"The Circus is disappointed, but it is understandable why you failed," the Duke of Whitton said, voice grave. His eyes, on the other hand, spoke nothing but disappointment as he held his son's gaze. "Even Greene did not see the attack coming."

"It means that information about our mission had reached Belcourt," he told the man. Frustration was not even the correct term to describe how he felt. For all he knew, they had been careful. He hated to think someone inside the Circus had deliberately leaked information.

"The moment you doubt your comrades is the moment you start dying," his father snapped. "The Circus had no traitor."

He ignored the man. For years, he learned how to do it.

"I heard that Chester is Caroline's new flower."

"Who told you—"

"Remington. Who else?"

His jaw tightened. "Belcourt did not like my move."

"You appeared desperate. In their eyes, you applied to be a gentleman for reasons similar to the others. Starting to act like a caring fiancé does not ring well with Belcourt."

"I will keep that in mind."

His father's brown eyes were almost golden against the glare of the sun. "Are you keeping your Belle satisfied?"

"Yes."

"Do you take her to bed when she wants to?"

Gritting his teeth, Trent glared at his father. "I do not think I have to prove my abilities in bed to you, Father."

The duke shrugged and turned on his heels. He never took the chair beside Trent's bed. "St. Vincent said that you will have to stay here a few more days. I have already told people that you went away to hunt with Green and Garmont. Should anyone notice your injury after your discharge, you tell them you were in a hunting accident."

"I will take care of the details," he sarcastically intoned. "You did not have to bother finding the perfect excuse for our incompetence. That was kind of you."

"Your derision ought to be addressed elsewhere," the duke snapped, almost hissing. He eyed Trent from head down. "See that you attend the Islefield ball. Recuperate fast." Without another word, the man put on his bowler hat and left.

Trent closed his eyes, taking a breath to calm himself.

"You should have known better than fail that mission," Caroline's familiar voice startled him, sending him to sit up in bed and glare at her.

She had on a blue hat that covered her pathetic hair, her smile glowing against the ray of sunlight coming through the window behind him. "What are you doing here?"

"I should have known you'd fail this first mission." She let out a dramatic sigh. Her eyes were filled with laughter as she added, "Your father and I share the same sentiment. We are both very disappointed."

He fell back onto the bed. "You heard."

"I was outside, waiting for him to leave. He did not even see me when he walked out."

"His vision echoes his narrow mind, I am afraid."

She snorted, and he felt her hand around his good arm. "Where are you hurt?"

"I'm doing better than the other two, Carol. Fret not."

"I am not worried, Trent. I am only curious. Where are you hurt?"

His lips curled and rolled his head to have a good look at her. "What did you tell your maids?"

"That I have somewhere to go. They believe me all the time."

"Or they may have followed you the moment you left."

"I know they did not. I waited at the park to see if they would. In fact, I am considering making them my comrades. They seem very loyal to Aliya."

He groaned. "Aliya is still being tested by the Circus, Carol."

"I know, but I truly think she is not like your Belle. From the stories I heard about her, I believe she is deserving to be a St. Vincent and you know Natalia St. Vincent. She would have already dug a grave for her daughter-in-law if she found her lacking."

He sighed. "I am yet to decide with the Circus about Aliya. For now, remain wary."

She leaned closer and rested her elbow on the bed beside his arm, her chin on the heel of her palm. "You look tired."

"And you look like you have been sleepless all night with worry."

She rolled her eyes. Then she growled. "Robert is useless. He did not even tell me what happened to you."

Clearing his throat, he studied her face. "Does he visit you often?"

With a scoff, she bared her teeth at him. "Not if I demand it."

"He is a busy man."

She traced his brow with the finger of her free hand. "Would you like some fruits?"

"Did you bring any?"

"You dimwit, why would I?"

"Then why did you offer?"

"Greene has a basket of them beside his bed," she said, gesturing at the bed in the corner of the room.

"I would like an apple."

She stood and quietly stole one for him, the sleeping viscount forever innocent of the deed. She also borrowed the knife and peeled the apple beside his bed while he watched.

"I started stalking our Belle," she said.

"Carol, I would rather that you do not—"

"I want to," she said, pausing to give him a look. "I want to know why she did what she did."

"If there is anyone she is working with or for, Carol, I do not think they would be careless."

She shrugged, feeding him a piece of the apple. As they chewed, he felt her gaze on him. "Your father said you should bed her."

Trent did not reply.

"I think he is right. Jade is being a witch of late because you have not seen her in a week."

"I'll deal with her the way I know how."

"I think she will need more than just a peck."

He narrowed his eyes. "I believe we have decided not to talk about this."

"Yes, of course," she retorted, shifting in her seat. "I will also attend the Islefield ball with Robert."

"Perhaps you should not."

"Why? Because you do not want me to witness you and Jade together?"

"Now, why would I worry about that?" he asked, angry now because why did she have to constantly bring up Jade? "You have said many times before that what I do with my Belle is acceptable to you. In fact, as I remember, you gave me total freedom to have as many lovers as I wanted."

Her forest green eyes rolled. "Yes, I did." She pushed a piece of the apple into his mouth. "Then I can also receive more flowers if I wish, yes?"

