James sat stiffly in the Vanderbilt train car as they rolled toward Newport. All the maroon silk paneled walls, the dark wood furniture, the shining crystal made him feel out of place, even as Liz held his hand and drew his attention to a magazine she was holding. He considered the various hairstyles that were shown before tapping an illustration of a lady with her hair pulled back in a twist. "I like that one."

"You don't think it's too severe?" Liz began doing her best to imitate it, it was rather difficult without a mirror and James had to laugh when the elegant twist she was attempting wound up looking more like a tangle. Liz pouted at him, "What's so funny?"

He pulled her hands from her hair, "You are, let your maid try it later." Liz pursed her lips and rolled her eyes, but there was a smile to it. Then she pressed herself a little closer to him, and he froze again. He knew Richard was watching him, as was Oscar. So he had to fight against the urge to wrap an arm around her and instead got her talking about the magazine again.

But the in the car ride to their estate she put her hand on his thigh accidentally and he almost jumped.

He was glad when he had a moment alone after the footmen had brought his trunk and bags up to the rooms he had been given. He pressed a hand to his waistcoat, feeling the ring dig into his ribs. It had been in that pocket since he had brought it from Southampton, although hopefully not for much longer. James passed a short while putting his clothes into the various dressers and wardrobes that had been provided, not that they came close to filling them. He paused in front of the mirror to straighten his jacket, run a hand through his hair, and summon his courage.

Richard had to say yes, he just had to. Why else would he have allowed him to come with them on this trip? He had let him sleep in his home during the anniversary when he couldn't stand the thought of sleeping on the ship. He kept repeating this to himself as he walked through the hallways towards Richard's rooms. He'd been proper during the courting process, Liz adored him and he was helplessly in love with her.

Richard was alone when he opened the door and invited him in. "James, is there something wrong with your rooms?"

"No sir," He shook his head, "They're very nice. Thank you for letting me come with you, again."

"Of course," Richard chuckled, settling into a leather chair. "Liz would have been put out with me if I hadn't."

"And Oscar?"

"He'd have only put up with her complaining for so long before he sent for you himself." Richard raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you wanted to ask me?"

James drew in a breath, "Yes. I want your permission to propose to Elizabeth."

Richard snorted. "You mean Oscar didn't tell you?"

"What?" James furrowed his brows. "Oscar?"

"That day you came in and raked us all over the coals for that business with the Murdochs," Richard stood, coming to put his hands on the younger man's shoulders. "After you left I told Oscar that I would say yes the second you asked me for Liz's hand. I'm just surprised he didn't tell you."

He blinked, "Oh, well, thank you sir."

"Do you have a ring?"

"Yes, here." James fished it out of his pocket. It was nothing compared to what he had seen in her jewelry box, but the pale ruby had reminded him of the pink fairy dress she had worn for the costume ball when he'd first gotten permission to court her.

Richard considered it for a moment. "I could have this added to, if you like. A few diamonds wouldn't go amiss."

"I think I would rather Liz decide that, sir." James slipped it back into his pocket. "Would you mind if I-"

"Go on, and have her dismiss the staff." Richard smirked and patted his shoulder. "I'll give you twenty minutes before sending someone for you two, alright?"

"Thank you." James was breathless at the thought, and almost sprinted through the house to find Liz's rooms. A parcel of maids was attending to her wardrobe and all the accessories she had brought with her, and Liz left off supervising when she saw him. He couldn't help but smile as she came up and kissed his cheek, and he held onto her arms when she tried to step away. "Could you send them away?"

She looked a little confused, but sent the staff away with a nod. Soon enough they were alone, and she was still in his arms. "James, is everything alright?"

