If her brothers were rescuing a maiden looking all too masculine and murderous as they were now, the said maiden would have swooned. Maxwell and his shoulder-length tousled hair and bristled jaw; Nicholas and his clean-shaven face and well-groomed hair. They were a pair of men in shining armor books talked about.

The big difference, however, was that they were not rescuing just any maiden. They were set to murder the man who broke their sister's heart.

"You almost fooled us, Maggie," Nicholas said, stopping before them, eyes fixed on Cole. "Step away from our sister, Devitt."

Cole did no move, but Margaret did. She stepped between her brothers and Cole. "How did you—"

"Find you?" Maxwell droned, eyes wryly set on Cole. "Quite easily." He shrugged.

"We went to Standbury and did not find you there," Nicholas provided.

It was Maxwell who gave Margaret a level look, one that of disappointment and betrayal.

"I imposed on Tori to send me the invite."

Nicholas scoffed. "Of course. Your friend was quite ready to defend you." He took another step forward, shoulders slightly hunched as he continued to look at Cole. "Let us talk about that later, Maggie," he said through his teeth. "After we kill him."

Margaret nearly flinched in alarm when Cole stepped forward to stand beside her.

"What say you, Devitt? Are you ready for another duel?" asked Nicholas.

"Nick will come as my second," Maxwell declared.

"No, you come as my second. I want to kill him myself," Nicholas objected.

"I'm older."

"I'm better with swords."

"I'm the best with pistols," Maxwell retorted, the corner of his mouth curling with amusement. "And I suggest we use pistols."

Margaret finally had enough. "Stop this nonsense." She pushed Cole to the side and forced her brothers to look at her. "No one is killing anyone."

"Ah, look how she keeps defending the bloke, Max," Nicholas mockingly said. "It's quite sickening," he added, nose flaring and eyes shooting daggers. "You step aside, Maggie."

"I will not let violence be a part of this," she said, her voice shaking. "Not again."

"Ten years ago, you successfully stopped a duel to save this man's life, Maggie," Maxwell coldly said. "And he still left you. Or have you forgotten?" Maxwell rarely brought up the past, or even anything important. He would always be the one to sit in a corner in silent amusement while everyone argued and fought. While Ben always held the final word, Maxwell held the best argument and Ben would rely on it most of the time. He was the silent king as Ralph would claim, and everyone agreed, even their mother. Maxwell rarely gave words to his thoughts, but whenever he did, it would be the truest. And it would most probably sting.

"This is enough. You are both being unreasonable. I came here on my own volition. I was not invited. Lord Ashmore was kind enough to offer me a room when I insisted," she stonily said, stepping closer to her brothers.

"Unreasonable, you say?" Nicholas asked with a sardonic laugh. His eyes veered back to Cole. "Have you any idea what you put her through? You don't, do you? Why is that, you bastard? Ah, I remember!" He said, smiling dangerously. "You disappeared from her life, you bloody coward."

Margaret pushed Nicholas back. "While we all try to remember what happened in the past," she gritted out, her own eyes burning with anger and frustration, "let us also be reminded that Lord Ashmore lost his sister ten years ago." Her words were spoken only for her brothers to hear. They both snapped their heads to glare at her. "He did only what any of you would have done if I was Leah," she added under her breath. She gave them a look that told them there was more to this than they thought. "Now, stop this foolishness. I came here for a reason." When they remained silent, she stepped back and squared her shoulders. "No fight shall ensue. You are both taking me home." When they did not move, Margaret arched a brow. "Now."

They fumed, but they did not contradict.

"My brothers shall not prolong their stay, Lord Ashmore," she said, turning to Cole. Her eyes silently reminded him that Fiona was in the manor.

When he clamped his lips tightly, Margaret faced her brothers again. "I'm ready to leave." She pushed them to the side to pass. "Transfer my things to your carriage, Nick." When neither spoke, she stopped and turned on her heels in frustration.

Maxwell had stepped closer to Cole. "Stay away from her," she heard him say. Cole, on the other hand, was too calm. But his jaw was tight. She knew he had things to say, but he was wise enough not to.

"Max," she called as she pulled at Nicholas' coat when he made a move to join Maxwell.

