Alice had asked for their breakfast to be served in her bedchamber, asking her maid to announce that she was feeling out of the weather that morning but she would be fine by luncheon. Her mother sent a secret note telling Alice to be at her best before luncheon as Martin had been asking after her all throughout breakfast and it was a good sign.

She sighed as she paced the room, brows furrowed.

Eva followed her movement with amusement. "I have never seen you so worried since my aunt tried to climb over your horse last summer."

"I had all the reason to be worried for my horse, Eva," she murmured. "And I have more reasons to feel the same now."

"Why? Do you think you will fall for his charms? I heard he can be rather charming."

She shook her head and faced her friend. "I am more worried he would fall hard for me."

Eva burst out laughing, not because Alice made a joke, but because her face told she meant what she said. "Any man would fall hard for you—if they can see past your utterly blank façade."

Alice sighed and checked the time. "We merely have one hour left before luncheon. Do you think he would make a move?"

Her friend rolled her eyes. "If he does, do you plan for us to stay inside this room the entire day and the day after? Truly, Alice, you ought to face this head-on."

She was about to shake her head when a knock came to her door and her maid, Janet, silently entered. "My lady, Lord Surley has requested for your presence in the parlor."

Alice turned to Eva. "He might take it as a challenge should I make it hard for him, yes?" Eva nodded. "If I say I am still feeling unwell, he would start to think I am trying to avoid him." This time, Janet and Eva nodded in agreement. "I should go."

"Yes," Eva and Janet chorused.

"I heard a short part of his conversation earlier with Lord Kenward," Janet whispered conspiratorially, making Eva and Alice jump closer.

"What were they talking about?" asked Eva.

"Well," Janet said, clearing her throat, "Lord Kenward asked how Lord Surley plans to woo you, my lady."

"And?" Alice and Eva asked in unison.

"Lord Surley said it would be easy, so long as Lady Edwina supports the marriage. He said that he would not have to do anything else."

Alice gasped but said nothing as she whirled around in anger. She strode toward the door.

"You are going?" Eva asked.

"Yes," she said, squaring her shoulders. "And you are to interrupt us in precisely," she checked the time once again, "fifteen minutes."

"What?"

"Come up with something smart," Alice said to her friend before she pulled the door open and walked out.

By the time she reached the parlor, she was still enraged. Oh, the gall of this man to think she would be this easy!

Her sudden entrance into the parlor must have startled Marty, causing him to jump from the settee. "Alice!" he almost shouted in greeting.

"Martin," she muttered under her breath, striding fast toward the chair. "May I inquire why you suddenly requested for me?" She cleared her throat. "As you should be aware, I was not feeling well this morning."

Martin merely smiled as though he knew better. Alice looked around and realized they were alone. "Pardon my insensitive gesture. But since you are here, why don't we ring for tea?"

Alice shrugged and gestured her hand toward the bell. Martin dutifully went to it and pulled.

Soon, Winson arrived with a tray of tea and biscuits. As the butler left, Alice reached for her cup and enjoyed the silence. Whether or not Martin was uncomfortable with it, she cared not.

"Well?" she asked after a while. "Did you invite me here to start the process of your courtship?"

Martin almost spilled his tea and he coughed uncomfortably while Alice maintained her blank expression.

"Be careful. My mother purchased this carpet from Willowfair and she would hate for it to be stained." Then she shrugged as she realized something. "Ah, but then this is no longer her carpet. Very well, you can pour as much of anything on it."

Martin coughed some more and collected himself. His smile did not waver at all and he still looked handsome as he was yesterday. Alice had to admit at least that.

"You surprise me with your frankness at every turn, Alice."

"Thank you, but you have not yet answered by question."

Martin chuckled as he leaned back into his chair. "Well, you are correct."

"I am rarely wrong."

Martin patiently smiled. "Yes, I do intend to court you. Marriage between us could bring about a lot of advantages."

