what if? - part 2

By dinnertime Stella had formed a plan. If she wanted Archie she would have to do something practical about it.
It was only the beginning of what ever was between him and Lexie and she knew that she could sabotage it fairly easily if she tried.
She felt slightly bad for leading Lexie into it and then making it all come crashing down around her feet, but she was desperate.
She had to have Archie.
She had to prove that she was better then Lexie. That she had more to offer, that she was more 'his type.'
Her plan also had a secondary component as well- sabotage the Midsummer's Ball. She had found out that if all went smoothly the estate was going to be handed back over to Archie and she would have to leave.
So.....her plan could now perform a double duty. She would ruin the ball, subsequently stay at Glenbogle and at the same time blame it all on Lexie and wriggle her way into Archie's good books as Lexie moved more out of them.

It was terribly selfish she knew, but that was the way her mind always worked. When she saw something she wanted- she went after it. And she didn't care how many people got trodden on in the process. It was just like a business deal, nothing more.

Straight after dinner she went to the kitchen to find Lexie. She should have guessed that Archie would be in there as well, he had always been there even when they weren't a couple.
They had their backs to her as Lexie washed up the dishes, or tried to. Archie had his arms around her waist and was kissing her neck.
"Are you going to help or not?" Lexie asked, a laugh in her voice
"I am helping...." Archie mumbled
"Yeah yourself"

'Ahem.' Stella cleared her throat to get their attention. Caught out Archie spun around so quickly he nearly lost his balance.
"We pay the servants to do these jobs, you know Archie. You don't have to help them."
Lexie's smile dropped. What was going on?
She glanced at Stella. It had been only the other night that she had been trying to cheer this woman up after her divorce came through.....she thought they were friends, and now here she was calling her a 'servant'.
Lexie lowered her eyes to the floor. Stella had humiliated her, and worse still she had said it to Archie.
What if he realised that she was right?
"Is there something you needed me for Stella?"
" Yes, there's some papers we need to go through"
"I'll be up soon. Get through as much as you can without me, I want to spend some time with Lex." Archie replied
Stella raised her eyebrows and whispered, "Don't be long" before walking back out
"Lex...." Archie turned back around to see Lexie's whole demeanour had changed
" Lex, what's the matter?" Archie asked turning her around to face him
" Well she's right isn't she? I'm a servant and you're the Laird. Archie no matter how anyone looks at us that is what they're going to see"
" Don't be silly. You know you're more then that. You've always been more then a 'servant' to my family- as far as I'm concerned you're one of us"
" Oh Arch. I don't know, it'll just be like all the other Lairds. Fooling around downstairs with the house maid" Lexie commented, refusing to look him in the eyes

" Alexandra that is not how i feel about you and you know it!" Archie exclaimed " And anyway, since when have you allowed any one to put you down and get away with it? Are you just going to stand there and take this from her?"
" Well..." Lexie murmured
He lifted her face and made her look into his eyes, a small smile fluttered across her face
" Lexie you've always fought your own battles, and fought them well might i add. Do you really want me to step in now?"
" No" Lexie replied " But I'll need your help"
" At your service Maam" He bowed his head and smiled