Servants Series 4

by ss9

Can Flora recover from the tragedies of series 3? How will Walter react and will Will be able to safely avoid the butler's wrath? And who is this glamourous Scottish beauty who is causing quite the stir amoungst the male members of staff?

6. Episode 6a

The next morning is bright and the sky fresh, the yellow rays from the low, wintry sun beaming through the windows of the grand house and bouncing off the chandeliers and the rather glum-looking portraits of the Earl's ancestors. It is breakfast time for the gentry of the household, although it is now getting slightly late and Lady Rebecca has only just arrived in the dining room, her face puffy and not quite as attractive as usual, and her hair not as tied up and neat as her normally high standards would only allow.

Jarvis leaps forward, pouring her a cup of tea, while Will serves her with fruit and poached eggs. Under normal circumstances she would have smiled happily at them, possibly chatted a little and causing Jarvis slight embarrassment at her informality, but this time she barely cares to be courteous, almost scalding Will with a sharp glare for shovelling far too much black pudding onto her plate. Clattering her cup into her saucer, Jarvis stands back and overhears her muttering something about Lizzie failing to show to help her tie up her hair, but the other aristocrats seem rather disinterested in her plight and choose to sit gossiping about the latest London scandal until Rebecca pipes up loudly

Rebecca slicing hard into her bacon as if it is the cause of all her trouble: Where is Hugo?

Franny staring at her sister down her podgy nose: Well, my dear, if you had shown yourself earlier then you would have seen him. As it is, he has retired to the morning room before his ride so I am afraid you have missed him.

The room falls silent again, except for the chink of cutlery on china and the loud, chesty cough reverberating from Lord Farquarson, his tea dribbling down his shirt. Rebecca leans over to help him, but he ushers her away, and this seems to put her in an even worse mood. Her eyes are clouded with anger and sadness, and Jarvis can't help but notice that she can only push her eggs around on her plate and hardly bite a single morsel.

Caroline leaning forward and giggling girlishly: Oh Julian and I are going to look at wedding rings today in Bristol, isn't that right darling? And he has promised to buy me a new tiara as a treat!

Julian opens his mouth to speak, a slight look of confusion on his face, but then thinks better of it and merely nods weakly, his parents smiling politely back. Admiral Dalrimple-Sykes has hardly taken his eyes away from Lord Farquarson, a growing redness on his face, while his wife Lady Margaret simply nudges him and stares at him with a 'don't-you-even-think-about-it' look on her face.

Jarvis can't help but smile, knowing only too well the depth of the animosity between the two families – a land feud dating from the time of Henry VIII which had never been resolved, so with neither side conceding they had become sworn enemies and remained so to this day. Not a pleasant word had passed between the two men through the entire breakfast, and it is obvious to Jarvis that the ladies in the room found this somewhat tedious.

Admiral to Julian, who is nervously tapping his leg under the table: Don't you go spending all your money on rings, Julian my boy, you know how quickly your funds deplete. Don't know why you don't get up off your arse and get a proper job like the rest of us, join the Navy and stay there for once like your brothers!

Lady Margaret opening her mouth in shock and squeaking: Please, Ronald!

Lord Farquarson hardly looking up from his plate: Yes, it is rather a shame when there's a RUNT in the family, isn't that right, Ronald?

This is obviously meant as a direct insult to Julian, but Franny can't help but huff and glare at her father, her husband completely oblivious to any upset she may have felt as he smooths his very thin moustache, hiding his very thin lips on his very thin face and making him look a bit like an extremely starved and undernourished walrus. Lord Montgomery - or Monty for short – is now very much a figure of fun in the servants quarters, and every time he so much as moves at the table he causes Will and George to snigger and glance amused at each other. Over the last day or so the sight of him and his wife walking together contained so much comedy value for them that the two footmen would quite often have to leave the room as quickly as possible as to not wet themselves and cause a scene. It is even more funny that Monty is the name of one of the Earl's mutts, and the Earl does not fail every time to get a mention of that fact in somewhere. It is probably true, however, that Monty the terrier has more meat on him than Monty the person.

In the end, the Dalrimple-Sykes' could bear the thick atmosphere no longer and unexpectedly rose from the table, the Admiral marching purposefully out of the room, Will and George holding open the doors, as Lady Dalrimple-Sykes trots off after her husband. The Earl had momentarily stopped sticking in his newspaper articles at the dining table when Hugo had departed, a slight glint in his eye noticed by Jarvis. The butler has very much realised that Lady Rebecca must have had some sort of spat with Adams, who still has failed to show for his duties that morning. It has also been very much brought to his attention over the last few days or so that His Lordship has taken rather a shine to Lady Rebecca – nothing too over-the-top, but more subtle stares over his glue pot.

Knowing his master as well as he does, it isn't hard for Jarvis to work out that since Lord Harry's death the Earl has been a little, well, concerned for the future of his title, and Lady Caroline is hardly the best candidate for carrying it to the next generation at Taplows. Besides, he knows that His Lordship has no desire to give Caroline the little of his money he has left – he needs a son, one that will be shrewd with money and give the Peerage the honour it deserves. Before that, of course, he needs a wife, one young and healthy enough to be able to breed continuously until an heir (and preferably one to spare just in case) is produced. Unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever way one looks at it, the engaged Lady Rebecca Farquarson fits the bill perfectly, and Jarvis knows that the Earl is well aware of this fact. And, having such an eye for younger ladies, the butler can't help but be worried for her.

For once, Jarvis noted, the Earl had been unusually quiet over breakfast, his articles carefully stuck in one by one as the police begin to close in on the dastardly Fiffington-Piffles, and his silence had been maintained over his scrambled eggs after Hugo's bold exit, watching him hawk-like until he had left the room. Luckily Rebecca is barely noticing his leering grins as she stares grimly into her teacup. Maybe, Jarvis thinks as he hands the Earl his third newspaper, the Earl is convinced it is Hugo she is angry with, rather than a certain and rather absent under-butler? This may be the case, but by all accounts it isn't a lack of interest in her by Hugo that would concern her.

After the aristocrats finally decide to move and get on with something even less productive than glaring at each other over their toast and marmalade, Jarvis resolves to go and find Mr Adams and heavily reprimand him for being absent. There is a lot of wages to be docked for this one, he murmurs to himself, although he has to feel a little sorry for the poor sod if his relationship with a Lady is as tiresome as Jarvis imagines. Pausing outside Adams' room for a moment, he runs through in his head briefly what to say to him about pulling himself together, getting on with it, not letting a woman ruin his life, etc. Bursting into the room, he is overwhelmed slightly by the stale smell of alcohol, and the mess in the room is even noteworthy for Mr Adams. He steps forward, but glances down on feeling something under his shoe – a tatty book with half its pages roughly torn out.

Snatching it up, Jarvis huffs and tosses it onto the table, his eyes shifting round the room. If only he had decided to pick up and read some of the pages strewn carelessly about the room he may have begun to work out what exactly had gone on the previous night. For a moment he fails to see Adams slumped behind his chair on the floor, his gaze naturally falling on the unmade and ruffled bed. On finding no under-butler he turns to leave but a helpless hand flopped next to an empty whiskey bottle catches his eye and he dashes forward, knocking the chair out of the way, to reveal Adams still propped up where he had fallen, his head lolled to one side and resting awkwardly on the leg of his desk, a smudge of blood down his right cheek and his shirt unbuttoned.

Stepping back Jarvis wonders for a minute what to do, until he moves to haul up Adams, completely fed up with such heavy drinking that it causes him to fall into such a comatose state that he isn't even awake by 10am. Pulling him by the arm, Jarvis swings him round slightly then scoops him up from under his arms, groaning with the weight and half throwing him onto his bed. Not even so much as the flicker of an eye! Typical. Bending down, the butler grabs his feet and drags them onto the bed, the head wound now obvious and looking rather more nasty than Jarvis had first detected. Inspecting it, a complete look of distaste on Jarvis' face, he sighs heavily and decides its best if the doctor has a look at him once he's seen little Jennifer again. Best leave him to sleep it off first, however, and with a last disapproving glance, not even wanting to imagine what had gone on between his subordinate and Lady Rebecca the previous night, he leaves and shuts the door quietly behind him.

Meanwhile upstairs Flora Ryan had finally made her way upstairs to check on Jennifer, Grace had relieved her early that morning, but even so she still felt duty bound to check in every hour or so, just to make sure the little girl wasn't any worse. It was proving a difficult task, on one hand she had her normal housekeeping duties to attend to, then on top of this there was the fact that tomorrow would bring a whole horde of guests descending on them in time for Lady Caroline's wedding, it seemed every relative both the Earl and the Dalrimple-Sykes possessed had been invited, and then on top of all these demands on her time she had to cope with a sick child and a staffing shortage. After all this wedding nonsense was over she was going to take some much needed time off, perhaps visit her old friend Catherine Higgins in York for a day or two, that was of course if Walter didn't mind, who knew what plans he was concocting for them both after the wedding was over!

Smiling softly to herself as she opened the sickroom door, knowing him it would be some over the top romantic gesture, possibly a proposal, the only question remaining unanswered was how would she respond. She knew she still loved him, despite everything, burying to the back of her mind her attraction to Will, that was simply a side effect of all that her and Walter had been through, when things were going well between them she wouldn't even look at another man with interest. No that was nothing, and since the footman seemed to be keeping a respectful distance, she was sure that despite his threats he had finally realised the futility of their relationship. Although deep down she did feel a slight twinge of sadness and even a touch of guilt she knew how it felt to love someone and to realise that the reality of your situation made a relationship practically an impossibility, after all she had been working at Taplows for over five years before she had finally confronted Walter about her feelings for him.

Sighing softly she pushed open the door and stopped suddenly just inside the door, sitting by Jennifer's bedside, a look of concern etched on her beautiful face was Lady Rebecca, she was holding a children's story book and was reading aloud to try and sooth the sick and fretful child; Grace was nowhere to be seen. All of sudden Rebecca stopped reading, realising she was being watched and turned quickly to glare at the intruder. When she spotted Flora her look of annoyance changed quickly to one of almost desperate relief and she dropped her book and dashed across the room flinging her arms around the startled housekeeper, before breaking down and sobbing miserably against Flora's shoulder.

"Shhhusshh!" Flora whispered, holding her friend tightly and rubbing her hands up and down her back in an effort to calm her down.

"Oh Flora, its all gone wrong!" Rebecca began, pulling away slightly so the housekeeper could see her tear stained face. "Franny did this on purpose, bringing Hugo down here, he had no idea he's such a sweetie and he'd never have put me in this position, but that spiteful sister of mine, she has to try and ruin everything! And now Andrew……" She trailed off unable to finish as a fresh wave of sobs overwhelmed her.

Worried at her friend's distress, Flora walked her back over to the bedside chair and after getting her to sit down handed her a handkerchief to try and get her to dry her eyes. "What did he say?" Flora asked.

"He's ended it; he says he never wants to see me again!" Rebecca replied through her tears. "And he lied to me, about the debt, about being faithful; he even has a child a daughter, here at Taplows!" She added looking up at the housekeeper, surprised by her lack of reaction. "You knew?"

"What about? "Flora hedged.

"All of it, why didn't you tell me?" Rebecca asked, unable to believe her new friend would deliberately deceive her as well, was no one honest in this world?

"Yes I knew, I was here when the whole debt issue arose but you mustn't blame him too much for covering that up, it really was a most distressing experience they were going to take him to debtor's prison and there was the whole roof incident, the debt collectors hounding him up there, then Walter and Lizzie pleading with him not to jump, he didn't ask Walter for the money he offered it feely…. I found out about Mrs Stanwick the same time as everyone else, but as she was such an unpleasant trollop it was hardly surprising, she even….." Flora trailed off her voice cracking, unwilling to rehash over Walter and Mrs Stanwick.

"What?" Rebecca asked softly, curious as to find out more about the now infamous Mrs Stanwick.

"Andrew wasn't the only man she threw herself at; she tried it on with Mr Kraus, most of the footmen, even….even Walter, so believe me I know just how you feel!" Flora replied.

"But how could you, unless….?" Rebecca trailed off, her eyes widening in shock as the implication of What Flora was saying hit her. "No, not Mr Jarvis?"

"I was in London on the Earls business, and I returned unexpectedly, I caught him coming out of her room at six in the morning in his nightshirt and then later when he was trying to convince me it was all a misunderstanding I spotted a love bite on his neck." Flora replied softly.

"How did you deal with that?" Rebecca asked the pain of Andrew's betrayal was still too raw for her to contemplate how anyone could ever forgive infidelity.

"Well I stopped yelling and started thinking, and I had to admit that things were partly my own fault, I had gone off to London without consulting him effectively abandoning him, and I really do believe he went to her room by mistake and got into bed with her thinking she was me. As for what happened whilst he was there, well I will never know for sure, but after a while I realised none of us are saints and it would have taken the restraint of one not to respond to someone who was right there, ready and willing, especially when he had no idea I would be returning so soon. I'm not excusing his actions, and I certainly am not going to forget it, but I think after a while I realised I loved him too much not to forgive him for whatever momentary lapse he may have made."

"Perhaps…" Rebecca began, unwilling to label her friend a fool for forgiving Jarvis so easily. "But what about his daughter, abandoning her then trying to get her sacked and generally being an absolute cad to everyone around him, even you my dear friend, surely he can't be defended on these matters?"

"I will admit with regard to his behaviour to myself and Will, most of the time it has been inexcusable, but at others he has had what he has considered good reason, and although he wasn't around for the first sixteen years of her life since Lizzie has been here he has tried to make a concerted effort to be a good father. All be it in a rather convoluted way and much of that has revolved around keeping his daughter away from negative influences, namely William Forest. Rebecca I'm not making excuses for him, much of his behaviour has been loutish, even unforgivable but if he has one redeeming feature its that he obviously loves you with all his heart and soul, he would never intentionally hurt you of that I am sure!"

"Then why now, after all that we've been through just to be together, why does he abandon me just when I need him the most?" Rebecca asked her beautiful eyes wide and pleading.

"Perhaps he thinks you no longer have a need for him, what with Hugo and everything…." Flora started to reply.

"But its not what he thinks; I tried to explain but it is so hard without breaking a confidence, and Andrew just won't believe me when I tell him that it will be a marriage in name only, he thinks Hugo will be incapable of keeping his hands off me and that as his wife I will be obligated to share his bed! But Andrew just doesn't seem to realise, that there are some men who aren't like that…That some men, well Hugo for example just doesn't find me attractive in that way….I don't know how to explain!"

"Ahhhh, you don't have to." Flora cut off the confused and babbling aristocrat, "I also have such a friend."

"You do?" Rebecca asked shocked. "Who?"

For a moment Flora paused before replying, "Felix Kraus."

"Nooooooo!" Rebecca exclaimed her hand covering her mouth in shock.

"Yes and I understand what you must be going through, in a way I also was in your position needing to marry for convenience, although there were other extenuating circumstances."

