HEARTTHROB TWENTY ONE

A/N Oh dear, writers' block is a pest. Hopefully I have at least one more chapter to post during the next week.

Thanks to the evidence Ben had uncovered, Mark Williams was arrested as an accessory to attempted murder along with the would-be assassin that he'd paid to kill Jonathan Hide. It was expected that the man who'd actually shot and injured David would face at least fifteen years in prison. Mark Williams was released on bail but knew he would have no choice but to resign from his position as a Member of Parliament. Ben, to his great relief, was able to discreetly return to Whitechapel, where, as Luke Devine, he made Charlie Fairhead's life a misery as he rehearsed his role as the Mystic Enchanter. Ben had to admit that he found the songs that the Enchanter was to sing very pleasant and the special magical effects would look thrilling to an audience. He thought it was sad that he himself would have been delighted with such a role as the Enchanter while as Devine he still needed to fume and sulk. The performance opened on the 23rd of December, and Mattie Skerrit finally had her enjoyable evening at Wilton's, mainly because the Reverend Hardy asked her to be his special guest there to repay her for her hard work as Mary.

The Reverend was in no doubt of his feelings for Mattie. He wondered if she could possibly feel as he did. Probably it was more respect for his position as a vicar, than affection on her part, he thought sadly. He still treated her as he would have if she was his sweetheart when they went to Wilton's; he purchased a programme for her and bought her tea and cake in the intermission. Mattie was convinced that he was just treating her kindly in his capacity as a vicar but still adored the whole evening. She was able to tell Mr Chiltern how excellent Luke Devine's performance was when the Reverend escorted her back to Ben's home.

Zoe Hanna glared at her the next day. Little b*tch, she thought, worming her way into the Reverend's good books. He'd just about be stupid enough to choose Mattie for a bride! It never occurred to Zoe at at that moment that, if she were married to Ethan Hardy, she would no longer be able to keep Max on a string. Max didn't have enough money to satisfy Zoe; certainly not enough for her ever to accept his offer of marriage, but her ego was stroked by his dog-like adoration. Although there was no chance of her ever being to visit him in prison after the last disastrous escapade, he still wrote her letters that were full of devotion.

Mattie opened the private drawer in her room where she'd put the programme, and gasped in unhappy shock. The document had been torn in four pieces. Her souvenir from the Reverend, spoiled! She didn't want to accuse Zoe to her face but knew nobody else at Ben's house could have been malicious enough to ruin it.

Zoe laughed at Mattie's pale little face.

"Not so smiley now, are you, Vicar's Pet?" she sniggered.

Mattie wept that night. Not only was her gift from the Reverend ruined, but it made her feel most uneasy that Zoe Hanna could go prying and poking in hers, Mattie's, bedroom like that. She threw herself into her work and her rehearsals for the Nativity Play at Mrs Beauchamp's. But somebody noticed all wasn't well.

"Mattie, you're looking pale. Are the Reverend and myself working you too hard between us?" Ben asked anxiously that morning.

She shook her head and murmured:

"No, Mr Chiltern."

"Well, you remember you're not to do any work tomorrow; you have the Nativity Play in the afternoon, and then Christmas Dinner at Mrs Beauchamp's that evening."

"Christmas Dinner?"

"Oh it's a tradition that Mrs Beauchamp always puts on Christmas Dinner for the performers in the Nativity Play. Poor Miss Hanna will be covering your duties here so she won't be able to join you and the Reverend, but I'm sure young Louise will enjoy all the pantomime gossip."

Mattie's smile was genuine then; she bobbed a curtsey and hurried off to finish her tasks.

One of Mrs Bateman's tasks was to look through her employees drawers, cupboards and wardrobes to ensure that their standards of living were still wholesome. She smiled as she opened Mattie's drawer, then her face fell. Had Mattie had an argument with the Reverend and was this the way of showing what she thought of his gift? Then she thought of Zoe Hanna. The spiteful little snake! She resolved to have a discreet word with Mr Chiltern.

Caleb Knight appeared at the Vicarage in a Hansom Cab the next afternoon and Reverend Hardy's heart sank. What would his wretched half-brother get up to this time? He'd come so close to being arrested and Inspector Keogh was to be a guest at the Nativity Play and at the dinner that followed. And could he persuade his erring elder brother to at least look in on Robyn Miller? Surely the man wanted to see his own child? If he himself were the father of, say, Mattie Skerrit's child-

Reverend Hardy blushed violently and tried to turn his thoughts to more heavenly pursuits.

Louise Tyler was almost bursting with excitement. Soon she'd be seeing lovely Mr Knight again. Maybe sitting near him during the Nativity Play – or serving him dinner. Louise loved Christmas. Her eyes sparkled at the thought of the special Christmas lip balm that she'd bought for Mattie in the village shop, and, being honest, she had to wonder what Mattie had chosen for her this time.

"Oh, this is most unfortunate!" Revered Hardy almost wailed. If it were one of the shepherds or even the Three Kings that had been struck down with the influenza, it would have been easy to replace him. But King Herod! Where would he find a replacement?

The idea came to him like a bolt from the blue. Well, Caleb was certainly wicked enough to undertake Herod's role. But would he agree to save the play or would he be merely scornful and decline?

"Mattie, my dear."

Mattie made a quick curtsey to Mr Chiltern.

"I'm going to be a terrible man and break a Christmas tradition by giving you your gifts early this year. Tomorrow you will be very busy, and so shall I, for Luke Devine will be attending the Nativity Play. So, Merry Christmas, Mattie, and I'm sure the angels will forgive me for being early. I apologise that they aren't wrapped, but I want you to see them now."

Mattie's eyes widened. A whole sovereign! And – and a replacement programme from the pantomime! Now she needn't tell the Reverend that her other one had been destroyed.

"Finally…" Mr Chiltern announced. He handed over a couple of small keys.

"These will fit the drawer in your room. You will need to keep them safe, Mattie, away from spiteful fingers, and you will need to submit them to Mrs Bateman any time she wishes to check your room. Merry Christmas, my dear."

Mattie could only gulp "Thank you" several times. She thought Mr Chiltern was truly angelic.

Ben smiled to himself. He liked to perform these random acts of kindness; they seemed to counteract the unpleasant things he had to do and say as Luke Devine.

"Yes, Ethan. I'll play King Herod tomorrow and shall have a fine time being wicked."

Caleb Knight was grinning like a Cheshire cat. Then his smile faded.

"I'm not so fond of your request to look up Miss Miller. She will probably grab me in an armlock and demand that I marry her on the spot. But… well, it will do no harm for me to slip a couple of guineas into her pocket for the baby's upkeep."

"And if anybody sees, have poor Miss Miller being arrested for being an accessory to theft. No, Caleb. Far better for you to hand those guineas to her yourself – or if you prefer, to me, so I can give them to her."

Surprisingly, Caleb handed over the guineas with a smile. What Ethan didn't realise was that his erring brother knew there'd be something worth more than two guineas attending the Nativity Play. Something he could easily slip into his own pocket. And this time, there'd be no loyal old Lurcher to stop him; no assassination plot to foil his own plans.

It really would be Christmas for him if he could pull off this little sleight-of-hand.