"Yes, I," He smiled. "I've gotten your father's permission, and I." He watched as her eyes went wide, her mouth falling open slightly as she saw him pull the ring from his pocket. "I want to ask you something. Will you marry me?" He had expected her to cry a bit before speaking, but she didn't even do that. Instead she almost tackled him, kissing every inch of his face before lingering on his lips. He breathed in her rosewater perfume, holding onto her until she had spent her excitement. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it is, silly." She pulled him back in for another kiss, and he brought a hand up to cup her cheek. She plucked the ring from his hand and slipped it onto her finger, admiring it and latching her arms around him. God help him, but he loved this woman. Liz, flighty and frivolous with her fashions, kind and gentle when he was terrified in the night, and loyal to her friends and family. That was the best way he had described her to his family, and he was glad that Richard would think nothing of having them for the wedding for he wanted them to meet her.

A soft knock sounded. "Mr. Moody, Mr. Vanderbilt is waiting with champagne for you and Miss Vanderbilt. He says your twenty minutes are up."

"Ah, just a moment." James disentangled himself from Liz, offering her an arm. "It sounds like your father is planning to celebrate."

Liz was beaming, "And why shouldn't he? Oh, we're going to have to put out announcements and I'll need to make calls. I can call Anastasia first, they're already up here. I'll do that before bed, right now we need to go."

"You, you don't think Oscar is going to be upset, do you?"

"That depends on how tightly you're holding me when we walk in. Put your hand right here, and I'll cling to you. That should rile him up."

Sophie and I were actually glad to have a reason to dress up a bit. Louise was more than willing to assist the both of us in preparing for Liz's visit, and after a week of filling meals and naps, Sophie was looking much better. Her hair was shinier, she'd put on some weight and she was actually smiling as she patted powder onto her face. "Did she really scream over the phone?"

I looked over from where Louise was buttoning my dress. "For almost five minutes!" To say Liz had been ecstatic was an understatement, for I had barely been able to get her to form words when she had called. Eventually she had managed to garble something about James proposing and her saying yes and Oscar was furious but also happy and everything in life was perfect.

"Mein Gott, I can barely remember how I reacted." Her smile fell a bit. "I was happy though, I remember that. How did you take it?"

"Well, I was over in Britain so I couldn't exactly call on everyone." I shrugged, admiring the swirl of light yellow silk around my calves. "But I was so happy, and I wired Mother first thing the next day." I could feel my face grow a little hot at what I remembered, which was Will pleasuring me that night. "And then we met Will's closest friend and his wife for dinner, all in all, it was rather tame."

"It sounds wonderful." She stood, allowing me to sit down and powder my nose. "Are they all coming?"

I almost sneezed at the powder in the air, "Elizabeth, James and Oscar. Moira and Richard are staying back to plan the engagement party."

"A party?" Sophie pursed her lips. "Everyone will come."

"I'm sure we can figure out someway for you to avoid Zachary." I looked at her through the mirror. "Or you could stay here with Adam."

"That would probably be for the best." She shook her head, "I almost don't want to go back to New York, it's been so wonderful here."

I stood, coming over to take her arm and start us down the stairs. "Then we'll just say that you're incredibly ill and can't come back to the city for the rest of your life." She snorted at that.

Will met us at the bottom of the stairs, taking in Sophie's chortling. "Something funny?"

"Your wife is planning to kidnap me." Sophie grinned, and when Rebecca approached she gladly lifted Adam into her arms. "And how is my little man doing today?"

"Fat and happy." Will shook his head, "And no doubt glad to see his mother." Rigel and Little Freddy loped past Rebecca as she headed off her her lunch, and together we all managed to settle ourselves in the parlor. The windows had been opened to admit a cooling sea breeze and the maids were finishing laying out the tea service.

I worried for a moment that the tea might grow cold before our guests arrived, but I needn't have. Liz came rushing into the parlor less than five minutes after we had gotten down, her left hand thrust forward. "Oh Anastasia look at it!" She wiggled her ring finger, and I had to actually grab her hand to hold it still. "I'm going to have Father put some diamonds on it, he offered and it's not like I don't love it already, but isn't it perfect!"