"What you were going to marry Felix but why? Why would you marry him when you were engaged to Mr Jarvis?" Rebecca asked, genuinely confused by the housekeepers revelation.

"I never told you before but I…I got pregnant, and Walter, well he was being particularly pig headed and awful and Felix was there for me and he proposed to try and save me from disgrace because Walter wasn't going to… Then in the end Walter came around and we got engaged…"

"You're pregnant too?" Rebecca asked excitedly, grasping the housekeeper's hands.

"Too?" Flora asked her eyes widening as she realised what Rebecca had just said.

"Oh you have to give me advice, although I'm not completely certain I am, but I am almost sure….I mean I'm very late, and I had hoped this would happen, it's just I had so wanted to have a child with Andrew, and I talked it over with Hugo and he said that if I wanted children then this was the only way… That he would be delighted to raise it as his own, but I had so wanted Andrew to be involved but now …" Rebecca rambled on as if she hadn't heard Flora, her voice getting higher and higher until she was almost hysterical.

"I lost my child." Flora muttered quietly, her eyes downcast as she felt the familiar stab in her stomach.

Suddenly Rebecca stopped, her own plight forgotten as she stared at her friend in shock and disbelief. "What, when?"

"A month or so before you arrived, there was an accident and…." Flora stopped unable to continued, the memories of her miscarriage came flooding back and she had to choke back her tears. "If it's all the same to you I'd rather not talk about it, it's the main reason why Walter and I split up, I just couldn't face having any more children."

Rebecca didn't reply, she simply nodded her eyes wide with horror, and understanding and pity. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't have...I mean if I had known."

"It's alright please don't….I've started to come to terms with it, I don't need you to feel bad about your pregnancy, I'm really delighted for you…And who knows maybe one day Walter and I…" But suddenly Flora stopped glancing quickly over to where Jennifer lay sleeping, before grabbing hold of Rebecca's hands and physically dragging her from the room.

"Flora what's the matter?" Rebecca gasped, as she followed behind the housekeeper.

"You can't stay here, if you're pregnant, the German measles it could hurt your baby, promise me you'll stay away and you'll let the doctor check you over!" Flora replied when they were safely halfway down the corridor.

"Alright I promise, but you must promise not to breathe a word about this to anyone, not even your Walter!" Rebecca replied sternly.

"Fine, as long as you think seriously about telling Mr Adams the truth, it might change things between you, I doubt very much that he is so angry with you that he would want to miss out on the first sixteen years of this child's life!" Retorted Flora her tone a little harsher than she had intended.

Upset Rebecca snapped back without thinking. "And what about you? Are you going to let Walter miss out on being a father too? Do you really think that is fair?" But then seeing Flora's hurt expression she relented slightly. "I'm sorry Flora, I shouldn't have said that…"

"No you're right, I am setting up a double standard, being selfish…And I must admit I have been thinking about it, having the children here, well I won't deny it hasn't been difficult but somehow it's helped me face some issues. There are no guarantees but maybe?"

"I think it's time you both talked!" Rebecca added softly, laying her hand softly on Flora's arm, before turning and heading back to her room, leaving the housekeeper to stare after her a thoughtful look on her face.

A little while later, and the Doctor has returned to check on little Jennifer, who is still running quite a high fever. Her mother had bustled in briefly, harrumphing in contempt at her daughter as if she had gone out of her way to ruin her visit, while shaking off any affection from her other children. With a cursory glance at Flora and a feigned expression of concern when briefly conversing with the Doctor on Jennifer's health, Franny decided it was best if she stayed away from her until she had begun to recover, it was far more convenient if one of the servants fell ill instead of her. Flora had asked her in desperate hope if there was anything that the little girl particularly liked, any favourite soups or songs she liked to sing, but Lady Francesca simply shrugged at this bizarre notion, saying that she is a simple child how would she have any preferences for anything, she just did as she was told, is seen and not heard.

The young doctor, who also had the unenviable task of treating the Earl's more unsightly and personal ailments when such things occurred, shakes his head after Franny as she sweeps out of the room, her sick daughter turning to watch her leave but without even calling once for her mummy. Patting the little girl on the hand, he stands and turns to the troubled housekeeper, smiling at her and making her feel, just for a moment, as if Jennifer is her own child whom he is treating

Flora glancing over his shoulder at Jennifer as Grace mops her brow: Will she be alright, Dr Evans? I know how deathly measles can be, poor little soul.

Dr Evans packing away his medical equipment in his bag: Oh, I think she'll be over the worst of it soon, I could leech her for all the good that would do, but I think just care and plenty of water should do the trick. If she gets any worse I may have to rethink, but other than that there's not a lot I can do. Measles is a tricky one and no mistake.

So engrossed in the child's welfare, Flora fails to notice Jarvis hovering awkwardly in the doorway, his gaze fixed on her body language, how she moves over to the child and feels her burning cheek with the back of her hand, a permanent look of worry etched on her usually soft features. As the doctor turns to leave, Jarvis steps forward, pulling him aside for a word in his ear

Jarvis briefly making eye contact with Flora, his voice low and serious: Dr Evans, I know you are a very busy man, but could you possibly take a look at Mr Adams, the under-butler, before you leave? He's had a bit of a bump to the head, and although he may have had, shall we say, a glass or two of the strong stuff last night, he still hasn't woken up.

Agreeing without hesitation, the doctor nods politely towards Flora and Grace, before following Jarvis out of the door, but just as he is leaving, Charlotte dashes into the room with more damp towels, almost bumping straight into him in her haste

Dr Evans holding his hands up in surprise and smiling: My, my, Miss Lewis, you are in a hurry! That's what I like to see, keenness, you'd make a good nurse.

Blushing furiously, Charlotte looks down at the towels and giggles quietly and nervously, ushering past him and daring to glance up at him to meet his gaze. Flora and Grace exchange knowing glances as Charlotte bites her lip, and with all the boldness she can muster calls out in her haste:

Charlotte: Will you be back later, Dr Evans?

Dr Evans raising his eyebrows at her in surprise at the usually timid maid's outburst: Indeed I shall, Miss Lewis. In the meantime, the little one needs as much care as you can give her.

Charlotte smiling broadly, swaying her hips from side-to-side slightly: Oh I'm so pleased! That you're coming back I mean, not that Miss Jennifer needs lots of care, I…well….

Cutting herself short, Charlotte's usually pale complexion is now even more flame red than a moment ago, so to save her further embarrassment Dr Evans smiles and bows slightly, trotting off after Jarvis who is waiting for him a little way up the corridor.

Flora To Grace and Charlotte, bundling up a pile of used towels: Well, I'd better go and ask the kitchen to make her some broth, something fairly weak so not to upset her, poor little thing.

Once Flora has exited, Grace smiles mischievously and looks over at Charlotte, who has her head down as she over-busies herself sorting out a fresh bowl of water, obviously hoping Grace won't mention a word of her encounter with the attractive doctor

Grace her voice low but tone light-hearted: So, you've got an eye for the doctor, have you?

Charlotte crossly thumping down the water jug: Oh give over, Grace, don't talk silly! I only meant……!

Grace: Oh, I know what you meant, Charlotte, anyone could see it! Don't worry, really, I mean he's not married I don't think, and you could do well getting wed to a doctor, all that social standing, you may never have to bake another loaf in your life!

Charlotte turning and sighing: Look, I'm not interested in him in that way, I'm not! Grace, don't look at me like that! He'd never look twice at a girl like me anyway, and he may not even be Catholic!

Grace taking the bowl off Charlotte and sprinkling water on Jennifer's bare arms: Well, you'd best get praying for his soul, then hadn't you? And if you're that worried you should pray for your own while you're at it, before he comes back and turns you into a giggling wreck again!

Charlotte harrumphs, turning to concentrate on her towels without another word

Cut to Rebecca's room, where Lizzie is busying herself with Rebecca's wardrobe while the Lady re-applies her make-up from that morning. She had noted in horror on returning to her room that her tears had re-streaked her face, her powder smudged across her cheeks and her eye make-up black and blotchy, so of course she couldn't be seen out like that so it had been essential to make sure she was presentable, even if she no longer had anyone to impress.

Rebecca spent most of her time hardly concentrating on her make-up but her mind elsewhere, desperately trying to think of how she can approach the subject of Lizzie's parentage. She could hardly blame the girl for being her lover's daughter – or rather her ex-lover's daughter, she notes with overbearing sadness, so there is no need to take out their break-up on her. It seems strange, however, that her new maid appears extremely uninterested as to why she may have become so upset, or maybe she considers little Lizzie is just far too polite to ask and knows her place a little too well. Her quietness is beginning to disturb Rebecca a little, her attempts to make light conversation with her apparently falling of deaf ears, and eventually, after carefully applying her lip stick, Rebecca can bare it no longer. Why should she have to put up with a grumpy and sullen maid after what she has been through?

Rebecca fiddling nervously with her perfume, an unusually high pitch to her voice: Elizabeth, there seems to be something bothering you, and I hardly think it appropriate you take it out on my favourite shoes. You've been very distant all morning and it's high time you told me what is wrong, goodness knows what you may do to my hair if I let you loose with the brush!

For the first time that morning, Lizzie moves from the bed and looks her straight in the eye, and Rebecca almost gasps at the amount of upset and confusion on the young maid's face. There is that same look – the one Andrew gave her the previous night, before telling her he never wants to see her again. Rebecca has no idea why she hasn't seen the similarity between them before, the shape of Lizzie's eyes are unmistakable, and the familiar distressed pout is undoubtably identical.

Lizzie hanging her head slightly, her voice cracking: Last night I…..I saw you. You and Mr Adams in his room.

Rebecca A knot of worry tightening her stomach as she tries to smile convincingly: Oh, I was returning a book to him, that's all Elizabeth! I'm sorry, I know I overstepped my mark by going to his quarters, but he was quite insistant on having it.

Lizzie mumbling, knowing she is out of line: I bet he was.

Rebecca gapes at Lizzie at her comment, what had she seen? She had thought her book excuse rather plausible, unless she saw…..unless…..well they did get carried away, didn't they? Until Andrew put a stop to it? But that lasted merely a few minutes, it would have been bad luck for the poor girl to have witnessed it, surely! But that look in her eyes tells Rebecca everything she needs to know without Lizzie having to say another word.

Lizzie her chin wobbling as she desperately holds back tears: I heard you talking, ma'am, you know I'm his daughter. And I saw you together, I saw you kissing, and you're engaged!

Rebecca standing up and clasping Lizzie's shaking hand: Look, my dear, I'm sorry you had to find out that way, but it doesn't matter any more. He has finished our relationship, and I completely understand, he did it for both of us, so I could marry Hugo, but I will always love your father, always. I will never forget him.

Lizzie stares at Lady Farquarson, and for a moment she is drawn in and actually feels a little sorry for her, maybe she does love her father and she is sad to be marrying Hugo, but why oh why didn't he tell her about having a daughter? Was he so ashamed of her that he couldn't bare the thought of doing so, and exactly how long had he been liaising with an aristocrat? Lizzie isn't quite as upset as she thought she would be – well, about her father having a woman at any rate, his love life is rather an area she would do well keeping out of, and she supposes it is better than him going out every weekend to see that Rosie she hears so much about. But she can feel her temper beginning to rise as question after question begins to race through her head but without being able to answer any of them. Why did he keep his own daughter a secret from the woman he may even love? Why does he always have to do things that upset her, why can't he be a real father to her, and pay her at least a little attention? He had been even more distant with her since Rebecca's arrival, and now she knows exactly why, but he had let her down once too often and she is beginning to wonder why she ever bothered to come to Taplows in the first place.

But her thoughts and their awkward silence is suddenly broken by a smirking Franny, who bursts her way into Rebecca's bedroom and orders Lizzie to wait outside with a cursory wave towards the door. Lizzie does as she is told, but hovers outside the closed door, her ear pressed firmly up against the door. Inside the room, Rebecca turns disgusted away from her sister, not the slightest bit interested in anything she has to say, and she is just about to swing round and bellow at her to get out of her room when Franny sniffs out an almost wicked laugh

Franny her voice full of malice: Thought you'd be with him, after what he's been through.

Rebecca standing in front of a bed post, giving distance between them: Don't you bring Hugo into this, I have not set out to hurt him!

Franny raising an eyebrow, a snarl spreading on her lips: Oh no Rebecca dearest, I didn't mean Hugo, I meant your bit of rough from downstairs. Don't tell me you haven't heard, thought you'd be first to know out of all of us, although I have just come from down there, silly Jennifer nearly threw up all over me, so sorry I returned back to her!

Rebecca an urgent look on her face: But Andrew, what's happened to him? What did you do!

Franny folding her arms, loving every minute of her sister's discontent: Oh, is that his Christian name? How funny, it hardly seems worth giving them one. Anyway, I didn't do anything, it was last night apparently. Heart attack the doctor said, big one at that, he's been out cold for hours!

Rebecca staggers backwards slightly, her breathing quickening and her own heart racing, but Franny feeling absolutely no sympathy for her as she moves closer in an intimidating manner, leaning round the bedpost and leering at her sister

Rebecca gulping hard and shakily clasping her hand over her mouth: You're lying, you spiteful cow!

Franny closing in on her and grasping her wrist: Oh I think you'll find I'm not lying, not a bit of it! Not that you're going to find out for yourself, of course, you're to stay away from the servants quarters, I know you went there last night, I followed you!

Outside the door, the muffled voices from inside are just audible to Lizzie. Her knees had gone weak on hearing the terrible news about her father, the blood rapidly draining from her already pale face. Panicking, the anger towards him subsiding momentarily, she picks up her skirts and hurries away down the corridor, almost crashing into Lady Caroline on her way. Not even stopping on Caroline's shrill demand, her heart thumping in her ears, she heads off down the stairs leaving a stunned aristocrat in her wake

Franny grips Rebecca's wrist even harder, causing her to wince in pain, and although her eyes soften Rebecca can see the steely determination hidden in them, her round face tight and her teeth gritted. But Franny's voice suddenly calms as she drops Rebecca's hand, instead reaching up and cupping her face as poor, worried Lady Farquarson backs away, her face full of fear for the man she loves

Franny: My dear, dear Rebecca. How tragic for you to fall in love with such an unworthy suitor, a man nearly old enough to be your father and with a sixteen year old bd daughter of his own!

Rebecca gasping and trying to get away, but Franny just grasps her face even tighter: How did you know! Were you spying on us!

Franny pursing her lips and raising an eyebrow: I saw and heard everything, darling. That poor illegitimate serving girl dashing off in tears, goodness knows what she saw going on but I am quite sure it was highly inappropriate. It doesn't seem that your precious Mr Adams was entirely honest with you until you went prying, does it? And you think he loves you? I've said it before, those people aren't capable of real feelings, they're just as it like rabbits, breeding all over the place, cluttering up our houses, if I had my way I'd cull them, just keep the useful ones!

