"Have they not arrived yet?" Margaret asked Jefferson, talking about Levi, Tori, and the twins. "Are you certain you posted the letters?"

"Yes, my lady, I did."

She sighed. "The Walkelin Ball is in two days. We do not have much time." It was only yesterday that Lady Archibald had confirmed her son's plan to offer for Tori, the only good news she received thus far since arriving from Willowfair.

"They should be here by now."

Was it possible that her brother did something to prevent this match? She had given him specific instructions not to meddle.

To distract herself, she sat behind her desk and asked, "How is Faye?"

"She is faring well, my lady," Jefferson replied.

"Send for her, please."

Moments later, Jefferson returned with Faye. Her bruises had lightened, nearly invisible now, and her face was fuller.

Motioning for Jefferson to leave them alone, Margaret walked to Faye and led the child to seat across her table. "How are you doing, Faye?"

"Very good, milady."

She saw Faye tugging at her dress. She found her next move to be difficult for the child, but she must do it if she wanted to know more. "How did you get here, Faye?"

She watched the girl swallow. "The ladies who raised me. They told me I have the best chance to escape, so I did."

"The ladies who raised you?"

Faye nodded. "They are not safe there."

"There?"

The fear in her eyes returned and Margaret saw her start to panic.

"It's all right, Faye. We don't have to talk about this place if you're not ready."

The girl lifted her head to meet her gaze. "I escaped from a manor."

She had to be careful with her next question. "Where did you come from, Faye? I'm not talking about the manor you escaped from, but the place where you came from. Surely you must know?"

Faye swallowed and shook her head. "I don't know."

"Then can you tell me how you got to Wickhurst?"

Faye looked down and chewed on her lip. "I jumped into a hackney. I was lucky they didn't catch me. I stayed hidden under the seat for days until the driver found me and forced me out."

"It was very brave of you," was all she could say.

Faye lifted her gaze and said, "I want to ask something, milady."

"What is it?"

"Can I change my name?"

Margaret smiled wanly. How desperate was this child that she would ask to change her name? How frightened? "What name would you like?" she asked, humoring the girl.

Faye frowned. "I don't know yet."

"We shall settle with Faye for now while you think of a good one." She then realized that Faye did not come with papers. It might prove to be a problem in the future.

For now, it was enough that the child was well. And if she wanted another name, then by God, Margaret would grant her that if it would make a world of difference to how she'd start to lead her life from here on.

Merely moments after Faye's departure from her study, Margaret began to pen a missive.

***

Dear Lord Ashmore,

I hope this missive finds you well.

I have a few concerns about a particular servant of mine.

She came to me without papers and I fear that our household might encounter legal problems should this be found unlawful. With that in mind, I wish for the said servant to obtain papers.

I'm currently unavailable to visit the Men of Courts and it would be a tremendous help if you can provide instructions on the steps I ought to take.

Your fast response would be greatly appreciated.

Yours,

Margaret Everard

Cole ran his eyes over her name a few more times to make certain he read correctly.

He began to frown and then scoff.

Shaking his head, he refolded the paper, placed it to one side and went back to work.

***

Dear Lord Ashmore,

I'm afraid my previous letter missed your attention.

The concern I brought upon you is of great importance to me and it would be my greatest pleasure if you can choose to not ignore it. I am certain your butler knows where my missive is. But if it is missing, then allow me to rephrase the contents of my missive once again...

Cole shook his head, folded the letter, and placed it over the first one.

In a matter of a day, Margaret Everard had written him two missives.

Although he had the answer to her question, it was not as urgent as she might think. He had more pressing matters to attend to. She could wait.

He picked up his pen.

She is in town, he started to write.

***

The next day, Margaret was called by one of the maids to hurry down. A carriage was approaching the estate. Hoping it would be her siblings and Tori, Margaret rushed to the entryway.

As she waited for the carriage to draw near, she paced the driveway, hands on her hips. Her brows were knitted into a frown and her teeth worried her lower lip.

Had he received her missives yesterday? He must have.

It was a legitimate concern that she had expressed, was it not? And as a Man of Courts, he must know the answers.

Squaring her shoulders, Margaret set the matter aside. She would think of a better way to get close to him after the Walkelin Ball. Her smile was at the ready as the carriage finally stopped before her.

Tori was the first to climb down from the carriage and Margaret immediately met her. "Oh, thank goodness you are here," she said, giving Tori a hug. She looked over Tori's shoulder and at the twins. "Where is Levi?"

