A/N- Ok..so I have no idea why but everytime I post a chapter there's like 20,0000 spaces between each paragraph once its saved. Grrrrr! I'm not doin that on purpose and am annoyed by it myself. lol. Thanks SOOO much everyone who is leaving reviews, fanning and voting! I realllllllllllly appreciate it! Onto the next chapter. I hope you likey!

"Conflict Builds Character. Crisis Defines It."

-Steven V. Thulon

Alla’s formal curtsy was, no doubt, a ridiculous attempt at civility since she was covered in mud, and was steadily becoming soaked with rain. The marquis’s following chuckle did not irk her as the duke’s had, and she found herself very surprised at the revelation.

“Katrina, what happened to you?!” he asked, stupefied.

When Alla noted that he did not look upon her in revulsion, but still appeared friendly, her discomfort dissipated.

She threw her arms up in defeat, returning his smile. “It was only Sam and I on the roads, and when we became stuck I decided to help. Shortly after that decision, I slipped and fell in the mud.”

“You helped the driver in dislodging the carriage from the mud?”

“No, no, I tried.”

“Ah,” he chuckled.

“You see, the carriage wheel was broken when I tried to dislodge it.”

The marquis’s confusion was evident. “Well, if you knew it was broken, why did you—“

“No, you’re getting this all wrong. I hadn’t a clue it was broken until the Duke of Manchester came through and took stock of the situation.”

The marquis looked up at his carriage driver, noticed that Sam was seated at the top, and ushered her along. “Come; let us continue this conversation inside my carriage, and out of this rain.”

“No!”

“No?” The marquis sounded like the duke when he repeated what she said. They both acted as if they had never heard the word before.

“Addison, I am covered in mud and rain. I will ruin your seats!”

“Nonsense,” he stated firmly, superiorly. “I’ll not have you ride outside in this weather. Come in at once.” His tone left no room for disagreement. Since Alla was cold, she didn’t argue with him.

Once they were both seated, they resumed their conversation.

“Let me see if I can get this straight. Brandon came through here, saw that the wheel was broken, and left you alone with the driver… in the rain?” he asked, disapprovingly.

“It wasn’t raining when he left us,” she explained. Her reasoning didn’t seem to reach the marquis, however. He remained silent.

“He did offer me a ride, Addison,” she tried again.

“And you refused?!”

“His carriage was already full of people. Truly, there was no room, and I would have muddied everyone inside.”

“Full of people?” he repeated, skeptically.

She nodded quickly. “It was so full that hands and legs were dangling out of the windows.”

Addison smiled at her jest.

“Besides,” she continued, “he was to return shortly. I don’t know what happened to him, but rest assured; I am happier in your carriage than I would have been in his.”

“Hmm. Having difficulties with Brandon, are you?”

Alla decided to tread softly. The two men were friends after all. “It’s not necessarily that,” she hedged. “The duke keeps company…with those that I do not care to be around…even if I were of the same status,” she finished. “To say that the ride would have been uncomfortable would be an understatement.”

“I see.”

Alla wondered if he truly did understand or if he was simply being polite.

“Katrina,” he began, interrupting her thoughts, “I was wondering if you would like to take a ride with me around the park tomorrow afternoon.”

“The park? Me?”

“Yes, you, and yes, the park,” he repeated again with a small smile. “I assume that you haven’t had the opportunity to see the sights of Liverpool…am I mistaken?”

“Well, I have seen a few sights, but I haven’t yet been to the park,” she acknowledged. “Uh, I would like to go, very much.”

“Splendid!”

“But I will have to make sure that I have fulfilled all of my obligations.”

“Of course,” he replied, nodding.

The carriage finally stopped in front of the manor. Alla couldn’t wait to get dry and warm. She had thanked the marquis for his assistance and released him from any obligation he might have felt to walk her to the door. He didn’t listen, and insisted on seeing her inside.

When Godfrey saw her appearance he looked as if he would faint.

“All is well, Godfrey. I only had a very close encounter with the ground.”

The marquis chuckled at her explanation and Godfrey cleared his throat. “Excuse me mum, the duke was under the impression that you had already returned. I am only surprised to see you standing here before me in your present condition.”

The marquis suddenly stepped in front of Alla. “Why would Brandon believe that?” he questioned, his tone heavy with disapproval.

Alla could see now why people found the marquis intimidating. Though she was sure that Godfrey was accustomed to serving those in a superior position, she could see from peeking over Addison’s shoulder that even he was slightly cowed by the marquis.

“That is a question for him, my lord.”

Addison nodded once. “Take me to him.”

