It was November and snow came to Misselthwaite. The garden frosted over
One cold evening, Rose returned to Misselthwaite to stay for a few days. Albert had been called away to London-busy with his military duties again.
Lilias spoke to Rose when they were alone in the music room. "Rose, forgive me, something has been troubling me, and I feel as if the only way I can rest my mind is to question. Why do you come to stay here-visit Archie and me? After what you said to me...before the wedding...Is it forgotten now? You said to me that you would never see me. You swore it."

"I see now that it was cruel and wrong of me to say such a thing. Can we still be good sisters? Sweet Lilias, I thought you forgave me those words. You are so pure of heart and kind."

"I have, but you...you were so...severe and serious...when you spoke such an oath. I only wondered. You are my sister, and I love you but...I didn't think you liked me very much at all after so dramatically disapproving of my marriage to Archie. Archie has been nothing but gracious welcoming you here."
"Lilias, what's this...this inquisition?"

"I just find it very odd and peculiar. Tell me your good intentions are genuine." Lilias spoke in a gentle, ladylike tone.

"As your sister, Lilias, I want to be your truest and dearest friend. I apologise for my cruel behavior. Do you forgive me?"

Lilias bowed her head to nod but still felt uneasy.

That evening, Lilias gave her ladiesmaid Aisling the night off as did Archie his valet Gregory, so that the married couple-Aisling and Gregory- could enjoy more time together. Lilias was sitting at her dressing table undressing for her bath. She was struggling to unclasp the long pearl necklace that draped across the front of her body when she heard the slight creaking of the steps of her private staircase outside her boudoir.

"Archie? Archie, my love...Then there was silence. "Archie?"
Finding no one there, she went to her bath finally managing to remove her pearl necklace after stepping into the tub. She placed it on the seat of the chair near the side of her tub. She left the door to the ensuite bath slightly ajar as she bathed believing no one but Archie would enter her boudoir at so late an hour. All of the other servants were dismissed for the evening. There'd be no one else to intrude. Rose had gone to bed. She bathed humming a sweet tune closing her eyes unaware that she was being watched. Someone hid behind the door and peered at her as she washed and emerged to dry her body and as she wrapped herself in her dressing gown. She went to her dressing table again to begin her usual nightly ritual of brushing her hair and perfuming her 'd remembered she'd forgotten the pearls in the bath room. She rose and fetched them. When she returned, she saw Neville standing in her door frame at the entry to her bedroom-the tapestry brushed aside- and she gasped dropping the long strand of pearls she had gathered in the palm of her hand causing them to break from the delicate string after they hit the ground. The beads scattered about the floor.

"No," she spoke in distress as she witnessed them break. Oh, no..." The second cry was timid and quiet.
"Neville," Lilias said, "You frightened me so!"

"I sincerely apologise. What a pity! I must replace them. Allow me." He started picking up the scattered broken pearls.

"Why have you come to my room? Why would you come here at so late an hour? Has something happened to Archie? What has happened, Neville?"

What Lilias did not know was that she had caught Neville as he was trying to secretly exit her room not as he was just entering it. He had followed her there, watched her bathe, pleasured in secretly spying on her naked form. Visually taking in her naked form as she undressed and bathed however did not and would not slake his lust, His strong sexual desire for his brother's wife consumed him. He then thought of a temporary solution to quell this depraved desire-Rose. He must go to Rose.

He must now feign an excuse for his presence, for his escape had not been successful.
Lilias noticed his eyes were glassy and how dizzily out of focus was his gaze and the stagger in his walk. She could tell he had been drinking. As she picked up the ruined pearls and he too knelt upon the ground, she could smell the strong odor of liquor upon him.

"I was looking for your sister Rose. Isn't she here?" playing coy, he spoke.

"Why would you be searching for Rose?" Lilias was scared, unsure, and confused.

"She told me she had a stomach ache and I was to bring her a remedy." After giving the false excuse, he produced a tiny flask.

"She never mentioned to me she felt unwell...She sleeps in the opposite wing. I would ring a footman or a ladiesmaid to escort you, but they've all gone to bed. Perhaps..."

"Nevermind that," Neville interrupted, "I'll find her room myself. I'm sure your husband will be joining you soon. I must go now. Pardon my intrusion." He dropped the remaining pearls into her empty hands. "I shall replace them."

Neville left abruptly.

Lilias felt nauseous herself suspicious once again of Neville's intentions...Nauseous suddenly as she pondered the sinister. The noises...her undressing... bathing...Could her solitude have truly been violated? Was it Neville? Did he hide himself in her chambers? Was he watching her? She had an eerie feeling. He was drunk. Was it lechery that brought him there to her quarters? She felt sick. Tears began to stream down her face.

Moments later, Archie entered. "My heart's darling, what is wrong?"

"I've dropped them." She opened her hands showing her husband the pieces of her ruined necklace.
Archie sighed sweetly as if to tell her not to worry as he embraced her.

Though much more than a broken strand of pearls was the source of her tears.

Meanwhile, Neville barged into Rose's quarters.
She looked up from her book in bed in shock.
"Neville!"

"What is it that you desire? Name it. Name anything and you shall have it. All I ask is for one night with you. I need you. This night."

"You don't want me. You want my sister," was her retort.

"Are you not as beautiful or as serene? Are you not as graceful in body? I say you are. My passion consumes me. Give me this night with you. I beg of you, Rose. I ache for you. Riches? Jewels? You shall claim anything in this house. A family heirloom, perhaps? Do not make me continue to beg. You must be lonely as I am lonely. With your husband so often absent...Your body must crave pleasure, warmth...satisfaction..."

"Only one night." Rose agreed.

Neville's face was sinisterly smug.

Neville then ordered Rose to remove her nightgown.

"It is I who shall command you." She replied, but she obeyed this first request.

LUST overwhelmed Neville. He spent a long course of time ogling her body.

"Come to me." Rose finally grew tired of his lecherous gaze.

It was a game of make believe for Neville. It didn't take much effort to imagine or pretend that physically Rose was her identical twin Lilias.