Rebecca manages to pull away, the tears once again streaming down her face and ruining her newly applied make-up, but the only way she can go is backwards onto the bed, scrambling and tearing in despair at her sheets. It hit her like a lightening bolt, she could see it all, her leaving Andrew, but Franny hovering, waiting and smiling wickedly in delight at what she saw next

Rebecca her mouth dry and tight as she points accusingly: You knew, you saw it, heard him, and you did nothing to help him! NOTHING! You…how could you….my own sister!

Franny laughing as she remembers Adams' desperation: He didn't see me, Rebecca, I made sure of that! I watched through the crack in the door, d'you know he positively went purple? Serves him right for smashing a bottle against the wall first, these people are like animals most of the time. I saw him fall onto his pathetic excuse for a bed, calling out your name, but the poor thing could only roll himself off it again, it was terribly tragic. Then again you always were destined to be tragic, weren't you, dear?

Rebecca could only stare at Franny, nausea rising in her stomach until she is sure she is going to vomit. She always knew that Franny had a bit of an evil streak but to stoop quite so low? And for what end! Why did she always want her to be so unhappy?

Rebecca rapidly losing control of herself: Get out! Just get out, I hate you!

Franny storming towards the door, her voice dripping with sarcasm: What are you going to do, tell Father! Hmm! Oh yes, I can just hear it now, 'daddy, Franny didn't help my servant lover when I made him poorly by finding out about his illegitimate child and the butler paying his debt, can you cut her out of your will?'

Rebecca, now too distraught to speak, throws herself back onto the bed, sobbing loudly and uncontrollably, her whole body shaking in distress, but even this failed to move Franny from her wicked words

Franny lowering her voice and hissing: Oh, stop blubbing, he'll live, I'm sure he'll be back to polishing the silver in no time – well, he'd better be or that'll be a lot of wages docked, how ever would he pay back Jarvis? I've warned you once, and if you go to see him again, well, I won't be responsible for what Hugo does to you, it's about time someone gave you a good hiding!

And with that, Lady Hamilton-Hussey sweeps out of the room, her dowdy skirts swishing, and slams the door hard behind her, leaving Rebecca to cry, heartbroken and helpless, until she can hardly breathe. She knows that she will have to marry Hugo as planned otherwise her suspected pregnancy would end up being a scandal, whether it were considered Hugo's or not. Finally, despair filling her thoughts and her heart, through her exhaustion she drifts off to sleep, hoping above all hopes that her new friend and confidant Flora will be able to help her to see Andrew before it is all too late

Finally Flora Ryan made it back to her office; the events of the day had been nothing short of dramatic. First waking up confused, disorientated and more than a little cold in Jennifer's room, then dashing around making sure all the bedrooms had been aired and the fish order was fresh, then dealing with Rebecca's revelation and now the shocking news about Mr Adams. Sinking gratefully into her chair for the first time that day she turned her attention to her mountain of post, methodically opening each one and making a neat list of all the issues they raised. However just as she was about to open the last, something caught the corner of her eye, standing up slowly she made her way into the alcove off her office, lying on her desk was a single rose and underneath there was a very large, very thin wrapped package. Smiling softly she made a mental note to make the time to thank Walter personally, although when he had found the time to get her a present amongst all that was going on? Her curiosity more than a little piqued, Flora teased at the string, and carefully folded back the crisp brown paper, gasping in shock at what she saw enclosed.

After a few minutes she was able to glance back at the drawing, it was unmistakably her, and it had to have been drawn last night, the question remained was who? It was well drawn that at least she would admit, all be it a little too flattering, but what was the most shocking was the content, not so much what was shown but what it hinted at, it was only a head and shoulders sketch but the way it cut off just at the tops of her breasts, well it made it look as though she were posing nude. Despite all this she had to suppress a small smile, it did make her look rather good, both serene and abandoned at the same time and if she believed it had been drawn by Walter she might have been tempted to thank him but somehow she knew him too well to believe he had managed to hide such a talent from her for all these years! So that worryingly only left her one realistic candidate, who else would want to titillate her so? It had to be William Forest.

In that moment she realised the footman had not simply given up on her, but had instead backed away, preferring a more indirect approach trying to win her affections. Seizing the drawing she walked over to the fire, she knew she should throw it in before Walter saw it and demanded an explanation; to keep it would surely only encourage Will to repeat his inappropriate behaviour. But somehow she was unwilling to release her grip and let the charcoal sketch perish in the all consuming flames, closing her eyes she forced herself to drop the picture in, before opening them with an expression of horror she watched as the bottom slowly caught alight and sparks began to eat there way up the paper. Suddenly she leapt forward and grasping the top of the sheet pulled it out of the fire, quickly stamping out the flames, with tears in her eyes she knelt down and turned the charred paper over, most of her head had managed to escape the flames but anything below her collarbone had either been burnt away or charred black with the thick smoke. Shaking slightly Flora walked towards her desk, sitting down she reached out and unlocked one of her drawers, removing the papers that lay inside and replacing them with the drawing, then swiping at her tears she slowly closed the drawer, locking it securely; removing the key she unclipped it from her clattering chain of keys before carefully locking that away in another drawer. With any luck that should keep it safe for posterity and away from prying eyes, then one day when she was really old it would serve as a wonderful reminder of how beautiful somebody once saw her.

Meanwhile whilst the housekeeper was in her office deep in thought and the butler was dashing about attending to the arriving guests two co-conspirators were in the kitchen cooking up more than just the evening meal. Felix Kraus and his new best friend Emily Corey were in the pastry standing side by side, apparently engrossed in adding the delicate decorations to the tops of the delicious apple and cherry pies that the chef had prepared earlier.

"Are you sure this will work Emily?" Felix asked a slight tinge of concern in his voice, "I mean what if there is a problem this evening, and the Earl demands to see either one of them, I mean with Mr Adams as he is, there will be no senior staff available…"

"Oh Felix you're such a worrier, believe me if there is a problem we can always let them out, you know this makes sense, besides it was your idea remember I said if only we could make them sit down and talk it all through, and you replied the only way that would work was if we locked them both in a room and refused to let them out. Besides it's not like it will be whilst the party is in full swing, we'll wait till its calmed down and most of the guests have retired then you inform Walter they need more brandy upstairs and I'll simultaneously tell Flora, then when they're both down there we barricade the door and leave them till morning."

"And if there is a problem?" Felix asked still a note of trepidation in his voice.

"Then I give you my word I'll let them out! Trust me the results will be worth a little inconvenience, and with everyone else so busy it's not like their absence will be so blindingly obvious! And who knows with any luck, my grandchild might be on his way by morning after all those cellar's can get particularly nippy !... Oh Felix don't look so shocked, I was only joking!" Emily added in response to the chef's fierce blush.

"You know there is nothing I would like more than for them both to be happy, but don't you think another child so soon…?" Felix started but was cut of by Emily's angry glare and sharp retort.

"It is the only thing that will help ease the pain, she's not the only woman in the world who has ever lost a child, and take it from me the only thing you can do is carry right on living! Besides its not like they have all the time in the world, and if Walter is to get his quota, they'd bloody well better hurry up!"

"Quota? You make Flora sound like a brood mare!" Felix retorted angrily, annoyed by Emily's apparent insensitivity. "Surely there are other more important reasons for getting them back together other than Walter's aspirations for fatherhood!"

"Yes, Yes of course there are!" Emily replied placating, waving aside Felix's concerns, "But surely a family can only help!"

Not entirely convinced the chef finished decorating his pie with a sharp huff and stalked off into the kitchen to check up on Mr Simpkins progress. Smiling to herself Emily delicately arranged a sprig of pastry holly on her last pie, Felix was such a romantic he had little grasp on the role of women in society, they had one fundamental purpose and that was to bear children. Walter's first marriage had denied him the chance to be a father, and her the chance of grandchildren she had thought forever, but now he had a second chance and she wasn't going to let the reservations of Flora Ryan get in their way; besides on the day her first child is born Flora would thank them even if at the beginning they had to somewhat strong-arm her into it!

It is now getting rather late, the day having raced away, and pre-wedding gitters begin to descend on the entire house. There had seemed nothing better but to have an elaborate evening soiree to keep all the guests – and the servants –occupied, but by the time it is in full swing, there is notably someone very much absent. Franny, rather naively for her assuming that Rebecca is still sobbing her heart out on her bed, smiles wickedly to herself as she plays cards with Hugo, Julian and Lady Dalrimple-Sykes, while the Admiral tells his elaborate tales of adventures on the high seas to a delighted Lady Caroline and a bored-looking Earl.

Rebecca, meanwhile, is far from sobbing on her bed, she is standing outside Adams' door again, rather more nervous than the last time but nevertheless absolutely desperate to see him. She glances as Flora, who gives her a soft smile and an encouraging nod, so taking a deep breath and shutting her eyes she reaches for the door handle.

Flora had discovered her in her room, being comforted by Hugo, his muscular arms wrapped around her as he rocked her gently on the bed, his chin resting on the top of her head as she buries her face in his chest. For a second, this reminded Flora so much of all those times Felix had been there for her, a stable rock in her life through all the turbulence of the last year, and it almost brought a tear to her eye. Suddenly it occurred to her that maybe she shouldn't be there, that she had been too late and Rebecca had already had the bad news broken to her, and now all she needed was her best friend and fiancé. But something kept her standing in the doorway, unnoticed by either aristocrat, while Hugo soothes Rebecca with words of comfort, telling her everything would be alright in the end, that he wouldn't let Franny hurt her any more and that if she really was pregnant then he will look after both her and the child and she could continue to write to Andrew after their marriage.

This seemed to help Rebecca a little, and she glanced up at Hugo, holding him tight. Flora smiled to herself – they both looked so perfect together, and somehow it was such a shame that he didn't love her in that way, that once they were married she would lead a life without any physical affection if Andrew remained at Taplows after they returned home. She remembered how she felt when she was about to leave with Felix, how sorrowful she was to be leaving Walter, but just knowing that someone who loved her dearly, even if not in the carnal kind of way, would take care of her and her child had been enough to give her some sort of comfort and hope at least.

That didn't mean, of course, that she shouldn't see Andrew for the remainder of her stay at Taplows, so she decided that she would do her very best to help her new friend. Stepping forward tentatively, Flora caught their attention, Rebecca beaming sadly through her tears, delighted to see another caring face.

Flora quietly, a little nervous due to Hugo's presence: I can help you, I can take you to him. The doctor said he will recover, but he's very sick.

Rebecca, quite unexpectedly, leaped from Hugo's arms and threw herself at Flora, flinging her dainty arms around her and squeezing her so tight that Flora was convinced she was going to snap in two. Whimpering, Rebecca kissed Flora on both cheeks, hugging her again

Rebecca: Oh Flora, my dear, dear friend! I knew you could help me, I need to see him, tonight during the party, please! I must, I…..

Hugo gently prising Rebecca away from the startled housekeeper, chuckling softly: My dear, I think Mrs Ryan will be of absolutely no use to you if you suffocate her! Come, sit down.

Hugo was indeed dashing, thought Flora, he had a certain air and charm about him that only the very wealthy seemed to be able to carry off. But like Felix, he didn't flaunt himself or his certain preferences, appearing the very respectable gentlemen with a beautiful, fashionable and loving fiancée on his arm, without a hint of his or indeed his Lady's dark secrets tarnishing them. The three of them talked for nearly an hour, Flora finding Hugo surprisingly easy to pass the time with. Instinctively she felt he would get on famously with a certain friend of her own, but she felt rather unable to encourage a liaison between them for their own sakes – a male servant fraternising with a male aristocrat would surely be such a scandal that it couldn't be covered up for long?

After a long discussion, it was decided that Flora should take Rebecca down to see Adams, going ahead of her every few yards and checking that the coast is clear, and she should stand guard outside the door, then escorting Rebecca back to her room, or the party, whichever seemed appropriate at the time. Hugo was to cover for her, saying she is asleep and not to be disturbed, and making sure that Franny did not decide to slip away and hunt her down.

So, once the aristocrats were all settled for the evening with their card playing, story telling and pianoforte, once again provided by a relatively tone-deaf Lady Caroline, Flora returned to Rebecca's room, telling her that now was the perfect time to see Adams again since he vowed that he never wanted to see her again. After a brief conversation with a rather distant and confused Lizzie about her wardrobe arrangement, she drew the maid into a hug and thanked her for her understanding, although Lizzie wondered what exactly it was she had done to encourage such a thought

Nevertheless she managed a weak smile as Rebecca followed Flora out of the door, leaving her to ponder her own thoughts on her father's situation.

----

Reaching for the door handle, Rebecca turns it tentatively, giving Flora one last worried glance before slipping inside, shutting it carefully and quietly behind her. She stands facing the door for a moment, unsure of what she will see, but with a sigh she turns, her eyes immediately falling on the under-butler, lying comfortably and peacefully in his bed, fast asleep. Moving over to him, she pulls round a chair and places it by the bed, sitting down next to him and for a long minute can only stare at him, cursing herself. Did she do this to him? It's all her fault, how could she not see how sick it was all making him?

Reaching out her hand, she hesitates slightly before grasping his own and curling his fingers around hers with her other hand. She had never seen him this helpless before, his face as white as parchment, and she suddenly feels an overwhelming sense of sorrow and love for him like never before. He doesn't flinch as she strokes his cheek with the back of her hand, tears welling up in her eyes then dropping onto the crisp linen of his sheets with tiny patters. Turning her head to one side, she moves forward and places it on the pillow next to his to be near him, just like all the nights they had spent together cradled in each other's arms. She gently places her hand on his chest, his injured heart beating rhythmically again and his breathing regular if a little shallow.

Whispering 'I'm so sorry, my darling', Rebecca leans up and forward out of her chair and gently kisses his lips, still firmly holding his hand. For a moment he is unresponsive, but she is just content to linger and feel the warmth of his face next to hers, but quite unexpectedly his eyes flicker open and their eyes lock. Smiling gently, Adams raises a weary arm and cups Rebecca's saddened face, wiping away her tears with his thumb

Adams his voice a lot softer than usual: Rebecca, you shouldn't be here! What if you get caught?

But without replying, Rebecca closes her eyes and kisses him firmly, and Adams can't help but run his fingers through her hair and bask in her touch, pulling her towards him as she moves and sits on the bed. But, coming to his senses, Adams gently pulls his lips away so instead their faces are just inches apart, his eyes raking over her beautiful features

Adams laughing gently: Whoa there, Becca, do you want to give me another heart attack?

But the joke doesn't work as well as he'd have liked, and she suddenly looks as if she is about to cry again as she grips the sheets and rests her head on his chest, desperately wanting to protect him

Rebecca voice choked with emotion and tiredness: Oh, Andrew, it is all my fault, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean this to happen, I…..

Adams pushing her face up by her chin to meet her gaze: Rebecca stop, it's not your fault, it must have been on the cards, there's nothing you could have done, please don't blame yourself.

Rebecca: But if I hadn't gone and read your diary, and if I hadn't got engaged, if I hadn't even come here to Taplows!

