Author's Note: Hello, lovely readers! So sorry I haven't updated in a while, I got super busy with school work and stuff. But THANK YOU for continuing to support and Review, follow, and favourite, it's very much appreciated!

Enjoy!

Kent

April 1914

Adam felt as if he hadn't slept a wink when Chappeau came into his room and drew open the curtains. Never before in his life had he studied the ceiling above his bed so intently, praying for things to be different. He now knew every inch of that ceiling, all of the intricate carvings and indentations. He knew all of it. He had to distract himself somehow, because sleep would not come.

"Today's the day, sir," his valet seemed to feel compelled to remind him, and all Adam wanted to do was throw the pillow over his head.

"As if I could possibly forget," Adam replied, monotonal. Yes, today was the day he would be married to Lady Susannah Tolbrooke – the day of his father's greatest triumph. For a moment, he wished Belle would be there, but then he wouldn't be able bear looking at her while being married to another woman. And she probably couldn't, either. No, despite Ned being his best man, and the staff attending the wedding, Adam felt as if he was going through the whole ordeal alone. In fact, he had never felt more alone in his life.

Chappeau eventually got him out of bed and into his morning suit, which he felt most uncomfortable in. It all felt false, he realized. The whole thing felt false. He didn't love Lady Susannah, and he was only marrying her for her family's money.

"Would Mother be proud of me?" He found himself asking, more to himself than to his valet.

Chappeau stared at him for a minute, almost dumbfounded by the question. "Her Ladyship was always proud of you, sir. Even when you knocked over that old vase when you were a boy, she was still proud of you."

"I mean… would she be proud of… this," he sighed, gesturing to himself.

"I think her Ladyship would be proud of you for choosing duty…" He paused. "But she would also want you to be happy. Most of all, she would want you to be happy. Now, might you go down for some breakfast?" Chappeau asked, straightening Adam's tie.

He couldn't think of eating. "No, I'm not hungry. Strong tea would be nice, though," he replied, sitting down on the edge of his bed. He gazed out the windows beside him, looking out into the clear blue sky that went on forever. He caught small glimpses into the village, where banners of all colours were strung across the rooftops, where crowds were starting to gather along the roads in anticipation from the bride and groom to pass.

It was all his father's doing. He was the one who wanted his only child to have a grand society wedding with all the trimmings that came with it. Lord Villeneuve, of course had wanted the wedding to take place in London – to officially announce the return of the prominent Villeneuves back into high society. But Adam had refused. If he was to have a wedding, it would be at the chapel in the village in which he had grown up, the reception would be at his family home, and he would be in the company of the staff in which he had grown to love. Susannah, bless her, had been on Adam's side on the issue, and eventually his father had relented. It was perhaps the only consolation of the whole miserable ordeal.

Sometime later, his door opened and Chappeau entered with his tea.

"You can just put it on the bedside table," Adam said without shifting his gaze from the window.

"Your valet said you were in such a state, but I had to see for myself," a voice that was not Chappeau said.

Adam whipped around and found himself staring at a very concerned Edmund Lynn. "Is it that time already?"

"No, not yet. I just wanted to make sure you were alright," his best man replied.

"You must have had to wrestle the tea try out of Chappeau's hands," Adam chuckled.

"I'll admit, he was shocked to hear that I wanted to it to you myself." There was a pause before Ned spoke again. "I know Lady Susannah isn't your first choice of a bride."

"Oh, and what gave you that impression?" Adam asked sarcastically. He sighed heavily and collapsed on the bed. In truth, since he had asked Ned to be his best man, he had hardly spoke a word of his fiancée. He didn't even think they had a chance to properly meet, only seeing each other on a few occasions. Adam wanted to tell his friend everything, but he never got the chance to.

"Well, you needn't be a detective to figure that out. You don't look at her the same way you did that other girl you brought to my wedding. And then of course you seem completely miserable right now, just as you're about to walk down the aisle. I can tell you want a way out of this, Adam. It's plain as day."

A way out… but of course there was no way out. Adam sighed again, resigned. "It's too late for all that, now. All there is left to do is to face the day." And face the fact that he would never be happy in this marriage. He wondered if he would ever be happy again.

"Well, then, let's face it," Ned said, moving towards the door and gesturing for him to come.

