Two years ago...

It was clear he did not recognize her. How could he when she was not wearing her blue gown and her hair was as messy as the current situation?

And he was ready for battle. He had his pistol drawn out.

Siege raised on his hind legs with a loud whine of panic.

"To whom do I owe the honor of this rather unexpected call, bandit?" Ralph asked, aiming his pistol at her.

"Mistaken identity, guv!" Alex said, trying to keep Siege calm while her mind thought of the best way out without getting shot by the same man she shared a dance with one year past.

"Where do you think are you going?" Ralph said, leaning out the doorway of the carriage.

She saw Ned and Barto become alert and she ordered them to get away with her eyes.

"Dare you make a victim out of a Guard and—"

Ralph was not able to finish his statement for Alex elbowed his face—right on his nose—with enough strength to make him loosen his hold around her arm, his pistol out of the way as he used his hands to keep from falling out of the carriage.

Alex heard him shout but she dared not look back.

She kicked Siege and followed his cousins back into the darkness of the rocky clearing.

*****

"You have the perfect timing for your return," Maxwell said to Nicholas.

Nicholas could not erase the smile off his face as he uttered, "I ought not to feel good over someone's passing, but I do. Osegod had been a pain in the arse from the moment he took notice of the Everards." He sipped from his brandy, his brothers waiting for his next words. "His death serves as a good distraction. Sophie's return was barely mentioned on the Herald. Even the marriage announcement was given a very small space on the last page."

"The bottom left of the last page, to be specific," Levi wryly uttered. "Mother was not pleased."

"It is not well to be bold of our celebrations when most of the Town is in mourning," Benedict told everyone.

"Which fits my Sophie's preference," Nicholas said, smile broader.

Maxwell sent Ralph a look. "Quiet, brother? Why so, I wonder?" he said.

Ralph narrowed his eyes at Maxwell and turned to look at Cole who had been sitting quietly in one corner since they entered the library after their loud family dinner. While most of the ladies were in Lady Alice's study to discuss details for the wedding, leaving Wakefield and Ysabella to see over the children, the gentlemen took the opportunity to escape the ruckus and talk about the current situation.

Emma and Ysabella had been asking about Alex and how their friend had left town without even saying goodbye, but Ralph avoided the questions by keeping their mother engaged in a conversation. Knowing Lady Alice had been through enough, the twins ceased their interrogations, aware that now was not the best time to let their mother know that they were friends with bandits. All Lady Alice knew about Sophia's rescue was that she was rescued. No names were mentioned and no places were specified.

Yet now that their mother was not around, Ralph feared that his curious brothers might start to be curious. Maxwell, of course, was the first to start showing signs.

To keep their topic off Alex, Ralph focused on a more serious matter. "Durley could not be touched. He has the League's protection."

"Manipulative bastard," Nicholas growled under her breath. "Although I would not wish for anyone to repeat the words to Sophie."

"I would not be surprised if he shall soon be sitting amongst the Town Leaders to replace Osegod as he has gained the Trilby's trust and support by now. And the bloody League needs him for their missions. He is after all their best rat within the underground belowground," Cole grimly said.

"You mean the rebels?" Levi asked in disbelief.

"One cannot say. I am not the League to answer that in the first place."

"You must be devastated. Now should have been the best time to build up your slavery case against Osegod," Benedict addressed Cole.

Cole scoffed. "Not truly. With the slavery case in the forefront and public, it is the perfect time to make a law that gives the victims the protection they need."

Everyone agreed by raising their drink.

"How can Durley provide the League what they need? He is a man on a personal mission. He is apparently not one who would do anything for the entire Town unless it helps his cause," Nicholas inquired, breaking the silence.

Ralph sighed. "Osegod had been planning something with some people aboveground. And now he is dead and no one knows who he had been working with. They are who the League is after now."

"It could be the Trilbys, but who amongst them?" Benedict asked, his tone flat and serious as he stared blankly in the air.

"Durley has to infiltrate and he is only happy to do so knowing he has the League for disposal should he need them."

Nicholas groaned. "My wife will be devastated should she know of this. She refused to talk for hours when she found out about what Durley did to Osegod. And her dear brother has gone and disappeared yet again without even a proper goodbye!"