Godfrey bowed and began to walk ahead. Addison trailed him but turned back when he noticed that Alla was not behind him, but was still standing in the foyer. He crooked his finger at her, motioning for her to follow, and she reluctantly did.

Godfrey led the marquis and Alla into the billiard room where the duke was currently aiming his billiard stick at the cue ball. He did not take his gaze from the ball until he shot it; his black hair hung over his forehead as he bent over the table. The ball landed into the single pocket with a thud. Alla’s heart slammed against her chest at the sight of him. His white shirt strained against his thick shoulders and his sleeves were currently rolled up to his elbows. Alla finally admitted that it was possible that she found him slightly attractive, only slightly. Lies, again!! Her mind screamed.

He finally looked up. His patronizing smile was in place when he saw Addison, but when he happened to see Alla’s head poke out from behind him; his eyes hardened.

“Addison,” he greeted coldly, slightly inclining his head. “What a pleasure to see you so soon after the party.” The duke picked up a glass of whiskey that sat on a nearby table and took a swallow.

Addison inclined his head, “And you Brandon,” he returned.

Alla was beginning to wonder if the two were truly friends. She would never greet Breanne in such a manner.

“As you can see, I came across Miss Bates here on the road. It was careless of you to forget her.” Addison pulled a reluctant Alla in front of him, and was oblivious to the tick that was beginning to start in the duke’s cheek.

“It was dark, cold and rainy outside. It was fortunate that my driver chanced to see them alongside the road or I daresay they would still be there.” The censure that the marquis directed towards the duke was clear in every word that he spoke. Alla had a feeling that she had been placed in a room with two rabid lions, and greatly wished that she could disappear.

Brandon set his drink down with such force that the contents sloshed over the top of the glass. He turned his full attention to Alla, instantly making her uncomfortable. “I gave orders for you to be picked up,” he stated in a hard voice. “Are you telling me that my orders were disobeyed?”

Actually, she had not told him a thing. Addison had. Yet, his attention remained on her. “No one came, your grace,” she quietly admitted, hoping to tame the anger that was evident in his demeanor.

“I’ll take care of the situation,” he responded. Alla pitied the person that that would have to face him. The duke turned to Addison. “I thank you for your assistance in this matter,” he said in a barely restrained voice, inclining his head again to Addison.

Addison returned the gesture. “Your horses have been returned as well, only the carriage is on the road.” He then dismissed the duke, turning to Alla, and gracing her hand with a kiss. “I shall see you tomorrow afternoon. Goodnight, Katrina.”

“Goodnight, Addison, and thank you again.”

Addison bowed and without a glance to the duke, left the room.

“Addison, is it?” The duke went to a seat in the corner of the room and sat down. His black trousers tightened across his long legs as he slowly crossed one over the other. “I was not aware that the two of you were on such intimate terms.”

“Intimate?” Alla repeated, puzzled. “We are not on intimate terms, your grace.”

“Yet you call him by his given name…”

“He told me to do so.”

The duke picked up his drink, and took another swallow. Alla remained by the door, unsure of whether she should leave the room or wait until she was dismissed. His anger was still there, barely contained, and she had no wish to provoke it. He finally looked up at her over his glass.

“I did not forget you,” he quietly informed her.

“I did not think that you had, your grace,” she replied in the same tone. “I only thought that something important must have come up.”

“Even if something important had come up, I would not have left you waiting in the rain,” he countered, “or in the dark.”

“I was not upset, it all ended well. We were fortunate enough for the marquis to see us and offer assistance.” She almost regretted bringing up the marquis again when she saw anger flash in his eyes, but was thankful that she had the presence of mind to refer to Addison by his title rather than his given name.

“Come here,” the duke ordered. Alla reluctantly came forward.

“Sit.”

Again, she felt as if she should have a tail. She looked behind her to the chair situated across from him. Obviously he was aware that she was still muddied, yet he wanted her to sit in his beautiful leather chair? Mentally shrugging, she sat down and watched as the duke sipped from his glass again.

He was quiet for a while, but then finally broke the silence. “The marquis mentioned that he would see you tomorrow afternoon…” he trailed off.

“Yes,” she began uncomfortably, remembering their previous conversation about keeping him informed of her whereabouts. “He has invited me to ride with him to the park.”

The duke stared at her, absently swishing the amber liquid around his glass. “Which park?”

“I am not sure, your grace.”

“I need your assistance tomorrow,” he instructed.

“Then I shall inform the marquis that we should meet at a later time—“

“I’ll need your assistance all day.”

Alla sighed with exasperation; of course you do. She should have figured that he would completely ruin her plans.

He lowered his glass. “Is there a problem? Is there something wrong with your employer requesting you to work?”

