“Are you ready to go, Sarah?” Stephen asked from his stance at the bottom of the stairs. She looked absolutely beautiful, breathtaking, in her snow white multi-layered gown with swan-like appearance. Just then she covered her most beautiful feature, her face, with a filigreed white mask with plumes of feathers coming off the corners. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and he needed to make her his.

He realized this with a start, hardly believing the direction his thoughts were going. Sarah was his sister. Actually no, Sarah wasn’t his sister but he had known her since she was small. He had left her while she grew up. Technically he wasn’t his sister, did that make this any more right? His feelings were real. If it was just a fling he was after then he would swallow his manly ways and keep his trousers buttoned. But he could picture them in front of the preacher, her quickening with his seed, them both holding their children and growing old together. He couldn’t imagine her even dancing with someone else, never mind spending the rest of her life with them. But could he tell her? Could he risk losing her just so he could have one chance at happiness?

Sarah descended the stairs toward Stephen’s outstretched hand, ready to take her and never let her go. She took it up and turned toward him at the bottom. “You look absolutely radiant this evening, I don’t know who will be courting you but they could never be good enough for you.” Stephen said, in earnest, knowing he did not even deserve to have someone so beautiful on his arm.

“Oh, enough of that, I’m sure I’ll be happy enough just to have one suitor vying for my attention, let’s not talk as if there will be droves.”

That was one of Stephen’s favorite things about her, she didn’t put on airs or think she was worth more than she was. Quite the opposite, she thought she wasn’t good enough, a trait that both warmed and broke Stephen’s hearts at the same time.

“Shall we be going then?” Stephen asked, after clearing his throat so he didn’t accidentally spill out I am the one you should be with. If Sarah found someone else, someone more worthy than he, he would let her go if he had to. He refused to take any risk that Sarah would end up with his mother and sisters again if something happened to him.

“Ready, my good sir,” she responded cheekily.

Hand in hand they travelled over to the carriage, Stephen helping her up before following behind and sitting across from her behind the driver’s seat. At first there was silence as Stephen tried to think of an amusing thing to say. “Do you have any accomplishments, Sarah?”

“Accomplishments?”

“Yes they are rather important for a young lady, sewing, music, the like.”

“I know what accomplishments are, I’m just surprised at the sudden turn in conversation.”

“I was just thinking that if you find suitors they would want to know what your accomplishments are,” never mind his own curiosity on the subject.

“I clean, I sew; although not embroidered pillows like most would expect. I also sing.”

Stephen perked up at that, imagining her low melodic voice wrapped up in a song. Surely she was an alto. “Sing something short for me, I am curious as to your sound.”

“Okay, let me think.”

“Is that good enough?” she asked when finished. Brilliant absolutely brilliant, her sweet timber caused a trance while listening to her. So beautiful was her voice that he was in a daze until he noticed her staring at him.

“That was breathtaking Sarah,” he said, causing her to blush “Truly I forgot everything we were talking about before that moment.”

“Accomplishments,” she quipped a smile in her voice.

“Ah yes, well you have music covered so well I don’t think anyone will care that you did dishes and mopped floors for a living. I certainly don’t”

“Stephen you tease me!” she said, tapping him on the shoulder with her fan.

“Believe me, I am in earnest. Any man who isn’t driven to distraction by your music alone is most definitely not worthy of you.” He realized they had arrived at their destination. Alighting first so he could help Sarah down, he couldn’t help but notice the pretty turn of her calf as her dress allowed a quick view. By the blush that lit up young Sarah’s face she had noticed as well. They pair headed towards the doors of the well lit mansion getting into line with the other guests. They were on time by regular standards, which meant late to anyone who could read the time on an invitation.

They stood in the slight mud, Sarah in her dirty half kid boots with a bag containing her shoes in Stephen’s hand. If he had any say in it she would never be forced to carry a thing in her life, not that she would allow such foolishness.

In the entryway to the room Sarah sat to change her shoes and accepted a cup of tea. Although the other men were already gathered across the room talking politics or whatever it was they spoke of, Stephen refused to leave her side. At this rate how was she supposed to find a suitor when the one of her dreams was right beside her. After changing her shoes, Sarah laid aside the cup and her belongs and stood, straightening her dress and mask upon doing so.

Stephen stared at her transfixed just wanting this night to be over so he could whisk her away into his arms. They made their way up the opulent stairs and into the main hall where the dancing was already underway. The couples were beautiful as they moved in a quadrille. Each one more mysterious than the last in their masks. Just after being announced, a man approached Sarah to dance the Scottish Reel. Watching them together, even with his holding her at a respectable distance was excruciating for Stephen. As soon as that dance was done and the next dance, the waltz, came on Stephen swooped in, ready to claim her in at least one way tonight. After several minutes just staring down at her he couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Sarah I love you.”

