Four men seated in the first class wagon on their way to London, were looking at each other. All of them thought that the three-hour ride would give them the time to think. Each one had personal issues he wanted to attend.

Jasper was glad he made it clear to Alice that he wasn't going to talk to her ever. This little travel to London to get the results of the analysis on the glasses was the perfect excuse to begin his new plan. Vicar Webber suggested to have a new beginning in a new town, so Jasper was taking the chance to visit one of his mentors, Marcus Protheroe, and consult him about where to set up his new practice. But to his partners, he was only going for the glasses.

Alec was sad to part. He knew was going to happen, the police will be going to take Esme Platt for a thorough questioning, perhaps arrest her. He battled his boss on this decision, but Aro had very good arguments. Esme had the opportunity to kill Carlisle that night; and today the milkman told them he saw Esme near the lake by noon. Not to mention she was the principal benefit of Carlisle's will. Motive, opportunities. Of course she said she was just giving a stroll and claimed to know nothing about his will, but nobody believed her.

Mrs. Didyme and Mrs. Helen thought the same as Alec. They were very fond of Esme, so they decided to investigate more on their own. He hoped they would find something to save Esme.

He was going to London to settle some issues from Aro's state. At least that's what he said to the others. In reality he was also going to visit Saint Andrews Asylum. He knew Mrs. McCarthy was an intern there and he had some questions about her illness to discuss with her psychiatrist.

Emmett and Edward had to untangle the mess Carlisle left. There were certain business partners that needed to go, because their way of work was bordering illegal.

Emmett was also going to have an interview with Mr. Royce King. Apparently word of their almost engagement came to Royce, who wanted revenge in the only way he could get, ruining Emmett's business reputation with awful gossip. Edward was the only one aware of Emmett's plan, and he was eager to help. Firstly, because he was becoming an excellent friend, and they'll become family with their future marriages. Secondly, because he was itching to get in a good old fashion fight. And lastly, and very important, because it was giving him the chance to leave the house for a couple of days. After Carmen's demise, Esme being so thoughtful invited Kate to stay with them. Kate was eager to come so Edward decided a few days in the city were so needed. He thought he was a free man when constable Black finally relented and wasn't following him around all day. He was very nosy. Black caught him kissing Bella! Of course, it wasn't anything immoral, but certainly diminished the chance to kiss Bella in public again.

Now he was wondering who was Black's new suspect. It wasn't any of them, because the police didn't follow them to the train.

All were quiet thinking about their troubles and plans, but Emmett was incapable to handle the silence anymore. "I want to buy a bicycle to Jane Platt, the poor girl doesn't know what to do in town."

Alec smiled, everybody seemed to like Jane. "She became Isabella's shadow after finding the bag with the glasses."

"Sure. Bella and Rose wanted to take her to the lake to take pictures , and they're going to teach her how to play tennis." Edward's face always got brighter when he talked about Bella.

"She's a very kind girl. She found a wounded dog, and asked me to cure him. She helped to bandage his leg."

The talk about Jane broke the ice, and now the four men were talking about Carmen's murder.

"It's too sad, but I'm not going to miss her. That woman was delusional, and she made her daughter worst."

"Really?" Jasper was cut off from all the town's gossip.

"So delusional that Edward had to leave the house jumping through a window." Emmett was too happy to share.

Alec laughed "No way! Too scared to face her Masen?"

Edward shivered. "Even after Bella slapped her, she was running to my room! Of course I had to leave immediately, and the first floor window was the only option."

"She's capable of throwing herself after you."

Jasper was confused. "What happened to make Bella slap her?"

Emmett was too eager to tell him.

xxx

Meanwhile Esme was laying some rules to her guest.

"Kate you have to accept he doesn't want you. Where's your pride?"

Kate started to sob when she noticed Edward left the room through the window.

"I thought he would change his mind now that I'm all alone."

"You're not alone. And marriage isn't something you want to force on somebody. Imagine for a second that he marries you, how do you picture your life in five years?"

"He would be supporting me. He can have Isabella on the side."

"Do you really wish that? You know you won't have him either."

Kate cries went louder. "I know! But that's all I was taught. To get a husband, no matter how."

"And that made so much good to your mother. Do you know what really happened to your father?"

Kate nodded. "He left. To live with another woman, he had another family."

"That's right, your mother got to him the same way you were planning to get to Edward. Kate, you deserve to be happy. I want you to take your time, stay here. But please, start to plan what to do with your life. Edward is taken, and there's nothing you could do to change it. When your mother's things get settled you could travel. Get to know new places." Esme had a wistful look in her eyes.

"But you didn't travel."

"I didn't have the chance, I had to work. But now... just think about it. And please, don't plan your life around Alice's. I don't think she knows what to do, and she would drag you to whatever nonsense she will do that surely will end up badly."

Later, at night, Esme and Kate were the only ones at the table for dinner.

"Where is Jane?" Kate was trying to make small talk. She spent the afternoon thinking on what Esme said. Perhaps a little cruise to the Greek islands...

"She's with Lady Higginbotham. She and her girls were kind enough to take her to the next county's fair. They'll probably be back tomorrow morning."

"And Mrs. Cullen?"

"Call her Tanya. Honestly, I don't know where she may be, but she's too independent. If she comes back later, she goes to the kitchen and heat food for herself. So it's just us."

In that moment someone rang the bell of the door.

"Well, maybe we will have another guest."

Esme went to open the door. It was Aro and Charlie.

"Good evening Miss Platt. Would you be so kind to accompany us to the station? We have some questions that require your answer."