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.

5. Episode 5a

Before anyone had realised it the day of the party had crept up on them, as was custom Mr Jarvis had his boys up a good two hours before they normally rose but that was nothing to the poor maids who as was custom rose earlier anyway but now some were up as early as four-thirty in order to start preparations for the day; there seemed as Will had snorted little point in them going to bed in the first place, not that any had taken up his accompanying offer to keep them awake. The only member of staff that was still entitled to a lie in was Mrs Corey and perversely enough she was the only member of staff who actually wanted to be up and about and in the thick of things.

However just as she had found during the week building up to the party, whenever she went to do anything Molly Watson was already there, just that one step ahead of her. At one point Flora had been concerned her deputy was going to work herself into exhaustion, rushing about as she obviously was, but soon that concern quickly abated as annoyance took over and for a moment Flora actually wished she would, just so she'd get the chance to do her own job properly. There was just something not quite right about it, but she couldn't put her finger on it, every morning as was custom housekeeper and butler would sit down alone and go through the household orders over tea, sharing their own plans and pet peeves about the day ahead without a certain Mrs Watson being present, yet it was like she was either reading Flora's mind or eavesdropping on private conversations between man and wife, for the moment Flora went to do any of those important tasks there was Molly already halfway through them.

It hadn't been long before she had confronted her about it, but as usual she left that discussion with if possible less idea of what was going on than she had before, apart from a heightened sense of conspiracy and guilt. Molly would smile and laugh and comment they must have been working together so long they were anticipating each other's actions so Flora left shaking her head, reconciled to a long boring morning with the household accounts whilst her subordinate barely seemed to stop even for meals. It had occurred to her that Walter and his overprotective husbandly influence might have something to do with it but so far she was still coming up blank as to how & when he was having this little pep talks with her deputy without her knowledge.

For a while she even considered calling in Will and asking him to tail her husband around in the mornings just so she could find out what the hell was going on, however in the end her good sense prevailed, she knew how Walter would react to the idea of her and Will having cosy chats and somehow it seemed hardly fair to subject the poor lad to yet another beating for her sake. However that didn't mean she resigned herself to let the matter slide, she just found another member of staff who it seems was more then willing to follow their senior member of staff around and note what they did and who they spoke to. Thanks to this little helper it wouldn't be long until she caught up to whatever it was they were really up to, although part of her whimpered at the thought that perhaps it was something worse than just trying to show her up.

It was these thoughts that she pushed to the back of her mind every night when Walter wrapped his arms around her and held her close, whispering how much he adored her as she drifted off to sleep, safe and content in his arms. Of course there had been other nights when the baby had finally quietened own and he tried to become overly friendly, it was those nights when he finally turned away from her in bed and she saw the look of barely contained frustration in his eyes that the doubts resurfaced, if he wasn't already having an affair how long would it be before he did?

So it was around nine when the now extremely contrary Mrs Corey descended from her boudoir to the servants quarters unwittingly passing through the lower gates of hell on her way to bedlam. Maids and footmen were scampering about in no discernable order, one carrying hot water the other hot sand, only managing to avoid scolding each other by the merest fractions of a second. However if she had thought it couldn't get any worse, the moment she marched into the servants hall she was proved wrong, it was utter anarchy, Walter was in the middle trying to solve a heated discussion between Felix, the grocer, Mrs Watson with at least a dozen permanent and temporary staff either clamouring for his of Mrs Watson's attention at the same time.

"QUIET!" Flora screamed at the top of her lungs, causing everyone even Walter to stop what he was doing immediately and glance over to her in shock. Then when she had everybody's full attention she spoke quietly but clearly. "All the women line up in front of me and the men over there and you can wait for Mr Jarvis to finish his business before bombarding him with questions. WELL MOVE!" She exclaimed after not one of them moved a muscle, the change was instant and everyone dashed to form a line as quickly and as silently as possible lest that death glare should fall on them alone.

"Well?" Flora snapped at the abashed looking Hettie who having faked tears had pushed to the front of the queue lined up in front of her.

"I was just asking Mrs Watson what we were supposed to do next, I mean it seemed a bit silly to start on the decorations before they had finished scrubbing and polishing the floor but that's what she said and I didn't want to cause more trouble but it just seemed like the wrong way to do things but she was too busy and told us to go find something to do but wouldn't tell us what and I just didn't want to get into more trouble Mrs Corey and then Mr Adams came in and yelled at us something awful before throwing us out the ballroom…."

"Enough!" Flora snapped, before stopping herself and placing a consoling hand on the young maid's shoulder whilst a fuming Molly could been seen glancing over her shoulder and shooting daggers at the young maid, obviously eager to march over and contradict her but being unable to escape from the row between Chef and grocer.

"It's alright Hettie I understand, why don't you take five of the housemaids and start work on polishing the grand staircase and dusting the family portraits, I want all the bronze sparkling and then I want the rest of you to systematically work through the bedrooms in the East Wing, lay the fires, turn the beds down and place fresh linen in the rooms. I expect this all to be done by eleven at the latest when I will be making my inspection. If you finish before then come and find me personally for fresh instructions I will not have this house fall to wrack and ruin just because I am indisposed." She added spitefully, making sure her voice was loud enough to carry across the room.

Five minutes later and not only had the housekeeper managed to regain order but she had found jobs for all the staff spotted hanging around, the men as well as the young ladies, although as Will had groused quite vocally he couldn't understand why she had put that new lad Charlie in charge of them. Fortunately for Fred Flora had been too busy making her way over to the other senior staff that she hadn't heard his rather lewd suggestion as to why the housekeeper was playing favourites.

"Well is anyone going to explain to me just why the house is falling apart whilst the rest of the senior staff stand here arguing?" Flora hissed quietly, her low pitched voice cutting through the now harsh squeaks of both Felix and Molly as they continued to blame each other for the mix up.

"It's her fault, stupid bloody incompetence!" Felix turned and screeched at Flora who took an instinctive step back at his harsh tone. "No I didn't mean you Flora…Mrs Watson!" He added his tone softening slightly as he beheld the hurt look on his friend's face. "She forgot to order half the things on my precise list!"

"I did not, I ordered everything that was on your stupid list well everything that was legible is it my fault you have a tendency to scrawl all over the page and write silly little comments in the corner and in Prussian, how am I supposed to tell the difference I'm not a mind reader?" Molly retorted brushing the loose locks of hair out of her tired eyes and rubbing the back her hand across her forehead, it was obvious to everyone she was exhausted but for once Flora couldn't bring herself to feel one ounce of pity.

"Well as I said before why the hell didn't you come and ask me…"

"ENOUGH!" Flora screeched at the top of her lungs before the pair could start again, however even the sheer volume startled her and she took a sudden step back her hand immediately flying to her stomach as if to reassure her child that everything was indeed alright.

"Yes my wife is indeed right that is enough from the pair of you, I have been listening to the same arguments for the last half an hour and we are still no closer to a solution!" Walter suddenly cut in closing the distance between him and his wife and wrapping a protective arm around her waist.

"Oh and you have been a great help I suppose?" Flora snapped pulling out of his grasp and placing herself between the two warring factions, holding her hand out for both lists of products Felix's first tatty and somewhat confusing list and then the neatly printed copy that Molly had made for the grocer. Immediately she spotted the discrepancy, after all it had taken her a few years to acclimatise herself with Felix's handwriting. "I see…..Yes so not enough rice ordered…I don't even know what these are Felix…So I doubt Mr Pritchard would have any in stock at any rate…But knowing you you will find someway of coping without…"

"BUT…"

"NO BUTS FELIX!" Flora cut back in. "If it's not here what else are you going to do…"

"That's what I have been trying to tell him Flora but…" Molly began but a cutting look from her superior stopped her in her tracks.

"Mrs Watson will you go wait for me in my office I will deal with this problem you have wrought on us by your incompetence and then we can discuss this properly." Flora cut in icily her eyes narrowing as Molly stepped back as if slapped.

"Yes Ma'am." Molly whispered pushing past Mr Jarvis without even a glance up to him for help.

"I'll just go supervise the footmen then shall I?" Walter asked when Molly had left and a tense silence had descended on the room.

"That sounds like an excellent idea Mr Jarvis unless of course you'd prefer his lordships party to be a complete and utter disaster?…Oh and Walter the next time there is a catastrophe of this nature will you please come and find me immediately instead of letting it fester we could have sorted out this out hours ago!" She added watching like a hawk as her husband slunk like a spurned puppy out the room with his tail firmly between his legs. "Now Felix lets be reasonable…."

"No its bad enough having to give up my kitchen to the interloper but I refuse to tell the great the almighty Joseph Le Monde when he finally arrives that half of his ingredients haven't turned up because of this incompetent woman…Why on earth did you leave her in charge Flora my dear such a error would never normally occur under your management."

"It wasn't exactly my choice…" Flora began softly patting Felix's arm soothingly before turning to the distressed Mr Pritchard. "Now Mr Pritchard you can see the bind we are in and Taplows has been loyal to you for many years isn't there anything you can do? I mean haven't you anymore in stock?"

