The next morning, Miss Taniyama burst into the reading room in which Mr Davis was sat and grasped his hand.
"Might you walk with me?" she asked.
He frowned at her frantic behaviour, but nodded.
"Of course, are you quite well? You look a little pale."
He set down his book and offered her his arm. Miss Taniyama took it and did not speak until they were out amongst the gardens.
"Your mother just accosted me for a lengthy discussion on…" Miss Taniyama's pallor was replaced by a furious red blush. "On exactly how she expects us to give her grandchildren."
"I see," Mr Davis's frown had yet to disappear. "Did you know nothing of the matter before?"
"Well, not nothing per se, but nothing in quite so much detail as I have just been subjected to and… It all sounds very…"
"Miss Taniyama, we need not do anything you are not comfortable with," Mr Davis stated. "I am in no rush for children."
"But your mother—"
"Will have to wait," Mr Davis finished for her. "She is merely caught up in the notion of grandchildren because Mrs Lin is expecting. Once the Lins' child is born she will have occupation for a while."
"She also gave me a book," Miss Taniyama went on. "Regarding marriage. I read a little of it and most of it I knew from helping run my mother's household but the author talked of sending children away! I knew people partook in such a activity, but it made it seem so commonplace."
"It is, amongst the rich," Mr Davis said. "It is how Lady Oakmoor and Lord Oakmoor got away with adopting Gene and myself. They told people we had just returned from being sent away and that combined with moving to a new place… It worked in their favour."
"I do not want to send our children away," Miss Taniyama said. "Please do not make me."
"Mai, you have spent the last few months training to be a governess, it would be a shame not to put those skills to good use with your own children."
Miss Taniyama smiled at the excuse.
"Besides, I see no need for it," Mr Davis went on. "My mother would also be dissapointed I think."
Mr Davis felt Miss Taniyama's whole body relax, as if the tension of her worries had dissipated. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Mr Davis spoke again. He had begged his brother to wait in speaking to their parents of the matter before he could tell Miss Taniyama.
"I have something I must confess to you."
The tension returned.
"It is nothing bad, please do not fret," Mr Davis insisted. "It is regarding my brother."
"Lord Newthorpe? Is he quite well?"
"Yes, in perfect health I am sure. But he no longer wants to bear his title."
"What?" Miss Taniyama stopped dead in her tracks. "But why?"
"Now the war with France is over, he wishes to move to Paris." Miss Taniyama's frown failed to leave her face. "With Yasuhara."
"Oh… They are not so strict on such matters, are they?" Miss Taniyama mumbled. "I see. So he intends to give up his right to inherit? It may not be for many years! What if he wants to return?"
"I expressed such worries to him, but he reminded me of a very pertinent fact. Although many think otherwise, I am the eldest brother."
Miss Taniyama's eyes widened.
"You intend to take his place?"
"Gene thinks, due to his… Due to the way he wishes to live his life, that I would be better placed to take over my father's duties. For a start, I would have a wife with which to produce an heir. A wife with enough wit and kindness to do good within the earldom."
"I forgot, for a moment, that this would affect me too," Miss Taniyama whispered. "Oh my. I don't know what to say!"
"If you would not be happy with such a position, say at once and I will decline the entire notion," Mr Davis stated.
"But your brother—"
"Will have to stay and do his duty."
"And if I would be happy?"
"Then Eugene will speak to our parents tonight. He will tell all and—"
"But his reputation?"
"Do not fret, he will not suffer from such an action. Besides, hopefully he will be happy in Paris."
Miss Taniyama bit her lip, her mind racing.
"This is quite sudden."
"There would be no change for many years to come I would hope," Mr Davis said. "My father is in fine health."
"He is, and I hope it remains that way."
"The only real change I would see to our situation, would be a need to settle within the area so that we can learn more of our parents duties."
"I had not thought of that. We ought to look into a few houses, unless you want to remain under your parents roof?" Miss Taniyama asked.
"I would be happy to move within the neighbourhood," Mr Davis said. "Let's view a few properties in the coming weeks."
Miss Taniyama nodded her agreement.
"Once we have decided on a place, we will have to hire staff and…" Miss Taniyama's frown returned.