Alice sipped from her cup and gracefully replaced it on the table. She took her time to think, leaning against the back of the chair and looking Martin straight in the eye. It was a habit she had long perfected to intimidate anyone and it seemed to be working flawlessly today. Martin averted his gaze first, feigning to reach for his tea as he waited. "I would soon get Langworthy back if I marry you."

Martin coughed. "Yes."

"But if you expire before I provide an heir, I could lose it again."

Martin sputtered his drink once more. "What?"

"Anything could happen to you, practically speaking."

"But you would still have Surley."

"Which will be taken away again if you die and not leave an heir. Have you been paying attention to what I was saying?"

Martin cleared his throat. "Could we not talk about too far into the future for one second?"

"But women tend to think far forward. While you were still on your way here, I was already thinking of marrying you. I have already imagined myself married to you and having your children. By the time you arrived, I reassessed my thoughts while you just started to consider your plans to woo me. At the moment, I am already in the part where I have to think about the dark possibilities of marrying you."

His mouth had already fallen open and now he was looking at her in disbelief.

"So you see, while you were thinking about our wedding, I was already thinking about a burial." She frowned at his expression. "I am merely trying to deliver my point, Martin, that women are futuristic and you cannot blame us for thinking too far in time."

Martin coughed for quite some time, obviously finding the right words to say next. "Well, to be honest, you are the first woman that thinks way too far ahead, Alice."

"Or mayhap I am merely the first to express it. I am certain your mistresses had also dreamed of being married to you and bearing your children. They simply cannot share it with you in fear that you run away."

Martin shifted in his chair. "I do not intend to keep a mistress if that is your concern—"

"You might be disappointed with my capabilities to satisfy you privately, Martin. Please, do not say such things."

Martin rapidly blinked. "Why are we even talking about this?"

"You intend to marry me."

"Yes, but we ought to be looking for things we can connect with."

"Such as our favorite colors, our favorite meals or how we fair with horses?"

Martin nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Precisely."

"But I do not intend to marry you at all. Why should we even try?"

"We can talk about what flowers you love—" Martin stopped, finally realizing what she just said. "You do not intend to marry me?"

"At the moment, yes."

"And the next moment?"

"I might still be inclined to say no. The possibility is high."

Martin let out a puff of air in disbelief. He was clearly getting frustrated as evidenced by his knitted brows. As he started to say something, the door opened and Eva sashayed into the room. "Sorry for the intrusion, but Alice, your mother is looking for you."

Alice nodded and stiffly stood up. She nodded at Martin and said, "Perhaps we can talk more about this some other time, my lord."

She walked toward Eva and whispered, "Thank you," before exiting the room in haste and waited for Eva outside to excuse herself from the parlor.

Eva stood near the doorway, obviously uncomfortable. "Well, I should get going—"

"No, please stay, Lady Eva," Martin said in haste, jumping to his seat. "Please, I need your opinion on something if that is fine with you."

Eva looked over her shoulder. Alice summoned for her to escape the room but her friend grimaced and turned to Martin. "Well, I do have a few minutes to spare..."

A growl escaped Alice's throat as the door to the parlor closed. She immediately rushed toward the next room to listen to her friend's conversation with Martin, but even before she reached the connecting door to the parlor, she skidded to a stop.

Her eyes widened when she saw Harold Everard leaning against the connecting door, arms folded over his chest, his lips curled into silent laughter.

"What are you doing here?" Alice demanded.

Harold Everard's emerald green eyes sparkled with mirth as he looked at Alice. "I was doing the same thing you obviously came here for."

"You were eavesdropping on our conversation," she stated without question. Shaking her head, she walked up to him and ordered, "Move aside."

"Why?" he asked amusedly.

Her brow arched. "Because I intend to know what your friend plans to say to my friend."

Harold considered her words and took one step to the side. Alice pressed her ear closer to the door while Harold continued to look at her with amusement.

She threw him a sharp look before turning away from him, using her other ear.

"...obviously do not know her well, thus this reaction," Eva was calmly saying from the other side. "Should you know her more, you will appreciate her nature. But then, of course, she does not believe the two of you will match. I would suggest that you give up, my lord."

