Dearest William,

Certainly, like you, I do have fears. I fear that my dreams may not become reality, petty they may be.

I try my best to meet them, yet the constant fear lingers somewhere in the dark corners of my mind.

But I do believe it is how we treat these fears that ascertain their effects in our lives.

Fear less, my lord, and dream more.

Your friend,

Lady Weis

*****

The article written about William Wakefield did not ease Ysabella's feelings.

For all she knew, it had merely made things even more difficult for her. People would start to question the identity of the woman in the ball and she feared Lady Weis would be discovered.

But that would not happen. She would not let it. Only Emma, Aurora and Samuel knew. And Wakefield, of course. And Margaret, their eldest sister, who would not dare say anything.

And Samuel's footman. And their two maids. But they could all be trusted.

Her secret was safe for now. The only person she did not trust to keep Lady Weis a secret was Wakefield himself.

His desperation might lead him to bad decisions.

She was on her way back to the estate from Haram after having visited Lady Hayward and delivering a flower to Wakefield, a habit she could not seem to break, when she encountered three ladies she was acquainted with. They had entered the season together three years past and all were hunting husbands still.

Ysabella would not consider them friends, really, but they had gotten along fairly for years now.

"Why are you out and about alone without a companion, Ysabella?" Nettie asked with an innocent smile. She was the tallest of the three and the closest to Ysabella and Emma.

"I do not need a companion," she nonchalantly replied. "I bought a few books."

The three women stared at the books in her hand, not lingering more than a second, completely uninterested.

"Have you read the Herald?" asked Agnes, the smallest of the three. And the palest, too, Ysabella noted.

"Yes, of course," she said in a cheerful voice, one she often used around her so-called friends.

Juliana, the woman Ysabella and Emma seemed to never have grown a liking to, stared at her with pity. "You must be devastated, Ysa." She looked at her friends for approval. "We know how you have been tirelessly trying to woo him."

Ysabella's smile widened as she forced a rather genuine laugh. "Oh, you do say the silliest of things, Juliana." She waved her free hand as if to dismiss the subject. "Surely you must know that Lord Wakefield is merely an entertainment on my part!"

The three women appeared dumb as they stared at her. "You are fine with him being in love with this mysterious girl, then?" asked Nettie.

"Well, it is his heart. I do not own it. Of course, I am all right with him falling in love." She started walking and the three women followed close behind. "But if I must add, this mysterious woman seems to me but just another gossip without a tinge of truth. People make up stories just so they can see them published on the Herald."

"Hmm. You might be correct," Agnes conceded thoughtfully.

Ysabella hastened her steps.

"But should it be true, would you stop playing games on Wakefield?" Juliana asked loudly. "We have to admit that we find them quite entertaining, really, to see him looking so distraught every moment you pull your tricks!"

"Do not worry, ladies, you shall see more of it," she wryly promised, lacing her words with a mocking cheerful tone. "I really must hurry. Emma is waiting for me."

"Be safe!" The three women said, waving their hands over their heads.

With a heavy sigh, Ysabella returned home.

Emma was in the parlour when she arrived and with her was Mrs. Beagle. Ysabella immediately placed her books to the side to run up to her sister.

"When did she arrive?" It was weird, really, to talk about their black cat as though it went on a long vacation.

"Not an hour ago," Emma said, not meeting her eyes.

Ysabella cleared her throat, holding out her hand to caress Mrs. Beagle. It was rather awkward to be in the same room as Emma after their fight last night. But they were siblings—sisters—and they had no other choice. They knew each other too well to know that things would soon find its course. For now, they simply had to be patient with each other.

"She smells," Emma said, slowly standing to her feet. "I must ask one of the maids to give her a wash."

"Bath," she corrected. "You wash clothes, not cats."

"Well, whatever. At her state, she does need a wash."

Ysabella nodded, stepping aside to let Emma pass. She gathered her books and went straight to their bedchamber.

Mayhap she should start one of the books. Or mayhap she must review A Lady's Guide to Courtship. Just in case she forgot the lessons.

*****

Grey's was not precisely a sinful place. It was neither a gentleman's club. It was simply a sophisticated place for drinks and cards. For most rakehells, it was the place to be if they could not go to their lovers, had none at all, or simply whenever they were not in the mood to have a tumble in bed.

He had received a short missive from two of his lovers tonight, but he was currently preoccupied with matters entirely more important.

"Fancy seeing you here, Wakefield," Ralph Everard said when he joined their table. As brothers of his friend, Levi, Ralph, Nicholas and Maxwell had become one of his confidantes.

Ralph was the youngest and the breath of fresh air among their group. But now that he was a Town Guard, and a respected one at that, his presence made the rest of them feel a tad older each year.

Nicholas might very well be his favourite, having the same reputation of a rakehell himself. He dressed fancily, his dark hair well-maintained.

Ralph may have taken Nicholas' fashion entirely ignoring Maxwell's which was different from the rest of the brothers, for the man was indeed different both in character and looks.

Maxwell, unlike his brothers, wore his hair long that they reached his shoulders. Most often he would tie them behind his nape, but there were days he would simply let them down. The way he wore his face could also be considered un-Everardly.

Of all the brothers, Wakefield knew Maxwell the least. The man was too cynical that his words could either be true or a joke. Unlike Benedict who had a boring reputation, Maxwell could be considered extreme. Never had Wakefield heard him say anything good about anyone, really.

"And why do you seem surprise?" he asked, lifting his hand to order his usual drink from the server.

"Have you not seen the Herald?" Maxwell asked, his tone dry. "They've made a feast of you."

"We were expecting you'd crawl under your bed and hide until the next article comes out," Nicholas said with a laugh. "Or mayhap we are surprised you showed up at all since you are a changed man. You are in love, you bloody bastard!"

