The found Simone talking with Skelton when they arrived in the stables after their morning ride. She looked fresh and beautiful, and she acted nonchalant when Daniel jumped to the ground with the others. He wondered again how she could manage it, acting as though the night in the cabin never happened. It had been a week and yet he could not keep it out of his mind.

"There they are," she told Skelton. And to Damon, she said, "I was just telling him we named the horses after trees."

"I already told him that," said her brother, walking closer to a brown mare. "Is she doing well?"

"She's getting better," Skelton told them.

"I knew she would get the flu," she told them, looking around.

"Of course you knew," Price wryly said, leading his horse to its stable. "They all got the flu."

She shrugged, smiling at Skelton. "You should have told me you already know about the names, Mr. Skelton."

"I was about to," the man said with a gentle smile.

Daniel walked past them to take his horse to another stable, ears in their conversation, when Gale spoke. "By the by, Sisi, the old man wants to have a word with your suitors when they arrive."

"Why?"

Daniel turned and started walking back to the doors of the stables, pretending he was not waiting for Gale's response.

"I don't know. Maybe he wants to know who can play cards with him in the future," Gale said, walking away. "Would you care for tea in the garden, Your Grace?" he asked Daniel.

Daniel's gaze met Simone's, and she glanced away, said goodbye to Skelton, and walked off, perhaps to meet her suitors.

The tea was served in the garden, but so were the suitors. The earl was already there, sitting in the gazebo, waiting for the men to be delivered. Daniel and the Stratford men were sitting nearby under a tree. Harry reading the Sutherland Post, Damon the Grimes, and Daniel, Price, and Gale holding their teacups as they watched the three young men walk up to the gazebo, looking rather pale. Not long after, Simone, Lydia, and Emmeline joined them, eyes on the gazebo.

"Brett looks like he's about to faint," Price said.

"Oh, poor them," Lydia murmured with a worried look. "Look at Edwin. He would kiss the old man's feet, including his chair, if he's asked to."

"Stop it," Simone told them, looking fretful. She looked down at Price and grabbed her brother's tea, sipping from the cup. "Why am I nervous?"

"Because there's a possibility that we'll have to dig three graves in the woods," Gale said, laughing at his own joke. "Look at them. They're about to die."

"That's a horrible thing to say," Emmeline told him.

"I'm sure they'll be fine," Harry said, closing the paper. He stood and smiled at Emmeline. "It's time for breakfast."

At his words, everyone else around the small table stood and filed away from the garden. Simone hooked an arm around Lydia and they, too, walked off. Emmeline stayed behind, giving him a knowing smile.

"Have you told her?"

"Told who what?"

"You know what and who I mean, brother," Emmeline said, hooking her arm around his as he stood. She shot the gazebo another look. "I think she wouldn't mind."

Daniel let out a sigh. "Emmeline—"

"To be honest, you're the only one who minds, Daniel. I've told you many times before." She looked up at him as he led her back into the courtyard. "You should tell her and see what she thinks."

"Why would I even bother?"

His sister scoffed. "Because you look at her suitors like you're planning three murders. Make that four for the animal doctor."

He would have said something to reprimand her, but he found he lacked the energy. He had a pleasant ride with the Stratfords, didn't want to ruin breakfast, and they had to go to church after. So, instead, he just narrowed his eyes at his sister and she laughed, shaking her head. "You've been through many regrets in the past, brother. I just don't want you to go through more after we leave."

"I can live with that."

"Maybe, but I doubt you can live longer by depriving yourself of what you want."

"I want my sisters settled."

"That's the promise you gave Papa."

"And I want to fulfill it."

"But you also promised Mama something else."

"Emmeline—"

"She wanted you to be happy, Daniel. So did Papa. And we, your sisters, want nothing else."

He gently patted her hand, silently asking her to stop. She did, but her words kept ringing in her ears until after breakfast.

***

Sundays were not for the Stratfords. Not that they hated the teachings of the church, or God or the saints. No, their strife was not with God, but with His perfect devotees. Too perfect they were that they often saw something to comment on whenever the Stratford cousins arrived for service. It was the curious gaze they would throw that often made them want to do something quite abnormal. Like Simone and her ribbon hats, Roxie and Freda with their bugs, Price and Gale with their boisterous laughter, and many others.

That's why Harry, Web, or Damon, always made sure they accompanied their cousins whenever they were in Abberton. The earl seemed to be the only exception to the ogling. He was well-liked by everyone and was immediately ushered to his spot when they arrived.

The younger Stratfords, of course, lingered outside to chat with friends, as was customary to people their age. Simone was talking with the Poppets, listening to Bridget who had just returned home from Strait with her husband.