"I do not give up easily, Lady Eva."

"Perhaps it is best you do so earlier than later. That way, you will barely have any wounds to lick."

Martin laughed. "Ah, but I like a challenge."

Eva dramatically sighed. "Alice has already figured out you will see this as a challenge. And I believe she is right."

"About what?"

"That you will want to conquer the challenge more than winning her... er... heart."

"Did you truly say that?" Harold whispered from behind Alice.

Startled, Alice nearly jumped away from him, but her fast reflex prevented her from doing so. She stayed where she was without flinching. "No, I never phrased it that way," she murmured over her shoulder. "Eva can be rather romantic."

"As I have told Harry, I would hate to leave Langworthy without a bride. I did not bring him here for nothing, after all," Martin was saying.

"Ah, so your friend is here to help you woo my friend," Eva said. "Very capable of you, my lord."

"Oh, I am confident I am capable. I merely brought him here because I wanted him to believe he had to do something in return for a favor. That is all."

"The bastard..." Harold whispered behind Alice, his breath brushing against her exposed nape. "He begged me to come here."

"Shh!" Alice hissed, lifting one hand to silence him. "And step a little away from me," she added. Harold did not move an inch as he was now also intently listening on the conversation between their friends.

"A favor?"

"Yes. He was kicked out of Grey's, our gentlemen's club. He can no longer gain entrance unless a titled lord sponsors him."

"You."

"Of course, who else?"

"Ah, you are a very good friend, my lord, to support your friend's drinking and gaming habits," Eva retorted with obvious sarcasm.

"Please, call me Martin."

"Very well, Martin, you can remain addressing me as Lady Eva. Is there more you wish to ask about Alice?"

"What is her favorite hobby?"

"She likes horses."

"What kind of conversations does she enjoy the most?"

"She does not like conversations so much."

"And you are still friends with her?"

"Oh, well, I do not enjoy conversations as much as she does. The only difference is that I can muster myself to pretend that I enjoy it."

Martin's laughter filled the other room. "Are you trying to tell me that you wish to be excused from me and this conversation?"

"I was itching to do so from the very start, Martin."

"Good God, you are a fiery one."

"If the intention is strong, yes," Eva retorted. "May I be excused now?"

"Yes, of course, Lady Eva. I am looking forward to more uncomfortable conversations with you."

"I hate being uncomfortable, Martin."

"Being outside your comfort tends to be very fun, trust me."

"I enjoy my comfort, thank you, and I intend to return to it now."

"You might be missing out."

"I would not know what I missed anyway, so why bother? Good day, my lord. See you at luncheon."

Alice heard Eva's footsteps walking across the room now.

"Lady Eva," Martin called out. "What hobbies do you enjoy?"

"Why are you asking?"

"I am a curious creature."

Harold scoffed behind Alice.

"Music."

"Truly?"

"Yes. I enjoy it more alone, actually. Good day, my lord."

Alice pushed away from the door, but when she turned around to leave, Harold was blocking her path. "I have to leave now," she told him, looking up to meet his gaze.

"Do you not have questions regarding my friend?" he asked.

Alice frowned. "Why would I have questions about your friend?"

"Perhaps your impression of him is wrong. He is rather charming."

"I have already witnessed him pulling off his charms and it seems that he did not enjoy it as much as I."

"Perhaps he was merely baffled and uncomfortable by your demeanor, which he can look past to if you give him time. If that happens, you might be surprised. He does have a lot of good qualities, if you must know."

Alice sighed. "Lord Kenward, your presence here, as I have heard your friend confess, is to help him woo me. You should stop trying."

"Oh, but I genuinely believe you and Martin are a match!" he said rather too enthusiastically.

Alice's mouth twitched. "He also confessed your true purpose here is merely to think you have a purpose as he shall sponsor you back into Grey's."

"He was lying. He needs all the help he can get," Harold said, looking Alice in the eyes, "and apparently, he needs a miracle."

Alice shrugged. "He does." She circled around him, and thankfully he did not stop her. As she reached the door, Alice stopped to look over her shoulder. "Why were you kicked out of your club?"

