Author's Note: Hello lovely readers! Thank you for being patient. I'm super excited for this chapter, and I hope you guys love it! As always, thanks for the follows, favourites, reviews, and support!

Enjoy!

Kent

May 1913

The letter Adam received during breakfast was unexpected, to say the least.

It was from Ned who, after his letter in October, had written him at times that were few and far in between. It surprised him even more that the letter contained an invitation.

A wedding invitation.

The Duke and Duchess of Warwick

Request the pleasure of the company of the Honourable Adam Savoy and guest

At the marriage of their daughter

Lady Caroline Alice Weston

To

The Honourable Edmund James Lynn

At St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Wednesday, the twenty-fifth of June nineteen thirteen at ten-thirty in the morning.

Adam read the invitation over before even looking at the letter accompanying it. More than just his friend's request to attend his wedding, it was an opportunity to get out of the country for a few blessed days. At the same time, he found himself hesitating at this request. He was not the same person now than he was during his days partying and gambling in London, and the very thought to being in the company of those he used to associate with filled him with certain dread. To them, he was still the reckless young man, all-too happy to spend his father's fortune on anything and everything.

And then, he read Ned's accompanying letter.

To the Honourable Adam Savoy,

Adam –

I'm terribly sorry to have not written you in quite some time. If you've seen the attached invitation, you probably know why.

Honestly, I don't know what I'm expecting – you haven't responded to any of my previous letters, but lately I've felt it necessary to ask all the same. I would truly appreciate it if you were to attend the wedding. After spending so many years gallivanting around London together, your presence would be sorely missed.

This next request may be too presumptuous of me, but I would like you to be my best man.

Adam stopped for a moment, almost dropping his tea cup. He read the line again to make sure he saw it correctly.

I would like you to be my best man.

Despite himself, he laughed. Ned couldn't be serious, could he? There must be so many other men who would be a much better as Ned's best man.

But then he read the letter again.

And a strange sense of pride weaved its way through his body. Out of all the people he considered friends from his previous life, none had ever asked him of something such as this. Adam hadn't even thought he'd be asked of something such as this. He'd always assumed there would be someone better and more trustworthy. It's not as if he had been the most responsible person in his youth – that was for sure.

But to visit London again, this time away from the parties and the gossip, sounded like a dream. Of course, he would be invited to numerous parties and dinners and clubs and the like, but he would be able to weave in and out of those without too much trouble, especially with his father practically breathing down his back.

Adam looked at the invitation again when a foolish thought crossed his mind.

He should bring Belle as his guest.

It seemed as if it had only been yesterday when they had become so close to sharing a kiss, to finally sharing a kiss, though fate seemed determined to split them apart. Adam had to stop himself from kissing her still when the door had opened and his cousin walked in. When Belle had left in a hurry that night, the two had shared an awkward silence for an eternity.

"How much did you see?" Adam had finally said after a while, he didn't know how long. Elizabeth had taken a seat on the settee near the foot of the bed and was wearing an unreadable expression.

"I know you were about to kiss," she replied, her lips pulled into a thin line. She couldn't quite look him in the eyes.

"And you don't approve?"

Elizabeth scoffed and crossed her arms. "I'm not Papa, or Aunt Margaret. Or your father." A tiniest smile made its way to the corner of her lips. "I don't give a fig if she's a maid. I just want you to be careful, and to not get her in trouble, or yourself, for that matter."

"Mrs. Potts, Belle, and now you have all told me the same thing."

"And you should listen to us. We women know best."

"Elizabeth… I love her," he confessed, and it felt good to tell someone else. To finally have those words exit his lips. It felt so good to say them.

"I know I love her, I don't want to love anyone else. And I know you'll call me foolish, but I really do. Everything is just impossible with my father and the poor girl he'll no doubt end up choosing as my bride and Cousin Edward…" he trailed off, gripping the bed sheets tightly in his fists.

"You're not foolish if you know your own heart. Others may call you foolish, but I won't. You have an ally in me, Adam. If you ever need someone to defend you at family dinners, I'll be in your corner. You just need to fight for her." She paused, thinking. "Your father may seem as if he has complete power over your future, but he doesn't. No one does."

"Thank you for being so kind. I feel I don't deserve it sometimes after the way I blew this family off for so many years."

"That's hardly your fault… well not completely. I've heard some nasty stories in the papers about you and I'm sure you're in the wrong for those." The smile creeped up further as she let out a short giggle.

"Yes, I'm afraid I am," Adam replied, laughing. "God, it feels like a lifetime ago."

"It was. And let's be glad about it."

Adam blinked back to reality, realizing he was still staring at the letter and invitation. "Cogsworth," he cleared his throat and addressed the butler.

"Yes, sir?" He asked, inching his way closer from the corner of the room.

"It seems I have been invited to Mr. Edmund Lynn's wedding, and he wants me as his best man."

"I see," was all the older man said.

"I know Lord Villeneuve is determined to keep me in my confinement here, but I would very much like to fulfill my obligations to my friend."

To that, the butler said nothing, but the smallest of smiles creeped onto his face. To Adam, it was a small victory.