Adam slowly got up and followed his friend down the grand staircase to the main foyer of the estate. The house was covered in garlands and flowers, and the kitchen staff were already preparing for the wedding breakfast that was to follow the ceremony.

Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts were waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs with somewhat sad smiles. They, of course knew that Lord Villeneuve had pushed him into this marriage but were trying to support him as best they could.

"You look very handsome, sir," Mrs. Potts said, smoothing down his morning jacket. "I'm sorry it couldn't be with the one you truly desire," she added after a moment, making Adam catch his breath. He knew she tried to fight for them, and he appreciated her immensely for it.

"Thank you, Mrs. Potts." He turned to the butler. "Has Lord Villeneuve already gone away?"

"Yes, sir. His Lordship left for the church only a few moments to go."

Adam nodded and pushed himself out the front door. Ned, bless him, had come from London in his new Renault – a wedding present from Caroline's parents – so Booth could drive the pair of them in it to the chapel. Through the cheering crowds, he tried to calm himself down so the ceremony could pass without pain. But even as he entered the church, walked down the aisle, and sat on the pew in the front row, he could not slow his heart, he could not stop his palms from sweating. He was doubting himself all over again, debated whether he should actually go through with this.

Of course, he should, he kept telling himself. Everyone had gone through all this trouble to put together a grand wedding, and not to mention Mrs. Oliver's wedding breakfast was bound to be able to feed the entire population of the village three times over. But what of his own happiness? Didn't he deserve some sort of happiness in his life? Perhaps he had been right when he had told Belle he didn't deserve any sort of happiness.

Ned had to nudge Adam to get him to stand up once the bride started walking down the aisle. He moved to the altar, looking straight ahead. He didn't want people to see how nervous he was, but the congregation must have an inkling by now.

This was it, Adam told himself over and over. Once the ceremony was over, he wouldn't be able to go back. Any chance of a life with Belle would vanish. He blinked, as if coming to that realization. Any chance of a life with Belle would vanish. This he could not accept. He could not accept that he could live out his life in an unhappy marriage. He just couldn't.

Lady Susannah was at his side, now, all dressed in her white satin gown and wearing her family's tiara. It was at that moment Adam couldn't stand to be at the church any longer. He couldn't go through with it. It should be Belle at his side, not a woman forced onto him by his father. It was all false, and Adam could not be in a false marriage.

"I'm sorry, Susannah," he found himself whispering. The Archbishop of Canterbury was just beginning his homily, but he wasn't listening. "You deserve someone that can truly make you happy. And so do I."

Without waiting for a response, Adam rushed back down the aisle out the church doors.

Finally, he felt he could breathe at last.

It didn't take his father long to find him back at the house.

Adam was tucked in the corner of the library, contemplating the decision he had just made. After the cathartic experience of leaving the church unmarried had worn off, he started to feel terrible about jilting Susannah at the altar when she deserved better. But still, he did not regret it. He did not regret getting out of the marriage, no matter what his conscious told him.

His father, of course was furious about the whole thing. He stormed into the library, red-faced, his cravat loosened from his shirt.

"How dare you," Lord Villeneuve thundered, moving close to Adam. "I thought you would at least show some honour in going through with this marriage, but I see now that my faith was misplaced."

"I couldn't go through with it, Father!" Adam cried, standing from his chair. His fists were in tight balls. "It was all false, I would never have been happy."

"I don't give a damn about your happiness! I am trying to save this estate, something you seem hell-bent on impeding."

"I care about the estate –"

"Do you? Well, then you will go back to the church, apologize profusely to Lady Susannah and her parents, and go through with the marriage."

"I can't, Father. I can't."

There was a tense moment of silence between them before Lord Villeneuve spoke again. "This is about that maid, isn't it? That little whore you were fooling around with, well, I should have the right mind to put her in the workhouse –"

Lord Villeneuve didn't finish his sentence because Adam had struck him. And then struck him again. "Don't call her that!"

A bruise was already forming below his father's eye. "She's filled your head with poisonous thought of love and marriage."

"Belle has done no such thing," Adam shouted. "I love her, and I intend to marry her. We will run away to America if we have to."

"And you'd leave behind your home, your family, your wealth?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes, I'm sorry to say."

