Waiting for their mother and Emma to decide to leave behind whatever it was they were doing and go straight to Theobald, Nicholas and Ralph decided to stretch their legs and do the waiting outside by the carriage.

"The League has decided to loosen their watch over Durley," Ralph uttered, tone edged with derision.

"Why in tarnation would they do that?" Nicholas asked almost in outrage. He glared down at his brother as if he was amongst the Leaguers responsible for such atrocious decision.

"As what I heard being whispered amongst the Guards, they are looking into a more potential angle in the trade. They are giving all their efforts in trapping Baldwin. I believe the man's wife is not very well and the League might be thinking of using her as means to pulling Baldwin to their side."

"They cannot completely discount Durley now. If they want to solve the slave trade, they ought to provide him even more attention."

Ralph sighed and turned away, his brows forming a frown. "I believe, Nick, that the League does not consider the slave trade their utmost priority as much as they do jolting Osegod out of power."

"Then they could all go to hell with Osegod," Nicholas spat out. "The lot of them are naught but hypocrites. It is all politics, brother. How could the lives of hundreds of slaves be less important than Osegod?"

Ralph shrugged. "The good for many does not necessarily mean the good for all."

"Bloody tarnation."

Ralph sighed, his shoulders dropping with resignation. "Durley has the attention of the Town at the moment. His current celebrated status has been making it difficult for anyone to spy on him. It is better to let things calm down and the people's attention to wane for a while."

"And before we know it, the bastard has already taken over the Town and the League has simply let it happen. No wonder I never had the compulsion to join them." He threw Ralph a look. "And the Guards had let it happen."

Ralph glared at him. "Careful with your words, brother, we are not giving up."

"Whatever do you mean?"

Ralph shrugged. "Since the League has deliberately left Durley alone, I believe it is not entirely criminal to spy on him on our own. After all, we lost two of our own because of the bastard."

Nicholas' jaw clenched. He would never get over the guilt. If he was not too naïve, those two men would still be alive.

"I am considering asking Samuel's help."

Nicholas' jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Durley owns the Herald after all."

"You cannot truly think it wise to ask Samuel to be a spy, Ralph," he nearly growled. Emma and their mother's voice could be heard approaching from inside the estate. Nicholas stepped closer and hissed, "Things might end up badly like the last time. You cannot trust anyone associated with Durley. Even Samuel."

Ralph scoffed. "Bloody hell, Nick, he is my friend. He is loyal to the family."

"And have we not learned enough about friends betraying friends?" Emma and their mother were now descending the stairs to the driveway. "Find someone else who can spy on the man. For God's sake, Ralph, spare Samuel."

"Gloves make my hands sweat, Mother, I do not need them!" Emma was whining as they approached.

"You do," Nicholas snapped at her as he opened the door of the carriage.

"No, I do not—"

"Yes, you do," Ralph added sternly.

"See?" their mother said to Emma as she followed her daughter inside the carriage. "Your brothers agree! You cannot show too much skin, Emma, dear."

"Then perhaps I do not need to be seen at all!" Emma cried as Ralph settled beside her and Nicholas closed the door.

"For God's sake, Emma, do what Mother tells you and wear the bloody gloves!" Ralph irritably said.

*****

Nicholas and Ralph decided to escape the numerous tea party invitations from mothers by spending their time in one wing of the Theobald manor where the children were located. Their rooms were connected and led to one large playroom where they were gathered with their governesses and nannies. The older children were playing a pretend tea party with their dolls. The little ones, of course, were in the arms of their nannies or on the floor, crawling.

Nicholas sat beside Maxwell while Ralph was being pulled by Faye and Fiona to be their guest in the tea party. No one wanted to play with Maxwell as the children seemed to be scared of him. In fact, the only person not bothered by his mien was his own daughter who was now in his arms.

"Emerald Beatrice Maxine Everard..." Nicholas said with a sigh. "Quite a mouthful, really."

"I prefer to call her Max if you don't mind," Ralph said from the small chair he was sitting on. He picked up a small teacup and pretended to sip its invisible content. "Lovely tea, ladies," he praised Fiona and Faye before continuing his statement to his brothers. "The Max Family—Max the mother, Max the father and Max the daughter." Fiona and Faye let out a chuckle.

"I prefer Bea," said Nicholas.

"She is Emmie for everyone," Maxwell uttered with authority. "She is Bea only to me," he said, looking down at his daughter with a glimmer in his eyes. Who would have thought that the most cynical in the family had the capacity to express such immense joy with just his eyes, Nicholas thought with wonder.

Lindsay, Levi's daughter of four years, stumbled on her feet as she attempted to run toward Nicholas. Everyone jumped to their feet when she started to cry. The other smaller children, Ayah, Harold and Katie followed suit for no apparent reason but to mimic the sound. Lindsay's nanny came and picked her up but she merely howled in tears even more.

"Take her," Maxwell ordered Nicholas.

"Why?" Nicholas asked, looking at his niece warily.

"She is fond of you. Take her or Levi will kill us all."

"I did not do—"

"Just take her," Ralph said.

Nicholas sighed and walked over to Lindsay. The child held out her arms to him and quieted down as he gathered her in his. "There, there, Lindsay," said Nicholas. "You want to play? Be a good girl, eh? Your cousins are crying with you, see?" Fiona and Faye had come to rescue the others who were still crying, offering tea with their handsome uncle Ralph.

"Should Levi ask, no accident happened," he heard Maxwell say to the nanny.

*****

After hours in the playroom, the women took over and shooed everyone from the room.

"Be ready for the ball tonight," their mother had ordered before they left.

