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?

3. Episode 3

As much as the staff would have enjoyed just laying in bed next morning, to wear off the effects of last night's overindulgence, they were unfortunately up and about as regular as clockwork, save the usual few stranglers, to complete their various duties. After the regrettable attack of Lord Julian on Lady Caroline's quarters after his own few dozen night caps the night before, which had resulted in him being thrown out of her room, which was becoming an increasingly regular occurrence. Charlotte had so far this morning been made to remove all signs of thrown up food and whiskey form the irritated Lady's furniture and items of clothing. Even this however failed to dampen her moderately happy and content mood. Rewarding her with an occasional glare from her better, when she had smiled a little exceedingly cheerfully. When she had eventually been excused to empty Lady Caroline's wastepaper bin, she couldn't help letting out a little hum.

Trotting gracefully towards her intention she began to mutter her own version of one of the staffs favourite songs; I can't get you out of my head, however her own words went along the lines of, 'I just glad I got you out of my head, boy your features are so unfortunate…' She pushed the outside door open, making her way to dispose of the waste, missing the figure hiding in the shadows. Spinning back around to return upstairs she found her way blocked by the newly revealed figure.

Charlotte: What's happened! suddenly urgent. Has something happened! Is it Lady Rebecca! Or maybe Mrs Ryan- she was cut off by laughter from the other party.

Doc: For once no. I'm here on pleasure rather than a business matter.

Charlotte: Well you look like you've slept in a ditch for these last few nights. Maybe her song was coming true, he's features were looking a little under-groomed. Well those of which I can see, she couldn't help naughtily thinking, desperately stifling a snigger.

Doc: Well maybe not so much a ditch, more of a certain bakehouse, hoping to stubble across, a beautiful, fair lost soul.

Charlotte ignoring his compliment: Well you were lucky you weren't caught. You'd better leave as quickly as possible, I distinctively remember telling you not to keep hanging around me.

Doc: I remember that too sadly, however I decided a personal Christmas delivery would be more appropriate. digging into his pocket and pulling out a small, neatly wrapped parcel.

Charlotte: I don't think so. she mutters, glancing down at the gift. It's not even appropriate for me to be having this conversation with you, never mind receiving a gift from you. You'll just have to take it back.

Doc: I can't. he says flatly, causing her to look up at him puzzled. It's not that sort of gift. Just open it. Grasping her hand gently and forcing it into her hand. Well… waving his hand, encouraging her to open it. Sighing softly she carefully unwrapped the gift, momentarily cursing herself for not having anything to give him in return. Pulling the paper away she revealed a little black book, turning it over curiously she flicked it open, reading the first few lines and looking up at him in astonishment.

Charlotte: Where did you get this? brandishing the bible in his face.

Doc: Midnight mass.

Charlotte: But- but- she trails off, rubbing her head gently, as it began to spin. Come again? she snorts, surprisingly unladylike, causing the doctor to raise his eyebrow, while smiling smugly at the bewilderment clear on her face.

Doc: Well if that's what's coming between you, me and that alter, then I'm willing to change my ways. She was still looking at him, as though he was completely off his head and the doctor found her stunned silence highly amusing.

Charlotte: You're pulling my leg! laughing uncontrollably, dropping Lady Caroline's wastepaper basket to the floor, and leaning back against a nearby wall for support.

Doc: Not at all. Besides I'll need all that knowledge for when I announce our engagement to your parents, if you'd only get over all this hogwash and say yes. Her laughter quickly began to fade as she realised the reality of what he was saying.

Charlotte: You really are completely serious aren't you?

Doc: What ever it takes I'm willing to do, it just takes one word on your part.

She glances across at him for a moment, before allowing her eyes to wander around her. Thinking so hard, thinking everything over and over in her head, that she thought her head would explode any second.

Doc: You can't keep me in this suspense any longer! Picking her up and spinning her around, causing her to giggle girlishly. I will most certinately not take no for an answer! Grinning at her, brushing a loose strand of hair away from her face, loving having her so close. Could she marry this man she knew barely anything about? Would he hold solemnly to his word and become a Catholic just for her? She caught his soft gaze and did all she could to dig past the pure anticipation and love in his eyes, but no matter how hard she dug she couldn't find anything less than devotion and in that moment she realised that he'd do anything he could to hold to his word. He'd nurture her and love her more and better than any man her father picked for her could.

Charlotte: In that case then, she whispers I'd better say yes. His eyes began to widen and it was now her turn to enjoy the look of amazement on his face, as he unwound his arms from around her and stepped back slightly.

Doc: You really are completely serious aren't you? She giggled softly.

Charlotte: Well you'd better not change your mind now.

Doc: I wouldn't dream out it. scooping her up in his arms once more, gazing at her adoringly, before leaning down to kiss her passionately.

Charlotte: Doctor! she gasped, breathlessly. Really! He looks at her nervously. You should at least give me a minute to get my breath back after you drop that bomb on me. He shifts uncomfortably, fidgeting with his jacket. Maybe I only need half a second! Pulling the stunned doctor back towards her and plundering his mouth with a ravenous kiss of her own.

Doc: So that's it? when they finally allowed each other a chance a moment to get their breath back. We're getting married? She nods So you won't have to go to India tomorrow. She nods again, smiling contentedly at him. However a moment she quickly broke out of her daze.

Charlotte: Oh my good god! What will Mrs Ryan say! Leaving her with one day's notice to find a replacement to go to India! She'll kill me!

Doc: No she won't. laying a hand gently on her arm and smiling softly.

Charlotte: I better go and tell her! pulling away quickly and dashing towards the door, before suddenly turning back round and dashing over to the doctor and kissing him on the cheek. Will I see you at the wedding?

Doc: Well of course you will, you silly moo, not much of a wedding if the groom doesn't turn up.

Charlotte exasperated: Not our wedding! Mrs Ryan and Mr Jarvis' wedding! You're the silly moo!

Doc: Oh! Of course. She smiles and kisses him again, before turning and dashing through the door, completely forgetting about the infuriated aristocrat above stairs, slightly more worried about an already wound up housekeeper.

However if Charlotte had realised how crowded the housekeeper's room already was that morning she might have reconsidered her little visit. Things had started off reasonably well as Flora had, with a minimum fuss and no need for threats of thumbscrews, managed to persuade Emily that she was quiet able to bath and dress without the constant interruptions and so her future Mother-in-law had reluctantly departed to the kitchens to take out her nerves on poor Felix. However as soon as Emily had left, Flora had found it increasingly difficult to suppress those feelings and doubts that had building slowly since the night before. All the while whilst she was going through the motions, bathing, combing out her long hair and tying it up she would have ringlets she was nagged by these constant questions; why hadn't he come to her? Surely she had made it as blatant and inviting as she could in front of his mother, and surely she hadn't misjudged his reaction? So why hadn't he come to her? Did this mean that despite both their desires he was determined to stick to his cold bargain and keep their relationship strictly platonic…?

Suddenly Flora was jarred out of her thoughts by a sharp tap on the door, and dragging on her chemise she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders before storming to the door. "Emily I thought I said I didn't need…." Flora began unable to keep the curt tone from her voice but on pulling open the door she was stunned to see a somewhat bemused Rebecca standing at her door.

"Let me guess Mother-in-law giving you hell already?" Rebecca joked slyly and Flora felt tears building up in relief.

"Oh I am so glad it's you!" Flora sniffed. "But how on earth did you find me?"