I released her hand, "It's beautiful, especially in silver. I don't think gold would suit the stone."

"Oh no," Sophie had come to my side and cocked her head to the side to consider it. "Such a pale stone, a light metal suits it, and you."

Liz blinked, "Oh, Mrs. Reichster, I wasn't aware you were joining us."

"We offered Sophie our hospitality, she needed to get to a better climate." I gestured towards Adam, his eyes screwed shut. "You've met her son?"

"I have, Adam, I believe." Liz smiled slightly, "Zachary was parading him around at a party while you were gone."

"Well he won't get the chance to do that again anytime soon." Will grumbled, "Aren't you going to greet your other guests, Ana?"

"Of course," I turned to the others. "My apologies, James, Oscar."

"Well my sister did practically tackle you." Oscar grinned, bending over my hand. "I think you might be forgiven." His sister quickly began to fuss over James, pulling him over to the settee and setting about making him the center of attention.

James blushed a bit as she handed him a plate piled with sweets, "Thank you, Liz."

"Oh, it's nothing darling." She simpered, leaning over to kiss his cheek. "Why don't you tell them how you proposed?"

He finished the cookie she had pressed on him before speaking again. "I had planned it for awhile, I asked her father for his permission and then asked her."

"You moved quickly." Sophie spoke after sipping her tea, "Will the wedding be as quick?"

"Next year." Oscar stated, earning himself a glare from Liz. "Father was insistent on that point."

"But early next year." Liz snapped back, reaching over for James's hand. "I simply cannot wait to be Mrs. Moody." Oscar was quite clearly put out, especially when Liz leaned over to press yet another kiss to James's cheek. But Will drew him into conversation about the yachts races this year, and Adam quickly charmed Oscar when he was passed over for inspection.

Liz kept up a stream of conversation about wedding plans, even though she had only been engaged for a few days. She wanted a pure white dress, silver jewelry and perfect pale pink roses. Her mother had already planned out the preliminaries of the engagement party and they were viewing it as a test run for the wedding. I couldn't help but notice that she drew James closer to her throughout the conversation until she was practically in his lap. Oscar gave her a sneer, rising and saying he needed a moment before heading outside. I caught Will's eye, whispering into his ear once I rose. "I'll go and check on him."

"I'll keep them out of your hair." Will gave my hand a squeeze, and began discussing the upcoming party with James.

Oscar wasn't very hard to track down, his white linen suit stood out quite plainly against the blue stripe of the lighthouse. The breeze blew the stink of his cigarette smoke towards me, and I wrinkled my nose. "Would you mind putting that out?"

He flicked the butt into the sand. "It was already done."

"You could at least put it in the waste bin inside." I muttered, sending him scrambling after the butt and ducking inside. I followed him, nodding at the stairs. "Care to climb?" He kept pace behind me, and I opened the door that led to the walkway around the lighthouse windows. Up here the air was cool and clean and we could see for miles out to sea. Oscar leaned on the railing next to me, his mouth pinched. I sighed, "You hate James, don't you?"

"No," He snorted and shook his head, "No, I don't hate him. He's a good man and he won't hurt her. And she's quite happy with him, so no, I don't hate him."

"And yet you're acting like you've got a bee in your bonnet." I considered Oscar for a moment, "Although I suppose that isn't quite right, you're acting like you found him bedding her."

"He doesn't have the gall to do that." He sighed, "It's just, I thought it would be me. I wanted it to be me, and it's tradition you know. The oldest child marries and then the younger."

I rolled my eyes, watching a gull dip down to land in the water. "Oscar, I think that tradition is about a hundred years out of date. And for daughters."

"Still, I had my eye on someone. I just didn't move fast enough." He was quite clearly looking at me, and I kept my eye on the gull.

I couldn't stop the blush on my cheeks though, "That doesn't mean you have to stop looking you know. I'm sure plenty of ladies will be looking at you at the engagement party." Part of me was flattered that he still cared for me so, but I wanted Oscar to find someone, someone who could make him as happy as Liz and I were with our men.

