Author's note: Hello lovely readers! Voilà! A new chapter for you all! There are a few Downton references in this one, I'm happy to say. Thank you all for being patient as ever with this story, and thank for your lovely reviews! They are much appreciated. Thank you as well for the for the follows, favourites, and support.

Enjoy!

Kent

June 1913

It was Plumette who knocked on Belle's door the next morning, waking her up from a restless sleep.

"Tell Mrs. Potts I've come down with a cold," Belle mumbled into her pillow as Plumette entered the room.

Belle was still reeling from the events of the previous night, with too many questions in her brain. But most of all, all she wanted to know was what happened? What had happened the day before to make Adam give up on her? She knew it must be more complicated than she was making it out to be, Adam would never go through with an arranged marriage lightly. Still, Belle wanted to be alone. She wanted to process everything. She couldn't stay at the estate for much longer… she'd have to work out a notice. At least there was comfort in the fact that Mr. Wells had accepted her for the secretary job. At least she wouldn't have to start over.

Plumette sat on the side of the bed in a hurry. "No, Belle, you don't understand!"

Belle blinked and started to sit up. "I don't understand that Adam is now engaged?" It almost hurt to say the words.

The housemaid shook her head. "No, no… you left before Lumiere could explain everything. He was there, in the dining room when it all happened. Mr. Adam looked as shocked as anything. He clearly didn't know what was happening."

Belle's eyes widened. "You said His Lordship announced it… so it must have been out of Adam's control."

Plumette nodded, taking hold of Belle's hand and giving it a comforting squeeze. "This wasn't Mr. Adam's choice. He would never agree to it willingly, you know that."

"I need to speak with him," Belle said, a sudden new feeling of assurance running through her. Plumette was right, after all. This was all Lord Villeneuve's doing. She just didn't think it would happen so quickly.

Only two hours later, Belle was in the library trying to remain focused on her chores. But her heart leapt to her throat every time the sound of footsteps passed the library's door. She hoped it would be Adam who entered, but a sick feeling welled in her stomach at the thought of Lord Villeneuve, his sister, or his nephew entering the room.

Still, despite everything, Belle couldn't help but smile at all the memories she and Adam had shared in this space. Discussing the works of Charles Dickens and Shakespeare, recommending their favourite novels, and more than that – just being able to talk to one another without the divisions of class to get in the way. In here, they weren't Mr. Adam the Earl's son and Belle the housemaid. They could be just Adam and Belle. It was the only place she could truly feel like herself away from her father's little cottage.

She was going to miss the library of Theron, when she left for Canterbury. She was going to miss the friends she had made. Plumette's kindness, Lumiere's humour, Jasper's gossip, Percy playing the piano… she wondered if friends would come as easily in Canterbury as they had in Theron.

"I was hoping I'd find you in here." A voice jolted her from her thoughts, making her jump. Belle turned from the bookcases, relieved to see Adam standing in the doorway. It took all her strength not to run and embrace him. Instead, Belle nodded and smiled softly.

"I need to…" she turned back to the bookcases. "I need to know what happened last night. During dinner."

Adam sighed, and approached her slowly until he was standing beside her. He was so close Belle could kiss him.

"I know," he said solemnly. "I owe you an explanation." He gazed towards the door, making sure no one was outside. "Please believe that it wasn't my choice. I would have never agreed… I thought my father was going to give me more time… He threatened you, Belle."

Her eyebrows furrowed. "What…"

"My father threatened to make sure that you would never be able to work a respectable job again. He said he would accuse you of theft, of seducing me." He shook his head. "Belle, I would never be able to live with myself if you were reduced to those circumstanced because of my actions."

"Adam, you –"

"And please don't say I shouldn't have given in to my father for you, because to me your welfare is more important than mine."

"But, you can't live with such unhappiness," Belle argued, holding on to his hands. She felt tears welling in her eyes.

"Perhaps… perhaps I deserve to be unhappy, after all the things I've done."

"No Adam, no –"

"Please, Belle, this is what I have chosen. I know it's not what we hoped, but at least I'll take comfort in the fact that you may still lead a happy life."

A long moment of silence passed between them, until finally Adam spoke again. "The secretary job…"

"I can start next month," Belle said flatly. She was still trying to take it all in. Clearly, there was no way to change Adam's mind now, not matter how much she wanted to. It was all just happening so fast, faster than she had ever wanted it. "If this is what you truly want…"

"It is what I truly want," he replied solemnly, squeezing her hands. "I want you to have a joyful life."

"Adam, you deserve happiness as well, no matter what you think."

"Perhaps, but I don't want it at the expense of yours." He leaned over a planted a soft kiss on her cheek. "But know that I will always love you, no matter whom I marry or what my family does."

"And I you." Belle's voice broke with tears.

"Ah, there you are!" A new voice drifted into the library.

Both Adam and Belle turned with a jolt and dropped their hands. Lady Susannah was standing at the entrance, clutching a cloche hat in a tight grip.

"Susannah," Adam cleared his throat, trying to sound happy.

