Oliver woke up, Allie was still sleeping and he was trapped by her arm wrapped around his waist and her head cradled between his arm and chest. He slid out from under her, and smiled thinking to himself how she could sleep through anything. They had an amazing night together up until he asked how long they would court for. He was honest that they would have short engagement and would have married her yesterday if she would have let him. She said last night they haven't fought yet, which was true. He felt like she pulled herself away a bit just then, something felt different.
He had made breakfast for them and ran a hot bath they could relax in before separating. He would return to the Inspector's home to get ready and then Allie and the other ladies were going to get ready at the Scarlet's. He brought breakfast up on a tray and kissed her awake, "Good morning beautiful, I brought breakfast and I have a hot bath ready for us." Allie smiled sleepily, "Thank you, Oliver." Allie sat up and he got back into bed and sat against the head board beside her. Allie looked at the tray, "You made this?" Oliver made scrambled eggs, toast, and sausage as well as tea. Oliver nodded and kissed her temple, "I love you." Allie put her hand on his, "I love you too, thank you for this." They ate together quietly, then went to bathe. Oliver pulled her in and kissed her soundly while removing her nightgown. Allie kissed him back and removed his pants and underwear. Oliver stepped in and sat and she followed lying against his chest as he tenderly kissed her and washed her. Allie turned around and asked Oliver to sit in front of her. She lathered her hands massaged his back the continued to wash the rest of his body, he was relaxed. He laid against her while she ran her fingers through his hair and her other arm lazily draped over his shoulder. She heard him sigh deeply and say, "I could lay like this forever," he tilted his face back and she kissed his cheek. Her hands had stopped running through his hair, he felt her breath become shaken. "Allie is something wrong?" Allie took a deep breath, "It's about our talk last night. I love you, I can see a future with you. Are we moving too fast? Oliver I want to make sure that whatever hardship or fight comes along we will make it through it. What if this is just new and after it wears off we end up hating each other? What if I have to leave?" Oliver stood up and helped her up before wrapping a warm towels around her. He wrapped another towel around himself and they stepped out of the tub. He had her hand in his and led her back to the bedroom, he noticed she had become tremulous. "Allie please sit down" she sat on the bed only wearing the towel, Oliver moved a few ringlets that had fallen down around her face and tucked them behind her ears. He dropped to his knees and took her hands in his making eye contact with her, "Allie, when I say I love you I mean it unconditionally. I will fight for you, I will fight for us. If you must leave I will leave with you. You are my heart and nothing will ever be more important than you and our relationship." Oliver leaned his forehead against hers and smiled, "We will fight, we will argue, but we will make up and our relationship will be stronger than before." Allie had tears falling down her face, he wiped them away as she said, "I love you and I am sorry it's not you I doubt, I doubt myself." Oliver smiled, "Never doubt yourself Allie, you are so loved. I need to hurry up and get going so you ladies can have a good time getting ready. Today will be beautiful, I will get to walk down the aisle with the most beautiful woman in the world and then dance the night away with her." Allie smiled, "I didn't know you were escorting Lizzie down the aisle." Oliver laughed, "I wouldn't dare, Inspector Wellington would have my hide. I should go, I will see you soon." She kissed him and laid back down in bed, and waited for Lizzie to come home.
Oliver unlocked the door and noticed Eliza's coat hung beside the Inspector's. The house was cool and he lit the fireplaces. He went to the kitchen and prepared breakfast for them. "Good morning Fitzroy," William said behind him. "Good morning Inspector, I am sorry if I woke you. Breakfast is just about done if you two want anything, I already ate with Allie but figured you two might be hungry," Oliver said looking over his shoulder. "Eliza is just getting up she will be down soon, how was your night Fitzroy?" Oliver looked surprised and smiled, "Sir are you asking as a friend or Allie's big brother?" William cleared his throat, "Both Fitzroy." Oliver turned to place the boiled eggs, toast, and bacon on the table and answered, "Every second I spend with her is amazing, even this morning when she was worried and probably the saddest I had ever seen her." William looked alarmed, "What did you do?" Oliver shook his head, "I don't believe anything, before we fell asleep I asked her how long our courtship will last, and that I would have married her yesterday if she wished it. Allie said that we haven't even fought or been through any hardships, and wanted to make sure we would be able to overcome such things," William nodded, "Then this morning while we were bathing," William shook his head while his cheeks flushed, "oh, right sorry Inspector, she became upset that she was doubting herself in our relationship and asked me what if she had to leave." William remembering what Eliza said last night about the surgeon being obsessed with her and following her said worriedly, "Did she tell you why Fitzroy?" Oliver shook his head, "You sound like you know something I don't sir." William nodded his head with a concerned look, "Eliza told me last night that Allie has been on the run from the surgeon that trained her, he became obsessed with Allie and had been stalking her which has kept Allie on the move." Oliver rubbed his hands on his face, "That's why she said she might have to leave." William nodded and said, "I won't let it happen, and she doesn't know that we know, she only confided in Eliza." Oliver weakly smiled, "I won't let it happen either sir, I don't know why she didn't tell me." William replied, "Allie takes care of other people before she takes care of herself, she sacrifices everything for people she loves. She is strong in many ways but her heart has been broken before, and she will safe guard it from breaking." Oliver asked, "Should I confront her about? Maybe it will make her feel better?" William shook his head, "No, let me, she won't run from me again, I won't let her. Eliza won't let her either." Oliver nodded, "Sir, when you say obsessed do you mean he was in love with her?" William shrugged, " I believe so, she had no interest in being with him as he was much older, married and had older children."
