Over the next few days the plans were made, I had talked with Vaughn and later went over plans again with Ruby and Calvin. Somehow I trusted them like my own siblings—maybe in a way they reminded me of Rosalind. And my real sister.

The day of Hughes's departure we returned to usual, reading a book or newspaper, Ruby and I having tea as she wrote down songs in her tea room.

When Dylan left Vaughn and Calvin tailed him from afar, and the conversation with Vaughn returned.

***

"Have you noticed? There's two very suspicious things you should have realized the day Hughes returned."

"No, what are they?"

Vaughn pulled his curtains open before tracing his fingers on it unconsciously.

"One," he said, "if Hughes had returned from a far place, there naturally should have been a carriage. Yet Austen and his family saw him only after they got on his carriage, which is when he finally greeted us."

"That is suspicious. The place he keeps Blanche must be walkable by foot, or he doesn't trust any carriage driver for the job."

"Indeed. Second, whenever he returns from a trip, there's always the strong musky cologne he wears. Yet after a few days, he stops wearing it. Do you consider this a coincidence?"

"No," I muttered.

"And you know what? I also have an ominous feeling about Dylan, the perfect heir who could receive everything, the enemy of Blanche herself. Why is he so calm? Why was he so quick to agree upon letting you replace Blanche? Why did he forgive you, all until he found out your connection with his father? It's an oedipus complex, he wants the woman untainted by his father, his alone."

"Don't say such crude things about him!" I snapped without realizing. "God, why did you say that?"

"Listen." He pulled the curtains close and then turned to meet my eyes, his face almost glowing in the lamplight. "Listen, because I know it's hard for you, but I've found out something Abraham Whitecross told me. He was bribed by an older man in a suit, and the description matches Hughes perfectly. Dylan said it was just a coincidence and had me keep it a secret from you..."

I thought my first love, my one true love, would never face the doubts I did. My blood seemed to grow cold as I thought of Dylan and his lies.

I will protect you.

Goosebumps formed on my skin and I stepped back, not able to process it.

"They talk every night in Hughes study," Vaughn said. "Dammit, I know it. These documents are fake! A poor girl wouldn't have such education, such eloquent words, or even that familiar cursive!"

"We have to find Blanche," I chanted to myself. "We have to find Blanche!"

And prove it's not Dylan. He couldn't have.

"And there's another secret. Dylan spilled it on the first day we all met." Vaughn lowered his voice and whispered it into my ears.

It couldn't be true.

That same night I cried, and Ruby hugged me as she spoke.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't think about it until I th-thought it would make sen-sense only if you weren't Blanche. I won't tell anyone, Calvin promised me too."

"I'm not Blanche," I admitted as I smoothed back her lovely hair. In the dark when I couldn't see it it felt just like Rosalind's. "I'm going to find her soon, Ruby, but that also depends on how you, and Calvin, can help me..."

***

Hughes left on a beautiful Sunday, and he said he would be going to mass, and asked Dylan if he'd join. He rejected, as with the others in the de Winter estate.

After Vaughn and Calvin went out to 'drink', while Vaughn secretly followed Hughes and Calvin in turn followed Vaughn to keep enough distant that he could return and report to me where they were.

As always, or nearly always, I loitered around the house, and now that I sat in the parlor room where we could look up, I saw how convenient it was for spying. I spied but Dylan entered his study and that was all.

I had asked Julie to give Dylan cookies, which I knew he hated, at five o' clock, to check that he was in his study and hadn't ran off.

Ruby suggested we play a hard game so we would have to stay there long enough and sure enough, we got out chess and while I wasn't good at it, I stay in one spot pretending to think. We were on my second round when Ruby gave me some pity and gestured to certain pieces I should move.

At five o' clock Julie came and knocked on the door. Dylan opened his door and while I felt his eyes flicker over, he only responded to Julie he didn't like cookies. Sad, Julie came down and gave Ruby and I the sugar cookies. It helped to have some sugar and I calmed down a little, know Dylan wasn't really helping Hughes. They could've been talking about something else.

But the third secret constantly sent chills when I dared to look at Dylan who sat across from me every mealtime, or times like now when he looked at Ruby and I playing chess.

Vaughn's face was solemn as he said it.

"And there's another secret. Dylan spilled it on the first day we all met."

"What is it?"

"I never knew Blanche had a birthmark, more so it was on her neck."

I remembered the first night all too well. The first time he mentioned the birthmark, and the evening he used an ink pad to stamp my neck, so precisely too.

No! Why was I doubting Dylan? He wasn't a criminal! He wouldn't lock up Blanche, would he?

I needed reaffirmation, but neither Vaughn nor Calvin returned. It's fine, they have to follow Hughes somewhere far, it would obviously take a day or more. It was going to take time.

Supper was conducted and Scarlett mentioned the lack of men besides Dylan.

"Well, Hughes is on a trip. I find it suspicious Vaughn and Calvin aren't back, I hope they aren't doing anything dangerous." Dylan shot me a look I pretended to not notice, faking a yawn instead.

"Can we leave the game for tomorrow?" I asked Ruby. "Let's play something happier."

"Sure, anything you'd like."

"Old Maid, then. Scarlett, would you like to join?"

Scarlett gave me a look of immense disdain but with a sigh she nodded. Claribel had left the day before and she had no one to talk to without Vaughn and Hughes. I wondered if she was ever returning, in fact, to the mysterious Mr.Carroll.

The three of us sat in the parlor room and as I drank a little with Scarlett we played Old Maid. Everyone who lost took a drink, with Ruby drinking juice, of course. Scarlett had drank so much she was fanning herself.

"Today is such a lonely day! Dylan went to bed already!"

"Did he? Well, that's strange of him."

I covered my mouth, realizing how I'd spoken out loud. This wasn't it. I shouldn't speak like that.

"I mean, maybe Vaughn and Calvin's absence made him lonely," I added hastily. Ruby nodded but her expression also warned me to speak less on the subject.

We wasted three hours with Scarlett scolding me for every wrong move I made against Ruby until we decided to retire, too.

"Congratulations on your engagement, Blanche," Scarlett said, without her usual malice. It was like seeing a whole other woman tonight, and chills went up my spine.

"Thank you, Scarlett."

"You know, I didn't mean to be so cruel to you, I thought it was fun to play the part of the evil stepmother, but I think it suits Claribel better." Scarlett chuckled and I left her, whisking Ruby away.

"Is she drunk?" I asked Ruby. She gave a strained smile.

"Women without men are very different creatures," Ruby answered.

I waited, and then I stood up.

"It's time for the men to return."