"Charity's feeling quite better," said Bridget, looking around. "And I'm glad Harvey is not here today. I don't think I can pray for his soul if he is."

As Lydia asked more questions, Simone's eyes wandered. Not far away, people surrounded Daniel, all inquiring about his stay in Abberton. And then she spotted Geneva Withers, a beautiful young woman with black hair, walking up to Roxie and Freda. Her two cousins were talking to Dorothy when Geneva inserted herself into their little circle to separate the two youngest Stratfords from their friend. And before Simone knew it, Roxie and Freda were looking pale. And in less than a minute, they were crying.

She instinctively jumped and started walking away. "Sisi? What's wrong?" Lydia asked, following her.

"Geneva Withers," she murmured, eyes on her target.

Price and Gale were quicker. They were suddenly walking in front of them and reached Geneva Withers. Roxie and Freda ran to Gale, telling him they wanted to go home. Just as Simone and Lydia arrived, Geneva Withers was saying her last words to Price and Gale. "...and I will not permit such horrible attitude from anyone, even the Stratfords."

The woman made a sharp turn and almost crashed against Simone and Lydia before stiffly walking away.

"What happened?" Simone asked with a frown.

Lydia approached Freda, who hugged her tightly. "Freda, what happened? What did you do this time?"

"Nothing. We were just picking flowers in the back garden. She says we saw something we shouldn't, but we didn't. We swear we didn't! We don't know what she's talking about."

"She won't believe us," Roxie said, sniffing against Gale's chest.

"Roxie, my coat," Gale said, patting his sister's head. "Good Lord. What could she have told you to make you cry like this? You don't even cry."

Price, on the other hand, was already walking away. Simone stopped him. "Price, it's done. Let it rest. Don't make a scene."

"Oh, I'm not," he said, pulling away from her hold. "But I know someone who can make that woman stop treating everyone like sinners apart from her."

And then he went to Damon. Simone groaned, closing her eyes as her brothers talked.

"Oh, this is not good," Lydia said beside Simone.

She opened her eyes and found Damon, frown as dangerous as his footsteps, walking into the church where Geneva Withers entered.

"Go to Harry," Gale told his sister the same time Lydia whispered to Freda, "Go to Harry." And then the three of them joined Price to the door.

"What did you do?" she hissed at her brother.

"Nothing. I just told him to talk to the woman," Price said, eyes on Damon and Geneva. Simone and Lydia gripped each other in alarm when they saw Damon's hand wrap around the woman. "Oh, God," they groaned.

"He's dragging her," Simone said.

"Relax, Sisi, they're just walking away," Price told her.

"And she's unwilling!" Simone hissed. "We should stop him."

"What's happening? Roxie and Lydia are crying," Daniel's voice asked behind them. They ignored him and pursued Damon and Geneva to the side door that led to the small chapel. They stumbled outside and found that the chapel door was closed.

"What's going on—" Daniel started, but Simone whirled around to "Shh!" as they all walked up the closed door, but not before she stumbled on her own foot and he caught her. "Thank you," she murmured as Lydia pressed her ear against the door. Simone absently fixed her cousin's hair while Price and Gale walked in opposite directions to keep watch. All the while, Daniel stood there, looking baffled.

She made a gesture of her lips to send him another soundless "Shh!".

"All of you," Harry's voice said from behind Daniel, "step back at once." They all jumped to face him, including Daniel. He stepped out the side door of the church, beside him Arabella, looking at them with amused curiosity. And behind them were some other churchgoers who must have sensed something was amiss.

The contained fury was clear on Harry's face as his gaze jumped from one Stratford to the next.

"Get inside. Now."

They all jumped and rushed away.

"And pray dearly for your souls," Harry said behind them.

"What did he mean?" Daniel asked Simone.

"What?"

"Pray dearly for our souls?"

"Oh," she said, swallowing. "That we'll be punished."

"For what? Eavesdropping?"

"No, for having a witness to said eavesdropping," she guiltily said as they all filed back into the church. "And for inadvertently exposing that Damon is inside that chapel with Geneva Withers."

"What happened? Roxie and Freda are crying and I think the earl and I will have to take them home," Emmeline said when she met them at the door.

"Perfect," said Gale. "I'll escort you all back home."

"No, you stay," came Harry's voice. "Lady Emmeline will go with the old man and the girls." He gestured toward the pews with his head while the same churchgoers filed in, shaking their heads with disapproval.

The service went on forever, in Simone's opinion. But it was enough for the rest of them to plan their escape. Damon, on the other hand, had not returned. Neither did Geneva Withers. Lydia was squirming with curiosity, but agreed with Price that they had to first survive Harry.