"Bowman, the son of another rich lord. He taunted me and we squabbled a bit."

"Bowman... you mean the family who claims the Everards stole their mines?"

"Yes, the very same one."

Alice nodded. "And did you?"

"Stole their mines?"

"Yes."

"No."

"Hmm," she uttered. "Did you win?"

"The squabble?"

"Yes."

"The doctor had to rush toward him first."

"Hmm. Good for you, then," she nonchalantly commented before leaving the room.

*****

"Well?" Martin asked as soon as Harold entered the room. "What did you think of it?"

"You handled it pretty badly, my friend."

"She was too forward if not gauche, Harry. And you ought to have seen her face! She was as unreadable as a blank page of a book!"

Harold chuckled. "I could imagine."

Martin scoffed and shook his head, a smile forming on his lips.

"Does that smile mean you are not giving up?"

Martin shook his head once again. "No, this..." he said, pointing at his smiling face, "means I am thinking of someone else."

Harold frowned when he realized what Martin meant. "You cannot bloody mean—"

"I noticed just now she is rather beautiful, mesmerizing even. Her eyes are brown, but if you look closer they are almost golden."

"Martin, pull yourself together. You came here for Alice."

Martin nodded. "This is a twist of fate."

"You cannot seriously be infatuated with her friend!"

"Is that what you would call it? Infatuation?"

"And it is not healthy."

Martin grinned. "I rather like it. Oi, you cannot blame me. She is filling my mind right now as we speak. I cannot wait to banter with her again. Her face is beautiful when she is irked. You ought to have seen the many faces she gave me earlier. She was almost on fire!"

"But you came here for Alice. Whatever you are thinking, Martin, it might lead to a lot of trouble. You could cause a rift between these two women. You can mess with as many mistresses as you like, but the unspoken rule is never to mess with ladies who are friends with each other. The wrath of either one or both could lead you to your demise."

"Alice does not want me. And she is clearly not the one I would want to spend the rest of my life with. It would be horrible to guess what she is thinking every minute of the day. And why would my sudden shift of attention cause a rift between them? They are both clearly wise women."

"You are a bloody bastard," Harold said in disbelief. "I should go back to Wickhurst. This shall get bloody."

"Are you not a bit curious as to how this one will end for me?"

Harold considered Martin's words. "I would love to see you fail twice, actually. You will deserve it if you are not taking this seriously."

Martin grinned. "I rarely get this kind of feeling, Harry, so challenge accepted."

"You will lose this one."

"No, I might just go back home the winner. Bloody hell, you ought to have been here earlier. The tension in the room was very palpable. The very moment she came in, I was taken. And although she may not have sounded like it, but she enjoyed our moment together as much as I. Do you see the difference? Alice was a surprise, yes, but not a pleasant one. Eva, on the other hand, is something else... something I cannot explain."

Harold helplessly sighed. "This is all a game for you, is it?"

"Why would you think that?"

"I am merely saying you ought to play this kind of game elsewhere. These are unmarried, titled women. One mistake, Martin, and you could ruin their future. So, if you are taking this as a game, we should rather leave."

Martin looked offended. "Why would you think I am not serious this time?"

"Because merely an hour ago, you were desperate to get Alice and now you want her friend instead!"

"Can a man not change his mind? They say love works in the most unexpected of time."

"Love? Are you hearing yourself? Love!" Harold cried out incredulously.

"Why? Am I not capable of it?"

"No, I do not see you capable of it."

"You are referring to yourself, Harry. I am the romantic between us."

"You were giving the opposite impression days ago."

"As I have said," Martin said, standing up, "Love can work in the most unexpected time. It can strike the most unexpected people."

"Love my arse, you bastard."

"Wish me luck, Harry. Prepare a long congratulatory speech on my wedding day."

"I would rather get foxed before I could lift a bloody drink for you!"

His friend left him alone in the parlor with a chuckle.

Harold, for once, was completely lost for words.

How could things so dramatically turn into something potentially chaotic?