"Well…." The scratty little man began rubbing the back of his neck as he shifted about from foot to foot a sure sign of a guilty conscience. "I did order a few more bags from Bristol when you placed your order, I mean you know what the village is like once the Earl starts a trend all the housewives are anxious to follow and…"

"And you were hoping to cash in?" Flora replied gently. "Would you be so kind to let us have your surplus, whatever you have and I would be most grateful, I would be willing to pay a tuppance per pound over the agreed price."

"Well in that case…." Pritchard whirled round waving one of his lads out to their cart. "I'll send Paul back to town directly….Is there anything else?"

"Well Felix?" Flora demanded whirling back the Chef. "Is there anything else you can use instead of those…Yac…Of those whatever things."

"Well yes if Mr Pritchard has some dried fruits, raisins and sultana's, oranges perhaps…."

"Well aye I do…Paul put them on the list…we'll have them back for you within the hour Mrs Ryan…Corey Ma'am …It's good to have you back in charge no disrespect to Missus Watson she's a fine little lady that one and so pretty and friendly…Maybe a bit firey sometimes but well what man doesn't like a bit of gumption in a woman…" Pritchard trailed off unable to hide the slight blush that had crept to his cheeks as he talked about the Scottish under-housekeeper.

"Yes thank you Mr Pritchard, if you could have those things delivered within the hour I would be eternally grateful."

"Aye Ma'am." Pritchard replied before striding out to his waiting cart.

"Flora what are you going to say to Mrs Watson?" Felix asked softly

"That my dear Felix is none of your concern, but for now I am going to let the drated woman stew in her own juices, I have a party to organise and too little time to do it in as it is!" And with that she turned and strode out of the servants hall a look of pure determination on her normally serene face, they thought they could do this without her well she'd show them all just how wrong they could be.

All to soon for the staff the beginning to the party arrived to their nightmare. Flora's maids had now shrunk back downstairs out of the main house, dreading Flora's reaction when she went to inspect their work. The footmen were now at their places in the courtyard, assisting the visitors arriving. They had all spent a large portion of their day keeping as well away from Adams' as possible. He was certainly not in his best of moods…though it wasn't really a secret why.

If William had thought earlier that Flora had been choosing favourites it was nothing to how her husband was organising the staff now. As usual he was landing the delighted William Forest with all the crappy jobs everyone tried to get out of. Jarvis had come to the conclusion that Will was from now on his skivvy…and there was no way he'd be going anywhere near any lords or ladies who were known to occasionally stick their hand in their large wallets.

A certain valet was having the easiest day of them all, he was enjoying watching the rest of staff dashing around hysterically here and there, as they tried their hardest to make this a do his lordship would be proud of. His charge had disappeared an hour of so earlier, after Frank offered him another bottle of brandy that evening. He had absolutely no idea where he was…and to be completely honest (for a change) he couldn't care less! Instead he'd quickly sort Grace out from the still room and dragged her up to the top of the stairs so they could observe the guests arriving out of sight.

"Frank, Mrs Corey will have a fit when she goes to the still room and realises I'm not there," Grace hisses, finding this observation incredibly boring and increasingly risky.

"Oh lighten up, Grace. She's too busy, she won't notice you've gone anyway. Besides my darling you deserve a break once in a while."

After finally convincing her that no one was going to catch them and that Mrs Corey probably had more important things on her mind than Grace's progress in the still room, Grace began to 'lighten up' slightly. Grace was just admiring the beauty of an entering Lady's dress, when the sight of another person entering caught her eye. Gasping slightly, she nudged Frank and pointed towards the 'Lady'. Immediately Frank burst out laughing, eyeing the lovely Cat up and down, before whispering to her, "She's obviously trying to fit in."

"Notice her husband isn't attending," Grace giggles slightly. They had been more than a few rumours going around recently about the state of Mr Postlebury's sanity.

"Well that is what happens if you marry someone like her…eventually you just can't take the strain." Grace sniggers into her hand, as they watch the Earl kiss her hand. Before whispering someone in her ear that made her giggle girlishly, tapping him on the arm.

"Urgh! Just watching her gives me the shivers. Do you think she's flirting with the Earl because she actually finds him attractive?" Grace mutters, in mild disgust. Frank was just about to answer when they heard a hiss from behind them.

"Oi Keneally, Jarvis has been looking for you. Someone about you finding Lord-Vomit-A-Lot and getting him out of the way. He'd string you alive if he knew you were up here." Huffing slightly, Frank pushed past Will angrily, beginning to walk down the stairs. Will glances at Frank for a moment then back at the almost beaming Grace. "What the hell do you think you are doing?" He hisses at her.

"Keep you wig on Will. I'll get back to work in a moment…"

"I wasn't talking about that," Will interrupts. "What are you doing flirting with Frank?"

"Why can't I?" She asks innocently.

"Because George has only been out of the way five minutes and your already shacking up with your ex."

"Frank and I are not 'shacking up'. He's being kind to me when I need him," Grace insists, glaring at Will. "Besides it's none of your business."

"Frank? Being kind? He's only kind when he wants something Grace! As you well know by now!" He hisses angrily, glancing around to check his voice wasn't travelling down the stairs.

"It's not for you to say what I do. Since when have you been so bothered about what I get up too?"

"George was a good mate of mine, and if he knew what you were doing with Frank he'd be kicking himself to do something about it. But he can't…" Will begins, only to be cut off by the sound of a loud crash somewhere below them and a shriek.

Remembering the mission Jarvis had sent him on to make sure Lady Mary was locked in her room, he ran down the stairs, praying that that certain Lady wasn't involved in all the commotion. He met Frank in the doorway who was staring into the room. It had gone deadly quiet now, as everyone stared in shock as they watched an utterly intoxicated Lord Julian and Lady Mary, who was wearing nothing more than a short curtain, barely covering her hairy knees swirl around the dance floor. Breaking apart from his dancing partner, Julian stumbled over to the dining table, intent of attempting to balance a bowl of fruit on his head.

Frank was just picturing the wonderful chaos as fruit covered the wall, when a certain new footman rushed forward. Whispering about his knowledge of a newly placed bottle of brandy in his lordship's room, he removed the bowl of fruit from his head and made sure it returned to it's rightful position on the table. Grasping Lady Mary's arm gently, he offered to escort her back to her room. Dazed she applied, and before any more disorder could be made, Charles was removing both Lord Julian and Lady Mary from the room.

Relieved Will and Frank glanced at each other. "Thank god that is all done and dusted," Frank muttered out of the corner of his mouth..

"Bloody hell yes, could you just imagine the look on old Jarvis' face if he had seen that," Will replied, the pair of them turning round to exit the room, stopping dead when they saw the butler standing in the doorway. "Uh-oh."

"I thought I asked you to make sure Lady Mary was nowhere near the party, Mr Forest? Am I wrong?" He hisses, as he leads the two men from the room and into the hallway. "Well?" He asks after no response from his footman.

"No sir, sorry sir," Will replied obediently.

"And where the hell do you think you've been Mr Keneally?…In fact I don't want to know. I'll be discussing this with you both when the party is over. Until then, Keneally I want you upstairs. Do not let his lordship out of your sight. As for you Mr Forest you can get your fat arse downstairs and out of my way. I don't want to see you for the rest of the night. Take the rest of the night off as on your next few days off your going to find yourself doing some very nasty work with me instead of voyaging into town. I'm going to personally see that you are going to make up for your absence tonight." Will's face falls as the impact of Jarvis' words sink in.

Noticing the smirk on Frank's face, Jarvis turns to him, "I don't know what you are smirking about, Mr Keneally as I'm docking your wages as well as his for the rest year if needs be. Now get out of you sight the pair of you." He hisses, putting on his best smile as he sees Charlie reappear. "Good work Mr Lewis. I assume both hazardous creatures are now out of the way?"

"Yes sir," He smirks, "I locked Lord Julian in his room for the moment sir and Lady Mary is now with Mrs Diggins."

"Very good. I hope you'll enjoy your new promotion to second footman," Jarvis beams, enjoying the look of Will's face as he says those words.

"Why thank you, Mr Jarvis," He smiles smugly at Will, who is looking daggers at him. The little bd, Will thought. So that was his game was it? Licking Jarvis' arse so he could nick his position, well he'd see about that.

It hadn't taken long for the news of Charles Lewis promotion to filter through the lower ranks, prompting if possible more of the maids to flutter their eyelashes at the newest and some would argue handsomest of the footmen especially after they saw him all decked out in his party uniform. However back in the footmen's room it wasn't the blueness of his eyes, of the strength of his jaw that was being debated, it was something very different indeed, the most effective way to teach a certain Charlie a much-needed lesson in humility.

"There has to be something!" Will hissed through his teeth as he watched Fred and Joe change into their adapted uniforms, fussing with the green satin sashes that was the only adornment over their bare shaved chests, a sabre at their sides and instead of the customary white wigs a complicated green and gold trimmed turban.