Immediately concerned Rebecca manoeuvred the housekeeper back into her room sitting her down on the bed before closing the door securely behind her, for a moment she scanned the room unsure about how to begin, noting with some relief that Flora's room was at least slightly cosier than Andrew's although it too seemed somewhat bare. Noticing her enquiring glances Flora said softly.

"We're moving remember. After the wedding we have new rooms, fortunately Emily's been organising it as neither Walter or I have had the time, I suppose Andrew showed you the way did he?" She added her cheerful tone sounding somewhat forced to Rebecca.

"Yes, after all we can't have a bride without her dress and I was confused when you didn't come and get it last night, I assumed it was because you were otherwise engaged…" Rebecca added but she resisted any further innuendo when the housekeeper suddenly burst into floods of tears.

"I only wish you were right!" Flora gasped out in between sobs. "I thought we were going to but…"

"What happened?" Rebecca demanded. "Did he upset you again, I had heard he was being somewhat cold but then Andrew told me about the mistletoe and the kiss, and I took that as a sign things were back as they should be."

"So did I!" Flora snorted. "I mean one moment we're….Then Emily sends me to bed like I'm some sort of naughty child but I made it clear to him to come and see me, I couldn't have been more blatant!"

"What happened?" Rebecca asked softly.

"He didn't come! I waited up for ages but he didn't come, I thought after a while perhaps he had tried but someone had caught him, Emily had been most insistent that there should be no sneaking about last night…So I thought if he couldn't come to me then perhaps I could go to him, well at least I would have an answer one way or the other, I even took his Christmas present along so I would have an excuse!"

"And?"

"He wasn't even there!" Flora sniffed.

"Well maybe he had been called away; you know how demanding the Earl can be!" Rebecca began soothingly.

"At One O'Clock in the MORNING?" Flora snapped angrily, causing Rebecca to start slightly. "I'm sorry I shouldn't take it out on you, I know I shouldn't, its just I stayed there for ages I was so tired by the end I even fell asleep, I only woke up around five and he still wasn't back!"

"Where do you think he was?" Rebecca asked softly.

"I don't know I mean he could have been anywhere or with anyone…" Flora trailed off. "We're not even married and already he is passing me over for…."

"You don't know that!" Rebecca cut in sharply. "They may be a perfectly reasonable explanation…Perhaps he went into to town for a few drinks with Mr Kraus…Or perhaps he was attending on the earl late and then came back after you were asleep and didn't want to wake you or create any bad luck so went and slept in his office?"

"Do you think…" Flora asked hopefully. "I mean I really don't have a right to be angry if he has strayed after the way I behaved it's just the thought of him with another woman…."

"It makes you physically sick…" Rebecca added softly.

"Yes exactly." Flora replied.

Sighing deeply Rebecca looked deeply into Flora's eyes and suppressing the very real suspicion she would feel in her friend's place she smiled brightly. "I am sure it was nothing of the sort; now dry those tears you don't want to look all red and puffy on your wedding day, not when you have the most beautiful dress to wear!"

"Yes you're right…It's just." Flora trailed off sighing deeply.

"Just What?" Rebecca asked cautiously.

"This is my wedding night, it's supposed to be special but for us well it's hardly like it's the first time and I so wanted it to be something to remember!" Flora trailed off wistfully. "What if he has gone off me physically, what if I'm common place to him now and he's bored with me?" She added seriously and so missed the look of amusement on Rebecca's face.

Unable to contain her glee any longer her ladyship burst out laughing, holding her stomach in an effort to stop it from splitting she was laughing that hard.

"Well I'm glad someone finds this amusing!" Flora retorted icily.

"No…It's not that…" Rebecca snorted in between giggles. "Just open the box…"

Frowning slightly Flora moved over and opened the box, unfolding her beautiful wedding dress and spreading it out on the bed. "I still fail to see what's so amusing." She muttered.

Taking a few deep breaths Rebecca leant forward and removed another smaller box from inside the larger one. "Here." She added thrusting it into the housekeeper's hands.

"Oh Rebecca I couldn't I mean you've already given me so much…." Flora began but the aristocrat cut her off.

"Oh this isn't for you; it's for Walter…Just open it." She trailed off mysteriously smiling smugly as the bemused housekeeper untied the ribbon and lifted the lid of the box before suddenly gasping out in shock and dropping the lid.

"Oh I couldn't!" Flora began shaking her head. "I mean some women might be able to but I…"

"Why not?" Rebecca teased. "After all weren't you just saying you were worried he was getting bored? Well why not spice things up a little?"

"Yes but there is a touch of spice like cinnamon but this is more like flaming paprika!" Flora retorted unable to keep an amused expression off her face.

"Oh come on it's not that bad, I mean at least its white and lacy, very bridal it's not like I've brought you something in leather! Unless you think Walter is a closet Mr Abbot?" She added teasingly.

"Definitely not!" Flora snorted, timidly lifting the lid once more and gingerly fingering the delicate, practically sheer material. "Are you sure he would be pleased?" Flora asked softly.

"Put it like this," Rebecca replied, leaning in conspiratorially. "I have always had a warm reception!"

"Well if you're sure….Alright then!" Flora blurted out, pulling all of the assorted items from the box. "But I am definitely going to need your help getting into this!"

Ten minutes later and a hysterical Rebecca collapsed once more on to the bed as she watched the housekeeper struggling to secure her stockings with these 'new fangled suspension things' as she kept calling them. Things had gone from funny to downright hilarious in a matter of minutes, they had managed to squeeze Flora into the corset without too much difficulty but the hilarity had been in watching the housekeeper turn redder and redder as she realised just how much cleavage she had.

"Oh Flora…" Rebecca gasped out. "Talk about a surprise the poor man won't know what's hit him!"

"He won't know what's hit him, how do you think I feel?" Flora retorted finally as she managed to get the damn thing to stay properly. "There all done!" She exclaimed before collapsing onto the bed herself.

"Well personally I can't see how he could possibly resist your charms now!" Rebecca snorted.

"Oh I don't know by the time we've both figured out how to get me the hell out of the damn thing he'll probably have fallen asleep on me, AGAIN!" Flora chuckled tears running once more down her face as she recalled the first night of their engagement.

However suddenly their jovial mood was broken due to a sharp tap on the door and both women looked at each other in surprise before the housekeeper dived across the room to hide behind the open wardrobe door, signalling to Rebecca to go deal with their visitor. Cautiously Rebecca opened the door poking her head out through the small gap expecting to see an irate Emily Corey but instead coming face to face with the new under-housekeeper, slightly embarrassed both women glanced nervously at the other each not sure what the other knew before an impatient Flora called out from behind the wardrobe, "Well is it safe?"

"It's not Emily its Mrs Watson." Rebecca replied, smiling politely if awkwardly at the lady standing in front of her, standing aside to let Molly in; Andrew had only told her the night before of his connection to the lady standing in front of her and at the time she had been relieved to discover she was his sister and not another ex-lover of his come back to haunt them, but even so that made them practically family, only she wasn't sure if Molly knew that.

"Look if this is a bad time…" Molly began searching the room for the hidden housekeeper whilst shooting nervous glances at the lady beside her. "I just came to see it you needed any help, but I can see you've got some so I'll go…." She blurted out embarrassed at intruding on two such good friends and feeling in that moment like some gauche interloper.

"Don't you dare Molly Watson!" Flora called out from behind her wardrobe. "Oh hang it…" She muttered grabbing a nearby shawl to try and protect what remained of her modesty before stepping out from behind the wardrobe door. "Don't you dare laugh!" Flora snapped playfully at the sight of Molly's face creasing with laughter.

