“They’re here!” Tess squealed pointing out of Liz’s window.

“What?!?” Maria yelped. “We’ve just started to get dressed! Who shows up two hours early for a party? I’ll have to run and tell the butler to put them in the drawing room for the time being…”

“No, Maria,” Tess smiled, “I didn’t mean guests…I meant Michael, Kyle, Max, and Alex.”

At her words, Isabel who had been brushing her hair at the vanity jumped up and ran out of the room.

“She really shouldn’t, she’s in her dressinggown,” Liz said laughing softly.

“Do you think she cares?” Maria laughed with her. “Say the name ‘Alex’ and she runs, no matter what stage of dress she’s in.”

“Well, I’m still fully dressed, I can go down, can’t I?” Tess asked, her hand already on the door.

“Yes, Tess,” Maria said absently, as she waved her maid toward Liz – Maria had insisted that everyone have their hair done by the recently imported ‘Monique’.

“Maria, are you sure it should be an elaborate style?” Liz looked at her friend quizzically in the mirror.

Maria had essentially taken over every aspect of planning the event, including everyone’s clothes and hair. Liz still laughed when she remembered her friend’s two hour debate with herself earlier this week on the centerpieces for the tables, trying to determine which flowers would best match Isabel’s complexion. Tess had joined Maria in her obsessive planning, and Maria had taken her under her wing, spending hours explaining the intricacies of a ‘well planned party’. Everything that Maria did was with the intent of making the occasion perfect for Alex and Isabel.

“Liz, you’re the lady of the house. Next to Isabel, people will be looking at you more than anyone,” Maria said absently as she showed the young French girl how she wanted Liz’s hair styled.

Thankfully, Liz had put her foot down and insisted on a simple blue gown, which she was already wearing, “Maria, thank you, I don’t mean to give you such a hard time. I’m just not used to such an ostentatious look.”

“Ostentatious?!? Good gracious, Liz, this isn’t ostentatious at all! You’re going to be a vision of understated elegance,” Maria grinned at her.

When Monique was finished with her hair, Liz was sent out to get Isabel, as Maria started to explain what she wanted done with the tall blonde’s hair when she arrived. Liz left the room and sent the butler to fetch her sister-in-law, she wasn’t ready to go downstairs yet. She knew Max would be there with the rest of them.

Instead, she sat in the window seat in the hall alcove with a book, waiting for the guests to arrive before making her appearance.

A few minutes later she smiled at Tess who was dragging an obviously reluctant Isabel down the hall. Tess winked at her as she passed, and Liz laughed. She liked Tess, in spite of the Max situation. Liz’s bedroom had become Maria’s pre-party headquarters. Various members of the staff filtered in and out as Maria supervised first Isabel’s preparations and then Tess’s.

Through the window, Liz saw people beginning to arrive and glanced at the hall clock. The party would begin in less than 10 minutes. She knew she would have to go downstairs soon.

“Ok, now let me get a good look at the both of you,” Maria said as she pushed Tess and Isabel out the door of the bedroom.

Isabel looked every bit a goddess in white, and Tess was vibrant in her lavender gown. Maria wasn’t dressed yet, and her hair wasn’t done. Liz was beginning to understand why Maria was always the last one ready for a formal occasion.

“Do I look all right?” Tess asked Maria seriously as she spun around once.

Maria clapped her hands, “You look perfect, now go,” she pointed at the staircase, and Tess hurried away. “And, Isabel…You look amazing. Every man in the room is going to wish he was Alex Parker!” Maria smiled at the girl and gathered her into her arms.

“Thank you, Maria,” Isabel said softly to Maria, hugging her back.

Maria pulled back, and Liz could see that her eyes were red, “Oh, you’re going to make me cry! Now, go, and have the time of your life. Remember, this is your night!”

Isabel nodded and walked toward the stairs. Maria stood watching her go and then turned back into the room closing the door behind her.

Liz sighed, closed her book and stepped quickly into Alex’s room to get one last look at herself in a mirror before she went downstairs.

She was studying her profile when she heard loud footsteps in the hall and moved to the door to see who it was.

Michael was striding purposefully with a grimace on his face toward her bedroom. He threw open the door without knocking. Liz couldn’t see what Michael saw in the room, but the angry scream from Maria and the shoe that flew just past Michael’s head into the hallway spoke volumes. As quickly as he’d thrown it open, Michael closed the door behind him, and leaned back against it in the hall, grinning, listening to the girl inside rant.

Liz couldn’t make out Maria’s words, but she could imagine what was being said. Michael turned and spoke to the door, “Well, I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait. Why aren’t you dressed yet, anyway? Everyone’s arriving, and I needto talk to you.”

More muffled Maria chatter and Michael’s face grew serious, he shook his head and spoke to the door again, “I did everything but ask him outright as well. He hinted that there was something going on, but he was flippant about it. I think he’d have been more serious if he knew.”

What on earth were they discussing? Liz wished she could hear what Maria was saying inside the room. Michael still hadn’t spotted her, so she decided it would be best not to try to get closer to hear better.

Maria was speaking again and he was listening through the door when suddenly she flung it open mid-sentence, “- I was careful, I put it in the context of her and Alex, so I don’t think she’ll know why I asked, and I know that Tess didn’t hear me. So, here’s the question, if it’s only a month-,” she continued talking as she turned and walked back into the room. He followed her, not quite shutting the door behind him.

Liz couldn’t hear either of them so she moved to the door of her room and glimpsed Maria in front of the vanity pulling her hair up into a simple bun as Michael paced behind her. Maria must have sent Monique home before her own hair was done, Liz had noticed that the young maid was growing tired.

“Well,” Michael said, pausing to look at her, “maybe the key is that it isn’t alien-alien. I mean, it’s human-alien, so maybe there’s a balance between the normal human term and the normal alien term.”

Maria turned to him and nodded slowly, “Maybe you’re right. In that case, I guess it’s still a possibility.”

He nodded back at her.

