Sasha froze and the ringing in her ears began, the light fading.

"We knew this was bound to happen," Lady Mariam said, but she was not addressing Sasha.

Sasha's heart nearly stopped when she saw Lady Eastwell standing in one corner of the room, silently observing. "You must realize, Mariam, that Sasha is still adjusting."

"She has responsibilities. There is no room for adjustments."

Sasha blinked. "I beg your pardon?" Sasha asked in disbelief as Lady Eastwell merely sighed and shook her head.

"What have you been doing of late, Sasha?" Lady Mariam demanded.

"I—"

"You have been doing naught but go around with Ruby in Coulway. You barely see your flower. Why is that?"

"I—"

"And why did he get a villa, Sasha? Why did he feel the need to do so?"

"He does not wish to be seen with me or—"

"Your villa should suffice."

"My villa is—"

"And why were you found walking alone outside the Flower Garden while your flower is in your bedchamber?"

"I had to—" Sasha looked at Lady Eastwell for help. The woman simply shrugged.

"And why—"

"My lady!" Sasha exclaimed; eyes closed. "Please, if you would allow me to finish my replies, you may not find the need for more questions."

She saw the anger in Lady Mariam's eyes when she opened hers. "Thank you," she respectfully said, straightening her shoulders, gathering what was left of her composure. From the corner of her eye, she saw Lady Eastwell smile. "Foremost, my lady, my gentleman had insisted that we come here. I had to oblige for he needs to believe I am doing what he expects me to do."

"Of course, it is expected that you are to take your flower here. They are entitled to that privilege. I was not inquiring why you took him here. Why would I?"

"Yes, Sasha, why would we?" Lady Eastwell asked in the same confused voice.

"I thought I was given instructions..."

"By whom?" Lady Eastwell asked, staring at Mariam.

"Do not stare at me like that, Eastwell. I did not give such orders."

Sasha blinked in confusion. "I—I must have misunderstood the instructions given me."

"And whatever do you mean by his expectations of you?" Lady Mariam added.

Sasha frowned, becoming more confused. She searched Lady Mariam's eyes and found nothing but innocent curiosity. She could see the same look in Lady Eastwell's face. "Concerning my task..." she faintly replied, baffled.

Lady Eastwell frowned. "Your task? Do you mean your task as a Belle?"

At that moment, at the lack of suspicion in the woman's tone, Sasha realized something. A shiver ran up her spine, muddling her mind even more. "Yes," she replied in almost a whisper.

Lady Mariam frowned. "And how have you been doing that? Has he invited you into his home, Sasha?"

"It is not easy for a man in his station to simply invite any woman into his estate, particularly a Belle. He is protecting his reputation."

"And what does the prince have to say to this?"

"The prince is being patient," she said, putting enough emphasis on the last word.

"Then, must I remind you, Sasha, that your loyalty is still with Belcourt and not the prince? And Belcourt is not patient."

"What Lady Mariam wishes to convey, Sasha, is that we cannot waste time. You cannot solely serve the prince. You cannot venture around Coulway thinking you have another day to spare on the morrow. The days you stay away from your flower are days wasted. Do you no longer wish to have this mission over with?"

Sasha blinked. "Of course, I want this to be over. But it is not that simple."

"It should be if she has been properly trained," Lady Mariam said with frustration, addressing no one in particular. "This is what happens when the Palace intervenes and takes matters into their hands. They pluck out a new girl from another court and expect her to do the best. One she obviously proves to be a failure at."

Sasha's jaw tightened. "I am trying my best, my lady. His Royal Highness has promised to help."

"Of course, he should." Lady Mariam stared at her for a long time. "Has West Blackwood been doing anything curious of late?"

"Nothing when we are together, my lady."

"Which is why you must spend more time with the man."

"And what of any demands, Sasha?" Lady Eastwell asked. "Has he expressed any demands from you? Anything unusual at all?"

Sasha swallowed and shook her head.

"Then any odd interest on Belcourt?"

Again, Sasha shook her head.

