All the speeches in italics are taken directly from Georgette Heyer's novel Cotillion; though all the rest are my own imaginings of what really was going through Freddy's mind when he is tells Jack of his engagement to Kitty. The scene takes place in Chapter 7 and follows alongside the original story (but with a twist).

A possible one or two more chapters may follow…

Disclaimer: I do not own Georgette Heyer's work and never will. So please don't sue me: I'm skint.

"Hallo my Tulip! Didn't you ruralize after all?"

It's interesting how much meaning can be gained from such a simple, ordinary, everyday word – one that, to anyone else, would simply make them think of the tall, elegant flower with fleshy leaves and delicately closed petals. Yet it was clear in the deep resonance of the speakers voice and sly expression, that such a definition was far from his mind.

Freddy felt the soft breath on his neck, before he heard the caressing words whispered in his ear; turning his skin to gooseflesh, as if the man's mere presence scarred his body physically. His body visibly stiffened in response: his heart racing and the words he knew he should speak catch in his throat, as he fought with himself to tell Jack what he had been dreading telling him from the start.

Tulip. The word conjured so many images in his mind. Yet, out of them all, one came back again and again to haunt him – always reverting back to the same pair of intensely blue eyes and the same mouth marked by its cynicism, coming ever closer towards his own.

But there they were. The same eyes regarding him with a lazy interest, as he turned round to face them; the same eyes that looked out on the world with a bored indifference; the same eyes which saw all in their path as playthings, to amuse until no further interest could be found in them.

Life had always been just a game to Jack; where he simply had to sit back, pull the strings and watch as his puppets danced and his birds sang.

Or his flowers bloomed.

Freddy swallowed hard. Feeling a deep resentment begin to bubble up inside him at how easy life had been to Jack, despite his ever careless attitude. Out of all of Freddy's cousins, Jack had always been the one with the most charm, good looks and fortune; finding people were prepared to worship at his feet and to do almost anything to please him, if only for him to embrace them in his mesmeric company. Freddy had learnt this bitterly from experience.

Yet out of all the people within the crowded ballroom at Almacks – and the flirtations to be had – Jack had sought Freddy out to amuse him: to entertain him. Surely that must mean something? He found himself hoping, as the pathetic little flutter in his heart became more insistent.

Having turned to face Jack, Freddy found himself confronted with a much closer inspection of the other mans broad chest than he had bargained for; finding himself at an eye level to admire Jack's artistically crafted neck-cloth and antique diamond pin, had he been in his right faculties to notice them. Instead he could only get his mind to register on the quite obvious heat radiating off Jack's body onto his own slighter frame and how their close proximity meant he would have to strain his neck, if he was to look up into those sparklingly malevolent eyes.

Failing all other responses, Freddy stepped back slightly and managed to mumble:

"Oh, hallo! You here, coz?"

Jack's eyes slowly slid over his profile – watching Freddy with an almost predatory grace; enjoying the discomfit he had produced in the man in front of him.

A sudden burst of anger flared unexpectedly within Freddy, at the look of smug satisfaction creeping across Jack's handsome features. He felt his hands ball into fists; imagining the satisfaction in landing a blow to that very same face; that face which had haunted him in many of his waking moments – owned by the man who treated him with the same disdain he reserved for everyone. This sudden anger caught him by surprise – having usually prided himself on his placid temper and easy going disposition – finding a certain reassurance and comfort could be gained from it.

Maybe he wasn't so lost to that man with the mocking smile, after all.

Now had come the time to wipe it off his face…

"Daresay you didn't know it, but the old gentleman's going to leave his fortune to Kit, provided she marries one of us".

Kitty. Now there was a subject on which Freddy felt himself on safe ground. He really did have a great liking for the chit and though he had little intension of going through with the marriage properly, he equally felt that society could do wonders to improve her and that little harm could be had in playing along with her madcap scheme. In a way she reminded him of himself: needing to prove herself and wanting to enjoy life to the full… as well as being an equal casualty to a certain man with a twisted smile…

That was the problem with Jack: everything he touched became tainted and turned sour. Yet he always managed to walk away from it all untouched; aloof and disconnected as always, while all around him splintered.

Jack was far too sure of Kitty. He seemed to think that she would always be there, waiting for him when he finally chose to bestir himself into marriage and then expect her to endure, as he continued with his old libertine ways; spending all her dowry in a heart beat, Freddy thought bitterly.

If anything, Jack was in need of a set down, and if it could be seen that two of his own puppets were breaking free from his caressing strings, to walk their own paths, contrary to his wishes; the time may have finally come for him to be knocked off his pedestal.

"Devilish grateful to you, coz! Never thought there was any chance for me in that quarter: shouldn't have gone to Arnside if you hadn't given me a nudge!"

Freddy could feel an intense satisfaction welling up inside him, as he watched the mouth previously quirked at the corners in a smirk, straighten out into a thin line, as his eyes revealed, momentarily the inner coldness which lay behind the sparkling blue. He knew deep down that Jack's heart was as black as his smile was cold; yet he also knew how easy it was to forget this, if that handsome rakish figure decided to be almost especially charming.

For the first time, Freddy felt that he was the one calling the shots. He would not let Jack damage an innocent young thing like Kit with his carelessness.

No.

He would save at least her from Jack, even if it actually meant marrying the girl.

One broken heart was enough for any family.

"It conjures up an enchanting picture, but no, Freddy, no!"

He had him ruffled, but Jack was far too sure of the spell he had cast over them, to completely believe in the happy little romance Freddy had painted between himself and Kitty. They were HIS playthings.

Toys do not just get up and start living their own lives.

"Enough!" he said. "This bubble was pricked before it was fully blown, coz. I have you mean to regale me with the true story of what happened at Arnside".

Jack couldn't have everything his own way.

"Brought her up to town with me. Wanted to present her to m'mother and father. She's in Mount Street".

Freddy felt as if he was watching Jack's self satisfaction physically crumbling around him, as his eyes narrowed to slits and his forehead wrinkled, as he puzzled over the unusual change in events, that, for once did not appear to swing in his favour.

Yet soon as it was there, the look of confusion had defused, to be replaced once again with that mocking smile; though now a worryingly calculated gleam accompanied it in his cruel blue eyes. It seemed to amuse him the prospect of two of his puppets attempting to escape his clutches together.

"I felicitate you, coz".

Jack's hand came down onto Freddy's shoulder, as he turned to leave; sending an electric current coursing down his spine, that he could barely repress a shiver in response. In that instant, Freddy knew that he had lost; from one simply touch, all the convictions he had made to Jack of his earnest desire to marry Kitty would have been eradicated. Jack would surely know the falsehood by now.

The Tulip groaned inwardly, as he watched Jack saunter purposefully away through the crowd – knowing that this was a battle, he half hoped he'd lose.