Smirking at herself in the mirror, Maria ‘tsked’ and stood, straightening her dark green gown. Liz smiled, Maria loved to wear green.

Maria cast one last glance in the mirror and shook her head in disappointment and whispered, “Thank God no one is going to be looking at me tonight.”

“What?” Michael looked up quickly, startled out of his thoughts.

“Nothing. Are you ready? We should go downstairs.”

Liz panicked and ran away from the door. She didn’t want them to know she’d been eavesdropping. Hurrying down the stairs, her mind began to try to piece together their conversation – something was up, and she wanted to know what it was.

***

Maria watched with pride as the guests began filing two by two into the dining room. It had been a stroke of genius on her part, deciding the open up the doors between the dining room and the library, so that more tables could be laid out to accommodate all of the guests.

Kyle appeared at her side and held his arm out to her, giving her a teasing smile, “They all told me they’d kill me if I didn’t stick with you tonight.”

She laughed and gave his arm a squeeze as he led her into the room. Mr. Parker had insisted that she and Kyle eat at the head table with the family, so they took their places across from one another with the family members and most important guests. By design she had placed Michael next to her. It was traditional to converse with the person across the table, and she wanted to be nearby when Michael conversed with his dinner companion. She’d been laughing as she’d laid out the place cards.

As he sat on her right, Michael gave her a glare (obviously he knew who made seating arrangement) and then looked across the table, “Are you still enjoying your stay in Sodinay, Lady Maragaret?”

“Yes,” the woman said warily.

Lady Margaret looked nervous, which surprised Maria a little, at the ball she’d had the impression that nothing could rattle the woman.

“That’s very nice,” Michael smiled politely at her, and then asked her a question about the weather.

Maria felt someone brush her left arm and looked to see Max sitting on her left. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. This was what she’d been waiting for. Liz looked absolutely stunning tonight, and she hoped it would be enough for Max to speak up and end their little ‘tiff’ once and for all. She’d seated them across from one another, something Liz was unaware of.

“Miss Parker looks exceptionally beautiful tonight, wouldn’t you agree Mr. Evans?” Maria asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Max blushed slightly and Liz ducked her head.

“I would absolutely agree, Miss Valenti,” Max said looking intently at the girl across from him.

She left them to stare at one another as a waiter put a bowl of soup in front of her. Just as she was pulling her right arm up to grab a spoon she felt someone pinch it. She turned to glare at Michael, he flashed her a smirk and slightly jerked his chin in the direction of Lady Margaret who was animatedly sharing an observation about the ‘quaint local fashions’. He turned to look at her full on, widening his eyes slightly as if he were in misery, then turned back to Margaret.

It took all of her strength to bite back a giggle. Anyone else would have missed the muscle working in his cheek, but she saw it, and knew he was having trouble keeping a straight face as well.

Lady Margaret seemed to have regained all of her composure and confidence and looked a little miffed that Michael had taken his attention off her, even for a second.

“And of course, I am continually amazed at how long it takes for the most recent hairstyles to reach the outer colonies,” she said, a little too obviously directing her gaze at Maria, “it’s almost laughable.”

Maria dropped her eyes to her plate. She hadn’t had time to do anything more than a simple bun. Monique had been dead on her feet, and Maria didn’t have the heart to make her continue working after she was done with Tess. Taking a deep breath, Maria lifted her chin again. Let Lady Margaretmake fun of her if she wanted to. Maria Valenti wasn’t going to hang her head in shame.

“I agree, Lady Margaret, we are so isolated here in the far corners of the earth,” Maria smiled sweetly at the woman, “I’m sure we must seem barely civilized to a woman of your refinement.”

Lady Margaret smiled back just as sweetly, “Your face does seem familiar to me, my dear, but I seem to have forgotten your name.”

Maria was fuming, she was opening her mouth to speak when Michael cleared his throat, “Ahem, I apologize, Lady Margaret, I should have been certain you were introduced. This is Kyle Valenti,” Michael gestured his head toward Kyle who was looking elsewhere, “and his sister, Miss Maria Valenti. I believe you know their grandfather, Lord Whitman?”

Lady Maragaret looked suitably impressed at Michael’s use of their grandfather’s name, “Lord Whitman? The Duke of-.”

“The very same,” Michael cut her off.

“Oh, well, I do not know him personally, only by reputation,” Lady Margaret stammered, and then composed herself, “It is very nice to meet you Miss Valenti.”

Maria smiled politely, “Thank you, Lady Margaret.”

The rest of the dinner proceeded without much conversation in their area of the table. Max and Liz took turns gazing longingly at each other while the other wasn’t looking. Michael occasionally made polite conversation with Lady Margaret. Kyle, who was obviously bored out of his mind, was constantly glancing around the room as though planning his escape route.

At the end of the meal, Mr. Parker rose, and lifted his glass.

“My friends and neighbors,” he began, “I’m sure you are all wondering why I’ve gathered you all here today. It is indeed a very special occasion. Today, with the permission of Mr. Maxwell Evans I would like to announce the engagement of his sister, Isabel, to my son, Alexander.”

There was scattered murmuring throughout the crowd. Most of the people were in shock.

Maria was smiling at Alex who was looking very nervous when she noticed the number of people staring at her.

Of course. She, as the jilted woman, would be the absolute center of attention. So much for ‘no one looking at her’.

Maria raised her chin proudly and stared down anyone she caught looking in her direction, then turned again to smile at Alex.

Mr. Parker was still speaking, “So please raise your glasses with me to toast Alex and Isabel.”

There was a chorus of “to Alex and Isabel” echoing around the room.

She quickly grabbed her glass and took a big gulp. It wouldn’t do if people thought she was refusing to join in the toast.

After the toast, Mr. Parker invited everyone to the ballroom for dancing. Maria sat back in her chair trying to compose herself.

Max stood and asked Liz to join him, and (unable to refuse politely) she agreed. Lady Margaret indicated to Michael that she would like to go to the other room, so he asked her to join him.