"The Palace in particular?"

Sasha frowned. "He knows of the Palace. I told him about it, but he has not asked anything more."

Lady Mariam looked at Sasha intently. "Sasha, your gentleman joined Belcourt for a reason. You need to find that reason."

Sasha nodded. "But there is also the possibility that his reasons are the same as the other flowers, my lady."

Lady Eastwell shook her head. "No, not West Blackwood. The prince is confident that he has motives here."

Sasha nodded, wondering if the Mistresses knew about the child.

From what Sasha could tell, they had no idea at all.

Lady Mariam motioned with her head. "Go. And for God's sake, Sasha, make yourself presentable next time around. It may be good that you took a bath with your flower, but a Belle cannot present herself in front of anyone else with her hair dripping wet!"

"Have a good night, Sasha," Lady Eastwell said with a small smile. "We expect a good report from Gabrielle the next time she calls on you."

Sasha nodded, giving the mistresses a small curtsy.

She walked with a mixture of confusion and a feeling of dread.

She knew three facts so far:

First, the two mistresses never gave her an order to stay away from Belcourt.

Second, they were not aware of her agreement with West, about Elizabeth Blackwood and the daughter she gave birth to here in Belcourt.

Third, Gabrielle was lying to all of them.

*****

Sasha returned to the bedchamber with a frown.

"What happened?" West asked, drying his hair with a cloth.

"Nothing that should concern you," she said, walking straight to the bed. "I am tired. I am certain you are, too, after your walk around the garden."

"You are starting again," he said, voice filled with warning.

He heard no reply as she pulled the covers over her shoulders and closed her eyes.

"You are going to pretend to be asleep. Go on, then." When she did not move, he narrowed his eyes. "Coward."

She did not even flinch.

"Sasha, you might actually fall asleep if you keep this pretense."

When she remained unmoving, West shook his head and went to the other side of the bed.

She was correct when she said the bed was huge enough for them both. Two more people could fit between them.

As he lay utterly wide awake, he realized she must now be truly asleep.

Earlier, while alone and taking a bath, West had a moment to recollect his thoughts without her distracting presence.

He considered the new challenges he had to face now that he discovered what Belcourt truly was.

It was not only vast; it was also an organized society with its own strict laws effectively implemented and heeded.

Apart from Sasha having to walk miles to get to the place that held all records of Belcourt, she also had to go through hundreds—if not thousands—of records.

Would two months suffice?

He finally understood Sasha's initial surprise at the time limit he had set for her.

Yet, he had no time to waste.

His plans would not work if he could not find his sister on time.

*****

Sasha nearly panicked when she woke up that morning.

Jumping out of bed, she was about to walk out of the bedchamber while trying to fix her unruly hair with both hands when she heard West ask, "Where are you going?"

She stopped and whirled around, eyes wide. He was sitting in one corner. "Do not say you have been there this entire time."

"Unless you saw me leave and come back, yes, I have been here the whole time."

She dropped her hands to her side and sighed.

"You thought I left."

"I thought you went out again." She walked to the washbasin. "You follow orders, after all."

"I do not enjoy them as much as I give them, but yes, I know how to follow orders."

Sasha washed her face with water. She heard him stand and approach her. As she straightened and opened her eyes, he lifted his hand, revealing a cloth. "Thank you," she murmured, taking it to wipe her face. "We should break fast downstairs. The ladies would want to be introduced to you."

"That is not necessary."

"It is," she insisted strongly. "If you do wish to evade suspicion, you would act like any flower would. You would want to be introduced to the other Belles. Was that not what you wanted yesterday when you joined Aliya for tea?"

"I am starting to believe that my acceptance of her invitation shall never be forgotten," he grumbled.

Sasha ignored his statement. "It is quite common for the gentlemen of Belcourt to hunt for other Belles they might wish to be paired with should they grow tired of their current one."

"And that is not necessary in my case."

"Perhaps," she curtly replied, turning to go to the door. "Well, are you not coming?"

He returned to his seat and crossed one leg over the other.