"I won't after all who am I to judge what a man and wife get up to!" Molly retorted struggling to keep her chuckles under control. "Although if that's all you're planning on wearing to church…"

"No it is not!" Flora snapped. "But there is no point in putting on my dress just yet, not until I've done something with my hair and I have no idea what!" She added sinking down onto her bed despondently. "Why does everything have to turn into a drama?"

"Oh don't be so despondent!" Rebecca joked. "I'm sure we can think of something, if you want I can have Lizzie brought down, she really has a talent and I'm sure she could think of something."

At this Flora snorted in amusement earning her amused glances from both Rebecca and Molly, shaking her head slightly Flora gasped out "Sorry it's just I'm being invaded by Adams's!"

"WHAT!" Molly gasped out, then all of a sudden the strange feelings if similarity clicked into place and she knew the answer. "You mean Lizzie…."

For a moment Flora looked at her friend in shock. "Oh Molly I thought you knew…." She trailed off her mouth continuing to open and close despite there being no words coming out giving a striking resemblance to one of the Earl's coy carp.

"Just how many more secrets has my brother been keeping?" Molly demanded, looking from the stunned Flora to the somewhat embarrassed Rebecca. "Well?"

"I suppose it would be easier to ask what do you already know?" Rebecca asked softly.

"Well I worked out the thing between the two of you, if that's what you mean!" Molly snapped. "I mean you only have to look at the pair of you, I'm not judging or anything if you both love each other then that is fine with me, its just we Adams's never like to make things easy for ourselves; I mean its one thing that you're his superior but you're pregnant with your late husbands baby…."

"Their Andrews!" Rebecca corrected gently.

"They?" Molly retorted her mouth hanging open in shock her brow creasing with a slight frown. "Just how many children does my dear brother have?"

"One at present and two on the way." Rebecca replied, rubbing her hand gently across her small bump. "Andrew only told me about you last night, he was so hoping we could become friends, and I was hoping so too after all I have hardly any family and Flora had spoken so highly of you…."

For a moment Molly looked seriously at her ladyship as if weighing up the options. "I'd like that." She whispered softly, a shy smile lighting up her face and for a moment she considered confiding in both Flora and Rebecca about her own secrets, before deciding against it. There were some things that needed to remain a secret, even from friends, and after all Monty was married to Rebecca's sister so she was bound to react badly to news of their affair no matter what bad blood existed between them.

"Well now that's sorted." Flora managed to add having found her voice. "Can we return to the more pressing issue at hand, My Hair! I have no intention of walking up the aisle with knotted rags in it!"

For a moment both women just looked at her, imagining the exquisite dress complete with knotted rags before simultaneously bursting out laughing. "Oh sit down and stop fussing I'm sure between the two of us we can think of something, right your ladyship?"

"Yes indeed and please call me Rebecca…."

"Molly." Mrs Watson countered smiling broadly.

Returning her smile Rebecca forced Flora down into her desk chair and between them they began unfastening her ringlets, after a few moments Rebecca spoke up once more. "You know Molly as Andrew doesn't know we both know we could really have some fun with this…"

"Just what I was thinking!" Molly countered. "Somehow I think we're going to get along just fine, but poor Andrew isn't going to know what's hit him, but then again that's going to be his problem!"

An hour or so earlier, Andrew Adams made his way to Jarvis' quarters to do his first duty of the day as best man and wake up the groom. With a gentle whistle, the under butler tapped lightly on the door while balancing a full tray of porridge, toast, bacon and eggs benedict in the other hand.

"Morning, sir!" He called in a hushed whisper, a small smile pulling at the corner of his mouth. "Rise and shine, it's getting late and you don't want to miss your big day!" He waited patiently for a reply, frowning when none came as the porridge steamed in its bowl. Typical, Adams thought, even on his wedding morning he can't help but go and fuss over the Earl – His Lordship had told the butler that he could have the day off, which had been most generous, and after church Adams would be in charge so Jarvis could enjoy his day, but Adams had very much expected him not to listen and to still carry out his morning duties none-the-less.

With a small exasperated huff, Adams pushed open the ajar door with his foot so he could at least put the tray down before dragging the butler kicking and screaming back to get himself ready. He hadn't even given Adams the ring, and he knew full well that Jarvis would want to give him a business-like 'briefing' on his duties for the day. The past couple of days had been chaotic to say the least so he hadn't had time to talk to him properly about the day, nor had Adams had time to take a brief trip into Tappleton to see if he could purchase a book on the subject. He had been asked quite suddenly to be Best Man, it had come as a complete shock considering when Savage had been unable to come Jarvis had thought about asking Felix. Jarvis had muttered something about Chef telling him that he had enough to do with preparing the feast without writing a speech too, as much as he liked to hear the sound of his own voice.

"So you will have to do it." Jarvis had told him quite abruptly with a cursory wave of the hand, turning his back so he was unable to see the small smile creeping across the under-butler's face. He didn't care he had been number 3 on the list of people to ask, he had never been a Best Man before and he had vowed to make sure he didn't let him down.

It took Adams only a moment to notice that Jarvis' bed hadn't been slept in that night. He doubted the butler would make his bed in such a meticulous manner every morning as he would normally leave it to one of the maids, so placing down the tray carefully on the writing desk he rubbed his chin and smiled to himself knowingly. Of course, Adams thought, how could he be so naïve? After last night's little performance at the Christmas party it was very much obvious where Jarvis was going to spend the night, and if it wasn't in his own bed then he could take a firm guess as to who else's bed he would have cosied up in. And who could blame him? Adams knew only too well what sort of effect a woman can have on a man, and what better time to spread one's love than on Christmas Day?

Just as Adams turned to go and subtly enquire as to Mr Jarvis' untimely absence, he was startled by the butler leaning against the door frame and rubbing his forehead and looking very much out of sorts. His hair was dishevelled and his eyes seemed barely open, and he was quite obviously wearing the same clothes as the day before. This didn't look like a man who had just had a night of bliss, Adams thought, as Jarvis glanced over at the tray of food and almost balked.

"Ah, there you are, sir." Adams exclaimed brightly, trying not to let the feint whiff of alcohol emanating from Jarvis dampen his good mood. "I thought you'd need a good, hearty breakfast ahead of your day, the first duty of the Best Man I'm sure!" Adams smiled, puffing out his chest.

"Urgh, I'm not so sure…" Jarvis mumbled, trailing off as he perched on the edge of his bed and held his head in his hands. "I didn't even drink that much last night, I just feel ill."

"Just nerves, sir, it's only to be expected." Adams said enthusiastically, clapping his hands together and causing Jarvis to jump in shock and groan at the pain surging through his head.

"I'm going to get a wash." Jarvis sighed, heaving himself to his feet. Adams nodded in agreement, snatching up a towel and following the butler out, but he was extremely surprised to trail him to the courtyard and the water pump.

"Err sir, are you sure you want to…..?" Adams began, a little concerned.

"I bloody need it, Andrew, should put a spring back in my step!" Jarvis grunted, pulling his jacket off in the cold and flinging it to the floor, his hands moving to tug at his waistcoat his fingers fumbling with the buttons due to the cold. Ignoring the biting wind that cut through the courtyard Jarvis used a nearby rock to break the thick level of ice that had formed overnight on the top of the water trough before forcing his head down into the water his hand groping for the pump handle.

