Spending too much time with Fanny brought Sophia a different sort of dilemma. What the housekeeper lacked in the skill of cooking she compensated in her skill of persuasion. In fact, she did it too subtly that before Sophia realized it, she had already given Fanny enough information to draw a conclusion as to why she was under Nicholas' protection and why she was thrown in Puck.

Many times Fanny tried to ask her what was it she was hiding—also very subtly—but Sophia had by then mastered the housekeeper's wicked ways.

Yet there were days when Fanny would simply ask, "Why will you not give Lord Nick what he wants, dear?"

Today was amongst those days.

And like she always did since she discovered how effective it was, Sophia simply sighed.

Fanny was kneading something for dinner, probably bread which would not taste like bread. Sophia shook her head with a smile knowing Fanny was not done with her questions. "Why not tell him the truth so you can be free?"

"You mean so you can return to Wickhurst?" she retorted in a teasing tone.

She could picture Fanny with narrowed her eyes filled with warning. "Never think I am in want to leave you, my dear. I have grown rather quite fond of you." Sophia heard something roll on the table and crashed on the floor. She saw Fanny's shadow disappear under the table and reappeared soon after with a long rod of bread roller. "Now, tell me, child, why will you not tell him? Is the truth too much of import that you cannot tell his lordship?"

Sophia smiled patiently. "You have been a good companion, Fanny, but my problems are my own." She did not wish to hurt the woman's feelings so she added, "Should I tell Nicholas the truth, I am afraid my brother's plans will be ruined. He has worked so hard to be where he is now. There is no point telling his lordship anything about Marcus or his plans for they do not have anything to do with the Everards or anyone else close to them. My brother's goal is purely personal."

Fanny paused in her work.

"And he does not believe me," Sophia uttered, standing to her feet. "I believe I have ruined whatever trust he had for me."

"You leave me very curious of your past with his lordship, dear Sophia."

Sophia chuckled. "Now that is something I can never tell you, Fanny."

Fanny chuckled and when her laughter died down, she said, "Lord Nick may be more than what you expect him to be. He may understand you."

Sophia only smiled and turned to go back to her chamber. She was tired of thinking. Marcus had not come for her yet.

Probably Nicholas was correct. Marcus may never find her in Puck.

*****

It had been quite long since Nicholas visited Grey's with his brothers. In most days, it had been naught but his brothers-in-law.

Tonight, however, Maxwell and Ralph joined him for a drunken night just like the nights before everyone became occupied with their Town Guard duties and married lives.

Although he knew he ought to be grateful his brothers remembered that Grey's still existed, he knew why his brothers took a night off their precious lives.

He gazed at the two men dryly. The other was big with long hair that reached his shoulders wearing his typical cynical look. The other was younger, smaller but sat with an alert mien consistent with a Town Guard's stance. He sighed. Maxwell had not changed at all while Ralph did in so many ways. But both looked determined to discuss an important matter and he was angry, even furious, knowing he'd be called a fool for being involved in a serious matter that involved the Guards and the League.

He refused to drink more than one glass of brandy, afraid that should he drink more his brothers would take advantage and make him talk.

This night was not entirely bad, he thought. It merely meant no one had yet figured where he was keeping Sophia. Indeed, his staff could be trusted after all. He allowed a smile of satisfaction as he finished his brandy.

Ralph was the first to break the subject of gambling and hunting by saying, "There is no definite information of Durley returning, but a reliable source provided us with the knowledge that he had an intimate dinner with one of the Town Leaders and that person was not Osegod." Ralph leaned closer and his lips barely moved as he spoke. "Osegod is going about his business as usual in Willowfair. All of them related to running the Town, nothing suspicious as of yet. The bastard is laying low. He is an expert in all this. The slave trade is stuck and the League refuses to provide us anything."

Nicholas rolled his eyes. "Simply proceed to what you are planning to do, brother, and try to convince me to give up Sophia."

Ralph and Maxwell shared a look. His younger brother leaned his forearms on the table and calmly uttered, "What I wish to tell you, Nick, is that Margaret may not be able to stop the League should they intervene and decide to take her by force. They do have the authority and we would not want you to be in the middle of the ruckus if that day comes." He looked at Maxwell again. "You tell him, Max. You know the consequences of using someone against Osegod."

Maxwell was silent for a while and Nicholas could imagine his brother's head reeling with many complicated matters. The man was expertly dissecting his thoughts to provide them with the final conclusion.

Nicholas prepared himself for defense when Maxwell veered his eyes to lock with his. "I admit that I tried to use Maxine to spy on Osegod, but it never went further than a foolish plan. She found out before I could do anything." Maxwell leaned back against his chair and matter-of-factly uttered, "I believe Nick is keeping Sophia for the same reason I did with my wife. He is saving her from the League for the very same reason I married Maxine."

Nicholas' jaw tightened.

Ralph appeared confused as he always did whenever Maxwell talked in riddles.

"He is in love, Ralph, you blind idiot," Maxwell wryly uttered.

