A mood descended on the Devereux household over the next few days. Where before the atmosphere had been at least bearable, if not calm, there now seemed to be nothing but a tense expectancy prevailing through the once happy home. There were those who at least thought they knew the cause behind this sudden shift and the rest could only guess. One thing was obvious, and that was that the mood was emanating from the two sisters of the Devereux mansion.

Kathy was always in a tense state of thought. She would jump at the slightest sounds or stumble on her words when caught off guard with a question. Anymore Jane could only find her drifting aimlessly along the paths in the garden, gently grazing the petals as she walked. Every once in a while she would demand Krispin take her into town. She would disappear into the telegraph office, only to reappear again to tell her annoyed brother to take her back home. Not even her father could get any answers from her when he commented on her behavior; she would merely shrug and disappear into the garden once more.

While Sam, Jane Krispin and Charles could at least try to make discussion with Kathy, they knew they would have no such luck with Annabelle. For days she had barricaded herself in her room, refusing contact with everyone. Her meals were sent up and back down barely eaten. Jane had to go to her dress fittings in town with Kathy because nothing would coax her from her room. Charles stood looking at that barricaded portal every night shaking his head; he blamed himself for this fate he could not save his daughter from.

As for Rogue the only thing that was running through her mind was: Why? For days now the image of Olivia's disappointed face replayed over and over again in her head. Why had Annabelle stayed? She had been so close to the freedom she desired. It would have been so easy for her to walk up that gangplank and sail away from the cruel man that was waiting for her here. Rogue had convinced herself long ago that marriage to Colin could not have been how Annabelle's story ended. He would break her in body, mind and spirit with just as much regard, as he would give to breaking a stick. Rogue couldn't understand it, especially when a part of her knew that Annabelle wanted desperately to be with someone else.

Rogue let a small ghost of a smile touch her lips as she stood gazing at the street below her window. She had never been one to believe in love at first sight, but Annabelle had been. It wasn't hard to figure out once she sat down and thought about it, if she wasn't allowed to change the past then every move Annabelle made, she made because of Rene. So why not take the final move and run away?

Then there was Rogue's own future to consider. She loved Remy. She could see that now as clearly as if it had been written on a wall. At first she had thought that was the lesson, the knowledge that would get her back home. She desperately closed her eyes, focusing on every detail of Remy's face, willing herself home. It hadn't worked though; she had opened her eyes and still found herself stuck. So for days she had stayed in this room letting life go on around her. What would be happening at home? Would Remy find her lifeless body somewhere along the alleys of New Orleans? He would never forgive himself, she knew and the people she had come to think of as family would be crushed. Her heart ached at the thought that she would never see any of them again.

So as day passed into day Rogue sat there. What was she supposed to do now?

ooooXXXXoooo

The answer came about five days after Olivia's departure. Rogue was awakened to a brisk rapping at her door. She rolled herself out from under the heavy comforter and padded across the cold wooden floor. For a moment she fumbled in the predawn darkness to get a grip on the brass key that unlocked the door. An already fully dressed Kathy stood waiting to greet her.

"Kathy what are ya doing waking meh up this early?" Rouge grumbled.

"It is my turn to go to the market with Sam, we have to get there early so we can make sure to get the freshest products. It really is imp…."

"Spare meh the speech on the importance of quality groceries," Rogue interrupted, "Ah would prefer ya tell meh why ah have ta be awake?"

"Well you haven't been out of your room for almost five days now."

"Ah am quite aware how long ah have been here. If your hoping ah'm going ta join ya this early in the morning ta shop ya out of your mind."

Kathy looked a little exasperated as she stared down her aggravating sister, "No I am not asking you to come, but a note arrived yesterday reminding us that we are expected at Colin's house tonight for dinner."

Rogue tried hard not to visibly flinch at the name. If she did Kathy did not seem to have noticed.

"Father asked me to tell you to be ready by this afternoon. I am only telling you this early because I might not be back until later and Jane is going to the dress shop to pick up the gowns, so no one would be here in enough time to warn you to be ready."

Rogue was about to shout out that she would not go anywhere near that man but felt her throat close up on the words. "Damnit Annabelle" she thought harshly to herself. Well it looked like this was her next step in this nightmare. "I'll be ready on time don't worry about it." It really surprised her at times how calm she could sound when what she really wanted to punch a wall. Kathy was appeased though with her response and she skipped out of sight.

"Well this is going be one big hootenanny of fun ah can already tell," Rogue growled to herself as she slammed the door and twisted the key bitterly in the lock.

ooooXXXXoooo

That afternoon found Rogue squished into a carriage once again with Kathy and Jane making the same trip out of town that they had taken the day of the barbeque. Rogues pale purple skirt fought for dominance with Kathy's baby blue dress. At least rogue didn't feel as hot in this outfit, since instead of a heavy fabric the skirt was paired instead with a flowing white blouse top. Jane sat across form her in becoming sea green gingham. The conversation among the woman was stifled at best. Only Sam accompanied them, Charles and Krispin would be detained in town. Kathy seemed quite content to spend the ride contemplating her hands while Jane shot her glance from one young woman to the other. Rogue could tell she wanted to ask what was going on. Rogue instead turned her head and focused on the passing scenery, she could only pray this dinner didn't last to long.

