Lavender, Marchioness of Shirewest stood perfectly still as Robert recounted the past couple days events. Her mother was seated by her side. Her hands gripping Lavender's almost painfully. Rose Candlewood's eyes seemed to have taken on a permanent blotchy red color from her inability to stop crying. She was surprised she still had water left in her body.

Seeing her eldest daughter did nothing to alleviate her sadness. All it brought was more sorrow. The pain and realization that she was so concerned for her daughters to be wed and start their family that she had no idea what was truly going on in their lives.

Lavender looked brilliant besides her. Perfect posture and glowing. Even after the hell that was brought to her, here she was still ever the lady she had trained her to be. Perfectly poised. But her focus on her daughter's outside appearances, caused one of them to get raped, the other to be a murderess and also kidnapped. That left her precious flower Daisy. What ever would she do if something were to happen to Daisy?

Rose Candlewood closed her eyes and took a deep breath. No, not Daisy. She will never let anything happen to Daisy. Hell, if Daisy wanted to spend the rest of her life at home, then by God Rose Candlewood will let it be so.

So long as her daughters were safe and sound.

"I should have been here." Lavender's soft voice filled the room as she stared at the ground.

Atlas who'd been staring at his wife's reaction the entire time lowered his eyes, feeling pain shoot through his chest. If it wasn't one thing, it was something else. Lavender will find a way to blame herself.

"Love, it's not your fault." Atlas spoke up gently from his stance by the window.

All eyes in the room turned to him. Robert's eyes widening in surprise at the gentleness in his eldest brother's voice. He wanted to crack a joke about him being pussy whipped but knew this was most definetly not the appropriate time.

"I could've stopped her." Lavender whispered looking up to Atlas who stood across from her. "I could've." Her voice broke. "I could've talked to her....listened...said something....." Lavender's voice broke as she buried her face in the palms of her hands and cried. She attempted to stiffle her anguish by burying her face.

Atlas looked away painfully, unable to see her tears. "We'll find her."

Rose tried to wipe her face as she hugged her daughter. "Don't Lavender. It's not your fault. Azalea will be alright. She will. We just wanted you to focus on your wedding and your husband----"

Lavender pulled herself angrily from her mother and stood up, her arms fist by her side. Atlas watched his wife in surprise at the heated glare she shot her mother. "There's more to life than that! Azalea was kidnapped!"

"I know Laven-----"

"You never listen!" Lavender accused, hot tears streaming down her face. "You never listen...." Her voice broke as she whirled around and ran out the sitting room.

Heartbroken, Rose looked down in shame.

"I'll uh...." Atlas turned and quickly went to find his wife. "Lavender!"

Lavender ran out the back door and Atlas jogged to follow her. It didn't take long before he caught up to her and grabbed her arm. Spinning her around and pulling her body to him.

"I should have been here!" Lavender yelled out in frustration. "I could have protected her." She cried as Atlas hugged her tight. Her face buried deep in his chest. "I was supposed to protect her." she gasped. "She's just a kid....." her knees grew weak but her husband's support prevented her from falling. "I don't know what to do....what do we do...."

"We'll find her." Atlas whispered. "We'll find her." He lifted her chin and wiped her tears away with the palm of his hand. "Please, it hurts to see you so broken." He pressed his forehead against hers. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Azalea will be okay."

"And what if she's not." Lavender asked. Her eyes wide in fear. "What if they hurt her? They touch her?" She looked away a cold chill running through her body as she remembered Lord Campote. Disgust coursing through her body. It's been so long since she'd thought of him. And now her sister, missing wand wanted for murder could be at the mercy of vile humans like that. The thought made her want to vomit. "What if she's dead?"

"Bumblebee----"

In shock Lavender pulled away from his embrace. "I shouldn't have left." she turned, her back to him as if in a daze as she ran scenarios in her head. "I shouldn't have married you. I should have stayed here with them."

Atlas swallowed hard and straightened up. "I know you don't mean that."

