Their arrival in Coulway was greeted with countless more balls to attend. If it were not for Simon's insistence that they grace the parties with their presence, Aliya and Ellise would have chosen to stay indoors.

Herst's sleepy and lazy atmosphere did not easily wear off from both women, but it seemed that both St. Vincent men were keen on jumping into the fray of society.

Ellise would often wonder how their mother was fairing being alone with Mason on the island, but it would often lead to her father telling her that Natalia needed to be with Mason so he and Oliver could enjoy the season without her meddling. "Ah, which reminds me that I have not yet answered her letter!" Simon had said, jumping to his feet to rush to the library.

Aliya, on the other hand, had matters to focus on, the most pressing of all was her husband.

For the first two days since they arrived, she did not see him touch a brandy. She could sense that he was struggling as he would often become restless during the night. She would not make a sound or let him know that she was awake, just trying to see if he would give in.

For two nights, he won the fight. He never left their bed and would fall back to sleep after an hour of tossing about.

But on the third day, she found Oliver in the library with two bottles of brandy.

This time she did not do anything. She picked up the empty bottles and tossed them out the window. When he woke up the next day, she pretended nonchalance while he acted innocent.

He would still make her laugh, engage her in a conversation, and even escort her everywhere during the parties they attended. But she could sense that he was restless to go home. And when they were home, he would wait until she was asleep.

On the third night that he had gone missing from their bedchamber, Aliya could no longer turn a blind eye.

She woke up very early the next morning and woke the entire household by throwing all liquor out the window, smashing the bottles in the garden.

Oliver stirred awake from where he was sleeping in the settee, blinked at the sight of his wife gracefully taking her time with each precious bottle.

She saw his face harden and anger flashed his eyes when she turned to look at him, dropping the last remaining brandy out the window, but he said nothing.

Rubbing her hands together, she squared her shoulders and exited the study, finding her way to the drawing room where there were more bottles to throw out.

Ellise was waiting for her in the bottom of the stairs, hair tousled from sleep, wrapped in her sleeping robe with an amused smile on her face. Without a word, she followed Aliya to the parlor where the remaining bottles were kept. Ellise rang for tea while Aliya threw the drinks unto the driveway to the greatest chagrin of the footmen outside.

Once she was done, confident that she had smashed nearly three cows worth of liquors, Aliya quietly joined Ellise for tea just as Simon rushed into the doorway, eyes wide with concern. "What was that sound?" her father-in-law inquired.

"Ask your son, he knows what it is about," said Aliya as Ellise shrugged when her father turned his eyes on her.

Simon disappeared and was never seen again until luncheon.

Oliver later dragged himself into the parlor, his eyes heavy and his hair a mess. "Darling, I know why you had to do that—"

"Thank you," Aliya interjected, sipping from her cup. "Would you like me to go to Strait as well? I quite have the time, Ollie. And I am certain you have quite a lot more bottles there for me to throw."

When Oliver simply acted as though nothing had happened, Aliya started to feel the frustration. She knew she had to address the root cause of his drinking.

She stayed home that night and Simon did not insist that she and Ellise joined him at the Karol Ball. And while Aliya was brushing her hair to get to bed, Oliver sashayed into their bedchamber and walked up behind her. He bent low and kissed her cheek, murmuring, "I am sorry, Ali."

Aliya was no longer pleased, so she remained stiff.

"I told you I am trying," he said, sitting on the bed.

"I am being patient with you, Ollie, but I hope that you also understand when I say I hate to see you killing yourself," was all she said as she placed her brush on the vanity and walked to her side of the bed.

That night, she felt him leave the bedchamber.

The very next day, Aliya went to Belcourt alone. She was informed by Jason whom she requested to join them in Coulway, that Oliver had gone to Sinclair with his father on an important matter.

Belcourt welcomed her and so did Lady Mariam.

"I am afraid that the High Court is still deliberating your application, Aliya," the Mistress told her. "I hope you can be more patient."

"I have no other choice," she stiffly said. "But do you not think it is taking quite longer than expected? I have been away for weeks and had been expecting a result by the time I returned to Coulway."

Lady Mariam nodded. "I understand your frustration, dear. But Belcourt takes its time most particularly when it comes to the children in the Manor."

"My sister is barely a child, my lady."

"But she is still under the care of the Manor."

Nodding, Aliya sighed. She gathered her reticule and left Belcourt with less hope.

When she arrived in Coulway, Oliver was still missing.

"Where is your brother, Ellise?" she asked when she found the woman in the garden, feeding the birds.

"He arrived earlier with Father from Sinclair, but immediately left thereafter."

"With Father?"

"No, by himself," answered her sister-in-law, tone filled with meaning. "He went on foot, saying we might find a need for the carriage later. Father left for a dinner party with the Duke and Duchess of Calbridge."

"Do you have any idea where Oliver might be?"

"Somewhere there is brandy and you cannot enter?"

Aliya's brow arched. "Stark's it is."

Her sister-in-law followed her back into the house. "Can I come with you?"

"Grab your petticoat," she almost snarled as she rushed to the door.

Within minutes, Ellise joined her in Oliver's carriage.

"You stay here," she told Ellise moments later outside Stark's. She alighted from the carriage and went straight to the door which was guarded by a stiff-looking man. "My husband is inside," she coldly said. "I want you to step aside and pretend that you did not see me come in."

