Elizabeth was safe, for the moment. But only for the moment.

She was left to nap, to sneeze on occasion, drink tea, think of Nathaniel and the events of the morning, and weigh her options. Which seemed to be very few and all very unattractive. If she ventured out of bed, they would congregate in a moment's time to get her to participate in the signing of the deed. Richard would first propose to her once again, this time in front of Mr. Bennett, and that if she were burning with fever and at death's door. Of this Elizabeth had no doubt.

Curiosity had summed up the situation in her own way. "You heard tell about that spot between the rock and the hard place?" she said, eyeing Elizabeth's healthy color with something bordering on disapproval. "Well, then, missy, welcome to it."

This was in the evening, when the men had begun to mill about in the foyer.

"As bad as crows," Curiosity sniffed. "With the smell of fresh meat in the air." The sound of steps on the stairs caused her to ruffle up and set her mouth in a thin line. "I'll deal with 'em."

"No," Elizabeth whispered, frowning. "I'll have to talk sooner or later. Perhaps you should allow Father in." She thought quickly. "Or perhaps Richard."

"Your daddy." Curiosity agreed reluctantly. "But you forget about Richard. He know the sound of a cough. Here." She took a brick wrapped in muslin from its place by the fire. "Hold this to your face."

When Elizabeth's color had risen perceptibly, Curiosity tucked the brick under the covers, and with a conspiratorial look, she opened the door to the judge's tentative knock.

He stood at the foot of her bed considering her closely. Finally he managed a smile.

"Well, my dear," he said. "I suppose this is not the time for a lecture on the in advisability of walking in the woods."

Elizabeth almost would have welcomed such a lecture, if it would keep the subject she feared at bay. But her father had already arrived there.

"So. You see that Mr. Bennett has come. He is ready to witness the signing of the deed, which will endow you with a valuable piece of property. May I assume that this meets with your approval?"

"If you wish to pass your property over to me, Father, then I will not object," Elizabeth said. Curiosity was watching her closely; she sneezed into her handkerchief.

"Good," her father said. "Very good. But before we take that step, Richard would like to speak with you."

Elizabeth managed to pull herself up to a good height in her bed. She set her face in what she hoped was an expression of shock.

"You aren't suggesting that I allow Richard into my room while I am undressed?"

The judge let out his breath in a hiss. "Well, I suppose—”

“Really, Father," Elizabeth interrupted, struggling to put away a persistent memory of herself naked on a bed of furs, with Nathaniel stretched over her.

"He is a doctor, after all," her father said, quite meekly now. And seeing that Elizabeth would not be convinced, he added: "Richard does have an important matter to discuss with you before the deed is signed. One you cannot be completely ignorant of," he added.

Elizabeth said, "Perhaps it is just that my head aches, but please do tell me. Is there some reason that Richard Todd cannot wait with his important matter until our business with Mr. Bennett is concluded?"

If so much didn't hang in the balance, Elizabeth might almost have enjoyed watching her father become flustered. He considered one line of argument and discarded it; visibly took up another. There was a tick in his cheek.

"Let me be plain, daughter," he said finally. "I would like to see a formal agreement between the two of you before any legal arrangements are made regarding the property."

"I suspected as much," Elizabeth murmured. As chilling as it was to have this stated so unequivocally, it gave her room to ask some questions. "And why is that the case, exactly?"

"It is the only resolution to a complex of problems which I should not trouble you with, given your condition." The judge looked quite pleased with this formulation.

Elizabeth's fingers twitched and she twisted them in the coverlet lest they give away her anger.

"’Scuse me," drawled Curiosity in a dry voice. "This poultice needs looking after. I'll return directly, Elizabeth."

"Now," Elizabeth said when Curiosity had closed the door behind her. "Please tell me, Father, what influence it is that Richard Todd exerts on you."

But the judge only raised a brow. "No influence beyond that of a trusted friend and adviser," he said. "And one I will welcome into the family."

"Then it is very unfortunate," Elizabeth said, feeling how anger propelled her forward but unable to stop herself for the moment, "that you cannot marry him yourself, for you certainly like him more than I do."

"Elizabeth!"

"No, let me finish. I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to sell the land to Richard outright, and leave me out of this business transaction altogether. There is not much for me in it, after all." Too late, she asked herself what would happen if he suddenly decided to do just that.

"No!" her father said, so loudly that she jumped a little. A look came into his eyes which would have frightened Elizabeth if it hadn't surprised her so much: he was desperate. She saw him struggle to compose himself.

"Think, Elizabeth," he said in a strangled tone. "With you as mistress of the holdings, you will be able to exert some influence on Richard. In how the property is managed, for example. And there is a material advantage for you in this, or I would not allow it. You must believe that."