For a moment Adams began to panic worried when the Butler kept his head under the water for over a minute, but just as he was about to walk over and physically drag his superior out of the water Jarvis came up gasping for air. Brushing his sodden hair out of his face Jarvis shivered as the water dripped down his shirt and soaked through, the material becoming translucent and clinging drenched to his skin. He took the towel off Adams thankfully and wiped his dripping face, unbuttoning his shirt right down to the last hole and untucking it so he could pat his chest dry.

"Right." Jarvis announced, thrusting the towel back at a rather frozen under-butler and trotting back through the door. "We'd best get on with it then, hadn't we?"

There had been a definite reason why Jarvis had wanted to freshen up in such a dramatic fashion, and it had nothing to do with whiskey or Lady Francesca. Minutes earlier while he had been snoozing gently, still propped up in His Lordship's favourite chair, his erratic dreaming had turned to Flora – he had indeed gone to see her in his sleepy minds eye, but after he had pulled back her covers and leant down to brush his nose against her cheek she grabbed him, kissing him forcefully, then proceeded to run her lips – and bizarrely her tongue - over his entire face. Her hand wandered down to his groin, and it would have been most pleasurable if it hadn't been for her clumsiness.

"Flora." He had moaned breathlessly in his sleep, trying to shake her off as she panted in his face and smothered him so he couldn't breathe. "Other areas of me need attention too." Slowly Jarvis had begun to stir out of his slumber, shifting in his chair as her tongue began to lap at his ear and her breathing got heavier…….."URGH! Get off me, you damned animal!" Jarvis had yelled as his eyes flickered open to see a bloody dog licking his cheek in mute greeting, its hind paws sitting firmly where they shouldn't be.

"Monty, for God's sake, I am not dog food or a plaything!" The terrier had simply whimpered softly at this admonishment and leapt back down onto the floor, staring expectantly up at the butler with wide, unblinking dark eyes and tail wagging as rhythmically as a clock pendulum. With a quiet snort of laughter, Jarvis had reached out and patted the dog's head before heaving himself out of his chair, his brain feeling like it were a drum being beaten hard into his skull and his face sticky with saliva which he had to wash off at first opportunity before he vomited.

"I bet you can't wait to hear my speech, can you sir?" Adams asked Jarvis with a small twinkle in his eyes as he handed him Flora's favourite dark green neck tie. With a shake of the head Jarvis finished buttoning up his shirt and adjusted his braces, shooting Adams a bemused glance.

"Speech? Oh you don't have to do one of those, Andrew!" He laughed, desperately trying to hide the alarm in his voice.

"But sir, I have one prepared…." Adams trailed off, fishing a folded sheet of paper out of his breast pocket and thumbing it humbly.

With a worried stare Jarvis locked eyes with the paper while wrapping the tie around his neck, but Adams suddenly felt foolish and stuffed it back in his pocket. "Don't worry." Adams muttered. "I'm very nice about you, I know we don't go back like you and Mr Savage but I had hoped that we had…..you know….bonded a bit? Maybe?"

To his disappointment, Jarvis didn't reply but instead rifled through his wardrobe and pulling out a number of different waistcoats. "You will have to help me to decide which one." He announced rather abruptly, holding them up and puzzling over them. "The dark green one, or this gold one? I haven't worn this grey one in ages, always thought it looked too similar to my evening one."

"Try it on, sir. The colour suits you." Adams suggested, but frowned slightly at what he thought to be more of a comment Mr Kraus might say. He seemed to have rather an interest in clothes, and Adams often wondered if that had anything to do with his other, well, preferences.

With a sigh, Jarvis threaded his arms through the waistcoat and tried in vain to pull the two sides to meet in the middle so he could fasten it. "Damn it." He muttered as the middle buttons came no where near to their respective holes, so ignoring Adams' slight smirk shook it off. "Never did like that one much anyway. No wonder I haven't worn it for a year or so."

Eventually, after a not inconsiderable amount of effort went in to choosing appropriate attire, Jarvis was ready. His appetite appeared to have returned with gusto, and requested another breakfast from an already irate chef. He even allowed Adams to join him at the senior servants table, and the under-butler was hardly going to turn down another, more hearty breakfast than the one he was used to, with the added bonus that this one was made by Felix himself.

"You haven't given me the ring." Adams said as he bit into his fourth piece of toast, checking his most precious pocket watch from Rebecca to make sure they were at the church in plenty of time.

"Indeed you're right Andrew, but promise me you'll look after it." Jarvis said a little tersely as he reached into his breast pocket, but his serious expression softened when he opened the small, black box in his possession. "It was my grandmother's, my mother insists that Flora have it. I only hope it fits alright, but mother thinks it will. I will get it altered if not. The moment I slip this onto Flora's finger will be the happiest moment of my life, there is no doubt about it."

Jarvis sniffed a little as he continued to examine the ring, turning it over in his palm as Adams watched his superior's guard slip completely. "I do love her so." Jarvis continued, oblivious to the under-butler's slight discomfort. "What if she doesn't turn up? What if she decides she no longer wishes to become Mrs Corey, after everything that has happened between us lately?" The butler tore his tearful eyes away from the simple gold band for the first time and looked Adams pleadingly in the eye. For a moment Adams didn't know what on earth to say, but he realised that reassuring the groom about his bride's cold feet was just one of the many duties he had to undertake in his new, important role.

"Of course she will turn up, sir. She loves you, it is so obvious." Adams replied, his voice lowered to such a quiet whisper so nobody but Jarvis could catch a word of it. He was only used to offering the butler usually useless bits of relationship advice after at least a couple of drinks, and that didn't include two cups of tea at such a sober time of day. "You have no need to worry, I'm sure. You two were made to be together, and when love like that comes along you can't let it go. Believe me, I know. A woman can sometimes change you for the better, make you realise past mistakes, and I am sure you've learned a lot from your time with Flora."

Jarvis smiled softly, popping the ring back in its box and snapping the lid shut. "Here." He said, handing the box over the table. "I am most grateful for your help today. Right, come on then, let's get a move on, plenty to do. Best check on His Lordship before we go, hopefully the old codger can cope on his own for a couple of hours, although give him enough brandy even at this time of the morning and he can cope with anything." Jarvis quipped, scraping back his chair and smoothing down his most excellent choice of dark green and gold waistcoat.

"Aye, sir." Adams nodded, heading out of the door to make his way up to the Earl's bedroom. He hoped that maybe he could take a small diversion past it and slip in to have a quick fumble with his lover. It did occur to him however that she would probably be engrossed in 'women's business' in Mrs Ryan's room, and if her giggles over the present for Flora – or for dear Jarvis, as she had said with a wink – were anything to go by he was almost certainly better off from under her feet, or more to the point from any other part of her beautiful anatomy. But suddenly Jarvis spoke from behind him, jolting him out of his daze.

"Do you love Lady Rebecca, Mr Adams?" Jarvis asked, without any sort of judgement in his tone. Adams gaped at him for a moment, but just as he was about to answer he heard a cough and turned to see Felix standing a little way from them, quite obviously wanting a private word with the groom. Catching Jarvis' eye Adams simply smiled and trotted away, happy he was able to keep his feelings for Rebecca firmly between him and his sweetheart for yet another day.

The Chef and the butler simply stood in front of each other for a long, awkward pause, Jarvis suddenly finding the casing of his pocket watch very interesting as Felix looked him up and down and chuckled gently. "Walter, you look very handsome." He smiled, hoping to God that Jarvis didn't take the compliment the wrong way.

"I am so pleased that finally, after all this time, you and Flora are doing the very thing you should have done months ago. I had almost given up hope, especially after the baby……" Felix suddenly paused, waving his hand rather effeminately in front of his face as his face creased up with emotion. Now it was Jarvis' turn to feel rather uncomfortable at a display of such emotion and he wondered whether all grooms had to go through this ritual.

