A/N; Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews! PLEASE REVIEW!

Rosemary Tavington; Thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed the last Chapter. Don't worry there will be much more hotness coming up. Don't you worry our girls about to finally get a backbone.

Engage Fiction: Oh Harold to rescue indeed; he's about to make his stance on with whom his loyalties lie very clear.

Chapter Eighteen: Knowledge is Power

Theresa sat in front of the vanity; staring at her own reflection. Harold's handsome form circled her in an almost predatory fashion. His hazel eyes scanned her form; she was beautiful there was never any doubt about that. Placing a delicate soft hand on her shoulder he gave it a gentle reassuring squeeze.

"I'm afraid for the sake of time my dear I must be almost…obscenely blunt." He smiled; flashing those prefect white straight teeth, surrounded by full lush lips.

"I don't think you could offend me anyway." She laughed ironically. She almost jumped out of her skin as his hand went immediately to her hair, pulling out the pins and tossing them half hazardly onto the top of the vanity. He threaded his fingers through the coffee colored locks, at the roots giving them abit of a fluff.

"From now on; whenever you are to be around our dear Colonel. You leave you hair down." He detangled his hands from her hair. His strong chest leaned over her shoulder as his strong hand grasped a heavy silver ornate brush that lay on the vanity top, gently running it through her hair in a loving manner he smiled at their reflection. "You have lovely hair; such a dark chocolate… men. We are" he paused biting his lower lip between his teeth. "We are very visual creatures….. We like long hair." He gently tugged on a strand, twirling it between his middle and index finger.

"Why?" Theresa cocked and eyebrow and pursing her lips in confusion. She leaned forward a bit on her elbows on the top of the vanity clasping her hands together. She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of Harold's fingers as they moved up messaging her scalp.

"Because." He took a deep breath fisting his hand in her hair. "We like to visualize holding on to something…other than you ass." He explained, giving the hair in his hand a firm yet gentle tug as her mouth dropped and she made a bit of a choking sound. "I said I'd be blunt."

"No no no it's fine ...I just wasn't expecting that…to come out of your mouth." She said shaking her head. Trying to recover from her shock. "You know…from ..you."

"I'm a man; I like men…I know A LOT about men." He smiled mischievously.

"I just don't wanna be a bimbo." She sighed; laying her forehead in her palms; her finger tips rubbing her eye socket soothingly.

"What is a bimbo?" His pretty face; contorted in confusion.

"You know…a whore."

"Oh sweetheart." He sighed turning to face her, the small of his back resting against to tabletop of the vanity as he looked down into the dark blue innocent eyes. She was so sweet and naive; she didn't stand a chance against Sophia without him." I don't want you to be a whore…. You have to be two people." Her eyebrow shot up again.

"So what I have to develop schizophrenia." Harold ignored her.

"The sinner and the saint….the princess and the trollop. Someone he can take in public and have all of society think is a respectable young lady, and then take home…and well I think you get my point"

"A lady in the street, but a freak in the bed?" Harold chuckled; smoothing back any stray hairs into his queue. Giving her a last look over he fluffed her hair around her face again. His hand boldly grasped the front of her gown, slipping inside even the corset her tugged in down a little more, pursing his lips he nodded. "Alright you ready." He nodded.

Slipping her hand through his arm; both plastered the, most incredibly fake smiles on their faces. Everyone one seemed in high spirits not even taking to notice to they're return. Ladies chuckled loudly; and gentleman chattered in little different groups. Charlotte fluttered over to them. Her pretty face contorted in worry.

"Is everything quite alright? I was terribly worried when I cannot find you." She laid both hands on top each other, laying them lightly against her breast bone.

"Quite alright…" Harold answered, smiling lovingly at Charlotte. Reaching out they threaded they're fingers together; giving it a gentle squeeze; he brought her small hand up; kissing her knuckles. "Sophia is just being…well, her usual self." He supplied. Charlotte rolled eyes dramatically with a sigh.

