Servants Series 7

by ss9

The patter of tiny feet at Taplows but will everything go as well as planned? How is Molly coping with her new duties and how is Walter coping with a hormonally charged wife.

2. Episode 2

Adams had hardly been concentrating on the silver he was slowly polishing when Dr Evans rushed past him towards the drawing room, his head hanging as he rubbed his sweating brow. The under-butler saw his own hands visibly shake, the tray in his grasp rattling so hard all the silverware balanced precariously on it clattered together noisily, but he finally managed to regain his composure by taking a deep breath and telling himself it surely wasn't as bad as the doctor's concerned expression made out. Tentatively, he hurried after Dr Evans and checking not a soul was in sight pressed his ear up against the door in the hopes of catching a few words on his beloved's condition.

It was difficult at first to make out exactly what was being said behind the door, the doctor was talking in such a low voice, but a distinctive cough told him that he must be talking to Lord Farquarson. The tray sat unsteadily in Adams' grasp, his heart thumping in his ears so hard and fast it made it even more difficult to hear what was being said…..suddenly Adams heard a rustle behind him and he swung round, nearly knocking the entire contents off the tray, but any concerns he may have had for the Earl's finest Paul de Lamerie, amongst other antique silverware, dissipated in a second when he saw his daughter. The tears were streaming down her cheeks in silent distress and she was hardly able to catch her breath from her sobbing, let alone speak. Adams' could do nothing but stand and stare at her in disbelief, the blood draining from his face as he watched her shake her head slowly but leaving no room for doubt as to what she was telling him. He didn't even notice when the tray finally gave way, tumbling out of his hands and onto the carpet with a loud, distinctive clatter which echoed around the hallway. Lizzie's nerves were so shredded she jumped in shock but Adams didn't even flinch as a teapot rolled away and crashed into a table leg.

"F…father…" Lizzie attempted, stepping closer to him, but as she did so the drawing room door was flung open and the doctor stared at Adams in fury.

"What the hell d'you think you're doing, Mr Adams!" He hissed through gritted teeth, glancing quickly over his shoulder. "Lord Farquarson's daughter has just died and you're causing further panic!"

But Adams hadn't heard a word of it, he was staring just beyond the doctor to Lord Farquarson who was perched on the end of the Earl's favourite chair and holding his head in his hands. It wasn't obvious if he was crying or not, he was simply sitting with his face hidden, rocking ever so slightly.

Adams didn't register that the Earl had appeared from apparently nowhere and had begun yelling at him for being a careless, large-handed fool who was about to have his wages docked if he didn't clear up the mess at once, so on seeing her father's blank expression Lizzie hurriedly collected up the scattered silverware thinking he was about to go through the worst time of his life without having his wages docked on top of it.

Adams' ears were ringing and his forehead was beaded with sweat; he thought he was about to vomit but he hardly cared whether he did or not. It wasn't as if he wasn't thinking straight, he was hardly thinking at all. He looked at the doctor, who was reaching out to him with a puzzled expression and asking him if he was feeling alright, then glanced at the raging look of annoyance on the Earl's scarlet face. The next thing he knew he was running, running so fast he almost tripped over his own feet, his breathing so laboured his chest tightened in alarm. He took the main staircase two stairs at a time, his frame preventing him from being as agile as he might have been, but he reached the top at such speed he couldn't have stopped himself from bumping square into Jarvis even if he had cared a jot. Adams shoved his superior against the wall without even thinking, without any malicious intent but to simply get him out of the way as quickly as possible. Jarvis crashed back into one of a matching pair of Chippendale side tables, yelling out in uncontained anger, but Adams kept on running without even a backwards glance.

He /had/ to get to her, the doctor was wrong, he had to be! He was sure he could wake her up, she would never leave him and their son, she was a fighter and they were in love and she now had everything to live for. It felt like her room was miles away, although he was speeding along he didn't seem to be getting closer to her quick enough, and his legs were shouting at him to stop before they gave way in exhaustion.

Finally Adams reached her room; any scurry of activity there may have been only minutes before had gone and he gasped in horror at the awful sight. He saw Flora sobbing as she gathered up bloody towels from the bedroom floor but she didn't even glance up at him, just continued to cry as she kept herself busy. He could feel the vomit beginning to rise from his stomach as he stared at the bed, his sweet, darling Rebecca lying with little dignity under blood-soaked blankets. He could hear the sound of his son wailing from the nursery; he seemed to know what was happening, that his mother was gone, but Adams' first thoughts were for himself and his own crippling grief as he stepped towards the bed in abject horror.

He reached out to touch her pale, lifeless face, her head lolled to one side and her striking hair drenched in her cooling sweat, but as his fingers traced down over her nose and her parted lips he shook his head.

"No." Adams muttered, his expression hardening as he scooped her up and shook her limp shoulders. "No! Rebecca, come on, wake up – it's me, it's Andrew! Please Rebecca don't do this, I need you; no we need you! Oh please!" He became frantic, shaking her more violently as the tears finally released themselves from his desperate eyes and began streaming down his cheeks.

"Father she's gone!" Lizzie blubbed as he reached Adams' side, desperately trying to pull him away from further damaging her mistress's already broken body. Adams continued to ignore her, pleading with Rebecca to wake up, as if she were purposely ignoring him just to punish him.

"I wasn't there for her, I should have been!" Adams cried amidst feelings of guilt and regret, but he was talking to himself, shouting at himself and not his helpless daughter.

"Dr Evans couldn't stop the bleeding, there was nothing you could have done!" Lizzie pleaded, her round face tear-stained and her large hazel eyes bloodshot. "Father…."

"I should have been there to hold her hand, tell her how much I loved her, there was so much left to say between us!" Adams clutched her tightly to his chest, resting his head on hers and rocking her as the all-consuming pain of her loss hit him like a bolt of lightening straight through his heart. "Why didn't you fetch me! Why didn't anyone bloody fetch me!"

He tore his eyes away from Rebecca for the first time to see Lord Farquarson and the Earl standing in the doorway, Farquarson looking far more angry than upset as he glared at the damn servant who was pawing at his dead daughter.

"What the hell d'you think you're doing, man!" The Earl suddenly boomed, and this time Adams heard him loud and clear. "Jarvis, get in here will you and sort out this silly Scotch idiot will you! He's no damn right to be in here! Jarvis!"

"We were in love!" Adams yelled, his face contorted in fury and sadness as he continued to hold Rebecca's motionless frame close to him. "And Lord Hugo is my son, MINE!"

"Yours!" Lord Farquarson exclaimed in disbelief, marching into the room. His eyes were popping wildly as they darted from Adams to the bloodied bed, but as his hand shot up to his mouth to prevent anything from pouring out of it his expression turned more confused than anything. "Don't be bloody ridiculous, there's not a chance – he is the new Laird, not some bastard child of a…..a nobody! I'm going to take Lord Hugo to Africa, away from your kind and your poisonous insinuations!"

"Stop this nonsense at once!" The Earl barked, glancing round for the butler. Suddenly Lady Francesca was there, and Adams stared in confusion as she wasn't visiting, at least he didn't remember her arrival – she was laughing; an uncontrollable, sickening screechy laugh which pierced Adams' brain. She was pointing at him with a chubby finger, the manic look in her eyes shaking him to the core but he was frozen to the spot, unable to move a muscle. Rebecca remained lifeless in his arms, Lord Farquarson sneering about how pathetic he was and how he would be dismissed without character for spreading such heinous lies about his beautiful daughter who would never sleep with someone lower than her social status.

Lord Hugo was crying loudly, unable to stop no matter how much Flora tried to console him. Lord Hugo! Adams frowned as he watched Flora hug him tight, but this was no baby but Lord Hugo the deceased. Rebecca's dead husband turned and threw himself at her, wrapping his arms around her lower body and wailing that Adams should have done more to help her then she and Master Archie may have lived.

Adams' mother was there, his dead mother – at least he thought it was her as he had only distant memories of her – but she was shaking her head in the same fashion she used to do when he had been so naughty even a good hiding wouldn't solve it. "You've really done it now, haven't you Andrew? Baby Hugo will be taken away and you'll never see the little laddie again!" She shrieked in that thick Glaswegian brogue he remembered her so well for, but instead of her presence being any sort of comfort to him he began to feel dizzy and incredibly hot. There was so much going on around him he didn't notice at first that Rebecca was gone from his arms, but when he looked down he was simply hugging a bloodied pillow and nothing more. Suddenly there was a sharp pain in his left temple, like a knife was slowly being forced into the side of his head, and rapidly the searing agony became almost unbearable to the point where he released the pillow and held the side of his head instead.

Lady Francesca was still laughing like an hysterical banshee, The Earl was shouting in his face, the room was spinning, and nothing seemed real any more. "Do you know how much that silverware is worth!" The old man screamed, his teeth bared like a rabid dog. "It's about bloody time you woke up to your duties in this house, man! Wake up! Wake up! WAKE UP! And get your great head off my mahogany table!"

Adams' head shot up from his awkward position at the table and he blinked as the sweat from his forehead momentarily blurred his vision, but as it cleared he shoot a glance around the dining room as a wave of relief engulfed him.

The Earl was stood over him, huffing and glaring at his pocket watch and mumbling something about not being able to get the staff these days. For a moment Adams did nothing but stare at the fork his head had been resting on, the offending item's sharp prongs gleaming up at him, one tipped with a drop of blood where it had pierced the skin. The rest of the Earl's finest yet only half polished Georgian cutlery was strewn about the table as Adams brought himself out of his stupor and jumped to his feet before the Earl could admonish him for that little error too.

"Sir!" Adams spluttered, staring directly ahead. His had such bad head rush he thought he might pass out as everything turned momentarily black, and his legs were far weaker than he had thought. It was if he really had been running instead of it all being just a horrible, vivid dream, and he worried that they would suddenly give way from under him. He wondered if he had been shouting in his sleep, if he had he may just have given the game away over Rebecca and her twins' paternity, but His Lordship gave no indication this was the case, if indeed he had been there long enough to hear anything damning.

"I will be sure Jarvis hears about this, sleeping on duty!" The Earl snorted, scanning the loose cutlery in mild abhorrence. "I've a good mind to dock your pay for two whole months at least!"

Some things never change, whether it be in dreamland or in reality, Adams mused as he verbally agreed wholeheartedly that should the Earl see fit to dock his wages then he would be most grateful for it.

"And the Paul de Lamerie still needs picking up from the hallway, I don't know, I should sack the lot of you, Jarvis included!"

Paul de Lamerie! Adams' heart began to race furiously as he gawped at the Earl in horror. The silverware! But…but that accident was a dream for Christ's sake! Wasn't it!

"Come on then, chop chop!" The Earl barked as he marched to the doorway and peered out. "And I want to see Mrs Ry….I mean Mrs Jarv…oh for goodness sake, whatever her new name is – my damn housekeeper so I can impress on her the importance of not allowing young foolish maids to carry around my finest silverware without supervision!"

Phew, Adams thought, exhaling as he experienced his second wave of relief in the space of minutes. He must have somehow heard the tray being dropped in his sleep and it had crept into his psyche. Then it occurred to him, how could he not know Flora's married name considering who her husband is? It seemed bizarre but plausible to Adams that the Earl had forgotten Jarvis' real name, it wasn't that he just didn't want to call him by it; he actually couldn't REMEMBER it any longer.

"Mrs Corey, sir." Adams informed him, but his mind had wandered to thinking about Rebecca and how he would be spending every minute of the day by her side, his newborn son in his arms, given even half a chance.

His Lordship roughly folded his arms and pouted in spoilt annoyance. "Yes well," He frowned, "My entire staff seem far too preoccupied with my guests at the moment so I'll probably be last on her list, especially now Rebecca's awake, I mean really Jarvis needs to keep a better eye on her, can't have her strutting about above stairs too much in her condition it's unsightly….."

One minute he's complaining that his butler is spending too much time with his wife, the next he's not watching her enough, Adams thought with a furtive smirk, the pompous ass just says the first thing that comes into his head most of the time….hold on….did he just say….?