Why was he so upset? He was still acting like a lion, and she didn’t like it one bit.

“There is no problem at all,” she said to diffuse the situation, and then looked down at herself. “Your grace, I am still covered in mud, I’m wet, and I’m cold. I would greatly love to bathe, and go to bed.”

“Go,” he said waving her off. “Return here once you’ve bathed and changed.”

“I am also tired,” she told him in annoyance. He paused in taking another sip and his eyes met hers. “Return once you’re finished. We have much to discuss. Go,” he waved her off again.

She was growing weary of being waved off as if she were a pesky fly. She meant to talk to him about that, but knew that it wasn’t the right time for it. Instead, she slowly rose, left the room and went upstairs.

Although Godfrey had insisted on her not walking about in her nightclothes, she couldn’t fathom changing into a regular gown, and then having to change again into her nightgown once the duke had finished with her. So, she shrugged, deciding to ignore this English custom, only for the night.

By the time she had bathed and donned her nightgown, there was nothing more she wanted than to crawl into her bed and sleep for at least a decade. Sighing in defeat, she walked barefoot down the stairs and into the billiard room.

Alla cracked open the door and found the duke bent over the billiard table once more. This time, he looked up before he took his shot. His electric blue eyes seemed to burn right through her, as he slowly looked her over. He then turned his attention back to his target, much to Alla’s relief, and took aim. As soon as he was done hitting the ball, he turned his back on the table.

“Come,” he ordered as he walked back to their chairs.

It was a splendid shot, though Alla noted that he hadn’t even glanced back to see if the ball went into the lone pocket. It was as if he expected it to, just as he expected all things to go as he planned.

“I have decided to give you more responsibilities,” he began formally. “I realize that I have not…” he trailed off as Alla wiggled her toes, which were presently as cold as ice. She tucked her legs under rear, and situated her nightgown so that both her legs and feet were covered. Lord, it’s cold. She looked up.

The duke stared at her with the oddest expression. He cleared his throat, which caused Alla to smile in response. He fixed her with a glare. “As I was saying,” he continued. “I realize that I have not put enough trust in you; nor have I given you the duties that I stipulated in the letters written to your previous employer. Henceforth, that oversight shall be corrected and I shall put my full trust in you.”

Blast. She did not have a good feeling about his change of heart. Oh, it was wonderful that he was finally going to trust her. But it was darned inconvenient that he would do so while she outwardly deceived him. All she had done thus far was lie, and it was wearing on her nerves.

He smiled and extended his hand towards her. “Friends?”

Alla paused, her eyes widened as she viewed his outstretched hand.

He laughed, “Come, I won’t bite…unless provoked.”

Alla slowly reached out and shook his hand. Thankfully, the blisters that she’d been sporting on her palm had gone down significantly. She released her hold on his hand, and her heart fluttered at the way his fingertips lightly grazed her palm as he retracted his hand. Don’t be a nitwit, she thought, and mentally stomped the flutters that had started within her.

“I have to admit that I am slightly confused, your grace.”

“Why is that?”

“You say we are friends, but we are not. We are of a different status, and you are my employer.”

He stared at his drink, exhaling sharply. When he looked back at her she saw that the hardness was back in his eyes. “Being of a different status has not stopped you from becoming friends with Miss Crabtree, has it?”

“Well…no, but—“

“Nor has it prevented you from forming a relationship of a sort with Kent.” He chuckled harshly and leaned forward, staring fixedly at her. “So why do you slight me?”

Alla was cornered. She wanted to keep him at a distance, yet felt as if she had somehow injured his feelings. To be honest, she hadn’t been aware that he had been in possession of such a thing as feelings. How was she to tell him that she did not wish to become friends? She was afraid to become close to him.

“I do not wish to slight you, your grace. Only…if I can speak freely…” He waved her on with an amused expression, though she doubted he was truly amused.

“Breanne allows, no, Breanne expects me to voice my opinion, and I do so freely. One could not expect any less of a friend, than to voice their thoughts, their hopes, and their dreams,” she continued passionately. “This is the kind of relationship that I have with Breanne. As for the Marquis of Kent, we have only just become friends of a sort. He still does not know me well. The only person who knows me best is Breanne,” she admitted.

“I feel…that is to say…If we were to become friends, I haven’t a clue as to where my boundaries would be. If I were to become…displeased with you,” she peeked up at him and saw him motion for her to continue. “If I were to become upset with you, you may call it insubordination, whereas I might view it as a disagreement between friends.”