Lord Villeneuve chuckled at his response, obviously believing he was bluffing. But Adam wasn't, and he knew that now more than ever. He was once hesitant to leave behind his childhood home and the staff, but not anymore. His father waited for Adam to rebuke his statement, but when he didn't, he sighed angrily.

"Fine, if that's what you want. You have until the fall to leave the house. After that, consider yourself unwelcome in this family. The whole family. Now excuse me, I must go clean up the mess you've made. Some things never change."

It was late in the evening the next day when Mrs. Potts finally talked to him.

Adam was gazing into the burning fire in the drawing room, so much going through his mind. Dinner that evening with his father had been agonizing, to say the least, and he hadn't stayed in the drawing room long before retiring to bed. That left Adam alone again, until he was joined by Mrs. Potts.

"Chappeau told me you still hadn't sent for him," she said upon entering the room. "So I thought I might find you in here."

"I understand if you and Cogsworth think ill of me…" he trailed off. The staff had all the reason to hate him. They must think him a dishonourable cad who would throw off his own fiancée at the wedding, and what's more is that they soon be put out of a job, because of him. Because of his actions, which he – miraculously – still didn't seem to regret.

Perhaps that made Adam a horrible person.

"No one downstairs thinks ill of you, sir," she replied. "We know you were put in a difficult position through no fault of your own."

"But after I'm forced out, what will happen to you all?"

"Don't you worry about us, now." A moment of silence passed between them. "I guess what I came up here to say is that you did what was right. You deserve happiness with the woman you truly love. And if your mother were here, she would be telling you the same thing."

Adam smiled at the housekeeper. "Thank you for saying that, Mrs. Potts."

She was about to leave when she stopped suddenly and turned around. "And sir, just between you and I… his Lordship had that coming to him."

Mrs. Potts didn't have to clarify – after his confrontation with his father the rumours must have started flying. No doubt there would be one explaining how his Lordship had received such a nasty bruise. Adam allowed himself a moment of happiness – happiness that he at least had one person fighting in his corner.

News of the marriage – or lack thereof – reached Belle in the form of a letter from Plumette. She had left no detail out, including the fact that Adam was to leave the house by the fall and ordered never to return. Belle couldn't make herself believe it, she didn't know how to feel. All she knew was she had to write Adam, she had to speak with him in person.

That weekend, Belle took the bus into the village and met Adam in a pub. He said that because his father was still there it wouldn't be good for anyone in the house to see them together. Adam was sitting at a table in in the corner when she arrived, and stood when he saw her.

At first, they didn't say a thing to one another. Belle didn't even know where to begin.

"It's good to see you," Adam said after a while.

"Adam, I'm so sorry –"

"Please, you don't have to feel sorry. I don't regret what I did, even if you think me a terrible person for it."

"I don't think you're terrible, Adam," Belle said. "I could never think that. Your father left you in a dreadful position. If there's anyone I blame, it's him."

"I struck him, you know."

Belle blinked. "You what?"

"I struck him. Twice. After I left the church he found me, and we got into an argument. He called you a… well, never mind, but I hit him for it."

Belle could guess what Lord Villeneuve had called her, but she let him leave the words unsaid.

"Anyways, know it is decreed that I must leave the estate."

"How are the staff doing?"

"I think they're shocked more than anything, and worried. They don't know what's to become of them after I leave. Father is bound to spend most of his time in London or traveling, so he won't have much use for the house. I suspect some of the staff have already begun looking for new employment."

"How awful. What will you do, after you leave?" Belle ached to hold his hand.

Adam looked down at the table. "I'm not sure. Father made it clear that none of my family would accept me, so I'll probably try to find a job in Canterbury, perhaps get a job in a pub."

For the first time, Belle laughed. "I can hardly see you waiting tables and serving drinks."

"But you know what this means now," Adam smiled the tiniest bit. "We're free, Belle. We are free to be together, to marry… We could start a new life in America!"

"America…" Belle whispered. "Adam, you know I would go to the ends of the earth just so I could be with you! But my job… my father… I can't leave him like that."

"Of course, we don't have to decide anything yet," Adam smiled softly.

"Can we wait until the fall?" Belle continued, this time reaching across the table and taking his hand. Immediately, she was comforted by his touch, by the way his thumb brushed over her skin. "Perhaps you may get something sorted by then."

