Servants Series 5

by ss9

Is this happy ever after, for Flora and Walter, Andrew and Rebecca? And will the mystery surrounding George Cosmo's past finally be revealed?

7. Episode 6b

Adams singing rather energetically if a little out of tune: Guide me O, thou great redeemer, Pilgrim through this barren land……

Meanwhile everyone in the church were seated, staring straight ahead at Adams who was standing at the alter facing the blank expressions and belting out the Earl's favourite hymn in a solo rendition. It was, after all, Hugo's memorial service so if he thought it most appropriate that he lead the way in sombre tones and his tenor-like rumblings. People often told him most seriously, including Jarvis, that he was the best amateur singer they had ever heard and that he should sing as little as possible so not to wear out his precious voice but today he felt he had to make an exception, if for no other reason to let Rebecca know that he very much wanted to honour Hugo's memory.

But as he reached 'Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow' Rebecca in the front row to his left hand side burst into tears and sobbed rather soundly into Lady Caroline's shoulder. Eyes swivelled while heads tried to remain firmly facing forward and a few maids in the back pew muttered quiet words of exclamation to each other, stifling small giggles as they eyed Adams in a most amused fashion. Little did the under-butler know they had just joked exactly what everyone else, including the butler were thinking - that they weren't sure if Lady Rebecca was wailing over the loss of Lord Hugo or the terrible din Adams was echoing around the church. But the pained expression on Jarvis' face was only partly due to having the words 'Strong deliverer, strong deliverer; Be thou still my strength and shield' boomed defiantly into his ear at an alarmingly low decibel. He had noticed, along with Adams, that a certain housekeeper was missing from the congregation and alarm bells had begun to mask the beginning of the third and (praise be to God) final verse of the hymn. How could Flora miss Hugo's memorial service? As Adams entered the second half of the verse, he saw Jarvis become a little twitchy and begin to glance over his shoulder and over towards the door, scanning every pew in turn. Not only was Mrs Ryan gone, but so was that scoundrel Forest, thought Adams – it didn't even occur to him that Frank Keneally was missing too, as quite often Frank didn't even go to church any more because he would often have to stay with his ever intoxicated Master. The vicar would NEVER have allowed Lord Julian to enter the house of God in THAT appalling state – especially after last time's awful business with the Communion wine.

Rebecca continued to sob but had quietened down significantly, glancing up at Adams as he finished his singing and began to make his way to his seat after a completely inappropriate shout of 'bravo!' from his Lordship. The vicar made his way to the pulpit to deliver his sermon about fire and brimstone and that any sinners, no matter how wealthy, would be condemned to hell for all eternity if they did not repent etc etc, but for one reason or another – whether it preoccupation or complete boredom – very few heard a word he said. Adams glanced over to Rebecca from his pew, just about able to see the back of her head, but as if a connection was made between the two of them, she glanced round and smiled weakly at him through her tears and her black veil in recognition of his efforts. Suddenly Adams felt a pang of guilt – it wasn't an emotion he experienced often and usually he couldn't understand what it was all about, but this time he knew completely and no amount of singing the Lord's praises could suppress the awful guilt he felt over sleeping with a man's widow the night before his memorial service. Ah well, he thought, he would have to deal with it. Maybe a little more of where last night came from would go some way to alleviating the guilt.

Now where oh where was that housekeeper? Rebecca had felt so awful after Flora had been forced out of her room, he had tried to tell her that it had been for the best, she couldn't just go barging into a person's room, especially when she knows the delicate situation she may find its inhabitant. But just when he had got her to stop crying over that, she vomited and began to sob over Hugo again, adding to what was already a completely ruined morning which should have been so very romantic but instead ended in a shouting match and what felt like buckets of tears. No amount of Adams' special charm could make her smile, not even when he tried to talk about baby names and other stuff women like, so had in the end kissed her forehead and left her to Lizzie. But the actual night itself – well, even Adams didn't dare to think about that little event while in church for fear of retribution from above. With a small smile to himself the under-butler busied himself with his Bible, all thoughts of the whereabouts of the housekeeper and the first footman completely gone from his otherwise preoccupied mind.

"Will!" Flora cried out, her voice choked with tears, the relief at someone finding them evident on her face.

"Bugger off Forest!" Frank hissed still not moving away from the housekeeper. "This has nothing to do with you, if you know what's good for you! I'm fed up of having to beat sense into you boy, so why don't you play it smart this time and just turn around and go back where you came from, Mrs Ryan and I have a little unfinished business, she has a debt to pay and then we'll join you."

"Will please help!" Flora begged, her sapphire eyes wide and brimming with fresh tears as the footman continued to stand there doing nothing.

"Stay where you are Forest or I'll have you, not just a good hiding but I'll tell his lordship about the thieving and what bit of skirt is worth loosing your position over, they only have one purpose as I shall very soon demonstrate!" Keneally hissed, taking his handkerchief and shoving it in the housekeeper's mouth in an attempt to stop any more appeals to the footman's better nature. "Now Flora dear you stay quiet whilst the men talk, that's a good girl!"

"But I've already paid for that in full!" Will retorted carefully, walking slowly towards the couple. "I gave you the information you wanted, information you've obviously been putting to good use I might add! So what will I get in return for keeping my mouth shut now?"

Surprised and impressed by Will's response Keneally stilled his hands, glancing over his shoulder and locking his gaze with the footman. "My my so there is more to you than meets the eye Willy boy, I'm impressed what exactly is that you are wanting in exchange for your silence…." Frank trailed off as he followed the direction of Will's gaze, the footman's eyes were locked on the housekeeper an unreadable expression on his face that Frank interpreted as lust.

"I don't suppose you'd care to join me?" Frank asked. "I'm not a greedy man, and I can be most generous towards my old friends, after all I'm sure Mrs Ryan is capable of accommodating two such fine gentleman one after the other, aren't you my dear?" He added mockingly enjoying the look of absolute terror in Flora's eyes as she glanced between Will and him shaking her head in disbelief. "Now that's not a proper answer now is it?" Frank snorted finally taking out the handkerchief from her mouth.

"How could you?" Flora screamed at Will. "You said you cared for me, loved me even and your going to do this to me…. Especially as you know….You know that I'm expecting. You're sick!" Flora managed to gasp out before Frank shoved the handkerchief back in her mouth.

"WELL WELL!" The valet retorted grinning from ear to ear. "That is some news, we'll have to see what we can do about that eh Will, after all it would be a crime to have such a beautiful body ruined because the Butler can't keep his trousers on! You just sit back and relax Will, enjoy the show you might learn a thing or two!" Frank chuckled, leaning forward to cover the housekeeper's lips with his own.

"WAIT!" Will bellowed, causing the Valet to practically jump out of his skin.

"WHAT NOW?" Frank demanded his charming smile slipping from his face.

"I want to go first!" Will blurted out. "Please Frank I need to be the one who does this, it's my right after the way she's treated me, using me and throwing me away like I meant nothing, I need to be the one to show her the consequences of acting like that!"

"For heavens sake Forest!" Frank growled. "Didn't you mother ever teach you patience?"

"Please mate, put it like this if the worse did happen and the little witch squeals it'll look much worse for whoever's the first, and especially after that business with Rebecca can you risk it?...Besides…" Will began his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he avoided the curious Valet's eye. "Unlike you I don't think I can wait!" Will added sheepishly playing up to Frank's sense of superiority and his instinct to save his own hide.

Chuckling at the footman's embarrassing admission the Valet nodded his agreement, leaning forward he went to place a quick kiss on the housekeeper's lips but Flora turned her head at the last minute so he only caught her cheek. Smiling at her continued defiance, Frank whispered in her ear. "Don't go anywhere now will you Flora!" As he roughly pulled up his trousers, groping her quickly before backing a few feet away and watching Will like a hawk, this was going to be interesting.

Nodding at the Valet Will walked over to the housekeeper, his eyes locked on hers as she tried desperately to back away from him, pushing himself up against her went through the motions Frank would expect, slowly unbuttoning his trousers and tugging up her skirts before hissing in her ear. "It's alright Flora I'm not going to do this, but we have to pretend alright he's going to be watching too closely, I need you to fight me, I'll tell you when to cry out alright we have to be convincing! Then when he's distracted, I'll reach behind and untie you, he won't be looking so carefully but you have to play along or this won't work! We can make a run for it together I'm sorry I had to trick you it's just I couldn't take the risk of fighting him and loosing!…." Will broke off his voice wavering. "At least this way I can make sure you're safe."

Systematically he worked on the knots, trying desperately to keep his furtive fumblings hidden from the Valet who he could hear was getting more than a little worked up himself as he urged Will to be rougher. However concentration was becoming an increasingly difficult task as he felt his body automatically respond to Flora's presence, trying desperately to keep his mind on the job he was supposed to be doing, rescuing the damsel and not on the exquisite sensation of rubbing his body up against a practically naked Flora Ryan.

All at once he felt the last knot give way, and he heard Flora gasp in relief as the blood started to flow back into her hands, pulling away reluctantly he caught her eye and she smiled softly, stooping slightly she grasped hold of a stray branch which she then thrust into Will's hand.

Suddenly the footman whirled round brandishing the branch out in front of him like a club, covering Flora as she stepped away from the tree whilst she hurriedly re-arranged her clothes pushing down her skirts and haphazardly lacing her corset before moving to refasten her dress.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Frank demanded, backing away from the advancing footman in shock. "I thought we had an understanding Forest?"

"Like I'd make a deal with a devil like you!" Will spat at the Valet, whilst holding his other arm out shielding Flora from any foolish attack Keneally might attempt. "Now are you going to be smart and let us go or are we going to have to do this the hard way?"

Sneering Frank pulled off his jacket and rolled his sleeves up. "Oh the hard way I think, next to bagging a bit of skirt there isn't much better than knocking that smug smile off your ugly face!"

Nodding in agreement Will launched himself towards Frank, yelling at Flora to make a run for it as he swung the branch towards the valet, who grabbed it wrestling Will to the ground before glancing up at the housekeeper as she disappeared off into the woods. Swearing in frustration at having his carefully laid plan foiled once more Frank took his frustration and balled it into a fist before bringing it down hard on the footman.

Meanwhile back at the church, the service had just drawn to a close after a less-than-rousing durge to Jerusalem. Little did Adams and Rebecca know, but a certain pair of suspicious eyes had been watching them very closely throughout the service and had very much noticed the odd loving glance between them through Rebecca's intermittent tears. Of course there is much fun to be had with the ongoing situation between the two most senior servants, the watchful person mused, but an opportunity like this to bring a little bit of mayhem to a certain under-butler's life would be far too good to miss.

With a cursory shake of the hand with the vicar, the Earl marched off back to the house with Lady Caroline, Lady Francesca and Lord Monty in tow. Rebecca on the other hand chose to hang back, lifting her veil onto her bonnet as she desperately tried to search out Flora amongst the throng of servants, desperate to apologise for her harsh words and beg her to remain her friend. But just as Rebecca was about to approach Jarvis, who was busy chatting to the vicar and looking a little uneasy, to ask him if he had seen Flora a rather petite lady skirted round energetically in front of her and smiled broadly

Cat clasping her hands together: Oh hello your Ladyship, are you Lady Rebecca?

Rebecca raising her eyebrows in surprise and stuttering: Er, well why yes I am. Are you Mrs Postlebury, the vicar's new wife?

Cat glancing over Rebecca's shoulder as if trying to search out someone else: Yes that's right, glad to meet your acquaintance. I haven't been at it long but I'm sure I will endeavour to carry out my duties just as vigorously as everything else I have done in my life. So sorry to hear of your loss.

Rebecca tilting her head to the side and sighing wistfully: Thank you so much. My, what a lovely service that was, I must thank your husband for his kindness. Are you new around here or have you lived in these parts before?

Cat a small smile nudging at her lips: I have indeed lived in the area before, but not for very long, I found it to be a little – well, disagreeable.

Rebecca frowning and tightening her bonnet bow under her chin: Oh and why was that? It is so beautiful here, I'm not sure how you could possibly...

Suddenly as if out of nowhere, Adams appeared at Rebecca's side, panting slightly and obviously a little hot around the cheeks even though the day could hardly be called warm. Mrs Postlebury smiled rather smugly as Adams' panic-stricken eyes darted from one woman to the other, barely able to get a word out properly

Rebecca a little high-pitched and alarmist: Mr Adams, are you hear to tell me that I am to be escorted back to the house?

Adams gulping hard as he caught Mrs Postlebury's eye: Er, well, I……er…….

Cat stepping forward slightly, her eyes raking over him to cause him maximum uneasiness: Why hello Mr Adams, it's been some months. How is the great house these days? I can't wait for my husband and I to come for afternoon tea with his Lordship, although I doubt we would have much time to talk, my dear Mr Adams, as I move in rather elevated social circle these days.

