Note: Just a warning for the faint of heart, this story is about to get pretty dark. This chapter starts a turn of events that will just keep building up until it all explodes. Now if that doesn't make you want to read it, I don't know what will.

"She isn't the only one." When Lady Fiona uttered the simple phrase, Imogen tried her best to digest it. Her eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips, trying to think of any other girl that Fiona spent her time with. The only person she knew of besides Holly was herself, but that couldn't be. There must have been some girl in the past or someone she was unaware of, because there was literally no possible way that Fiona felt that way about her. Her friend's silence troubled the eighteen year old and she began to wear a more troubled expression. "You've figured it out, haven't you?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. Imogen's eyebrows knitted together uncertainly.

"I can't have." She asserted. When Fiona heard her tone, she felt her heart drop.

"I was trying to tell you-subtly-although now, I'm outright telling you-that I've started to fancy...you." She murmured, pushing a strand of curly hair behind her own ear as she waited to hear a reaction. All she heard was silence. "Say something." Fiona commanded, but Imogen merely looked at her wordlessly. "Please." Her voice broke and she slid her dainty fingers hopefully across the other girl's.

Something that sounded like a whimper emanated from Imogen's throat. "I can't." She only managed these words before she moved away from Fiona's touch. Imogen removed herself from the bed and smoothed down her blouse before speaking more clearly. "If it's alright, I should like to go back to my room..." Her wording revealed how uncomfortable she felt and Fiona supressed a disappointed sigh.

Lady Fiona's head bobbed up and down solemnly. "If you wish."

The maid gave her a small, nervous curtsy (which was out of character and quite unusual) and then quickly vacated the room, leaving Fiona alone in her desperation. She didn't know what she'd been expecting, it wasn't as if Imogen was in any position to return her feelings and she wasn't even capable of expressing how she truly felt due to her station. Regret settled deep within Fiona's stomach and she closed her eyes, wishing that she could take it all back, knowing that her confession would inevitably make things awkward between them. At first she considered giving Imogen the option of handing in her notice if she so desired. Then she went over her mother's words in her mind. Maybe, just maybe the Countess HAD been right. Maybe strictly professional relationships were to be observed with the staff and nothing more.

Fiona hoped that she could act normal and cordial with Imogen-she was going to at least try-but for some reason, it had always been difficult for her to hold back her feelings. They tended on spilling out at some point and she was honestly surprised, albeit relieved, that it had yet to happen with Holly. Her feelings for her friend and future sister-in-law were more serious than those for her maid, she'd known her for longer and was madly in love with the girl, but she had quite a problematic crush on the younger girl as well. Since she couldn't magically wish away her feelings, she needed to busy herself with something else. For now that meant speaking with her mother. She hated admitting that perhaps she'd been right and due to her immense pride, would avoid it completely, but she did want to take the Countess up on the offer to introduce her to some new people.

In an attempt to pull herself together, she wiped the moisture from her eyes and took a few deep, cleansing breaths. Her teeth buried in her bottom lip, Fiona left her bedroom and took the stairs two at a time, trying to catch a glimpse of her mother. Surely she was around the manor somewhere.

"Oh, Thomas." She stopped the butler, assuring herself that he, as the person who essentially ran the household, would know where her mother was. He spun around, giving her a kind smile.

"Lady Fiona. What could I do for you?" She admired his professionalism, though she longed for the days when their relationship was far more familiar. When Fiona was a child, Thomas had helped raise her, after standing in for her absentee father who was busy with tons of events that often took him away from the house along with his wife. She pushed these unwelcome memories away in favor of locating her mother, which was imperative at the moment before she lost her nerve.

"Have you seen my mother? I need to speak with her." She asked firmly, hoping he wouldn't ask why.

Thomas' warm smile faded. "Actually, I believe she's just left to go to town. A dress fitting, if I recall correctly. If it's urgent, I could bring the spare car around and drive you to the shop to meet her." She couldn't believe he would even offer such a thing. It was above and beyond what his duties were, and she appreciated the gesture.

A light laugh tumbled from her lips. "That won't be necessary, thank you. Just call for me when she returns, if it isn't too much trouble."

"Of course."

"Oh and...could I ask your opinion on something?"

"Certainly, m'lady."

"Do you think it...distasteful...for a noble and her maid to forge a friendship?"

Thomas cleared his throat, holding back a smile at the question. He had noticed the blooming friendship between Lady Fiona and Imogen on the very first day, but he would never tease either of them about it like everyone else had been doing.

