Thank you all my adoring readers...I appreciate you all...and thank you for your opinions on what shall happen...I have it all planned out now...

James gathered his jacket and his satchel before bowing to Oliver.

"She will be most upset to see you gone."

"She will move on." James mumbled, not a single hint of amusement crossing his brow as he bowed.

Oliver bowed back with a large crashing feeling of sadness hitting him. James nodded and stepped through the front door.

The sun was just breaking over the hills, the early morning's dew twinkling in the finely tended grass. James gathered himself into the carriage and was instantly gone leaving behind him the best thing that had ever happened to him…

Elizabeth screamed as she woke up. She had had the worst dream…James had gone. She gathered her robe and flew out her apartments in search of his. She opened the door and called his name just before taking note of the empty wardrobe and dressers. She rummaged through all of his rooms, but not a hint of life or belongings to him had been left behind. She ran down the steps towards the dinning room and thrust open the doors, calling his name once again.

"You won't find him, Elizabeth."

Oliver's voice rang in her mind as she cross the room to him. "Where is he?"

"He left early this morning for Port Royal. He said he had business that called his attention at once."

Elizabeth's heart raced as she franticly prayed for his departure to be quick. "For how long will he be gone?"

"I suspect it won't be for a very long time that we see his young face around here."

Elizabeth sank into a chair as a tear slid down her cheek. She thought she had had none left, but there they were, streaming down her face.

"He proposed?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"And you said no?"

She nodded again.

"Kendal is a good man and will treat you with respect which James has yet to give you. But…you don't love Kendal."

"Women are not allowed to love. They are pawns in a man's game."

"You still have that spice about you Elizabeth…I'm glad I haven't squashed it out of you just yet…"

Elizabeth's mouth could not form even a small curl of her lips. She nodded and left the table back to her rooms and cried the rest of the day alone, gazing out across the lawns. She had said no to James because of Kendal…but her heart ached for James. Kendal had been so kind and giving whereas James viewed her as a child that needed to be taught a lesson. She had to pay her respects to Kendal…he was such a kind man to her…

James had hurt her more times than she had ever been. But James was the only one who minded her personality. Kendal barely knew her…

But fate had brought her this horrible feeling of confusion and she was going to take it by the horns and deal with it. She would worry about her pain some other time. She arose the next day and dressed in an elegant dress of maroon and purple flowers, quickly leaving the solace of her rooms to go mingle with humans even though she still felt completely alone when with them…

James stepped down on the gangplanks and walked over to his waiting carriage. The women of society were suddenly calling to him and inquiring where he had been, but he heeded none of them. Their voices were not Elizabeth's.

James arrived at the mansion that had been vacant for four months to find it covered in dust and darker than the blackest of nights. He had it cleaned and shining within three days and he was soon ready to go to work in the new offices that had been built.

Over the next month, James took to his work at the office and at home. He worked all day and then captured the hearts of many a women, bedding them and taking in what little happiness that they could give him. But none of them were Elizabeth. They were all lifeless and more than willing to jump into bed with him. But Elizabeth had held her ground and laughed with him, defying him and then agreeing, all of her opinions visible when with him.

After lying in bed with Mrs. Adams who was more than beautiful and more of exotic, he left her side to stare at the dark fort of Port Royal.

"Who is she, James?"

"What do you mean?"

"You're lady, my lord." Mrs. Adams propped herself up on his goose feathered pillows and gazed at him with her bright eyes, her blonde hair sweeping over her bare breasts.

"I don't have one."

"Do not lie to me…I know she dwells in England and I see her plainly in your eyes. You were so different four months ago, not looking at any young lady of fine circumstance, leaving with a supposed fiancé. Then you come back and you are more than willing to please the ladies, becoming quite a rack in so short a time."

"Being a rake is of no importance to me."

Mrs. Adams gathered her dress and stockings along with her corset and chemise. "I must be off…but whoever she is…she is a lucky woman."