Confrontation

My brother and Max stalked around the ballroom before zeroing in on Lord Radcliffe sitting by himself on the side drinking a glass of champagne. I walked as quickly as I could without running and the three men were talking when I approached them.

I settled next to my brother who looked extremely tense. Max looked like he had storms raging in his eyes and was trying to maintain his composure. Lord Radcliffe narrowed his eyes on me and I looked down at my feet.

I felt Ben start to guide me towards a hallway, he followed Max and Lord Radcliffe to an empty sitting room and my heart began to pound against my chest.

"Lord Radcliffe, can you explain to me why Aurelia has bruises all over her wrist?" Ben asked angrily.

"She is highly inappropriate and informal," Lord Radcliffe sneered. "She needs to learn her place in this world."

"She is the daughter of a Viscount which is above a Lordship if I remember correctly," Max said tightly. "She is above your rank and it is not your place to set her straight." He raked his hands through his curly locks, I couldn't help but stare at him.

"And you do, St.Clair?" Radcliffe asked. "She's a woman so she would be below me in rank no matter her birth."

"Only I have authority over Aurelia," Ben thundered. "By your logic then, the Queen is below you then too? Don't be so callous about women."

"It's not my fault that Miss Brooks has such a slight frame and bruises easily."

Max looked like he wanted to rip Edward's head off and looked like he was trying head to maintain his composure. My heart leaped at how much he cared for me.

"That doesn't even begin to excuse the fact that you still held her hard enough on multiple occasions," Ben countered. "Apologize to Aurelia if you wish to keep courting her and never hold her that tightly again."

"I am sorry Miss Brooks," Lord Radcliffe said tightly with no sincerity. "It won't happen again."

"I accept your apology, Lord Radcliffe," I said looking at my feet. I had a feeling it wouldn't be the last time he was going to be rough with me and I shivered in fear at the thought.

Lord Radcliffe stalked out of the room and Max let out a deep growl. "I want to challenge Radcliffe to a duel for being so rough with you," Max bellowed angrily.

"It would do nothing but bring more scandal to us, Max," I pleaded with him. Ben turned his back to us with a knowing look.

Max stormed over to me and crushed me against him, I wrapped my arms tightly around him and tears poured from my eyes.

"If he hurts you again I swear-" Max said but I cut him off with a small kiss on the cheek.

"Let's not think about that okay?" I asked with a sad smile. Max looked worried about me but smiled back.

He kissed me gently on the lips before letting me go.

"Let's get back to the ball you two," Ben said tenderly. He hooked his arm around mine and Max followed behind us.

When we came back to the ball one of the young men who signed my dance card earlier came to collect me for our dance.

Lord Jeremy Blake was the Baron of Highpoint and was quite handsome, he had bright hazel eyes and short light blonde hair. I took his hand and Max looked at us with a disdained look. I could only smile apologetically as Lord Blake led me away.

"St. Clair seems to be quite possessive of you," Jeremy noted as he twirled me around the dance floor.

"He wants to marry me, Lord Blake," I said with a blush spreading across my cheeks.

"So that's why he looked like he was ready to murder me for dancing with you," He said with a smirk.

"I am sorry if he got too carried away," I apologize with a giggle. "He cares for me deeply."

"I'm happy for you then," Lord Blake said warmly. "I am also happy that I got to dance with you before you are married off to a doting husband."

"Thank you, Lord Blake," I replied with a smile.

When the dance ended, I curtsied to Jeremy and he bowed back. As I turned away from Lord Blake, Lord Radcliffe grabbed my arm to stop me from walking off the dance floor.

"You are to dance with me again," Edward said with a slight smirk. His hold on me was firm but significantly less harsh than before. It looked like the talk with Max and my brother got through to him.

The dance was a sensual waltz so Lord Radcliffe pressed me tightly to him. "Are you in any discomfort?" Edward asked with a strange look in his eye.

"I am fine, thank you for asking," I lied, of course, I wasn't okay. I didn't want to be dancing with this man!

"I am glad to hear it," He said with the same strange look in his eyes, like he was almost sorry for hurting me earlier and the previous few days.

"I come from a household where men were in charge and women were subservient," Edward explained. "I can see that yours is not like that at all."

My eyes widened in shock. Was he trying to make himself seem sympathetic?

"Is that so?" I asked politely. "My brother learned from my father to treat women tenderly and kindly, that's all I've ever known."

Edward's eyes narrowed and I gulped. "Are you saying I can't treat women with kindness?"

"Y-you have been quite rough with me, Lord Radcliffe," I stuttered out. "I meant no offense to your character."

Lord Radcliffe sighed and looked up at the ceiling. "You are not wrong that I have been rough but you have to be one of the most infuriating women I have ever dealt with."

I wanted to push this annoying man away from me but he held on tightly, I glared at Edward. "I am sorry you feel that way, my Lord."

He rolled his eyes and glared right back at me. "I am still of the belief that women should listen to men," Edward growled at me.

"I am of the belief that everyone is deserving of respect and not to be looked down upon," I countered angrily.

Thankfully the dance ended but Edward didn't let go of me right away. "You are a very naive and idealistic girl, Miss Brooks," He whispered in my ear angrily. "You need a hearty dose of reality."

I pulled away from Lord Radcliffe. "I am far from naive and being idealistic isn't a bad thing," I seethed. "You have no right to dictate what I need in my life."

He bowed shortly and stalked off the dance floor. I felt goosebumps rise all over my arms and back. I walked woodenly to the balcony and slumped down on a chaise. I pulled out my fan and rapidly waved it in front of my face.