Maria looked up to see Kyle watching her carefully across the table, she saw him glance away once in a while to give someone a dirty look. She realized he was trying to frighten off anyone who was staring at her, and the kindness made tears come to her eyes. Giving him the biggest smile she could muster she moved her head slightly toward the ballroom and he stood to escort her.

Her big brother tucked her hand into his arm, gave her a proud smile, and leaned in to whisper, “You’re one in a million, ‘Ria.”

Every time she got completely fed up with her brother and his antics, he would do something like this and make her sorry she was ever angry with him. This time she mostly felt guilty about the fact that she and Michael had been spying on him.

“Thanks, Kyle,” she whispered, feeling a lump in her throat, “I love you.”

He bit his lip and looked down at her, patted her hand, and then led her into the ballroom.

Spotting Michael and Lady Margaret in the corner, Kyle moved toward them. Maria felt as though all of the eyes in the room were on her as she walked at her brother’s side.

She pushed him slightly off course so that she could give very big, very public congratulatory hugs to both Alex and Isabel before he took her to the corner.

Maria noticed the way that Lady Margaret was gripping Michael’s arm with both hands possessively, and she didn’t like it.

Kyle and Michael started a conversation about shipping, and Maria turned to watch everyone crowd into the Parker’s relatively small ballroom. She saw Liz try to pull away from Max more than once, but he would look at her pleadingly and say something that would keep her by his side. Alex and Isabel were beaming, but only had eyes for each other. The music had started, though no one was dancing yet. She had instructed the musicians to play some quiet music while everyone filtered into the ballroom.

She felt Kyle stiffen beside her and looked up to see he was gazing intensely at the door of the room. Maria followed his line of sight to see that Tess had just walked in on the arm of a tall blonde man she’d never seen before. It was obvious that Kyle wanted to go to her.

“Go on,” she said softly, nudging him.

He blushed as he noticed that she could see who his eyes were focused on, “Oh no. I won’t abandon you again.”

“Just make sure you’re back by the end of the fourth dance. I’m not a baby, I can take care of myself.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded and saw that Michael was watching their exchange intently. He was looking at her over Kyle’s shoulder, and he raised his eyebrows expectantly. Obviously he thought this would be a good time to watch Tess and Kyle together.

Maria reached up and patted her brother’s cheek playfully and said, “Go, have fun.”

“All right,” he released her hand, “I’ll be back by the end of the fourth.”

When he was gone, she moved closer to Michael and they both watched him claim Tess from the tall man.

Maria felt a little guilty for spying on them, but she knew that if what she and Michael suspected was true that the group needed to be aware of it.

Kyle wrapped Tess’s arm in his and proceeded to lead her back across the room toward them. Maria was surprised when Kyle turned just before he reached them, and took the girl into the recessed doorway of the study, just a few feet from them. She looked up at Michael and he nodded, freeing himself from Lady Margaret. Without a word, he walked into the doorway, all Maria could see was his shoulder as he leaned to listen at the door. Sucking in a breath sharply, Maria hoped he would be able to hear something.

Maria and Lady Margaret stood quietly, exchanging a polite smile and watched the activity in the ballroom. She could tell that the other woman was not happy that Michael had left without a word.

“Well, Maria Valenti,” Patricia Landon purred as she moved to stand between Maria and her cousin, Lady Margaret. “You’re a free woman now?”

Maria smiled at Patricia, “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Patricia.”

“Don’t know what I mean? You were Alex Parker’s intended. What on earth happened to make him change his mind about you?”

Maria wanted to strangle Patricia.

Lady Margaret seemed to be listening with avid interest and raised her eyebrows in mock sympathy, “You poor thing. He left you for another woman?”

“No. We were never officially engaged. At one time our parents discussed it, but…” she let her voice trail off regretting that she’d let Kyle leave her alone. Maria instructed herself to keep a brave face - she’d made it through everything else tonight, she could survive this.

“Well,” Lady Margaret continued with sarcastic ‘sympathy’, as if Maria had never spoken, “I think it’s awfully sporting of you to come to the engagement party. Some might say that there’s no dignity in such an act, but I say ‘bravo’.”

Maria felt the color rise in her cheeks. Her blood was boiling.

Patricia Landon made a half-hearted attempt to hide a giggle behind her hand, before politely changing the subject, “Well, cousin, I see your escort has gotten away from you again.”

“You know men,” Margaret said lightly rolling her eyes. “Of course, you don’t know men, do you Miss Valenti? I think I remember where I’ve seen you before. You were the little wallflower from the ball my uncle gave for me, weren’t you?”

Maria’s courage faltered. To stand here and be utterly humiliated was almost more than she could stand. The lump was back in her throat. If it weren’t for her pride, she would have turned tail and run.

“I didn’t do much dancing at the ball, no,” she said, somehow keeping her voice even, by sheer force of will.

“Of course,” Lady Margaret smiled, “I remember sending Mr. Guerin over to dance with you,” Margaret grinned wickedly at the look that came over Maria’s face and put her hand out, “No need to thank me. It was the least I could do, I do hate to see a fellow woman in distress.” The woman winked at Maria.

Was it true? Had Lady Margaret sent him to her that night? Her humiliation was complete. It had felt bad enough when she thought he’d come to her on his own, out of pity, but if it was only at the behest of Lady Margaret…

Drawing herself up to her full height, Maria whispered, “Excuse me, please.”

Then, she turned to flee the ballroom.

***

Michael had tucked himself into the doorway and leaned his head toward the door in an effort to hear what was being said inside the room. There was the sound of angry voices, but he couldn’t make out anything that was said, and then after just a few moments he heard a soft moan, and the dull thud of something hitting the floor, followed by more moans. Moving a step back from the door, he debated whether he should stay and wait to see if there would be more speaking later. At least he knew without a doubt that they were ‘intimate’. He knew those sounds, and they were by no means chaste.

Leaning against the wall of the doorway, he watched the people milling about in the room. His ears perked up when he heard someone speaking to Maria just a few feet away. He listened quietly.

“Well, Maria Valenti. You’re a free woman now?”

