Three weeks had passed since "my" cousins came over, with their mother Olivia. They had to leave with Austen and Scarlett was in a fuss.

"I'll buy you two adorable dresses and we can pick out heels!" Scarlett said, hugging both.

Angel smiled back. "I'll be back, Aunt Scarlett! Don't worry, I love this house."

"I don't like heels," Connie said simply.

When Scarlett stood up she locked eyes with Olivia and looked away although Olivia smiled, cheeks like apples. Surprisingly, Olivia turned to me.

"Blanche, you certainly must shop with us too, next time. The color idea with the balls was a disaster! I will buy an extra color next time, though," she laughed jokingly, but I couldn't tell if she was over it. I wasn't for sure.

Rich women were certainly petty. If they didn't have these small tricks up their sleeves I could've knocked out all three women in a row. But now I was a rich woman, so I smiled.

"Oh, I expected such things from some people, I've been learning from the past two months."

Angel laughed. "You're so calm, Blanche. I really want to stay with you more."

"Same for me, Angel." If you weren't in love with Dylan I would've liked you more, though.

I gave my two cousins hugs and everyone made a fuss before they left, and at the doorway they laughed and said something.

"Wait—it's Hughes!" Austen shouted.

As though a gun had sounded we all ran to the front door, and I, in my heels, was first. Dylan bumped into me.

"How did you—?" He stared at me in something akin to fear.

"I'm Blanche, an heiress. Can't risk getting killed," I said.

"I feel assured," Vaughn panted, right behind Scarlett. He would easily die in a house fire, I must take that into consideration. However, Calvin and Ruby stayed inside as we all peered and greeted Hughes.

If one said they fancied daddies or older men I might've been confused, but now that confusion was gone when I saw Hughes. Streaked grey hair, pale as ice eyes, and a straight posture that seemed to account for his personality, he was simply put—attractive.

"Now I must say farewell, Mister Austen, Mrs.de winter, Angelina, and Constance. Have a safe journey."

His voice was wonderful and his salute made me giggle.

"Isn't he darling?" Scarlett said, and for the first time, she had no malice in her voice.

"Yes," I replied.

"How is it that Hughes alone can make all the female population swoon in five seconds or less?" Vaughn asked. And it was true: Olivia and Angel looked out and waved with fervor as Connie also sneaked peeks.

"He's such a dandy," Scarlett replied. "Oh, I wish I had a husband like him instead of—"

She stopped and Hughes came over, sharp and smiling.

"Good afternoon, Mister Dylan, Mister Vaughn, Mrs.Carroll, and most of all, is this Miss Blanche I see? You're a pretty young thing, I hope the maids gave you a warm welcome," he said in his soft voice.

"Yes, they have," I said quickly. They've all waited for Hughes to come over day in day out—would be really make everything go smoothly? Like a fairy godmother?

"I'll need to be briefed by the maids on what you like and dislike, and the situation in the house will be under my charge as of today. I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Blanche." He held my hand and briefly brushed his lips against my knuckle, making me swoon.

Hughes had a strange charm that made the men of the de Winter family seem to be cut of the same cloth, including Vaughn. A rather ugly and bland piece of cloth, uncharismatic except maybe the deceased Auguste, and all trying to take control and selfish. I didn't know Hughes, but I felt he had a certain charm and decisiveness that put everyone's needs in mind.

We filed in again, this time Hughes greeting Calvin and giving Ruby an understanding nod from afar, which she returned hesitantly.

"How was your trip, Hughes?"

"I have an important matter to discuss with Master Dylan and Vaughn, but I'll talk to you when I have a chance, Mrs.Carroll."

Although Scarlett tried to socialize, Hughes had cut her off so simply! Even Vaughn couldn't do such a feat. I watched as the three man filed away, and then Hughes whispered something to Dylan, and with a short exchange they turned to me.

"Are you currently unoccupied, Miss Blanche? We would like it if you could join us, as it affects you personally."

I narrowed my eyes but answered quickly. "Yes, I would be free to join the conversation if I should."

I left, and I heard a hiss behind me.

"Who does she think she is?"

Carabel whispered. "Auguste's favorite."

