"Dead? My God!" Annabelle gasped as she leaned on her husband for support.

"When did it happen?" Cyril asked.

Richard looked dazed. Looking at the postmark he said, "It has been several days now." Richard could not believe Cecilia was gone, but that also meant... "I need to sit down," Richard said, his strength leaving him when thinking of his child.

Annabelle led Richard back to the parlor. Cyril followed.

"Cyril, could you please get me the brandy from your den," Annabelle requested. Cyril nodded. He believed that with tidings such as these they could all use a stiff drink. As Cyril entered the hall there was a knock on the door.

Juliana was not surprised to see the shocked look on Cyril's face at her presence but she had her reasons for being here. "Cyril, may I come in?"

Cyril looked briefly at the closed doors of the parlor before resting his eyes on Juliana again. "Now, is not really the best time for a visit," Cyril stumbled feeling odd turning Juliana away but the family was in crisis. Juliana's presence would just make things far more complicated.

"Please Cyril, is Richard... is he still here?" Juliana asked wondering if her actions of last night caused distress to the family as Cyril is leaving her to stand on the doorstep.

"Yes, he is and Annabelle is with him. I do not believe I could tear her away at this moment. Perhaps tomorrow or later this afternoon would be better." Cyril looked awfully nervous for a man that was usually no-nonsense.

"Cyril is something wrong?" Juliana asked. "I am sorry if anything I have done or said has upset your household it was not my intention I assure you."

Cyril just looked at Juliana confused. "No, Juliana it was nothing you have done. It is just..." he was not sure how to finish his statement.

"Please Cyril, I have to see Richard it is imperative that I talk with him. I may have done something rash."

Cyril was surprised she was here to see Richard and not Annabelle. He knew by the determined look on Juliana's face that she would stand on his doorstep until Richard had to leave so he invited her in but led her to the den. He grabbed the brandy decanter and a few glasses. "Stay here," he told her, "and I will see if Richard will see you." He left in such a hurry she did not get to find out what was troubling him.

Juliana could not believe the ache she had in her head. Well, that is the price to pay for all the wine she imbibed. When she awoke this morning she had no recollection of how she had managed to get into bed. It wasn't until she put the kettle on for tea that she had spotted her flowers, the wildflowers she had purchased from the old woman in the street and nestled among them was a rose, a beautiful and perfect red rose. Then the evening's events came flooding back to her. So startled by her memories she dropped her teacup and it came smashing to the floor. She knew then and there she had to find Richard, hoping beyond hope she didn't do anything rash as there was a large blank in her memory of the evening, and she was dressed only in her chemise when she awoke.

Cyril returned to the parlor and began to pour a rather large tumbler full of brandy for Richard. "Here drink this," he said handing him the glass.

"Who was at the door?" Annabelle asked.

"No one of consequence, Dear. They had the wrong house."

Richard was grateful for the warm liquid that managed to take the chill from his veins.

"Can you tell us what happened?" Annabelle asked. Richard nodded that he could but not before taking another gulp of brandy.

"How did she die?" Cyril asked, "Was it complications with the baby?"

Annabelle had not even thought of the baby until now. He must have told Cyril to explain why the big rush for the license.

"Oh, Richard I am so sorry. I cannot imagine what you must be feeling," Annabelle felt she would die if she had lost one of her children.

"No, it was not the baby." Richard was not sure he could say the words it all seemed so horrible. Draining his glass he took strength in the liquor that burned its way down his chest and into his belly.

"She...she was murdered," Richard blurted seeing no other way of spinning it. "But it makes no mention as to how," Richard said looking at the letter he still held in his hand.

Cyril nearly dropped the decanter spilling some of the brandy on the table. "I will be back in a moment I need to grab a towel to sop this up before it ruins the wood."

Both Annabelle and Richard thought Cyril was acting strangely but they were all a little unnerved by the news. Still, Annabelle thought Cyril would be the least affected because this was the type of case he deals with every day as a barrister.

Cyril grabbed a towel from the kitchen but did not return to the parlor but instead headed for his den.

Juliana was pacing in the den, worry consuming her. She could not understand what could be keeping Cyril from returning. She had half a mind to find Richard herself. Just then Cyril entered.

"Juliana," he said slightly out of breath, "when you said you had done something rash what had you meant by that?"

Juliana did not understand how she managed to come under cross-examination but answered Cyril's question. "I mean I may have done something that would cause Richard much distress. I have to find out just how far I let things go, please Cyril may I see him?"

"You know when you went to pick up the painting supplies a few days ago? Where did you go?" Cyril's eyes were very intense as he looked upon her.

