The flashes and the excited voices swarmed Emma as she exited the hospital.

A microphone was thrown in her face by a thin man. “Ms. Miller, Ms. Miller! Why did you stab Mrs. Leibowitz?”

“Ms. Miller, were you jealous of your brother-in-law? What kind of relationship do you have?” That came from a woman in black.

Emma smiled softly and raised her hands. “Ladies, Gentlemen. As Mrs. Leibowitz and Lord Ells have already explained it was all a big misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?” Another journalist snorted. “That was your blade in Mrs. Leibowitz’s stomach. Did you try to kill her?”

Emma made a horrified face. “How could you think that? Dear Sophia tripped and fell on some broken glass. She cut herself. I was just trying to help take away the shards. But I slipped on some water on the floor and I fell. Unfortunately, it all happened so quick that the blade flew from my hand. I tried to balance myself, but hit my head on the vase. Seems we were both unlucky.”

“Do you honestly expect us to believe that, Ms. Miller?” asked the thin man.

“You can believe what you want.” Emma shrugged. “My brother-in-law was here this morning again. He visited me for a whole hour. You can check the register, if you want. Do you think if I had tried to kill his fiancée, he would have visited me? And poor Sophia, she is a well-known lawyer. Do you think she wouldn’t have pressed charges if I had tried to kill her?”

“So Ms. Miller, what you’re saying is that you and Lord Ells are still good friends?”

The ironic tone of the question wasn’t missed by Emma. “Good friends? No. Alistair, Lord Ells, I mean, was married to my sister for many years, and during that time, we were friends. Now, we’re acquaintances who wish each other well. That’s it. Ladies, gentlemen, I must go. I’m still recovering from my fall and that dramatic evening.” She raised her hand stopping any more questions. “I thank you, but I really must go.”

She crossed the street and entered the black car that was waiting for her near the curb. She closed the door and turned to the young man inside. “How was that, honey?”

“I didn’t know you were such an accomplished actress, my dear.” He gave her a peck on the lips.

“Money works miracles, my dear. It works miracles.” Emma smiled at him. “And now I have Alistair at my beck and call, I will keep it coming.”

* * *

They followed the kids to the center of the biggest maze Sophia had ever seen.

“You sit here and rest.” Alistair pointed to the bench in the center.

If she could, she would have bowed. Instead, she waved her hand in the air with a flourish and mocked, “Yes, sire. Any other orders?”

Alistair didn’t smile though. “I’m not kidding, Sophia. How can I go play with the kids if I have to keep an eye on you?”

“Relax.” Tavish put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “I’ll take care of her.”

Tavish sat next to Sophia as Alistair and Alice took Gabriela, Ariadne, and Michael to play hide and seek. His mind filled with images of Alistair and him playing warriors there as children. Two happy and innocent boys who couldn’t have imagined what life had in store for them.

Tavish observed his brother as he picked Gabriela up in his arms and threw her up in the air. He didn’t want to think what would have happened to his brother if Sophia and Gabriela hadn’t appeared in Alistair’s life. He had been in danger of becoming too jaded as he tasted every sin and drowned himself in every sensation.

Tavish leaned back, crossed his hands behind his head, and stretched his long legs. He looked at the woman responsible for the remarkable changes in his brother and concern made him ask, “Have you had any more flashbacks?”

When she turned to look at him, she had an uneasy look on her face.

“I-I don’t know…” She hesitated. Talking about her amnesia was awkward and hurtful. It made her remember how broken she was. “I—Nothing like the one at Ells Hall. I’ve talked with Felipe, my brother, and with my grandmother. I don’t know if it could be called a flashback, but…a few things they’ve told me helped me remember facts that were fuzzy in mind.”

He shifted on the seat to look at her. “Amnesia is not easy to deal with.”

“Understatement of the year, Tavish Uilleam.” She put a hand on his forearm. “It’s horrible to not know things I should. It leaves me with a…helpless, fragile sensation. I’m not so sure of myself anymore.”

His warm hand covered hers and with a grimace he said, “I know.”

Sophia had had enough time and information from Alistair and Alice to realize that Tavish had also been through many dramatic, traumatic events.

“You know what? In a way, I look at you and I see myself,” she told him.

Tavish stared at her for a long time.

“Some things were no’ supposed tae happen,” he finally said, his voice as gruff as the heavy weight that darkened his soul. He shook his head to send away the bad memories of those dark days. “You looked well on TV and in the newspapers. How did you do it, Sophia? They were there, wanting blood, and in the end you had them wagging their tails at you.”

