Three years ago...

Ralph had been inside the tavern for hours now, drinking away the disappointment and frustration of the fruitless search.

He knew that the villagers had their attention on him despite them pretending to mind their own business, immersed in quiet chats as if there were far better things to discuss than a wealthy-looking gentleman sitting in the middle of the room.

The owner had been keeping eye on him, sending warning glances at whoever might have tried to interrupt Ralph's silent musings. All of these had not passed Ralph's notice.

And when the tavern owner finally approached him, Ralph sat straight, at the ready for whatever.

"Enjoying your stay, my lord?" asked the man.

Ralph offered a tiny smile and a nod. "I am done for the night," he said, pushing his empty glass toward the man.

The tavern owner took it but not without saying, "Rumor says you have been lurking around the village." Before Ralph could tell him to mind his own business, the man added, "You be careful, my lord. There are too many bandits in the area."

Ralph let out a sigh. "Need not worry, Sir." He stood up, righting his coat. "I am a Guard."

The tavern owner and those nearby who heard his last word smiled, their faces knowing. It was as if they had witnessed too many tragic endings for Guards.

Ralph left, leaving behind the shame he felt for having gone this far for a woman he barely knew.

Blazes!

He returned to Beechworth with a promise to forget Lady in Blue.

*****

Alex stood frozen, her entire body stiff and numb as the echo of the gunfire died down.

Her knees buckled and she nearly dropped to the floor, but she kept her composure, stumbling forward and holding on to a winged chair to her left.

A single drop of tear fell from her eyes as they widened in shock, fixed on the lifeless body on the floor.

"You bloody bastard," Vega Trilby's shaking voice said, breaking the silence that followed the gunfire.

Alex's teeth started to chatter, her hands balling into tight fists, eyes glued on the pool of blood as it widened, inching away from the body it came from.

"You bloody bastard. You did not have to bring me here to witness a murder!"

"It was the only way to get to face the man, Vega," Durley's eerily calm voice said as he stepped away from Osegod's body. "I am sorry if I caused you distress, darling," he added, turning around to walk toward Alex. "Not that I do truly believe seeing a man murdered causes you such. I believe being drugged and dragged here is much more inconvenient than this, yes?"

Alex's eyes were still on Osegod's face. The look of shock was the last one he wore before the single bullet from Durley's pistol entered the space between his eyes.

"I almost died!" Vega screamed.

Alex's view of Osegod's body was blocked by Durley as he stood before her. He reached out but she flinched away. With a patient smile, he sighed. "Very well," he murmured under his breath.

"Get me out o' 'ere," she hissed through her teeth. "Get me out o' 'ere."

"In a while," Durley promised. "You have done your part. I shall keep my end of the bargain."

Alex simply stared at him blankly, unsure whether she was facing the devil himself or the angel of Osegod's victims.

"Unbind me, Marcus, you bastard," Vega demanded.

Durley's face suddenly turned grim but he immediately erased it with a sigh. He turned away from Alex to slowly make his way to Vega.

"I almost died. Did you hear me? I almost died!" the beautiful woman continued to scream.

Durley ignored her by motioning his head at his two men. Understanding his silent order, both men walked over to Osegod's body and very easily dragged it behind the large wooden study table. The trail of blood was evident but no one in the room seemed to be bothered about it.

No one was staying here for long, after all.

"I almost died," Vega said to Durley once more as he approached here.

"I heard you the first time, Vega," Durley wryly replied as he began to untie her. "Repetition would not deliver the effect you wish. There is no need for dramatics."

"My aunt shall hear of this!" Vega said, voice shaking with fury.

"I am certain she shall hold a ball for what I did."

"What you did!" Vega cried with a mocking laugh. Finally she was free and she jumped to her feet, pointing at the wooden study table that hid Osegod's body. "You killed the bastard in his own estate! His guards are standing outside, probably on their way here to murder all of us! Are you deaf and did not hear the same gunshot we all heard!"

Durley simply smiled as he waited with great patience for Vega to finish. When she said nothing further, he looked up at the glass ceiling above. "I understand your great concern, Vega," he said, moving his head back down to face the woman, "but you must have realized by now that I do make my move after taking ten steps ahead of everyone else. For one, you are here simply as a second ticket should my first one fail." He pointed at Alex. "Apart from Aurora Randolph and the child, he had always wanted you amongst his deck of cards, you see. And I have always been holding you off for this very day." He smiled as Vega's eyes flared with an even more intense kind of fury.

"Now, you ask what happens next. Wait a day or two and you shall find an article on the Herald of Lord Osegod's unfortunate natural demise. The article, of course, is one I can weave and control as you should know by now. I do not own The Town Herald for nothing, yes?