The duke processed that information. “I should think it would not be too difficult to view me as both your employer and friend. Though I do understand your explanation, I also think it possible for you to be able to respect my position as your employer at least, while being a friend at the same time. I give you permission to speak freely, provided you do so in privacy, and provided you do not insult me,” he informed her, pointedly.

Alla still was not thrilled with the prospect of becoming closer with him, but was happy that she would be able to speak freely without being chastised for it.

She nodded, “Alright, and I will make an effort to be more respectful. I admit that I have a slight problem with respecting authority—“

“A slight problem?” he asked with a dimpled grin.

Alla reluctantly returned his smile, and then paused in confusion. The man had a way of making her forget her thoughts. She shook her head. “As I was saying, I will try harder with that.”

He nodded once and stood up. “So, no more conflict between us, agreed?”

“Agreed,” she confirmed, coming to her feet. “I bid you goodnight, your grace.”

“Goodnight, Katrina,” he responded. She turned to leave, eager to jump into her bed.

“Katrina.”

Alla turned around and looked at him. “Yes, your grace?”

“I give you leave to use my given name.”

No! Things were changing too quickly for her liking. She curtsied in response, and turned to leave.

“Do not tell me you are afraid of me,” he baited.

Her hand paused on the door knob. He knew exactly how to unsettle her. She turned around, facing him, and was caught off guard by his slow, easy smile. He stood, with one hand braced on the billiard table.

“I am not,” she adamantly denied. She turned back towards the door and paused in the entry way. “I bid you good night…Brandon.” With that, she rushed out of the room, ignoring the low chuckle that followed her exit.

Her heart was still pounding by the time she reached her room. “Ridiculous,” she muttered to herself as she unpinned her damp hair. “One little name should not make me jittery.” When she finally crawled into the bed she couldn’t help but smile. The bed was so comfortable. She had been waiting for this moment.

Just as she closed her eyes, she heard a peculiar sound against her bedroom window. She opened her eyes. There it was again. Curious, she flung the covers back and slowly walked over to her window, pressing her face against the pane. The next object that hit the window made her jump back, and let out a small yelp. She placed her hand over her heart as if to calm it down, and stepped forward once more to the window, opening the latch that was situated in the center. A burst of cold air and rain came at her in full force. Shivering, she leaned forward so that her upper body was hanging over the ledge.

She felt slightly odd as she whispered into the dark. “Hello?”

“Katrina!”

“Breanne? Is that you?”

“Well of course it’s me,” she loudly whispered as if it were perfectly normal for her to be in the dark, by herself, beneath Alla’s window. “Who did you expect?”

“Breanne, what in heaven’s name are you doing out there? I cannot even see you!”

“I’m freezing, Katrina! Come down here at once and let me in!”

“Just hold on a bit,” Alla advised, as she closed the window.

She ran to her bedroom door, opened it, and looked both ways down the hall. When she saw that it was clear of servants; she raced down the staircase and slowly opened the front door. She couldn’t imagine how this scene would look to anyone else if they happened to come upon her.

As soon as she opened the door, Breanne raced in, grabbed her hand, and laughed as she bounded the stairs with Alla in tow. Once inside the room, Breanne closed Alla’s door, leaning her back against it as she breathed heavily. The excitement caused a faint blush to stain her cheeks, while her blonde hair, wet with rain, had become a shade darker. She smiled from ear to ear as she looked at Alla.

“Breanne, what are you—“

“Katrina, I know this is, well, not done, but I simply had to see you,” Breanne said once she had caught her breath.

“Is everything alright, Breanne? Is your mother—“

“Oh yes, yes,” she hastened to assure her. “All is fine. Do not concern yourself about that,” she said, rubbing her arms. It was then that Alla realized how wet she was from the rain.

She walked over to her bed, motioning for Breanne to follow. “Come and get warmed up, while you explain to me why in heaven you have decided to come see me at,” she looked at the clock on her mantle. “Eleven o’clock at night,” she finished with surprise in her voice.

“This is quite unlike you, Breanne. For heaven’s sake, I had to convince you to go to a tavern with me, which we still have yet to do,” she added. “Now, here you are gallivanting around in the middle of the night—“

Breanne wrapped a cover around her shoulders. “I’m not gallivanting, Katrina. I took our carriage, and have only come straight here,” she defended. “Mother and father are fast asleep snoring away in their beds, and I simply couldn’t wait to tell you the news.”

Alla waited for her to speak but Breanne kept silent for a full minute. “You have the worst habit of not coming to the point. Tell me what it is, Breanne, quickly!”

Breanne laughed. “The duke is already having an influence over you. Here you are, ordering me about. You won’t even let me catch my breath.”

“Breanne!”

She immediately held up her hand. “I’m engaged, Katrina.”