"Well can't it wait Will, I mean with you on carriage duty that leaves us and Charlie Farlie to do everything else so as much as I hate to admit it tonight we need the old stick in the mud!" Fred retorted whilst he posed in front of the mirror, flexing his muscles whilst holding in his stomach.

"And anyway he's not so bad Will." Joe added softly. "Jarvis had to make someone second footman, what with George and well you know…"

"Well it should have been one of you, you've been here longer and have got more experience!" Will snapped as he flung himself down the fireside chair.

"Yeah right like Jarvis is going to promote one of us, you know what he's like, he's fair enough but realistic, I mean who would ever employ a black under-butler let alone butler? So what's the point in promoting us?" Fred retorted bitterly before giving his turban one last adjustment.

"It's the principle!"

"Bollocks!" Joe piped up. "You're not worried about the principle you're worried about your own bloody hide, Jarvis likes Charles and he can't stand you its not difficult to see who he'd promote to under-butler given the chance…"

"Well fortunately that won't be happening this evening so get your lazy backsides upstairs there are guests going thirsty!" A strong Scottish baritone cut through the squabbling and all three lads whirled round to face their under-butler who stood in the doorway, barely containing their smiles as they took in his outfit which was similar to theirs but fortunately included a shirt, even if it was an unflattering gold colour.

"I see Mrs Watson got to you too Sir?" Will sniggered into his hand.

"You find something funny Mr Forest?" Adams hissed nodding to the others to get out as he advanced on the young footman, his hand automatically going to the hilt of the sabre that hung at his side, as both Joe and Fred scampered out the door shooting Will apologetic glances before leaving him alone with the under-butler.

"No Sir!" Will replied immediately trying desperately to keep a straight face but unable to keep the smile from tugging at his lips as he caught another glimpse of Adams in that turban.

"Do you ever utter a word that isn't a bloody lie?" Adams hissed leaning down until he was barely inches from Will's face.

"I wasn't lying Sir!" Will retorted, his eyes now locked on a spot over Adams's shoulder and so his face remained completely serious.

"Oh right just like you weren't lying when you said you'd leave my Lizzie alone?" Adams retorted his eyes bulging and flecks of spittle flicking onto the footman's face.

"I haven't done anything to Lizzie, we're friends, we always have been, I'd never do anything to hurt her or jeopardise that…"

"Oh so jumping into bed with her superior wasn't meant to hurt her?"

"Look that is none of your bloody business!" Will snapped, unable to keep his temper in check as he forcefully pushed the under-butler out of his space. "And its over and done with, why do you have to rake up old news?"

"Oh but it is my business, she's my daughter and so it'll always be my business…And that disgusting little thing you had for Mrs Corey may indeed be over but that doesn't seem to stop you rubbing my girls nose in it, I've seen you trying to cosy up to her since we got back. How dare you treat her like the consolation prize, you're a cad and scoundrel William Forest you go from woman to woman with barely a care. Why since I've known you it was first the little madam Esther who you dishonoured then abandoned, then that little scullery maid up in Scottish house you thought you'd kept quiet, countless whores over England, Europe and India, at least two of the Taplows laundry girls, then you upped your sights and bedded a housekeeper and older woman to boot before finally toying the feelings of my Lizzie. But I am telling you now I'll see you six feet under before I let you place one lecherous finger on my innocent wee girl, she deserves someone far better than you, and my only consolation in her leaving is that it will remove her from your contaminating presence."

"It's her choice!" Will hissed cutting Adams off mid flow.

"What did you say?" Adams gasped.

"I said it's her choice, if she wants to be with me nothing you can say or do will stop her or me…I've always cared for her more than I should and if she could see it in her heart to forgive me then…"

"You just stop right there boy!" Adams retorted. "I am warning you now before you even think of finishing that sentence, if I see you so much as exchanging more than two words with her then I will be more than delighted to provide his lordship with Taplows first eunuch!"

"Oh big words you wouldn't dare…You wouldn't want to disappoint your ladyship and besides we know too many of your dirty little secrets for you to risk it, sneaking off to visit your upper class whore and little bas…"

But Will never got the chance to finish that sentence as Adams kneed him viciously in the stomach before grasping his hair and holding his head back so he could glare him in the face. "Shut that stupid trap of your's!…Get your stinking carcass out in the yard and look after the other animals, see if they give a rat's arse for your posturing and self inflated ego!"

"Mr Adams!" A shrill and thoroughly unamused voice hissed from the doorway.

"Mrs Ry..Corey?" Adams retorted, loosening his grasp on Will's hair and moving to apparently clap the lad on the shoulder.

"Is there a problem?" Flora demanded whilst trying to find a hip to rest her hand on.

"No…No." Adams replied. "Just Will chocking on something so I lent a helping hand….all better now lad?" He hissed, his eyes narrowing as they locked on the footman's.

"Aye sir." Will wheezed, still winded from when Adams had kneed him.

"I see." Flora replied her eyebrow raised suspiciously as she surveyed the pair. "Well if that is all Mr Adams will you please go and see to the rest of the dinner platters, the chef's are about to serve up."

"Mr Kraus not diced and served Monsieur Le Monde in the curry?" Adams sniggered as he moved towards the door.

"No…Not yet anyway but I wouldn't been surprised if the pair end up wearing each other's creations before the night is out." Flora replied jovially waving the under-butler on his way before turning and glancing concerned at the young footman. "You really alright Will?"

Still uncomfortable speaking Will simply nodded, moving back to his chair as he rubbed his sore stomach.

"Here this should help." Flora muttered moving over to the table and pouring him a glass of water before leaning against the table next to him, rubbing her own hands over her large belly wincing slightly as her child retaliated for her missing both lunch and her afternoon nap.

"Giving you hell already?" Will muttered nodding over at her belly.

"You could say that, already taking after it's father I would say, hasn't stopped all day much like Walter who hasn't stopped nagging!" Flora snorted. "Still it won't be long now."

"So you haven't just got a few cushions stuffed up there then, cause me and the lads were wondering…" Will sniggered, choking slightly on his water, earning him a sharp pat on the back from the housekeeper.

"Definitely not!" Flora snorted. "Here see for yourself…" She added grasping his hand and laying it over the spot where the baby had kicked only moments before. "Just wait a minute….There you go, show me a cushion that can do that?"

"Bloody hell, you got a little runner in there or what?" Will gasped flinching in surprise when the baby kick again and this time he could have sworn he saw a tiny foot shape distorting the fabric of Flora's dress. "Definitely give Fred a run for his money that one."

"In a few years perhaps." Flora chuckled rubbing her stomach reassuringly. "Well I should be off still got a hundred things to do."

"Can't Moll…Mrs Watson do them I mean no offence Flora but you look beat."

"No she cannot, Mrs Watson and I had a few terse words this morning but all this debacle has only gone to convince me she is far from capable of taking over completely, and although I may have been a little harsh at the time I didn't say anything that wasn't true."

"What happened? I thought you two were friends…" Will began offering the housekeeper his arm as he escorted her back to her office.

"So did I but if she thinks I am just going to let her walk in and take away everything I have worked for and then make a bulls up of the whole thing whilst I take the blame then she's got another thing coming!" Flora hissed. "Just who the hell does she think she is?"

"Your deputy perhaps?" Will replied softly and hesitantly as he opened the door. "Who was just trying to help out her friend in a difficult time but got slapped on the wrist for the trouble?"

"I might have over reacted slightly but she almost cost us all…But then if I hadn't let Walter persuade me to leave her in charge in the first place, I should have known it would be too much for her." Flora retorted, moving over to her desk and fiddling nervously with the mountain of paperwork that still needed sorting.

"We're all only human…" Will whispered trying to manoeuvre the reluctant housekeeper over to a chair and finally succeeding before continuing. "Well most of us anyway, she probably got in out of her depth but didn't want to worry you or humiliate herself."

"She should have said something sooner it could have been a disaster and I would have taken the blame, the Earl would have sacked me for sure if his grand affair had been ruined, but she didn't seem to care…Or…" Flora trailed off a look of suspicion and worry on her normally serene face.

"Or what?"

"Or that was the intention all along!" Flora whispered softly looking down at her clenched hands before continuing her voice wavering tellingly. "I mean shouldn't I be suspicious when my husband keeps disappearing with my deputy to go inspect store cupboards, cellars and attics; when I ask to sit in on meetings I'm told not to worry and to go and lie down; when I wake up early in the morning and Walter has already disappeared off somewhere and avoids answering my questions when I ask why? What conclusion prey would you draw, especially considering …"

"Considering?" Will asked.

"Considering he isn't receiving that soft of comfort from his loving wife and so it's been seven very long months since they…Well you know."

"Ahhh…" Will trailed off uncomfortably, tugging at his collar and trying to work out how the hell he had gotten himself into this mess.

