Jaxon wasn't too pleased with how he behaved towards Sophie, but it was necessary. At least he told himself that. It wouldn't do him good if Dorin found out about Sophie. He didn't want to give her the wrong impressions that she was more than a mistress. After all, she was getting a good bargain out of their deal. She should be happy with their arrangement. 

There wasn't a party in Julesburg that didn't include him. One of the prestigious families in Julesburg had sent him the invitation for the ball they were organizing. He put on his evening suit and called for Ben,

"Bring the large carriage. I'm picking up Mr. Hens and Miss. Hens." 

Dorin's mother died a few years ago and her two older sisters were married with families of their own. Now her father fulfills all her wishes. Her dresses were imported from France, and he just bought her purebred Arabian horse. It was simple, whatever Dorin came up with he bought it for her. 

The ball was already in full swing when they arrived. It was filled with a lot of fake smiles, and a lot of fake good wishes. He thought how natural and sweet Sophie was. It was Sophie that was constantly on his mind. 

"Jaxon! I want to dance." Dorin interrupted his thoughts. 

He led her to the dance floor. Jaxon danced with Dorin, but his mind was entirely concentrated on one woman. His current mistress. 

"You are absent tonight Jaxon. What is bothering you?" She tried to sound concerned, but he knew better. Dorin always wanted to be the center of attention. 

Jaxon hasn't felt a thing holding her in his arms while they danced. She left him cold, and he was sure she felt the same about him. Dorin loved three things: prestige, social status, and money. He was the most eligible bachelor in the county, and he qualified in all three categories. 

When his father passed away he was twenty years old and left with the ruins of a home and empty fields. His mother always complained about his father and how she hated living here. She moved to the coast to live with her sister leaving him alone at the plantation. He borrowed money and planted sugar beets and after a couple of years bought a run down factory in town and started processing his own beets. It took another couple of years to pay it off, but after that he became one of the biggest producers of sugar in the country. With the land Dorin will bring into their marriage, he can double up the production. 

The dance ended and he immediately let go of her, " Dorin, I'll be in the game room." 

"Jaxon, we will miss the dance!" 

"I promise to be back for the one after that." He had to calm her down. Dorin's temper was easily ignited. 

"If you promise." He saw anger built up in her eyes. 

"I promise Dorin." 

When the evening ended and he left them at their home it was a relief. Tomorrow night he'll spend time with Sophie. He found himself smiling at the thought. It was heaven to hold her in his arms. 

She never demanded anything and always gave. He could hear her little moans and sweet cries that drove him wild. Did he love her? Was she just an obsession? Love wasn't in his plans, love didn't bring land into marriage. His mother told him that she loves him, yet she ran the first chance she got leaving him to deal with problems. 

****

Sophie had to live a lie. To her neighbours she was a widow that came all the way from the east in order to be closer to her brother. She was his dirty secret. 

Her neighbour Mrs. Clayton was the biggest gossip in town. It was another good reason to hide who she was. 

Twice a week a carriage came to take her to Yoland street and in the middle of the night back. 

She was never allowed to spend the night. Sophie had to leave the warm bed and go back to her loneliness.

After three months Eric came home for a weekend. It was the happiest time she had in a long while. They went for a walk, and they talked long into the evening. He told her all about his school, and was happy that he made a friend. "They are strict Sophie, but the food is good. " They laugh together. She became alive again. During his stay she wasn't required to visit Jaxon. 

When Eric left the emptiness returned. 

The time spent in Jaxon's bed was full of tenderness and passion, soft, seductive words, and gentle whispers. 

She responded to him against her will or better judgement. This is it. This is the most she'll ever have of him. Somehow deep down she felt it: it won't last much longer. This will be a distant memory. She couldn't even dream about loving husband and family. Her faith was sealed with this deal. 

Along with some tender words and caresses Sophie fell helplessly in love with him. To contribute to this was probably her loneliness. He could never know, so she hid her feelings. Mistresses are not required to give love. Her heart bled every time he went out with Dorin. Jaxon never mentioned to her his affairs. Bed was the only place he talked to her, but never about his life. She found out about him from her neighbour whose friend was the maid at one of the richest families in town that had grand parties often in hope to find a husband for their not so pretty daughter. 

It hurt listen to them talk about Mr. Barnett and Ms. Hens dancing and outing. They were the talk of the town. Everyone predicted when the marriage would take place. 

When she was in his arms, she tried not to think about it. She lived for those moments. There was no shame left. She was above that , too far gone. 

One night he fastened around her neck a pure gold necklace embedded with diamonds.

"This is payment for making me happy Sophie. My, Sophie." He kissed her neck and as always, brought the shivers all over her body. She smiled at him, but as soon as she was home she took it off and put it in the box. It felt like she had blisters around her neck from it. It was payment for services , he explained. It probably cost a fortune. 

Sophie found salvation in her walks. She missed running barefoot in the fields, picking wild flowers,chasing the rainbow. The times when she could still dream of a better future. She had new dresses, shoes, soft bed, but she longed for the shack they lived in and her straw filled mattress. Eric was doing well and she had to remember it was all for him. Falling in love wasn't part of the plan. Pain that came with it was her penance. 

More gifts followed. Next was the matching bracelet, and earrings. The emerald brooch was his last gift. Sophie stashed them all in the box. She never looked at it until there was a new gift to add to the collection. 

"Sophie! My, Sophie! " He whispered in her ears. 

She placed her arms around him and kissed him. She wanted to call him hers as well, but knew she couldn't. He wasn't hers to keep. 

After the passionate love, she dozed off in his arms, but shortly after he shook her gently ," It's time to go Sophie. Ben is waiting." 

She would leave his bed with a heavy heart. It's been a year now how their arrangement started. Sophie still felt the sting in her heart every time he sent her back to townhouse. Those were the times she felt cheap.

Time slipped by and it was the summer holidays, and Eric came home. He had grown. Sophie hardly recognized him. He talked about his experiences with a new confidence and a smile. Eric was happy, and totally oblivious of what his sister did for him.

She watched him in his new clothes and his new shoes. Sophie told herself it was worth it to lose self respect and heart along with it for his happiness.