Sasha was staring at him, confusion and disbelief were woven together in her peculiarly beautiful face.

West watched her blue-grey eyes narrow as understanding washed over her face. "There is only one reason why she is there." The condemning curl of her lips bewildered West. "She is a bastard."

He blinked. "She is. We do not share the same father."

She chuckled, her eyes darting to the paper in his hand. Was she considering changing her mind? Because of this? "Her origin should not affect how you meet the task you will be paid to do."

Her small gasp of disbelief and contempt told him she had more opinions on the matter than she necessarily should. "They do affect me in many ways, sir." She was throwing sharp icicles with her cold gaze. "You do not know how these children feel knowing they are there simply because the people who gave them life were too callous with their actions."

Was she one of them? He wanted to ask. No, he did not have to know. Knowing more about this woman was not necessary. Their transaction was purely a formal negotiation.

"I am not requiring you to find a child, woman," he said, his tone reminding her who was paying who. "Our mother, Elizabeth Blackwood, gave birth to my sister in Belcourt. I merely had a year in my life when they both disappeared, so do forgive me if I did not stop them as what your look is suggesting I ought to have done."

She stiffened. "You never saw them again?"

"If I did, I do not have any recollection." He walked to the table where he carefully laid the signed paper and his pen. Turning to face her, he found that she was looking at him intently. His arms crossed over his chest and he rested his hips on the edge of the table. "I have reasons to believe my sister never left Belcourt."

Sasha blinked. "If she is merely a year younger than you, she must now be—"

"Eight and twenty," he interrupted, answering her unfinished question. "You are to look for a grown woman, Sasha, not a child."

Her long, shaky sigh traveled through the still air toward him. He did not mean for his body to react in any way. He was a man, after all, a part of him thought with wonder. A simple sigh from this woman was enough to make him go tight.

He shifted his legs and crossed one over the other, leaning back against the table. "It seems that you have more thoughts of disapproval," he bit out.

He wanted her out of here the soonest he could.

A brief thought flashed his mind. Should he have excluded the sexual clause from the agreement? He could very well need the service of a woman. It had been a while since he had one.

Then the thought was quickly drowned by the bigger, compelling part of him. Never with this woman. He could seek sexual gratification from anywhere else, but never from a Belle.

"Why were they in Belcourt?"

The question was not futile, but West was currently in an illogical battle with himself caused simply by a bloody sigh from a woman sitting ten paces away from him. It was stupid and unwarranted for him, a duke, to be this bemused... distracted.

"As I have said, my lady, I was merely one when they took refuge in Belcourt. No one, especially my father, revealed the reason why. My mother was dead to him since she was found to be carrying another man's child," he lied. "Your next question, of course, is why am I only looking for the sister? We know she left Belcourt shortly after she gave birth. She was never seen again. And your next question shall be, why have I not sought out my sister sooner?" He saw her nod. She was naturally curious and she should know that this curiosity of her could land her in the worst places. But the same curiosity could help him find his sister. "I have for many years. Belcourt is the last place in my search. I had to make certain all other places were covered."

A long silence filled the study. "Why?"

West let out an exasperated sigh. How many more questions did this woman have? "Why what?" he snapped, brows fused with impatience. His jaw tightened when she moistened her lips to ask, "Why do you wish to find her? What do you intend to do with her?"

His eyes lingered on her lips long after she asked her question. Then he blinked and snapped back to reality.

He had enough. He uncrossed his legs and came to full height. "That is not your concern, my lady," he nearly growled, biting out the last two words with enough sarcasm. "Your task is to find my sister in whatever way you know how. You have access to Belcourt and I expect that you can find her with ease."

She shook her head. What did that smile mean? It was as if she knew better. "I will do my best."

"No," West strongly insisted. "You deliver. That is what I expect from you. It should not be too hard."

When she looked at him with a knowing smile pasted on her lips, he wondered if it would indeed be that easy for her. But it was just Belcourt. It was just a bloody orphanage. "You have not set foot into Belcourt, have you?"

"I do not need to, now that I have you," was his cold response.

"You are now a gentleman of Belcourt—a flower—and with that comes rare privileges."

"I know what privileges come with the bloody title I bought from that place."

"Then you know you can have entrance into the Court of Flowers."

He let out a small scoff of incredulity. "What? A bloody drawing room full of women and other gentlemen? Doing what?"

She laughed pathetically and West frowned. "A drawing room! Is that what you imagine the Court of Flowers is?"

