The two weeks after the public assembly saw Miss Hara and Miss Matsuzuki become frequent visitors for Miss Taniyama. Nearly every morning they called upon her and shared a pot of tea and some gossip. Lady Oakmoor was thrilled by the advancement of the friendship between the young ladies, having previously worried that Miss Taniyama would be alienated.

As the fine weather continued, Lord Newthorpe and Mr Yasuhara continued to spend their days improving their boxing skills, often staying out far later than necessary and returning covered in mud and grass stains.

Meanwhile, Mr Davis's experiment grew in strength and ability. Luna, while perhaps a little smaller than expected, could now feed and relieve herself. Mr Davis still took it upon himself to supplement her food with cow's milk and other sources of protein.

Luna had also been gifted a collar by Miss Taniyama, who had embroidered a cornflower blue ribbon with her name. Mr Davis gave no insight on his opinions on the contraption, thus Miss Taniyama had tied it around the kitten's neck and arranged the bow without any argument.

Some time near the new moon, when the sky was dark and best for astronomical observations, Mr Davis crept silently through the hallways to the furthermost room in the east wing.

Little did he know that his mother had repurposed this room.

He soon found out, however, as upon entry he heard a terrified squeal and a rustling for a makeshift weapon.

"Wh— Who is it? Mandy? Is that you?" Miss Taniyama's voice hissed.

"No."

"Mr Davis? What on earth are you doing? It is the middle of the night! Why are you in my bedroom? This is so improper!"

"Keep your voice down before you wake the entire household," Mr Davis muttered, striding over to the window and pulling back the curtain. "Before your arrival, I used this room to stargaze. It has the best vantage point. But Mother did not consider that when assigning rooms. I am sure she merely remembered this one not to be dusty from disuse."

"And I will be happy to move tomorrow," Miss Taniyama protested from under her blanket. "But you can't be here right now!"

"This is my home, I see no reason why I cannot move around it as I wish. Besides, if this was my brother's room I would have no hesitation in entering. As Mother wants me to—"

"But we both know I am not your real sibling!" Miss Taniyama hissed. She caught herself and hastened to correct her hasty speech. "I mean to say, that I am a cousin to you in all actuality and that legally we could be wed! Do you not see the—"

"But you wish to be a governess, and I have no intention of marriage," Mr Davis objected.

"But no one will hire me if they think me a— A—"

"A whore?" Mr Davis rolled his eyes, unseen by Miss Taniyama in the darkness. "I would not pay you for such favours."

Miss Taniyama huffed in indignation.

"Please leave so I may sleep," she begged. "Or I shall… I shall call my maid and—"

"And what? I will merely tell her to leave and she will do so. I may be low in the hierarchy of this household, but I am still above you. Now be quiet. I have work to attend to."

Mr Davis set about adjusting his telescope and had just settled on a position when he heard a quiet sob. He looked around.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because someone will find out about this and my reputation will be tarnished beyond all repair!"

"They will only find out if you tell them or make so much noise that the whole kingdom hears your whimpering," Mr Davis muttered. He returned his interest to his telescope. "But look… Jupiter is out…"

Miss Taniyama hiccoughed herself into silence.

"Jupiter?" she whispered.

"Yes, the planet."

"You can see another planet? But my father told me they were ever so far away!"

"Come see for yourself."

Miss Taniyama hesitated, then threw caution to the wind and scrambled of bed. After pulling a shawl around her shoulders, she tiptoed across to where Mr Davis stood pointing at the sky.

"There, see that line of stars, then move down and to the right, that is Jupiter."

"How do you know it is not just another star?" Miss Taniyama asked.

Mr Davis indicated the telescope and Miss Taniyama obliged, peering through the lenses.

"See the little dots around it, those are moons. And note the reddish colouring."

Miss Taniyama's mouth fell open in awe.

"This is wonderful! What else can you see?" Miss Taniyama straightened up and stared into the night, desperate for more discoveries.