"There is no rush, Miss Taniyama, I am sure my mother at least would be glad for us to stay a while."
"True. I am sorry for worrying. Much has happened in the last few weeks."
"Indeed it has," Mr Davis agreed. "Indeed it has."
They reached the end of the rose garden and turned as appropriate.
"Would it sadden you to become Lady Newthorpe? And later Lady Oakmoor?" Mr Davis asked.
"I fear that I could not live up to your mother," Miss Taniyama whispered. "And that others would accuse me of trying above my station."
"That is something I do not understand," Mr Davis admitted. "Your father had fortune enough to remain idle for the rest of his days, and yet he went to war, why?"
Miss Taniyama let a wry smile spread over her lips.
"He… He did not like being idle. He wanted to do good in the world and hoped that that was the way of doing it. Besides, his fortune was new. My grandfather, I believe, did well in his chosen line of business. But my father grew up assisting in said business. He did not like being idle…"
"He sounds like a good man."
"I believe he was. At least, from what my mother told me. I remember very little of him myself."
"So what shall I tell my brother?"
"Would you be happy to inherit?" Miss Taniyama asked.
"It would give me the freedom to continue some science work in my free time," Mr Davis admitted. "But I would never have considered the idea if it were not for you."
Miss Taniyama smiled.
"I think we could do some good, do not you?"
"I do."
That night, Lord Newthorpe made the important communication to his parents. Mr Davis joined him for the discussion. Together the family of four professed their wishes, hopes and aspirations for their future.
Lady Oakmoor was distraught at the mere idea of her son travelling so far from home, let alone going away to live there. She made him promise to visit every Michaelmas, a condition he readily agreed to.
Lord Oakmoor, who had somehow along the line had yet to discover his son's condition, had been shocked into silence. Lord Newthorpe feared that he would be thrown out. But eventually, his father had spoken and alleviated his fears.
"I do not understand this mindset, but I think your choice a very sensible one," he said finally. "But I, like your mother, very much wish for you to visit at least once a year."
"Thank you, Father."
"And we can put this change in circumstances down to a letter from the doctor that birthed you, admitting he believed he made a mistake in who came first and that it did not rest well on his conscience that he might be cheating Mr Davis out of inheriting what is rightly his."
Lord Newthorpe grinned at his father's words.
"Yes, so fortunate that he chose to write to us," Lady Oakmoor said. "I too, would have been mortified to have made such a mistake."
With everything settled upon, Lady Oakmoor set about writing letters to their closest acquaintances to inform them of the mishap. And it was soon known throughout the county, as no one could resist sharing such a lovely piece of gossip.
The newly appointed Mr Davis and Mr Yasuhara chose to wait until after the newly appointed Lord Newthorpe and Miss Taniyama were married to depart for France. They helped the newlyweds settle into their new home, just two miles from Aldbury Park, before taking their leave.
Lord Newthorpe and Miss Taniyama were married not long after the twins' twenty second birthday. Lady Oakmoor wept throughout the entire ceremony and afterward confessed to having spent far more than she ought on extra things for her new daughter.
Lady Newthorpe accepted her gifts with good grace and begged her new mother would visit them soon in their new home. Having found a delightful cottage with a large garden, Lord and Lady Newthorpe were keen to have a place to call their own.
They chose to employ enough staff to keep themselves comfortable. Lord Newthorpe soon set about creating a rose garden for his Lady. Though he often insisted, when asked, that it was for scientific research. Some would ask further about this research, but he would reply that their minds were too simple to understand even the basic theory. Only a few people saw through his lies.
Lady Newthorpe found most of her days taken up with visiting and friends. Miss Hara became engaged not long after herself, and Miss Matsuzaki not long after that. The three friends soon had much to share of their own marital felicity, which often turned into some kind of competition, one that Miss Matsuzaki seemed determined to win.
Nevertheless, Lord and lady Newthorpe found themselves to be happy. Mr Davis and Mr Yasuhara visited much oftener than they had first suggested that they would. And by michaelmas, Lady Newthorpe thought herself to be with child. Though she had yet to reveal this fact to her husband, she knew he would be thrilled. Perhaps even more so than her mother-in-law.
Author's note: Only a epilogue left now... I'll be sad to see this done with! Please review :)