other side of the carriage. “Or are you just antsy to get to the party?”
Nana sat close to his side, her hand in his’ while her head leaned ever so slightly onto his shoulder, still showing signs of a couple in their honeymoon period. Zane even stated to his older brother that the two considered extending their honeymoon for another few weeks instead of returning for the beginning of the social season. Garroth would have been more than happy to pay for the expense but Nana insisted that they return just in case either of Zane’s brothers had found a woman that caught their eye. She wouldn’t dare miss the excitement. And Garroth had made the mistake of sharing with his family at breakfast that morning that he did intend to find a bride this year. His mother was ecstatic, curating a list of eligible girls and telling Garroth way too much information about them that made him wonder if he should have not allowed his mother to buy those Whistledown pamphlets. But one name stuck out to him. Miss Aphmau.
It was the one girl that his mother truly knew nothing about. She had only arrived a few short weeks before the season began with her mother after spending years abroad in America. For a woman so educated and full of experiences he could only dream of, it intrigued Garroth why she wanted to return to a society so short-sighted and old-fashioned as this one. If anything, he just wanted to ask her a few questions about her travels in the new country and see what happens from there. Nana, of course after reading Whistledown that morning, urged her older brother to pursue her. Insisting that Whistledown could spot a dazzling match from miles away. Zane was even optimistic about it. Vylad on the other hand had other things to worry about. Always writing away in a journal or something similar…
“I guess you could say that,” Garroth mumbled in response to his brother. He felt his mother’s hand on his shoulder, grabbing his attention as she said softly; “Remember to keep your options open. Sometimes it's the ones we least expect to be our true loves.”
Zianna was always romanticizing about true love, wanting nothing less for her boys. And Zane had gotten just that, him and Nana being deemed the “most breathless match” of the season last year. So Zianna was hopeful to do it again.
“Perhaps our brother is just upset he can’t go hiding away with Laurance any longer,” Vylad suggested, his nose still in a book. But he dropped it to exasperate; “What could have possibly put you two at such odds? You’ve been inseparable since you’ve met almost ten years ago. What did you do to ruin it?”
“M-Me? It was him who got upset the moment I said I didn’t want to galavant around town with him this time around!” Garroth sputtered, desperate to defend himself. “He was being childish. He had to have known that one day I would want to settle down. Maybe I’ll set an example and he’ll do the same…”
Vylad frowned and rolled his eyes, sinking back into the plush seat of the carriage to continue his book about…well, Garroth didn’t know and he didn’t care to ask. He has other things on his mind. The real reason he might have looked pale and sickly as he waited to arrive. The anxiety of seeing Laurance after their last encounter caused him to feel almost lightheaded. He wished nothing more than to never look into the shimmering emerald eyes of Laurance Zvhal ever again. Not after what had happened.
When Garroth had shared his intentions of marrying this year, instead of a joyous reaction from his friend, he was met with distaste. The brunet downright laughed in his face before asking; “You’re not serious, are you?”
Garroth could only push out; “Yes. I am.”
That’s when Laurance saw he was being quite serious, stopping his horse on the trail the two were riding on. Garroth stopped only a few feet ahead of him, turning the horse around, already irritated that he wasn’t receiving the support he wished for from his most trusted companion. “What Laurance? Did you truly think that I was forever going to be a bachelor?”
“I mean…can you blame me? Just last year, you hated the idea of even speaking to a debutant. Now, you’re saying you want to marry one of them and have her give you an heir?” Laurance explained, keeping one hand on the reins of his stallion while the other waved around in the air dramatically. Laurance always did speak with his hands, showing that he didn’t attend proper schools when he was young like his adoptive sister. “You seriously can’t have thought this all the way through, Garroth. Why not just enjoy a few more years of freedom? You have the money and respect of society to do so! In fact, most men don’t even consider marriage until—”
“Laurance, I can’t go through another year of—well, you know! Last year!” Garroth exclaimed, walking his horse to Laurance’s side once again. He was softer as he said; “Think of it this way. After this season, since I’ll be married and you have no intention of being a husband yourself, we’ll not even have to make an appearance at these silly events. We can just enjoy the countryside all year round! No more miserable clubs or struggling to sneak out without the desperate mothers spotting us! It will be ten times better than we—”
“I enjoyed last season. I enjoyed the antics we got up to and the clubs we visited. Irene, I even enjoyed the nights when we would cling to the corners of the party to talk or just snicker at the others who got a little too drunk on the champagne!” Laurance said, a bit of bliss laced in his voice. But, he shrugged and said; “But, I understand if you would rather stay in the country! So let’s do that! Who says we have to go to London? If we leave tomorrow, we’d be gone a whole day before the first ball!”
