Stephanie was ready to scream

Stephanie was ready to scream. She had been in the carriage alone since just after dawn. At first she had tried to sleep, but every time she would start to doze off the wheel would hit a dip and the carriage would shake. She envied James. He was riding his own horse alongside the carriage. Stephanie would do anything to get out of the carriage.

The carriage finally pulled to a stop in front of an enormous house. Home, Daphne thought for Stephanie. This was Daphne's childhood home. Her son Robert had been visiting for nearly three weeks. A footman helped Stephanie from the carriage. A dark haired boy ran from the front door to greet them.

"Mother!" he yelled exuberantly as he hugged Daphne. Stephanie suddenly realized that Robbie was why James had not demanded a divorce. The child obviously loved Daphne very much.

Stephanie kneeled down in front of the boy and looked into his eyes. He had Jericho's eyes too. No, he had James' eyes Stephanie corrected herself. "I've missed you so Robbie," Stephanie said, surprised to feel tears in her eyes. She hugged the boy tightly. "Go say hello to your father."

Robbie ran to James and was promptly swung into the air. He giggled with laughter. James was smiling widely as he set the boy down on the ground. The smile made James devastatingly handsome. Stephanie shook her head to herself as she realized once again James was Jericho in a sense.

"If it isn't my beautiful sister," a voice said from the door. Stephanie looked up to see a man with dark blonde hair and green eyes. And a familiar smile.

Shane, Stephanie thought happily. "Gray!" Stephanie exclaimed. "You look wonderful!"

Gray walked down to her and embraced her tightly. "He's a good boy Daphne."

"How is mother?" Daphne asked.

"Better," Gray said. "Father's death was a shock to her. Having Robbie around worked wonders."

"Gray," James said, a friendly smile on his face.

"I hear you've come to take my nephew away to London," Gray said, shaking James' hand.

"He needs a holiday," James laughed. "I'm sure he's been working hard here."

"Luncheon is ready," Gray said, "then you can get back on the road."

"Can you have someone she to Robbie's things?" Stephanie asked. Robbie came and stood next to her. She lightly draped her arm around his shoulder. She felt a surge of the love Daphne had for this boy. If Daphne and James could create something as perfect as this boy, then why would Daphne want away from James so badly?

An hour later, Stephanie was seated in the carriage next to Robbie and James sat opposite them. "I went for horseback rides every day and Grandmother told me stories about Grandfather every night before I went to bed."

"Did she?" Stephanie asked.

"My favorite was the one when Grandfather was teaching you how to fence, but he did not want Grandmother to know," Robbie said. "But she found out because she found you practicing in front of the mirror in her bedchamber. Do you still fence mother?"

"It's been some time since I've picked up a rapier," Daphne said.

"Can you teach me?" Robbie asked.

"I could try," Daphne said.

"Father could help," Robbie said.

Stephanie looked up at James. He smiled at Robbie. "I certainly could, but only if your mother needs assistance of course."

James was going to trust that she knew how to fence correctly? "We will find all the correct equipment in London," Daphne promised her son.

The carriage ride into London was fairly short and uneventful. Stephanie was beyond overjoyed when they finally arrived at their townhouse. She tried to ignore the heat she felt when James helped her out of the carriage.

*

"Darling you have been gone too long," Georgina Banks said.

Stephanie barely stifled a sigh. She could tell from the fake voice alone that this was Torrie Wilson. Georgina had called and offered to walk with Daphne in the park. Stephanie had accepted, hoping that maybe Georgina would shed some light on the mysterious Chris.

"Alan has been anxiously awaiting your arrival," Georgina whispered.

"Alan Knowles?" Daphne asked. Daphne seemed surprised that Alan even thought about her. He had been a close friend of James' five years earlier, but the two men had had an unexplained falling out.

"Is there any other Alan?" Georgina giggled. "If I weren't desperately in love with Harry, I would take Alan as a lover."

Stephanie could feel Daphne's disgust. Harry wasn't Georgina's husband, but her lover. Georgina had married an older man solely for money. Daphne had never been able to understand women who were so mercenary as to marry men they couldn't stand for personal gain. Stephanie hoped Daphne didn't know about Stephanie's own marriage.

"He will be at the dinner tonight," Georgina said.

"Really?" Daphne asked, pretending to be interested.

"Yes," Georgina said.

*

I refuse to believe Andrew Martin is my soul mate, Stephanie thought to herself as she tried to pretend she was interested in some small talk Alan Knowles was making. There was some commotion at the front hallway of Georgina's home. At tall man with windswept blond hair came into the room. His brown eyes flashed at the sight of Daphne.

"If it isn't Christian Masterson," Alan said. "James is going to go through the roof."

"Daphne," Chris said as he came over and lifted Daphne's hand to his mouth. "You've been away for so very long."

"I'm sure you found ways to amuse yourself in my absence," Stephanie said. Who was he?

"Of course," Chris said. "How is your son?"

"Robbie is wonderful," Stephanie answered. "He wants me to teach him to fence."

Chris let out a chuckle. "I remember well over a dozen times you solidly beat me at fencing."

Matt Hardy? Stephanie wanted to throw her hands up in frustration. The damned powers that be were sending her people she could not stand. At least she hadn't met Hunter's soul anywhere. She couldn't imagine spending a lifetime with any of these people.

"Come with me to the balcony," Chris whispered.

What the hell? Stephanie asked herself. Stranger things had happened…Perry Saturn had gotten a girlfriend hadn't her? Of course he left her for a mop. She discreetly made her way to the balcony and leaned against the railing.

"Come away with me," Chris said when he stepped out onto the balcony.

"Chris!" Stephanie exclaimed. "I cannot just leave my life."

"You and your husband hate each other," Chris said. "I've always loved you Daphne."

"I'd never be able to see Robbie again," Stephanie said.

"We will have other children," Chris shrugged.

Stephanie stared at Chris in shock. "Other children would not replace Robbie."

"Then bring Robbie with you," Chris shrugged.

"James would hunt us down," Daphne said.

"Everyone says you love me," Chris exclaimed.

"Everyone is wrong," Daphne said. "No one would believe who I love."

"Knowles?" Chris asked.

"Heavens no," Daphne said. "You and I aren't meant to be Chris. We should have known that the moment James stepped into my life."

"I suppose so," Chris agreed.

*

"How could you embarrass me like that?" James asked when they were seated in their carriage after the dinner party.

"Like what?" Stephanie asked in shock.

"Going out onto the balcony with your lover," James said.

"He's not my lover James," Stephanie sighed, wishing she could avoid this confrontation entirely. He was entirely too much like Jericho. He probably never let up until you wished you could ram his head into a wall too.

"Then who is?" James asked.

"This may shock you James," Stephanie said. "I've been faithful to you. Though the Lord only knows why."

"Faithful?" James echoed in shock.

Stephanie wondered how in the hell she was going to meet her soul mate. She thought the "powers that be" would at least try to make it a little apparent. The only person she could carry on a conversation for longer than ten minutes as Daphne was James. Jericho was so not her soul mate.

Unless she wasn't sent back to find Daphne's soul mate for her. What if she was merely sent back to bridge the gap between husband and wife? What if Jericho was indeed her soul mate? She supposed there was only one way to find out.

"James?" Stephanie asked.

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