"Your father is giving us a tour of the village, I do hope you'll join us," she said, without a hint of contempt. If she had seen or heard them, she didn't betray it.

"Of course," Adam nodded, also not betraying their conversation.

Susannah swiftly left the room, and Adam turned back to Belle. "I'm sorry…"

Belle shook her head. "I understand."

Adam kissed her again at the corner of her lips. "I love you." He whispered the words so softly, but she clung to them even after he disappeared from the library.

Adam managed to avoid speaking with his father until they were all gathered in the drawing room before dinner. The tour of the village had been an almost agonizing experience. It had pained him so much to leave Belle in the library, to tell her that he couldn't be the reason to ruin her life, and then to be in the company of Lady Susannah – his fiancée – and pretend nothing wrong, pretend he hadn't just driven away the love of his life.

Susannah blessedly didn't speak about what she had or had not seen in the library, and Adam didn't ask about it. Her company was pleasant enough, but he still couldn't help but feeling that it should have been Belle at his side, touring the village she would one day reside over.

"You're taking the engagement in stride." Lord Villeneuve's voice jolted him from his thoughts. He was speaking quiet enough, so only Adam could hear him. Lady Susannah was across the room chatting with her mother and Cousin Edward, while his aunt and the Marquess were talking amongst themselves. However, his aunt spared the occasional intrigued glance over in their direction.

Adam turned to his father and narrowed his eyes. "Don't pretend this wasn't some plan you've been devising for weeks."

"Of course not. But now you're engaged to marry a lovely, wealthy woman and we can put all this unpleasantness behind us."

"Belle isn't just some unpleasantness, Father." Adam's fists clenched in anger. He could strike his father right there and then, if it weren't for all the guests in the room. That would certainly make it into the gossip papers.

"Whatever she was, it is over now, and you can both move on with your lives."

Before Adam could respond, Susannah approached them with a wide smile across her face. "My mother and I were just discussing possible dates for the wedding. Perhaps in the fall or winter."

Fall or winter. Either option was too close for him. He couldn't even imagine being married in only a few months.

"Fall and winter weddings in the country are such muggy affairs," Adam tried to keep his voice as steady as possible. "Spring weddings when all the flowers are in bloom are much more beautiful." He could imagine his own wedding, with flower garlands lining the estate's bannisters, colourful banners strung up from rooftop to rooftop in the village, bottles of the finest champagne and crystal flutes covering a large oak table in the foyer. He could imagine Belle in a fine white gown, walking down the isle of the church towards him.

Adam shook his head. Dreaming up these fantasies would only hurt him more. "Besides," he continued, glancing at his father with the slightest of smirks. "There's no rush for the wedding. I would rather have everything planned perfectly than rush into a ceremony. I'm sure the Archbishop of Canterbury would need at least five months' notice anyway, knowing him." He laughed lightly.

Susannah nodded. "Of course, a spring wedding sounds lovely. It will give me more time to get to know the village and the county."

Lord Villeneuve was about to interject into the conversation when Cogsworth entered the room. "Dinner is served, my lord," he said in his booming voice with a slight bow of his head.

Adam had never more grateful for dinner in a long time. He was able to eat in peace for most of the service, only giving short answers to any questions asked. His father did most of the talking about the wedding, though he was grateful he was able to have it during the spring – almost a year away. Adam suspected his father wouldn't let him put it off any longer than that.

Later that evening, after Adam had excused himself for the night, his father ambushed him on the stairs.

"What is it, Father?" Adam asked, sounding utterly uninterested.

"I think it would do you some good to rejoin London society, get away from the country," his father said, his tone unpleasant.

"What, no longer afraid that I'll drive the family into ruin now that I have a wealthy fiancée?"

Lord Villeneuve glared at him. "You've been away for so long, it would be good for you and Susannah to get your names back out there."

Adam scoffed. "I'm sorry, Father, but I don't want to show off Susannah like a new motor car to your friends in London. Should we marry, Susannah and I will be residing over the county's tenants, its people, and its affairs, so Theron is where we shall stay." He gave his father a slight nod. "Good night, Father."

Without another word, Adam raced up the stairs and into the darkened hallways beyond.

The next two weeks passed all too quickly for Belle. She had handed in her notice the evening after she and Adam had talked in the library to a shocked but understanding Mrs. Potts, as hard as it was for her to do so.

"It's been a pleasure, Belle. Theron is always open to you if you ever want to visit," the housekeeper had told her, folding back up the notice.

Belle smiled warmly. "Thank you so much for everything."

"Belle," Mrs. Potts said as she turned to leave some time later, "I'm sorry at how things turned out with Mr. Adam."

Belle nodded. "It wasn't a fairytale after all, it seems." She didn't know if she was saying it to herself or to Mrs. Potts.

"Life rarely is, I'm sorry to say."

Now she was in her small room on the top floor of the estate, the room she spent months sharing with Plumette, packing her belongings to take back to her father's cottage, and then on to Canterbury.