Trent forced a smile. "If you so desire, my lady."

Her lips thinned. "Thank you."

Trent shrugged. "You have total freedom, Carol. I am but your most avid supporter."

"How kind. Thank you."

She stood, and he frowned. "Where are you going?"

Without giving him a reply, she walked back to return the knife on Greene's bedside table. Returning to him, she smiled, her face shadowed by her hat. "I have to go now. I only had to have proof that Robert was not lying about you not being dead."

He nodded, and she bent down. He knew she meant to kiss his forehead, but at the last moment, he saw the hesitation in her eyes. Moving his head, he thought he should pretend that she did not mean to do what she wanted, but the move was just in time for her lips to land very close to his lips.

They felt it—the jolt. He blinked as she quickly straightened and forced a smile on her lips. "I will see you at the ball?"

"If I recover."

She eyed his shoulder. "You will in no time." Giving him another awkward smile, Caroline curtsied, leaving Trent to scowl.

Did she just bloody curtsy? Was she insane?

⠒♣◆♣⠒

Caroline had nothing else to do that afternoon, so she told Fatima that she would go for a walk with Ruby.

She did not know where Ruby was, but she knew where to go.

Clad in an unassuming grey dress and a black hat, she walked around Jade's neighborhood.

She liked this stalking game. It was a kind of entertainment she had never tried before, save for when she and Trent once followed her governess to the attic to meet one of the footmen. She remembered being scandalized at the age of eleven that Trent had to drag her back downstairs and explain to her that grown men and women did things children could not yet understand.

As she wondered about what happened to that governess of hers, Caroline saw Jade walk out of her villa, dressed in black like a widow, her face hidden by a black mesh veil that hung over her hat, covering her face. The woman, apparently, was an expert. No one would approach a grieving widow anywhere.

Caroline stayed far enough from Jade with an open parasol to block the sun and also block her from view.

It was only after a while she realized Jade was heading toward Ruby's villa. Caroline was about ready to give up and return home, thinking Jade may only drop by her friend's place, but she realized that Jade was not crossing the street. In fact, the woman was doing exactly the same thing Caroline was earlier—she waited and watched.

Caroline found a café nearby and took a table by the window where Jade would be visible.

An hour. Two. Nothing seemed to be happening. She could see that Jade was becoming more restless.

Beginning to think this was getting tedious, and also secretly praising Jade's patience and perseverance, Caroline debated with herself if she should go home now.

But finally, Ruby walked out her villa, clad in a simple blue dress.

Jade followed her friend, but Caroline did not.

She stayed in the café. Spying on someone spying on another was not a good idea.

For now, she knew a few things: One, Jade did not trust Ruby or she may be a mission. Two, Ruby must be hiding something. Three, Belles did not trust each other as much as they would like to believe.

She could not trust both women.

Gabrielle was a Soldier and could not be trusted either.

With that thought in mind, Caroline walked back to her villa.

Fatima and Carrie were not in residence, but Shay was.

"Where did they go to, Shay?"

The flicker of panic that crossed the cook's eyes told Caroline something was amiss.

"Shopping, my lady," Shay replied.

Caroline nodded. "Please tell Fatima to come and see me the moment she returns."

Just as she instructed, Fatima came to her nearly three hours later. "You were gone too long, Fatima."

"I know, my lady. I'm sorry. Carrie and I have not been out of Belcourt for quite some time since Aliya left. I guess we got carried away looking around downtown."

"Very well. I will be attending the Islefield ball with my flower. As expected, you will accompany me."

The woman blinked, making Caroline curious. Why did it seem as if Fatima did not want to go? "Of course, my lady. We need to start packing as soon as the rest of your gowns arrive. Such balls can be quite tedious."

"I heard."

Caroline watched the maid's hand absently smoothen her apron. "I think I will need to concoct a few things as well. We will ride a ship to Islefield. I always get sick when I am on board one."

Caroline's smile disappeared the moment Fatima exited her bedchamber.

The only way to make her life as a Belle easier was if she found an ally amongst her own maids. Jade was obviously in cahoots with her own; her own carriage driver should have known what Jade did to Caroline in the woods.

Fatima, Carrie, and Shay seemed loyal. Most of all, they were loyal to Aliya. Not just Belcourt, but someone they once served.

Never once had Fatima strongly insisted to accompany Caroline whenever she left the villa. She would try to offer, but she would never insist. It was as if she was eager for Caroline to leave.

Why?

So she could leave as well. But to where?

And Fatima seemed to have a secret. Her right hand was always smeared with ink. Unless the lady was a secret writer, she was writing letters.

And Carrie was in on the secret because she would probably be the one to deliver those letters. And if Carrie and Fatima had a secret together, Shay would most definitely be a part of it.

But to whom do they send the letters? It could not be Aliya. The woman was not a known Royal wife. She could still freely meet with other Belles. But could she meet with her previous maids? If so, where?

Caroline sighed, wishing her theory was not going astray. It was too good, after all. She would love to be right at least once.

Perhaps she would uncover more at the Islefield ball if she went there with Fatima. Jade and Ruby would also be there. Aaron Stanway would be in attendance along with the Duke of Islefield, and many others.

Everyone on one island.

Caroline could not wait!