"Her Ladyship is awake, sir?" Adams hurriedly asked his employer in a calm but slightly strained voice, picking up a knife and furiously polishing it so he wasn't just standing there like a great sour pudding in front of him.

"Yes, yes, I believe so. People fussing round her, damned attention-seeking if you ask me." The Earl nodded, waving his hand dismissively as if Adams had merely asked the rather frivolous question of whether His Lordship would prefer scrambled or devilled eggs for breakfast.

Adams' heart leapt for joy; he wanted to throw his arms around the Earl and kiss him but thought it anything was going to get him the sack then that would, although the worst thing that could happen would for His Lordship to actually enjoy it.

"Do you wish me to find Mrs Corey now, sir?" Adams asked hopefully, edging slowly towards the door. "If she's upstairs I'm sure I can find her in an instant…."

"No, no, I've changed my mind!" The Earl grunted, looking mildly pleased with himself for such decisiveness on his part. Adams' face soured. Why won't the old goat just piss off and leave me alone!

"No come with me Andrews, I want mid morning tea in the Orangery right now and I'll be damned if some sick woman is going to stop me from having my fancies! I want you with me until I decide to go for a ride, although it is so very hot today I may just have a bath and you can undress me! I haven't had a decent one for months, the ater over there was downright foul!"

Adams' shoulders visibly sagged as the Earl stormed out of the dining room. It may have been slightly more bearable for him if the silly sod actually got his name right, but the thought of Rebecca lying there, vulnerable and confused, without him by her side made the whole thing seem an awful lot worse. He was delighted she was awake and therefore likely to be getting better, but at the same time while she was unconscious at least nobody else could tell her the terrible news about her second-born twin. He should be the one to do it, the only saving grace was that he was sure Lizzie wouldn't say anything until he could get to her.

"You're right, My Lord, it is so very hot today." Adams agreed as he followed his master into the hallway, an idea having struck him. "And the orangery can get rather warm in this weather, and sometimes has very little breeze, is there anything that I can arrange to make it more comfortable for you?"

The Earl's brow furrowed as he pondered for a moment Adams watching him eagerly and waiting for the response he knew he had initiated. Adams remembered that last summer the old buffoon thought it most exotic to have either Fred or Joe fanning him in the heat of the day while he lounged on a chaise in the orangery, munching his way through a month's worth of fruit – mainly grapes - in the space of a few hours. He had thoroughly enjoyed the experience of having his Indian manservant helping him indulge in such an activity for weeks on end, and now they had brought back those rather large, delicate fans from India Adams knew that the he could at least put two and two together himself, with a little prompting, and come up with the perfect solution to get Adams off the hook.

"D'you know, I've had the most marvellous idea!" The Earl exclaimed, puffing out his chest and grinning broadly. "Get that whatsisname, Malkin, to bring the fans! Who needs riding, eh!"

"Very good, sir." Adams smiled surreptitiously to himself, musing that whatever Jarvis thought he still had the makings of an excellent butler. Desperate to get to Rebecca as quickly as possible, he turned on his heel and marched away to fetch unfortunate Frederick Matkin to take his place at the Earl's side for the rest of the morning – and the afternoon, most probably.

Meanwhile another anxious father, well to be, was pacing up and down and waiting for his chance to speak to the very busy Dr Evans who had graciously agreed to examine his wife; well as graciously as anyone could agree after the husband and prospective father had threatened to send him home to his new wife in several small boxes if he didn't drop what he was doing, namely checking Lord Hugo's reflexes, and come and check on Mrs Corey.

A moment later the bedroom door opened and a smiling Dr Evans and still grumpy Flora returned.

"Your child is just fine Mr Jarvis." The doctor exclaimed on seeing the Butler's still anxious expression.

"Well I told him that!" Flora snapped. "But would he listen to me? No I'm only the child's mother! Honestly Walter what was the point of dragging me away from my duties and poor doctor away from his patients just to cure your paranoia!"

"But you said you felt a pain!" Jarvis defended. "Surely I had the right to be worried."

"It was just a false contraction Mr Jarvis nothing to worry about really and quite common especially in times of stress and I think the last few days could be described as stressful don't you?" The Doctor replied. "However if you want to check for yourself please be my guest." He added handing the Butler his stethoscope.

Intrigued Jarvis accepted the instrument eagerly walking over to the now huffing but still unresisting Flora and placing the metal pad over her stomach. At first he didn't hear anything but then the doctor guided his hand and suddenly the telltale thump of a strong steady heartbeat filled his ears and he couldn't contain the small smile of delight that lit up his face.

"See the baby is fine!" Flora snapped pushing all those hands away from her belly and heading for the door. "Now you gentlemen would excuse me some of us still believe in an honest days work!" And with that she turned and left them to it.

"So everything is really alright?" Jarvis asked softly. "You understand why I am concerned what with everything that has gone on lately…."

"Your child appears perfectly healthy as far as we can tell Mr Jarvis however…" The Doctor trailed off shifting about uneasily.

"However?" Jarvis demanded.

"I have frequently mentioned to Mrs Corey the need to slow down and take things easy, she always says that she will but on each of my trips out here I have not seen any signs that she has been taking my advice."

"I know what you mean but she is a very stubborn woman." Jarvis replied shaking his head sadly. "She won't even listen to me when I tell her to rest and I'm her husband!"

"Nether the less you must find someway of making her listen Mr Jarvis!" The Dr Evan retorted seriously. "At the present the child appears perfectly fine but at this stage in the pregnancy the mother is supposed to be doing very little indeed, too much stress and exertion could lead to a premature delivery and that we must avoid at all costs!"

"Well I've tried but she is so damned committed to her job that getting her to hand over responsibilities is like getting blood out of a stone!"

"Well it's my advice that she gives it up completely!" The Doctor retorted in all seriousness. "After all what difference will a few months make, its not like she could work and raise the child, so she'd have to give it up then anyway!" He added chuckling at the ludicrous thought of the housekeeper trying to juggle both baby and career.

"Well I'll see to it she does. Thanks you Doctor." The Butler added holding his out his hand to shake Dr Evan's firmly before escorting him back to his other patients, his thoughts in a constant turmoil, just how the hell was he going to get Flora to willingly give up work?...Although perhaps…just perhaps he wouldn't need to…perhaps there was another much more straightforward, but underhand, solution to this whole problem?

By the time Adams had reached the top of the stairs, after ordering poor Fred to 'jump to it' with the Earl, he still hadn't decided how to tell Rebecca about poor little Archie's fate. Not matter how he phrased it in his head it seemed to harsh a way to tell her, all the words were jumbled up and eventually he decided that he would just have to see how it came out. He was going to make sure that she would have seen Hugo before gently breaking the awful truth, he didn't want her to know before hand unless she became so distraught she didn't even want to see her surviving child, Heaven forbid such a terrible thought. He would hold her tight, tell her how wonderful it was she pulled through and how he always knew she could would be fine, his darling Becca. He would tell her how beautiful baby Hugo – the new Lord Hugo – looked cradled in her arms, and then, well….. It broke his heart just to picture her face, but he knew he had to do it himself and he assumed Lizzie and Molly would have the foresight to realise it was for the best, that he should be there for her instantly so she wasn't grieving alone.

As Adams reached Rebecca's bedroom, lost in thought and mumbling to himself, he almost walked square into his daughter as she came out of the room with a pile of towels and baby blankets bundled up in her arms so high she could barely see over them. The under-butler managed to steady himself but Lizzie lost her footing slightly and the laundry fell from her arms and scattered across the carpet at her feet.

"Careful, Elizabeth, you could do someone an injury!" Adams laughed sourly as Lizzie tutted and bent down to gather up the offending blankets.

"Hell's bells, first the silverware and now the towels, I don't know what's wrong with me today, all butter fingers." Lizzie mumbled, obviously very distracted by her thoughts. Adams stared down at her, suddenly struck by the realisation that quite possibly things were not about to go as he had planned. His hand hovered by the door, but at that moment Lady Caroline sauntered past looking in an especially foul mood considering one of her best friends had just come round from being at death's door.

"M'Lady." Adams coughed, nodding politely, but although Lady Caroline caught his eye it was as if she were looking straight through him to the door and she continued past with only a cursory unamused glance at Lizzie, who was furiously re-piling the towels and blankets. Quickly Adams glanced back over his shoulder then turned back to his daughter.

If Lizzie had caught sight of the hardened look on his face then she may have had serious reason to begin quaking in her summer shoes, but as it was she hadn't noticed his expression at all as she was still crouched down, her thoughts firmly fixed on the terrible state her mistress was now in. It hadn't even occurred to her that she had possibly made the biggest mistake she could have done in her father's eyes, she had no idea how cut off he had been feeling, why should she?

"She's been awake for nearly an hour now, we were so surprised when she came round, the doctor said it was a near miracle considering." Lizzie whispered as Adams clenched his jaw in stunned silence. "He says it'll take a while for her to get better, but she will be alright in the end, thank the heavens…."

"Elizabeth." Adams began slowly but threateningly, his flaring eyes boring into the top of her head. "Tell me you didn't tell Rebecca about Archie. Tell me you didn't!"

Lizzie paused in fright, still crouched down in front of her neat pile. The atmosphere between them suddenly tensed and Lizzie raised her head reluctantly to look at him, her eyes now wide in a mixture of confusion and guilt.

"F…father, I – er – well…."

"Did you or didn't you!" Adams demanded, raising his voice a little too loudly. He took a step closer and Lizzie visibly cowered, even the same dark eyes as her mother's unable to placate him into a calmer mood.

"Y…yes! I did, I had no choice!" She finally quivered, gradually rising to her feet but leaving the laundry exactly where she had stacked it, firmly between them.

"You silly, stupid, foolish girl!" Adams growled as Lizzie gave a small whimper of shock, hurriedly glancing around for her aunt's help with her maddened father. "How could you be so bloody irresponsible! It was up to me to tell her, not you , not anyone else either!"

"I'm s…sorry, I didn't think, I….." Lizzie stuttered helplessly, her large pleading eyes instantly pooling with large, unstoppable tears.

"You didn't think – well that much is obvious! Do you know what you have done! Have you any idea!" The under-butler thumped the wall and Lizzie jumped, shooting a glance at the door and wondering if her mistress was listening to all her father's ranting. Looking back at Adams a large tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away while beyond the door a baby's cries rang out.

"He's hungry," Lizzie began quietly, desperately trying to change the subject. "Mr Jarvis' mother is going to show Her Ladyship how to…."

Adams however was apparently not listening to her, and it quickly became obvious. "What did you say to her! Did you just blurt it out, oh by the way Your Ladyship in case you were wondering your other baby is dead!"

"N….no, of course not father, she asked, I……"

"And you didn't think to fetch me!" Adams fumed. "Instead you just went straight ahead and told her, what must she think of me? It's bad enough I wasn't there in the first place, but to hear it from you when it's none of your damn business!"

"Father please!" Lizzie begged in a cracked, sobbing voice. "Don't shout, I thought I was doing what was best….!"

"What was best! Are you a complete imbecile, girl!"

Lizzie opened her mouth to protest as the tears swamped her flushed cheeks, but at that moment a rather perturbed Molly Watson flew into view, her skirts swishing about her. The young maid had never felt such relief, but as she turned to her aunt she was overcome with embarrassment and abandoning her laundry bundle ran past her, her face buried in her hands. Molly breathed out deeply through her nose and glared at her brother scaldingly, reminding him of his awful dream and that same look on their mother's face. Molly was the image of her, and that was probably the only reason he could remember her features so well in his mind's eye.

"What on earth is going on here!" She hissed, glancing from the laundry at Adams' feet and up to the look of absolute fury on his face. "Now the little one is crying and Lizzie's upset, your voice can be heard right down the corridor and to the stairwell, d'you want Lord Farquarson, or the Earl for that matter, to get wind of your reasons for being up here!"

Adams simply shrugged and lowered his voice to a deep growl. "Lizzie's gone and told Rebecca about Archie!"

"Yes, I know!" Molly replied firmly as she inched towards Rebecca's door. "Is that why you're in such a state?"

"You knew !" Adams snorted in disbelief, reaching out and grabbing his sister by her wrist and dragging her like a rag doll into an unoccupied bedroom, slamming the door behind them.

