Taking a sip of her tea, Miranda turned back to her parents as they discussed their next steps for the future. "I think a cottage in the country would be lovely," Miranda said. "It would certainly get us away from all the gossip of society."

Her father gave a chuckle. "Remember Miranda, we are not running away to hide. But we are going to need to downsize and a cottage would be more economical."

"I would love to keep on some of the servants," her mother interjected, "Especially Bridget. Though I think she would go regardless even if we couldn't afford her wages."

Miranda laughed. "She is determined."

Just then a knock was heard on the front door, making them all pause and give one another puzzling looks. They hadn't had one caller since the rumors broke out, so who could be calling now?

"Are you expecting anyone?" Miranda asked.

"No," her mother answered. "Thomas?"

"I think in a moment we are going to find out," her father said, as the footman entered to announce the caller.

"Lady Evelyn Archer."

"Evelyn!" Miranda exclaimed as she watched Alex's sister walk in, a smile on her face like she didn't have a care in the world. "What are you doing here? Did anyone see you?"

Evelyn laughed, waving her hand in dismissal. "Although I give no weight to the rumors, I came in an unmarked carriage just in case. I knew you would be distraught for me."

Her mother, ever the gracious host, rose from her seat to greet her. "Please join us for tea, Lady Evelyn. Though we appreciate your visit, I'm sure you're here on more than just a social call."

"That is correct," Evelyn said as she took a seat beside Miranda. "I'm here on behalf of my brother. He wants to meet with you again. If you are willing, I'm to bring you back with me when I return home."

Miranda hesitated. "Did he say what the purpose of this meeting was?"

"Only that he wants to talk. I think he's ready to admit that he made a mess of things the first time around."

Miranda couldn't help but laugh. "That would be an understatement." She sobered quickly though at the thought of seeing Alex again. She wasn't sure her heart would be able to handle another break. "I don't know Evelyn, I feel that I'm finally accepting God's purpose for my life and am ready to move on."

Evelyn gripped one of her hands. "Just hear him out Miranda, that's all I ask."

"I agree with Lady Evelyn," her father interjected. "I think you need to take into account Miranda, that God might be using you to reach out to Lord Carlisle. His ways are not our ways."

Miranda took a moment to think. She did desperately want Alex to know that he was perfect just the way he was. But what if she went back only to be hurt again? That might just be a risk she will have to take.

"Okay," Miranda said, "I'll go with you."

Evelyn hugged her. "You have no idea how much this means to me. How much it will mean to Alex."

Miranda gave her new friend a reassuring smile, though on the inside she was quaking at the thought of seeing Alex again.

Miranda and Evelyn left immediately in the waiting carriage. As they sat across from one another, Miranda couldn't help thinking about how much Evelyn must love her brother.

"You took a great risk today coming to see me," Miranda said. "Even in an unmarked carriage."

"It was all worth it I assure you," Evelyn responded. "How you have been treated by society is absolutely deplorable. And all because of what one person told Mrs. Benson they saw."

Miranda started. "Who did? And what did they tell Mrs. Benson?"

"Did you not know?" Evelyn asked. "Someone said they saw you sneaking into Alex's bedchamber at the house party."

Miranda could feel her chest constrict at the thought of someone saying something so malicious. "I see now why Mrs. Benson threw me from her home so quickly. But who would do such a thing? And why?"

Evelyn shrugged. "It wasn't said who did it. But my suspicions lie on Miss Chism. I heard she was quite jealous over you and Alex spending time together."

"No," Evelyn shook her head as she remembered her encounter with Miss Chism only a few days prior. "I bumped into Miss Chism the other day. And though I was expecting a harsh word she actually thanked me for saving her horse."

Evelyn's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Really? But if not her, then who else would do such an awful thing? What would they have to gain from it?"

"I'm not sure," Miranda said, just as perplexed as Evelyn. "We might never know."

Arriving at the house, Miranda followed Evelyn into the opulent townhouse. Even though she had been there once before, its magnificence never ceased to awe her.

Handing over their bonnets and gloves to the footman, Evelyn addressed an older gentleman with a cane who came over to greet them.

"Parkinson, is my brother still in his study?"

"Yes my lady but he is no longer alone. His cousin, Mr. Archer had stopped by unexpectedly."

"Oh?" Evelyn said perturbed. "That seems slightly odd. Did he say the reason for this call?"

"No my lady," the older gentleman replied.

Evelyn turned back to Miranda. "Something is not right here. Cousin Harrison hardly ever comes over to visit."

"Well it's not like we can listen through the door into their conversation," Miranda said.

A sly smile formed on Evelyn's lips. "Actually I think that's a great idea." Taking off to the east side of the house, Miranda could only follow, albeit grudgingly.

"Evelyn," Miranda hissed as they neared a set of closed doors. "What if they hear us?"

Evelyn pressed a finger to her mouth and indicated to the small crack in the door that hadn't been closed all the way.

Miranda didn't like it but curiosity got the better of her and so she joined Evelyn crouched by the door, pressing her ear towards the crack. She could just make out the voices on the other side.

"What do you want, Harrison?" Alex asked, his voice tense.

"I want you to sign these papers turning Roseglen over to me or else I will tell all of London that the Earl of Carlisle can't read a single word."

+++

Earlier that day...

Alex paced back and forth in his study while he waited for Evelyn's return. He had told her that she didn't need to go see Miranda personally. She could have just as easily sent a note with a servant inviting her over for tea. But Alex knew better than to go against his sister's wishes.

Alex had been afraid that if he had showed up on Miranda's doorstep again she would slam the door in his face before he had said two words. Asking ahead of time seemed a much safer way to gain an audience. Evelyn promised she would return with Miranda in tow.