"Combine that with the fact I know Molly is seeing someone, and before you start it isn't Joe! He couldn't have afforded those flowers or that trinket box, and I know damn well they weren't from Andrew I think I know him well enough by now and the only woman he shows the slightest bit of consideration is you know who. I don't think he even brought Lizzie something back and if he had found a present he thought he had lost surely he would have given it to her and not Molly…"

"You would think so but that doesn't mean Molly is…well you know… with Mr Jarvis?" Will replied cagily. "He loves you and he'd have to be an idiot to do that ag…"

"Again?" Flora retorted softly. "That was what you were going to say wasn't it Will?"

"Well we all heard what Frank said at the wedding…I mean normally he says a load a rubbish but the look on your face said something else…You believed him didn't you, so that must have meant you had your own suspicions?" Will gulped.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't, but Walter swore to me it was a one off and that it didn't go all the way and that he would never do it again…Besides its not like I was on the moral high ground to start with was I? But I really thought he meant it, a fresh start for all of us, but if he's seeing Molly behind my back then I don't think I could forgive him again." Flora trailed off her fingers idly trailing over a crisp white envelope she hadn't noticed before.

"I really should be going, but if you need to talk again…Or perhaps need someone to give Jarvis a good kneecapping then well…"

"I know who to come to, thank you Will." Flora whispered smiling softly as the footman shuffled out the room as quickly as he could before turning her attention back to the envelope. Frowning slightly she seized her letter opener and sliced it open, her eyes widening as she recognised the handwriting, it was from Molly and she was….Offering her resignation!

Cursing underneath his breath for the umpteenth time that hour, Will hid his inner frustration with an aching grin, nodding curiously as Lord and Lady whoever they were left his company, sweeping through the grand oak doors into the house, and thankfully, out of his charge. His sigh of relief was predictably cut short as on turning around, he was met with the painfully familiar sight of yet another carriage drawing to a halt in the courtyard. His only saving grace, was the hope, as he trudged over to attend its occupants, that they couldn't possibly be as ghastly as their predecessors. Once again this wish was shattered as he heard the most ear-piercing and overly overt sound of what could only be described as a cackle, coming from inside. Will physically shook with repugnance as he knew exactly to whom that noise belonged – Lady Frances fforbes-Wilmason, an insufferable old hag, as wide as she was tall - who'd just so happened to have inherited an estate that made Taplows look like a cattle shed – no doubt with her equally gormless son, the idiot boy who stood to inherit his mother's fortune, if ever she finally dropped of her perch – or more likely it collapsed from under her – before him, but with his sickly constitution, that didn't look very much likely.

It hook three good heaves from Edward and three arm wrenching pulls from Will (who frankly, may as well have been on his own there) to get her out of the carriage – which begged the question, how on earth did she get in there in the first place? Once she was safely on solid ground and Edward had extra cautiously (in case he broke a leg again) slipped down out of the carriage, Will stood back to take them in. There was no way on earth anyone who didn't know them (which wasn't many in the country, with her bolshy attitude) would place these two as mother and son, they couldn't be more opposite.

One could only assume the boy, now reportedly seventeen (going on seven), took after his father, a Naval Captain by all accounts, though neither Will, nor anyone else had ever seen him, though there was rumour that he'd died many moons ago, before his son was born, some said funnily enough, nine months before he was born! The recollection of this old yarn brought a smile to Will's face, which soon shifted, as when reaching back into the carriage, to retrieve her rhino-skin evening bag, he caught sight of one of the most horrifying images imaginable – her sari was a two piece, obviously she'd grown further since the last fitting (which couldn't have been that long ago, the Earl only having sent the invites out the previous week), as a result, at certain angles it no longer managed to cover her most ample of waistlines, currently displaying a full midriff.

Will averted his eyes instantly (though the memory would stay with him indefinitely), which was noted by Edward, who turned, his eyes almost popping out of his hagged face as he too registered his mother's exposed form. Immediately he dived to her aide, tugging at the top half of her set. 'Not now darling!' she cursed 'Mummy's trying to reach her purse!'

'But mother!' he wined, persisting to yank down her top.

Before any one of them knew what was happening, the old woman moved her free arm at a rate Will never knew she could, brushing her son aside. However, it soon became apparent that she hadn't just brushed him side, as there was a sharp thud against the carriage door, before the poor lad sunk to the cobbles, with a rather girly shriek. He hauled his head up, visibly dazed, clearly not having noticed the blood streaming from his nose. 'Mu….mummy!' he cried.

'I said not now sweetums!' she hollered, dragging her head out of the carriage, her face like thunder clouding even further with confusion, as her son no longer appeared to be there. 'Eddie! Eddie schnookums, where ar- ohhhh!' she screamed, the blood draining from her face as she looked down to see her son covered in blood, whom she reached out to, unable to throw herself down to him due to her titanic size. 'My poor baby!'

'Do allow me your ladyship' Will offered instinctively, instantly regretting the thought of having that invalid's blood all over him, Lord knows what kids of infection he'd picked up over the years if that immune system was anything to go by. Nevertheless, it was too late now, he reached down and dragged the boy - currently doing the most convincing imitation of a rag doll he'd ever seen – up off the floor, flinging his arm over his shoulder, before continuing 'Should we get him to the house quickly?'

'Yes, yes of course!' the now panicking woman cried, 'Send for the Doctor, he's very sensitive you know!'

'He's very something…' Will muttered, as Edwards head lolled to one side, smearing blood all over his over jacket – just what he bloody needed, why the hell couldn't Jarvis have stuck to his word and banished him to the servants quarters for the night? Sure he would have made the next few days a living hell for the current, though he feared not for much longer, First Footman, but at least Will could now be consoling himself with whatever stray liquor was hanging around the kitchen, and right now he would have given anything to have a few days hard labour ahead of him, instead of having to pander to this nancy-boy and his titan of a mother.

As they staggered into the entrance hall, Will hissed to Johnny, who was currently on his usual and non-too taxing job of taking peoples coats', to cover for him whilst he escorted Lady fforbes-Wilmason and her son to their rooms. Johnny jumped up off his stool (that he had strangely began carting around everywhere with him, as it was the only thing he actually owned), looking like he'd just been made butler, and scurried off out to tend the never ending line of dignitaries.

The next half an hour was simply an extension of what had gone before, only for a few moments, Will had two casualties to deal with, as Lady Frances so giddy with worry she appeared to be slipping in and out of consciousness, her hissy fit too intense for the good old smelling salts to contend with, all the while the blood continued to gush from the now even more crooked nose of her offspring. Just when Will was starting to think the lad hadn't a drop left in him, it suddenly stopped, just as well, he'd gone through an entire draw of handkerchiefs, a moment later and Will would have been forced to start on the bed sheets – which would have led to a day in the laundry, what with his jacket needing to be soaked for several hours, no doubt they'd make him buy a new one out of his own pocket if he couldn't get the stain out.

When all had calmed down and the dinner bell had rung for the third and final time, the fforbes-Wilmasons, looking as well as they possibly could, headed off back down the stairs to join the party, no doubt their peers knew they were on their way what with her bounding down the corridor, they were all probably glancing up at the ceiling, taking bets on which chandelier would be the first to go.

However, this mother and son duo weren't the only ones were making a late entrance, as he strolled down the corridor, he spied Lady Rebecca in full Indian attire, thankfully in a most well-fitting sari, emerging from her room. What he didn't expect to see was her lady's maid shortly following her, also dressed for the occasion. Lady Caroline had insisted that if indeed the lady's maids were to be required at any time, they should at least look the part, although certain members of staff were obviously intended to be exempt from this, Mrs Diggins had been most uncharacteristically enthusiastic about the idea, the others left to fear that she would literally throw her whole weight behind it.

'You don't think its too … too revealing do you?' Lady Rebecca asked as she studied her form in one of the hallway mirrors.

'No of course its not, it fits you perfectly!' Lizzie reassured her, smoothing down her a-line skirt, undoubtedly made of the richest silk England had to offer, Mrs Thornfield the finest seamstress in the West country truly had surpassed herself this time. 'Now here, the finishing touch.' She added, lifting a exquisitely crafted head-dress to her mistress' brow, its veil the precise colour of her crimson and gold outfit.

'You don't think its too soon do you?' Rebecca questioned, with a look of total sincerity on her face.

Initially Lizzie thought to herself perhaps, but she of all people knew how hard her Ladyship had grieved for her child and that donning this perfectly tasteful costume would not lessen that in any way. Taking Rebecca's hands, she answered faithfully 'Certainly not, you deserve this night, this time to enjoy the company of others, theres nothing wrong in that – you look absolutely beautiful … stunning' she corrected herself.

A few paces down the hall, those exact same words, along with a multitude of more amorous thoughts were running through Will's head, though the focus of these and his unblinking stare, was on the speaker. Of course her sari was not as extravagant as her Mistress', but it well excelled it in simple elegance, she looked heavenly in her ivory and green robes, the green with the same intricate gold embroidery as on Fred and Jo's sleeveless jackets. She had no head-dress of her own, but she really didn't need it, she was quite literally perfect as she was.

'Do you think Rufus Gannon could resist me?' Rebecca joked, tossing her veil back.

