Sasha spent the next few days trying to be a Belle.

She went shopping with Jade and Iyana, attended two balls with the same ladies, and even joined a book club composed of ladies who consume as many romance novels as they did other books.

And despite the incident with his son, Mrs. Compton remained to be Sasha's dear friend and companion during her afternoon walks to the park.

Her days were filled, but during the night, she was sleepless, her mind always making theories.

By the fourth night, she was tired. Too tired, in fact, that she nearly fell asleep while having supper.

"I am fine, Iyana," she said to her maid as the woman followed her upstairs. "Simply tired."

"You must be weary. Why? Is it the duke? I have not seen him around, nor have you been out to his villa. Did you fight?"

"No, it is not the duke. We are fine. He is busy as parliament is now in session. He cannot spend his time with me as much as he would like," she lied.

"Then you must be lonely."

Sasha weakly chuckled as she changed into her sleeping gown. She sat before her dressing table and let Iyana brush her hair. "I have you ladies in the villa. Why would I be lonely?"

Iyana shrugged, looking at her through the mirror. "They say that a man's absence can cause severe longing."

Sasha rolled her eyes. "That is not entirely true."

"If you say so, my lady."

Sasha chuckled. "You sound like Darren."

"Who?"

"West's valet."

"The creepy lad?"

Sasha sighed. "Now that you mentioned it, I do miss Darren. And Seven."

"The dog."

"He must be lonely, too. I have not seen him for long."

"Then we must find a way for your gentleman to take you to the dog."

Sasha's smile slowly died. Perhaps she would never be able to see Seven again.

"Thank you, Iyana," she said after the maid was done with her hair. "I will retire early."

"Of course, my lady. Ring for me if you need me."

"Yes, of course."

Climbing in bed, Sasha waited until Iyana left. Then she sank under the covers, turning to her side.

Closing her eyes, she was grateful for the weariness.

How long had it been since she had a nice slumber?

That night, Sasha dreamed.

She was walking through a field of flowers, the sun shining brightly against her skin. The wind blew away her bonnet, but the ribbons around her neck kept it from flying away.

Her hands reached for her hat, but it was no longer there.

Then she frowned, wondering why she could not breathe.

The ribbon tightened around her neck and Sasha struggled with a groan.

She tried to breathe but found she could not.

Then she woke up, eyes wide and frantic.

Yet she could still not gasp in air.

It was then that she realized that a heavy weight was atop her, pressing her down on the cushion, trapping her. A hand was around her neck, another over her mouth.

"You have not been a very good girl, Sasha," Willoghby whispered in her ear.

Sasha struggled to move, but even her legs were rendered immobile by Willoghby's weight. Her hands grasped at his hands, but he was too strong.

The darkness was beginning to seep through from the corners of her eyes. She felt a tear run down the side of her face as she struggled for a tiny breath.

She tried to scratch his face, desperate to be free.

She could not die this way.

This was not how she wanted to go.

"You think you can keep me away from you, darling?" Willoghby's voice was now muffled, becoming more distant as Sasha's eyes closed, her body becoming limp. "You cannot escape me, Sasha. I know your little secret. And soon, I will know your gentlemen's secrets. Oh, how interesting men they are, are they not, dear?"

Sasha heard his last words, but her body was shutting down on her.

If only she could reach for something—a weapon. But that was no longer possible. She was going, her eyes closing.

She saw her father's face. "Be a good girl." His voice echoed to her ears.

And just as her father pulled the trigger, the weight was gone.

Sasha's eyes flew open and gasped for dear life.

Willoghby was thrown to the ground and Sasha rolled to the other side of the bed, coughing and gasping for air. The chords in her throat bulged as she wheezed and coughed. The tears in her eyes blurred her vision.

She moved and fell to the floor, her limbs shaking as the commotion at the other side of the room continued.

She heard a grunt. A glass breaking. She heard shouting, but she could not even get up. Her mind was reeling, the room moving fast around her, rendering her immobile.

With a moan, Sasha anchored her hands on the floor and tried to stand up.

She heard Iyana shouting and Briana doing the same. Footsteps in the stairway.

More glasses breaking.

Her window door opening, then closing.

She could hear Iyana shouting for the door be closed.

"Go, Briana! Now! Go get him!" Iyana was shouting as more footsteps bounded up the steps.

