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.

7. Episode 6a

Next morning, chaos flooded the house. Most of the staff had spent the night running around, doing what they could to help the snooping officers or waiting on the Earl's complaining guests. Breakfast was of course lay on the table promptly, however the dash to the table was not as mad as usual. It seemed their superiors had more important things on their mind than allowing them to go to breakfast. Therefore most people would quickly scuttle in, grabbing something to eat, before dashing out again before anyone caught them lacking their duties.

There was a few though who seemed to have dismissed their chores completely, preferring to sit round the table and listen to the gossip around. The main gossipmonger was as usual Fredrick Matkin, who was warning all the ladies around the table to be warned and keep their eyes peeled for the murderer. Fred was at the moment expounded that if any of them felt in any danger at any time that they were to come to him.

"Oh really Fred?" Will snorts, picking up the conversation as he entered, "what are you going to do, cover them in wig powder or will it be shoe polish?"

"Oh shut up Will-" he begins, but is cut off by an intrigued Annie, who was desperate to learn anything else he knew.

"Why would someone what to kill such an upstanding gentleman?"

"Upstanding?" Fred chuckles, glancing at Will in hope of pulling him into the conversation. Will however wasn't listening to a word that was being said. He was too busy backing towards the door again, preferring to make a quick exit and miss breakfast, than have Lizzie catch up with him.

"William!" She hisses, as he quickly turns and makes a break for it out of the room, Lizzie dashes after him, ignoring all the curious looks she was getting from the present maids. "William!" She exclaims grabbing his arm and pulling him to a stand still. "I can't believe how careless you can be!"

"Alright, what have I done now?" He asks, rolling his eyes at her.

"Hmmmmmm? Where should I begin?" She replies, tapping her chin and pretending to think hard. "Firstly you leave that poor little child with Johnny last night. Johnny!"

"What was I supposed to do? Take him with me and say to Adams, 'oh Mr Adams could you possibly hold this god damn child for me while put out this fire'?" He snaps angrily at her, fed up with her constant moaning at him, as if he could do nothing right. She was getting worse than her father…he may have thought this but he'd never actually dare saying it to her.

"Well…surely you could have found someone more suitable than Johnny! That child must have been alone for hours while you ran around upstairs and Johnny dashed off into town to fetch the police and Dr. Evans. Anything could have happened to him!" She rants, only stopping when she heard Will yawn loudly and saw him raise it eyebrow with a look that said 'Do I look like I care?'

"Don't give me that look William Forest! Where's the child now?" She scowls at him.

"Up in the footmen's room," he mutters, lowering his head to stare at the floor, preparing to cover his ears as she exploded.

"Oh great thinking Will! So now that you've got that all planned out, tell me what you are planning to say to Mr Jarvis or Mr Adams if they go in that room and find a child sat there on your bed, alone?"

"Well I…um…I…"

"As I thought," she hisses, glaring him. "He can't stay in there all day every day Will! Someone is going to notice he is there! In fact you are bloody lucky Fred has got something more interesting to gossip about this morning…that leaves you until at least this afternoon to do something about the child before word gets out, you know Fred won't keep this to himself for long."

"That bloody Charlie will probably get in before him, he'd love a reason to tell Jarvis on me," Will hisses bitterly, before suddenly exclaiming, "oh Liz, what am I going to do!"

"Don't worry about it Will we'll think of something, but he can't stay up in that room, the chance of someone finding him is too high…" she trails off, thinking hard. "You go back upstairs and take it to the laundry, it's usually empty on a Sunday. We can both check on him throughout the day to make sure he doesn't wander off."

"I doubt he'll be doing too much wandering," Will chortles under his breath.

""Meanwhile I'll go tell the footmen to keep their mouth's shut!" She cuts across Will's unamusing joke.

"Well good luck with that," Will snorts, smiling broadly as he noticed the corners of Lizzie's mouth twitch ever so slightly. "Lizzie!" He calls, as she turns to re-enter the dining room.

"Yes?" She asks curiously, swinging back round to face him.

"Ummm…thanks…" he mutters awkwardly, positively beaming as Lizzie smiled gently at him before leaning up and placing a gentle kiss on his cheek.

He blushed furiously, swallowing as he saw the livid looking Andrew Adams come into view, followed closely by his sister. "Elizabeth?" He hisses through gritted teeth. Taking this as his cue to quickly disappear he directed one last glare in the direction of the under-housekeeper, his thoughts travelling to the conversation with Mrs Corey the evening before, before rushing upstairs.

"What was that all about?" Andrew asks suspiciously, clenching his fists as his daughter ignored his question, preferring to make her way back into the servants hall.

"Please just leave it Andrew," Molly whispers, rubbing at her throbbing head as they followed Lizzie into the room.

"Well it has to be someone upstairs!" One of the maids was exclaiming to Fred, who nodded, feigning a pensive look.

"If you ask me it's someone close to a certain daughter of the victim," Fred whispered, smirking as all the faces around him lit up.

"Nooooo!" Someone shouted.

"But who?" Annie asked, unable to believe her ears.

"Well…" Fred began, "we all know about her little argument with her father only hours before he sadly passed away."

"That is quite enough of that, Mr Matkin!" Andrew bellowed, quickly picking up on the subject of their conversation as he entered.

"And there was the few sharp words that passed between himself and Lord Hamilton-Hussey," he murmured, ignoring Adams.

"Mr Matkin," Adams warned, as he heard his sister's sharp intake of breath from behind him.

"And from what I saw from the sparks between her and Lord Monty last night I certainly wouldn't put it past him to knock him off in order to prevent her receiving any more pain and upset."

"Fred I think you better shut your mouth before you get yourself into serious trouble," Joe hisses at him, also noticing Molly's distress.

"I was only voicing my opinion," Fred mutters bitterly. It was bad enough Adams telling him to shut up but he really didn't need it coming from Joe too.

Adams settled himself down at the head of the table, deep in thought…Fred had just mentioned the one thing that had been playing on his mind all night. He'd never even suggest such a thing to anyone, but when he had been thinking about suspects himself Lord Montague was the first person to crop up in his head. It wasn't just the fact that his lordship and the now deceased lord had had a fight…but he too couldn't help thinking that perhaps this was to do with Rebecca.

Before his sister's revelation last night there would have been no doubt in his head, Cecil Farquarson had mentioned himself about Monty's mistress. But even after leaning Monty and his sister were lovers, that didn't completely rule out the fact that perhaps he cared for his Rebecca more than anyone had ever guessed.

Sighing deeply he glanced up favouring his sister with an encouraging smile. Before his gaze fell on his daughter who was momentarily whispering something in Mr Matkin's ear…just what was that girl up too? Sipping his tea he concluded that this wasn't anything to do with Cecil Farquarson's death unless Lizzie was stirring something. One thing was for sure he was going to find out exactly what was going on right away.

- - - - -

It had been one of the worst days of her career so far, not only had they a death to deal with, but it had come at the worst possible time when the house was full to bursting with half of England's lords and ladies, all of whom had plunged very vocally into unanimous mourning. As a result whilst Walter and Molly were busy tending his lordship and assisting the local constabulary it once more fell to her to sort out all the other details, after all just because someone had died it didn't mean meals weren't being prepared or rooms cleaned, and as his lordship had banned her from showing herself above stairs whilst his guests were floating about she a doubly difficult task on her hands. Striding down the corridor from her office where she had been ensconced all morning juggling the staffing rotas and making sure each bell pull had been answered as quickly as humanly possible Flora decided that it was time she allowed herself a quick break and set off intent on finding either Felix or Emily and allowing them to fuss over her for a few minutes, an act that at first she had abhorred but now to her silent shame realised she was beginning to enjoy.

It was as she was wandering to the kitchen nodding absently at the maids who flitted past hurrying about their duties that she caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye, a certain Elizabeth McDuff leaving the laundry in such a hurry she didn't even shut the door properly. Sighing to herself she mentally noted to remind the girl of the importance of security before turning round and walking down the side corridor to close the door properly herself. However just as she was about to do so there was a soft thump from inside the dark room; confused as to who could possibly be in the laundry on a Sunday of all days she paused for a moment popping her head round the door as she scanned the darkened room. "Is anybody in here?" She called out, a frown gracing her normally placid brow when no one replied. Huffing to herself she backed back into the corridor her hand tugging the door to a close when suddenly there was another clatter from inside the room.

Immediately alert she pushed the door open, perhaps it was one of the policemen doing a search but if it was why hadn't they acknowledged her presence, of course it could just be Monty, of the terrier variety, out harrying her sheets again putting yet more holes in his lordships finest damask which of course she would get the blame for.

"Monty get your snotty slavering nose out of my laundry baskets!" Flora hissed striding into the room her eyes scanning the dark corners. "Monty…Here boy!" She added trying to sound up beat but all the while her suspicion mounting, if it wasn't a police-officer and it wasn't Monty sniffing about then who the hell could it be? Surely at such a time none of her staff would have even considered sneaking off for a quick canoodle? Could that be why Lizzie was leaving in such a hurry whilst her beau sat waiting in the shadows waiting the appropriate time before slipping out himself?

"Whose there come on out and show yourself!...Might I remind you you're in enough trouble as it is Mr Forest!" She added stepping further into the room and spotting what had made the clatter, leaning against the wall she reached down and picked up the small red ball staring at it in confusion.

"Just where did you come from?" She muttered passing the shiny red toy from one hand to the other before another flash of movement caught her eye, whirling round she gasped raising her free hand to her mouth as she lent against the wall for support.

"Ba…" The toddler called out stumbling towards her his chubby little hand stretching up towards the ball in her other hand taking only a few hesitant steps before landing firmly back on his bottom, sitting almost stunned for a moment before his chubby face creased up and tears gathered in his eyes.

"Oh no.." Flora gasped striding forward as her maternal instincts kicked into overdrive. "Here now don't cry you can have your ball back." She whispered soothingly picking up the unresisting toddler and settling him down on what remained of her hip, the sudden change of scenery jolting him out of the impending crying fit.

"See not so bad…" She added moving him further into the laundry and placing the now curious little man on the table so she could get a proper look at him. "Now then what are you doing in here?" She asked more to herself than the child who nevertheless appeared to regard her and her question thoughtfully, his thumb making its way back to his mouth as his eyes took her in.

The eyes were unmistakable, a definite family trait, Flora noted unable to resist the urge to smirk as she wondered what the hell Mr Forest had gotten himself into this time, he couldn't be Lizzie's surely? After all she only went up to Scotland six months ago, and Flora was damned certain that she would know if any of her girls where that far gone. Of course she could have had him before she arrived at Taplows but then how could the boy be William's, and that connection was unmistakable!

"Someone is going to do some explaining and it is going to have to be very very good, isn't it little man." She added reaching out and brushing the lads dark fringe out of his eyes, smiling as he reached out and caught her fingers favouring her with a full toothy grin which she couldn't help but return causing him to giggle slightly releasing her hand and opening his arms as a clear sign he wanted to be picked up and carried.

"Well it can't hurt can it?" Flora whispered conspiratorially to the toddler before picking him up from the table and positioning him on her hip once more smiling in delight as the child spontaneously threw his arms round her neck burying his head into her shoulder before glancing up then hiding again when he caught Flora's gaze, this game of peek-a-boo continuing until he was unable to contain his giggles or Flora hers. "Well we can't go leaving you in here its not safe so perhaps until we find your daddy, and give him a flea in his ear about leaving children unattended and find out just what the hell he thinks he's playing at, you had better stay with me." Flora muttered almost laughing out loud at the sound of her own voice as she continued to talk in the stupidest baby voice whirling round intent on returning to her office child in tow when a red faced and panicking Elizabeth McDuff burst back through the door a covered tray almost going flying up in the air as she caught sight of young William balanced securely and contentedly on a very stern looking housekeeper's hip.

"Miss McDuff I suggest you start talking!" Flora snapped her terrifying demeanour somewhat lessoned when she reached over and retrieved the stray wisps of hair from the toddlers eager grasp.

- - - - -

Meanwhile, upstairs, things were also about to get a lot more complicated. The Police had been in a permanent state of residence since being alerted at little after four that morning. Of course this was some two hours after the alarm had actually been raised, as from that moment, Taplows had been plunged into an (almost) unprecedented state of emergency. A quick-thinking Jarvis had considered, under the circumstances, that Dr Evans should be Johnny's first port of call, naturally assuming the police involvement would be a mere formality. Indeed, after a fair few far-fetched conclusions were jumped to by the obvious candidates, the general consensus had now settled down to a more mundane, certainly more predictable presumption, that the old man had simply liked his brandy and cigars a little too much.

