Three days later, Sasha was ordered back to Belcourt.

She immediately went, her mind rushing to different possibilities. Did they suspect her unusual visit to the Library? Had Gabrielle done something? Had and she West been careless? Did any of her servants in the villa hear something? Noticed something?

When the carriage arrived in the Court of Flowers, Sasha jumped out before Briana could even open the door. With quick steps, she navigated down the halls of the court until she reached Lady Mariam's study.

With a knock and a quick response from the woman, Sasha entered the room, hoping to appear as calm and collected.

"Have a seat, Sasha," Lady Mariam ordered from behind her chair.

Sasha moistened her lips and settled across the woman, her back straight and shoulders held back.

Lady Mariam's face was impassive, but her blue eyes were anchored on her with scrutiny. She clasped her hands together and said, "Sasha, why have you not reported Daniel Willoghby?"

Sasha went cold, suddenly robbed of words. Shivers ran up her spine as Willoghby's words echoed in her ears.

Be a good girl...

Lady Mariam looked at her and sighed, looking like she was facing a helpless case. "I had to find out through Ruby. She came by yesterday to inquire if Belcourt had started its inquiry on Willoghby." When Sasha remained mum, Lady Mariam shook her head. "Do you have any inkling about how I must have felt, Sasha? One of the ladies was harassed under my nose and I was blind to it. What would the other Mistresses think, Sasha? Hmm? And of the Maidens? Of the High Priestess? I took the honor of being a Mistress because I found it my duty to provide my ladies the best. I do not expect deceit or the lack of truth. And I do not expect any of my ladies to do something so irresponsible they are putting their fellow Belles at risk."

Sasha swallowed and bowed her head, deciding making excuses was not the best way to move forward at this point. "My apologies, my lady. I will make the report this very day."

Lady Mariam stared at her. "You will not leave Belcourt until you hand your report to the Court of Libraries. You have no idea of the headache you are causing me at the moment, Sasha. And now Willoghby is nowhere to be seen. He has been elusive, and he is a master at it. The man is not the owner of the Sutherland Post and The Grimes for no reason."

Sasha's head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise.

"The bastard is not stupid. He knows what he did and is very aware of the consequences. But if you have sent us the report early, Sasha, he would be in our custody before he even had the chance to leave Humbrick. I would have sent for someone from the Court of Arms to get to him."

Sasha felt the room spin around her. Someone from the Court of Arms was at Humbrick. Yet Lady Mariam was not aware of it.

"I have nothing more to say to you, Sasha, regarding this matter on Willoghby. You have been careless and irresponsible. I am aware that you are wise enough to understand the words I have left unspoken. I only hope that you do not keep anything else from me in the future. This is a warning, Sasha. I would hate for you to suffer a consequence should you do the same negligence. Belcourt rarely offers second chances."

Sasha nodded, already aware that she was lying to her new Mistress all over again.

"And do you have any updates on West Blackwood?"

Sasha had to tell the woman something, so she said, "Our relationship has greatly improved since Humbrick. I expect it to bear fruit soon."

For the first time, Lady Mariam's eyes showed approval. "What kind of improvement are we talking about?"

Sasha's face flushed.

The woman blinked and waved her hand dismissively. "I understand. It is expected that you please him in whatever way you can so he will be inclined to please you as well."

"I hope to be invited to his estate soon."

Lady Mariam nodded, "I am pleased that you are taking your mission rather seriously, Sasha. I only hope you begin to also think of your responsibilities to your fellow Belles. Ruby has been concerned about her safety and yours. I do hope you can feel the same."

Sasha was mentally kicking herself long after she left Lady Mariam's study.

How could she have been too stupid? Not once had she thought of Ruby. Not once had she feared for the woman's safety. Why? Was she feeling so unattached to the Belles that it never occurred to her? Was she too proud that she had been unknowingly disconnecting herself from the Court of Flowers—from what the Belles were?

And to make her feel even worse, she met Aliya in the hall just as the lady was on her way to her waiting carriage outside.

"A moment, Sasha, would you please?"

Aliya took her to the garden and wasted no time. "I know why you are here."

Sasha froze.

"You are once more the talk around the Flower Garden. Do you enjoy it, Sasha? The attention?"

She blinked, shaking her head.

"Then perhaps you ought to stop being selfish," the Belle coldly said. "You deliberately neglected to report Willoghby when we know you should have. Why, Sasha? Did he threaten you?"

Sasha went cold.

Be a good girl...

Aliya must have seen the answer in her face for the woman continued, "Did he threaten to destroy your flower?" Sasha blinked, surprised. With a mocking, knowing smile, Aliya scoffed. "Did he threaten you with your flower? Did he say that he would ruin him if you did not cooperate? If you told Belcourt?" Aliya shook her head, a look of disappointment in her eyes. "Be careful, Sasha. Do not give everything to West Blackwood. Like Willoghby, he was willing to face unknown consequences to be a gentleman of Belcourt. You do not protect him. That is not your duty as a Belle. Do not go for to the point that you are also risking another Belle's safety. Your gentleman will not be there to save you if you are stuck in a trap you have set for yourself."

