He did not expect it to happen.

She was the least person to get attached to, but Byron found himself depending on Ellie in more ways than necessary. Not that he could not do things well on his own, but her very presence in almost everywhere he went had become a comfort.

Her funny comments would make him burst in laughter, her wit and charm could make him take pride that she was his woman. Even in her absence, she was constantly in his mind.

In rare occasions, he thought he saw her looking at him in a genuine manner. For the long time he knew her, he already mastered the craft of detecting her lies and drama. But the small signs of something real from Ellie McPhee was enough to make Bryon hope.

Yet he knew she was naught but a fraud as a whole. He was a fraud. Everything was a fraud.

Sooner or later, he knew they would both end up hurting each other.

-Above and Below

*****

Emma and Wynne were already waiting in the parlor, a tense silence between them, when Samuel and Stella entered the room. The latter couple was surprised to find them both already inside and disappointment was fast to present itself when they saw the golden egg in the middle of the coffee table.

"I told you it was in the kitchen," Samuel said to Stella who simply shrugged. "When did you find it?" he asked Emma afterwards, walking over to the egg.

Another couple entered the room, both disappointed and empty-handed.

Wynne was the one who looked at the clock and said, "An hour ago, I believe."

Samuel sighed. "I have to be broken before I can be of use—it is clearly an egg," he said to Stella.

"Well, I thought so as well at first but then, there are dozens of eggs in the kitchen. How could we have known which one to pick? I did not know the treasure would be painted gold!"

"It was better than what you thought it would be. A thread!"

"Well, you have to break the thread for it to be of use as well!"

"Does this make us the winner then?" Emma asked, standing up and breaking the argument.

"Well, of course," said the gentleman behind Samuel. "Ah, what a shame. I knew it was an egg!"

Emma forced a smile. "Then can we have our prize?"

Samuel nodded at the footman who had entered the room. The man walked over to give Emma and Wynne their golden prizes.

Emma was, of course, satisfied that she had something to show to Ysabella, but she was also dying to get out of the room.

She had committed a terrible mistake and even Samuel's presence was making her even guiltier. Perhaps this was a sign that she ought to come up with a decision soon. She could not be unfair to Samuel for long.

She had been selfish enough that she had been insisting that he waited.

But first, she had to clear her head.

She had to think.

*****

Samuel stole Emma a look as he escorted her back to the ballroom to find her family. She looked distracted so he asked, "What had transpired between you and Wynne tonight, Emma?"

Emma shook her head. "I would rather not talk about it tonight, Sam."

Suspicion was fast to rise within him. "Did the bastard do anything that you did not like?"

Her jaw tightened and she shook her head.

"Then what is it? Did he say anything? Does he know we are aware of his true identity?"

"No, I do not believe he does," she said. She looked him in the eye. "But, please, Sam. I want to rest tonight."

Samuel took a deep breath and nodded. "Very well."

"And perhaps we can talk on the morrow," Emma reassured.

"Of course, love," he murmured.

Something happened tonight, he thought. Emma may not tell him now, but she would do so tomorrow.

He delivered Emma to be with Ysabella before he excused himself to spend the night at one of the gaming rooms where he might chance upon some of the writers he would want to invite to his paper.

He did not get much from Stella Marie tonight, but perhaps his men were much more successful back in Wickhurst.

*****

He could not deny that he was angry at himself.

And at Emma Everard.

How dare she tell him that she would act as an Everard if she were to fall in love with a Trilby?

Did she say those words to play with him? She might have just won him over with those mere words if not for the fact that he was aware of her true intentions.

IF I do fall for a Trilby, I believe I would act like an Everard...

Her words ceased to quiet down in his mind. They kept coming again and again, distracting him from his task at hand.

No, she was playing him like he intended to play her.

As he discreetly followed Thomas Hayward away from the manor, Wynne forced himself to keep the thoughts of Emma Everard away. There was no chance between him and her.

He was almost certain she was not the Leaguer amongst her family and mayhap he would prove it to be true tonight.

She could go and marry Samuel if she wanted and Wynne would not even dare stop her. He would deliver what his aunt wanted once and for all and then he would be on his way. He would disappear from Wickhurst and everyone else who knew him. And then he would live his dream.

She is part of that dream...

No, of course not! He silenced the ridiculous thought. Emma Everard would dare not dream of having a Trilby whether or not she told the truth. The Everards might never know what they were up against.

Shaking his head, Wynne continued to quietly follow Thomas down a darker path along the corn plantation, far away from the manor, and toward a wooden worker's cabin. The bright moonlight that streamed through the three holes over the Theobald plantation was the only light to guide them. As beautiful as the moonlight was, no other guests were around as everyone else was inside the manor, enjoying the ball and the countless entertainment provided by the hosts.

He had asked Stella to keep an eye on Samuel and distract the man if he ever showed interest of looking for Wynne. His friend did not question his intentions and simply followed his request like she always did in the past.

As Thomas neared the cabin, all other thoughts went to the background. His focus now was on Thomas Hayward and the person he was about to meet.

