Bane's panic didn't ease as George's face cleared of fear and returned to her usual countenance, if she looked a bit shaken.

She was trembling under his hands and he wondered if She'd even realized it. George glanced at where his thumb was tracing a circle into the softness of her skin and Bane felt himself flush with awkward embarrassment.

"I'll - uh - " he stuttered, not finishing the sentence as he abruptly released her and stood, helping her up as he went. She gave him a weak smile but didn't meet his eye as he backed out of the small dressing room feeling like a fool.

"It'll just be a minute," George called, her voice a little off as he pulled the curtain back into place between them.

"Lord Brisbane..." one of the Sanderson sisters called to him from behind his left shoulder. Turning, he endured a sour scowl from both women before one reached out to hand him a slip of paper... it was only the bill.

"Yes, of course," Bane stuttered, then swiping a hand over his face, "And - uh - you had something for Mary Kathleen as well I believe?" he asked, moving with them towards the front counter, leaving George shuffling fabric from the other side of the curtain. His heart rate was slowing now, but that tiredness you have after a rush of fear was stealing over him, in addition to two nights without sleep.

The two older ladies were quick to accept his credits, wrap several boxes for George and produce one hat box for Mary Kathleen as promised. They did not comment on his odd outburst, or the fact that he'd acted completely out of his reputable fierceness, practically panicking on the floor of a dress shop because his wife was taking too long buying new clothes. He didn't know what had gotten into him... well he didn't want to consider it...

"Bane?" came her voice, a voice he'd recognize anywhere now, and he turned to find George hobbling towards him, her face still questioning, still unsure. Bane felt a sinking in his gut, he'd finally scared her. Odd, just when he was beginning to hope she Couldn't be scared off.

"What happened?" George asked as the two of them settled into the carriage that was now ladened with her new wardrobe and would take them the rest of the way to Brisbane Castle.

"Nothing," Bane answered gruffly, staring out the window as if hardly interested in her coversation.

"Your family - did you radio ahead to them?" she asked next, after several minutes of silence had passed between them.

"Yes, yes," he muttered absently tugging at his beard as the carriage began to wind upwards, towards the mountain castle that he called home.

She fell silent again and Bane peeked to see her staring out the opposite window, mirroring his efforts of disinterest. Her hands were twisting in her lap nervoulsy, and he realized for the first time that she was wearing a different dress. This one was green, he realized he liked it with a rush of simple pleasure just looking at her. Since when did he care what women wore?

Not since one had torn his heart out, he reminded himself bitterly, turning back to the window, feeling the weight of the black rose that rested against his chest inside of his coat.

Cora had loved all things exotic, different - rare. In truth, she loved anything she Couldn't have. Black roses and secret lovers among the list.

Seemingly the only stroke of luck in this false marriage would be the fact that he would not have to tell George about Cora at all. would not have to explain the strange tragedy that still cast a pall over his family, the consuming guilt he felt at the anniversary each year. But then again, he'd hoped marriage to Georgina Marie St. John would heal all of this... he'd counted on it in fact. Those letters they'd written, they'd lifted that dark, clinging sadness like candle flames in pitch blackness. And now? Now it would take six weeks and that lovely little flame would leave him alone in the darkness again. Bane glanced at her again as she sat beside him, the carriage swaying with the effort to climb the mountain. Saints if there was not a palpable longing that bled out of him every time he looked at her.

He hated her, he reminded himself... she was a liar, a betrayer, a woman intent to use him for all she could. She'd never had a single intention of making it up this mountain to begin with, so why should he care that she was nervous about it now?

"Bane," she whispered like a hiss, her small gloved hands clamping onto his elbow as if for dear life.

"it is alright, George," he promised gently, since when had he been gentle with liars? Turning towards her as if just noticing her for the first time he gave her an encouraging nod, and she locked her eyes on his face, searching his very soul it seemed.

"You're sure we won't go over?" she asked quietly, clenching her fingers tighter still as they went over a particularly cumberson bump in the path. Bane smiled and kissed the crown of her head without thinking.