The unpleasant chill made me quiver as I hurried after the men. Auguste's ghost seemed to follow and laugh into my ear.

What an investment—what a beautiful, beautiful, girl. My Blanche.

***

The four of us were in Dylan's study and he sat along with Vaughn next to him as Hughes stood like a soldier, arms behind him.

"What's the urgent matter?" Vaughn asked.

"It's the Mazzanti family."

There were unpleasant faces abound and I felt just as displeased. Then Hughes continued.

"Sal Mazzanti wants to see Miss Blanche, claiming he knows her." Hughes doesn't look at me as he spoke but Vaughn raised his thin, blonde eyebrow, his long face longer as his jaw opened.

"The Mazzanti bachelor wants to see Blanche? Whatever is the matter? Did you seduce him before?" he asked.

Yes.

But no way in hell would I admit it before Dylan even if you dared to burn me at the cross so I shook my head.

"Mazzanti? Isn't that family a mafia? How did they get sight of me anyways, considering I only went to social gatherings twice as Blanche?" I misdirected them.

"Ah, you should know, the de Winter and Mazzanti go way back, Auguste is a close acquaintances with Sal Mazzanti."

Eyes flickered to me and I wanted to turn away.

"Sal Mazzanti was fixated on the first Mrs.de Winter, after all, and Blanche does resemble her. Especially her profile, with the soft curve of a brow and small, sharp chin," Hughes whispered. Then he bowed his head. "Apologies, Master Dylan, Miss Blanche."

"Who recognized her and told ole Sal anyways?" Dylan groaned in distress. Vaughn glared at me, obviously regretting ever getting entangled with me as I regretted my side too.

Sal Mazzanti used to be a frequent customer of mine. Son of a mafia don, he was not exactly stupid and we had a clear give and take relationship. I suppose I was annoyed after a while, because his obsession grew. That's when the devil himself—Auguste—came with that awful proposition.

"The Blackwoods would love you...walk about the lake sometime...they've caught wind of you, now just wait and hook, line, and sinker."

I had asked Sal why he chose me, such a young and stupid girl when he could have almost any other women. Sal, who was in fact a decade younger than Auguste, he was also old enough to be my father at forty. You'd think the mafia don's son was grotesque but he was plain, young-looking with slicked black hair, a goatee, and eyes that never quite left me.

His answer to my question was that Auguste recommended me, said I was deserving of power and if I pleased him he could feel free and take me into their family.

The next time I saw Auguste I begged him to have Sal get wind of me again—I didn't want to join a mafia family, and instead, I became Rosemarie.

"Someone from some family with connections. You know how the de Winters rule the area with their money? The Mazzanti family follows close by with their violence. They were tame when Auguste gave them women or fun but now they're bored and wanted to see Blanche." Vaughn leaned back in his chair while Dylan interlocked his fingers and rested his nose against it in thought.

"I can't have them taking Blanche, the will didn't mention them. They can't have Blanche."

I recognized Dylan calling me Blanche to mean that he was also keeping my identity a secret from Hughes and looked up at him. Hughes had no expression and after reporting it dutifully, he nodded.

"We will keep the Mazzanti family and their men at arm's length, then. I heard there was a gathering before Austen and his family left?" Hughes asked.

There was silence before Dylan breathed out a heavy stream of air and spoke. "Yes."

"And has there been any suitable men who seem ready to marry Miss Blanche? Of course you should answer too, Miss Blanche," Hughes added thoughtfully as he twisted his upper body to face me.

Vaughn and Dylan were looking at me, but I only noticed out of the corner of my eyes. They would not say it or admit of following and seeing me with Leroy, and they wouldn't understand why I had cried at that cafe. Even Leroy himself did not deserve any less, he was sincere and had done nothing wrong.

I raised my head and smiled at Hughes.

Sal Mazzanti and Auguste de winter seem to whisper in my ears.

"You could be my woman..."

"It's either Sal or Rosemarie...you can never have the man you love."

"What is love?"

Fighting the urge to clamp my hands over my arms I finally spoke.

"Yes, Leroy Blackwood."

"Poor girl," Auguste's ghost whispered as he drifted to my left, "you can never be happy. It's a curse. The curse of being Rosemarie—a girl who died for you!"