The blue room, which had always been her favorite, seemed now stained with the information laid before her. Lady Phillips was not entirely sure how to react to Doctor Franklin's visit, moreover his news.

"She chose Lord Wilson?" The lady had to sit down as she said it. A mix of emotions confused her, as she was both happy that her daughter was marrying someone closer to England and equally shocked that Sarah wasn't marrying James. "That's not the news I expected from you." She admitted.

"Something is amiss." Doctor Franklin stated, "I'm sure that Sarah has no real intention of settling with Lord Wilson. I don't believe James will allow it either."

"It is strange. Sarah had only met him twice and to choose him over- I mean, you were so sure that- I only let Lord Wilson come to court her so James might get up the nerve to finally ask for her hand. I thought when he saw how much she didn't want to marry an English gentleman he'd jump for joy and make his feelings known. She must think I disapprove! I shouldn't have given her such a hard time about their manners." Lady Phillips shook her head, amazed at her own foolishness. "I didn't think Sarah would, well I didn't think Lord Wilson would have a chance."

"I had every reason to believe he didn't. I saw James and Sarah together at the ball and thought that it must have been a sure thing. Perhaps you can get more out of your daughter, she wasn't very frank with me on our journey here." The old man frowned. "Sarah and Charlotte have returned and Lord Wilson is in the hall, I'm sure waiting to ask for your blessing. I have instructed James and Henri to join their friends in an inn not too far from here. I'm going to get their side of the story. See if you can deduce anything on your end."

Dr. Franklin made his exit and the lady was greeted by a different gentleman only a few moments after.

"Lady Phillips." He bowed curtly, "I do not wish to waste any time. I have asked for your daughter's hand in marriage, to which she has agreed. I now ask only for your blessing."

"If it is what my daughter truly wants," Lady Phillips eyed her guest, "then I will permit the union. I only want her happiness."

"Happiness comes in knowing that you've done best by the ones you love." He smiled, "Happiness is a product of one's commitment to doing what preserves that person. When we marry in France next week, I have every intention of giving your daughter a life of interest and adventure as well as providing the additional comfort of wealth. It would be unrealistic of me to proclaim that I could always provide her absolute happiness, but I will try to give her every chance at general satisfaction."

Somewhere in the house a door slammed, distracting Lady Phillips briefly. "In France, next week, general satisfaction?" She repeated the most concerning bits of his speech and gathered up an answer, "I have to admit it isn't like my daughter to settle for the unexciting choice. You must know that you are the unexciting choice."

"I beg your pardon Lady Phill-"

"No, a lady shouldn't be interrupted." She continued. "You happened to be the lucky suitor that wrote to me the week I needed a gentleman to fill a role. It was never my belief that you would join this family. Having lost my husband and having suffered the painful separation from my daughter for many years now, I'm sure you understand why I am hesitant to part with her to anyone that doesn't inspire confidence in her complete bliss. If this wedding is to take place, I must be convinced of her feelings for you. And if I sense even the slightest misgiving on her part I will have you and your pointless notions of general satisfaction carted right back to your French chateau without any misgivings on mine."

"You have made your feelings known." Lord Wilson straightened his jacket, "Allow me to do so in return. Sarah wants this wedding to happen far more than she may let on. If you should feel doubt that cares for me, consider that perhaps she didn't make her choice on the basis of a Shakespearean tragic sort of love, rather she made this choice using her intelligence. Perhaps she recognized that the alternative life wasn't one she could bear. I have no belief that she loves me. I admit she may have feelings for another, as you say 'exciting', choice, but I also know that she is too smart to settle for less than she is worth. Sarah had made this decision and regardless of her reasons, I hope you would respect her ability to determine what she wants from her own life."

He was certainly a match for Sarah in wit. She would have to speak with her daughter privately before saying anything else against Lord Wilson.

"Like I said," She held her ground, "If it is what my daughter truly wants, then I will permit the union."

_Meanwhile_

"Home sweet home!" Gabriel joked, as he and Louis settled back into their room at the inn.

"It's only until we can get an audience and go back to France."

"Yes, yes, the appeal so they don't hang us on sight." Gabriel flopped onto the bed.

"Hey! At least take off your boots before getting mud on everything!" Louis frowned.

"You're right, I wouldn't want to offend the bedbugs with my muddy boots." Gabrial laughed, "Now that I know how rich you are, I'm never going to stop complaining about staying in sad inns like this and you're always going to pay for the drinks."

The sound of hand wrapping against their door startled them both.

"It's Henri, and James is here too." They were let in. Gabriel noted that the two gentlemen looked to be in nearly the identical condition of their first meeting. Henri appeared anxious for some kind of development and James remebled a young man who had been run over by a carriage, that is miserable.

"What changed before breakfast?" Gabriel asked before anyone else could speak.