At present the house was a wash with sergeants, socialites and servants, all with their own take on the previous night's tragic event, all wanting to know what went on. Unsurprisingly the first floor of the East wing had been cordoned off while officers continued to adduce what they could from what little remained of Lord Farquason's bedchamber. Subsequently, guests who were not in occupation of the adjacent rooms were being asked, as politely as possible (in light of initial replies) to use other means of returning to them, in many cases, this meant going via rather less grandeur staircases than those they were accustomed to, dodging servants who'd never been above stairs, as they went.

Those accommodated in the immediate vicinity of the room, including a now more sedate Lady Rebecca were, as a matter of routine, helping the Police with their enquiries. Consequently, Mr Adams was hovering around the main foyer, trying to make himself look busy, whilst he actually edged closer and closer to the door of the morning room, in which Rebecca was being questioned.

Directly across from his deputy, the Butler stood at the foot of the grand staircase, barking out his orders to his hapless employees who were frantically scurrying about carrying a multitude of beverages, some very much stronger than others to 'calm fraught nerves', despite the fact it was still only just gone half eight. For some time now he had, amongst barking, been conducting a slightly more placid conversation with the newly arrived Inspector, whilst keeping one the flow of staff, the other firmly on Adams whom he noted was looking far from calm and collected.

So far they had simply gone through the basic sequence of events as it was known, Lord Farquason had been in attendance at the party but had retired early to bed shortly after eleven, made a brief reappearance around twenty minutes later to retrieve the rather prized bottle of single malt whiskey he'd left in the drawing room the previous evening, called for assistance provided by a Mr William Forrest just after midnight…

It was at this stage Jarvis had to admit, things became a little hazy, he was unable to account for the Lord Farquason's exact movements, as the evening began to wind down about half twelve, and as he had already retired, the attention of the staff turned to the other eighty or so guests now requiring their warm milks. Whilst respecting the fact that a Butler would have to deploy his staff as best he could in the circumstances, Inspector Briggs continued to press for any additional information that may stand out.

Just as Jarvis was about to reply (for the umpteenth time) that he was sorry, but he couldn't assist him any further at present, the Inspector begged to be excused for a moment, as one of his own subordinates requested his attention. At this Jarvis forced a somewhat strained smile as he politely obliged before starting to stride across the room towards a visibly and increasingly irate Scotsman, cursing as he did so at being asked to make himself scarce in his own house.

However, half way there he was ground to a halt, as a voice rang out ''Mr Jarvis!'

Sighing deeply, briefly wishing he'd never been born, Jarvis pivoted on his heels and rubbing the bridge of his nose in frustration, he turned round to face a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Charles Lewis heading towards him.

'Couldn't this wait Lewis, I'm in the middle of something?' he snapped, his contorted face loosening a little on seeing the reaction to his sharp-tongue.

Charles was wearing the sort of expression not uncommonly observed in children just after they've discovered the rather weighty object in the bottom of their stocking is indeed a lump of coal, only smaller than last years. 'Uh … I … I'm sorry Sir.' he stammered.

Fighting the urge to grind his teeth, Jarvis took a deep breath before replying more affably 'Its alright lad, its just …' he trailed off feeling too tried and tired to continue 'Do, go on' he prompted doing his best to conceal the fact he was yawning.

'Very good Sir' Charles fawned, miraculously snapping out of his hard-done-by routine. 'Its just …' pausing as he realised the Butler wasn't taking a blind bit of notice, but was staring over his shoulder. On following his superior's lead, he glanced back over his own shoulder to see the under-butler all but peering through the keyhole of the drawing room. He readjusted his line of vision back to see a rather puzzled Jarvis, obviously deep in thought.

In order to break the Butler's concentrated stare, Charles resorted to a non-so-subtle cough, which more than did the trick. Not only did it snap Jarvis out of his trance, but it drew to Adams' attention the fact that he was under surveillance, which was not well received as the under-butler let out a decisive grunt, before reverting back to pacing up and down outside the door.

'Well, spit it out boy!' Jarvis demanded, clearly a little agitated, certainly uncomfortable that Adams had caught them.

'Well, sir, I just thought-'

'Urgh Mr Jarvis.' Inspector Briggs interjected in a rather impatiently 'If I could have a word please?'

'Certainly' the butler replied, immediately following the police officer a few paces towards the staircase. 'Are almost finished?' he continued hopefully, with more than a tinge of a hint in his voice as he rather overtly checked the time on the grandfather clock in the hallway.

'Not quite, it appears we could well be here a while longer'

Give me strength Jarvis thought, his sentiments clearly displayed by his facial expression.

'Believe me, if this were a clear cut case we'd be on our way, we're quite efficient Mr Jarvis.' The Inspector sternly reminded him.

'Well forgive me sir, but it doesn't get much more clean cut than this, its blatantly obvious what happened.'

'Is it Mr Jarvis?' the Inspector countered

'Well, one would think so!' Jarvis taunted.

'Really, well tell me Sir, in your considered opinion, who should I charge with the murder?

'Well that's obv-' he started before grinding to a halt as the words sank in, his eyes widening as he began to fully comprehend.

'Now do I have your consent to carry out the remainder of my investigation?'

'What? Murder? How, w- who?'

'That's what I was hoping you could tell me, though I doubt you could. The fact of the matter is Mr Jarvis, my esteemed colleague Sergeant Dorkins has just informed me of some rather interesting findings of the preliminary post-mortem, which … may well keep us here some time.' Adding the last part with a rather satisfied smirk.

'Wh-what information? What's happened?' Jarvis quizzed glancing between the two officers.

'Oh come now Mr Jarvis, now that would be telling!' Briggs goaded.

'But I'm the butler, I'm in charge, surely I should be informed!' Jarvis protested, looking to Sergeant Dorkins.

'Sorry, no can do Im afraid, wouldn't want any telling information to fall into the wrong hands now would we? Tell me Mr Jarvis, can you think of anyone who may have had any reason to harm Lord Farquason, any reason at all …?' he trailed off rather accusingly.

'No I most certainly could not!' he objected.

'Pitty. Any one at all?' Briggs probed.

'Well I .. I …' Jarvis started, instinctively looking around the room, any where apart from at Briggs. His eyes didn't roam of long, as he spied Adams still standing outside the drawing room, currently putting the fear of god into a maid who'd asked him how to get to the library. For a moment Jarvis just stood, in shock at having received such unexpected news, however, as his numb mind thawed, he remembered the ultimatum he had issued his deputy with only days before, and his reaction to being informed that Lord Farquason knew of his relationship with Lady Rebecca.

However, before his thoughts could reluctantly travel any further down that path any further, he felt a tap on his shoulder, swinging round in a reflex action, he saw Charles Lewis practically tugging at his jacket.

'Mr Jarvis sir.'

'Not now Lewis!' Jarvis warned.

'But Sir, that's what I was trying to tell you!'

'Tell me what!' he hollered after glancing at the two, thoroughly un-amused officers.

'Tell you that Mr Forrest-'

'I don't care what Mr Forrest is doing Mr Lew-'

'But he had a motive!'

'Excuse me?' Jarvis and Briggs chimed in unison.

'Forrest, last night, he had a massive row with his lordship Sir'

'A Mr … William Forrest who attended Lord Farquason shortly after midnight?' Briggs enquired, after consulting his notes.

'Yes Inspector.'

'And what was the nature of this 'row'?'

'Well, from what I heard, he was absolutely livid about it, came back downstairs and tore his wig off so harshly he managed to pull a clump out.'

'Yes, yes, but what was this argument about?'

'Well um …' Charles hesitated, glancing at a livid Jarvis who held his head in his hand, his other liberally waving for Charles to get it over with.

'It appears he was caught upstairs with one of the maids'

'Oh Christ' Jarvis gasped, turning his back on the party to wipe his hand down his now sweat coated face.

'Caught by Farquason?' Dorkins supplied.

'Yes, his Lordship told the girl to pack her bags, Will was absolutely furious, said later he wanted to give him more than a piece of his mind'

'I'll bet he did' Briggs replied, furiously scribbling down notes, which Jarvis hadn't a hope in hell of catching a glimpse of. 'Is that all Mr …?'

'Yes that's all' Charles answered quickly, he didn't want to give his name as long as he didn't have to, he knew he wasn't too popular downstairs as it was, he dreaded to think what they'd do to a whistleblower 'All I know anyway, you'd have to ask Will'

'Oh don't worry, I intend to.' Briggs assured him. 'Mr Jarvis, if you'd be so kind, a word with your errant First Footman if you will?'

Furious at not being informed of this before, Walter Corey glared from Biggs to Dorkins, to Charles, to Adams as he stormed passed on his way to retrieve the wanted man.

- - - - -

Downstairs, Flora Corey didn't have her man, but she had the next best thing. She'd spent at least the last ten minutes tearing strips off Lizzie, whilst doing her best to keep her voice and her temper down, as she could tell it was unsettling the little one.

'So your telling me he just appeared, out of no where!'

'Well ….' Lizzie hesitated

'Well what Miss McDuff, Im sure Mr Forrest didn't give birth to him himself!'

'No Mrs Corey, of course he didn't, Im just … Im not too sure where he's come from, she was only here a matter of minutes, then she just took off!'

Of course she had been wholly frivolous in suggesting Will had produced the child himself, but for all her scolding remarks, she hadn't stopped to think who the mother was. 'Well, who was 'she'?

'I don't know, I'd never seen her before, she didn't tell me her name!'

'But surely there must be something you remember about her, girl!'

'Well, what I could, I told Johnny …' she trailed off, noticing the roll of the housekeeper's eyes. 'He didn't seem to know, but … but … it was Charles who worked it out'

'Charles knew her!' Flora remarked in disbelief.

'Well, he said he knew of her. I thought he was asleep, but then he sat up in his bed and suggested her name was Esther-'

'Esther! Oh Chri-!' Flora hissed as she stepped back to stride round the room, bouncing the little one up and down on her hip as she went. Esther, of course, how could she have been so stupid? How could Will have been so stupid! How … how did Lizzie catch Charles in bed! 'Miss McDuff, what were you doing in the footman's room?'

Slightly being taken aback at this question, as this wasn't rally the issue, Lizzie spluttered 'I was trying to find Will' she paused noticing and 'I bet you were' disapproving glance from her superior, who really wasn't one to talk herself, but Lizzie had less than no desire to think about that again.

'And you didn't find him?'

'No, I couldn't, he wasn't there!'

'Well he shouldn't have been there should he, there were guests awaiting his service'

'Yes, well, that's why he wasn't there, he was attending Lord … Lord Farquason'.

'Lord Farquason? But Tom is his valet.' The housekeeper pointed out.

'Yes, I know, but he said there was no one available'

'Tom is always available, that's what he's paid for is specifically to wait on Lord Farquason … well, was' she corrected herself, hutching the child back up onto her hip as he was sliding down. 'Why did Will go instead?'

Lizzie had more than a sneaking suspicion why he might have gone, a sneaking suspicion which rapidly turned into a rather unpleasant realisation, based on the recollection of the extremely heated situation she had left behind when she fled down the stairs.

'I mean just what did he think he was doing, taking care of his Lordship?' Flora continued.

By now, a very dark and very frightening feeling was beginning to build in the pit of the maid's stomach – he couldn't, he, he wouldn't she told herself as she tried to block out her initial thought last night when Johnny told her Will had been up there for a good while and when he came back down he was looking rather dishevelled and highly disconcerted.

Suddenly her legs began to move as if independent from her body, her mind unable to decipher the housekeeper's continued words and endless question as she drifted to wards the door, blindly groping out for the handle as her thoughts raced.

'Urgh Miss McDuff what do you think you are doing?' the housekeeper hollered, just loudly enough to entice Lizzie from her trance.

'Forgive me Mrs Ry- M… Mrs Corey, I have to …' she gasped, staring tenaciously at the small child in her superior's arms, before turning on her heels and fleeing through the now open door, the sweeping sense of horror depriving her of coherent speech or rational thought. All she could do was find him, and make him tell her he hadn't done anything stupid.

- - - - -

Half an hour later a now incredibly concerned Flora Corey was pacing up and down in her office glancing across at the toddler who was playing contentedly on her fireside rug with his little red ball hidden from the general gaze of those who scurried past by the large dining table. At first Lizzie had seemed reluctant to hand the child over to her, and for a moment Flora could have sworn she had spotted a flash of rebellious malice in the girls eyes, almost as though she resented the housekeepers interference and obvious rapport with the little chap. But then just as soon as the flash appeared it had disappeared leaving almost a look of blank resignation as the meek girl offered to go find Will for her and have him report to her office, what had followed was a brief struggle to smuggle the child unobserved along the corridor and into the relative safety of her office.