"I've looked at them at least once a week for the past ten years, and I've always found them lacking." I watched from the corner of my eye as he looked out at the waves. "I just wish she wouldn't dote on him like that, like she's rubbing my face in it."

I glanced over, "Are you sure she's not just happy?"

"Oh I know she is, and it's driving me mad." He chuckled, "Although I suppose I should learn to control my reaction better, can't have everyone thinking that I'd rather shoot James than let him marry my sister."

"Just spend the party with us then," I smirked, "We're going to twist the Reichsters' noses and I know you enjoy that."

"That wouldn't happen to be why Sophie is here, would it?"

"It wasn't intended, she was skin and bones, Oscar. He kept taking the baby to parties and she went with him to take care of him."

"I know, I tried getting them to let her sit in a room and rest one time but they refused. It's a good thing you got her out, if only for a bit." He stood up from the railing, "We should head back."

I stepped forward, my arms open. "A hug before we go back?"

"Of course," He wrapped me in his arms, and I squeezed him back. I expected him to release me after I did, but he held on for a few moments longer. Oscar seemed reluctant to step back, and kept my hand tucked around his arm as we started walking back. He grinned at me, "Now, how exactly are we going to blacken their eye?"

"Well, if you can believe it our mothers cooked this whole idea up between them." I chuckled, earning a loud laugh from Oscar. Fortunately the mood was salvaged and he actually gave a few opinions about the party, namely about the band and the meal. Every time Liz tried to bait him, usually by grabbing onto James in someway, he simply smirked and looked to Will.

Soon enough she stopped, although they'd lingered long enough that they were invited to dinner.

Mother was full of praise for James and Liz, and Oscar of course was the perfect guest and took over tending to Sophie for Will. He was full of compliments for the food, lamb chops and roasted potatoes, the cottage, the beach and everything he could think of besides his sister. His sister, in response, stewed for the first few courses before drawing Sophie and I into discussions about her dress and where she and James should honeymoon.

The Vanderbilt siblings at least weren't at each other's throats when they left, although poor James looked rather awkward as Liz hauled him to the car and Oscar spent five minutes bowing over each lady's hand in thanks for our hospitality.

As soon as the car pulled away, Sophie and I fell into a fit of giggles. I wiped at my eyes, feeling like there were tears in them. "Oh, now that will be some wedding."

"Unless Liz gets her way and they just find a court clerk!" Sophie tried to cover her mouth, but she couldn't stop laughing. "I have to go feed Adam, but I'll meet you back down at the porch? We have so much more to discuss."

I nodded, traipsing back through the house and collecting a bottle of wine, a bottle of whiskey and a pitcher of lemonade for Sophie. I wanted children, God knew I did, but I was not looking forward to limiting how much I drank while I was pregnant and nursing. I sighed as I poured myself a glass, "I suppose I'll just have to find something else to indulge in."

"Indulging, love?" Will had joined me, and poured himself a glass of whiskey. "Planning to get drunk with the duchess tonight?"

"You know she can't drink right now." I rolled my eyes, sipping at my wine. "I was just thinking that I would have to find something else to enjoy when we have children."

Will smiled, leaning down to press a kiss to my cheek. "I'll bury you in whatever you like, chocolate, sweets, anything."

"Such a good husband." I mused, grasping his hand. "I hope you won't mind if I come up late tonight, Sophie and I have much to discuss."

"Not at all, although you may want to bring some of this back with you." He swirled the whiskey in his glass, squeezed my hand and nodded to Sophie as he passed her heading in.

Sophie pursed her lips at the lemonade. "Ugh, I cannot wait until Adam is weaned. It's been so long since I've had a sip of champagne."

"How do you put up with it?" I took a swallow of wine, "Especially with Zachary."