Adams tutting and kissing her nose, brushing her tear-drenched hair off her cheek: Don't think like that, I'm glad you came here, and as for reading my diary well, I should have told you about Jarvis paying the debt, but I was so ashamed, I didn't want you thinking worse of me, I am already totally unworthy of your love. Mrs Stanwick, well, she was so unimportant compared to you, the love of my life, that I didn't want to mention it as there seemed no point. But Lizzie, yes, I agree, I should have told you. It was unfair on both of you, but I have yet to see her as I've been sleeping.

Rebecca hangs her head, wondering. Is this the right time to tell him? Or should she wait? Maybe waiting would be better all round, but if it is true then he needs to know, needs to understand that there is an even more pressing reason why she should marry Hugo quickly.

Rebecca biting her bottom lip: Andrew, I….there is so much we need to talk about, and Franny well she is being positively beastly. My darling, my love, I have something to tell you.

Adams frowns, but considers nothing can be as bad or as much of a shock as her engagement to Hugo. Whispering 'what is it?' he kisses her knuckles but sees the fear in her eyes.

Rebecca moving closer to him and running her finger across his lips: Andrew, I'm….well I think……I'm……

Suddenly there is a rapid light knocking on the door and Rebecca sits up quickly, turning her attention to the door as it opens ajar.

Rebecca whispering furiously: Flora, what's wrong!

Flora just peering around the door, not knowing what she would see inside: It's the Earl, he's on his way, I've just had word from Walter, he wants to see Andr….Mr Adams about his health!

Scrambling from the bed, all thoughts of her confession pushed to the back of her mind, she turns and kisses Adams again, as he holds her hand, gradually letting it drop as she moves away.

Adams desperation consuming him: Visit me again soon, please! I'll go mad lying here, I know I will!

Nodding furiously, blowing him another kiss, Lady Farquarson sweeps out of the room, Flora dashing ahead and waving at her to follow her away from the direction of the Earl's footsteps and booming voice and towards the soiree, where at least she could find more solace in Hugo.

After escorting Rebecca back to her room Flora made her way back downstairs, however just as she was making her way towards the kitchen to supervise the clearing up from dinner she heard someone calling out for her. Walking in the direction of the voice Flora headed back towards her office, and just as she turned the corner she spotted Emily Corey standing calling for her and glancing around in panic.

"Emily What's the matter?"

"Oh thank goodness I've found you, they need more brandy upstairs…"

"Well Walter would usually deal with that!" Flora replied perplexed.

"Yes but we can't find him and the Earl is taking it out on the poor footmen so couldn't you use your keys and go fetch us a bottle or two?"

"Alright but I'll need your help to carry them!" Flora replied hurrying off to the cellar a relieved Emily hard on her heels.

However when they arrived and Flora went to open the door with her key, she found that it was already unlocked, pushing the door open wider, she glanced back at Emily a puzzled expression on her face.

"Perhaps Walter is already dealing with it, but you'd better go down and check Flora dear, I would go with you but really the cold would play hell for leather with my rheumatism!" Emily spoke up suddenly, rubbing her lower back for emphasis.

Smiling softly Flora turned and slowly made her way down the wooden stairs, calling out for Walter as she went holding a small stuttering candle in front of her to light her way. However as soon as she turned the corner and caught sight of the butler along the stacks she heard the cellar door clang shut and the sound of the key being turned in the lock. Whirling round she cried out for them to stop, that there were still people down here, causing Walter to glance over in her direction and close the distance between them in a few strides.

"Flora, what is it, what's the matter?" Jarvis asked gently grasping her elbow.

"They've locked us in!" Flora exclaimed.

"Who have?" Jarvis replied a confused expression visible on is face in the candlelight.

"I don't know, one minute your mother is telling me to come and get some more brandy, the next the door is locked behind me…."

"Mother!" Jarvis growled. "And Felix telling me to come down here! Why does this start to sound more and more like some sort of conspiracy?"

Angry and annoyed Flora stamped her foot, "How dare they…?" Before turning and brushing off Walter's hand, storming back up the stairs and hammering on the door. "Emily Corey, Felix Kraus you let us out of here this instant!" However no answer came, and try as she might she could not get the handle to budge.

"Why don't we try my key?" Jarvis asked a slight teasing tone in his voice as he had to squeeze next to the housekeeper on the small landing at the top of the stairs, for a moment enjoying the sensation of having her so close. However the smug look was soon wiped off his face when on turning his key in the lock the door still wouldn't budge. "They must have pushed the bolts across!" Jarvis hissed, his annoyance at being so easily outmanoeuvred clear in his voice.

"Well what are we supposed to do? Stay here all night?" Flora asked.

"It doesn't look like we have much of a choice!" Jarvis replied offering Flora his hand to assist her down the rickety staircase.

"Well what do we do now?" Flora retorted her anger starting to ebb away as the miserable prospect of having to spend the night in a damp dark cellar took over. Walter did not answer immediately and so Flora turned to look at him her eyebrow raised and on the verge of repeating her question when she caught sight of the expression on his face. "Oh you can wipe that smirk off your face Walter Corey! If you think I'm going to…well down here of all places…"

"SO it's the setting that's the problem rather than the act itself?..." Jarvis asked cheekily causing Flora to blush bright red, quickly threading his arms firmly around her small waist and pulling her into his arms.

Smiling Flora slid her hands slowly up his chest before locking them behind his neck, "I won't deny I have been thinking about it…." She replied sultrily.

Pleasantly surprised Jarvis leant down intending to capture her lips with his own, but Flora unlocked her hands and laid her fingertips across his mouth stalling him. "Walter there is something important we do need to talk about, I haven't been able to until now and I'm sorry but I had to come to this point by myself…."

"The baby?" Jarvis asked softly, noticing the tears that sprung immediately to Flora's eyes.

"That and other things, us for example, the future, our future I mean…" Flora trailed off determined to finally get this off her chest.

"I'm listening." Jarvis replied softly, "To whatever you want to say…"

"Thank you!" Flora cut him off, smiling bravely through her tears and then taking a deep breath she finally spoke. "I'm afraid!"

"What of? Please God, not me?" Jarvis replied, his eyes wide with fear and panic.

"No, although there are times you can be quite intimidating… What I meant was I'm afraid of being hurt again; I don't think I would survive loosing another child."

"But what happened this time was an accident, it wasn't because there was anything wrong with you or the baby and the chances of anything like that happening again…"

"Let me finish please!" Flora cut him off. "It's not just that, I'm afraid of getting my hopes up, of opening myself up to be hurt again, not only of loosing a baby but of even trying for one, what if I can't? What if the miscarriage has robbed us of even the chance? I don't know if I'm strong enough to cope with that either!"

"I can be strong enough for us both if I have to…Loosing our child was agony, and neither of us will ever be the same again, but we can't give up living Flora…. I've seen you with Jennifer I can see part of you is crying out for a child of your own, surely even the remotest chance for that is worth the risk?"

"I want to believe it, I really do, and I want to be able to lie safe in your arms but I'm just so …"

"Terrified?... I'm afraid as well Flora, I'm afraid that next time I might loose you as well. I think I could cope with anything except that, as long as we have each other we can survive it!"

"I wish I could believe that Walter…" Flora replied the tears now flowing freely down her icy cheeks, as she buried her face against the butler's shoulder.

Shocked and shaken Jarvis wrapped his arms tightly round her pulling into an almost suffocating embrace, himself blinking back tears that sprung unbidden to his eyes. "Believe me, believe in us, we can do this!" He whispered softly.

But Flora did not respond save to tighten her grip on the butler, slowly he lowered them to the floor and leaning back against the wall pulled her on to his lap, rocking her slowly in his arms until her sobs lessened and he realised she had fallen fast asleep. Sighing softly to himself Jarvis leant forward and nuzzled softly into Flora's hair, placing a row of delicate kisses along her hairline before himself falling asleep, safe in Flora's embrace

The next morning Jarvis stirred slowly, stretching slightly he tried to move his shoulder to shift the pins and needles and get the blood flowing, opening his eyes he glanced down at the sleeping Flora and smiled. Tightening his hold on the housekeeper he leant down and nuzzled into her hair, breathing in her unique perfume, before kissing her softly on the lips. Moaning slightly as Jarvis pulled away, Flora opened her eyes sleepily, a soft smile spreading across her face.

"So beautiful!" Jarvis whispered, reaching up and brushing stray wisps of hair away from her face, as Flora's eyes softened, their gazes locked.

Suddenly Flora leapt forward, seizing the lapels of the Butler's jacket she pulled him firmly against her capturing his lips with her own and kissing him passionately. After a few minutes she broke their kiss, breathless but ecstatic she grinned at him saucily before pushing his jacket off his shoulders and tearing it from his back. A stunned butler simply sat there, amazed at her sudden change of heart, he was unable to believe what was happening before his very own eyes. By the time he had come around from his stupor the housekeeper had removed not only his jacket but his waistcoat and was now unbuttoning his shirt, but in her haste she was struggling with the buttons.

Growling slightly Jarvis seized her hands and wrapping his arms round her small waist pulling her against him before pushing her down against the cellar floor, sitting up slightly he seized the bottom of his shirt and pulled it off over his head, before rolling back on top of her and kissing her passionately. Determined to show her appreciation Flora ran her hands up and down his back, raking her nails down his vest and teasingly un-tucking it from his trousers, giggling loudly when Jarvis retaliated by nipping at her collar-bone, whilst he quickly unbuttoned her dress.

However just as Jarvis was about to drag her dress completely off her shoulders, a rather familiar voice pierced the air.

"Oh Felix will you stop whittling!" Emily snapped as she made her way down the stairs.

Urgently the housekeeper and butler jumped to their feet, Walter trying to fasten Flora's dress and her scooping up his shirt trying to force it back over his head, however it was too late and as Emily and Felix turned the corner they stopped dead, shocked gasps escaping from their startled lips. Embarrassed the butler and housekeeper just froze, Walter determined not to meet his mother's rather pointed gaze.

"Well Felix we appear to be interrupting something, perhaps we'd better leave?" Emily retorted having finally found her voice, unable to keep the tone of amusement from her voice.

"Yes…well…yes!" Felix replied, gasping for the words as he turned and beet red followed Emily back up the stairs.

For a moment neither Flora nor Jarvis spoke, then the housekeeper burst out laughing, slumping to the floor in her hysterics. After a few minutes when they had subsided to the odd titter she glanced up at Walter who was still standing stock still, an expression of horror on his face. Concerned Flora immediately stopped giggling and made her way over to him, sliding her hands soothingly across his chest before nuzzling against his neck.

"Well we've been sprung, why don't we go upstairs? We have a little unfinished business…." She added teasing one of his ears with her teeth, running her hands down his torso and beyond, before drawing her hand back suddenly in surprise. "Walter? What's the matter? Is it me? Did I do something wrong?"

Slowly Jarvis came out of his stupor, shaking his head slightly he continued to gaze into space, a glazed look of disbelief and horror on his face. "I'm sorry…I just…I can't! Good God Flora, My Mother was here, another few minutes and she would have seen something she hasn't since I was eight years old!"

However despite the butler's pitiful tone and horrified expression Flora couldn't contain the splutter of mirth that escaped her lips, earning her a hurt and confused look from Walter who seemed to Flora's eyes to pout like the small boy he was describing. Smiling softly at him, Flora slipped her hand into his and began to drag him towards the stairs. "Don't worry about it Walter, somehow I think that was what she had in mind when she locked us down here! And as for the rest, well I'll let you make it up to me this evening!" She added giggling slightly as they made their way up the stairs hand in hand.

A few hours later and the house was in the state of pandemonium that could only be associated with a major Taplow's event. Mrs Ryan was in the ballroom ordering her maids to clean harder and quicker, whilst keeping a close eye on the layout of the banquet tables in the main dining room. Mr Jarvis was outside giving his footmen and porters last minute instructions with regard to ferrying guests and their extra duties for the day's special event. Whereas upstairs most of the ladies maids were dashing about, catering to lady Caroline's every whim. First her bath was too cold, then it was too hot, then they had put the wrong scented salts in! Then everything had been thrown into disarray when the rather batty Lady Mary had gate crashed the room dancing around and giggling manically, commenting to anyone who would listen about how much she was looking forward to marrying her Algie later that afternoon. No matter what they did nothing was good enough, and so all available help had been drafted in to help cosset the daughter of the household through her special day. Even other people's lady's maids had been conscripted.

Somewhat nervous Lizzie paced around in the background eager to avoid both the sharp tongue of Lady Caroline and the every watchful and critical eye of Mrs Diggins. Suddenly her attention was diverted from the pair of dress shoes she was trying to polish up, when a half dressed Lady Caroline suddenly screeched loudly and seizing the hairbrush out of her maid's hand flung it across the room, only missing the rather large target of Mrs Diggins by a matter of inches. Amazingly the normally highly strung maid did not bat an eyelid, instead simply turning round and retrieving the hairbrush from where it now lay, wedged precariously between the antique Louis XIVth mirror and the treasured portrait of Lady Lydia.

However the fact that she had almost destroyed one if not both of her most treasured items did not deter Lady Caroline from continuing with her tantrum. Stamping her foot angrily till the room seemed to tremble, she screeched once more in fury, as her already nervous maid fumbled with her corset. "Oh for God's sake, you stupid girl can you do nothing right? Must I do everything myself?" Caroline bellowed ignoring the tearful sobs of her now trembling maid.

Fortunately for the maid in question the situation was interrupted by a sharp tap on the door. Sighing loudly Lizzie followed Mrs Diggins unspoken directive and went to answer it, somewhat surprised she opened the door wide allowing Lady Dalrimple-Sykes and Lady Rebecca to enter, deliberately ignoring Rebecca's conspiratorial smile and staring stonily into space over her shoulder.

"Beeca, Margaret, thank goodness you're hear, it's a nightmare, everything been going wrong, why can't these damn servants do anything right? They don't seem to have any idea just how important this day is to me, if it doesn't go perfectly I shall never forgive daddy! If he hadn't gone a given most of his money to that monstrous cad Freddy, then we could have afforded some decent staff!" She huffed, before allowing both Rebecca and Lady Margaret to comfort her.

"Don't worry Caroline, the day can't fail to go swimmingly, what with that special good luck charm I brought you, remember the rhyme. 'Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue.' After all you have your new wedding dress, oh and that beautiful antique diamond necklace of your mothers, and I gave you my little gift so that covers borrowed and blue, with all that how can everything fail to go perfectly?"

"What little gift?" Lady Margaret asked.

"Oh I'll show you!" Caroline gushed, waving off Mrs Diggins to go and retrieve the said item from her dressing room, where all her wedding finery was laid out.

However after a few minutes of waiting for the maid to return Lady Caroline became increasingly impatient and short tempered, stamping her foot in annoyance she jumped to her feet ignoring the protest of her maid who had only just started once more on her hair she stalked through into the dressing room, Margaret and Rebecca following in her wake.

