JAMES

I was heading to my office at the dockyard. I had a lot to do with the new company, although I wasn't completely sure that it's been a good idea to leave Lina and Brace alone with Miss Bow.

My only hope was that Lina already left to the hospital and won't even met her.

"I was passing, from Greenwich." A man snapped me out of my thoughts as he started to talk and as I took a look at him I recognized, it was Mr. Geary. "I have business." He added seeing my questioning face.

I only hummed opening the old warehouse's door leading him inside.

"I see in the Gazette you now have a ship." He said while I took off my coat and prepared for work.

"Mm-hm."

"At 7:00 AM every day I read the Gazette." He explained but I couldn't care less. "My wife eats toast. I look for newly purchased ships. I underwrite for Lloyds…" He continued but I wasn't in the mood for a chit-chat.

"Coffee?" I asked him harshly. He seemed taken aback at me tone, but he just shook his head.

"No. I'm willing to take care of the insurance of your ship." He finally told me his reason of visiting. "I can make sure the hull is tarred properly they don't miss a layer and pocket the change. The salt and worms will get through and you'll sink off Africa." He guessed that's where I am going.

"Ah, but my business is not in Africa, it's out west." I enlightened him as I poured some coffee for myself.

"In my profession, we believe in luck." He said still trying to convince me. "In the business of ship insurance, luck is the Goddess of Profit. Your luck, Mr. Delaney, is poor. Your record is poor." He added as I sat down with my hot drink. "You sink ships. You're as good as a hole in the hull. I did check the records. You were aboard a ship that sank off Africa." He told. "A slave ship?" He asked as I put down my cup on the table in front of me.

"I believe that a man is capable of change." I started slightly nodding. 'And I also believe that that is of no consequence to you." I added getting my pipe out of the drawer. "And whilst you're here, this document will show you that my ship is already insured by an insurance broker by the name of Cope." I took out the contract too. "And, if you look very closely, you will probably recognise my handwriting." I showed him my signature at the bottom of the paper. "Hm?" I asked that are we good, as he just stared at me first then he finally turned around being ready to leave.

"I wonder, does the offer of coffee still stand?" He changed his mind taking a step closer.

"Mm." I agreed standing up to provide him the beverage.

"You know it excites me." He declared as he sat down. "When I realise the woman beneath me is capable of what she feels." He explained seeing my confused face as I then knew he's talking about my other sister. "She can seem so cold, at least, she used to. Now I know the secret in her head." He told me what I've known for ages. She loved me, but not the way a sibling should another. "And it makes me so hard and so angry." He admitted it as I gave him his coffee. "And she likes it. Since you came back, our fucking has become almost murderous." He told me looking in the eye, but I have no idea why would it bother me… "It exhausts us. To think I have this wicked thing beneath me and it's my lifelong duty to punish her. It exhausts us both. A beautiful exhaustion." He said as I returned his gaze. Is he trying to make me angry or jealous? "I didn't come to sell you insurance, Mr. Delaney. I came to thank you." He said grinning like he's really satisfied with himself.

"You're welcome, Mr. Geary." I nodded honestly as the smile froze on his face. "I can assure you I have no interest in my sister's love life." I added, lighting the tobacco in the pipe as he only gaped at me. He obviously thought that the feelings are somehow mutual between Zilpha and me. He couldn't be more wrong.

"Right." He got himself together eventually standing up for leaving. "But you know, Zilpha's fierceness is nothing compared to Adelina's." He noted turning back from the door. I stopped smoking as the breath choked on my throat. What is he talking about? I gazed him with narrow eyes while an odd pain raised in my chest. "She is truly a wild thing." He added with a smirk shaking his head like he would be remembering. "And breaking her was the greatest pleasure of my life." He delivered the last punch right to my stomach before he shut the door behind himself.

ADELINA

"You shouldn't be here, it's your day off." Dumbarton told me as I entered his office. "I can't pay you more, and I believe you don't even need money." He warned me frowning but I just shook my head, that it was not my intention.

"It's okay." I stepped closer to his table where he was sitting reading records of the patients. "I just couldn't stay home." I answered not really wanting to tell more details, but he nodded understandingly.

"In this case, care to discuss some files?" He asked me with a small smile on his face gesturing me to sit down too.

"Sure." I returned the smile gladly.

"Adelina!" We heard the male voice shouting demandingly as we looked at each other confused. "Adelina!" He continued.

I recognized James' tone as he got closer.

"I wish to speak to my sister." He stated peremptory though his wish was more like an order as he stormed into the room. He only glimpsed at me glaring Dumbarton instead highly suggesting him to leave. The doctor looked at me questioningly but I just nodded.

I had no idea what was his problem, but I was sure that disagreeing would only make it worse.