Eliza stepped in the kitchen and hung her arms around William's neck and kissed his temple. "Good morning Oliver, how was your night?" Eliza saw Fitzroy's eyes look at a William's as if wanting to know how he should answer, Eliza became worried, "What happened? Is Allie okay?" William looked up at her covering her hands with his and answered, "She is fine, I believe her seeing me last night for the first time in 10 years. She is afraid their relationship won't make it past a fight, and that she will have to leave. I let him know about the surgeon situation, which we will talk to her tomorrow evening about it. Fitzroy asked if he should and I said no, I did let him know what we know, so he can keep his eyes open for any funny business. Sit have some breakfast that Fitzroy made for us." Eliza smiled sadly, "Be patient with her, she is resilient, but there are times she will allow herself to be vulnerable with those she can trust." Oliver nodded, "She was giving me a hard time again by the time I left and smiling." William nodded at him, "Thanks for telling us, there is a lot that has probably happened we don't know about," he looked up at Eliza and kissed her on the cheek, "Eliza sit down and eat, Oliver knows how to boil eggs." Eliza smiled and sat down, "Thank you Oliver, you might be able to teach me better than my Inspector over here."
Eliza enjoyed her breakfast and then returned home to get ready. She ran up stairs to Allie's room, Allie was still lying in bed wrapped in her towel, Eliza laid down beside her and wrapped her arm around Allie pulling her close. Eliza ran her fingers through Allie's hair, and whispered, "Hey Al, are you okay?" Allie nodded, and rolled to face Eliza, "I felt so overwhelmed that I would hurt everyone again, especially Oliver. He said he would follow me anywhere, but his life is here and his family. I could never ask him if that." Eliza frowned, Allie couldn't hold her tears back, Eliza asked, "Do you have any reason to believe he is still after you?" Allie shook her head, "No, I think it was seeing William after so long, I didn't know it would effect me like that until after Oliver and I got home and he was asking how long our courtship should last and then all I could think about was what would happen if that awful man came around, and I had to go back on the run and leave everyone behind." Eliza's eyes welled up with tears, "Allie, I promise you we are not going to let anything happen, if he comes around we will get him put away so you won't have to worry anymore." Eliza kissed her forehead, Allie's arm wrapped around her and said, "This is supposed to be such a happy time, I am sorry. I don't want anything to happen."
Three loud knocks were heard at the door, Ivy was still asleep. Eliza went down the stairs and opened the door, while Allie changed. "William? What are you doing?" He looked as if the house was burning around him, "I can't stop thinking about how seeing me may have brought this upon Allie. Can I see her quick is she up?" Just then he saw Allie coming down the stairs, he quickly kissed Eliza and gently said, "Allie come here," Allie shook her head no she couldn't cry anymore or else she would have puffy eyes, "please, Al?" Eliza lightly touched William's arm, "I am going to make some tea." William nodded, his eyes never left Allie who started walking down the stairs again. When she met him at the bottom he pulled her into a long tight hug. He let her go then grabbed her hand and took her into the drawing room. He pulled her into another long hug before they sat. Allie sat on the settee while William pulled an arm chair in front of her, he trapped her with his legs locking hers in between them and leaned forward to tilt her chin up so she was looking at him, he wiped a stray tear away before gathering her hands in his. "Will, you didn't have to come, I am sorry." William looked at her, "I came because I love you, why on earth are you apologizing for something you have no control over?" Allie looked in his eyes, "I did have control over cutting all ties with you." William smiled and said quietly, "You were barely 17 years old, Al. I read every one of your letters you wrote Eliza, it took a while for me to understand, and there was a time when I thought you might be mad or upset with me. I missed you terribly. I tried to write to you too, I did in a way, I would tell Eliza what to say, and when you wrote back it was to me. We had this plan to come to Ireland to get you, Henry caught wind of it and put a stop to it. He said he would write to your parents to see when you could come back and visit, but there was never a response. Don't hold on to this, you can't lose me that easy. You always have and always will be my little sister, and I hope one day you will be our child's aunt and god mother." Allie smiled while he wiped away her tears, "Will, my family was here though and I left to go be a nurse for strangers while they died. Then I was on the run trying to get back to here my home, without that jack wagon." William shook his head, "What did he do to you, Eliza said he was obsessed with you and you were not interested, and he also had a wife and children?" Allie leaned back against