"First," Maxwell said, shifting in his seat, looking at Nicholas. "She is not yet your wife."

"She might change her mind," Levi quickly inserted.

Without giving Nicholas a chance to explode in retaliation, Maxwell added, "Second, it is better that Durley distances himself from Sophia. It is safer for everyone else."

"And how is Gwyneth faring?" Ralph asked Benedict.

"Quite well," said their eldest brother.

"Sophie wanted her here but considering Wickhurst is not very keen on having someone quite different, she is best kept in Agatha's school," Nicholas explained, still glaring at Maxwell and Levi. "And Sophie is marrying me, you bastards."

"Before I witness yet another bloody fight," Cole said, breaking his silence with a dry tone, "You ought to talk to Samuel, Ralph. His supporters may be growing in number by the day after the shooting, but he is placing himself in even more danger by his articles."

"Agreed," said Maxwell. "He is my brother-in-law, but he does not listen."

"I truly doubt you tried talking him out of his obsession," Levi pointedly said to Maxwell who merely shrugged.

But it was Benedict who drew seriousness on the matter once again. "He talks about the slaves being finally free, but it does not mean that there are no more being held captive somewhere. There are more like Osegod out there and Samuel is playing with fire with his articles."

Ralph's jaw tightened. "I have given him enough warning, but I shall try once more."

Maxwell sighed as he stood to his feet. "Do that."

"Where are you going?" Levi asked with a frown.

"My wife."

"I should go see how Wakefield is faring as well," said Levi, joining Maxwell to the door. "We left the poor bastard in the nursery and God knows what the children are capable of these days."

"He has not left his wife's side for as long as I can remember," Nicholas said wryly. "Ysa is a healthy pregnant woman. She can do well without him."

"Let us not start on men who stitch their shadows on their women, Nick," Maxwell replied as he pulled the door open. "It will not end well for you."

Ralph's laughter was forced. For the rest of the evening, he would try to act like everyone else.

This was, after all, the start of many celebrations for the Everards.

*****

"Ye wanna be there, aye?" Barto asked beside Alex.

The two of them were on top of one of the stone trees, looking down the ground where Ned was tying his horse.

"'Cors not," said Alex with a scoff.

"Today's the weddin', 'cors ye wanna be there wearin' 'nother pretty gown," her cousin said in jest, shoving her lightly with his shoulder.

She threw him a sharp look. "Oi, ye know I can't bleedin' go past this damned forest fer 'nother fortnight."

"That's 'cause ye were gone longer than that, ye dimwit," Barto said with a scowl. "We've all been goin' crazy lookin' fer ye! If not fer Ysa and Emma tellin' us yer with their brother 'n safe, Uncle Gustav would've burned Wickhurst in one night!"

Alex rolled her eyes. "I've already heard the same words from ye fer weeks!"

"It's 'cause ye deserve it!"

"Oi, ye wanna join Ned below?" she asked, grabbing his coat with one hand. "Within seconds, I reassure ye."

"Alright! Alright!" Barto cried out, stepping away from her. He sat down on the small space their location allowed and sighed. "'Tis 'bout time we keep watch. Don't ye go sleepin' again, d'ye hear me?"

Alex heard but offered no reply. Her thoughts were drifting to the Everards and the wedding. But it was not Nicholas and Sophia's wedding that was on her mind. It was Ysabella's and the night she first met Ralph Everard.

*****

Many of the guests that attended the wedding wore black in respect for Alan Osegod's death.

Not that there were many.

Many still believed that Sophia disappeared one year past because she ran off with another lover. Some were not keen on the idea of a lord marrying a colored woman.

But for the few who were true friends of the Everards, they came to witness the union of Nicholas and Sophia, held in the largest church in Wickhurst.

"She is beautiful, is she not?" Ysabella asked aloud, her hands dramatically resting over her chest, her eyes filling with tears while they focused on Sophia walking slowly, hands clasped on Nicholas' arm. Emma nodded, looking at Nicholas. He would not allow her bride to walk down the long aisle alone. "And we have our dear brother back." Emma nodded again.