Lavender stopped and looked to the side. She didn't validate or deny him his words. Instead she dropped to her knees on the soft grass, shoulders hung. She betrayed her father's trust. The one thing he'd asked of her before he died was to protect her sisters. And she hadn't. She'd been too caught up in her own life and happiness, to realize that Azalea was on a far more dangerous path than she knew. She'd failed. "I'm sorry." she cried out to her father as she bowed her head. Her fingers gripping the edge of her skirt. "I'm sorry."

Atlas stood behind her, his hands placed tensely behind his back. "Do you want me to----"

"Go." Lavender cut him off. "Please just go."

Her words stung and the ache in his chest would not go away. "I'll check once more on my father and Matthew." He replied stoically with a slight nod. He turned and took a deep breath as he went back inside.

Daisy Candlewood stared out her bedroom window at her older sister crying on the grass and her brother-in-law walking away. Nobody ever told her what was going on. No, they just always sent her to her room. But she was able to piece together that Azalea had been kidnapped. Her sister had been kidnapped and was missing, but for some reason, they could not tell the police. This meant Azalea had done something bad. Especially since she hadn't been in the house for almost 4 days.

Daisy sighed and went back to sit on her bed. The world wasn't fair. Azalea was selfish. And she'd always been selfish. Now Lavender would worry endlessly about her like she always did, and Daisy would have no freedom. Just when she thought things were looking up. She'd wanted to convince her mother to let her go to the Shirewest estate with Lavender, knowing that her sister would give her the freedom to roam and paint and dance and laugh like she wanted.

But now....now nothing. Now she will forever be on lockdown.

The youngest of the Candlewood sisters sighed. Azalea will be fine. She always is. But Lavender will never forgive herself. They knew she took it seriously that she should protect them from anything because father had told her to.

Father.

Daisy's mind went back to what she had walked into a couple months ago.

Father.

Not that she really knew her father, except for the fact that her dad and uncle Julian had the same face and apparently the same love for mother.

Mother...who would no longer look her in the eyes.

Daisy sighed and fell back on her bed. She put her hands together and closed her eyes. "Please God, let everything be alright. Please let everything go back to being perfectly splendid."

**

"And your chambers-----"

"I love it! I love it!" Lizzie squealed, clapping her hands together.

Mona gave her a sharp look and the duke tried to conceal his chuckle behind a cough.

"Antonio...do curb your enthusiasm. It makes you seem rather girlish..." Pablo spoke up.

"Your land is spectacular." Lizzie ignored him and ran into the room that Mona had opened. "And this house, this room." she squealed and threw herself on the bed much to Pablo's surprise. Her small body almost sinking into the grand mattress. She sighed contently. "It must be nice to be a duke."

Pablo walked up to her, his hands locked behind his back. "It has it's moments."

"Shall we continue or must he gawk at every room?" Mona asked staring pointedly at Lizzie.

Lizzie grimaced and sat up sheepishly. "Oh Mona, I am so dearly in need of a haircut." She said touching her hastly cut uneven urban hair.

"Do I look like a hairdresser to you?"

"Mona...." Pablo sighed at his housekeeper. A tall elderly lady who was not at all happy with the turn of events in the household. Her family had been in charge of the Jensen's family and estates for generations.

"Do not Mona me." Mona turned to the duke. "I do not understand how your affairs now has you in charge of a pubescent boy, when in fact your grace you were to come back with a wife. At least a proposal. An interest! Anything! Not a-a----a silly boy!"

Pablo rolled his eyes and walked out the room.

Not to be deterred Mona followed him.

Lizzie fell back on the bed and closed her eyes in contentment. Italians literally slept on feathers.

"You cannot be alone your entire life my Grace! I refuse it. Our dear Sofie must be rolling in her grave at your ridiculousness my grace. You are still so young and full of life. You need to bring laughter back into this household. Get married! Bring forth children your grace! Keep the Jensen legacy alive. You're just looking for more excuses to hole up in those brothels and drink yourself to death!"

Her voice faded as her heels rushed to keep up with Pablo down the corridor.

Lzzie's heart raced as she looked up at the gold line work on the ceiling. No London, no brothers, no chaperones. She laughed out loud and squealed. This was heaven!

**

"Whoa---whoa----what are you doing?"