When Sasha merely bowed her head, Aliya sighed.

"You are far too young, Sasha. But that ought not to be enough reason for you to be so insensitive and foolish. You were from the Court of Libraries before you came here. I reckon you are wise enough."

She was saying the same things Lady Mariam said to Sasha, but Sasha could not even summon herself to tell Aliya that for mayhap she needed to be told twice.

"And if you still cannot see yourself as a true Belle or a member of the Court of Flowers, Sasha, and if you still find it hard to accept that your life has changed because of it, I would not force you to develop great concern for the other Belles because it will come to you at the right moment. What I will ask of you, Sasha, is to think of the children in the Manor. Think of what will happen to them should Belcourt be at the point of instability because the adults who should be protecting them cannot be responsible enough."

Aliya's words remained with Sasha while she was finishing her report against Willoghby. The woman's words rang in her head like a mantra even until she was back in Coulway and in Ruby's villa.

Ruby's face was as equally disappointed as Lady Mariam's and Aliya's. She waited for Sasha to speak, her tea untouched.

"Please, forgive me, Ruby," was all she could start with. "I have been irresponsible."

"You had me believe that you would report Daniel, Sasha. You lied to me." The hurt in her friend's voice was genuine. "Did he threaten you with West?"

Sasha had long figured out that what Willoghby did had never been unheard of in the Court of Flowers. She nodded.

Ruby sighed. "I should be angry at you, Sasha, but all I can summon to feel is disappointment. I would have done the same if he used Aaron against me. I, too, would think that Aaron would not deserve it for he is my truest friend."

Sasha blinked. "Friend?"

Ruby rolled her eyes. "It always has the same effect whenever I say that word. Yes, Aaron is a friend. Not all flowers are after one thing, you must know that."

"Yes, but—"

A small smile curled at Ruby's lips. "We do look terrific together, do we not?"

"And you seem to be—"

"Aaron became a gentleman because of a stupid wager with his equally stupid friends. We have been friends for years. That is our relationship and nothing else. He does not get jealous of the other gentlemen and he knows me too well to be a lover. He is the only truest man in my life. He does not see me as a woman who must whore herself to him, and I feel the same. We are each other's glimmer of light in such a very hectic world."

Sasha nodded in understanding, secretly still in disbelief. Who would have ever thought? One look at the pair and it was obvious. Or mayhap Sasha was only seeing things. Perhaps she misunderstood the stares Aaron gave Ruby. Or the way her friend would constantly look for his company. Maybe they were dependent on each other on a level Sasha was yet to understand.

"But Sasha, I still worry. Willoghby cannot be found. Do you have an inkling of the number of estates he owns all over Sutherland? He could be anywhere. I would not be surprised if he has other places to stay in Coulway and the thought drives me crazy at night."

"I'm sorry," she said again, lowering her eyes.

"No, Sasha, I am not worried for myself. I am worried for you. Willoghby is a lunatic who only wants something from you, one he obviously does not find in me. He never used force whenever we were together. Not once, Sasha. I noticed the way he would look at you and he never looked at me the same way. Although there were claims he had been giving other Belles the same attention, nothing close to what he has done to you happened. But do you know the feeling you feel whenever you are facing evil? I have been feeling that ever since I met him, most particularly whenever his attention was focused on something he was obsessed with—may it be a story, a scandal, or another woman. If it is not for the secrets he can share with me, I would have long requested to be paired with another flower. But Willoghby can be useful to Belcourt. Oh, how I wish we insisted to Gabrielle that he be taken to Belcourt that very same night. And the woman ought to have done something." Then Ruby shook her head, smiling. "No, it has already happened and all we can do is learn from it. Most particularly you, Sasha. This might not be the last time you will have to face this. Simply always remember that you are not alone. We Belles should protect each other at all costs."

Leaning over to take her tea, Ruby said, "Let us talk about other things. You are already forgiven."

Sasha pasted a grateful smile on her lips and taking the advantage to change the subject, she asked, "How did you know Gabrielle? From the Manor?"

Ruby rolled her eyes thoughtfully. "No, Gabrielle is often the person tasked to be the liaison for Belles on a mission. She delivers missions personally."

"The missions?"

"Well, not all the time, of course. Little missions such as the one I received when I was asked to take you around Coulway—trivial ones. The most sensitive missions are always discussed with the Mistresses."

Sasha frowned. "Gabrielle gave you the task to take me around Coulway?"

"Yes, she did. She specifically told me that you must be very anxious and told me to try to befriend you. She asked me to make you feel welcomed here in Coulway as it will be your first home as a Belle. I am sure Belcourt wanted you to feel at ease, thus they made certain I force myself into your new life," Ruby explained, her cheerful and innocent demeanor now back.

But Sasha could not bring herself to agree with Ruby, her mind on Gabrielle, and the woman's true motives.