"You are not making this easier for me."

"I have already concluded that it would not be."

Sasha sighed and rang the bell. "Very well, breakfast in the chamber it is."

The door suddenly burst open and Ruby stumbled inside, startling Sasha.

"Oh, good! You are here!" Ruby said, bursting into her bedchamber. "The other ladies have been talking about you and your—" Ruby stopped, now noticing West's presence in the middle of the room. "Your flower," Ruby finished with a glint of amusement in her eyes. "Oh, he is indeed handsome as they said. The Duke of Eaton, I heard."

West wryly glared at Sasha. "So much for utter secrecy in Belcourt, Sasha."

Sasha sighed. "Ruby, this is West Blackwood. West Blackwood, meet Ruby."

"A friend from Coulway, sir," Ruby said as she curtsied. "I was the first to give Sasha a tour around when she first came."

West merely nodded.

"How does it feel to be a gentleman of Belcourt, West?" Ruby asked, stepping further into the room.

"He might want to answer your questions later, Ruby," said Sasha, "after we have broken our fast."

"Perfect then! You can come join us downstairs. I am certain the other ladies would want your company!"

"I am afraid I prefer dining alone with Sasha," West said, voice far from apologetic.

Sasha gave Ruby a conciliatory smile. Ruby smiled back. "It is fine, of course. You must still be feeling quite overwhelmed. And I am certain you are, too, Sasha, yes?" Ruby took a step back toward the doorway, her eyes on West, "Considering you are her first—"

"It was nice to see you again, Ruby. I hope to call on you soon in Coulway," Sasha interjected just in time, softly pushing the woman through the doorway. "Do forgive me. He is quite cross," she lied in a whisper. "Bad morning."

Ruby chuckled and nodded with understanding. "Very well. Now that I think about it, it is best that you two stay in your chamber. Aliya is downstairs. We do not wish for your bloody handsome duke to land in her arms, do we now?"

Sasha gave the woman a small smile before closing the door. Turning, she frowned at West. "You were not as cold to Aliya as you were with Ruby."

His light blue eyes looked narrowed. "Have you forgotten that it was Ruby's gentleman who attacked you, Sasha?"

Stunned, Sasha blinked. "It was not Ruby's fault."

"Did you report the man to Belcourt?"

"No. I will if he tries another untoward advance."

"I might not be there when he does."

Sasha felt something good and warm spread inside her, but she had to mask it the soonest that she realized she was not entitled to feel it. "I do not expect you to."

He looked like he was about to say something more, but he did not, perhaps thinking the same way she was.

"I am your first what?" West asked instead. "Ruby said I am first to something. I am your first what?"

Sasha moistened her lips. Then she smiled. "My first flower in Coulway, of course," she easily lied. "Are you not a curious one this morning?" She walked to ring the bell. "Now, we should have our breakfast and leave Belcourt the soonest we can. I have things to do in Coulway."

*****

Sparing no time, they left Belcourt the moment they finished their meal without seeing another Belle.

"You said you found the records of births in Belcourt. It must mean there were other births," West asked in the carriage.

"Of course. Many women take refuge in Belcourt before giving birth."

When she said nothing further, West cocked his brows higher.

"What?"

"You have insisted that should I have questions, I should ask you and not the other Belles. Now, you must understand why I would opt for the latter option. You barely answer my questions."

She sighed. "I answered your question."

"I prefer a more elaborate one."

She sighed. "The women who do not want their babes leave their children in Belcourt after they give birth. Is that answer enough?"

"And if the child is a boy?"

"Belcourt cannot keep them. They are handed over to another orphanage."

"And why does Belcourt only keep the women?"

"Why does the House of Lords only have men?" she rebutted.

West shrugged. "It has always been done."

"Then we have the same answer," she said with finality, opening her book. "I am getting used to our interactions. Perhaps we can spend more time together now."

West narrowed his eyes. "I would prefer it if you spend more time looking for the person I want you to find."

