Should she? Should she not? Should she? Should she not?

Sophia looked so peaceful lying on the rich green grass, a book clutched between her fingertips, a serene smile on her face as the sunlight caressed her skin. Her eyes had taken a general warmth it did when they were ensnared by words and Colette didn't want to disturb that.

Two days. It had been two days since her father had threatened her and Colette had been jittery ever since. Should she tell Sophia or now? He had threatened to kill Jeanne! If she did, perhaps they could find some way to save her together and make sure everyone escaped with their lives.

Yet any time Colette had even thought of doing so, Jenkins seemed to immediately appear. The small smirk he shed her made his beaked nose scrunch up and his beady eyes glint maliciously and immediately Colette hesitated to say anything. One moment. That was all that it would take to tell Sophia about the danger all of them, especially Jeanne. But even when Jenkins was not in sight, Colette always the hair on her back rise like she was constantly being watched. That feeling never dimmed.

One moment was what she needed but one misstep was exactly what she could not afford.

As if thinking about the situation and Jeanne summoned her, she ambled up the garden path, her redhead grinning like rubies in the sun and her grey eyes appearing almost sky blue in the afternoon light.

Sophia, spying them, immediately jumped up and started walking towards them, and Colette slightly dumbfounded at her appearance joined a few moments after that.

"Jeanne! You're home early. I thought you were planning to stay with Aunt Ada for a few weeks until the wedding was planned." Sophia pulled Jeanne into a tight embrace which Jeanne returned softly.

Aunt Ada wasn't their actual aunt but had been a close friend of their mother's, they were practically sisters. Sophia and Colette had visited her over the years and in that time. Ada's daughter, Isabella, and Jeanne who were around the same age had become fast friends. Jeanne was over at their home most days if she wasn't painting in her room or having Sophia teach her lessons.

Colette then hugged Jeanne, reveling in the feeling of her sibling's warmth and love for her. could her father even think to hurt her? This small, beautiful, kind child. Everything about Jeanne was gentle and soft, even her features—unlike her sister's sharper ones. Which made sense. Colette's head still spun with the information that Jeanne wasn't their sister—not wholly. Regardless, she was still their sister, and Colette would die before anything happened to her.

"I know, Sophia. But I was missing you and Colette way too much and I also wanted to get some of my paints. Bella wanted me to paint her because I never do and all of my paints are here. It is no trouble, right? I will leave soon. Aunt Ada wants me there for supper." Jeanne smiled a gap-toothed grin, customary to maidens of nine years like herself.

Colette's heart twisted like someone was driving a hot knife through her chest. Such innocence.

Sophia smoothed down Jeanne's hair and gave her a tender look. "No, of course not. It is perfectly fine. I've missed you. I truly wish you could stay here, but planning a wedding by oneself is difficult and I am not at home much to take care of you. Although, Lord Alton and I believe his mother is certainly helping more than I thought. But don't leave so soon. Enjoy tea with us."

Jeanne nodded and her red locks bounced on her shoulders. "All right."

Sophia ruffled her sister's copper curls, slipped one hand into Jeanne's, and then glanced up at Colette. "You know, if I asked you to stay for a while when you were this age, you would have thrown a fuss. It's unbelievable that it's been so long since that time and even longer that I had to change your undergarments and clean up your vomit."

Jeanne giggled at the last word and Colette sighed. As she had grown up, she had given Sophia less trouble but even now she occasionally felt guilty for being so difficult in her childhood. Sophia was her sister but had to take the role of a mother and she had done it better than anyone, including herself, ever could have.

That was when Colette noticed Jenkins had accompanied Jeanne and was looking right at her.

"My lady Colette. Moments after Lady Jeanne's arrival, a footman arrived wishing to deliver a personal message to you also appeared. I believe he will not speak to anyone but you." Jenkins bowed, his eyes never leaving Colette's.

Colette could see Sophia's eyes flaring up with suspicion. Her forehead creased as she frowned. "That's odd. I will accompany you, Colette."

"No, Sophia!" Colette couldn't explain how she knew, but it was about her father's mission for her. Colette started sweating profusely.

Sophia looked taken aback and her mouth formed a small circle at Colette's outburst. "But-"

"I'm sorry for shouting. It's probably just Lord Alton's footman. Something he wants to confer about the wedding. I promise. I can look into it."

Sophia gulped and then shrugged. "All right. Jenkins, make sure Lady Colette is not out of sight. And Colette, are you all right? You are sweating quite a bit and look a bit ill. Do you have a fever?"

Sophia reached out her free hand to press it to Colette's forehead. "Hmm. You aren't warm. What happened, sister?"