"Oh Walter I'm so pleased!" Felix squeaked, lunging forward and drawing Jarvis into a huge hug and almost squeezing the life out of him. "I am so proud of you both! You have no idea how long I have waited for this moment!"

Jarvis was sure that Felix was sobbing all over his freshly pressed suit, and he was worried if anyone caught them may indeed get completely the wrong idea so with a grunt patted Kraus in a firm, masculine manner on the back and pushed him away in the hopes of placating the chef's touchy-feely side.

"Thank you, Felix." Jarvis stated in a gruff, manly tone. "I too have been waiting for this day for a long time."

Felix grabbed Jarvis by the arms and kissed him firmly on both cheeks, much to the butler's complete and utter shock and surprise. He had never in his life been kissed by a man, but knew that this wasn't just something particular to those of Felix's persuasion but also something done in foreign parts as he had observed such a phenomenon in Italy. Felix smiled through is tears, blowing his nose and hurrying back off to the kitchen as a bemused Jarvis decided he should check over his appearance one last time. He was happy that his mother hadn't come to hunt him out, he presumed she must in her element with fussing over Flora.

Half an hour later, and Adams and Jarvis were briskly making their way to the chapel in the bitter cold when the under-butler brandished a hip flask from under his greatcoat. "A sip of the strong stuff, sir? Calm your nerves, warm you up a bit?" He mumbled as Jarvis looked down at it, startled.

"Mr Adams, I can't stink of alcohol in church, what will the vicar think! Or more importantly, what will Flora think!" Jarvis fumed, pushing the flask aside. "Put it away!"

"Are you sure, sir?" Adams teased as they approached the chapel, but his persuading was rudely interrupted by Fred who was running towards them, panting wildly and waving his arms around.

"Mr Jarvis, something's happened!" He gasped, halting in front of them and resting his hands on his knees in exhaustion.

"Oh God, Flora! The baby!" Jarvis panicked, pushing past Fred to hurry back to the house, but the footman waved his arm in dismissal of Jarvis' fears as he desperately tried to get his breath back.

"No, no, nothing to do with Mrs Ryan, sir!" He gulped, straightening himself up.

"Well bloody spit it out, boy!" Adams growled, rolling his eyes as Jarvis' worry only slightly subsided.

"It's Frank, he's not in his room. I went to check, Joseph kept watch all night, he must've got out of his window, it was wide open!" Fred exclaimed, Jarvis becoming redder as his eyes widened in fury. "We've been looking everywhere for him, I've no idea where he is, what do you want us to do!"

"Leave him." Jarvis finally ordered, walking towards the chapel at a quickening pace, but then turning to Adams who was hot on his heels, his voice lowered so the awaiting vicar couldn't hear him. "Listen, I want you and the footmen to be watching this door like hawks. Put Cosmo on the door, tell him if Keneally so much as comes within ten yards of this church to knock him into the middle of next week and take him back to his room. I do NOT want this service interrupted, and it is part of your job as best man to make sure my wishes are adhered to."

"Of course, sir." Adams said a little gleefully, crunching his knuckles. "Don't you worry, if he's around then he's a dead man. He'd be mad to show up, and he knows it, the little t."

"Now, best go and talk to the vicar." Jarvis muttered, smiling over his shoulder at the young man waving at him in his freshly washed cassock. "Damn it Andrew, I'm feeling nervous now, God knows why, this day has been coming long enough."

"It's natural, sir." Adams assured him, just checking that the ring was still safely in his pocket. "I only hope….well, that one day I will know how you're feeling now. Anyway, I'd best wait here, people will be arriving shortly."

"You're a good man, Andrew." Jarvis beamed, patting him on the shoulder but certainly NOT pulling him into a Felix-style hug as the under-butler flushed. "One day you will know, I am sure. And you will remember the day for the rest of your life."

Half an hour later having watched from her window as most of the staff made their way along the lane and towards the church Flora Ryan was finally ready to descend from her room. Taking a deep breath Flora smiled nervously at the two ladies who had been of invaluable help to her that morning before taking a last sneaky glance in her looking glass; staring at it one last time she found it difficult to believe the person looking back was actually her. It was amazing what a difference a touch of Molly's makeup; someone else doing her hair and dress worth a staggering thirty pounds could do for one's appearance. Bending down to help gather her voluminous skirts she shook her head slightly smiling to herself as she felt her many ringlets brush gently against the nape of her neck.

"Well I'm as ready as I'll ever be I suppose…." She trailed off nervously, gulping in deep breaths in an effort to quell the very real nausea that built up in her stomach, and at that moment she wasn't sure whether it was a result of nerves or morning sickness.

"You'll be just fine!" Rebecca exclaimed brushing down her own beautiful dress, the beautiful emerald velvet setting off the fiery red in her hair as she turned to Molly. "Won't she be just fine?" She demanded from the assistant housekeeper.

"Well if she is going to change her mind I think now would be the last appropriate moment!" Molly quipped cheerfully but her eyes were suddenly serious when they locked with the housekeepers, and Flora favoured her with a tentative smile noting for the first time that Molly had taken Rebecca's advice and abandoned her mourning black and donned her favourite dark green Sunday dress, after all as Rebecca had remarked 'It would be bad luck to wear black to a wedding'.

"Oh she wouldn't do that!" Rebecca snorted. "She's spent too long trying to get him up the aisle to call the whole thing off now!"

"But if she did decide I know we'd both be there to support her." Molly retorted seriously and for a moment Rebecca glanced confused between the others. "Is there something I don't know about…."

"No." Flora replied softly. "Nothing of any importance, everything is going to be just fine….I'm sure it'll be fine…" She trailed off ignoring the questioning glances from Rebecca as the door to her room swung open and a flustered Emily burst in.

Leaning heavily against the door Emily rested a hand against her pounding heart. "Oh thank goodness you're ready! I am convinced that the fates are conspiring to give me a heart attack first when I couldn't find Walter and then when the sponges didn't rise properly….Oh but don't you look perfect…"

"What's wrong with Walter…." Flora blurted out, a dozen different thoughts and fears fleeing through her mind.

"Oh nothing!" Emily added waving aside the housekeeper's concerned expression. "Andrew managed to sort him out, they left for the church three quarters of an hour ago….And talking of churches my dear shouldn't we be on our way?" She added as she turned and led the wedding party down to the courtyard where the few servants who couldn't be excused to visit the church were gathered.

"Mrs Ryan, Mrs Ryan!" Grace called out from one of the courtyard windows. "The best of luck!" She added waving madly at the housekeeper.

"Thank you!" Flora replied, smiling nervously. "I'll want a word with you Grace May when I get back! How do you feel about a spot of travelling?"

"I'll start packing!" Grace called out cheerfully unable to suppress the excited grin on her face as she tried to picture the far off and exotic places George and she would get to see together.

Shivering slightly in the biting cold Flora Ryan waited as Felix helped Lady Rebecca, Molly and Emily into the first carriage, smiling forcedly as their carriage clattered off down the lane before the Chef moved over to her, offering her his arm as he escorted her to their carriage, helping her carefully up into it before moving to sit next to her.

Smiling smugly at her as he ordered the carriage to pull off before leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially, "I have a surprise for you! A present from me to you!" He added as he stood up unsteadily moving to the opposite seat and pulling out a large box from under it, which he quickly ripped the lid off picking up the contents before thrusting it towards her.

