For the next couple of days I was giddy and nervous about meeting lane again. But as the week drew on and It was getting closer to the next Sunday. One week and I had heard nothing from him since our kiss in the jacket room and his promise to come again. My giddy mood started to drown into a puddle of depression. Leah tried to cheer me up, but nothing would take my mind off of lane and why I had heard nothing from him. I had read many romance novels where the young man makes the women believe he is in love with her; then when he got what he wanted left without a word. I didn't  think lane was doing that to me, but it was still unnerving. I focused on my music and my studies, trying to make it feel like nothing, like it didn't matter if he kept his promise or not.
" I always used to envy all the other girls who had men to worry about; but now I Pity them" I said to Leah I while I was helping her with the mending. I had been doing a particular hard stitch on an old petticoat when I spoke and ended up pricking my finger because I was not paying attention. 
"note to willow: do not sew when your mind is full of thoughts." Leah said trying not to giggle at my little mistake.
"thanks for the note Leah" I said sarcastically as I fixed my mistake.
"do you think he is coming back? I mean it's been almost a week".
"I'm sure he is just busy"
"sigh...maybe" I went back to my sewing, only too soon my mind wanders to lane; his handsome face, strong arms, brilliant blue eyes, and a love For music and literature like I. I wonder what it feels like to be held in his embrace, his kiss was as soft as a butterflies, are his embraces the same? I was thinking so much that I did not notice the host gesturing someone through the door.
"why hello there willow dear," came a familiar voice.
"Austin!" I gasped, I almost ran from my seat to embrace him,  but I remembered my newly graduated training.  " good afternoon Sir. Bevans, tis been a long period of time that I had not indulged in your company." I stood up and curtsied daintily towards him. Austin had been my best friend, besides Leah, since I have lived here. He has been gone for three years now to finish his education in France. It had been lonely without him around.
"Seems I am at the wrong residence. Is there a chance a young beautiful, yet wild and free, girl living here?" he said with a smile on his face.
"Perhaps I may be an assistance to you sir, what be her name?" I was wearing a practiced demure look on my face, fighting the urge to run to my friend. 
"Her name be that of a tree. A beautiful tree that hides itself from those non deserving to know the real beauty of it. Willow."
"I do know of a willow. But she is not what you speak her to be." I said, my mask almost slipping at our humor.
"She is no longer her. I see with my own eyes that she does not exist anymore; instead a beautiful young lady of the London society has taken her place, and now, (he throws his arms open wide) I demand she come welcome her friend with a long awaiting hug." his smile was so amazing, I ran towards him, discarding my sewing to the floor, and threw myself into his arms. 
"oh Austin! This is still the old Willow," I stood back and looked him up and down for a couple seconds. "But I'm not sure if this handsome young man is the same Austin who left for France two years past. For he was just a boy."
"that he was, but three years away from home has tamed that wild boy. And I see that the three years I left has tamed the wild girl."
I looked into his familiar eyes, they still  held a bright happiness inside of that ocean blue ring surrounding a sparkle
Of delight even in his black iris.  
" And Leah! I see you have upgraded!" he said letting go of me to give her a hug "you must he happy to be with Miss. Willow"
"oh I very much am." she smiled and hugged him back " and what willow says is truth, your three years away has changed you immensely."
"by gods grace you two sure look similar, even more than when we were little."
Leah and I both giggled identical Girly giggles.
"How long have you been back from