Hi everyone! Thank you as always for reading. This next chapter we will introduce Roderick. Fredric's older brother. Alcina loathes him, and you will soon learn why. Let me know what you think of him. Enjoy!

Chapter 6:

The week stretched on and with it came a slight heat wave. Josie and Helena were finally allowed to go back outside, where the sisters spent the majority of their time lounging about; enjoying the weather underneath a large peach tree.

There was also another reason for their 'release'. Fredric was taking up half of Alcina's time while trying to juggle the business as well, and dealing with two young children grew to be too much. Phoebe had offered to take care of Fredric, but Alcina refused her. She did not want anyone else caring for him in his 'fragile state'.

The doctor had come to visit the other day and examined his fractured legs. Alcina knew he'd be forced to use a wheelchair for quite possibly the rest of his life. That tore her heart in two. Fredric was an overactive man. And now. Now what?

He was keeping a stiff upper lip about the entire thing, but she knew this was slowly breaking him.

"Eventually he will unravel…," Alcina said to herself, lighting her cigarette and drawing in a deep lungful. 'And with the added trauma…' she thought, exhaling the smoke through her nostrils. 'I will have to speak to the doctor about medications.' She sighed, taking a seat at the desk and plucking the black, wide-brimmed hat Fredric had purchased for her. He had seen it in a shop while he had been off duty and knew she'd adore it.

'You presume much,' she had said to him, trying not to show how much she truly loved it.

'Try it on,' he had said.

'Now? Do not be absurd. I am in my nightwear.'

'Then take off your nightgown,' was his cheeky remark.

'You scoundrel! Is that really the kind of manners they taught you in the army? I should write to your superiors about this.'

'Manners are the least of their concerns, and mine.' He growled playfully, attempting to grab her, but Alcina dashed off the bed and was already standing in front of her full bodied mirror with the hat on. 'Well?'

She sucked at her teeth, making a slight 'pop' noise with her lips.

'If only your taste in perfume, dresses and makeup equaled your taste in hats, but I suppose one out of four is not so bad.'

'Oh, Alcina,' he had pretended to be shot in the heart and fell back against his pillows.

'Idiot,' she smiled at the memory, placing the hat on and getting started on the endless paperwork.

Outside Helena had set down a blanket on the ground in order not to dirty their dresses, and then brought out a book to read. She got halfway through a page before she had to stop and berate her sister, who was plucking peaches from the branches and sending dozens falling around her head.

"Will you stop that!"

"I want peaches," Josie said, grabbing hold of one and starting to yank on the branch.

"Stop!" Helena got up to her feet. "You have to twist it. If you keep yanking it like that, the entire branch will die."

The two sisters worked together to pick the peaches, setting them in the center of the blanket.

"What is your plan with all of these?" Helena asked.

"I want the cooks to make Daddy peach pie. That is his favorite, and perhaps jam, too." She licked her lips.

"You better grab a basket, then. We can't carry all these in our arms."

"Okay," Josie said, running in the direction of the manor returned fifteen minutes later out of breath and pale. "H-here."

Helena having taken the opportunity to continue reading her book, set it aside and started to put the peaches into the basket.

"These will be perfect, Josie," Helena commented, looking over at her sister who had been uncharacteristically quiet, and breathing heavily still. "You feeling all right?"

"No, actually." She swallowed, her body beginning to sway.

"Josie, sit down for a minute," Helena said, noting dark circles forming under her eyes.

Josie did not have time to sit down, her body had swayed precariously to the left and that was when she started to fall.

"Josie!" Helena catching her just in time and easing her down onto the blanket, hadn't noticed a man running towards her. "Josie?"

"Helena!"

"Uncle Roderick?" Helena said.

"I saw her collapse."

"I-I don't know what happened. She was breathing heavily and very pale."

"I'll take her inside," he said, easily lifting Josie into his arms.

"Thank you," Helena said, trotting after him.

{…}

The doctor had arrived an hour after Josie had collapsed. Helena seated outside her sister's door while her mother and the doctor talked, the guilt growing heavier and heavier upon her shoulders.

After another twenty minutes went by the door finally opened. The doctor tipping his hat to Helena as she rose to her feet, she stopped on the lip of the doorway and waited for her mother to grant her entry.

"Come in, Helena," Alcina said, sitting in a chair next to Josie's sleeping form on the bed.

"How is she?"

"She will be just fine," Alcina said. "Do you know if your father is still speaking with…, him?"

"No," Helena said, moving aside as her mother rose out of the chair.

"I best go and see what he wants," Alcina said. "Will you stay here until I return?"

"Of course," Helena said, taking a seat in the chair and watching her mother walk out.

Alcina's guard already up in preparation for an altercation with Roderick as she made her way down the hall and stairs. Just to hear his voice growing louder and louder as she approached the chamber. The conversation appeared jovial enough. Both Fredric and Roderick laughing merrily; Alcina was not about to fall under his beguiling spell.

