Servants Series 6

by ss9

A wedding at last? Or is everything off? Taplows gains a new deputy housekeeper, another Adams who has more than enough secrets of her own and will Frank's plotting finally pay off?

1. Episode 1

Early the next morning Jarvis paced up and down the corridor outside the Earl's study, his lordship had summoned him an hour ago, and obligingly the butler had immediately left his half-eaten breakfast and headed upstairs. Huffing slightly he pulled out his pocket watch, checking the time, it was only a couple of minutes since he last checked but even so it had felt like much longer. What was the Earl doing, summoning him out of breakfast and then spending ages closeted with his solicitor when he knew only too well that his Butler was obediently waiting to see him, if it wasn't urgent then there were at least a hundred and one things Jarvis needed to be seeing to.

Jarvis's terrible mood was hardly enhanced by the fact he had hardly slept a wink, all the emotional turmoil of the day before had made resting peacefully impossible, whenever he closed his eyes he was assaulted with various disturbing images. Rubbing his forehead in an effort to dispel such thoughts from his mind, Jarvis silently wondered which was the worst, the lurid pictures of Flora and Will together in the stables, or that horrifying scenario between her and Frank or the absolute horror of suspecting that Keneally might actually be a Corey after all?

However the Butler wasn't given a long reprieve, turning on his heel to pace back the way he had came Jarvis suddenly came face to face with a very pale and nervous Flora Ryan. For a moment he was unable to rein in his emotions and a horrified Flora watched grief ridden as the whole range of disgust, anger, concern and pain flickered across his handsome features.

"What are you doing here?" Jarvis hissed, unwilling to broadcast their problems any further than possible; although from the titbits of gossip and hushed sniggers he had caught around the house he somewhat suspected the proverbial cat was already out of the bag.

"I…." Flora began, her voice wavering lacking her usual confidence and warmth.

"Yes?" Jarvis retorted tersely.

"I needed to see you, I couldn't make it to breakfast so I went to your office…Walter please we have to talk!" Flora whispered hurriedly, leaning against the wall for support as she look so pale that Jarvis thought she might keel over any moment.

"Shouldn't you be resting? I mean after everything it is hardly fair if the child suffers." Jarvis retorted ignoring her obvious attempts to make peace. "I hardly think we have anything other than it to discuss."

"But of course we do…" Flora began her voice rising as panic entered her voice. "It was a stupid, stupid mistake and I'm so sorry but I can't undo it, we have to talk about this…"

"Why?" Walter snapped. "Why do we have to talk about it? So you can provide me with yet more details to keep me awake at night, believe me Forest did that for you, I can't even bear to think about it let alone want to discuss it with you! "

"But you have to listen to me, give me a chance to explain…." Flora began desperately, closing the distance between them and clutching distraughtly at his sleeve

"Explain what exactly, why there is a perfectly legitimate and acceptable reason for you to let another man near you? When we started this relationship and you gave yourself to me you made a commitment to me and me alone, now there are something's I can learn to forgive but breaking that promise and acting like the household whore is not one of them!" Jarvis retorted cruelly his handsome face contorting into an expression of disgust as he tried to shake off the housekeeper's grasp.

"You can't mean that? You love me I know you do, you have to forgive me if not for your sake or mine then for the baby's…." Flora replied as she staggered backward.

"Don't you dare use our child as a pawn in all of this! This is about you and your inability to keep your thighs together, I will do my duty by my offspring I have no intention of abandoning them and if that means binding you to me in wedlock then I will do so, but let me make this clear now madam I have no intention of resuming our previous relationship! In fact I want you to stay out of my sight as much as possible but if I hear so much as a whisper that you have so much as looked at another man again then as god is my witness as soon as that child is born I will remove you from our lives by the most expedient means possible!" Jarvis hissed venomously.

"You wouldn't, you couldn't take my child away from me…" Flora retorted aghast.

"Lady if you don't follow my instructions to the letter I will and shall believe me, as the father my rights overrule yours, but if you behave yourself do as the doctor says, stay out of trouble and out of my way then I will continue to support you both financially otherwise…" Jarvis trailed off, locking her gaze and seeing her cower as his eyes bore into her's.

However before she could build up the courage or the argument to counter him, the double doors to the study were opened and the Earl's gruff voice could be heard from inside ordering the Butler to hurry up and come in; not even gracing her with a backwards glance Jarvis strode into the study, closing the double doors behind him.

Due to all the events of the previous day and their repercussions it wasn't really surprising that someone's impending arrival should be completely forgotten about. People were too busy being whispered to or whispered about for anyone to care about or even notice the dark-haired woman who was quite evidently having trouble dragging her own case along the bumpy cobbles of the courtyard, cursing with each thud as her skirts trailed in puddles and put paid to her pristine first impression. With a sigh, she peered through the open door and almost found her head being knocked off by a pretty, round-faced girl hurrying past her clutching a chamber pot at arm's length and muttering 'urgh I hope I NEVER get pregnant' in a soft Scottish brogue.

"Excuse me," the woman called out to the maid, stepping tentatively into the corridor, "could you be a good lassie and get someone to help me with my bags? The coachman seems to have disappeared!"

Lizzie whirled around to see a dainty, rather immaculately dressed middle-aged woman standing in front of her, obviously a little out of breath and flustered. It was quite obvious to Lizzie that this lady was certainly no aristocrat, and may have only been of quite modest means, so she was either there to visit somebody in employment at Taplows or she was a new employee. Lizzie paused for a moment, her young face creasing into a frown as she noticed something familiar about the woman but couldn't quite place it. Lizzie knew that she had never met her before, well she didn't think she had anyway, maybe the Scottish lilt she spoke with confused her slightly, but there was something about the eyes maybe. The maid ignored her thoughts and smiled, even though she was all too aware that she was greeting a complete stranger while holding a (at least covered up) vomit-filled chamber pot.

"Er, of course," Lizzie replied, wondering quite how to phrase the question 'who are you though?' without appearing rude. "But who are you though?" She eventually asked after only a little further thought.

The woman straightened up and began to unlace her bonnet, her eyes taking in her surroundings as she glanced around the place which was to be her new home, for now at least. "I am Mrs Watson to you, young lady, and who may you be?" Molly asked, raising her eyebrows and studying the girl as if something had struck her about her but couldn't quite think what.

"I am Elizabeth McDuff, Mrs Watson. Are you here to see Mrs Ryan?" Lizzie stepped a little closer to her as

Grace hurried past, turning her head and giving Molly only a cursory glance and slightly baffled smile before heading towards the still room.

Mrs Ryan was in a foul mood and Grace knew it wouldn't do her any good at all to not turn up on time to make the jam, and she recalled as she practically ran along the corridor how the housekeeper had already shouted shrilly at her and the other stillroom maids that morning that idle hands make for sacked maids. At one point she almost made poor Charlotte cry after she mentioned 'lemon curd' and 'Mr Jarvis' in the one sentence by telling her in most snappy tone in front of the other maids: "I very much hope you are not involved with the young doctor, Miss Lewis, for your own sake as Mr Jarvis is certainly in no mood for a romance amongst his staff and woe betide if he finds out! I am sick to the back teeth of you young ladies treating this place like it is no better than….than a house of ill repute, and I will not tolerate it!"

There had been a long silence after that, Charlotte and Grace unable to believe the sheer audacity and hypocrisy of their superior if the rumours were indeed true but never the less keeping quiet while silently beginning to peel and core apples for pressing, Charlotte obviously close to tears as she shakily dumped apples on the table. Feeling a little embarrassed after her unplanned outburst, Flora had fussed about with sugar for a short while then with a muttered excuse under her breath about accounts fled the stillroom, hiding her tear-stained eyes from her maids.

(Cut back to Molly and Lizzie) "Yes I am here to see Mrs Ryan, amongst others." Molly replied a little curtly. "I should be grateful if someone could show me to her so I can report my arrival. I'm sorry my dear I can't help thinking……do I know you from somewhere? You seem terribly familiar but I am unaware that we've met."

"I don't think so," Lizzie said as she glanced over Molly's shoulder to see Fred and Joe walking into view at the other end of the courtyard. "You never worked at Balmoral did you? That was my last house."

The two of them continued to chat for a short while longer, Lizzie all the while trying to catch the eye of one of the two footmen stood chatting, oblivious to the new visitor and her luggage on the step.

"I just don't know what's up with the woman." Fred moaned, leaning back against the wall and closing his eyes while Fred kicked around a stone. "I mean one minute she's all over me, the next she's ignoring me, like she's got someone better to snog or something. Every time I try to talk to her she completely ignores me, hey you don't think she knows about Isobel do you? Joe?"

But Joe hadn't heard a word of his friend's last two sentences. After getting quickly bored with the stone the footman had looked up and in the direction of Lizzie and a mysterious woman chatting in the courtyard doorway. His breath caught in his throat as the woman turned to see who the young maid was trying to attract the attention of, and immediately he felt the pit of his stomach leap and his eyes widen at the intensity of the warm feeling in his chest.

"Oi Joseph, did you hear a word I just said?" Asked Fred angrily, pulling away from the wall and poking Joe in the ribs. "JOE!"

But Joe continued to stare straight ahead, his eyes glued to the striking face which was looking at him in a mildly quizzical fashion. His heart began to beat wildly in his chest as Fred nattered away in his ear, and he could feel his knees go rather weak as the woman's intense gaze locked with his. Time stopped as he studied her slightly unconventionally pretty features, which he thought to be extremely beautiful, her brown wavy locks framing her face through her unlaced bonnet.

"Look mate," Joe whispered to Fred. "I really don't care about you and Annie, and who on earth is she?"

"You know full well who Annie is, why are you being…..?" Fred muttered, but trailed off when he saw that he had been so lost in his own problems he hadn't noticed his colleague staring at a complete stranger like she had put him under some sort of spell. "Oh aye, looks like we've got somebody new starting." Fred grinned, nudging Joe. "Why are you looking at her like that? Do you know her or something?"

"N….no, I don't know her, but by God I'd like to!" Joe admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

"Aw mate you can't be serious! She's too old for you, way out of your league!" Fred snorted loudly, but Joe didn't pay a blind bit of attention and slowly managed to walk towards the new love of his life.

"Joseph, this is Mrs Watson," Lizzie called, relieved that finally she could dash off and deal with the chamber pot before Lady Rebecca began to vomit over her Persian rug. "She is to report to Mrs Ryan, can you take her luggage?"

Joe nodded and grinned inanely at Molly, swearing that if he weren't black he would be blushing quite obviously by now. Suddenly he became very aware of his appearance – if only he had been wearing his full livery rather than just his casuals he may have been able to impress this rather interesting Mrs Watson, although he thought maybe she preferred men a little rough-and-ready.

"And you are?" Molly asked, cocking her head and examining Joe carefully but without any emotion.

"Oh yes," Joe coughed, his voice suddenly tight and croaky. "I'm Joseph James at your service Madam, if I could be of assistance."

"Well!" Molly beamed, clasping her gloved hands together and Lizzie nodded her farewell and dashed off to dump the pot and fetch Mrs Ryan. "You most certainly can be of assistance Mr James, bring in my bags and take them to the maid's quarters as I have yet to be assigned a room."

Joe quickly glanced over his shoulder to see Fred laughing silently at him and pointing, but Joe just furiously waved him away and hauled up the bags, his skin prickling in delight as his hand brushed against Molly's gloved fingers as he took a hat box from her grasp. Suddenly he felt his neck burning up, nearly toppling as he lead the way into the corridor but before he could utter something totally embarrassing and wholly inappropriate because of his state of mind Flora stormed up in a whirl of skirts and halted in front of a slightly startled Molly, her arms firmly folded and her jaw clenched tightly shut.

"I'm sorry I had forgotten you were coming today." Flora remarked bluntly, causing Molly to think that maybe she wasn't as sorry as she said. "I should have been here when you arrived, but now you're here please come with me to my office."

Flora turned on her heel and marched away, Molly glancing briefly at Joe's eager expression before picking up her skirts and hurrying after the housekeeper.

"Will Mr Jarvis be joining us?" Molly called to Flora, who seemed to be walking at far too an immense speed for the situation. "It's just that I thought………"

"I have no idea." Flora huffed as she flung open the door to her office. "Who knows what he plans to do, because I most certainly don't!"