If there was anything Harry disliked most about them, it was their propensity to eavesdrop. He, Harry, had gotten into trouble too many times with Web and Damon because of it. For one, it was Price, Gale, Lydia, and Simone who told about their plans to escape to another town to get foxed. But they only did that when the entire household woke nearly everyone in the village to look for the three young men. But if there was anything Harry disliked more than their eavesdropping, it was probably being the center of dreadful gossips in church. This time, they did both. Which meant he must be furious now.

As soon as it was over, they all flee. Lydia, who had managed to squeeze herself between Mr. and Mrs. Poppet earlier, also went with them, gesturing for Simone to hurry. Price and Gale had disappeared somewhere within the last five minutes of the service. Simone, on the other hand, was left with Daniel at the back of the church because she knew there would be not enough room for her in the Poppets' curricle. Harry was lingering, greeting neighbors and sweeping the church with his gaze, looking all scarier as he realized his brother and cousins were nowhere about.

"I should really go," she told Daniel. "If he asks, tell him I'm with the Poppets."

But as she rushed out of the church, she realized she did not know where to go. "Let's go," Daniel said, grabbing her hand as he passed, taking her with him. "He's leaving."

He led her back to the direction of the chapel. The door was open and they walked inside. She blinked at him in confusion as he closed the door and peeked through the window.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because I think you'll do something sillier than this if I don't," he said, turning around to face her. He had long released her hand, but she could still feel his touch. And that made her aware of the fact that she was alone with him again.

Then she chuckled. "It's silly, isn't it?"

"What?"

"That we're all running away from one man whom we know would not hurt us."

He smiled at her. "Exactly. I wonder why you even do it."

She shrugged. "It's not the consequences we're afraid of. I can't explain it. We know we're in trouble, and we know that the most we will get is a long lecture, but we still.. I don't know. It's the children in us. Surely you must understand it. The fear of an adult."

He slowly nodded. "The fear because you know you're guilty."

"Yes, exactly." She laughed. "It's absurd. Maybe I should just face it."

It took him awhile to say, "Maybe you should."

"But not now. I'd rather find out what punishment he'll give the others first."

He scoffed, shaking his head. "So you'll hide here until when?"

"No, not here. They close everything after service."

Ten minutes later, they were on foot, traveling three miles back to Abberton.

"Do you think this is worth it?" Daniel asked her.

"No," she said. "I know I'm just buying myself time for the inevitable."

He looked down at her. "But?"

"But my mind needs time to prepare for Harry's lecture. And he also needs time to be by himself to reflect."

"Reflect on what?"

"On his anger. That it's too early to release it after church service."

To her surprise, he laughed. "I don't think Harry is the type to get angry less with time. And the sermon was about repentance, Miss Priest, not anger management."

She groaned. "Oh, this day is not starting out so well," she said. "And it's about to rain."

He sniffed. "You said you can smell it."

She nodded. "We should hurry."

When they passed by the Poppets' house, she considered staying. But she did not want to invite him because it would make the Poppets uncomfortable. And she did not want to leave him alone to go home because that would be rude. But as they reached the road with the arched trees, it drizzled. They both ran, fearing for a heavy downpour.

"Go straight home," she told him as she made a sudden sharp turn toward the woods.

"What in the bloody hell are you doing?" he called after her.

"I'm buying time!" she said, chuckling at her own silliness. She should go home, but then she knew Harry would be there. And she was certain Price, Gale, and Lydia were not. She would not want to take the first blow.

"Where are you going?"

"There's a cabin near here," she said as they emerged into the woods. The trees dampened the rain so she slowed down, catching her breath. "You should go home, Your Grace."

"Simone, this is crazy," he said behind her, ignoring her last statement.

"I know," she chuckled. She looked down at her green dress. It was not wet, neither was it dry. Not bad, she thought. And as if the heavens heard her, it poured harder.

She squealed, jumping and running toward the nearest cabin. He heard him laughing behind her as well, saying she was crazy and this was insane. When they finally reached the balcony of the cabin, finally safe from rain, they were both breathless.

She brushed off the curls stuck to her face as she laughed. A gush of wind came through the trees and blew her a few feet. He caught her by the arm and pulled before she fell. "You have the worst agility when you're still, but the most precise footing when you're running. Do you know that?"

She playfully pushed away, wiping rain off her sleeves and arms. "I know. Sometimes it's a wonder I'm still alive," she said, chuckling as she lifted her head to look at him, quite surprised to see him also laughing.

She did not trip, nor did she slip, but his hand caught her arm again and pulled. And in the most spontaneous of ways, his other hand cupped her face and his mouth followed.

One thing she noted before her eyes instinctively closed was that his smile was still there when his lips landed on hers. And it was overwhelming. Because she could not ask for any other way to be kissed by Daniel Cavendish.

He was kissing her with laughter, deepening it with a smile, and it was just as she dreamed.