Sarah looked up at him in beaming disbelief.

“I don’t want you to marry someone else, I want to marry you.”

“I want to marry you too.”

As the dance ended, Stephen spun her around and whispered in her ear, "Make towards the ladies room but wait at the end of the hall, I will be right up." He tapped her on the bottom to emphasize his point and she scurried away in the direction he ordered.

Stephen on the other hand, found Cooper.

“So that is the beautiful Lady Sarah,” Cooper said with a smile.

“That is the undeniably beautiful Sarah,” Stephen said, crossing his arms and regarding another beautiful lady in the room.

“So what do you think of Lady Emily?”

“I think she is beautiful and not one of these ninny headed debutantes you’re usually after.”

With that, Stephen was ready to meet his beautiful love down the hall. He walked towards where he sent her. Upon seeing her, looked into a parlor to make sure it was empty before pulling her inside and into his arms.

Stephen used the tip of his nose to skim her cheek as he inhaled the scent of her skin, taking his time, his warm breath tickling the corner of her mouth. He moved his hand to her throat, feeling her pulse raise, his hand hot as he cupped the side of her neck then kissed her earlobe. Then he kissed her bottom lip, nibbling so gently she could barely feel it.

“Stephen,” she moaned. At her voice he slid his arms behind her back and under her bottom before lifting her onto the settee. Pressing her down gently with the full length of his body, he whispered again, “I love you,” before gathering up her skirts around her waist, pausing at what he found there. She wasn’t wearing any drawers! Right away he stroked her creamy white thigh, making light circles ever closer to her warm center. Sarah squirmed beneath him as if ticklish, but her next words showed off her anticipation, “Stephen, please, touch me,” she nearly gasped out like she couldn’t get enough oxygen.

“All in good time my love,” he said, moving to the next inner thigh to continue his languid circles, fighting to keep his outward calm while inside all he wanted to do was claim her as his. Patience had never been one of his virtues, but he must use all of it that he had to make this perfect for Sarah. He didn’t want to scare her away from him right after admitting their feelings.

Finally, he reached her springy curls and cupped her mound, causing Sarah’s back to bow up off the surface of the settee. He leaned forward for a gentle kiss, trying to pour all his feelings into it as he slipped a finger slowly inside her. He body clenched around the intrusion at first then her core melted as he gently pressed deeper.

Once her body had adjusted Stephen deepened the kiss matching the actions of his tongue with those of his finger deep inside her. Her warm honey began to coat her and drip out until his hand was soaked, just begging for a taste. Moving out of her arms and soothing her protests he did exactly that. He pushed her knees wider as he settled between her legs looking at the beauty opening up before him. Still moving his finger inside her, he slowly leaned forward and took her small nub into his mouth, before sucking and licking it. Stephen was in total rapture when in that moment Sarah exploded around his finger, softly crying out and writhing in ecstasy. He slowly pulled his finger out of her and lapped up her juices like a man dying of thirst before cleaning his hand in much the same way. He reached for his trousers, ready to claim her as his own before gazing at the exhausted face of his love. Instead he prowled back up the sofa to a sleepy Sarah, her eyes already half closed though still sparkling with her love for him. He flipped them so she was on top, pillowed on his chest, before kissing her on the forehead. Sarah’s eyes blinked open again for a moment and a smiled played across her features.  

“I love you,” Stephen said in complete reverence.

Just before she fell asleep, an exhausted Sarah whispered back, “I love you too.”

Stephen only allowed Sarah ten minutes of sleep before waking her up in the stranger’s parlor, straightening her clothes and calling them the carriage. The next morning Sarah stretched awake, feeling more content than she had in years and wishing that Stephen could be here beside her. He said today was the day they would speak to his mother. Both Sarah and Stephen wanted to be married as soon as possible, although she suspected part of the reason for Stephen was because of life under this roof. She wasn’t sure if she was okay with that: she would rather he be free to love for real, then forced to marry. But Stephen was determined to share their plans with his family today. Maybe when they were married she could be sure about their path, until then she would be cautiously optimistic. She gathered her things and got dressed, still amazed that Stephen allowed her to stay in his room. Would that change after last night? Would he not want to share with her now that he’d had his way with her?

“How dare you go to the ball without my permission last night!” Christina harped, immediately setting upon Sarah when she entered the morning room. “It is such an embarrassment to have suitors coming to call without my knowledge as to why they would appear at all. You did not have permission to leave this house, never mind go to a party. What were you thinking?”

“I gave her permission to go,” boomed Stephen, entering the room they were in. He leaned over and gave Sarah’s hand a squeeze of support before taking a seat in the armchair.

“What were you thinking giving your permission for something without my say so? What will people think after she’s been gone for four years?” Christina started pacing the room.