Normally Adams would have snorted at such false snobbery and the most ridiculously phoney well-to-do enunciation she had developed since leaving Taplows, but he was still too much in shock. The sight of his lover chatting away merrily to the woman he gave himself to in the courtyard around six months ago, in a moment of utter madness while under the influence of a copious amount of whiskey and a depressed state of mind, shook him to the core and he could do nothing but stand and gape. How on earth had she managed to marry the vicar! Catherine Stanwick of all people, the whole idea of her leading this new, virtuous life was so absurd to him it was laughable. Sadly for him he wasn't quick enough to interject and pull Rebecca away from the rapidly declining conversation, as she embarked on a full range of questions which may have resulted in answers she may have rather not heard

Rebecca beaming unsuspectingly: Oh you two are acquainted then? How delightful! How did you meet? Do you know each other very well?

Cat speaking hurriedly and embarrassingly loudly before Adams could ruin the moment: Oh well I used to be employed by his Lordship so Mr Adams and I were working rather closely together at one point. He was ever so the gentleman, always available to help with practical problems around the house, oh and outside it of course. He was ever so good with his hands, always banging around the place, and enjoyed a spot of gardening from time to time. Once I found him in the bushes with his rake out, I was most astonished when he asked me to join him, I then nearly put my back out after digging around a little too overzealously!

Cat attempted a dainty laugh, her double-entendre very much obvious to Adams but thankfully completely lost on Rebecca. Adams HAD to shut her up, she only needed to say that she had been the temporary housekeeper in the summer and Rebecca could put a diary entry and an al fresco fumble together and most certainly get the right answer.

But, of course, the former Mrs Stanwick was far too shrewd to let on about her liaison with the under-butler, she wouldn't want to ruin her brand new unblemished reputation now would she? No, she wanted to play, make him – and Jarvis – sweat, make them think that at any moment she could ruin the delicate balance of their relationships. First, however, she would need to find out an awful lot more about this rather interesting state of affairs – literally - between Adams and Lord Hugo's attractive widow.

Rebecca wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders in the cold: Pardon the questioning, but you may or may not know that Mr Adams was under-butler at my father's estate in Scotland called Highlands, you may have heard of it. Were you a lady's maid at Taplows?

Cat holding Adams' panicky gaze as she watched him work up a sweat: Actually, my Lady, I was…..oh, do excuse me, I just must go and talk to Mr Jarvis, such a dear friend!

Beaming again, Cat touched Rebecca's arm as she turned to leave, only briefly noticing the apparent relief of Adams' flushed face

Cat leaning in to whisper while focusing on her next target: Don't worry dear, I will tell you all about myself, we should have a cup of tea sometime and have a good old girlie gossip. How does that sound?

The thought of some more female company seemed to good and opportunity to miss so Rebecca agreed enthusiastically, if a little confused at this woman's immediate friendliness. Still, she seemed pleasant enough to her, and with the way things were with Flora at the moment her interest was most welcome. What harm could it do? Cat winked cheekily at a pale-faced Adams and sauntered off towards Jarvis, but only Adams noticed the absolute look of horror and barely contained fury on the butler's face at being approached by such an abhorrent creature with the bare-faced cheek to show her face around the Taplows estate again.

Cat bursting in on Jarvis' and the vicar's conversation, her gloved hand outstretched: Mr Jarvis, what a delight and pleasure it is to see you again!

For a moment Jarvis simply glared at her, her smirk far too much for him to stomach without wanting to retch, but with her husband standing there smiling away proudly at his new wife there was precious little he could do but follow up the gesture and kiss her knuckles. But before he could speak and just as Adams was about to bite his tongue and walk away from Rebecca before she could ask him unintentionally searching questions about the delightful lady they had just been speaking to, there was a shriek in the distance and all heads turned at once to stare

Glancing at each other, it took a few moments for the sound to sink in and when it did Adams watched as his superiors face suddenly turned whiter than ashes, "Flora!" Jarvis gasped out his chest suddenly constricting painfully as he felt his heart almost burst.

The next moment both he and Adams were pelting down the aisle and out the double wooden doors and all the while Jarvis mind was a chaotic of mess of thoughts and memories, flashes of this and that which seemed to make no sense at all, all except one image that of Flora lying unconscious and in agony and that he forced himself to push to one side there would be time for dealing with and sorting through these memories later but for now he had to find his Flora.

Heading out into the graveyard the pair split up calling out to the housekeeper as they scanned the surrounding area for even a glimpse of her, it was Adams who saw her first, staggering out of the woodland her dress torn and rumpled.

"Over here sir!" Adams called out to the butler, but he did not wait for Jarvis to catch up with him instead hurdling over the low churchyard wall and sprinting across the meadow. As he got closer the full impact of her dishevelled appearance struck him, the collar of her dress had been ripped and it had obviously been refastened in a hurry, her hair had come loose from it's bun and fell in bedraggled locks around her face; but it was the look of sheer terror on her face that told him not only what but who. That Bloody Keneally it had to have been him!

"Andrew…" Flora managed to gasp her voice weak and thready from running and the shock, tears still streaming down her face. "Please go help Will….Frank will kill him!" She added as the under-butler drew level. Nodding his agreement the Adams carried on running entering the wood at the point she had left it, determined that this time he was going to teach that Valet just how the Scots treated rapists.

Panting as he dashed across the field, internally cursing the extra few pounds he had allowed himself to put on, the Butler saw Flora stagger, and with an extra burst of speed he never knew he possessed he managed to reach her as she collapsed into his arms. Holding her tightly Jarvis brushed back the hair from her face, stifling a gasp of horror as he took in the beginnings of bruising on his lover's face and neck, glancing down he quickly noticed the tares in her dress and the nasty red marks around her wrists and he couldn't stop his thoughts from drawing one very disturbing conclusion. Stifling the sudden feeling of nausea, Jarvis concentrated his thoughts on one thing, finding the culprit and seeing to it that they paid and paid in full for this. Brushing his hand down the side of Flora's face he leant forward and place the softest of kisses on her forehead, brushing the hair tenderly away from her face whilst whispering to her to wake up unable to stop the sudden tears that sprung to his eyes from dropping onto her lifeless face.

Glancing over his shoulder Jarvis saw the Reverend, his lady wife and Lady Rebecca making their way across the churchyard, determined that he needed to get Flora inside and comfortable, possibly sending for the doctor if he thought it necessary. Scooping her up into his arms Jarvis staggered slightly, but one glance down at Flora's deathly pale face quickly strengthened his resolve, slowly he made his way towards the church meeting the others at the gate, ignoring Lady Rebecca's exclamation of horror.

"Oh my god Flora!" Rebecca gasped, reaching towards her friend as pieces of the puzzle began to slot into place, of Flora informing her weeks ago of Frank's threats and then that bizarre scene in her bedroom that morning when the housekeeper's parting shot was a comment about coming to her for help. "Why you didn't say something sooner?" Rebecca whispered as Jarvis barged past her gently, a look of puzzlement briefly replacing the pained expression on his face as he caught her words.

"Do you have any idea who did this?" He demanded as they returned to the church and he was able to lay Flora down on one of the pews, moving to kneel beside her as he looked expectantly up at her ladyship.

"Well…I'm not certain." Rebecca began, unwilling to air such private confidences in front of the Reverend and his new wife, then turning and addressing Mrs Postlebury directly she commended as only an aristocrat could. "Go get some blankets, water and some smelling salts if you have some!"

Waiting for Cat to leave Rebecca then turned to Jarvis her beautiful face crumpling as memories of her own terrorising experience at the hands of the Valet came flooding back. "The only person I know capable of this is Frank Keneally…I doubt Flora would have mentioned it to you after your accident but sometime before he tried to…"

"Yes it's alright I remember, well I think I do, dammit it's just so confusing, if only I could think straight, I'm still not sure which are real memories and which are concoctions of this addled brain of mine. For the last few days things have just been coming and going, I've gone to do things automatically and I've stopped myself afterwards unsure as to whether it was something I remember or not. It's like earlier when Mrs Postlebury introduced herself it was the sudden flash of a connection, I knew I knew her and the feeling of, well of aggravation and revulsion was so strong I knew it had to be real, but I can't remember anything, any reason why Frank want to hurt Flora?"

"She had said he'd threatened her…" Rebecca began.

"What!" Jarvis exclaimed turning back to gaze at his fiancé. "Why didn't she tell me, I could have protected her…I mean if I'd known I would never have left her alone with him outside but she said nothing, gave not even a hint! Why wouldn't she tell me? Was she afraid I wouldn't believe her?" He asked, more to himself than Rebecca but even so her ladyship was also stumped for answer.

"Perhaps she couldn't tell you…" Rebecca began, her eyes wide as she suddenly thought of a reason why the housekeeper might keep want to keep things quiet, if for some reason Frank had some hold over her for example if he knew something Flora never wanted Jarvis to know about, like her brief fling with a certain footman.

However before Rebecca could hypothesise further or Jarvis could interrogate her further Flora began to shift in his arms her eyes flickering open and softening slightly as they recognised Walter, however as she beheld his bereft expression the memories came suddenly back and she had to stifle a cry of relief, it was all over! Sitting up suddenly she flung her arms around his neck, burying her head into his shoulder sobbing as she felt his arms wrap round her pulling her into a tight embrace.

"It's alright my darling, it's alright I've got you!" Walter whispered in her hair as he stroked it soothingly, rocking her in his arms for several minutes, relieved to have her back at last. Finally Jarvis pulled away reaching up to brush the tears from her face. "Flora you have to tell me, did he….. I mean do you need to see the doctor." He added unable to say the words.

"I might…" Flora began but on seeing the look of pure horror and desperation on his face she started again. "Oh it's not like that, he didn't… I mean he tried but Will stopped him before he could, but I would still like to see the doctor I need him to tell me everything is alright, I won't be able to rest until I know everything is alright!" She repeated grasping his hand with hers and holding it tightly threading her fingers through it before laying it softly on her stomach, causing Jarvis to glance up at her in amazement.

"You don't mean…" He started before trailing off completely lost for words, and Flora simply nodded.

"I didn't want to tell you until I was certain but I just can't go through this on my own, what if…." She trailed off her eyes brimming with tears. "Walter I can't loose another baby I just can't!"

Pulling tightly against him Jarvis held her as close as he could, practically squeezing the breath out of her and placing a row of kisses along her forehead. "It's alright I'm here and everything is going to be fine, you're both going to be just fine!"

For a few they moments sat in silence but then Jarvis decided he had to ask the question that burned upper most in his mind. "Why didn't you tell me Frank was threatening you?"

THWACK!

Frank's head came into sudden and violent contact with the trunk of the very tree he had tied Flora to, and wailed loudly in pain as he slumped to the floor. But Adams wasn't going to let the valet nurse the wound which had burst open on the top of his scalp, oh no. Dragging him up by his collar, the under-butler forced Frank up against the tree and kneed him repeatedly in the stomach until he was sick down his livery, loud guttural cries causing nesting birds to flee in fright. Adams gripped Frank by his throat and pushed him up the tree by his neck, their faces now inches away from each other

Adams his face scarlet in fury and his voice a vicious growl: Had enough yet eh! Have you! Speak up boy I can't hear you!

Frank hardly able to breathe let alone speak: I...yes...have had...

Adams squeezing harder so Frank's eyes bulged in fright: Well I'm sorry Mr Keneally I just can't make out a word you're saying so I would guess you're having lots of fun! Well I know I am, haven't been able to flex my muscles much recently, well not in a beating the utter se out of someone sense anyway!

Adams released Frank's neck and let him drop to the floor in a crumpled heap, panting and dribbling and unable to string together a coherent retort in time before the under-butler's foot met squarely with his stomach and caused him to double over a squeal in agony.

Two minutes earlier, Adams had managed to drag Frank from repeatedly punching Will in the face; the anger the valet had felt towards the man who had foiled his most perfect of plans had overwhelmed him and he just needed to pummel the footman to a bloody pulp to make him feel in the slightest bit vindicated. As much as Adams would have normally loved to have seen Will get his just desserts, this time it was personal between him and Frank not just for Flora's sake but for Rebecca's - he hadn't been able to do what he wanted to the snivelling little pervert straight after his attack on Rebecca, but this time there was no way he could have restrained himself even if he wanted to.

Now, Will was propped up next to a tree a few metres away from where Adams was crunching Frank's fingers with his foot, hardly able to see what was going on for the blood pouring out of his facial wounds and his nose. Somehow Frank had managed to wind him in just the right place that he could hardly move for the pain so could only sit and listen to the yells of fury from Adams and the sound of Frank's body being violated into submission

Adams pushing his foot down on Frank's chest and glaring down at him: So am I beginning to get through to your bloody thick head that I - and others, including Mr Jarvis - may not be best pleased with your behaviour recently! Eh! People like you should be hung, you're despicable and disgusting!