Michael knew that voice, Patricia Landon. Bitch.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Patricia.”

Michael smiled, Maria could take care of herself.

“Don’t know what I mean? You were Alex Parker’s intended. What on earth happened to make him change his mind about you?”

“You poor thing. He left you for another woman?”

So, now Margaret wanted to get in on it. He could just see Maria’s eyes flashing, he peeked around the corner, hoping to be able to see Maria give the woman a verbal tirade.

“No. We were never engaged. At one time our parents discussed it, but…”

Maria could do better than that!

“Well, I think it’s awfully sporting of you to come to the engagement party. Some might say that there’s no dignity in such an act, but I say ‘bravo’.”

His blood was boiling. If Margaret weren’t a woman…

“Well, cousin, I see your escort has gotten away from you again.”

Good, here was Maria’s opportunity to blow Margaret out of the water.

“You know men…Of course, you don’t know men, do youMiss Valenti? I think I remember where I’ve seen you before…You were the little wallflower from the ball my uncle gave for me, weren’t you?”

Michael forgot about spying on Kyle and Tess. They were ripping Maria to shreds. Why didn’t she stand up for herself?

“I didn’t do much dancing at the ball, no.”

He knew that tone in her voice, he’d heard it a few weeks ago – it was the defeated tone.

“Of course, I remember sending Mr. Guerin over to dance with you. No need to thank me. It was the least I could do, I do hate to see a fellow woman in distress.”

That was it! He wasn’t going to stand by and let her be humiliated again.

He walked out of the doorway, to go to her, but was surprised when she collided with him. Catching her as she stumbled, he held her for a moment to make sure she had her balance.

“Maria?” he wanted her to look at him.

“Yes?” her voice cracked as she stared at the floor.

“Why didn’t you let them have it?”

She scoffed, “Let them have it? For what? Pointing out the truth?”

He could hear tears in her voice. Looking around quickly, he decided to take her out through the main door, hoping she could keep it together long enough for him to get her out of the room.

As he walked, he noticed…

People were staring at her, whispering…

She’d felt humiliated to begin with, then Patricia Landon and Margaret Sheldon had finished her off.

And he had let them.

He hated himself.

They were nearly to the door when he ran into Jim Valenti.

“General,” he said bruskly.

“Michael,” the man nodded, and peered at his daughter.

“She-uh, she’s not well. I need to get her out of here,” Michael told him quietly.

Maria drew in a sharp breath at his words, but he knew she was too choked up to speak.

“Right, I wanted to speak to you anyway,” Jim nodded and turned, leading them out of the room.

Michael followed Jim, still gripping Maria’s hand as he led them to the small family sitting room down the hall.

Once they were all inside, Jim closed the door. Michael led Maria to one of the two sofas in the room and sat down next to her.

Jim sat across from them on the other sofa and spoke gently to his daughter, “What’s wrong, Maria?”

Maria drew in a ragged breath and a tear fell down her cheek, “Oh, just the usual. You know, being the laughing stock of the party.”

“Why do you say that?” her father asked.

“I don’t really want to get into it,” her voice was dry.

Jim looked at him. Michael could tell he was trying to determine if Maria’s behavior could be attributed to something he’d done. Slowly, he shook his head at her father and gave him an exasperated shrug. The older man seemed to understand and nodded his head slowly.

“I wanted to ask you two if I could begin telling people about the engagement. I don’t see any reason to postpone it.”

“That’s fine with me,” Michael said without hesitation, and then looked at Maria, “unless you wanted a party like this, with all of the trimmings.”

The tears were flowing now, and she smiled wryly, “No, I definitely don’t want anything like this. I’d rather just let the word get out and do it quietly.”

Michael hated the tone of her voice, it was the same as it had been two weeks before, it was lifeless.

He realized that he was staring at her and looked away, not wanting Jim to notice, but as he moved his eyes, Jim caught his gaze and held it. The man looked at him intensely and then gave him an understanding nod.

There was no question what the man meant. He knew. ‘Dammit, Guerin, you must be wearing your heart on your face,’ he thought to himself.

Silently he begged Jim not to say anything, and the man nodded again with understanding.

He wanted to wrap the poor crying girl up in his arms and tell her that everything would be all right. He wanted to hold her face in his hands and tell her that she was perfect and that no other woman could ever hold a candle to her.

“When?” the General asked softly.

Michael looked at Maria.

She still wouldn’t meet his gaze, but she answered her father, “Soon. The sooner, the better. No point in waiting.”

“I agree,” Michael said firmly.

“All right,” Valenti said slowly. “How soon is soon?”

“Now. Tonight.”

Michael had no idea why he’d said it.

Maria threw her head up and looked at him. For a moment the hopelessness left her expression, and she stared at him wide-eyed. He stared back into her eyes, drowning in them. She was breathing evenly, and he could see that the tears had ceased.

Somehow, he knew that she agreed with him, although he couldn’t guess what her reasons were. Maybe it was simply resignation.

A wise man would have wanted to give her more time, considering what she’d just been through.

But, he was not a wise man - he was Michael - and he was lost in her eyes…

It was selfish, he knew, but he couldn’t stand to wait another minute. Michael wanted to have the right to take her in his arms and brush her tears away. Maybe she would never want him in return, but he could be her friend. He could give her everything she wanted, take her anywhere she wanted to go. She’d never need to know the truth – she could think of him as a brother…

As long as he was free to do everything in his power to put a smile back on her face…

“Ahem,” the General cleared his throat.

They broke their gaze. Michael had forgotten the man was in the room.

“Yes, tonight,” Maria said, her voice calm.

Jim looked back and forth between them, his voice was shaky, “I wasn’t quite prepared for that. You’re my little girl, I don’t know if I’m ready to…”

The determination on their faces seemed to halt his protests. He nodded slowly and stood, “I’ll go get Jeff. I hate to pull him away from the party, but he’ll want to be present. This will really set off the gossip chain. Should I tell anyone else?”

“No,” they spoke together.

“All right,” Jim said softly as he closed the door behind him.