Fearing that the Leaguer would notice his presence, Wynne hid in between two lines of corns and waited a little longer. Thomas and whoever he was about to meet would have to be assured that they were alone.

When he thought it was about time, Wynne crossed the path toward the woods to hide in the shadows of the trees, circling to the back of the small cabin.

There were quiet voices from the inside and Wynne leaned his back against the wall, putting himself at ease. The voices were clear enough from where he was standing.

"Yes, they are enough," was Thomas' voice talking, "but not quite enough for the League to take action against them."

"How certain are you that it was not Osegod who initiated communication?" a woman's voice asked.

Wynne did not have to wonder for he was certain it belonged to Margaret Everard.

"One of our own was able to capture someone from their contacts aboveground," said Thomas. "Osegod was naught but a messenger."

"Then surely his testimony will be enough to put the Trilbys to trial."

"If he is alive, yes."

"He was killed?"

It took a long while before Thomas answered. "The League is no longer impenetrable as we may believe, my lady."

"Absurd!"

"Everyone can be bought for a price. We are certain the Trilbys have connection from aboveground and God knows what these people are planning. We have to act fast."

Wynne heard footsteps pacing inside the cabin. "What do you want from us then?" another voice asked, this time it was from another man. Wynne frowned. "My wife and I had agreed that she shall stay away from this case, Thomas. You know what happened the last time she was involved."

"This is a matter between Leaguers, my lord, if I may respectfully remind you."

"You are the one who needs our help, Thomas," Margaret snapped. "You dare not speak to my husband in such manner."

"My apologies."

"You do not even mean them, you brute," Margaret said with a sigh. "You want us to find a link between the Trilbys and the slavery case. Is that what you want?"

"Your honorable husband is still on the case, yes?" Thomas asked, voice etched with sarcasm.

"Again, it is my husband's favor you are asking, Thomas. Should we remove ourselves from here and go back to the party?"

"I am at my wit's end, Margaret. The Town's future is at stake here. The Trilbys are planning for something big."

"Then act as though you are capable of asking for help. You do not do so by insult. Your own pride was the very thing that made you lose Aurora Randolph."

"You need not remind me of that, Margaret."

"My wife can very well do so. She gave you Randolph and it resulted to her death as opposed to what you promised," Cole coldly uttered. "Now, can we go on? As the seconds pass by, I am more inclined to have you beg for our help on your knees."

"Yes," Thomas said, voice stern. "I need your help building a link between the Trilbys and the slavery case. It will make our evidence stronger in court."

"It will prove to be a challenge. The case has gone slow when Osegod died."

A long silence followed before Thomas finally asked, "Is it possible that you can build more on Osegod's connections?"

"His contacts are all gone. We know that they had been using Rock'oles for their transactions, but there are no traces there as they have been careful with their correspondence. Their identities are unknown to this day."

"Then what if I bring you someone who can name a few?"

"Only Osegod can do that. And the bastard is dead."

"Osegod is dead, yes," Thomas retorted, "but his daughter is very much alive."

"Her daughter?" Margaret asked incredulously. "You cannot be serious, Thomas."

"I very much am," said Thomas. "Please be alert, the two of you. I will be in touch."

With that, Wynne heard the door of the cabin open and close.

"He cannot be serious," Margaret said. "Osegod's daughter might not—"

"I do not think we should talk about this tonight, Meg," Cole said to his wife. "Your mother must now be looking for us."

"But Cole," said Margaret, "how can we be certain Thomas is not working for that family?"

"He is not, Meg. He may be a bloody obnoxious bastard, but he is not working for them."

"How can you tell?"

"His eyes. They are dead, Meg. He lost Aurora Randolph and he knew it was his fault she is dead. He took a blow from that. He is doing this for her, I believe."

"No, he is doing this to atone for his sins, to erase the guilt." Margaret's voice was starting to shake. "As I am for what I did to Aurora."

"Meg, please, darling. You did nothing wrong."

"Thomas would not have had Aurora if I did not give her to him. But I know what you are going to say. I did not have any intention of hurting her, but the fact still remains that because of my actions she is dead and her daughter is now without a mother."

Cole had no answer to that.

Soon, Wynne heard the door swing open and shut.

He waited in silence for another half hour before he decided to move.

His task was done. It was time to go home to Wickhurst.

*****

Emma was surprised when Ysabella slipped inside her bedchamber later that night.

"Whatever are you doing here, Ysa?"

"William insisted that he wants to put Gillian to sleep," her sister whispered, slipping under the bedcovers.

"You are not sleeping her tonight, are you?" Emma asked, walking to the door to lock it. She went back to the dresser to finish combing her hair.

"No, but I am considering it," her sister replied, resting her face on her hand as she watched Emma from the bed. "What bothers you, Em? You ought to be happy you won the Secret Game."

Emma looked at her sister through the mirror. "Am I that obvious?"

"To me, yes. Mother does not seem to notice. But that may be because she and Lady Theobald are busy talking about your wedding."

Emma sighed.

Ysabella narrowed her eyes. "There is no wedding going to happen, is there, Em?"

Emma replaced her brush on the dresser and swirled around on her seat to face her sister. "Ysa, I think I am in love with someone else."