Zeta was excited to be going back to London with the wedding drawing near she was looking forward to seeing what Miss Lane had done with her gown. Phoenix had wanted to spend some time with his father so Zeta spent most of Saturday alone taking care of a few errands. Phoenix stayed in and had dinner with his father but planned to go to see Zeta later on that evening when there was no chance of him being caught. It was a good thing he knew that all of her brothers and her father were back at the Steel estate. A few minutes after his father headed off to bed there was a knock on the door for a second he thought that maybe Zeta had come to him but was disappointed when he found Colette smiling up at him. “Colette, what are you doing here, it’s past eleven o clock?” Colette shrugged trying to look seductive, “Well aren’t you going to invite me in?” Phoenix frowned as he opened the door for her right away noticing she was wearing a big coat. Colette looked around making sure they were alone, “Is your father here?” Phoenix frowned “Yes, he’s in bed why do you ask?” Colette gave a nervous laugh as she removed her coat to show a peach colored see-through nighty, her small breasts and erect nipples visible along with everything else. Walking to the fireplace she turned and posed as if practiced with her chest pushed out and her hand on her hip. “Take me Phoenix, forget her, I’m here right now and I’m giving myself to you.” Phoenix was in shock stepping back he nearly fell tripping over the rug. “Why are you doing this Colette, save yourself for your husband?” Colette’s eyes began to fill with tears “Take me Phoenix and make me your own, I’ll make you a good wife, better than Zeta ever will.” Phoenix regained his composer and swallowed hard “Why would you do this?” Colette stepped closer “If you take me now you’ll have to marry me then I will have won, later on down the road you will thank me for saving you from her.” Phoenix stepped back again hitting the wall “What, no Colette I love Zeta, I won’t do this, I want her as my wife and my lover and all you’re doing right now is embarrassing yourself.” Colette reached out and placed her hand on his chest then with the pull of a string shed her nighty letting it fall to the ground. “You’re going to refuse a naked woman begging you to make love to her?” Phoenix grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. “Yes that’s exactly what I’m going to do, you came here to trick me into being with you like I was going to see your nakedness and forget Zeta altogether. When the truth is, you don’t compare to her in the least. She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved or will love and no amount of naked women is about to change that especially not you.” Colette’s face turned red with anger “What kind of man refuses a naked woman, I don’t understand you not that I ever did?” Phoenix shrugged “Like I said the kind that’s in love, now get out before I kick you out into the streets as you are, naked for the whole town to see.” Colette screamed with frustration as she quickly put back on her nighty and then her coat and stomped out toward her waiting coach. Zeta waited for Phoenix having already been fitted for her wedding dress she couldn’t help but daydream about the big day to come. Hearing Phoenix below she made sure her dress was well hidden before he peeked his head up from under the floor. Seeing Zeta he smiled “There’s my girl.” Zeta giggled as he pulled her in close and kissed her “I have had one crazy night.” Zeta pulled back to look into his eyes “What’s wrong?” Phoenix walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of wine, “I’m kind of debating if I should tell you or not.” Zeta followed him back into the room and watched him take off his boots “Just tell me.” Phoenix sighed in annoyance “Colette showed up at my house this evening.” Zeta frowned “What did she have to say this time?” Phoenix rubbed his face. “She came in and took off her jacket.” Zeta frowned “And?” Phoenix leaned back onto the bed “And she was wearing a see-through nighty underneath.” Zeta’s violet eye’s darkened in anger. “She what?” Phoenix shrugged “She begged me to have sex with her, I, of course, said no.” Zeta started to pace “Then what did she do leave?” Phoenix shook his head “No she got completely naked, said if I had sex with her I’d have to marry her and forget about you, that she would make a better wife than you. I had to threaten to throw her out in the street naked if she didn’t get dressed.” Zeta was livid Phoenix tried to ease her “I told her no and that I loved you she was shocked that I refused a naked woman begging me to have sex.” Zeta continued to pace. “I’ve had just about enough of her; I plan on paying her a visit tomorrow and making sure she knows my mind.” Phoenix smiled “Can you try not to kill anyone before we get married.” Zeta rolled her eyes “We’ll see how it goes.” Phoenix looked around and saw the gown wrapped up “Is that your wedding dress?” Zeta nervously bit her bottom lip “Yes but you’ll have to wait to see it along with everyone else.” Zeta figured the best time to find Colette at home on Sunday would be after church it being London and Colette’s family being socialites. Leaving Apollo and Artemis in the coach Zeta rang the bell, within seconds an older man with gray hair answered dressed like a butler. “Mam, how can I help you?” Zeta smiled politely “I’m here to speak with Miss Colette about a serious matter.” The butler gave a curt nod then walked away when he returned he showed her in. “The family has just sat down to dinner but Mr. Bermi asks that you join them.” Zeta couldn’t help but smile “How nice please lead the way.” Entering the dining room Zeta was surprised to find it full of people, Colette nearly panicked at the sight of her. “Zeta?” Colette’s father smiled “Zeta Steel is it, it’s a pleasure to meet you, your father and I go way back you and Colette must be friends.” Colette gave Zeta a pleading look Zeta bowed politely “It’s nice to meet you too Sir, but I’m afraid Colette and I are not friends, right Colette? In