"Nothing. Just a little hot, that's all. I'll freshen up inside."

Sophia didn't look convinced but before she could say another word, Colette stalked back towards the house, Jenkins following suit. With every step, the pit in Colette's stomach blossomed. Jenkin's stare behind her didn't help soother her nerves. She could feel it crawling under her skin and twisting through her veins to reach her lungs and strangle them, leaving her unable to breathe.

She smoother down her golden hair and light pink dress, trying to calm down her nerves. Whatever this was, she had to remain calm. Colette stepped through the foyer of their home, heading towards the drawing-room and then frowned.

No one seemed to be there. Was all of this just a way to scare Colette?

All of a sudden, someone in the corner of the room grabbed her arms and pressed her back to his chest, hauling her towards her father's study. She let out a small scream before a hand was clasped over her mouth. Colette could taste his salty, sweaty palms. The other hand trapped her body and arms in a viselike grip, staining her skinny arms with bluish bruises.

"Be quiet."

Colette didn't know if she should feel relieved it wasn't a random man attacking her or be even more scared the man in question was her father.

She tried to escape his grip, but he was much too strong, even for a man who had alcohol not blood running through his veins.

He threw her inside the room and followed suit, shutting the study door with a large bang.

Colette managed to stop herself from falling and whirled herself to face him.

The Earl's chest as heaving and his eyes were narrowed and cold. "What game do you think you're playing?"

Colette shivered. "No game, Father. I don't know what you mean."

Lord Conway bared his teeth. "I know you've been searching for an opportunity to tell Sophia. You will never be able to unless you wish for Jeanne to get hurt."

"I...I wasn't-"

He stalked towards her, grabbed her by the arms, and shook her until her teeth rattled. "Don't lie to me, girl. I know everything. Like I know how you aren't doing your job." He abruptly let her go and stalked towards the bookshelves on the other end of the room. He leaned against one edge, glaring at her.

"I am not sure what you mean. I have been planning the wedding like you told me to!"

"You are planning it so slowly that in all likeliness, the wedding will be in a few months, not a few weeks. You're trying to buy time! You are defying me."

He marched over to her and wrapped his arm around hers in a tight grip which made Colette grimace. "I swear on my dead mam, if you do not do it any faster, my comrades and I will cut off one of Jeanne's hands."

"Father!" she cried rather loudly, outraged at her father's threat, but he pressed his fingers against her lips, immediately silencing her. She could taste the dirt on his hands and taste the alcohol burning her lips.

"Shh. Shh. Shh. Not a word, little girl. Not a word. We don't know when your sisters will return. Now, listen to me. You must ensure that Lord Alton and Sophia get together biblically too. He must get her with child. I know how you plan to have Sophia accept the marriage to Lord Alton but this...this is a better way. It will ensure that she cannot deny marrying him for sure."

Colette gasped and tried to worm her way out of her father's ironlike grasp. "Father, no. That...that is far too much. Lord Alton will never agree. I won't do it."

Lord Conway licked his lips. "You best convince him then. You have till tomorrow. And you will do it, unless you want Jeanne's blood painting these walls." He curled a lock of her hair and dropped it. "And right now, it's such a pretty beige too."

Before she could say another word, he had shoved her away and disappeared, leaving Colette in the room tears streaking down her cheek.

"Sophia, please. I just need some threads. Some of my dresses have torn at the edges and I must fix them. Can you please go buy them for me?" Colette pleaded, trying to get Sophia out of the house the day after her father threatened her the second time.

Sophia cast her a perplexed look. "I just bought you threads a month ago. A lot of them."

"Well, I've used them up and I need more. Please, Soph."
Colette had to get Sophia out of here soon, before Lord Cavendish was set to arrive.

After several more moments of relentless asking, Sophia finally huffed. "Fine. Dear God, Colette. Sometimes I wonder if you ever grew up!"

Ten minutes later Sophia was out of the door and Colette breathed out a large relieved sigh before her chest clenched once again at what she had to do now.

She had the impossible task of convincing Lord Alton to seduce Sophia into his bed.

Colette let out a small sob. She couldn't do this. It was all too much. She had to stop. But every time she gathered the courage to tell Sophia, her father's evil voice resonated in her ears and the image of Jeanne dead in her arms flashed through her mind.

A knock at the front door had Colette twirling towards it. Lord Cavendish appeared at the entrance of the living room where Colette stood moments later.

Although Lord Cavendish usually donned a somber, thoughtful expression, he now seemed agitated.

"My lady? You summoned me? You said it was a matter of urgency. What is it?"