Molly blinked in surprise at this, presuming there must be more to her mood than simply not knowing if the butler was going to attend their meeting. For a terrible moment she wondered what on earth she had let herself in for, but then Flora smiled forcefully and suggested tea and cakes may be in order before whirling out of the room to fetch them. Molly slowly sat down in the nearest chair and pulled her bonnet from her head, smoothening down her skirts and sighing thoughtfully. He MUST only be yards away from her, somewhere around here, she thought with a tinge of excitement building in her stomach.

She could imagine him out on a ride on his steed, looking dashing in his britches, the wind whistling through his hair, the rain drenching his shirt……….she was overjoyed when he had been to see her in Tappleton the previous night, even though he had slipped away in the small hours of the morning. They both knew the excuse of being on business could only be used so many times on his abhorrent wife that she would surely soon begin to suspect. But now Molly was going to be here, maybe it could be easier for both of them to keep their liaison quiet – he had told her that he suspected his wife of adultery with one of the valets, so she would be grateful of time 'alone' in her room and not really caring where her husband was, whether he be drinking brandy with the gentlemen in the library or participating in debauchery at the Hellfire Club.

There was no way, however, that her brother could find out – she knew she would be out on her ear as he wouldn't stand for such behaviour to lower the standard at Taplows. Although Andrew had done many things she knew he regretted, including the gambling, she always admired the respectable career he had managed to carve himself rather than working down the pit, and she didn't want to be found to be doing anything that could sully the good Adams name. She was a respectable widow, her husband was dead from an accident down the pit, that's all there was to it, and she had to remember to keep wearing black for the foreseeable future and crying sporadically just to get the message across.

Suddenly Molly heard footsteps behind her and presumed it was Flora back with refreshments. "Oh lovely!" She exclaimed, without turning round. "I do hope I'm not intruding if you are busy……"

"Well you are!" Boomed a stern voice, and quickly Molly leapt out of her chair in shock to see a handsome but furious-looking gentleman in rather a fine waistcoat glaring at her as if she were the devil himself. "Oh it didn't take you lot bloody long did it, eh!"

"I….I er…..not sure what you mean sir but I object to….." Molly stuttered, desperate for Flora to come back and settle the confusion, but Jarvis interrupted and stepped a little too closely to her for comfort.

"Oh don't come the innocent! I was tipped off one of you unscrupulous characters were hanging around the estate recently, that Ernie Boswell needs stringing up for the tripe he's been publishing in the Telegraph about this house lately, and you're his mole I take it! Well I'd have thought a journalist of his reputation would have been a little less cowardly than to send a woman to do his dirty work!"

"Ernie who!" Molly shrieked, backing away and frantically glancing out of the window in the hopes of enlisting some help. "I don't know any Ernie, and I certainly don't work for a newspaper!"

Jarvis huffed and marched around her, snatching up her bonnet which had fallen to the floor in Molly's haste and shoved it at her. He appeared mad and Molly feared he could possibly turn violent, and he certainly didn't seem to be listening to a word she said.

"And you have the complete gall to come into Mrs Ryan's office!" The butler raged. "What did you think you'd find, eh? Although I didn't think the likes of Boswell needed evidence before publishing lies and malicious gossip!"

But before Molly could explain exactly who she was, her voice caught in her throat as Jarvis grabbed her arm and frog-marched her to the door. "You can tell that snivelling little worm from me that if he sends anyone else round I will not be responsible for my actions in removing them from the premises – maybe it's about time he took some inspiration from his colleagues at the Telegraph and write some real news for a change!"

Molly gasped as Jarvis bundled her into the corridor, but just as he was about to 'escort' her to the door and throw her onto the step in a manner which had not so long ago happened to her in Glasgow, her saviour came dashing down the corridor calling out her name in alarm.

"Oh Andrew!" Molly cried as he approached, panting and staring at Jarvis' almost crazed expression. "Can you please tell this…this beast who I am before he has me hung, drawn and quartered!"

"Typical!" Snorted Jarvis, still gripping Molly's arm firmly. "Should've known the likes of you would be involved in such scummy activity, Mr Adams! Tell me, how much is Boswell paying you for information then, eh! Enough to pay me back the debt I REMEMBER you still owe me!"

"Mr Jarvis, sir." Adams began as calmly as he could, his blood boiling at the sight of Molly being man-handled.

"This is Molly Watson – my sister, sir! The one who is starting today, remember?"

Jarvis frowned and loosened his hold on Molly, all three of them failing to notice Flora approaching quietly, a tray of tea and cakes firmly in her shaking grip as she looked on at Walter's behaviour in horror. Adams leant forward and kissed his sister on the cheek in greeting.

"Oh yes, I….I forgot, so much happening lately, I…." Jarvis trailed off, dropping Molly's arm and shifting awkwardly in embarrassment. "Forgive me, Mrs Watson, that was unbelievably rude of me, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions." He muttered quietly.

"No you certainly shouldn't!" Agreed Molly in most irritated tone. "I am amazed that YOU are Mr Jarvis, I have heard so much about you which went contrary to your behaviour just now. Now dear brother, I was WAITING for Mrs Ryan to return with tea so I will find you in a short while – will you be joining us Mr Jarvis?"

"Yes, will you, Mr Jarvis?" Flora asked firmly as she approached, raising her eyebrows questioningly as the butler tried to hide his shame. "Surely you will want to talk to Mrs Watson before deciding on her probation?"

"No, I will leave her to you Mrs Ryan," Jarvis replied curtly, refusing to look her in the eye and glancing at his pocket watch instead. "I am sure you know better than I what you want in a deputy, so if you will excuse me." He nodded politely but sternly at Molly, but this did nothing to remove the sour expression on her face while she watched the most tyrannical butler she had ever had the displeasure to meet march off growling "don't you have a job to do rather than standing there gawping, Mr Adams!"

"Is he always like that?" Molly whispered to Flora, who was staring after him wistfully.

"Not always." Flora replied, emotion beginning to strain her voice. Suddenly she shook her head and smiled, her gaze falling on the tray and her tone brightening. "Right let's get this tea drunk, can't have it going cold now can we."

Molly agreed, not really wishing to know the obvious history between the housekeeper and butler at Taplows just yet, there would be plenty of time for that she was sure. Anyway if gossip spread as wildly as it did in her last house before she married then she would probably know everything there was to know by the end of the day, whether she asked or not. Besides, she had her own priorities, the first being to negotiate the duties of a new role at Taplows – Mrs Ryan's deputy or under-housekeeper, which seemed a bit of a mouthful. She was a little confused as to the reasoning behind the role, surely Mrs Ryan had been here long enough to cope with her day-to-day duties by now without any assistance. No, there had to be another reason, but, once again, she was sure she would find out soon enough. Her second priority was to find him, whether it be just for a little wave, a stolen kiss, or maybe more. It would also be of great interest to her to discover who exactly this alleged mysterious valet lover of his wife's is. All in all, Molly Watson knew she was in for a very busy few days, one way or another.

The still room had become unbearably tense after Mrs Ryan's outburst and the maids present were relieved when she disappeared. Grace looked nervously at the tearful Charlotte for a moment, before speaking.

Grace: I wonder what's got into her this morning? All the maids around the room shrug, save Charlotte, who was concentrating on cutting a new batch of apples, far too much, gripping her knife incredibly hard. The other maids in the room, begin to leave, leaving the rest of the jam making to Grace and Charlotte, while they went about their other business. You'll loose a finger if you are not careful. We'd have to call for the doctor AGAIN, when he's only just left. He almost lives here, must like the scenery. She suddenly wished she'd thought what she was saying before she said it. Charlotte looked up at her suddenly, her eyes full of tears.

Charlotte: What's that suppose to mean?

Grace: Nothing. I- I didn't mean it like that Charlotte.

Charlotte: Of course you didn't! Standing up

Grace: Charlotte! As she storms out, bumping into George in the doorway.

George: You alright?

Charlotte: Just leave me alone! She disappears down the corridor and Grace and George both bite their bottom lips glancing at each other.

George: Everyone in this house is in a right foul mood this morning. Jarvis, even Fred, I think he's having a bit of woman trouble. Only Adams seems happy… for a change. Oh and apparently Joe has fallen head over heels in love… or summit. George shakes his head No idea where Will has got too.

Grace: Well it's probably best if you don't lurk around here, if Mrs Ryan comes back and catches you… god you might as well stab yourself. They both sigh heavily.

George: There must be summit in the water around this place.

Grace: Either that or…

George: What? puzzled about what was going around

Grace: Haven't you heard what is going around? George raises an eyebrow. Grace looks around the room and beckons him closer. The housekeeper's extra order of soap. George just looks puzzled. Apparently she's been getting the sheets dirty with not only Jarvis. George tries to feign a curious expression, guessing what Grace was talking about and beginning to get a little worried for both the housekeeper and the gentleman in question. George tried to gasp, but it came a little too late. You don't seem very shocked? Did you already know?

George: Who told you this Grace?

Grace: It's been going around everywhere.

George: It's probably just some silly concoction of Johnny Boot's mind, him trying to get attention again, that's why I wasn't surprised. Grace sighs

Grace: Maybe you are right, but… what if there is some truth behind it. Just look at them… we all know he has been lusting after her for ages and her relationship with Jarvis is not exactly stable, all it takes it one tearful argument and one glance of lust.

George: Maybe it's true, maybe it isn't. But it's not any of your business or anyone else's around here. Do you really think Mrs Ryan and Will deserve this? Never mind Jar-

Grace: I didn't say his name! George's face quickly screws up as he tries to think hard. It is true! Bloody hell! She exclaims

George: Listen Grace. Trying to calm her down, as she jumped up and down Don't make a big deal out of this. Alright? Don't say anything to anyone will y-? But he is cut off, as she grabs him by the collar

Grace: Tell me everything! Sighing George, pulled Grace's hand off him and sat her down, settling down next to her, dreading to think what would happen if Mrs Ryan returned, never mind him just being there, but talking about her sex life too… well he'd probably get more than a clap around the ear. He began to explain, enjoying the look of disbelief and excitement on her face, as he gave her his own comical version.

George: It was only the once. becoming more serious, trying to make himself heard over her raucous giggling. But I could tell he wanted it to be more. He's infatuated with the poor woman. Grace begins to giggle harder, gasping for breath, collapsing on him.

Grace: I… haven't… laughed… this… hard… since… we… heard… what… Jarvis… wrote… in… Stanwick's… character.

George: After we'd got out of his wardrobe of course. Grace nods. She began to calm down and looked up at him, still leaning on him.

Grace: We had some funny experiences. George nods, gazing at her. Why does everything have to suddenly become so serious?

George: You've finally become to get more mature. Grace snorts with laughter through her nose. We have to grow up someday… unfortunately. She nods Although I'm planning to get most out of my youth as possible.

Grace: You are right.

George: What?

Grace: All this! I wanted to leave and make everything so… serious, but if you compare us to Mrs Ryan, we are spring chickens and she's still making the most out of her life…

George: …Or totally ruining… whichever way you look at it. I mean I personally feel sorry for Jarvis. You can the most out of your own life, without up everyone else's in the process… Jarvis's, Will's… and by your description of her mood, her own too.

Grace: Well we won't up anyone else's in the process. He nods and they both smile. Deal?

George: Deal.

Grace: Spit on it? George nods, spitting on his hand and shaking it with Grace's. There is silence for a moment, while they both just gaze at each other for a moment, before leaning in and kissing tenderly… if only for a brief moment, as Fred appeared from the middle of nowhere and stop George that he better run along if he wanted to keep his bs, as both Mrs Ryan and Mr Jarvis were wandering about, and as George and Grace knew, neither were in a terrific mood.

Later that day an exhausted Flora Ryan headed back to her office, tired and alone she slumped into her fireside chair resting her weary head on her hand as she rubbed her throbbing head. Today had to count as one of the worst days of her life, well in the top ten at least the worst days were reserved for that awful day she had lost her first child and yesterday and all the horrors that had been wrought upon her. Suddenly she couldn't hold it back any longer, the pain and loneliness hit her like a tidal wave and she was unable to restrain the sobs that wracked her slender frame. Her life was over there was nothing save the child she now carried that was worth living for and even that Walter had threatened to take from her.

She had lost the man she loved, her pride, any shred of respect that her staff still had for her, she had seen the way they had all looked at her today, beyond the tinge of fear at her off the wall behaviour she had seen the smug glances and heard the muttered rumours. It was at such times she wondered why she didn't just leave, surely if she had lost Walter for good then it would be better to take her chances alone and away from Taplows, rather than remain here and have a daily reminder of what her stupidity had cost her. But deep down she knew she wasn't strong enough, she needed him even if he couldn't bear the sight of her just to be able to see him speak to him on occasion would have to be enough, as she truly believed him when he said he could never forgive her.