Nicholas shrugged away from her hold and righted his coat as he walked backward with a sneer. "We have been missing out on hunting trips of late, Devitt. Don't make us lock on one prey this season."

"That's enough!" Margaret growled, pushing Nicholas to the side to grab Maxwell's arm, pulling him away from Cole. "Thank you for your hospitality, my lord," she said through her teeth to Cole. "I and my brothers are most grateful." Pulling harder at both brothers, she turned and pushed. "To the carriage now, please."

***

"Who took her?" Fiona asked as she stared out the window. The carriage that took Margaret away was already gone, but the child watched the driveway as if hoping it would return.

"Her brothers," he replied, leaning back against his chair.

"Will they return her?"

His lips tightened and a surge of panic rose up his throat. His brain told him to wait, but the better part of him was scared that if he did not go after her now, there may be no other chance.

Yet, there were things he had to settle first. He stood and Fiona turned away from the window, hopeful. "Are you going to her?"

"No," he said with a sigh. "I have to go elsewhere first."

***

"This is not the way to Wickhurst," Margaret noted with a frown.

"What is going on here, Maggie?" Maxwell demanded instead.

"I'm on a mission and I cannot tell you about it," she said, satisfied with the look of surprise on their faces. "I'm working on a case with Cole Devitt."

"Now, I find that hard to believe," Nicholas said, crossing his arms. "You've rekindled your affair with that bastard, didn't you?"

Her mouth pulled a taunting smile. "At this point, brothers, I don't think I can ever tell you anything in fear that you will act like crazed men again."

"We are your brothers, Margaret," Nicholas slowly said, each word articulated strongly. "It's our duty to protect you."

"From Cole? He's not capable of hurting me."

Their faces contorted with disbelief. "Do you hear yourself now? Do you hear yourself?" Nicholas nearly roared. "We had to witness how you had to live like a corpse for years, Maggie! Years! And do not think we're not aware you tried to kill yourself over that bastard! Mother and Tori might have kept it from us, but we are no fools."

She flinched at his words. Her eyes filled with tears at the memory of her foolishness, and she winced at the shame that washed over her.

"We have to be constantly reminded of what that man did to you. He had clearly painted that on Benedict's face!" Although Maxwell was silent, Margaret knew she had no ally here. "We nearly lost you as well, Maggie."

"And because of that one reckless act, one very dark day where I was at my lowest, you now cannot trust me with anything? How do you suppose I should live my life? The same way you do? See the worst in men and change lovers as often as I do my dresses?" She looked at both brothers, tears rolling down her face. "Tell me then, my dear brothers—How do I live my life?"

Their faces were taut, their jaws twitching in control.

It was Maxwell who finally broke the tense silence. "You can do anything you want, Maggie—anything. But we cannot allow you to do it with that man," he said, voice filled with authority.

Margaret just shook her head. She understood where they were coming from. They only knew their version of the truth. They may claim to know, but they did not know everything, and it was not even their fault. She could continue to argue, but she was tired. They had the right to be angry, and she had every right to her choices.

Her answer to Cole's proposal shall not be reliant on her brothers' wishes because if she were to make the biggest choice of her life, she would want it to be her own.

Once again, she turned to the window. "Where are you taking me?"

"You're not going home to Wickhurst," Nicholas said. "You're going to Devonshire."

***

That afternoon, he rode away from Ashmore to go to Willowfair. Many times during his stops, he had to fight himself from going straight to Wickhurst. But he had to trust Margaret to know what she was doing. She asked him to wait, and he shall.

Willowfair was just as how he left it months ago. Careful to not draw attention on himself, Cole rented a small villa near Adam's School for Young Gentlemen. He waited a day before sending a letter to the school, and waited another for a reply to arrive in his doorsteps.

I can't go out. They're watching.

I'll get to you when I can.

Is she well?

Cole sighed before he fed the paper to the fire and absently stared as it turned to ash. Edmund Trilby had not been fully honest with him. Whatever the young man was involved in, he had to learn to trust Cole with it.

You have not been honest with me.

I need the full story.

She is safe, but she will not be for long if you keep me in the dark.

After his reply was sent to Adam's, Cole decided to leave Willowfair. He would spend a few more days to lose anyone who may be following him. Then, he would return to Wickhurst.