"I don't believe so. I believe that friendships can transcend class boundaries, if you allow them to do so. I don't see any harm in it." Fiona looked hopeful. "But-" All hope drained from her face as she realized what was coming. Another mini lecture. "But, to be fair, most individuals in your position don't agree. Like the Countess, for example. It's one thing to think of friendships when you're the one with much to gain-like a maid or a butler," He cracked a smile. "But some would think it dangerous and I daresay, even disgraceful to the image of a noble, to become close with one's maid."

"But I don't. I don't see what the big deal is, but even so...my mum chastised me for spending so much of my time with Imogen." She paused. "You really don't think it's wrong? Be honest, your opinion matters to me."

"Not at all. Like I said, I don't see any harm in it. If you'll remember, I'm rather fond of you myself, m'lady." His strong hand rested comfortingly on her shoulder. "I think of you as the closest thing I have to a daughter."

In a swell of emotion, Fiona embraced Thomas, her arms tight against him as she enjoyed the display of affection from the usually quiet man.

"I'm quite glad to hear that. It's the same for me, Thomas." A dimple came into view as she grinned at him, pulling away from the hug. "Alright, then." She resolved.

He chuckled. "Will that be all?"

"I think so. Thank you." Feeling a bit better after their conversation, Fiona watched Thomas walk away.

Hearing Thomas' opinion on the matter assured her that there were, in fact, others who agreed with her stance on inter-class friendships. Of course she had not brought up the far more controversial notion of a romance between the same sort. Not even the open-minded and kind-hearted butler would have good words to say about that type of relationship.

Continuing to reflect on her thoughts and conversations about the situation, Fiona allowed her legs to take her wherever they pleased, which at this point, seemed to be the library. As she entered the book-filled room, she hadn't expected to see her brother leisurely sat in an armchair reading a novel. He must have heard her footsteps, though, because Declan automatically looked up at her when she stepped inside.

"Why hello, Fiona. What a pleasant surprise." He closed the book and leaned it against his torso. "Where's your pet? Giving her a longer leash, are you?" He teased. She glared scathingly at her twin, something that caught his attention.

"I don't find your comments funny, so if you wouldn't mind keeping them to yourself-"

"Well, well, someone's grumpy. What's happened?" His blue eyes, identical to hers, flickered to their twin and he thrust the book carelessly onto the table next to him. Sensing that she was upset, he extended his right hand to her. "Come here." He spoke softly.

Unable to stop herself, Fiona stepped toward him and took the hand Declan had offered her. His whimsical smirk came into view and unexpectedly, he pulled her onto the chair and into his lap. Finding the arrangement inappropriate, Fiona scrambled against her brother, but he put his arms around her.

"Shh, calm down. It's alright." When he said this, she dropped her arms and he relaxed his own. His thumb cascaded across her flushed cheeks as he gave her a loving gaze. "Tell your brother what's bothering you, and I'll make sure it never happens again." His words were kind but something about them unnerved her. She didn't fight his touch, settling onto his lap and peeking back at the closed door before speaking.

"I've messed everything up, Declan." Fiona breathed, her chest heaving. "I've messed everything up and I don't know how to fix it."

"Darling-" Declan nudged her chin with his index finger. "You're going to have to be more specific if you expect me to help you."

Fiona wasn't sure she could face telling someone her secret again. Imogen had taken it well, but she doubted anyone else would. And even Imogen had essentially freaked out when she had admitted her feelings for her, so she could only imagine Declan's reaction. But he was her twin brother, twins had a special, undeniable bond. He wouldn't judge her as harshly as others, would he? If she told him everything, namely that she was in love with his fiancée, he would feel betrayed and possibly hate her forever. No, that part she had to leave out. It was scary enough telling him about her feelings for women, but if he was her twin, maybe he'd already discovered it. She had finally talked herself into telling him.

"Okay. I'll tell you. But I must warn you, there's something about me you don't know. At least, I don't think you do. It's something...bad."

"Have you killed someone?" His tone wasn't serious. She hit him in the arm.

"I'm trying to open up to you, can you put aside the jokes for a minute?"

"Of course, I'm sorry. I'm all ears. What have you done? What's so bad about you?" Declan urged her, his mind swimming with ideas.

Fiona's hand lingered over his. "Well. Have you ever had feelings for someone that you shouldn't?" The vague question intrigued him.

"I suppose I have, yes."

"So have I."

"Ah." Declan smiled winningly. He thought he knew what she was confessing to, but he was very wrong. His fingers laced into hers and he licked his lips. "I think I know what you're trying to say."

The last thing she had ever expected to happen in that moment occurred. Her brother's hands tangled in her curly hair and he brought his lips crashing against hers.