"Mrs Diggins what on earth are you doing?" Lady Caroline screeched on entering the room and finding the rotund lady's maid on her hands and knees searching under the chaise lounge.

"WELL?" Caroline repeated her tone icy.

"It's gone My'lady!" Mrs Diggins replied her eyes wide with fear.

"What do mean it's gone? It can't have gone, it was here earlier, I remember seeing it!"

"But it's not here now, perhaps…." Mrs Diggins began.

"Perhaps what? It grew wings and flew away?"

"No, perhaps it got moved or something…"

"Stolen is more likely, is this one of your lot's idea of a joke? 'Oh wouldn't it be funny to play a trick on the little rich girl, ruin her wedding day, that'd serve her right!' Isn't that what has happened Mrs Diggins, well I don't find it particularly funny and you'll all be laughing on the other side of your faces when I tell daddy to dock the cost of it from each of your wages!" Caroline snapped, her face getting redder and redder as her temper got the better of her and her voice escalated from a harsh whisper to practically a bellow.

For once in her life Mrs Diggins was unable to find her voice, she kept opening her mouth but no words came out, making her appear to all present like an oversized old trout.

"Well woman! What do you have to say for yourself?" Asked Lady Margaret.

"Perhaps…Perhaps it got picked up with something else, I mean in all the panic earlier with Lady Mary…"

"Well I suggest for your own security you find it, there is no way I'm going down the aisle without it!" Caroline added turning and leaving the distressed maid quaking on the floor.

Meanwhile downstairs an equally bizarre scene was about to take place, Mr Jarvis had finally managed to snatch five minutes peace in his office, sitting down in his fireside easy chair with his cup of tea and his paper. However it wasn't long before the exhausted butler fell fast asleep, the hassles of the last few weeks combined with spending the night in a damp dark cellar had finally caught up with him. Suddenly he was jolted awake by the sensation of someone massaging his shoulders, gently loosening the knots of tension that had built up there. Smiling to himself he kept his eyes closed leaning back into their touch, allowing himself to recall the events of first thing that morning. Chuckling to quietly himself over just how persistent his lover was becoming; especially when she moved from massaging his shoulders to running her fingers through his hair and teasingly stroking his ears.

"All right woman, I give in, you win! Although how we're going to find time I will never know, what with the wedding and everything?" He exclaimed reaching blindly behind him and seizing her by the wrists pulling her round on to his lap.

However then something happened he wasn't expecting, just as he was opening his eyes, intent on passionately capturing Flora's lips with his own, he suddenly caught sight of who was actually sitting on his lap. Desperately he tried to push her away, but it was too late and Jarvis found himself on the receiving end of a very sloppy, wet kiss from one very old, and extremely demented aristocrat. Grimacing he finally manage to grasp her shoulders and prise her off him, a surprisingly difficult feat considering the age and supposed frailty of the Lady in question.

"Lady Mary, please! You shouldn't be here!" Jarvis exclaimed, unable to keep his abject horror from either his tone or expression.

Lady Mary simply smiled and stroked his face lovingly. "Oh My dear Algie, there's no need to be so formal, in mean we are already man and wife literally so I don't think this silly superstition about seeing the bride before the wedding applies to us darling, after all we've only the ceremony left."

"What!" Jarvis spluttered, getting to his feet attempting to dislodge the aristocrat, to no avail as before he could stop her she had flung her arms around the butler's neck. "Lady Mary, please go back to your room!"

"Oh Algie!" She added coyly. "I'd thought you'd never ask!" Seizing the butler's hand and practically dragging him towards the door.

Stunned Jarvis was unable to react immediately, however as soon as he realised her intentions where far from honourable, he seized hold of the door jam and refused to move.

"Algie, dearest what's wrong?" Lady Mary began tearfully. "Don't you want me anymore, is that it? I'm old and boring to you now, been there done that, as it were?"

"Madam please, I am not your husband!" Jarvis began patiently

"No, but you will be this afternoon…" Lady Mary began giggling.

"No I won't!" Jarvis replied. "We are not getting married, I am not your Algie, I'm your son's Butler this silly fantasy of yours has gone on long enough!" He added, his voice getting more and more high pitched as he spoke, unable to contain his anger and annoyance.

"What you're refusing to Marry Me!" Lady Mary replied, her eyes widening in panic.

Relieved that at least that had gotten through to the barmy old dear, Jarvis simply nodded his agreement. However he had not expected what came next, instead of turning and leaving in a huff, Lady Mary's burst into tears, her tiny frame wracked with sobs. Suddenly unsure how to react Jarvis resorted to guiding her into his chair and patting her shoulder soothingly.

"Don't you touch me!" Lady Mary snapped at him though her tears. "I hate you Algernon Sturges-Bourne. How dare you do this to me, I'll be ruined. All my family are here, even my spiteful cousin Mavis, oh she'll love this, jilted at the alter and pregnant to boot, no one will ever marry me now, I'll be a disgrace an outcast!" She added, suddenly getting to her feet and storming towards the door, before pausing and much to Jarvis's distress lifting her skirt and rummaging around under her petticoats before removing a something blue and throwing it at him.

"There!" She exclaimed as it hit him plum in the chest. "I was going to wear that for luck down the aisle but it doesn't look like I'll need it now!" And with that she turned and left leaving a confused Jarvis staring after her, a some what warm and stretched blue garter clutched in his hand.

Unfortunately, Lady Rebecca's calming words to Lady Caroline that everything would go swimmingly were very much in doubt as the morning wears on. At least the problem isn't something the bride-to-be could blame on the servants for once, but it doesn't stop her wailing loudly and storming around her room in circles as her Lady's maid tries desperately to tie small cream beads in her hair. Rebecca screws up her dainty nose and gazes out of the window.

Rebecca rolling her eyes, flopping backwards onto the bed and sighing: Oh, Carrie, it's only a bit of rain, I'm sure it will pass. One has to expect these kind of eventualities at this time of year.

Caroline clenching her fists and looking less than ladylike: But, BECCA, I don't think you realise! The marquee will be ruined, I will get mud on my dress, everything will be simply beastly, and I will have the worst day of my life! Get off Annie, get off!

Caroline shakes off her maid and flounces over to the window, staring out as the grey clouds gather and the rain pelts the frames.

But by all (later) accounts, the service itself went remarkably smoothly considering. Well, considering the obvious lack of anything possibly linked to affection or even anything resembling even a basic fondness between the 'happy couple'. The vicar had coughed uncomfortably at one point - actually, just at the moment Julian had to say those two difficult words 'I do', the sorry-looking aristocrat shuffling around awkwardly and silently as Caroline grew redder and redder until she kicked him hard in the shin, taking him by surprise and causing him to squeak out 'I DO!'

The frostiness inside the church was considerably greater than the rather nippy wintery weather outside, but even still the sorry footmen, decked in their finest and holding up arches of flowers, stood dithering in the cold at the door of the chapel for what felt like all eternity. Their only solace was to keep themselves amused by sniggering about poor Lord Julian's misfortune in marrying such an ogress

George tugging at his livery, his arm beginning to ache from holding his flowers: Wonder if Lord Julian will be sleeping on his own tonight?

Fred with a naughty grin: Bet she's a real goer in the bedroom, the little fox!

Will laughing and nudging George: She's probably one of those aggressive types, you know how angry she gets, she'd probably take it all out on the poor bloke, break every bone in his body by jumping up and down on top of him!

Joe speaking without thinking it through first: Oh, a bit like old Rosie, into the tying you to the bed kinda stuff, likes a bit of control. Not that I know. Come on, fellas, don't look at me like that, I've HEARD she's like that, I mean I...

Will feigning sympathy, sarcasm dripping in his voice: Don't worry mate, your secret is safe with us, really it is. See? George agrees with me. Rosie can be hard to resist, especially with her new cheaper rates!

Joe is just about to retort and deny all knowledge when the church doors flew open and Caroline stormed out, her presumably recently acquired husband trotting behind her meekly as everyone piled out behind them, chatting and gafawing loudly while the bells rang out joyfully. Almost marching through the archway, Lady Caroline hardly looked impressed with the flowers or appreciative of the footmen, but she was stopped rather abruptly by a weedy little man clutching a notepad and pencil approaching her

Caroline folding her arms, petals from her bouquet flying about as Julian came up behind her: Who on earth are you! I don't remember inviting you, and how scruffy you are! Don't you realise you're interrupting THE HAPPIEST DAY OF MY LIFE! Eh!

Man chuckling and tipping his hat: Please do excuse me, but my name's Ernie Boswell and I'm from the Tappleton Telegraph - I'm doing a feature on village society weddings, and yours is at the top of my list!

Caroline's aggressive body language and expression suddenly softened, and she smiled broadly for the first time that day, grabbing a startled Julian by his scrawny arm and dragging him round next to her. Snuggling against his arm, the new Lady Dalrimple-Sykes stares up lovingly at her husband and starts wittering to the journalist, who immediately begins to take notes

Caroline her voice so sweet yet insincere: Oh, Julian and I have always been the best of friends, we are so much in love isn't that right dear? No don't speak, let me finish! We are so happy and can't wait to get started on a family, I know my duty and that makes me so deliriously happy, we're having a wedding portrait done, I can't wait...

Will quietly to George as they shake their heads in disbelief at her hypocrisy: Blah, blah, blah. You watch her today, they'll be 'living separate lives' by this evening!

The start of the reception had felt more like a wake than a wedding, until the wine started flowing that is, and the beautifully presented feast had arrived on the tables to raptuous applause and much laughter. Soon, to Jarvis' delight, everyone was tucking in as the chatter got under way, and even the most pious of aristocrats seemed to be relaxing and enjoying each others company.

All except Julian and his new bride, that is. Not a word passed between them on the top table, unless you count the disapproving grunt and killer stare the new Lady Dalrimple-Sykes gave her new husband when he pinched her fork by accident.

Towards the end of the feast, the Earl could quite obviously bear it no longer and jumped up out of his seat, bursting to read the day's papers. Lady Francesca muttered quite sarcastically and with a sour smile to Lady Margaret that poor old Sturges-Bourne was quite possibly going the same way as his old notably absent mother, they would never catch him, he was far too clever, but this comment was only returned with a disapproving sniff and a quite significant 'hm!' from Lady Margaret. Meanwhile at the top table, Julian's feeble attempts to stroke Caroline's hand, then stroke her thigh, was greeted with such an angry glare that the ferocity of her silent temper shook him to the core and he looked away and down at his summer pudding. It was at this moment, quite ironically but unbeknown to him, that Lord Dalrimple-Sykes marched up to them and kissed his daughter-in-law on the cheek, forcing her into a bitter smile before he turned his attention to his disheartened son

Dalrimple-Sykes rocking backwards on his heels and gafawing: So, you're half way to my inheritance then boy, well done!

This was greeted by a cursory nod from Julian but a confused pout from his wife

Dalrimple-Sykes: All I need is the patter of tiny feet - strong male feet, of course - and it's all yours my boy!

Caroline her breath catching in her throat, voice extremely squeaky: Tiny feet, Geoffrey? I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for that.

Dalrimple-Sykes leaning in slightly and winking: Well I won't last forever you know, Julian knows the rules!

Julian gulped. His desert dribbled down his shirt and his spoon clattered noisily into his bowl, unable to hold it for shaking. Slowly Caroline rose out of her chair, her mouth hanging open as she stared with incomprehension at her husband, but he made no attempt at eye contact, Lord Dalrimple-Sykes' eyebrows vanishing halfway up his forehead in surprise

Caroline her teeth gritted so tightly hardly a word was audible: Julian, what rules, my sweet?

Julian a hot flush spreading over his lean face: Er, well...my darling...er...

Dalrimple-Sykes tutting loudly and folding his arms: Oh for God's sake boy, he's trying to say that you have to have a son before I die or you won't inherit a penny. You didn't think I'd give him my fortune without knowing it was just the tiniest bit secure! I'm not about to let him spend it on all his fancy rubbish, art and suchlike, it needs a future!

But by now Caroline had stopped listening. George and Will exchanged amused glances from behind her as she suddenly started to cough, then splutter, then shake and sob uncontrollably. Like a rippling wave, silence descended across the room as everyone turned and stared at the noise, Julian still cowering in his chair and Lord Dalrimple-Sykes backing away from the hysterical woman who was covering her face with her hands and screeching horribly

Caroline: What, I have to give you a...a...thing! No money before we have...before we do...we'll have to...no! Please no!

Suddenly the thigh touching all made sense to her, the brute! How could he presume that marriage would lead to carnal behaviour, and not to tell her! Surely it couldn't get any worse! All eyes suddenly swivel to the main door as it flies open, the first time the Earl had opened a door for himself since about the 1820s, a breathless Jarvis hurrying in after him hardly able to keep up. Pausing for a moment, the Earl smiles at the confused faces, his daughter's expression contorted in fury. After his moment of suspense, the Earl hurriedly pulls out a newspaper from behind his back and holds it above his head, his face lit up in triumph.

Earl shaking the paper furiously and laughing: They've only gone and bloody caught the bd! And all my money is safe!

Although a sudden loud thud from the top table caused distracted heads to turn back, it appeared Lady Caroline had disappeared. It was only when Julian hurriedly leapt from his chair and called out for smelling salts that reality dawned, and Lady Rebecca dashed over to her friend as everyone gasped and began to chatter in a low whisper. It didn't take long for her to come round, a group of superficially concerned aristocrats leaning over her while Jarvis stood behind them, not knowing what to do for the first time since Lady Mary's adventures up the statue. After a certain amount of ranting at Rebecca about how could this possibly happen to her, why hadn't daddy read his wretched papers before the wedding and how she doesn't intent to let Julian go anywhere near her, let alone have his wicked way, Caroline composed herself and sat back down next to her husband, but the look of revulsion never leaving her expression.

But, to the relief of Jarvis and the rest of the staff the rest of the afternoon went rather well, apart from the steely looks and the quiet, petty sniping. The Earl, considerably buoyed by his good news, felt a sudden rush of generosity and ordered Jarvis to bring out the finest brandy from the cellar in celebration, and soon the joviality of the occasion spilled onto the ballroom floor as the orchestra began to up the tempo and the whirling began.

A little while into the evening, and Frank was bored. Very bored indeed. Currently surplus to Lord Julian's requirements, the handsome valet had no interest in anything his fellow servants might have had to say, so had decided not to hang around the servants quarters, and for a brief moment he had considered paying Adams a visit with a deck of cards but then that didn't excite him much either. As he gazed from outside the ballroom, his expression blank, Frank considered having an extremely early night with a good book, but just as he turned to leave someone caught his arm. He spun round and stared in surprise at the dumpy aristocrat before him, who was gripping his arm so tightly he was sure she was cutting off his circulation. As she dragged him down the corridor without a word, except for a small wink, he immediately started to panic, had he ever looked at her twice? Surely she couldn't be thinking what he dreaded she was thinking! Halting him forcefully in a corner, away from prying eyes, she pulled him down by his jacket so her lips were only inches away from his ear, her hot breath tickling the back of his neck. Frank was just about to say that really, Lady Hamilton-Hussey, he didn't feel about her in that kind of way when she whispered something quite strange and unexpected.