Sophia’s laugh ended in a gasp. She put a hand on her stomach. “Don’t make me laugh. It hurts.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, contrite. “I forgot…”

“No. Don’t be,” she answered with a smile on her face. “It’s good to laugh.”

Tavish tilted his head to the side. “From your behavior so far, no one would guess you had been through all that.”

“There’s no point in whining and complaining. I don’t have much patience for self-pity. And I find it immensely boring to be fussed over all the time.”

Tavish was eyeing her intently with a strange look on his face.

What?

He shifted on the seat and his eyes roamed over the maze. “Alistair Connor told me you aren’t pressing charges. Do you really think that’s wise?”

Sophia took a long time to answer. “No. I don’t think it’s wise. Not at all. However, I don’t want to draw more attention to myself. Yeah, she deserves punishment, but…can you imagine what she would say about, uh, Alistair’s relationship with…” She made a vague gesture with her hand. Shut up, Sophia. You don’t know if he knows.

“With?” Tavish put a leg on the bench, facing her. When she thinned her lips, he said gently, “Alistair Connor’s relationship with the two sisters?”

Dammit! She exhaled a loud breath of air and closed her eyes. “Is it common knowledge?”

“Nae. But I knew,” he answered. “So, you are protecting Alistair Connor.”

“And myself, and Gabriela, and the future of our relationship. I was shocked when she told me he—” She opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows high. “Can you imagine the scandal?”

Tavish nodded, “Indeed. Looking at it that way…”

“Tavish Uilleam?” She bit her lip and lowered her lashes. Should I ask? Well, he’s a doctor. But, Sophia, he will guess…

“Sophia, you can ask me whatever you want,” he said, and waited patiently.

Oh. Dammit. “Have you heard about a STD called Mycoplasma genitalium?”

He frowned. “Yes. Why?”

“Is it true…that it can cause sterility?”

“Human reproduction…or gynecology were never my speciality, but…” He studied her blushing face, intrigued.

Oh. God. He thinks the problem is mine. However she didn’t correct him.

“What I have heard recently is that it is often quite difficult to diagnose because it usually occurs in conjunction with other infections, but it can easily be treated with antibiotics.” He didn’t know what to make of her question. Sophia didn’t look like a promiscuous woman. “Well, to answer you, if Mycoplasma genitalium is left untreated, it may cause infertility, yes.”

Sophia’s previous happiness deflected. “Oh…and is there any—”

“Mama, Mama.” Gabriela arrived running, interrupting them. “Mama, Alistair told me there’re daffodils near the loch. Can we go there?”

* * *

Alice and Sophia followed Tavish and Alistair out of the maze and down toward the loch through a lane lined with tall, old sequoias. The girls ran ahead together, shrieking at Michael that he was a rotten egg.

She turned to Alice. “The estate is enormous.”

“Yes, it is. And it’s very costly to maintain. That’s why they are all resorts. We’re building airstrips and helipads at each one to make them more accessible.”

They talked about inane things until they reached an open lawn.

Sophia stopped short with her mouth agape.

To their left were the famous Airgead gardens. They covered sixteen acres of formal lawns and flowerbeds, in vibrant yellows, oranges and reds along with Conifers and fine specimens such as Sequoiadendron Wellingtonia, Cryptomeria Japonica and others, backed by an extensive woodland and forested mountains. On the other side, the castle gleamed under the sun with the Craigdale coat of arms flag on the top of the roof waving at them, and in front of them the loch beckoned with its calm waters.

“This is…” Sophia had no words to describe the amazing view.

Alice smiled. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

Otherworldly. This is where I want to get married. On an impulse, Sophia turned to Alice and taking her hand, asked, “Alice, you have received me with opened arms into your family and in your home. Would you help me with the wedding?”

“Oh, Sophia! I’d be delighted. Delighted.” Alice’s smile was emotional as she hugged Sophia. “We’re so happy that Alistair Connor has found you.”

“The traditions here are so different from Brazil. I went crazy with all those princes and peers on Alistair’s and your father’s guest lists. There are so many things to do and…I’m lost. I won’t be able to do it all alone. And Alistair is not very forthcoming with help.”

“You can count on me. For anything.”

They smiled at each other and followed the men down to the loch, chatting and laughing about Sophia’s inventive ideas for the wedding.