Magnus' eyes fluttered open. He had never slept in a bed quite so soft. He could have slept for another hour if the foggy sun was pouring in through the windows and if Alexander hadn't been staring at him.

His blue eyes examined Magnus' face.

"And?" Magnus asked.

"And what?" Alexander asked, enunciating each word.

"Should we?" Magnus asked.

"Absolutely."

.......

"How was your time away?" Catarina asked.

"Fine," Magnus said, tossing a pair of Alexander's shoes on the table top.

"You returned sooner than expected."

"Business was over sooner than expected I suppose," Magnus said. "He doesn't talk to me at all."

"What was the make up for?" Catarina asked. "You never did tell me."

"I decided it was time to reinvent my look," Magnus smiled. "And mushroom by the way."

"'A room no man can enter,'" Catarina said. "Good."

"What is so delicate that even mentioning it breaks it?" Magnus asked.

"Silence," Catarina immediately retorted. "My father used to ask me that one."

"Then it's your turn."

"We hurt without moving. We poison without touching. We bear the truth and the lies. We are not to be judged by our size. What are we?"

Magnus opened his mouth to speak as Alexander's bell rang on the wall.

"That would be me," Magnus said, rising to his feet. "The master beckons."

Magnus left the unpolished shoes on the table and climbed up to Alexander's room. As he turned down the hallway, Alexander came flying out of his room, slamming the door shut.

"Walk with me," he said, beckoning Magnus to follow as he passed.

They descended the main staircase.

"What's your opinion on the events of the other night?" Alexander asked.

A doorman opened the front doors from them and Magnus nodded a thanks to the boy.

"I feel as though this is a trick question, sir," Magnus said. They rounded the house, treading across the bright green lawn.

"I'll make it simple," Alexander said, keeping his eyes straight ahead. "Good or bad?"

"Good," Magnus said. Alexander stopped in the middle of the field, turning around.

"So you don't feel as though I took advantage of you?"

"No," Magnus said, firmly.

"I realized only after that I could have been in the wrong," Alexander said, "forcing myself on you."

"Nothing happened that I didn't want," Magnus said. "Please trust me on this."

"I do trust you," Alexander sighed. "Far too much considering we've barely know each other for a week. But I suppose that doesn't matter."

"Not to me," Magnus said.

"Miss Emma will be here tonight," Alexander said. "My father wants me to walk her around the gardens after dinner. He expects me to propose."

"I'm sorry."

"I have no choice. But I'll be horribly awkward," Alexander said. He crossed his arms, as if he were cold though it was the middle of the summer.

"You can practice on me if you'd like."

"You want me to practice proposing to you?"

"Why not?" Magnus smiled.

"Because someone could see," Alexander said.

"Someone can always see," Magnus said. "I have another idea though."

..........

Alexander set his book aside on the concrete bench.

"Isabelle?" he asked, horrified.

"Yes, well, she's the most feminine person in the house at the moment," Magnus grinned. Isabelle straightened up, beaming at her brother.

"I heard you're nervous, brother dearest."

"Mr. Bane, I wasn't expecting you to bring my sister down," Alexander said, crossing his arms again, this time with an indignant look.

"Alexander, if you ruin this proposal due to your horrible nerves, Miss Emma shall never forgive. It's best to practice," Isabelle said. "Imagine it as a game, like the ones we used to play as children."

Alexander frowned, glaring at Magnus who shrugged.

"Stand up," Isabelle said, swatting her brother with her closed fan.

Alexander stood up, straightening his coat.

"Now come here," she ordered, holding her arm out. "You'll be walking obviously, so put your arm in mine."

Magnus stepped in front of the siblings.

"I don't recommend frowning, sir," Magnus suggested.

"Mr. Bane," Alexander warned.

"Now," Isabelle said, "you'll stop and say your confession of love."

If Isabelle saw Alexander flinch, she said nothing.

"So let go of my arm and take my hand," Isabelle ordered. Alexander did just that, holding his sister's hand in his.

"Declare," Isabelle said.

Alexander mumbled in search of words.

"Isabelle, I can't," Alexander said, quietly.

Isabelle's eyes immediately shot to Magnus.

"Mr. Bane, if you could excuse us--"

"He knows," Alexander said.

"She knows?" Magnus asked, stepping towards them.

"Of course I know," Isabelle snapped. "Why do you know?"

"Sebastian," Alexander mumbled.

"You fool," Isabelle said, smacking her brother with her fan again. "You went and saw him?!"

"I had to--"

"--embarrass yourself?" Isabelle laughed bitterly. "You truly are hopeless with love."

"I thought I could fix it," Alexander said.

"You can't fix someone like him. He was a horrid person," Isabelle said, straightening back up. "Now lie to me. Tell me you love. Tell me you've never looked at another woman like you look at me. Tell me you'd be honored to spend eternity with me. And believe those words because your life truly depends on it, Alexander."

Alexander looked to Magnus.

"Would you walk with Emma and I?" Alexander asked.

"I-- I shouldn't," Magnus said.

"I need you there," Alexander said.

Isabelle looked over her shoulder at Magnus.

"You will walk with them," she ordered. "Do you understand, Mr. Bane?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Good. Now go again."