I WAS CURIOUS BUT unconcerned. I was willing to bet money that the scream was sourced from one of my aunts, most likely over something petty. Matthew, on the other hand, was not. He sprinted towards the house. The interest I felt toward learning who had screamed prevailed against my nonchalance. So, I followed him (in a walk of course). Victoria was sitting splay legged in the middle of drawing room, tears streaming down her face. "Matthew," she whispered pitifully.

Matthew rushed to her side and crouched down to face her. "What's wrong Victoria? Why did you scream?"

The witch gave me the briefest glance before turning to Matthew. "The baby," she hiccuped. "It hurts so bad Matthew...I'm afraid I might lose it."

"Doctor," Matthew bellowed. "I need a doctor driven her this instant!"

One of the many servants scurried to where we were. "Dr. Farmington only lives a short while away. I'll go fetch him.

"Hurry up!" Matthew screamed. He was already red in the face. "Is there any bleeding Victoria? How's the pain?"

"Intense," she whimpered. "I don't know if I'm bleeding I...." Victoria trailed off to swipe a crocodile tear. Then she looked directly at me. "You could at least apologize. This wouldn't be happening if not for you."

Matthew whipped his head so quick at me I thought it would snap. "What the hell did you do?" He rose to his feet and leaned in so close I could smell his breath. "What the hell did you to my child?"

I tried to remain calm in the face of his yelling. The closeness...the anger... It was reminding me too much of my father. "I didn't do anything. I haven't done anything to her. It's quite the contrary actually."

Victoria's lip wobbled. "Just apologize. If you'd never...if you'd never said what you said I wouldn't have been so stressed. So..worried."

Matthew light blue eyes were an inky, dark blue. "What did you say to her? What. Did. You. Say. To. Her?"

"I didn't say anything Matthew, I swear it. She's lying."

"Why would I lie, Rose? What on Earth would provoke me to lie?" Victoria cried. God, I hated her. I directed my eyes to meet her gaze but Matthew snapped his fingers.

"Don't you dare look at her, look at me. What did you say to the mother of my child? What did you say to my future wife?"

"I didn't say anything! I swear it!"

Victoria took a sharp intake of breath. "Don't make me tell him. He'll never forgive you if I tell him."

"There's is absolutely nothing to tell," I said lowly. I was becoming so angry I didn't trust myself to form real words. This couldn't be happening. Just when Matthew and I were coming to some sort of understanding...a sort of truce. What the devil was her plan anyway?

Victoria cradled her stomach. "I keep them tucked away in the woods. I've been with men before, controlling men. Men who have threatened my family. I couldn't take that chance with my parents. They deserved safety and security."

My eyes widened. So this was what she had planned. "Matthew you don't have all the facts. Let us call on Frances Dubois before you listen to her."

He laughed sardonically. "I thought you swore you said nothing?"

"Yes but—"

"—she threatened the lives of my parents," Victoria cut off. "She said that if I didn't disappear and..and take my bastard child with me, she'd have that little butler slit their throats." Matthew turned to look at her before staring back at me.

"I only said that because she threatened my life, Matthew. She threatened my life. She had a plan to kill me, that's why I threatened her parents." Tears were starting to pool in my eyes. "Her parents are one of the kindest people I've ever met. I'd never...Matthew I could never hurt anyone. I didn't even...I didn't even mean it." Matthew shook his head. I looked directly in his eyes, pleading. "You must believe me, Matthew. Your mistress wants me dead."

"Victoria would no such thing."

"And I would?" My voice splintered from emotion. "I have Blossom. I knew what this marriage was...I knew the role your mistress played. Why would I oust her now? Matthew, I have a happy ending."

"She's pregnant. She's not just my mistress. That's the difference. The difference is that one I'm divorcing and you're the only one who wants to delay it. Victoria's disappearance would solve that problem." He paused. "How the hell did you visit her parents if that wasn't your intention?"

"It was an accident," I muttered.

"An accident," he repeated. "An accident." Matthew slammed his fist against the wall, a move that made me and Victoria shake. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that? Can you not even invent a good lie?"

I could feel a horrible pressure in my chest. The tears were starting now, a horrible avalanche of sobs was attacking my stomach. "I am telling the truth," I squeaked.

Matthew put his two hands on my shoulders. "I would kill you if you were a man Rose," he said softly. "If a man had threatened the parents of the woman I loved, I would kill him. And if you were the normal, wife of an aristocrat I would throw out on the street with nothing. I abhor beating women, my parents raised me better. But I think...I think I'd slap you now." He squeezed my shoulders. "I'd slap the shit out of you."

"Matthew.."

"DON'T!" he yelled. "Not Matthew not Mr. Whitfield, nothing. Do not say my name." I didn't even dare to look at Victoria but I could already see a gleeful smile on her face. "But you're not normal now are you, Rose? You're sick. Your father beat you and your family clearly doesn't love you. I'm assuming they might've beat you too. And then they married you off to a man who could never love you. You've never had anyone in your entire life. You're alone, sad, and broken." Matthew shook his head.

"Don't tell me you feel sorry for her," Victoria trolled.

"How can one not pity her? You're sad, Rose. You're full of sadness and bitterness. And all that sadness created the sick, disgusting individual standing in front of me today. I wager you're almost as ugly on the inside as you are on the outside." Before I could resist, Matthew had flipped back my veil in a flash. He transferred his hands from shoulders to my cheeks. "I don't think that's possibly though. Do you Victoria?"

"Do I what, Matthew?"

"Do you think it's possible that this grotesque looking creature could be any uglier inside than she is outside? I don't think it's possible. I don't think anything there's anything in this world that's worse than her face."

"Don't be coy, Matthew. I'm not a prop. Your child's life is in possible danger," Victoria replied as if she wasn't loving every single second.

I was trying my best not to look at his eyes. I couldn't...I wouldn't. I wouldn't dare look at him while he treated me like some crazed animal. This was infinitely worse than a slap to the face, and he knew it.

"I think I'll put you in an asylum. You'll finally be in a place where you can recuperate."

"You know asylums administer anything but recuperation," I whispered. He let go of my cheeks and suddenly stepped away as if touching my skin had burned him.

"You will stay on your rooms. You won't come out under any circumstance. And you will apologize right now for threatening to murder Victoria's parents."

I put the veil over my face. "I will not apologize for something I didn't do."

"You will apologize."

I said nothing.

"It's fine, Matthew, really."

"Apologize. Now."

The servant from earlier scurried into the drawing room with the doctor in tow. "Mr. Whitfield—" Dr. Farmington began.

"Not now," Matthew snapped. He pointed at me with scariest expression I'd ever see him wear. "You apologize!"

"I will not lie!"

"What will you do if I won't?" I sniffled. "You're already going to have me institutionalized and take every cent I own. What more can you possibly take?"

"If you don't say sorry to Victoria, you'll find out."

I remained tight lipped. Matthew stared back at me before waving his fingers. "Two people come this instant." Two servants materialized. "Take this woman to her rooms and make sure she doesn't leave."

As we ascended the staircase, I tried to quell all thoughts of anger and fear.