"Andrew what d'you think you are doing!" Molly demanded shrilly, trying in futility to struggle from his firm grip. "Yes I knew, but I didn't suggest she do it! She had done it before I got to her!"

"Yes but you could have come and got me as soon as Rebecca woke up, not make me look a damn fool and have her hate me in the process!"

It had been a long time since Molly had seen her brother in such a furious rage, the last time was back in Glasgow and her wayward husband had given her the most brutal hiding of her life for simply buying a new pair of shoes without his permission. She had been left with three broken fingers when he wrenched off her wedding ring so he could make the point of throwing it across the room, her battered frame following it soon afterwards.

It had taken an awful lot of persuasion from Molly to prevent her brother from giving her husband far more than a Glasgow kiss. This time, however, she felt her powers of persuasion would be nothing against the force that was that typical Adams obstinate nature.

"Andrew, stop being so damn selfish!" She said sharply, finally pulling herself away from Adams' grip and roughly folding her arms. "Lizzie had a duty to tell her, she's Rebecca's lady's maid for pity's sake, what was she to do when she began asking for her other baby!"

Adams snorted and rolled his eyes. "Come and GET ME! How many more bloody times do I have to get the message through to you women that I wanted to be there, she needed me!"

"But you weren't there were you, you had your duties to attend to, I couldn't simply barge in if you were with the Earl and say Andrew sorry to bother you but you'd better come and tell your aristocratic mistress that your illegitimate child had died!" Molly shouted in frustration as Adams' eyes widened in surprise at her outburst. "This has nothing to do with Rebecca and everything to do with that stupid male pride of yours you've always had! You're as stubborn as a bloody mule Andrew Adams and no mistake!"

"For God's sake, Molly, I'm the children's father!" Adams paced the room like a caged animal, his breathing laboured. He rubbed his forehead and sighed, shutting his eyes and gulping hard. This was ridiculous, why on earth were they arguing when he should be in the other room with Rebecca?

But that didn't stop Molly, she had had enough of aggressive men to last a life-time. "Did you really have to shout at Lizzie, couldn't you have been more tactful, although I suppose that would be too much to ask from you! She's only a child, and yours at that!"

"She deserved it, Molly! She should know better than to interfere in someone else's business, and as for being my daughter, well, how can I be certain!" Adams yelled, swinging round and throwing his arms up. "Come on, tell me, how can I, eh!"

"What on earth do you mean?" Molly asked quietly, the wind completely taken from her sails.

Adams leant in at his sister, his voice in a dangerously low whisper. "Well, her mother says that she's mine, but I don't know that for certain, I mean we both know what a – a whore her mother was at the time, God knows how many men she had been with before or after she got to me!"

"Oh that's ridiculous, anyone can see how much she looks like you, you can't get out of your paternal duty to her that easily Andrew!" Molly laughed in almost mocking and patronising tone at his idiocy. Adams huffed. "Lizzie and now Hugo were the best things to happen to you, and not everyone can be so lucky in life to have two lovely children so you should be grateful and stop this immature attitude! And from what I've heard – and seen - of the vicar's wife Catherine you should thank your lucky stars for Rebecca, seems like she is the exception to your norm considering your history!"

"Why what the hell have you heard!" Adams asked, flushing crimson as he knew what was coming.

"I've heard enough, Mrs Corey and I had an awful lot of time to talk over the last six months and she's told me some things about you, my dear brother, and Catherine Postlebury nee. Stanwick was certainly scraping the bottom of the barrel even for you!" Molly snapped savagely, backing up against the door.

"I'm not talking about this now – no, I'm not talking about this ever again Molly, d'you understand!" Adams barked back at her, unaware that a certain new maid had appeared outside the door and was now listening in to every word. "That is nothing to do with you, or with Flora Corey – I wish to God people would keep their noses out of my business for once! And how I talk to my daughter is certainly no concern of yours! And you're hardly a paragon of virtue yourself are you Molly Watson!"

Molly visibly riled, her striking green eyes narrowing. "Well once an Adams always an Adams, and don't you dare compare your liaisons with what I did – what I had to do! You know why I'm here…..!"

"Yes I know very well why you've stayed here on more than just a temporary basis as was originally planned, and it ain't to do with that very much alive husband of yours, I've eyes in my head Molly!"

Molly fell silent and blushed, but as she opened her mouth to try to deny what her brother may be insinuating Adams spoke over her.

"Yes, I know, Joseph James of all people, and right under Jarvis' nose! I remember, six months isn't all that long ago you know and you're all he ever talked about in India!" Adams grinned sourly at his revelation as Molly's sullen expression turned to one of wide-eyed surprise.

"Joseph! That's….that's madness, sheer lunacy!" Molly gasped, clutching at her chest. What if that's what everyone was thinking? Surely not, she had put Joe firmly in his place over that nonsense, unless – that night in the Orangery – no, she would have heard the rumours.

"Look, I'm really not interested right now, now get the hell out of my way, I'm not in the mood! This is hardly the time or the place!" Adams stepped towards the door, reaching for the handle, but Molly quickly positioned herself so his path was completely blocked.

"You need to calm down before I let you go near that vulnerable young woman, she's in a very fragile state!" Molly protested, but her voice began to waver slightly as her gaze locked with her brother's.

"No thanks to Elizabeth McDuff! Now move Molly, do as I say – I am your brother and although I would never strike you, without your husband around you will obey me!" That was enough for Molly, so fighting back a tear she submissively stepped silently aside to watch Adams glare at her one last time before flinging open the door.

"Here, you will need a reason to go in there, people are around." Molly whispered, her voice still shaken in anger and upset as she handed him a folded sheet from the unused bed. She looked away from him but he forced a muttered 'thank you' and left. Molly waited a moment so she could compose herself with a deep breath. She wasn't sure what alarmed him more, the fact that Andrew had been so beastly to her or the thought that everyone – including him – thinks she is in regular liaisons with Joseph James. She would most definitely have to have a strong word with the footman about that, she resolved as she flew out of the room, but she was jolted out of her thoughts when she saw a young girl preening herself in the large oval mirror in the hallway.

"Henrietta Willis what are you doing!" Molly demanded, causing the girl to instantly whip round in surprise.

"Mrs Watson, I was, er…cleaning the mirror." She stammered, forcing a smile which Molly knew to be as fake as the girl's sweet manner, played out wonderfully whenever her superiors were around.

"Well I have never heard of vanity being much use to anybody Miss Willis so you would be better picking up all of those sheets and towels and taking them to the laundry." Molly ordered flatly as she gazed down the hallway distractedly at the sound of a faint voice drifting up from by the front door.

"But it was Lizzie who……"

"I don't care, just do as I say." Molly fumed, ushering past her. "You may be new here Henrietta but coming from such a respectable household I expect you to be able to pick up a few bits of laundry when asked!" The under-housekeeper didn't wait for a reply, but if she had been less distracted by the annoyingly unexpected visitor she may have noticed a vicious tongue being pulled firmly in her direction.

"And it's not Henrietta you stupid cow, it's Hettie!" The maid sniffed spitefully to herself as she bundled the laundry in her arms and stormed away.

Molly had hurriedly only taken two stairs on the main staircase when she glanced up and stopped in her tracks. The mysterious visitor smiled broadly at her from the foot of the stairs as Molly gasped, studying him inquisitively but with a well of excitement building in her chest. His sideburns were remarkably shorter than before and his moustache was gone, making him look younger and more appealing, and his full head of slightly greying hair although groomed and curled as she would have expected was more ruffled than normal giving him a slightly rugged appearance. However Molly would recognise those soft, hazel eyes anywhere and in that moment she had never experienced such happiness.

"Monty." She uttered under her breath, as if trying to convince herself that it was true. She hadn't seen him since that day after Christmas when everyone had departed for London and he and Francesca had set out to travel back up to Scotland. She had received only one letter from him so to avoid suspicion, telling her that he would be away for three months in Africa, and it showed. He had tanned beautifully and Molly wondered naughtily to herself where else he may have caught the sun.

"Mrs Watson how delightful to see you." Lord Montgomery said politely, greeting her with a slight bow, his top hat tucked under his arm.

"My Lord." Molly replied, curtseying and slowly descending the stairs and desperately trying to remain professional and distant in case of prying eyes. "Your carriage, has it been taken care of? I hope all your luggage has arrived safely. I'm sorry I don't know why nobody's here to greet you, it is most unacceptable, where on earth is Mr Jarvis?"

"No it is me who must apologise." Monty corrected her as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "I am on unexpected business in Bristol and Algie had kindly said that I would be welcome to stay even at short notice, and I thought why not stay here? It will only be for a week maximum, I hope I'm not intruding."

"No, certainly not." Molly said quickly, her cheeks flushing. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around him and kiss him, but she kept her distance except for taking his hat.

"And anyway, I don't care about everybody else, Mrs Watson, seeing you is enough." Monty whispered, a mischievous fire in his eyes. "And before you ask, which I know you will do, purely for the number of beds to be made up of course, I am unaccompanied this visit as my good lady wife is too far on with child to make the trip. Such a damn shame."

"That is unfortunate, My Lord. Oh, Rebecca!" Molly gasped, realising she had so much to tell him. "She has – had two sons, baby Hugo and……."

"Monty, my good man!" The Earl marched into the hallway, grinning furiously as he grasped Monty firmly by the hand and shook it. Fred hurried after him, looking extremely exasperated and clutching an oversized fan causing Monty to raise his eyebrows in amusement.

"Algie, so sorry to drop in like this…."

"Nonsense, nonsense, wonderful to see you!" The Earl was positively ecstatic, pleased to have another gentleman around the house with whom he could socialise without them drinking themselves into a stupor and vomiting over the antique carpets. He turned to Molly who had backed off but hadn't removed her gaze from Monty for a second. "Well, Mrs Watmore, what are you standing there for, the floors won't scrub themselves you know! Oh and go and find Jarvis!"

Molly jumped out of her daze and curtseyed with a blunt 'yes, M'Lord', but Monty gave her a subtle wink and a come-to-bed smile which told her she may find herself occupied at some point that evening. She turned hurriedly, mainly so the Earl wouldn't see her blush crimson again, and marched away with a huff.

"Scrubbing floors indeed. He has no idea what I do around here, and scrubbing floors certainly isn't one of them!" She muttered furiously to herself, although her heart could hardly have been singing any louder. Damn the Earl if he was going to upset her happiness on seeing Monty for the first time in months. Tonight, she thought as she swept into the servants quarters, was something she deserved after the day she had had and woe betide anyone who would unwittingly come between her and a taste of happiness!

-----

Adams had stormed out of the room leaving Molly in his wake - whether he had upset her or not was the very last thing on his mind as was the fact that that new maid he still hadn't said a word to yet was busy watching him storming across the hallway. Her narrow eyes widened in interest as she observed him through the reflection of the mirror she was gazing into, but he didn't even glance in her direction as he quietly opened the door to the one room she would have thought would have been out of bounds to him, and silently slipped inside.

There on the bed before him Rebecca was propped up with so many pillows it was a wonder she could be seen at all, and cradled in her rocking arms was an already familiar small bundle. She was brushing her nose across the baby's forehead, which Adams could just about see peeping out of the blanket, and softly humming a rather wistful sounding lullaby, but to Adams in that moment it was the most awesome and joyful sight he could have imagined.

"Rebecca? Oh, Rebecca!" Adams sighed, hurrying over to the bed as she looked up and wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a desperate embrace. "I was so worried about you, for a moment there I thought Hugo and I had lost you." He brushed the long, unruly hair from her face and planted small kisses on her cheek, but he was mildly disappointed when Rebecca's only half-hearted response was to clasp his hand and look back down at the sleeping child. It was if she hadn't registered Adams' concerns for her welfare, her thoughts were so consumed with other things and anything he was feeling was now secondary to the new life in her arms and her own consuming grief for the child she had lost.

"He opened his eyes before you came in." Rebecca whispered, but her tone was less than joyful and had an element of sadness and longing in it. "D'you think he knows who I am?"

