A/N:  Yeah, it's here.  I'm sorry to make you wait so long.  My muse left me and I had to start another story.  If you're interested, the teaser is at my website.  After I get a couple more chapters done with it, I will start posting them.

This chapter isn't long and there isn't any interaction between Grissom and Sara but it was needed.  Reviews would be welcome.  I hope everyone is enjoying this.

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            Something wasn't quite right when she woke up the next day.  The blinds were still shut, and she wondered if perhaps she was back on her normal low hour sleep schedule.  Tossing the covers aside, she slid from the bed, quietly walking to the windows when she looked toward Grissom.  Except that Grissom wasn't there.  The blanket and pillow also weren't there.  He was gone already.  She flung the drapes back and her eyes were flooded by bright light.  It was at least mid-day already.  She'd slept straight through until noon.

            Quickly, she set about getting dressed, but had trouble with her gown.  She tugged on the bell pull for the maid.  It was answered quickly, by Lily.  It would seem that Lily had been given to her as her ladies' maid.  Well, like any good romance novel character, she would use her maid for information.  "So, umm, Lily, have you seen Gr… I mean, Mr. Grissom this morning?"

            "Yes, ma'am, I have.  He and his lordship went to look over his lordship's 'experiments'."  Lily was adeptly putting Sara's hair up into a French chignon as she related what Sara wanted to know.

            Sara took a quick glance at her hair in the dresser mirror.  It was still strange to her how they were fixing her hair.  Oh, well, she thought, I'll get used to it.

            As she was descending the stairs moments later, Danielle caught up to her from the other wing of the house.  "Sara, I was just thinking of you.  Katherine and I were going to call on Lady Halvorson this afternoon.  Would you care to join us, after you've eaten, of course?"  She'd taken Sara's arm at that moment and began walking with her as if they'd been bosom buddies since childhood.

            "I would love to join you and Katherine.  I was, however, going to check in on your mother –"

            "Oh, mum is doing quite well.  She's awake and having a bite to eat.  Why don't we visit her first, and then we'll be off?"

            "It seems to be a sound plan to me."  Sara smiled.

            THE COUNTESS was in fact just finishing her breakfast.  Her leg was propped up on a pillow, with two wooden splints on either side of her calf to keep it still.  She smiled a greeting at her daughter then pulled her onto the bed when she extended her hands.  Her attention was then riveted on Sara.  The look she gave Sara was certainly full of questions.

            "You are the young woman from the carriage, are you not?" she asked.

            Sara gave her a small curtsy as she answered, "Yes, ma'am, I am."

            "I have been informed that it was your husband who attended to me –saved my life."

            "Yes.  Your arm was bleeding and he made a tourniquet for it.  Then he set your leg," she replied.  Glancing over the uncovered leg, she saw the bruising and wondered how sore she must be.  "Are you feeling all right?"

            "Hmm, yes.  The good doctor has directed me to use the laudanum as I feel the need."  Her eyes twinkled, "I feel the need quite often."

            Sara's stomach churned at the thought.  She resolved, then and there, to keep an eye on the Countess.

            AFTER BREAKFASTING, Danielle collected Sara and they headed out on their excursion.  Sara was grateful that she was able to eat something with substance and have her coffee.  A social call would've included tea and biscuits or some such item, but she needed her coffee before anything else.

            When they finally arrived at Lady Halvorson's, they were greeted by a room full of other ladies.  It would seem that this Lady Halvorson was a much favored member of society.  The lady in question came forward with a flourish and touched cheeks with Danielle.  "Well, Miss Wentworth, tell us the to-do about Lady Wentworth.  We've all been waiting very impatiently for news of her.  Is she really as bad as has been suggested?"

            Danielle chuckled.  "No, no, Lady Halvorson.  She is quite alright.  She does have a broken leg and her arm does have a very nasty gash, but she was sitting up this morning taking her breakfast."

            "Oh, how truly wonderful; we'd feared the worst."  Lady Halvorson chose that moment to take in Sara's presence.  "And are you going to introduce me to your friend?"

            "Forgive me.  This is Mrs. Grissom.  Her husband and she were in the same carriage with my mother.  It was through their help that mother survived."  Danielle's voice had carried over the throng of women, and all heads turned toward Sara.

            "Really?  Then I must say we owe a great deal to you and your husband, Mrs. Grissom.  Beatrice is so very beloved by everyone."  Lady Halvorson grasped Sara's hands in both of hers and led her into the mass of women.  A quick count told Sara that there were no less than fifteen women present.  "The latest on dit is that you are from the America's.  Is that correct?"

            Sara only nodded at first, but knew that was not quite the appropriate response so she added, "Yes, that is true."

            Another lady asked, "What brings you and your husband to England?"

            Before Sara could answer, Danielle cut in, "They are on their honeymoon, Lady Markham."

            Little twitters of whispered conversation occurred between reclined heads.  "So you are newly married?  How delightful."  Lady Halvorson exclaimed.

            Sara was unsure how to react.  Hearing herself called Mrs. Grissom had set her nerves on edge.  The ruse they were playing before these people was becoming a daunting task.  She and Grissom hadn't taken the time to discuss the details.  Rather, their preoccupation with each other had taken all of their time.  The first moment she got the chance, they were going to have a long talk.

            Minutes later, a younger lady gasped from the back of the gathering.  Sara was thankful for it.  It meant the attention was momentarily lifted off of her.

            "What is it, Miss Elizabeth?" Lady Halvorson queried.

            "I'm sorry, ma'am.  I was just thinking how delightful it would be if we held a ball, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Grissom.  The season is slowing down and it could prove to be the highlight of this rather boring season."

            Well, so much for the attention being lifted off of me.  Sara felt the rush of blood seeping into her face.  The unwanted attention was, once again, directed at her.  The clasping and clapping of hands didn't go unnoticed by her.  They were definitely willing to hold this ball.  And Sara knew there was no possible way to get out of it.

            The discussion swiftly turned to the where and when of the ball and of the guest list.  It was quickly decided that it would be held at the Wentworth Estate, in the interest that the Countess would then be able to put in an appearance.  With that, Danielle declared that she would have her brother approve it, and then she would send word around for them to begin.

            Sara was quickly shuffled out of the room by Danielle and ushered into their carriage, headed back to the house.  Danielle was all chatter as they rode back.  And she was sure that Grissom was going to have a conniption about this.  The last thing either of them wanted was to be the center of attention, not only in their own time but here also.  It didn't go unnoticed by Sara that she and Grissom, the socially inept, were fast becoming the couple of the season.  At least in London, that is.  What would Grissom say?