Adams moved away from Frank, frantically scanning the ground around him. For a moment Frank thought he was safe, Adams had stopped and maybe that was it, he didn't think he could take any more abuse anyway without falling unconscious. Or was that the idea? But to Frank's absolute horror Adams came storming back over to him as he still laid on his back trying to gather some strength to move, this time holding a rather vicious-looking stick. With a look of utter hatred on his face, Adams snapped the stick over his knee so it broke down one side producing a sharp, splintered edge then with a wicked grin bent down over Frank

Frank lifting his head and staring down to his groin in terror: What...what are you...?

With only a snort as his reply, Adams used his free hand to roughly unbutton Frank's trousers and wrench them down his legs, tearing the seams as he did so. The panicking valet tried his best to wriggle his legs away, now bound together by the trousers around his ankles, but Adams simply laughed and brought his knee down hard on his shins to keep him still. Frank tried his last pathetic tactic of trying desperately to grab the under-butler's arms as Adams tore down Frank's long-johns leaving him exposed and belittled, but Adams soon put a stop to that by whacking his hands hard with the stick

Frank his tortured voice getting higher as the tears rolled down his stinging cheeks: What are you going to do! Please don't! PLEASE!

Frank already had rather a good idea what Adams was going to threaten him with, his sobs and desperate expression said it all, but Adams decided that he could play this out a little longer, make him beg for mercy

Adams gripping the very sharp stick harder and leering right over Frank: Somehow I don't think you've learnt your lesson, Mr Keneally!

Frank nodding emphatically, sniffing as snot, tears, dribble and blood smudged across his face: I have! I have!

Adams bringing the stick down hard on where it could hurt Frank most: I have, what!

Frank squealing loudly in agony: I have, Mr Adams! I have learnt my lesson, I'll never do it again I promise!

Adams spitting as the humiliated valet squirmed: Why should I believe you, you seem to have quite a nasty habit of forcing yourself on women, and my, my you don't have much to offer them do you eh! Don't know what you're making such a fuss about when I look at you, don't think they would've even noticed you to be honest, if you get my meaning!

Will let out a loud laugh from by his tree but it only caused him to wince in pain and slump back down again. Adams pushed the sharp edge of the stick into Frank, not cutting him but causing him enough pain in a sensitive area that he began to sob loudly - he had an awful image in his mind of Flora or Rebecca turning up and pointing and laughing at him as Adams threatened him with the worst torture possible, unable to stop himself from wailing in self-pity. Now, Frank thought, the only way to get Adams to back off was to try to reason with the Scotch git

Frank shutting his eyes and gulping hard: I know you shouldn't believe me, why should you, after everything I've done, but it's true Mr Adams, I won't do it again I promise! Please you've got to believe me!

Adams pressing his knee more firmly into Frank's stomach: Have I made you feel helpless, Frank! Have I made you feel worthless, degraded, scared to bloody death! Don't just nod, answer me boy!

Frank yelping as the pain in his privates began to burn: Y...yes Mr Adams, I do!

Adams: So now you know how your victims feel then when you do those disgusting things you do! Does it excite you when you make women cry eh Frank? Does it make you want to have your way with them? Did it give you pleasure to see Rebecca begging you to stop, pleading for mercy? You like that don't you, the power you have over women, but surprise, surprise it doesn't work on me, I'm not scared of you, and I don't give a what you say you're going to go and tell your master about me and Rebecca because I know, sonny, about you and a certain other Lady!

Frank his breathing loud and erratic: Just please don't hurt me there, you can do what you like to the rest of me, but please Mr Adams not down there, you can't leave me scarred!

Adams raising his eyebrows in mock astonishment: Oh thank you, I can do what I like to you can I? And here's me thinking I was going to anyway! And as for down here, well, who said anything about mere scarring? I quite fancied cutting the offending damn thing off completely with this wee pointy stick here, bit by bit, nice and slow, a good way to guarantee that you will never have intimacies with a woman ever again, willing or otherwise! And...urgh! Jesus Christ! You've wet yourself, you dirty bd!

The under-butler leapt away from Frank and sure enough a puddle of urine had appeared down the front of Frank's legs and had soaked through Adams' trousers. Will smirked again from against his tree and Frank sobbed again, dismayed at his own lack of self-control

Adams staring at his trousers in disgust: You'll pay for that, Keneally!

And sure enough Frank did, crying out for Adams to stop as he kicked him repeatedly in the stomach and then once in his rather exposed groin for good measure. Frank curled himself up into a ball, covering his bleeding head with his hands and shutting his eyes tightly as if not looking at Adams could somehow get him to stop or make the pain more bearable. His backside was cut to ribbons from the rough twigs underneath him and the bunch of nettles he had rolled into meant his cuts were now full of stings, his face was so smeared in his own mess that as he moved the dirt stuck to his cheeks and lips and his privates were desperately sore. Surely this had to be it, he was just able to think, Adams had managed to completely break him down and now he would surely just leave him to recover enough to stagger back to the house and hide away from his master and everyone else's stares and sniggers.

After a moment or two, Frank breathed a sigh of relief. He still had his head buried away from sight but presumed Adams and probably Will had gone. Frank shifted slightly, his entire body wracked with horrific pain and his ribs were hurting so much he was sure one or two must be broken, but as he found the small amount of strength within him to lean up onto his arm he looked up towards the sky and instead of seeing bright light and clouds he saw a fist heading straight towards his face. WHACK! Blood flew into the air as Frank's nose broke with a loud crack and he fell back onto the ground, totally stunned and in the most horrific agony he had ever experienced, his eyes swimming with blood

Adams smirking over him, his fist still clenched: Oh you didn't think I'd finished did you sonny? I'm just getting started!

Slowly Jarvis repeated the question thinking that's Flora's lack of response was due to her mishearing him. "Flora why didn't you come to me you know I would have found a way to protect you?"

"I…" Flora began, unsure about what to say, could she risk not telling him herself of having Frank get the first word and therefore twist it into something much worse than it actually was?

"Yes." Jarvis prompted softly his hand moving to rub her shoulders reassuringly. "It's alright Flora you can tell, whatever it is I just need to know."

"I wanted to tell you, I wanted to tell you so badly but I couldn't. I wanted nothing more than for you to take me in your arms and tell me it was going to be alright that that monster could never come near me again but…but I couldn't risk telling you." Flora began, her voice trembling as she gripped his hand tightly.

"Why not?" Jarvis asked tentatively. "Was he blackmailing you into keeping quiet?" He added looking Flora directly in the eye and seeing her flinch at the word so he knew instinctively he was on the right track. "But what could be so terrible that you would choose to keep quiet about him sexually harassing you rather than come to me with the truth?"

"Please don't…" Flora gasped.

"Please don't what?" Jarvis snapped. "Flora for god's sake you have to tell me, how can I trust and protect you if you're keeping things from me, if today it's Frank how can you be sure that five years down the road when we're married with children that some other miscreant won't come along and put you through the same ordeal?"

"But you'll hate me, you'll never be able to forgive me, I know you won't and protecting our relationship was the most important thing, I'd do anything, almost anything I couldn't pay the price Frank wanted and so he tried to take it instead, I've never been so scared Walter all I wanted was for you to rescue me even if meant having to confess but you didn't come." She whispered softly.

"Well if I had any idea something was going on I would never have left you alone, not for one second, the question I still want answered is why! And I must admit you continued fall stalling is making me more than slightly nervous!" Jarvis retorted angrily.

"Perhaps now isn't the time?" Rebecca tried to interject. "Perhaps it's best if we get her home and let the doctor sedate her, you talk this over tomorrow when you 're both feeling calmer and you're reassured about the baby."

"NO!" Jarvis snapped as he got to his feet, taking Rebecca somewhat by surprise, as she had never seen even the slightest hint of the Butler's temper before. "We will sort this out now, I need to know exactly where we stand if I am to know how to deal with Keneally, and I don't want any little surprises from him I would rather hear it from her own lips!"

"He's been blackmailing me, he found out something, something I am far from proud of, in fact something I've regretted every moment of every day since it happened, I was so weak and stupid…." Flora trailed off.

"Yes but what was it, have you been embezzling from the Earl, or perhaps you're illegitimate or heaven knows even having an affair…." Jarvis ranted, before suddenly stopping as he saw the same flinch. "No you couldn't, you wouldn't do that to me…" He trailed off walking over and seizing her by the shoulders shook her hard. "WHO?"

Sobbing Flora was unable to answer, unable to meet his eye she stared steadfastly at the ground.

"Mr Jarvis please let her go, she is pregnant after all!" Rebecca commanded.

"Yes but how can I be sure it's mine, it may be this mystery lover of hers?…." Jarvis began.

"It is yours!" Flora managed to gasp out, her voice finally returning.

"Yes but how can I be sure, hmmm?" Jarvis retorted, his handsome face contorted with rage, only Lady Rebecca's presence prevented him from unleashing his temper.

"Because it was only the once and it was almost two months ago, before we got back together…." Flora cut in.

"Oh I so that makes it alright then, as we were separated at the time, why should I believe you, how can I be sure that's the complete truth?" Jarvis snorted, pacing up and down as he rubbed his brow.

"Because I say so!" Flora snapped. "It was a mistake but I was so angry at you at the time you'd hurt me so badly and I just needed to be held and told everything would be alright, something you were incapable of doing if I remember correctly."

"Wait a minute are we talking about the night of Lady Caroline's wedding?" Jarvis demanded, bringing his hand to slap down hard on the pew causing both women to jump.

"Yes it was, but how do you remember that?" Flora replied softly, her eyes lighting up for a moment with joy but Jarvis chose to ignore her question as if it had never existed.

"Well I might of known, the one time I fail to live up to your high expectations and you literally fling yourself into the arms of another man….Forest, it's bloody Forest isn't it? How convenient that he was the one to find you tonight, just like before I might add, how many times have you been arranging to secretly meet with that footman?" Jarvis demanded his eyes wild with jealousy.

"It's not like that!" Flora tried to reason.

"Well we'll see about that shan't we…." And with that the Butler turned and strode to the church doors. "Perhaps Mr Forest can be just as enlightening?" he added as he disappeared from sight

Shaking Flora slumped down into the pew Rebecca slowly moved to sit next to her, tentatively she reached out covering Flora's hand with her own and the housekeeper did not pull it away. Instead she turned and practically fell into her friends open arms, for a few minutes Rebecca just sat and held her, no words needing to be spoken, then suddenly Flora spoke.

"I'm sorry."

"You're sorry, what ever for?" Rebecca retorted surprised.

"For my behaviour in your room, I just wasn't thinking straight what with Frank, and the baby…"

"If you're going to apologise then I need to as well, I should never have reacted the way I did, when I think over what Andrew said it's no wonder you slapped him…I think I would have the same done normally."

"Still friends?" Flora asked tentatively.

"Of course!" Rebecca replied, smiling sadly at her.

"Oh Becca what have I done, I've lost everything…Walter will never forgive me and how can I raise a baby alone…. sometimes I wish I had taken you up on your offer women surely can't cause this much trouble?" Flora added so forlornly, that Rebecca had to stifle the impulse to giggle despite the seriousness of the situation.

"Well if you rally want to reconsider….We could be two pregnant spinsters together, surely that couldn't cause any more scandal than me marrying Andrew eventually?" Rebecca replied, trying desperately to keep her face straight.

"Oh I didn't mean…" Flora began quickly but on seeing Rebecca's face crease up she realised her friend was joking, and she had to fight the impulse to smile herself even through her tears. "That was a mean trick to play on someone in my condition!"

"Really and what condition is that?" Bellowed a voice from the back of the church.

Whirling round in her seat Flora had to stifle the impulse to gasp out loud. "What the hell are you doing back here?"

"Tut tut Flora my dear, I would have thought considering the position you've just found yourself in you would need all the divine intervention you can manage and swearing in church is hardly the way to go about securing it!" Cat retorted smugly. "It must be so hard being pregnant and ditched by your fiancé only days before the wedding…"

"What, how do you…" Flora retorted confused.

"Oh I overheard Walter talking to my beloved husband earlier, babbling on about needing more time etc etc. Sounds like a classic case of cold feet if you ask me, just can't bear to live up to his responsibilities but then again I always thought he was all talk, I mean when he got me into bed it was hardly the most stimulating experience of my life!" Cat added viciously.

"You…You're her…" Rebecca gasped, "that housekeeper."

"Oh so dear Andrew did see his way to filling you in on that one…My my I have to credit the man with more honesty than brains, but than again he is so pitifully lacking in any other talents…" Cat trailed off as she sauntered towards them.