Mr Davis listed a few of the commonly known stars and constellations. Miss Taniyama recognised one as the north star, used in sailing. Mr Davis then went on to explain why he was so interested in Jupiter.

"Jupiter is in retrograde at the moment. Had you looked only a little while ago, it would have been further across the sky, as it moves from west to east. But it has begun moving backwards across the sky."

"It has changed direction?" Miss Taniyama asked.

"Not quite, merely Earth's path around the sun is a little shorter, so we have progressed further and so it appears that Jupiter has gone backwards. A little like horse racing, if you will."

"How so?"

"Well, let's say we were racing on horseback, but we have to turn a corner, even if we were going the same speed, the horse on the outside of the curve has further to travel, and so it would appear to the other rider as if they are going backwards."

"When truly they are going forwards…" Miss Taniyama completed. "This is fascinating."

"It is proof that the Sun is at the centre of our solar system."

"And that is important?"

"Well, many previously thought that Earth was at the centre, and that the sun orbited us. The Church in particular did not like the idea of heliocentrism."

"My Father used to say that the Church did not like scientific ideas because they believed it would disprove God, when really, science is just trying to understand God's world better," Miss Taniyama mumbled.

"Many fear what they cannot understand." Mr Davis sighed. "But that is another topic. It is late."

"It was late when you arrived!" Miss Taniyama protested.

"And it is later now. You ought to sleep."

Miss Taniyama pouted as Mr Davis folded away his telescope and made his way to the door.

"Goodnight, Oliver," Miss Taniyama said.

Had it been light enough to see, Miss Taniyama would have just caught Mr Davis smile.

"Goodnight, Mai."


Mr Davis woke late the next morning, and so by the time he had made his way downstairs for breakfast, Mr Yasuhara had already left. Mr Davis had not previously realised that Mr Yasuhara would be leaving them until Lord Newthorpe slumped into a chair next to him as he ate.

"He's gone."

"Who's gone?"

"O— Mr Yasuhara," Lord Newthorpe replied. "He has gone to visit his family and bring back his sister so she may reside with us for some time."

"Hmm. If you are bored, you could teach Mai something useful," Mr Davis muttered.

"On a first name basis I see."

"Mother said to treat her like a sister. I am merely complying with that wish."

"You are treating her like a child."

"She acts like one."

"She has also lost her mother and her home very recently. We of all people should—"

"Is this some ploy to try and make me act kinder towards her?" Mr Davis interrupted.

"What reason do you have to be cruel?" Lord Newthorpe asked. "She is remaining here for the time being—"

"Until when, I wonder…"

"Until either her father turns up alive or she finds a position as a governess I suppose."

Mr Davis chewed on his toast for a few minutes before speaking again.

"Don't you find that odd?"

"What?"

"That she aspires to nothing more than a governess."

"Noll, it is a practical plan from her point of view," Lord Newthorpe explained. "Her choices for her future are far more limited than that of a mans. She can marry, she can become a governess, she can work in a factory or the fields or—"

"She can become a whore."

"The point being, for someone brought up as she was, and her chances of marriage are so low considering her fortune. Becoming a governess makes a great deal of sense," Lord Newthorpe concluded.

Mr Davis fed a few scraps to Luna, who had climbed onto the table from his lap to explore.

"Why don't Mother and Father give her a dowry? It is not as if they could not afford such a step."

"I imagine out of fear that if they do it for her, imagine how many other long lost cousins may arrive on our doorstep."

Mr Davis rolled his eyes.

"They needn't advertise the fact," he muttered. "They could make out like the father's will was found or something."

"It is possible, but it is up to our Father," Lord Newthorpe said.

"And if it were up to you?"

"I would do something for her I am sure. But I will not be head of this household for a long time to come, I hope."

They fell into a silence again.

"Do you want to go boxing?" Mr Davis offered in an attempt to cheer his brother.

