In town, Harper purposely walked around in search of Cassius or the man he pointed out as his brother. She tricked her mother by claiming she was going to meet with friends. Only a maid walked behind Harper as an escort.
Harper had grown tired of the changes to her home. It was even more upsetting to see the suitors her father welcomed into their home.
Before her father’s wealth dried up, Harper needed to find a suitable man to marry to save her home.
Harper came in search of Cassius in hopes that after another meeting, he would think of marrying her.
’Where is he?’ Harper wondered. She regretted not asking where she could find him instead of enjoying meeting him by chance at a ball.
Harper wasn’t fond of the men her father welcomed to court her. He was accepting anyone willing to provide him with money in exchange for his daughter.
Harper clenched her fist.
All Harper was hearing as of late was how she would be suited to give birth to many boys. She was forced to stay quiet when some men who already had children and a wife long dead asked her to turn to show herself.
"Not ," Harper said, determined to find herself a good husband.
Harper did not want to lose her place amongst the other ladies in town. If she married a man who was either once married before, had children, or was far older, she would become the victim of the ladies’ gossip.
Harper saw what that gossip did to other ladies, so she did not want to share the same fate.
"I only have one chance," Harper muttered, looking around the market.
Harper was clueless as to where Cassius resided, so her only hope was to spot him here. When she spoke of Cassius to her father, Harper was disappointed to hear her father advise her not to aim so high.
Her own father had lost hope in her. It pained her to see her mother encourage her to find love with one of the men at her door.
"Where could he be?" Harper asked, snapping at the maid behind her.
The maid was startled by the tone of Harper’s voice. She wasn’t aware that they were walking in search of a man since she was sent to escort Harper to meet with her friends.
"No, you are useless," Harper said, annoyed that she had such a maid with her.
It was one unfortunate event after another for Harper since she was stuck with this maid until she married, and her husband provided more maids.
"I am looking for a man named Cassius. Do your best to find where he is so that I might return home soon. Go," Harper said, shooing the maid away.
It was only a matter of time before one of her friends spotted her and questioned her about her search for a husband. It was also only so long before her mother realised that she had been lied to.
"Milady, I am not to leave your side. Dangers are lurking around the town-"
"We shall leave the sooner I find him. My mother was kind enough to give me a bit of money. It shall belong to you if you find the man I mentioned," Harper said.
Harper smiled, knowing the offer was working when the maid started to look around. After all, money and status were what ruled this town, which was why Harper needed one of them.
"You should listen to your maid about dangers."
Harper turned to face the eavesdropper, ready to tell them to go on their way, but she was stunned to see Cassius’s brother.
Harper cleared her throat, preparing to change the tone of her voice to be sweet rather than bitter.
"There are town guards all around us," Harper pointed out. "We are all safe here."
Quinn looked around at the guards who appeared to be bored. Since they hadn’t come across anyone who needed their help, they were bored and not paying attention to their surroundings.
"You shouldn’t rely solely on the town guards to stay safe. A lady like yourself should walk around with guards or perhaps a parent. Don’t be careless," Quinn advised Harper.
Quinn had little interest in Harper compared to his brother. He didn’t see what drew his brother to the woman before him.
"I can take care of myself," Harper said, following behind Quinn.
Harper tried to get a good look at what Quinn was carrying in a small wooden box in his hands.
"No, you cannot, and you shouldn’t be nosey as well. If you are searching for my brother, he is near, but I advise you not to waste your time with him. I will only say it once and not explain why," said Quinn.
Harper frowned, disappointed that Quinn was discouraging her from courting his brother. This was her first time meeting with him, yet he was already sending her away.
"Is it because you look down on me? I assure you that I am a wonderful-"
"I don’t care about you enough to look down on you, and every young lady in town would speak highly of themselves. It is not about you, but rather about my brother, whom I know well. If you want to chase him, then go ahead," Quinn said, uninterested in meddling any further.
Quinn grew annoyed with Harper since she took it upon herself to walk beside him. It seemed she had forgotten that it was his brother she was trying to court.
"Ladies should be more careful," said Quinn.
"I am walking with you so that I can see your brother. I enjoyed that last talk I had with him, and wanted to thank him for the shoes he gave me. Do you mind sharing what would be a good gift for your brother?" Harper asked.
"I do mind," Quinn replied.
Quinn stopped to look at the silly woman beside him. "You are throwing caution to the wind because you want to see my brother. You are walking with me when you know nothing about me."
Quinn looked back at the maid. The maid appeared to be a sensible the one between the two ladies.
Quinn didn’t see Cassius as worth the trouble of waiting around in hopes of seeing him.
"As I said, there are town guards around us, and I know who you are. Your brother is a very handsome man. You must be bothered by other ladies. I assure you that I am here because my feelings for him are pure," Harper promised, wanting Quinn to like her.
"Are they? Are you not smitten by him buying you shoes from the first meeting?" Quinn asked, deciding to humour Harper.