Matthew grimaced as he tightened the wrap on his arm with his teeth.

"You're supposed to be in bed." Robert called out as he rushed to his brother to lay him back down.

Matthew pushed him away and climbed out of bed. "Pass me my shirt."

Robert put his arms up. "Matt listen, you feel indestructable now because I just gave you something real good to take the pain away. But you are in no position to go anywhere."

"I'm fine." Matthew replied as he stood to his feet. He put one hand out to try and steady his swirling head.

"Okay." Robert walked up to him and punched him hard in the stomach.

"JESUS! FUCK!" Matthew groaned and dropped to his knees, doubling over in pain. "What the fuck ROBERT!"

"Exactly." Robert reached down and grabbed his brother's good arm and helped him back to bed. "You still need to recover. "

Matthew didn't protest this time as he laid back down, his stomach cramping.

"Between Lizzie running off, father's heartattack and you getting the shit beat out of you. Everything is complete and utter shit." Robert spoke as he tucked in his older brother. "I cannot believe Atlas is the calmest one right now."

"Atlas is here?" Matthew whispered. "His honeymoon phase...."

"Oh he's pissed for sure." Robert replied sighing loudly as he sat on the edge of the bed. "But he's here. He's worried for you and dad and surprisingly....not so much for Lizzie." Robert cocked his head to the side. "I really thought he was going to put a bullet through my chest after I told him Lizzie disguised herself as a boy and ran off on the Duke's ship."

Matthew groaned and sat up. "No word on Azalea?"

Robert sighed and stared at him brother. "Wow...." He reached out and put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "If this is what it means to be blinded by love....I don't want it." He shook his head. "Rejection and everything and you're still worried----"

"As a friend."

Robert scoffed. "Yeah, okay...."

Matthew laid back down with a forlorn expression. "No seriously." He whispered. "As a friend. I'm not the....I'm not the type of guy she wants."

Robert frowned and sighed. "Well fuck her then for not seeing what an awesome person you are. Her loss."

Matthew moved his head to look at his younger brother.

"And I'm not just saying that because you're my brother." Robert clarified. "If you weren't my brother, I would hop on you really quick----"

"How do you manage to be the most disturbing creature on this earth?" Matthew asked his brother, cutting him off from finishing his sentence.

They both chuckled. Robert reached out and ruffled Matthew's hair. "But seriously, you're too good for her." He whispered.

Matthew moved his head to the side, a warm tear slipping down his cheek. He swallowed hard and blinked away the sadness the best he could. "Yeah..." He responded without an ounce of passion in his voice.

**

"Lavender come to bed."

"I can't." She whispered as she flipped through the letters and papers that she'd recovered from Azalea's stash. Love letters, some sweet, some caused her to blush. Names she didn't recognize. But there was one. One of them Lavender could decipehr that it must have been from the Earl of Yetty, Lady Helen's husband. How? How had Azalea gotten involved in these types of affairs? Especially since she was always chaperoned outside the house.

"Lavender----" Atlas walked up to her.

"I need more time----" she gasped as Atlas snatched the letter out of her hand. "What are you doing?"

"It's 3 in the morning." He replied, throwing the letter back on the desk. "Come to bed."

Lavender looked at Azalea's desk. "I'm not tired----"

"I'm not asking." Atlas cut her off. "Nothing's going to be solved tonight. We'll get back to it, first thing in the morning."

She lowered her gaze and stood up stiffly. Grabbing her skirt, she turned and made her way to her old chambers. Atlas following behind her with a lantern. She quietly entered the room and proceeded to unravel the lace around her bodice as Atlas turned and locked the bedroom door.

"I'm not your enemy Lavender." Atlas spoke up behind her. "So don't shut me out. Don't regret us, because your sister was being foolish."

"You have no right to say that!" Lavender whirled around to him.

"She was!" Atlas insisted. "Foolish and selfish!"

Lavender scoffed and shook her head. "I'm not going to listen to this." she tried to walk past him but he grabbed her arm. "Unhand me."

"It's time for bed." Atlas insisted.

Lavender stopped moving and clenched her jaws. "Un....hand....me." she ordered seriously.

