AN: How many of you think Victor is really annoying right now? Don't worry, he'll mature eventually. He's always struck me as a kind of childish, whiny, skittish character, so I felt I needed to show the shift instead of just throwing it out there. Character development!

Chapter 4

The front door locks click open, announcing Victor's return. Victoria bolts upright from the couch she's dozed off on, waiting for Victor to come home. She glances up at the clock.

11:00!

As the door opens Victoria rises, ready to let him have it.

"Victor, where on earth? — "

And it's there she stops when she sees familiar, soulful eyes. Her colors may have changed, but Victoria would recognize that sweet face anywhere. She pushes past her husband and envelopes Emily in a tight embrace.

Emily chuckles and strokes her hair gently. "My, between you and Victor I'm going to need a new dress."

Victoria lifts her head. "What?" She glances down and sees she's been crying again, her tears soaking through Emily's dress. "Oh, sorry." Her eyes meet Emily's, and she smiles. "It's just so wonderful to see you again! How — ?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure if it's permanent or only for a little while."

"Well, let's make the most of the time we have with you." Victor cuts in.

Victoria shoots him a glare that promises she's still angry with him. This does not go unnoticed by Emily, but she pretends it does for the sake of the moment. She yawns.

"I'm a bit tired; do you mind if I sleep on your couch?"

Victoria loops her arm through Emily's before she can even begin to sit down. "No, you sleep upstairs with me. Victor," She fixes him with a cold stare. "Can take the couch, since he's such a gentleman."

Victor blinks, then registers his wife's words. "Oh, right. Of course."

— — — — — — — — —

Emily settles beneath soft, velvet sheets, wearing one of Victoria's cotton night dresses. It's a little short on her, but she doesn't mind. She relishes in the feel of the sheets brushing against her warm skin, the way the puffy pillow cradles her head. She'd nearly forgotten how wonderful fresh linens and fluffed pillows felt.

She turns her head toward the woman lying wide awake beside her, her hair still pinned back in that severe bun. It must be giving her a terrible headache.

"Victoria?"

"Mmmm?"

"Let me remove the pins from your hair."

Victoria sits up and allows Emily to start pulling the pins out, then the twist. Dark brown hair spills down her back, and Emily sees some tension leave the younger woman.

"Thank you."

Emily smiles. "You're welcome." She settles back down and props herself up with an elbow. "So, what's with you and Victor lately? You don't seem… happy."

Victoria sighs. It's a despairing sound, and Emily's heart aches at hearing it. Victoria turns to face her.

"He just seems so far away, all the time. Sometimes…" She's fighting tears now. "Sometimes I feel like he just wants to be with you. Like he's more alive when he's with you."

Emily feels a guilty surge of joy, but she pushes down her feelings for Victor at the moment. He is married to Victoria, and if he's not happy with her Emily needs to help the relationship, not tear it apart. Besides, Victoria is her friend, and Emily would never want to hurt her that way.

"Well," Emily chooses her words carefully. "I can't speak for Victor, but I will say that I will do anything I can to help your marriage. I want both of you to be happy."

Victoria's eyes brighten. "Oh, thank you so much!"

— — — — — — —

Lord Barkis lies in wait, looking for someone to pass by, anyone, with a hooded cloak. He can't very well traipse through town with his scarred, blue face without being attacked or photographed. He needs to lay low for now until he can enact his perfect plan for revenge against those wretched Van Dorts.

Finally, the perfect victim passes by: a little old woman, hunched over and tottering by. Barkis lunges forward, wrapping an arm around her neck.

Snap!

The woman didn't even have a chance to make a sound. Barkis deposits the body in a rubbish bin nearby and dons the cloak. It's a frilly old thing, but Barkis doesn't have time to be picky. Now, he needs to find a place to stay.

— — — — — — —

Ooh, Barkis is on the move!