Suddenly there was a brief knock on her door and on whirling round expecting to see Will's sheepish head poking round her door she became suddenly alarmed spotting her husbands fair countenance.

"Walter darling!" She exclaimed loudly striding over to the door holding it firmly before slipping out into the corridor much to the butler's surprise.

"I was just coming to say hello…Any chance you're free for a spot of tea?" Her husband asked hopefully his hand moving to the doorknob to usher her back in.

"Oh not now my dearest I'm in the middle of something…."

"Well nothing to stop me sitting in and having a breather?" Walter replied pushing the door open and stepping round her to enter.

"Wait!" She exclaimed grabbing him firmly by the lapels and pushing him back against the door planting her lips firmly against his and kissing him breathlessly whilst her stunned husband took a moment to recover before returning her kiss just as passionately his hands moving to cup her face gently as he deepened the kiss losing himself in her embrace. "Flora?" He gasped breathlessly when they pulled apart but the now panicking housekeeper had no idea what to say to explain her bizarre behaviour and so decided to delay the inevitable by kissing him once more an action that the butler did not object to.

It was a pointed cough that dragged the now panting pair apart. "Mrs Ry..Corey you…eh..wanted to see me?" A worried and somewhat red faced Will piped up earning him a scathing look from the butler which told him just where he wanted to send the footman at that particular moment.

"Not now Forest can't you see we're…"

"Busy?" The footman interjected bravely, earning him another death glare from the butler which told him quite plainly to watch his step or he would be back to scrubbing out old lady Mary's bedpan with only a penny of soap and a motheaten old rag to work with.

"No you're quiet right Mr Forest I did need a word…In private if you don't mind Walter." She added earning her a puzzled and somewhat uncomfortable glare from her husband, a clear warning that he was hardly happy with that arrangement. "It won't take long perhaps if you still want that tea break you'd care to meet me afterwards…. Upstairs perhaps." She added in a quiet whisper before planting a suggestive peck on her husbands cheek causing a beaming smile to suddenly break out on his face as he exhaled loudly through his nose shooting her a bashful glance before winking knowingly.

"I'll see you then Mrs Corey…Don't be too long now!" He added unable to resist slipping his hand down and grabbing a quick handful before patting her rump suggestively and then striding off down the corridor.

"You owe me one Mr Forest…No you owe me more than that and by the time you finish paying those favours I suspect you'll have more than one grey hair of your own!" Flora hissed pushing her door back open and ushering the now bashed footman inside shutting the door firmly behind them.

"He's here!" Will suddenly exclaimed stopping dead a few feet inside the doorway so that the flustered housekeeper almost walked into him.

"Yes HE is!" Flora retorted moving round the frozen footman towards her desk and the child who was now gazing at the newcomers with a look of intense curiosity, a bright beaming smile pulling at his lips when he recognised the housekeeper immediately crawling towards her. "What I want to know Mr Forest is just who he is, what is his relationship to you and what in the name of merciful heaven is this child doing at Taplows of all places!" Flora snapped causing the toddler to pull back in surprise tears springing to his eyes as he shyed away cowering as if he expected more than just harsh words to fall.

"Oh no sweetheart its not you…" Flora cooed lowering herself gingerly to the floor and trying to persuade the now shaking child to return from under her desk. "I would never hurt you I promise." She added holding out her arms as the wary youngster edged towards her pulling him firmly on to what was left of her lap after her huge belly was taken into account.

"I'm still waiting Mr Forest." Flora reminded the stationary footman once she had settled his son. "Start explaining."

"I don't know much myself Mrs Corey. I mean what with all the chaos last night no one saw her arrive and leave him…"

"Who Mr Forest?" Flora asked gently rocking the child who was contentedly playing with the lace on her dress.

"Well you do the math." Will retorted absently playing with the papers so he didn't have look at the two of them sitting contentedly by the fire, his 'son' and the only woman he had ever truly loved. "That and the fact he looks just like the little witch!" He added spitefully causing Flora to study the child closely for any distinctive parental resemblance but all she could see was a miniature version of Will himself.

"He looks like a Forest to me but if I was to hazard a guess…Miss Spicer?"

"Bingo!" Will hissed slapping his hand down on the tabletop before turning to look at her. "See he has her mouth, nose I can't bare to look at the little ba…"

"Mr Forest!" Flora exclaimed aghast at his outburst. "Regardless of his legitimacy or his mother he is your son, so what are you going to do about it?"

"Honestly?" Will asked moving round the desk but still keeping a safe distance from his son who viewed him with a wary air before returning to his game of lets grab the brooch. "I haven't got a clue…Workhouse I suppose?"

"NO!" Flora shrieked startling the little boy her lap who she quickly had to smother in kisses to get him to shush. "Will he's your son you have a respon…"

"Oh not you as well, first Lizzie now you!"

"Well I'm glad someone has tried to talk some sense into you even if she apparently hasn't been that successful!"

"Flora…"

"No don't you Flora me Mr Forest! May I remind you it was only seven or so months ago that you came up to me thinking I was carrying your child and you told me that you wouldn't walk away from that responsibility! Are you telling me that you lied to me then? Or had you conveniently forgotten that promise?"

"No." Will muttered glancing across at her his eyes flickering across at her, taking in her large belly and his son cradled in her arms. "I hadn't forgotten."

"So what's the bloody difference? This is your child or were your words before just for show?

"No but this…This is different, this is Esther's child and not ours!" Will snapped.

"He's still your son! And you can't even look at him can you? Have you even held him yet?"

"No"

"Well don't you think you should try and spend some time with him before you make such a momentous decision, don't you owe him that, its not his fault his mother was…."

"An ugly lil tart?" Will cut in earning him a scathing glare from the housekeeper.

"Well you picked her!" She retorted smartly. "No one forced you to sleep with her, and you must have realized what might have happened?"

"Aye I never seem to have much luck with women now I do I, the ones I don't want can't seem to get enough of me and then the ones I like…well they seem to run a mile into the arms of the nearest other man!" Will added bitterly.

"That's not his fault…Will you have to at least try! Whether you wanted it or not you are a father and he needs you won't you at least try to make this work?" Flora pleaded moving a hand to pat the space beside her on the rug watching as the nervous footman moved to sit a good few feet away from her his eyes now locked on the little boy who was gazing at him so intently while he sucked nervously on his fist.

"Hello there little Phillip." Will whispered in such a formal tone Flora wouldn't have been surprised if he had moved to shake the boys hand as well.

"Well at least he's not another William." Flora muttered. "I should have known when he tried to pull the threads out of my sewing, any boy that mischievous just had to be a true Forest." Flora teased watching as Will watched his son intently before reaching out and gingerly brushing the lads long fringe out of his eyes.

"Did you hear that Phil my boy she's casting aspersions on our good name…He has my eyes." He added suddenly unable to keep the throaty tone from his voice.

"Yes I had noticed." Flora replied gently easing the child off her lap and into the space between them watching as Will began to interact with his son, rolling the red ball towards him and watching with delight as the child pounced on it before holding it out to the surprised Will who repeated the action again and again until the child grew bolder and then clambered onto his lap just as proprietarily as he did with Flora.

"I think he likes you." Flora giggled watching as the fascinated child began to tug on Will's hair before fiddling with the nice shiny buttons on his waistcoat.

"He's not so bad himself….Flora I…"

"What?"

"How can I do this, its not fair on him, I can't work and look after him and its not like I have…Well you know someone special who would be prepared to raise him with me. He needs a proper mother figure something he's obviously been lacking I mean just look at the way he's taken to you, he knows a good mother when he sees one and I bet he'd kick up quite a stink if I tried to take him away from you."

Shifting around to get comfortable Flora raised a suspicious eyebrow at the comment. "What about Miss McDuff, she seems to have taken an avid interest in the child, quite possessive of him in fact. Why I practically had to cut the apron strings to get her to leave him with me and go do her duties." She added watching to footman's reactions carefully surprised to feel a slight twinge when he blushed at the mention of the girls name but being unable to leave it alone she probed further. "I've seen that blush before Will, don't tell me a certain footman has an admirer?"

"What if I have, I mean Lizzie and I have always been close, there was a time I'd hoped for more but…You're not bothered by that are you? Me talking about her cause…"

"Of course not!" Flora snapped but she couldn't meet his curious gaze preferring to fuss over young Phillip who now had his sleepy head resting in her lap.

"Then why can't you look me in the eye?"

"Look Will its nothing really I just wanted to know, I mean the way she looks at me sometimes, if looks could kill…"

"You'd be six feet under?" Will sniggered.

"Don't laugh it'd be more like sixteen, I'm just worried lest dead animals start appearing in my bed and I have to find a way of explaining them to Walter. So if you think I had better steer clear of a certain ladies maid as I wouldn't want to go ruining your chances."

"Do you really think she might you know give me another chance?"

Smiling broadly as she stroked the child's soft brown hair whilst he dozed she replied simply. "Well how could she resist that Forest charm?"

"Oh really? Are you sure because it seems to be a little rusty to me."

"Oh right so women aren't fainting dead at your feet anymore then?"

"Well not every day like they used to!" Will retorted wistfully reaching out and stroking his son's cheek his hand unintentionally brushing against hers for a moment before she hastily retracted it.

"Are you sure it's not just you who are ignoring them? And to think you were at once Taplows premier skirt chaser!" Flora added quickly to fill the awkward silence that had descended.

"Personally I like to think that I've matured not chasing everything in a skirt like before… I stopped all that when the last bit I was chasing stopped running for me and since then I've not really been interested in chasing anyone else."

"I didn't realize Miss McDuff was such a challenge." Flora snorted glancing up at that moment and catching the serious look on his face as he gazed at her.

"I wasn't taking about Liz." Will whispered. "I think you know very well just who I am talking about Mrs Ryan or at least you should she's only the most beautiful creature the almighty ever created."

"Lady Rebecca then, well I must admit I never would have guessed Mr Forest."

"No much more exquisite than that." Will answered softly locking her gaze watching as she flushed guiltily biting her bottom lip. "I was luckiest man alive for just one day, I thought I had touched heaven when I thought she might love me back but…" He stopped suddenly, his words lost as a pair of rosy soft lips grazed gently against his cheek in a bare ghost of a kiss.

"So what gave me away Mrs Ryan?" Will whispered when she pulled away almost as soon as it began reaching up to stroke her cheek tenderly

"It's Mrs Corey, Will remember."

"Unfortunately I do." He replied sadly running a lone finger across her lips before impetuously leaning forward and capturing them hungrily then pulling away just as raggedly as the housekeeper gently pushed him back. "I only wish I could forget." He added his eyes blurring slightly when suddenly a small voice piped up.

"Ma ma."

"Well say what you will my boy has excellent taste." Will muttered softly ruffling his sleepy son's hair.

"I can't be his mother Will, I am already going to be a mother soon" Flora replied sadly provoking a deep sigh from the footman.

"Damn another brilliant plan foiled again!" He exclaimed loudly before falling back on the carpet laughing at the sheer randomness of the situation, quickly followed by a giggling Phillip who took the opportunity to clamber onto his father.

"See he's walking all over you already!" Flora snorted leaning forward and encouraging the little boy to join her in tickling unable to resist tugging at his shirt to reach that ticklish spot just under his ribs that she knew would have him in stitches.

"Stop it you pair of wretches!" Will gasped unable to breath in between ragged breaths. "And you Flora a happily married woman!" Will added loudly trying desperately to push them both away without harming either his son or his pregnant superior and so missing the telltale creak of the office door as it was pushed open and the slight gasp from their voyeur as they spied on them through the small gap.

"Shouldn't you….be going upstairs… to meet your husband?" Will gasped out. "Or was that just a ploy to get rid of him so we could be alone?"

"You know very well why William Forest!" Flora snapped pushing herself up slightly and gazing down at the beaming footman who winked cheekily up at her.

"I had forgotten how naughty you can be Mrs Corey and to think of your poor pining husband upstairs waiting for his tea" He added mischievously reaching up and tugging on her loose wisps of hair round her face.

"You shouldn't talk to happily married woman like that Mr Forest!" Flora reprimanded slapping his hand away.

"Yes bloody Walter Corey!" Will hissed earning him a scathing look from the housekeeper.

"No cussing in front of your son William or don't you want to set the proper example?"