Ralph gaped at Nicholas, disbelief and confusion on his face. As he could not meet his brother's eyes, Nicholas raised his hand to order more brandy.

"The League will not have her, do you hear me?" he murmured under his breath. "I am going to have another drink with you, brothers, and then I am going back to Whiston. And I expect none of you follow me or watch my every move."

*****

Sophia was molding in the darkness, her eyes closed, her mind focused on the clearest picture she had in her head as her hands and fingers copied it on the bust before her.

It was silent outside the cottage and Fanny was probably asleep in her own chamber. The footman was outside, guarding the doors before the other one would take his place to allow him a proper respite.

Aabha was on the floor, silent and unmoving.

It was a good night, a peaceful one.

If only her thoughts could be in the same state.

Her fingers stilled as thoughts of her brother came rushing back. Where was Marcus? Why had he left her?

A sound from outside the cottage interrupted the silence and Sophia stood to her feet to go to the door. She thought she heard the sound of hooves and a horse's whines.

And before she could draw a guess of who the visitor might be, she heard voices.

Her heart hammered against her chest as she hoped it would be Nicholas. She stiffened at the thought. She ought to have hoped for Marcus. Why did she think of Nicholas Everard?

But since the footman guarding the cottage outside allowed the visitor entrance, it had to be Nicholas.

And considering the time for his visit, the reason for his presence must be urgent. Sophia opened her door before he could barge in and stepped out to find his shadow walking toward her.

"I came here to beg," he slurred and Sophia frowned.

"You are foxed, Nicholas."

"I am, apparently, but not enough to hinder me from riding my horse to Puck in the wee hours," he uttered with a bitter chuckle. The smell of brandy reached across the room.

Sophia drew a breath. "Beg for what, my lord?" she asked, noting that the front door was closed and so was Fanny's. They were alone in the middle of the cottage, probably with the servants' ears pressed against the doors because there was no way his voice did not stir the others from their slumber.

"The truth, of course," he said, swaying from where he was standing. "I am tired, Sophie. I am bloody tired of all this."

Sophia's jaw tightened as she blindly looked at his silhouette. She wished for more light, to figure the different angles on his face, to have a clearer picture of his current state.

She was tired as well.

Whatever was happening, it was happening due to wrong decisions from them both. They ought not to have invested too much on each other. She should have said no to her brother one year ago when he asked her to welcome Nicholas into her chamber.

Nicholas took a step toward her. "They are planning to take you, Sophie, and I cannot let them. And I cannot stop should they learn where you are."

Sophia's heart stopped for a second and her shoulder stiffened. "Take me?"

His hands went up to rub his face and brush his hair, a sign of frustration and desperation. "The bloody League of Founders."

Cold rushed up her spine at the mention of the League. She had heard of them from stories and never actually considered them to be a part of the life she knew. She knew of their existence but had never bothered to think that they would know of hers.

"Inside, please," she said, turning around to go re-enter her chamber. Nicholas followed and Sophia heard him lock the door.

Her hands were shaking as she gathered a cloth and covered her clay with it. She was restless and she knew it for she began to pace around the room, her thoughts drifting fast to anywhere but clarity.

Nicholas, slightly foxed, found her chair and settled in it.

"I do not have anything to say that will be of importance to the League. If they wish to extract information about Osegod from me, they will be disappointed. I know very little about him or what my brother is planning with him."

Nicholas groaned and she heard him take a lungful of breath. "We have gone through the same conversation too many times, Sophia. Just bloody tell me the truth!"

Sophia flinched and her eyes began to water. "There is not much to tell, Nicholas. I can only tell you my truth, but it is futile if you expect to learn more about Osegod."

"But the League will not believe anything and I am at the brink of giving up on you, Sophie," he clearly uttered. "Do you want them to take you away? Because I know I do not wish it, despite everything we did to each other."

His words stunned Sophia. What we did to each other. He was taking his share of responsibility for what happened and she did not want him to. Did he hope that if he said it she would give in?

Sophia swallowed.

He did not have to. She was willing to give in for her fears were materializing.

And she was tired as well. This could not obviously go on any longer.

"Despite of myself, I cannot allow them to ruin you because, Sophie, they will," he uttered, his voice breaking. "Just tell me the truth, please."

Sophia backed away to rest against the bedpost. She bent her head, the guilt of betraying her brother for what she was about to do ate at her. "I only know my truth. I only know Marcus's. That is the truth, I swear."

"Then tell me!"

Her head snapped as she choked on her tears. "You hardly believe me, Nick."

"Because you think I am a fool and I am not!" He jumped to his feet, his hands rested on his hips as his entire stance leaned toward her. "Try telling me your truth. Do not repeat any of your bloody riddles, Sophia. I need more details."

Sophia pushed away from the post and sat on the bed, her fingers laced together to keep them from fiddling on her dress.

"I only know what Marcus told me," she began. "I still have no recollection of my past, but the little glimpses I get throughout the years prove Marcus' story."

Nicholas remained silent, giving her enough time to continue.