"Or what?" Atlas asked as he cocked his head to the side.

Lavender's chest rose and fell. With a groan she brought up her other hand and slapped her husband across the face. She was surprised herself at the anger behind her hit. His head had moved to the side, his lips parted. Those grey eyes slowly lifted to meet hers and her heart skipped a beat.

Atlas grabbed her chin, his thumb and index finger sinking into her cheek. Her eyes widened as he walked her backwards. His eyes a stormy grey as he pushed her back.

Lavender cried out in shock as she fell back on the bed. She found herself panting as she sat up to look at her husband, standing before her.

More anger surged through her as she leapt off the bed and stormed for him, ready to slap him again. She barely took two steps before Atlas shoved her back on the bed, her hands out to catch herself. Short of a growl she jumped back up and used her body to shove him, but he pushed her back, and she toppled onto the bed again.

"STOP IT!" she cried out in frustration in the middle of the bed. Warm tears rolled down her cheeks.

"It's okay." Atlas whispered.

Lavender growled as she rushed towards him, fists out as she hit his chest. Over and over again as tears fell down her face. But he didn't stop her, he didn't block her punches. He stood there, and he took it. And he kept taking it until her fists unfolded. Until her hands gripped his shirt tightly. Until she buried her wet face into his chest and cried against him.

Atlas's arms wrapped around her protectively. He closed her eyes and held her until her movements stopped. Until all she did was hold him as close as their bodies will allow.

Finally he brought his hand up and cupped her face, tilting it up and forcing her to look at him. "You're not mad at me." He spoke softly. "And you should not be mad at yourself for your sister's decisions."

Lavender shook her head. "But I----"

"No." Atlas cut her off. "Not your fault....it's not."

His wife's bottom lip trembled as she tried to hold in the tears. "I should have been----"

"Trust me." He whispered. "Whether you were here or not, Azalea made her choices and you were the best sister you could be."

Lavender shook her head and placed it once more against his chest. "NO....no I wasn't....I forgot about her. I was just...so focused on you...on wanting to be with you. I didn't even know....I didn't even know."

Atlas lifted her chin to pressed his lips against her mouth. Lavender's eyes widened at the intensity behind his kiss. He pulled back slowly.

"Do you regret us?" He whispered softly. His grey eyes seeking hers for the answer.

"Atlas..." she whispered.

"Do you?" He insisted. "Would you rather have stayed?"

Lavender slowly closed her mouth as she saw the fear and pain behind his eyes. She'd hurt him while she was hurting. Of course there was her sister....but now there was also her husband. Her husband who'd protected her, loved on her, shown her what freedom could truly be. To so carelessly throw it away because she was angry at herself and her sister was not fair to him.

"No." She responded and stood on the balls of her feet to kiss him hard. Lavender threw her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss. "No I don't regret us." She whispered against his mouth before kissing him again.

Atlas groaned and wrapped his arms around her waist as he slipped his tongue in her mouth.

"I'm sorry." Lavender whispered as she. brought her hand down and cupped him gently.

Atlas moaned and jerked into her hand as she massaged his hardening member. "Lavender...." His voice trembled as she grabbed him purposefully.

Lavender smiled and her husband lost it. He hoisted her up in the air and she giggled. Her legs wrapping around him as he descended them on the bed. Her back hitting the stiffness of her bed. He kissed her all over, his mouth on her body desperately as she reached for his pants. Atlas lowered his head as his mouth eagerly latched on to her nipple through her dress. Wetting the material as she arched into his mouth.

Lavender opened her legs to accommodate him as she held his head to her chest. Throwing her own head back as he sucked on her nipple. Flurries of pleasure passed through her body as she wreathed beneath him.

"Atlas...." She moaned.

He lifted his head to suck on her neck as one hand worked to shove his trousers down to free himself from it's confinement.

To his surprise, Lavender pushed on his shoulders and turned them around. Breathless she mounted him, her thighs clapsed on either side of him. Atlas moaned in anticipation as she reached between their bodies and grabbed him. Her eyes holding his gaze as she lifted her ass slightly and directed him inside her wetness.