"Why it's bloody well your fault, you married him!"

"Yes thank you I don't need reminding!" Flora hissed. "And if you cuss one more time I'll wash your mouth out with soap."

"Why that sounds like fun….But personally I think it says something about your marriage that you'd rather romp down here with me than cosy up with that husband of yours!" Will added deliberately provoking a reaction.

"There is nothing wrong with my marriage! Thank you very Mr Forest" Flora sniffed.

"Oh so its just bedroom difficulties then?" Will retorted evilly watching as the housekeeper become increasingly uncomfortable and pulled away slightly.

"That is not your concern either, everything is…."

"Just rosy?" Will snorted. "That's not what you said the other day, in fact you were saying how you suspected your good old Walter's was getting a little too active especially with a certain deputy of yours! Although personally I think you're just delusional I mean how could he even consider another when he gets to share his bed with you even if you're not well…."

"Oh that's not for the want of trying…well on his part." Flora muttered cagily leaning back against the leg of the table and pulling an eager Phil on to her lap for a cuddle and trying to ignore the concerned look on his father's face

"Flora he's not been pressuring you or ought has he?" Will asked tentatively. "I mean you should be taking it easy or as Mrs Corey senior would put it." Will paused before continuing in a high pitched nasal voice. "What are you doing up Flora dear you should be in bed resting…When I was a girl it wasn't considered decent for a pregnant woman to do all this rushing about…Oh the young today!" He finished watching as the now giggling housekeeper creased up at his rather accurate imitation on her mother-in-law. "If you want I can do a passable Dr Evans or perhaps Mr Kraus?" He asked unable to resist sniggering along with her.

"Don't you dare…I'd risk wetting myself?" Flora snorted in between fits of laughter allowing the toddler to pull off of her lap and crawl under the table.

"How shocking, Flora not in front of the little one you saucy minx!" Will retorted pretending to be disgusted.

"That was not what I meant and you know it you nasty little man!" Flora gasped reaching down and slapping his shoulder playfully screeching out slightly when the playful footman pulled her over on to the rug besides him holding her wrists as he began to tickle her back, it was in this compromising position that Phil suddenly called out to their unseen visitor revealing her presence to the now panicking pair.

"LIZZIE!" Will gasped getting to his feet and hurriedly tucking his shirt back into his trousers. "It's not like you think we we're just talking." He added watching as she maid glanced back and forward between him and the flushed housekeeper.

"Well why should that matter to me Mr Forest?" Liz retorted icily watching as the toddler immediately recoiled at her cold tone crawling back to the warmth and protection of the housekeeper's lap. "I just wanted to check to see what you decided before I went to tend Lady Rebecca but I see you have everything in hand!" She added vindictively glaring at the housekeeper before turning on her heel and striding down the corridor.

Suddenly torn between following the fuming maid and staying in the relative warmth and safety of the office with his son Will ran his fingers through his hair before reaching down and helping the struggling housekeeper to her feet. "Can you look after him for me during the day?" He asked softly. "There is no one else I can trust…" He added pleadingly.

"Of course, go after her try and explain." Flora replied smiling and laying a reassuring hand on his arm.

Nodding Will favored her with a grateful smile planting a tender kiss on her forehead before heading towards the door and disappearing out down the corridor leaving the housekeeper to stare dumbfounded at the little boy who had now curled up and contentedly fallen fast asleep on the fireside rug.

- - - - -

Lord Montague hadn't slept a wink that night. He had gone to bed for an hour's rest in the small hours once the police had told him they would speak to him the following morning, but even still he couldn't stop his mind from spinning for long enough to lull himself into unconsciousness. He kept on asking himself the same questions – what if they suspected it was him and he had no alibi? What if the only evidence the police could go off was his awful argument with Cecil? What if he hung! It was too terrible to imagine, but nonetheless every time he had shut his eyes he had visions of himself swinging from a noose, his wife looking on in grim satisfaction as his neck finally snapped and his body hung lifeless.

Monty needed comfort, reassurance, so he took his opportunity after a hurried breakfast to hunt out the under-housekeeper. It was a long-shot, she was rushed off her feet most of the time, and now with police crawling over the house she had to offer the Inspector a warm bed for the night and breakfast the next morning. And, she suspected, a hearty lunch for him and his men to keep up their energies for the day ahead. Inspector Briggs was only too glad to accept Taplows hospitality, and the Earl begrudgingly let him sit at the dining table – after the Earl had gone for a morning stroll, of course. It wouldn't have done to have him sitting with the local Peelers, but annoyingly for Molly this meant two breakfast sittings instead of one.

But if Molly had given the impression she was concentrating on her job, she had managed to kid everyone except herself. She understood perfectly the implications for Monty, he had come to her only hours before the alleged time of Lord Farquarson's death, cursing his father-in-law.

"If he thinks he's going to ruin my chance of a Parliamentary career then he has another thing coming!" Monty had told her in no uncertain terms as she massaged his tense shoulders. She had tried to calm him, tell him she was sure Cecil was all bark and no bite, but Monty simply refused to stop spitting blood about the man, one moment defiantly declaring he wouldn't let him bring him down, while the next holding his head in his hands and muttering what a Godawful mess it all was. He didn't seem to realise just how guilty this made Molly feel, every man she had ever been with had ended up miserable and she concluded this couldn't be just a simple coincidence.

"What are we going to do?" Monty had asked her, his brown eyes wide and pleading, as if she had some magical solution. He was right, it wasn't just his problem, it was something both of them had to think through. The inevitable solution – ending the affair – was the only one which was out of the question, and this made the dilemma all the more difficult.

Molly had sighed, clasping Monty's hand and cradling it in her own as Monty breathed in the scent of her hair. "Oh my dear Montgomery." She breathed, gulping back the tears. "Please tell me I will always be yours?"

Monty didn't reply, but as his lips worked their way down her neck she didn't need a verbal answer. If their relationship was to end, and Lord Farquarson knew about it anyway, then what was one more night? They needed each other, and physical comfort would certainly take their mind off matters, if only for a short while. Molly's bed was familiar and inviting as his desire for her drowned out his feeling of utter hopelessness. Molly wished to please him that night, make him feel that she had, after all, been worth every stolen kiss and every intimate caress, so she took care to dress in the expensive underwear and stockings he had lavished her with on his return to Taplows.

"Keep your eyes closed." She had cooed, and he had done as he was told, except for a small peek which had helped to hold his interest. It never ceased to amaze him what a hold she had over him, but as the mental hold turned into a physical one, her hand teasingly toying with the buttons of his trousers, he felt he should show her just who was dominant in the bedroom. He knew she always loved it when he took control, pinning her down, the master having his wicked way with the under-housekeeper, but as she panted under him, deep down in the pit of his stomach he knew, by the hand of fate, things between them might never be the same again.

They had been at a particularly pleasurable point of their liaison when all chaos had broken loose, all the bedroom bells sounding at once – all except for one. She had been summoned with a frantic knock from Hettie, who yelled through the door that there was a fire and everyone needed to get out, and fast. Hurriedly, Monty put his newly planned escape route into action as Molly ushered him out of her window, promising she would get herself out of danger as soon as she could account for all her staff, and that had been the last she had seen of him until after learning the terrible news.

Now, after frantically searching her out, he discovered her on her own in the laundry. He had made sure he knew every aspect of the building, and she had shown him where all the short-cuts and secret passages were, but even still Molly was surprised – but secretly delighted – to see her beloved standing before her. The happiness soon dissipated when she saw how awful he looked, his handsome face was drawn and ashen, his eyes doleful and dark, like two hollows. If last night he had been worried about what Lord Farquarson might do in life, then Lord Farquarson in death seemed to hold far greater fears. Molly blinked, abandoning her sheet and tentatively taking a step towards him, fearful that Hettie or Lizzie might appear behind him and ask questions.

"They think it's me." Monty whispered, his voice cracking. Molly felt like she had been thumped hard in the stomach and a wave of nausea engulfed her.

"W…who thinks it's you?" She breathed, shutting the door and praying nobody turned up unexpectedly.

Monty hung his head, shutting his eyes. "Everyone – including the police. I just know it, it's just a matter of time before I'm questioned, and I don't know what to say!"

Molly drew him into a hug, his shaking body clutching hers like a limpet to a rock, and for a moment she thought he would never let go. She had never seen him so vulnerable and confused – her strong, athletic aristocrat who was so caring and understanding had been reduced to a quivering wreck at the thought of having the finger pointed at him for this. Neither had heard that William Forest was currently the prime suspect, but even this knowledge would have been cold comfort for Monty.

"There must be a way." Molly soothed, releasing him slightly so she could brush her lips against his to remind him she was on his side.

"I can't see one." Monty shook his head. He felt his dream of Parliament, of getting into the Cabinet, crumbling around him, and at this rate he was to lose more than his dream, his children and his mistress – he was terrified of losing his life. He reluctantly drew away from her, holding her arms and staring hopelessly into her eyes. "But whatever happens, my dear Molly, I will have to go away. If it is in a police carriage or if it is in my own, escorting my father-in-law's body back to Scotland, I will be leaving you for some time."

It was too much. Molly had needed only one, small push for the tears to eventually fall and that had been it. Breaking down, she sobbed into her hands, praying for a miracle to stop Monty from going away and possibly never returning to her again. Even in death, Lord Farquarson was hell-bent on tearing them apart. She KNEW there had to be a way to rescue Monty, she just had to think of it. And then it struck her. There was one, other man under the Taplows roof who would do anything for her, who still looked at her with a burning longing when he thought she couldn't notice. Maybe it was mean of her, to play on his feelings, emotionally blackmail him, but desperate times lead to desperate measures and if it meant hurting Joe to save Monty then she had to do it. She would repent afterwards, but she would go to any lengths to save the man she loved.

She couldn't tell Monty about what she planned to do, Rebecca had already hinted to her that she might have offered Andrew as an alibi and he had refused, but if she was going to do it then she would need to act fast. She could bear losing Monty for a few months if he returned with Farquarson's body, and she assumed Lady Rebecca would travel too, but she was damned if they were going to be parted forever for something Monty simply didn't do.

- - - - -

Jarvis gritted his teeth angrily as he sat down for lunch that afternoon, noticing his wife already seated in her usual place next to him. She smiled nervously at him, but he was only able to glare at her in return. She quickly noticed Emily sit as far away as possible from her son, next to Felix at the other end of the table, purposely avoiding both his and Flora's eyes. Flora couldn't help giggling to herself as she began to eat…she'd yet to hear the whole story or what happened between Emily and her son that afternoon when Emily took him his tea instead of Flora like promised, but she had a pretty good idea already.

"Busy day, my dear?" She asked apprehensively as they began to eat. He preferred not to answer her, deciding he might bring the roof down if he opened his mouth to reply, instead he settled for moaning to the table about the absence of his paper that morning. "I said-" she began again, only to be cut off when Walter snapped in a whisper.

"You are in big trouble young lady."

"I'm sorry," she muttered, "I know I said I'd bring you the tea up but I got a little sidetracked…" she trailed off as she thought at the little toddler who was momentarily snoozing in her office, with Charles watching over him…hopefully. She'd hated dragging him into this whole affair, but until Will or Lizzie appeared he was the best person for the job in Flora's opinion.

"A little sidetracked?" he hissed. "Flora! Did you have to send my mother? In fact did you have to send anyone at all?"

"Why what happened?" She asked, a little unsure whether she wanted to hear this or not.

"Well…lets just say I was expecting more than tea from you this afternoon…" he trailed off, cringing as he recalled the words he'd called out to his mother, thinking it was Flora. "And I was wearing less than…appropriate."

"Oh…" Flora replied, giggling uncontrollably, as she reached across the table for the lemon curd.

"Well I'm glad you find all this amusing!" He tutted, wincing as he saw her smear lemon curd onto her ham sandwich. "That really is disgusting," he added, screwing up his face.

"What's wrong with lemon curd all of a sudden?"

"Nothing, it's the fact your eating it with ham, bread and pickle," he replied, glancing across the table to Felix, who seemed to be turning green.

"Don't blame me, I can't even stand the stuff. Your child however seems to have taken a liking to it." She huffs, biting into her sandwich.

"What's there not to like?" Frank smirks, "Lemon curd, good…ham, good…pickle, good." Jarvis scowls at him for so much as muttering a word, though more preoccupied with watching Flora drain the contains of her glass with one swig.