“What!?”

Breanne laughed again and nodded. “I am,” she said happily. “Can you believe it?”

“I-I can’t,” Alla stuttered. “Isn’t it…a bit soon Breanne?” she asked, stunned.

“Oh, Katrina,” Breanne flopped on the bed, her arms widespread. “I feel as if I have known him all my life.” She sat up quickly, making Alla jump, and laughed at her before she continued. “He loves me. He told me that he loves me. Mother and father are ridiculously happy.”

Alla could see the joy plainly written all over her friends face, but she had to make sure that she was doing the right thing. “Are you sure that this is what you want, Breanne, and you are not doing this because of your mother and father?”

Breanne became as serious Alla. “Mother is deliriously happy. She goes on and on about how I shall be a viscountess. I care not about the title, Katrina. I love him too.”

“I have to admit, I am…surprised. I had not thought—“. She had not thought that she would lose her friend, and so soon.

“You had not thought what?”

“Well,” Alla looked down at her coverlet. “We had plans of a sort. I suppose now we will be unable—“

“Our plans shall remain unchanged, Katrina. I’ll remain the same person, nothing will change that. You are still my dearest friend, and you always shall be.”

Alla smiled at her. “I am happy for you, Brea. I wish you the greatest joy in the world. You have completely taken me by surprise,” she laughed. “But I can see that you are very happy, and I know that you shall be the most beautiful bride in all of England.”

Breanne smiled warmly at her through teary eyes. “I love you, Katrina. I will be counting on you to be with me at the wedding. I know not when it shall be, but I had to tell you about my new status before the ton got wind of it. I must get back though, before anyone notices that I am gone.”

“I understand, and I’m so happy you came to tell me. I expect to hear about the circumstances leading up to the ring, Breanne,” she told her with a grin. “Please be careful going home!”

“I’ll be careful, and you will hear about how I brought Torrington to his knees the next time we see each other,” Breanne promised on a laugh.She bounded off the bed, and gave Alla an excited farewell wave as she closed the door.

Alla was still waving at the door seconds after Breanne had closed it. She lay back in her bed, this time wide awake. Why was everything changing? She wished everything would remain as it was. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel happy for Brea. If anyone deserved happiness, it was her. Alla pulled the covers up to her chin and lay there staring at the ceiling. Breanne had told her she loved her. That made her one of the few that did.

As excited as Breanne was, Alla couldn’t believe that she came to her so late, and alone at that. She grinned. Apparently, her own bad habits were influencing her friend. Breanne had acted so skittish before at the thought of sneaking out of the house, and now she had done so on her own! There was no way that Alla would allow Brea to retract in fear when she finally told her that she’d fixed a date for them to go to a tavern.

Although she was still reeling from the shock of Brea’s announcement, Alla fell asleep with a smile on her face. Her friend was happy and she was on better terms with the duke. She greatly looked forward to the next day. Nothing would wipe away her smile, nothing.

-MZ-

The next day was horrific. Whenever she thought that everything was going as it should be, something always changed for the worse to ruin her happiness.

When Alla woke, she had pinned her hair up, gotten dressed and eaten. After such a calm beginning to a seemingly peaceful and beautiful morning, she was confronted by Brandon.

Her trip down to the ports had been discovered, and he was livid. She was barely awake when she stood silent in the center of the room as he unleashed his anger. She knew that she was in the wrong. She lied to him about where she had been, but she only wished he didn’t yell so loudly. Other servants passed by the room, and paused in the hallway before the open door, peeking in curiously. He was so angry that he neither noticed, nor cared, that others heard of his disapproval.

She learned quickly that he hated nothing more than a liar. After he ranted at her, he coolly ordered her away from his presence. She ignored the lump in her throat and took her leave of the building with young William in tow. He walked alongside her as she taught him about nature. She didn’t know much, but tried to share what she learned from the books she’d read. His main fascination, much to her dismay, was with bugs. The two of them had stayed outside for a few hours until Alla finally decided to go back into the manor. She met Edith almost as soon as they entered the manor.

“Edith, do you know where the duke is?”

Edith smiled warmly at her, “He’s in the study, miss. Lord, ye look as if ye hadn’t closed one eye to sleep last night. Did ye eat?” she sternly questioned.

Alla smiled at the woman, “Yes, I did.”

Edith nodded with satisfaction. “You’re not needin’ the master’s cane anymore, I see,” she stated with a satisfied smile.

“No, I’m doing quite well without it now.”

“Glad to hear it, miss. I best be off,” she said, nodding towards her full hands. “I’ve still got a load ‘o stuff to do today.”