But still. She had to keep up appearances until she found the right moment to strike.

"Ahh, Alcina," Roderick said, flashing her a smile. "How is our dear little Josie?"

"She will be just fine," Alcina said smiling, walking next to the bed and standing by Fredric, his fingers finding hers and holding them securely.

"Good, good," Roderick said, his lips dipping down slightly at the interaction. "I apologize for popping in on you both, but I wanted to check in with my little brother. I'm sure having him home has lifted quite a weight off your shoulders."

"It is a relief to have him back. We have all missed him terribly," Alcina said, stiffly. Sensing he was beginning his jab. Now how would she go about parrying him?

"Quite the woman you have, Fredric," Roderick carried on. "To run the business, estate, taking care of two children and now you as well. Any other woman would have sunk under such pressure."

"True, Alcina is no stranger to an obstacle," Fredric said. "She never shy's from a challenge, and I am forever indebted to everything she has done and continues to do."

Their eyes met in that moment. Time seeming to stand still. Sending them to a different place where it was just the two of them; the day when Alcina truly knew she had fallen in love with Fredric. When she realized his devotion and love for her was true.

The first time they had met. She only seven and he nine at the swing.

The pearl bracelet he had given her.

Their first date…

He remaining by her side and bringing her out of her despair after her mother's death. He had been through it all with her.

'He is the only man I will ever truly love…'

"Yes," Roderick's voice broke the spell, both turning their attention back to him. "Especially with all the vandals."

"'Vandals'? What do you mean?"

Alcina could have killed Roderick in that moment. She hadn't wanted Fredric to know of that.

"It is nothing, my love," she said, reassuringly. "Just some rebels. The authorities have taken care of them."

"But what about the vagabonds at the pond?" Roderick continued his jabs. "I overheard the guards talking on my way in about the incident. I would be more than happy to be of any assistance to keep you all safe."

"That is not necessary!" Alcina said sharply, her composure slipping.

"You might want to reconsider that, Alcina," he said. "Times have become desperate. There are many starving people who will do anything for food. The war has taken its toll."

Alcina released herself from her husband's hold, striding right up to Roderick to look straight into his face, hand on hip as she said:

"If there came a day I find myself seeking your help, Roderick, is the day I would plead insanity and take myself to the asylum."

The two stared one another down, unflinchingly. Alcina wishing he would continue to speak. Go on! Just keep opening your mouth and show everyone how stupid you really are.

He then grinned, catching Alcina off guard.

"Unfortunately, Alcina, now that the man of the house has come home, it is once again his decisions that overrule everything. The reason why I proposed it to him already and he did not dismiss the idea."

Alcina couldn't believe her ears. Was Fredric honestly considering his brother's offer? She felt a pang of betrayal. No doubt Fredric would not have told her that tidbit of information.

Her bosom was swelling with anger. To think Fredric would try to reconcile with Roderick and bring him in closer to their circle again!

"Well, Fredric, I must be off. I'm sure we will be in touch soon," Roderick said, flashing Alcina a nasty smile and almost crashed into Helena on his way out. "Careful, Helena."

"Is Mother in there?"

Alcina not wanting to linger alone in the room with her husband, marched right over to her daughter and roughly grabbed her by the arm.

"I thought I told you to stay with your sister!"

"She's awake and asking for you," Helena said, wincing in pain.

Alcina released her and lingered for a moment to ensure Roderick was out of the manor before she ascended the stairs, and marched down the hallway.

'Arrogant bastard…' she thought to herself. 'What is he up to?'

"Mama."

Alcina was torn from her thoughts at the sound of Josie's weak voice calling out to her.

"I am here, pretty girl," Alcina said, leaning forward and kissing her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. My body feels so heavy." She shivered. "And cold."

"I will fetch you another blanket," she said, walking over to the closet and pulling out a heavy wool blanket. "There now. How is that?"

"Better," Josie smiled weakly. "Will you please stay? Just until I fall asleep?"

"Of course," Alcina said, taking a seat in the chair.

'I have taken a sample of her blood to test, but from what I have seen, I can safely diagnose her with the Hereditary Blood Disease. I'm not surprised to see her showing symptoms now, in fact, it is most common.'

'No.'

Alcina placed her middle and pointer finger to her forehead, recalling the conversation she and the doctor had had.

'With your family history.'

'What about Helena? Could she have it, too?'

'No, if she were to have inherited it, she would have shown signs by now, but if it would make you feel better, I can take a sample of Helena's blood as well.'

'No, that will not be necessary…'

Alcina closed her eyes for a moment, shaking her head in disbelief.

'Josie inherits all her father's traits. His looks. And what does she get from me?' Alcina chuckled bitterly to herself. 'She inherits this damn curse!' she opened her eyes and stared at her now sleeping girl. "Forgive me for that, Josie…"