He shakes his head unable to believe it as she refilled her glass and drained that as well. He was just about to mutter some smart-arsed comment like 'are you thirsty?'. When he noticed Fredrick Matkin enter the room, his nose buried in none other than Jarvis' newspaper. He cleared his throat, causing Fred to snap the paper shut and hand it to him, stepping back stunned, unable to believe what he had just read.

"Something interesting?" Jarvis muttered, scanning the front page his eyes widening in shock as he turned to page 8 as instructed. "Oh my good God…"

- - - - -

Grace wrung the handkerchief in her hands as she tried to take in all that Fred was saying to the crowd of servants huddled in the hall. It was just unbelievable…George! A part of her wanted to scream out at the top of her lungs her happiness. He was no longer been held prisoner in London for a crime he should never have been convicted for. At the same time she was livid at the idea of him being so reckless…if it was serious before now it was much worse.

On top of that the last thing she needed was George sneaking back into the Taplows grounds to declare his love for her, when she had finally got him out of her head. She loved Frank now and realised how stupid she had been to have ever doubted he was the right man for her.

"Do you think he'll head this way?" Hettie smirked intrigued, excited at the prospect of meeting someone who'd been in the newspaper…even if it wasn't for the best reason.

"Well the paper seemed to be suggesting that. But if you ask me George isn't stupid enough to head this way. He knows people will be looking out for him so why goes somewhere so obvious," Fred replies, enjoying being so knowledgeable on this subject.

"What would even be the point of him making a run for it, if it wasn't to get back to see someone…or protect them," Joe adds, raising his eyebrow at Fred, before nodding in Grace's direction. "Or perhaps he's more keen on the idea of getting back at someone," he continued as Frank entered, catching Grace's eye for a moment before turning to leave again.

"I think that was your cue to follow him," Hettie hissed at Grace, jealously as her eyes followed Frank out. Understanding Frank's signs without Hettie's help, Grace rose and made her way out of the room and followed Frank up the stairs to his room.

"I don't have long," Grace whispered as Frank opened the door for her. "Mrs Corey is in a huge mood over something, she's been running around frantic all-" She was cut off when a pair of insistent lips covered hers. "Frank!" She gasped the moment he released her.

"What?" He asked coyly. "Oh Grace, you can't go all coy on me now, not after the other night." He smirked, trailing a hand across her cheek. "I was hoping you'd come to me again last night."

"W- well we were all very busy with the fire and one thing and another," she replied, the tears welling in her eyes as the thought of George overwhelmed her.

"I suppose," he growled angrily, then his expression softening he added, "but there is nothing stopping us now is there?"

"Frank," she warned, her arms out in front of her as she backed away from him. "It's the middle of the day and for all I know Mrs Corey is running around everywhere looking for me."

"Let her, the exercise will help work off some of the pounds I notice she's gained while we were away," he chuckled at his own joke, advancing towards Grace. "It would be such a shame to waste such a perfect opportunity as this," he murmured into her neck, as he pulled her closer.

Grace's head was spinning as she tried to focus on the floor. Things had happened so quickly…it had seemed right the other night. She had wanted Frank, she'd needed him. But now at the idea of George getting hopefully closer to her every day the idea of being with Frank made her feel sick in the stomach.

Determined, she pushed him away firmly by the shoulders to face the anger in his expression. "What the hell has got into you?" He hissed, knowing very well why she was suddenly more distant than ever and not liking it.

"You know why! They…they say he's coming back Frank…and I'm not sure if I can face him."

"He wouldn't dare put in an appearance here, sweetie," Frank smiled as comfortingly as he could, grasping her hands tightly. "And I won't let him anywhere near you, you've no need to be worried."

"I'm not worried," she replied, pulling her hands away. She sighed deeply…she didn't know how she felt. She was trying her best to convince herself that she loved Frank now with all her heart, however there was that feeling in her stomach which she always felt whenever thinking about George. The feeling which never went away and somehow she knew it never would.

"You're not worried? Well if you weren't worried you'd be able to face him."

"I'm not scared of him. I just-" she stops herself, suddenly realising this wasn't the right discussion to be having with her new lover.

"You just don't want to see him…because you know you'd not want him to go away again."

She swallowed a large lump in her throat and looking up into his infuriated eyes a single tear ran down her cheek. "Well?" He shouted, causing her to jump slightly. "Am I right?"

"W-well I-" she began, before Frank cut her off.

"A simple yes or no will do fine! Do you still have feelings for George Cosmo?" He prompted as he received no answer from her.

"I love you!" She insisted.

"Look me in the eye and tell me you feel nothing for Mr Cosmo," he hissed, grasping her chin and forcing her to look him in the eye. "Well?"

Grace opened her mouth. She tried to say the word that would make everything so much easier, but the words just wouldn't come out. "You can't do it can you?" She shakes her head meekly, immediately regretting her actions as a sharp hand darted across her cheek, forcefully throwing her against the wall. Grasping her roughly he ignored her plea as he threw her down onto his bed, determined to show her just who was in charge.

- - - - - -

Meanwhile far from the servants quarters a certain Mrs Corey was less preoccupied with where Miss May had disappeared off to and more worried about hiding a certain precocious toddler. The situation had become almost impossible, Walter was now only a few seconds walk down the staff corridor and so her office was no longer a safe haven, the laundry was full and bustling and as for the lad's father well he was busy dancing attendance on their rapidly departing guests. The only place that was far enough away from prying eyes and where certain butlers or under butlers couldn't simply go storming into whenever they liked were their lord and ladyships bedrooms.

So it was that Flora Corey found herself skulking in the shadows using the backstairs to reach the east wing where she knew Rebecca had secluded herself away. Flora didn't know what possible comfort she could bring her grieving friend at such time, but she thought that perhaps the diversion of little Phillip might at least bring a smile to Rebecca's beautiful face for a moment or two. So balancing the child on one hip and a small basket of Felix's legendary ginger snaps under her other arm she knocked softly on the solid oak door, hoping against hope that the corridor would remain clear for a few minutes more.

"Come in." A tired and wan sounding voice called out and impatient Flora pushed the door open and stepped into the room, nudging the door to with her foot. Squinting through the darkened room, as only one of the drapes had been drawn that morning she headed over to the chaise.

"Flora." Rebecca cried out delighted at seeing her friend, her eyes widening as she caught sight of her other visitor balanced precariously on her friends hip and contently sucking his own hand whilst twirling a lock of the housekeeper's hair through his fingers.

"This is Phillip." Flora replied before Rebecca could even ask the question that was burning in her eyes. "He's going to be joining us for tea today."

"Delighted to make your acquaintance young Master Philip." Rebecca began formally before breaking out into a timid smile as the child fixed her with a toothy grin, before hiding his face against Flora's shoulder.

"Oh no don't you go all shy on me." Flora clucked maternally settling herself down own the chaise beside her friend and trying to unlock the boys arms from around her neck albeit unsuccessfully. "I don't understand him he's been outgoing with everyone else, you must have struck him dumb with you beauty Rebecca." Flora teased, playfully avoiding the faked swipe her friend made in her direction and finally settling the boy on the soft rug, rolling him his little red ball and watching delight as he immediately pounced.

"So Flora is this a test run or have you been keeping a secret from all of us?" Rebecca asked once the child was settled, watching as her friend fussed over him and the boy lapped up her attention and affection.

"No nothing to do with me, he's….he's a son of a friend I am watching him for the afternoon." Flora replied hesitantly avoiding Rebecca's eye.

"Really and you just thought what with all this on your plate that you needed to heap more on…."

"It's not like that!" Flora snapped before realising she was taken out her frustration on the wrong person. "I'm the only one who can…His mother just left him, how can any woman do that? Just abandon her child…There are women out there who are never lucky enough to even have a child and she just left him with a stranger not caring what could happen to him, she hasn't even been asking after him in the village and poor Will…"

"William Forest? William Forest is this boy's father?" Rebecca asked horrified. "What on earth does Walter have to say about you mothering William Forest's son?"

"He….He doesn't know." Flora replied softly glancing down at her clasped hands. "It just hasn't been the right moment to tell him, he has enough on his plate what with…Well you know the fire and the guests, the Earl has taken to his bed you know and then there are the funeral arrangements."

"I am well aware of the funeral arrangements!" Rebecca snapped, frowning at Flora's obvious attempt to change the subject. "Monty and I finalised them this morning, I don't know if Walter told you yet but we'll be leaving tomorrow to make the trip back to our estate, Father always insisted about being buried in his own soil. But please Flora I have enough to worry about, leaving Andrew, Hugo travelling, having to face Francesca, the last thing I can handle is worrying about you here as well….You have to find someone else to look after the boy, and soon before Walter finds out."

"I can't he needs me." Flora retorted stubbornly turning from her friend to gaze back at Phillip. "And I…." She began her eyes suddenly widening as she scanned the rug, then the rest of the dimly lit room. "Phillip?" She called out getting to her feet as quickly as her bulk would allow. "Phillip!" She added this time a note of panic creeping into his voice.

"Philip…" Rebecca added getting to her feet and helping her friend to search her rooms not noticing the door to the corridor which lay tellingly ajar.

- - - -

Meanwhile oblivious to the commotion that was going on in his house, the up roar the police were causing and the mad frantic gossiping of his many guests, the Earl had seen fit to retire to his bed to escape the cacophony. As always when his lordship shrugged his responsibilities they ended up weighing down his butler's shoulders. So it was that Jarvis found himself carrying a tray of Dr Evans patented flu cure up to his lord and master when he would much rather be tracking down his illusive wife.

Sighing deeply he came to a halt outside his lordship's bedroom door, a slight frown gracing his normally placid features as the door swung open when he knocked but gently. Cursing his incompetent footmen under his breath, for once more failing to close even a simple door properly, the butler stepped inside at his lordship's feeble 'come in' this time shutting the door with a determined snap before turning to peer through the gloom.

"Ah Jarvis about bloody time someone answered my bell…I've been waiting for ages and there's been a god awful draft in here, has someone left a window open or something?" The Earl snorted, before dragging out a huge handkerchief and blowing on it for effect. "I'll catch my death and nobody even gives a damn." He added morosely, pouting into the darkness at the shadowed figure of his butler.

"My apologies my lord but Lady Caroline insisted I send one of the lads into Tappleton for some medicine from the good doctor, and it took longer than expected." Jarvis replied politely, fighting the impulse to roll his eyes at his employer's plight, all he had was a bloody cold yet the way he was going on anyone would be convinced he was convalescing with pneumonia.

"Oh she did did she?" The Earl mumbled taking one sniff at the warmed medicine before waving it aside to his bedside cabinet. "What I need is a hot toddy, my father always swore by them!"

"I'll see to it immediately My Lord." Jarvis replied automatically his attention already beginning to wander from the conversation as he scanned the room idlely. "Will there be anything else?" He added, wishing the old goat would hurry up and dismiss him so he could continue with the far more vital search of finding his missus and giving her a stern telling off about getting a chaps hopes up and then letting him down most cruelly.

"Oh actually could you bring me my papers from my desk. There are some things that need to be dealt with without delay." The Earl wheezed waving his hands in the vague direction of his ornate writing desk that lay in the adjoining room.

Bowing slightly the butler turned on his heel and strode into the other room right over to the desk randomly scanning the desktop for the pile of letters that needed signing, picking them up he went to return when a sudden noise stopped him. Freezing on the spot he listened, there was someone breathing, someone other than himself and the Earl. Dropping the papers on to the desk he began to track down the noise, slowly creeping towards the thick curtains that dimmed the room to shadows and were the only place that anyone could possibly be hiding. Then with a sudden jerk he pulled them open expecting to see a burglar or lost police officer cowering behind them, but instead there was only air. Squinting against the sudden light he shook his head to try and clear his thoughts, he could have sworn he had heard something, but the Earl's loud cry of protest at being abandoned jerked him from his daydream. Grabbing the papers he rounded the desk and began towards the bedroom when a sudden crash stopped him his tracks. Whirling round his jaw dropped in shock the papers falling from his hand scattering over the floor, as Walter Corey unknowingly came face to face with Phillip Forest.

- - - - -

Meanwhile Lady Rebecca had returned to her room on Flora's insistence, telling her she was right, she had enough to worry about in her life right now and that she would enlist all available maids to help hunt for Philip. Besides, he couldn't have gone far, Flora was certain, although if the boy was anything like his father it was plausible he was in some sort of mischief. Flora could only hope it wasn't the sort she was dreading.