It wasn't long before the exhausted woman had cried herself to sleep and it was there slumped over her desk fast asleep that Jarvis found after she had missed dinner. For a moment he simply stood and watched as she slept, when she was awake he could barely look at her afraid at what he might see in her eyes and the affect it might have on his resolve; but when she slept he was free to gaze on her and ponder the complexities of their situation. He knew that they would have to marry and part of him felt that was an almost fitting revenge, he could ensure that she would never look on another man with love again and take away any chance of her living happily ever after especially with any conniving footman that foolishly thought he had a chance. She would be bound by law to obey him, something she had scarcely done when they were actually together, and besides it was the only way the child could emerge from this debacle relatively unscathed.

It was he walked around the desk that he noticed her tear stained face, some droplets still clung to her cheeks twinkling like diamonds in the firelight, and he had to fight the natural impulse to reach out and brush them away. Part of him couldn't help worrying about her, she was obviously distraught, missing meals and pushing herself too hard again and he couldn't help but recall the last time and the terrible extreme she almost went to. He had to ensure she took care of both herself and the baby, but yet still remain distant, the last thing he could allow was for her to use the pregnancy to ensnare him once more into loving her. For a moment he considered carrying her upstairs she was obviously exhausted which was not surprising but the doctor had stressed the importance of rest, after all they were not out of the woods yet, but at the last minute he pulled away; he couldn't bring himself to touch her, knowing that deep down once he did he would find it too difficult to stop.

Suddenly Jarvis made his decision striding over to her office door he seized the handle and slammed the door shut causing the sleeping woman to start suddenly from her nightmares.

"Walter…" Flora began rubbing at her eyes and quickly swiping at the few remaining tears as if determined not to reveal how vulnerable she was.

"Mrs Ryan." Jarvis countered coolly. "I think you will find that his lordship as provided each of his staff with beds to sleep on so that they have no need to use their desks!"

"I didn't mean to, I was so tired…" Flora began once more.

"Well whose fault is that the doctor told you to rest, but I suppose you are above taking medical advice just as you are above considering anybody else's feelings!" Jarvis snorted in reply.

"Walter please don't…" Flora trailed off once more fighting back the tears as exhaustion overwhelmed her.

"No Madam you are going to sit there and listen to what I have to say without interruptions! I am only here to inform you of my decision regarding my child and our 'situation'…"

"It's our child." Flora injected quietly but still Jarvis glared at her as if she had shouted him down.

"Yes 'ours' as I have daily reason to regret! But as I was saying in order to protect the child it is a regrettable necessity that we should marry as soon as possible, a marriage of convenience, in order to protect my child from the stigma of illegitimacy. It is my only regret that I cannot lift the stigma of its having a whore for a mother…"

"Stop it!" Flora snapped

"Why it is the truth after all!" Jarvis retorted.

"No its not, in my entire life the only person I have ever really loved has been you and no matter how you treated me, ignored me, humiliated me, deliberately went out of your way to manipulate and control me I took it all and loved you despite all of it. I can't count the many times I've forgiven you, first for keeping a wife from me, then believing you when you said nothing happened with that hussy Cat Stanwick, then abandoning me when you found out I was pregnant till of course you got all jealous that someone else would be a better man than you…I can't count the many times you've pushed our love to breaking point and now because I make one mistake, a huge mistake I don't deny it but one time I let you down, us down and I'm to be thrown on the slag heap, branded a whore because in my entire life I have lain with two different men. Well what's your count eh Walter? Or should we perhaps have a different category for paid whores…"

(Slap)

The short sharp backhand across the cheek rang out, and Flora staggered backwards in shock clutching at her throbbing cheek and immediately Jarvis regretted it.

"I'm sorry." He blurted out. "I didn't mean to…I just…"

"It's alright." Flora gasped sitting down in the fireside chair. "I probably deserved it; most men would have done far worse I'm sure." She added staring at the floor.

"That is still not a good enough excuse." Jarvis added as he paced the room in obvious distress, he had never hit a woman before, he had been tempted on more than a few situations but either he or someone else had always been there to restrain his temper but now he had struck the very woman carrying his child.

"What did you want to say before?" Flora asked nervously, her eyes fixed on the floor as she held her still throbbing cheek. "I promise I won't interrupt this time." She added softly.

"Well…We both know despite everything we still need to marry for the child's sake but that must be the end of it Flora if we don't we'll just end up destroying each other, and I'm sure that you realise your condition will prevent you taking your little jaunt with Mrs Harrison!" Jarvis added determinedly. "It is time you started to look after yourself properly, the whole point of employing Mrs Watson was so that you would finally start taking things easy, as I have no intention of putting myself through this charade for nothing!"

"And after the child is born, what then?" Flora softly, but her poignant question threw the Butler.

"Well then we will have to see what is best for the child, I have no desire to take it away from you I am not that callous and despite our problems I have no doubt you would make a loving mother if not a faithful wife!" Jarvis added bitterly.

"I wouldn't make the same mistake again!" Flora insisted, raising her eyes from the floor to gaze at him imploringly.

"Well I'm sorry if I choose not to chance my heart on your less than reliable word!" Jarvis snapped. "This madam is the only deal available to you, unless you fancy abject poverty and an early death in the workhouse, so I suggest you think very carefully before pushing me further."

Unable to trust her voice Flora slowly nodded, unable to suppress the tiny flicker of hope that once they were married and the baby had been born he might grow to care for her again, that the lure of a happy family might prove stronger than Walter's resolve. However before either of them could speak again there was an insistent knock on the door and before Walter could tell them to enter the door had been flung open and in stormed Emily Corey.

"Mother…" Jarvis began but Emily cut him off mid sentence.

"Is it true?" She demanded looking from a baffled Jarvis to a confused looking Flora.

"Is what true?" Jarvis snapped.

"What I've heard some maids gossiping about, that you're not getting married because…because Flora and…" Emily trailed off unable to even speak aloud the words.

"No it is not!" Jarvis lied, unable to bear telling his mother the awful truth and shattering her dream of a loving extended family. "We are getting married in fact we were just discussing it."

"But the rumours…" Emily began.

"Are all the sick concoction of Mr Keneally!" Jarvis retorted. "He's decided that as he can't seem to hurt me in any other way he will try to get to me through tarnishing my reputation, I mean why would Flora have any need to…." Jarvis paused unable to say the words 'take a lover' as the thought still made his stomach turn.

Sighing in relief Emily strode over to the housekeeper drawing her into a tight embrace. "Oh Flora dear I am so relieved, I knew it couldn't be true you would never do that to Walter but it's just everyone seemed so certain about it!"

"It's that bastard Keneally Mother, he's fed the lower servants this complete pack of lies which of course they would much rather believe than the truth, well it won't do him any good Flora and I will still marry before I leave for India and she is to remain at Taplows, and that will be an end to the matter." Jarvis added with an air of finality.

"But the lower servants, what are you going to do…" Emily began pulling away and glancing at Flora properly for the first time since she had entered the room, noticing immediately the red eyes and the usual red marks across her cheek. "Flora what on earth happened!"

"Ohh…well it's embarrassing really." Flora began hesitantly. "I mean you would think I would be able to deal with a bit of gossip but I overheard the same rumours as you and well I was so upset I wasn't looking where I was going, it was so stupid I just didn't see the door opening and I walked right into it…" Flora babbled unable to prevent the tears that sprung to her eyes.

"Oh you poor dear no wonder you didn't come to dinner, who knows what people would have thought." Emily replied soothingly, believing every word the housekeeper uttered, after all who could possibly conceive of the idea of Walter laying a finger on the woman he loved.

"Yes well it's getting late and Flora needs her rest." Jarvis prompted, giving his mother a pointed look.

"Oh of course you'll want your privacy, I'll just go." Emily replied moving towards the door before turning and adding. "I am so sorry I jumped to the wrong conclusion."

A few moments after she had left the pair still sat in silence Flora's eyes locked steadfastly on the fire flickering in the grate whilst Jarvis continued to stare at the door his mother had just left through.

"Thank you." Flora whispered.

"What?" Jarvis asked confused.

"For not telling her the truth, she would hate me and I couldn't bear to go through this alone." Flora added softly.

"Yes well there was no need to tell her everything. It is necessary for both our reputations that we quash these rumours as quickly as possible so there will be no more public outbursts or arguments, as far as the world and his wife is concerned we are a happy couple about to marry and have our first child. From now on we will both attend every meal and when others are present we will treat each other as such, no airing dirty laundry in public and no moping around like a wet weekend; do you understand?" Jarvis demanded.

"Yes Walter." Flora answered obediently, unable to stand against the tide any longer.

Satisfied the Butler strode towards the door pausing for a moment on the threshold, looking back over his shoulder he studied Flora for a moment she looked completely brow beaten, almost a shadow of the woman he had known and loved. "Thank you for not telling her what I did." He added softly before turning and leaving her alone to her thoughts.

Although it was late, Molly Watson had much on her mind as she headed slowly towards Flora Ryan's office in the hopes of catching her before she retired. Smiling to herself, she concluded that her first day had gone quite well in the end considering its less than inviting start, although Mr Jarvis' obvious desire to avoid her as much as possible didn't upset her in the slightest – in fact she was quite glad such an impolite man was out of her way to let her get on with her new duties. At realising the lateness of the hour, Molly quickened her pace down the corridor to Mrs Ryan's office to ask her whether she should put the bundle of linen in her possession in the linen cupboard or take them upstairs, although the main thoughts racing through her mind were hardly to do with household chores.

She had managed to see him as dusk fell over Taplows, from an upstairs window at the front of the house. He was out in the crispness of the evening, exercising quite vigorously on the lawn causing him to pant and sweat, much to her private pleasure. He had unfastened his shirt and rolled up his sleeves before energetically performing press-ups, quite obviously concentrating hard and looking extremely rugged and attractive with it. It saddened her, however, to see the frustration on his face; the only way he could expel the anger her felt towards his unfeeling, whore of a wife for the abhorrent and demeaning way she treated him was through physical exertion and mental toughness and sometimes this only served to increase the distance between him and Molly and make her wonder sometimes if it was all worth it. But she loved him, more than her own life, and that certainly made the heartache and the longing worthwhile. It was this very thought that lingered in Molly's mind as she turned the corner, her eyes firmly focused on the floor, when a certain whistling footman came belting around the very same corner and collided with her, sending the neatly folded sheets flying out of her grasp and landing crumpled on the bare floor.

"Oh, I'm….I'm so sorry," Joe stuttered, taking a moment to realise exactly who he had run straight into. "Here, let me help!" He announced a little too keenly.

"No, it's fine Mr James, really it is……." Molly began, a little put-out at the intrusion, glancing only briefly at the instantly nervous footman and smiling reassuringly.

"Joe! Call me Joe. I'm not into all that formality." Joe beamed, roughly snatching up a sheet and dropping it again without taking his eyes off Molly's pinking cheeks. "Oh look at me," he laughed nervously. "I'm all fingers and thumbs today, don't know what's wrong with me."

"Really Joe, let me do it." Molly stated firmly, but Joe simply ignored her and began piling the sheets haphazardly into her arms. With a tut Molly rolled her eyes and allowed him to help, obviously he wanted to show willing to the new member of staff and a little friendliness from some could make up for hostility from others. "Well thank you Joe, very gentlemanly of you." She nodded and smiled around the increasingly large pile of linen as Joe heaped on the last sheet.

"Are you sure you don't want me to help you put them away?" Joe urged, his eyes widening pleasingly as he took in Molly's features and complexion properly for the first time.

"What?" Molly raised her eyebrows teasingly. "Are you suggesting, Mr James – sorry, Joseph – that you and I be alone in the laundry room together?"

Immediately Joe's chest tightened and his breath caught in his throat, and he could feel the sweat beginning to form on his forehead and temples. If only she knew how much her teasing had got to him, he thought as his legs turned numb and his mouth dried up completely. "No, certainly not Mrs Watson, I would never think………!" Joe managed to breathe, shaking his head emphatically and trying to push all indecent thoughts to the back of his mind with little success.

"It's alright laddie, I'm only having a wee joke, I didn't really think you were saying such a thing! Now I'd better hurry along and find Mrs Ryan, I know what you footmen are like you're probably missing out on the latest scam so get away with you!" Molly smiled again, causing Joe to grin even more widely, and hurried past him, the corner of her sleeve brushing delightfully along his hand as his nostrils breathed in a subtle floral scent - possibly rose - which hung on the slight breeze her movement stirred, and this gave him an instant idea. He stood alone for a moment pondering until his self-absorbance was rudely disturbed.

