- - -

Walter Corey was in his element hard at work examining the contents of the hotel's wine cellar, it had taken some persuasion on his part but after relentless campaigning he had obtained Mr Fraser's permission to reevaluate the quality of their wine list. Standing amongst the dusty bottles he noted down on his detailed list just what they had grading each by vineyard and age humming a contented tune to himself as he worked. However his contented solitude was not to last as a sharp tapping interrupted his privacy.

"Yes?"

"Ere Mr Corey Sir…" It was Derewood the hotel's bell boy and general dogs body. "There is a lady ere to see you and a lad…Ummm she say's she's your missus?"

For a moment Walter felt a flash of delight, Flora had come to him she was backing down she wanted to come home…But the mention of his nephew brought with it more negative connotations, she wasn't here for him she was here because of Walter. Clenching his fist he crumpled the carefully scripted list of Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons before quickly storming up the stairs. Standing in the foyer looking out of place in their worn clothing amongst the splendor Flora and young Walter were drawing more than a few pointed glances from the resident guests and Walter could tell from the ill concealed sniggering of his colleagues that less than flattering comments had been made. Crossing the hall quickly Walter herded his family out of the public scrutiny and into the relative privacy of his office.

"Just what the hell do you think you are doing here?"

For a moment Flora looked stunned at his aggression, then her pale cheeks flushed with anger and grasping young Walter by the collar she thrust him at his Uncle. "I caught him stealing from the market, funnily enough I thought you just might like to know!"

"What?" Walter demanded in horror glancing back and forth from Flora's expression of righteous conviction to young Walter's gloomy pout of preadolescent rebellion.

"Had you any idea the gang of ruffians he has been hanging round with, thieves and scallywags the lot of them or are you quite happy to let him run wild not even in school?"

Biting his lip to try and control his temper Walter fixed his nephew with his sternest gaze. "Walter…I will deal with you later, you are to go home immediately…. Immediately do you hear?"

"Yeah…"

"Yes what?"

"Yes Sir!"

"Then go!" Walter snapped watching as his nephew scampered for the door leaving him alone with his wife. Taking a deep breath Walter settled down behind his desk resting his hands against the polished oak. "Why did you have to bring him here now of all times?"

"He's your nephew I must have mistakenly thought you would care one way or the other!" Flora countered unable to believe Walter's attitude.

"But to bring him here…I work here Flora I simply cannot have people gossiping about this, dear god it is bad enough at the moment…Do you think everyone is ignorant about our predicament…They all know you walked out but to have a thief for a nephew…"

"Oh so is your reputation more important than your nephew?"

Sighing in frustration Walter retorted sharply. "No but I would appreciate you not bringing our domestic problems into my place of employment! If you want to discuss it then… Call at the house…"

Shaking her head at his coldness unable to believe that he was discuss his nephew and their problems as if it were no more than an inconvenience to be solved, turning she headed towards the door ignoring Walter as he rose quickly from his seat and began towards her. "I thought you told me never to darken your doorstep again?"

Stopping in his tracks as if she had slapped him one more across his face Walter pulled back as if wounded. "Fine…Fine then I can survive without your continued interfering…Walter is my nephew after all not your concern…He ceased to be your concern when you walked out on both of us…He doesn't need your mothering and I do not need your lecturing Madam…"

"If that is how you really feel?"

"It is!"

"Then I…I…" Flora stuttered unable to meet Walter's gaze, holding herself together by a mere thread. "Do not concern yourself any further Mr Corey I will not be bothering you again!" And with that she turned and with all the dignity she could muster turned and strode out of his office.

- - -

Flora was still fuming when she arrived back at work her short lunch break all but squandered and so tired and hungry she went back to her arduous work ignoring the barely whispered comments of her neighbors. It was getting dark when she finally finished and wrapping her shawl tightly around her slender frame she hurried amongst the dark and dangerous alleys skirting dunks and sailors until she reached the blessed so called safety of her lodgings. She was just going up the stairs when Mrs Haverstock the doss house matron called out from her sitting room.

"Ere Corey…"

Sighing Flora took a deep breath and ventured into the old soap's quarters, the smell was like a physical force, the stench of gin and urine lingered in the walls and clung to the tatty furniture.

"Mrs Haverstock?" Flora queried as she peered into the gloom, spotting the sozzold old woman in her favorite chair by the fireplace. "I can pay my rent tomorrow…"

"Hmm…" The old woman snorted in annoyance before heaving her well rounded frame from her chair. "Tomorrow it better be Mrs…But 'ere that vicar chap came over today to see Mrs Samuels and her little one he dropped this off for ya…Beats me how he got it?"

