This chapter is dedicated to FeyDoc who helped me out with some great writing tips and was kind enough to offer to help me with the editing. 

Here is Ch 11 FINALY!!!!  I am sorry to have made you guys wait, I just needed to take my time.  I had a bit of writers block, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to bring in Nicki and the diary part was making me crazy.  I hope I did a good job, I promise more of him in the next chapter.  Writing that diary entry was difficult, I didn’t want to say too much but I didn’t want to say too little, I really had to delve into Nina’s head and heart to do it right, I hope I did her justice. 

Ch 12 is going to be hard I am still totally in love with Nicki and I’m scared I won’t do Steven justice.  Any of you fellow writers who’s main character falls for more than one person in your book have pointers?  Not only does Nina have to fall in love multiple times so do I, and that’s hard.  What’s worse is I know what happens going fwd so I’m jaded and don’t want to give myself up to heartbreak.  Do I sound crazy or does this make any sense to anyone!! 

Thank you all for reading, you have no idea how happy I was to see all your comments votes and reads.  What a wonderful way to wake up on a miserable Monday.

Kisses,

JoJo

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                                                                         Chapter 11.

Once in the comfort of her room Nina is finally able to catch her breath.

“What was that!!” she whispers to herself in disbelief and utter confusion.

'Don’t even think about it Nina, no, no, no, NO!! You managed to dissuade one only to have an even more dangerous one take his place' frustrated she pushes herself off the door and begins to undress.  Too tired to care she leaves the dress in a heap on the floor as she crawls exhausted into bed.  Reaching for her journal she flips to an empty page.

Dear D,

  What a day, I promise to write more tomorrow but all I can say for now is OH...OH... yep oh boy, literally.

                                                                                    Night,

                                                                                    XoXoXo  Nina

            Waking up Nina is far more exhausted than she was when she went to bed not to mention she is unbarably sore.

"Oh my God I hurt!" She croaks as Olivia pulls back the curtains.

"Olivia I..." Nina attempts to get out of bed "ahhhhh....oh that hurts" screams Nina.

"I must have slept in the same position all night, my muscles are so cramped” whimpering she continues “I didn’t even know you can hurt in so many different places all at once.

“Olivia laughs at Nina as she hobbles about the room.

Let me help you miss" Olivia says grabbing the end of the dressing gown Nina is trying to put on and is failing miserably.

"I need a massage" whines Nina.

"Come here let me see what I can do" smiles the maid.

Obediently Nina limps across the room and lays herself back on the bed letting Olivia kneed her sore muscles.

After the short session Nina feels well enough to get dressed and join the family for breakfast.

"Miss it is a warm day today the family is breaking fast on the terrace" Olivia informs her.

"Thank you" replies Nina as she shuts the door behind her.

Making her way down she can hear the family boisterously, enjoying the morn.

"Look Uncle there’s Nina, I told you she would join us before long" chirps Josephine happily.

Nina smiles and greets the rowdy group.

She walks over to the only empty seat which just happens to be right next to Steven, Josephine just freed up the chair by parking herself in her uncle’s lap.

As she reaches for the chair Steven stands and pulls it out for her.

"Thank you" she replies as he glides her chair beneath her.

She feels rather anxious for some odd reason and tries to ignore his presence but it is impossible. 

"Miss Martin" starts Steven "Josephine informed me that you have lessons daily, would you mind terribly if I joined you today?" he ask innocently.

Nina gulps practically choking on her fruit as she looks over to Vanessa for assistance in answering him.

"It would be my pleasure to have you join us but, it is difficult enough to keep the children focused with the stunning weather we are having, it would be that much more difficult to keep them interested in the lessons if you were there to distract them.  Perhaps we should wait a bit until the novelty of having you here has worn off before you join us."

For a split second Nina sees disappointment dance beyond his eyes but just as she realizes it, it is swiped away with a blink of his luxurious lashes.