Franny relaxing her grip but her voice stern and harsh: I have a special assignment for you, Mr Keneally, if you are willing to accept. Which I hope you are. I wouldn't want you to let me down.

Frank raising his eyebrows in curiosity: Special assignment, M'Lady? Doing what, may I ask?

Franny her sudden physical closeness to Frank exciting her a little more than it should: I won't beat about the bush over this - I want you to do a spot of spying for me. Do you find my sister attractive?

Frank for once a little stunned and lost for words: Well, er...

Franny frowning, her tone demanding and dangerous: DO YOU!

Frank: I'm not quite sure what you want me to answer here, but yes I do. Very. All the men do around here.

Franny stepping away from him a little and glancing around: Well that's good, because I want you to charm her, befriend her, take her into your confidence and find out everything you can.

Frank smiling slyly, the thought of talking closely with Lady Rebecca piquing his interest: About anything in particular?

Franny licking her lips, her eyes locked on Frank's: Oh yes, certainly. Mr Adams. He and my sister are, well, shall I say intimately involved in the most disgusting manner.

Frank for the first time in his life feeling a small pang of loyalty and duty: Mr Adams? Oh, I'm not sure, it would be disloyal to a good fellow servant...

Frank stopped in mid-sentence as Franny sucked her cheeks in and produced a wad of notes from inside her skirts. She waved them under Frank's nose for a moment before flicking them between her fingers almost provocatively

Franny biting her lip, her voice turning sultry and husky: Are you still sure you don't want to help?

Frank growling slightly, all sense of duty gone at the sight of cold, hard cash: Well, maybe I could be convinced, Lady Hamilton-Hussey. What exactly is it you want me to do?

Franny moving further against the wall as a maid hurries past, lost in her own thoughts: I'll give you half now and half later. I want to know everything about her foul relationship with Adams, find out as much as possible and report back to me regularly.

Frank fishing for compliments, his sour smile fixed on his face: And what makes you think that she would tell me anything at all? Why not ask one of the girls?

Franny screwing up her chubby face in disgust and hatred: Oh, they're pathetic, they love Rebecca, always doing her bidding, laughing and joking with her. You're a good-looking man, Mr Keneally, and anyway she likes a good bit of servant rough, I need you to do everything in your power to gain her trust, and her affection.

Frank not really being able to believe his ears at Franny's cruel request: Anything? At all? Are there no limits which I should stop at?

Franny snorting and stuffing £20 into his palm: No, Frank my boy. No limits, do anything you feel is necessary. Seduce her, get her into bed if needs be.

Frank's mouth fell open slightly - get her into bed! Rebecca's own upright, pious sister is paying him, a mere servant, to sleep with her, a undoubtedly beautiful creature, for information? The valet blinks in shock, Franny creasing another £10 awkwardly into his waistcoat pocket and patting it gently

Frank after a moment of stunned silence: And what will you do with information on Mr Adams? Or aren't I to know that? What about Lord Hugo?

Franny leaning towards him again, slightly threatening and intimidating: You presume correctly, it's not your job to ask questions of me. I'll pay you, and pay you well, but mess up and I'll drag you down. And once your job is done, then that's it, drop her, get out of her life.

Frank couldn't help but feel that there is a lot more that he isn't being told, an awful lot more, what if she wanted to catch him and Rebecca in the act, hard proof that she can't keep her hands off the wrong kind of person? Franny's hatred towards Adams and the raging jealousy she obviously felt towards her sister worried Frank a little, but he had to agree that if anyone could charm Rebecca into telling all her dark secrets, then he certainly could. Franny smiled soullessly at him before walking briskly away back to the ballroom, and he slowly trotted after her to catch a glimpse of his new project spinning and laughing on the dance floor. His eyes locked onto her, raking over her and undressing her, his mind imagining what it would be like with her body entwined with his. He didn't need a girl like Grace when he could have a real, sophisticated woman, with the full consent of her sister. How did Andrew manage to win her over? Surely she couldn't see anything in him. He convinced himself that there was no way she could find him attractive, or be in love with him, and she can't be short of admirers and men who would willingly do her bidding. Maybe Lady Francesca had got it all wrong? Well, that was exactly what he was employed to find out, and by George he was going to.

Finally most of the guests had drifted off to their rooms, sighing contentedly to himself Jarvis silently congratulated himself on a job well done, before giving Frederick Matkin a nod of recognition, letting the lad realise he was now in charge. Glancing back over his shoulder he caught sight of the 'happy couple', now that in itself was a joke, so far this evening Lady Caroline had paid more attention to Monty the dog than she had her new husband. After the compulsory first dance with Julian she had danced all the others with anyone else available rather than her somewhat clumsy husband. Shaking his head at the tragic comedy he had witnessed this afternoon, he smiled at the thought that at least tonight somewhere at Taplows there would be at least one loving couple together again, and he had more than an inside inkling they would not be among the nobility.

Pulling out his pocket watch he glanced quickly at the time, he didn't have long to put all his preparations in place, and as he was certain this was a night they would both remember for the rest of their lives he was determined to make it as special as possible. Not that it had been easy, but he had been slowly putting the pieces in place for days, albeit with some much needed help from friends and family. Striding quickly down the corridor he made his way upstairs and along the long gallery, thinking to himself how fortunate it was the Hammilton Hussey's had insisted on being moved from their original room because it was too small; it meant that he and Flora would have this section of the house all to themselves. Quickly checking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being watched Jarvis slipped the key out of his pocket and turning it in the lock darted quickly into the room.

A few minutes later a very smug looking butler made his way downstairs, bypassing the servants hall where by now most of the servants were enjoying themselves, drinking the extra beer his lordship had provided for them to toast his daughters wedding and settling down to tuck into their late night supper, Jarvis headed straight to the housekeeper's office where he knew Flora would be waiting impatiently for him. Knocking slightly on her door before opening it, he watched as she turned and spotted him standing there, her whole face lighting up with joy as she saw him decked out in all his finery.

"It's about time you got here Walter Corey!" Flora reprimanded him, her voice low and teasing as she closed the space between them, "I was starting to worry you'd gotten a better offer, and went off chasing the wearer of a certain Blue Garter!" She added unable to keep the giggles from her voice.

"Oh so you've heard about that have you?" Jarvis asked slipping his hands round her small waist and pulling her firmly into his embrace.

"Oh I think you'll find that when it comes to you, I end up hearing every thing sooner or later!" Flora replied, closing the remaining space between them and rubbing her nose softly against his, before kissing him tenderly. "Well shall we…?" She trailed off, nodding towards the door, a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"Hmmmmmmmmmm, well I suppose I should be getting to bed after all it has been an awfully long day and I am rather tired…." Jarvis began teasingly but had to stop when he saw her face fall and a pout beginning to form. "Oh alright then, but you have to go along with what I have planned, no cheating?"

"So you have something planned do you Walter Corey?" Flora began running her hand across his waistcoat, tickling him slightly.

"Yes I do!" Walter replied, seizing her wandering hands and dragging her towards the doors and up into the main house, stopping carefully around each corner to check for a guest returning to their rooms, or a wandering Lady Mary.

Finally they reached their destination and Walter opened the door wide ushering her in, but Flora froze in the doorway her eyes fixed on the beautiful scene in front of her. The room was lit only by candlelight and the light cast by the blazing fire, a cold supper had already been laid out on a small table but what really took her breath away were the flowers, they were everywhere, arrangements sat on every available surface. Stepping into the room, Flora whirled around and flung her arms around the butler kissing him with unrestrained passion, desperate to show just how much she loved him. Somehow Walter managed to draw back, it was so tempting just to let this continue, but he had a plan and he'd spent so much time devising it he was loathed to throw it all out the window, besides he had far greater hopes for this evening than just the obvious.

With strength of will he didn't know he possessed Jarvis managed to unwrap Flora's arms from around his neck, breaking the kiss and coming up for air. "Flora we have all night!" He began, but was cut off when the housekeeper was able to free her hands and pull him in for another kiss, her hands running through his hair as she dragged him across the room to the bed,

"Flora!" He managed to gasp. "Love what's the rush?"

"Please Walter!" She whispered, nuzzling into his neck. "Can't we just…" She added pulling away from him and sitting down on the bed, patting the space next to her suggestively.

Stubbornly Jarvis stood resolutely in front of her, his arms crossed. "Well that's just typical I spend all this time planning this to be perfect and all you want to do is jump into bed, is that all I am to you some sort of plaything?" He replied a pout worthy of Grace on his lips.

Unable to prevent the small chuckle that escaped her lips, Flora's smile widened when Walter started to sulk and stalked over to the fireplace, pouring himself a glass of purloined champagne.

"Walter, stop sulking, come to bed!" Flora called out to him teasingly, her amusement building as she saw the butler shake his head and turn his back on her.

"So there's nothing I can do to convince you, is that right?" She added standing and unbuttoning her dress as she slowly, made her away across the room, pushing it off her shoulders and stepping out of it before loosening her corset and pushing the straps of her slip off her shoulders. Finally reaching the butler she seized his shoulder and pushed him down into the fireside chair, before sitting herself down on his lap.

A stunned Jarvis simply sat there, mesmerised by the vision in front of him, finally he snapped out of his stupor when Flora leant down to kiss him and managed to turn his head at the last minute so she ended up kissing his cheek instead.

"Oh no you don't, you're not going to get round me that way!" He muttered, unable to keep the teasing tone from his voice completely as the housekeeper began to nibble on his ear.

"Really?" Flora whispered in his ear, "Well how about this, will this work?" She asked nuzzling down his neck, playing with the edge of his neck tie, before torturously slowly removing it.

"No!" Jarvis replied.

"Hmmmmmmm, well this should!" She added as she unbuttoned his waistcoat and then his shirt, skimming her fingers across his vest covered torso before playfully nipping at his collarbone and the shoulders.

"Flora you might as well give up! There is nothing you can say or do that could make me cave in! It is now a matter of principle you have to learn you can't always have your own way!" Jarvis added his voice starting to squeak when the determined housekeeper un-tucked his vest from his trousers and ran her hands up inside it.

"Now that sounds dangerously like a challenge Walter?" Flora commented. "Are you saying there is nothing I could say or do to make you lose that iron clad control of yours?"

"Well, urgh…" Jarvis began, no longer so sure in his assertions, especially when Flora raked her nails softly down his chest, and began to unbuckle his belt, but on seeing the smug look of victory on her face his damaged male pride asserted itself.

"Yes that's exactly what I'm saying, Flora you really have to learn who is the man this relationship, and we will only go to bed when I say so and not before! Good God woman, the entire fabric of society would be undermined if women were allowed to demand sexual gratification from their husbands; it is for the woman to perform her wifely duties and not the other way around!" He added, desperately trying to ignore and not respond automatically to the ministrations of her wandering hands.

"Who said I was demanding anything?" Flora whispered huskily, blowing softly in his ear.

"Well if you're not you have a damn funny way of showing it! Now are you going to sit and behave whilst we have supper or am I going to have to tie you up and force feed you?" Jarvis asked, trying to keep his mind on anything other than what she was doing now; what she needed was a darn good spanking, misbehaving like this and ruining his carefully planned evening.

"Tying Me Up? Hmmm Walter I would never have guessed it!" Flora giggled as she managed to tug his vest off over his head.

"That's it!" Walter exclaimed and seized her firmly by the wrists, standing up slowly he dislodged her from his lap and began to march her over to the opposite chair, however halfway there his progress was somewhat impeded when his unbuttoned trousers fell in a pool around his ankles, leaving him standing in only his long johns, shoes and socks. Somewhat distracted by this sudden turn of events he loosened his grip on Flora for an instant, just long enough for her to free her wrists and pounce. Pushing the unbalanced butler off of his feet was easy, luckily for Jarvis he had a soft enough landing on the thick fireside rug, but he hardly had time for this to register as the next moment he had been pulled into a passionate embrace..

Finally admitting defeat he rolled Flora over on to her back, ignoring her initial protests in favour of quickly stripping her of her remaining clothing. Once she realised he had caved in, Flora was then willing to lie there passively gaining her pleasure from watching the look of concentration and delight on Walter's face as he set about his task with gusto. However the housekeeper had one more surprise in store, just as he was peeling her petticoats off her one by one Jarvis was stunned to catch sight of a flash of blue; intrigued he slipped his fingers under the waistband of the remaining undergarments and pulled them all off at once.

"How the hell…?" He began when he saw the same blue garter from earlier adorning Flora's own rather shapelier thigh.

"Hmm, that's my little secret!" She muttered pulling back on top of her, and pushing aside Walter's hands when he went to remove her stockings.

"You want them left on?" He asked, amused by her little eccentricities.

"Leave the garter!" She giggled, a mischievous look in her eye, "after all it was a gift from your heartbroken fiancé!"

Growling slightly in annoyance mostly in amusement, Walter leant and captured her lips with his own, finally whispering "As you wish milady!" As he moved his mouth down her neck and across her breasts, luxuriating in the feel of her beneath his hands.

However he still hadn't counted on the level of Flora's impatience, annoyed by his apparently laid back attitude she hooked her toes round the edge of his long johns and began to tease them down, all the time deliberately writhing against him trying to provoke a more spontaneous reaction.

"Hold your horses, you wanton…" Jarvis began snapping at her in his confusion and frustration, but his tirade was suddenly cut short when Flora managed to slide a hand between them, before drawing it back suddenly when what she was expecting did not rise to the occasion.

"I'm sorry!" He managed to gasp out after a few minutes. "I don't understand, I just can't…!"

"Shush Walter it's fine, believe me love I understand…" Flora replied soothingly, kissing his forehead and brushing his sweat stained fringe away from his face.

"No it's not alright!" He retorted, pushing aside her arms and rolling off her, instead gazing angrily up at the ceiling; he was such an idiot after all this planning, and waiting he had to go and blow it. No matter what Flora said to try and placate him, he'd still let her down, what was wrong with him he was a grown man he should be able to perform his duties.

"Walter, what's wrong please talk to me?" Flora asked her concern growing when instead of answering her Walter got to his feet and seized his trousers, dragging them on roughly and stormed over to the table pouring himself another glass of champagne, downing it in one swig.

Suddenly feeling confused and vulnerable Flora seized her chemise and pulled it back over her head, getting to her feet she hesitated for a moment before walking over to Walter and wrapping her arms around him from behind, laying her head against his bare back, and kissing him softly between the shoulder blades.

Shrugging off Flora's embrace Walter threw himself down into the fireside easy chair, a frown creasing his handsome features. "It's all your own fault, if you had simply done as you were told, sat down and had a nice supper, a glass of champagne by the fire and then we had gone to bed none of this would have happened. But no you had to have your own way, and now the whole night is ruined, why do you do this to me? When I'm around you I'm never the one in control, I find myself under pressure and doing the most insane things; I hate the person you turn me into sometimes!" Walter added his voice low and full of emotion.

