wildflower chapter 7

“Fancy seeing Miss de Vermore at an event like this. The influence of the Headington Grand Duchy, I suppose.” Victor Regid’s eyes sparkled as he spotted Lillian fanning herself in the shade of a tree. He’d been eager to connect with her, but her reclusive nature had prevented any real conversation. He started toward her, only to be blocked by Cairn.

“Lillian doesn’t wish to speak with anyone today.”

Victor clicked his tongue in disappointment, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Glancing sideways, he noticed Cairn staring intently at something. “What are you looking at?”

“A flower.”

Following Cairn’s gaze, Victor saw Aizen Frederick laughing with the other young ladies as they wove flower rings. “Pretending to be indifferent, but you’re a man after all,” Victor scoffed. While Cairn was captivated by Aizen’s beauty, Victor seized the opportunity to ask the question he’d been pondering. He knew Cairn usually deflected such inquiries with nonsensical answers, but perhaps his current distraction would lead to a clue. “Lord Headington, what does Miss de Vermore like, and what does she dislike?”

However, Aizen’s beauty wasn’t enough to completely distract Cairn. His brow furrowed. “I don’t know what she likes, but I certainly know what she dislikes.”

“And what’s that?”

“A bruised face.” Cairn’s lips curled into a wry smile as he looked down at Victor. Towering over him, Cairn’s imposing height and icy stare sent a shiver down Victor’s spine. Defeated, Victor shook his head.

“So, don’t make a move on her.” Even in casual conversation, Cairn’s tone revealed little emotion. His voice remained low and controlled, even when asserting his point.

“Am I wrong?” His words were never wrong, and his straightforward manner added to their persuasiveness. Even the slightest hint of hostility, like now, carried the weight of a warning.

“To be more precise, stay away from Lillian. And that includes you, too.” He pointed at the man eavesdropping behind Victor.

Did the innocent Miss Lillian de Vermore truly know the man behind the gentle smiles he reserved for her? The Cairn who, indifferent to the gazes of others, spoke bluntly, acted boldly, and possessed a directness that belied his inherent elegance. The irony was striking.

Cairn’s gaze returned to the flower in Aizen’s hand. His casual demeanor sparked a reasonable doubt in Victor’s mind. Lord Headington, are you really only interested in flowers, not women? …Is that even possible?

***

“So, have you… slept with a woman?” Lillian’s question was entirely ignored as Cairn bent down and plucked a wildflower. “Hand.”

Lillian obediently extended her hand like a well-trained dog.

“What are you doing?”

“Weren’t you watching Miss Frederick making flower rings?”

“Yes, I wanted to try it.”

“Then why didn’t you?”

“Father would have a fit if I touched a flower covered in dirt.”

Cairn chuckled in agreement. His touch was surprisingly delicate as he split the stem of the flower and placed it on her finger. “It’s alright since I made it for you, isn’t it? You always give me a free pass.”

Lillian nodded slightly. Because of Cairn’s trustworthiness, Cound de Vermore was more lenient whenever Lillian wanted to do something with him.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For always being there for me.” Cairn was a man of few words. So, whenever Lillian wanted to escape her suffocating home and do something unconventional, she sought Cairn’s cooperation. Like climbing trees, practicing swordsmanship, or making flower rings.

Gazing down at Cairn as he tied the flower, Lillian suddenly remembered the question she had asked. His smooth change of subject had momentarily distracted her. “No, Cairn! I asked if you’ve slept with a woman!”

“Lily.” His stern tone made Lillian’s shoulders shrink, but she continued undeterred. Cairn always threatened her but never truly punished her.

“Hmm… Is that kind of intimate act only for married people?”

“Not necessarily…” He trailed off, uncharacteristically hesitant. He seemed to be holding back from scolding her for her indelicate question, perhaps because of the serious expression on her face.

“So, you can sleep together if you’re just dating?”

“Lillian, when you say ‘sleep together,’ do you mean sharing a bed? Like when we were very young, and you had frequent nightmares, so we slept together in the large bed in the annex?”