Before I posted this chapter, I was gonna post the third. But then ya'll would be wondering about why Uddony had disappeared. And doesn't Sarah seem to attract Uddony's? Lol... Anyways, the theme of this chapter is "poor, sweet, little James". Lol... Then again, he's a fourteen-year-old guy, and being fourteen (for about 6 days), I can tell you that most of 'em are jerks (even if they're thirteen, lol. 'Course all the guys I know are jerks, pretty much, so it's not saying much). And, though my class is *exceptionally* short, most of them are medium height, and not poor, and they're too dumb to be sweet. *sigh* Anyways, off the rant and unto the story.

**James POV**

"You're perfect!" Sarah exclaimed.

I was worried about my friend. Something was wrong, I could sense it.

"What?" I asked, perplexed.

She licked her lips. Sarah was acting very strange. I mean, throwing me into her room, all these weird comments and actions.I was starting to think she was coming on to me. She smiled and I worried.

"Quick, get in my bed!" Sarah ordered.

I started sweating.

"Sarah, what are you doing?" I asked, extremely nervous.

Sarah sighed.

"James, just do this, please," Sarah pleaded.

I obeyed, still confused as to what Sarah was doing. She covered me up with the blankets and jumped under the bed. Just what was she up to? I knew Moses was getting suspicious. But, being under all these smothering covers was making me even hotter. And so now, I couldn't think of anything other than the fact that I was in Sarah's bed and it was so hot. How could she sleep in this oven?

I heard a knock at the door and pretended to be Sarah sleeping. Hey, wouldn't this look suspicious? I had a bad feeling about this.

"Sarah! Time to wake up! You have a visitor!" Moses yelled.

I bit my lip hard. Moses waited for a while and then used a key to open the door. He motioned for the Uddony guy to wait at the door.

"Sarah is probably not decent yet. She and James were up late last night setting the printer," Moses replied.

I tried to refrain from yawning. We had been up until three setting the type for our articles on Lexington and Concord. Sarah had been very depressed when we had finally arrived back here; she missed her cousin. Moses quietly walked in and pulled down the covers.

"James?" Moses exclaimed, stunned.

I fanned myself and jumped out of Sarah's bed. I forced a smile to grace my lips.

"Hey, Moses!" I chirped.

It was so early. Seven o'clock. In the morning. I was running off four hours of sleep. Probably less. Moses scowled.

"James, were you sleeping in here?" Moses asked suspiciously.

What was I supposed to say?

"Uh."

Sarah kicked me. I jumped.

"OUCH! Uh, yeah, sleeping. I was sleeping in here. So tired, you know, still tired. Really tired. I'm just going to go back to my room and sleep some more," I lied nervously, trying to leave.

Sarah kicked me hard again. I jumped up and grabbed my other foot.

"OW! I, uh, mean, I'm staying here," I recanted.

Moses looked at me and forced a smile at Ugly Uddony. He gripped my arm tightly and we walked outside. He looked me straight in the eye and I started to sweat even more.

"James, did you sleep in Sarah's room?" Moses asked sternly.

In Sarah's room we heard a clamor. Moses let go of me, forgetting about the question for the moment. We both hurried to the door. There was Sarah in her nightgown next to Uddony. She looked annoyed.

"Sarah? Why where you under the bed?" Moses asked curiously.

Sarah sighed and frowned.

"I fell off my bed and rolled under it. And then I woke up and started thinking. Because I do all my best thinking under there, Moses," Sarah lied convincingly.

Moses gave us both skeptical looks.

"Right. I want both of you to tell me the truth. Now," Moses said seriously.

Uddony was turning pink in the corner. I wondered why.

I mean, Uddony was an ugly guy, well, in my opinion. The man has white hair, seeing as he's obviously wearing a wig and heartless black eyes. But, then again, he's here for Sarah and British, so I'm completely biased. He sounds like one of those dumb fatcat aristocrats. Which he probably is. And I bet he's a complete jerk.

Oops. Moses is glaring at me. I open my mouth and begin to speak. I have to make this sound like the truth.

"Well, Moses, I was very tired. Sarah invited me in so we could discuss what had happened at Lexington and Concord. I was arguing about Patriotic things and I just fell asleep during the middle of a sentence. Sarah couldn't move me," I replied, trying to sound honest.

Moses crossed his arms over his chest.

"Uh huh."

Sarah continued for me.

"And since we're both mature, I let him stay. Surely, would anyone want to sleep in that mess he lives in? Not I! And nothing inappropriate could happen because we were so tired at the time and it was a wonder I hadn't fallen asleep when he did. Now, Moses, Uddony, if you excuse me, I have to get dressed. And then I have to go cover that one story with James for the rest of the day. We won't be back for a long while. And I will need some food right away," Sarah explained bossily.

Moses nodded and he and Uddony left quickly. Sarah shut the door and walked into her washroom, where she took her change of clothes.

"Sarah, can you explain? Now?" I asked politely.

"Okay, James. I do need your help extremely. Well, Uddony is here to court me and make me his wife. Mother wants me to accept his offer. I, personally, despise the man. He is only concerned with one thing and has had affairs with other women. He is also violent and he drinks. He is terribly barbaric. Now, I have a bit of a plan. It hinges on you helping me though. So, will you?" Sarah asked, and she sounded so sad that I couldn't say no.

A rich lord, drinking, beating, and so on. It was shocking to think about.

"Of course I'll help you, Sarah," I remarked quietly.

Sarah opened the door, smiling.

"Good. Now, James, will you tie my corset for me? I cannot reach it," Sarah asked.

I was slightly nervous, but I did as I was told. And, I saw nothing. I don't know if that displeases or pleases me. However, Uddony walked in at the very moment, without knocking, I might add. He did not take it so innocently and screamed for Moses. I finished tying Sarah's corset and Sarah quickly threw her dress over her head. I looked around nervously for a means of escape and saw the window. I debated it for a moment before hearing Moses' heavy footfalls approaching Sarah's room. I climbed out of the window and dropped quietly to the ground.

I leaned against the wall and sighed. I then walked inside. Moses was fuming.

"James? Uddony says you were in Sarah's room, fastening her corset. Is this true, James?" Moses asked strictly.

I shook my head.

"I just came back from a walk," I reply, wondering how it came to this point.

Sarah comes down the stairs, looking furious. She gets right in Uddony's face.

"I cannot believe you would make up such dirty lies about James and I just because I caught you trying to peep in on me changing!" Sarah exclaimed, annoyed.

She slapped him across the face, grabbed my hand and pulled me from the printshop.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Unwanted physical contact! Let go of me! OUCH! Do you have to keep hurting me?" I whined.

She dropped my hand as if she were burnt. I grinned and sighed.

"Phew. I'm glad that's over," I exclaimed tiredly.

Sarah looked at me, panting.

"Oh, James, I wish it were!" Sarah exclaimed sadly.

I collapsed on the cobblestone.

"Are you telling me that this isn't over?" I shrieked, very stressed out.

Sarah bit her nails.

"Yes, it isn't over until it's over. Mother won't give up until I have a suitor," Sarah sighed.

She looked at the ground and I felt that this would be a long period in my life. Moses had been on my case twice already and it wasn't even eight o'clock. I had had less than four hours of sleep and Sarah was scaring me. I had a feeling that my troubles were just beginning.

- Loren ;*