"What's wrong?" I asked softly as Dumbarton left placing my hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

"Drop the act, Lina!" He disengaged himself grabbing my arm as he pushed me rough on the wall. "Why did you lie to me?" He asked me as his grip tightened squeezing me harder. I knew it wasn't intentional, just his rage made him blind. I've never seen him like this.

"You're hurting me…" I reminded him as he immediately loosened the press letting me go. "And now what are you talking about?"

"Your friend, Mr Geary paid me a visit today." He started forcing himself not to raise his voice. "He come to boast about fucking both of my sisters." He said repressing his anger but it only made him more terrifying. "Which is only acceptable with one of them." He continued as I casted my eye down in shame while a tear rolled down on my cheek. "And it's not you, my little Lina." He added quietly as he gently lifted my chin up wiping away the tear. "Is that true?" He asked me but seeing my painful face he already got his answer.

"James, wait!" I yelled after him as he was about to leave. With this state of mind I had no doubt what he's going to do. "You can't kill him." I blocked his way just to be sure, he's staying, but he just looked at me humming stepping away. "Jay, please…" I asked pleading grabbing his arm.

It would've been equal to a suicide. Thorne was an influential man, killing him wasn't something James would've get away with.

"You're protecting him like you've enjoyed your time together." He mocked me sorely, turning back to me as I slapped him hard on his face before I could even think. How dare he accuse me with such thing? That night still haunted me and he knew it pretty well. Saying that was low even if it was just the frustration talking.

"You know what? Go on." I folded my arms in front of my chest as my palm still prickled and ached from the hit. "Go, and walk into his trap willingly. Get yourself killed." I shrugged turning my back to him. It was obviously a bait. Why else would he just showed up at James' bragging about his trophy when he kept this secret hidden for so long very well? "What do I care?" I asked still being mad.

He remained silent for a moment then I felt his hand being placed on my shoulder softly as he gently tried to turn me to face him.

I shook his hand off not even looking at him as I bit my lips in agony. Even though I'd love to run into his arms forgetting this whole thing, I was too angry to do that.

He didn't force me further understanding that I need some space as he finally left.

I went home early not waiting for James. After his visit I wasn't able to concentrate. I replayed the conversation we had over and over again, and I knew we both crossed the line. We both said and did things none of us meant truly.

What's happening to us?

I was trying to focus on the book I was reading as the unwelcome thought of my brother getting caught while choking the life out of Thorne interrupted me every minute. Fortunately I wasn't alone. Brace were preparing for the evening and Miss Bow was reading her lines for the performance. Otherwise I would've gone crazy.

Then James entered the living room taking a weight off my mind. He was obviously grumpy as he threw himself down on a chair next to the table, but at least he was alive. I quickly turned my gaze away from him back to my book as he caught me staring.

For a moment longer I felt his eyes on me, making my heart pound in my chest then he turned to the map he brought with himself.

"Madam." Brace called Lorna.

"Mrs. Delaney." She corrected him being annoyed.

"Do you drink wine?" Brace asked her as he already poured me some.

"Not before a performance." She shook her head irritated even by the question. Seems like everyone is in one hell of a mood…

"There'll be no performance tonight." James announced it checking the map what he unfolded over the table.

"There will be a performance or there will be a riot in Covent Garden." Miss Bow begged to differ not even looking up from her papers.

"Until the necessary arrangements have been made, I advise that you go absolutely nowhere." James added suggesting but his voice was still stone-cold. "As of now, you are a weakness." He told her as his phrase caught my attention. A weakness?

"These fantasies elude me..." Lorna commented sarcastically as I wanted to focus on my reading more than ever. I wouldn't need to hear their argument.

"If you go outside, they will find you and they will find a use for you." James explained finally looking up. I could tell that he got annoyed of her no sense.

"I am seldom used." The woman now answered. "There is no they and there will be a performance." She get tired of the pointless conversation. She stood up from her armed chair heading back to her room.

"Are you armed?" James asked in the end.

"Get me a carriage to Drury Lane, would you?" Miss Bow ignored my brother's question as she left the room.

"You have to get that woman out of this house or I swear I will kill her and her bloody canary." Brace pressed the words through his clenched teeth.

"Brace..." I placed my hand on his forearm in an attempt to calm him. If someone, then I hated that woman but that wasn't an option.

"Brace, get two carriages." James asked the butler as both of us looked at him in disbelief.

What?!

Eventually Brace moved first getting out of the room to fulfil the request leaving us alone.

I couldn't say anything. I was too shocked. Is he really going to babysit her and follow that little actress like a miserable dog? Why did he even care?

James looked at me apologizing and for a moment I saw pain in his greenish eyes.

"Lina."

I just shook my head as I closed my book and stood up wanting to return to my bedroom. That was enough for me for tonight, but James stood in my way blocking the escape route.

"Look, I know, it hurt you." He told me barely audible as he leaned closer to my ear. Sometimes I just hated how easily he could read me.