The blonde shook his head though, his blond hair getting tussled by the wind as he said; “You just don’t understand. Being a Duke has so many more pressures and expectations than—”
Garroth froze, not daring to say the next part of that thought. But Laurance had already caught on. “Then what? An adopted son with no titles? A brother of Viscountess who’s only reason for not being the Viscount himself is because he was only a boy living on the streets before a kind man took pity on him,?”
“Laurance, you know I didn’t—”
“No! I know what you meant,” The brunet spat, stopping the blond from speaking. His brows knitted together, showing just how irritated he was with his best friend. “I’ll have you know, Garroth, that I know damn well what type of pressures and expectations you have on your shoulders. You might have not told them all to me but, that doesn’t matter. I knew. But I also thought that you didn’t care. That you truly just wanted to spend your days and nights with me, filled with things that we actually care about.”
“L-Like what? Drinking? Pool? Riding–”
“Each other!” Laurance suddenly shouted, his voice being higher and more stern than Garroth had ever heard from him before. His horse even took a few steps away, making a noise of discomfort. But Laurance continued; “Garroth, once you’re married, things will change. You might not see it now, but it will. Sooner or later, you’ll want to spend more time with her and then, you’ll have children to look after as well. You’ll find more happiness in your new family than you ever had with me.”
Garroth was now utterly confused. His friend, to him, was acting truly like a brat and all he could manage to push out was; “Don’t you want that for me? As my friend?”
Laurance sighed, nodding his head to say; “Yes, of course I do. Just not with some random girl that you met at some dance that truly only wants you for your money or the title of Duchess. If you do that, it’ll take years for any woman to actually fall in love with you. That is, if she actually does.”
“So what would you have me do? It seems to me that no one will ever meet your expectations! Who on earth will ever please you? Would you rather me not marry and face the scrutiny of being a Duke who never fully finished his responsibilities? Just so I can spend the rest of my days with you?” Garroth begged his friend, just wanting a bit of love from his friend. And, to Laurance’s credit, he got just that.
Garroth watched as the brunet turned his horse around, getting closer to Garroth as he muttered out; “Irene, you’re dense…”
And before the Duke knew it, Laurance had leaned forward, reaching up to comb his fingertips through the blond’s curly locks as he placed a surging kiss on his lips. Cerulean eyes went wide as they watched as emerald ones closed, the owner of them relaxing as best he could while the other sat there atop his horse stick straight. His thoughts went blank while Laurance’s were just filled with the desire to do more to his companion. Even if he had to do it on the back of a horse to do so.
When Laurance broke away, Garroth was absolutely speechless as he gulped down his shock and surprise. He still felt the touch of Laurance’s hand in his hair, it slowly moving to allow the thumb to graze his cheek ever-so-delicately. Laurance’s emerald eyes looked straight into Garroth’s as he said; “You deserve someone who loves you the moment they meet you. And it’s been done before, I promise you.”
He then let Garroth free, sitting back upright in his saddle as he went on to say; “I hope you find that, Garroth. I just can’t watch it happen right in front of me.”
Garroth could swear he saw tears forming in the corners of Laurance’s eyes before he rode off at top speed back towards the stables. Even after he was way out of view, Garroth stayed still, unable to comprehend what had happened. When he too returned to the stables, hours later, Laurance was long gone. Probably already home with his sister and her husband, eating supper. Unknowingly leaving the Duke in utter shambles in a field, miles away.
The past two nights, as Garroth tried to rest, all he could think of was his friend. But not the same way he had before. Now, instead of spending his nights thinking of what the two of them would do the next day, he was now dreaming of him. Things like him kissing back on their horses instead of sitting frozen on his saddle. Or meeting him in the countryside like he had suggested that same ride, only to slip away under a grand oak tree to do things only they would know of. Each time a dream like that had occurred, he had woken in a sweat, breathless like he was in the dream.
So, you could say, Garroth truly did have other thoughts on his mind than what book Vylad had chosen to read while riding to Lady Danbury’s lavish mansion.