Ralph and Nicholas' laughter rang around the entire room.

"Mock me as you may, gentlemen," he said with a satisfied smile, taking the glass the server placed in front of him, "but I am a determined, besotted man at the moment."

The three men stared at him incredulously. "So it is true!" Ralph asked.

"You chased a masked woman across the ballroom?" Maxwell asked, shaking his head. "She could have been a bloody servant for all you know."

"I do not care," he shrugged, grinning. "As the Herald reports it, I am in love."

The three Everards stared at him as if they have swallowed a bitter tonic.

"As a matter of fact, I am in the process of investigating."

"Investigating what?" asked Ralph.

"And who my mysterious lady is, of course."

Maxwell scoffed.

Nicholas sputtered in his drink. "You are investigating who?"

"How in bloody tarnation do you intend to do that?" Ralph demanded.

Looking at each of his friends in the eye, Wakefield grinned. "I have a plan. Simply wait for it."

*****

The very next morning, Ysabella was awakened by the door swinging open, crashing against the wall. She moaned and rolled over to find Emma's worried face hovering above her.

Startled, she jumped to sit on her bed. "What is it, Em? Do not tell me Mrs. Beagle has disappeared once—"

"Read this," Emma said, pushing the copy of the Town Herald in her hands.

Ysabella rubbed her eyes to clear her vision, and with eyes still drooping with sleep, she scanned the page. "What do I read?" she asked, confused.

Emma pointed at the heading with the largest print.

LORD WILLIAM WAKEFIELD: SEARCH FOR LADY WEIS

Ysabella turned cold. She felt her heart stop and her sleepy eyes widened in utter shock.

"It gets far worse," Emma said above her. "The article narrates Wakefield's desire to marry the woman who could prove herself to be Lady Weis."

"No one shall come forward with enough proof," Ysabella tried to reason, trying to ease her nerves.

"He also stated a great sum for anyone who could lead him to her," Emma added.

Ysabella felt blood drain down her face.

"Ysa, the maids know—"

"Martha and Grace have been with us since they were young. They are literally our friends. They would never betray me."

"How about Samuel's—"

She shook her head. "The footman would lose his job should he say anything. His brothers are working for the Theobalds as well. He would not be stupid enough to do anything for a momentary wealth. But to make certain, I would have to send Samuel a missive." She pushed away the covers and jumped from her bed.

"How about Aurora?"

"She is a friend, Emma. She would dare not betray me."

Emma remained quiet as Ysabella went to her desk in panic to write Samuel a missive.

*****

The entire town of Wickhurst was shaken by Wakefield's announcement. Ladies and lords alike openly gossiped in the streets. Maids and other service people relayed more gossips to their masters and mistresses.

Even their mother who was not one to enjoy long hours in the presence of gossipmongers had decided to take a walk to Lady Gedge's estate.

The only reassuring things Ysabella heard the entire day were Samuel's fast reply that his footman could not read and write, adding that he had also promised his silence in loyalty to the Theobalds, and the maids, Grace and Martha personally finding Ysabella to tell her that her secret was safe with them.

Samuel also added that there was no attempt yet from Wakefield to inquire about her identity. Ysabella knew Wakefield would not do that for he was certain Samuel would not say anything. Even Samuel's close acquaintance with the Everards would not be considered suspicious for the man knew too many people in Wickhurst who also considered him a friend. And as someone who worked for The Town Herald, Samuel had too many people relying on him with confidence. He knew how to address questions without giving out hints. Should Wakefield come to him in his desperate attempt to find Lady Weis, Samuel would know what to do.

Aurora also sent a letter of inquiry, the words in her missive carefully chosen to evade suspicion. Ysabella hastily sent a reply that there was nothing to fret about.

Even much later, when they were finally inside their bedchamber, Ysabella could hear a buzzing in her ears. It was as if the whispered voices of the gossipers still lingered in the quiet air.

Emma was sitting in the bed, Mrs. Beagle in her lap.

"I am starting to hate him," Ysabella muttered under her breath. "He betrayed my trust!"

"Not surprising, really, that a member of the male species would do such act of betrayal," Emma commented, staring at her with face bare of any expression. "You did not tell me you met with him in the Cinderella ball."

"I told you, Emma, you do not wish to hear anything about the man. I simply chose not to tell you to save you the trouble."

"Was it a good meeting?"

"Have you heard the Herald? Do you see me wearing a wedding gown? Of course, it went horribly wrong!"

"Because you were afraid to show yourself."

"Correct." She bit her nails and growled in frustration. Without a word, she jumped to her feet and went to her closet.

"What are you doing?"

"Getting my coat."

"Where are you going?"

"Grey's. He shall be there tonight, I am almost sure of it."

"Have you lost your mind? You cannot go there, Ysa!"

"I shall not enter the establishment, Emma, do not fret. I shall wait until—"

"—the morning when it is acceptable for a young lady such as yourself to walk about. I shall accompany you to his estate if you truly wish to confront him."

"No, I must face this alone. He shall ruin us both should Lady Weis' identity be revealed. He would hate it as much as I would."

"Then you plan to tell him everything?"

Ysabella walked to the window, pushed it open. She gathered the long rope they kept under Emma's bed and tied it around her bedpost. "Yes," she replied to her sister.

"This is crazy, Ysa. If anything happens to you tonight, I would not be able to—"

"I have done this many times, Emma. I can take care of myself."

"You have never done it alone."

"Well, there is always a first time, is there not?" she asked with a grin, bending down to climb out of the window. Emma held her hand while she balanced herself outside the window.

"Just be certain you tell him this time. No more games, Ysa," Emma said.

"Of course," she assured although deep inside she was quite unsure if this was a famous idea.