CH 1: The Lioness at the Gate

Dearest Leticia,

By the time this letter reaches you, I can only pray that you will once more be returning to Collinsport. Words simply cannot express how much our separation has affected my weary heart, yet I know that once I behold one of your glorious smiles of sunshine that all will be well, again.

Mother sends her sympathies over your father's sudden ailment, yet since I have heard very little from you and your family, I trust that he is faring better? Jerome is a good man, Leticia, and I would be most aggrieved if he were to suddenly pass on. If he is still unwell by the time you read this, please take heart and do not give up, for I will never let you suffer alone. Although I feel that I could be a far better husband, I can at least give you this promise and mean it with every living fiber of my being.

In other matters, Quentin and Daphne are finally wed. They were quite disappointed to hear that you were still in Boston, but please do not fret over your unforeseen absence, for I bade them to understand. Since we are addressing 'surprises', I have heard through a letter from your sister that you have one of your own. I must admit that I am terribly anxious to discover this unexpected good news, so please hurry back to me safe and in good health.

Forever Yours,

Desmond

Leticia sighed as she refolded the letter for the umpteenth time, her eyes closing as she allowed the constant rocking of the carriage to lull her into a peaceful serenity. Collinsport was just as she remembered it: small, quaint, and modest, yet this time around she couldn't help but feel a strange surge of reverence and familiarity blossom deep within her heart.

"Tisha, luv, are ya still smilin' over that letter?"

Leticia opened her eyes with a start, her smile only widening as she regarded her sister, Clara with a shy nod. "Why yes, I suppose I am – I'm just so anxious over what Desmond'll say…"

"About the baby?"

When Leticia nodded, Clara fondly placed a hand over her sister's protruding middle, her gray eyes softening as she returned, "'e'll be overjoyed an' you know it, luv. You an' Desmond 'ave been tryin' for a lil' one for the past three years, now."

"Yes" Leticia agreed, "but what if 'e's changed 'is mind? Perhaps 'e's too busy for a child, now…"

Clara rolled her eyes. "Oh, goodness, luv, will ya just listen to yourself? You've got the most lovin' an' understandin' 'usband a girl could ever wish for! It'll be alright, you'll see."

Now placing her hand over her sister's, Leticia smiled warmly before giving a grateful nod. In truth, it wasn't Desmond that she was worried about, but Flora…

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Flora Collins brought her glass of sherry up to her lips, her delicate brows drawing inward as her thoughts traveled once more to that of her son. Desmond was growing more and more distant by the day, and she was well aware of the fact that it was all because of his intolerable wife. Oh, how she longed for the days when Desmond would regale only her with his stories and not think of that insufferable Leticia!

Frowning, Flora then reflected on how she'd only allowed the performer to take refuge in her home because Gerard had bade it so, but now that her own son had thrown away his life, she knew that she had made a dreadful mistake.

'Oh, why didn't I see it all coming?' she wondered, her grip subconsciously tightening about her glass as she shook her head. 'Why did I allow my dear Desmond to marry that gold-digging harlot? She doesn't truly love my son – I know she doesn't!"

"Mrs. Collins?"

Flora immediately looked up, her brows drawing upward as she gazed upon her maid in expectance. "Yes, Constance, what is it?"

Curtsying, she politely returned, "Mrs. Leticia Faye Collins and her sister, Clara Faye are here to see you, ma'am. Shall I bring them in?"

Flora's green eyes flashed dangerously, yet she managed to bestow the maid with a tight-lipped smile before nodding her consent. "Why yes, yes of course – they are family, are they not? Let them in, child, let them in!"

Giving yet another curtsy, Constance turned about on her heel in order to usher in the new arrivals, Leticia and Clara now entering the room with an infectious spirit that would make the most cold-hearted of men quite ill.

With a frown of distaste, Flora took note of Leticia's blushing cheeks and rounded middle, her tone rather clipped as she remarked, "I trust that your travels went well? You both appear to be in one piece, so I suppose I should thank the driver for being so careful."

"Oh yes, the carriage ride was marvelous! Clara an' I could scarcely believe all the beauty!" Leticia gushed, clapping her hands to her heart as she breathed a sigh. "In fact, I should probably wait 'til my Desmond arrives ta tell ya everything so ya don't get bored – when will 'e be 'ome, luv?"

