<em>'Seduce a man indeed,'</em>Ellen's knuckles were white from the force with which she clenched the vial she'd been sent. Her other hand held Louis' letter. Today was a most unhappy day long before the written words had reached her and they only served to further darken her mood. Angry paces carried her across her room several times before she finally sat at her writing desk and made herself read the words again.<br/><br/>If only it had stopped with the happier sentiments. And again, she did not have as much time as she would have liked. Three months with child meant the time was coming quickly when she would show, and in the meantime she had to hide her condition from all members of James Hatch's household.<em>'The only reason he's not cast me out already is fear that his wife will produce no children for him.'</em>And idea stole through Ellen's mind then. One which her twisted morals found not quite as deplorable as stealing a man's heart and blackmailing him with the theft later. Her mood changed as quickly as the evil plot came to fruition and she set her pen to parchment again.<br/><br/><em>My Louis,<br/><br/>My heart is glad to learn that I can offer you sweet comfort in any measure. If I must write a thousand words for you to read to replace the hundreds that could have done had you been able to keep them, I will. No man will ever be able to provide what you have for me, even if they can keep me 'in the comfort I have been reared to depend upon'. Know that, and take some measure of pride from it.<br/><br/>There is one man only within my reach to seduce, and I would not have him be the father of your babe any sooner than I would have him be my own. The other I spoke of is too young yet for such a thing, and his father too intelligent. Trust in me though, I will provide for both myself and our babe through one means or another. And you of all should know that when need requires it I've no qualms being heartless, though I am glad to know that you would not willingly relinquish your hold over my affections if the matter came down to resolutions rooted in lust.<br/><br/>Trust in me, Louis, to handle the matter for now, and take some happiness in the few details I have offered. The rest are too dark for paper, I fear, but perhaps I will have an opportunity to come call on you again.<br/><br/>I can't help thinking of you when I'm alone now. In another life, we would have been together, wouldn't we Louis?<br/><br/>I'm afraid I'm in a poor state at the moment. I'll write again soon if I haven't heard from you.<br/><br/>All my love,<br/>E</em><br/><br/>Her hands were shaking.<em>Shaking</em>. Fear, loss, grief, and guilt all swept over the woman, and there was nothing she could do but tremble. The stationary was the same. The wax seal unmarked. The envelope free of perfume save for that in the ink. Ellen heard footsteps approaching and swallowed hard, quickly sliding the envelope between her back and the elegant chair of her writing desk. She scribbled a few words on the next sheet of parchment just in time to hear the door open and see her father enter the chamber.<br/><br/>A solid week would would pass before she found an opportunity to seek out the boy that now served as her messenger. A week in which she truly debated using the vial that had come with Atticus' last letter.