"Perhaps it had more to do with the lack of inspiration!" Flora snapped, her anger at Cat's callousness rousing her from her own self pity, causing the vicars wife to take a step back. "I mean poor Mr Adams had to be practically unconscious from drinking so much and as for Walter he told me nothing happened between you, apart from you flinging yourself at him and any other male in the vicinity with a pulse! Even Felix!" Flora added, nudging Rebecca gently causing the Lady to burst out laughing.

"Felix Kraus, oh that is priceless, I mean how dense can one woman be?" Rebecca gasped out in between her chuckles.

"Well lets see, whose the foolish little girl playing around with someone she shouldn't be, surely not Taplows resident grieving widow?" Cat snapped. "I bet the Times society pages would just love that little tit bit, it would probably run for weeks and weeks!"

"Yes and I also wonder what you're new husband and the good people of this parish would say if they ever found out about the extra services you provided whilst employed at Taplows, I wonder how many of their good wives would invite you to their social luncheons and benefits then, eh Mrs Postlebury?" Flora retorted, seizing Rebecca by the hand and leaning on her friend for support they headed to her waiting carriage without even a cursory backwards glance in Cat's direction.

Unaware of all the trouble back at the church, the lower servants made their way back into the house, stripping themselves of their warm layers and making sure they did it as slowly as possible.

Fred: God, I'm sure Reverend Postlebury is getting increasingly dry in his old age.

Charlotte: Fred! That is not a nice thing to say.

Joseph: Nar, the lovely cat probably found his secret stash of dirty photos before they married, got rid of them and now he's bored.

George: Bored? We all know what Catherine Stanwick was like… I doubt he's bored.

Grace: Oh yes! We all know what she's like! glaring at George, before turning to rummage in a drawer I know, Mrs Ryan knows, every single woman in this house knows! They all go quiet

Fred: What's up with you woman?

Grace: Nowt. slamming the drawer shut and barging past him.

Fred: Well it doesn't sound like 'nowt' Grace turns and raises her eyebrow

Grace: Nothing.

Fred: Well it doesn't sound like 'nothing' George and Joseph snigger into their hands, while the girls scowl.

Joe: Urgh! Could you imagine what their children would look like! The footmen all burst out laughing

Charlotte: That's hardly a nice thing to say Joseph James! The footmen's laughter dies to a snigger and Fred winks at George and Joe.

Fred: Speaking of children, I got an image of what your and the doctor's children would look like during that service, when he was sending you all those lovey dovey glances.

Joe: Yer! screwing up his eyes and kissing the air around him.

George: No he was more like this. sticking his tongue out and pretending to drool while staring at Charlotte's breasts.

Fred: With his eyes wider! George laughs through his nose and widens his eyes. Charlotte rolls her eyes and turns to reach for her apron

George fixing his eyes on her rather small bottom and reaching out to her: Oh Miss Lewis! It's so nice to feel a slim body, instead of a sick or pregnant woman. Fred and Joseph crack up leaning on each other for support.

Grace: You sad, sad boys. Don't you think you should be getting to work before Jarvis or Adams get back?

Fred: Oh for gods sake Grace! Lighten up!

Grace: Don't tell me to lighten up! You should go grow up!

Joe: Oh come on you two!

Charlotte: She has a point.

Joe: Oh don't you start!

Johnny: 'Ere guys- entering and trying to get their attention, but as usual no one even looked at him.

Fred: You always have to take everything so seriously don't you?

Johnny: 'Ere look at this-

Grace: You always have to make a joke out of everything don't you? Take the p out of everyone and anything even if it's none of you business.

Johnny: Charlotte? tapping her on the elbow

Charlotte: Can't you keep your immature opinions to yourself?

Johnny: Fred? Trying to dodge in front of him and waving a sheet of paper in his face.

Fred pushing Johnny to the side: I can say what I want!

Johnny: Guys! They all stop and look up at him in shock. Had Johnny Boot just raised his voice at them?

Charlotte softly: What is it Johnny?

Johnny embarrassed at all the attention: I- I thought you might want to read this. Holding out the piece of paper, which Charlotte kindly takes from him.

Charlotte: Census? George weren't you asking about some census?

George: Census! snatching the piece of parchment of her.

Johnny: Sometime in the next couple of weeks they'll be here. The room is quiet for a moment, but none of the staff seem that bothered about the new news, except George and begin their argument again. Joe rolls his eyes and tries to break up Fred and Grace, while George furiously reads the leaflet over and over again.

George: Will you lot shut it for one moment! They all look up at him in shock

Fred: What's got into you?

George: P off Fred. pocketing the leaflet and pushing past him, storming out of the room.

Fred: What's got into him? They all shrug

George: Sugar! he mutters to himself, leaning against the wall So this is what hell is like.

It was just after Adams had tortured Frank with another firm kick in the groin he saw Jarvis storming towards them, so dropping the valet with a thud face down into a conveniently placed cow pat he brushed dirt and blood from his hands and walked towards the butler. Jarvis stopped next to Adams and scanned the scene – Frank in a crumpled, tortured heap on the floor and Will still leaning up against the tree relaxing with his eyes shut. Jarvis wasn't sure who he hated more at that moment – both in his mind had violated Flora and so both deserved what they got. Will Forest would have only saved Flora from Frank's clutches for his own selfish reasons and not to save her, so why on earth should he belittle himself enough to thank him for what he did?

Adams lowering his voice, his gaze still firmly fixed on Frank: Sir! How is Mrs Ryan? I think you might find that the snivelling little creep will have plenty of time to think about what he's done while he's laid up in bed for the next week!

Jarvis gritting his teeth and ripping his jacket from his body: Mrs Ryan is fine, Lady Rebecca is looking after her. Don't let anyone else know I said this, but good work Mr Adams, I hope you've broken every bone in that wretched body of his. Actually no, leave some of them for me, you're done with him now so I need you to take him back to the house, but it certainly isn't the end to his beating for today when I finally catch up with him!

Adams wiping his hands on a handkerchief: But surely you're going to tell Lord Julian about this? He can't stay at Taplows any longer, not after this……

Jarvis untying his neck tie and unfastening his collar button: I will deal with him how I see fit, Mr Adams, but for now can you please take him back to the house! Keep him out of sight, I don't want the lower servants knowing what went on, well not for as long as possible anyway. Be discreet. If Lord Julian asks, which I doubt he will considering the state we left him in this morning, tell him his precious valet had a bit of an accident on his way to church and that he's incapacitated. Offer him Frederick for now.

Adams looking slightly puzzled at Jarvis' slight state of undress: Aye sir, but aren't you coming back now too? I think Mr Forest here needs a hand back to Taplows, took quite a thump from Keneally although in my book that's never too much of a bad thing to keep him in check.

Jarvis snorting and glaring sourly at Will: I will be back presently Andrew, I just want to thank Mr Forest for his selfless act of rescuing Mrs Ryan.

Adams smiling wryly: Yes well, from the way that lad looks at her I sometimes wonder… ..well…..er…..

Jarvis raising his eyebrows at Adams' candidness: Sometimes wonder what, Mr Adams?

Adams his smile rapidly falling away as he shifted about awkwardly: Er, well it's obvious he has feelings for the woman, but I don't know anything other than that sir. As to how keen the lady in question is on him may be a matter for you to investigate sir, and I would say you should watch him more closely than you may have done in the past.

Jarvis stepping closer to Adams, his voice dangerously low: I watch everyone closely, Mr Adams, especially those whom I suspect are up to no good, whether it be matters of a sexual nature or otherwise. I have begun to remember certain things, one of which could quite possibly involve a certain under-butler of mine and a certain recently widowed Lady, so I would be very careful what I say about others and to whom if I were you. Mr Adams. Now are you going to take Mr Keneally back to Taplows or are we just going to leave him out here for animal food?

Adams gulping at Jarvis' veiled threat to his affair: Aye sir. I'll take him back now.

Adams stormed back over to where Frank lay unmoving and in a state of semi-consciousness and gave him a firm kick and words of encouragement to get him onto his feet. Jarvis stood a little distance away, clenching his fists and eyeing up Will who had woken up to watch in amusement as to what was going to happen next to the injured valet.

Will calling out, his voice cracked and weak: Mr Jarvis, how is Mrs Ryan? Mr Jarvis?

Jarvis didn't even acknowledge him, let alone answer him, just watched and waited as Adams dragged Frank's battered frame up from the ground and pushed him up against the tree, patting his filthy face to get him to wake up. With a grunt Frank came round and his features creased up in agony as he realised he was still there, with Adams, his torture still not over

Jarvis stepping closer and eyeing Frank in complete contempt: Get his trousers up, Mr Adams, I'd rather not have to look at him. He's an absolute disgrace. I'd say throw him in the coal cellar but he might die and I don't really want his pathetic life on my conscience so get him cleaned up and lock him in his room. Tell the other valets their quarters is out of bounds until I get there.

Frank spluttering as Adams roughly pulled his trousers up for him S…so you think this is right, do you! How your thug of an under-butler has treated me! I was doing you a service, you know, with HER! Teachin' that little slut a lesson for what she did to you! I mean you know what she's been doing, don't you! And who she's been doing it with!

Jarvis his face reddening with rage as he unbuttoned his waistcoat: Just shut up, Keneally, I mean it! Hasn't a good beating taught you anything!

Frank ranting as if he hadn't heard Jarvis at all as Adams held him firmly against the tree: Yes that bloody snot Forest over there, sitting there the bloody hero when all the time he had been doing her good and proper in the stables! Oh yes he told me everything from how he had given her more pleasure than she had ever known to her fantastic technique and how she likes to take control……..!

Jarvis didn't need to hear this, especially in such a coarse way from the man who had just tried to rape the love of his life. He was angry enough with Will for just knowing that he and Flora had lain together, but to know any of the details would be enough to push him over the edge and quite possibly get him sacked by his Lordship and without character. For his own sake, as much as Flora's, he thumped Frank in his already bruised stomach so hard that Frank's knees gave way and he slumped down the tree, gasping for air and wheezing

Jarvis growling angrily and turning to face a pale-faced, cowering footman: Back to the house with Keneally, NOW MR ADAMS!

Once Adams had dragged Frank away, walking behind him with his sharp stick and poking him so he kept on his feet, Jarvis and Will were finally alone. Neither of them spoke, Will kept his head hung and Jarvis paced in front of him, his barely suppressed fury preventing him from saying anything at all until the footman stupidly decided to try to reason with him

Will slowly raising his head, his voice small and wavering: Mr Jarvis, I…I'm so very sorry. I understand if you want to sack me without character.

The butler stopped dead in his tracks and swung round to glare at Will, who gasped when he saw the look of utter hatred burning in his eyes. Jarvis began to take intimidatingly slow steps towards his first footman, his waistcoat and shirt unbuttoned and his tie hanging around his neck. Firmly he pushed his sleeves up his arms then without warning lunged forward and grabbed Will by his arms and flung him across the ground with such force there was a nasty crack when Will landed

Will the desperation clear on his face: Shouldn't you be taking it all out on Frank! At least Flora had been willing with me, surely what Frank did is worse! Please sir, say something!

Jarvis watching with a sense of glee as Will shuffled away from him: Never mind Frank, it's you I need to talk to Will. Maybe you could start off by telling me why – why did you have to take advantage of her? You must have known there could be never anything much between you, she knows it was a stupid mistake. Forest it was only once wasn't it! Tell me!

Will only had a moment to wonder whether Jarvis knew very well what had gone on between himself and Flora before Frank decided to blurt it out to him, before Jarvis wrenched him from the floor and thumped him on the cheek, drawing blood immediately. Then he threw him against a tree and grabbed him in a sensitive area, twisting and causing the footman to yell out as tears of pain sprang to his eyes

Will his arms flaying about in resistance, his voice terrified: Yes it was only once! It's true! She was lonely and I was there, it wasn't planned or anything, we didn't mean to do it, I mean she loves you, she told me that she didn't want anything else to do with me! We only kissed a couple of other times but nothing else!

Jarvis his mouth falling open in utter disbelief: What you kissed! There WAS more and it wasn't just the one time!

Will cursing himself for speaking before thinking: But it didn't mean anything! She told me it didn't, and arghhh……..!

Jarvis twisted more tightly, using his last bit of restraint from ripping the offending particulars from the little bd and therefore teaching him a lesson he would never forget, but he wanted more information from him first before deciding exactly what to do with him. Using his other hand Jarvis grabbed Will by his hair and smacked his head back against the rough bark

Jarvis spitting furiously in Will's frightened and pained face: But did it mean anything to you, Mr Forest, eh? Don't you think you're a little bit out of your depth here? Did you keep hounding her, begging her to bed you last one time! Answer me!