"Yes, certainly, Belle. In fact, I was planning a sort of garden party for my friends and the staff. A send off for me. Father will be out of the house by then for the Season, so I'll have it to myself. I do hope you'll come."

Belle smiled. "Of course. I would be delighted."

Mrs. Potts could hardly make herself believe it. For the first time in years, Theron was hosting a proper garden party, well – as proper as it could be under the circumstances. The sun was high above them, but it wasn't overbearingly hot for a July day.

Mr. Adam had insisted on having the food buffet style, so the staff wouldn't have to serve, but of course Cogsworth wanted to serve the drinks – or at least keep an eye on them. If it weren't for that Lumiere would surely be under the table by now. Instead, he was sitting beside his wife, now hugely pregnant. Word from the doctor was that the baby could arrive any day now, and any time Plumette found herself in the slightest discomfort Lumiere would be on her like a hawk.

Across the lawn, the housekeeper spotted Belle speaking with Mr. Adam and she smiled. The both of them looked so happy, especially Mr. Adam, who looked the happiest he'd been in a long while. These past weeks he'd been dropping no-so-subtle hints of marrying the girl, of starting a new life after leaving Theron. Mrs. Potts could admit it to herself – she was proud of the man she loved like her own son. She was proud he was able to find some happiness amidst all the unpleasantness. Still, she worried for the rest of the staff, of what would happen to them once Theron lost its main resident, but she suspected they'd all pull through. They had when his Lordship and Mr. Adam were galivanting throughout the country only returning once in a while. But it would be different, knowing Mr. Adam wouldn't be coming back. After a little more than two years of having him in the house, it would be a brave new world they'd been walking into without him.

"That's a good sight, isn't it, Mr. Potts?" A comforting voice spoke from beside her. She smiled up at the butler, who had joined her.

"I should say so. But I'm surprised at you, Cogsworth."

"Whatever for?"

"Well, I wouldn't think you of all people would approve of Mr. Adam's relationship with Belle."

"Not long ago, I wouldn't have. But she's a secretary now… and I could never disapprove of someone who makes Mr. Adam happy. God knows that boy has been through enough hardship."

"It makes me very happy to hear you say that," Mrs. Potts said, smiling widely. "Very happy indeed."

Across the lawn, Belle felt a light tap on her shoulder and turned to see a pleasant familiar face. "Miss Elizabeth! I didn't know you were coming."

"I only got in just now. I simply had to get away from London and Cousin Adam provided me the best excuse."

"I'm glad you could come," Adam said. "Though I do wonder… however did you manage to get away? No doubt the papers were filled with my escapades for weeks."

Elizabeth scoffed. "Papa doesn't read the gossip papers, he's been too busy going off about the conflict in Europe. Mama on the other hand was quite socked, which is why I told neither of them I would be coming here."

Belle stopped herself laughing. Of course, Elizabeth would do such a thing. She was no stranger to deception after sneaking off to political rallies when she had visited only the year before. "Oh? And where do they think you are?"

"I told them I was at a friend's. But enough about me, I hear you're working as a secretary for a telephone company in Canterbury, how marvelous!"

"Yes, I've been working there for just over a year now, and it's only been getting busier."

"I can imagine," Miss Elizabeth replied. "Papa's already got three installed in our home: one upstairs, one on the main floor, and one in the servants' hall."

"I never took your father for a modernist," Adam laughed. "Next he'll be putting electricity in the kitchens."

"Excuse me, sir," Cogsworth rumbled, approaching them with an envelope neatly placed on a silver tray. "Telegram for you."

"Thank you," Adam replied and quickly opened it. Upon reading it, his face fell fifty feet.

"Adam, what is it?" Belle asked, suddenly anxious.

"Cousin Adam?" Miss Elizabeth placed her hand on his shoulder as if he were about to fall over.

Finally, he looked at the two women but couldn't speak. "Excuse me, I need to make an announcement," he managed to say after an eternity and moved from their small group to the centre of the lawn, waving his hat to get everyone's attention. "Can I ask for silence please! Everyone, I pray silence!" He shouted, his voice unsteady.

All the guests and staff turned to him, their expressions ranging from confusion to worry. What on earth… Belle wondered. She turned to Miss Elizabeth, but she seemed to have already guessed what the telegram said.

"Silence, please," Adam continued. "Because I very much regret to inform you… that we are at war with Germany."