"No, I'm sure his Lordship would not allow you to travel to London," Cogsworth said.

"Remind me of his whereabouts," Adam requested, smirking at the letter.

"I believe he's currently travelling on the Continent and doesn't have plans to return until July."

"Which, of course, gives me plenty of time to travel to London and back for Ned's wedding."

"Yes, I believe it does."

Adam smiled triumphantly. His father didn't have control over him. He would not have control over him.

It was almost time for Mr. Adam's afternoon tea when Mrs. Potts had to shoo away the maids and footmen out of the front hall.

Good heavens, in all her years she had never seen such a display. The maids were crowded around the polished oak console table, whispering amongst each other, while the footmen were talking with a stout man in a dark tweed suit whom she had never seen before.

"Get back to work, the lot of you," Mrs. Potts called to the staff, but they only stared at her with excitement in their eyes.

What on God's green earth has gotten into them?

"Oh, Mrs. Potts!" Belle exclaimed cheerfully, practically dragging the housekeeper over to where they were standing. "Have you seen anything like it?"

"What is it?" One of the younger maids breathed.

"It's a telephone!" Mrs. Potts said in shock and turned towards the stout man. "You must be Mr. Wells."

"That I am," Mr. Wells said, tipping his hat.

"I apologize for the staff, if I knew you were coming today I would have told them to stay away, but it appears Cogsworth forgot to mention it," the housekeeper said, annoyance trickling into her voice towards the end of her sentence.

"Oh, it's no trouble at all," Mr. Wells replied. "It's good that people are interested – the telephone business is really booming, I'll need to hire extra staff to keep up with the demands."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes! I've just installed three down at Belmont House for the Baron Harris."

The man was about to continue discussing his achievements when Cogsworth stepped into the front hall and was clearly taken aback by what he saw.

"Mr. Adam has just come back from his ride, and the tea should be ready to serve," he said in his usual grumbly tone.

"Yes, of course," Mrs. Potts replied. "Now, shoo, all of you! When you're not working I believe you can watch Mr. Wells install a telephone downstairs."

"There's going to be one in the servants' hall?" Percy asked excitedly.

"In my office," Cogsworth corrected, clearly annoyed by the whole situation. "Now get going. I don't want Mr. Adam to come down to see his entire staff gawking."

Once the staff finally dissipated back down into the servants' hall, Mrs. Potts caught the butler before heading into the library to lay the tea.

"You forgot to mention the telephones were being installed today," she said.

"Did I? I must have mentioned it."

"You didn't." She paused. "Is something distracting you?"

"Now that you mention it… Mr. Adam received a letter this morning from his friend, Mr. Edmund Lynn."

"Oh?"

"It contained a wedding invitation."

Mrs. Potts didn't say anything, but raised her eyebrows, knowing there was more to the story.

"In London."

Another pause.

"And Mr. Adam has been selected to be the best man," Cogsworth finished.

"My goodness, and he's planning on going?"

"Yes, of course, he has decided to go with or without His Lordship's support."

"And is he planning on opening the house?"

"I don't think he has worked out all the details."

Before the housekeeper could ask another question, a jaunty set of footsteps bounded down the grand staircase. Mr. Adam was fresh-faced, his blond hair neatly brushed, and there were no traces of the ride he'd just been on.

He had changed out of this riding clothes into a sleek dark grey suit with a perfectly pressed linen shirt and gold silk cravat. Mrs. Potts blinked when she saw him. The suit looked new. And not in the way that Mr. Adam insisted on sending his suits to London to be cleaned and pressed, but recently bought. If she recalled correctly, he hadn't purchased any new clothing since coming back to Theron.

"Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts!" Adam said, his voice chipper as he approached them. "Just the two people I wanted to see."

"What can we do for you, sir?" Mrs. Potts asked.

"This morning, I received an invitation to Mr. Edmund Lynn's wedding, you know, the son of the Viscount and Viscountess Uxbridge."

"Yes, I believe I've been filled in on the details."

"Perfect. I plan to head up to London five days before the wedding, and to stay for a few days afterwards. Savoy House will need to be opened, so if it's not too much to ask I would like you and a few of the staff to come along. Chappeau, the footmen, Mrs. Oliver, and a few of the maids – Plumette and Belle."

"To work in London?" Cogsworth asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Dare I ask if we will be entertaining?" Mrs. Potts asked, slightly worried. Mr. Adam always used to throw extravagant parties at Savoy House whenever his Lordship was not in London. The guests always danced until dawn, leaving the staff with hardly any sleep. Though Cogsworth was had instilled in the boy to always make them aware as to whether they were expecting Mr. Adam's rowdy companions, there would always be one night wherein an onslaught guests would arrive without a moment's notice.

"No, nothing big. Perhaps just a dinner for Mr. Edmund. Oh, and the day of the wedding you should do something special with the staff. Visit a museum, or something. My treat."

Mrs. Potts's eyes widened in surprise. Well, I never. "That's very generous of you."

"It's the least I could do." Without saying anything further, Adam disappeared into the library for tea.

