The Walkelin ball did not merely end badly for Tori, but for the Everards as well.

Tori had gone missing from the ballroom after an invite from Jordan Archibald himself. Margaret knew the man was intending to propose when he invited Tori to the garden. But mere minutes later, the twins arrived with their unwilling brother, Nicholas, looking for Tori. And not long after that, Levi showed up fresh from Standbury.

And before anything happened, Tori was dragged out of the ball by her stepmother. They tried to stop it, but her friend seemed to have already given up and went with Lady Ashdown.

What transpired in the garden had been a great confusion to them, really, but Margaret soon found out from Levi that Jordan Archibald had been having an affair with Clarice Ashdown herself!

The morning after, Margaret paced around her bedchamber. Samuel Theobald sent her a note that Lady Clarice had been demanding that the Herald announce Tori's engagement with Lucas Rowe. Samuel said he would have to publish the announcement in two days the most, otherwise he would be in trouble.

What to do in two days?

Archibald turned out to be a bloody bastard after all.

Could Levi not have made a better list?

Margaret had both hands on her hips with her head tilted back as she stared at the ceiling, thinking about Tori's predicament and her pursuit of Cole Devitt, when the door to her bedchamber burst open and Levi stormed inside.

"We have to take Tori out of that house, Margaret," her brother tightly said, walking closer.

Margaret recognized the look on her brother's face. It was merely not worry painted there, but desperation as well. "The twins told me you intended to propose to Tori at the Walkelin Ball. Are they correct?"

"Yes."

Margaret sighed. "Levi, what happened in Standbury?" Something happened there, she was now certain of it. Otherwise, Tori would not have come back looking distraught and Levi being so weary.

"I... Well..." Levi shifted his weight. Then he grimaced. "Let us just say things happened that led me to decide I'm the best man for her."

Margaret blinked in confusion. Tori practically grew up with them. Everyone treated her like a sister. And Levi and Tori always bickered. Yes, they were friends, but they were not a perfect match.

"Well, it's rather late. Her engagement to Lucas Rowe is coming out soon."

Levi blinked and his emerald green eyes wavered before he cleared his throat and said, "I'm planning to elope with her."

"What?"

Levi's eyes flickered with impatience. "Elope, Maggie. Surely you know what the bloody word means."

"But Levi—"

"What?" Levi snapped.

"But why?"

"Why the bloody hell do you think? Her stepmother is marrying her off to a horrible, disgusting form of a human being—which I believe were your own words."

"Tori would not want to marry you because you pity her, Levi."

"Pity her? Bloody hell, Maggie, you should know better than that," her brother bitterly said. He looked furious and desperate. No, he was so many other things at once.

She groaned. "Good heavens, Levi, I should have known."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Will you help me or not?"

But how did it happen? What did she miss? Where and when did it start? The Theobald party? The Archibald Ball? Standbury? Levi and Tori had been together most often than she did with them because of the case. Had the two been treating each other more than friends all this time?

When Margaret merely stared at Levi, still unable to wrap her mind around the fact, Levi said, "Maggie, snap out of it, for God's sake."

Finally, Margaret did and the reality of it all came crashing down on her and tears filled her eyes. "Oh, Levi, you love her," she choked out, jumping to wrap her arms around her brother's neck. "This is such a big relief. I knew you intended to marry, but I didn't think I would let you do so merely out of pity. I am—" She paused and stepped back with a frown. "But Tori might not want you. She might refuse to elope with you and—"

"She will, Maggie, trust me," Levi said.

"You are quite confident, aren't you?"

"Not confident. Just bloody in love, sister," Levi replied, giving her a stern look. "Now, will you help me?"

***

"Why?" Ralph whined.

"Because I do not want the twins to be sneaking out in the middle of the night to do whatever they may be planning to do," Margaret said, looking at Maxwell and Ralph. "You're currently banned from entering Grey's, anyway, so stop whining. No Grey's for tonight," she ordered, eyeing Maxwell. "For the both of you."

Deep inside, she was anxious. Maxwell was older than her and could easily ignore her demands and still go to Grey's.

"Then simply tell them of your splendid plan with Levi!" was Ralph's rejoinder.

"They will only make it impossible. The least damaging thing they might do is demand they go with Levi and Tori. The worst is if they talk and the servants and the whole of Wickhurst would know what happened before Levi and Tori reached Tiny Town." When they continued to scowl, she sighed and feigned a look of disappointment. "I cannot believe you cannot spare a night from Grey's. I would not be surprised if one day we'd all be burning inside this house while the lot of you are drowning yourselves in the gaming table."

"No need for theatrics, Maggie," Maxwell wryly said, rolling his eyes.

"What about Nick?" Ralph asked.

"I believe Levi asked him for a different favor."

Ralph shook his head and started for the parlor. "Care for brandy?"

"Make that a bottle," Max said, following close behind. "If mother learns of this, Maggie," Maxwell added, walking past Margaret, "be certain she's informed I was forced to be a part of this."