" 'Oh sorry Mrs Watson, I would get into your bloomers but I'm all fingers and thumbs today!'" Came a hushed snigger from the stairwell as Fred came sliding down the banister and landed with a thud in front of his unimpressed colleague. "Listen to you, since when have you said the phrase 'I'm all fingers and thumbs' in your entire life Joseph James?"

"Oh ps off will you Fred, I'm not in the mood for your insolence and downright idocy!" Joe snorted, turning on his heel and marching off towards the footman's room to bed.

"No, you're in the mood for luuuurve!" Fred cackled, draping himself over Joe's shoulders and reaching round and rubbing his hands up and down his chest.

"Anyway what's with all the fancy words, trying to better yourself for Mrs Watson? She won't give you a second glance mate so you might as well stop now, anyway she's a widow she's in mourning and stuff, she's hardly about to sneak off to the Orangery for a quick one now is she?"

"You didn't see how she looked at me, she had a certain glint in her eye." Joe sighed, smiling to himself. He could feel that he would have a chance with her, but only if her persued her in a very proper and gentlemanly fashion, none of the quick gropes Fred Matkin was used to with women. No, a lady of Mrs Watson's refinement needed wooing, not being felt up in the stillroom at night. "That woman is about as in mourning as you and I were over Lord Hugo, mate. There's something about her, something……..special, interesting, maybe hiding a secret."

"Hey!" Fred nudged Joe eagerly, lowering his voice to an insistent whisper. "You don't think that she killed her husband do you, poisoned his dinner! Maybe she wanted him out of the way for all her fancy men and his secret stash of money, she's a cold-blooded murderer!"

"Shut it Fred, she's no such thing!" Joe retorted, storming into the footman's room which was inevitably still unoccupied at 11 o'clock at night. "I can tell she's gentle, caring woman with a lot of love to give."

"Give to you, you mean?" Fred smiled slyly, winking at the very serious-looking footman. "Every night in the stables – I hear they're the place to be these days!"

---

After her encounter with Joseph James, Molly thought to herself that his helpfulness was surely due to the fact that she was Mr Adams' sister, and should do everything to keep her on his side so not to endure one of her brother's infamous beatings. Although she had to admit that it was quite refreshing to be the source of attention of a young footman, even if it was for his own selfish reasons. With her mind wandering back to a certain aristocrat flexing his muscles on the lawn, she tapped on Flora's door and tentatively stepped inside the darkened room, calling out her name.

"Mrs Ryan, are you in here? I'm not quite sure what you want me to do with these sheets. Mrs Ryan?" Molly's gaze fell upon a figure sitting bent over in a chair as the chill of the room suddenly struck her; the fire was burning extremely low considering the more than brisk outside temperature and she shivered slightly. "Mrs Ryan are you alright? You're shivering." Molly said softly, placing the sheets on Flora's writing table and stepping slowly towards her. But it was when Flora raised her head that Molly could see very clearly she hadn't been shivering at all but sobbing, her eyes were red and puffy and there was a rather nasty red mark across her cheek.

Molly gasped, clasping her hand over her mouth in shock as Flora instinctively jumped to her feet, turning away and hiding her face hurriedly.

"Just put them in the laundry, they're not needed upstairs." Flora said as firmly as she could muster, trying to sound as if nothing was wrong, but her voice broke half way through the sentence and fresh tears began to roll down her flushed cheeks.

"My dear, what is wrong?" Molly questioned as she reached out and touched Flora reassuringly on the arm. "I understand if you don't want to talk about it, but….."

But suddenly, completely unexpectedly, Flora let out a loud sob and swung round, burying her face in Molly's shoulder as her shoulders shook in hopelessness, her legs giving way as she began to collapse sorrowfully. Molly soothed her, guessing immediately that this must have something to do with that fearsome butler, and lowered her into her chair as she stuffed a fresh handkerchief from her skirt pockets into Flora's quivering and ice-cold hands.

"I've been such a fool! Such a complete and utter fool!" Flora cried, furiously dabbing her tired and irritated eyes.

"I'm sure you're not, Mrs Ryan." Molly pulled up a chair next to her and wrapped her arms around Flora's shoulders to try to warm up the freezing housekeeper.

"I went to see Lady Rebecca, but after everything with Lord Hugo I just can't burden her with my worries too what with her expecting twins, and so I feel I've nobody to turn to, but I've brought it all upon myself, he had every right to do what he did, I keep telling myself!" Flora wailed, desperately trying to justify Jarvis' actions to herself as much as Molly. She pulled away from Molly's shoulder and blew her nose hard as the new servant simply stared at her in confusion before finally speaking.

"Who had every right to do what? You're in a most dreadful state, I can't believe that anybody could be justified in upsetting you this much, dear." Molly soothed, patting Flora's hands and smiling her best reassuring smile.

"You just don't know……….I've treated him so badly, it's not surprising that he is so angry, but with the baby on the way………."

Molly sighed deeply, shaking her head in forcing Flora to look straight at her. "You're making no sense, start at the beginning, I can't offer any advice – if you pardon me being so bold – if you don't tell me exactly what the problem is. Whatever you've done it can't be worse than anything I have seen or heard….or even done myself."

So, with a deep breath and a weak smile of apology, Flora started at the beginning, about the start of her relationship with Walter, about the baby, Mrs Stanwick, their separation over the summer and finally she confessed about Frank's attempted rape and about Will, the dark secret hidden in her heart until Frank went and destroyed her life. After she was done, both women sat in silence for a moment until Molly walked over to the fire and stoked it, the chill in the air becoming colder the longer they both stayed still.

"Did Mr Jarvis do that to you?" Molly finally asked, her eyes studying the red blotches Flora was sporting.

"I told his mother….I told her I walked into a door." Flora muttered, her hand rising to her cheek and running her fingers across the small bump which had risen because of the force of the blow.

"But you didn't though, did you." Molly demanded, her voice a little low and dangerous, but Flora seemed to miss the knowing sadness in her tone. "He hit you, just like men like him do. I can spot them a mile off, they think they can get away with hitting women and they don't have to face the consequences, and Flora you're pregnant! How could he!"

"I told you, he's not always like that, he has such a loving, caring side to him, he does love me I know he does, his hatred of what I did has clouded his judgement, he's not himself!" Flora said defensively, still feeling the need to almost condone Jarvis' actions. Molly tutted in disagreement, sniffing out a bitter laugh and roughly folding her arms.

"Listen, I know, I've been through it myself." Molly confessed, lowering her eyes and staring into the flickering flames as they lapped happily around the coal. "First it starts with one hit, then the apology, then for a while it's fine. But then he starts accusing you of sleeping with men you haven't even met before, calling you every name under the sun, horrible, awful things no self-respecting man should say. Then the second hit happens, but this time he doesn't stop, his fists won't stop thumping your face, and stomach, calling you a barren whore, and……….I'm sorry…….." Molly's voice went higher and higher as she choked on emotion, recalling her nightmare of a life with Henry. For a moment Flora forgot about her own worries and dashed over to Molly, the sadness on her face replaced with concern.

"I would give you a handkerchief, but you've just given me yours." Flora flustered, but Molly smiled through her springing tears and couldn't help but let out a laugh at the state of the two of them.

"Oh my, would you look at us two? Both as bad as each other!" She exclaimed, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. Flora smiled and nodded, chuckling gently and settling herself back into her chair.

"I'm so sorry, I had no idea." Flora muttered, in a strange way feeling a little relieved it wasn't just her who seemed to suffer in life. "But I can assure you, Mrs Watson, my Walter isn't like that, he wouldn't."

"What will you do?" Molly asked seriously, frowning at the frail woman before her. "Although it doesn't seem like you're left with much choice."

Flora bit her bottom lip and shrugged, her hand nursing her stomach as warmth began to finally seep through her tired bones. "I will have to marry him. But I love him so much, I really do, but it's as if at first he put me on some sort of pedestal, and won't accept me for my faults, and I…..sorry I'm going on again, that's all you need after your recent loss."

"I think," Molly smiled sympathetically, "That you need a good night's sleep and plenty of rest. Things may look a little, well, brighter in the morning. Look, stay in bed a little longer in the morning, I'm here now, and I can take some pressure off you."

Flora nodded gratefully, climbing to her weary feet. "Yes, thank you so much, I'm so glad you're here Mrs Watson."

"Oh for goodness sake," Molly exclaimed, waving her hand dismissively. "Call me Molly, Mrs Watson makes me feel so old. Now come on, to bed! And if I see that Walter of yours I'll give him a piece of my mind…..!"

"No!" Flora whispered in horror, grabbing Molly's arm and pulling her close. "Please, don't breathe a word, not to him, or anyone! Please Mrs Wa…..Molly. Please!"

"Of course, of course, I was only joking." Molly replied hurriedly, drawing Flora into another comforting hug.

"You must forgive my Scottish bluntness, although I'm sure you're used to it with my brother working here!"

"Yes, your brother is certainly a….a character." Flora smiled, for the first time in what felt like days.

Molly giggled, completely unaware to what Flora could be thinking. The housekeeper felt almost amused at the thought of Molly finding out exactly what antics her brother had been up to in the bedroom department, although somehow she was sure a feisty lass like Molly Watson could certainly take it all in her stride.

"Well some pressure will be taken off when those damned Hamilton-Husseys return to Scotland." Flora said, but instantly regretted such a derisory comment when she saw the concerned expression spread on Molly's usually composed face. "Oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't be so rude about our masters, I didn't mean to…."

"Are they leaving?" Molly interrupted, desperately trying not to sound alarmed in the slightest.

"I hope so, eventually! They've been hanging round for weeks, that horrific Lady Francesca and her sop of a husband, they don't know what frustration and hardship is." Flora observed, heading towards the door ahead of Molly so not hearing her cursing under her breath at the notion that her lover could soon be leaving her. With a sigh, the two women bid each other goodnight, both distracted with their own troubling thoughts but pleased they had formed what they hoped would be a firm and lasting friendship.

The next morning at breakfast, the lower servants were all huddled around the dining room in groups, whispering away, all about the same thing… a certain housekeeper and footman.

George: There are never gonna get tired of this one are they? he whispers to Grace and Lizzie, who shake their heads.

Joe: What's up with you three sulking about?

Fred: Lizzie's jealous, she's been dying to get a piece of Will for ages and George is pissed off that Will got a bit of Flora Ryan, I mean she is reserved for the best, butler's and chef's not footmen. They all ignore him, as Joe snorts

George: Don't know what you are laughing at Mr James! You think that some under-housekeeper is gonna look at you. Joe turns to glare at Fred, who is sniggering into his hands.

Joe: You shouldn't listen to a word Fred says!

Grace: Have you seen Charlotte this morning? Lizzie shakes her head. Grace glanced around the room once more that was odd, Charlotte never missed breakfast. She began to hope desperately that she was alright, she'd seemed so happy recently… and you didn't need to have a brain larger than a pea to know why. Maybe I should go and check she is alright. They nod slightly and squish up so she can pull her legs over the bench.

Fred glancing around, to check no one was listening: Where did you get to last night? Eh? One minute I'm telling you all about Joe's little conversation with the lovely Mrs Molly Watson and then suddenly you disappeared.

George doesn't answer, just smirks to himself. Alright you lucky sod! Who was it! smacking him on the shoulder

George: You really wanna know? raising his eyebrow to emphasis his point

Fred: I bloody well do.

George: Both Izzy and Annie… oh no hang on, sorry that is you. Fred jumps up quickly, glancing around to check neither of the ladies in question was lurking around, planning on clinging to him as he finished his breakfast and got up to leave. But to his relief neither were about, glaring at George, he leaped over the bench.

Fred: You better be keeping your mouth shut about that. And to Grace aswell. Do you hear me!

George: Awwwwwwww, was Joe not the only one who didn't get laid last night? Have they both discovered their five senses? Fred storms in the direction of the door, leaving George to snigger quietly to himself. He knew he should be getting worried, planning what he was going to do about this census. He should be trying to sniff Keneally out, find out what he knew, but to be honest with himself he just couldn't be bothered. For the first time in a few weeks, he was calm and… relatively happy. He should find Grace every time he needed to relax, cause she had certinately done the job last night.

Upstairs, Grace was stood in the doorway to the maids room, nervously looking at Charlotte, who was sat at the window, looking out across the lawns.