“Are you sure, Maria?”

“I’ve already answered that question. Are you sure, Michael?”

“I’ve already answered that question,” he paused, and looked at his hands. “I won’t expectanything from you…”

“I don’texpect anything from you.”

“Well, I suppose you should go pack.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to be in this house, Maria.”

“I thought you didn’t expect-.”

“That’s not what I meant. I just don’t want to deal with the questions. Do you?”

“No. I’ll go pack.”

“Need any help?”

“No. Oh, ah…well, actually, I suppose I will. If we’re not telling anyone else, I will need help.”

He stood and held his hand out to her. She stared at him for a moment before she slipped hers inside it.

Michael didn’t know what they had, but they had something. Something more than words could describe. Maybe it would be enough for her, he knew it would be enough for him.

***

Max led Liz out of the ballroom.

“Max…” her voice drifted behind him, but he ignored her.

All night she’d tried to get away from him. He’d had to beg her, plead with her, to stay by his side. They had just finished their fifth dance of the evening when she’d tried to pull away from him again with an excuse of needing to find her father. Many of the guests were leaving, and he knew that she would make an excuse to go upstairs to her room soon if he didn’t stop her.

Pulling her into the kitchen, which he was happy to see was already cleaned and empty, he took both of her hands in his.

“It meant nothing, Liz. There is nothing with Tess.”

She looked at the floor, she’d hardly looked him in the eye all evening, “Max, there’s no need. You don’t owe me any explanations.”

“Yes, I do. Liz, everything that I’m supposed to feel for Tess – well, I don’t feel it for her, I feel it for you.”

Liz tried to pull her hands away, “Please, Max-.”

He heard the back door of the kitchen close. Over Liz’s shoulder he could see a blonde young girl in a tattered dress standing with her back to it. She looked vaguely familiar to him…

“Move away from him, Miss, he’s bewitched you,” the girl’s voice shook, and she pulled her hand up to reveal a gun.

Quickly, Max moved himself in front of Liz.

Liz spoke soothingly to the girl over his shoulder, “I think you misunderstand, I remember you from the fire. You must have been so frightened.”

The girl’s eyes were a little wild, and Max took a tentative step toward her.

“Don’t! Don’t come near me, move an inch and I’ll shoot.”

“Please,” Max said slowly, “we can talk this through. Liz why don’t you go into the other room?”

He didn’t want her here, she had to be safe.

“No! Don’t leave this room! I don’t want to be left alone with him!”

The girl unsteadily waved the pistol again.

Suddenly, Liz wasn’t behind him anymore, she had moved in front of him – her hands up in a calming gesture toward the girl.

“Liz…” he pleaded, and took a step toward her.

“No! Don’t move, or I’ll shoot her!” the girl shrieked.

His heart was pounding, he didn’t want to have to hurt the girl, but he had no choice.

“Shhh…Please, he won’t hurt you,” Liz was speaking softly to the girl, and moving closer to her.

She was blocking him, he couldn’t see the girl, the ball of energy he held in his hand danced, and he moved slightly to the side to try to get a view of the girl.

“Ah! I said don’t move! I’ll shoot her and then I’ll shoot you! You won’t be able to bewitch her anymore!”

Max decided it would be best to throw a shield around Liz and hope he could kill the girl before she shot him.

He was in the process of gathering energy for the shield when he saw Liz’s hand snake out and knock the gun away from the girl. It skittered to the floor several feet away.

Liz had gathered the now sobbing girl into her arms and was speaking soothingly to her, “There, there. I know, you were frightened. You don’t need to be scared. No one is going to hurt you.”

“I saw it,” the girl sobbed, “I saw him wake you from the dead! No one believes me. They’re calling me crazy!”

Liz laughed softly, “He didn’t raise me from the dead. I had bumped my head in the house, and he carried me outside. When I heard him calling my name I woke up. It’s as simple as that.”

The girl was looking at Liz quizzically, and then shook her head, “He looked at you, made you look at him. It was magic, I saw it. He stared at you for a long time, and then you were fine. I know what I saw.”

“We’re in love,” Liz said softly looking the girl straight in the eyes. “He thought I was dying, he was scared. I was scared, too.”

The girl seemed to mull Liz’s words, and although she didn’t look thoroughly convinced, she seemed to accept them, “So, that’s why he looked like that?”

Liz nodded, “That’s why. I’m sure that with the smoke and the fire it could have looked like something supernatural, but it wasn’t.”

The girl nodded again.

“Do you have someplace to go?” Liz asked.

“I’ve been staying with my sister, but they all think I’m crazy. I can’t find work anywhere.”

“Well, you go home to your sister, and tomorrow, come back and see me. We’ll see about finding you a new position. All right?”

The girl smiled at Liz and nodded, and quietly left the house through the back door. He couldn’t believe it. She’d saved his life, without violence, and she’d effectively ended any future threat.

Max finally spoke, “I can’t believe what just happened.”

Liz looked at him and nodded slowly, “At least it’s over.”

“She could have killed you. I was so afraid she was going to kill you,” he let the desperation he’d felt throughout the encounter seep into his voice.

“I was worried that she was going to kill you,” Liz answered him.

Without a word, he strode to her and took her in his arms, his lips blindly finding hers. She leaned into him, and he felt her return the kiss. He opened his mouth, and without hesitation she opened hers to him, allowing him to deepen the kiss. Hands tangled in her hair, he moaned softly into her mouth.

At the sound of his voice, she froze, and pulled violently away from him.

“Liz, please-.”

“No, Max. We both came close to dying, emotions are high, that’s all it was.”

“NO! I heard what you said to the girl, you knowthat I love you.”

“I was just trying to give her a viable explanation.”

“I don’t believe that! Liz, I love you. I’ve never felt anything like this! If you’d never heard that I kissed Tess…I love you, and I’m almost certain that you love me. This is ridiculous!”