Adams smiled reassuringly, shifting himself onto the bed and leaning in to carefully stroke Hugo's amazingly soft cheek. He knew she was stalling talking about Archie, but it was to be expected. The only thing he could do was to humour her and wait for her to speak his name. "Of course he knows who you are, you're his mother. I read somewhere that it's instinct." Adams said quietly as Hugo yawned and wriggled in his mother's arms before settling down again to sleep.

"You've been reading about babies?" Rebecca asked, a detectable smile flittering across her lips then disappearing as quickly as it had come.

"Yes, I did a lot of reading in India, Flora had kindly bought me a book before we left, says she thought she may as well get two while she was at the shop, one for Mr Jarvis of course." Adams smiled, studying the baby's face, then Rebecca's, in the hopes of detecting every single similarity between them. "It's completely up-to-date, first edition 1849, she told me I needed to read up as she knew how useless men could be but I could tell the book was written for women, especially the chapter entitled 'To Knit or to Crotchet – That is the Question'."

That same smile tugged at Rebecca's mouth again but she didn't respond verbally, instead she unwrapped Hugo from his blanket until it was hanging about him so she could marvel at him, desperate for his presence to consume the pain she was suffering at Archie's loss. "He's so small." She exclaimed in a surprised whisper, running her hand delicately down the baby's arms and legs. "And so perfect. He's beautiful, Andrew. He cried before but stopped when I picked him up."

"And he held my finger yesterday – well, not quite, but it was like he was holding it." Adams announced proudly, kissing Rebecca again. He thought the best thing to do was to keep talking, he wasn't sure what else could comfort her right now, if anything.

"He looks like you, he's got your mouth although Flora has mentioned he has my nose which I can't deny, I just hope your father doesn't notice the similarity, not that he'll go actively looking for it of course! I was amazed at his hair though, it's so vibrant considering he's newborn, he's going to be such a striking little laddie, he takes after his bonnie mother. I'm so proud of you, Rebecca."

"Does Archie have red hair?" Rebecca wondered quite unexpectedly, and Adams felt his stomach lurch uncomfortably. It had been a strange first question about their second twin but he put it down to her not being quite herself, nevertheless she had at least begun to talk about him which had to be some sort of start.

"Er no, he has dark hair, not much of it mind." Adams replied cautiously, studying Rebecca to gain some sort of reaction, but unusually she looked rather vacant apart from a small inquisitive frown. "They aren't identical, Archie looks far more like Molly, but your father's chin is unmistakable…."

"I have to see him!" Rebecca suddenly wailed, clutching Hugo to her chest. "I must see him now, please tell me he's not been buried or taken away!"

"Shh, no he's still here, he's in the nursery, I was so worried your father would insist on burial before you woke up but thankfully you can say your goodbyes." Adams tried to sooth her by rubbing her back but she pushed him away, indicating to the door as her eyes brimmed with the first tears of grief. "Get him now Andrew, please!"

"But Rebecca, I'm not sure if you're ready….."

"Andrew do this for me!" Rebecca pleaded, and Adams' heart ached as seeing her so distraught. "If I don't see him…I don't care how bad he looks, Andrew, he'll always look perfect to me."

Adams sighed, his shoulders sagging. How could he not do as she asked when she looked at him with such longing? With a reluctant nod he left the room, returning moments later with what immediately looked like only a bundle of blankets. "This is the first time I've held him." He whispered, gulping back any emotion. Rebecca didn't reply, simply stared. She wanted to see him, but at the same time she couldn't face it. If Andrew handed him to her then she would have to look, so without resisting she watched as he carefully placed Archie on the bed and took Hugo from her. Now it was her turn to hold him, but her arms were shaking so much as she reached out and scooped up his lifeless frame she was terrified of dropping him. With a quivering hand she pushed the blanket back from her son's face as the tears dropped silently down her cheeks.

"There's a mark on his neck." She muttered shakily as Adams climbed back onto the bed next to her, Hugo burbling blissfully unawares in his father's arms.

"Yes, that's where….the cord….Rebecca I'm so sorry you had to hear it from someone else, it should've been me who told you." Adams spluttered but Rebecca didn't respond. To her it hadn't mattered who had told her, it didn't make the news any less tragic.

"He's got such tiny hands." She gasped as her voice became choked, running her thumb across his small, lifeless fist. "He's even smaller than his brother, but he should have lived! I've killed our son, I'm so sorry! Please forgive me!" With a terrible sob she hugged the dead baby tightly, burying her face in Adams' shoulder and crying inconsolably. Adams shut his eyes and winced, stroking her hair and trying desperately to think of the right things to say.

"Hey there's nothing to forgive, it wasn't your fault!" Adams said in the most comforting tone he could muster but he heard his own voice beginning to falter. "It was an accident – no it wasn't even that, it was a circumstance. If there was nothing a doctor as competent as Dr Evans could do then there was certainly nothing you, or I or anyone else could have done. It is me who should be saying sorry to you for not being here when I so desperately wanted to be."

But nothing he said could console her, she was hardly even listening to him and her knuckles had gone white she was gripping Archie's blanket so tightly. Minutes passed by and she was still sobbing and Adams wondered whether she would ever be able to forgive herself even though he and everyone else knew it had been out of her control. Hugo had begun to wake and he wriggled furiously in Adams' arms, his burbling becoming a loud, hungry cry and he remembered what Lizzie had said about it being time for his feed.

"Come on now, Becca." Adams muttered softly, shifting from the awkward position he had been sitting in for longer than his bones could cope with. "Shh, stop crying, I know you need to grieve but it's probably best if I take Archie back to the nursery now, Hugo needs you."

"But Andrew I don't know if I can!" Rebecca whimpered almost hysterically, raising her tired head from his shoulder. "If I give Archie back to you I'll never hold him again, and I'm so exhausted, what am I meant to do with a baby! I mean I've no idea, I've never had one before, but I can't bear the thought of a nanny bringing him up and me hardly ever seeing him!"

"You'll be an amazing mother, I know you will." Adams smiled, temporarily placing a now screaming and kicking Hugo back in the crib then easing Archie out of Rebecca's grip. "I'll go and fetch Emily Corey, it said in that book that it'll take you a while to get used to breast feeding but you'll manage in the end. She'll know what to do."

"I don't know if I can do it!" Rebecca wailed, wrapping her arms around her stomach and painfully shifting down the bed. "I can't even bear to look at myself, I feel so horrible, so...empty!"

By now Adams felt bereft of things to say. He had that familiar feeling of uselessness weighing down on him, she couldn't see – or didn't want to see – just how sad and tired he too felt but he had to be strong for both of them. But before he could try his very best at more feeble and innocuous soothing there was a light tap on the door and Emily poked her head around the door. She frowned when she saw Adams and opened her mouth to ask why on earth the under-butler was sniffing around an obviously sick and fragile aristocrat but when she saw tiny Archie in Adams' arms she realised Rebecca must have asked him to fetch him for her. Why she couldn't have asked her lady's maid Emily was unsure but thought the poor dear was probably not in her best frame of mind so decided not to ask questions.

"Your Ladyship." Emily said awkwardly, her eyes darting from the crib to Rebecca who had barely acknowledged Emily's presence in the room. Emily indicated to Adams with an admonishing nod to get Archie out of there sharpish, besides they had delicate women's issues to discuss, most importantly Hugo's rather urgent feed.

"Rebecca dear." Emily cooed, deciding that breaking title protocol was a good way to try to calm the poor woman down. "I'm just going to take Hugo to the nursery to change his nappy, then we can talk about your duties……."

"NO!" Rebecca yelled as Emily bent down to scoop up Hugo. Both Emily and Adams stared at her in shock as she pulled back the covers and pushed herself to the edge of the bed, her pretty features screwed up in agony as she forced herself to stand for the first time since going into labour.

"Why ever not, dear, he needs changing…." Emily tried to reason, but Rebecca was on her feet and struggling over to the crib before she could finish her sentence. Adams was desperate to intervene but couldn't, he didn't think Emily was aware of his involvement with Rebecca but he didn't wish to test it out quite so blatantly so backed towards the door with Archie.

"If he needs changing you can do it here – no, I can do it here!" Rebecca shouted as she squeezed herself in between the old woman and the crib, Hugo's screams becoming louder. "You're not taking him out of this room, I forbid you to, he's staying in here with me! I'm not letting him out of my sight, I've already lost one baby, I'll be damned if I'm losing another because I failed to keep watch over him!"

Emily quickly backed down, moving away from the crib and trying to keep her own temper in check, but although she had never lost a child herself – well not straight after birth anyway – she thought Rebecca's almost violent reaction quite understandable and this helped her keep her composure. "Alright, alright." She soothed, but Rebecca felt herself becoming quite faint and collapsed in a sobbing heap into Emily's arms.

"I think you'd better get back to bed." Emily suggested as Adams reluctantly backed out of the door. "I'll fetch his fresh towel and change him here, I'll teach you if you like but you'll have a new nanny when you return home. I'll take as long as you need, I'm here to help."

"But I don't want a nanny!" Rebecca wailed, but as Adams carefully shut the door behind him their talking became muffled and he felt even more left out than before. He wanted to help change Hugo, be there when he was being fed (at an appropriate distance, of course) and rock him to sleep but somehow he knew he would hardly get to do any of these things, especially in the crucial first months.

He glanced down at Archie, the baby son he will always miss and always wonder about, and his heart broke all over again. It would take him too a long time to come to terms with it but he felt he had best not burden Rebecca with his own feelings, she had enough to contend with just now. Maybe in time they could talk about him – she never even said whether she liked the name he had given him. He wondered what it would be like when Hugo was old enough to understand, how he would feel knowing a part of him was missing. With a heavy heart, Adams carried Archie back to the nursery, not knowing when he would be able to see Rebecca and Hugo alone again. As for Lizzie, she now had a brother she would see every day, he would become even more distant from the family he had the right to head.

Lizzie now hated him, he was sure, he had been horrible to Molly and Rebecca was inconsolable. He would chat to Jarvis if he felt he would get any sense out of him but he was all gooey-eyed over Flora and the idea of his own child, at this rate he felt a drinking session with Felix coming on, it had worked wonders in London and India so why the hell not.

First, however, he had to make sure the plans for Archie's funeral went according to plan. The Earl had given permission for the baby to be buried in the family vault in memory of Lord Hugo senior and Adams didn't want Lord Farquarson suddenly changing his mind and whisking him away. He lowered him onto Lord Harry's old bed and covered his body carefully with his blanket as a lone tear sprang from his eye and splashed down, soaking through the white cotton.

"Your mummy and I will always love you and we'll never forget you." He whispered, placing a small, weary kiss on the baby's nose before reluctantly covering his tiny face. His thoughts had now turned to the worrying matter of Lord Farquarson's plans for Rebecca and Hugo, there was something Rebecca had wanted to tell him, something awful, but had never got the chance before she had gone into labour. He had to find out somehow, whether that meant asking her directly in time or listening up against doors he wasn't sure, but one way or another he would know and put a stop to it, once and for all.

'He said what?' Grace shrieked, almost unable to believe what her friend had just told her. 'How do you-'

'How do I know? I know because I heard him! After Id gathered myself a little, I went back intending to pick up the towels the big oaf had knocked out of my hands … he'd started on Mrs Watson by then, then it was my mothers turn' Lizzie snapped as she strode back and forth across the kitchen as Grace poured the hot water into the sink.

'Your mother?' Grace puzzled as she lugged the large copper kettle back over to the hearth, tossing Lizzie a dishcloth, as she resumed her place at the basin.

'Well I managed to make out a 'how do I know' … 'her mother says she's mine' … 'God knows how many men' … and I believe 'whore' was casually thrown in there somewhere too!'

'You said you were the other side of the … are you sure he was talking about you?'

'Oh, Im sure alright, how many other illegitimate daughters has he fathered?'

'Well I don't-' Grace started, unable to finish as a fuming Lizzie, now well past the tearful stage, continued.

'Second thoughts, perhaps I should re-phrase that – how many illegitimate daughters, that he'll admit to!'

'Slow down, take a few breaths – you wearing me out just looking at you - and tell me whats brought this on' Grace soothed, desperately trying to calm Lizzie.

