Ellie had to admit that a part of her did not believe in the Town.

But the very moment she took the journey belowground and found that she could breathe, she started to realize her own naivety. And when he took her to the nearest affluent town, she was certain she had stepped into a different world.

"Are you feeling fine so far?" Byron asked her.

She could not find the correct words to say for her tongue seemed to have been left behind aboveground.

All she could do was stare at everything around her.

"Welcome to Wickhurst," Byron said as the carriage continued down the cobbled road.

Ellie believed she was in one of her childhood fairytales.

-Above and Below

*****

Samuel barged into Wynne's office in the Town Herald carrying flowers.

He stared at the flowers. "Considering they are fresh, they must be expensive." He lifted his eyes from the flowers to look at Samuel. The man was smiling like he typically would. Wynne knew better now, of course. "I am hoping they are not for me?"

"Emma," Samuel said, walking closer. "We had a bit of a squabble and I am hoping you can deliver these for me. And please, do try to be friendly, Wynne."

"Why can you not deliver them yourself to extend your apologies in person?"

"I know her. She would not want to see me today."

That was a lie.

Wynne sighed. "Very well," he said, pointing at his table. "Place them over there. I will take them to the Everard manor in an hour."

Samuel's smile grew wider. "You are the best friend I can rely on."

Wynne smiled. "You have always relied on me, so yes, of course I am the best."

"No doubt, eh?"

Wynne's gaze did not waver as he offered Samuel a smile. "No doubt."

Samuel placed the flowers on top of a stack of papers and started to turn away.

"But you are leaving the Herald soon. Which makes you a lousy friend for leaving me behind," Wynne could not help but add to taunt the man.

Samuel let out a mocking exasperated breath before he asked, "Would you like to join my paper?"

"And be a target for murder?" Wynne asked. "No, thank you."

"Just as I have thought, you coward." The statement was delivered in jest, but Wynne read the truth meaning behind it.

"A coward with a brain, my friend," he said before Samuel disappeared from the door.

*****

Wynne rushed home to read the latest note from the Buford servant.

His lordship is currently busy writing letters to associates.

His paper shall be called The Blower.

He crumpled the letter and threw it in the fire before he reached for his coat.

As he was leaving, his eye caught a glimpse of an old box. For a moment, he reconsidered his thoughts.

"Ah, bloody tarnation," he muttered under his breath, reaching for the box.

"That is a puzzle game you created when you were but seven, my lord," Lawrence spoke. "I do not think we will both enjoy playing it again. I know it by heart by now."

"I would rather you play mute, Lawrence," he told the butler tucked the old box under his arm. "I will return after an hour."

"Yes, of course, my lord. You have letters from the theatre, by the by."

"I will look into them in the evening," he said over his shoulder.

"My lord, the flowers!" Lawrence called after him in the hall.

"Throw them!"

*****

Emma frowned at the contents of the box. "Hmm. Interesting."

"It is," seconded Wynne.

"Where did you say Samuel found it again?"

"An antique shop, I believe," he retorted, his eyes never leaving her face.

Emma picked up a wooden piece. "I wonder what this is for."

"There are instruction cards inside, I believe." He stood up and said, "I am certain you will find it very simple, but you will have to find someone to play it with."

She nodded with a smile. "Of course. Will you play with me?"

He shook his head. "I am afraid I cannot. I have somewhere of import to be."

Her brows rose. "The theatre?"

"No. Home."

As he started to leave, Emma began to panic. "But when will our next lesson be—"

"Have you finished the book?" he asked.

"Yes. Twice." She stood, walking to the center of the parlor. "And I have taken notes."

His eyes went to hers and stayed there for some time. Emma started to fear that he knew something she did not. He ought to be the one to feel it, but why did it seem as if she was the one being trapped? And in her own home!

"I will call for you soon, Emma, fret not."

Her heart started to race against her chest when he said he would call for her.

She swallowed and nodded. "Very well..." She offered a small curtsy. "Soon, then."

"Goodbye, Emma."

*****

"This game puzzle's very interesting, I tell ye!" Alex said, moving a piece over the wooden board. In her other hand she was holding five cards. "Now, I'll throw a card, aye?" When Emma did not respond, Alex snapped her fingers. "Oi, Emma!"

She blinked and her mind returned to the game at hand. "Sorry," she murmured. "My mind was drifting."

"Quite often nowadays," her sister-in-law noted, stealing her a glance before studying the cards in her hand. "I'll throw a card, aye?"

"Did you move your piece?'

"Aye."

"Well, then, yes, throw a card."

Alex threw one and Emma reached out to read it. She bit her lower lip. "This is somewhat tricky."

"Which is why I threw it. Can't figure out how te use it."

Emma snorted and picked another card from the side. "Move two slots to the left if you have the wizard card. Five to the right if you have none." Emma moved her wooden piece five slots to the right and threw a card which Alex picked up with a groan.

"We are moving in circles, Emma."

"Which is why we have to solve these puzzles," she said, pointing at another board. "I need to know which card to pick to get out of the circle."

"We've only answered one," Alex pointed. "We're trapped."

Emma shook her head. "Not until we have gone through the entire deck," she said.

Alex shook her head. "Yer the only one enjoyin' this."

Emma laughed and leaned against her chair. "Ah, I wish Benedict is here."

"Aye. That brother of yers will surely enjoy this," Alex said. "I'm 'bout te give up 'ere. Where's Mother 'n tea? I'll need brandy instead."

"Give up on what?"