"Will she ever learn?" Charlotte hissed.

"I think not." Theresa watched the exchange with huge interest. Her dark blue orbs darting between the two; Harold had said that Sophia had made a habit of being a bit of a thief when it came to men but she still found herself slightly unable to connect the dots.

"Ladies; if you'll excuse me..." he learned into the women conspiratorially. "I think I have a Colonel and a sister to locate."

"Should I come?" Theresa asked, God, she'd kill for a damn cigarette right now.

"No…you are having an outrageously wonderful time…..He hasn't even crossed you mind." Harold bowed, before turning his back on the ladies and making his way through the crowded courtyard. Theresa groaned loudly; looking heavenward. It was a beautiful twilight; the stars just barely visible in the sky.

"Oh darling, do not worry; it'll be alright." Charlotte said soothingly as she looped an arm around Theresa's waist pulling her in a gentle embrace. Charlotte a head taller than the older Theresa; rested her chin on Theresa's shoulder. Theresa scrunched her nose; and blew through pursed lips as the large pink feather that had been stuck in Charlottes elegant hair tickled her face mercilessly. "Even if I do not entirely approve of your choice in men." Theresa laughed pulling away. The ladies smiled widely at each other.

"I need a drink." Theresa laughed.

"Then shall we?" Charlotte laughed haughtily. She held her arm out to Theresa who looped her arm threw Charlottes with a laugh, as Charlotte stuck her nose in the air rather comically. Charlotte took the lead practically dragging Theresa behind her; the ladies discreetly slithered past the crowds of elegantly dressed ladies; and gentlemen, military and civilian alike.

"Charlotte I can ask you anything right?" Theresa whispered; loud enough for Charlotte and only Charlotte to hear; as they neared the refreshments.

"Of course, darling."

"Why does Harold hate Sophia?"

"I'm sorry dear; I would tell you..but it's just not my place….It was terribly painful for him...but I'm positive that if you ask him he will tell you."

"Alright." She said as she accepted the full wine glass from Charlottes waiting hand. "Why is she unmarried...thats strange. Harold says she twenty eight, that's like what. Almost unheard of?"

"Yes." Charlotte chuckled; taking a small delicate sip. "You know I don't like to gossip." Theresa snorted with a smile.

"You no! Never!"

"You know me too well darling" Charlotte chuckled; looking at Theresa through her lush lashes. "Well, I'm sure Harold has told you Sophia has a habit of..taking what belongs to another young lady?" Charlotte whispered, as she moved to stand next to Theresa. The two leaned against the balcony railing watching the couples twirl around the dance floor. One after the other more beautiful and elegant than the next.

"Yeah." Theresa nodded never looking away from the dance floor.

" Well, I know you are not very acquainted with English society..but ; well to be frank; you can only be the mistress to so many men before..well; you make a name for yourself." Charlottes hissed, leaning her head towards Theresa; without turning to face her as the two still stared down the dance floor.

"You mean she has a reputation?" she asked; feeling every bit as if she had turned into her mother. Gossiping about other women's sexual exploits; that has mama written all over it.

"In London…absolutely."

"So she's a slut." Theresa said simply.

"Well." Charlotte pursed her lips thoughtfully; raising the glass to her full coral lips again. "yes." She said with a nod.

"Oh that's just great…so I lose out to a hoe…awesome! Go me!"

"Theresa darling; what you must understand is Sophia comes from an extremely wealthy and respected family…however because of her reputation, no man in London will have her anymore…at least not in marriage." Theresa gasped; finally the pieces came together.

"So she came here to find a husband."

"Exactly.,"

"But William isn't…he wouldn't...he's not the marrying kind...He told me so himself."

"But Sophia doesn't know this…and He has been out of England for about two years so he is not aware of her…well less than desirable history."

"Oh my God…" was all Theresa could mutter.

"Knowledge is powerful. Use it." Charlotte smiled,