'This is my fa-' she paused, after what she'd just heard she no longer she could use the word. 'Mr Adams, does the man need an excuse?'

After taking a moment to nod her head, eyebrows raised, acknowledging that her friend did have a point there, Grace cautiously ventured 'What made him say such a thing?'

'What have I done you mean?' Lizzie supplied, never one for beating about the bush.

Grace said nothing in return, simply passing a dripping plate to the drier, shooting her a knowing look, before continuing with the washing up.

Signing heavily, Lizzie wasn't about to make out that she hadn't played her part in the quarrel, so she turned round, leaning back against the worktop so she could face Grace, as she confessed. 'I told Lady Rebecca about Archie.'

Grace immediately stopped what she was doing, looking at her friend somewhat reproachfully as she gushed 'Oh Liz, you didn't!'

'Oh I did' Lizzie owned up sheepishly, only now really comprehending the gravity of what she'd done.

'Don't you think it would have been best coming from-'

'Of course I do! But… but he wasn't there – and I know that wasn't his fault, as will Rebecca – and honestly, just what was I supposed to do when she asked after the second?'

'How did you…?' Grace said with a heavy tone of concern.

'Tell her?' Lizzie supplied, as she placed the now dry plate back onto the rack where it belong, before trudging over to the kitchen table, taking a seat.

'It must have been awful.' Grace whispered, as she too abandoned her station, taking a seat next to the now quivering lady's maid.

'It was.' She gulped, her eyes welling up once more, continuing before her increasingly strained voice failed her. 'How do you tell a woman she's lost a child? They were the first thing on her mind when she came round, she asked for them with her first breaths, and then, when she saw it was only I and Molly there, she asked for my- … Mr Adams.'

'Did no one think to fetch him?' Grace spoke before she gave her self time to think, consequently sounding a tad condescending.

'Of course they did!' Lizzie scolded, sounding a little more harsh than intended.

For a tense moment the two maids looked at each other, but soon both acknowledged they hadn't meant what theyd said the way they sounded, exchanging understanding smiles before Lizzie went on. 'Yes, Mrs Watson slipped out to find him, whilst I made Rebecca a little more comfortable. A few moments later there was a small tap at the door, we both thought it was him, but only that new girl - Henrietta, is that her name? - popped her head round the door, lord knows why. She was gathering up the water jug, presumably to go and refill it, as Mrs Watson rushed back into the room. I looked down at Rebecca's expectant face, she'd hauled herself up, once again expecting him to appear. "I cant find him" Molly said, not noticing we had company. Panicking – both that he hadn't come and that she might click - I said the first thing that popped into my head, asking Henrietta to go and see if she could summon Dr Evans, which she did. As soon as she was out the door, Rebecca again began asking for her children and their father, Molly and I looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Mrs Watson said that she would go and find her brother, if I'd try to stall her. She was gone quite some time, what was I expected to say to her ladyship – make pleasant remarks about the weather we've been having whilst she was comatosed?'

'Well no' Grace interjected

'Well exactly. I thought Id go and get little Hugo, he'd already given his presence away when he began to grizzle. I gently lifted him out of his crib - he's light as a feather – and took him over to her. Grace, you should have seen her face, it, it just lit up like I'd never seen it before, she was absolutely in awe of him, scared to hold him at first, out of sheer nervousness I think, but when she held him, they took to each other straight away, anyone could see. I couldn't bear it, I had to turn away I could feel myself welling up, but that wasn't what gave it away. When I turned back round to face her, she had looked up from the little bundle in her arms, over to the other side of the room. The hair on the back of my neck trembled as she asked, so calmly, so innocently "Elizabeth, why is there only one bassinette?" Im never going to forget those words…' Lizzie trailed off, incapable of continuing as she moved to clasp her hands over her gasping mouth, the tears now streaming down her cheeks.

'What did you do then?' Grace breathed, as if on autopilot, the rest of her body unable to move, furiously blinking back her own tears.

'What else could I have done? She was struck dumb, my tears only confirmed that she had already dared to conclude. It wasn't too long before she started with the 'hows' and the 'whys' adding no further to them, just repeating them over and over again. I told her I didn't know why, that it was a horrible accident, that she shouldn't blame herself, I knew she would. I didn't have chance to tell her much else, before she began shouting that she wanted to see him, pleading with me to let her see him. She held Hugo out to me, hoping Id take him, but before I could – I thought she was going to drop him – there was another knock at the door.'

'Was it-?'

'Mr Adams? Molly? No, it was the new girl back again, Dr. Evans was on his way, but on her way, she'd passed Lady Caroline, taking it upon herself to inform Little Lady Fauntleroy that her ladyship had woken up, she was on her way.'

'Never one to miss a crisis that one, if only to stand on the sidelines!' Grace scoffed.

'Indeed' Lizzie agreed, before adding 'You know I think she thinks that if she plays up to them well enough …'

'Who, Lady Caroline?' Grace enquired, seemingly totally oblivious as to what her friend was saying.

'No, Henrietta …well, what ever her name is – you know, I think Lucy had best watch her back, definitely out for a lady's maid job that one, even if its someone else's!'

'She seems pretty quiet to me'

'She would do, but mark my words, theres some thing untoward about that little madam.'

'If you say so…' Grace humoured her friend, if only to get her back to her original narrative.

'Yes I do. Anyway, I sent her away with the water jug, before returning to my Ladyship, who was desperately trying to remove herself, and her son from the bed. I tried to stop her, but she managed to get her strength from somewhere, she got as far as the foot, but couldn't get get out, if she had, I don't think she'd have been able to stand. She only conceded when she heard the tap on the door. 'Andrew!' she called out. 'Rebecca?' came a stern reply from outside, it was Lady Caroline, just as I'd known it would be. "Please?" I begged her, taking Hugo from her arms, showing her back to her pillow after she nodded, I wasn't quite sure she'd heard me, she appeared to be in some sort of daze. As soon as she was settled, I handed Hugo back to her saying 'Please, he needs you' – she obviously did hear that, as she replied 'Of course', she knew what she had to do. When all had calmed down, I strode over to the door and opened it to a 'About time too!'

'Tsk! All the thanks we get!' Grace huffed, rising from her place, resuming her task.

With heavy heart Lizzie followed her. 'Well, that was nothing to his thanks. I knew he'd be upset, but he didn't even try to understand why I had to do what I did'

'Maybe not, the man is obviously in a mess, but Im sure he will come round, I know you meant well Liz, and I'd have done the same, but just tell him your sorry-'

'Don't you think I tried that – time and time again – he's not listening!'

'He will, when hes calmed down.'

'No he wont'

'Of course he will, he's your-'

'No he wont, because he's had the last apology he's getting from me!'

'Come on Liz, you know you don't mean that!'

'Don't I? You know Grace, if he is going to disown me, then I bear absolutely no allegiance to him. My loyalty lies with Rebecca!' Lizzie countered determinedly.

'Your employer?'

'She more than that!'

'Only because you're your fathers daughter!' Grace reminded her

'No, no its not, how can it be when he says it himself – he's not my father!'

'Well, she doesn't think so!'

The temperature in the kitchen has risen a good few degrees in the last moment or so, having nothing to do with the open fire, instead being solely contributable to their rather heated conversation.

When the tension subsided, Lizzie spoke earnestly, 'You know she's too good for him, and not just because of the obvious! … When we were in Scotland, she treated me with such kindness, such affability I have never before received from a Mistress. Whether it was because she was missing Mrs Corey and Mrs Watson, I, I don't know, but it didn't feel that way to me. She'd call me into the library of an evening, where she used to escape to when she couldn't bear her sister's hilarity any longer, we'd talk, we'd take a turn about the grounds, she was invaluable when it came to Arlen-' Lizzie cut herself off, immediately scolding herself for making this most impromptu revelation.

'Arlen? Who is Arlen?' Grace questioned delightedly, straight away picking up on a new name.

'He's-'

'He?' Grace probed, tilting her head to the side, determined to engage her friend's stare.

'He….' She began, spontaneously gulping, as she had no idea how she was going to break this one. 'Lady Rebecca, she must have helped him … with this' she said softly, slowly raising her left arm to show the tiny silver ring on her hand.

At the sight of it Grace exploded 'How the hell did I miss that?'

Lizzie smiles cautiously, shrugging her shoulders. 'Beats me'

'You little pixie! Why didn't you tell me?'

'I am now'

'Oh!' Grace warned, placing her hands on her hips momentarily, before taking Lizzie's hand in both of hers, to get a better look. 'Is that-'

'A pearl, my birthstone'

'Your birth stone? How did he…? I don't even know what mine is!'

'That's how I know Rebecca helped him, she's well up on her precious stones, as you'd expect.'

'But Liz, who is he, surely this is a bit fast?'

'Not really, we've known each other since we were eight!

'Far enough!' Grace conceded with a giggle.

'His family lived on the estate near my home, I used to play on the land, the master seemed to be pretty fair, but he didn't like trespassers, so Arlen used to help me hide. When we thought no one was looking, we'd always be climbing the trees along the drive, but he'd grab my hand as soon as either of us heard the carriage, and we'd run as fast as we could to the lodge where he used to live, his father was the gamekeeper.'

'Was' Grace enquired, sensing a change in tone when Lizzie said the word.

'Yes, until his little brother got caught poaching, the Laird was pretty keen on upholding the Gaming Act they'd just brought in, he was trying to get to Westminster.'

'That's a bit harsh isn't it, did he get put away, thank god it wasn't Ar-'

'Arlen, oh, he used to do it occasionally, he always used to help out if mum and I were short, he was good like that, especially when she got ill.' Lizzie paused for a moment, gathering herself, as she always got quite upset whenever she thought of her mother, the mother she knew was nothing like the one her so-called-father had just described. 'No, thankfully for Malcolm, they didn't involve the law, but their father felt so badly about it that, well, they had to move on.

'So the childhood sweethearts were separated.' Grace swooned, thinking out loud more than anything.

'Oh no, there was none of that! Rebecca thought the same when she saw how at ease we were with each other, but I'm telling you now, as I tried to tell her, he was more like a brother!'

'Not anymore though.'

'No. Now, now he's stronger, wiser … the perfect gentleman' Lizzie began, closing her eyes so she could see his handsome face.

'Everything a girl could wish for, eh?' Grace offered.

'He is most amiable.' Lizzie agreed with a fond smile and a nod of the head, as she gazed down at her ring, adjusting the way it sat on her finger.

'Aimiable!' Grace almost spat, taken aback at the apathetic nature of such a word. 'Lizzie, is he all you could want?'

Lizzie's head shot up, startled at the question she had just been posed. 'Of course!' she retorted, rather too half-heartedly for he friend's liking.

Grace knew she was risking a vehement response, but she just had to ask 'What about-'

'Don't!' Lizzie instructed, looking her straight in the eye, which were pleading as much as her next word 'Please' she uttered.

It was here, as the two maids were locked in each others gaze, one desperately trying to appease the other's inquiry, the other looking for the flicker which would confirm her suspicions, that the door swung open, and the two young friends whirled round simultaneously to see who it was, one face falling even further when they found out.

'You are needed upstairs Lizzie'

'And who may I ask requests me?' Lizzie countered

'Your father wishes to speak to you child.' Molly spoke gently, as she knew her niece may be in a somewhat fragile state.

At these words, Lizzie glanced back at Grace, before striding forward towards the under-housekeeper. 'My father, now, who would that be? Half the men in Glasgow by the sounds of it' she seethed.

'Lizzie, I'm-'

'If Mr Adams wishes to address me, though lord knows why he should, he can do it through Mrs Corey, until then, I shall be attending her ladyship, in which ever way I see fit.' she stated quite abrasively, brushing passed the stunned woman in the door way as she swept off to her duties.

After a few moments of just standing there, the realisation that they had been overheard fully settling itself on her shoulders, Molly took in a deep breath before starting 'She kno….'

Grace did not speak at this, she simply snatched another plate out of the sink, picked up the cloth and once she'd begun to wipe it, she gave Molly as disapproving look, before turning away from her and continuing with her own chores.