"Lord Buttface asked Sarah to marry him." Henri said.

"Who?" Louis actually cracked a smile at Henri's name calling antics.

"Lord Wilson." James huffed.

"Lord Wilson? And Sarah?" Louis stood shocked, "I thought he came last night because of me. When I saw how he looked at her I tried to warn her. He's evil, pure evil."

"What?" Henri and James said together.

"The letter- that was from this Lord Wilson fellow." Gabriel guessed.

"Yes, he said I had an important part to play in his next scheme." Louis sat on the bed, "He threatened Mable, said that if I didn't come, she'd pay for our mischief last year. She's in France still."

"What did you do in France last year?" Henri asked.

"We ACCIDENTALLY set a barrack on fire during a peaceful protest. The group of us all separated and fled France. Luckily Louis here said he had resources in England. Turns out he made some good investments in the red fabric industry, if you catch my drift."

"You own a redcoat warehouse?" Henri gawked at Louis, who continued with his story.

"My mother prevented me from returning to France and marrying Mable when she found out about the accident. She said that it was too dangerous and it was for the better that I didn't marry her. Lord Wilson informed me just the other day, when we met at the tavern that Mable's married now- but his letter implied that he could easily frame her for the fire and she'd be executed without delay." Louis buried his face in his hands.

"Did he tell you what his next scheme was? What did he want from you?" James demanded.

"He didn't say." Louis fretted, "He only said that I had to go to the party."

"Did he speak to you at all, during the ball?" Henri inquired.

"No- wait, yes. He thanked me after breakfast; he did not say for what."

"Henri," James crossed his arms, "I think you found me quite the story."

_Meanwhile_

Sarah could feel Lottie's inquisition brewing as they walked upstairs toward their rooms. Sarah approached her door, glancing at the crooked painting for a moment before her cousin cleared her throat and began the interrogation.

"Lord Wilson? He's actually the one you've decided on? You and Lord Wilson? That's what you want? So what was James to you exactly? Just a bookmark?"

"Charlotte." Sarah knew using her cousin's full name would give her a moment to answer, "I have thought through my options and trust me this is the best choice for now."

"For now? He wants to marry you next week. You don't have a lot of time to change your mind." Lottie tried to read Sarah's thoughts, but it was impossible. There was no reason for this change of character, "Remember when we all promised to marry for love? You actually had that chance, Sarah. It was right there and probably still is right there at your fingertips. What is stopping you?"

YOU ARE. You and John, keeping you both safe. You have no idea how dangerous this man is! Sarah wanted to scream, but bit her tongue as Lottie continued.

"Did you hit your head when you fainted? Forget who you are, or who James is? He was going to propose to you! You couldn't have waited one more day? You just had to marry a lord, is that it? You suddenly want wealth over happiness? All that frival about freedom, was that just talk?" Lottie was actually beginning to feel angry with her cousin. "Do you honestly not believe that James could give you a good life- a life that you would dictate! Sarah you could write again, and go on adventures! With Wilson all you'll have choice over is what color hat to wear, and perhaps not even that. That can not be what you want."

"Alright. I understand! I could have been happy. I could be with James right now, but life doesn't give you what you want, Lottie. You of all people should understand that. Sometimes you want something or someone and life just decides, no, you don't get them. You have to be seperated from them, because of rank, or war, or children, or nonsense and you just have to make do. Stop being such a silly child and wake up! We don't get to marry for love. You know as well as I do, what is expected of us." Sarah, now extremely frustrated, went in for the kill, "That's why you haven't told Henri yet. You're afraid that even he'll see you for what you really are!"

"And what is that Sarah? A phony, like you!" They both glared at the other. It was the first time they had raised their voices at each other, or even really disagreed on something that mattered. Ultimately, Sarah did actually agree with Lottie but she couldn't speak the truth. Lottie was unpredictable and if she thought her own son might be in danger she might end up doing something that could put them ALL in danger. Sarah needed a plan but it was hard to think with everyone's opinions firing off like cannons around her.

"I can't talk about this right now." Sarah said and retreated into her room, slamming her door behind her. In the parched solitude Sarah realized this was the first moment she had completely to herself since the awful proposal. The time to puzzle out her options was upon her. It was shockingly unnerving how empty she found herself to be of hopeful thought. Every idea she could imagine ended in some kind of unbearable misery. Sarah had always been clever enough to think her way out of problems, but her anxiety over the thought of permanent damage was making a clear path intangible.

She sat on the floor, her back against the door and tried to visualize an ending that she could abide. Plagued with every volume of "what if" she found herself falling deeper into despair. She needed to test Lord Wilson's strength without putting anyone in danger. Sarah would have to push him, aggravate him without forcing his hand to take more drastic action. Once she knew how dangerous he really was she would be able to calculate her best method of escape.