Liz looked at him with tears in her eyes, “I thought that you were different. You talked to me, we discussed things, intellectual things. Everything that was important to me seemed to be important to you, too. I felt like you knew me, and I felt like I knew you. And to think that you kissed Tess– she’s completely unlike me, in every way!”

He reached up to brush her tears away, and she didn’t stop him, “Exactly, she’s nothinglike you. Kissing Tess only showed me that I felt nothing for her. I knew there had to be something better. And I was right. I found you. Liz, there will never be anyone else.”

She threw her arms around his neck, and he held her close.

***

Jim Valenti watched quietly as his daughter stood before the vicar with Michael Guerin.

Michael’s voice was steady as he repeated after the short, balding man.

“I do solemnly declare…”

At another time, in another place, Jim had uttered those words. He looked at Maria, she looked so much like her mother…

The vicar had been less than happy when Jim had pounded on his door a few minutes before, the old man had grumbled something about bans being cried and the uncivilized inhabitants of Sodinay when Jim had explained their presence. A few coins pressed in his fist had put a smile on the vicar’s face, though, and then he had cheerfully led them into the small chapel.

On his right, Jim heard a slight catch in Jeff’s breathing as the vicar began to speak to Maria. He turned to look at his old friend and wasn’t surprised to see tears in his eyes. Jeff saw him and turned to give him a small smile. The man loved Michael as if he were his own son.

The sound of Maria’s soft voice startled Jim slightly, and he turned to look at her, only able to see her profile.

“I do solemnly declare…”

The candlelight played delicately on her skin, and he thought his daughter looked like an angel. He remembered Amy’s face during their wedding, and the smile she’d had plastered from ear to ear. There was no smile on Maria’s face, but to Jim it didn’t matter. Her love for the man standing next to her was plain to see in her eyes.

Clearing his throat, the vicar turned again to Michael, placing Maria’s hand in his. Michael was repeating after the man again, saying the words clearly, Jim picked up a hint of pride in his voice.

“With this ring…”

Maria let out a small gasp of surprise and shot a glance at Jim. Her mother’s ring, he always kept it on a small chain around his neck. He didn’t know why, perhaps it was because Amy had worn it around her neck during their secret engagement.

Earlier, as they walked into the chapel, he had squeezed it into Michael’s hand. He knew the thought of a ring had likely slipped both of their minds…

The vicar was speaking to Maria again, and she softly repeated the words of her vows. Jim felt tears stinging his eyes.

“…do take thee, Michael Parker Guerin…”

Maria’s eyes were trained on the vicar, but Michael’s were on her. Jim had seen the same look on Michael’s face earlier that night, it was what had convinced him to allow them to do this.

Shaking his head slightly, he wondered how long it would take them to figure things out for themselves. Maybe days, maybe years, but no one could do it for them.

It was Michael’s turn to speak his vows. Jim marveled at how strong the young man’s voice was. Amy had teased him for years about the way he’d fumbled through their ceremony…

“…do take thee, Maria Rose Valenti…”

The wedding was nearly over. He looked at Jeff again and saw that the man had allowed one tear to fall down his cheek.

On the surface, this appeared to be only an arranged marriage. A rushedarranged marriage at that…

…But to be here, to witness it…It was beautiful in spite of itself. The feelings passing between the young couple were tangible, Jim wondered how they could be so oblivious.

Turning for one last look at Jeff during the vicar’s final words he could see that the other man also felt the undercurrent of emotion in the room.

It was over, Michael and Maria were standing awkwardly next to one another and Jeff stepped up to them, hugging first Maria and then his son.

Jim wrapped his daughter in his arms. Words of fatherly advice spun through his head. All of the things that a father feels he should impart as his child leaves him behind. Holding her closer, he decided she didn’t need his advice. She needed hope.

“Happiness is closer than you think,” he whispered gruffly to her as he pulled back, his hands on her shoulders.

She gave him a weak smile, and he kissed her forehead.

The small group walked outside and a cool night breeze swept over them.

Jeff’s carriage was waiting, with Michael’s horse lashed behind.

Jim watched as Michael untied his horse and led it to where they were standing.

“Why don’t you ride in the carriage with us, son?” Jeff said quietly, obviously not partial the idea of the Michael being away from his bride.

“Ah, you and the General can take the carriage,” Michael said as he swung into the saddle.

Jeff looked confused, but Jim understood. He watched as Maria moved to the side of the horse and Michael reached down for her.

Brushing Michael’s hands aside, Jim grasped his daughter by the waist and lifted her into Michael’s arms. Quietly her husband positioned her in front of him, cradling her in his arms. Maria’s gaze didn’t leave her father.

His little girl…

Michael looked down and caught Jim’s eyes. One look spoke volumes. Jim knew that if he’d searched the world over he’d never find another man who would so completely devote himself to Maria.

Silently Jim nodded, and Michael gave him a look that seemed to mean ‘thank you’.

Then they were gone, riding off into the night.

Behind him, Jeff was muttering, not knowing what was going on. Jim had seen them send some luggage with the butler at the Parker’s. He didn’t know where they were going, and he didn’t really care. They would be fine.

***

Maria lifted her head away from Michael’s shoulder to look around. She didn’t know where he was taking her.

“Where are we going?”

“Just outside of town.”

“That’s not really an answer,” she said, leaning back against chest, tucking her head under his chin.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh.”

She let silence settle over them again.

Their wedding ceremony had been almost surreal. In the space of a few moments her entire life had changed.

Closing her eyes, she let the perfume of the night flowers overwhelm her. In his arms like this, she could almost pretend that it was real. She could fool herself into thinking that he loved her back. That the tone she’d heard when he spoke his vows had been something more than hollow commitment…

***

He held her tightly, thinking she was asleep.

When he pulled to a stop at the front door of the house she surprised him, though, jumping down without a word.

Only Maria could jump effortlessly off a horse whilst wearing a ballgown.

“You bought it?” she asked softly, gesturing to the house.

He nodded. Old Mr. Filmore had died, and his son had no intention of ever returning to Sodinay. The Filmore estate was considered the finest on the island.