She wiped the tear that rolled down her right cheek, silently asking Marcus to forgive her. "I am Marcus' father's bastard with a slave."

"You have already told me about this, Sophia."

She nodded and sniffed. "But I never told you of what happened to us." She looked up to find his silhouette standing before her. "When I was born, our father allowed my mother to keep me. I did not grow up as a slave like you have in mind. Marcus and I were fully aware of our relation to each other and I was allowed to join him and his sisters in their lessons. I was even allowed to play with them. Although I had to do household works when I was old enough, I was paid and never had to suffer any maltreatment under the hands of Marcus' family, which was probably why my mother saved Marcus."

"Saved him? From what?"

"A massacre," she choked out. "I do not remember that night, but I can remember running on barefoot, trying to catch my breath. I remember a hand dragging me away from the heat."

"The heat?"

"The estate was burned to the ground. My mother was able to rescue me and Marcus and the three of us managed to escape."

"You said you grew up in a brothel."

She nodded. "Marcus said the men gathered all slaves in one room, perhaps to make money out of them through the slave trade. My mother hid with Marcus and I in one room and we waited until the entire estate was quiet. We thought they had already left, but they merely took all the slaves out to burn the estate down. We did manage to go out as the fire quickly ate our home, but two men saw us. They were able to run after us and they managed to grab me away from my mother. My mother and Marcus escaped before the other man could take them as well, knowing they would not let him survive.

"They were there to kill his family and loot the estate and gain profit from it and the slaves. The other man began to shoot at my mother and Marcus. She hid Marcus in the bushes near the plantation, intending to distract the men chasing them. She told him to run for his life." She swallowed hard as the details of her past rolled out of her tongue. "She ordered my brother to go and run away with naught but a promise."

"What promise?"

Sophia wiped her tears. "She knew the men would not kill me. I was a healthy young colored girl who could bring them quite a handsome townsends, but they would kill Marcus if they learned he survived. My mother..." Sophia shut her eyes tight before she continued. "My mother turned back to fight their attacker and was shot to death. She sacrificed herself for Marcus after she made him promise to survive and find me."

"And he did," Nicholas uttered.

She nodded. "I do not remember everything that happened. I can only recall the running and the burning fire behind us. And the night I woke up with an aching head with no vision and no memory." She allowed a bitter smile. "The man who was there when I woke up introduced himself as my uncle. I know now that he is not but I still refer to him as my uncle as a reminder of the years I suffered under his care."

"I assume you wish to skip the part of yourself growing up in the brothel," Nicholas gently said.

"Yes," Sophia replied. "That part of my life is as horrible as the night of Marcus' family's massacre and I would rather not talk about it." She clasped her hands together again. "And I would rather not talk about what happened to Marcus since the night my mother saved him. He lived his life the way he knew how at such a young age and then he fulfilled his promise to my mother." She looked up to blindly look at Nicholas. "He found me." She shook her head and lightly chuckled as she remembered the night her brother came for her. "I thought he was another customer and he immediately told me who he was before I could do anything further. He told me that I shall never whore myself again and took me to Rock'oles where you found me." She drew a deep breath, feeling an odd sense of relief now that she told Nicholas of her story. "That is my truth, Nicholas."

"You have not told me what your brother is planning, Sophia," he uttered.

Sophia sighed. "This is the most difficult part, Nicholas, you must understand that I am betraying my brother as we speak and it is killing me." She stood to her feet and faced him, now determined to be done with it. "Marcus shared to me his main goal—but not all the details—in confidence. It tears me apart to break his trust by telling you everything that I know, but considering the circumstances, I have no choice. He could be in trouble at this very moment because of what he had been planning."

"I am listening."

She reached for the bedpost to steady herself, not wanting to remain standing yet not wanting to sit down either. "In the years that followed after Marcus took me to Rock'oles where he kept me safe, he had told me of his plans. Not every detail, but of the general ones."

"And they are?"

She closed her eyes, her throat closing up on her. She bit her lip as new tears burned behind her lids. "Marcus lost his entire family in that massacre, Nicholas. He lost his mother, our father and his two younger sisters who also happened to be my half-sisters. No one but him survived that massacre and he plans to avenge their death and take what is rightfully theirs: the Mecklenberg estate. That is the only goal he has, Nick, nothing else. However he plans to do it, I swear to you that it has nothing to do with the Everards."

Nicholas turned to face her and very carefully said, "I do not know if you are aware of this, Sophia, but there is no Mecklenberg estate anywhere in the Town."

Sophia shook her head. "Yes, there was."

"Marcus has been lying to you. I've travelled the entire Town, Sophia. I spent years doing so. There is no Mecklenberg."

"I said there was," she said, her tone rising with insistence. "It is now called Egerton and Wyndam."

It was then that she saw Nicholas stiffen, recognizing the name of the estates. She sighed. "The Trilbys own them." Turning to fully face Nicholas, she added, "You see, my brother does not wish your family harm. You are not his enemies, Nick. His enemies are the Trilbys."