It was the next morning, Edith had stayed in her room all day and it was 6 o'clock in the evening. She didn't come down for breakfast and saw nobody except for Anna, who brought her luncheon on a tray in the afternoon. It took all her motivation to even get dressed.

She looked out of her window, it was something she found herself doing more often, something miserable people had more time for. Her view of the grounds was a poor distraction from her anger, all Lady Edith wanted to do was pull down the curtains and rip them into shreds.

How could he look at me in the eye and tell me he no longer has need for a woman in his life? Then he shamelessly kisses that old witch with such desperation.

It wasn't enough that he refused to see her, but engaged with another woman behind her back! And what made it only more antagonizing was the fact she still loved him... so much. You would think after such an event anyone would replace all traces of affection with the deepest hate. Not the deepest love. Of course, it was smothered in such pain, hurt and jealousy - but underneath there was still such a tenderness for Sir Anthony that stayed untouched. Alive. And yet somehow mutated with the deepest envy.

The way Lady Irene had kissed him only made him look that much more desirable. It only proved that Anthony was still interested in love.

"Am I not good enough!"

Edith's yearning for the man was inflated. If he could still show that much passion to anybody then there was every chance he could show it to her. She only needed to show him. He was not the demon in this, it was that frightful woman who had conjured this. It had to be, the family had pushed him away so much his only resort was this Lady Irene.

If Sir Anthony still wanted love, Irene was the only thing in her way.

...

Yesterday was flavoured with such a success that Sir Anthony demanded Margaret abandon the library this evening, and come join him in the sitting room for champagne. For a librarian, she was in the house a lot of the time, however Sir Anthony couldn't help asking her to sort through random shelves he hadn't looked at in years, she worked with such a comely concentration and method that it was hard to stop himself accompanying her now and then in the library while she sorted through books. And when she seemed to be finished he would find boxes more, and buy new ones.

"I must admit I do think we quite pulled it off. I don't know why you didn't have such a good idea earlier - I could get used to having that much fun. And what a dress I had," Margaret said from an armchair, looking into the fireplace and grinning as she took a sip of Rozay.

"You must keep it," Anthony added quickly.

"Sir, I couldn't - "

"I insist, besides, what am I to do with it?"

"You have a point there," The atmosphere ignited with the flame of laughter. "I thank you, it really was beautiful, was it not?"

"You were beautiful."

Margaret's cheeks went pink, she told herself it was because of the fire and the wine.

The evening rolled on, a perfectly enjoyable conversation never ending as the fire got warmer. They shared tipsy grins and chuckles, not one of them wanted to leave. "I rather enjoy time with you."

"As do I you, I can't tell you how grateful I am of you helping me rid myself of the slug people call Lady Edith nowadays," said Anthony with a drunken chortle. The two of them hooted on with laughter over the events of the ground party on Sunday, the look on Edith's face after they kissed, the whispers etc.

"Wh-what was that, that letter you were going to send?" Margaret questioned, eyes slightly unfocused from drink, yet a beautiful sparkle in them. Her feet were now out of there shoes and curled up on her seat, her hair down now, caressing her shoulders.

"Oh yes, that one. I didn't think I would need to send it now, but..." Anthony got up from his chair and stumbled over to his desk, he fished around in the back of one of the drawers with disability. "Here," he came back over with a folded piece of paper and threw it at Margaret with a chuckle as he lost his balance and then took refuge in his seat again.

Margaret gasped slightly and then tittered as she read on, unfolding the paper as she read further down the page, her eyes laughed a giggle of nervous delight.

"Well well well, shocking stuff... scandalous. Who knew you could be so bold, oh it's simply delicious." Her eyes were wide with a mixture surprise and mischief.

"It seems a waste not to use it after all!" Anthony had even taken the time to copy down Lady Mary's draft into his own writing.

"Come now I won't hear it! You simply must send it, it's flawless... I quite like this side of you too." Margaret continued with flirtatious eyes as she waved the letter in hand.

"But, won't it expose us for no reason?"

"Why would Lady Edith show anyone? It'd only humiliate her." Margaret gave an intoxicated snigger.

"You're right. It'll just do it won't it? She wouldn't try me again after reading that. And after seeing us kissing."

"She'll also think we've been doing more than that," They both let out drunken belly laughs.

"I'll send it now." Anthony affirmed after they had both regained themselves. He clumsily put the letter in an envelope and called for his butler to have it sent.

When Anthony sat back down he found Margaret on his lap. "All of this... is so fun, do you know?" She breathed.

"...yes."

The fire was quietly roaring away, a mixture of evening light from the window and a glow from fire sent ribbons of hot colour through Margaret's hair and shoulders. She got herself more comfortable, "It makes me think... if we are going to be looked at, or 'exposed' - let's have something to be exposed for."

"...yes."