"I wish you didn't have to go," Plumette said, gazing around the room wistfully as she sat on the bed.

Belle wished she didn't have to go either, but she couldn't stay. Not when Adam was due to marry soon, not with Lord Villeneuve's threat hanging over her head. At least the activity in the estate had dissipated within the past weeks. Lady Brankford and Mr. Edward had left soon after the engagement was announced – much to the staff's pleasure – and Lord and Lady Finley and their daughter were due to part in the coming days. Who knows how much longer His Lordship would stay at the estate, but Belle had the feeling it would be for the foreseeable future – to make sure Adam didn't run off in the night.

"But I must," Belle finally replied, putting her father's sketches in her luggage. "It's all too much to bear." She looked up at her friend, who wore a solemn expression, and moved beside her on the bed. "But I want to come back and visit you all whenever I can. I don't think the office is open on weekends, so I can try and make time."

"Oh, that would be wonderful," Plumette exclaimed, holding her hands. "And you must come for the holidays, of course!"

"I'll try my best."

A beat passed between them. "It will be so different without you, Belle."

"It will be fine, Plumette," she reassured. "Besides, with the… with the wedding coming up I'm sure Cogsworth will want to hire more staff."

"Weddings are such chaotic affairs," Plumette said, wrinkling her nose. "Especially a wedding such as this… but we shouldn't talk about weddings, we should be talking about the glorious life you'll have in Canterbury."

Belle laughed. "It's just a secretary job, it's not that glamourous."

"Oh, but the new clothes you'll wear, and the latest hair styles…"

"Then I'll be sure to send you a photograph or two," Belle replied, smiling.

"Please do!"

The conversation was interrupted by a light knock at the door and Mrs. Potts entering. "Belle, there's someone asking for you downstairs," she said with the slightest hint of a smile at the corner of her lips. "And Plumette, Cogsworth is about to ring the dressing gong, you should be cleaning up the dining room."

"Yes, Mrs. Potts," Plumette chimed and promptly left the room.

Mrs. Potts gestured to her. "Come along, dear, you can't wait all day."

"Who's asking for me?" Belle asked as the descended the stairs into the servants' hall. But Mrs. Potts didn't get time to answer, because sitting at the servants' dining table was Adam.

"Adam – Mr. Adam," Belle said, flustered. She felt heat and flush rise to cheeks, and she tried to cover them with her hands. What was he doing down here?

"I just want a quick word with Belle, if she's not too busy, Mrs. Potts," he said evenly.

The housekeeper nodded. "Of course, sir. You can have my sitting room."

"Thank you," he replied, gesturing for Belle to lead him there. She shot him a quizzical look but walked to Mrs. Potts's sitting room. Neither said anything until the door was shut behind them, and they were alone in the small room.

To her own surprise, Belle spoke first after a long and awkward silence. "Won't Lady Susannah be missing you?"

Adam scoffed lightly. "Don't worry, she out riding." Another moment of silence. "I just wanted to say… I needed to… I needed to see you before you left. I wanted to offer you best wishes, truly."

"Thank you…" Belle didn't know what to say. I'll miss you, I love you… none of those words mattered anymore.

"I only wish the circumstances were different."

"I know," Belle replied. "But wishing won't do us any good. I am grateful of your friendship… of your love these past months. Thank you for sharing your library with me, and for taking me to London."

Adam took her hands in his and kissed them gently. "I will miss you, so much. And I did mean it that day, I will always love you."

Somewhere above them, the dressing gong rung through the estate.

"I love you too, Adam."

"Please, if you can spare anytime, feel free to visit."

"Mrs. Potts and Plumette told me the same thing," Belle laughed. "I can only hope to be as popular in Canterbury."

"Not too popular, I hope," he eyed her playfully.

Belle nudged him gently on the shoulder. "Don't you get jealous now."

Suddenly, Adam leaned forward as if to kiss her, but stopped. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't…"

Belle shook her head. "No, it's okay." She closed the gap between them, placing her lips on his, and they were the only two people in the world. Belle felt as if she didn't need air as their kiss deepened, as warmth irradiated from their bodies.

"You should…" Belle said as they kissed, "you should probably be getting dressed… for dinner."

"Let them wait…" Adam whispered.

Belle smiled, wrapping her fingers around Adam's soft hair. She didn't know how long the kiss lasted, and she didn't particularly care. In that moment, nothing else mattered. No wedding, no scheming family members, no class divisions. They were just Adam and Belle.

Was that a knock? Belle thought she heard something beyond the door, but perhaps it from another room. But then she heard it again, and louder this time. Adam must have heard it as well, because his head shot up.

"C-come in," Adam said as they bolted apart.

"Sorry to interrupt," Mrs. Potts started.

Adam shook his head. "No, no problem at all. I uh, I should be going anyway." He turned back to Belle. "Best of luck with everything, and I hope you'll come back to visit soon." He couldn't say it, but his eyes said I love you. She could tell.

Belle nodded. "And good luck to you, Mr. Adam… such good luck."