fact, I’m here today about a very serious matter. Some privacy may be in order.” Colette sighed with relief, her father did not. “No need we are all family here please continue.” Colette started to argue but her father held up his hand to silence her. Zeta wore a serious expression “Well as you may have heard Phoenix Prescott and I are engaged.” Clive Bermi smiled “Yes congratulations.” Zeta smiled “Well as you may also know Colette has been infatuated with Phoenix for quite some time now.” Clive nodded “Yes, It’s come to my attention.” Zeta nodded “First Colette wrote me a letter not only threatening me but also calling me names which I can handle but last night.” Colette stood up “Enough Zeta let us speak in private.” Clive growled, “Sit down girl, what happened last night?” Zeta nodded “Last night she showed up at Phoenix’s home after eleven wearing a see-through nighty under her coat and offered herself to him when he refused she shed that and stood naked before him and begged him to have sex with her.” Everyone looked at Colette with shocked faces Colette’s mother put her hand over her mouth “No, say it isn’t true?” Zeta nodded “She even told him she figured if he had sex with her he’d have to marry her and that she would make a better wife than me.” Clive’s face had begun to turn red with anger as he stared at his daughter from across the table. “Then what?” Zeta continued “Phoenix had to threaten to throw her out into the street naked just to get her to put what little clothes she had back on.” Clive looked at his daughter in disbelief “Why would you do such a thing?” Colette began to whine “He’s supposed to be mine damn it.” Clive shook his head “When he refused did you ask him why?” Colette nodded “I asked him what man refuses a naked woman?” Colette’s mother sighed “A naked woman or a naked hussy?” Clive shrugged “Well what did he say?” Colette wiped her eyes “He said a man that’s in love with another woman that’s who.” Zeta shook her head “I’m here for one reason and one reason only. Colette you were right in your letter I’m not very lady like but I never claimed to be either and I’m here to tell you in front of your entire family if I ever catch you looking at Phoenix let alone getting naked and throwing yourself at him I’ll beat you so bad no man will ever want you. You’re lucky I didn’t come over here last night when I heard about all of this, Phoenix and I are getting married in a week, so get over it and have some self-respect.” Clive nodded “Thank you for coming here and not notifying the papers, trust me I’ll be talking to Colette and you don’t have anything to worry about from here on out, does she Colette?” Colette didn’t even look up “No Sir.” Zeta smiled “Thank you, Sir, I of course, have not involved the papers it’s not in my nature to gossip. She should thank her lucky stars my sister-in-law, Allison didn’t catch wind of it or all of England would already know.” As she walked out Zeta could hear Colette being scolded by everyone. Phoenix had wanted to publish his map in the prestigious London magazine when he was finished and had all but made arrangements to do so. When Mr. Dunbar the magazine’s editor came by the shop to discuss a time limit, Phoenix started to get nervous. “Mr. Prescott sorry I wasn’t able to come by sooner but if you still want your map to be published, I’ll need it in my office by August 1st. I know that cuts your time in half but that’s the best I can do.” Phoenix sighed “I’ll have to rush it but I think I can meet that deadline, it will cut into my honeymoon but I think it’s possible. Phineas’s wedding is in the beginning of June; even if we decide to stay I can send it back with Captain Crumb and make it on time.” After Mr. Dunbar left Phoenix waited for his father to return to give him the news. “Do you think I can do it?” Webster looked to be deep in thought “Yes it will be tight but it can be done, are you going to mention this to Zeta?” Phoenix sighed “I don’t want to stress her out.” Looking through the mail Webster handed Phoenix a letter from his cousin Phineas, Phoenix smiled looking forward to seeing him face to face. In Phoenix’s last letter he had mentioned him and Zeta might be interested in buying the land Phineas had mentioned so Phinny being Phinny went ahead and bought the land for them and had even purchased them, slaves. Phoenix knew right away Zeta would not like the idea of slaves, hell he didn’t like the idea either and it was very apparent by his letter that Phinny thought of them as nothing but livestock. Phoenix knew it was going to be hard telling Zeta they had bought land without even seeing it first and that they wouldn’t be returning not to mention she had no say in the matter and they would be using her dowry as payment. And with his map having such a short deadline he knew they would spend most of their honeymoon apart and she wasn’t going to like that either. Realizing that was a lot to deal with all at once he figured he would deal with it as it came up. They had enough to worry about with the wedding and their coming voyage. With only days until the wedding, Zeta found herself getting more and more nervous and she could tell that Phoenix was as well. Heading to he and his father's shop she found Phoenix reading a letter wearing a frown. “Hey, there handsome what has you so upset?” Phoenix looked up surprised quickly folding the letter and putting it away. “Oh nothing just my cousin, he’s still trying to sell me on that plantation. It sounds great, it really does it’s just running a plantation is a big deal.” Zeta smiled “Let’s just wait and see it when we get there.” Phoenix nodded “London magazine say’s they’ll publish my map.” Zeta smiled “That’s great.” Phoenix nervously rubbed his hands together “I might have to put more of a rush on it, though.” Zeta could tell he was leaving something out but let it go it was obvious he was under a lot of stress and she didn’t want to cause him anymore if she could help it. “Let’s just get through with the next few days and set sail then we can relax.” Phoenix smiled “I like that idea.”