Flora immediately grew silent, her eyes dimming as she hissed, "My Desmond won't be coming home ever again, Leticia, for, God rest his soul, he is now in a far better place."

"W-what?"

"He is dead!"

With a horrified gasp, Leticia felt her world caving in on her at a maddening speed, her eyes rolling back in her head as Clara hurriedly rushed over and caught her before she could collapse.

With a disbelieving shake of the head, Clara laid Leticia down upon the settee before demanding, "How did it 'appen, Flora? We just 'eard from Desmond a week ago!"

"A lot can happen in a week, Miss Faye" the matriarch snapped. "If you truly must know, he was in a terrible carriage accident – apparently he was going to see your oh-so-charming sister – and was killed instantly."

Wincing, Clara hotly demanded, "Beggin' your pardon, ma'am, but whaddaya mean, 'if we truly must know'? Desmond was my brother-in-law an' my dear Leticia's 'usband – a' 'course we 'ad a right ta know!"

"That very well may be" Flora agreed, "but now that Desmond is gone, I no longer have to treat either of you as one of my own. Your sister is a conniving trollop, Miss Faye, so I suggest you teach her to be a lady before she can come anywhere near his will. I trust that that is what is most important?"

"Oh!" With a sob, Clara tried to rouse Leticia from her state of impermanent sleep, her voice now muddled with tears as she spat, "How dare you speak a' my Leticia that way when she loved 'er 'usband more than life, itself? She cares nothin' for 'is money – all she ever wanted was ta give 'im a son, an' now that 'e's gone, she can't even turn ta 'er own mother-in-law for comfort! You both are the same, luv, can'tcha see that? Ya both loved Desmond with your whole 'earts!"

Flora snorted. "I absolutely refuse to be compared to some uneducated performer! True, Desmond was what brought us all together, but I am afraid that that was all we had in common. When your sister awakens, you may tell her that I will make sure you both have a place to stay at the Collinsport Inn."

"What? But 'ow will we be able ta visit Desmond's grave? The property's under lock an' key!" Clara insisted in dismay.

Flora, however, was far from caring. "I am afraid that that is your problem and not mine, Miss Faye. If you are quite done, I will have Constance show you to the door."

"There's no need for any a' that" Clara snapped, her eyes icy and filled with contempt as she balled up her fists at her sides. "I absolutely refuse ta accept the 'elp of such a selfish, cold-'earted woman such as yourself!"

With a pitiful sob, Clara gathered the now semi-conscious Leticia in her arms and began to lead her across the threshold, Flora's eyes narrowing dangerously as she watched them walk out of her life for what she prayed to be forever.

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"Mother? Mother, are you here?"

"Oh, Desmond, I worried when you didn't come home at five – did you have a busy day?" Flora inquired, her heart warming as she kissed her son and cradled his face in between her hands.

Smiling, Desmond pleasantly acknowledged, "Well yes, more or less – do you happen to have any news of Leticia? I still haven't received any letters from the Faye's since last April."

Flora stiffened, yet it was barely noticeable. "Why no, darling, I'm afraid that I haven't – perhaps she's met yet another rich dandy and is exploiting him of his hard-earned fortune as we speak."

"Mother, please don't start that, again" Desmond begged, his mouth drawing into a grim line as he stubbornly shook his head. "My Leticia would never do that to me – we love each other far too much."

"Love? Hmph! Your wife wouldn't know love if it smacked her square in the nose!" Flora scoffed. "If you have any sense at all, you will get this ridiculous marriage annulled and remarry."

"No – I could never do that" Desmond argued. "Even if what you say proves to be true, I will keep Leticia as my wife. After all that we've been through together, I am most certain that I can never love another."

"B-but Desmond…!"

"Goodnight, Mother" he gently interrupted, "I will see you in the morning."

Bestowing a kiss upon her cheek, Desmond then turned and left Flora to stew amidst her own cloud of furious outrage.

A/N: I absolutely love Leticia Faye, so I'm so pleased that I've FINALLY been able to come up with an idea that features her and her hardships. Now I know that Flora may seem much different than on the show, but I needed a central conflict, so voila. This story won't be featuring rainbows and butterflies, so, like most of my stories, there will be an overlying darkness with hints of sunshine peaking through. Hopefully you've enjoyed this – if you have, please tell me so I can crank out the next chapter! ;0)