"I care not which part of the orphanage it is, only that it is the only part of Belcourt I can enter and nowhere else. That is proof enough that coming to the place is useless and a waste of time. I shall not risk walking into a bloody classroom filled with orphans in search of a woman. If you expect me to mingle with the other gentlemen and women, expected to be disappointed. You may be used to it for Belcourt is your home, but know that witnessing licentious activities with children merely a few doors away is not acceptable to some."

She laughed some more. Shaking her head, she managed, "I ought to drag you to Belcourt one of these days, sir."

"That is unnecessary—"

"Oh, it is," she said, this time turning very serious. Her eyes held his intently. "Because it seems that you have so many opinions of Belcourt and I wish for you to sift through them on your own by seeing the place for yourself." She stiffly stood. "So that you may realize the great amount of task you require me to fulfill. And so that you do not appear ignorant in front of those who have actually been to the place." She stared at him up and down. "It is a pity, really, that for someone with such high standing in society, you lack basic knowledge of Belcourt, a place you obviously personally abhor."

He scoffed. "What more is there to know about Belcourt? It is an orphanage with a few other specialties."

Her smile froze and something crossed her eyes. She blinked before West could decipher what it was. "You mean to find your sister and rescue her from such a place."

That was partly correct. "Yes."

"You abhor the idea of her turning into a Belle."

Good God, yes.

"But—"

"What?" he asked when she did not finish her statement.

She shook her head. "Nothing. I was just about to say something that would merely cause another long argument." She took a long breath and sighed. "Very well, I shall make certain that I deliver."

West nodded. "Good. Two months."

She nodded. "Long enough."

*****

"Ah, so you met Aliya." Ruby's statement was spoken in a rather mysterious tone. "I do not dislike the woman, Sasha, and I do not expect you to do so as well. She is rather charming and nice. Too nice, as a matter-of-fact, that you are sometimes left wondering if it is genuine or not. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"Yes," she replied. She had the same sentiments.

"She is very good at what she does. The best, I should say. It is believed that she never failed a mission." Ruby sighed dramatically. The woman was just like her parlor. It was painted red, the furniture intricately detailed in every angle, exuding a dramatic sophistication that almost felt like the one who designed it was desperate to be identified as the same. "By the by, Sasha, have you heard the current rumor from Belcourt?" Ruby's excited tone drew Sasha's attention back to the woman. "It is said that someone from the Service is asking to be re-courted into the Court of Flowers. And it is all because of you! You started something quite extraordinary." Ruby sipped her tea and with fine grace, placed it on the table before turning to stare at Sasha again. She would never be that graceful, she thought. "After over fifty years, a lady—you—were re-courted! Before you, there was only one woman who managed to do that."

Karolina. Every Belcourt lady knew the name.

Wherever she may be now, the woman was no longer alone in the feat.

Ruby's lady companion, May, a woman Sasha was familiar with from the Common Court, walked into the parlor and announced that Ruby had a visitor.

"Oh, yes, of course! I forgot he is coming today." Ruby shot to her feet and turned to Sasha with a smile of apology.

Sasha immediately understood. "I should be going," she said, standing. "Iyana must be fretting as we speak. I did not tell her I will be coming by to call on you."

Ruby's nodded, smiling at her with gratitude. "I shall see you at the Garden Ball. You will be coming, yes?"

"I have no invitation."

"Oh, fret not. That can be easily handled. The Garden Ball is the first grand ball of the season. All gentlemen from all over the kingdom will be coming here at Coulway to do business. The season is the best six months of the year, wouldn't you agree?" Then Ruby laughed. "Of course, you have not experienced it yet. But you will. Expect an invitation for the ball within the week. And prepare your best gown!"

Ruby escorted her out of the parlor and at the main hallway, a man was already standing there, waiting.

He was tall and lean. He was not bad to the eyes either. In fact, he looked rather handsome with his dark, curly hair and deep blue eyes. There was an air of confidence around him that made one think twice before making an approach. And the way his eyes landed and penetrated Sasha's entire form made the hairs at the back of her neck stand.

"I was not aware you were with a friend, Ruby, dear," he said in a low voice, tone light and comforting, a contrast to his gaze which was still on Sasha. As though he was stripping her of her light blue gown. As though he was planning to inflict something.

"She is just leaving," replied Ruby. It was one of the rules to never reveal a Belle's name unless she does so herself.

"Please, forgive me," said the gentleman, walking over to them. "Daniel Willoghby." He bowed before Sasha.

Sasha turned to Ruby who merely gave her a small smile.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Willoghby," Sasha replied with one awkward curtsy. "Sasha."

The way she only offered her name was enough for Willoghby to guess who—or what she was.

His smile widened, showing perfect teeth. He turned expectantly at Ruby who remained quiet and then chuckled. "You Belles truly do maintain your mystery. And most loyal! She ought to be telling you more about me," he said to Sasha.