Unable to sit still behind his desk, Alex was sure he had imprinted a permanent rut in the carpet for the amount of times he went from one side of the room to the other. He couldn't stop thinking about what he was going to say to Miranda when she arrived. If she arrived that was. Alex still wasn't entirely sure what he was going to say to her. He knew there was a good chance that she may already know about his illiteracy but that didn't make it any easier for him to say the words out loud.

And then of course there was what he was going to say afterwards. If Miranda truly accepted him for who he was, did Alex dare offer for her hand again? That part was still unclear in his mind, hence the pacing.

One thing he did know was that he wanted Miranda for his wife and not just so he can save her reputation.

A knock sounded at his door as Parkinson entered. "My lord, your cousin Mr. Archer is here to see you."

"Harrison?" Alex said. "It's not a good time Parkinson, tell him to come back tomorrow."

"Refusing to see your own flesh and blood Cousin?" Harrison said, walking around Parkinson.

Alex gritted his teeth at the intrusion. Parkinson raised an eyebrow at him, saying that at one word he would have Harrison removed. Although Alex would dearly love to see his cousin thrown out on his ear, he didn't need to create anymore animosity then there already was.

He gave a slight shake of his head to Parkinson, then went to sit down behind his desk. "I am not accepting callers this morning, not that it mattered to you."

Harrison strolled around the room, running his fingers over furniture and peering at the various paintings. Alex felt weary of his cousin. His behavior all season had been circumspect. Paying calls when he never had before or showing up at a house party which Alex was pretty sure he hadn't received an invitation to. And then of course there was the attention towards Miranda. What was he about?

"I didn't get a chance to say goodbye at the Benson's," Harrison said. "You left rather unexpectedly."

"Something urgent had come up."

Harrison shot him a smug look. "That wouldn't have anything to do with Miss Edwards would it?"

Alex silently fumed at hearing Miranda mentioned so carelessly. "That is none of your concern," he bit out.

"Oh but I think it is," Harrison said walking back over to his desk. "For you see I recently discovered something quite interesting, do you want to know what it is?"

Alex didn't respond but his defenses were on high alert. His gut told him that he was not going to like what Harrison had to say.

Taking the silence as encouragement, Harrison continued. "I found it very peculiar how nervous you were to read a book of poetry out loud. An Earl!" Harrison laughed. "Ever since your father passed away, I have been trying to figure out what my own father was about to say at the reading of the will. Do you remember?"

Again Alex stayed quiet for he knew Harrison was not looking for answers.

"'The boy can't even-' and for years I longed to know what that last word was. And then Father died before he could tell me. But now I have figured it out."

Alex felt cold. He kept his face impassive but it was as if the rest of his body had frozen in place. He couldn't move no matter how badly he may have wanted to.

"Read," Harrison said with a sneer. Then he let out a maniacal laugh. "It was too good! The Earl of Carlisle was illiterate!"

Feeling the sting of shame and embarrassment, Alex struggled to hold his head high. He wasn't going to give the scoundrel the satisfaction.

"Of course I had other plans," Harrison continued. "The fire in the stables for instance. I knew how much that piece of horse flesh meant to you. But when I saw you and Miss Edwards together I knew she needed to go. Just a well placed word in the hostess's ear. Not that she needed much convincing."

Shame and embarrassment was replaced with hot fury. How dare he endanger Miranda's life! And to ruin her reputation as well? "What do you want, Harrison?" Alex managed to get out, attempting to keep his temper in check.

"I want you to sign these papers turning Roseglen over to me or else I will tell all of England that the Earl of Carlisle can't read a single word." Harrison reached inside his coat pocket and placed a series of documents in front of Alex.

If Alex thought his heart had been beating hard before, now it felt like it had totally stopped. It was the scenario that he had feared all his life. Yet it felt different somehow. Yes he feared how people would treat him but it was the thought of losing Roseglen that hurt all the more.

Just as he was about to tell Harrison that he would never sign Roseglen over to him, the door burst open revealing a distressed Miranda.

"Don't do it Alex!" she shouted.

Before Alex could react, Harrison grabbed Miranda and pinned her against him. Reaching into his pocket he withdrew a revolver and placed it against her temple. Miranda whimpered as she struggled against his hold.

"Harrison!" Alex barked. "Let her go!"

"Not until you sign those papers. Roseglen should have rightfully been my father's. To have an Archer that can't even read and run the Earldom is insulting."

"You'll never get away with this," Alex said, trying to reason with him. "You can't expect to point a gun at someone's head and just walk away after."

"They will when they learn the rumor came from an illiterate Earl who could no longer look after his estate."

Alex gritted his teeth. There had to be a way to save Miranda and Roseglen.

Harrison cocked the gun, causing Alex to sweat. "Clock's ticking Cousin."

There was no way. As much as he dreaded the thought of Roseglen going to Harrison, he would never be able to live with himself if Miranda was killed when he could have prevented it. He loved Roseglen but he loved Miranda more. Hanging his head in defeat, he grabbed his fountain pen off the table and looked to where to sign.

WHACK!

Startled, Alex jumped thinking that the gun had gone off. But instead he found Harrison crumpled on the floor with Parkinson standing behind him, his cane still raised.

"I knew this cane had more than one purpose," Parkinson said.

Barely registering his words, Alex ran to Miranda who looked as white as a ghost. Without hesitation, Alex immediately embraced her. She started to sob into his coat as the shock of what happened began to wear off.

"Shhh," Alex soothed, "You're safe now, it's over."