She beckoned him to sit down and then took a seat herself. He stared at her with a confused expression.

"It is no urgent matter, my lord. But upon thinking of it, I realized that Sophia and you haven't been spending time alone. And if you do not get to know each other, she may not realize she has to be with you."

"I thought you said there was little to no doubt she would come to that conclusion." He smirked. "I thought you said we were already in love."

"I did, but we need you to spend more time together."

"What do you propose? How can I get her alone, when all it seems like is that she is avoiding being along with me?" His throat bobbed as he stared at her with those bright green eyes that cut through her soul.

"I have a plan for that." Colette gulped, barely able to get the words out. "But in addition of spending time together, you must seduce her too."

He abruptly stood up, storms thundering through him. "My lady. I mean no offense, but that is lunacy. We never agreed to this." His teeth flashed.

Colette too got up. "It is the most assured course of action, my lord. She will be able to deny the marriage at all, once she knows all of you." She subdued the whimper that threatened to spill out.

This was wrong. All of it was wrong.

"My lady. No, I will not do this. This is...no. This is unacceptable. Our trickery is already dishonorable but it is the only way although I wish it weren't. But this...no. I will not take her maidenhood, possibly have a child with her. It is wrong to trick her like this." He shook his head and his tousled dark brown curls caressed his forehead.

"You must. Please."

The desperation in her voice had Lord Cavendish cocking his head. "Why, my lady? Is everything all right? Why is this important?"

Colette didn't spy Jenkins, but she knew he was probably listening. But she had to take this small risk.

She leaned towards him and grabbed his elbow to draw him closer. In a rush, she whispered, "You must. Please. I can't explain why but I am trying to protect everyone. You must do this."

He leaned forward. 'What do you mean? Has something happened?"

Spying Jenkins, Colette drew away from and turned her head away so he couldn't see the tears swimming in her eyes. "Nothing is wrong. Just trust me. Please, you must. Please."

Something in her voice made Lord Alton nod his head. "It feels wrong, especially when I am trying to make amends. I can't, I am sorry."

Colette glanced Jenkins a small glance before whispering, "I know. Yet, it is necessary. Aid me. It will all make sense soon." Colette nodded, and with every nod her heart got heavier and heavier. What was she doing? What started as a pure intention of getting the Marquess and Sophia together was now being done out of her will.

She was asking him to trust her yet she was aiding in his murder. It seemed wrong to choose her sister over him, but she had too. But she would find a way to save them both. Right now, she would go with the plan, but somehow, she would save Jeanne and the Marquess. She had to. Until then, only Jeanne mattered, even if she was pushing the Marquess towards the knives waiting to stab him. It was the only way.

"I will spend time alone with her because I truly want to and have wanted to for a while. But seducing her...no." Lord Alton clenched his jaw.

Colette opened her mouth to protest and then stopped, a realization dawning on her. These were two people who could barely stop touching each other when they were alone. Now that Colette had spoken the proposition out loud it would not leave Lord Alton's mind and perhaps...perhaps he would act on it. It was a gamble but Colette once remembered that play she and Sophia had gone to when they were younger where one of the actors had said, 'To not want makes the heart want more. And the heart will want and want until it may act upon it.'

If it didn't work, Colette would find some other way. But something told her that this was the perfect plan.

Colette breathed out, "I understand. It was wrong of me to ask that. It was mad. It is wrong. Just forget it, my lord."

Lord Alton narrowed his eyes at her, not believing her sudden change in her proposition. But when Colette flashed him and innocent smile that was hiding a grit of guilt, he sighed. "All right. How will I get her alone so we may enjoy each other's company, and make it seem natural?" Lord Alton still looked unconvinced and confused but Colette had not missed the glint in his eye when she had asked him to seduce her sister.

This plan of hers may just work in her favor.

"Let's plan an intimate gathering then, shall we? The idea is to have it at your house, introducing us to your mother. However, you must ensure your mother is not there at this gathering and I will not show either. A family dinner essentially without the family. Woo her at dinner, make her see you for the gentlemen you supposedly are, and then escort her someway up to your chambers and do what you do best."

Colette rubbed at her temples, trying to dull down the headache that pooled in her mind. This was too much. Her father had said no harm would come to Sophia when the time came for the Marquess to be 'taken care of.' But a child...that complicated everything.

"And what I do best is..." Lord Cavendish trailed on in response to Colette.

"Make her want to be with you for the rest of her life."

Guys! What do you think of Colette and her impossible situation? Is she doing the right thing?

Readers! Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter! Be sure to vote, comment, and share it with others! Every single thing means the world to me! I love you all!