Grace: Charlotte? Grace had been stood their for a good 5 minutes, but Charlotte had been in her own little world and jumped quickly, spinning around. Gasping to get her breath back when she saw Grace stood there. Hon, are you alright? She nods vaguely and turns her attention back to the window for a moment before spinning back round and hissing.

Charlotte: What the hell am I doing Grace! She sprung up from her chair and dug her nails into her hair, leaving big lumps in it when she pulled her hands away.

Grace: I don't know what you mean. she whispers softly.

Charlotte: Letting myself get swept away! I should know better! I've always been taught to do things better than that and always have! She sighs and rests her heavy head against the wall.

Grace: Is this about what Mrs Ryan said yesterday?

Charlotte: Yes and no. she whispers

Grace: Listen Charlotte, I'm sure she didn't mean it, she's upset, have you heard some of the rumours going around-

Charlotte: What would my parents say if they knew!

Grace: They won't ever find out. She stated reassuringly, walking across the room and laying a soft hand on Charlotte's arm.

Charlotte: I can't lie to them, I can't go against everything they ever taught me.

Grace: But what about you've taught yourself over the last few weeks, eh? What had she taught herself? To take chances? To go after what she wanted? Her teary eyes fell on her bed and the letter lay there. She should open it, she'd been so tempted to just burn it, maybe if she didn't see him for a while he'd forget about her… but if she didn't open it, it'd eat her up inside. Who's the letter from? following her gaze

Charlotte: He said he was going to arrange to meet me on my next day off.

Grace: Why don't you open it then if that is all he wants to know. I thought we were past this Charlotte, then one day one person says something and you back away again, if I did that every time I someone said something to me to Grace I would never have got anywhere near where I am now. Have you considered having a proper conversation with the doctor about this? Charlotte shakes her head Well then it seems simple from my eyes my dear, meet up with him on your day off and talk to him.

Charlotte: But what do I say? suddenly panicking. Grace smiles at her and whispers

Grace: You will know what to say, when you know what your heart wants to scream.

It was not often Grace was wrong, she always landed on her feet so her advise had to work out somehow. Smiling softly at her she reached for the letter and ripped it open, in a few seconds later realised what she wanted to say, and it was all coming from the heart.

However if the staff had thought that they were going to have an easy morning then they were mistaken, barely minutes after the junior servants had begun piling the plates from breakfast and clearing the table in marched Mr Jarvis, trailing in his wake came the new under-housekeeper Mrs Watson and then much to their surprise a still bruised and battered William Forest, but as Fred delighted in pointing out there was no sign of Mrs Ryan.

"Jarvis has probably got her locked in her room, afraid that the rest of the footmen will try and get in her petticoats, well all except Joe we all know whose petticoats he's got an eye and it ain't Mrs Ryan's…" Fred added, chortling so loudly at his own joke that it earned him a scathing look from the Butler which soon shut him up.

"When Mr Matkin has quite finished…" Jarvis began pointedly. "As I am sure you're are aware this afternoon his lordship's guests will be arriving for the Christmas festivities, Lord Shaftsbury, his wife and their two children are expected around two o'clock, Johnny you can keep an eye out on the road for them, that should keep you from spreading more vicious scandal for at least for one afternoon…." Jarvis added deliberately his eyes boring into the young servant who visibly quailed under such intense interrogation, and the rest of the staff held their breath they had known Jarvis would hear the gossip eventually but no one had expected him to tackle the situation head on.

"And as for that… Certain rumours of the vilest nature have been brought to my attention and I mean to put paid to them once and for all, in a matter of days Mrs Ryan will become Mrs Corey…." Jarvis paused, waiting for the implication of his statement to sink in. "And as my wife to be I will not tolerate any slander of her good name from any quarter." He stopped glancing round the room to lock eyes with every single servant, before finally resting on Will, for a moment there was a silent battle of wills between the Butler and the footman, but then slowly Will nodded his agreement; they wouldn't get confirmation of anything from him.

"I am well aware of the source and believe me that certain gentleman (Jarvis sneered as he said the word gentleman) is hardly a font of knowledge or truth even by your standards and if I learn that his lies are still being spread then I will not hesitate to throw the next gossiping servant I see out on his ear, without pay or character!" Jarvis emphasised, smiling slightly as he saw the maids and footmen glance nervously at each other, pausing for a moment he clicked his fingers, watching as the staff immediately jumped to attention before beginning to quietly file out.

However just as he was reaching the door Fred couldn't resist sniggering slightly and remarking to his fellow footmen, "Well if it's all nonsense then where's Mrs Ryan and why have they been rowing?"

"Mr Matkin!" Jarvis bellowed. "Get your bones back in here!"

Slowly Fred turned and made his way over to the fuming Butler. "Yes Mr Jarvis?" Fred asked tentatively.

"Why is it that you seem to think orders do not apply to you? Are you blessed by the almighty? Or perhaps, more to the point, your bloody ego is so over inflated that you seem to think anything you say is exempt from my instructions." Jarvis hissed.

"No Mr Jarvis." Fred replied shaking his head, whilst he looked down at the floor.

"Well then out with it! What was it you felt the need to snigger about before you were even out of the room?" Jarvis demanded.

"Errr, I was just wondering where Mrs Ryan is Mr Jarvis." Fred hedged.

"Oh and that's important to you is it? Well not that it is any of your stinking business but Mrs Ryan is still upstairs

following Dr Evans' instructions to the letter, he has ordered her to rest due the fact that she is expecting my child! Any other questions?" Jarvis snapped ignoring the gasps of surprise from the rest of the staff as he so publicly announced such a private matter.

"No sir!" Fred gasped unable to vocalise anything else.

"Then get your stinking carcass out of my sight!" Jarvis growled. "All of you!" He added turning to glare at the gawping crowd, until they turned on their heels and scattered throughout the servants' quarters all eager to spread the word about the housekeeper's pregnancy.

Pausing for a moment before turning to head back to his office Jarvis rubbed his throbbing head with his fingertips, he hadn't meant to just blurt it out like that but those cocky footmen had just pushed him too far. Whirling round he caught Mrs Watson staring at him and for a moment the look of disgust plastered on her face was enough to take his breath away, his words stuck in his throat and in that moment he realised she knew but before he could confirm it she had turned and was striding down the corridor.

However had Jarvis not been so concerned about what a certain under-housekeeper did or didn't know then he might have been slightly concerned at seeing a certain Mr Forest heading up the back stairs instead of into the main house. Will had kept as low a profile as possible for the last day or so, just until his injuries had healed up enough that they didn't ache every time he moved. He had purposefully locked himself away from the other lads, as he knew the sort of questions they would ask and as yet he had no idea what he would say to them. And although now he had given his silent promise to Jarvis not to go confirming the rumours, which was solely for Flora's sake, he thought and not because he was at all afraid of what the Butler would do to him if he refused.

However despite his bravado Will was no fool and he realised that his present course could easily set him once more in the Butler's path but he had this niggling feeling in the pit of his stomach that all wasn't as rosy as Jarvis was making out. He had worked at Taplows for far too long for that, and there was no way that Jarvis would carry on like nothing had happened, with either him or Flora, but the question that kept him awake at night was how? So it was this thought in mind and this unpleasant feeling in his gut that he found himself outside the housekeeper's door.

Tapping gently he whispered against the woodwork, glancing over his shoulder lest suddenly Jarvis should appear like a raging bull steaming down the corridor. "Flora, are you alright?"

For a moment there was no answer and so an impatient Will knocked again, slightly louder this time and barely a second later the door was opened a crack and an angry housekeeper whispered back. "Are you completely insane if you're caught…."

Suddenly Will heard the clatter of footsteps and the high-pitched giggles of a couple of housemaids, and acting instinctively he barged open the housekeepers door and slammed it behind him, leaning his ear against the woodwork he listened as the maids continued to gossip on the corner. "OH for the love of god girls bugger off!" He whispered under his breath before turning round.

Flora stood with her back to him apparently gazing out the window and Will wandered over to stand beside her intrigued as to what could be so fascinating that she wouldn't even turn round to look at him. However no sooner had he draw level then she turned quickly walking over to the fireplace. "Won't you please leave?" Flora hissed.

Confused Will strode over to her, grasping her firmly yet gently by the elbow and whirling her round to face him, and suddenly catching sight of the nasty looking bruise that had spread across her right cheekbone. "I'll kill him." Will growled stalking towards the door.

Panicking Flora sped after him, grabbing hold of his arm and anchoring him to the spot. "No Will please don't get involved, it wasn't like that, it was an accident; I provoked him, he wouldn't normally, he wasn't himself!"

"No and he won't be himself in a moment when I knock his bloody teeth out!" Forest added, his handsome face scarlet with rage. "How could he? I mean hit a woman, supposedly the woman he loves and is about to make his wife and who, the lucky bd, is carrying his child, his and not mine!"

"It looks worse than it is…" Flora began.

"How can it look worse, he hit you, it doesn't matter how hard or how often, he still hit you Flora and he had no right to…" Will cut in.

"Oh didn't he?" Flora retorted. "I cheated on him and broke his heart some people might say I got off lightly, that he had every right to throw me out on the street but he didn't he's defended me publicly and even when on the inside the very sound of my name must make him feel sick he's still going to do the honourable thing and marry me."

"Oh yeah he's a real saint, St bloody Jarvis, kind to old ladies and animals, shame about the occasional wife beating… Well I won't stand by and let it happen again…" Will trailed off storming over to her wardrobe and flinging the doors open wide, grabbing dresses by the armful and throwing the on the bed.

"Will what the hell do you think you are doing?" Flora gasped.

Smiling grimly the footman reached under her bed for the obligatory trunk, pulling it out before throwing the dresses inside then striding back over to the wardrobe seizing boots and day shoes before dumping them in as well.

Shocked the housekeeper could only stand and watch before moving to retrieve her clothing from the trunk. "What has possessed you Will?" She managed to stutter as she tried to drag her dresses out from under the new pile of books that Will had just dumped on top of them.

"We're leaving." He replied. "If you think that I am going to leave you with him, so he can knock you about and do god knows what else to you then you're wrong! You do realise that this is only the tip of the iceberg, one day after the baby is born he'll get drunk and beat you again, probably rape you as well just so you realise how much he despises you! Is that the kind of environment you want your child to grow up in, violence and fear?"

For a moment neither of them spoke, a shaken Flora sank to sit on her bed, he head in her hands as she tried desperately to block out the picture Will was painting. "It won't be like that…" Flora whispered but she could continue there was a sharp tap on her door.

"Flora dear I've brought you some breakfast, be a dear and open the door I can't manage it with the tray…" Emily Corey's voice boomed bright and cheerful through the door, and for a split second Will and Flora were frozen to the spot a look of abject horror on their faces.

"In the wardrobe quick!" Flora hissed, as she bundled the confused footman into the open wardrobe before quickly slamming the door shut, then striding over to the door she closed the lid on the trunk before trying to slid it back under the bed but it was already to heavy so she just had to hope and pray Emily didn't think it out of the ordinary. Then taking a deep breath Flora opened the door, smiling as brightly as she could at her future mother in law.

"Oh that has come up nasty." Emily cooed as she bustled into the room, clearing a space on Flora's dressing table and setting down the tea tray, which Flora worryingly noticed had two teacups.

"No you sit down, rest yourself dear after all you're far more important than me at the moment, and we have to take extra care of that special cargo of yours." Emily fussed, pushing aside Flora's attempt to pour the tea.

"Honestly I'm feeling just fine a little nauseas this morning but that's passed I was just about to head down to my office and do a little paper work." Flora began but an outraged Emily cut her off.

"Absolutely not, I won't hear of it, you're to stay up here and rest if you need anything I can have it brought up to you, we can't be too careful Flora not after the last time…" Emily stopped suddenly watching as Flora tried to fight back tears and realising that she may have touched on a somewhat sensitive subject in the usual Corey less than tactful way.

"Forgive me that was unusually crass of me dear, it's only because I care about you, I couldn't bear to see you go through that again, so if I'm a little harsh…" She trailed off sipping gently at her tea whilst Flora quickly regained control of her ever-spiralling emotions.

"Its alright I know you only want the best, and I promise I will do whatever is necessary I won't place this child at any risk…" Flora replied softly her voice still quavering with emotion.