Emma and Alex looked up to find Samuel walking toward them.

"Very good! Yer 'ere!" Alex exclaimed, pushing herself from her chair. "Ye play with 'er, milord. I'll go find Mother," she added, dashing toward the open door.

"Your favorite brandy is in the study," Emma said after her sister-in-law and chuckled when she saw Alex turn to the direction of the study. She was about to thank Samuel for the puzzle, but stopped short when he heard his question.

"What is this?" asked Samuel, taking the chair Alex vacated.

Emma frowned. "A puzzle game."

"It looks interesting. How do you play it?" he asked, picking up Alex's wooden piece.

Emma blinked.

Samuel looked at her. "Did you get my flowers? I asked Wynne to deliver them two days earlier."

"No, I did not get the flowers," she honestly replied.

"The bastard," he said with a scoff. "He is playing us. But fret not. We shall make our move during the Theobald party."

Emma chose to not comment for she had heard of Samuel's plans for the Theobald weekend party. What she was wondering at the moment was why Wynne would replace the flowers with the game. And why did he not tell her it was from him?

*****

When five days had passed and not a single note arrived from Wynne, Emma decided to take matters in her own hand and rode all the way to Ulric.

When she arrived, it was strangely quiet. When there ought to be the usual sounds of dancing and counting, there was just quiet.

She entered the tent and found three dancers talking to each other.

"Milady!" they exclaimed, both surprised and pleased to see her there. "No practice today, but he's in his office."

Emma talked with them for quite some time, asking how things were, and realized they were hiding something. She could feel from the way they were hesitant to share something.

She left them to find Wynne in his study.

"Come in," his voice said from inside the room after she knocked twice.

"Emma," he said, looking at her with a frown. "Whyever are you here?"

"You said you would call for me," was her nonchalant reply, taking the seat opposite him. "You must have forgotten."

"I did not forget," he said, dark eyes boring into hers.

For some reason, her heart began to race from those simple words. "Then you must have been busy."

"Yes," he admitted. "As you can see, we have no practice today."

"Because?"

"Jordan quit."

The news took her by surprise. "But why?"

He shrugged. "He does not like the articles Samuel has recently been writing. He is afraid they might ruin his reputation."

"The play saved it!"

"We cannot blame him, really. He cannot afford to fall once more."

"Then how are you going to solve this? Do you not have a play this Saturday?" She stopped and glared at him when he simply chuckled. "What seems to be amusing? Your play is within a few days and you have no main actor!"

"Emma, fret not," he said with a smile. "We can always find a replacement."

"Not in a few days, you will not!"

"Trust me," was his only reply.

Emma pursed her lips and forced herself to stop. Why was she even reacting this way? She was supposed to be glad that he would have his hands full. She ought to be satisfied that his theatre was falling apart because for what he and his family could be planning against the Everards, he surely deserved it.

Her jaw tightened.

"Whyever are you here, Emma?"

His tone was serious and the smile on his lips disappeared. "You know why," she snapped. "I am expecting to learn from you."

"I mean, why do you keep showing up in the theatre?"

"Why? Do you consider my presence a nuisance?"

"More of a distraction," he retorted as soon as she finished asking her question.

Emma caught her breath. She blinked a few times. She felt a tingling run down to her fingertips and she closed her hands into fists to numb them.

"You appear angry," she noted.

"No, simply irritated."

"Why?"

Wynne shrugged. "You know why."

She shook her head. "No, I honestly do not know why."

His eyes held hers for a few more seconds. "Your very presence here irritates me."

"We have already established that. So why?"

He scratched his head, looking uncomfortable. "Because you ought not be here."

"Well, you know why I am here, Wynne."

"Yes, but you ought not to be here alone."

"Whatever do you mean—"

"I mean that your bloody fiancé ought to shackle you to his side, Emma. He should not let you come anywhere near any other man."

"That is extreme even for you, Wynne. You know I like my freedom."

He stared at her without saying a word.

"You have more to say."

"Yes."

"What is it? Tell me. I would not take offense."

"I simply wish you are more careful," he said, surprising her. "It irritates me to see that you are getting quite comfortable around me and everyone else in this theatre."

"Should I have reasons not to be?"

"Yes, most definitely."

She scoffed. "Please. You are not capable of doing anything harmful."

His smile was both dark and unnerving. "Is that a challenge I hear in your voice, my lady?"

"Is there something dark you are capable of then, my lord?"

Instead of answer her question, he asked, "Have you learned many things from the book I gave you?"

"I have from the puzzle you gave me."

His brows cocked high and the corner of his lips lifted in a smile. "I made that puzzle."

"I am impressed. By yourself?"

"Thank you. Yes, when I was bored and had to think of another way to entertain myself."

"Why did you give it to me?"

He shrugged. "I just thought you would find it better than the flowers."

"And where are the flowers?"

"You ought to ask my butler, Lawrence."

Emma sighed and shook her head. "Samuel will not appreciate what you did."

"Then, as I have said, he ought not to let you out of his sight." He stood up and looked down at her. "I will call for you, Emma."

She got the message and stood up. "At the very least, send another book for me to study."

"Do you not have a wedding to plan for?"

Emma stiffened at the reminder.

Wynne saw it and sighed. "I will see what I can do."

He guided her to the door and opened it. He did not step aside and Emma felt the same tingling sensation when her arm brushed against his coat.

She swallowed, forcing her feet to take the steps away from him.

As she left, she prayed for all of these to be over.