A/N: Ok so I know it's been a long time since I added a new chapter and all I can say is I am so sorry. Got tied up in helping a best friend move away, the thrill of buying my first home and a few other distractions along with the holidays. Please hang in there I will finish this story, I swear it.
A disgruntled huff left Rogue's lips as she stared out at the garden from the library window. Her lips were turned down at the corners and her brows were knit together in the perfect image of frustrated concentration. It would seem that agreeing to help collect information for Olivia and actually accomplishing the task would be two very different things.
Four days now she had tried to visit Colin's home in order to snoop around, and every time she had been thwarted. The first couple times she had simply just said she was going to pay her fiancé a visit and tried to leave on her own. Each time though she had been stopped and given a lecture on how a proper lady did not just go pay calls on single men uninvited and unchaperoned, even if they were engaged to them. Rogue figured this was an easy enough problem to fix, she would simply write a note requesting an invitation and take Kathy with her. Turned out a lady didn't fish for an invitation either, plus everyone was busy planning for the engagement ball. She was out of simple options and it seemed she had no brilliant ideas in the works either, the whole thing was making her head hurt.
Her musings were broken by the sound of Kathy's giggles drifting from the other side of the garden. Rouge raised her head to look at the girl and the man who had become a recent distraction around the Devereux household. Kathy was smitten with him, while Rogue on the other hand knew whom he really was and had been trying for weeks to figure out what he was doing there.
The man had been hired as the new gardener, Rogue briefly remember Kathy going on about needing one. He was bent over the decorative shrubs, gently clipping them into perfect order. Rogue watched as Kathy rushed over with delicate clippings in her hands, asking shyly the man's opinion on where they should be placed. The man glanced around taking in the full scope of the garden before pointing in a direction and flashing a patient smile. It was apparently the smiles that were causing the giggles and a healthy blush to creep into the little brunettes cheeks. Looking back towards the shrubs Rogue thought she could detect a matching tint upon Pierre's cheeks. Well at least some people were having fun.
The soft click of the doorknob turning and the swish of fabric along the floor alerted her to Jane's presence in the room without even having to turn around.
"Annabelle," she said quietly, "I hope I'm not disturbing you but I needed to know if you picked out the colors yet for your dress? The seamstress sent a note today that we had to have the colors and fabrics picked out by today if her staff has any hope of getting the gowns made in time for the ball."
"Ah'm sorry Jane. Ah guess ah've just haven't had it on mah mind," Rogue answered. She didn't need Jane to know that what dress to wear was the least of her concerns right now.
"I have noticed you been distracted. If it helps any Kathy has not decided either. In fact Uncle has sent me to tell you that he would like you both to go to the seamstress and pick out which materials you'd like."
"Ah guess ah don't really have much of a choice do ah?" Rogue shrugged, at least it would get her out of the house for a while.
"Good," Jane said with a bright smile, "I'll go get Kathy."
She was almost to the door when she turned, "Uncle did want me to tell you that Krispin and Samuel had business to attend so he hoped it wouldn't bother you if he sent Pierre along to drive."
For the first time all day a grin spread across Rogue's face. Now she could at least find out what Pierre was doing here pretending to be their gardener.
"Tell mah father that ah think that will be just fine."
ooooXXXXoooo
Rogue would never again complain about shopping with Kitty.
Rogue felt as if she'd had every possible bolt of fabric in every possible shade pushed on her. What made it worse was with each new bolt came the unavoidable question of "Can't you just see yourself in this?" Rogue wanted to scream that all she saw was yards and yards of cloth, not imaginary dresses.
Luckily a bolt of emerald green silk had caught Rogue's eye and she thrust it into the waiting seamstress's hands with a hurried "This one." With her job done and Kathy distracted by the other attendants Rogue slipped outside to where Pierre waited with the carriage. She stopped short though when the only thing to greet her was an empty carriage tied to a hitching post. Pierre it seemed was nowhere to be found.
Resisting the urge to stomp her foot on the ground like an aggravated child Rogue quickly scanned the street, knowing if he was driving them he couldn't have gone far. Looking up the street she froze when she caught sight of Colin and a small gentleman leaving a store a few feet away. Rogue almost called out until she saw how deep in conversation they seemed to be. Glancing around to see if any of her party would notice her, she quickly set out to follow them.
