Chapter eleven

"Good evening Mother?". Alex greeted when he descended down to the dinning room. His mother replied softly ushering him to sit down. The duchess noticed something different for the first time in her son. She couldn't quite put a finger into it but she'll soon do, she always did.

"Mother, I was thinking, why don't we hold a masquerade ball in two weeks". Alex started.

"Why all of a sudden?. We had one just a few months ago and besides two weeks is such a short time to prepare a ball?".

"Someone has caught my eye Mother, that's why".

"What??. When??. How??. You better not be jesting with me Alex?".

"Am not Mother. I Know better. I'll help with all the preparations. Please dearest mother??. Alex pleaded.

"Well alright then. I'll start the preparations right away. Since you offered to help how about you take Collins the butler and start making the invitations??. Since I don't know your mystery lady I wouldn't want her to be left out now would I??. The duchess smirked at her son. She knew her son's choice would be the best since he's never failed her before. It didn't matter if the lady was of their social circle or not, what mattered was her son's happiness. She herself came from a poor family, her father had no wealth nor title but still she was married to the Duke and she wanted the same for her children.

The invitations were sent out to different members of the ton, except of course for two, which Alex will deliver himself. Climbing up to his favorite place on the hill, he hoped to Meet her again. He was really disappointed when he saw no trace of her anywhere. It's been three days now since he last saw her and his heart craved for her.

How was it possible for someone to have feelings for a total stranger? It's a question Alex asked himself everyday since the first time he saw her. In all his life, he's felt that his life was lacking something but the moment he laid his eyes on the mysterious lady it's like that part was filled. Was she the missing part of his life??. The old tales had it that you'll only feel complete in the presence of your soulmate. Was she the one? He's seen people miserable in their life with the wrong partners. He's also seen people also happy in their marriage, people like his parents. His mother told him so many times that when she first saw his father she knew that he was the one, which gave Alex an ease when he thought of the different kind of feelings he had for the mysterious lady. Leyla. Her name, just like her was also beautiful.

"My Lord?". He heard a soft voice call him. He was surprised to see her there. He was just thinking about her, he always did. And now she was here.

"Good evening my Lady?". He greeted taking her hands in his, kissing both of them.

"Good evening to you my Lord". She answered softly.

"You can call me Alex when we are alone".

"Only if you call me Leyla".

"You know Leyla, 'tis unproper for you to be here with me without a chaperone". Alex started.

"Isn't this place your hideout?.

"It is".

"Who else knows about it?".

"No one".

"No harm then , my Lord ..I mean Alex if no one knows about. And besides you could always blame it on me".

"Why would I do that?".

"You could say am not from this time and I Know not of the ways of it whatsoever".

"That will be quite a tale, don't you think?. They'll think that I've lost my mind. No one in their right mind will believe that you are from the future".

"But you do, my Lord".

"I saw you, had you in my arms only for you to vanish into thin air. You also had weirdly clothing and it was also confirmed by your grandmother, but am still afraid that one day I'll wake and you'd have disappeared once again". Alex added sadly.

"Me too. Am afraid I'll wake and realize that this is all but a dream, when am already starting to get used to it".

"Do you miss it?".

"There's no day that passes that I don't think about it. Especially my friend".

"Love?".

"Yes, but how do you know about her?". Leyla asked astonished. She's never mentioned her to him so how come he knew about her.

"It's a her. I was jealous for no reason".Alex muttered under his breath.

"what??".

"Nothing. You remember the first time we met?. Alex asked and Leyla nodded.

"I heard you say the name, thought it was your lover, did you,..I mean have someone important maybe..."

"A lover?. Unfortunately not, how about you, are you betrothed to someone?. I heard it's common here especially to those with titles".

"No, am not. Before I forget. I have something for you".

"You do??".

"But first I'd have to ask for my watch back, if you don't mind". Alex said.

"Of course, it was rude of me to keep it in the first place". Leyla said taking off his watch and handing it him.

"It wasn't. I thought it would only be fair if I got you something to replace my watch with. Give me your hand". He tied a beautiful bracelet, made of Sapphires in her wrist.

"Alex, it's Soo beautiful, you shouldn't have, I can't accept this. It must've cost a fortune". She said trying to take it back but only to be stopped.

"Keep it. I want you to have. When I saw it at first, it reminded me of you. And just like you said, if by chance we get separated you'll always have something that reminds you of me". Alex said looking at her. Their eyes locked for a minute, then Alex removed a strand of hair on her face and Leyla shivered when his hand slightly touched her cheeks. It was such a foreign feeling and she slowly closed her eyes.

Alex looked at the beauty in front of him. It took a lot of control for him to stop himself from kissing her. Patience. He urged himself. He didn't want to scare her yet. He knew about his feelings for her but wasn't sure how she felt about him.