Aliya could almost taste the tension in the room as her light brown eyes held on to Sasha's bluish-grey globes, daring the woman to speak.

Her heart was not hammering hard against her chest. In fact, it was calm, as if she knew this was coming. And she knew she was going to fail.

"Belcourt wants you to give up your claims on your sister."

Aliya's jaw tightened. Her hands closed into fists.

"No." It was Oliver who spoke and his serious, cold voice echoed around the room. "You cannot do this."

Sasha's head turned to Oliver. "You have no say to this matter, Doctor St. Vincent." And turning to both Delaney and Aliya, she added, "Belcourt believes that you have acquired Delaney with malicious intent." Blinking slow, Sasha further explained, "Consider this a light punishment for it could have been worse. Owen Compton will likewise be subjected to punishment after he admitted to having accepted money from the Gambler."

"You cannot do this. Delaney acquired her freedom through legal means by Belcourt law," Aliya said.

"Gentlemen of Belcourt ought not be influenced by outside force when dealing with any of its ladies and entities, Aliya," said Sasha. "Furthermore, the High Court's decision can be overruled by the High Priestess. After having thoroughly examined Delaney's case—her curious transfer into the Court of Flowers and the subsequent payment of her dowry—the High Priestess has issued an order to withdraw Delaney's retirement from Belcourt."

Aliya stepped forward. Sasha remained in her spot, staring at her straight in the eyes. "You are doing this to spite me," Aliya growled under her breath.

"I am doing what I was ordered of me, Aliya," said Sasha. Her eyes went to Delaney. "You know better, Delaney."

In a panic, Aliya stood before her sister. "Belcourt cannot take her back."

"Soldiers are outside the gates waiting to escort Delaney and I back to Belcourt. I suggest, Aliya, that you do not do anything impetuous. You, of all people, ought to know that Belcourt's law prevails. Delaney's dowry shall be paid back accordingly."

"The Gambler will not be happy with this, Sasha," Aliya threatened.

At the mention of the Gambler, Sasha smiled and stepped closer to Aliya to whisper, "Then let the Gambler come to me, Aliya." Her eyes went to Oliver and then back at Aliya. "If he is indeed still alive, he is welcome to find me in Belcourt."

Aliya gritted her teeth as she searched Sasha's blank face and dead eyes. "What has become of you, Sasha?"

"I became a Belle, Aliya. You taught me how to be one," the woman replied, tone as stoic as her expression. "And now I am the Mistress of the Garden. And because you have been a friend, I will not report your direct involvement to Belcourt. The Gambler shall remain the culprit. Do thank me later for having requested this Vow. As I have said, it could have been worse," the woman said, eyes looking down at her abdomen.

Aliya stumbled back. How did Sasha know?

"News travels fast in Belcourt," said Sasha. "I am taking up much of my time by prolonging my stay. Delaney comes home to Belcourt with me. You may do whatever you wish, Aliya, but you cannot be a hindrance when Belcourt enforces its laws."

"I wanted to live it with my sister!" A tear of fury dropped from Aliya's eye.

Sasha's brow twitched. Whatever it meant, Aliya could never tell. "Your sister shall remain in Belcourt until she earns her own dowry." Turning to Delaney, Sasha, said, "Delaney, I will be waiting for you outside. Say goodbye to your sister and your guests in the parlor." To Aliya, Sasha added, "I hope that you can be more careful in the future, Aliya." And stepping closer, she whispered for only Aliya to hear, "Do tell your Royal friends that the next time they try to spy on any of the Belcourt gentlemen, they may find themselves looking for bodies."

Stepping back, Sasha turned to Oliver and said, "Thank you for such a warm welcome into your home, Doctor."

And as gracefully as she came, Sasha turned and left the drawing room, her red cloak trailing behind her.

Aliya whirled around to face Delaney. "You do not have to go. We can find a way to escape. You can still disappear to the Americas—"

"No, Aliya," Delaney sternly said, taking her hand, eyes moist with tears. "I wish to return to Belcourt."