She cocked her head slightly at that, "The midwife he engaged showed me all sorts of pictures of what drinking did to babies, it was enough to make me swear to sobriety while I had Adam."

"Well, he is a lovely little boy." I finished my glass, Sophie reaching across to pour some more. "Although I'm sorry that you didn't have much time to enjoy being a wife before having him."

"There's not much joy in it."

"Oh, I enjoy it! It's not that I don't want children, I do, desperately, but even Will wanted me to have some time to enjoy being a wife."

She looked away. "I know you enjoy it."

I flushed, thinking that she may have heard Will and I some nights ago. "Sophie, I'm sorry, we did try and keep quiet."

"Not at his birthday party." Sophie slapped her hand over her mouth, "Oh, no, don't listen to me."

"Birthday party?" I blanched, remembering how Will and I had stolen away, how he had bent me over a desk for a round. "Sophie, you didn't-"

"I didn't mean to! I thought he might have been hurting you." She was bright red. "And then, well, I saw that he wasn't. But how can you enjoy it?"

I hastily drained my glass and refilled it, already feeling rather tipsy after the wine from dinner and lubrication was definitely needed for the direction this conversation was going. "Are you saying that Zachary never, well, pleasured you?"

"There was something." She wouldn't meet my gaze. "And I liked kissing him, but the act itself feels dirty to me. And definitely not pleasurable." She looked down to her lap, "But you seemed like you were finding pleasure in it, you were begging him and pleading and I have never felt that way when Zachary wants me. And William looks at you so kindly, like James looks at Liz. I've never seen that look from my husband."

The wine was empty, and I turned for the whiskey. I was feeling pleasantly warm even with the cool night breeze coming in off the surf. "I'm sorry for that Sophie, everyone should be able to have someone who cares for them."

"You found one, so did Liz." Sophie grumbled, reaching for her lemonade. "Why didn't I?"

"Why did you marry Zachary?" I pursed my lips, "If it's not too much to ask, it's apparent you don't care for him in the same way as I do for Will."

I could see her eyeing the whiskey, "Anastasia, it's complicated."

"I may be somewhat drunk but I think I can follow."

"You can try. My family is an old one, with estates and lands across Germany. They're beautiful and full of art and our tenants have their farms, but it also means we have almost no money. There's always something to be repaired, not to mention having to spend most of our time in Berlin and all the requirements there. New wardrobes, new court costumes, new uniforms, not to mention the apartments we keep there."

"Couldn't you sell some of the estates or the art?"

"Johann inherited them and is terribly sentimental, so we couldn't."

I looked away, "Which meant you all had to marry rich."

"And we're hardly the only poor nobles." She smiled slightly, "I was glad when Johann found Marta, he loves her even if she didn't come with much money. Otto and Frederich entered the military, hoping that they can rise through the ranks and earn more. Johann manages to get the Kaiser to give us some small gifts every now and then."

"But it wasn't enough."

"No, and they didn't force me into it. I told them I would find a rich American, marry him and come back with enough money for us to never have to worry about it again. They'd done so much to take care of me, it seemed little enough to subject myself to if it would take care of them." She sniffed, her eyes bright. "I just didn't think it would be so hard."

I stood, coming to sit by her, even if I stumbled a bit on the way. "Sophie, oh honey." I wrapped an arm around her, "I'm sorry that Zachary is an ass. You deserve someone better."

"But I couldn't find anyone!" She had tears on her cheeks. "I looked and looked and he was the only one."

A thought entered my mind, hardly waiting a moment before it was on my tongue. "He's not the only man, you know."

"What do you mean?"

"If Zachary can't provide you with love, maybe you should find someone who can." I couldn't believe what I was saying, but it felt right to me. Was it so wrong to look for love when it wasn't freely given in a marriage?

"You're talking about an affair."

"I am."

She was quiet for a long moment, worrying her lips. "But Adam-"

"Is very clearly Zachary's." I plucked a napkin from the table and handed it to her. "And there are ways to prevent a child, if you want to know them."