"You have our utmost gratefulness, brothers—Levi and I!" Margaret said. The parlor door slammed shut and she turned to dress for the night.

***

"Do you have to wear breeches?" Levi asked, staring at her from across the carriage.

"It is when I have to climb up a window," she retorted. "Now, after you and Tori leave Wickhurst, I plan to delay her stepmother from announcing that stupid betrothal. I must make certain that the news of your elopement comes before that."

"To hell with what that woman does. So long as I get Tori to Tiny Town and make her my wife, the whole of Wickhurst could drown itself in gossips."

She chuckled. "Truly, Levi, you astound me. Have I been too blind to have not taken notice?"

"No, not really. You were merely too preoccupied."

She shrugged. "Well, there is that as well."

"Be careful with whatever you're doing, Maggie," he said, looking her in the eyes. "You can't do everything for everyone."

"Then stop asking for my help."

He scoffed. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"I'm taking your Tori Mission off your hands after this."

"I hate to say this, but it would be my utter pleasure. Just keep her happy."

"I shall try my best."

She grinned. "I can now focus on the League."

He shook his head, face shadowed with concern. "I just hope you are not putting yourself in danger, Margaret. You do so much for many people, even the entire bloody Town itself, yet you take yourself for granted."

"I can take care of myself, Levi." She looked out the window. They had arrived. "It is high time to rescue your bride," she excitedly said as she reached for the carriage door.

***

Merely half an hour later, Levi managed to convince Tori to climb down her bedroom window—again—and get inside the carriage. Tasked to gather the clothes thrown out the window earlier, Margaret pushed them to the side, wondering for a second when she'd ever get the chance on this kind of love that her brothers stumbled upon. First, Benedict, declaring without shame his love for Agatha months ago; and now, Levi, risking so many things to elope with Tori.

She snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Tori. "I am sorry we came late. I had tried to find a better way to rescue you from that madhouse but I am afraid this is the best way to do that."

Her friend merely stayed mum, still looking quite lost after having been rescued. Margaret could not blame her friend if she was still in shock. It was not every night that two Everards would sneak into her bedchamber to rescue her.

"Do not make it sound as though marrying me is a distasteful thing for Tori to do, Margaret," Levi wryly said.

She threw him a sharp look. "I would have welcomed the fact if you have not been such a fool yourself. And she deserves more than an elopement," she snapped.

Margaret looked out the window. As the carriage was drawing to a stop beside another one, she reached for the door handle.

"Where are you going?" Tori asked.

Margaret smiled at her. "I would love to see you walk down the aisle in a beautiful gown in one of the most beautiful churches in Wickhurst, Tori, but I am afraid that cannot be for now. My presence is not needed in this elopement."

"But—"

"I have important matters to do apart from this one," she explained. "And I have to be here when the Herald appears in a few hours. I would not miss it for the world." She had given Samuel Theobald a nice gossip to be printed for everyone to read in a few hours.

Margaret reached for Tori and gave her a hug. She then turned to give Levi a hard look. "Do take care of her."

"I do not require such order—"

"I know. And Nick?"

"He should be on his way," he replied.

Margaret sighed, gave them both a chaste kiss and jumped out of the carriage.

It was time to go to Grey's.

***

Eyes turned upon his entry. It was not because they did not know him. It was because he very rarely went to Grey's.

The place reeked of spirit and chortles from drunken men who could not quite figure out how to waste their wealth. A loud, roaring laughter erupted from inside the main gaming hall and everyone's attention was stolen from Cole, giving back his little privacy.

Yet there was nothing private in a gentleman's club, save for the fact that the men who entered its doors would never speak about what happened inside if they could manage to do so. But there were still those who had loose tongues and they were the kind Cole wanted to avoid.

Grey's was packed that night, with almost all members in town present in every table. Now that the boring Sheills Season had begun, no one was yet ready to leave Wickhurst.

Surveying the entire hall, he found a free table and went straight for it. Whoever it was who was planning to meet him would have to go to him.

Some eyes followed him but after a while of staring, they grew bored and went back to their previous activities. Most were playing cards, but Cole knew those inside the main gaming hall were playing more elaborate games.

A server came to ask if he needed a drink. He ordered a glass to pass the time. When the server returned, another form appeared behind the man and slipped into the empty chair across Cole. The server walked off, leaving him alone with the stranger.

The man's bowler hat was pulled too low, almost covering his nose. Yet the lips right below the said nose were rather too full and delicate to be that of a man's.

The person across from him tilted the hat up with slender fingers to reveal the last person he expected to meet in that place—Margaret Everard.

In men's clothing.

Wearing a bowler hat.

In a gentleman's club.

And while his brain tried to convince him it was her, she started to speak. "I was afraid you would not come." Her voice low and croaky. "I am—"

Without a word, Cole sprang to his feet, sending his chair against the wall, and grabbed her hand in a tight grip. She gasped in surprise and started to protest but he was too infuriated to notice.

With a tight grip, Cole pulled her across the hall and out of Grey's.