"I know you won't." Emily added, giving Flora's hand a reassuring squeeze. "And I'll be here to help you all the way, I know Walter is upset that he is going to be away for most of your pregnancy, just yesterday I heard him grilling that poor Dr Evans about ensuring you had the very best of care. He is so looking forward to this baby, he's even making plans for setting aside funds for education just in case it's a boy, wants his son to be able to make something of himself even go to university if he wants, study the law or join the church even." Emily prattled on, completely missing the look of pain and anguish on Flora's face as she realised how much of her child's life was already being planned without her involvement.

However suddenly Emily glanced across and mistook the emotional turmoil on Flora's face for pain of another sort. "Flora are you alright do you need the doctor?" She demanded her normally soft soothing voice sounding too high pitched and stressed.

"No I'm fine…" Flora replied softly. "I am tired though…" She trailed off.

"Of course he's me prattling on when you need your rest." Emily busied about piling the cups back the tray, before heading towards the door, her piercing gaze narrowing slightly when she caught sight of the piles of dresses on Flora's bed.

"What are they doing out?" She asked in an almost accusing manner and Flora felt her throat go dry, she couldn't have guessed?

Placing the tray Flora's bedside table Emily grasped up the dresses and headed towards the wardrobe.

"No!" Flora yelped, darting across the room. "You can't!"

"And why not?" Emily demanded, her eyebrow raised suspiciously. "Don't think I don't know what is going on Flora Ryan!"

"What…But how could you? Have you been spying on me? Has Walter told you to keep an eye on me to make sure I'm sticking by my word is that it?" Flora demanded.

"No." Emily replied somewhat taking aback by the housekeeper's forcefulness. "It just doesn't take a genius to work it out…. You've been altering all your dresses when you promised to rest. Really Flora I would have thought better of you, if you needed this doing then you should have asked, but oh no not you, that's the trouble with you young women today so independent, you'd rather work your fingers to the bone and wear yourselves ragged then ask for some help!"

"Ohhh… Yes of course dresses, well if you'd like to help…" Flora trailed off heaping several more dresses into Emily's outstretched arms before handing her the tea tray as well.

"I'll see what I can do, but in the mean time young lady get yourself back to bed!" Emily chortled as she headed out the open door and down the corridor.

Sighing deeply Flora closed the door before heading back over to the wardrobe and flinging the door open however she wasn't prepared for the sight she beheld that of William Forest smelling and caressing her Italian blue silk shawl.

"Mr Forest!" She hissed, causing the scarlet footman to jump to his feet banging his head on the top of the Wardrobe before staggering out, tripping up stray petticoats and boots that still cluttered the floor.

Snatching the shawl from Will's unresisting hands Flora marched over to her door, opening it a crack in order to check the coast was clear before bundling him out of the room.

"But wait you can't stay here, I told you we're…." Will began but Flora cu him off.

"No I cam not going anywhere, I've made my bed and regardless of the consequences I have to lie in it, I will not take my child away from its rightful father and the man whom despite all his faults I love, good day Mr Forest." She added finally before closing the door in the footman's face.

As far as Molly Watson was concerned, the morning raced by and she hardly had a moment to stand and breathe, let alone act on the call of nature which had been ever-present since just after breakfast. It hadn't taken her long, however, to pick up the tricks of the trade again, and it was a very good job as she had to very quickly adapt to her new role due to Mrs Ryan's rather untimely absence. Molly was glad, however, to have Mrs Corey's assistance, although the woman wouldn't stop babbling on about just how wonderful her son was and how he loved Flora ever so much. She felt like turning round to her at one point and telling her exactly what she thought of her precious Walter, in great detail, right from their violent first meeting to where Flora's nasty bruise did indeed originate from, but she suppressed what she called her 'Glaswegian fire' and made her excuses to go and help Charlotte and

Grace with the bread baking leaving Emily to fold the linen with Lizzie.

As Molly headed towards the stillroom, she noticed that somehow she had got a dirty mark down the front of her dress. "Oh hell's fire and buckets of blood, will you just look at me?" She muttered to herself, shaking her head and bustling in the opposite direction as she spat on a handkerchief to try and rub away the stain. "Can't take you anywhere, Molly Watson." Engrossed with the mark, now made worse rather than better through her intervention, she hurried into her room whispering "Damn I'll never get this out!" and went straight to her wardrobe. She had only managed to finish unpacking that morning so many of her dresses required pressing before she could wear them, but she decided promptly which dress she could wear instead and rummaged around for her second favourite black one with the lace on the sleeves.

It was as she swung round, the dress held out on a hanger, that she saw her bed and gasped in surprise. On her pillow lay a beautiful arrangement of winter flowers, including snowberries, chrysanthemums and honeysuckle flowers and immediately her heart melted. "Oh, Monty, they're beautiful!" Molly cried breathlessly, hanging up her dress on the wardrobe door and reaching out tentatively to touch the sweet-smelling flowers. She bent down to sniff them, a small tear springing to her eye, when she noticed a note tucked in the middle of the arrangement.

With a smile she carefully pulled it from underneath a chrysanthemum and opened it. He had never dared communicate with her in writing before, he always considered it far too risky and usually delivered word to her through a close confidant, but she dismissed his change of heart as a sign of his growing love and affection for her. He obviously cared less and less if Francesca found out, especially after he discovered his wife's dirty little secret, which Molly still had yet to meet.

She had heard an awful lot about the infamous Frank Keneally in the last 24 hours, so her interest was most certainly piqued. Molly began to blush as she read the note, giggling to herself like she was a young stillroom maid again enjoying young love:

'Beautiful Molly, when you are near my heart fills with joy. I cannot stop thinking about you although we have only been under the same roof for one night. In my heart I feel like we have never been apart. Meet me tonight at 11 o'clock, at the back of the Orangery, I need to know how you feel as we have yet to talk since your arrival. I will always love you.'

Molly lowered the note, her gaze falling back onto her pillow, and she beamed happily, hugging herself and beginning to hum softly. She had forgotten exactly why she had come back to her room and she kissed the note, nestling it back in the flowers. She was just about to go to the kitchen to find a vase when she heard a yell from down the hall and she dashed out of her room.

"They're here, Lord Shaftesbury is coming up the path!" George hollered to anyone in earshot, sending Molly into a panic as she hurried off to find Mr Jarvis or her brother so she could take Flora's place in the greeting line.

"Oh goodness, why weren't their servants here first!" Molly said in exasperated tone while rushing through the servants quarters, patting her hair and tucking loose strands into her cap. "I haven't had time to brush my hair, how do I look?" She asked Fred and Joe who were adjusting their wigs and stockings. Joe immediately looked up at the sound of her voice, allowing his eyes the much needed enjoyment of taking in every inch he could see of her, from the little curl of hair which had escaped from the side of her cap to her dainty feet which just poked out from under her many skirts.

"Well!" She demanded, huffing then heading towards the door. "Oh never mind!"

"You look………" Joe began, knowing exactly what words he wanted to use, but trailed off as she vanished out of sight.

"A picture of loveliness? Nah, too late mate!" Fred grinned as he and Joe brushed each others coats. "I told you, forget her. You can't even answer a simple question from the woman without dribbling all over your livery first. You'll never get into those Scottish drawers!"

"It's not all about getting into her drawers, Fred!" Joe remarked bluntly, frowning at his colleague's crudeness.

"I'm not like you, I have experienced true love and my heart won't stop aching for her!"

"Oh give over, you've only known her a day, it's lust mate, not love." Fred snorted, following Joe towards the door. "You'll make yourself ill at this rate, no woman is worth that!"

"I TOLD you, it was love at first sight!" Joe whispered, infuriated. "I knew you'd never understand, don't know why I bother!" He shook his head furiously and stormed down the corridor, Fred looking on in despair for his friend's sanity.

"Well go and talk to Will then!" He called after Joe mockingly. "He's had plenty of experience with love and look where that got him!"

Hurrying out to the front of the house, Molly was greeted by the butler staring pointedly down at his pocket watch, pursing his lips and frowning. Adams was standing not far behind him, and smiled at his sister and gave her a brief look of warning, nodding his head towards Jarvis then taking a step back so she could stand next to the butler.

"You're late." Jarvis growled curtly, replacing his watch and rocking on his heels and not even giving Molly so much as a cursory glance.

"They're not at the steps yet, Mr Jarvis, so no harm done." Molly replied breathlessly as she smoothed down the front of her dress and glanced up the pathway to see two coaches approaching in the distance.

"I will be the one to decide if any harm has been done, Mrs Watson." Jarvis snorted. "Not only are you unpunctual, but you have turned up less than presentable! It is only your second day here and already I'm beginning to wonder why I listened to that brother of yours!"

Molly gasped as she remembered she had meant to change, staring down in horror at her dress and covering the stain with a carefully placed hand. "I'm sorry, I went to change but……"

"I don't want to hear your excuses, Mrs Watson, just don't do it again!" Jarvis cut in, a little too loudly so that Adams, Joe and Fred heard every word. Joe shot a icy glare at the back of Jarvis' head and muttered something inaudible so Fred couldn't hear, but the footman knew that it would have been something his colleague would have very much lived to regret if he had been heard.

"I think, Mr Jarvis," Molly began, in a far more subtle but deadly a manner than she had been reprimanded, "that it is ME who should never have listened to my brother! He told me you were a firm but fair man, someone who earned respect rather than demanded it, but all I have witnessed since my arrival is a brute and a coward………."

"You should watch what you say, woman, I will not stand for such insolence!" Jarvis spat, turning to face her and glaring at her, utterly incandescent with rage at being spoken to in such a manner by a female subordinate.

"Why, what will you do! Raise your hand to me!" Molly hissed, desperately trying to keep her anger from Adams' sight. "I suppose you haven't seen Mrs Ryan this morning? Well of course you haven't, you don't want to face up to what you did to her and the terrible shame she feels!"

"I do not wish to talk about this, so I demand you stop this instant, Mrs Watson, you would do well to keep your opinions to yourself and to remember your station! You are on probation but you won't be for much longer if you carry on like that!" Jarvis could feel that he was beginning to lose control of his usually well-harnessed temper, and for a moment he was worried that it would boil over and the first sight Lord Shaftesbury would see would be a mad man ranting and raging at a helpless woman until she cried. Molly fell silent after his latest outburst, but he could almost feel the revulsion she felt towards him burning into him. He already felt guilty enough about what he did, and deep down he knew she was right, he HAD turned into a brute and a bully, and inside he abhorred his own cowardice for avoiding seeing for himself how much damage he had done to Flora's beautiful skin as well as the emotional scar he must have inflicted.

The first carriage rolled up noisily and clattered to a halt, and Fred stepped forward to open the door.

"Remember!" Jarvis mouthed to him, and Fred sighed and nodded.

"His Lordship the Earl of Shaftesbury!" Fred announced formally, as Joe stifled a snigger. This had been something Shaftesbury had demanded on every visit, so Jarvis presumed that it would be no different this time, but before Fred could finish a rather tall gentleman, of around middle age, pushed passed him and stepped out of the carriage, breathing in the country air and puffing out his chest.

"Ahh, ruddy marvellous!" He declared to nobody in particular as he scanned the scene.

"My Lord." Jarvis bowed. "If you would follow me……."

"Oh bloody good to see you again Jenkins!" Shaftesbury bellowed, thumping the butler on the arm and nearly sending him reeling.

"It's Jarvis, sir." He corrected with a false smile as Shaftesbury's wife the Countess daintily hopped out of the carriage and glanced at the second carriage, as it pulled up carrying the children and their nanny.

"Good God, man, has he changed your name AGAIN!" Shaftesbury exclaimed as he lead his wife by the hand up the stairs, and the children filed silently behind them.

But before Jarvis could muster a reply Shaftesbury had let his wife's hand drop suddenly when his gaze fell upon Lizzie dashing through the hallway carrying a dust pan. She immediately stopped when she saw the visitors and curtseyed as she had been taught but Shaftesbury sauntered up to her and stood only inches away from her, leering over her from a great height and grinning.

"My, my, you are a pretty thing aren't you?" He said in a guttural voice as if trying to be seductive. "And what's your name?"

"It's Elizabeth, your Lordship." Lizzie replied quickly, shaking his stare and glancing over to her father in mild panic. She curtseyed again to bid her leave but Shaftesbury simply smoothed his sideburns and made an approving grunt.

"Elizabeth, what a beautiful name." He began, his hand dangerously close to touching her sleeve. "I knew an Elizabeth once, lovely girl she was..."

"Anthony!" A shrill voice from behind him piped up, causing both him and Lizzie to jump in fright. "Come away from the young lady, please, what have I told you! I will not have you embarrassing me on this visit!"