The butler and the housekeeper shared a long, shocked look. After coming to terms with what had just happened, Mrs. Potts was the first to speak.

"Well, I guess that answers that."

"Did I hear correctly that you're looking to hire new staff?" Belle asked the man installing the telephone in Carson's study – Mr. Wells. The footmen were busy serving Mr. Adam's tea, and Belle finally had a few minutes to herself.

"You heard correctly, miss," the man replied, shifting his gaze from the machine towards her.

"What kind of staff?"

"A couple men to install the telephones, and a secretary or two to keep up and record the amount of inquiries we've been receiving."

"The thing is," Belle started, and paused out of nervousness. "The thing is, I was wondering if I could give you my CV. I'd like to be considered for a job as a secretary. I've been doing very well with my typing courses, and I'm a hard worker."

The man smiled softly. "I have no doubt. Tell you what, why don't you give me your CV and I can try to squeeze you in for an interview in the coming weeks?"

"Of course, thank you!" Belle replied and had to stop herself from bolting up the stairs to her room. Still, it was odd, feeling excited to potentially leave a job she loved so much. But she knew it was the right choice. She would be making better wages, and she might finally be able to put her feelings about Mr. Adam to rest.

It was dangerous – every moment she stayed at Theron, the more she felt drawn to Mr. Adam. And that night.

The night they almost kissed.

No, she was being silly. It was a silly dream out of a novel. Still, she couldn't help but wonder if she was doing the right thing. Her job at Theron was stable, she had friends – though they felt as if they were family. Perhaps she could navigate her feelings a little while longer. Until she was sure.

Belle shook her head as she reached for her CV and reference Mrs. Potts had generously written her from the drawer of her bedside table. She was being completely foolish – by staying at Theron, her dream of having any sort of relationship with her employer would only grow, and so would her inevitable disappointment. It simply wasn't worth the heartbreak she knew she would endure.

Clutching onto her documents, Belle hurried back down the stairs and into the servants' hall.

"These seem to be in order," Mr. Wells said, rifling through the papers. "I shall contact you, so we can set an interview date."

"Thank you, Mr. Wells," Belle replied, grinning from ear to ear. "It's very much appreciated."

It was later in the afternoon that day when Mr. Adam caught her doing her chores in the bachelor's corridor. Belle tried to say she was much too busy to talk, and Mr. Adam seemed rather insistent. Finally, the two entered one of guest rooms and he shut the door.

"How very scandalous of you," Belle commented, noting the impropriety of her being alone once again with her employer.

Mr. Adam waved it off nonchalantly. "It's nothing new for me."

"Now, what is it you want to tell me? Mrs. Potts will notice my absence if I'm not down by the time the dinner gong rings."

"Cogsworth will probably announce it at dinner, but I wanted to tell you first," he said, smiling wildly. He could barely contain his excitement.

"Tell me what?"

"We are going to London!"

Belle blinked, wondering if she had heard him correctly, if she was dreaming. London? We? What on earth was he talking about?

"W- I don't understand."

"I've just been invited to an old friend's wedding back in London, and we'll be staying in Savoy House for the duration of the trip."

"I still don't understand," Belle said incredulously.

"The staff and I – which includes you – will be taking a trip to London for my friend's wedding," he said, laughing.

Belle still couldn't believe it, was Mr. Adam actually saying they would be going to London? Or was it some nasty joke? She looked her employer up and down, but his expression was so sincere. She broke out into a wide smile and laugh. She could hug him. She could kiss him.

"I can't believe it," she breathed. "I'm going to London!"

"There's more…" he said slowly, deliberately, as if planning his words carefully. "I want you to be my guest at the wedding."

Belle's eyes widened. Now he really was joking. "You cannot be serious"

"I am."

"But – how would it even be possible? I'm sure it's a high society wedding, and there is no way you can be seen with me –"

"That's the thing. I want to be seen with you. And don't ever think you're not good enough for London society, because you are."

"But it's not even that, how can I talk to your friends? They'll surely ask how we met, where I'm from, what I do…"

"You can tell them as little or as much as you want. I don't want you to be intimidated. Perhaps that you grew up in the village – which is true, that we met at the annual village fair – which is somewhat true, and that we've become good friends – which I hope is true. And I would consider it a stretch to call most of them 'my friends'," Mr. Adam said.

Belle considered it for a moment. She could already see herself walking the streets of London along Piccadilly, past Buckingham Palace, along the Mall, she wanted to be there terribly. Then she imagined herself as a guest of Adam's at this wedding, dwarfed by all the glamour and pomp. But she couldn't help but he drawn to it. And besides – when would she ever be able to go to such an esteemed event in London's high society again? If Mr. Adam thought he would be able to make it work, she trusted him. It would be her last hurrah at Theron before moving on.

"Then of course, it would be my pleasure to accompany you," Belle smiled gratefully, and felt heat rise to her cheeks. But a thought crossed her mind. "What about His Lordship? What will he say about you leaving the estate?"

Mr. Adam just smiled. "I don't give a damn what His Lordship thinks."