Taking the grubby fingered envelope Flora held the paper up to the dim light quickly making out her brother's stilted somewhat childish hand as it spelled out her old address, Walter must have given it to Miles to give to her the Sunday before after all considering what he believed he must have assumed they would be seeing a lot of each other. Well he had been wrong on that score, perhaps it had been cutting off her nose to spite her face but a married woman who had left her husband couldn't be too careful. Of course that little voice in the back of her mind whispered it had nothing at all to do with proving Walter wrong until he had no choice but to ask you back on bended knee now was it?

Ignoring her landlady's downright nosy gawping she turned and dashed up to her dormitory, her bed was last on the right and at the end sat her locked trunks, pulling the key out from its hiding place on the knotted twine round her neck Flora bent and unlocked her trunk. Pulling out her candle she lit it carefully and breaking the seal on her letter she unfolded her note once more rejoicing that Mrs Haverstock had never learnt to read.

"My Dearest Sister,

How are things with you? I hope that your husband and your nephew are well and that Eastbourne suits you all. Your letter was something of a surprise but a pleasant one and you have our congratulations on your nuptials. However I won't keep from you how disappointed everyone was not to be invited over for the wedding or even that we weren't informed before the blessed even took place, Mother especially took it badly and cried for two days solid that you would not be married in out local church like the rest of us.

However the past is just that the past and best forgotten. The rest of us are well, of course there are the odd cold or bought of rheumatism for mother oh and then there is of course mad aunt Maud who is giving everyone hell as usual. She has worn out her welcome at our Lucy's and that is for certain and now we are having to put up with her which of course upsets Mother as she has to share her room. If only she were strong enough to go back to her own cottage or we had enough money to pay for a nurse…But I won't go into detail.

If only you and your family would come settle in Ireland then you could take your rightful turn as well, I suppose the possibility of sending her over the sea would prove too much for her frail health but if that were an option my dear sister then I would take it….'

Dropping the letter into her lap Flora suddenly had an epiphany…Aunt Maud of course, she could look after and her family need never know about her estrangement. She could tell them that Walter had had to go abroad to work and that he had decided that rather than stay here alone and she should visit her family…Young Walter could have been sent to school…

After all it was not like she had anything worth staying around here for…

- - -

The next day seemed to passed interminably slowly for Walter, after his confrontation with Flora he had gone home and dealt with Walter and he had been had pressed not to lash out the boy in his frustration. However despite his restraint sleep had not come easily to him that night and he had tossed and turned to the wee hours before sleep finally claimed him and even then he had been plagued by the strangest nightmares. So even when he got to work he had been distracted all day, he would be reading through the day's post and his mind would start to wander unable to keep from pondering the information that Walter had told him. He had been too harsh on her, far too harsh, it wasn't as though Walter was even her responsibility and yet she had jumped in to help him without a second thought and it had cost her. Reaching into his pocket as he fingered the coins that needed to be returned to their rightful owner, he would take them to her lodgings after work that evening and it would give them time to talk.

It was later than he had planned that Walter made his way into Eastbourne's docklands, pulling his coat tighter around him he kept his head down and avoiding meeting the eye of any of the area's more insalubrious characters. The pubs were spilling out into the streets and gangs of drunken sailors were gathered on the corners squandering their pay on drink and whores as Walter pushed his way through turning a blind eye to the more unsavory sights as he headed to the doss house where his wife was staying. It was almost unbelievable that Flora was living surrounded by such things, well if nothing else he was putting a stop to this there was no way his wife would live in such circumstances she was packing her bags and come home that instant if he had to carry her back himself!

Pausing at Mrs Haverstock Ladies Boarding House Walter rapped sharply on the shabbily painted door, ignoring the flecks of paint that came away on his glove.

"Good Evening Madam excuse the lateness…" Walter began when the door opened slightly before a shrill and slurred voice shrieked out.

"NO MEN!" And slammed the door shut in his face.

Taking a deep breath Walter rapped again this time louder and more determined.

"I already told you Sonny Jim No men, this is a respectable house for ladies and there is no men after dark!"

"I am looking for my wife!"

"Lost her 'ave you?" The old crone cackled before adding. "No wives 'ere! Now be off with ya!"

However Walter wedged his foot in the door before she could shut it again. "I know she is here and of course I am prepared to make things worth your while…" He added reaching into his pocket and pulling out a sovereign which glinted in the candlelight and caught the gleam in the old woman's eye.