Later that afternoon and Jarvis finally had the chance to put the first part of his plan in place, smiling softly he ushered the two people he had been expecting into his pantry, carefully shutting the door behind them and making sure there was no sign of his beloved in the corridor.

"Alright Walter." Felix huffed flicking his long hair out of his face as he dramatically settled into the fireside chair. "What is so important you drag me away from my kitchen and swear us to secrecy?"

"Hear Hear!" Molly added, still unable to work out why the normally less than friendly Butler should want her to sit in on a meeting with his best friend, she just hoped it had nothing to do with either her bloody brother or certain guest that had only recently arrived.

Smiling uncomfortably Jarvis pulled out his desk chair indicating that Molly should sit and make herself comfortable, an act of courtesy that if possible only made her even more on edge, why was he being so nice to her of all people?

"I've asked you both here because I need to ask you for your help." Jarvis began awkwardly pacing up and down the room unable to look either of the now incredibly worried staff in the eye. "It's about Flora."

"Why what's wrong?" Felix demanded suddenly panicked. "Is there something the matter with the baby?"

"No nothing is wrong with the baby…" Walter began.

"Have you two had another fight?" Felix nagged shaking his head in frustration.

"No!" Walter snapped. "Would you just stop and listen!" He added immediately regretting his outburst when Felix sat back as if slapped. "I'm sorry Felix I didn't mean….Oh hang it!" He exclaimed whirling around and running his fingers through his hair before turning back to the now very confused pair.

"Mr Jarvis." Molly began tentatively. "Perhaps you should start again, from the beginning."

"Yes thank you Mrs Watson…Er Molly…I will. I've been talking to the Doctor and he has insisted that Flora needs to take more time off. I've tried talking to her about it but she just dismisses everything I say, as paranoia and my being over protective, she just isn't taking the risk seriously enough so that's why I have asked you here."

"How can we help?" Molly asked still unable to squash that nagging feeling more was going on here than met the eye.

"Well it's a two fold thing, you both work closely with her and so are in better position to stop her from overdoing things and…"

"And?..." Felix added. "Walter you know how stubborn Flora is, I've already banned her from my kitchen once but somehow she always knows the way to get around me, I'll try to be stronger but I don't see how I can be of much help to you…"

"I was hoping one of you would agree to talk to her, if someone else tells her the same things that I've been saying then perhaps somehow it might start to sink in…." Jarvis trailed off turning to look hopefully at Molly.

"You mean you want me to talk to her?" Molly huffed.

"Well she would take more notice if the advice came from a woman." Felix cut in eager to be rid of the task himself.

"Then what about Emily…"

"Flora tends to humour mother rather than take any notice." Jarvis admitted reluctantly. "And besides she has grown to trust and rely on your judgement so perhaps if you went to her asking to take on more responsibility then it wouldn't look so obviously like we were meddling!"

"I'm so glad that is settled!" Felix exclaimed smiling in relief at not having to be directly involved, he had known Flora for far too long not to realise this was quite some task before Molly Watson, getting Flora Ryan to ease up on her duties, well they'd see the second coming first.

"Indeed Felix! Perhaps you'd care to take afternoon tea with Flora Mrs Watson, better to get the ball rolling don't you think?" Jarvis replied jovially, everything was going just as he had hoped, who knows he might just be able to kill two birds with one stone after all.

"Yes well if you think it best." Molly muttered getting up slowly and heading towards the door her mind doing back flips as she tried to think of a way to phrase her request that would prevent Flora from simply biting her head off.

"Oh Mrs Watson one more thing…."

"Yes Mr Jarvis?"

"Don't mention this little chat to Flora, if she had any idea I was behind it she would stick her heels in like a mule!"

Huffing slightly Molly nodded, what sort of an idiot did that man take her for, of course she wouldn't say anything to Flora, but instead of replying in such a sarcastic vein Molly simply retorted. "Yes Mr Jarvis" Before turning and heading along the corridor to the housekeeper's office.

Grace had listened to Molly's soft footsteps, as she had disappeared along the corridor. Lizzie engaged! She breathed out deeply as she thought of her own difficult situation, it was only a few months ago when she thought herself to soon be in a similar state of affairs, those dreams could not be further away now. She'd been back for less than 3 days now and still had not caught sight of George. He had to be here, she would have known by now if he wasn't, gossip would have been passing around quicker than rats run. Determined to find out everything she was dying to know she flung down the teacloth and strode towards the door. She would go to the footmen's room and see if he was there…then if he wasn't she'd get a straight answer from one of them.

As she got closer to the footmen's room she began to hear voices. It didn't take her moment before she found out the source of the information. Johnny was in the footmen's room, his voice was low but it travelled down the corridor and she could hear every word.

"Mrs Corey seemed impressed when he arrived while you were away, but she had to send him away until Mr Jarvis returned. He's coming back today to meet Mr Jarvis," Johnny muttered.

"Had he been a footman before?" Will asked, curious to know what he was now going to be up against.

"I doubt it, but I'm guessing Charlotte told him a thing or two."

"Maybe I should contact my sister and get her a job here," Fred sniggered. "Taplows will be a whole big family soon."

"A house full of Adams'," Will chuckled.

"And you've got all the Corey's," Fred snorted. "We'll wait until Lady Rebecca's and Mrs Corey's children have grown up, then they can join both family's together."

"Well that is another story I got hold of this morning," Johnny smirks, causing them all to raise there eyebrows. "Apparently Mr Adams became a father of two boys last night."

"You are kidding!" Will chortles. "That really is priceless! All we need now is Fl- Mrs Corey" correcting himself quickly, "to have a little lass." All the footmen nod. "We've got it sussed haven't we lads?" Winking at them all.

"So Johnny what is this new footman called again?" Fred asks distractedly, as he returns to brushing at his wig.

"Charles Lewis," he informs them.

"Charles as in Charlie, or Charles as in 'Charles'?" Will questions, sticking up his nose towards the end, smiling as he received lots of laughter.

"'Charles' I think." The footmen all groan, "Well what were you expecting him being Charlotte's brother?" Those present pondered this for a moment, before the full realisation hit them, Charlotte's brother! Some stuck-up, Catholic fool! Will couldn't help smiling, imagine what fun they could have with him.

"What about…what about George?" Grace recognised Joe's voice, more caring and cautious than usual. Her breath caught in her throat, after what they had been saying about the new footman she knew she didn't want to hear it, but for some reason she still edged forward towards the door.

"It's all been very hush hush," Johnny began, his voice now lowered even more. "No one is all that sure to be honest, all we know is that Mrs Corey received a letter from London about 2 months back. We know it was about George because next day advertisements for a new footman went up."

"But surely she's told Jarvis or someone by now, word should be out, you know how this place is when it comes to gossip." Will's voice spoke up.

"Well there was a couple of days when there were a few whispers, but when Mrs Corey found out she announced that anyone caught spreading rumours would be sacked the moment Mr Jarvis returned. You should have seen her face, I've never seen her look so angry yet severe at the same time. She really meant her words."

"So that is why no one has said anything," Fred whispers, his eyes widening as the realisation struck him. "It must be really bad then."

Johnny nods, before continuing, "My guess is she's waiting to speak to Grace." Grace suddenly began to feel very faint and had to grasp onto a nearby wall for support. "He's not coming back that is for sure, whether he's been hung, locked up or is stuck in a slum somewhere, he's not returning to Taplows." Grace couldn't listen to anymore. She turned and sprinted as fast as she could down the corridor, she reached the top of the stairs and stood motionless. She suddenly realised she had no one to turn to, Lizzie was probably with Lady Rebecca at the moment, Charlotte had left. In the past if she'd never been able to find a shoulder to cry George had always been there. Standing by to support her when in need of comfort…but when she needed someone most he wasn't there.

The tears ran swiftly down her cheeks and she felt her knees begin to give way. Frank! She could go to Frank, he'd told her repeatedly over the last 6 months that he was there for her. Dismissing the thought he'd be seeing to Lord Julian she dashed down to his room. Not even knocking she dashed in, relieved to see Frank sat by the fire hiding away from the rest of the Taplows occupants.

"Grace?" He rose immediately as he saw her, feigning his most comforting voice.

"George isn't coming back," she just managed to croak out. Seeing her suddenly turn deathly pale he darted towards her, catching her as she collapsed helplessly into his arms.

"Oh darling, don't worry, it's going to be alright," he whispered soothingly into her hair, "I'm here, everything is going to fine." He rocked her softly, unable to hide to sly smile that flitted across his face. Time to put operation 'melt her heart' into action. He'd been a fool to think he could get the better of Flora, Jarvis, Adams and his lady friend…they all at least had a brain between the 4 of them, but this poor little soul was lost all alone…just as he had planned.

It wasn't much later that a now thankfully off duty Molly Watson snuck through the servants quarter's and into the main house unable to keep the hopeful skip out of her step and the smug smile from her face. She knew those two cowards had her let her face Flora thinking that she would fail just like all the others and that they would avoid another verbal bashing from the vicious tongue of the housekeeper but she had managed to succeed where even the infallible Mr Jarvis had failed. It had taken some doing, carefully laying the groundwork talking to Flora about how devastated Rebecca was for a good half an hour before she even dared to broach the subject and even she knew well enough to cadge her request in the right language:

"I was surprised the effect it had on Mr Jarvis though…Well meant I suppose I shouldn't have been that surprised I mean considering..." Molly had hedged a flush of embarrassment on her usually flawless complexion.

"Why…What happened?" Flora gasped almost choking on her tea.

"Oh he had to deal with undertakers, all the details for the funeral he accompanied them when they went to measure the baby and I've never seen a man turn so grey so quickly, I guess it just made him face his own demons…Not that anything will go wrong of course I didn't mean to imply….Oh Flora I'm sorry but I mean he does worry so much and"

"And if it could happen to a woman as young and healthy as Rebecca then…" Flora trailed off her own face turning slightly pink.

"It was an accident a tragic accident!" Molly cut in. "And if you take all the doctors advice there's no reason to worry! You are taking it aren't you?"

"Well yes…" Flora replied however Molly had noted her friend hadn't been able to look her in the eye.

"Flora?" Molly scolded.

"Molly!" Flora retorted jokily, unable to keep the slightly panicked tone from voice. "He has mentioned something…He thinks I should give up work, I mean I know that would be the ideal situation from his point of view but I mean most mothers are running around after other children and running their own houses and they seem to be just fine!" Flora added snapping defensively.

"Yes I know…" Molly replied consolingly. "But that doesn't mean you have to run yourself ragged now does after all that's what I'm here for perhaps if you left the more onerous details to me and took care of only the most important issues, like the early morning starts with the laundry maids I could do that and then you'd have not only more time to rest like the doctor suggests but also more time with Mr Jarvis..Walter… It's obvious he misses you whenever you're apart and you're going to have precious little time on your own once the little one arrives!"

"Well if you're sure, I suppose I needn't supervise the laundry maids or the sculleries myself then I wouldn't need to get up so early and it would be nice not to have to get so early in the morning…Honestly between Walter and your good self I am being thoroughly spoilt I doubt I am ever going to be able to do an honest days work ever again?" Flora had giggled playing with the new sparkling sapphire earrings that Molly had commented suited her rather well.

It thus with her mission accomplished that Molly just happened to pass by the Earl's study and noticed that one of the maids, probably that dratted Henrietta girl had left a brush leaning up against the wall, huffing as she shook her head mentally noting that she would have strict words with that little madam when she next saw her. So it was quite by chance that she overheard the tail end of the conversation between their lordship and a certain senior male member of staff.

"I'm telling you Jarvis it's just not on a woman in that condition walking about the place. What the hell will my guests think? It's not decent I tell you!"

"I understand Milord and I assure you My Wif..Mrs Corey has decided to delegate more of her duties to Mrs Watson and so I doubt she will be appearing above stairs."

"Well if you can assure me of that it's bad enough having one bloody female birthing in my house but at least she was an aristocrat….Dammit man this was never part of the agreement I know these things happen but I can count after all and it doesn't take a genius to work things out, I pay for a fulltime housekeeper and that is what I expect so if she doesn't offer her resignation within the next week or so then I will have no choice but to sack her, I take it you can deal with the situation she is your wife after all!"