the couch, "It's not exactly something we should talk about. I am not sure Oliver would want me anymore since a woman's worth depends on her being intact. That is all I think I need to say, it was just once and I ran as soon as I was able to get my parents affairs taken care of." William stood up quickly and started pacing, "Al, he forced himself on you?" Allie looked back at him, she was hoping she wouldn't have to relive this. "Yes, he did it was a late night, I was still in the operating room restocking supplies. I thought he had left. I stabbed him with a scalpel as soon as I could get my hands on one, and never returned. I am so sorry, I never flirted with him, or gave him any reason to believe that I was interested." Allie stood up, she felt uncomfortable sitting while he was pacing. "His wife found out, as one of my dear friends had checked on me and then took it upon themselves to make it known that this had occurred." Eliza knocked on the door, tea in hand. Allie opened it, she had never told Eliza exactly what had happened. William was still pacing, "Is there anything else I need to be made aware of? I will make sure you are protected, he will be caught if he comes anywhere near London." Allie had sat back down, and placed her head in her hands while answering back in a small voice, "I was pregnant with his child, but she was born asleep. I named her Willow Elizabeth Scarlet" Eliza who was sitting next to her pulled her into a tight hug while stroking her head in an attempt to help soothe Allie who was now shaken and crying. Eliza made eye contact with William, and William returned to sitting in front of her and took her hands in his again, "You are safe now, I am so sorry for making you upset." Allie had started to settle, "I needed to tell someone, I feel a little better knowing I am not harboring such a secret." Eliza kissed her temple and handed her a cup of tea, "Oliver will think nothing different of you, he is completely in love with you." William nodded his head in agreement, still processing what Allie just confessed. Eliza got up, "I am going to get you a cold washcloth for your eyes." William took Eliza's place on the settee and wrapped his arm around Allie pulling her in tight, " I am so sorry William." Will kissed the top of her head, "You don't need to apologize about anything. If anyone is sorry it should be me, I was not there to protect you." Allie scoffed, "That is an insane thought that you think you should have been there." William shook his head, "No, not really. Eliza told me that your parents had passed, and that you were in training while you settled their affairs. I should have come to help you, Eliza and I should have both come." Allie looked up at him, "You can't do that to yourself, please don't. Can we be done with this and enjoy the rest of what is supposed to be a joyful day?" William sighed, "Of course we can, I love what you named your daughter." Allie smiled again, "She was far too beautiful for this world, I dream of her all the time." Eliza had heard this and stood in the door watching the two most important people in her life sharing this moment together, a tear made its way down her cheek. Allie was still tucked tight in Williams embrace, Eliza sat on the other side of Allie and asked, "Does what happened hinder your relationship with Oliver? Is that what you are afraid of?" Allie shook her head, "No, I feel completely safe with him, I am worried if he finds out he will not longer want to be with me as I am a fallen woman. I know he loves me, and I him. It honestly started out as a test to see if I was able to be comfortable with a man, and I felt at home with him. He is amazing and forgiving. I just don't know if I am able to be the wife he is expecting." Eliza wiped away Allie's tears with the cold cloth, "I have seen you two together, you shouldn't doubt his feelings toward you with or without knowing about the past."
The clock on the mantle chimed, William released Allie knowing he needed to leave so they could get ready, they heard Ivy rustling around now. "I should go, Allie thank you for trusting us with this. We can help you heal and protect you from it happening again." Eliza and Allie both stood, William hugged each of them and then Eliza followed him to the front door, "Keep your eye on her, she worries me." Eliza smiled sadly at him, "I won't let her out of my sight, I am worried about her too. Will you tell Oliver?" William nodded his head, "I am only to let him know that she needs our protection and support. And to watch for anything suspicious when they are alone." Eliza nodded, and reached up to kiss him, "I love you, I will see you at the church?" William kissed her back, "I wouldn't miss walking you and Ivy down the aisle, I will see you all soon." William then left, Eliza went back in the drawing room to check on Allie. Allie regained composure and was holding the cold wet towel against her red swollen eyes, "Allie why don't you go back upstairs to rest a bit, you are emotionally exhausted. I will be up in a bit after I check on Ivy." Allie nodded and made her way upstairs, Eliza was right she was mentally and emotionally exhausted after reliving her recent past.