Once they arrived the women automatically separated themselves from the men. Rogue followed Jane into a parlor over looking the woods. Marion was seated before the fireplace, Logan playing with his toy soldiers at her feet. Kathy went over to the piano and began to play while Jane stood to turn the pages for her. Rogue walked over and seated herself across from Marion.

"Annabelle, I must say it is a pleasure to see you again," Marion said her face breaking into a wide smile.

"Ah feel the same Marion, Ah would like ta thank ya for the help ya gave meh on that small matter the other night."

"That," Marion laughed, "My dear I haven't had so much fun in years, plus no body lays a hand on my son and gets away with it."

Logan looked up from his toys, "I didn't have fun," he growled, "I missed the whole thing."

"I know honey," his mother spoke gently, "but don't worry I am sure you'll get into enough fights when your older. Knowing you I expect there will be a lot more fights. So please tell me Annabelle did everything turn out alright, I must admit I didn't expect to see you back here so soon after some of the things James has told me."

Rogue looked at the knowing light in the woman's eyes, the tell tale glint that said she knew Annabelle shouldn't be here. Rogue sighed, "Things went fine but ah still had things to look after here," she replied glancing over her shoulder at her cousin and sister. Marion nodded in understanding but Rogue couldn't help the emotion that was fighting its way back up. She could fell the sting of tears just behind her eyes, so rising swiftly she begged the others to excuse her for just a moment and disappeared through a door across the room.

Rogue had thought it lead back into the hallway but instead found herself in a library. Dusty books lined the shelves and papers lay everywhere on the large desk in the center of the room. Rogue felt her curiosity peak and wiping the last of the moisture from her eyes made her way over to the desk. At first she merely shifted the papers around, glancing at their contents. They were mostly the usual things she suspected a plantation owner would need records of inventories, going crop rates and planting layouts. She was about to leave when one sheet caught her eye. It said "Devereux Shipping" and was lying with a large stack of others with similar headings. Rogue recalled Charles saying how Colin was to maintain the business until their marriage. She began scanning the papers, her blood boiling with every line. He was selling off her fathers company. Little bits here and there, but enough that by the time of their wedding there would be no company left to hand over to her brother.

"Well, well, well. What have we here?"

Rogue froze in her position behind the desk. Raising her eyes from the papers, she met those of a very angry Colin standing in the doorway. Something in his eyes caused Rogue to back up, she felt like a person trapped buy a wolf. She couldn't fight him here, the skirt hampered her movablitily. She knew enough form training though that she couldn't let him see her fear. Rogue lifted her chin in the air and glared defiantly at him.

"How long have ya been lying to my family Colin?"

"Long enough, Honey. I told you they are a bunch of idiots right."

"Why. Was this all ta make sure Ah married ya?"

Colin let out a laugh, a cruel evil sound, "You think this is still all about you. Poor sweet naïve Annabelle, you were only a perk. Your father owns half of the best shipping in New Orleans, pity he didn't know how to manage it. I used you to get my hands on the rights, I have been selling contracts to some of the wealthiest shippers in the South, men who appreciate the value. You are going to be just a trophy, a pretty, well bred lady to sit at my table and bear me children, that is your only use."

"Ah don't think so. Ah do believe our marriage contracts hinge on your keeping the company for mah brother, which ya haven't. Ah would think a court would consider those papers ya signed with my father null and void, seeing as how ya didn't keep your end of the bargain. Ah also think that they will find compensation a factor too."

Rogue took pleasure in the brief look of fear that crossed Colin's face. Ever word she said was true. He would be ruined, everything he had built destroyed. Rogue wanted to laugh at his helplessness. So busy was she reeling in her triumph that she didn't notice as a dark cloud that descended on Colin's handsome features. Colin had her pinned up against a wall before she even knew what was happening. He pinned her hands up above her head and dealt her a dizzying blow with the back of his hand. Rogue felt the room spin around her as she tried to regain her focus. She could feel Colin's hand at the neck of her gown as his breath whispered harshly in her ear.

"There is more then one way to make sure you marry me darling," he almost hissed as Rogue heard the rip of fabric. Coming to her senses she kicked out, not caring if the skirt hindered her progress. She tried to scream but Colin sent a fist to her stomach causing her breath to go out in a silent gasp. Rogue tried to fight but between her nausea from the punch and the force of the blow she knew it would be a losing battle. "This can't be happening" she wanted to cry.

Rogue closed her eyes tight waiting for the sound of more rips and worse when the sound of pottery crashing caught her attention. Her eye flew open in enough time to watch as Colin slumped to the floor among the remains of what had once been a heavy vase. Kathy stood above him like a small avenging angel, hate written plainly on her face.

"Take that you Cad. How dare you touch my sister," she snapped at the unconscious figure on the floor. Turning her gaze up to Annabelle she grabbed her hand leading her quickly through the halls to the front.

"I already told Jane to tell Sam I wasn't feeling well and to bring the carriage around, Marion is distracting her husband. Don't worry Annabelle it will be ok."

Rogue had never felt so proud or grateful to anyone person in her life as she let herself be dragged by the small figure in front of her. "What are we going ta do now?"

"I don't know," Kathy said, lowering her voice as they approached Jane, "but one things for sure we will figure something out cause you are not marring him."

With that both girls ascended the carriage and held each other as it quickly made its way back home.

A/N: Ok so that part was not pleasant to write, but I really don't like Colin. So now Rogue knows the truth about his dealings and Kathy knows the truth about Colin, how are they getting out of this one? Next chapter though we will be checking in again with the present. :)