A/N: In which Tarrant learns the dangerous of doing so

Not why I was leaving an A/N but hey it called. I just wanted to say I am giving you guys a treat today. I am nearly done with this story (writing-wise...certainly not posting XD) and wanted to give you a little more because I am quite proud of this chapter. Remember loves, Read! and if you read Review pwease! :)

And thank you Chey!

Tarrant heard the clock strike seven and Alice stood up from the table excusing herself. She explained that she would be back in a moment's time but that she needed to take care of a few things. He noticed Callum rising from down the table as well. He shook his head. Alice was smitten by all these men, wasn't she? Here she eagerly asked this intelligent, clever doctor who had pursued her relentless to sit and dine with her. They talked about all sorts of things from dreams to what they wanted to see happen in the aristocracy. Tarrant's anger was boiling over, he wanted to steal Alice away from this man and keep her all for his own. He felt into his waistcoat pocket at one point in the evening to feel the white gold ring that lay next to his pocket watch trying to remind himself that Alice was all his. But she had been angry with him this evening, kicking his shin with her shoes and glaring. While he hadn't behaved most properly he only wanted to assure Henry that Alice wasn't interested in him. That he best be on his best behavior. But he had only succeeded in upsetting Alice! He knew it was against better judgment but he also was getting up to go after his wife. He should explain to her that he wasn't trying to cause her grief- he was just going after what was his! Henry looked at Tarrant with curiosity as the milliner rose from the table.

"I am afraid that all this tea has caused me in need of a washroom." Tarrant muttered and Henry nodded in understanding.

"I've never seen a fellow drink more than you have today. It was quite impressive." Henry noted. Tarrant ignored the man's remark.

He made his way down the hall listening for His wife's voice. He found it coming from the sitting room down the hall.

"Yes, I understand Callum." She said. Tarrant flattened himself against the wall next to the door so he could further eavesdrop on their conversation. He wanted to know exactly what Alice was going to do without his loving eye on her. He felt guilty for not trusting his wife but he always let his emotions get the better of him and his current emotion was that of jealousy.

"I believe that the current buyer is from London- that Lowell is traveling there tomorrow with most of the things he and Hamish have sold from your families' estate."

"Why do people think that they can just go about with things that are very much mine without a thought of asking?" He heard his Alice complain. He didn't want her to be hurt any longer by the family that she had left behind. She didn't say it aloud but he could see it in her eyes, felt it in the bond. Alice felt that she had been forgotten.

"I am sure they don't mean it that way. Think of it this way Alice, it would have been so very hard for you to sort through all the things your parents left behind. Some are more valuable than others; the most valuable one being you." Tarrant's stomach dropped into his bowels as he heard that Gally fellow flirting with his wife. A small Alice laugh echoed through the room.

"Please Lord Gally, I thought I was clear about this earlier when we spoke."

"Alice, I must confess I am very confused about what is going on. You say that this Tarrant fellow is married to you- twice you've told me now- but everyone else insists that you are an available young woman. I thought we had agreed to be honest with one another." An Alice sigh of frustration followed. Tarrant held his breath as the voices moved deeper into the room making it harder for Tarrant to note what was being said.

"We did, didn't we? Well I must confess dear Lord Gally that I am not all that I seem." Tarrant couldn't help but smile at his wife's puzzle.

"That would make the two of us." Gally's deep voice filled the silence. "Let's end this masquerade and become true friends, Alice."

"I want you to go first." Alice said pointedly. The milliner heard the Lord inhale deeply.

"All is fair I suppose." He responded. "I am indeed a worker at a Spa. One in Western Britain right on the shores, where the day springs flourish. I am not an English man myself I am afraid. Nor am I truly a Lord. My mother worked in the Spas as a servant and washerwoman for the previous owners. I must say that I am an Irishmen."

"But however did you get the title Lord or even own the Spa? Or were you deceiving me?" Alice had disdain in her voice and Tarrant liked the fact that she was growing tired of this fellow.

"No, I did indeed run the shop. My mother has worked for the family as her mother before her. It's a bit of a family inheritance working for the shopkeepers. They go back to dear Erin in the summer and return to the spa in winters. I grew up with my Pa and sisters before he died." Gally paused. "My real last name isn't even Gally, it is Gallagher. Callum Gallagher. But my mother always abbreviated it before coming over so that folks wouldn't look down on her and such because she was Irish." Tarrant felt a twinge of sympathy for the man. He knew what it was like to be looked down upon; it wasn't a pleasant experience at all. Nor would he wish it on anyone.

"Oh, Callum, I am so sorry." Alice murmured. He felt the shifting of clothing that he knew could only mean that they were touching. He felt his hands clench and his eyes couldn't seem to focus any longer.

"The shop owner had no sons, had no heirs. So he asked my mother (who had become like a sister to him) if he could train her only son to take over the business. My mother was ecstatic and insisted that I spend all year in England. I lost my accent, she separated me from my Erin, and all I knew as a young boy about my beloved Ireland was washed away." Callum responded.

"I know what it's like to have parts of you washed away." Alice sighed. "I come from a place that people cannot dream of. Whenever I speak of it they laugh at me."

"You and I are quite the same Alice," Tarrant's anger boiled as the throaty chuckle echoed through his brain.

"I suppose that in some ways we are. But you haven't let me finish yet."

"Please Alice, another time. Promise me that you will give us other times to talk. I feel as if I have found someone who knows my soul, knows my struggles-" Callum's voice sounded desperate. Tarrant's rage couldn't be controlled any longer. He paused at the doorway just long enough to see Callum bending down near Alice's soft lips. If he had paused another second he would have seen that Alice would step away and request that Callum leave for now. They would speak another time but in public. She didn't want him to think that she could ever love him back. But Tarrant's jealousy and fury had been boiling too long under his top hat.

"Yew dare tuch me wife ahn' yeh'll 'ave teh deal weth meh." The Milliner bellowed as he rushed Callum. Tarrant's rough, steady fist went flying into Callum's jaw.

"Tarrant!" Alice cried. But there was no use trying to stop the man. He went for another blow to Callum who spun on his back and jumped up out of Tarrant's way. He had gotten to his feet, throwing his jacket to the floor. His mouth was spewing blood but his fists were up, ready to swing at the Mad Man. Tarrant laughed and swung low at first. Callum easily blocked this. A couple more shots to his abdomen had the dark haired man became confident and Tarrant took a swing to the temple. Alice yelped, throwing her body on Tarrant's back. The hatter didn't expect his wife to intervene so forcefully and knocked her in the nose. Her legs locked around his waist. Tarrant swung again at Lord Gally who had fallen to the ground in shock, knocking him backward. The man writhed on the ground.

"Tha' was fer Ahlice!" He cried as his adrenaline began to drop. He felt a weight on his back and noticed the legs wrapped around his waist. Alice jumped down, tripping over her skirt. Tarrant turned, trying to help his wife but she yanked his arm away in anger. He noticed that she held her nose, her palm catching pouring blood.

"Alice," He reached out for her.

"Let's ge' ou' ob 'ere." Alice tried to speak as she held her nose. Tarrant followed behind. He had really ruined everything. Instead of showing a valiant display he had only managed to make his wife angrier with him and injured her in the process. She quickly led him down the hall, pushing him against the stonewall as people rushed down adjacent hall to see what the commotion was. She used the opportunity to bring Tarrant up to her room. Tarrant knew that things could only get worse.