The twins heard their mother sniffle between them and they both blindly reached for their mother's hands to give them a squeeze.

When finally, Nicholas and Sophia reached the bishop at the altar, guests and family alike turned to witness them be man and wife before God and society. Everyone heard Nicholas choke in his words and Sophia's quivering voice when they both declared their vows.

As their eyes dried and Nicholas showed no signs that he was going to swoon, Ysabella leaned to the side to whisper to Emma, "He claims to be chasing bandits all the time and lock them in prison."

Emma raised her brows, stealing Ralph an incredulous glance. Their fool of a brother was standing close by Nicholas and Sophia, standing as the groomsman but looking like a Town Guard who was expecting an attack anytime soon. Emma scoffed. "He is chasing for only one, Ysa, I tell you."

"Chasing who?" their mother asked. The twins leaned away, suddenly remembering the woman was sitting between them and that she heard everything. "Ralph is chasing a woman, dear?"

"Someone he fancies, Mother," Ysabella reluctantly whispered. Her husband cleared his throat beside her in warning but it was too late.

Emma thought it would not hurt if their mother knew. The woman had long proven herself to be very good in dealing with scandalous situations. The latest was being wed before them, in fact. "He is in love with a bandit," Emma added near their mother's ear.

It was a sight to see Lady Alice's eyes widen in surprise and her lips moved to form the words, "Oh."

Ysabella and Emma shared a secret smile while Wakefield covered his face with his hand, muffling his groan. "It shall be a scandal, Mother," Ysabella hastily said. "The very moment he convinces her, it shall be a scandal."

Their mother's brows furrowed into a curious frown. "You know this woman?"

"She is a dear friend. She was a great help in finding Sophia. It was her who found Aurora and found Ralph thereafter for help. Both of them worked closely together to bring Sophia back to us." While Ysabella said all these, Emma studied their mother's face.

"This might be the match you will not approve of, I am guessing?" Emma asked.

For a moment, their mother looked ahead but not at the bride and groom but at Ralph standing stiff and silent beside Nicholas. "She is a criminal."

"Yes, she definitely is." It was Wakefield who answered in a whisper.

Ysabella and Emma shot him a look of warning.

"And you are good friends with her?" Lady Alice asked her daughters.

"Yes," the twins chorused.

Their mother shook her head. "She was the one who came to find help for Sophia and Gwyneth."

"Yes," they replied again with Ysabella adding, "Without payment."

Their mother was once more quiet. "Has she ever killed anyone?"

"No, I believe she has never," Emma said.

Their mother nodded and lifted one shoulder in a tiny shrug. "Ah, then she is simply on a higher scale of naughty."

Wakefield choked in disbelief. He leaned over to stare at Lady Alice, no longer interested in keeping to himself. "What?"

Ysabella and Emma began to smile in wonder.

"She will do your brother good. Just look at him stand there like a lifeless statue. But she cannot continue her ways. It shall be one sacrifice she has to make if she is willing to accept us."

As Wakefield shook his head, gaping in disbelief, his wife and Emma could not help but share a quiet giggle.

Their mother would never cease to amaze them, really.

*****

The very moment Ralph settled in the chair, both Samuel and Wynne said, "You look miserable."

Instead of a reply, he asked, "None of the brothers have arrived yet?"

"Nicholas is apparently not coming," Samuel said. "By the by, have I mentioned you look miserable?"

As Ralph began to scowl, Wynne added, "Where is Miss Alex? She was not in attendance during the wedding."

Ralph grabbed Samuel's drink and gulped it down. "She went home."

Samuel turned to Wynne. "Have I not informed you? She left him."

Wynne looked innocent as he turned to Ralph in surprise. "She left you?"

"Because I allowed her to," he said through gritted teeth. Signaling for the server, he added, "Now, if the two of you would not wish for a different topic, you can go home."

Samuel and Wynne shared a look, shrugged and relaxed back in their chairs.

An hour later, while Samuel and Wynne wagered on the next Leader to fill Osegod's seat with Ralph barely listening, Benedict, Levi and Maxwell finally arrived.

"I thought Wakefield will be joining us?" asked Ralph.

"Our sister is very pregnant," was enough explanation from Maxwell.