'Ahhh, but could you resist him?' Lizzie teased.

'What with his athletic build, boyish good looks and genius acumen!' Rebecca retorted, unable to stifle her giggles. 'Oh you will come down shortly wont you? I don't know how much of this I'm going to be able to stand, think I'll make my presence felt, followed by a hasty exit after desert – if they have them in India!'

'Ill do my best, just depends how restless the little one is.'

'Give him another kiss goodnight from me would you?' she cooed, glancing lovingly over Lizzie's shoulder to his crib.

'I think two dozen was quite enough … but one more for luck!'

'Ooooh, wish ME luck!'

'Don't worry, with the deathly stares my father will be giving him, Im sure he'll get some form of message that he's not welcome!'

'Its not a message that man needs, it's a bullet to the head!' Rebecca called out, obviously joking, though thankfully no-one else was to be seen, as she dashed off down towards the grand staircase.

'Don't tempt him!' Lizzie spoke aloud as partially hung off the door frame, watching Rebecca turn the corner out of sight.

'Don't tempt me.' A low and rasping voice came from behind her.

Gripping the door frame, she gradually pivoted round, her eyes following her body's lead, gradually revealing more and more of him – his arm, his shoulder, his neck, his chin, finally she looked up to see him looking at her in a way he hadn't in months, infact, she wasn't so sure he ever had. For one time-defying moment they simply stood there, inches apart, locked in each others gaze, the only thing missing was the sensation of each others breath against the other's flushed cheeks, neither letting out the gasp of air they'd inhaled almost a minute ago – until Hugo's lungs exhaled rather loudly, with his usual uncanny timing.

'You'd better…' he trailed off as she broke their stare.

'I'd better …' she replied, but something still grounded her to the spot.

'Shall I?' he offered after a few moments deliberation.

'No no!' she insisted, scurrying over to the stirring infant. 'Don't be silly!'

'Can I at least see him?' he questioned light-heartedly, cautiously treading over the threshold.

Looking up from the bassinette having scooped her aggravated little brother up into her warm embrace; Lizzie had to gauge his expression, just to check he was actually being serious, before nodding, after making a mental note that no one would know as they were all down stairs.

Will tiptoed more quietly and softly than he'd ever done in his life over to the two of them, lifting his shaking hand to gently stroke the top of Hugo's head with his forefinger. 'Wow, he's so soft!' he remarked, his head shooting up to catch the half amused, half scared look on Lizzie's face. 'What! I've never seen one of these close up!' he berated her.

'Do you want to hold him?'

Hesitating for a few seconds, letting his laddish front drop for an instant, Will stared at the child in her arms. 'Nah, you know me, butter fingers!'

She gave him a rather unconvinced look.

'You know me Liz, Jarvis wont even leave Jarvis with me anymore, he thinks me loosing him is just an excuse.'

'Funny, coz that's what this sounds like!'

'To be honest, babies, not really my thing (this reeeeeeally doesn't sound too good he thought to himself) … well, not while Im still the biggest kid around!'

She looked at him, and he knew, he knew she wasn't buying it, she didn't have to say anything, she knew he knew she knew, that was good enough for now 'Well, does my little brother have the William Forrest seal of approval?' she countered.

'Well, don't take this the wrong way, but he's definitely the looker of the family!'

'Oi you!' she scolded, unable to give Will a playful punch, as if she dropped him, Hugo certainly wouldn't be sitting pretty then, well, not that he could sit up at such an age. 'Don't let my father hear you calling him ugly!'

'Oh don't worry, Ive got a few other words for him, but not in front of the little one, eh?'

'What, I thought you two were getting on better these days?'

'We've never got on Liz, probably never will if he keeps on with these bloody "Not my daughter lectu-"' he stopped, mid- sentence, realising he'd just opened a rather large can of beans.

'Not my daughter?' she enquired, giving him a knowing, yet semi-surprised glance.

Feeling totally exposed, wishing he'd just kept it shut, Will stammered 'Gosh, is that the time?

'Will?'

'Im sorry Liz, but if Jarvis, or your dad catch me-'

'Wiiiiiiiiiiiilllllllllllllllllll!'

'Up here, then bloody Charlie Lewis is gonna get his thieving little hands on my job!' he finished, subconsciously planting a kiss on her cheek before dashing out the door.

'Get right back here, William For-!' she started shouting; realising that even without babe-in-arms her catching him wasn't exactly a safe bet. Sighing to herself as she rocked her ironically now sleeping brother, Lizzie decided to give him a word of sisterly advice 'Don't be a heartbreaker.' Placing a loving kiss on his baby soft forehead.

"...and after all that effort the blighter didn't even die, it took two more bullets to finish him off, the stubborn devil!"

Rufus Gannon's captivated audience laughed raucously, except for Lady Rebecca who curled her lip and rolled her eyes in disgust and boredom. She couldn't believe it was still only pre-dinner drinks - well, more like elaborate cocktails but with the sweetest fragrance and taste. This at least made the company a little more bearable. Rufus was still talking. Continuous chatter about India and his third best, then second best and finally greatest kill in the great jungles while Lord Farquarson grinned at him as if he were his proud father. What a load of utter rot Rufus was talking, Rebecca thought as she turned her back on him and his ridiculous outfit. She wondered whether he had actually ever been to the country, let alone wrestled a wounded tiger to the ground. His stories were so over the top but everyone seemed to be buying them, including her father and the Earl.

Lady Fforbes-Wilmason was gushing over him, fluttering her eyelashes and flirting, but she was so old it made Rebecca's skin crawl. He was hardly that good-looking either, she had to admit he had a certain presence about him, he was fairly tall but his lack of other physical attributes was made up for through his loud personality. He might have thought it something women would find alluring but Rebecca was struggling to spot the merest hint of chemistry between them. He had a certain reputation amongst the landed gentry; a cad made good through New Money, his fortune based on luck rather than ability. Rufus Gannon was seen as a schemer and no less than a con artist than Fiffington-Piffles in the circles which mattered, and it only took one glance at Monty - stood at the back of the room perched up against the window - to see his distaste for the man.

Suddenly Rufus became more animated as he recalled the exact moment he came face to face with what he described as 'the biggest bloody beast' he had ever seen. The under-butler had tactically placed himself in a perfect spot for watching Gannon's every move, nodding at Fred and Joe to refill empty glasses with the potent mixture Monsieur Le Monde had concocted. To everyone's surprise the eccentric entrepreneur burst through the suitably attired crowd gathered around him and leapt onto one of the Earl's Georgian couches as his story unfolded. Adams tutted under his breath as Rebecca spun round and stared at Rufus in shock. Will this bloody idiot do anything to capture her attention!

"And then I saw him!" Rufus exclaimed, crouching as his turban slipped crooked. His eyes were wide and wild as bemused - and amused - faces fixed their stares on him. "Here I was, perched high upon my elephant, alone..."

Alone , Rebecca thought raising an eyebrow, how convenient for him.

"...night was falling quickly and I could hear the sound of a King Cobra hissing in the undergrowth..."

Gasps of amazement rippled amongst the guests and Lady Fforbes-Wilmason flushed and feigned a light-headed gasp as she flopped her frame into a chair which groaned in submission.

"...He is one of the most feared creatures in all of India, but I, Rufus Gannon, had bigger fish to fry that night!

Only a few days earlier I had wrung a cobra by its neck after it foolishly tried to bite me, but that's another story. Anyway, imagine it. Here I was, surrounded by poisonous snakes, scorpions and spiders, and with a huge male tiger pacing through the trees. I jumped from my faithful elephant!" Without warning Rufus sprang off the couch, rolled over on the floor as guests scattered until he stopped, snatching up a poker from beside the fireplace and lying flat on his stomach, the poker stretched out in front of him. He lowered his voice to a whisper as he 'aimed' the poker at the tigerskin rug, its head still attached, which was the main attraction in the room. (Jarvis had called the thing 'distasteful' after His Lordship had purchased it, hoping that he wouldn't insist on a permanent home for it in the drawing room, or at worst the hallway, but luckily it had been banished to one of the smaller, unused guest rooms. Until tonight, that was.)

Rufus was either re-living the moment or he loved putting on an elaborate show. Through her cynicism Rebecca suspected the latter, especially as he had the reputation for rather loud and altogether indecent parties. Adams scowled furiously. "And there we were, eye to eye, and by jove he was angry! My elephant bolted, leaving me to face the tiger and with no means to escape. I raised my rifle-.." Rufus shut one eye. "...lined him up in my Sight and cocked my weapon-..."

Rebecca sniggered childishly to herself but luckily nobody heard. Something told her that even if it was ready and loaded he didn't have much of a weapon to cock.

Rufus raised his voice slightly for dramatic effect as everyone surrounded him, but Monty stayed well back, shaking his head. "But it was then I realised, in my foolish bravery, that my rifle was bulletless! So keeping as still as possible, the beast prowling in front of me as he bared his blood-stained teeth, I reached into the pouch on my belt. But...then..IT WAS TOO LATE!" In a sudden, swift movement Rufus dived forward, still keeping hold of the poker but grabbing the rug and wrestling with it, crying out as he carried on his story in a crazed roar.