For a moment Mrs Haverstock seemed to umm and ahhh but she finally opened the door a fraction and grasping the sovereign hurried him inside and into her parlor. "Alright then since you're a gentleman but I'll be the one to fetch her, can't 'ave a man just wandering about me property and you two can chat in my sitting room, I'll be just outside the door just so nothing that shouldn't doesn't happen!"

Biting back a sharp retort and insulted Walter agreed reluctantly taking a look around the dark and dingy sitting room which reeked of gin and smoke, for a moment he looked at the chair thoughtfully wondering if it was safe to sit on before finally resolving to stand. "If you would just fetch Mrs Corey…"

"Corey?" Mrs Haverstock snorted in amusement before breaking out into a cackle at Walter's confused expression. "That'll be a bit bloody difficult Sonny Jim you see she up and left with no notice this morning...Mind you she did pay her rent for the rest of the week…"

"What? But she can't have…Where did she go?"

"Well don't ask me. People don't pay me to nose into their affairs!" Mrs Haverstock snapped testily before returning to the door.

"But you must have some idea?" Walter added.

"I might 'ave I might not 'ave that depends me memory is not what it once was, it's me age you see!"

Gripping the doorframe tightly Walter resisted the urge to reach out and strangle the life out of the old woman and his fury must have shown on his face as Mrs Haverstock's flushed face quickly turned white and she dragged the front door open. "Ask that vicar he might know I remembers him helping her with her bags and he was driving a trap…"

That was all Walter needed to hear and pushing his way past the old woman he stormed out into the street, barging his way through the town he hardly took notice of his surroundings this time it was other people who scampered to get out of his way. Before he realized it he was standing in front of the rectory and hammering on the door, all regard for the lateness of the hour had gone out of the window and he was running on pure fury.

The moment the door opened he pushed it hard and sent the occupant flying, gazing down he caught sight of a stunned Miles sprauled across the floor rubbing his sore head. "What the hell…"

"Where is she?"

For a moment Miles seemed confused by Walter's demand having been distracted from his nightly bedtime preparations by the hammering at the door. "She is not here Walter!"

"Like I would believe you…Now I mean it O'Brian bring my wife down here now or I swear I will tear this place with my bare hands until I find her!" Walter countered pushing further into the house and slamming open the doors peering into the gloomy rooms.

"Stop being an idiot Corey!" Miles snapped back getting to his feet and following the enraged husband through his house. "You can search every room if you must but Flora isn't here she's already gone!"

Sneering Walter turned to glare at Miles before darting up the stairs. "Yes I am sure you want me to believe that, want me to turn and leave you to carry on your seduction of my wife but I will not stand for it, she's my wife and she's coming home with me!"

"Oh so now you want her back?"

"I never wanted her to leave in the first place another thing I can lay at your door…I mean call yourself a man of god yet you go around driving wedges between man and wife and then spiriting the deluded woman away before she has time to come to her senses."

Shaking his head in bewilderment Miles followed Walter as he searched through the wardrobe in his bedroom. "You're wife is not here, I have not seduced anyone and if anyone has driven a wedge between you and your wife then that is solely your own doing!…She came to me in tears after you throw her out your office, what kind of man are you?"

"At least I am a man and as such I will not be made a fool of by my own wife, not in public nor in private!"

"The only person making a fool of your Walter is YOU!" Miles snapped grabbing hold of Walter's arm and pushing him firmly into a chair. "Now you are going to sit there and listen to me without interrupting or god help me there I no way I am going to tell you where she is!" He added watching as Walter turned a dangerous shade of red yet thankfully made no move to rise or interrupt. "There is nothing between Flora and myself except friendship, even if I had more tender feelings for her there is no way that Flora would ever allow me to act on them. She is your wife and she takes the promises she made to you very seriously, nothing I could say or do would persuade her to break them and I am not the sort of man to pressure her to do so…"

"Oh so that is why you were always hanging around her then, like a bee around the honey pot, if you never had any interest in her why interfere in our lives?"

Ignoring Walter's interruption Miles continued on regardless. "Nothing is going on with us, nor could ever happen at least not whilst Flora is actually in love with you! Something you might have realized if you had bothered to listen instead of dictate or even stopped to think before throwing her out!"

Against such a declaration Walter had no retort, Miles had to be mistaken, Flora might have some feelings of duty and responsibility towards him and perhaps if he was fortunate some lingering sense of friendship and camaraderie but love? "Do not taunt me sir!"

"Oh I give up! The two of you are impossible, it is obvious to everyone else the high regard you have for one another yet you seem determined to ignore it…It beats me why you even want her bac if you are indifferent to each other as you claim?"