"Yes Milord, at once Milord!" Jarvis replied and Molly heard the clop of his footsteps against the polished wood, then suddenly the door opened and a somewhat smug Jarvis came face to face with an irate Molly Watson.

"So Mr Jarvis Mrs Corey is going to resign any day now is she? Cause I think that is news to your wife!"

"Mrs Watson….Molly" Jarvis began abashed shutting the door carefully behind him. "It wasn't like it sounded!"

"Oh really?" The Scottish lady retorted whirling round on him in anger. "I have just spent the last hour or so talking to your wife, persuading her to ease up on her duties because you convinced me it was for her own good but now I find out it was more for your benefit than hers what sort of man…" Molly began but Jarvis suddenly cut her off with a glare grabbing her elbow and frogmarching her down the corridor before wrenching open a cupboard door and pushing the stunned under-housekeeper inside.

"How dare you manhandle me in such a manner?" Molly exclaimed backing away from the now fuming Butler.

"And how dare you address your superior in such a manner?" Jarvis hissed. "As for the situation between my wife and myself that is certainly none of your concern!"

"Oh really I believe you made it my business when you asked for my help, no in fact begged was more like it!" Molly snapped. "I can't believe Flora ever agreed to marry a man like you, so manipulative, well I can only believe she didn't realise what she was getting into!"

"My relationship with my wife is none of your concern…" Jarvis began but Molly cut him off.

"It is when you involve me, you used me to further your own ends!" Molly retorted. "Well I am not going to stand for it I tell you I'm going straight to Flora and tell her what I know and you can deal with the consequences!"

"Don't you dare!" Jarvis warned. "If you go within two feet of my wife with this information then I swear you'll be out on your ear by the end of the week!"

"Oh really and just how are you going to cope without a fulltime housekeeper as the earl so pointedly put it?"

"I'll find a new one, mother could cope for a little while!"

"Huff!" Molly snorted in amusement. "Emily is a wonderful woman but you can tell she has never spent any time in service and you know just as well as I do this house would be a shambles within the week and so you'd have no choice but to bring Flora back to duty!"

"Fine, perhaps you are more valuable than I'd like but what about the other members of your family?"

"What?" Molly gasped in shock.

"Well…" Jarvis began snidely. "They aren't as invaluable and heaven knows I have enough dirt on Andrew to have had him sacked five times over, is that what you really want?"

"You wouldn't he's your friend…"

"And Flora is my wife, which do you think I hold in higher regard?"

"I…" Molly began unable to quell the fear that had risen choking the words in her throat.

"Yes?" Jarvis taunted a knowing smile tugging on his lips as he realised he had her in a no win situation.

"Damn you." Molly growled pushing past him towards the store cupboard door. "I won't be a party to this any longer you can do your own dirty work from now on!" She added slamming the door open and striding out into the corridor the Butler trailing straight after her the surprised pair crashing into an even more astonished Flora Corey.

"Walter…Molly?" She hissed glancing from the Butler to her deputy and back to the closet they had suddenly stepped out of, together, and in some semblance of a hurry.

"Flora my dearest!" Jarvis gasped immediately taking his hand from Molly's arm and stepping over to his wife sliding his ark round her waist as far as he could. "We were looking for you?"

"In a closet?" Flora retorted sarcastically.

"No we were…"

"We were just inspecting the traps!" Molly cut in. "The Earl was complaining saying he was sure we had an infestation and Mr Jarvis was reminding me about the importance of checking the traps regularly…."

"Yes exactly I just didn't want to worry you dearest its nothing for you to be worrying about, Mrs Watson has agreed to deal with it….Now how about a nice little glass of brandy before we call it an early night?" Jarvis added suggestively blowing in Flora's ear as he manoeuvred her back to his office and away from the fuming Molly Watson who could do nothing but stand helpless as he escorted her deluded friend away from her.

"Oh don't be ridiculous Walter!" Flora giggled oblivious to her husband's deception. "You know I can't drink brandy honestly…" She added as they disappeared from view.

Sighing to herself Molly ran her fingers through her hair before turning and striding in the opposite direction her thoughts now far from her beloved Monty and the night they had planned and consumed with feelings of despondency and guilt. If she told Flora then both her and Andrews positions could be in jeapody but if she didn't would anyone really suffer? Even Flora would be better off in the end wouldn't she? She would get all the rest the doctor proscribed, the Earl would be happy, her and Andrew's jobs would be safe and Jarvis would get off her back! But even so she couldn't escape that nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach, that grounding feeling that she had some how started the ball rolling on something that was far beyond her control and would have unknown consequences for all of them. Shaking it off Molly fixed a determined smile on her face and skirting in the shadows she resolved to put all thoughts of Walter and Flora Corey behind her and enjoy one of the few nights of happiness that had come her way in all those long months of exile.

After gently drawing her Ladyship's door to a close, Lizzie let out an exhaustive sigh, gripping the door knob tightly, supporting her weight as she wearily leaned forward to rest her forehead on the door, it had been a most trying day. She'd thought it best not to mention her argument with Mr Adams and his subsequent, overheard, revelation. She didn't want to trouble Rebecca any further than she already was, as she was sure he wouldn't tell her, and well, if he did, it would only have been his distorted version of their spat. Afterall, as far as Lizzie could see, their estrangement would have absolutely no bearing on the service she provided her mistress.

At this resolve, she hauled her heavy head back up, took her hand from where it lay, and consoling herself that she was very almost done for the day, only needing to extinguish her Ladyship's fire (not that it was really needed in this heat, but, duty called). As she made her way downstairs in order to get a pail of water which a certain new 'colleague' had forgotten to fetch her earlier, her thoughts turned to what her friend had said, or at least tried to earlier. She hadn't seen him all say, what with one thing or another.

As soon as she was done, she would try to locate him, he'd always got something to winge about, she didn't mind, it made her laugh, and right now she needed that to take her mind off her own day, amongst other things. She thought briefly of letting him in on the secret she had tried to conceal, but swiftly decided against this … she'd wait till the opportune moment, if there ever could be one, no, no, she wouldn't tell him just yet, she concluded with furrowed brow.

Less than a second later, she stopped dead on the grand staircase, her eyes widening, heart rate increasing at a speed of knots, suddenly realising, much to her horror, that the choice may already be out of her hands, it wasn't exactly a secret anymore, she'd told Grace! However, on regaining the ability to breathe, she was thankful that it was Grace, and noone else. She was sure that Grace wouldn't have told him, told anyone, after all … the only person she would tell was George, and he was … well, wherever he was, god bless, her prayers were with him.

It was obvious Grace's every thought was with him, it pained Lizzie to see the look of devastation on her dearest's face when he did not return with the others, a face that, apart from a few moments earlier that day, when she'd gotten quite excited about Lizzie's news, hadn't seen a smile since, she was missing him terribly. Pondering this, Lizzie's thoughts turned to her own sweetheart, her fiancé. Is that what love is? She questioned. When apart, feeling as if part of you is missing, your thoughts always with them, your every prayer wishing their safe return to your arms?

Of course she was thinking of Arlen, she could picture him as well as if he were there when she closed her eyes, after all those months, of course she'd miss the way he looked at her, their afternoon strolls by the Loch, the flowers he'd bring her out of a nearby garden, his strong arms … But, if Lizzie was truly honest, somewhat ashamedly honest, she was bearing the separation rather well … in comparison to Grace of course.

As she began to come out of her stupor, her left foot blindly searching for the next step as her vacant stare remained faceing straight forward, she was rather rudely awakened by the sound of the voice she reeeally didn't need to hear right now.

'Elizabeth!' Adams hissed, calling her name for the half dozenth time.

After blinking, she looked down to see the under-butler standing a few steps down from her, desperately trying to get her attention.

'Are you alright?' he continued.

'Quite alright' she assured him, snapping back to full consciousness 'But thank you for your concern' she continued, her tone laden with sarcasm, a strained grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.

'What are you doing here?' he asked, perhaps a little too harshly, automatically scanning their surroundings for members of the household, but when he was half done, he caught sight of Lizzie's glaring eye. Quickly realising he was starting to put his foot in it once again, he conceded 'Never mind, eh?'

'Oh no, please, I wouldn't want to make a scene!' she scolded, finally resuming her course, storming passed him.

However, she couldn't get too far as he caught hold of her right arm, as he rushed down the stairs to stand before her. 'Please Lizzie, we need to talk!'

'I've nothing to say to you-'

'Och, don't be silly!'

'And I think you've said enough for one day don't you?' she carried on relentlessly.

For a moment they were locked in eachothers' glares, but before Lizzie knew what was going on, he snatched at the steel bucket in her hands with a 'Give that here'

'No!' she shouted back, furiously holding onto the handle, eventhough it hurt her fingers when someone wasn't tugging on the other end, literally cutting off the blood flow to the tips when it was full of water. Eventually, his superior strength forced her to give way, she let go quite quickly, as a result he stumbled backwards down a few steps, thankfully onto the marble floor at the bottom, had they been any higher up the staircase, and he'd probably have ended up rolling down it.

Brushing himself off, pulling down his waistcoat, he said with a hint of victory 'Thank you!'

Lizzie didn't reply to this, she simply stared at him, a small, yet visible huff showing him her sentiments on his childish nature. However, her face turned to thunder, as as if from no-where, Henrietta emerged from behind him.

'Ahh, could you take that up then?' he asked her, she was holding an identical, but half empty bucket, obviously he'd asked her to be there before hand. 'You know which room it is, don't you lassie?'

'Yes Mr Adams sir, I was attending her ladyship earlier sir'

As this was happening before her eyes, Lizzie could do nothing but stand back, aghast at his audacity, and her's come to think of it – she'd never 'attended' a Lady in her life the little…

The little whatever she was, was now making her way up the stairs. 'What you you think your doing?' Lizzie demanded of her as she reached her step.

'Im following orders Liz' she spoke sweetly, as if butter wouldn't melt.

'No your not, Lady Rebecca's staff are not under Taplows jurisdiction!' Lizzie countered, furious at the over-friendly way the little … had just referred to her.

'When they're under this roof, then, aye, they are!' Adams piped up.

'How dare you!' she seethed, leaving the new girl where she stood, deciding not to give her the time of day, instead sweeping down the stairs to face her Judas.

'Ive asked Miss Willis to finish off your duties-'

'I can see that much!'

'Don't be like that Lizzie, Ive asked her to finish off to give you a break, a time to talk'

'I'll start talking to myself before I have another conversation with you!' she scolded, pushing passed him as she headed to the servants entrance of the reception hall.

'What, you wont even let me tell you how sorry I am?' he pleaded, hot on her heels.

'Appologise for what exactly?' Lizzie enquired, swinging round as she flung open the door.

'Rebecca, she, she told me what happened and I should never have said what I said to you, forgive m-'

'Said too me, or about me? she quizzed

'About you? Whose said anything about you! Me!' he gasped.

She was rapidly getting tired of his playing dumb act, so came straight out with it. 'To Mrs Watson!' she answered, before nipping through the door and slamming it shut behind her.

No sooner had it crashed against the frame, it was slung open again. 'Molly? What's she told ye?'

'She didn't tell me anything, you'd already done so yourself!'

'Look' he began, starting to get just a little irate at not knowing what the hell she was accusing him of. 'I don't know what your on about My Girl, but-'

'Your girl! My my you've changed your tune!' she fumed, her disdain reverberating off the walls as they ran down the narrow second floor staircase.

Adams stopped dead momentarily, as it dawned on him that she must have overheard. Suddenly all went quite, he could no longer hear her heels clopping against the wood, no longer see her little hand grasping the handrail. Slowly he continued downwards, his heart falling as she came into view, crouching on one of the steps.

'Why did you say that?' she asked when he was only a few feet away, not turning round.

'I … I don't know, I don't know why I do the things I do … I was very upset.'

'I can understand that but-'

'Rebecca, Little Hugo and you are all that matter to me, with the exception of Molly of course. When I see any of you hurting, when I cant do anything, it makes me, well … theres no excuse.' He admitted earnestly, hanging his head.

'But why did you say that, is it really what you think?' she whispered, the silent tears trickling down her cheeks.