"What of his family and acquaintances then? His wife and daughter are currently in Tiny Town for vacation in one of my estates, one I gladly offered when dear Lady Osegod needed a different atmosphere other than this horrid estate. His entire household staff is naught but the same men and women who would have paid me every townsend they had to have him where he is at this very moment. None of his business associates shall miss him as they are also my so-called friends and business partners. What of the body then? His family need not see the hole between his eyes for he shall soon be burned. His daughter would not mind, of course. She would most assuredly express her gratitude for she would hate to see her mother's sickly state worsen seeing her dead husband's body. And I assure you, dear, no love is lost in the Osegod family.

"And how could we escape from here, you ask? Osegod's guards are currently being taken care of by my men outside. Thoroughly, I should say."

Vega's jaw tightened, his hands balled at her sides as she haughtily lifted her chin as if to stare down at Durley. "You truly believe no one would suspect you? You could have just hired someone—"

"I wanted to do it myself," Durley coldly uttered. A short silence followed his statement. "And why would they suspect me when I was with you?"

Vega scoffed incredulously. "You mean to make them believe we spent a leisurely walk in the park? A picnic in the woods? Are you bloody insane!"

Durley shrugged. "You Trilbys always find ways to create and dissolve a scandal. I am certain Amelia shall be able to think of the best way to keep my name as clean as can be. The Town Herald is at your disposal, my dear, as always." He turned to the two men standing close by. "Now, go, Vega, darling. You need not fret any further. I just solved everyone's bloody problem." When she did not move, Durley wryly added, "A carriage is waiting for you outside."

Although still furious, the woman stepped away from Durley. She stopped when her eyes landed on Alex. "What of her?" she asked aloud.

Durley looked over his shoulder at Alex. "If we want the Everards to leave us be, we must return her."

"But she witnessed—"

"She knows what she can do and cannot," Durley interrupted, tone filled with warning.

"And your former lover? The one Osegod took away, the colored woman."

Durley let out an amused laugh. "I see you have been paying attention to my personal matters."

"I happen to overhear many things, Marcus," Vega haughtily said, her dark eyes boring into Marcus. "And I also happen to know Nicholas Everard won her over."

Durley shrugged. "She has returned to the Everards."

"With your help, of course?"

Durley smiled. "It is the only way to keep my peace with the Everards. They now owe me, you see. Soon they shall have to pay me back however and whenever I need something."

Vega shook her head. "Still, I do not trust you, Marcus. You are keeping something that can harm us."

"Do not trust me, Vega. But do believe I am at your side. Have I not proven myself enough?" He made a grand motion with his arm, showing her the door. "And I am saving your arse today. Go home to your Aunt Amelia."

Vega shot Alex one last look before she turned and walked out the door.

*****

"You killed him," Alex said very much later. "You killed Osegod."

"You are very welcome," said Durley, righting his gloves. He peered down at the carriage window. "We are nearly there."

"What game are ye playin', Durley?" she asked, face impassive. "In a span o' a few hours I witnessed ye lie to everyone in that room. Ye lied te Osegod 'bout me, ye lied te that Vega woman 'bout Sophia. She's right, ye know. Ye can't be trusted."

Durley was quiet for a very long time. When he spoke, his voice was bare of emotion. "My loyalty, bandit, lies merely on family. They are dead." His eyes were almost as dead as Osegod's when they met hers. Alex had an impulse to know everything about this man. Why was he doing all these? "Sophia is the only living one I have but despite that, her identity ought to remain as it is. I can only claim her family in private." He crossed his legs as he gazed at her. "You are amongst the lucky few to know of our relationship and I wish that you keep the secret forever. Otherwise, you know what I am capable of, yes?"

Alex's jaw tightened.

"Yer plannin' somethin' against them Trilbys. I don't care, really. But if yer plannin' somethin' against the Everards—"

"Answer one thing, bandit," Durley interjected. "Where is my sister?"

"With Nicholas."

"And Nicholas is an Everard, yes?"

"Aye."

"Whoever my sister is with shall remain safe until they hurt her," he said with certainty, voice almost deadly.

Alex watched as he leaned his head against the carriage seat. "Now, do be quiet. I have quite a big banter to prepare for the very moment we arrive in Beechworth."

*****

His trip to Margaret and Cole was fruitless. The couple could not find a way to help him find Alex. Margaret still seemed distracted and Ralph did not want to discuss Aurora Randolph with her any longer.

"I was afraid you would by now be joining Nick and the rest in Devonshire," he said.

"We are," his sister said, blinking and looking away, clearing her throat uncomfortably. "I simply need a few days to compose myself."