"He had leapt on me, his claws slashing at me as I struggled underneath his great belly, I thought I was about to die, but then I thought NO! This wasn't the fearless Rufus Gannon I knew and loved, so I hit him in the face with my gun to try to stun him, but he kept trying to bite me, his breath hot in my face and wreaking of rotting meat. My clothes were torn, my arms gashed and bleeding, but I kept on hitting!" Rufus thumped the defenceless rug, smashing it square on the nose as the Earl gave a small yelp of dismay. "Then, suddenly, the vicious beast fell limp, and I saw my chance. Pushing his unconscious body from me I struggled from underneath and scrambled to my feet." Rufus did just that, casting the rug aside and stepping back in 'terror' as he pointed the poker at the rug's lifeless form. "But then, ladies and gentlemen, to my horror the beast awoke and roared, but I was too swift for the fellow as I pushed the bullets into the barrel at lightening speed, aimed and BANG!" Rufus pulled an imaginary trigger. "I fired. The recoil nearly threw me backwards but I stood my ground as I pierced the tiger's skull, killing it instantly!"

A ripple of applause spread throughout the gawping aristocrats as Rufus took a bow. Rebecca managed to stifle her second laugh at the thought of Rufus running away in terror from a sleepy tiger cub, almost wetting himself in fear as he tried to scramble onto his elephant but instead landing face-down in the mud. She was jolted from her musings by Rufus as he approached her, brushing down his costume. Towards the door, Adams visibly stiffened in silent rage.

"My Lady." He beamed, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. Rebecca forced a weak smile and pulled her hand away. "May I say how beautiful you are looking this evening."

"That was a very-interesting tale, My Lord." She said silkily, ignoring his compliment and avoiding repaying the gesture. Rufus grinned boyishly. It was highly ironic that his next move was to click his fingers in Adams' direction and indicate to his glass for a refill, but the under-butler hardly needed much encouragement to make his way over.

"You were obviously most brave." Rebecca continued as Adams made only the briefest of eye contact with her. She knew her father was watching, she could tell he saw this buffoon as a love match for her. Rufus puffed out his chest. Feigning a sincere nod Rebecca frowned, her voice high and innocent. "But tell me, Rufus - if I may call you that - your scars must be awful from such a vicious attack, are they not? May I see?"

Rufus' smile fell and he gulped. He shot Adams a glare, as if he were to blame for the unexpected request. "Whatever your name is, could you stand further away! Thank you!"

Adams did as requested, content that Rebecca had a firm grasp of the situation. He would expect no less of her, but a niggling feeling told him that she had an awful lot to do to get rid of him for good.

Rufus lowered his voice as Rebecca cocked a well manicured eyebrow. "Well," he began, glancing furtively around for onlookers. "Funny you should mention scars. It is hard to believe, I know, but I was cured after the attack. I told you my elephant had bolted - well, I walked to the nearest village for help and there was a-a-" He mouthed his next words: WITCH DOCTOR!

Rebecca's nose wrinkled in disbelief but she bit her lip and pretended to be amazed. "My goodness, how incredible! But aren't they-..?"

"Evil?" Rufus whispered. "Yes, that's what I thought, but I was close to unconsciousness at this point and was grateful for any help. D'you know what the last thing I remember was?"

Rebecca shook her head.

"A man leaning over me as I lay on the bare earth - but not any man, a man wearing a necklace made of animal bones, he even had a bone through his nose! He said to me 'I will cure you, oh stranger in our midst', but then I blacked out!" Rufus leaned in close so his lips were only inches away from Rebecca's ear. "He must have done something curious to me, that's for sure, because when I awoke my cuts were gone, no scarring, it was as if I had never been attacked!"

"How convenient." Rebecca gasped. "I mean, how convenient he was there to help you, what a relief it must have been, especially as you had nobody with you, hunting on your own must have been frightening - but oh so brave." She was so bored with this fop she could have cried. What an insult to her intelligence he was, she wondered how he ever made a single penny let alone a fortune. She was sure next thing he would do would be to write his memoirs and fill it with any old story which popped into his head.

"But please don't tell anyone about it." Rufus pleaded, touching Rebecca's arm in what she considered to be a very inappropriate manner. "If people knew they may think-well-."

That you're a fraud, Rebecca thought, but at that moment her father stepped towards them, clapping Rufus on the back and thus ending their rather strange conversation. She was sure she saw a fleeting look of relief on Lord Gannon's face, but when Rebecca made an impromptu move towards the door so she could utter a few words of reassurance to the father of her child, Lord Farquarson darted - as best he could - after her, leaving Rufus looking somewhat dejected

"Where the hell d'you think you're going, girl!" Farquarson demanded, grabbing his daughter's arm and swinging her round to face him as she swept out of the room. "Get back in there and talk to Rufus!"

Rebecca glared in horror at such an order. "I thought I heard Hugo crying, he's probably hungry!"

Farquarson snorted. "It is impossible that you could hear him from this distance, don't tell lies, I know what you're up to my darling daughter, but believe me you will find another husband if it kills me, it's what Hugo would have wanted!"

"You have no idea what Hugo would have wanted!" Rebecca cried, breaking free from his grasp, her eyes blazing a determined fury. "And I don't want another husband, certainly not the sort you would have me marry! Don't look at me like that, all shocked, I'm a grown woman – a widow - with a young son! I don't need my father interfering with my life, you can have the money I'm not entitled to if you so wish!"

Adams had hidden himself inside a conveniently built recess, his heart thumping so wildly he was sure that they could hear it. He knew Jarvis would be wondering where he had got to if he was missing for too long, but he was now stuck – he couldn't slide out as Lord Farquarson's alarm bells would ring so loudly he would be out of Taplows on his backside quicker than he could offer the old fart another tot of whiskey. He was desperate to defend his Rebecca, he knew she could do a good job of it on her own but he felt it was his duty to at least try to offer her some sort of protection.

Farquarson puffed his cheeks out, his eyes narrowing. "You know it's not to do with the money, it's to do with you and your welfare! Don't you want Hugo to have a father? He needs a man's influence, and he won't get it if he's suck on the McKenzie estate away from the entire world now will he? And he is to have a male tutor, a governess will not do!"

"Father! Don't you think it's a bit early to be talking about tutors, he's only a few days old! It's just typical of you to have everything mapped out like this, I wager you have made arrangements for this already, behind my back, keeping secrets!" Rebecca fumed as she turned and stormed away, her luxurious sashes draping about her arms. Monty appeared at the doorway and Adams felt a sense of relief on hearing his voice. He was a good man, Adams thought, just a shame about that abominable wife of his.

"Cecil." Monty began, stepping towards the old Lord and staring after Rebecca in concern. "Maybe she is right…."

"Poppycock!" Farquarson's chin was quivering and Monty thought for one horrifying moment he would burst into tears, but the sadness in his eyes turned as hard as iron, boring through Monty. He lowered his voice to a hushed whisper, but the unexpected tone sent shivers up Lord Hamilton-Hussey's spine as Adams' jaw fell open in adrenaline-fuelled shock. "Don't you talk to me about what is right and what is not, Montgomery, I'm no bloody fool even if you treat my daughter like one. You scald and mock Rufus when you have no idea about what is right….!" He trailed off as if trying to bite his tongue but his son-in-law didn't relent. Instead Monty squared his leaner build up to the stocky build of the old man, a steely determination masking his sense of worry.

"Well, do continue Cecil, what could you be referring to?"

Farquarson waited a moment until a few late arrivals filed through the hallway, laughing and joking. One shouted a greeting to Monty and he responded with a weak smile and a wave as Will ushered them into the room. Farquarson turned back to spit his parting words, his expression even colder. "If you weren't my daughter's husband I could ruin you, she has confided in me, about your….your indiscretions! And I know that your whore is under this roof. Just watch your step, Montgomery, stay out of my business with Rebecca and I'll stay out of yours. Or you may find that entry into Parliament if further away than you may have imagined."

A deathly silence followed the old man's disclosure, each party taking a metaphorical step back to register just what had been said. Rebecca, who'd ground a halt was deeply shocked – Monty an adulterer! But he was so noble, so upstanding, so … surely not! However, her attitude changed dramatically in the space of a few seconds as once her initial astonishment had subsided, she found she could fully understand, perhaps even congratulate her brother-in-law for having gone elsewhere to find comfort, she knew better than anyone (well, except perhaps Monty himself) what her sister was like, the hell she had put this man through.

For the man in question, time stood as still as he did, not moving an inch, he had no idea of what to do next, fearing that if Cecil was true to his word, the next move he'd be making would be on the long road back to Scotland, back to his loving wife and her children, hundreds of miles away from Westminster, hundreds of miles away from … Molly – my god, what is this going to do to her, to them!