"Oh, we left him," Ysabella nonchalantly replied, walking on. "He was foxed."

Margaret's eyes widened. "You traveled alone without male companion?"

"Unless you do not consider the two carriage drivers and the footman of the male species, then yes, we traveled without male companion," Emma replied, walking past them to follow Ysabella up the stairs. "Where is Mrs. Beagle?"

"Your cat has gone missing once again!" Margaret shouted after the twins, following behind them with Tori to enter the hallway.

"Oh, well, she she'll return after her monthly disappearance," said Ysabella. "We shall see you all after our long and well-deserved respite."

"It is a wonder you are both not insisting on coming to the Walkelin Ball," Margaret said, at awe with their lack of enthusiasm.

The twins stopped in the middle of the stairway and glanced at Tori and Margaret. Ysabella was the one who spoke. "So, it is the Walkelin Ball, is it now? Is it tonight?" Before Margaret could utter a response, Ysabella shrugged. "Well, we do have better things to do here."

Margaret stole Tori a glance, but her friend seemed as ignorant as her. Her eyes narrowed at her sisters. "I do not know, sisters, but you sound suspicious."

"We are always suspicious to all of you," said Ysabella before disappearing upstairs with Emma.

Margaret eagerly led Tori to the parlor. "I have so much to say to you before you rest and prepare for the ball. I was afraid you'd miss it, really. It is wise to have brought alone two drivers. Now, you cannot clearly go home to your estate, for your stepmother might have iron clutches at the ready for you. You are to stay here until your engagement with Lord Archibald is secured and announced."

She went on to talk about how she practically courted Lady Archibald while they were away. Tori listened, but then Margaret stopped, realizing she was the only enthusiastic soul in the room. Her friend looked forlorn. "Tori, is everything alright?" Margaret carefully asked.

Tori blinked. "Yes, of course. Merely tired, that is all. We traveled from Standbury without stops," her friend replied, tucking her blonde tresses behind her ear.

Margaret simply nodded.

Tori did not deserve the fate her stepmother had set for her. Lady Ashdown had nothing but hatred for her stepdaughter. She had thrown Tori to the Everard household too many times during their childhood years that her friend had to spend many days in their estate simply because the lady was too busy running around Wickhurst with friends. And now that Tori demanded for the inheritance her mother left her, Lady Ashdown suddenly wanted to marry Tori off to her own nephew. If that happened, Lucas Rowe, the nephew, would get Tori's dowry along with the settlement her mother left her.

"Then you must rest," she said to her friend, kissing Tori's forehead. "You should be ready for the ball tonight. Be at your best, my dear friend, for your future husband awaits."

As Tori left the room, Margaret could not help but feel guilty. She wanted her friend to find happiness and love, but how could she when time was running out? Samuel Theobald may not be able to delay the announcement of Tori's engagement with Lucas Rowe any longer than he already had. Tori had to accept Jordan Archibald's offer of marriage tonight. And hopefully, love and happiness would just come later.

Margaret rang for Jefferson.

"Has there been no missive for me yet?" she asked.

"None so far, my lady."

She nodded. "Lady Victoria and I are going to the Walkelin Ball. Are the twins truly in their chambers?"

"They are, my lady."

"No whispers of wicked plans?"

Jefferson looked amused. "They do tend to do things quite unexpectedly, my lady. It is hard to guess."

Margaret sighed. "Find me in my study in an hour. I have a missive for you to deliver straight to Newton again."

Margaret went straight to her study, steps determined.

If Cole Devitt intended to ignore her previous missives, then she would make certain he would not ignore the next one.

She wanted this case over with. She wanted to go back to her normal days where she did not have to constantly think about him.

Taking her dipping pen, she began to scribble a note.

At the last second, Margaret decided to use her left hand. It was better Cole Devitt did not recognize her writing.

***

I have information regarding the recent case you are working on. Be at Grey's tomorrow evening.

If you don't show, you shall regret it.

"Who delivered this?"

"A young man, my lord," answered Hugh. "The usual boy who delivers the post."

"Ask for the boy and send him to me."

"Yes, my lord," said Hugh.

Once alone, Cole studied the note with a frown. He could not recognize the writing either. It appeared to be written with a shaky hand.

Mayhap Edmund Trilby's paranoia was coming true.

It was not merely the League, but the enemies were also closing in.

But this could also be a trap.