"There are no others," Xavier said, setting his spoon down to look at me, "I'm under strict instructions to bring you home to Draughton if you were ever let go from the Season," "You can't," I said hurriedly, shaking my head, "I can't go back there, not until I've found a way to right this," "I had a feeling you would say that," Xavier said, nudging a printed advertisement towards me. I scanned it in the low light from the hearth fire. "A teaching position at a primary school in India?" I said, looking up at him. Xavier nodded. "If you don't want to face Draughton, you can come with me," he offered. "But...Xavier, a primary school teacher? You're far too qualified for such a position," I said. He gave me a sad, rueful smile. "I would have been, but I haven't been attending university since they called me home from Oxford," "I cannot believe this is happening," I said, pressing the heels of my hands into my eyes, "Xavier that was your dream!" I could feel the tears starting once again. How had everything gone so wrong so quickly? How had both my brother and I both lost everything we cared about? Xavier reached over and rested his hand on top of mine. "We're going to get through this Libby, I promise you," he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze, "If I have to go get a job to help pay for the roof over our heads I'll do it. I'll take you away from them before they force you to marry some terrible man just for the sake of money," "Just like Edward," I muttered bitterly, sniffling. Xavier sighed again. "Edward married Edith the second he found out about the money troubles," Xavier admitted, "He never intended to help us, he only intended to look out for himself. He's already putting pressure on father to abdicate his My head snapped up at this to see Xavier watching me sadly. "They put the last of the money into finishing you, Libby," he said, pausing to finish his cup of scotch in a gulp, "They were hoping you'd turn out like Ella and marry someone rich enough to save the family. They knew you wouldn't abandon us like Edward," My heart shattered. "All this time..." I whispered, the enormity of my immaturity crashing down onto my shoulders. Xavier met my eyes in silence. The tears were streaming freely now. Suddenly it all made sense, my parents' desperation for me to succeed in school, their persistence despite my resistance. It wasn't because they wanted to get rid of me, it's because they needed me to save them. "Why couldn't you have married someone rich instead?" I asked, desperate to stop the walls from closing in around me. Xavier gave me a rueful smile. "Because no unmarried lady, especially a rich one, is willing to get involved with someone like me. At least not while there's a much bigger prize fish in the pond," "The prince," I muttered, only for memories of his bright green eyes and his lips on mine to slam into me full force. I dissolved into sobs, miserably reminded that I'd never be able to make him throw his head back in laughter again. Xavier allowed me to cry, offering me his handkerchief when I'd finally finished with the gut-wrenching sobs and progressed to the shaky sniffles. My eyes felt heavy from tears and fatigue as I stared over at him. "Xavier..." I whispered, "You can't resign yourself to teaching bratty ex-patriate children their letters. You were supposed to be a great professor one day," "I've been to the best schools in the country and now that it's clear I won't be pursuing an academic career, this may be my only good option. Edward's getting the "And wear those dreadful high collared dresses and be forced to sit still all day? I wouldn't even be allowed to laugh!" I protested, so upset that I was suddenly laughing myself, "Xavier I'd be the worst governess in the country! I'd raise little hellions, not little nobles," Xavier laughed too as I poured the last of my scotch down my trembling throat. "You're right, you'd make a terrible governess," he said, pouring us both another cup of scotch, "But you like food, maybe we could find you work as a cook," "I'd be surrounded by food all day," I considered, "That would be much more desirable then being married to some hideous old man," Xavier smiled, swirling his scotch before setting it on the table, serious again. "Libby, I swear to you that we'll survive this," he said solemnly, "I won't abandon you, not for anything. I will make sure we weather this storm together," I felt fresh tears brimming in my eyes. We sat there in silence, Xavier finishing his meal and me staring down at my barely touched plate. I couldn't stomach food, so I chose scotch instead. It was bitter and burned on the way down, but it lit a warmth inside me that was at least a small comfort. When the fire turned to embers, Xavier cleared the dishes and preceded me up the stairs. "The guest room in the front is still made up. It won't be warm, but I can always-" he started as we reached the top of the dark stairwell. "It's one night, I'm sure I won't die of pneumonia," I said, taking a lamp from the table at the top of the stairs and lighting it from his, "Good night, Vee," "Goodnight Libby," he said, giving me a kiss on the forehead. We parted ways at the top of the stairs, Xavier retiring to his room at the back of the house as I made my way to the small spare room at the front. The kitchen's fire hadn't managed to heat this part of the house so the chill was unmistakable. But the same warm quilt that had always brightened the room still sat on the bed. I'd taken a nightdress and robe from my trunk before we'd come upstairs, changing into them by the dim light of the lantern. I set it on the table by the door, crawling under the covers for warmth. I willed myself not to cry once again as I surrendered to the day.