“Yes alright, have a pleasant day, Edith,” Alla called out to her back, as she rushed off to continue her duties.

Alla was only mildly annoyed as she walked hand in hand with William, realizing that the duke had neither given her a fixed time to be in his study, nor had she been given any particular duties. She quickly walked into the library and found a book that would be easy for William to read. Once she assigned him to read a portion of it, she sent him to a room above stairs. After that, her main focus was on locating the duke. Not only did Alla want to remind him of his decision to assign duties to her, but she also hoped that her time away from him, outside, had enabled him to calm down so that she might apologize again. She tapped on the door to the study.

“Enter.”

Alla opened the door and found him sitting behind his desk looking through his papers. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his dark hair, disheveled. One large hand was braced at his temples. He was obviously in deep thought. When he finally tore his calculating stare from the papers and onto her, he automatically scowled.

“Well, good afternoon to you too,” she greeted, forcing a bright smile as she walked inside the room. He raised an eyebrow as he watched her occupy the seat in front of his desk.

She waited…and waited. “Your grace—“

“Is there a reason as to why you couldn’t follow simple instructions?”

Alla’s mind scrambled to figure out what he was talking about, but came up empty handed. “I haven’t a clue as to what you are referring to.”

He slowly slid his hand down from his head and fixed her with a dead stare. “You were told to be in this very room at one o’clock. Did you forget?”

Alla shook her head. “I wasn’t told anything of the sort, your grace. I had not a clue that you wanted me to…” she trailed off as he stood up and opened the study door. He barked at a passing servant, gave them orders, and then came back into the room and reclaimed his seat. He sat back in his chair, with his hands braced together.

“We shall see,” was all he said. A few moments later Brawna was brought into the room. She came in with a wide smile for the duke, pausing for an instant when she saw Alla sitting across from him. Her frown was instant.

“Brawna,” the duke began. “Did you deliver my message to Miss Bates?”

Brawna looked at Alla. Is she smiling? “I did; your grace.”

“I received no mess—“

The duke held his hand up, silencing Alla, and focused his attention on Brawna. “Which messages did she receive?”

“I gave her both, your grace, both the verbal and the written.”

Alla stood up; her mouth agape in shock. “She is lying to you, your grace. I haven’t received any message of the sort.”

Brawna looked him. “I always do as you bid me, your grace. If ye’ know not who to trust; at least go by our past behavior. I, for my part, have never lied to ye’.”

Alla felt like screaming. Instead, she adopted a neutral expression and reclaimed her seat. He would believe what he would, and that would be that. She would keep her mouth closed.

“If ye’ don’t mind me sayin’ so, your grace, she seems a very lazy sort of person. It mus’ be a trait ‘o all colonists,” Brawna said laughing, as she leaned towards him, twirling a lock of red hair around her dainty finger.

When the duke remained silent, Alla exploded. “Your grace, this girl has implied that there is something going on between the two of you. Whether that is true, I neither know, nor care. One thing is certain. I grow tired of you indulging in women; letting them treat me as if I am nothing. I won’t have it,” she finished angrily.

As soon as she had released her anger, she regretted it. During her tirade, the duke’s expression had gone from disbelief, to anger, to murderous. He slowly leaned against the front of his desk, staring at her. Alla’s eyes flickered to Brawna, who now displayed a satisfied smile.

“Leave us,” he said quietly. Brawna didn’t have to ask who he was addressing. She quickly left the room, and Alla slowly came to her feet.

“Sit!” he thundered.

Instead, she raced to the door. He made it there first, and towered over her, flattening his palm against it. She slowly backed away, her expression wary, as she reclaimed her seat.

He relaxed against the door, and folded his arms across his massive chest. He looked down at fingernails, as if he were inspecting them. “Please, give me one reason why I shouldn’t place you over my knee and paddle you endlessly,” he asked, coldly.

She cleared her throat once. “Because I am not a child, but an employee,” she attempted softly.

His eyes snapped to hers. “You behave like a child,” he barked.

She sighed heavily. “I am sorry.”

“You are sorry?” he repeated incredulously. “I was investigating the situation,” he began slowly, “as is my right if there is a problem in this household. You again, overstepped and completely undermined my authority. It has not even been a full day, and we are already in the same situation we’ve been in many times before.”

“You are not in my position, nor do you know what it feels like to be so,” Alla returned. “With you I am always guilty, never innocent. You say that I overstep, yet Brawna overstepped with me, did she not? You were not quick to remedy that flaw, were you? You never give me the benefit of the doubt.”