"All is well," he promised softly into her hair, the smell of vanilla and spices coming off of her. He would've felt a fool in that moment, realizing how soft he'd gone over her... but George also chose that moment to snuggle into his shoulder, settling closer to him in the seat and burrowing her face against his arm as another bump rattled thier vehicle.

She didn't hate him. She didn't fear him. But neither did she want him, Bane reminded himself as they continued their plow up the mountain road. So what exactly was he supposed to do with her for the next six weeks in order to ensure she did not take his very soul with her when she inevitably left?

Brisbane Castle awaited them at its very best, as Bane and George descended from the hired cab together. A pack of footment, loyal to a fault and uniformed in bold blue and silver colors embroidered with the Sefton crest, hurried to unload their packages, pay the driver and usher them inside.

"Welcome home, my lord," Knox, the butler older than the Saint herself, welcomed them with a kindness in his face that Bane had never seen waver in all the years the man had served their family.

Dinner was served in the large formal dining room, his grandmother being very particular about family meals being done right.

Mary Kathleen, Harry, Merigold and Joshua sat around the table, keeping conversation light as they each engaged George in polite conversation. His sisters seemed to like her immediately, and he knew Joshua would be a generous judge of character. It was Harry and his grandmother's scrutiny that had Bane most worried, for he didnt' intend to tell even his most intimate family of the scam George had run on him.

Grandmother gave a bit of input now and then between sips of her split pea soup. Bane instead sat at the head of the table trying not to squirm. George sat to his right, wearing that same velvet dinner gown that had been half way falling off when he'd stormed into the dressing room earlier. Having every button fastened did nothing to guard her decolletage, but that was only half the problem, the other was the way she kept looking at him between statements, pulling him into conversation that he otherwise made a practice of staying out of - even with his most beloved family and his best friend. But now George was turning those bright round eyes on him every few moments, asking him what he thought of this or if something Harry told her was true. And Bane, fool that he was - answered everything she asked of him.

"Do you ride, my lady?" Harry asked, another in the line of the polite conversation starters.

"I've never had the opportunity, no," George answered with a polite smile at his handsome friend, "Do you keep horses in the mountains?" she asked, turning to Bane with this question. He found that he was already watching her, and so found he had no excuse but to answer.

"Yes, we keep Clives breeder - sturdier horses meant for the terrain," he explained, and then without really thinking, "I could teach you - if you wanted to learn."

"I would like to learn," she beamed back at him, genuine happiness in her expression, Harry completely forgotten.

"And do you play an instrument?" Mary Kathleen asked next, glancing from Bane to Gina Marie with a warm smile. If Bane had been born with the Dark Saint's hand upon him, then Mary Kathleen had been born with the Good Saint's very own heart in her chest, so sweet and loving was his older sister.

"I play a little piano," Gina Marie admitted with a grimace, "Though very badly, I am afraid," she added, "Hopefully you have not scheduled out a concert for my arrival?" this jibe she aimed at Bane with a twist of her smart little mouth, as if hiding a laugh.

"Several," Bane answered quickly, smirking back at her, wondering if Brisbane Castle could offer her the same warmth and protection it had always provided for him.

"We should have some kind of welcoming party for your bride, Bane," Joshua commented, ever the cheerful one, made to match Mary Kathleen's good natured heart.

"Oh no -" Gina Marie began her refusal, but Bane interrupted her without even glancing up.

"Indeed, we should have some kind of celebration, Joshua - it will give George here plenty of opportunity to rob us of any family heirloom silver flatware we might be keep locked up for such occasions."

"Wha- what?" Merigold stammered softly.

Harry choked, and Joshua coughed politely into his napkin.

"Brisbane!" his grandmother scolded sharply astonished by his wickedness. Bane glanced up quickly at his new wife, wondering if maybe he had embarassed her too much for her first family dinner. But he found instead her eyes glittering mischeif at him.

"Oh my dear, you flatter yourself," she chided in a lofty tone, and Bane reminded himself that she was teasing him, not truly using an endearment, "I am after all, only here for your radio equipment," she said pertly, folding her hands in her lap like a queen and sipping at the table wine in front of her.