It was a little difficult to slip through the crowded sidewalks but at least it wasn't hard to keep the two men in sight. They seemed in no hurry but it was obvious that they did not want to be overheard. When they reached a less crowed portion of sidewalk they paused. Rogue ducked into the nearest door front hoping she hadn't been spotted.
The men continued to talk, Rogue could just barely make out the conversation but it was enough to turn her blood cold.
"So there is a man I am told who has been assisting in stealing my property?" Colin voice said in a lazy drawl, "My I ask why he has not been apprehended?"
"Its hasn't been that easy to catch him sir, " the little man replied, " I have had my men stationed all around your property at various times and none of them have been able to catch a glimpse of his face. Norris and Jasper got close. Jasper can't remember a thing though after the knock on the head he got and Norris….well sir Norris hasn't been the same since they did whatever they did to his face."
"I don't care what did or did not happen to your lackeys Andrew," Colin voice began to rise in aggravation, " I hired you to stop this man from stealing what belongs to me. Now do you believe that this scoundrel will be returning to the area?"
"I have it on good authority sir that he will be, though no one knows for sure exactly when," Andrew replied, his voice shaky with nerves.
"Then I would suggest Andrew that you best better be ready for him when he comes. I am paying you to catch this man. I intend to have him stopped no matter what you have to do."
"Would you prefer him dead or alive?"
"I could care less one way or the other," Rogue visibly shivered at the cold note in Colin's voice, " Just make sure it is taken care of."
Rogue risked a glance around the corner. The two men shook hands and parted ways. The little man named Andrew took off into the crowd away from Rogue while Colin turn and began walking right in her direction. Rogue cursed herself for not having a better hiding spot. Figuring on making the most of the run in she tried desperately to calm the rapid beat of her heart and managed to have a radiant smile on her face just as Colin caught sight of her.
"Well, well, this day just keeps getting better and better," Colin stated, it was hard to miss the obvious sarcasm that dripped from his words, " And how is my little darlin' today."
Rogue fought the urge to flinch as he ran a finger down her cheek. Reminding herself of her mission she turned her smile even brighter as she purred, " Ah'm just fine sugah, but ah'm a bit disappointed ya haven't been to see me."
For a moment confusion crossed Colin's face, but it was only a moment. "I see you have finally come to terms with our approaching marriage?" he drawled.
Shrugging her shoulders and bating her eyelashes Rogue replied huskily, "Well it is quite obvious that there is nothing ah can do ta stop it, so ah figure ah might as well make the best of it." She allowed her lips to form a perfect pout, "After all Colin it doesn't have ta be all bad does it?"
"I knew you'd see sense eventually darlin'," Colin laughed, a cruel sound to Rogues ears, "And tell you what since you seem to be missing me so much why don't you bring that pack of idiots you call family to my home for dinner next week."
Rogue's fists balled up just itching to punch the smug smile right off his face, but she managed a half strangled giggle and a "It would be our pleasure." Rogue felt sick inside as she watched him walk away. She had to get to Olivia. They knew about Rene, were watching for him. He had been lucky to get away last time what if this next time he wasn't. She desperately made her way through the crowds, not stopping until she ran head first into Pierre.
"Are you alright Miss Devereux?" Pierre asked as he caught sight of the panic in Rogue's eyes.
"Pierre ah need ya ta take meh ta Olivia's right away."
Pierre face twisted in concern. "Is there something Miss Devereux that I should know about?"
There was no time to waste in explanations and the middle of the street was not the place for giving them. Rogue desperately threw a glance at the shop window where Kathy was still sorting through different colored silks.
"Look ah will go get mah sister and ah need ya ta be ready ta take meh ta Olivia's as soon as we get her back home. Do ya understand that?"
Pierre didn't feel he understood anything that was going on but he gave a brief nod of his head. Turning he began to get the horses ready as Rogue started for the door to the shop.
"Pierre," she said before disappearing inside, "Just understand for now that this is a matter of life or death."
A/N: Ok so another chapter done. I have to admit this one was the hardest yet and I am still not completely satisfied with it. I hope to do better on the next one. Next chapter will have a scene I am excited about, since we don't know exactly what's going on in the present. Plus I hated sending him away so Rene will be back soon I promise. Please review and if there is anything wrong please blame it on typing at three in the morning on four hours sleep. :)