"I miss the time when I was merely chasing bandits," Ralph was saying to Maxwell. "My current murder case is turning to be a bore. My only past time now is watching Durley's every move through the Herald."

Maxwell simply uttered, "Hmm," before he turned to Nicholas and asked, "How many times had he said the same thing?"

"Too many," he answered. He turned to Ralph and said, "The Theobald might just be the cause of your death, Ralph. It is too much of a bore for you, is it not?"

"And how will you be spending your time in this bloody party?"

Nicholas grinned meaningfully. "Carmel is taking most of my time, brother. I barely have enough for the parties."

"She is here?"

"Of course. She will be alone in her chamber so do not expect me to spend my nights in ours."

Ralph shook his head. "Bloody lucky bastard."

"You two ought to get over the mistress business and find yourself a wife," Maxwell droned.

"I cannot believe I am hearing it from you, Max," Nicholas said with a laugh.

"It has many advantages," their brother said as he turned to another corridor. "For one, you have someone to go to during a very boring party without it being a secret."

Ralph shook his head as their brother disappeared and the two of them moved on. "An even luckier bastard."

*****

Sophia knew she was facing a viewing glass but what she saw was a shadow of a woman wearing a lavish gown. The maid said the color was that of silver and it was a great compliment to her skin.

She could not trust the woman's judgment, of course, for she was paid to please Sophia.

She knew Marcus was inside the room before she heard his footsteps approach.

"Is it time?" she asked. "I am yet to don my hair. The maid went out to find help as she perceived to have tremendous challenge with my mane," she said in a teasing tone.

"You look beautiful, Sophia," her brother uttered.

That, she could trust, she mentally thought. "Thank you."

Marcus sighed behind her. She looked through the looking glass. "What is the matter?"

He shook his head. "I hope there is another way to do this."

He was afraid for her.

"I know of this plan, Marcus and I know of its consequences. Fret not. Now, shall we grace the ball and cause quite a stir?"

*****

Nicholas lay on the bed, panting for breath, his eyes closed with a smile.

The hand resting on his bare chest moved to caress his sweat-damp arm. "We ought to be at the party or else people will notice we are missing," Carmel whispered against his skin.

His hand tightened around her waist, pulling her closer beside him. "I miss you more."

Carmel chuckled and moved to straddle him, hovering over him like a goddess. Her dark hair curtained around them as she leaned down to kiss his mouth. Her hips ground against his and he jerked in response. Nicholas groaned, moving with her.

He liked Carmel. She was not one to cling to a lover and she understood their agreement. After her horribly old husband died many years ago, leaving her very young and with a large sum to last her a lifetime, she never desired to marry again. She was rich and she was independent and she would not trade it for a life with a man who would own her and everything she had. Having lovers was merely one of her many ways to make herself happy.

She was fun to be with and a friend Nicholas could confide with. Meeting her three months ago could be considered a lucky strike. She became his friend and lover. And she saved him from many angry nights, listening to his darkest secrets. She saved him when he could not. She gave him hope that there were still women who would not take advantage of his foolishness.

An hour later, after having made love for the second time, Nicholas began to dress again. "I must join my family, love," he told her, giving her a chaste kiss.

She lazily grinned as she watched him put on his breeches. She looked wonderful naked in the sheets. Her creamy white skin sparkling with sweat, her dark hair rumpled in an enticing manner, reminding Nicholas of what they just shared.

He would love to ask her to marry him, truly. She was the perfect wife. She had learned and matured in her years with her husband. She had learned so much that she could now offer more. But asking Carmel to marry him would not be fair to them both.

She was meant to live a life of freedom. He, on the other hand, meant to discover more of himself.

"Will you join me later in the gaming room?" he asked with a lopsided grin as he struggled with his boots.

"Of course, my lord," she said. "As a widow, I am not expected to be present in the ball for long. It is hard enough to pretend to be still in mourning even after two years. Of course, I will rather enjoy the company of gentlemen."

"You always do," he said, straightening to full height. He grabbed his coat and put it on.

Carmel was giving Nicholas a look and he knew what he it. She wanted to tell him something.

"What is it, my dear?" he asked, walking over to sit beside her in bed.

"Nick, are you happy with me?"

He frowned. "Of course."

She chuckled in embarrassment. "Of course, how silly of me. I have these weird thoughts, you see."

"What thoughts, my dear? Tell me. We tell each other everything."

She shrugged. "I have been hoping to help you forget her. Now," she said sternly, lifting her forefinger in warning, "think not that I have other motives. I only honestly wish for you to be happy and I believe I will also be a happy woman, should the day come that we must part, knowing that I was able to help you heal."

Nicholas did not know why but he felt angry that she had to bring the subject to forefront. But Carmel had a genuine heart. She was a rare one who had both the courage to face the world full of men chasing after her for her money and the heart to care for those she thought deserved it.

Carmel was shaking her head. "But there are still those short moments when I can see that you are simply wearing a façade. I do not think I appreciate that at all."

"You make me happy enough to want to be, love," he honestly said. He cupped her face with one hand.

Carmel gave him a warm smile. "I truly hope so, Nicholas, for I fear for this party."

He frowned. "Whatever do you mean?"

She shook her head. "Perhaps I will tell you later. Now, go and be with your family. I have a ball to go to as well, my lord. My suitors are waiting."

Nicholas chuckled as he walked to the door. "They will all go home bawling in tears, my dear," he said in laughter.

He stealthily made his way back to the chamber he shared with Ralph and prepared for the ball.

Whatever Carmel was talking about, he undoubtedly agreed with her. He feared for this party as well. It was, after all, where everything beautiful and horrible started.