The contract that Evans had prepared had some very basic terms that both sides had to follow. The terms were as follows:
1. The fake engagement would last until Theo's parents were convinced to leave him alone.
2. Lynn would receive a certain amount of money for her participation in the scheme.
3. Lynn will move into the mansion and will be provided with appropriate clothes and accessories to make her look like a future duchess.
4. The two of them will have to attend social events together and pretend to be lovers.
5. No one must know that their relationship is fake.
Lynn read the contract carefully.
"If you can't read it, let me-" Evans started to say, but Lynn interrupted him
"The contract looks pretty good. But I want to add my terms too," she said seriously.
The two men found no reason to refuse. That was the fairest thing too. They waited patiently for Lynn to consider her terms. She remained thoughtful for a while until she finally looked at them with a smile.
"Alright, here I go! First, to make sure you don't cheat me, you'll give me part of the payment in advance," she said.
"Okay, tell us how much-"
With a wave of her hand Lynn interrupted Evans.
"I'm not finished. I want to be able to walk away from the plan with no consequences, no romantic or physical touches if not needed for the plan, and to have a say in the plan and the handling of the situation."
Theo and Evans looked at each other and immediately agreed to Lynn's terms. After the additions, the two sides signed the contract and shook hands.
On the way home, the carriage was quiet. Evans observed Theo across from him, who was staring out the window with his arms crossed. It was obvious that he was trying to avoid any conversation Evans wanted to open.
"I think the plan will go very well," Evans said, wanting to break the silence.
Theo did not answer or move from his seat.
"Did you tell her to come to the mansion tomorrow?" Evans' second attempt at conversation.
Theo didn't answer now either but looked at him with a look that said: "Don't bother me."
I'd better keep quiet if I don't want to face his wrath, he thought and sat quietly in his seat.
They continued in silence for a while longer when the carriage suddenly came to a sudden stop causing them to sway in their seats. They had not gone very far and so the two men were puzzled.
"What happened?" cried Theo to the driver.
"I'll go out and see, Your Grace," Evans said and got out of the wagon.
Before he could get down, a shadow rushed in and nearly knocked him back into the seat.
It was Lynn. She had stepped in front of the wagon in order to make it stop, and after it stopped she opened the door in a hurry and got in.
With her hair messy, her breathing ragged and a suspicious mud on her dress, she jumped into the carriage, pulled the door behind her and looked at the two men with a huge, anxious smile.
"What are you doing here?" asked Theo, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, nothing, I just...happened to be passing by nearby and...I saw the carriage and thought I'd ask if you...needed anything," she said with her sharp intake of breath.
She looked out the window and rolled her eyes. Then she closed the curtains and sat down next to Evans, acting as if nothing had happened. The two men had a lot of questions but didn't have time to ask anything.
From outside came loud male screaming:
"LYNN! YOU HAVEN'T PAID YOUR RENT FOR THREE MONTHS! WHEREVER YOU HIDE, I'LL FIND YOU!"
Theo and Evans slowly turned around and looked at her with the same look of wonder.
Lynn laughed awkwardly. "This... is a big misunderstanding."
"So... you don't owe rent?" asked Evans incredulously.
"Oh, no, I do owe it. But I'd appreciate it if you'd hide me for a while until Mr. Danner leaves here. Look at it this way: Instead of coming to the mansion tomorrow, I'll come now!"
"Why should we help you?" asked Theo.
"Because I will also help you with your plan! Let's help each other," she said with an excited smile as she tried to regulate her breathing.
"You know, Your Grace, Miss Lynn is right. We can put the plan into action today," Evans looked at Theo and tried to convince him.
Theo sighed. He thought it would be selfish to wait for help without giving it but on the other hand it made him nervous that the plan was moving so fast. Lynn waited anxiously for his response until suddenly the voice of the man chasing her could be heard talking to the driver.
"I'm looking for a girl. Did you see her? I think I saw her coming this way."
Lynn turned and grabbed Theo's sleeve, her eyes full of pleading.
"Please," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I don't have anywhere else to go. If he finds me, he'll drag me back and humiliate me in front of everyone. My pride won't stand for that kind of embarrassment."
Theo looked at her expressionlessly. Or so he wanted it to appear, for he could not ignore the girl's pleading.
"Let me look inside the carriage," the man was heard to say.
Immediately, Lynn's fingers tightened the fabric of his jacket more, as if it were her only lifeline. She looked at him even harder and waited anxiously for him to help her.
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