"And Cole?"

Samuel jumped out of his chair to offer it to Benedict who replied to the question, saying, "Maggie asked that he stays home," Benedict replied.

As everyone else grabbed a chair to settle in, Ralph looked up at Samuel who gathered his coat. "Where the bloody hell are you going?"

"You are leaving me here?" Wynne asked in horror.

"I suddenly remember I have a pending article I am working on for the morrow," Samuel explained, putting on his coat in a hurry.

Without giving them enough time to stop him, Samuel left.

Wynne was growing more anxious as he looked around the Everards, even more so that Benedict was sitting next to him.

"Samuel seems to have drastically changed," Ralph noted more to himself, tone etched with bitterness. "In the past he would be drinking and playing cards until the wee hours."

"He simply found something to dedicate his time to," Wynne said under his breath.

A long silence followed Wynne's statement. Looking about, Wynne cleared his throat. "This is truly awkward," he said to everyone, righting his oversized coat. "I believe it is my cue to leave."

"No, you can stay," said Ralph.

"No, I insist to return to my comfort place," he said with a smile, standing up, "which is my bed."

Maxwell shrugged, Levi nodded and Benedict signaled for the server. Ralph sighed which Wynne took as a sign. He bowed and said, "Enjoy the night, my lords."

"Very awkward man," noted Levi as they watched Wynne walk away.

"You look miserable," Maxwell said, eyes on Ralph.

Benedict and Levi tore their eyes off Wynne's back and turned to study Ralph. He scowled when the three men tilted their head to the side, assessing him as though he was an inanimate object that was unaware of it all.

"Hmm. Miserable indeed."

"Why are you not with a mistress?" Levi asked. "Considering our current jovial situation, it is high time you return to them and be merry. Celebrate your triumphs as they would say."

Ralph narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth.

"Ah, I forgot," Levi said, slapping his forehead with the heel of his hand. "You have discarded them."

"They went by his estate, all of them slapping him as farewell," Maxwell droned. "Different visits."

Ralph's eyes widened in horror. "How did you know of this?"

"Footmen cousins," was Maxwell's incomplete reply. When everyone stared at him waiting for more, he rolled his eyes. "Footman told the maid. Maid told my wife."

Benedict shook his head while Levi chortled.

Ralph's nostrils started to flare in anger, his ears heating up.

"Why discard of them all, brother?" asked Levi.

"A man who is not thinking of one woman will dare not get rid of his mistresses," Maxwell stated matter-of-factly.

"You must go to her, Ralph. You are delaying," Levi said, shaking his head.

"A moment of delay is a time missed," Benedict's comment surprised them all. The eldest Everard was not one who talked about matters like this.

"I am not delaying," Ralph growled through his teeth. "I am simply giving her time to suffer as I am."

Maxwell scoffed. "Bloody idiot."

"That is your plan?" Levi inquired incredulously. "Give her time?"

"Yes."

"Give her time to forget you, you mean," Benedict corrected.

The statement stirred alarm within Ralph.

"Surely you have a better plan, brother," Levi insisted. Do we need to gather our gears? I willingly offer our garden ladder, a useful tool as Mother will put it. You must realize Meriwether can be quite difficult."

"This woman will wisely spend the time you are giving her, Ralph," Maxwell said. "And it might not be in a way you expect."

"Bloody hell, you are scaring me," Ralph said, shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

"Then be quick," Levi said. "What is your alternate plan?"

Ralph looked at his brothers and moistened his lips. "Blast it."

"Blast Meriwether?" Levi frowned.

"Gustav will have us hanged," Maxwell said.

"Gustav?" Benedict asked.

"The father," Maxwell, Levi and Ralph replied in unison.

"Barto and Ned shall tie knots for certain," said Levi.

Before Benedict could ask again, they all said, "The cousins."

Benedict nodded, looking at Ralph. "I do not know much about this place, but should you blast it, the twins will willingly light the pyre after the father and the cousins hang you."

"I meant, brothers," Ralph impatiently said, "Blast it, I might need your help after all."

"How?" Maxwell asked, frowning in suspicion.

Ralph stared at his brothers. "I do have a grand plan and you might not like it..." he started.