Feeling bad Nina suggest "You may walk with us if you wish, but you must leave us until the lesson is over."

Brightening he agrees.

"My dear how are you fairing today" inquires the Dowager.

"Better a bit sore but feeling very well, kind of you to ask."

            As the breakfast comes to an end Nina collects the children along with the Earl and they begin the walk to the lake.  Upon reaching the meadow the children spur the Earl into a competitive run, Nina declines the offer barely able to walk never mind run.   Seeing her walking alone Tristan forfeits the race to keep her company. 

Seeing him walk back towards her causes Nina to smile “Aren’t you sweet and chivalrous to boot” taking his offered arm she continues “You really did not have to, I know how you both miss your Uncle I am quite content to walk and be spectator to your musings.”

Tristan shyly looks away towards the deft Josephine escaping her uncle’s grasp.

“Is the reason that Uncle cannot join us because of what happened yesterday?”he inquires blushing.

“Fret not we have discussed the matter and put it behind us” Nina hugs Tristan to her side, and is rewarded by a shy smile “the real reason my dear is I cannot speak freely about the wonders of my time if he is in our company.  We cannot tell everyone, the more people know the harder it will be to keep the secret.  If the time comes, when we need to share my secret we will, but until then we shall keep it hush-hush” Nina winks and smiles fondly at the sweet boy. 

The race comes to an end and the winner Josephine is prancing about the field victoriously, until Steven scoops her up and perches her on his shoulders as he begins the run back.  For a split second Nina notes an unusual expression on his face, but it fades as quickly as it appeared when he falls in step with Nina and Tristan.

“I beat Uncle!!” Josephine exclaims her hands waiving in the air.  She leans down to give Nina a celebratory hug, forcing Steven to stop allowing her to wrap her hands around Nina’s neck.  As she does Steven pivots to the left allowing her to better reach Nina, but this also brings the two together awkwardly.  Steven leans his head to the right whilst Nina moves hers to the left unwittingly neither realizing until their faces are mere hairs apart.  Shock and surprise mar both their faces until Steven smiles at her whispering “she is a minx isn’t she.”

“Most definitely” retorts Nina as she mirrors Stevens amused expression.  

“All right that is enough love.” Says Nina as she taps Josephine’s leg. 

“Uh...uh” Josephine shakes her head.

Steven pulls in one direction and Nina in the other only to be slapped together their faces even closer than before. 

Nina furrows her brow in exasperation “Josephine let go this instant or there will be no lessons today for you and you will be sequestered to your room for the rest of the day with no desert.”

Squeezing them even tighter together Steven looks at Nina apologetically but none the less with a gleam in his eye.  Their faces are so close together that their breaths are intermingling.  

‘We are so close If I just turn my head our lips would brush’ Nina thinks to herself making blush creep slowly up her cheeks. 

As she begins to reprimand herself for the foolish thought Josephine lets her go leaving Nina in Stevens embrace, but neither is aware as their gazes are locked oblivious to their surroundings.

“Ahem” Tristan clears his throat jolting the adults back to reality. 

“Oh…goodness” Nina smiles uncomfortably as she steps out of Stevens hold.  She turns sharply and walks on alone, leaving the rest of the party to hurry on after her.

Upon reaching the lake Nina turns to Steven who is taking Josephine off his shoulders. 

“Well its best we begin children, thank you your grace we shall rejoin you at the manor for high noon tea.”

Confused Steven notes the change in her demeanor, confused he inquires “May I return and escort you back?” he says with a smile which quickly creeps across his lips.  Looking down sheepishly he continues “As you know these woods are littered with devious men, it is best you are always escorted” he ends looking up at her through his thick fanned lashes as the smile spreads from his slow drawn lips to his warm laughing eyes.

Nina is momentarily rendered speechless, ‘he did not just pull that smoldering “no I’m not trying to seduce you I am always this …this… delectable!”  Ughhhh… he is killing me with that look’ Nina internalizes.  Angry that she has allowed him to get to her she collects herself and responds coolly “You may do as you wish my Lord”.   