Will snivelling as the tears finally sprang from his eyes: N…no it wasn't like that Mr Jarvis, I left her alone, I respected her wishes!

Jarvis: Well come on then, tell me what happened on that fateful night! Did you force her into it, is she protecting you for some reason! How the hell do I know that you're not just as bad as Keneally!

Will shaking his head in protest: No! No I'm not, I would never ever force her into anything, just ask her!

Jarvis hissing furiously: Oh don't worry, I will! But for now I'm asking you and I want some bloody straight answers! How long have you been lusting after MY fiancée and your superior?

Will shrugging, trying desperately hard to think: Er, I'm not sure, maybe a few months I don't know, it's not important, it's over now anyway she only wants to be with you, I mean nothing to her!

Jarvis suddenly kicking Will in the calf, forcing him back on the ground: Well maybe she should have thought about that one before going off with you, to the stables of all places! Must've been a bit cold, but I suppose you had each other to keep you warm! It makes me sick to my stomach just to think about it, you with your hands all over her!

Suddenly, without warning, Will scrambled to his feet, a look of absolute vehemence on his young face as he started to back away from Jarvis. Roughly he smudged the tears from his face and dabbed his facial wound with the back of his hand, more tears threatening in his angry eyes

Will: You…you don't have the right to do this to me!

Jarvis unbuttoning the last few buttons on his shirt as his skin burnt through rage: What did you say! And don't you back away from me!

Will staggering backwards over a loose branch: You heard! If it wasn't for me she may never have realised it is you she wants! The way you treated Flora was despicable and I've no idea why she would want to go back to you! You had made her cry – not for the first time – and I found her and comforted her! We needed each other, and d'you know what, Mr Jarvis! It was good, very good! At least Frank got something right, it WAS the best she had ever had, and it wasn't just the once, oh no! We did it again the next morning, and it was even better!

Will thought he had just signed his own death warrant, but couldn't stop the words pouring out of his mouth regardless of the consequences. All the things he had bottled up inside him were being released and if he had to suffer another beating because of it then so be it, he was used to them by now. He was shouting so much he didn't even see that the anger on Jarvis' face had been replaced with sorrow and sadness and the butler didn't lunge at his inferior but instead simply stopped, his shoulders sagging in helplessness as Will's words cut through him far more deeply than any physical pain he could suffer.

Will: So yes we did lay together! She's not your possession, Mr Jarvis, and you're not married yet…..!

Jarvis his voice quiet and obviously shaken: Mr Forest, I suggest you stop talking right now.

Will still backing away from Jarvis, his livery dirty and torn and his hair dishevelled: We held hands afterwards, like we were a real couple, and for the first time in my life I felt a complete inner peace and I thank her for that, so if you ask me if I regretted it then I most certainly didn't – and I'd do it all again I swear!

Jarvis: Come back here now, Forest! You're lying, now tell me the truth!

Will completely ignoring Jarvis' orders: The truth! You can't handle the truth! You just can't accept that a woman as sophisticated and beautiful as Flora would fall for someone like me, but for a time she did and I will never forget that and neither will she, no matter how much you try to play happy families!

Will paused for a moment, panting heavily, waiting for Jarvis to speak, but the butler said nothing and continued to stand there, utterly broken and with nothing left to say to the young footman. Will would have much rather he beat him up, or swore at him, or both, or something at least, it wasn't like Jarvis not to try to get the last word and make Will feel insignificant and humiliated, just as Adams had done to Frank. But something stopped him from just turning and running back to the house to escape the crestfallen stare of the butler and he just kept yelling and crying until his throat hurt and his eyes were red and puffy. He marched back towards Jarvis until they were only inches apart, their glares locking like horns

Will the frustration clear on his face: Or is it that you're going to abandon her now even though she's carrying YOUR child, and not mine! Maybe I will do the right thing by her if you won't, at least I'm not a stuffy old windbag, at least I would bring some fun and excitement to her life! I mean what the hell do you have to offer her, a quiet retirement by the seaside! An entire existence of making you lemon curd! I could give her so much more than you, Mr Jarvis and you bloody know it!

Jarvis raising his eyebrows, his voice extraordinarily calm: Alright then Forest, where would you go? Come on, if you're going to play the responsible gentleman tell me where you would go? What money would you use? Hmm? And what occupation would you take up? From what I can tell you've only got your footman credentials and as for a half decent character, well!

Will gaped at this unexpected line of questioning – he had said everything in complete haste and he knew Jarvis would know only too well that he hadn't given that sort of thing any thought, well not yet anyway

Will simply shrugging while trying to think on his feet: Well, I have a little money put by, and we would go to a house where we would both be accepted, but if nowhere will take us then I'm sure I can learn a new trade quickly, and I'm quite good at carpentry…….

Will trailed off when he saw Jarvis smile then begin to laugh loudly in the footman's face, leaving him to stare in fury at being mocked quite so openly. Jarvis shook his head and folded his arms

Jarvis: You've no bloody idea have you Forest? You just blunder into things like you always have done, wrecking everything with your utter selfish stupidity as if you had the God-given right to trample over people's lives!

Will his furious expression suddenly turning more embittered as he flung his arms out: Well come on then! I know you're desperate to beat me to a pulp so bring it on! Show Flora what a big man you can be! I'm sure she'll just fall into your arms knowing you smacked around the best sg of her life!

At this final insult, Jarvis met Will's harsh stare again but didn't move a muscle. He knew beating him up wouldn't make him feel much better – maybe a little but how the hell would he explain to his Lordship that his favourite footman had had the stuffing knocked out of him on the way back from church? The Earl may be an aristocrat but he isn't completely stupid. No, revenge on Will had to be much more calculated and much sweeter than that and anyway his entire body felt weak with emotional strain and if Will were to fight back it was certainly likely that the footman would win. He needed to get away, go for a walk, try to clear his head on his own, he would be no use to anyone returning to the house in this state. Without a word to Will, he turned on his heel and without even picking up his jacket he stormed off in the opposite direction leaving Will utterly bemused

Will yelling after him: Where are you going! What's happened to my beating! Come on old Jarvis you know you want to!

Jarvis didn't even turn his head to see Will becoming smaller and smaller in the distance, until finally the footman gave up and headed back towards the house. Storm clouds were gathering and the distant rumble of thunder could be heard across the estate, but Jarvis didn't care if it rained so hard he actually did drown this time. He had nobody he could talk to, nobody he could rely on – his best friend Savage was miles away and Felix was more distant than ever. For a moment he stopped and sighed as he felt the first large, icy raindrops soak through his shirt, although unsure whether the droplets which had begun to run down his cheeks were rain or his own tears. With a groan he leant against a tree and cradled his face in his hands, a lonely, sorry figure with the weight of the world on his shoulders

Later that night as the rain clouds rolled in off the hills and blanketed Taplows in a murky layer of mist and drizzle one Walter Corey drudged his way through the stable yard ignoring the puzzled looks of the stable lads as they cowered in the stalls keeping out of the deluge. But the Butler barely felt the rain that had drenched him to the skin, he barely took note of the amused glances and chuckles at his expense, he had far more pressing matters on his mind, namely a certain housekeeper and the child she carried. Although on the surface he looked calm, some might have said almost comatose, on the inside Jarvis was a whirling dervish of thoughts and emotions, the most prominent of those were anger, pain and fear.

How dare she have done this to him, betraying him in the most fundamental of ways, giving herself willingly to another, encouraging that mere snip of a lad William Forest to get to know her in a way that only Jarvis considered he had a right to! At the mere thought of them being together Jarvis felt another bout of nausea, how could he ever bear to look at her again without imagining that in his minds eye, of that footman's hands touching her in places that were Jarvis's by right. Will had been quite adamant that as they weren't married Jarvis had no legal right over her but the butler knew that as legally true as that might be there were other rights. She had given her virginity to him and him alone, there were no conditions attached save one unspoken agreement between lovers to stay true to the other as long as that love remained alive.

What tortured him more than anything was the knowledge that he had stayed true to that silent promise, despite all the possible temptations first the Stanwick woman and then Bridgette, not to mention any other quick complication free liaisons he might have embarked on whilst in Eastbourne or Bristol; even when they were officially separated as a couple he had still stayed true to her. Cursing himself for his short sighted idiocy Jarvis kicked open the side door with such force that it struck the wall with a loud crack, alerting most of the household to his arrival.

Darting round the corner came a hot and flustered Emily Corey, panic and worry plastered across her normally composed features. "There you are, we've all been worried sick, first Flora turning up looking like she was going to faint any minute, then Mr Adams half dragging half carrying that good for nothing Frank Keneally and then that footman came skulking in looking like he'd been pushed off a cliff….."

"Mother stop, just stop!" Jarvis snapped seizing the blanket and hot toddy she offered and storming off down the corridor trying desperately to ignore the diminutive lady as she had to trot in order to keep up with her son's furious paces.

"Well what do you expect Walter?" Emily managed to retort once they had reached the staircase and she could reach out and lay a restraining hand on his arm. "I'm your mother it is my duty to worry about you, we'd expected you hours ago certainly before the doctor arrived and he's been here for a good hour already…"

"Dr Evans is here?" Jarvis snapped, cutting his mother off mid rant.

"Yes we sent for him immediately on Lady Rebecca's instance, he's been upstairs with Flora for quite sometime, Walter what on earth is going on…Please tell me it's nothing to do with the baby? Has something happened?" Emily demanded.

"How the hell do you know about the baby?" Jarvis barked. "I only found out this morning! Why is it I am always the last to know everything around here? Did Flora take out an advertisement in the Telegraph or something?"

"No don't be silly, I guessed…A mother's intuition and all that." Emily countered.

"Well mother would you very kindly keep you're intuition out of my affairs from now on, I have important business with the good doctor, business that cannot be delayed by anything or anyone so if you don't mind…" He trailed off barging past her before practically running up the stairs.

Huffing as he strode down the bedroom corridor Jarvis made his way towards Flora's room, without knocking he seized hold of the door handle, intent on finding out the truth when suddenly the door opened inward and a very startled Dr Evans practically jumped out of his skin at finding the Butler there.

"Mr Jarvis…You're soaked" He managed after a moment's pause, stepping out into the corridor and closing it behind him, shocked by the normally pristine Butler's bedraggled appearance. "I was hoping to speak to you…Are you sure you are quiet well, as you're doctor I would recommend a hot bath and change of clothes immediately!"

"How is…" Jarvis began automatically before stopping himself, but the good Doctor replied regardless.

"She'll be fine, there was some nasty cuts and bruises not to mention the shock but all signs are the baby has pulled through this ordeal you have both been very lucky. After the last time, loosing the baby after fifteen weeks she was automatically at a higher risk of miscarrying if you managed to conceive again, this baby must be quite a fighter which is a very good sign I'd say." Evans carried on missing the look of both relief and pain as they flittered across the Butler's face.

"When will we know for certain?" Jarvis asked softly.

"Oh well she is in the very early stages of pregnancy only two to three weeks along…" The Doctor began before Jarvis cut him off.

"Are you sure about that?" Jarvis snapped. "She's not further along, say two months?"

"Oh I'm certain, definitely not more than a month, so of course she is still at risk of miscarrying for approximately another twelve weeks or so. I suggest you treat her with kid gloves, no undue stress or excitement make sure she gets enough rest I don't want her on her feet for longer than an hour or so at a time and she needs to start eating properly plenty of vitamins, so meat and vegetables after all she has more than just herself to look after now and that baby needs all the help it can get." Dr Evans chattered on good naturedly.

"I will make sure of it." Jarvis replied decidedly, a cold glint in his eye that the Doctor dismissed as a mere trick of the light. "I promise you from now on she won't so much as breath deeply without my explicit say so!"

"Excellent, I'll leave her in your capable hands I've given her a mild sedative to help her relax but even so I'm sure she'll rest easier knowing you're watching over her… If you need me for anything, anything at all I'll be only too happy to make a house call."

"Thank you doctor, if you don't mind I'd like to check on her now…" Jarvis cut in moving towards the door.

"Oh of course well I'll see myself out, although with this blasted storm I suppose I might have to stay the night…" Dr Evans trailed off hopefully.

"I'm sure Mr Adams will be more than happy to assist you in the matter, goodnight Dr Evans." Jarvis added with an air of finality, holding out his hand for the doctor to shake before whirling round and striding into the housekeeper's room without a backwards glance ignoring the Doctors final comment about making sure he kept warm.

A few hours later and Jarvis was woken suddenly from his fitful sleep, sitting up in the bedside chair it took a few moments for him to realise where he was and what was happening, glancing over at Flora he quickly realised what it was that had woken him from his sleep. The housekeeper was tossing and turning in her bed, panic and agitation clear both on her face and in the frantic scrambling of her hands as they tried to fight off some imaginary assailant. It wasn't long before Jarvis gained some insight into her dream as she began to cry out in her sleep.