Soon, Sasha found Iyana and Gail, the cook, bursting into the room, their faces frantic.

"My lady!" Iyana cried out, rushing toward Sasha as she stumbled forward.

Never had she ever felt this helpless. Again.

The fury was fast to come, more toward herself than her attacker. She was not able to save herself again. Someone else had to do it.

"Where is he?" she choked and coughed.

"He rushed out the door, my lady," Gail said. "He went through the kitchen door. I know I locked it, I swear I did! He must have—"

"Let us wonder about that later," she said, looking at both Iyana and Gail. "Are you all right? And Briana?"

"We are all right, my lady," Iyana said, tears streaming down her face.

With shaking hands, Iyana led Sasha to the bed. "What happened, my lady? What did he do?"

"Nothing. I... he was choking me and I woke up." She could feel the tears behind her eyes. "Please, forgive me," she said, taking Iyana's hands. "It is all my fault. I have placed you in danger. Because of me, you—"

Iyana shook her head. "There is no one at fault but that lunatic, my lady."

Yes, it is my fault, Sasha silently said, closing her eyes. None of this would have happened if she reported Willoghby early.

"Oh, God, I hate myself," she choked, finally letting the tears out. Her shoulders shook as Iyana gathered her in an embrace.

"This is not your fault, my lady. Please, hush now."

Gail walked toward the window. "The window is broken," she said. "He must have gained entry through the window. He exited through the kitchen."

"It is all right, my lady, please, hush now..." Iyana murmured.

"Thank you, Iyana..."

"There is no need to thank me, my lady. We have done nothing. We should have been here when you fought him. We should have been here to restrain that man! How did you even do it?"

Sasha went still. Then she looked up. "You did not save me?"

Iyana frowned. "No, you did it all yourself!"

A shudder ran through her.

She would have been dead if not for—

Gabrielle.

Her eyes frantically searched the room, looking for someone she knew was no longer there.

Her eyes traveled to the window.

It was not Willoghby who closed it earlier.

"I will call for someone in Belcourt once Briana arrives," said Iyana.

Sasha nodded her head.

"Gail, please concoct something for Lady Sasha," Iyana said, voice less shaky. "Would you like to go downstairs, my lady?"

Sasha shook her head. "No, I am fine. I can... I will stay here."

"Then I will stay here with you."

Sasha could not allow Iyana to go.

*****

Sasha had just settled in back in bed with the tea Gail prepared, watching the herbs that Gail claimed would aid her nerves sink down to the bottom of the cup, Iyana still in the room trying to fix the window.

"You can go now, Iyana. I am quite all right."

"Not until I fix this window," said Iyana.

"I will help you," she said, making a move to slip out of bed.

"No, my lady, I can manage this on my own."

Sasha looked around the room and frowned. "You said you will send Briana to Belcourt upon her return. Where did she go, Iyana?"

Iyana became still, her eyes focused on the broken hinge of the window.

"Iyana? Where is Briana?"

Iyana turned with a guilty look on her face. "You see, my lady, I may have made someone a promise that if Mr. Willoghby or Mr. Compton ever show themselves—"

Iyana did not finish her statement as the door swung open and crashed against the wall. West stormed inside with a look of intense fury in his eyes.

Sasha's eyes went straight to Iyana who bent her head and cowered away. Closing her eyes, Sasha sighed.

"I am fine," she said to West before he could even speak.

His eyes roamed over her. "What did he do?"

Cold and authoritative. Not the West she liked, really.

"I was sleeping and when I woke up, he was choking me with his hand."

"Bloody hell, Sasha!" he bellowed, his voice causing Iyana to jump. With one look, Sasha ordered the woman to leave, which she immediately obliged, slowly closing the door as she left.

"It already happened, West," Sasha said. "We have much to discuss now that you are here. While Willoghby was attacking me, I thought that Iyana and Bree were—"

"Why is the bastard still free, Sasha?"

"I told you, West, Belcourt is trying to locate him, but he is being elusive."

His hands on his hips, he glared down at her. "Tell me the truth, Sasha, when did you report the bastard?" Sasha went still. She replaced her teacup on the table and attempted to slide off the bed, but West said, "No, do not leave that damned bed. Answer my question, Sasha. When did you report him?"

Sasha cleared her throat, wondering if it was worth a lie.