Taken back by her lack of humor at his witticism, more over at one he had deliberately chosen to remind her of that rather intimate night, in hopes of brightening her disposition.  Confused he bows to her and without a word begins his walk back. 

 As she watches him walk away she chastises herself for being so rude ‘He didn’t deserve that, did he…UGHHHH… why did you do that Nina, you are supposed to be making a good impression after what happened not making things worse.’

Lost in her thoughts she is brought back by Josephine’s tug on her arm “Nina, will Uncle be returning?  Why did you send him away?” she pouts.

Lowering herself to the child’s level she takes her little hands in hers “Because my dear you would not pay attention to my lessons as your Uncle is a great distraction to you both.  He will return I’m sure…”

‘I hope’ she thinks as she looks past the children to his retreating figure.

“How about a compromise, I will try to devise a lesson in which your Uncle can participate, but I will only do so if you both are really good for the next week.  That means no bickering or arguing, I wish for you both to behave like perfect little angels that I know you both are …deep down inside”  she ends with a jovial smile upon her face.

“Yay!!!  We will be Nina, we will, aren’t we Tristan?” says Josephine  jumping up and down looking at her brother.

“We will try” smiles Tristan.

Getting up Nina claps her hands “Excellent, now what should we study?  I know, how about a pet project? This lake has frogs and if it has frogs it has tadpoles, it will be the perfect lesson on metamorphosis.  Let us see if there are any in there now.”

Nina walks with the children to the edge of the lake to look for the tadpoles, I see something in the water but I am not sure that it is them, perhaps in few weeks’ time they will be large enough to catch.”

“What is meformissums?” asks Josephine scrunching her face as she tries to pronounce the word. 

Nina laughs at her attempt “Metamorphosis isa biological process during which an animal develops physically after being born.  Which means that they begin their life as one thing and once they grow up they look completely different.  Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, it happens in stages and I would like for you to see it unfold.”

“Oh goody!” exclaims Josephine excited “Does that mean that I will have a new pet?”

“Well first we need to see how responsible you are.  We will do an experiment I will give each one of you an egg which will be your baby, you must take care of it, you cannot allow it to crack.  If in the time the tadpoles are grown large enough for us to catch your eggs are still whole you will each have your own tadpole. How does that sound?”

As Steven nears the lake sounds of laughter become louder and louder.  Curious he hurries along to see what has the children so amused, as he climbs up the hill the sight before him is one he did not expect.  The three are running amuck on the shores of the lake, growling and pawing at one another, flapping their arms and hopping.  His approach goes unnoticed as they are far too occupied with their current game. 

“Birds” yells out Tristan.

Nina exclaims “eagle” and she swoops down to grab a hold of Josephine who is still hopping about like a bunny. 

“I’m going to eat you” Nina squawks as she picks up Josephine spinning her in the air both of them are laughing in unison.  Steven walks up to them surprising them with a growl like that of a bear, as he does the lot of them scream in fright running away or flying in some cases.  Nina looks at him grinning and laughing in such a care free manner he is taken back at how different she is at this moment compared to earlier.  Her hair has freed itself from its pins and ribbons flowing freely behind her as she runs away from him.

“Wolf” she yells’ out spurring Tristan to get on all fours and chase after Josephine who is still hippity hopping.  He reaches her and tackles her from behind, but his victory is short lived as Nina joins Josephine and joins in tickling Tristan.  Steven finally catches up to them Nina looks up at him captivating him with yet another one of her uninhibited smiles.   A grin begins to spread on his face but it is wiped as quickly as it appeared when Tristan jumps on his back bringing him down to the ground.  Together with Josephine and Nina, Tristan pins his uncle down whilst tickling him until he concedes defeat. 

Still laughing her heart out, Nina pulls out of the entanglement to watch the three of them taking turns ganging up on one another.  Soon enough they have completely exerted themselves and collapsed on the ground panting with beaming smiles adorning all three faces. 