To his surprise, Lord Newthorpe shook his head with a hint of a blush on his cheeks.

"No… I think Mother is teaching Miss Taniyama some French, I might go and assist. Will you come?"

Mr Davis opened his mouth to refuse, but changed his mind.

"Yes."

Once Mr Davis and Luna had finished their respective breakfasts, the kitten was placed back in his pocket and the two brothers made their way to the parlor where they knew Lady Oakmoor and Miss Taniyama would be.

"...est sur la table," Miss Taniyama was just saying as they entered. "Oh, hello Mr Davis, Lord Newthorpe."

Lady Oakmoor coughed pointedly.

"Uh… Bonjour Monsieur Davis et…"

"Seigneur."

"Et Seigneur Newthorpe."

Miss Taniyama beamed at the two young men, who bowed in return.

"Ça va, Mademoiselle Taniyama?" Lord Newthorpe asked.

"Ça va bien, merci, et toi?"

"Miss Taniyama, your choice of language is quite informal," Lady Oakmoor pointed out kindly. "Remember who you are talking to."

"Et vous?" Miss Taniyama tried, one eye on Lady Oakmoor's expression.

Lady Oakmoor smiled and Lord Newthorpe made his answer.

"Un peu triste."

Miss Taniyama frowned at this new vocabulary. Mr Davis, who had taken his seat, rolled his eyes. He released Luna onto his lap so that she could stretch her little legs.

"And what do you say when you don't understand…" Lady Oakmoor prompted.

Miss Taniyama's eyes widened a little as she struggled to remember.

"Je ne comprends pas. Comment dites-vous 'un peu triste' en Anglais?"

Once again, Lady Oakmoor smiled and looked to her son for an answer.

"A little sad," Lord Newthorpe translated.

"Because Mr Yasuhara is gone? He is your intimate friend?" Miss Taniyama asked, forgetting all notions of trying to speak in French.

"Yes, although I know he will be back in a week, he is a good friend and I shall miss him."

"I imagine you will now have to find some other means of amusement than boxing," Miss Taniyama commented. "Do you have any plans?"

"Well, I have a few books to read but otherwise no."

"Well consider yourself welcome to join my French practice at any time," Miss Taniyama said.

Lady Oakmoor smiled at this kindness. Mr Davis, on the other hand, scoffed.

"Something to add, Mr Davis?" Lady Oakmoor asked.

"Only that Gene's French is abysmal and that Mai only wants the attention off her own poor skills and atrocious accent."

Lord Newthorpe pinched the top of his brow and prayed for strength. Lady Oakmoor glared at her son.

But Miss Taniyama did not let him intimidate her.

"I have only been learning the language a few weeks, so yes, my skills are poor. But have you ever been to France?"

"No."

"So how do you know my accent to be atrocious? For all we know, I could be doing it correctly and you could be wrong!"

Lady Oakmoor hid a laugh behind her hand as Mr Davis scowled at Miss Taniyama.

"Perhaps I ought to have invited you to join my French practice sessions," Miss Taniyama went on, "Maybe I could teach you a thing or two!"

Mr Davis muttered something that was no doubt rude under his breath. Lord Newthorpe, who appeared to have just caught it, looked away, amused and a little disgusted.

"What was that, Oliver?" Lady Oakmoor asked, her tone clipped and unimpressed.

"Je n'ai rien dit."


Author's note: I tried to upload yesterday but FF would not let me. Ah well, you get the chapter now! Also, all of you that aren't reviewing, I hope you feel ashamed of yourself because the last chapter got 1 review. One. I'm not going to lie, it really hurt that I put so much effort in and then to only get one review... Reviews is how you pay fanfic authors and they cost you nothing but a few moments of your time. If you don't like the story, tell me why. If you like it, tell me your favourite bit! If nothing else send me a smiley!

So please, for the sake of my self esteem, please review.