Shaftesbury swung round to gawp at his wife and immediately looked sheepish, stepping away from a relieved maid as the Countess pushed him out of the way and looked pitifully at Lizzie as if she were a doll her husband had just broken.

"I'm sorry my dear, please excuse my husband." She beamed at Lizzie before shooting Shaftesbury a warning look. "He doesn't mean it, he's just a bit...over-friendly sometimes."

"Doesn't mean it, my arse." Jarvis muttered quietly as he slid up to Adams who was staring in utter horror at his daughter who had had an obviously lucky escape from being either felt up or drooled on or both. "I must warn Mrs Watson of his notorious behaviour so she can keep an eye on the maids. He may have an excellent reputation for good deeds when it comes to social reform but he has his weakness. It is rumoured that he has a number of bd children by two of his staff but of course they are unfounded, as is much gossip these days." Jarvis snorted, looking sour.

"Indeed, sir." Adams responded, thinking that he better have quick fatherly word with Lizzie – he didn't need his sister to warn his child about the evils of a man's ardour.

Later that afternoon, Molly returned to the servants quarters utterly disgusted. Not only had Shaft-a-lot (as she overheard a group of giggling stillroom maids calling him) tried to cosy up to poor Charlotte, who for reasons unbeknown to her had appeared a tearful wreck most of the time since she arrived, but Molly had also witnessed him trying to squeeze Lady Rebecca's bottom in the library.

"And she's grieving and carrying her dead husband's baby for pity's sake." Molly moaned to her brother, who had stiffened in jealousy at the thought of anyone going near his lover and with a desperate need to shout at his sister that Rebecca was carry HIS child – his children - and NOT Lord Hugo's. "I hate to say it, Andrew, but everything I have seen here so far has been positively dreadful!"

"I'm sorry, Molly, but I think you should appreciate my efforts a little more!" Adams shouted, taking Molly by surprise. "If it wasn't for me you would be on the streets and don't you forget it! Whatever goes on under this roof cannot be any worse that what you have done in your recent past, my dear sister, so you should be bloody grateful!"

"What's the matter with you!" Molly fumed, folding her arms in frustration and pacing the room.

"Very well I'll tell you what's the matter with me, firstly Jarvis is off locked away in his pantry most of the time at the moment leaving me to run things in his absence for not a penny more pay, secondly I hear you're causing trouble with him by accusing him of all kinds of misdemeanours……!"

"Have you seen her face! Have you!" Molly screamed bitterly, tears welling in her eyes.

"It is not for you – or anyone – to judge the relationship between a man and his bride-to-be and I order you to stay out of it for your own good as well as theirs!" Adams growled back, storming up to her and staring her down until she backed away, wiping her tears furiously from her reddened cheeks.

"I don't think I can do that." She muttered quietly into her hands.

"Well so be it if Mr Jarvis sacks you without character, I have done all I can for you." Adams said abruptly as he walked towards the door, but as he opened it Molly asked him something in rather subdued tone but was surprising none the less.

"Andrew, why were you looking at Lady Rebecca in that manner when you were serving her scones during afternoon tea?"

"Manner? I'm not sure I know what you mean." The under-butler lied after a substantial verbal lapse, shrugging dismissively. He didn't need an interrogation from Molly of all people right now – she had a nasty habit of nagging him until he gave in but this time he refused to be pushed

"I'm not stupid, dear brother, I have eyes in my head." Molly teased, raising her eyebrows and almost managing a smile.

"Molly I don't have time for this…."

"You hold a torch for her, don't you." Molly whispered excitedly. This is what really annoyed Adams about his interfering sister, she was almost always right, but quite often she had no idea just how right she was.

"I don't know what you're talking……"

"It's alright, you know, I've seen it many times before, servant falling for mistress. Oh come now, I know you wouldn't act on it, her a pregnant widow, but from the way she glanced at you I could have sworn I saw a hint of something." Molly grinned, remembering how it was when she and Monty first began their affair. Maybe, she thought with a mental laugh, it was something in the Adams blood which made them crave the very people society had forbidden them.

"Molly just leave it, alright? You must have been seeing things." Adams huffed, knowing full well he was beginning to blush in embarrassment. "But there is something else I need to tell you….."

"Good grief, is that the time!" Molly shrieked, leaping to her feet as she shot a glance at the clock. "Goodness, I told Flora I would take her something to eat ages ago, she must be starving the poor dear. Come on, you big lump, out of my way!" The new under-housekeeper flustered, completely ignoring her brother's attempt to finally tell her about Lizzie and pushing past him, much to his annoyance. Firstly she nags him for gossip on his love life, but when he tries to tell her something as vitally important as her being an aunt she suddenly seems disinterested. Anyway, he mused as he watched her trot busily off down the hallway towards the kitchen, he was sure there was an awful lot she wasn't telling him either, so a few wee secrets between siblings couldn't hurt, now, could they?

By late afternoon the house was in absolute uproar. Lord Shaftesbury's visit could not have come on a worse day, either that or all their problems couldn't have come at a worse time. The footmen were being given just enough spare time to breath, but even that was pushing it. Mr Jarvis and Adams had barely grunted at each other all day let alone sorted out any sort of duty roster and due to the fact Jarvis would appear from his office ever so often to bark orders, they both ended up sending different footmen to do the same jobs. This caused serious distress and confusion between the footmen as none were clever enough to simply decide which one of them was to do the task, and so instead settled for deciding things the manly old fashioned way, arguing it out. It was this that caused the little tiff between Will and George as they both ended fighting over who was to take a newly filled tray up to the guests.

George: I don't think so Forest! As Will reached for the tray.

Will: Come again?

George: Darling Andrew told me I was to take that tray up.

Will: Really well that's funny cause Mr Jarvis told me exactly the same thing. In fact it was the longest sentence he's said to me all day 'Fetch that god damn tray and get you arse upstairs!' He's a pleasant gentleman once you get to know him. Will adds and George sniggers

George: Still I want this one, I need some recognition don't I?

Will: And I don't? Listen mate, Jarvis'll kill me if I don't manage to complete one task for him. You know the deal Cosmo. Come on.

George: Piss off Will. I'm not in a sympathetic mood. Reaching for the tray but Will beats him to it What am I supposed to do now?

Will: You could go and see why that carriage is coming round the back to the servants' quarters. nodding out of the window. George sighs loudly.

George: I'll get you when you aren't looking. He replies warningly You need a good seeing to, if you ask me! Will makes his way to the door, looking back, however unable to stick his finger up at him with that heavy tray, he settled for sticking his tongue out instead. Oh that is mature. George mutters as Will disappears. He turns towards the window to peer out of it.

The carriage had stopped, but this being an unexpected visit there were no footmen about. Getting a quick yawn out of his system, he began to jog down the corridor towards the courtyard. As he bounded out of the door, the carriage door opened and a tall, gangly man, with slicked back black hair stepped out, under his arm was a large book, which would make Jarvis' book of figure look pathetic, he also carried a thin black folder. To add even more to his intellectual appearance George noticed a pencil balancing behind his ear.

Abbot: I wish to speak to your superior. He said flatly, immediately wiping off his glasses, which had begun to steam up as soon as he had begun to speak, due to the heat of his breath compared to the frosty air around them.

George: Of course Mr…?

Abbot: Abbot. Shaking his hand gently. Information collector for the 1851 census. George's breath caught in his throat and he suddenly became aware of the large amount of sleep sticking his eye lids together as they instinctively tried to widen in shock.

George: Oh… lost for words we weren't expecting you.

Abbot: That's the beauty of it. Catch you when you aren't expecting it. Abbot chuckled dryly and George nodded in agreement to this was going to mean some quick thinking……. Ummmmmmm……still thinking…….. oh damn that Grace May for keeping him in the outhouse all night! Well your butler? Mr Jarvis?

George: Of course Mr Abbot, follow me. leading him towards Jarvis' office (or as some staff called it 'The place to be avoided, once you step in, you never come out again!)

Knocking tentatively on Jarvis's door George winced when he heard the fearsome butler bellow 'come in' in the most foreboding of manners and for a moment George almost pitied Mr Abbot, of all the days to arrive at Taplows he had to pick the day Jarvis was in the foulest temper on record, which was some record considering the Butler's propensity for moodiness.

"Er Mr Jarvis…" George began nervously, pushing the door wider and revealing their visitor.

"Yes Mr Cosmo what is it?" Jarvis asked testily, not even glancing up from his own book if figures as he continued to attack his calculations and the page furiously with his pen.

"We have a guest sir…" George began.

"Yes Mr Cosmo I am well aware of that, in fact we have several they arrived around noon." Jarvis cut in acerbically. "However as you have appeared half asleep all morning it was no wonder you missed the blessed event, perhaps I should adjust this months wages accordingly, eh?" He asked without a hint of humour causing the footman to panic.

"Yes I know sir, I'm sorry sir, I meant we have a new visitor sir." George managed to blurt out before Jarvis could cut him off once more.

Surprised the butler finally glanced up from his task to see the gentleman standing behind George. "Well dammit lad why didn't you just say so!" Jarvis snapped, standing up from his desk he tugged on his waistcoat, now ever conscious of its tendency to ride up over his somewhat portlier figure, and internally cursing that he hadn't time to put his jacket back on. Striding over to the door he ushered the new arrival inside with a fake smile plastered onto his face, offering him his hand whilst shooting George a look of pure irritation and waving him on his way.

Half an hour later a somewhat flustered Jarvis emerged from his office followed by his new shadow Mr Abbot, leading the gentleman through the rabbit warren that was the servants' quarters at Taplows till they reached the housekeeper's office which as Jarvis had hoped was empty of its normal occupant.

"Will this be sufficient?" Jarvis asked, the tiniest hint of exasperation creeping into his normally perfectly controlled voice. "I can send the staff to you one at a time or in alphabetical order or whatever order you like, age sex, height, foot size…." He added sarcastically under his breath when Abbot pushed past him and strode around the room appraisingly.

"This should be adequate, the easiest thing to do would be send them in batches, groups of four or five at a time then the others can queue in the corridor whilst I take people's details, oh and if you can let me have that staffing sheet as soon as possible so I know if I've missed anybody…" Abbot trailed off his gaze caught by the delicate needlework that lay beside the fireside chair as yet unfinished, and all the other signs of previous female occupation. "Are you sure I won't be disturbing anyone in here?" He asked fingering the embroidery appraisingly.

"Not at all!" Jarvis retorted, "This is the housekeepers office and she is a little indisposed today."

"Ahh yes the trials and tribulations of getting older, well I can visit the poor dear upstairs if she would prefer…."

"No!" Jarvis snapped automatically, causing Abbot to start, dropping the needlework to the floor. "I will have her brought down later." Jarvis added the last thing he wanted was to send another man up to his fiancé's room, after all judging by his appearance Mr Abbot was hardly to be trusted, and Jarvis had always had a deep seated distrust of any man whose shirt wasn't neatly pressed it smacked of idleness and debauchery.

"Very well then send in the first consignment Mr Jarvis!" Abbot joked grimly as he sat his big book down on the table and pulled out a much worn pair of spectacles, then patting down his jacket pockets he searched idly for his pencil. "I don't suppose…. " Abbot began but the icy butler had already turned and was striding down the corridor "I could borrow a pen I seem to have mislaid mine." He added to himself as even the pencil behind his ear appeared to have slid from its previous place of safety.

Shaking his head in bemusement at the nature of his reception Alistair Abbot glanced around the room hoping to spot some stray pen that he could use, every few minutes coming across some delicate little female nick knack which constantly reminded him of the old ball and chain he had left at home. For a moment he couldn't help but wonder if she had deigned to forgive him yet, shaking his head he couldn't help but recall his father's dying words. 'Marrying an older woman is like piling pebbles in your pockets when you're about to go swimming!' Shaking his head as he tried to get his thoughts back to matters of business he spotted a writing desk nestled around the corner out of sight, but as there was no pen lying on the desktop reluctantly he began to try the drawers but unsurprisingly they were locked.

Swearing slightly under his breath he realised his only other option was to go and find that intimidating butler again, but just as he was about to leave he spotted a key lying nestled amongst the neatly stacked papers on the writing desk. Smiling victoriously he picked it up and began to try each drawer in turn until he found the one it fitted, finally in the last drawer the key turned in the lock and the drawer slid open. However of all the things he had expected to find, pens, paper, old invoices even, a charcoal sketch of a beautiful and apparently unclothed woman was not one of them, it was just a damn shame the more interesting parts had been burnt off. Gingerly lifting the paper out of the drawer he folded it gently and tucked it inside his pocket, this was going to be a most interesting visit.