"Frank stop please stop…. ……..Frank don't hurt my baby, PLEASE don't hurt my baby…..Walter where are you?"

Unable to bear hearing her in such distress, Jarvis moved to sit beside her instinctively brushing her damp curls away from her face and wiping away her tears. "It's alright Flora Frank is locked up he can't hurt you, I won't let him hurt you ever again or the baby, I'll do whatever it takes to protect our child I promise you that." He whispered soothingly, and it seemed to calm her as she stopped struggling in her sleep and began to rest more peacefully.

For a moment Walter struggled with his feelings, part of him just wanted to draw her tightly into his embrace, hold her and their child close and make all the bad dreams just fade away, but another part of him couldn't bear to look at her. He couldn't look at those beautiful features he had coveted for so long without imagining them being touched and caressed by another, at such thoughts he felt his blood beginning to boil and he just wanted to lash out, make her realise the depth of his pain. But instead he sat there like stone, his fists periodically clenching as he fought his own demons, whilst gazing down at the sleeping woman.

Suddenly there was a sharp tap on the door and after a muffled "enter" from the Butler Felix Kraus popped his head round the door, one hand precariously balancing a loaded tray whilst the other struggled with the door handle. Jumping up from the bed Jarvis caught hold of the door so that chef could rescue his dinner as it slid precariously towards the edge of the tray.

"Felix you didn't need to…" Jarvis began.

"Well you missed dinner and somehow I thought you might be able to bear my intrusion on your privacy rather than your mother, as she has been most trying this afternoon even on my most tolerant of nerves." Felix replied softly, an amused glint in his eye which somewhat undermined his serious expression.

"Thank you." Jarvis replied sincerely as he sat down to tuck into his meal, suddenly realising he had touched nothing since breakfast that morning, which in itself had been a somewhat rushed affair as Flora and he had been considerably late to the table. It was as he was gazing off into space that he noticed the chef head towards the door. "Wait Felix, would you keep me company for a while?"

Notably surprised but pleased none the less Kraus smiled and nodded moving to lean against the wall as Jarvis quickly devoured the meal he had spent hours preparing. "What did the doctor say?" Felix asked when he saw Jarvis pause long enough for breath.

"She's going to be fine, as is…Well I suppose you know as well if mother does, the baby looks like it has survived unscathed, I just wish I could say the same." He added bitterly, viciously stabbing at a stray potato with his fork.

"What happened? I mean there have been lots of whispering and wild theories but as yet no one is saying anything concrete, all we know is that Mrs Ryan appeared out of Lady Rebecca's carriage looking like she'd been dragged through a hedge backward, and then Adams frogmarching a very bloodied Mr Keneally and lastly William Forest returning jumping at practically his own shadow, but none of them have said a word, to anyone." Felix replied.

Sighing deeply Walter put down the tray his enthusiasm for even Kraus's excellent Crème Brule waning in the face of memories of this afternoon. "Frank tried to rape Flora, he'd been blackmailing her, Forest found her, he and Keneally fought, Flora alerted Mr Adams and myself and Andrew dealt with Frank…." Jarvis trailed off unwilling to admit aloud to his friend or himself the last part of the puzzle.

"That can't be everything…" Felix added softly. "I know you Walter, if that was all there was then you would have never left Flora's side, not disappeared into the countryside for hours especially as there is a child involved, your child the one you've been hoping for for so long!"

"No you're right my friend…" Jarvis replied after a few moments of staring into the fire trying desperately to retain control over his turbulent emotions. "That isn't everything…" He added his voice wavering slightly, chocked with suppressed emotions. "She's betrayed me…"

"What?" Felix snorted. "How, I mean with who? This isn't like the last few times you've accused her I mean first with me of all people and then with that footman Forest…"

"It was Forest." Jarvis snapped, slamming his hand down hard against the arm of the chair and causing the chef to jump in surprise. "She told me herself that she had been with him, and he confirmed it, and you thought I was just being paranoid!"

"But….Why?" Felix spluttered. "It doesn't make any sense…"

"Since when does sex have to make sense?" Jarvis snapped bitterly. "I mean I know she said it was only the once and it meant nothing that she only loves me, but how can she really love me and treat me like that, and besides Forest doesn't seem to think it meant nothing for him it was more than that…Do you know the little fool wants to marry her himself?"

"But how can he you're getting married in a few days…" Felix cut in.

"I cancelled it, before I might add I knew any of this… It seems almost poetic." Jarvis added his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"But the baby, it is yours isn't it?" Felix asked panic appearing on his face.

"It would appear so, Dr Evans has confirmed she is only a few weeks along and as far as I can remember Flora and I have been together, in that sense, for that long. Perhaps it would have made things easier if it was his…." Jarvis trailed off despondently.

"You Remember?" Felix blurted out without thinking.

"I'm starting to, things keep triggering off certain memories and feelings, I'm sure in time I will remember everything which is hardly a comfort at a time like this, in a way it would be so much easier if I never remembered how much I loved her or the pain of loosing our first child, then perhaps I could walk away from this simply thinking I had a lucky escape but…."

"But you can't." Felix finished for him.

"No I can't." Jarvis added moments later as he stared broodingly into the fire. "That is my child she is carrying and no matter what injuries its mother may have caused me the child is innocent, it is my duty as the father to love and provide for it even if that means binding an adulterous harlot to me for the rest of my natural life."

"Walter you know she loves you, she made a mistake, surely in time you can find your way to forgiving her?" Felix probed hesitantly.

"Never I will never forgive her for this!" Jarvis hissed vehemently, his fists clenching in his anger as he searched desperately for an outlet for his fury, his gaze finally falling on her discarded ruined dress which lay abandoned on the floor beside him, leaning down the butler picked up the torn dishevelled garment which only that morning he had stripped from her body in a moment of blind passion. Shaking with fury he traced the deep rent in the fabric from collar to waist, getting suddenly to his feet, dress in hand, he moved towards the door pushing past the stunned chef.

"Stay with her for a while, I have some garbage I need to deal with." Jarvis called out over his shoulder as he flung open the door and strode out into the corridor.

Grace had a big beam on her face when she re-entered the maid's room and closed the door quietly behind her.

Charlotte: Was that George again? He was lurking outside when I came up.

Grace: Are you sure it was him?

Charlotte raising her eyebrow: Of course I'm… well he was stood in the shadows so I'm not certain, but who else would it be and after what happened before church I'm sure he wants to talk-

Annie cutting in and sneering: Yer, who else would it be, you don't have any more admires Grace, just Georgie, you shouldn't think so highly of yourself. A few of the maids sniggers into their hands, as they climb into bed.

Grace: This person is not even looking for me… anyway… smiling to herself I told him to shove off, he's gone now. She glanced at each of the puzzled ladies in turn, her gaze finally settling on Charlotte, but she didn't say anything, turning her attention to arranging her bed sheets.

Annie: Who's he looking for then?

Grace: Not you so don't get your hopes up, besides Fred's far too busy. smirking to herself.

Annie sitting up straight quickly: What's that suppose to mean?

Grace: Nothing, I've no idea where that came from. exchanging a look with Charlotte, before laying down. The room went quiet, while everyone began to settle down, preparing to get to sleep. Grace waited for a moment before putting her plan into action. She suddenly sat up quickly and gasped, everyone turned to look at her, puzzled.

Charlotte: What is it?

Grace: I… I… well did you remember to lock Mrs Ryan's office door, she'll kill you tomorrow if she finds you didn't lock it when you were getting that stuff to clean Will up.

Charlotte: Grace calm down, I'm sure I locked it.

Grace: Yes, but it wouldn't hurt to check and make sure.

Charlotte: I locked it. I'm sure I did.

Grace: Yes, but you aren't positive.

Charlotte: Grace go to sleep. Ending their conversation and settling back down, hugging her pillow, but her eyes were still on Grace, who was still sat up, obviously thinking hard.

Grace: Well did you remember to clean Lady Caroline's dress after Lord Vomit-A-Lot puked all over it? If you leave it like that over night it will stink in the morning.

Charlotte: Yes Grace I remembered to clean her dress and before you asked, I dried it and ironed it aswell. Now go to sleep. Now getting very annoyed with her.

Grace: But what about- She is cut off as Charlotte throws her pillow at her.

Charlotte: Go to sleep!

Grace: Fine, fine. then whispers to herself He'll just be disappointed… she trails off and Charlotte opens her eyes and rests her head on her elbow, suddenly interested.

Charlotte: Who?

Grace: No one, absolutely no one… but you never know who you'll bump into if you were to… say go to get a glass of water. Charlotte sat up and glanced around the room to see if anyone else was awake, but they were all fast asleep.

Charlotte: Well my throat is a bit dry. Grace smirks to herself.

Grace: Really? Well you should go and get some water before it gets any worse. She nods in agreement Take your time. Charlotte raises her eyebrow curiously and gets out of bed, tiptoeing out of the room, after lighting a candle.

She only needed to get to the end of the corridor before she found out who Grace had been talking to… and to Charlotte's suspicions plotting with.

Evans: Miss Lewis? She jumps and spins around

Charlotte: My goodness! Then glancing up and down the corridor, whispers you scared me to death.

Evans: I'm very sorry. I didn't idolise the idea of riding back in the middle of a storm, so I'm staying the night and I was hoping to see you before you went to bed, but… you weren't around.

Charlotte: So you decided to stand outside my room instead? The doctor suddenly turns bright red, but luckily it was dark, so she didn't see.

Evans: Well- well- well- Charlotte giggles softly at his stuttering Are you laughing at me? She nods, in between giggles Well if you must know I was going to get… some water. Charlotte nods understandably

Charlotte: You've got a dry throat too? He nods and she smiles Well you may keep me company then.

The two of them began to walk downstairs, both of them looking around nervously every now and again, to check there was no one there. For a while the two of them chatted nervously, about a little things, the usual 'have you had a nice day', he added in the odd lame chat up line like 'you do look tired, you look just wonderful', this would be the point where they would both blush furiously and take a nervous glug of water at exactly the same time.

Evans: Well this is very, very pleasant, Miss Lewis. I enjoy your company so much, however I should probably be going to bed. She nods, glumly, as he takes her hand, planting a soft kiss on her knuckles and turning. However just as he was about to leave through the door, they both hear a quiet hissing 'Nooooooooo!' He wipes round. Pardon?

Charlotte: I didn't say anything. glancing around. He looks at her for a moment, before nodding and turning. Charlotte soon spots Grace crouching down behind a table, they both glare at each other for a moment and mouth at exactly the same time 'What the hell are you doing!'

Grace: 'Don't let him go! Kiss him you idiot!'

Charlotte: 'How dare you spy on us!'

Grace: Go! He's leaving!' Charlotte suddenly comes back to her senses and dashes to the doorway

Charlotte: Wait! The doctor spins around. Don't go.

Evans: Excuse me?

Charlotte: Well I know you must be very tired and busy, but I would appreciate your company… if you wouldn't mind of course. she added

Evans: Not at all. He slowly walks back towards her and grasps her hand, before she has chance to back away from him completely. She looks up at him while the two of them back into the room. She locked his gaze, her eyes melting as she felt him lace his fingers in and out of hers. What? He asked, trying to figure out what her eyes were trying to say

Charlotte: I didn't say anything! Giggling softly

Evans: I know, but that doesn't mean you don't want to say something. She doesn't answer, just smiles at him, not breaking his gaze for a moment. Do you want me to kiss you?

Charlotte: Maybe I do, maybe I don- but she is cut off as he leans down kissing her firmly on the lips.

Grace could have cried out in joy and relief. Gosh that took a long time! She thinks to herself, she'd seen Lady Mary walk quicker. As their kiss intensified, Charlotte slid her hands up into his hair, mainly so she could hold his head and tell Grace to 'bugger off' without him seeing. Grace sighed heavily and tiptoed out of the room, hopefully if she gave them privacy things would progress further.

Evans: Took the decision out of your hands.

Charlotte: You can make the same decision again if you wish. He smiles and leans down to kiss her again, sliding his hands down over her waist and pulling her firmly up against him. She sighed softly as they broke apart, neither breaking the loving gaze between them, he rubbed his nose gently against hers and she giggled softly. He placed delicate kisses along her cheek and down her neck, his hot breath tickling her, causing her to shiver. She closed her eyes, feeling so willing to surrender herself to him, beginning to ease and loose her body tension, causing the shawl wrapped around her to loosen at this change in carriage. He ran his hands running lazily up and down her back, sending shivers down her spine. Her head was beginning to spin, her whole body going limp and she leant against him for support. Her heart was beating so fast and for a brief moment she wondered whether these same feelings and thoughts were going through the doctor's whole mind and body.