"She is my wife, her place is by my side…" Walter muttered sadly playing with the fringe on the cushion. "Everything is falling apart without her, Walter is unmanageable, the house is at odds and ends and…"

"So is that all she is, someone to tidy up your messes and govern your unruly nephew?" Miles snorted in disgust.

"No!" Walter snapped back angrily jumping to his feet and pacing over to the fireplace where he leaned against the mantle. "No that is not all but you will forgive me if I chose not to take into my confidence a man who I think has acted in a less than gentlemanly fashion! Suffice it to say I don't just need her back…I want her back…I miss her."

Sighing deeply Miles shook his head, they were both impossible they needed their heads knocking together and locking together in a room until they had everything sorted out. "She's going back to Ireland, her aunt is sick and she is going to look after her…She caught the noon train to Bristol and plans to take the morning packet over the Irish Sea…She had me send them a telegram this afternoon to let them know when to expect her…If you sent a telegram to the shipping office and caught the early morning train then you might have a chance of stopping her, persuade her to hear you out but I cannot promise anything."

"Do you think she would?"

Sighing Miles pulled on his jacket and ushering Walter towards the door he added. "I have a friend in the telegraph office lets go see if we can persuade him to work late this evening?"

- - -

The telegram had been sent not that the telegraph operator had been at all happy about being dragged from his cosy warm bed by an inpatient husband and a pontificating preacher who had threatened him with all sorts of hell fire and brimstone if he refused. Yet now after it was sent Walter felt more nervous than ever, he paced into the kitchen and took one look at the cold platter old Mrs Peabrook had left him out of the kindness of her moldy old heart. Picking at the cold meats finically before finally pushing the plate away Walter ran his hands through his hair, just what was he going to say to her? Would it be better to just go with the flow of the occasion or perhaps it would be better to make a few notes beforehand, just so he didn't go off topic or forget to say something important. Deciding that this was certainly the best course of action Walter returned to the living room and after pouring himself a large brandy for inspiration he took up his pen.

Friendship…Companionship…Comfort…Lo…

Walter placed his pen down unable to even complete the word let alone speak it, yet that was without a doubt what she would be expecting to hear Miles had been most insistent on that, that he doubted anything less than a declaration of love would be enough to stop her. But did he love her in truth, could his complicated feelings for Flora Ryan be so simplified? He admired her both for her intelligent wit and her beauty of that there was no doubt and so that went on the list, he gained pleasure from her company, well apart from when she was nagging or they were arguing that was for sure. He missed her more acutely than he had expected to, there was undeniably a Flora shaped hole in his life and he was certain that if he persuaded to her to return home the nature of their relationship would change. His experience in the grip of the green eyed monster over Miles had confirmed in his mind the very real attraction he felt towards her and there was no denying the fact he wanted her in his bed but could he honestly answer when questioned that he loved her?

What was love anyway?

He could never recall having been or declared himself to be in love but did that mean he had never been in love or merely that he hadn't recognized what was under his nose at the time, this seemed to be a more than common failing of his character. But if a declaration of love was what was required to bring her home would he be able to make it even if he wasn't sure about his true feelings himself, after all other men said it all the time. They used it was easily as breathing, 'What's the matter I still love you…' or 'Of course I love you' it was what their lover wanted to hear so they said and everyone was happy.

Unsettled the former butler got to his feet and refilled his glass walking over to the front door and fastening the bolts before pacing back through the house and up the stairs, moving along the corridor engrossed in his own thoughts he paused at the room they used to share. He hadn't had the heart to move back in and was still occupying Steven's old room, pushing the door open he took a deep breath her favorite scent still clung to the air. Old Mrs Peabrook had scoffed in annoyance when he had reprimanded her for trying to air the room and since then had pointedly avoided Mrs Corey's room and possessions as a form of protest and for that Walter was glad. Stepping inside he closed the door behind him, placing his brandy glass down on the bedside table he sat down on the bed running his fingers across the pillow before bringing it up to his face.

It was in that moment as he finally began to relax that something else sprang into his mind, an anomaly that in his preoccupied state he had completely ignored. Jumping up from the bed he stormed out into the corridor to Walter's room, the door wasn't shut, it stood slightly ajar and there was a sliver of light flickering in the breeze. Concerned he pushed open the door his eyes adjusting to the semi-darkness.

"Walter?"

The silence that greeted him was worrying, after his nephew's disgraceful behavior in the market place young Walter had been grounded to the house until his uncle was able to find another school willing to take on the young tear away and yet it was obvious from the empty looking bed that Walter wasn't here. Stepping further into the room he noticed the sash window propped open, panicking he darted forward and dragged open his nephew's cupboard staring in horror at the empty space. The room had been cleared of anything worth flogging he had runaway.

- - -