Later as the night was slowly blanketing Taplows in an impenetrable shroud Jarvis strode purposefully down the staff corridor flanked by Mr Adams and as distasteful as it was to Jarvis, William Forest. As they reached a certain valet's room Jarvis reached into his pocket and drew out a sturdy iron key, turning it in the lock he pushed the door open viciously causing the sole occupant to start from his seat by the fire. However it only took a moment for Frank to regain his composure and sneering he called out.

"Oh look I've got visitors, what's the matter Walter did feel confident coming all by yourself? Afraid I might say something that would hurt your feelings so you had to bring your little friends to hold me down whilst you beat the crap out of me? But I am surprised at the company you've chosen, in fact I'm more than a little surprised to see Forest has all visible body parts? But I suppose it's the invisible ones you'd be more concerned with; poor Flora will be so disappointed if you've turned her young stud her into Taplows first eunuch!"

"Shut it Keneally, I'm only letting you out of your room because there is someone downstairs who needs to talk to you, after that it's back to your cell." Jarvis hissed.

"You can't keep me in here for ever Jarvis, no matter what cock and bull you've fed my master he's going to want his faithful Frank back eventually and then what will you do? Keep me on a leash? Or perhaps assign someone to watch over me?" Keneally retorted pulling on his jacket and checking his appearance quickly in the glass, once more internally cursing the butler for denying him even the basic luxuries, of a razor and some hot water.

"Come on lets get this over with!" Jarvis turned and glared at Adams completely ignoring Will, as far as he was concerned Forest no longer existed, he was only there because he was the only other person who wouldn't go spreading anything he overheard frank say around the entire household staff. "The rest of the staff have already been seen by Mr Abbot, only a handful of senior servants left, and despite his somewhat shifty appearance even Mr Abbot doesn't deserve prolonged exposure to scum such as you!" Jarvis sneered back at the Valet striding off down the corridor without even a backwards glance, smirking sadistically as he heard Frank's hisses of pain as Adams and Forest roughly manhandled him down the corridor.

Reaching the housekeepers office Jarvis signalled the others to release Frank, knocking on the door he was just about to enter when he spotted an oblivious Molly Watson travelling down the corridor towards the group. "Ah Mrs Watson would you go upstairs and assist Mrs Ryan, she is the last person Mr Abbot needs to see." Jarvis commanded not quite managing to look her in the eye as her words from earlier still rankled within him.

"Oh so she's to be allowed out?" Molly asked, her sarcasm not lost any of those present, and Adams shot her a concerned warning look.

"As quick as you can Mrs Watson." Jarvis replied.

"Oh and do send my regards to the lovely Flora will you, Mrs Watson is it?" Frank smiled lasciviously. "Its amazing I'm scarcely out of it for a few days and yet so many changes, perhaps we can get together late, share our life stories over a nice glass of brandy."

"That is such a kind offer." Molly began distaste dripping from her every word. "Mr Keneally isn't it; well I've heard so much about you, from so many different sources, although personally I always thought you'd be taller and better looking."

"Yes well there's no accounting for taste." Frank retorted, his smile slipping from his face as his crystal blue eyes hardened to chunks of ice, and Molly had the most disturbing sensation of De ja vu. "Well Mr Jarvis lets not kep the busy Mr Abbot waiting any longer shall we?"

Shaking his head in disgust Jarvis waved the others aside and practically shoved Frank into the room without bothering to open the door first.

Glancing up from his huge book Alistair Abbot fumbled with a loose sheet of paper hurriedly folding it back up and shoving it into his pocket, and for a brief second Jarvis could have sworn he saw a flash of disappointment on the censor collector's face.

"Ah well since you don't look like the housekeeper you must be the illusive Mr Keneally." Abbot expounded jovially. "I am delighted Mr Jarvis finally managed to track you down. Now gentlemen if we can get down to it, oh you might as well stay Mr Jarvis I still haven't gotten all your details either." Abbot called out as the Butler moved towards the door.

Jarvis stopped in his tracks and moved away from the door, his actual intention having been to shut it and not leave but as he had no desire to explain that particularity to this interloper he simply smiled and moved to Flora's fireside chair, resisting the urge to fiddle with her stack of magazines and feminine nick knacks as he had a tendency to do when uncomfortable.

"Now gentlemen lets start at the beginning, place of birth…."

Meanwhile upstairs Molly knocked politely on Flora's door and on hearing a somewhat harassed "come in" she pushed open the door. Suddenly the reason for the housekeeper's less than happy mood became obvious, Emily was fussing and buzzing around her like a bee round a honey pot. However on seeing Molly, Flora's face practically lit up with relief and she bounded across the room to enthusiastically greet her new friend, much to Emily's annoyance as both women could hear her loud tut of disapproval.

"Flora what did the doctor say…" Emily began but Molly suddenly cut her off.

"But Mr Jarvis needs her downstairs, he told me to fetch her." Molly interjected before Emily could huff and scold once more.

"He did?" Flora asked unable to keep the delight that summons had created from appearing on her face and for a moment Molly was almost dazzled by the transformation; however not wanting to get her friends hopes up Molly added softly. "The Census collector is here and you're the last one to provide your details…"

"Oh." Was all Flora could gasp, and Molly watched as the housekeeper tried to hide her bitter disappointment from her future mother in law.

"Well let's get on with it then." Emily commanded. "We all know when Walter says now he actually means yesterday, so chop chop." She added jovially handing Molly Flora's supper tray whilst she took the housekeeper's arm.

"Honestly Emily I'm not an invalid, I'm sure I can make it down a few stairs I've only been doing it since I was two years old." Flora snapped pulling her elbow out of the older woman's grip and storming off down the corridor the others following in her wake.

However if the atmosphere upstairs was positively chilly then the temperature downstairs had plummeted to arctic temperatures.

"It's a damn lie!" Jarvis hissed as he got to his feet, his eyes locked with the Valet's as he tried to force him to take it back by sheer force of will, all considerations for the fact there was a guest and a stranger in the room forgotten. "He's making the whole thing up."

"Please Mr Jarvis…" Abbot tried to interject and calm things down, but his words had as much impact on the irate Butler as a sandcastle against the South Pacific in typhoon season.

"You're a dirty rotten liar Keneally." Jarvis carried on regardless, striding across the room and seizing the unresisting Valet by the lapels of his jacket before shaking him like terrier with a rat.

"It's not a lie, and you know it and now I want the whole world to know!" Frank managed to hiss between his chattering teeth. "And now it's down there in black and white…"

"That doesn't make a word of it true!" Jarvis snapped. "I will never accept it.

For a moment Frank paused, unsure about what to say but then he heard the patter of heels against the flagstones and a moment later he saw the ajar door being slowly pushed further open and he knew exactly what to say.

"It doesn't matter what you think, even you can't change the past Jarvis, Robert Corey was my father and you're just going to have to learn to deal with it ….Uncle!"

Suddenly there was a gasp from the door way and Jarvis let go of Keneally, whirling round his eyes locked with an aghast Emily, for a moment his mother searched his eyes for the truth before glancing over at Frank shaking her head in shock.

"What's the matter grandma not pleased to see me?" Frank hissed vindictively.

Shaking in shock Emily took a step back knocking into the stunned Flora. "No it can't be true…" She gasped before turning and trying to stagger down the corridor a concerned Flora only a few steps behind her, and now fuming Jarvis pushed roughly past Keneally in order to follow them. But Emily only made it a few steps before it all proved too much for her, stopping suddenly she raised a hand to her brow before keeling over, fortunately Flora reached her before she could fall far but she struggled under the older woman's weight until Walter managed to reach them. Working in unison they half walked half carried the semi-conscious woman down the corridor to the relative privacy of the Butler's pantry.

Setting Emily down in the fireside chair Jarvis quickly poured a brandy an offered it to the housekeeper. "Don't be silly Walter." Flora admonished softly. "She's in shock and that could kill her, have one of the staff fetch my medicine box."

Nodding sharply the butler strode out the door, pausing only for a moment to watch as his fiancé gently took care of his mother, talking to her softly whilst loosening her collar, glancing down at the brandy he still held he downed it in one swift motion before setting about his task. As no staff were thankfully around he covered the short distance between their offices himself, kicking open the door before pushing past the two men who were still inside.

"Mr Jarvis I do hope the poor dear is alright!" Mr Abbot began concerned but Frank cut in.

"Oh dear don't tell me my aging Granny taken a bad turn?" Frank baited as he sank down in the fireside chair.

"Keneally just push me a little further and believe me you won't like the consequences." Jarvis muttered under his breath.

"Oh really well if its anything like the shiner I noticed your Flora is sporting…" Frank began.

However he didn't get a chance to finish that particular sentence as a furious Jarvis whirled round and landed a well-aimed and vicious blow to the Valets stomach knocking the wind out of his sails and sending him crashing to his knees. Walking towards the door, Jarvis turned and bellowed down the corridor. "Mr Adams."

A moment later and a somewhat out of breath under-butler came crashing through the door. "Yes Mr Jarvis?"

"Take this scum back upstairs and lock him up…" Jarvis trailed off throwing the key at Adams. "Oh and Mr Adams he's not to have any visitors, not even the staff bringing his meals, I'm sure a little fasting will do his vicious tongue the world of good."

"Yes sir." Adams replied seizing the still gasping Keneally by the ear and dragging him roughly towards the door muttering, "Come along Keneally don't want to go outstaying our welcome now do we…."

Satisfied that for the time being that Frank was dealt with Jarvis turned to leave but her a pointed cough from the back of the room started him from his own musings.

"Mr Jarvis." Alistair Abbot began, as he strode around the table polishing his glasses furiously. "I do not expect to understand what is going on here but I certainly don't like what I am hearing or seeing, you cannot hold a man prisoner because of his parentage, I mean habeas corpus and all that…"

"You are quite right." The butler replied and for a moment Abbots chest puffed out in smug satisfaction. "You don't understand so why don't you keep your nose out of my affairs and in your book of figures where it belongs." Jarvis added before striding off down the corridor, ignoring the exclamations of outrage from the census collector and his last parting comment. "Well at least send the housekeeper in so I can be finished!"

Reaching his office Jarvis pushed open the door, and closed the distance between Flora and his now recovering mother.

"How is she?" He whispered softly as Flora rummaged around in her box.

"She'd recover a lot faster if someone started explaining!" Emily cut in holding a damp cloth to her forehead and pushing away all of Flora's attempts to get her to sample the smelling salts.

Sighing deeply Jarvis paced around the room, taking a deep breath and avoiding eye contact with both his mother or Flora he started to talk, and once he started he found he couldn't stop, and everything from the day he met Frank, to Italy and its revelations till the other night and the letter from Robert.

When he had finished he felt completely drained and slumping down in his desk chair he gratefully accepted the large brandy that Flora thrust into his hand.

"Thank you." He mumbled and for the first time since their discussion the night before he looked at her properly, wincing when he saw the nasty discolouration, instinctively he reached out and brushed his hand over her bruised cheek. Smiling reassuringly Flora caught his hand with hers and gave it a tender squeeze before moving away and helping the struggling Emily sit up properly in her seat.

"Flora dear." Emily muttered. "Would you be so kind as to leave us alone for a while, there are things we need to talk about and you need your rest, I'm sure Walter will fill you in later."

Nodding slightly Flora wearily rose once more to her feet, wandering towards the door she paused for a moment by the Butler before impulsively leaning over and kissing him softly on the forehead. Pulling away from a stunned Walter slightly she whispered gently. "Just because you're related doesn't mean you're in any way alike, you're not a monster Walter no matter how much you torture yourself into thinking you are." Then turning she slipped quietly out the door, shutting it gently behind her.

"She really is a treasure that girl I just hope you learn to appreciate her Walter, I know you Corey men and your tempers…" But at that point Emily broke off unable to continue.

"He's not one of us mother!" Jarvis retorted closing the distance between them and gently taking her hand. "The things he has done proves that!"

"Well he says otherwise and even you are not sure, and…well the things you've told me well I won't deny there was a girl who came to see me after funeral and I did to my eternal shame show her the door, I was convinced she was an opportunistic hussy but now I'm not so sure." Emily added softly.

"What are we going to do?" Walter asked imploringly and for a moment Emily was reminded of the little boy who would come to her whenever he was lost or troubled and expect an answer that would solve everything.

"Honestly my darling boy for once I do not know…" Emily trailed off pulling her son into a tight embrace and wishing fervently in that moment she had never heard the name Frank Keneally.