Lord Farquason stood firm, his upper lip twitching furiously, glaring at Monty, resolute in the allegations he had just laid down, certain as Monty now was on looking him in the eye, that he'd be prepared to see them through, to protect his daughter, both of his daughters from being tainted by association with such a man, not to mention the social outrage his behaviour would surely invoke if it were exposed.

As Cecil went to remind him of that fact, Rebecca having tiptoed back from the doorway, noting it was her turn to step up to defend Monty, swiftly inched closer to her father, cautiously moving to lay her hand on his arm as she subtly growled through her teeth 'Father, this is neither the time or the pl-'

'Place? This is not your place my girl!' he snarled, grasping her arm once more, pulling her further out into the foyer, away from prying eyes, out of Rufus Gannon's sight for just long enough to reiterate his sentiments 'You are in no position to talk to me about place, your place – now that you are unfortunately without, or should I say, between husbands - is as my daughter, and believe me my child, as long as that is the case, you will do as I say!'

Wrenching her throbbing arm from his iron grasp, her beautiful face showing her pain, tears now welling in her eyes, gulping back the torrent of emotion stirred up by her father's cruel, taunting words, she simply replied, desperately shaking her head 'Never!'

'Im warning you my girl!' he hissed, so dangerously low, Adams instinctively stepped out of his hiding place (which thankfully was behind her now incandescent father), towards his love, catching her eye for a second, in that short time giving her the strength to speak up.

Her frame shaking like a leaf, but her heart and head beating faster then they ever had before, she took a step forward, looked her father straight in the eyes, which were betraying his steadfast expression, before continuing most sincerely 'No, I will NEVER marry that deceitful, dim-witted, repulsive excuse of a man'.

Looking like he'd been knocked for six-dozen let alone six, Lord Farquason, thoroughly unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner, being defied so openly, least of all by his own daughter, physically shook with fury. Meanwhile, Adams and Monty exchanged fearful glances as neither Farquason was prepared to back down, or even look away.

Suddenly, what sounded like a whimper came from the father before he fumed 'Then may God help you Rebecca, because I…' he trailed off, turning his back on her, only to see Adams standing directly behind him, which was the final straw. Before anyone else knew what was happening he'd swung back round, lunging at his daughter, who was too startled to cry out.

Luckily, she was standing so close to the foot of the staircase, that as she stepped back to protect herself, her heels caught on the step, and falling back, his sweeping hand missed her by inches. No sooner had she hit the carpeted stairs, her father was being dragged back by Andrew, and Monty dashed forward to help her to her feet.

'YOU, you get your bloody hands off me!' he hollered at Adams, whom, whilst Rebecca was still within swinging distance, was about to do no such thing, no matter how many guests were now flowing into view through the doorway. After the nod from Adams, Fred, Joe and for some reason Frank all jumped into action, pulling the double door to, before keeping the guests' glasses full, one or two refusing to be distracted, if only momentarily.

When they again attained some privacy, Monty whispered earnestly into her ear 'Rebecca, are you alright?'

'Yes, yes of course' she stammered, looking in somewhat of a daze beyond her father to see Adams' horrified grimace 'I'm fine, Im fine' she spoke quickly and quietly, nodding nervously, giving him a feeble yet heart-warming smile to appease his concerns and desire to do something whilst he may not regret, certainly would do him no good.

'You go back to the party, I'll sort him out.' Monty offered, slowly releasing her, the focus of his scathing expression remaining on her tormentor.

After a quick glance over her father's shoulder at Andrew, who gave her the nod, and despite being visibly shaken, she did as she was told, slipping through the doors into the ballroom.

'I might have bloody known you'd sick up for her, whats the matter, your bit of rough not- '

'Don't you dare speak about her like that!'

'But that's exactly what she is Montgomery, commoner than muck, and the sooner you realise that your involvement with the little scrubber is going to cost you your seat, the better, and mark my words …' he paused for a second as he noticed the doors opening out of the corner of his eye, quickly continuing '… if you disgrace my youngest daughter, if it's the last thing I do, I'll personally see to it that you never set foot into Parliament!'

Glancing over his shoulder, he was most aggrieved to see a rather odd, yet highly recognisable ensemble of the usual gossips, clearly having heard the latter section of his rant. He looked from a reeling Monty to a fuming Adams, the sight of these two thorns in his side made his blood boil, so much so that he let out an exasperated grunt, before charging up the stairs to the comfort of his real Scotch whiskey.

However, on trundling down the hallway, his chest tightened even further, on catching sight of a footman hastily removing himself from his insolent daughter's bedroom. On opening his eyes after saying a swift prayer to the 'Great Lord' that surely his eldest born wasn't entertaining more than just the one male servant, he discovered the young footman had scurried past him and was now half way down the hall.

'And just what do you think you are doing in my daughter's chamber?' he bellowed after Will.

'Nothing ,M'Lord' a bemused Will answered candidly, for that moment not registering why his appearance from the room should matter.

'Nothing! Nothing, sonny, is exactly what you'll be doing AND earning in the morning if that's your answer. Now, Ill ask you again, what in God's name were you doing in my daughter's bedroom!'

Realising the gravity in his tone and the precariousness of the situation, Will was simply stumped for words 'I … I … was just-'

'Oh I know exactly what you were just…' Lord Farquason cut him off sizing him up as he stepped menacingly closer '… you disgusting little weasel, if you think my daughter would even so much as look at you-'

'What? NO!' Will protested, his face contorted with disbelief 'Christ no!'

'DON'T use the Lord's name in vain in MY presence boy! Your best off sticking with the kind of people with whom you are better acquainted!'

'What people?'

'Liars, vagabonds, thieves!'

'Thieves!' Will exclaimed

'Well if you weren't lying in wait for my daughter, then what else would you be doing in there, other than thieving!' Lord Farquason hollered, loud enough to wake the dead, well, certainly loud enough to alert the remaining adult in the room, whom, without a second thought had laid her sleeping charge back in his basket and dashed to the door to find out what on earth was going on the other side of it.

'Ahhh, so you had an accomplice then?' Farquason beamed with delight on hearing the door open, before his facial expression descended back into one of rage, when he saw a rather dishevelled, not to mention slightly provocatively dressed Lizzie hurtle out into the corridor.

'Your Lordship!' she squeaked, instantly recognising how bad this looked.

'Miss McDuff.' He greeted her pleasantly, continuing with in a tone that almost made her cower 'Would you care to explain exactly what is going on here?'

'I was attending Lord Hugo Sir!' she pleaded.

'Officially attending my grandson you may well have been Miss, but as to how much of your attention was paid to him, or most likely…' he trailed off, looking disgustedly from her to Will, who to cap it all was tucking the bottom of his shirt into his trousers, and back again '… others far less worthy, is anyone's guess!'

'What are you saying!' Lizzie shrieked, unable to believe this was happening.

'I have nothing more to say to you girl, but there is a multitude of things I intend to inform my daughter of in the morning!'

'But she hasn't done anything wrong, we weren't doing anything!' Will insisted.

'To the likes of you this .. this sinful, sordid, and thoroughly degrading behaviour may not bat eyelids, but to anyone with an ounce of dignity, or good breading this is an utterly appalling existence!' With Lizzie too busy chocking back the tears, and Will fighting the overwhelming impulse to lop the man's head off with a sword from the nearest suit of armour, Farquason continued mercilessly 'Now I see it is you I have to thank for my daughter's unruly behaviour, I would never have allowed you to return to Scotland with her if I knew what a ghastly influence you would have on her! Well that stops here and now – get yourself back down those stairs, crawl back into whichever gutter you belong, as no daughter of mine has any need of your services – though I dare say you'd find some grotty tavern packed to the rafters with potential 'employers!'

Completely lost for words Lizzie stayed gravely hushed, slipping into silent hysteria as words she would never have imagined anyone ever saying to her raced around her head. Will stared at her for a second, seething with anger at what this deranged old bastard had just done, not waiting another before launching his own scathing attack. 'Who the hell do you think you ar-'

He was cut off in his tracks as Cecil Farquason wasn't about to let any jumped up, over-sexed idiot, one up from a stable boy, one down from a pile of horse-manure, tell him what he could and couldn't do – especially when both his daughter and son-in-law had just failed to do so. 'I am the executor of my daughter's estate, I pay HER wages, and if I say she's gone, she's gone - BE-GONE!' he bellowed at the terrified maid, who promptly did as she was told, running away as fast as her liquidated legs could carry her.

'You bas-' Will exploded, raising his hand to the old man, who showed not all his senses were failing him as he caught the footman's fist, proceeding to crush it in his.

As Will's elbow and knees buckled and his arm was painfully twisted back the wrong way, giving Cecil the perfect opportunity to finish his piece 'I suggest you go finish what you started here, because your not going to get the chance again!'

With this, he released Will's arm, stepping back to watch the helpless footman scramble to his feet and flee after her, leaving Lord Farquason, now positively self-combusting, alone in the corridor. A few moments later, he was awoken from his rage-induced trace by the sound of his grandson crying out. Realising he had himself now left the child unattended, and more to the point didn't have the faintest idea how to respond to his needs, he took a deep breath before preparing to enter Lady Rebecca's room.

