What did Nate want in this regard? A woman with financial backing to annoy his brother and cement his position has the better Appleton son? A wellheeled lady hung on his arm to rejoin polite company. Certainly, he would not have agreed to this venture if these two conditions were not met. But could he love her?

Love, that intoxicating life sentence handed down by divine judgement. On the basis of what sat before him - and on the present angle of his tiny gavel - he already did. If love were solely based upon the fabric of a dress, or the daintiness of her gloved hand, her flawless complexion, then yes, he did love her. But, that was not love, that was lust. Raw sexual power. She was asking for more, something much deeper, a much more intimate connection.

Shifting in his chair, Nate could raise absolutely no objections to the notion of a sympathetic ear. For the law was an fickle mistress, a ruler absolute. Guilty, Not Guilty. Life, Death. To come home to a trusting soul days end and melt under their touch or lighten one's spirit. That sounded delightful. His eyes were unfocused, enveloped in this fantasy.

"Love as you know is not an instant condition; it takes time to build a loving relationship, much like a successful legal prosecution. Evidence must be collected to support the case to ensure victory. With time though, I believe love can flourish between two people. I fear I may be a difficult man to love."