Nina looks over them fondly her eyes finally resting on Steven a strange feeling overcomes her quickly she realizes that watching him play with the children awakened some primal yearning.  Confused and even more flustered she tries to suppress the emotion, glimpsing back at Steven she sees he has raised himself on his elbows and is looking straight at her.   A silent moment passes between the two, neither able to let go of the others gaze.  Nina manages to look away finally breaking the spell looking down at her lap she smiles coyly “Thank you for returning to fetching us for tea time.”

Breathless Steven nods “You are most welcome, is this how all of your lessons end?” he smirks.

“Some, not all” she grins back.

Steven gets up walks towards her, offers her his hand to help her up. 

“Thank you” she whispers timidly looking up at him through her lashes. 

In turn he flashes her one of his alluring smiles “It was my pleasure.”

Turning their attention back to the children Steven says “Up you go you ragamuffins; your mother will be mortified at what you have done to your clothes.”

The Dowager steps out on to the veranda “Vanessa have you seen Steven he is nowhere to be found.”

Declyn who is seated next to Vanessa with his back to his mother rolls his eyes. 

Vanessa smiles at her husband’s annoyance “He has walked over to the lake to fetch Nina and the children, they should be returning shortly.”

“Ahh yes very good, well I hope he isn’t over exerting himself he must be careful after the accident” she says as she seats herself next to Declyn. 

Looking out over the gardens she spies the four of them returning.  “There they are!” she exclaims getting out of her seat enthusiastically waiving to them, and they waive to her in return. 

“Oh just look at that handsome sight” she gushes at the approaching quartet. 

Vanessa looks on with Viviane whilst Declyn excuses himself to have a smoke. 

“Will I ever be fortunate enough to see him married of and happy” pines the Dowager sighing she continues “I declare he will be the death of me, he simply refuses to take the matter seriously.”

“Perhaps Viviane he has not found the right woman, once he does I am certain he will not hesitate.  Just look at Decklyn” she smiles looking over at her husband fondly.  

“From your ears to Gods ears, my dear.” muses Viviane “They do look well suited for one another do they not” she comments with her face alight with new possibility. 

“Viviane” warns Vanessa “it is best you leave it up to them, you know what happens when one meddles.”

“Oh poppycock, you and Declyn would have never realized how foolish you were acting if your cousin and I had not concocted that devious plan” she says matter-a-factly.

Getting heated Vanessa replies “Yes and if you recall the sole reason for all our squabbling was due to your incessant scheming.”

Dismissing the the idea she waives off Vanessa’s retort “It worked regardless.”

As they approach the mansion Nina notices Viviane looking fondly at them, she is smiling in a way that Nina has never seen before but suspiciously it looks rather familiar.  Whilst speaking to Vanessa the Dowager is gesturing at Nina, as she gets closer to the terrace Nina is able to read their lips.  Realizing what their exchange is in regards to she looks over her group and sees that she is walking in  rather intimate proximity to Steven, the lot of them are laughing giving an impression of a very happy little family, like something out of a tv add.  Her prior thoughts flood her mind making her feel uncomfortable, not wanting to justify their assumptions Nina starts to pull away from Steven.  Walking sideways to her right she attempts to put some distance between them, unwittingly Steven follows suit bridging the gap between them. Exasperated Nina withdrawals from his presence again only have Steven mirror her movements once more. Determined she drags poor Josephine with her creating a larger gap between them, as she does she hears a familiar chuckle, looking up she sees Declyn in stitches watching what must look like a lot of drunken crabs running amuck on the lawn. Embarrassed she gives up and hurriedly makes her way to the stairs, as she reaches them Steven offers her his arm she disregards the gesture instead with her free hand she grabs her skirts and makes her way up.  Reaching the top she lets go of Josephine nods at the Dowager, glares at Vanessa and rolls her eyes at Declyn who is still