Evans: When can I see you again, Charlotte? I'm not sure if I can wait for another house call before I can see you again.

Charlotte: Well I could always push someone down the stairs. He smiles.

Evans: Make sure it's someone delicate and important, the more fuss the better. She giggles softly and whispers.

Charlotte: Lady Mary. Evans chuckles and nods I'll be on the case as soon as I am beginning to miss you bearably again.

Evans: And how long will that be?

Charlotte: Not long. Believe me it won't be long. He smiles and begins to kiss her fervently again, but not for long as she pulls away as whispers I'll contact you when I know my next day off. she kisses him gently on the lips As soon as I find out the better. she kisses him again and then I'll be counting the days. one last kiss, before stepping back away from him. Goodnight.

Evans: Goodnight, my dear. nodding ever so slightly, a little disappointed, though deciding it was probably for the best. She glances back at him for one moment, before making her way back upstairs.

Its dark, the room is lit only by dim moonlight which filtered through the small gap in the curtains casting grotesque shadows on the wall, turning over in his bed a very sore Frank Keneally tried desperately to get back to sleep. He had only been dozing for hours as the dull throb of his many injuries kept him from resting properly, opening his sleepy eyes the valet reached out to his bedside table pouring himself a glass of water, moving to sit up in his bed he brought the glass to his lips when suddenly one of the shadows moved. Shrieking like a girl Frank jumped, the glass falling from his shaking hand and crashing on the floor, splinters of glass and splashes of water scattering across the floor.

"Damnú air! Whose there?"

The shadow moved slowly closer to him but Frank couldn't get a better look at his intruder, he could just make out a looming shape which seemed to snigger quietly at him but said absolutely nothing, almost as if whoever it was didn't want Frank to know his identity. Why on earth would somebody not want to reveal themselves? Frank thought, panic-stricken. Then for one terrifying moment he assumed the worst, that whoever it was wanted to hide for a very specific reason - just in case he survived of course. It couldn't be Adams, he was far too thuggish and unsubtle for that. It must be someone else who had it in for him, but surely it couldn't be...surely not!

"Answer me! You've no right to be sneaking into people's room and scaring the be'jesus out of them!" Frank added, the continued silence unnerving him more than any threats as the hairs on the back of his neck rose.

The shadow merely snorted again but instead of moving over to Frank's bed, like he assumed he would, it shifted silently over to the window so the moonlight could shine on its face. Jarvis smiled a rather devilish grin at Frank, which made the valet almost lose his cool and soil himself in fright, then slowly pulled off his unfastened neck tie which was draped around his collar. Taking a step towards the valet, who had begun to cower in his bed, Jarvis began to wind the tie around his hands, the smile fixed on his embittered face.

"I should have known it would be you, just your style attacking a sleeping man when he's all defenceless although I am surprised you didn't send Andrew Adams to do you dirty work for you again!"

As if not to have heard a word Frank was spouting through his cracked lips, Jarvis suddenly tightened the tie and tugged it between his clenched fists, eyeing Frank's bruised neck while trying to decide whether it would be best to do it as quickly as possible or let him suffer for a while, maybe he could tighten it just for a second then release him again, a slow torture that would go some way to making Frank feel how he was feeling, although his choking was emotional rather than physical. Well, what is the difference, Jarvis mused, it would kill them both in the end somehow anyway, although he thought he would feel rather much better if Frank were the one to drop dead first. Only afterwards would he allow his emotional turmoil consume him, he didn't care what happened to himself now, as long as the child was cared for.

"Well answer me or has Mr Forest's revelations left you dumb as well as stupid?" Frank retorted more bravely than he felt, his eyes locked on Jarvis's necktie as he swallowed nervously.

But suddenly like he had a change of heart the butler's expression turned almost pitiful as he pouted in mock sympathy at the utter state Adams had left Frank after church that morning.

"Oh you poor boy, Keneally, did nasty Mr Adams hurt you? Did he break your nose? My, my don't think you'll ever get back your fancy-dan looks which must be such a disappointment for you, you had such a bright future too. It seems SUCH a ghastly shame I may have to help and put you out of your misery - a bit like shooting an injured dog or race horse." Jarvis couldn't contain a rather satisfied smirk as Frank touched his face gingerly and glared furiously at the butler from his sick bed.

"So you've come to finish me off then talk about ingratitude, considering this was all for your benefit, I mean I warned you about her didn't I but you just wouldn't listen you had to go running back to her like some love sick little puppy... Why is it you can never take friendly advice, you never listen to other people, no you always have to be right, why do you think people have to take it to the next level and force you to take notice!"

Rapidly Jarvis' smile faded as he stepped towards Frank's bed - for all his talk he could tell that the valet was terrified of him, one of the reasons he was letting his mouth run away with him, just to stall Jarvis from doing his worst. As he passed the window a shadow cast over him again and his seemed to disappear into the darkness of the room again, the only way Frank could know he was still there was by the slow, methodical footsteps on the uncarpeted floor heading towards him until the butler spoke again in angry retort.

"I don't need your help, Keneally, especially the sort of help you offer! I've never needed your help with anything, and it was a good job considering what a terrible hash you managed to make of being under-butler! You should learn to keep your nose - and anything else for that matter - out of my business!"

"No of course not the almighty Mr Jarvis has no need for us mere mortals, well face it Walter if I hadn't taken it upon myself to force her into telling you she never would; that was the whole point of this after all, I wanted to see how far she would allow this to go before confessing, she even offered to pay me off to keep her dirty little secret. If I hadn't upped the stakes you would never have learnt the truth, and you'd have been married to that strumpet for the rest of your life, probably raising that scallywag Forest's child as your own without a clue in the world!" Frank added

"You don't do anything except for yourself Keneally!" Jarvis barked, suddenly snatching back the covers Frank was gripping to reveal him curled up in his nightshirt, the visible parts of his body covered in cuts and bruises which had obviously only been given a cursory wash, if that.

Jarvis twisted his face into a disgusted grimace as he eyed Frank disapprovingly, tugging the sheets down to the bottom of the bed. "You're pathetic, you really are! Just look at you, think you're so Lord Julian's blue-eyed boy when in fact you're a rapist and a coward! I should've let Andrew finish you off, only reason I didn't is that I don't want to see a man hang for doing my dirty work, as you put it! The baby is mine, the doctor confirmed it, and I shall NEVER forgive you, not just for what you tried to do to Flora but for putting my child at risk!"

"Oh that's right the son and heir after all!" Frank snapped angrily. "Well Walter what are you going to do now, carry on like nothing has happened?"

"That," spat Jarvis, leaning over Frank with the tie still firmly in his clutches, "Is none of your goddamn business. What I do is for me to decide, it has nothing to do with you, or anyone else for that matter!"

"Oh I think it is!" Frank hissed. "After all everything has a knock on effect, surely you've considered the effect it will have on the child, Flora and even you're mother, and considering the facts I shouldn't be far behind them!"

"Oh don't be bloody ridiculous!" Jarvis snorted, straightening up and brushing Frank's comment aside with a wave of the hand. "Not that nonsense again, I've got to hand it to you Keneally you will try anything won't you! I didn't believe it back then and I don't believe it now, NOTHING you ever say has any truth to it, you're not only a rapist and a coward but a compulsive liar as well! The only thing you and I have in common is that we reside under the same roof, but if I have anything to do with it that little connection will soon be eradicated too! So get it into your thick skull we are not linked by blood!"

"Oh I think we are, I mean just look at us same fair hair, same eyes although I seem to have done better in the height department..." Frank sniggered.

"Yes but from what I saw earlier in no other area, you've preciously little to brag about!" Jarvis retorted, raising his eyebrows as his eyes wandered to Frank's fortunately covered groin area. "So not that much in common then, no matter how much you desperately want to be a Corey!"

"So you admit it there are similarities I've said so before, even to your mother, similar tastes in lifestyle not to mention women..." Frank trailed off smirking. "I must admit she is really something, especially without all those layers on quite spectacular, and the way she tastes..."

Without warning, Jarvis lunged at the sniggering valet and gripped him by the throat with the necktie, the butler's features contorted in fury as he pressed into his skin and pinned him down to the bed. Frank's eyes bulged and his desperately tried to snatch Jarvis' hands away, but his injuries were such that he could hardly move, let alone be as agile as he was used to.

"Really..(gasp)...You can't expect...(gasp)...Me to take you seriously...(gasp)...You'd never hurt you're...(gasp)...own...nephew." Frank wheezed, and Jarvis suddenly let him go as if burnt.

"Desperate words from a desperate man," Jarvis muttered through gritted teeth, throwing the tie onto the floor and panting furiously. "You're no more my nephew than anyone else in this house! All that sorry business in Italy, you made up the story to get you off the hook, stop me firing your sorry arse when I had to rescue you from those murders you got yourself involved in. Here's me thinking you were innocent in all of that, when all the while you and your new friends must've been laughing your bloody heads off! You knew full well what you were getting yourself involved in!"

Frank massaging his sore throat looked up at the Butler a trace of a smile on his face. "Oh really, then why did you bother to come and save me, if not even a small part of you believed it might be true, why not leave me to my own fate?"

Jarvis paced the room, shaking his head in disbelief at his former under-butler's sheer gall and selfishness. "If only I had decided on that course of action then it would have saved me an awful lot of inconvenience! I've a good mind to charge you for your fare back here for all the use you were when we arrived home! You know why I didn't leave you there, why I had to rescue you, it was for his Lordship remember I told you the last little confrontation we had!"

"NO!" Frank snapped. "It wasn't for his lordship, others might believe that rubbish but not me, you keep forgetting the years I spent working with you whilst you trained me to be the perfect little under-butler, all those hours spent in educating me about them and us and where the boundary of service ends. You would never have put your own life at risk just for his lordship, you did it to save me because that was important to you, I was important to you, I'm family and deep down you know that's the truth."

"Leave my brother out of this!" Jarvis snapped savagely, his profile silhouetted against the moonlit window. "Just because he's not here to answer for himself doesn't mean you can make up downright lies! I know you're just doing this to get to me, but it's not working! I know exactly who your father is, and I know the real reason why you left that tannery, and don't give me that rubbish about the smell because I know the truth!"

"He's not my father!" Frank retorted angrily. "Robert Corey was my father, I told you all of this and he would have married my mother if it wasn't for you and your bloody birthday jaunt into town. When he died she had nowhere to go and your mother, my grandmother, threw her out on the streets when my mother came to tell her a month after the funeral that she was expecting Robert's child, but your mother knew Robert was my father, my mother told me so, she just didn't want the family shamed by having an illegitimate brat on their hands. Mother had no choice but to return home and marry that man, my so called father!" He added with such a look of disgust that Jarvis thought he might retch at the word.

"Well prove this little fantasy of yours, Frank!" Jarvis laughed bitterly. "Come on, bring Robert back to life then and get him to admit it, or maybe you should go storming down to my mother and ask her because of course she'll want to listen to you, or even want to be in the same room as you! Or better still, go back to Ireland, confront your own mother over her most unfortunate alleged indiscretion, get her to write it in her own blood and post it to me and oh, while you're at it, be a good lad and never come back!"

"Fine you want proof!" Frank jumped up from his bed, wincing in pain from the sudden movement and hobbling over to his chest of drawers, rummaging around in the bottom drawer for a while he suddenly drew out a leather bound folder touching it reverently he untied the bow and slowly opened it before carefully lifting out a single sheet of paper.

Carrying it over to the less than impressed Butler Frank held it out determinedly. "Here read this, and tell me then if you're so damned sure."

Jarvis snatched the letter out of the Valet's hand, quickly scanning the first few lines more for effect rather than out of any belief that I might indeed shed light on the situation. However suddenly something made him stop and re-read the first few lines again. It was poetry, very poor poetry, 'to my love your smile is like a thousand rays of summer sunshine, your hair is softer than the finest eastern silk etc etc', but it wasn't the appalling nature of the author's lyrics that shook him it was their familiarity.

Instantly Jarvis recognised it as one of his brother's shockingly bad compositions that he frequently used to woo his multitude of ladies. Thinking hard as he tried to jog his memory he remembered how his brother was quite a hit with the ladies, tall handsome and a charmer, and he used his god given skills to notch up quite a score.

Robert and his friends used to have a competition who could deflower the most virgins and in the quickest time, they were quiet callous about it and by the time he was twenty-one there was scarcely a girl in town who hadn't caved in to the Corey charm. And suddenly in that moment he had to admit to himself the awful truth that it was possible, more than likely that Frank's mother had been one of the multitude of beauties his brother was bedding before his death.

However one glance up at Frank's almost hopeful face was enough, there is no way he was going to admit that to Frank, to utter aloud the possibility that such scum could have Corey blood flowing in his veins was more than Jarvis could stand. So sneering he scrunched up the paper and much to Frank's dismay threw it back at the aghast valet before turning and walking to the door.