"For you!" He added forcing the beautiful bouquet into surprised hands.

"Oh Felix they're beautiful!" Flora exclaimed bringing the beautiful combination of hothouse roses and winter wild flowers to her face and breathing in the heady scents. "But how did you…When did you find time to sort this out?" Flora asked softly, trying desperately to hide the tears that sprung to her eyes at her friend's thoughtfulness, unable to suppress the disappointment that it had been Felix and not her husband to be who had prepared this little surprise for her on her wedding day; Walter hadn't even gotten her a Christmas present not that she had wanted anything in particular any small token of his affection would have been enough.

However the oblivious chef took her brimming eyes as a sign of her delight rather than her turbulent emotions and sitting down once more he added mysteriously; "Ahhh, how? Now that is and will remain my little secret…" The chef replied tapping his nose secretively.

"After all it is unthinkable to have a bride without a bouquet, I can't believe Walter was going to allow it, but then that is just like a man to forget the important little details! What did he think was going to happen that the flowers were just going to miraculously turn up by themselves?"

At this simple statement Flora couldn't hold it back any longer and she burst out into tears causing a startled Felix to turn to her in shock. "Flora my dear what is it what's the matter?"

"I'm sorry I just can't do this!" The housekeeper blurted out. "Make him stop, make the carriage stop I'm not going!" She added getting to her feet stumbling slightly when the carriage hit a bump. Glaring over at the stunned chef who was still sitting dumbly in his seat. "I mean it Felix stop this carriage I'm not going through with this!"

"But but….You have to…Everyone will be waiting…Walter is expecting you, you can't just not turn up and what about the baby you know you have to marry for its sake…" Felix babbled incoherently as the housekeeper lent her head out of the window yelling at the coachman to stop which he did rather suddenly causing her to fly back into her seat her hand automatically moving to protect her stomach.

"Are you alright?" Felix automatically asked his concern for her physical well-being overruling his other worries about her state of mind.

"I'm fine!" Flora snapped, burying her head in her hands. "No I'm not fine, I'm never going to be fine again….That's the point nothing is ever going to be alright, he doesn't love me like he should and I can't marry him when he doesn't love me like I love him, or like I thought I loved him…Oh Felix its such a mess… He's told me ever since he found about…about Will…" Flora trailed off unable to meet Felix's gaze.

"He told me it could only be a marriage of convenience." She added her hands shaking. "That he wasn't sure whether he still loved me at all and that if I caused any trouble…..He'd, he'd take my baby away." She finished unable to continue, unable to suppress the very real nausea that bubbled up inside her. "I need to get out I'm going to be sick."

Suddenly spurred into action Felix flung the carriage door open and held out his hand as Flora practically leapt out of it leaning against the stone wall of the lane as she threw up over it the meagre contents of her stomach, continuing to dry wretch for several minutes afterwards whilst the chef looked on in pain and confusion holding her delicate veil away from her face.

"Oh Flora." He whispered softly. "You know its not the truth, he loves you more than words, I saw him this morning I've never seen him look so excited, what ever he said before you know he didn't mean it he was just angry just striking out to hurt you like you had hurt him. But I mean you only had to look at you both last night and then him this morning, he even let me hug him now if that isn't a sign of a happy Walter then I don't know what is?"

"Really?" Flora asked softly.

"Yes really!" Felix replied softly handing her his handkerchief so she could wipe her face down.

"Then why did he disappear last night? Why did he prefer to go off drinking with you then come to me?" She demanded. "Damnit he didn't even get me a Christmas present, that's how little he thinks about me, its all for show!"

Felix frowned before replying. "He wasn't with me!"

"Then where the hell was he? Off in town living it up I have no doubt, probably paying a visit to that Rosie character I've heard so much about!" She ranted. "Whilst I sat up half the night waiting for him…."

"I'm sure it was nothing so extreme!" Felix interjected. "And besides not that I'm supposed to know and I know even if I was supposed to I would certainly not be supposed to tell you…But he did get you a Christmas present I know because he asked my opinion on it and we spent practically all afternoon pouring different designs…."

"Don't say anymore…Please Felix I need time to think…" Flora cut him off, running a hand across her throbbing forehead as she paced up and down alongside the carriage whilst the chef looked on in bemusement.

"Well I hate to put a time limit on you but…" Felix whispered timidly as he checked his pocket watch. "The clock is ticking and he won't wait forever. Its time you decided what you really want from life, do you want to spend it with Walter? Enough to forgive him any stupid retaliations he might have embarked on in a moment of madness? Come on now Flora what's it going to be…."

Meanwhile over at the church the bridegroom to be was getting more than slightly nervous, a situation not helped by his best man, who ever few seconds insisted on asking him if he was alright before adding he was sure they'd be here any minute, an assertion that was getting less and less convincing as the minutes wore on. When for, what seemed like, the fifteenth time that minute Adams piped up with "Only a few minutes now sir."

Jarvis couldn't contain his annoyance any longer and he snapped louder and probably more harshly than he had intended at his subordinate. "Yes thank you Mr Adams I am capable of reading a Clock all by MYSELF!"

Somewhat startled by the butler's severity Adams pondered for a moment the virtues of popping off into the vestry for a quick nip from his hip flask, after all if this was any indicator of how Jarvis reacted under pressure then he dreaded the Butler's reaction when he heard his best man's speech. However just as he was about to turn the clatter of horses on gravel could be heard and a relieved Adams glanced across at his superior, unable to prevent his own smile from reappearing as he spotted the look of relief on Jarvis's face.

"See sir I told you nothing to worry about!" Adams whispered as he joined the Butler in their places in front of the Vicar.

"I never doubted it for a second!" Jarvis retorted confidently but Andrew could have sworn he noticed droplets of nervous sweat trickle down the side of the Butler's face before Jarvis hastily wiped them away.

However when a few minutes later the organist did not begin the Wedding March, both Jarvis and Adams glanced nervously over their shoulders at the open church doors.

"Go find out what the hell is going on!" Jarvis hissed, waving Adams away.

"Aye Sir, its probably nothing fussing with dresses and veils and other such nonsense…." He trailed off heading down the aisle and ignoring the curious glances shot at him from the congregation.

On reaching the double doors Adams eyes immediately skimmed over Emily and his sister to focus on the beautiful Rebecca, and in the dim winter sunshine resplendent in emerald green and lit by a internal glow she literally took his breath away.

"Dear god's you look breathtaking." He managed to mutter as he helped her down from her carriage. However he hardly had a moment to gather his thoughts before they were interrupted by an irate Emily Corey.

"Well Mr Adams is everything in hand?" She demanded, every few seconds glancing over her shoulder at the bend in the lane convinced that Flora's carriage would be appearing at any moment.

"Yes…" Adams began but Emily cut him off.

"Walter's here and sober?" She demanded.

"Yes…"

"And all the guests?" She added.

"Yes.."

"And the vicar has turned…He is a proper vicar, isn't he?"

"Mrs Corey." Adams snapped. "We have everything we need EXCEPT the Bride, and I understood she was your responsibility!"

"She's on her way; in fact she was only just behind us!" Emily retorted. "She was in a second carriage with Felix!"

"Then why isn't she here?" Adams replied. "Mr Jarvis is jumpy as a jack rabbit already and this extended delay is not helping matters."

Snorting to himself from his place by the double doors George suddenly turned a bright shade of red when the entire wedding party turned to glare him.

"Something Funny Mr Cosmo?" Adams asked.