Bane burst out laughing.

He couldnt' help himself.

There she sat, prim and pleased with herself - only She'd just admitted her ridiculous infatuation with radio communications. Any turned nose priss knew better than to show interest in anything so unladylike... but not his George.

In an instant she was chuckling with him, her grin wide with self satisfaction at having won their little battle of private witts.

Bane glanced at the others at the table to find every single one of his loved ones staring at them - mouths wide, even his grandmother's.

"Oh, I am so sorry!" Gina Marie smiled at all of them, "It is a private teasing... I promise I am no theif."

"I must correct you, my dear," Mary Kathleen smiled gently, "For I think you have quite stolen my brother's heart."

"Mary Kathleen!" Joshua chided his wife affectionately, but the damage was done and Gina Marie was melting into a puddle of blushes and shy smiles.

"You're too kind -" she began, but then stopped, overcome by a cough.

"Excuse - me -" she choked out, covering her mouth with her napkin... but the cough didn't stop. In fact, Bane felt a shot of adrenaline whisper through his veins... just as George bent forward towards the table, fighting for air.

"George..." he said her name like a warning against her teasing, though he knew she was not acting a bit. Gina Marie looked up at him, her eyes watering as she struggled for air, clutching at her throat with one hand.

"Oh my goodness!" Mary Kathleen cried in distress.

"Call for the medic!" Harry ordered

"What is happening?!" Merigold screamed

"Is she choking?" Joshua asked

Bane had already left his seat, toppling the gilded chair to the floor in his haste. Gina Marie tried to stand, still coughing out in a fit of desperation to breath, but fell to the floor, gagging.

"George!" he called her name, even as he scrambled to get his arms around her, pull her into his embrace, hold her against his chest and will her to breathe with him. She clutched onto his dinner jacket with one hand, her ribs heaving as she tried to pull in air, her round brown eyes pleading with him, full of fear and looking up at him for help.

"it is poison - " this coming from Harry as he spit the few drops of Gina Marie's wine he had tasted. Of course... She'd never had wine before two days ago and would not know what the table wine should taste like.

"Bane -" Joshua called his name, pulling at one arm, and then he felt Harry at his other. They were pulling him off of her as the household medic approached, but Bane only shook them off. Gina Marie's eyes rolled close and Bane felt as if he would be undone.

"Help her!" he commanded, and it spoke well of the small be spectacled man that he only quivered slightly as he bent over Gina Marie's still little form, still nestled against Bane's chest. With a shaky nod the medic turned to the small case he carried with him, bringing out a small packet of grey powder.

"Open her mouth," he said, and it was the first time in his life that Bane accepted a command from an inferior as he took hold of Gina Marie's chin and tipped her little lips open. The small man deposited the grey powder in the small well beneath her tongue, then promptly forced her mouth closed again. Bane held his breath watching for any sign of change as Gina Marie still fought for air, her pallor a sickly yellow, and her skin covered in a thin layer of sweat.

"What is it?" Bane heard himself ask, his voice rasping and strange.

"An antivenom," the little household medic replied, shoving his glasses furher up on the bridge of his nose to peer down at his patient, "If it works, it will confirm that Lady Brisbane has been poisoned with something from the Rosalia family of toxins."

"How do you know if it is working?" Bane asked, smoothing one hand over Gina Marie's brow, shoving aside any stray hair that stuck to the sweat there.

"She improves already my lord," said the medic, gesturing to Gina Marie's slowed breathing.

"Will she wake up?" Mary Kathleen asked, and Bane looked up to see his sister had tears streaming over her cheeks as her husband held her close to his heart.

"It will take some time," the little medic admitted with a shrug, glancing nervously at Bane.

"Thank you," Bane spoke the words firmly, banishing whatever the small man feared he would hear instead from his employer.

"What in the name of the Saints -" Harry swore, and Bane saw his friend staring at him oddly.

"Harrison!" this from grandmother, who must be feeling better as well to be back to scolding grown dinner guests.