He stared her down. “That is no reason to treat me thus. I said you behave like a child and that is an accurate statement. Instead of calmly waiting for Brawna to finish her explanation, and then explaining your own, you heave about like a wild person, allowing your mouth to take over your mind. Brawna, whether she is innocent or guilty, at least kept calm and behaved as a woman should! Furthermore, I have reason to not give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Alla took a sudden interest in her hands. She felt as if he suddenly viewed her as less than a woman. Even though her mind knew that she shouldn’t care what he thought, her heart did. Was it because she was colored? Was that why she could never get her mouth under control? Was she, was everyone colored, the animals they were made out to be? She didn’t believe so. But as it was, she had never felt so low before. She knew that she shouldn’t have said the things that she had. But her mouth was the only tool that she had to defend herself with, and she made full use of it in England just as she had in the colonies before her mama was threatened. He was the only one who made her feel horrible for doing so. She was apparently not adept at being in this society. It was a poor decision to seek refuge in England. Before she left, however, she was determined to make him understand things from her standpoint, and then she would go.

Alla shrugged helplessly, looking down, and shaking her head. “I’m sorry, your grace. I thought that I would, that I could, blend in with society. Yet, I find that I am at fault every way I turn. The only thing that I have ever relied on is my mouth, my wit. I use it to make a stand for myself, a paltry stand, but a stand nonetheless.”

She smiled grimly at him, “And now you tell me that doing so is not the trait of a lady.” She stood up. “I truly don’t think that I shall ever be a lady, not by your definition.” She walked towards him. “That said; I wish to terminate my employment. I don’t expect pay, because you haven’t given me any notable responsibilities,” she chided.

Alla stood before him, waiting for him to rant at her, to degrade her, or to move out of the way and let her pass. He did neither of those things.

“Excuse me, your grace,” she said, focusing her attention on his chest.

When he remained immobile, she looked up at him, alert and wary. “Your grace; kindly move.”

He stared down at her, his expression not giving anything away. “No.” He leaned his weight against the door. “You’re not leaving. Not until I say what I have to say to you in return.”

So he wanted the last word. Was that it? To think, he called her a child. She decided to humor him. She walked back to the chair and waited, raising an eyebrow.

“First of all,” he began patiently, “I never claimed that you were not a lady. I said that you didn’t behave as one, and you haven’t been. Despite what you believe, you can make a stand for yourself while showing respect to others.” He walked over to one of the large windows, keeping his back to her as he stared outside of it. “I do not wish for you to leave, Katrina.”

“I do not know how to stand up for myself in a respectful way, your grace. I only know the basics. That is all I have ever needed to know.” Brandon walked to stand before her in front of his desk, and leaned against it. Blue eyes impaled her as she sat still.

“I feel as if you are expecting more of me than you should,” she continued. “When Brawna becomes disrespectful, you remain silent. When the dreadful Miss Taylor becomes haughty and rude, you hold your tongue, yet when I say something to defend myself—“

“You were rude, and you were disrespectful to me, Katrina. I warned you what would happen if you were to become so.”

“All day you have been angry with me—“

“And for good reason! Do you deny it?! You blatantly lied to me about where you had been. You said that you had gone to see Miss Crabtree, yet you went to the port instead, which, I might add, was a very foolish and stupid thing to do alone.”

“I wasn’t alone, I had Sam…” she said timidly.

“What was that?” he cocked his head, his jaw clenched. “I didn’t quite hear…”

She wasn’t daft enough to repeat her statement. “Nothing.”

“I hadn’t thought so,” he stated with quiet steeliness. “What makes me truly angry,” he continued, “is that when I had told you last night that I was going to put my trust in you, you smiled right into my face, and said not a word about what you had done, or any previous lies you had told. You make me look a fool for beginning to trust you. I have said that I will never again allow a person to lie to me thus, and that includes you, Miss Bates.”

Who else had lied to him? “I am sorry, your grace, for lying to you. It wasn’t my intention. I was only afraid of what would happen were you to find out that I had taken myself off. We have done nothing but argue ever since I have arrived. Your temper is such that—“

“Are you trying to place the blame for your lies on my shoulders?” he asked, incredulously.

“No, no,” she corrected, and then heaved a great sigh. “I can never say exactly what I wish to say, how I wish to say it. What I mean to say is that I am sorry for lying to you, and for disrespecting you in front of another person. I know that we just had a conversation on this very subject,” she hastened to add before he could.

She could not promise not to lie again, though, and she hoped that he wouldn’t ask her to. As it was, she already had a big lie that she was living. She dearly hoped that it never came out.

“You were not to disrespect me at all,” he replied dryly. “Whether or not there is another person present is beside the point.”

