Natalie duPres waited uneasily for the arrival of her brother. He had asked to speak with her in private and they'd arranged to meet in the gazebo. In the distance, Natalie could hear the village church bells chime the hour, and knew Andre was late. She paused to look out across the grounds, the colors so different from the lush green of Martinique. More than once in the past few months she wished she had never come to this land, had never heard of the Collins family. But their fates were now irrevocably intertwined and it was that fate which Natalie was sure Andre wanted to speak with her about. He had not said so, but she knew.

Hearing movement in the bushes, Natalie spun and surveyed the immediate area. She could see no one.

"Who is there? Andre?"

Silence answered her and, deciding it must have been a small animal of some sort, Natalie drew her cloak around herself more tightly. She was about to leave, reasoning Andre had been delayed when she heard a distant step on the path, then saw her brother approach. His expression told her he was not in a good mood.

"Andre..."

"Do not begin lecturing me on punctuality, Natalie. I have just come from a most frustrating business meeting and I do not wish to hear a woman's complaints about being kept waiting."

Natalie drew herself up to her full height and faced her brother with an expression that told him he'd better relent. Andre released a long, deep breath and patted his sister's arm. He shook his head.

"Forgive me, Natalie, dear. It is not your fault Mister Collins and I find ourselves in a difficult situation."

"What is it, Andre?"

"Actually, it is what I wanted to discuss with you. Sit down."

Andre drew Natalie over to one of the benches, saw her seated, then settled beside her. He took a deep breath and stared into the distance a long moment. Finally Andre looked back at his sister with what Natalie knew to be an apologetic look.

"Natalie, I have just come from a meeting with Joshua Collins and his lawyers, concerning the terms of our business contract."

"Yes?"

"You know as well as I how much I need his ships to transport my rum, not only to America, but to other countries as well."

"I know, Andre. Go on."

"Well,... it seems as though... the Collins solicitors are insisting that all points of the contract we made be fulfilled."

"I thought that had been accomplished."

"Not entirely. The business of Josette and Barnabas..."

Natalie closed her eyes as she fought back the tears. They were the reason she wished she had never come to America.

"What... about them?"

"The lawyers are claiming that because the marriage between Josette and Barnabas never actually took place, it negates the terms of the contract Joshua and I signed. Her marriage to Jeremiah is apparently not an adequate or satisfactory substitute."

"What?!"

"Natalie, the marriage of Josette to Barnabas was part of the business agreement Joshua and I reached. We each regarded it as a formality, as the children were intent on marrying anyway. Neither of us thought that particular part of the contract important as we fully expected the wedding to take place. Josette and Barnabas were so obviously in love..."

"And now...?"

"And now, because they did not marry, and never will, the lawyers are insisting that particular clause of the contract be fulfilled, or the entire arrangement will be negated."

"Fulfilled, how?"

"By... substitute, by arranging a marriage between two other eligible parties from the involved families."

Natalie studied her brother for a long moment, then shook her head. She did not fully understand.

"Who are they suggesting, Andre?"

"For a time there was speculation of an arranged marriage between myself and... Abigail."

"Abigail?!"

"I would not have agreed, Natalie, even for the sake of the business. The idea of being married - even as a formality - to that shrew was enough to make me reconsider the entire arrangement and contemplate some other way to make my living, but now..."

"Yes, now it is a moot point. Abigail is dead as well. Surely they do not expect you to wed Millicent?!"

"No, nor do they expect me to arrange something between one of our younger cousins and the boy, Daniel. They expect - demand - something more...immediate."

"Then who, Andre?"

He stood and began pacing, not liking what he was about to say; knowing Natalie's reaction before he ever heard it.

"The lawyers suggest - demand - that the contractual obligations be fulfilled by... an arranged marriage between Joshua Collins - a widower, and... you, Natalie."

"No!"

She was on her feet, ready to do battle with her brother. Andre held up his hands to forestall the release of his sister's formidable temper and shook his head.

"I will not even consider it, Andre. The man is barely more tolerable than his sister."

"I understand, Natalie, but for the sake of the family business, you must consider it. If we do not have the use of Collins ships to transport our products, we will soon have no business and will be forced to sell our home, our lands, our possessions."

"So, for the sake of the business, you would ask me - your only sister and only remaining family member to... to prostitute myself!?"

Andre sighed heavily and sank back down to the bench. He shook his head.

"I would not have put it in such crude terms, Natalie, but... yes, that is the essence of it, that is what I am asking. Please, seriously consider it. We could lose everything Natalie, and although your own fortune is assured, we could lose all Papa worked for, all I have worked for."

She glared hard at her brother for a long moment, then sighed heavily and sat beside Andre. Glancing up toward the sky and the changing colors as sunset neared, she shook her head.

"Very well, Andre, I will think about it, but I make no promises. What does Joshua have to say about the... obstinance of his lawyers?"

"He sees no reason for it, believes that if both he and I are willing to waive the clause and re-negotiate the contract, we should be able to do so with no difficulties, but the lawyers claim it is not possible and chatter on about some legal nonsense, maritime law, and anything else they can use to cloud the issue. They are being so single-minded about it, you would think them under a spell and unable to think for themselves."

"Their solution is to force two people who do not like one another and who have difficulty being civil to one another into a marriage for the sake of a few francs."

Andre nodded and reached for his sister's hand. She met his gaze and studied his expression for a long time. Andre has suffered so much. He had lost not only his optimism, but his beloved daughter. Could she be responsible for causing him to lose his business? Natalie did not know. She shook her head again.

"I will think about it, Andre."

"That is all I ask, Natalie. Thank you."

Patting his hand and giving it a gentle shake, Natalie stood and drew Andre to his feet.

"Come. Walk me back to Collinwood where we will take advantage of Mister Collins' hospitality and both enjoy a very large brandy.

"Agreed, for I believe we both have need of one."

Natalie smiled and accompanied her brother from the gazebo. She had a great deal to consider and knew she would sleep little that night.