“They will think you are a liar and a cheat for keeping Sarah locked up without anyone knowing what really happened. For making her clean the house so you could save money on maid service and keep her under your thumb. They will think it’s despicable that you are having a viscount’s daughter dress as a scullery maid and clean when she has more money than you do.” He stood up and stood in front of the still pacing Christina. “What kind of guardian treats their ward the way that you have been? What kind of person lies and says that someone is bedridden when they are not? I took her to the ball so she could find a suitor and get out of this house. What I never imagined is that I would come up with a new plan.”

Stephen crossed over to Sarah’s side and took her hand in his. “I have asked Sarah to marry me and she has agreed. We are going to announce it in the paper tomorrow.”

So soon? She had no idea that he was this serious about her. Her heart started to pound at the thought, maybe this all was possible after all.

“No way will I give my permission for you to get married,” Christina said in a shrill voice, her hand grabbing her throat in shock like she was having trouble breathing. “You need my permission until she is nineteen years old. She’s only sixteen.”

“And you will give your permission unless you want everyone to find out exactly what has been going on in this house. Unless you want everyone to find out that the injury that Sarah had wasn’t even real. She has been a slave in this house for the past four years since the viscount died. All this dirt on you will come out if you stop two people in love from being together.”

“But you’re siblings,” Christina shouted, grasping at straws.

“Only by marriage, it may seem different to the outside world but it’s no worse then when people marry their cousins, something that happens all the time in the aristocracy. We love each other, we are not related, and we are going to be together no matter what you say.”

“I can send her away,” Christina said, smiling at her new brilliant plan.

“Where? She has no other relatives,” Stephen reasoned, knowing for a fact that this ‘family’ was the only one she had.

“She can go to finishing school,” Daphne chimed in. Stephen whirled around, not knowing they had an audience. How long had she been standing there? How much did his sisters know? He felt as if he couldn’t trust a single member of his family. He suddenly realized that besides Sarah he really had no one. This thought made their marriage even more important to him.

“Yes that would be the perfect solution,” Christina shouted, acting as if this were her idea all along. “Sarah has always wanted to go to finishing school and who are we to deny her what she wants.”

“The same people who denied her a warm fire and bed in the same room as well as the people who denied her a place at their table. Mother, don’t pretend you are doing this for Sarah, when really you are trying to do this for yourself.”

“But Stephen she really has always wanted to go to finishing school,” Pamela said gleefully.

“I know this and if she wants to go, then I won’t stop her.”

“Really? If I wanted to leave and go to school you would let me?”

“Of course I would sweetheart. I would do whatever you wanted.”

“I want to marry you,” Sarah said, more resolve in her voice now that he knew what he was willing to give for her.

“You’ll still never have my permission,” Christina said with a laugh. She kind of had them there, no way would she be able to get married without her guardian’s permission, except...

“Who is really Sarah’s guardian, mother? Did Anthony actually name you the guardian until she turned 19?”

Christina’s cheeks turned pink before she hissed. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t until just now. It was just a hunch, since Anthony liked me so much.”

“I don’t understand what’s going on,” Sarah said, pressing further into Stephen’s side for comfort and strength.

“If what I’m thinking is correct, then Christina was only your guardian until I turned 18 at which point I was named guardian and executor of your trust. A lawyer did try to find me last year, but they kept missing me on the battlefield because my battalion moved around so much. This could be what he wanted. Mother, where is the paperwork?”

She stood there, a defiant look in her eyes.

“Where is the bloody paperwork, Mother!”

She flinched at that before answering, “I burned them. So no one would find out.”

“Well that solves that then. Sarah and I will get married. We will go to Gretna Green to get married and I will get a commission in the army so my wife and I can join the ranks. Luckily she’s used to getting dirty. When we have a son, which I sure we will, he will be a viscount and we will be able to have this house back. That is the plan. Sarah please pack darling it’s time to go.”

“Go? Go where?”

“Gretna Green so we can begin our life together before heading to the coastline for war.”

A look of fear fell into Sarah’s eyes at the thought of war. “Don’t worry Sarah, I will protect you like I should have all along.” With a short but lingering kiss to her lips, Stephen pushed her towards the stairs to back what little belongs she had before following to get his own. One suitcase of hers to his two later and they were ready to go. Ready to begin a life of adventure, as a real family.

When they came back downstairs Stephen’s mother and sisters were just standing there, arms crossed, feet tapping. As though they knew they had lost but could hardly believe it.

“Dobbins call the carriage,” Stephen said, strolling to the door hand in hand with Sarah.

“Of course sir,” Dobbins said, looking more than a little gleeful about the whole thing.

Moments later they were in the carriage, ready to depart for their new lives. “To Gretna Green,” Stephen said.

“To the rest of our life,” Sarah responded, snuggling as close into Stephen’s side as she could.