“If you don’t like it, we can get something else,” he said reassuringly as she followed him up the front steps.

“It will do,” she said softly.

The butler greeted him, “Evening, sir.”

“Good evening, did our things arrive?”

“Yes, sir, they’ve been unpacked for you.”

“Thank you. Before you go to bed, please inform the cook that we’ll take a late breakfast upstairs.”

The older man nodded, “Yes, sir. Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you,” Michael said dismissing him.

He turned back to Maria who was looking around in curiosity.

“They didn’t leave much furniture, I bought some of the basics, but I thought that you’d like to choose the rest.”

She nodded absently at him, still looking around the front hall.

He gestured at the grand staircase, and started walking up it as she followed him.

Their apartment was at the end of the long hall on the second floor. Michael opened the door to their joint sitting room and took his coat off, throwing it onto a table by the wall. This and the bedrooms were the only fully furnished rooms.

She walked across the room to the opposite wall and gazed down out of the window.

He cleared his throat and she turned to look at him.

He was nervous.

“Uh, your room,” he pointed to the door on the left side of the room, “my room,” he pointed to the door opposite it on his right.

Maria nodded. Not moving from her spot by the window.

“They’ve already unpacked your things. I had them draw you a bath.”

Again she nodded at him, not moving.

“I, ah, I think – at least for the first few days – we should, um, share. The servants, you know, might talk…”

Liar. When had he ever cared what anyone thought?

She saw nothing amiss, she was nodding again.

“So, I’m going to go to sleep. You can come in whenever you’re ready, you won’t wake me.”

Without another word, he turned and strode into his room. Closing the door behind him, he leaned against it and tried to get hold of his emotions.

He shouldn’t have her in his bed. For the first time in his life, there was nothing to stop him from reaching for her. No guilt over Alex, no shame with Kyle, no fear of her father. The only thing keeping him from her was Maria herself. Even shedidn’t have to be an obstacle, he remembered the stream...He knew what to say to a woman, he knew how to look into feminine eyes, he knew what to do…

No. She deserved better than to be tricked into his arms. If she ever came to him he wanted it to be on her own, without influence, he didn’t want her to regret it in the morning.

Undressing quickly, for a moment he considered putting on the heavy nightshirt he wore in England. It was so impractical for the heat of the Caribbean that he decided against it. She’d notice and think he had been worried about it. Besides, his being shirtless wouldn’t have any effect on her.

Turning off the lamp, he hopped into bed and pinched out the flame of the candle on his bedside table. After he’d done it, he realized he should have left it burning, so that she could find her way to the bed, but then he noticed that the moon shone brightly through the window.

He lay on his side facing the door for what felt like hours, waiting for her, trying to sleep.

Then, he saw the light from the sitting room disappear from under the door.

His breath caught when she opened the door and walked in. Her wet hair was loose, hanging down her back, and her small white shift seemed to glow in the moonlight.

For a moment he thought he should pretend to be asleep. Then he decided there was no reason to, and kept his eyes trained on her as she walked to the bed.

She slipped easily under the covers and lay on her back, facing the ceiling, with her arms at her sides on top of the blankets.

Desire was oozing out of every pore of his body.

He wanted her.

No, he needed her.

Then, turning her head to the side, she looked at him. Looked him dead in the eye.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?”

She shrugged, “Everything.”

He didn’t know what she meant. Thank you for marrying her? For the house?

It didn’t matter what she meant, there was nothing to thank him for.

“You don’t need to thank me for anything.”

She held his gaze and bit her lower lip, her voice was soft, “Thank you for understanding.”

Her words moved him, although he had no idea what it was that he understood.

Moving her head back to face the ceiling, she lifted her hands in front of her face and started to play with the ring on her finger.

“She’d be happy that you have it,” he said.

Her fingers stopped playing, and she looked intently at the little golden band engraved with tiny gardenias.

“Do you think so?” she sounded hopeful.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad he always has it with him. To be honest, I’d forgotten about the need for a ring.”

“I remembered.”

She turned to look at him again, “Oh?”

“I had one for you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, can I have it?” she asked, moving to remove her mother’s ring.

He grabbed her hand before she could, “No, leave it. This is worth more than anything I could give you.”

“Well, could I at least see yours?”

“Why?”

She shrugged slightly and turned to face him fully, propping herself up on one elbow, “I want to see it.”

He shrugged and rolled over, reaching for his pants, which were draped over the chair on the other side of his bed table. Pulling them to him, he reached into the pocket and pulled out the velvet pouch. Rolling back to her, he laid the small bag on the bed between them. She didn’t reach for it right away.

“I had it with me, to show Liz. I was afraid you might not like it.”

“Why?” she asked as she reached for it.

“I had it made for you. It’s not really traditional, though, so I didn’t know if you would like it or not…”

“What is it some horribly overdone, diamond encrusted, monstrosity?” she teased.

He reached to take it away from her, and she held it behind her back, slipping it from the pouch and pulling it around in front of her eyes.

She let out a small gasp and stared at it. He knew she hated it. It was an average sized emerald set in a plain, thick gold band.

“I knew you wouldn’t like it. Here, give it back to me,” he reached to take it from her.

Maria looked at him savagely and closed her fist around the ring, quickly slipping it onto the ring finger of her right hand.

“No, it’s mine,” she said, staring him down.

He laughed quietly, “Maria, you can have all of the jewelry you want. You don’t have to wear a ring you don’t like.”

She shook her head sharply and laid back to look at her new ring, her voice was soft, “I didn’t think you knew me so well.”

Her tone made him want to gather her into his arms and hold her, she sounded precious.

“What do you mean?”

“I love emeralds, and I hate gaudy jewelry. If I’d had all of the rings in the world to choose from, this is exactly what I would have chosen.”

He almost didn’t believe her, but her tone was so sincere.

“Oh,” he paused, “it’s a little bit more than that. It, ah, it belonged to Elizabeth – the stone that is.”

“Elizabeth, your sister?”

“Queen Elizabeth.”

She turned slowly to look him in the eye, “It must have cost a fortune. Where did you ever find something like thisin Sodinay?”