He was right. All I really wanted was him staying with me. I wanted to apologize for what happened at Dumbarton's office. I wanted to make things right between us again. But as I met his searching gaze I knew it just won't happen…

"Yet, it won't stop you from doing it." I smiled bitterly realizing he's already made up his mind.

I took a step aside passing him as I started to go to my room. I wiped an undesirable tear away in frustration as I climbed the stairs.

JAMES

I watched Lina's receding silhouette as the knot in my stomach was getting unbearable.

"I'm gonna make it up to you, I promise…" I murmured sighing as I prepared for the night out.

I arrived at the theatre late and the show was already going. Madame Vestris… Well, let's just say that the audience wasn't there for Shakespeare but more like for the inappropriately underdressed young woman.

The crowd started to chant Vestris' name as Lorna was giving her performance. Eventually she get annoyed and left the stage giving space for the young girl.

I followed Miss Bow to the street. She headed home by foot in the pouring rain as a cab pulled over and she get in. I hurriedly took a carriage too and tracked them.

But yet again, I arrived late.

I saw Lorna and her new company standing on the street. A man was holding her down, but she managed to grab her knife and cut the attackers face.

"There appears to have been a misunderstanding." I fired my gun into the air to get their attention then I pointed it at the man. "Somebody has given you the wrong name." I told them. It was ordinary that the rich and influential people paid for the actresses for other services too. Usually their managers sold them out for good.

"I'm the fucking Duke of Richmond." The injured man shouted. "That bitch is dead." He threatened her as she quickened her steps to get behind me. "That bitch is on the gallows before Mass!" He added as we left the scene.

"Back there." I ordered Lorna to get into the alley. "Perhaps now you will listen to me." I started as I pulled out a little sack from my pocket. "This diamond this is yours. I have a man that will take you to Paris and you will stay there until this business is done." I finished as she was just staring at me. She was scared as hell but she still stood my gaze. "You are a weakness." I repeated myself seriously, yet she just gave me one of her death glare before she left me.

ADELINA

"How many people know that she's here?" James asked Brace as I approached them from the stairs. I've heard him arriving home and I wanted to talk to him. Lorna got home a half hour earlier in deep shock. I barely could make her talk…

"Apart from me and the Adelina, no-one." He shook his head as I stopped at the living room's entrance. "Why?" The butler asked being concerned.

"Because tonight she stabbed the Duke of Richmond." I answered his question as he startled. They haven't see me coming and wasn't expecting me at all.

"For what reason?" Brace asked me horrified turning around to see me, but I only stared at James. He seemed troubled too.

"Because that was their plan." He told returning my gaze.

"They knew that she was not a whore and that she would fight back." I reasoned as James nodded taking a sip from his brandy.

"And now they have a good reason to come for her." James made the conclusion. "And they will come." Ha added and I couldn't agree more.

Silence fell on us as we all were deep in our thoughts. Poor thing, I felt sorry for her. Despite all her annoyingness no one should experience such thing…

"Why after all, I guess I should light the fire in her room…" Brace said feeling guilty. "Excuse me." He murmured then he left the room hurriedly.

I walked close to the fire for some heat right next to James.

"She was soaking wet." I started gazing into the flames. "She was so terrified and lost…" Her life was on stake. For what she did they could easily hung her. "Now I understand what you meant before leaving." I continued after a pause as I looked at him examining. He said she's a weakness, and now I knew why.

"Hmm." He only hummed also starting the fire blankly as I bit my lips.

"Am I?" I started shakily as he finally looked at me frowning. "Am I a weakness too?" I asked again with a faint voice. It was a stupid question though, of course I was.

"Lina…" James finally whispered my name not denying it either. It would've been useless anyway.

"Right." I nodded gulping hard as I pinned my head down. I don't know why it hurt. I knew it ever since he told it to Lorna. Maybe in the pit of my stomach I knew it all along.

"My little Lina." He repeated softly lifting my chin up, yet I refused to look at him. I didn't want to see the guilt in his eyes. I didn't want to hear his apologizing.

I was such a fool.

"You're the safe haven I couldn't even dare to dream of." He confessed quietly cupping my face in his hands as I finally raised my eyes to meet his. His simple honesty caught me off guard and I couldn't help but a small smile crept across my face.

"Then it fortunate you don't have to." I said placing my hand over his gently caressing it. "I'm right here with you and I always will." I stood on my tiptoe to give him a small kiss on his cheek, but I couldn't help myself. I felt the corner of his mouth on my lips as I placed the kiss inappropriately close to his lips. Even that little part seemed painfully soft and irresistible…

I blushed intensely at my boldness as I quickly pulled away avoiding James' eyes carefully.

"Good night." I mumbled still being embarrassed then I hurried back to my room with a burning face.