However, just as he did so, there came a clear, yet timid voice – 'Are you in need of assistance Sir?

Despite Rebecca's best intentions she just couldn't bare to stay longer than five minutes at the party. The moment she had poked her dainty head back round the door the whispers had started, those gatherings of old and bitter aristocratic widows who sat in the dark corner at every posh affair and had nothing better to do than spread the dirt on who was who and with whom they were at it with! So it seemed that on returning to the room she not only had to avoid the swaggering posturing of one Rufus Gannon but also those snide comments that were spreading around the room like wildfire as the gossips speculated on the nature of the Farquerson family spat. So in an effort to avoid those superior looks and another confrontation with her furious father she slipped back out of the ballroom catching Andrew's eye as she left, sending him a soft reassuring smile before disappearing from his concerned gaze.

At first she wasn't sure where she was going, not even noticing where her feet where taking her but eventually she looked up from the floor surprised and at once relieved to realise that subconsciously she had come to the one place and the one person who might be prepared to listen and not judge. Eager all of the sudden as she realised just how long it had been since they had talked or even seen each other, so talking a tentative breath she reached out and knocked gently on the plain wooden door.

"Flora?" Rebecca called out softly, for a moment wondering if maybe her friend wasn't yet in her room and thinking perhaps she aught to try her office when suddenly the door opened a somewhat tired and strained voice called out.

"Yes is it important cause I was just about to retire…"

"I can come back…." Rebecca began when a suddenly animated Flora leant forward and caught her arm.

"Don't you dare!" Flora exclaimed opening the door wide and ushering the relieved Rebecca inside.

"My goodness when did you get so huge!" Rebecca gasped as Flora waddled back to her comfy fireside chair whilst waving at the somewhat chilly Rebecca to take Walter's usual seat.

"Oh like you were one to talk, you think I am big well you should have seen yourself just before….well I don't know how you moved around at all."

"I didn't remember I just got you and Lizzie to rush around for me!" Rebecca retorted giggling slightly as she glanced around the room, smiling at all the little homey touches her friend had made to her shared quarters. "It's lovely in here so very cosy and I see Walter brought back even more artwork from India." She added pointing at the brightly coloured batik hanging over the fireplace.

"Yes well it is quite the hobby of his, not quite my taste but well….You know what men are like Rebecca better to humour them over little things so their silly pride doesn't get dented." Flora chuckled rubbing her hand soothingly over her bump as she shifted around trying to get comfortable.

"Little one kicking up a storm?"

"Oh just a bit, I don't know who she gets it from me or Walter?"

"Still convinced it's a girl then!" Rebecca chortled. "I wonder what your husband thinks of that, hoping for a boy I have no doubt!" She added unable to keep the slight bitter tone from her voice as she recalled her recent conversation with her own father.

"Well that's natural I suppose." Flora replied hesitantly before bravely broaching the subject she knew was the real reason for her friend's surprise visit. "Rebecca is something wrong…With little Hugo or Andrew perhaps?" She added pausing for a moment before adding. "You can tell me anything you know that and it won't go anywhere not even to Walter you have my word on it!"

For a moment neither woman spoke, Flora hesitatant unwilling to push her friend into revealing something she would rather keep private and Rebecca unsure about how to broach such a subject.

"It's my father actually….He…He is trying to force me into marrying someone else!" She chocked out now unable to restrain the tears that had been threatening all night. "He said the most awful things, and I know he knows about Andrew and me…I don't know if he has worked out about little Hugo…but despite everything he isn't a stupid man so he must see the resemblance dammit I know I do!"

"It can't be that bad…"

"Oh but it is Flora, he went to strike me earlier when I told him I wouldn't marry Rufus and then when Monty tried to stick up for me he threatened him as well, he honestly would ruin Monty's chances of a parliamentary seat just to brow beat us both into those perfect little puppets…I can't believe that he's my papa sometimes, I mean growing up he doted on me and I always found a means of getting my own way. I'm not bragging or anything but I was always daddy's little girl and true he grew impatient the older I grew and still I refused to marry but I think deep down he realised I would always end up with Hugo and he always treated him like the son he never had so he was prepared to wait for the inevitable I think; but now……"

"Now?" Flora asked softly leaning forward and covering Rebecca's trembling hand with her own.

"Now he won't be content until he's married me off to some pompous blue blood just to stop the scandal of Andrew and I getting out, I mean why else is he pushing me so quickly after Hugo's death it doesn't make sense unless he would rather see me pushed into an unhappy loveless marriage than suffer the shame of a daughter of his marrying a servant!"

"But you love Andrew surely that's more important…I mean he's your father and he must love you and want you to be happy, I mean I know it must have been a bit of a shock so maybe he's just testing you both to see how committed you are to each other?"

"Do you really think so?" Rebecca gasped her beautiful eyes sparkling with unshed tears. "Could that be the reason?"

"Well it makes sense doesn't it." Flora retorted. "If you and Andrew were to marry then you would come under intense social disapproval and it could tear you apart then both of your lives would be ruined whereas if he made you realise now how difficult things could be and gave you the chance to choose now while you still can then…"

"I could give him up while I still have the chance, that is what you were going to say Flora wasn't it?" Rebecca cut in, getting suddenly to her feet before pacing agitatedly up and down the small sitting room. "You don't need to tell me that is what you really think I should do…I can see it in your eyes, in Monty's, dammit even in your husbands every time he looks at me, that reproachful glance that tells me it would be easier on everyone if I simply moved on, let Andrew go and found some nice fellow aristocrat to settle down with and live a life of privileged boredom!"

"Rebecca please!" Flora snapped. "Don't tell me what I think! If you want my opinion just ask for it!"

Throwing herself back down into the chair her head now in her hands Rebecca sighed deeply taking a long ragged breath before replying. "I'm afraid to…I'm afraid to ask because what if what you say makes sense and I have to admit there are times when I am so tired of fighting everybody that I almost think it would better for us all if I just went away and never came back!"

Smiling softly Flora leaned as far forward as her belly would allow reaching out and taking the trembling aristocrat's hands with her own. "Rebecca I think that you and Andrew should go and see your father, tell him quite bluntly but calmly that you love each other and intend to marry and that he has a clear choice he can either accept this and help you both and remain part of a loving family or you will marry anyway without his blessing regardless of the scandal. You and I know both know your father only has guardianship of your funds whilst you remain single as soon as you remarry whether it be Earl or commoner under the law control of your wealth will transfer to your current husband, Hugo's will was very explicit on that point Walter told me."

"But how does…?" Rebecca began confused. "I mean I don't remember much of the reading I was so distraught and Lizzie had to take me to my room half way through, I just left the finer details to papa."

"As butler he is often present at important occasions, mostly hidden in the background but he keeps his ears open and he is more than proficient in legal matters. The important thing is that although he blusters and tries to bully you around he can only do so whilst you have no husband to protect you, that is something you can use to your advantage it might be enough to call his bluff to protect both yourself and Monty."

"Do you really think it would work?" Rebecca whispered unable to keep the hopeful timbre from her voice and the excited flicker from her eyes as she finally saw a possible way out of the maze in front of her.

"Well honestly what have you got to loose, can things get much worse?" Flora replied sadly, smiling softly as her friend got to her feet suddenly eager to return to her own quarters and discuss Flora's suggestion with Andrew. "Next time I visit I promise, no more loading you down with my woes. Perhaps I can bring little Archie and we can have tea and do some sewing, it would be so nice just to escape to the sanctuary of your sitting room once and a while."

"Well you're more than welcome anytime, but as for the peace and quiet and relaxation…."

"But it thought now Molly is helping you…." Rebecca began stopping suddenly when she saw Flora's normally serene face crumple in annoyance at the mention of the under-housekeeper. "What's wrong with Molly all of a sudden?"

"You do not want to ask!" Flora snapped. "But I doubt she will be anyone's problem for much longer since she saw fit to resign!"

"What?" Rebecca gasped, worrying how poor Monty would take the news of his lover's impending absence, after all it hadn't taken a genius to work that one out you just had to see how Molly acted around him, and her father had confronted Monty over his mistress here at Taplows, but she truly wondered how much Flora knew.

"It's nothing for you to worry about Rebecca but I do dread telling Walter, he will undoubtedly blame me but its hardly my fault if she's bloody incompetent!" Flora trailed off an unreadable expression flickering over her expression at the mention of her husband but before a now concerned Rebecca could press Flora further there was a sharp knock on the housekeeper's door.

"Flora dear Walter sent me to check up you, he says you should be in bed already!" A shrill and yet wholly recognisable voice rang out as its owner pushed the door open without even waiting for the customary 'enter'. "Oh Lady Rebecca!" Emily exclaimed on finding her daughter in law not alone as she expected.

"Mrs Corey….I was just leaving." Rebecca replied, shooting Flora a commiserating glance as she slipped out into the corridor intent on finding Andrew as quickly as possible