He swallowed, something made him tell her the truth, “I’ve had it for some time. I bought it in London.”

“Oh,” she said softly, “I didn’t know you collected jewels.”

“I don’t. I, uh, bought it for you,” her eyes widened at his words. “Ah, well, that is for Alex - to give to you.”

Liar.

“Michael, I-I don’t know what to say…[/i]thank you[/i].”

He shrugged, and propped himself up on one elbow, like she had done earlier.

God, he wanted to touch her.

“Do you regret it, Maria?”

“No,” she said seriously. Then a small smile played on her lips, “Well…”

No. Oh, no. Not already. It had only been a few hours and already she wished she hadn’t…

“What?” he asked gruffly, bracing himself for her answer.

She laughed softly, “It’s just a silly little thing. Liz and I were talking the other day…I - you know, the other day, in the stream?”

Uh oh.

“Yes?” he asked, wondering where the hell she was going with this.

“I thought you were going to kiss me,” she smiled wryly, “stupid of me, I know. Afterwards, Liz and I were talking, and I said that I was about to be married and I was probably going to go to my deathbed without ever being kissed. So…if I have a regret, that’s it. I wish someone had kissed me, before...”

Relief was washing over him in waves at each one of her words. She’d decided that she was mistaken about him wanting to kiss her – that was a good thing. Obviously this was not a large regret, and her tone said that she was mostly joking. And, somewhere inside, he was perversely happy that she’d never been kissed before.

“You’ve never kissed anyone?”

She shrugged and looked at the ceiling, “You, sir, are addressing Sodinay’s official wallflower - of course I haven’t kissed anyone. Well, Alex and I tried once before he left, but he missed and hit my nose, it was a disaster,” she laughed again.

He couldn’t help but smile, she was in a joking mood, and he was glad, “Well, you’re not exactly a wallflower. I seem to recall dancing with you at least once. And, didn’t a certain man – who, incidentally, I will never mention again – dance with you as well?”

Maria smirked, “Yes, you danced with me, at the behest of ‘Lady Margaret’.”

“If you believe that then you’re an even bigger fool than I thought you were.”

Her eyes flashed, “No need to be rude.”

“No need to be stupid. She certainly didn’t suggest that I dance with you, and she had no idea where I was going when I walked away from her.”

He thought she’d get angry with him, but instead she smiled at his words, “Easy tiger, I didn’t mean to insult you.”

Michael picked up his pillow and dropped it on her face. She giggled and pushed it off, leaving it between them.

“I wonder what everyone will say when they hear that we…”

She smiled, “Well, thankfully they’re all pretty focused on themselves right now. Otherwise, they’d be beating our door down in the morning.”

He laughed and laid back, lacing his hands behind his head, “Well, Liz doesn’t seem too caught up in anything, she’ll be wondering-.”

Maria’s head popped up on the other side of the pillow as she propped herself up again, “Oh, no. I set it up so that she and Max couldn’t avoid each other tonight. At this very minute they’re probably-.”

Michael sat up straight and glared at her, “Probably what?!?”

She scoffed at him, “Well, probably not that.”

“I hope not!”

Her face grew thoughtful, “Although…”

“Maria…” he growled.

“Michael…” she imitated his tone.

“Should I go warn my father?”

“Oh, that would look good. On your wedding nightgo and make sure your sister’s virginity is safe. If I’m not already a complete laughing stock, I will be now.”

His eyes grew wide. At her insinuations, and her language, “Maria! I can’t believe that you-.”

“Oh, stuff a sock in it.”

“Tell me that you were joking about Liz.”

“I’m not joking about her fixing things with Max, but - come on Michael, you know your sister. She’d never.”

Thinking rationally for a moment, Michael realized that she was right. Liz would never.

He laid back down and put his hands behind his head again.

“What is your father going to think? One night married to me, and you’re talking like a bawdy sailor.”

She laughed, “I’m supposed to be losing my ‘innocence’ tonight, aren’t I?”

His eyes flew open. What on earth did she mean by that? Was she asking him to…?

“Wha-.”

“I’m joking, Michael. You’re really going to have to lighten up,” she smiled and leaned over the pillow to look at him. “Would you really have gone to your father in the middle of the night?”

He laughed, “I don’t know. Granted, it’s not normal wedding night activity…”

She smiled at him, he knew she liked it that he hadn’t edited his words for decency.

“I think this wedding night left the ‘normal’ track quite some time ago,” she laughed.

“Yeah,” he chuckled.

“So, have you ever kissed anyone?”

He gave her a ‘you’ve got to be joking’ look.

She blushed, “Oh, of course, that was stupid, you’ve probably even…”

He raised his eyebrows and nodded slightly, with an ‘of course I have’ look. If she wanted to play this game, he’d let her. Seeing her blush again made him smile. She was the opposite of the old adage – Maria was more like a sheepin a poorly fitted wolf suit.

“Any more questions?” he asked, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

She was blushing furiously.

He knew she’d back down.

He was wrong.

“So are you going to be able to stand not doing ‘it’ever again - for your whole life?”

Michael was floored, he hadn’t even thought about it. And to think she’d had the nerve to ask…

She looked amused at having flustered him after he’d done the same to her.

He thought about dropping the subject, glossing over it. But, he just couldn’t let her have the satisfaction…

He raised an eyebrow and grinned wickedly, “I suppose you’ll be the first to know if I can’t.”

Her eyes were wide for a moment, and then she dropped down out of site on the other side of the pillow.

He laughed for a moment, and then considered that there could be lasting damage from his words, “I’m joking, Maria.”

Liar.

“You’re really going to have to lighten up,” he mimicked her statement from before.

She peered at him over the pillow, “I’m not scared of you.”

Her eyes were playful.

He grinned at her, “Well, what are we going to do about Kyle and Tess…?”

Michael smiled as he watched her launch into an elaborate plan she’d cooked up to determine the truth about Tess's possible pregnancy.

They were still talking when the sun came up.

***