"We were hoping you will tell us, Darcy," the Duke of Calbridge said.

Sasha blinked. "I would not be here if I know. I do not have enough eyes on the ground, gentlemen, because my mission is no longer keeping Rothsker safe. And the very moment I handed him to you, we lost a Royal. And a Master."

"That is because you were not there to watch Lady Renee in the first place because of your sudden decision to be Mistress!" Calbridge heatedly retorted. "By being one, Darcy, you are putting us all in danger."

"You did not even inform Eaton," Rider pointed out.

"Of course I did. And as you must know, he was not happy about it. And it was with Rothsker's consent. We had to grab the opportunity." To Calbridge, she added, "And yes, I admit we have been too confident in Lady Renee. Apparently, the money she received was not enough."

Some of the men in the room shook their heads. Oliver merely stared at Sasha, patiently waiting.

"Ever since my wife stepped down as Lord Darcy, we have very little knowledge of your plans with Eaton," Lord Winthrop gently said.

"That is because we cannot be too careless, my lord," Sasha sternly said. "Did you all think that since I am Mistress, we can all be careless?" She looked at everyone in the room. "And do not compare me with the other Lord Darcys before me for I have made clear last summer that I would be different and you all voted to place me in this position because you believed I am an advantage." She lifted her chin and added, "I am willing to answer questions at the moment so we can get this over with and make a plan."

Oliver lifted his good hand. "What are your plans for Delaney?"

"None. I merely took her so your wife will be free of her Vow."

"You chose the lesser evil."

"One woman who lost a child to Belcourt should be enough, Doctor."

"But Delaney was—"

"For the Circus, Delaney cannot be trusted," Sasha interjected.

Oliver sighed because he understood. "And I thought it was merely one of your tests," Oliver wryly commented.

"I found myself testing your wife too many times, but taking her sister was not a test." She turned to the other gentlemen. "Let us move on. Any more questions?"

The Royals looked at each other.

Ross raised his hand. "How is my sister?"

"I do not know. She is in the palace. I am being careful whenever I enter it."

"Have you made progress?"

"With the High Priestess?"

"Yes."

"No, but I learned that she stays underground."

"What do you know of the attack in Everleigh?"

"It could have been a secret carried out by the Court of Arms. I am yet to find out more. If we are lucky, they should believe that they managed to kill Rothsker." She turned to Robert Dior. "Have you had a talk with Garmont's niece?"

Robert nodded. "She will continue to act on behalf of her uncle. Otherwise, she will lose everything."

"Good."

To one Royal, she ordered, "Get Lady Renee at once."

Eyes on Tanner and Rider, she added, "I want West and Greene found immediately. Gather anyone you can and search the south. Belcourt may now believe they managed to kill Rothsker, but I want West back."

She turned to the Duke of Remington. "Your Grace, I need to talk to you alone with Chalbarth."

Trent sighed not far from Oliver.

When no one moved, Sasha cocked her brows. "Well? Unless you have more questions, this opera is over."

As the Royals left the room one by one, Oliver stayed in his wheelchair. Sasha looked at him and in a gentle tone said, "I hope you understand what I had to do, St. Vincent."

Oliver rolled his eyes. "I do, unfortunately."

"Aliya's sister went into Belcourt far too young, and they are the women who are most loyal to Belcourt. We cannot have her in your life at the moment."

"I said, Darcy, that I understand," Oliver said. He looked around the room at Trent and the Duke of Remington. "Whatever you plan on doing next, I hope it is not to destroy Belcourt and the ladies."

"You know I will never allow that to happen, St. Vincent. We should protect as much as we can."

Oliver sighed and nodded. "Very well. Good night, Darcy."

"Good night, St. Vincent."

He wanted to say something more. He wanted to thank the woman for keeping his child safe. But it would mean he was also grateful for separating his wife from her sister. So he just nodded and wheeled himself out of the Theater.

*****

Sasha faced Trent and the Duke of Remington once they were alone.

"Finding West is not the only mission we have. We still have an ongoing one we need to see through."

"How is she?" Laurel Comhar, the Duke of Remington asked.

"She is doing fine. Her presence in Belcourt is important."

"No, it is not," Trent nearly snarled. "It was a stupid plan from the very start."

Sasha sighed. "I needed someone I can trust, Trent."

"Bloody hell, Sasha, Caroline is my fiancée!" Trent turned to his future father-in-law. "I cannot believe you even agreed to this. Belcourt will never trust her—"

"Which is why I am at Belcourt," Sasha interjected.

"Does she know who you are?"

"No. We cannot risk Belcourt knowing about me. As of now, I need you to hand Caroline her mission," she told Trent. "If you have changed your mind, I can find a way to get her out of Belcourt now."

Remington turned to Trent. "I will do what Caroline thinks is best."

Trent sighed. "She bloody enjoys the act, Remington."

"The memory loss was her idea," Remington proudly told Sasha.

"Well?" Sasha asked Trent. "What do you think Caroline wants, Trent?"

Trent's jaw tightened. "She has been waiting for a mission."

The duke nodded and turned to Sasha. "My daughter speaks for herself. Give her the mission."