Ruby let out a dramatic sigh. "Daniel is the owner of the Sutherland Post, Sasha. I am certain you have heard of it?"

"Of course," Sasha said. It was the only good thing Sasha got to read every morning since she came to Coulway.

"And also of The Grimes," said Ruby, a knowing, naughty grin on her lips.

Sasha's eyes widened at Willoghby who was evidently pleased to have elicited such response. He must be used to it. And he reveled at the reactions he got.

But did he know the enormous things Ruby could extract from him and give to Belcourt in secret? Of course, he did not. If he did, he would not be here.

The Grimes was known even in Belcourt. It was a weekly magazine that used cartoons to portray the grimes of Sutherland. Any copy was not allowed inside the Common Court, but it was nonetheless everywhere in the other courts, most particularly at the Village.

"Then I do hope I do not get to your bad side, Mr. Willoghby, for I would hate to be drawn in your magazine in any form whatsoever."

The man laughed, his deep blue eyes once more peeling each surface of her. "I am not one to abuse my power, but I do hope that we can be friends in the future. Ruby's friends are always welcome in my circle."

It was the first time Sasha heard Ruby force out a laugh.

Her friend tugged her away from Willoghby saying, "Sasha was just on her way back to her villa. Perhaps the three of us can enjoy a cup of tea in the Flower Garden." And to Sasha, she said, "He does enjoy being there."

"I truly do," said Willoghby, nodding his head at Sasha. "Have a good day, my lady. We shall see more of each other."

Perhaps it was in the way he said it that made Sasha's stomach churn in response.

"He is rather odd, I must admit," Ruby whispered as she helped Sasha with her red cloak, "but he gives me the best and most expensive gifts. And other useful things. And what of your flower? Is he good to you?"

Sasha was able to hold back the scoff that threatened to escape her. "Of course."

"No other flower? Just the one for now?"

Sasha blinked. "There could be more?"

"Well, it depends on Belcourt!"

Surely, there would only be this one, Sasha thought. Considering the sensitivity of her mission, she could not imagine Belcourt throwing in another man for her to entertain.

And now that she thought of it, she was glad her flower had a different kind of entertainment in mind. Otherwise, she would be at her wit's end trying to figure out how to deal with him.

"Now, do tell me."

Sasha blinked.

"Tell you what?"

Sasha looked over her shoulder. Willoghby was gone, probably somewhere in the villa. "There was something in your eyes when I mentioned your flower. Is he not nice? That can happen, you know."

Sasha sighed. "He is cold and borders arrogant."

"Truly now..." Ruby mused. "Then you ought to know better. You control the relationship, Sasha. These rich gentlemen think highly of themselves and are most often arrogant. But never," Ruby lifted a finger, "ever make him force you into anything you do not want to do. And you do the same. It has to be a mutual relationship, but you still have to know that you have the power. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Belcourt is always behind you. They will always think of us first before any of these men."

Sasha nodded.

She knew that.

Belcourt had proven to them countless of times that they were the priority.

"I truly must go and see him now," said Ruby. "He is quite eager for a good chat as he always is."

Sasha nodded. "I will see you soon."

"Yes, of course." Ruby guided her to the door. "Now, go. And remember what I said about your flower!"

*****

That night, Sasha received another visit from Gabrielle.

The woman was wearing trousers and a shirt underneath her green cloak.

"Wherever have you been?" asked Sasha, amazed at the woman's attire.

"I had to travel on horseback." Gabrielle threw her cloak to the side and looked around the room. "You have a very nice parlor, Sasha. You must know that not all villas look the same as yours. Some Belles tend to... should I say... exaggerate."

Sasha laughed. "It is because they have the money to spare."

Gabrielle nodded. She sat at the settee and crossed her leg over the other, regarding Sasha with a curious look. "Has your flower said anything?"

She pretended to focus on smoothing the skirt of her dress. Ruby's words came back to her.

Belcourt is always behind you. They will always think of us first before any of these men...

Making up her mind, Sasha looked at Gabrielle. She would know what to do. Considering she just met them both, there was no question that she trusted this woman more than she trusted West.

"He made me an offer."

Gabrielle's shoulders squared, suddenly alert. Her pale green eyes focused on Sasha. "What offer?"

"Money," she supplied. "In return of finding someone within Belcourt."

Sasha saw Gabrielle's jaw tighten, eyes narrowed as she thoughtfully asked, "Who?"

Before she replied, Sasha had a feeling that Gabrielle might already have an inkling. It was merely a passing curious thought, but one she had to admit bothered her.

She answered anyway. "His sister."