“Alright, well as I have said before, I am sorry. I still wish to terminate my—“

“You’re not quitting,” he stated in a hard voice.

“Brandon, can’t you see that we’ll continue to argue and have conflict with one another? The relationship is not a healthy one; not for an employer and his employee, and not for friends.”

“It would work if you would simply listen to me and obey.”

Alla wished that he hadn’t used those words. They were as pleasant sounding to her as would be a man’s screams if he were getting his lower body bitten off by a shark. Since they were being honest with each other she decided to tell him so. The comment instantly lightened the mood. He laughed so much, she wondered if he were ever going to stop.

His eyes were still sparkling with amusement as he spoke to her. “Do you realize that now when you are angry you call me, your grace? Only when you are perfectly content do you call me by my given name.”

She hadn’t noticed. That little fact threw Alla off guard. “What else do you notice about me?”

His mouth quirked as he answered her. “You either twirl your hair or clear your throat when you are nervous. Your eyes turn a dark green when you become angry, and you often speak before thinking.”

That last bit made Alla smile. “Perhaps we may secretly be friends after all, if you notice so much about me.”

He inclined his head. “I have yet to hear if you have noticed any of my traits.”

“I have, I only do not know where to begin” she informed him with a cheeky smile.

“Be nice,” he warned, though his laughing eyes betrayed his firm tone.

Alla’s smiled faded as she recited everything that she knew about him. “When you become angry you get the most peculiar twitch in your cheek. I do not like it one bit.”

She cleared her throat when he motioned for her to continue. The action made him smile. “Also, when you get angry you become quieter…I do not like that either.”

“Compliments indeed,” he said laughing. “I only hear insults, Miss Bates.”

“I wasn’t finished,” she retorted with feigned haughtiness. She cleared her throat again. “You…you have a small dimple that appears only when you are truly amused or happy. Your eyes are…” she coughed and then proceeded to clear her throat once more. “Very blue…they become a vivid blue when you are happy…though to be honest I haven’t seen them in that condition much,” she stated seriously looking upwards as she thought. “And you like to be in control,” she finished as she looked back at him with satisfaction.

He observed her quietly. She hadn’t noticed him staring as she was trying, for the life of her, to come up with a compliment or two about him. The man hadn’t made it easy. And now he stared.

“There is another thing that I have noticed about you. I forgot to mention it before,” Brandon said, breaking the silence.

“What might that be?”

“You get jealous…quite often.” She changed her mind. She wished that he had kept his mouth closed and simply stared.

“What?! Your grace—“

“And now you are angry with me for mentioning it.”

“I think that this has gone too far. That statement is completely untrue. Who am I jealous of?? Could it be the outrageous Brawna? Or is it the haughty Miss Taylor?” she asked him with a knowing grin. “You do not know me at all.”

“I do,” he stated in contemplation. “You do not, by any means, become jealous of those women. You become jealous at their attention…towards me.” He sounded surprised as he was stating it, almost as if it were something he were realizing himself for the first time.

Alla scoffed, completely speechless. What was she to say to that? He wouldn’t believe a simple denial. She would have to give more than that. “I simply dislike that you favor all others above me, and that I am the only victim of your unleashed anger.”

He slowly leaned forward. “What others?”

She cleared her throat, “Your grace.” He smiled with satisfaction. “Brandon,” she corrected through clenched teeth. “You are annoying me. I wish you would simply put an end to this subject. You’re not behaving as a gentleman should.”

“As I have told you before, Miss Bates, I have never claimed to be a gentleman.”

She shook her head in frustration. “I need to check on William.”

“You had a caller today,” he told her as she stood up.

“The marquis?”

He nodded once.

“Perhaps next time you would be so kind as to inform me of it. I would have liked to explain why I had to cancel our arrangements.”

“I was unable to since you failed to meet me at the stipulated time. I explained, and I daresay he understood.”

Now, what did the blasted man mean by that?

“We’ve been invited to attend another party tonight, if you would like to go,” he informed her, changing the subject.

“I would very much like to attend,” she returned, smiling. She already missed Breanne, and would love to see her again. She walked past Brandon and to the door. Before she walked out, she turned back towards him.

“I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t use the term, ‘I failed to meet you.’ It implies that the whole situation was my fault. I realize that it will take time for you to trust me again, but until then please believe…I was not informed of our meeting.”

She put her hand on the doorknob to leave, thought better of it, and then turned back to him once more. “In future, please do not send messages through Brawna. If you do so, I promise you, I won’t receive them.” With that, she turned on her heel and walked out of the study.

“Spoken like a lady,” Brandon said quietly on a half-smile. He then walked around to the other side of his desk and resumed his work.