She was certain she had mistaken it, until she heard the distinct sound of doors slamming against chiseled stone.
Was there really a fire?
She couldn't smell any smoke.
"Fire! Water! Bring water!"
She sat up in bed, her heart slowly beginning to pound.
It was her first night here and there already was a fire.
Part of her suspected herself for bringing bad luck with her - a sign that she was never meant to attend the season in the first place.
But it was a childish thing to think, even for her.
Then, the smoke started creeping in thought the gap underneath her door.
Holy Hea…
The air became thick and hard to breathe.
Her door was suddenly thrown open and he stood there. He was dressed in a loose cotton shirt and loose breeches.
She had never seen him so… disheveled.
Even when he had returned from the stables the previous day, his clothes had been properly in place… just smudged with dirt and dust.
But now, the laces of his shirt were undone, revealing his collarbone and a small portion of his chest.
She didn't even realize he had moved until he touched her arm.
"Are you okay?"
She completely forgot that he had barged into her private chambers without so much as a knock. Her mother was have fainted at the spot if she ever heard of such a thing.
Unable to speak because of his closeness, she just forced herself to bob her head up and down in something she hoped resembled a nod.
Then, without preamble, he dragged her out of the room.
The stairs didn't make him slow down - and she was bare feet.
"Theo…" The name slipped out before she could think better of it. "Where are we going?"
He did not stop, neither did he slow down.
"The fire's spreading… and the smoke is just as dangerous. I have to take you outside."
They walked the rest of the way to the front door in silence.
As she stepped out into the cool darkness, her eyes began to adjust to it.
She could make out Candace and a few servants.
There was no sign of Friedrich and the Duke, and Theodore had gone back to look for them.
She went to stand beside Candace, finally being able to glance at the damage the fire was wreaking.
It took her breath away.
Just the day before, she had been marvelling at how anciently beautiful the house had looked.
Servants were running around with pails of water and sand.
"Where's your robe?" Candace asked her, wrapping her arms around her waist.
That was when she realized that she had fled the room in her sheer night dress.
What in the world was she thinking?
She leaned against Candace and sighed.
"I suppose I forgot. Theodore just barged into my room and yanked me out."
Candace seemed to have stopped breathing for a second.
"He did? Well," her voice dropped, "It is the job of a soldier to save everyone. Don't see too much into the gesture."
Eve nodded. "Of course." She tried to hide the disappointment in her own voice, but it came out sounding flat.
"What even started the fire?" She asked after a moment of silence.
"No one seems to know. Some told me the oven overheated, some said a spark flew out of a hearth in one of the rooms and burned into a cushion and others say that a thief had snuck in and set the place ablaze."
A while after, Friedrich and Theodore emerged, supporting the Duke on their arms. The old man was coughing violently, covered in soot and dust as his feet dragged along the ground.
All their eyes were red and bloodshot from the smoke.
Servants rushed to their aid, relieving them of the burden of carrying the old man.
It was long into the night when the last spark was put out.
Theodore had gone back inside immediately after his father had been settled despite the protests of the servants while Friedrich had remained by his father's side.
Eve didn't want to think about the damage at that moment.
Slowly, distant rays of light began flooding the sky.
Dawn.
They had stayed outside all through the night?
So much for her plan of dreaming about Theodore coming to her bed that night.
The Duke was still coughing, his face ashen.
Candace had fallen asleep beside her, leaning on her shoulders. They both sat on the cushions the servants had managed to provide for them.
A group of men, Theodore included emerged from the house, their faces and clothing dark with soot and grime.
Friedrich rose to his feet and hurried to his brother.
She could see that they were close, despite Theodore's detached nature.
"Did you discover what started the fire?" Friedrich asked.
Theodore didn't answer. Instead, he just held up his father's pipe.
The old man in question was fast asleep.
"Are you certain?"
Theodore nodded, inspecting the item as if he suspected it could start another fire.
"Almost all the servants claimed that the fire started in father's room, so after the flames were quenched, I searched the room. And I found it lying on what used to be father's favourite chair."
Her gaze darted to the Duke. It was a wonder he was still alive.
"I knew it was a bad idea to let him have his pipe." Friedrich mumurred.
Then, both men glanced in their direction.
Candace was still asleep beside her.
"Fetch Lady Whitmore a robe to cover herself." Friedrich said to a passing female servant.
Everetta had completely forgotten about her scandalous state of dress.
But that wasn't what brought a stream of colour into her face.
It was the fact that he was looking at her.
The way he was looking at her.
Not the way a man looked at a woman he wanted, of course, but there was a sliver of admiration in his gaze before it vanished.
Or maybe she had imagined it.
After all, she was beautiful.
He didn't need to have his… parts before he realized that, did he?
"Well, today has taken a disastrous turn. The worst thing that can happen is if a storm hits." Friedrich was saying as their steward joined them.
Their voices fell to whispers as they discussed immediate repairs and damages.
After all, a ball was to hold in a week or so.
As they spoke, Everetta noticed that he would occasionally glance in her direction.
And it only made her abdomen stir harder.
"Why is your breathing so loud?" Candace startled her by asking.
Colour flooded her heated cheeks.
"It must be the dusty air." She lied quickly.
But Candace was no fool.
She traced her discomfort back to the source by following her traitorous gaze.
"What dusty air!" Candace concurred, a grin curving her thin lips.
A servant finally arrived with a robe for her. She glanced at it, not making a move to take it.
Then, without a second thought she said, "Thank you, but I won't be needing it."
Candace gasped beside her.
"You are getting bold indeed."
Everetta glanced down at her breasts peaking out of the thin fabric in the cold morning air.
She might as well be naked, she thought.
There was nothing bold about what she was doing. Only stupid.
But she would rather be labelled stupid if he kept looking at her like that…