Smothering another set of sniggering George piped up, "Well sir it just occurred to me isn't it traditional that if the bride doesn't turn up the groom is supposed to marry one of the bridesmaids!" He added nodding towards both Rebecca and Molly who in turn glared back at him in amusement.

"Well considering the circumstances it had better be you Molly my dear!" Rebecca retorted jovially. "After all I am expecting another man's children, not that Mr Jarvis isn't an attractive man and I hear one of many talents. Why I heard from Flora that…." She trailed off whispering something enlightening in the under-housekeeper's ear that caused her eyebrows to shoot skyward and an amused smile to tug at her lips as she giggled naughtily.

"Oh no definitely not, as tempting as that sounds….. Mr Jarvis and I have not proved at all compatible, even in a work environment, so if we were married despite certain areas of his performance being up to standard I'm certain we'd end up killing each other before the honeymoon period was over! So it will have to be you Rebecca, and besides I understand that Mr Jarvis would love the idea of a large family I'm sure he wouldn't mind taking on another man's children providing you could give him one of his own eventually. After plenty of trying of course!" Molly retorted a slight smile tugging at her lips as they watched Andrew turn slowly from pink to scarlet, to deathly pale and then purple.

"And besides it is only fair to take the groom's feelings into account in all of this, and I can guarantee that he would choose you over me any day." Molly added.

"Well if you insist Molly dear then who am I to argue, its just such a shame I lent Flora my wedding dress, of course it would need letting out a little at the waist, I'll just keep my fingers crossed that she has done a runner then shall I?" Rebecca asked in all seriousness, a ghost of a smile playing about her lips as both Andrew and Emily stared at her aghast.

"That sounds like a plan…." Molly began.

However before she could finish they were all confronted with a irate bridegroom; frustrated with Flora's timing and the fact that Andrew had not seen fit to return when he wanted Jarvis had decided to see what was going on himself and had stormed down the aisle muttering under his breath about 'having to do things yourself if you want them doing properly'.

"Walter." Emily began but her son cut her off.

"Where the hell is she?" He demanded pacing up and down in front of church and waving his hands about in order to emphasis his disappointment before kicking out at a stray pebble and causing it to ricochet off of the church wall back towards him, hitting him painfully in the shin. Crouching down and rubbing his throbbing leg, Jarvis turned to glare at the assembled group, looking each of them in the eye as if daring them to snigger at his discomfort.

"She's on her way Walter!" Emily cut in moving in an effort to fuss over her only child in the few remaining minutes before he finally became another woman's responsibility. "Don't worry about it, she's probably just been delayed at the house or perhaps they were travelling slower than us, you know how a bride likes to be fashionably late…."

"Don't worry about it! Mother my fiancée is missing! And on top of all that it is about to snow!" Jarvis hissed shrugging off Emily's fussing and striding over to his best man who appeared to be glaring frostily at the two bridesmaids. "Well Mr Adams have you accomplished any of the things I asked?"

"Well Sir there is hardly anything I can do if Flora has decided not to turn up!" Adams retorted sharply, immediately regretting the words the moment they tripped off his tongue. "Not that that is what has happened here…" He added placatingly as he watched the Butler's face fall and turn ash white, for once his expression having nothing to do with the icy temperatures.

"No need to worry Sir." George piped up from the doorway. "She'll be here and just in case she doesn't show we've been discussing which bridesmaid you'll marry instead, I believe Lady Rebecca had volunteered to do the honours!" He added causing the Butler to stare at him in shock then over at the now embarrassed bridesmaids, their joke having been intended to be on Andrew alone and not to get back to the Butler.

"I don't think that is going to be necessary!" Emily cut in happily as she pointed to the now rapidly approaching other carriage. "Walter, Mr Adams get yourselves inside sharpish, ladies places!" She commanded as the relieved Butler scampered back into the church as if the devil himself was on his heels just as the bridal carriage came to a halt outside the church doors.

"WHAT KEPT YOU!" Emily demanded the moment Felix Kraus popped his head out the window. "Do you have ANY IDEA what we've been through? Walter has turned into a nervous wreak, and Mr Cosmo was about to marry him off to one of the bridesmaids!"

"Now, now Emily!" Felix placated as he stepped down from the carriage, turning and holding out his arm to help the coachman assist Flora out as well. "Flora felt unwell; all this excitement does not combine well with morning sickness!" He added.

"Oh you poor dear." Emily fussed giving Flora a quick once over when the very pale and shivering housekeeper stepped gingerly out into the now freezing wind, clinging desperately to keep her veil from being blown completely off her head. "Well at least there is no trace of it on your dress, thank heavens for that!"

"Yes indeed we couldn't have that!" Flora muttered softly earning her a bemused glance from Emily before her future mother-in-law. "Can we get inside its freezing and silk is not the warmest of fabrics!" She added.

"Of course of course, ladies…." Emily added waving both Rebecca and Molly to start walking down the aisle before she followed in her unofficial place as matron of honour, leaving Felix to clasp Flora's hand reassuringly.

"You made the right decision!" He whispered in her ear as he slowly escorted her into the church Flora's eyes widening in surprise at the number of people who had turned out on Boxing Day of all days to see them get married. For a moment her eyes flickered over the congregation, unable to resist the smile that graced her lips at the sight of so many of her friends and colleagues wishing her well, the outpouring of joy and devotion in their eyes made her own well up and in an effort to retain control she tore her eyes away locking them strictly on the floor in front of her.

As a result she only realised she was at the end of her journey when Felix unhooked her hand from its place of safety on his arm and handed her over to someone else, glancing up slowly from the floor she caught sight of a pair of well polished shoes, a neatly pressed pair of black trousers, a flash of a green and gold waistcoat, the gleam of a pocket watch chain, a beautiful cream rose corsage and then the most striking and penetrating pair of blue eyes she had ever seen and they were gazing deep into hers.

The depth of the emotion contained in those crystal pools took her breath away, and in that moment without a word being spoken she knew the right choice had been made, he loved her and she loved him and as the vicar began his opening address 'Dearly Beloved' despite his pimples and hesitant stammer Flora Ryan knew this was going to be the happiest day of her life.

As the service got underway, George was only able to peer through the open door, every now and again stamping his feet and rubbing his hands together to keep them from going numb. He smiled to himself, quickly saying a little prayer for the couple, while praying for his situation with Grace and hoping that one day, some day, this would be the pair of them. A holiday was what he needed, a few months away and if what he had heard about Charlotte's engagement was true, that meant the maids position to India was free. That place was meant for Grace! Mrs Ryan liked Grace enough, surely she was the obvious choice-

Frank: You not invited Georgie boy? George jumped, spinning around to look at a smirking Frank Keneally. All thoughts of Grace and India now pushed to the back of his mind. I didn't want to miss this. making his way over to the open door, however George swiftly sprung into action, grabbing Frank by the scruff of his neck and beginning to drag him as far away from the church as possible.

George: I don't think so Keneally! I am on strict instructions that if you should arrive you are to be taken back to that hell hole of yours.

Frank: Oh come on mate! I've got some serious business to attend too.

George: Mate? looking at him in disgust.

Frank: I'm being serious. Besides we aren't that different us two, are we? George rolls his eyes. He'd heard this sort of speech many times before. Now he was going to tell him lots of crap reasons that made the two of them… and the rest of the men in Tappleton similar. We aren't! Both like fine women. …like the rest of the men in Tappleton. Young women, vulnerable women you could say. George nods, smiling sarcastically at him. Both ambitious, always eager… never seem to be able to keep out of trouble. George was sure that the temperature had suddenly dropped another 4 or 5 degrees and their was a definite wind change.