"Me!" Flora exclaimed. "How dare you? Walter it doesn't matter to me about earlier, what was important was simply being together, but this need to blame someone else for your…!"

"My What…Problem?" He asked snapping before she could finish, his whisper building slowly to a bellow. "Perhaps it's not me, perhaps it's the lack of inspiration…damnit Flora stop looking at me like that, like I've failed in my duty, these things happen from time to time, if you'd ever lived in the real world then perhaps you'd know that! You'd realise the way things worked between men and women, besides it's not like you've never failed in your duty!"

"My duty?" Flora replied aghast.

"Yes your duty, to stay here and be my wife, bear and raise my family and stop these foolish independent notions of yours, why the next thing you'll be saying is you're off to gallivant around the world with your Mrs Harrison, and leaving me to fend for myself for months on end!" Jarvis retorted hotly, immediately wishing he could bite back the words when he saw the confused look on Flora's face, she didn't know about Charlotte's trip that was in the letter he had burnt

"What are you talking about?" Flora demanded, convinced by the fact that Walter wouldn't meet her eye that he was hiding something from her.

"It's nothing… I was ranting, it doesn't matter!" Walter replied cagily staring into the fire, for the first time since the engagement party experiencing the real grip of fear.

"It doesn't sound like nothing!" Flora replied, his behaviour convincing her more each moment that he was hiding something important. "Damnit Walter if this concerns my friend then I think I have a right to know! I've been wondering why I haven't heard from her, she's normally so punctual with her letters, why just a few days ago I wrote to her asking if everything was alright as I'd missed hearing from her this month!"

However Jarvis didn't answer, instead in sank deeper into his chair and refused point blank to meet her gaze.

"Walter Corey, on your honour have you heard news about my friend?" Flora hissed venomously walking over to his chair and standing between him and the fire, and staring him straight in the eye she had her answer, for a moment he flinched, a flicker of guilt and regret across his eyes before anger and frustration returned.

"A letter?" She asked rhetorically, "I want to see it, no I demand to see it!"

"Well you can't!" Jarvis replied a touch of ice in his voice that Flora had never heard, as he got to his feet an almost smug expression on his face. "I burnt it!"

"What?" Flora exclaimed aghast, "Why? Why would you do something like that?"

"I had no choice!" Jarvis replied defensively moving away from her and pacing round the room. "She wanted to take you away, and that I would not, no I could not allow! You belong with me not gallivanting around Europe, your time is too valuable; who knows by the time you had gotten back it may have been too late for us to have had some sort of normal family, and god knows what new fangled ideas and unnatural independent notions travelling may have filled your head with!"

"So you took away my chance to decide for myself, how dare you?" Flora retorted.

"I was doing you a favour, she only invited you for her own selfish reasons, and there was no way after loosing the baby you would have been strong enough to shoulder the burden of someone so sick, it was wrong of her to ask you!"

"She's ill and yet you still chose to keep this from me?" Flora replied aghast, suddenly panicking that somewhere out there her oldest friend might be sick and or dying and thinking that she cared nothing, not even enough to reply to her letter.

"What could you do? Nothing that's what, you'd been through enough, we'd both been through enough, don't you think this decision has tortured me? I had to make a choice, between our best interests and that of someone who in reality doesn't have much time left anyway. Yes you could have soothed her last few months, but what about the irreparable damage it would have done to you, to us? Dear god Flora this wasn't easy and yes you may hate me now but in time you understand why I did it, besides it's too late!"

"Too late, when was this letter sent?" Flora asked, unable to keep the emotion from her voice.

"A week or so ago…But frankly I fail to see the relevance, you're not going anywhere, you're going to stay here with me, I know you're angry now but I also know that you love me and nothing is going to stand in the way of our being together, nothing!" Jarvis added, a steely look in his eyes as he stormed over to her seizing her roughly by the shoulders and leaning down to kiss her.

"Don't you touch me!" Flora screamed at him, clawing her way free, her shock finally giving way to fear and panic.

"Where else can you go, who else can you turn to Flora?" Jarvis asked, his tone pleading yet decisive. "I'll leave Taplows, I can't stay here now, after all this…." She replied her voice trailing off as uncertainty took over.

"Where would you go? Hmmmmmm, home, like they can afford to manage without your wages, to see Charlotte, your friend has probably sailed already, where else can you go, who else do you have who can look after you except me? It's about time you faced the real world Flora, the only person now you are worth anything to is me."

"Yes well you have a funny way of showing it…dear god you can't even perform your duty, you're pathetic, you disgust me…" Flora retaliated snatching at her clothes and fastening them haphazardly, backing towards the door.

"Like you know anything, you only know what I've taught you!" Walter retaliated. "If you had lived at all then you would realise how common that sort of thing can be, besides I've been under enormous stress lately." Then as he spotted the now dressed Flora heading for the door, he called out after her. "That's it run away as usual, where do you think you're going, hmmmmmm?"

Flora whirled round to face him her face drenched with tears. "I don't know, but you never know Walter I might take up your advice and go live a little!" And with that she turned and opening the door stormed down the stairs and into the night.

Cut to Adams' room, where he is sitting up in bed and laughing, tears streaming down his face as Rebecca re-enacts the days events with enthusiasm. She pouts in her best Caroline expression, hands on her hips and stamping her foot wildly

Rebecca in mock disgust: Oh Daddy, must Grandmama converse with the journalist, get her away, GET HER AWAY! And why hasn't 'Good-day' magazine arrived to do a feature? Daddy I hate today, it is positively rotten!

Adams wiping his eyes, his tone a little naughty: Oh Becca it must have been awful for you, I would much rather you had been here to keep me warm under the sheets.

Rebecca tapping him playfully: Stop it, you naughty thing! I haven't got to the best bit yet, including when poor old Sturges-Borne thought he'd try his luck with a quick squeeze of my posterior!

Adams raises his eyebrows in amusement. The Earl is hardly competition but yet he quite likes the thought, in a rather perverse way, that other men find her attractive enough to make a play for her, but him secretly knowing all the time that she is his and his alone.

Outside the door, someone is intruding on their conversation. Francesca had predicted correctly. Ear pressed up against the door, a watchful eye fixed down the corridor, he smiles slyly to himself as he muses the task in hand, and how exactly he is going to get himself most firmly into a certain Lady's bed. Of course he will tell Lady Hamilton-Hussey that it was unfortunately required to assist him in his research, surely her bedroom habits would be considered vital information? Listening more closely, Frank hears Adams laugh again and Rebecca's voice high and shrill, something about how beastly it is of Julian to think he could carry out his lascivious thoughts in such a manner that could cause her nine months of discomfort. But then the room falls silent, leaving the smug valet a little confused, until he hears Rebecca say 'no, Andrew, we mustn't, you're sick', and Adams reply so quietly he could just be heard: 'oh yes we must, my darling, otherwise I really will go mad lying here thinking of your sensational body and yet being unable to do a damn thing with it.' Silence descends for another moment and Frank strains to hear once again, but in the end he is rewarded by the soft sound of kissing, then a rustle of either sheets or petticoats, or both, followed by a low female breathless moan. Frank shifts slightly, his lips parting and his eyes lighting up as the sounds of coital bliss become more intense and excited from beyond the door. One day soon, he vows, those gasps and smutty giggles would all be because of him. Smiling and nodding his head in satisfaction he continues to listen mainly for his own gratification, only dashing to hide when a couple of chatting maids head towards him, lost in their own conversation.

Unfortunately for him, however, they stopped a little way down the corridor, laughing and joking with each other and obviously gossiping about the day's events. Frowning and cursing, Frank moves further back into the shadows, willing them to get lost or he is sure he is going to leap out and kill them. But they continue their conversation and Frank can feel his stress levels rising rapidly. Leaning round the corner slightly, he stares hard at Adams' door as if somehow it would tell him what is going on behind it, but he knows that Rebecca wouldn't come out while the maids are still there so at least he was sure that part of his plan might work.

No more than ten minutes later, Adams and his aristocratic lover are lying in each other's arms in his narrow single bed, Rebecca running her fingertips up and down his chest and sighing in contentment.

Rebecca staring up at him and whispering tenderly: Andrew, there's something I need to tell you.

Adams his hands wandering over her curves: Well, it can't be worse than finding out you're engaged, surely?

Rebecca draws in a short breath of air and rolls on top of him, looking him in the eye, the worry etched onto her face. Adams doesn't ask her what is wrong, wanting her to tell him in her own good time. Instead he brushes her red locks from her face and over her smooth, slightly freckled shoulders, and kisses her nose lightly

Rebecca her voice timid and slightly shaky: Andrew, I'm late.

Adams sniffing out a laugh and nuzzling her: Aye, you're right, you'd better go, they'll be missing you and Lady Caroline might be causing yet another scene you need to report back to me on!

Rebecca slightly exasperated, patting his chest with her palms: No, no, Andrew I mean – I mean, I'm late. My….my monthly cycle, well it hasn't cycled round as it should!

Adams his eyes widening in alarm, nervousness entering his voice: Oh, Rebecca, I think you should talk to Flora about that sort of thing, I don't really understand women's issues, I mean…..

Rebecca shaking her head madly, her expression pained: ANDREW! Don't you understand! I think I might be expecting! With child! In the family way! PREGNANT!

Adam gasps, automatically raising his head off his pillow in surprise and smacks his forehead on Rebecca's, causing her to fly back slightly in pain

Adams fumbling, his chest a little sore from so much exhersion and surprise: Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean, are you hurt! And in your condition, I'm so, so sorry my darling!

Rebecca rubbing her head and wincing as she sits up, pulling his covers around her: Yes I am hurt, is this how you treat a pregnant woman!

Suddenly the reality of the situation hits them like a thunderbolt and they both stare open-mouthed at each other. Adams smiles softly, reaching up and tracing her face with his fingers, then down her neck and shoulders, pulling the cover back gently so he can feel her warmth with his hand. His eyes wander down to her stomach and carefully he places his palm on her abdomen in amazement at the thought of becoming a father again. Now, all of a sudden, she is even more beautiful and glowing than ever before, however possible that is to him.

Adams sitting up and pulling her in for a hug, his head resting on her chest: Are you sure? Completely positive?

Rebecca wrapping her arms around his neck: I'm not positive no, but I will be in a few days when nothing happens. I've always been on time before. Always. And really it wouldn't be all that surprising now would it?

Adams: Marry me.

Rebecca tears beginning to fill her eyes: I would love to, I would do anything to be with you, but you know I can't.

Adams releasing his hold on her and kissing her delicately on the lips: Look I'll leave here, we can go back up to Scotland! I'll….I'll do something else, I mean I'm good at writing, and I've a cracking head for figures, I'll learn a new trade, I'll write, like that Dickens fella, I can do that, I can write like him, I've written some short stories I can show you, I even got an article published in the Tappleton Telegraph a few months ago on Scottish culture, I can……

Rebecca placing a finger on his lips, her face soft and almost pitiful: Hush, Andrew. Stop. I know you mean well but I can't, I have to marry Hugo, you, must understand!

Adams folding his arms and leaning back, staring at the ceiling: I understand that you don't have any faith in me, that you think I can't provide for you and my unborn child!

Rebecca shaking her head and kneeling up, pulling his head back down so their eyes lock: That's not what I mean at all, I know you wouldn't let me starve, of course I do, and that you would look after me, but how can I just walk away from everything I've ever known?

Adams gulping hard, his mind raging in frustration at the social curse dividing them: I thought you hated those people, wanted to get away from that hateful sister of yours, but obviously I was wrong!

Rebecca placing her forehead on his and cupping his jaw: It's not as simple as that, please Andrew! It's everything, my lifestyle, and Hugo, I just couldn't walk away, he's too good a man for me to destroy his reputation like that. Why don't you come back up with us? To Highlands? You'll be able to work there again and we can be together.

Adams laughing sourly: Yes, but we won't be together, will we, eh? I'll be your live-in lover while Hugo brings up my child, I don't know, if I can't marry you then what's the point?

Rebecca, heartbroken and exhausted, moves away from him and sits on the end of the bed before beginning to slowly dress herself in silence. Attempting to lace herself back into her corset, Rebecca tugs behing her back with little success until Adams slowly moves from the bed, still feeling rather wobbly, and walks up behind her. Without a word, he moves her hands away and sets to work, sweeping her long hair over her shoulder out of the way. He desperately wants to just rip it off her again, not restrain her beautiful body inside its clutches, but he holds back and continues, only allowing himself a small squeeze of her waist as compensation.

Adams: It's not as if I've never done this before, in fact I must be more of a pro at it than you are!

Rebecca laughs sadly through her tears, but then Adams pauses and gasps a little as his arm twinges slightly. Spinning around, Rebecca in her concern scalds him for too much physical exercise too soon and lowers him back into bed, pulling the covers up around him and kissing him tenderly

Adams voice wracked with emotion: I just don't want to loose you.

For once Rebecca has no idea what to say, no words she can think of could possibly comfort him or change the situation so all she can manage is a soft smile and 'I love you' as she hurriedly buttons up her dress.

Outside, and Frank is furious. Those bloody maids have only just gone and he curses quietly as he tip-toes up to the door to listen. He had managed to miss all the fun and now all they are talking about is what Kraus may bring Adams for his supper, although he does hear Rebecca say that they should spend as much time as possible with each other before her and Hugo return home.

Now for the next bit of his plan. He dashes back behind his corner after he hears her bid Andrew goodnight, and that she will return to him soon. Rebecca opens the door cautiously, glancing in both directions, and once she has established clear exit she dashes out. Frank sees his chance, and boldly marches from around the corner, whistling brightly, his hands in his pockets. Rebecca turns, startled, and stares at the young valet for a moment, who stops in his tracks and raises his eyebrows in mock surprise

Frank his tone inquisative: My Lady, are you lost?

He moves slowly towards her, as if she were a frightened rabbit he is trying to catch without causing destress. Smiling as warmly as he can, Frank glances at Adams' door then back at Rebecca, prompting her a little

Rebecca shifting uneasily: No, I mean, well maybe a little, shouldn't you be with Lord Julian, Mr...?

Frank beaming: Keneally, M'Lady, Frank Keneally. Didn't I just see you hurrying away from Mr Adams' quarters?

Rebecca, slightly taken aback by his forthright questioning, stumbles over her words, beginning to flush with embarrassment. Frank steps a little closer as she looks him up and down. Yes he certainly is very agreeable, she muses momentarily, but she is far more concerned with getting away from him than anything else

Rebecca pouting in annoyance: I think that is none of your concern, Mr Keneally! Now if you will excuse me!

Rebecca turns, her skirts flying, and hurries off down the corridor, until Frank calls out, amusement in his voice

Frank: You're going the wrong way, Lady Rebecca!

