When the party had bid their adieus and departed for bed, Ebony was filled with something akin to a ball of fire within her heart. She felt rather lightheaded and joyously giddy, she was on the verge of giggling out loud.

She decided to frolick and skip during the final stretch towards her room. When Ebony swung the door open to her chambers, her spirits were quickly dampened at the sight of fae flitting around her room. Her eyes soon fell upon the sight of her open window. The servants must have opened it to air the chamber out and forgotten to close it. Ebony exited the room and shut the door behind her in one quick motion. Her heart was now racing. She stared at the wood beneath her feet as she considered all of the possible ways to proceed. She couldn't sleep there tonight with the pixies floating about. She'd had enough trouble the night before when the nest had been outside her window! Her mind drifted to Phillip but she quickly shook her head to banish that ridiculous thought. How would she possibly explain this situation? And if she somehow successfully explained the predicament, how could he possibly help? No, she had to use what she had at her disposal. She perveyed her surroundings, then her own self. She was dressed in a simple evening dress and a shawl. Perhaps she could heard the creatures out with a flick of her shawl? After a moment more of contemplating, no better option came to her mind, so she slowly slipped the shawl from her shoulders and grasped it in both of her hands. Ebony saw the image in her head of a scientific theorist catching insects with a net. The concept was reasonable enough. She took a deep breath and opened her door.

If there had been a witness to Ebony's wild and desperate flailing, it would possibly have been a comedic sight. But Ebony was certainly not amused in the least. The fae were not happy with Ebony's goal and rebelled. Ebony hadn't considered the fact that these creatures had hands nor the possible strength of them in large numbers. The creatures clutched onto Ebony's makeshift net and yanked it away from the open window. Ebony gasped as she felt her slipper shod feet slide across her floor, her grasp on her shawl unceasing, her knuckles turning white. Suddenly, she felt a tugging on her hair. She let go of her shawl in surprise as she was pulled backward and lost balance. She shrieked in surprise before she fell backwards. She landed on her right elbow and cried out in pain. She saw the instigators of her fall above her, their malicious expressions and unfeeling eyes glaring at her. She felt tears well up in her eyes.

"You damnable little bastards!" Ebony muttered consternately. She weakly relinquished all of her prior fury and resigned herself to laying prostrate on the floor. She would have stayed there for longer if her doorway wasn't quickly inhabited by the Duke himself. Ebony gasped hastened to put herself upright.

"Dear Lord, Ebony! Are you alright?" Phillip rushed to Ebony's side before she could fully seat herself and knelt down. He placed a hand on her back, between her shoulders. Ebony felt her skin warm with the contact. Ebony turned to meet Phillip's eyes and was struck by their proximity. She was momentarily at a loss of words.

"Your, Grace!" Ebony replied as an exhale, breathlessly she corrected herself, "Phillip, I— I simply took a rather horrid tumble!" She swallowed, " I assure you that my health is at no risk at the moment." Ebony laughed nervously, and attempted to get up. Her skirts provided an extra challenge when they became tangled underfoot as Ebony rose. She nearly fell face first due to their mean-spirited jipe. Even my own clothing scorn me! The exasperated thought darted across her mind as she untangled herself. Ebony caught a glance of Phillip, arms outstretched, ready to assist should she lose her balance once more. The image gave Ebony the urge to laugh aloud. Ebony stifled the urge as she noted the genuine concern in his expression. What a clod she must appear to him at this moment. She wished that she could tell him the truth.

Ebony glanced back up at the ceiling where the mischievous devils, their gazes fixed on her. How was she intended to sleep here another night? They would torment her more now that they knew of her sight.

"Ebony?" Phillip softly spoke her name. Ebony, who had been facing away from him, turned to face Phillip. They had but a pace or two separating them. Ebony clasped her hands in front of her and turned her gaze to the ground.

"My deepest apologies, Phillip. I did not intend to wake you at such an hour. It was inconsiderate..."

"Ebony," Phillip stepped closer. "You needn't apologise. While you are under my roof, I consider your safety my highest priority. If that means coming to your assistance from dawn 'til dusk, I would be by your side."

Ebony met Phillips' gaze with her eyes wide. The generosity and charity of this man was more than Ebony could have imagined for a man of his wealth and status. How could her father be a fraction of this man's rank, with at the very least double the self-important airs. Ebony was speechless. Her lips parted in preparation for some sort of verbalization of her immense gratitude. Ebony felt her heart swell as if it were going to fill her entire chest cavity. It felt as though it pressed up against her throat, restricting any words. Ebony closed her mouth and her chin quivered ever so slightly. She reached for Phillips hands and grasped them in hers.

The contact of their ungloved hands; Phillip's cool palm, made Ebony shiver involuntarily. She grasped his hands tighter in hers, almost as if to prevent him from letting go despite there being no inclination that he would depart.

"Ebony, I make this suggestion with all the sense of propriety that it deserves," Phillip paused, Ebony's heart lept. "My chambers have an adjoining room, if you would perhaps feel more at ease there tonight. Well, I know that I would feel more at ease if you did," Ebony noticed Phillip redden in the dim chamber, lit solely by the candle he had brought with him. "You would most likely be taking the room after we are wed, nevertheless, I am offering you this option should you choose to accept it."

Phillip fervently met Ebony's gaze, "I give you my word as a Duke under the throne of King George and, more importantly," he softened, "my word as a gentleman. Nothing untoward or incongruous with the behaviour a moral Christian shall come upon you in that room. I give you my vow," Phillip closed the distance between them whether intentional or not, neither of them could comprehend.

"Phillip," Ebony spoke softly. She shut her eyes and turned her head downward. She needed all of her constitutions about her to voice this. Her heart seemed to pound at a rate that couldn't possibly be healthy. Yet, Ebony persisted, "I can't quite express the gratitude I feel for your charity and benevolent nature. I have known you less than a week and you have shown more warmth than I have ever been accustomed to feeling."

Ebony turned her eyes back towards her future husbands'. His expression was perfectly softened, a gentle smile. Ebony couldn't help but be struck by his beauty in this light and proximity. How the moon and candlelight played the colours rimming his curls. Phillip bowed ever so slightly, lifted Ebony's hands to his lips, gently caressing his lips over both her hands. He met her gaze once more, something intense in their depths. He leaned to apply a gentle kiss to her forehead.

Phillip drew back and asked, "May I escort you to your new room, my lady?"

Ebony couldn't help but giggle, "Yes, I thank you kindly, dear sir."

Phillip released Ebony's hand to bow a deep, exaggerated bow. Ebony let forth a musical sort of laugh as she curtsied as low as she could manage. When she rose, Phillip offered her an elbow and escorted Ebony out of the accursed room they had just been occupying. Ebony couldn't help but turn a glance towards the horrid creatures. She felt that they looked rather disappointed. Ebony smirked and shut the door behind them.