"I am afraid I cannot allow that, my lady."

"Then perhaps you wish me to get Mr. Stark's attention? He and I are quite chummy."

The man suddenly looked arrested.

"Thank you," she said, reaching for the door handle. She rushed into the club before the doorman could change his mind and searched for her husband.

It was not hard to find him because Oliver towered most men.

And he was loud.

She heard his deep chuckles first before her eyes spotted him. A few men had already taken notice of her presence and sat gawking in their seats, their eyes following her as she strode to where Oliver sat with his equally foxed friends playing cards.

She did not make a sound as she waited for him and his three friends to notice her casting a shadow over their table. One of the eventually looked up and his eyes widened. The man beside him did the same and nudged the one next to Oliver. The third man cleared his throat, eyes quaking as he stared at Aliya, poking Oliver's hand.

"What?" Oliver asked with a chuckle.

Aliya continued to stare down at her husband. He lifted his head from his cards and looked at his friends. "What?" he asked again.

The direction of their gaze gave him the answer. Slowly turning, his eyes rounded when he saw his wife. "Ali!" he said, breaking into a wide smile, his eyes glassy. Aliya sniffed and her lips pursed. He had been drinking for quite some time.

"Get up, Oliver," she gently ordered, but her eyes were stern.

His cards fell on the table as he immediately tried to stand. But he could not do so.

Aliya had witnessed a foxed Oliver many times before. Most often, he was capable, but not this time. He could not even lift himself off the chair.

He tried once again, but he fell right back into his seat.

Aliya's jaw tightened as she realized the severity of her problem.

In a cold voice that caused the men in the table to turn away, she said, "Go home when you are able, unless, of course, you already feel at home here," before stiffly turning to leave.

"Ali..." he heard him faintly call out, but Aliya refused to go back. Her eyes were already brimming with tears.

As she made her way to the front doors, a man blocked her path. She looked up and through her tears saw Rider Fairborne, the Earl of Keene, looking down at her. "Allow me to escort you back home, my lady."

"I am fine. A carriage is waiting for me outside."

"Still, I insist," he said, guiding her toward the door. "It is quite late."

Aliya nodded. She did not know the earl personally, but one look at the man told her that he would have his way no matter what.

As they reached the carriage, Ellise scowled. "This man is not Oliver, Aliya. You got the wrong husband."

"The earl is taking us home, Ellise," she said as she tried her best to maintain her composure.

"Good evening, Ellise," greeted Rider. "Since your brother is currently indisposed at the moment, I find it my duty to ensure that you arrive back home safely."

"We arrived in Stark's safely. We can surely return home in the same manner," Ellise told the earl in a familiar tone that told Aliya the two were familiar with each other.

"Still, it is night time. Anything can happen."

"You will have to return here on foot," Ellise pointed out as the carriage drove away.

Aliya was no longer listening. She stared out the window, fighting the tears, wondering how she could deal with her husband once he returned home.

"I have things to discuss with your father," she heard the earl say.

"Father is not in residence."

"I know. I shall wait until he returns from Stapleton."

Ellise did not say more afterward.

*****

"What are you still doing here, St. Vincent?" Tanner MacMier asked, joining Oliver in one of Stark's drawing rooms.

"I am afraid I have to wait a while before going home," he said with a groan, closing his eyes. "Ah, I am bloody foxed."

"Of course, you are. Another man had to take your wife home."

His eyes snapped open. "Whatever do you mean?"

Tanner shrugged and nonchalantly crossed one leg over the other. "Rider joined your wife in your carriage. He had to acquire something from your father and offered to accompany her home."

Oliver's entire body tightened. "Keene brought my wife home?"

"Well, you were too foxed to take responsibility, St. Vincent."

As soon as Tanner said those words, Oliver stood up and closed his eyes as the room around him turned. Stumbling out of the drawing room, he stalked out into the street. His focus returning, he found Keene's sealed carriage and growled at the driver, "Your master stole my carriage with my wife. You take me home now."

The driver did not object as Oliver climbed inside the posh carriage with a grunt.

Well, you were too foxed to take responsibility, St. Vincent...

As Tanner's words echoed in his head, Oliver kicked the seat across from him in fury.

As they rounded the corner, he felt the carriage slow to a stop. He tapped the roof. "Oi! Faster!"

But he heard the driver yelp.

Oliver frowned, reaching for the door, but it swung open before he could grip the handle. "What do you want?" he demanded as three figures stealthily climbed inside, their faces covered with black cloth, save for their eyes who looked equally surprised. Obviously, they were expecting Keene and not him.

They were wearing the same color of clothing—pants and matching shirt—but it was clear what they were.

They were women.

"Ah, bloody tarnation," he cursed under his breath.

*****

Aliya waited until Rider Fairborne left the villa after a short chat with Simon who had was home merely a few minutes after she and Ellise arrived with the earl.

When she thought that Oliver may not come home until morning, she prepared to go to bed. As she brushed her hair, a series of knocks came to her door.

"Come in," she said, and Jason walked in, his expression far from his typical calm and controlled one. "What is it?" she asked, noting the alarm in the man's eyes.

"Doctor Oliver has been taken to Sinclair, my lady."

Aliya wrapped her robe around her and stood. "Why?" she asked, her heart starting to beat faster.

"He had an accident."