Juliana was confused by the scrutiny of his gaze. "Cyril, what is this about?"

Cyril hated to even think the idea but in his line of work, it could not be helped. "You did not come back that night?" he pressed on.

"I know," Juliana answered him thinking how odd he was behaving. "I told you the carriage wheel broke to the coach I took and I had to stay overnight at an inn while it was repaired. Cyril, would you please explain to me what this is about?"

Cyril's gaze narrowed. "Cecilia ..." Cyril paused slightly, "She is dead. Murdered. It happened a few days ago."

Juliana did not know what shocked her more, the thought of that poor girl murdered, or the fact that Cyril was implying she may have had something to do with it. "I feel for the poor girl but if you are insinuating what I think you are Cyril Kane may I remind you I was only gone two days. It would take four to travel to the Manor and back here to London. And when I told you I had done something rash, something that may have distressed him. I spoke of telling him the truth about who I am, not murdering his bride to be!"

Cyril sighed with relief. He knew she was right she could not have gotten to Manor and back to London in the time, the murder took place. "Sorry Juliana, it is a hazard of the job, you have to admit considering your feelings for Richard you had the motive."

Juliana had to give him that and although she would have done just about anything to get Richard back, murder had never entered her mind. Then she thought of how the news must be affecting Richard. True, he held no love for this woman but his child. Her heart broke for him. She wished nothing more than to be able to go to him.

"Please, Cyril can I see him now?" Juliana asked.

"Considering the circumstances I think it unwise," Cyril said. "Richard is in a bad state right now."

All the more she needed to see him, Juliana thought but understood Cyril's hesitation. "Please Cyril. I must speak with him. I have to see him. Please?"

Cyril hated hearing a grown woman plead, it was his one weakness unless the woman was on the stand in court but still... "Give me a few more minutes to assess the situation if I think he can handle a visit from you I will get you directly. Until then sit here and stay put."

Juliana nodded at him and sat down on the leather chair across from Cyril's desk. "I will not move from this spot until you fetch me."

Cyril crossed the hall to the parlor again.

"I thought you went to retrieve a towel?" Annabelle asked. Cyril looked at his hands and realized he must have left it in the den when he stopped to speak to Juliana.

"I could not find one," he said rather lamely.

"Men," Annabelle said exasperated, "completely helpless around a kitchen. I will go fetch it myself." She quickly exited the room.

Cyril was glad to get this break. "Richard, I know it is hard for you to think about this just now, considering the news but have you given any thought to Juliana?"

"Juliana?" Richard was surprised he had not thought of her at all. With Cecilia's death, he was free to pursue her.

The idea occurred to Cyril at the same time. Could it be possible for Richard to have hired someone to kill Cecilia so that he and Juliana could be together? The idea seemed ludicrous, and Cyril had dismissed it as soon as it entered. He did not even know who Juliana was till last night but then again what if he thought himself to be in love with this Anna person? He had sent her away when he thought he had compromised himself with Cecilia.

"How did you know I had learned the truth about Juliana?" Richard had asked knowing there was not enough time for Annabelle to have told him.

So absorbed in his own thoughts Cyril unknowingly managed to entrap himself.

"You have seen her!" Richard accused staring at him, eyes ablaze.

"Yes, I have," Cyril answered calmly.

"She was the person at the door," Richard said shocked. "And you sent her away?"

"Who did you send away?" Annabelle asked not liking the tension she felt between her husband and her brother as she entered the room.

"Juliana," Richard answered. "She actually got the nerve to come here knowing that I may still be here and this idiot sends her away."

"Was that Juliana at the door?" Annabelle asked surprised that he would send Juliana away but even more surprised that he would lie to her about it.

"I have to find her. I have to talk to her!" Richard said as he rose from his chair to leave the room.

"If you would just calm down and give me a moment to speak I could explain," Cyril said not caring for Richard's tone.

"Calm down?" Richard stated in disbelief. "Calm down! How am I to calm down when you just sent the woman I love more than life away? Who knows if she will return?"

"You love her that much?" Cyril asked. "So much that Cecilia's life means nothing to you now?" Standing toe to toe with Cyril, Richard was a barely controlled ball of rage.

Annabelle looked nervously from one man to the other. They looked as if fists were about to fly. Richard was taller and much more physically fit then Cyril but he refused to back down.

"What exactly are you implying?" Richard asked in a tone that was dangerously calm.

"He wants to know if you had your soon to be wife killed so that you could be with the woman you love?" was the answer Richard received but it did not come from anyone standing in the room but from the beautiful woman standing in the doorway.