Her eyes widened in horror as she vigorously shook her head. Tresses of her auburn hair escaped from their clasps as she did so. "No," she coldly growled. "You are not going anywhere!"

"Aliya, please, do not be selfish," said Delaney.

Aliya stumbled back, face crumpling in disbelief. "Selfish? Me? Belcourt is selfish."

"Belcourt saved us!" Delaney said. "And we betrayed their trust because we have been selfish."

"I did not suffer all these years to be the perfect Belle just so I can leave you behind in Belcourt, Delaney!" she shouted. "Selfish? Perhaps I am. Perhaps I am too selfish I only want what is best for my happiness. But that happiness includes yours and everyone I love. You can never be happy in Belcourt—"

"What makes you say so?" Delaney interjected, lifting her beautiful face, her light grey eyes looking at Aliya with pride and integrity. "I am old enough to think for myself, Aliya. And as much as I wish to be with you, my dear sister, I do not think I belong in your new world."

Aliya felt something clench at her chest and her knees suddenly felt weak. Oliver was fast to catch her to prevent her from falling to the floor.

Delaney's face softened, stepping close to her, regret on her face. "Aliya, I am sorry. I do love you. You should know that I do. But this world—this new world you live in is not for me. I find my purpose in Belcourt—"

"By being its slave?"

"By being its servant."

Aliya whimpered. "Belcourt has influenced your mind and I cannot even blame you for it."

"No, Aliya. Belcourt simply showed me what I can be and I can only be that if I stay there."

She closed her eyes, her shoulders shaking in anguish. What could she say to convince Delaney? She knew the answer to that.

Her sister grabbed her shoulders. "I will still be a Belle. We can still see each other."

"Delaney," Oliver carefully said in a soft voice, "if your decision is made because you fear Belcourt, we can find a way—"

Delaney shook her head. "I will never fear Belcourt." Cupping her face, Delaney forced Aliya to look at her. "Aliya, let me do this. I know it is difficult for you. It is not what you have always wanted, but it is what I want. For once, please, give me what I want."

"I have always given you what you wanted, Delaney."

Her sister shook her head. "No, you always gave me what I needed." Delaney smiled at her. "I am no longer a child, sister."

"But Delaney, Belcourt is not what you think it is."

"Belcourt is not perfect. So is your new family," Delaney said, giving Oliver a teasing smile. "But they do make you happy, do they not?"

A whimper escaped her throat once again and she desperately clutched her hands around her sister's arms. "Do not do this, Delaney, please."

Delaney wiped her tears. "I will see you soon. Once I get my new flower, I will come and visit. And we can be sisters again as we always are. You are finally free of your Vow, Aliya, do you not realize that? You are forever free of Belcourt."

She shook her head. "No, I will not. So long as you are inside—"

"I will be all right. I was courted into the Palace for a reason, remember? Even Belcourt knows that I am strong."

"And apparently loyal," Aliya choked out. "This is not a good idea, Delaney."

"Please, let me do this, Aliya. I do not know how you managed to get me out, or what sacrifices you had to make—and know that I am overwhelmed for it, but please, do not do something dangerous for me again. Belcourt is still watching you." As Aliya began to shake her head, Delaney sighed. "I am no longer a child, Aliya. I want an adventure. I do not see it in the Americas or Herst. I see it as a Belle."

"It is going to be dangerous, Delaney. Your next flower could be—"

Delaney leaned closer and kissed her forehead. "I know. And I shall be strong as you were."

*****

The morning after Delaney's departure, everyone was surprised when Aliya came down for breakfast in a pretty dress with her hair neatly done.

"Good morning," she greeted everyone with a smile as she took her seat beside Oliver.

Oliver, noting the baffled expression on everyone else in the table, smiled. "Darling, they are wondering why you are acting in the manner that you are."