"But who would I look for? It's not exactly something I can just put an advertisement for in the paper." She dabbed at her eyes, pursing her lips.

I sighed, "Listen Sophie, I can't speak for all women, but there's something about sailors. Will managed to charm me, and Liz is already looking at churches. There's something about them, and I don't know what it is."

"So what are you saying? I can't very well take a sailor into my house, Zachary would kill him and then me."

"No, no, but say if you have another spell where you're exhausted, take a trip to a spa. Alone, maybe with a maid if you trust her implicitly, or with Rebecca and Adam, and just, sample someone."

She shook her head, "Just take a lover, just like that? I swore vows in church."

"Zachary swore to love and cherish you and he hasn't fulfilled those, so I don't think you'd be breaking your vows if he hasn't fulfilled his side of the bargain." I gently took her hands, "Sophie, do it or don't, but you should experience at least some pleasure in your life and it's obvious Zachary doesn't care about you. You should be able to be happy, and you're not. It might not be the only way, Zachary may have a change of heart, but I doubt it. I just don't want to see you like you were when I visited, I want you to be able to smile when you think about someone. It's your choice though, remember that."

Will had taken up a place in Ana's bed, a book to accompany him while he waited for her. He figured he owed her a return on what she had done, given that she had appeared in his cabin the night of their anniversary and said that his company was all the gift she needed. He had laughed and tumbled her back in bed, asking if she wasn't sure that she wanted some kind of jewelry. In response she had pulled him down into a kiss that hadn't ended for a long time.

So now he was going to surprise her in the same way, and he already had a few towels to shove under the cracks of the doors to make sure no one heard them.

What he did not expect was to hear his wife stumbling into his room, cursing. "Where the hell are you, William?"

He chuckled and called out, "Wrong bedroom." There was a great deal of more muffled curses as she made her way over, flinging her shoes into the room before her. "Did you have a good time with Sophie?"

"Very good, I told her she needs a lover." Ana grumbled, trying to unbutton her dress before turning around and presenting her back to him. "Help?"

He quickly began popping the buttons open, "A lover, so now you're ruining marriages."

"Only that one." She shrugged the bodice of the dress off, and Will picked at the knot of her brassiere while she worked the skirt off. "She's miserable Will, she wants what we have."

He plucked the brassiere off of her, pulling her back to sit on the bed while he wrapped himself around her. "I think anyone would want this."

"I want you." Ana turned, pressing her lips to his and pushing him onto his back. "Oh Will, I'm so glad you're not him."

"Ana," He gasped a bit as she straddled him, bending over to kiss him again. She tasted like whiskey and when she pulled back he could see her eyes were rather glazed. He did his best to sit up. "Perhaps we should just head to bed."

"But Will," She pushed at his shoulders, but he refused to budge. "Please?"

"You're drunk." Will brought a hand up to brush her hair behind her ear and trail his thumb across the soft skin of her cheek. "I'm not exactly in the habit of bedding a drunk wife."

"You did on the Olympic."

"I was drunk too, then."

"So I'll go get the whiskey, and we can have fun." She floundered in the blankets, trying to rise. "Just, just a minute."

Will chuckled, pulling her down to the bed. "I think you just need to sleep."

"I don't want to sleep." Ana flopped onto the pillows. "Don't you want me?"

"Always, you know that." He laid next to her, smiling when she turned to look at him. "But right now, that's not what you need. So, why don't you come here?" He opened his arms, curling them around her when she immediately took him up on his offer. "There, isn't that nice?"

She huffed, but there was a smile on her lips. "Yes, but in the morning?"

"In the morning you're not going to want to move, and I'll have to arrange for your breakfast to be brought up."

"After?"

"Maybe, now, let's get some sleep. And Ana?"

"Yes?"

"That talk about lovers, you wouldn't-"

"Never, you're too good to me."