"You'd better get your beauty sleep, Frank, God knows you need it now! Sweet dreams!" Jarvis sneered, desperately not wanting to let his discomfort and mild distress at this bit of unfortunate news become obvious. It was lucky for Jarvis that it was dark because otherwise the valet may have noticed a distinct look of panic on his striking features as he opened the door and slid quietly out.

Charlotte and the doctor weren't the only ones who were feeling a little loved-up that night in the Sturges-Bourne household. Andrew Adams had turned in after a short while of tinkling the ivories; he had found he couldn't play for long as his hand hurt a little too much, injured at some point during his tussle with Frank. He had waited until Lizzie had finished fussing over her mistress before heading straight up to Lady Rebecca's room, clutching hidden under his jacket a small bunch of flowers he had hurriedly but neatly cut from the Orangery. It was nearing midnight by the time he had gone up to see her, not having spoken to her since his awful yet thankfully brief reunion with the Stanwick woman, and the whole house had descended into darkness.

He had tried to find Jarvis a while earlier, maybe to share a nightcap with after the day's rather nasty events and to check that he wasn't as angry about his dangerous liaison with Lady Rebecca as he had made out to him after church, but he had been nowhere to be seen so presumed that he must have been with Flora. Although it did occur to Adams that if it were true, and she had been fooling around with young Forest, comforting Flora may be the very last thing Jarvis would feel like doing.

Lightly Adams rapped on Rebecca's door, keeping a watchful eye up the corridor, then slowly pushed the door open and peered round. A couple of candles glowed warmly next to Rebecca's bed, but apart from that it was dark and he realised he must be interrupting the first proper sleep his lover had been able to manage since Hugo's death. She looked so beautiful, lain on her back on top of her covers in her nightdress, her head tilted to one side and her chest rising and falling softly. Quietly he stepped into the room and tip-toed over to the bed, placing the flowers on her dresser, but Rebecca shifted and moaned gently, her eyes flickering open as he turned around

Adams reaching out and running his fingers through her hair: Oh Becca I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you……

Rebecca smiling and clasping her hand to her cheek: I wasn't asleep it's alright, I was just dozing. I was wondering whether you were going to come and find me this evening, I have been lonely without you. I could do with some more – comforting. And I heard what a hero you were today, poor Flora was left so shaken I felt ghastly for her.

Adams blushing slightly and sliding next to her on the bed: Aww it was nothing, just thought I'd knock him around a bit, y'know. Can't have him going round treating people like that, the scumbag! He won't be walking around for a while anyway! I thought you'd hate me, once you'd heard what I'd done to him.

Rebecca shaking her head and threading her arms around his neck: Hate you! Like I said you were my hero – and Flora's too I'm sure. And it was a treat just before when I bumped into my most furious-looking sister in the hallway, with Monty away overnight with some business in town she may have been expecting a certain visitor who this evening failed to turn up!

Adams leaning forward and rubbing his nose against hers: And he wouldn't have been much use to her, even if he had come to see her. She may very well have been put off from ever bedding the little sod ever again!

Rebecca raised her eyebrows and giggled, the first real amusement on her delicate face since Hugo, and this warmed Adams' heart to see. Hopefully tonight could be even more blissful than last night, without any rude interruptions in the morning if they were lucky this time! He didn't really feel the urge to bear his rear to any other random person who felt they needed to barge into the room, but he had to be thankful that it had been Flora and not, say, the Earl for instance.

Although even after recent events, he didn't expect his master to barge into a Lady's bedroom whether invited or otherwise for fear of being made a fool of again. Still fully clothed, Adams slowly moved on top of Rebecca, sliding his hands down her arms as he tenderly kissed her cheek and neck, his lips searching her soft, warm skin. She groaned quietly, moving her hands to his jacket and pushing it off his shoulders then she swiftly began to unbutton his waistcoat, but as Adams started to hurriedly unlace her nightdress he suddenly flinched and gasped. Rebecca stopped immediately and moved her gaze to the source of Adams' pain

Rebecca pushing him back onto the bed and clasping his hand: What have you done? This cut looks very painful, how did you manage that?

Adams shrugging, desperately trying to hide how much it was stinging: Well I broke a stick in half, must've splintered my hand, it's alright it doesn't hurt…much. Anyway where were we?

Rebecca tutting, her brow furrowing in concern: But look at it, this bandage is terribly dirty and bloodsoaked, I can tell you've done this yourself, no self-respecting woman would make such an awful job of treating you and I expect you haven't seen Dr Evans about it.

Adams sighing in frustration, their unfinished business more of a priority than his hand of all things: No I haven't, I'll see him in the morning as he's here, happy? Now can we get back to sha……ehem….making love?

Rebecca inspecting his hand more closely in disgust: Er no I don't think so, not until you're properly bandaged anyway! Look I'd go myself but obviously I can't, but if you go and fetch a bowl of warm water and some fresh bandages out of Flora's medical kit then I can treat you myself.

Adams huffing and scrambling off the bed: You know how risky it is, the more I go in and out of here the more likely it is I'll be spotted for goodness sake, Becca!

Rebecca sat up and folding her arms, an eyebrow cocked to signal her stubborn refusal to even let him kiss her without being treated first. With a yelp of pain, Adams rebuttoned his waistcoat furiously and stormed towards the door, vowing to come back and ravage her (in his mind of course, not verbally) as soon as his hand is bandaged up

Rebecca stifling a small snigger at Adams' childish spoilt huff: Oh don't be silly darling, I don't want you bleeding all over my sheets and pillow, whatever would Mrs Ryan say? And in her current state she would probably think that Frank had tried to attack me and had injured me, and anyway the maids would start gossiping if they discovered blood and……

Adams interrupting and snatching and the door handle: Alright, alright, I'll go and hope I don't leave a trail of blood all the way from here to the other end of the house! Rebecca grinning smugly: Exactly my point! Now go and hurry up before your hand gets worse, I'm sure the Earl doesn't want an under-butler who can't perform his duties correctly, and neither do I for that matter! For different reasons though, I am sure.

The naughty sparkle in Rebecca's eye only served to rouse Adams' interest in her again, so allowing himself one last eye-full of his mistress and a low, lustful growl he hurried out of the room in the stealth-like manner he had become accustomed to and made his way back towards the servants quarters. After gathering a few bandages and a jug of warm water, muttering expletives under his breath, Adams hurried back along the corridor but stopped in his tracks when he heard two familiar voices headed his way. Quickly and quietly Adams dived behind a convenient wall and remained perfectly still, hardly wanting to be questioned on where he was going with the items in his possession, and listened out for them passing.

The topic of conversation did, however, manage to perk Adams' interest – it was always good to know what the lower servants were speculating on, or indeed what they knew, about events going on amongst their superiors and their aristocratic betters in general. Unfortunately, however, Fred and Joe were talking so quietly that Adams wasn't able to catch everything they said, much to his complete frustration, especially when their conversation turned to a more interesting subject matter

Joe hissing, obviously worried: You shouldn't go round saying such things you know, it could get you into trouble!

Fred taking a swig of something and sighing: Look it was Johnny who told me, he's the one in the know around here, I'm just repeating what he said to me – that Will and muffled y'know, got to know each other very well one night not so long ago……

Joe gasping: So is that why we've hardly seen him all night? The dirty sod!

Fred chuckling under his breath: Some would say lucky sod, apparently Will told Frank long muffled sentence……….so there you go, God only knows how Johnny found out all of that, although I wouldn't put it past him not to have been hiding out in the stables at the time!

Joe his voice becoming slightly more audible to Adams as they passed: Well Andrew gave Frank a right beating, you should see him, I saw him slinking off for a wash earlier on and he could hardly walk.

Fred snorting a laugh as Adams heard the distinct sound of liquid being consumed again: Yeah well we all know what's been said slightly muffled words…….can't believe that for a moment myself, the whole idea that he would be angry with Frank over a woman, since when did Andrew care about anyone? Probably more to do with his pride than anyone else's.

Joe whispering to Fred only inches away from Adams on the other side of the wall: Well you've heard the rumours about who she could be, haven't you?

Fred his hushed tone turning serious: 'ere you don't seriously think Andrew Adams has a fancy woman do you? That's ridicu…….

Joe: What I've heard – from reputable sources may I add – is that he's been going into a certain lady's bedroom like nearly every night, and I don't just use the word 'lady' as a respectable way to describe some bird, I mean the real thing – one of them upstairs lot-type of Ladies.

Fred slightly mocking: Bloody hell is another one of Johnny's tales? That lad is everywhere at any one time it seems, although he has been right over Will and Mrs Ryan…..

Joe his voice becoming fainter as they walked away: No, no, not Johnny this time, other people, it's the talk of the bedroom and ladies maids, and d'you know who they reckon it is…….?

But to Adams' complete annoyance he couldn't make out a single word after that as the two footman sauntered off down the corridor towards the footmen's room, bottles of ale in their grasps. Cursing quietly, Adams peered round the corner and when he was satisfied they had gone dashed through the house as quickly as possible, only ducking out of the way when a furious-looking and partly undressed butler went obliviously storming past him, muttering under his breath something about 'Corey blood' and 'idiot brother' and a final gruff comment about 'keeping his pants on' as he turned the corner in a fit of rage.

Finally Adams made it back to Rebecca's room, feeling a little nauseous and not because of his injured hand. Pale faced he hurried into the room, his heart pounding in his chest as his paranoia about being spotted had increased ten fold since Fred and Joe's little conversation in the hallway.

Rebecca sitting up in bed, wrapping a shawl around herself: Andrew darling, what's wrong? You look even worse, come on over here, let me look at your hand.

Adams gulped hard, his breathing a little ragged as he stepped towards the bed, the jug of now nearly cold water and the bandages tucked under his arm. How could he tell her what he had just heard? That their secret was out and it was now only a matter of time before word got to the Earl, whether it be on purpose or overhearing malicious gossip between two stupid maids? Carefully he placed the jug down, his back to Rebecca as he hung his head and stared at his stinging hand, which now seemed the least of his worries. With a deep sigh, he turned around, his mouth open to speak and to get it out into the open before it began to fester like his wound, but the look of adoration on Rebecca's face forced him to shut it again

Rebecca smiling softly and reaching out to him: You poor thing, I know it's only a cut and I'm fussing unnecessarily, but I didn't fuss nearly enough with Hugo when he came back from the pond, obviously sick. Maybe if I'd acted sooner he might still……….well, I suppose we will never know.

Adams forced a sympathetic smile, his mind racing while trying desperately to remain composed. Rebecca poured the water into a bowl then gently took his hand and began to use the water and a clean cloth to dab the cut as Adams watched, flinching at first but eventually letting her soothing touch calm him until he felt almost restful

Rebecca wrapping a fresh bandage around his hand: I couldn't bear to lose you, Andrew. If anything happened to you, or if we were torn apart……I know you have to go to India, but I will be waiting when you return, I may have given birth by then I don't know, but whatever happens I will be there for you, and I hope you will be there for me too.

Adams looking away from his hand and into her eyes: Of course I will be there for you, but what if……………?

Rebecca stroking his fingers, a slight panic catching in her throat: What if what?

No, it was no good, he just couldn't tell her, she would be devastated if she knew they were the talk of the maids, no matter how little proof they had, and he couldn't risk any undue stress on her. He had seen what it had done to Flora so she had to know as little as possible about what was being said, even though he vowed to find out and quash the rumours as quickly as possible. What hadn't occurred to him, as someone who liked to take a problem head-on, is that maybe intervening could make matters worse and intensify the gossip rather than making it go away.

But for now, Adams was caught up in the romance of the moment – the most beautiful woman he had ever seen had just lovingly bandaged up his wound, she was still in her nightdress and the candles flickered a glow across her face which complimented her fine features wonderfully. He reached out and traced the outline of her face with his uninjured hand

Adams placing a soft kiss on the tip of her nose: What if nothing – it doesn't matter, none of it matters. All that matters to me is that you and the babies are safe and that I love you.

Rebecca smiled happily, lying back on her bed and questioning him no further on what could possibly be on his mind. Adams rested his head on her stomach and wrapping his arms around her back held her tightly before raising his head and lifting up her nightdress to kiss her stomach, tears springing to his eyes

Adams blinking away the water pooling in his eyes and muttering softly into her abdomen: Don't you two worry, Daddy's here, he'll look after you and your most amazing mother.

Rebecca smiled down at him and ruffled his hair, trying to put to the back of her mind her own fears about their future and not wanting to answer the niggling question about how on earth would he be accepted into her society - it would seem trivial to him but to her so much hung on being able to keep her status. So with both of them hiding their true worries, they decided instead to express their true mutual feelings for each other by sharing another blissful night in each other's arms.