Baby Hugo was gurgling in his cot when Adams finally found an opportunity to pay his family a visit. He had been rushing around like a blue-arsed fly since Lord Farquarson died he had hardly found much time to speak to his beloved, or gaze wondrously at his son, so found his opportunity once Jarvis had stormed away, face like thunder, to tend the 'ailing' Earl. He doubted Rebecca had eaten much that day, so much had been going on he hadn't even noticed how terrible she must be feeling, so taking the initiative asked Felix to cook her something special. The under-butler arrived with tray in hands; even though he had done this what felt like hundreds of times before, he never allowed himself to become complacent. There was always the chance, especially today with so many prying, suspicious eyes and inaudible whispers along corridors they would be caught – and he might become the prime suspect.

He tapped lightly and received a gentle 'enter!' in response. He had expected Rebecca to be lying on the bed with Hugo cradled in her arms, an idyllic image etched in his mind of mother and son, his small but adored family. Instead, he was shocked to find his darling Rebecca rifling through her wardrobe, busying herself with setting clothes out on the bed as Hugo's tiny frame slept peacefully in his cradle. A smile flashed across Rebecca's pretty but tired face on seeing Andrew, the secret she had managed to keep for nearly two years. Adams couldn't make out how happy she really was to see him, she was obviously distracted, understandably, but he hadn't expected to see her doing a job Elizabeth was paid to do. Especially so soon.

"We're travelling in the morning. Monty's been cleared of suspicion, a last minute alibi from Joseph James. Seems he saw Monty drinking brandy in the library at the time of my father's death." She announced flatly, avoiding eye contact with her lover. Adams knew her well enough to know she was becoming more distraught with every passing moment. Carefully he placed the tray on the sideboard and tentatively moved towards her, taking hold of her hands gently and teasing that red basque out of her clutches. The tears sparkled in her eyes as Adams leant forward and kissed her full on the mouth. For a moment Rebecca felt elated, when Andrew kissed her she was home, he and Hugo were everything she ever wanted, but like all good things their embrace came to an end and they were left staring down at the basque, a symbol of the early memories they shared.

"It's been a long time, since you first wore this for me." Adams smiled, his gaze trailing from the silk ribbon to Rebecca. "D'you think we'll ever be like that again? Or is it too late now?"

Rebecca shrugged, the expression on her pretty face wistful and full of longing. "My feelings haven't changed for you, Andrew, you must always know that. It's just….well so much has happened, I feel like I've grown up an awful lot in the months I've been coming here. I love this place, it is full of so many happy memories, it is your life, it is where Hugo was born, and I want to be a part of it more than anything, but I now have sad memories here. Archie, now Father, maybe my time here is done."

Adams stared at her pleadingly as Hugo sneezed in his cradle. "No, no you mustn't say that – you must come back. You have to! I can't live here without you, I simply can't!"

"Then come with us." Rebecca gripped Adams' hands tightly, looking deep into his eyes, searching for an answer she hoped above all hopes he would give. Her breathing was ragged, it was if the idea had just struck her right at that moment. Adams guessed it probably had. "I don't have Father telling me what to do now, he can't stop us, and Monty will make sure I received the money I am entitled to. Please, Andrew, come with us!"

"But, but…." Adams was dumbfounded. He shook his head, but no further words would pass his lips until finally he made up his mind. It was the most difficult decision of his life, even more so than when he left Rebecca up in Scotland to escape the law. "I can't, Rebecca. Or at least give me a few months to think further about it. I would much rather….I would love you to come and stay here, maybe travel up to the estate in summer. Hugo could be educated here at Taplows, where the summers are glorious and he wouldn't be a million miles away from civilisation."

Rebecca laughed and Adams' heart sank. She moved over to the cradle, leaning in and running her fingers across her son's soft, warm cheek. "If I lived here people would talk. Not about you, but about Algie. You know as well as I do that I couldn't actually live under the same roof as the man, certain things would be expected. Remember he and my father were only the most distant of cousins, society would twist it, we would be living in sin….."

"Bugger society!" Adams exploded. "I don't care for society, and I didn't think you did either!"

"The Earl wouldn't allow it!" Rebecca snapped back. Her stomach hurt as did her abdomen, still traumatised from the efforts of childbirth. She thought she would feel less pain by now, but it was still there, a reminder of the son she had born but lost. "I am not about to marry a man I don't love so I can be here with you, I can't share a bed with him then with you, I am not like that and I am shocked you would suggest I should!"

Adams scowled, lowering his voice to a strained whisper. "I'm not suggesting that whatsoever! The idea of you and that fat bastard together is abhorrent, I simply meant you could talk him round to letting you stay here longer, tell him that Hugo would have a better quality of life, I don't know you're good at persuasion!"

Rebecca couldn't think of anything quickly enough for a retort. She slumped onto the bed amongst her belongings and shut her eyes, and immediately Adams regretted his heavy-handedness. He doubted he would ever learn. Checking the clock, he realised he didn't have much time. Carefully he sat next to his lover on the bed and drew her into a tight hug, but she winced as he pressed himself up against her.

"What's wrong?" He asked, immediately concerned.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just still a bit sore." Rebecca smiled weakly, but Adams' worried expression intensified and he gently ran his hand across her abdomen.

"You should see Dr Evans before you go." He suggested, but a suppressed feeling began to stir as he felt the warmth of her body through the material. How he wanted to take her, undress her slowly like he had done so many times before, make love to her slowly and affectionately, soothe her emotional scars with the way he knew best. It secretly devastated him that she was going to leave without fulfilling his most primeval of urges but he could hardly say that to her. Instead all he could do was offer sympathy and love with a cuddle and a kiss. At least they could share that.

Rebecca cupped his chin and placed her hand firmly yet protectively over his. "I don't have time to see Dr Evans. I can see a doctor on the estate if I'm still not feeling right by the time I arrive. You are so sweet, the way you worry so."

"I will make sure Elizabeth has strict instructions." Adams said in his most authoritarian of voices.

"You will go and see the doctor just to make sure…..Rebecca, what are you doing!"

Her hand had wandered from his chin down towards his crotch and she gently squeezed him, the familiar but long unseen naughty twinkle in her eye which had captured Adams' heart all that time ago in the summer fields of Scotland.

"But you can't, I understand all of that, I don't want to hurt you…..!"

"And you have been very patient, and I know you will have to be patient for an awful lot longer yet." Rebecca cooed, her eyes searching his. Nevertheless, she could feel him responding to her touch and she smiled, if a little sadly. "But I could never leave without a little farewell present. Just because I can't let you near certain parts of me, that doesn't mean you need to miss out all together."

Suddenly, he realised just what she meant. The naughty minx in Rebecca was resurfacing and he wasn't about to argue with her, so he allowed her without further comment to carry out her most generous offer with the incredible skill he remembered. He ran his fingers through her red locks, staring down at her in amazement as the pleasure began to build in his groin. It didn't take him long, she made sure of that, but for him it was the most incredible release he could imagine. Afterwards she sat back on the bed and he fetched her a cup of tea from the tray to wash the taste away.

"Please come back, Rebecca." Adams said after a moment. Hugo was beginning to stir, it was nearing his feed and he probably needed changing. "After your father's funeral. I presume Lord Montague will be returning, not least because of he is fighting the Northavon seat. And other reasons, I suspect."

Lady Rebecca sashayed over the cradle and lifted out her only son, and Adams' heart melted. "Here, hold him." Adams tentatively took the gurgling baby from her arms and smiled, nuzzling his nose with his own. This was a side to him nobody from downstairs was allowed to see, except maybe Mrs Corey. The William Forests of the world must know him as a bruiser and a force to be reckoned with, not a doting father. If Forest ever knew that his son was his big weakness, he was likely to use it against him. No, he could never know how much he loved his new family. Forest was already aware how he felt for his daughter, this time he wasn't about to let Hugo be a weapon in their personal war.

"I would very much like to come back." Rebecca said after a moment of observing father and son together. Andrew's eyes would light up at the mere mention of Hugo, but when he held him Rebecca knew she could never take him away from him, never to return. She was sure her 'bit of servant rough', as she had once referred to him as, was a capable and loving father whom she had changed from being a drunken gambler who could barely contain his rage to someone who had simply needed the right woman to bring out his caring side.

Adams glanced up at her expectantly as she watched, placing a finger inside Hugo's tiny fist. "So you will? Come back?"

Rebecca sat next to him and kissed Hugo on the crown of his head, his wisps of fiery hair soft and fine. "Definitely. With Monty's help I will settle my father's affairs, my husband's affairs and in a couple of months I will be back. I promise you. Sooner, if I can manage it."

Well, that was as much as Adams could hope for, and he smiled. Hugo would be a lot bigger by then, and he wanted him to get to know his father as early on as possible. One day, he was sure, they would be a proper family. Until then Monty would look after her in Scotland, he trusted him enough to know he wouldn't try anything ungentlemanly, especially in light of the revelations about Molly. But Adams couldn't help the undeniable sadness which tore at his heart. Lord Farquarson may have been dead, but his death served only to take Rebecca away from him, however temporarily. But he had a job to do here, he was loyal to Jarvis and his master. He didn't know how, but he knew he would see Rebecca again sooner than he had anticipated.

"Can I watch you feed him?" Adams asked hopefully.

Rebecca could think of nothing lovelier. "Will you lie with me tonight? You, me and Hugo, together for one night?"

She hardly needed to ask. He would have insisted anyway. Before Hugo settled hungrily onto her breast she kissed Andrew as if it was their first – and their last. Then, without another word, he rested his chin on her shoulder and watched, a proper family at last.

- - - - -

"JARVIS WHAT THE HELL IS TAKING SO BLOODY LONG!" The Earls voice cut through the gloomy silence shaking the butler out of his already shattered wits.

Stepping backwards in shock unable to process a thought let alone manage a coherent reply, his mouth hanging open in shock as he stared at the toddler who was now crawling over to him his chubby fists closing round the piles of paper which he pushed around in his new game.

"JARVIS!"

The Earl's repeated screeching finally worked and after a few seconds struggle with the papers he finally pulled them from the toddlers grasp, panic immediately setting in as the youngsters face crumpled as a sure sign of an impending tantrum. Thinking quickly the butler pulled out his shiny pocket watch dangling it in front of the young lads face, wincing slightly as the grubby fingers closed round it eagerly and it headed in the general direction of the lad's mouth. Realising he had to act quickly or risk permanent rust damage to his beloved pocket watch he disappeared into the bedroom, thrusting the papers and pen into the Earls stunned hands whilst muttering something about getting that hot toddy before turning and without further ceremony dashing out back into the study.

Then taking his life in his hands he grasped the boy firmly round the waist hoisting him up like a rolled up carpet under his arm before disappearing like a phantom through the door before the Earl could so much as call after him.

- - - - - - -

It was a most bizarre sight that greeted assorted staff as they went around they normal daily business, their esteemed butler storming through the house, his expression as stormy and furious as they had ever seen it. But what was more disturbing was not the blood curdling expression on his face but the screaming toddler that was carried like a package under his arm as he barrelled down the corridor. As a result by the time he had reached the servants hall he had quite the following, striding into the room he watched as the lazing footmen scattered from the table glancing at each other an expression of panic on their faces that Jarvis immediately recognised, as one of guilt.

Walking over to the table he plonked the bawling child down on the surface before turning to face the shame faced staff, watching as they all slunk back against the wall he began to pace up and down the makeshift line that had formed. Walking up to each and every lower servant he stared them intently in the face, glancing back and forth between them and the snivelling child trying to discern some basic resemblance, quickly dismissing both Joe and Fred then Charlie just as quickly, unable to resist making Johnny squirm as he took a good minute scrutinising the young lads face.

"Well is anyone going to admit to bringing this….child…into our respectable household?" The Butler suddenly snapped unable to make out any particular resemblance in the assembled staff, glancing over his shoulder as more curious staff poked their heads into the hall and then tried to make a quick exit before the butler's wrath could be turned on them.

"Its nothing to do with us Mr Jarvis!" Fred quickly retorted. "I mean you can see that clear as day."

"I didn't ask that Mr Matkin, I asked who is responsible for this child?" Jarvis barked waving his hands around to emphasis his point. "He didn't simply arrive under the Earl's desk out of thin air, or perhaps you want me to believe the pixies left him?"

"Mr Jarvis." A soft and timid Charles tried to interrupt but the butler cut him off with only a wave.

"I know he is nothing to do with you Mr Lewis." Jarvis began, noticing out of the corner of his eye the staff round the door part like the red sea to allow the housekeeper through, her face seeming unusually pale even in the summer sunlight. "What I want to know is just who this little…"

"Maaaaa" The child suddenly crowed wiping at his tears before reaching out towards the doorway.