She looked up and their gaze met from across the carriage. "Of course. If you say so, sir." Looking back down on her book, she turned a page. "Until I can return to Belcourt without raising suspicion, I have to content myself with asking other Belles. I am to see another Belcourt lady two days from now. She is merely a year younger than your sister. I might be able to inquire if the window of chance will permit. Most Belcourt women know ladies who were courted merely a year or two before or after them."

"And who is this lady?"

"You do not have to know."

"And you cannot meet her sooner?"

"I have appointments."

West's jaw tightened. "With whom?"

"Someone."

"Is it your other flower?"

One corner of her lips tugged into a smile. "If you do not cease asking about my other flower in such a scathing tone, sir, I would assume you are jealous."

West was suddenly enraged, reaching out to snap her book close, leaning too close to her he was almost at the edge of his seat. Circling his hand around her wrist, he gently pulled her toward him. She looked surprised, tensed.

Good.

"I am not a jealous man, Sasha, but I hate it when someone's attention is divided when I expect it to be fully on me."

She blinked. "My attention is on other matters other than you, Your Grace. I am focused on finding your sister, not you." Her lashes brushed her cheeks as she looked down to steal a glance at his lips. Her eyes fluttered up to meet his. "Why? Would you rather I focus on you as a proper Belle should?"

As if burned, West let go of her hand before he could do something more.

He leaned back against his seat. "I expect that your tongue does not go astray while you are with this other gentleman."

"My tongue is always occupied with other things when I am with this other gentleman, West, fret not."

If there was anything close to a useless thing that he could throw, it would have already been sent flying out the window because that was West's initial response. The next, to his surprise, was an intense desire to strangle a stranger's neck, an unnamed stranger at that.

His hands closed into a fist.

"This other gentleman is distracting you from your task," he nearly growled.

She scoffed, opening her book once again. "And you are not? You who distract me in every way he can?"

He smirked. "Then I must be winning the game."

"No, you are losing it with your recklessness." And as he opened his mouth to answer, she closed her eyes and sighed. "I would rather sleep the entire journey after all. Our useless banter is as incomprehensible as my book."

West shut his mouth, fuming in disbelief.

She dared just outright tell him that he distracted her, that his teasing affected her, and then she dismissed it just as callously?

"I will be out of Coulway for an entire week. I expect a report from you upon my return," he said a while later.

Without opening her eyes, she asked, "Will you be attending the Humbrick Ball?"

"Yes."

"You are the last person I would expect to attend it."

"It may not be the party I prefer, but it is one that most members of the House of Lords do not pass."

"If you say so."

"I do not attend the ball because I want it. I attend it because it is easier to talk matters of the state—why am I even explaining myself?"

"Precisely."

He watched as she frowned, her eyes still closed.

"What?" he demanded.

"I was having a good dream," she murmured. "Hearing your voice, it is turning into a bad one."

"Not quite funny."

"Now, it is morphing into a nightmare."

West glowered.

"You must be scowling at me for a monster is approaching as I speak."

He scoffed and shook his head. "I am tempted to risk my pride and lose the game as I speak, Sasha, because the more you do, the more I find your lips quite enticing."

He smiled when she pursed her lips and said nothing further.

*****

Sasha closed her bedchamber door  and sighed.

Her body was sore after the long ride in the carriage and her ears were suffering even worse after Iyana's scolding the moment she arrived. Her maid continued her tirade until Sasha assured her that it was not going to happen again.

With another long sigh, Sasha closed her eyes for a moment to clear her mind.

She could not think of anything else but Gabrielle.

The woman had lied to her.

Why?

Opening her eyes, she decided that it was best to confront the woman. There was no use guessing.

Her eyes landed on the card atop the bedside table and she walked toward it.

She picked it up and for the second time, read its contents.

The prince and Belcourt wanted her to seduce West's secrets out of him.

West would rather she go back to Belcourt and search for his sister.

He would be greatly disappointed, Sasha thought as she placed the invitation back on the table.

Then she scoffed with a small smile, imagining the look on his face when he saw her next week at the Humbrick Ball.