Aliya looked at her aunt who was blinking at nowhere in particular, Patricia and Christopher who were frowning at her, and Natalia who was staring at her with alarm. "Delaney decided to return to Belcourt and I am utterly devastated, but I have decided to let her go as it was her wish to return. I cried the entire night."

"That, she did," Oliver seconded.

"But I cannot continue to be horrible especially when I am carrying a future St. Vincent in my womb. We will all have a chance to be with Delaney, just not as much as we would like to."

Patricia opened her mouth as though she was about to say something, but she stopped herself and nodded.

Natalia's gaze assessed Aliya but made no comment.

"You need not fret, for I am recovering quite well," she further added. "I have come to the conclusion that everything I have done thus far is naught for anyone but myself. I intend to correct that."

"Then perhaps we should stay a little longer in Sutherland," Christopher said with a sigh.

"We can?" asked his sister, suddenly excited. "Delaney and I have made plans—oh, yes, Delaney may not be available for a while. But I wish to do many things such as go to balls and weekend parties. I heard about the Humbrick Ball—"

"No, not the Humbrick ball, Patricia," said Oliver. "Not that one."

"Why?"

Christopher sighed. "Unless you wish to be ruined, you will stray from that ball." Then he shrugged. "But then, of course, you can go and still find yourself utterly untouched after. No man would dare be near an American girl—"

"I am half-Sutherlander, Christopher—we are half-Sutherlanders."

"You are as American as you can get, darling," their mother replied. "I should say you start observing how proper Sutherlanders act. Take for example the St. Vincents—"

"No, I would not suggest that you follow my husband," Aliya addressed Christopher.

"And I would not suggest you take lessons from my mother—or my sister if you have the chance to meet her," said Oliver to Patricia.

"I am here, son," Natalia said in a stern, serious voice.

Aliya laughed, but she knew it was not as heartfelt as she would have wanted it to.

Oliver blindly searched for her hand and squeezed it.

He was telling her to take things slow.

*****

Aliya received a note from Delaney, assuring her that she was safe and that she was not punished. Belcourt did not find it her fault, but she was given fair warning to earn her dowry her way just like Aliya did.

Oliver read the letter with her and silently sat with her as she cried.

"I feel like a fool crying all the time," she sobbed.

"You are pregnant, darling," he said. "And you can cry anytime you like."

"You must find it hard to understand why Delaney chose Belcourt over me."

"No, darling, I do not. You once told me what Belcourt means to many of the ladies inside. You also respect it as an institution even though you also abhor it for its laws. And Delaney made it clear. To many ladies, Belcourt is family. It is not perfect, but it provides."

"And it demands."

"Like a wife."

Aliya snorted and slapped his thigh. She took a long breath and let out a sigh. "Do you suppose Delaney will hate me if she finds out we are part of the Circus?"

"I cannot tell, darling, but we can only hope that she will make the choice that matters to her in the future. As she had claimed, she is no longer a child. You ought to make her feel like she can freely make a choice."

"You are telling me that I do not expect that she will choose me."

"We all have something we want, but for some of us, what we want is not the choice we have to take."

Hours later, while they spent the rest of the afternoon with Patricia and Christopher in Oliver's study, her husband showing the Hayhurst siblings his vast collections of anatomical parts from different animals, Jason knocked and delivered a note to Oliver.

Aliya saw her husband's face tighten. "What is it?" she asked in alarm.

Oliver turned to Patricia and Christopher. The pair understood right away and excused themselves from the study.

"Lady Renee."

"What about Lady Renee?"

"Apparently, she was seen leaving Belcourt."

Aliya blinked. "I do not understand." Oliver did not explain, but she saw it in his face. "Rothsker is more than just a member of the Royal Circus, is he?"

"He is not the real Rothsker."

"And Lady Renee knows of it?"

He nodded, grabbing his coat. "I am needed in Sinclair."

"I will come with you—"

"No, darling, you stay here."

"But—"

He approached her and kissed her forehead. "I will be home tonight."

Aliya sighed and nodded as she watched her husband walk out the door, leaving her alone in his study.