Cole and Ralph shared a look but said nothing. Both of them knew Margaret was strong-willed. She would not want to be showered with pity. If she still felt responsible over Aurora's death, everyone knew she would not want to be told she merely did what she thought was best for the family. And although no one was blaming her, they still believe Margaret would need time to come to terms with Aurora's fate at her own pace.

"Perhaps she went back to Meriwether," Cole said, changing the subject.

Ralph sighed, setting aside his concern for Margaret to continue the conversation with his brother-in-law.

*****

It was late in the evening when the footman arrived with a note from Beechworth.

When Ralph read it, he did not bother to stay for the supper his sister had prepared. He climbed on his horse and rode back to Beechworth.

Ralph stormed into the study like a madman. When his eyes landed on Alex, he rushed toward her. Ignoring her protest, he pulled her out of the chaise, inspecting her entire form.

"Are you hurt?" he demanded. "Are you hurt!" he repeated loudly when she did not reply.

"Nae," she murmured, not looking at him.

After seeing that she looked unhurt, he let her go and turned his fury at Durley. "Where the bloody hell have you taken her?"

"Osegod. I needed her as my little entrance ticket, you see. No one could simply walk into Ransford without a gift, Beechworth."

His eyes went to Alex who looked away, not meeting his eyes. "And what did you do in Ransford, Durley?" he demanded, eyes still on Alex. Why was she looking like she had been to hell?

"Problem solving," Durley dryly replied.

Ralph snapped his head at Durley. "What happened?"

Durley simply shrugged.

"Answer the question, you bastard. What happened? Where is Osegod?"

Durley took a lungful of air before he said, "Dead."

For a moment he did not believe Durley was being serious. But considering that Sophia was now safe, the idea became less farfetched. "What!" Ralph hissed, storming forward to push Durley with one hand. "We still need him!"

Durley did not appreciate the physical contact and stepped aside, righting his clothes. "I do not care. He took my sister." He looked at Ralph again. "Now I have her back."

"You bloody—"

Durley rolled his eyes as he interrupted Ralph's outburst. "My goal is to be rid of him at the most perfect time. Osegod is no longer of use to me. In fact, he has not been naught but a nuisance even before he took Sophia, thus he is dead. The Trilbys are also grateful, of course." When Ralph merely looked at him with confusion, Durley added, "They do believe Osegod was the one who killed Osmund Trilby. And the fool was only happy to take the responsibility, hoping it would cause fear amongst the Trilbys. I believe he miscalculated them."

Understanding washed over Ralph. "You orchestrated this whole thing, you bloody bastard! You did not only do it for revenge over Sophia's disappearance or to protect her. You have your own selfish reasons. You killed the bastard to gain the trust of the Trilbys." He paused, breath heaving with anger. "But most of all, you did it because he knows of your true identity. He has been holding it against you, has he not? Osegod threatened to tell the Trilbys that you are the last surviving heir of the family they massacred and he used it to control you. Should your identity be known, it will jeopardize your grand plan against the Trilbys. So no, Durley, I do not believe you when you say you did it for Sophia. You did it all for your vengeful self!"

Durley sighed. "Be very careful talking about my secrets, Beechworth. Sophia may have entrusted you with the truth, but I am always watching all of you," Durley warned, eyes intentionally landing on Alex to make a point. Tearing his gaze away, he looked at Ralph. "We all have secrets we are willing to kill for, yes?"

Ralph gritted his teeth.

Durley adjusted his bowler hat and with a tight smile, said, "Now, are we done? I do not wish to be here for when Osegod's family receives news of his demise. I wish to be by their side to offer them comfort like the devil that I am." He pulled at his cravat. "For now, find a way to solve your own problems. The slave trade is merely a teething trouble, I believe. I am certain there shall be more to come." He tipped his hat with one finger. "As for me, I just solved mine. Until we help each other again, my friends." Durley turned and started for the door but stopped midstride. "And do keep my sister safe, Beechworth. Relay the same thing to that dandy brother of yours. Keep her safe and all shall be well."

Ralph heard Alex's sigh of relief when Durley finally disappeared. "It's over," he heard her murmur. "He's gone. It must be over."

His jaw clenched and he stiffly turned to face her, suddenly feeling an overwhelming mixture of relief and anger.

Noting his demeanor, Alex shifted away from him, apparently uncomfortable.

"What?" she asked after clearing her throat.

"Talk," he demanded, emerald green eyes seriously deadly. "I knew you have been hiding something and I demand that you tell me. And dare not spare a single thing, Alex, or I swear I shall strap you with iron shackles after iron shackles until you are exhausted picking the locks." He saw her eyes flicker with apprehension but Ralph remained unmoved. He pointed his finger down. "Now, Alex. Tell me everything. Now."