Whirling round in shock Jarvis stood frozen to the spot watching in horror as his wife avoided his eye and crossed the room towards the child who was reaching out for her so desperately.

"Flora…………." The whisper escaped his lips but the room was so silent almost everyone could work out what he said, as he watched in horror as his wife picked up the child balancing him expertly on her hip, brushing his tears away with her thumb.

"Mrs Corey." Jarvis began again this time his voice held a touch of steel to it. "My office now!" He gasped out in a strangled tone watching as he wife still avoided his eye and strode out ahead of him her head held up high as the assembled staff began to gossip.

- - - - - - -

The walk to his office seemed to take forever; even Phillip seemed to pick up on the housekeeper's tense mood and quietened immediately nuzzling into her shoulder for comfort. When they reached the right door, Flora stood back, waiting for her husband to open the door and usher her in, but to her shock instead he barged past slamming the door open not even pausing to stop it from swinging back at her. Stopping it expertly with her foot the housekeeper slipped into the room, pushing the door shut with her elbow, waiting in trepidation for the storm that was about to break.

Pacing up and down in front of his desk unable to look around at his wife and that child until he had managed to place his rage back under his control, Walter tapped his fingers firmly on the mantelpiece, taking in a deep breath before demanding coldly. "Explain, now!"

"Walter please…" Flora began soothingly but the butler was not to be placated.

"No Madam….No please Walters, or sweetheart or any other such nonsense, this is after all a household matter and we will discuss as butler and housekeeper should. Or are you Madam now incapable of separating your professional duties from your private ones?"

"No Mr Jarvis." Flora replied immediately trying desperately to keep the tremble from her voice and all but succeeding. "I am unsure where to begin."

Finally the butler turned around, his normally calm and composed expression bristling at her remark. "Perhaps you should start with how this child appeared in our reputable house, why I wasn't immediately notified and just how is my supposedly respectable housekeeper involved in all of this!"

Taking a deep breath Flora recounted the events as she knew them, a woman had arrived last night and left the child with Elizabeth McDuff, Lizzy had not recognised her, nor did she mention who the boy's father was just that he worked at Taplows.

"Then why did she not come to me?" The Butler snapped cutting the housekeeper off mid-sentence.

"I do not know, I suspect she wanted to discover the boy's father and hand him over to him."

"So how did you get involved?...And Dammit Flora why didn't you tell me?" Jarvis demanded, his expression still angry but the coldness that had been present now seemingly evaporated.

"I found him by accident only this morning…and well everyone had so much to worry about and you were so busy…I know that is not a good enough reason Walter, but I'm your wife and I worry about you, even you aren't superhuman, and I thought I could deal with it without you needing to get involved. And he is such an adorable child, he's been so badly neglected by his own mother, I cannot grasp how any woman could be like that. I assumed she would regret her decision and return for the child and no one need be the wiser…."

"But she hasn't." The Butler added softly, finishing her sentence for her, watching as the young boy clung to his wife so needingly. "So he is nothing to do with you…He just seemed to know you…"

"Walter Corey when on earth would I have had the time to?….I mean honestly, he's what little over a year old…."

Shaking his head at his own primitive fear the butler moved to sit beside her taking her free hand with both of his and pressing it softly. "I know it was stupid but he just seemed to reach out specifically for you, and he's so dark yet so fair…."

"I assure you, he is no biological relation of mine Mr Corey."

"Yet he is of someone here!" The Butler retorted, sitting back in his chair as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The question is who's!...Are you sure the mother didn't give any hints as to his identity?"

"I don't believe so." Flora muttered, hoping against hope her little lie would go undetected, at least until she could get to Will and warn him.

"Well he cannot stay here, and if we are unable to determine his parentage then it will have to be the orphanage."

"Oh no!" Flora gasped. "Please Walter don't send him there, you know those places are little or no better than the workhouse, he barely stands a chance of making it to his next birthday let alone ever making anything of his life. There must be another way surely?" She pleaded tightening her grasp on her husband's hand.

"Well what else am I to do? He's far too young to be passed off as an employee and it's not like he can stay here a drain on his lordships revenues…"

"But I can help look after him, and I know the girls would help…"

"They have enough to do with their own duties Flora! And may I remind you, you are expecting a child of our own soon, and will have more than enough to cope with…."

"But I can't let him go there Walter, I won't!" Flora retorted firmly, a measure of steel entering her voice. "I'll cope if I have to all by myself, why can't we look after him."

"I already said no Flora!" Walter retorted, this time a hint of annoyance creeping back into his voice. "And my word his final in such a matter…Dear me next you'll be suggesting we adopt the child."

"Well it is an idea…"

"No absolutely not!" The Butler barked, pulling away from his wife's grasp and shaking his head to underline his point. "Do you understand me wife, on this point I am adamant! No, no pleading or begging, do not even waste your breath my love because it will not work, I will not even consider it."

"But Walter…"

"No buts Flora, not one single word!" The Butler added finally, bringing his fist down sharply on the desktop, a resounding crash compounding his exclamation. However he could see that would do nothing to cut short his wife's argument but as she about to retort the door to his office burst open and in staggered an out of breath and extremely guilty looking William Forest.

For a moment the Jarvis allowed himself to wonder what the hell was so important Forest would barge in without knocking, but then his thoughts caught up with the circumstances and realisation dawned as bright and clear as a spring morning.

"I'm so sorry Mrs Ryan…" Will began to stutter causing the butler to glance over at his wife's expression of dread.

"You knew!" Jarvis gasped. "You knew and you lied, you lied to me…your own husband!" He added glaring across at his now silent wife, whose eyes were deliberately lowered so she couldn't witness the full force of her husband's fury.

"It's not her fault Mr Jarvis…" Will began, drawing himself up to face down the butler if necessary.

"I will get to you in a minute Forest!" Jarvis spat, turning his back on the footman as he closed in on his trembling wife. "Well?" He hissed. "Have you any stories and machinations to get yourself out of this hole?"

"No." Flora replied succinctly, raising her head to gaze bravely into her husband's red face. "Phillip is Will's; I knew it and I lied to you about it…And I am not sorry I did!"

"Why? To protect the brat? Or in some vain hope that if you were able to draw the hood over my eyes I would somehow consent to your insane suggestion?"

"To protect Phillip of course, but Will to, I know you Walter any excuse to throw him out and you'd take it, regardless of how many innocent people you hurt in the process."

"William Forest cannot and I doubt ever could be describe as innocent!" Jarvis spat whirling round to point at the footman, advancing on him jabbing his finger at Will's chest so firmly it unbalanced him. "This scrap of human effluence has never been innocent, he is a walking abomination, a stain on the honour of Taplows, a man who could so easily get some slag pregnant and walk away without a care. He pollutes my household, seduces your maids and yet Madam you think he is worthy of your concern and protection?"

"I…" Flora muttered her whole frame shaking with the ferocity of the butler's verbal attack.

"And you Forest." The Butler added turning back to glare at the footman. "How dare you sneak around getting my wife to tend and attach herself to your bastard, encouraging her to lie to her own husband? Why don't you have your current whore tend to the little brat, oh of course she's already tending to one I forgot, that and she's leaving first thing. I suppose that's why you've started sniffing around my Flora again, using your son to butter her up…"

"I have done nothing of the sort!" Will bit back, unable to take the verbal attack any longer without retorting. "You think your so bloody clever don't you Mr Jarvis, got it all figured out, only you haven't! I didn't know anything about the boy until late last night, and since then Mrs Ryan has kindly watched him for me till I could make arrangements to have him looked after properly."

Snorting the butler pulled away shaking his head. "Only you haven't gotten around to it yet have you Forest."

"Actually Sir I have!" Will retorted smugly, causing the butler to whirl around and the housekeeper to look up in surprise unconsciously hugging the child closer to her.

"I was able to talk to Dr Evans whilst he was visiting his lordship, see about getting Phil a place at the little school Mrs Evans has set up, I mean I know he's too young and everything but the Dr was most helpful he knows of a nice family in the village who he thinks will be willing to look after him till he is old enough as long as I pay for his board and upkeep. He promised to send me word by this evening, so I could walk him down during my dinner, after all I wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone." Will added spitting the last part out venomously in the butler's direction.

"Well that at least is something!" Jarvis exclaimed, sighing in relief that the child would be removed from their household, and more importantly from Flora within a matter of hours if not sooner. "Now take your boy and leave…Go on the pair of you get out of my sight!" He added with an air of finality, watching with a sickening feeling as Will practically had to prise his son away from the housekeeper as neither seemed inclined to let go.

"Flora please?" Will whispered watching as the tearful housekeeper kissed his son softly on his forehead before quickly handing him over hiding her face as the tears began to fall. "It's for the best." He added softly before disappearing out the door.

"For once Forest and I agree on something." Jarvis snorted amused by the absurdity of the situation.

"Then you are unfeeling bastards both!" Flora suddenly hissed, getting to her feet her whole frame shaking and ignoring her husbands command to wait she turned and strode out of the office heading for some much needed sanctuary of her own.

- - - -

"Are you lost, My Lord?"

Lord Montague was jolted out of his thoughts as he hurried, stealth-like along the corridor to the under-housekeeper's room, coming to an abrupt holt as a certain servant stepped in front of him. He had always known he might get stopped, or at least spotted, but he still wouldn't let Molly get herself caught dashing in and out of his chamber – the risks Mr Adams took every time he liaised with Lady Rebecca in her room were far greater than he wanted to put Molly through. The look on the servant's face was incredulous at first as his blue eyes took in the sight before them - a bedraggled-looking aristocrat who appeared to have been awake for at least 24 hours, a five o'clock stubble across his jaw line and his eyes dull and tired. Monty frowned, almost in confusion at seeing a servant down in the servants quarters, but after a moment straightened up and blinked as realisation dawned. He cleared his throat.

"Lost? No Mr Keneally, I, err….." Monty trailed off. It was no use. Frank's staid expression creased into a smug half-smile and he cocked his head, his eyebrow raised in blatant accusation. He pointed down the hallway, wagging his finger.

"Mrs Watson's room's that way, to the left - but I'm sure you already know that, don't you, sir?"

Monty's mouth fell open. This little shit was the last person he needed in his face after the day he had endured, he needed to get to Molly and not for just the usual reasons. He had questions – especially about the small matter of the alibi which had suddenly appeared. It had Molly Watson stamped all over it, Joseph James would do anything for her, Monty knew, the lad practically worshiped the earth she walked on.

"Mrs Watson?" Monty laughed nervously. It was worth a shot. "I've no idea what you could possibly mean, I was just…..looking for some water. There's nobody about, can't get the staff these days…."

"Pull the other one, Monty." Frank interrupted smoothly, leaning against the wall so Monty's path was completely blocked. The aristocrat held himself tall, pushing the feeling of utter exhaustion and desperation for comfort to the back of his mind. How dare Frank Keneally, of all people, talk to him like that?

Monty squared his shoulders. "I beg your pardon!"

Frank sniffed out a laugh and feigned surprise. "Oh, I'm sorry – pull the other one, MY LORD." Monty gulped as his mouth dried, his tongue plastering itself to the roof of his mouth so he could barely grunt let alone speak. His heart began to thump furiously in his chest as the man – no, the utter scum – who had got his wife pregnant with her fourth bastard child belittled him with a mocking grin. "Everybody bloody well knows what's going on with you two, we may be servants but we're not all thick. Like brother like sister it seems, shagging people they shouldn't right under the nose of their masters."

Monty found the resolve to step towards Frank, closing the gap between them. He knew he could flatten him if the mood took him, he had been working out more than usual lately and if his nature was of a violent disposition then his muscles would be aching for a fight right now. As it was, Monty simply clenched his fists and breathed deeply, his voice low and threatening. "You are hardly one to talk, Mr Keneally! I'm sure I don't have to remind you about your dirty little fling with my wife, and if you so much breathe a word to anyone I can finish you and mark my words I will! I know all about you, what you've done, all the scams you've got going on, all the bloody skeletons in your cupboard!"

"You wouldn't dare, you can't. Haven't you got a political career to think about, Lord Montague? Haven't you got to be whiter than white? It certainly wouldn't do that precious reputation of yours any good if it was to become common knowledge that you were regularly bonking an under-housekeeper – a MARRIED under-housekeeper at that – and her brother was the father of little Lord Hugo? And none of Lady Francesca's children were actually yours and couldn't claim their inheritance?" Frank felt elated at the sight of this sorry, wealthy wretch at his mercy. The terror in Monty's eyes were enough for Frank to realise he was on to something, the fellow was actually scared witless at the thought of being found out. That, at least, was something money couldn't stop, unless he was prepared to bribe every newspaper in London not to print it. Frank doubted he had quite that much money. "What an interesting scandal that would make, a new twist every day for a week, and it wouldn't matter to me as I'm sure some newspaper, maybe even the Times, would pay me a pretty penny for all the mud I could stick on you and plenty others in this shithole!"