'Och, child … I canne answer that for certain … I honestly, honestly don't know, but can you blame me? Look at ye, apart from a slight, and probably regrettable for you, physical resemblance, your nothing like me. Your sweet, your kind, smart, selfless, you're a natural with your brother … you'll make a wonderful wife one day.' He paused as she stirred, getting to her feet.

She sharply turned round to face him, to asses his countenance – did he know, had Rebecca told him? Her initial fears were laid rest when he continued, oblivious to the poignancy of his last remark, venturing forward to take her arm, to guide her down the remaining few steps. 'But despite all that, all I can say is that I love you as a daughter, regardless.' This raised a small smile, but he wasn't done yet, this next bit, he wasn't too sure she'd thank him for, but it had to be said. 'And as for your mother, she's obviously not the Bessie McDuff I thought I knew, I mean, she's done a grand job with you, and for you I thank her.'

They'd reached the first floor landing, where he would take a right to the Upper servants staircase, and she would take a left to towards the maids' corridor.

'So what you said…?' she started, looking up at him tearfully.

'What I said was wrong, utter lunacy, because I'm proud…' brushing a stray strand of hair which was stuck to her left cheek aside 'very proud, to call you my daughter.' At this, he pulled her into his arms, hers mirroring his without hesitation, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, rocking her gently, as he should of done many years ago.

After a few moments came a mumbled, 'Goodnight father.'

'Goodnight my Lizzie' he returned, placing a peck on the crown of her head, before the two parted.

As Lizzie walked down the corridor, she conceded that It was too late to call on Will at this hour, and as she was feeling much better now, thought it best to leave it be till the morning, if she was ever to see daylight again, she was quite forgetting what it looked like, but there was always the blistering heat to remind her the sun was still there.

As turned the corner, she was startled as an increasingly familiar voice rang out. 'Well, that was very cosy'

'What!' Lizzie demanded.

'Are you deaf as well as dumb now?' Hettie taunted. 'Tut tut, young woman fraternising with a man old enough to be her father'

'I'd thank you to keep your dirty little insinuations to yourself, and for your-'

'What, the truth hurts does it? Lord knows what it will do to your Lady, very much doubt if she'd app-'

'What do you mean!' Lizzie cut her off, surely she didn't know about her father and Lady Rebecca.

'I mean, that after all your poor Lady has been through these last couple of days, I don't know what it would do to her to loose her scally, but then there are others who could step into the fold if needs be! Did I say 'if?', I meant 'when'!'

'You little!-' Lizzie seethed.

'Oh, I suppose you could thank me for doing your duties whilst you sneak off to have a 'making up' session with lover boy. Very nice Lady, Lady Rebecca, not short of a bob or too by the looks of it, nice little earner for you there, must be what keeps him interested!'

Lizzie couldn't hold back any further, she had the most overwhelming urge to wipe the smirk off of the evil witch's face, but that would have been all too easy, and she certainly wasn't worth it. 'The TRUTH is, he IS my father you dizzy tart!'

After momentarily looking most put out at this, an expression which gave Lizzie much satisfaction, she countered 'Oh Im sure he is! And Im sure you'r ladyship will see it that way too!'

'You stay away from her!' Lizzie warned, menacingly closing the gap between them.

'Ohhh, steady on there sister, you'll bust a corset, any others you'd like to lay claim to while your at it!'

'W-' Lizzie quite involuntarily blurted out, her blood boiling as she saw Hettie's face light up in anticipation of a name, but none were forthcoming. Lizzie took a second to ask herself, did I say that out loud, or just think it? There wasn't time to debate the answer, as she recovered with a less than civil 'Welcome to Taplows, Miss…? Sorry, Ive clean forgotten?'

'Oh don't worry dear, comes with age! Miss Willis, Hettie Willis'.

'Well Henrietta, which am I? A moment ago I was young, not im old…?'

When Hettie wasn't quick enough with a retort, Lizzie took full advantage 'Tut tut, your indecisiveness will not do, but when you're a lady's maid, you'll discover that – Goodnight.' She finished on a high, striding down the corridor leaving the new girl in her wake, howeve, she wasn't quite done yet. Swinging round she retraced her steps. 'Im sorry.' She gushed.

Hettie look quite shocked at this, a retreat she certainly hadn't been expected, and that was good, because it wasn't what she was about to receive. 'Did I say 'when'? How clumsy of me, I meant to say 'if'!'

Minutes later as she tucked herself into bed, glancing over to Grace who appeared to be sleeping soundly, she smiled to herself, perhaps she was more like her father than both of them had realised.

Grace may have appeared asleep but she was far from it. After waiting a good few minutes she turned over to check Lizzie had drifted into a deep slumber. When convinced she slid her covers down to revealed herself as still fully dressed. Tiptoeing across the cold concrete floor she made her way out of the door. She'd found herself unable to sleep that night…the fore of her mind still focussed on the words Mrs Corey had said to her less than 3 hours ago.

She'd known what was coming the moment she'd asked her to enter her office. She'd made it obvious from the very beginning that what was approaching wasn't good news; her asking Grace to sit down, fussing about little things like whether she wished for a cup of tea and asking her if she'd had a nice time in India.

"I got news a few months back," she began, having built up enough courage midst the mindless small talk. "From London," she added, waiting momentarily for a reaction from Grace. When none came she continued further, "Regarding George…" she trailed off once more. Still Grace didn't say anything, she just wished her to just come out with it so she could leave the warm office as quickly as possible.

All Flora wanted was a small response, just a little sign that she should continue. She had been hoping that Grace would bombarded her with questions instead of her having to come straight out with it. "Things…didn't go as well in London as we had hoped…"

"Mrs Corey, I already know all this, I know you've hired a new footman and George isn't coming back, so could you please get to the point and tell me where on God's green earth he is…or not as the case may be!" She suddenly shouted up at the older woman. Grace regretted her harsh words the moment they had exited her lips. She hadn't wanted to sound rude, but she was far too exhausted of this mindless chit chat. Flora was completely stunned, here she was trying to be polite and considerate and she'd just been shouted down by her inferior.

Awkwardly Flora pulled herself up from her chair and began to pace up and down her office in an effort to remove her cramp. Well if Grace wanted it straight then that is how she'd receive the news, she had no patience or energy left with this girl. "Lots of previously buried evidence was brought against George-"

"Did he hang or not!" Grace cut across her, hissing the words between her teeth.

"No," The housekeeper answered flatly, noticing the unmistakable smile creep across her face. "However he's been given a life sentence imprisonment…" She added determinately, though her voice softening as she saw Grace's face fall. "And when he's released there is no saying what will happen…I doubt very much it'll be all over; he upset many people and not everyone was happy with his sentence. He'll most certainly not be given a new position is service, regardless of his character from Mr Jarvis." Grace felt her head began to spin as she tried to take in this new information. Her whole body began to tremble and she had to dig her nails sharply into her hand to stop herself simply screaming the whole place done in her confusion and anger. "I'm very sorry Grace," Flora whispered softly, patting her hand comfortingly.

"We'd been arguing…" she murmurs, more to herself than the concerned housekeeper. "Why did it have to end like that?" She asks Flora, looking up at her imploringly, the tears rolling down her pale cheeks.

"The Lord works in mysterious way, my dear," She replies, with the most comforting piece of help she could offer. "No one can ever tell what's wrong the corner…" she continues, slipping a handkerchief into her shaking grip. "That's why we have to make sure we make every minute count."

"I just wish I could have spoken to him one last time, let him know that I wasn't mad at him anymore…that I love him more than anyone or anything else in the world," she croaks, collapsing into her tight embrace.

"There is no point regretting or wishing for things you could have had but don't…you'll just end up wasting away…you have to carry on and be strong, put it firmly behind you, see even the little one agrees with me," she giggles softly, as Grace jolts back in surprise, after feeling a little elbow through it's mother. Even this brought a smile to Grace's face.

"Well there is no way I can argue against both you and Mr Jarvis," she mutters, smiling ever so slightly, "fighting a losing battle."

Grace pushed the heavy door open and stepped out onto roof. Mrs Watson had appeared moments after that and she had left without another word. Breathing out gently, Grace smiled as she felt a small breeze calm her slightly. This was one of her favourite places at Taplows, if she even needed a moment to calm herself or simply get away from the hectic hustle and bustle of the house she'd come up here. George used to come up here with her too, there was so much to see, it was beautiful.

She sat down on one of the small walls that bordered off the huge drop down the side and propped herself up with one of the small posts along the side. George used to sit here, she'd sit between his legs and lean back into him. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she closed her eyes to imagine him begin their with her.

He grasped her tightly, bringing it up to his mouth he kissed each of her knuckles gently, before lacing his fingers softly through hers. "I'm sure he'll be fine," he whispered in her ear softly.

"He saved my life George, if he doesn't make it…" she trails off unable to continue further. She was still shaken from earlier that evening.

"He will," he assured her firmly. "Mr Adams is with him, he's made of strong stuff I'm sure of that." Grace let out a little sob. She'd begun to like Tom, and even though she had George with her again now she still valued his friendship.

"I was so scared George," she murmured into his sleeve. "If it hadn't been for Tom, they'd have shot me for sure." The tears rolled down her cheeks, George didn't know what to say to make her feel better. He'd never been that keen on Tom, if he hadn't been for him she wouldn't have needed saving, he couldn't say that to Grace though. "What about Mr Jarvis? What if he's not alright? Is someone with him?" She suddenly asked worried.

"You never stop thinking about people do you?" He chuckles soothingly. "He's fine, Mrs Ryan's with him…for a change." He adds smiling, nudging her slightly for the laughter he wanted. She couldn't help letting out the little giggle.

"Is it really true what you, Will and Liz heard?"

"Well…most of it…you know how Will likes to exaggerate, but most of it is true," She giggles slightly, staring up at the clear sky. "You couldn't find a couple so well matched for each other don't you think Grace?" She nods sleepily, unable to keep her eyes open any longer. "Made for each other Grace…Grace?" He whispered softly to her, when he received no reply. "Grace?" He said once more, poking her arm gently.

"Grace? Grace?"

"Oh leave me alone George," she murmured, opening her eyes once more, expecting to see George wrapped around her, but as she looked she saw herself alone on the small wall…then it all came flooding back.

"Grace?" Turning she saw her waker and smiled slightly at him, through her sleepy eyes. "I've been looking everywhere for you," Frank whispered gently. "I…I heard about George."

"Does everyone know now?" She asks him sadly.

"Oh no," he assures her. "I just heard Mrs Corey telling Mr Jarvis that she'd told you, an hour or so ago." Reaching out he took her hand, squeezing it gently he added. "My dear Uncle Wally," she smiled faintly through her tears, he was so sweet. "I knew that would make you smile," he chuckles, leaning forward to kiss her forehead gently.

"You know I'm here for you Grace." He reassured her. "And I always will be."

"You are such a sweetheart Frank Keneally and I love you for it." Grace whispered. It was as though someone had suddenly flicked a switch somewhere inside her. She forgot about all her sorrow. George was suddenly just a name to her. Leaning towards Frank, she ran a soft hand down the side of his face. "Kiss me Frank," she mumbled breathlessly. "And promise me you'll never stop." He nodded slightly, pulling her close and kissing her gently. Grace forgot the feeling of emptiness, Frank was there for her like George wasn't. She needed him, without him she was sure she'd drown in her own sorrow. "I can't do this without you," she muttered in between in a passionate kiss.

"I'm here for you," he repeated. Kissing across her cheek, before planting the most tender kisses down her neck. Something happened next that he wasn't expecting. He felt one of Grace's tears trickle off her chin and splash onto his cheek. It was then he felt a pang of something…something clicked inside him and he felt slightly…what was that feeling…guilt? He had loved her once upon a time, those were the days when he was prepared to do anything for her. Could he really carry out this cruel plan of his? Oh pull yourself together man! You can't back out now, not when you've come so far. No, he was determined to get her back at whatever cost.

Finally Grace's tears stopped falling. She'd never forget George, ever! But like Mrs Corey had said 'we have to make sure we make every minute count…..you have to carry on and be strong…' With Frank's help she could do that, she vowed she would.