Rebecca halts in her tracks, and turns to face him, another of Frank's best smiles creeping across his features and causing her to purse her lips even more. How aroused her sexy expression makes him feel he doubts she will ever know.

Frank almost taunting her: You'll never get out that way, well not to where I am sure you would prefer to be, anyway!

Without a word Rebecca in her bashfulness quickly goes to pass him, but as she moves swiftly next to him he whispers 'your secret is safe.' Lady Farquarson stops and stares at him, biting her bottom lip

Frank leaning in and muttering: I can act as go-between if you like, M'Lady. Andrew is a friend of mine and I anyway I owe nothing to anyone else in this sorry place, no-one to tell secrets like this to.

Rebecca her eyes narrowing in distrust: Well, I may take you up on your kind offer, Mr Keneally.

Frank: Oh, of course I understand you need to get to know me a bit better first, and I you, if you will permit me. I would very much like to help you and Andrew if I can as I can imagine it could be quite difficult, unless this was the first time you had been to see him of course.

Slightly suspicious, Rebecca can't help but feel that Frank may have known abouther relationship with Andrew before now. He seems so sure of the situation, and of himself, but then again his offer to help was to her rather thoughtful so maybe she is being a little hasty in her assumptions. Frank can't help but notice her hair is a little ruffled, and that there is a slight rash on her neck and across the top of her chest. Whether this was due to her activities in the bedroom or through her embarrassment he isn't sure, but it does serve to make her more alluring to him. Suddenly he sees that the top clasp on her dress at the back is undone, and Rebecca is all too aware that he is staring at her in all together rather too familiar a way

Frank his voice soft but still professional: My Lady, it appears that you are a little undone. As I am a valet, please allow me before you return upstairs, unless you would rather i fetch your maid.

Instinctively Rebecca reaches around her back, beginning to flush even more hotly than before

Rebecca laughing awkwardly and turning her back to him: Oh silly Elizabeth, she must have missed the top clasp. How beastly, I hope I haven't been going about like that all evening!

Frank a sly smile fixing on his face: Oh, I'm sure you haven't, M'Lady. I'm sure you haven't.

Taking his time to fasten her clasp, he lightly sniffs her hair without her realising and stares longingly at her slender, porcelain neck. 'Accidently' he brushes against the skin at the baseline of the dress by her shoulder blades and causes it to prickle slightly. Rebecca pulls away at this unnecessary and rather intrusive touch, clearing her throat and thanking him quickly for his assistance. Bidding him goodnight, Rebecca dashes away, in the right direction this time, leaving Frank to thump the wall in annoyance. Damn, had he just gone and blown it, he thinks, by touching her too soon? His inner voice is telling him to slow down, Frank my boy, keep it cool, you KNOW you can do this. Give it time, use a good dose of the old Keneally charm, and she'll melt like butter, tell you everything about Andrew and their affair, maybe even demonstrate her technique. You'll have that nice bit of posh in the end, that smooth neck, that ravishing body, don't you worry. Just don't blow it again or you'll scare her off!

Little does Frank know that it had shaken Rebecca to the core, the touch of someone new, someone much nearer her own age. It had caused a ripple of excitement through her body, but as she reaches the party she vows never to let it happen again. She can't help feel that there is something of the night about that Frank Keneally, and she would have to take advice on him as soon as possible, and she knows just the wise friend to ask.

Oh, how jealous she sometimes feels of Flora, a woman who despite her lack of wealth has everything she could want in a man but she also gets to keep him too. Her love for Walter despite everything and her loyalty to him is admirable in Rebecca's eyes, so her advice and steadfastness is to her invaluable. Flora would never feel like she had just done at another's caress, she would be disgusted with her if she told her, she is sure. Yes, she will definitely have to speak to her, Flora will know exactly what she should do about him.

A furious Flora Ryan dashed through the corridors, her eyes blinded with tears, how could he do this to her? After everything that had happened, hadn't she suffered enough at his hands? What made it worse was they way he had done it, slinking round in the shadows, unknown to her blocking off all her avenues of escape, manipulating her so that in the end she had no other choice but to give in to him, but now she had found out the truth, he didn't love! He couldn't love and treat her the way he did! Now it all became clear to her, he had never wanted to cherish and protect her, he had just wanted to control her, the whole marriage and children charade had just been another way to chain her to him. He had never put her needs first, in their relationship he had always been guided by his lower instincts, lust and power, and to think she had almost fallen for it, had almost walked like a willing lamb to the slaughter. But to think he was a man capable of thwarting a dying wish of an old woman just to satisfy his own desires, that made her sick to her stomach, how could she have ever willingly let him touch her? Suddenly the feelings of nausea were very real and Flora made a quick dash for the side door, the need from some fresh air away from the contaminated stench of Taplows.

Meanwhile sitting in the footmen's room, George and Will were sitting chatting and playing cards.

"A Full house beat that mate!" Will sniggered, reaching across the table to seize his winnings.

Frustrated at his run of bad luck, and Will's seemingly never ending winning streak, George flung his cards down on the table. "Did you sell your soul or something mate? Cause I'm jiggered if I can work out how you keep winning…Maybe we should have pop into town and test your luck in the Cock & Bull, make some serious money instead of you snitching all your friends' wages?" George suggested jokingly.

"You know mate that may not be a bad idea!" Will replied, walking over to the closet and pulling out his civvies jacket.

"Will mate I was only joking! I mean what if we get caught?"

"Everyone's busy and mister smarmy he's so perfect Jarvis will be otherwise occupied all night" Will added in a sarcastic tone, which barely covered the expression of pain in his eyes.

"Mate we all thought you were over that one?" George replied concern for his friend evident on his face, "you knew it was impossible… What you need is a visit to ole Rosie, that'd put everything in proportion for you!" He added trying to cheer Will up.

"Yeah well, you know what they say, lucky at cards unlucky at love; and in the love stakes I am more than unlucky I'm doomed, so that should mean I'm on for the winning streak of my life!" Will replied practically dragging George out the door.

However just as they were passing through the stable yard, they heard the dulcet tones of one Felix Kraus, and so quickly opened the door to one of the stalls, cowering behind it until the Chef had disappeared back into the house. It was here that Will first heard her, the soft crying could be heard along the row of stalls, and daringly he snuck a glance over the top. Right at the end amongst the hay bales he caught a glimpse of her, her head in her hands, her body wracked with sobs.

Turning to George he whispered, "Actually mate you're right, best to not push our luck, besides I have reason to believe my luck may be about to change."

"Will, I'm warning you don't do something you may regret!" George muttered back to his friend; knowing exactly what he was referring to, but knowing deep down he was going to be unable to stop him.

"I'm only going to take your advice mate!" Will replied, pushing George firmly out into the courtyard, "After all you did say what I needed was a quick roll in the hay!" And with that he closed the door, bolting it shut.

Taking a deep breath Will walked silently down to the end, and pausing for a moment to consider what he was doing, realising that despite his posturing to George he had no intention of pushing her into anything, all he wanted was some recognition. Sighing softly he stopped about a foot away, before kneeling down quietly and laying a hand gently on her shoulder. Flora immediately whirled round; terrified that Walter had found her, relief flooding her expression when she realised that it wasn't him, it was only Will.

"What's..?" Will began, but he was cut off when the housekeeper flung her arms round him, sobbing hard against his chest. "Shush, it's alright, it's alright I'm here and I won't let anyone hurt you!" Will muttered, meaning every single word as he cradled the woman he loved in his arms, brushing her tear drenched hair from her flushed face. "Love hush, it'll be alright, I won't let him hurt you again I promise!" He added as her sobs slowly lessened, leaning down to place a row of kisses along her forehead, breathing in the scent of her hair and perfume and pulling her tighter into his safe embrace.

"What did he do?... Did he force you?... Tell me please!" Will asked, and when she didn't answer he gently seized her chin and stared down into her sapphire eyes, a look of such pain and desperation on his face, that it touched Flora deeply.

"No he didn't, he betrayed me, he lied to me! All this time he's been lying to me, I've been a prisoner in a gilt cage and I've not even realised it until now!" Flora replied, her voice breaking with emotion. "And the worse part is I still am! I don't seem to be able to break the hold he has on me, he has me trapped and I have no hope, no hope of escape!" She added burying her head into Will's chest.

Shocked and shaken by her declaration Will pulled her tightly against him; brushing her hair soothingly and leaning down to softly kiss the tears from her face. At the first touch of his lips Flora went suddenly rigid, what he had meant as a gesture of comfort had sparked something inside her, something removed from the pain of betrayal and she clung to that small spark unwilling to let it extinguish, afraid that without it she would drown in her own grief. Turning her head softly she captured his lips with her own, drawing him to her with the same need and intensity as a castaway flounders desperately towards land.

- - -

As the first shaft of sunlight filtered through into the stables Flora slowly came to her senses, her whole body felt both battered and bruised yet more alive than in months. Gently she tried to move, but found out suddenly how restricted her movements were. Will was still laying on top of her a stable rug thrown casually over the pair of them, his whole weight pressing down on her body, and even in his slumber she could not convince the footman to move; he seemed determined to maintain his position of domination. Suddenly all the events of last night came flooding back to her, the dinner with Walter, the wine, their passionate kiss then the argument and the pain of his betrayal; then she had come out to the stable and Will had found her and they had…. Blushing furiously as she remembered her own wanton behaviour, she shook her head slightly in disbelief, what had she been thinking? Sleeping with Will, she must have been temporarily insane? No in fact she just hadn't thought at all but had been reacting purely on instinct. But even if she had this excuse, it wouldn't work with Will, he'd been pursuing her for far too long for him to treat this as a one off, no he would want more, more than she was prepared to give him.

But before she could decide how to deal with all that she had to get up and dressed and back to her room. That left only one option she would have to wake him, she only hoped he was still too exhausted to insist on discussing their situation immediately. Stroking his hair softly Flora whispered his name into his ear, wincing once more when he began to stir in his sleep, Finally Will opened his eyes sleepily, blinking a few times in surprise as he saw her face so close to his, then suddenly a broad smile of contentment and delight spread across his features as his memories from the night before resurfaced.

"Good Morning Beautiful!" He whispered, propping his chin up on an elbow and gazing lovingly down at her, brushing wisps of stray hair away from her face, before spontaneously leaning down and capturing her lips with his own, kissing her passionately, his hands sliding down her body rubbing warmth into her chilled pale skin.

At first Flora was too stunned to react; he had caught her by surprise with his tender attitude, and so she hadn't expected his mouth to descend so hungrily on hers. Futilely she tried to push him away but he was just too heavy and so she had no choice but to allow his kiss and caresses, finally Will had to relinquish her mouth and gasping for breath he smiled cheekily down at her before leaning down and nuzzling into her neck, kissing his way down to her breasts.

"Will we can't!" Flora gasped breathlessly as she realised just how ready he was becoming.

"Oh I think it's a little too late for that it's your own fault, if you only realised the effect you have on men…It wouldn't be such a surprise!" He added in between kisses, his hands stroking lazy circles over her naked flesh, teasingly brushing against sensitive areas, causing Flora to moan involuntarily. "I told you before; it's as if we were always meant together!"

Biting her bottom lip Flora tried to maintain control, this wasn't right. With a degree of will power she never knew existed, Flora seized Will's shoulders and forced him to release her lips.

"What is it, What's wrong?" Will asked, his face already flushed from his early morning exertion, a look of worry and concern etched onto his handsome face.

"We have to stop!" Flora replied her voice sounding stronger than in reality she felt. "Will please I can't…."

Upset Will still complied with her wishes, rolling off of her he turned and sat next to her in the hay. "I don't understand!" He retorted his voice heavy with emotion, his eyes locking with her's unwilling to let her look away.

For a moment Flora was unable to answer, unwilling to speak the words that she knew would crush him, and feeling more than a little exposed and vulnerable. Sighing softly she smiled at him, deciding for the moment to use another excuse and then later sit down and talk to the footman seriously, preferably when she was fully dressed and in the relative safety of her office. "Well it must be getting late, we'll be missed and for one don't relish being caught butt naked by one of the stables hands."

Laughing Will fell back in the hay next to her, he rolled on to his side sliding his hand across her stomach to hold her waist tightly, nuzzling into her hair. "Well that's a shame; it must be a crime to hide such beauty." He added, reaching out and reverently tracing his fingers down the side of her face, then down her slender neck to her flushed swollen breasts, which he caressed softly, his eyes continuing their journey down her body and Flora follow his intense gaze, her blush deepening further.

"Thank you but although it may look beautiful I can assure you I'm actually freezing!" She retorted.

"I'm nice and warm; may I suggest a further exchange of body heat?" Will replied a broad grin spreading across his face as he saw her cheeks flush once more.

"I was thinking more along the lines of getting up…" Flora added.

"Well I know a sure fire way of accomplishing that!" Will retorted cheekily, leaning forward to nibble her earlobe suggestively.

"That's not what I….William Forest you knew very well what I meant!" Flora snapped getting to her feet, and gathering her undergarments now anxious to get upstairs and indulge in a much needed bath.

Sighing loudly Will followed her lead and began to dress, his eyes never leaving the housekeeper, imprinting her every movement and nuance into his memory. As soon as they were both ready he made his way over to the door, unbolting it he stuck his head outside to check there was no one about. Fortunately it was still early and no one else appeared to be stirring, waving Flora over they made their way out of the stables, Flora had to stifle a gasp of surprise when Will grasped her hand possessively threading his fingers through hers as he dragged her out after him across the courtyard and into the house.

Heading upstairs Flora had no option than to let Will escort her, his hand still held hers captive, as they reached her door she went to pull out of his grasp, but was surprised to pulled once more into the footman's embrace.

"Will think where you are! If anyone were to come out of their rooms…."

But her protests were suddenly cut off as the footman's mouth descended on hers hungrily, breathlessly she was able to pull away. "Will please you have to go back to your room…"

"You mean I can't come in?" Will asked pouting slightly.

"I thought we had already settled this…" Flora retorted unable to keep the hint of annoyance out of her voice.

"Oh not for that! I was…I was hoping we could spend some time together, talking perhaps, I mean we have a lot to talk about!" Will replied his tone soft and pleading.

"I was going to take a bath…" Flora cut him off sternly; she simply wasn't ready yet to confront him with the reality of their situation.

"I could scrub your back!" Will added cheekily, running his hands up and down the housekeeper's back as he spoke.

"I don't think that would be a good idea, Will we are going to have to be very careful!" Flora replied, seizing his hands and removing them from around her.

"Don't you think it's a little late for that?" Will asked, reaching out a hand to stroke across her stomach. "I mean for all we know it might already be too late!" He added raising an eyebrow saucily, however his smile quickly faded when he saw how deathly pale the housekeeper suddenly became, for one moment he actually thought she was going to faint. "Flora it's all right, I don't walk away from my responsibilities!"

"I'm sorry…" She gasped, backing away from him and turning the handle disappeared into her room, leaving a worried and confused William Forest to gaze longingly after her.