"You may claim your money but then nobody would give you the time of day again, you wouldn't be trusted ever again, you would be ostracised for good!" Monty was desperate, he had to put him off, think up more threats which would see to his silence.

"Maybe that would be for the best, nobody gives tuppence for me round here, I might as well go out with a bang….." Frank paused, a frown furrowing his brow. Grace. It was all going so well with her and before long it wouldn't be just his little finger she would be wrapped around. Not if he could help it. His startling blue eyes narrowed as he considered what to say next. The older man was looking more agitated by the minute and Frank knew he had him over a barrel but somehow the two had reached a strange kind of stalemate.

It was then Frank decided to play his Ace. "Everybody also knows you're a suspect in the death of your father-in-law. Some may say it was a very convenient happenstance for him to wind up dead just as he threatens you with exposure over Mrs Watson."

"You seem to think you know a lot, Mr Keneally, but really you know nothing. I have an alibi, Mr James was with me the whole time." Monty tried his damnedness to keep his cool and looked the valet straight in the eye, but all he was met with was a cold, calculating stare. There was, however, no way he was going to let this scheming bastard get under his skin. He was running late and Molly was waiting for him, to spend their last night together in God only knew how long.

Frank was laughing horribly. "Joseph James! That pussy! His sort is easily lead, do what they're told them darkies, did you make him do it eh? 'Set fire to the old fool, will you, there's a good chap'!"

Monty opened his mouth to speak, in the vain hope some suitably strong retort would find itself from his brain to his voice box within those few precious seconds, but luckily – or unluckily, depending on hindsight – he was interrupted by the swish of skirts and a light, feminine clearing of the throat.

"Mrs Watson. A….a delight." The lord produced a withering smile but his heart had begun to thump. Molly placed her hands on her hips and cocked her head, raising her eyebrows as her hard gaze fell upon the valet. Frank looked desperately put-out at the unexpected intrusion, he had been on a roll, one accusation to another striking Monty with verbal blows. Maybe he had been about to confess his sins, it wouldn't have been unheard of, a man crumbling and coming clean because of the smallest, most innocent remark from a mere servant. His guilt had probably been eating him up inside all day, simmering away in the pit of his stomach as his mind went over events until he could barely focus on anything else. Maybe Lord Monty had been desperate to tell someone – anyone – and that someone might have been Frank Keneally as he had been the first person to say what everyone else was thinking. Frank clenched his teeth but Molly's expression remained inscrutable.

"Mr Keneally, shouldn't you be going about your business?" Molly took a step forward but was careful to keep a wary distance. She had heard on the grapevine what he was capable of, and even in front of Monty she didn't trust him an inch. "You have been away from your master for all of a few minutes, I trust you have been instructed not to let him out of your sight considering his current state, he could swallow his own tongue or worse!"

Her voice was strong and authoritative and reminded Monty of the first blissful time he had heard her; it had been love at first sound as he had never bore witness to such a strong-willed woman before, except for his grandmother. Molly, however, had a graceful fortitude in her voice, whereas his grandmother sounded like a dog with tuberculosis. Molly had been dressing down a maid at her old household but Monty had forgotten what on earth it was for, it was unimportant. Everything had become unimportant, apart from Molly, the moment he turned the corner into the drawing room and watched with silent caution from the door so not to interrupt this beautiful creature. It had been his first visit to his friend and political colleague Lord Fergus Dooley, and it certainly wasn't his last.

Right on cue, and to the surprise of all three, Lord Julian's bell rang down the corridor, loud and urgent. Molly faltered as a small smile twitched at her lips but quickly she recovered herself and pursed her lips. Frank merely gaped as he flushed scarlet and the muscles twitched in his jaw.

"I think that is for you and close your mouth, Mr Keneally, we are not a cod fish and not every woman wishes to be intimate with the back of your throat." Molly shocked herself with her insinuation but the twinkle in Monty's eye told her he was impressed – and highly amused.

Frank was caught firmly between a hefty rock and a very hard place; he could neither answer back to his superior, Mrs Watson, in the presence of a Lord whether he was her lover or not and if he turned and spat back at Monty with another accusation or threat he would weaken his own position. He felt two pairs of eyes, full of animosity, piercing his skull as he turned and stormed away.

For a moment the two remaining souls stood still and silent, a mute understanding between them that Frank Keneally knowing about their relationship was far from a good thing. Everyone else had retired to bed, or so they thought, so with a small gesture Molly turned quickly and darted back to her room, Monty in hot pursuit.

Shutting the door Molly took him by surprise, throwing her arms around his neck and dragging him close to her as she fell back against the rough wood. For a long, arousing moment they kissed with all the intense passion of a burning desire for each other. She hurriedly, professionally, unfastened his neck tie and let her hands glide over his buttons which she unfastened with ease before tugging the shirt and vest over his head so his upper body was naked and available. Without a word Molly slowly ran her hands down over his toned chest, tickling and teasing, feeling the ripple of his muscles under her fingertips.

"You could have easily given our friend Mr Keneally a bloody good hiding, Lord Montague, soon to be Montague Hamilton-Hussey MP." She breathed, brushing her lips against his.

Monty chuckled softly. "Yes, but you may have thought less of me, as might Julian."

"I could never, ever think less of you." Molly took his hand and led him the short distance to the bed as she began to tug at the fastenings of her dress. She hoped he would mention Joseph James and the mysterious alibi and so far she wasn't disappointed. She lowered herself onto the bed, her eyes firmly locked with his soft brown gaze. "Now, my Lord, I want you to not say another word. About anything. It is our last night and I wish us to enjoy it like it were our first time together."

- - - - - --

Slumped in the fireside chair Walter idly poked at the burning embers with the poker, in his other hand a half empty glass of his lordship's finest brandy from which he occasionally took a sip or swirled the remaining liquid around in the crystal glass watching as the light from the fire reflected off of the many facets casting reflected beams of light all over the tiny but comfortable sitting room. As usual he was sitting here still waiting for his wife to come upstairs, this time it had been a crisis with Lady Caroline's sheets that had kept her from his side for most of the evening.

But finally things were going to change around here, he had backed off for a while, especially after that debacle with bloody Forest's brat, he had let her avoid him all afternoon, hiding away in her office and still room. Well he had put his foot down then and the little blighter had been sent off. What on earth had Flora been thinking, him adopt Will's son and raise him as his own….

It must have been the pregnancy clouding her judgement just the same as over carrying on with her duties after the birth, he had almost choked on his brandy the other night when she had first suggested it. Well he had seen to that and despite Molly Watson's initial objection he knew that she wasn't going to let him down, after all as he had explained at length it was in all of their best interests especially when the baby came. How on earth did Flora think she going to cope with the responsibilities of her position and caring for their child? Had she intended strap the baby to her chest like one of those ancient amazons carrying on regardless or would she have finally taken his advice and give up in favour of an easier life, but whatever she would have eventually decided now they would never know.

After all surely it wasn't unreasonable for him to want his wife to give up working and look after their family? It wasn't like he couldn't support them without her pitiful wage he added, no he knew he had done the right thing. That quiet word in his lordship's ear earlier that evening had taken the matter out of his hands entirely, after all the Earl had already passed comment on falling standards, which of course had only made Flora work twice as hard rather than admit defeat; but now it was the Earl's decision so there couldn't be any unpleasant fallout in his direction for a change. Besides in his ill stupor the Earl would be willing to agree to anything as long as there was a drink in it for him, and Jarvis had bribed him with an entire decanter.

For a moment Jarvis allowed himself to indulge in the fantasy of a fulltime wife instead of the missing in action one that he had now. It would be perfect, she could spend the day looking after and teaching their children properly without being so exhausted that she had no time to pay him any attention as well. Then when they put the little ones to bed he would have someone to talk to about the stresses of the day, without it turning into yet another household business discussion, before heading off for an early night and that other type of attention he had been sorely lacking in for far too long now. Flora would be happier too, at the moment it was simply pride that stopped her admitting it, so come tomorrow he knew he'd have a few days of tears and tantrums but after that she would settle down and accept it and everyone would be happy so it wasn't like anyone could call his actions selfish!

Smiling to himself he finished the rest of his brandy settling back into his chair and allowing the warmth from the fire to gently lull him to sleep, dozing slightly enjoying his recurring day dream. Not surprisingly it contained his wife, who was back to her old sprightly form and dressed in that most provocative of wedding outfits as she virtually dragging him off to bed and began to do unspeakably naughty things to him that caused him to moan her name out loud. Such a thing might not have mattered if the lady in question hadn't returned a good few minutes previous and wasn't standing with an extremely amused expression on her face as her husband continued to talk and move in his sleep.

"That explains a lot." Flora mumbled jokily, her amused expression slipping somewhat as the memories of that afternoon returned.

"Flora?" Walter mumbled, shaking off his hazy state to turn and gaze at his wife, noting with disappointment her stern expression. "It was for the best you know." He muttered, taking another swig of his brandy, watching as she visibly tensed. "He is Will's son, and at least this way his real father will bring him up…"

"He needs a mother to." Flora snapped. "He's only a baby after all…"

"Indeed!" Jarvis retorted getting to his feet and walking slowly over to her. "and perhaps one day, when Mr Forest finds some woman stupid enough to marry him, he will get one."

Unable to think of a suitable reply that would do anything but make him even angrier Flora shook her head, padding into the bedroom her right hand trying to massage out that knot of tension that was growing in her lower back but she only made it a few feet before her fuming husband seized her wrist roughly and forced her to turn and look at him.

"Never walk away from me when I am talking to you!"

"You weren't talking Walter you were yelling and I'm sorry but I simply don't have the energy or the intention of standing here and arguing with you, I've hurt my back amongst other things and I need to lie down!" She added watching as his eyes softened slightly in concern before freeing her wrist from his now loosened grasp and waddling over to the wardrobe to change into her nightgown before climbing thankfully back into bed.

Whimpering sadly as she felt him crawl in beside her and turn his back on her without answering, unable to stop the tears from welling up in her eyes as she realised this was the first proper argument they had gone to bed on since their wedding, finding herself now unable to sleep without the security of his arms wrapped around her, the comforting lull of his heartbeat under her fingertips or his breath tickling her ear. Was this how things were going to be from now on? Them fighting and growing further and further apart day by day? In her nightmares whilst he had been on the other side of the world she often felt like she had already lost him, that he had grown so far from her that he no longer cared for her, and was happy and content in the arms of another; some nights it was Bridgette, some nights Marie, well as Flora had always pictured Walter's first wife, but lately there had been another woman lying contented within Walter's arms, Molly. …No that she could never bare, she had to do something before it was to late, after all he was the only man she had ever truly loved, her soul mate and her lawfully wedded husband.

"Walter", she whispered softly turning over and placing her hand gently on his arm, before resting her forehead between his shoulder blades, "I'm sorry please forgive me you didn't realise, you were only trying to protect me, and I thought I was doing the right thing but not saying anything..."

There was no reply, but Flora knew he wasn't really asleep like he was pretending, he had heard her he just wasn't ready to forgive her. Stifling a sob she turned back over but just as she was burying her head in her pillow so her crying wouldn't wake him a strong arm wrapped around her middle resting its hand gently on top of her bump as he spooned up against her, nuzzling his face into her neck and kissing her silky skin reverently. "I forgive you, you silly goose, just next time don't try and sort things out for yourself, we have to share everything! I'm your husband who else should you turn to with things?…Now are we going to put this behind us Mrs Corey, I don't want you getting anymore stressed, it cannot be good for our baby, and we have to put him first."

"Her." Flora retorted teasingly, threading her fingers through his as he rubbed her belly gently.

"Is there anything I can do for you Milday?" Jarvis asked softly, nuzzling gently into her neck, placing kisses deliberately along her neck and shoulder.

"Well…" Flora began turning over as quickly as she could manage causing her husband to sidle backwards in fear of being crushed.

"I didn't mean right away!" He joked watching as Flora pouted. "Alright what is it, it just better not be another foot massage!"

"No…Just hold me and kiss me, don't stop kissing me." She whispered softly stroking his face lovingly.

"At your command Milady." He replied sliding as close as he could before pulling her into his arms and kissing her as gently as if it was their first kiss all over again.