Sasha faced Trent. "Find Caroline in Belcourt and deliver her mission." Trent waited for her to continue. Sasha's jaw tightened. "Tell her she has to find the rat amongst the Royals."

Trent and Remington's eyes widened. "What?" they chorused.

"This is a serious accusation, Darcy," Trent said.

Sasha's brow cocked high. "And you think I am jesting?"

"But—"

"Belcourt invited Lady Renee. She did not go willingly."

"Someone told Belcourt about Renee."

"Yes. And who could that be?"

Trent cursed under his breath.

"We have a rat, gentlemen and we need to find him fast before I am compromised within Belcourt if I already am not."

*****

Aliya was waiting for Oliver when he returned.

She patiently watched as he struggled to transfer from his chair to the bed. And when he was settled, she came to lie beside him, resting her face on his chest, her arm around his waist.

"Ollie, I fear that I am starting to hate Belcourt."

"You said so yourself, darling, that the women in Belcourt need saving. We only need to know who the enemy is. That is who you have to hate."

"I want to give Mason his mother. And I want Delaney to be free," she whispered. "I want to give her the chance to see the world outside Belcourt. She had not seen enough. Even as a Belle, she will still be controlled and I fear that I will lose her someday."

Oliver sighed. "Fret not, darling. We will get there."

"How did your opera with Darcy go?"

"As expected, Darcy is not pleased Blackwood is still missing."

She let the silence linger for a little while. "How many Darcys had there been, Ollie?"

He chuckled. "Why am I not even surprised that you have figured it out?"

She did not comment. "Just answer my question."

"Nearly as many as the Royal Masters. The Royal Master and Lord Darcy are always a pair."

"Can you tell me who the last one is?"

"No. And even if you know who the last one is, he would never tell because only the Circus knows the elected Darcy."

"And how about this current Darcy? How long has he been in the Circus?"

"A year or so."

"A year? And you trust him?"

"Yes."

"How can you say so? Do you know him so well?"

"Not quite, but I know Darcy made a big sacrifice for the position given to him."

"And will he be able to find Blackwood?"

He hugged her close. "Darling, Darcy will kill to get Blackwood back. As I would if I lose you."

Aliya snuggled even closer. "And I would kill if you were ever hurt again, Oliver St. Vincent."

*****

Oliver was back on his two good legs in less than two fortnights, and they subsequently returned to Strait where Darcy expected them to stay.

West Blackwood and Greene remained missing, but the missions were still very much active.

The Hayhursts had rented a villa in Strait with the intention of staying in Sutherland for a year. They were the most frequent callers of the St. Vincents, with Patricia quite ecstatic as the days went by and Aliya was showing more and more. She had always wanted to be an aunt, she said. "And I am certain Delaney will be happy to meet your child, Aliya," Patricia had said.

Oliver could sense that his wife wanted to reach out to her sister who was assigned in Coulway, but she was hesitant.

"Delaney will come to me once she is ready," she told him one day. "Perhaps when our child is born," she added, caressing her bulging abdomen.

Apart from Blackwood and Greene still missing, Oliver had very little worry. His mother had returned to Herst and recently sent a letter informing them that their pest problem was being controlled marvelously.

But in the Royal Circus, there was a little unrest. With Lord Darcy in Belcourt, operas were being presided by Rider or Tanner. Even Aliya was aware of the tension amongst the Royals as she had been spending quite a lot of time with Lady Winthrop.

"There is a rumor that there was a little argument in the last opera," she nonchalantly said one day while they were taking a walk in the park.

"It could not be helped. Men are quite lost. Each mission is not being shared with all."

She frowned. "Why?"

"Darcy's orders."

"Why the need for secrecy?"

He sighed. "I do not know, darling."

"But you have an inkling."

"Yes."

"And?"

His face was grim as he said, "Darcy may suspect someone in the Circus."

His wife froze. "Ollie, if that is true, we have a problem. It could also place Darcy on dangerous grounds. If there is a rat within the Circus, he now knows who Darcy is."

Oliver had the same thoughts, but if there was indeed a rat in the Circus, whoever the bastard may be, he would never expose Sasha to Belcourt for it would also mean exposing himself.

Yet Oliver could not tell his wife this for now. It meant he had to tell her who Darcy was and it was the last thing he could do. So, instead, he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "Fret not, darling. Let us simply take this as a sign that we are making progress."

"Not a good sign, Ollie."

He laughed. "There will be no light if there is no darkness, darling."

*****

Aliya could only smile as she walked with Oliver. She looked around the park. Winter was on its way. And soon, she would welcome their first child.

She looked up at the cloudy sky and silently wondered if Lady Hartcaster was watching.

Was the lady proud of what she had achieved?

She hoped so.

Stealing her husband a glance, Aliya felt the overwhelming sense of joy. The constant fear of losing him was there; the pain that Delaney was not with her lingered.

But she had this man and she had their child, and Aliya vowed to protect him and what they had in whatever means necessary.

Looking back, Aliya felt she had not built a new life after Belcourt. She simply returned to a much better one.