Everyone, I am so sorry I am so slow going with this story. Life has been so hectic lately. I had way too much to do. But now things have slowed down quite a bit, so I hope to get this updated a lot more often.

Some of you may have read my other "Chapter IV". Forget it. Banish it from your minds. Leave it forever. I have certain events planned to take place in the story. Sometimes I have trouble deciding how I want to get there. This chapter was one of those times. But I've got that all worked out now. So never fear, "Chapter IV" is here. For real this time, too. ;)

Chapter IV

Rain and wind lashed at the windows of the large but warm sitting room. This storm would most likely last through the night; then it would be clear and bright in the morning. Or so Stephanie hoped as she drew the curtains of the window she was standing at.

She turned and walked to the plush armchairs sitting in front of the fire, taking a seat next to her aunt.

"I still can't believe you were riding through that monsoon out there!" exclaimed her aunt. "You could have been killed!"

"It wasn't that bad," replied Stephanie. She received a skeptical look from her aunt. "Well, it wasn't."

"Where did you find him?" Her aunt gestured to the room above them.

"About six miles from here, in the forest. And I'm very glad I found him too. Who knows what could have happened to him otherwise?"

"And we still don't know. My concern is that we don't know who he is. What if he's a criminal? We know there are plenty of those around Paris."

"Something tells me he isn't."

"That doesn't mean he's not. Just because you feel it doesn't mean it's true.

"Yes. But how often am I wrong?" A small smile spread across Stephanie's face. Her aunt only sipped her tea silently. Very seldom was Stephanie wrong.

Stephanie retreated once more into the privacy of her room. It was almost two in the morning, and she was exhausted. She had spent almost three hours in the drawing room with her aunt. And most of that time was spent in silence.

Even though Stephanie had always had good relations with her Aunt Desiree, they had never been close. Not really. They didn't have enough in common. Conversation between the two was almost always nothing more than small talk. And now, Stephanie was second-guessing her decision to come and live with her aunt in Paris.

For many people in her social circle at home, Paris was all sparkle and grandeur. But somehow, the magic of Paris never held any sway over her. So why would she come to a place she had no feelings for?

'Because England has nothing left for me,' she thought sadly. 'Because I lost everything I had the day I said goodbye to Joshua. And because I couldn't stand it anymore.'

It was with a heavy heart that Stephanie prepared for bed that night.

Stephanie woke just as the blue light filled her room. Even though she hadn't slept much the night before, and the very little sleep she did get had not been good, she was impatient to be dressed for the day.

Luckily Therese was already awake and dressed. Not long after Stephanie had woken up Therese came into the room. And it surprised her to find Stephanie already awake.

"Therese, have you heard anything from the doctor?"

"Not from the doctor, my lady, but spoke to Jeremy this morning," she answered; giving the corset strings a final pull.

"What did he say?" asked Stephanie, turning to face Therese eagerly.

"What I heard was not hopeful, my lady," she replied, her eyes downcast and shifting on her feet nervously.