"You never reported him the very moment you could, did you, Sasha?"

She averted her gaze.

"Belcourt is already looking for him, West. And yes, I did report him late. And yes, I lied when I said I did. And yes, it is all my fault why the bastard is still at large. I reported him late and only did so because Ruby went to Lady Mariam."

He looked at her incredulously. "You are telling me you had no intention of reporting the bastard at all? Why?"

She blinked away. "It was wrong of me to have even thought against reporting him, I know. So, please, I would rather not talk about—"

"What did he tell you at Humbrick, Sasha?"

Be a good girl...

Sasha shook her head. "He... he told me to... he gave me reasons why I could not tell Belcourt about his attacks."

"What reasons?"

Sasha remained mum.

"Bloody hell, Sasha, what reasons!"

She flinched at the volume of his voice. She turned her head and scowled at him. "Do we really have to discuss this? I already told you that Belcourt found out and they are searching for him. I was wrong and it is all my fault."

"Do not give me that look, woman," he said as she continued to scowl at him. "It does not scare me." He stepped closer and met her scowl with equal measure. "Tell me what the bastard threatened you with, Sasha."

"Why? What would you do?"

"We can eliminate that threat."

Sasha laughed. "Do not be ridiculous."

"Is it Belcourt?"

"He can attack anyone through his papers, West, but never Belcourt. He will not even have a chance of a trial if he does so."

"What else could—"

Ultimately losing patience, Sasha blurted out, "He cannot directly attack Belcourt, West, but he can attack you." She pushed the covers to the side and climbed out of bed. "Does the answer satisfy your curiosity? I hope so because I would not be discussing it furthermore—"

It was fast.

His hand caught her arm and in one swift motion, he was kissing her.

Sasha was stunned, rendered motionless.

He lifted his mouth from her. "Sasha," he said, looking into her eyes, giving her a slight shake, "do you understand that you are no longer alone?"

At first, she just frowned, but his eyes told her something. He was telling her that she was no longer walking alone in the rain and cold.

Was she? Was she truly?

If she started to believe now, would there be a price to pay?

To not wake up and find herself in that old cottage, to not walk alone in search of a new home—to not be alone sounded divine.

Suddenly everything Sasha had been struggling to tame came loose. She felt her tears stream down her face as she wormed her arms around his neck with a whimper, giving it to his words, pressing her lips against his with a shaky sob.

Relief, pain, guilt, anger, confusion, fear... all of them erupting all at once, rendering her helpless in his arms, weakening her knees. She was back to that night she reached Belcourt.

She shuddered as he deepened the kiss, her shoulders starting to shake as she sobbed against his mouth.

Ending the kiss, Sasha buried her face in his neck.

"You are to pack your things this very night," he said, the anger now replaced by a yielding, gentle tone. He tightened his arms around her when she made a move to protest and added, "Do as I say, for now, Sasha, please. Do not ever shut me out again, do you understand?"

Sasha nodded against his shoulder and he pulled back to cup her face with his hands.

He kissed her one more time, tender and gentle.

"We will go home to Everleigh tonight. Do you hear me?"

Sasha nodded and West did the same, wiping the tears off her eyes.

*****

They sat side by side in the carriage ride to Everleigh. Sasha was frowning, deep in thought, the silhouetted view of the mountainside merely a passing blur.

West was equally silent beside her, holding her hand in his.

Sasha had already given up trying to think of what the kiss meant for there was no denying that the sexual attraction never disappeared. Not when she presented his father's journal, not when they told each other the truth, and not even now when they both obviously had reservations about whether they could trust one another.

Mayhap giving in to this physical aspect was for the best. His touch was a comfort as much as his presence was.

"Something bothers you," he said, breaking the silence.

"Willoghby is still free because the person Belcourt trusts to find him and bring him in is intentionally allowing him to be free for some unknown reason."

"You mean Gabrielle."

She nodded, turning to meet his gaze. "I saw her in the opera."

"You did not tell me."

"That was before I found your father's journal," she dismissively said. "She was following Willoghby." She sighed. "Belcourt has been looking for him and yet there she was... just following him, watching him."

"And she managed to save you tonight for the same reason."

"Yes, I believe so."

"But why would she save you? And not just once, Sasha, but twice."

"Thus, my confusion." She looked out the window again. "That is what we have to find out."