George: There is a bit of a difference between spraying Fred's jacket with powder and going around trying to rape anyone slightly feminine. You'll be after Johnny next, he's almost as feminine as Lady Rebecca or Grace, George can't help thinking to himself, desperately stifling a chuckle, clenching his teeth shut and taking deep breaths.

Frank: We both know that is not what I meant. leering in George's face Is it?… Sugden. The young footman's head snapped up and he was sure the temperature was now beginning to raise rapidly.

George: What? He stuttered, while pulling nervously at his collar, undoing the top button, allowing himself chance to breath in deeply.

Frank: You look a little flushed laddie. I wonder why? cocking his head to one side and tapping his chin, in an effort to over-exaggerate the fact he was thinking 'really' hard.

George: Don't look at me like that, I've no idea what you are talking about.

Frank: Don't mess with me! He hisses, pouncing on George and pinning him up against the church wall. Frank glanced towards the door nervously, he could have sworn he had heard an ever so slight lapse in the vicar's speech inside and he found himself desperately hoping no one was about to come outside and find out what the commotion was all about.

I wonder what Grace would say if she found out? Her precious little darling a fake, a fraud… a murderer. He hisses in his ear, tightening the grasp he had on George's throat, causing him to chock. I have connections, so you better be very, very careful. You never know what I might let slip. He grins, spitting each word in George's face, enjoying the look of pure terror on his face.

George: What do you want? Money? Frank chuckles to himself, shaking his head, a nasty glint in his eye which George didn't like.

Frank: You 'accidentally' let me slip past you now and I'll consider not mentioning this to anyone.

George: Why do I not believe you?

Frank: Because you are a fool! He barked, then his voice softening. Don't be a fool George, cause in the long run it'll just make things worse.

George: What things? What are you going to do?

Frank: Now, now, if I told you that I'd have no fun. Let's just say by the time I'm done with you your little woman will have experienced more than just a little man. George's face suddenly turns deathly pale and he pushes Frank away from him with all his strength, causing him to fall back into the light snow, soaking him through to the skin. Don't make this difficult! as George makes his way to stand over the door again.

George: I'm not letting you pass.

Frank: I was afraid you were going to say that. Oh well! grabbing George's jacket and once more pushing him against the wall, punching him in the stomach, knocking the wind right out of him. The footman doubled over, wheezing heavily, but still managing to stumble over to block Frank's way again. Jesus Christ! Don't be such an arse! Get out of my way! He shakes his head. Frank was just relieved the vicar kept stumbling over his words and had to keep beginning his lines again, over wise he would have most definitely missed his cue by now.

Very well. He hums to himself, smacking George forcefully across the face and dragging him to the wall, grabbing his hair and bashing his head against it, a little more powerfully than he had intended, after all he didn't want ANOTHER excuse was Jarvis to lock him up in his room for an extra week. George sunk to the floor, holding his throbbing head, burying himself in the snow. Oops. he mutters oh well. turning to the door and leaving George to slip in and out of consciousness.

Grinning to himself he leaned on the open door frame, glancing over the church, their was the odd persons from the village and then the Taplows staff, Grace was sat, smiling happily for the pair, Lizzie sat next to her. Behind them were the footmen who were relieved to be inside, not even giving George, freezing outside a second thought. Charlotte was sat at the end of one of the rows, every so often glancing at the doctor, sat proudly next to her and favouring him with a sweet smile of her own.

At the top of the church was Rebecca and Molly, both looking splendid Frank quickly noted, next to them was his foolish grandmother, who was sobbing loudly in her hanky, causing more than a few amused glances and even the bride and groom would occasionally look away from each other to look at her in amusement when she would blow her nose loudly, before smiling knowingly at each other again. Felix also seemed to be having trouble controlling himself, he wasn't yet sobbing, but he didn't look far off.

Frank jolted out of his stare as his moment came closer and he heard those words he needed to hear.

Vicar: …And if there are any persons here present who know of any awful- lawful impediment why these two people may not be joined in the bonds of holy mat-ri-mony saying the word slowly as if it was new to him let them speak now and forever hold their peace…

The room went still, no one dared even move. Emily sniffed loudly and everyone turned to look at her, while she blushed scarlet. Relieved Walter and Flora glanced at each other, smiling at the vicar, encouraging him to carry on quickly before something went wrong again. However too late, from the back of the room they all heard a confident

I do.

Suddenly the church fell silent, the dying echoes of Frank's "I do" reverberating off the grey stone walls as the congregation all turned in their seats to sit and gawp at the intruder as he slowly slunk from the church doors and up the aisle towards the 'happy couple'. "Well isn't anyone going to ask me why I object?" He hissed venomously, his eyes boring into the back of Jarvis's head willing him and his lovely bride to turn round so he could see the look of panic and despair on the Butler's face.

"Well….Ye.. Yesssssss!" The vicar stammered, unable to keep the look of horror off his face as he realised his worst nightmare had finally come true, well actually his second to worst nightmare, the first was a corpse getting out of its coffin in the middle of its funeral.

"I have information that the bride will find very interesting! Concerning the whereabouts of her groom last night." Frank added evilly, pausing dramatically as he watched a pale and trembling Flora Ryan turn around slowly, her eyes automatically raking over her husband to be. But Jarvis hadn't moved it was though he was frozen to the spot, his eyes fixed forward on the stained glass window opposite and no sign of emotion on his face, if it wasn't for the rise and fall of his chest people might have wondered if he was still among the living.

"Walter?" Flora asked timidly, reaching out a hand and touching his elbow gently, breaking the spell and causing the Butler to swallow and hang his head in resignation before risking a glance across at his bride a look of such fear and pain and sorrow in his eyes that it made the breath stick in her throat.

"Flora I…" He croaked unable to continue, unable to hold her gaze any longer.

"Oh dear don't tell me my beloved uncle has gone and lost his voice!" Frank hissed struggling to contain his glee as the housekeeper finally turned to face him her eyes wide with dread, and her bottom lip trembling slightly.

Taking a deep breath Flora faced Frank, for the first time looking the man who had attempted to rape her in the eye. "Well then Mr Keneally if you have something to tell me, it had better be something of the utmost important since you've dared to interrupt my wedding!"

Smiling smugly Frank chuckled evilly before retorting. "Oh I think you'll think so Mrs Ryan…. I found something very interesting last night, your devoted fiancé in the arms of another woman, another pregnant woman I might add! And lets just say both were in significant states of undress, in fact I might state quite plainly the only clothing he still had on were his socks! Gave me quite a fright!"

"How dare you Keneally…." Jarvis suddenly roared, like a sleeping lion immediately roused to a fight.

For a moment Flora reeled as she tried to take in all the implications of what Frank had said, another woman, another pregnant woman and her Walter. Surely he couldn't be implying that… For a moment the entire world seemed to spin and she staggered slightly, fighting against the dizziness that threatened, immediately feeling a pair of strong arms grasping her round the waist. Leaning against her rescuer Flora rested her head against his shoulder closing her eyes for a moment in an effort to fight off nausea, and through the fogginess she heard him mutter.

"It wasn't like that, well it was I won't lie to you but I didn't sleep with her, Keneally turned up before we had gone too far but it still looked…. That baby it's nothing to do with me I swear to you, I've never laid a finger on her before not even glanced in her direction…It was a stupid once in a lifetime lapse and I swear it won't ever happen again…Darling Flora please don't leave…" Jarvis whispered softly trying to rein in the impulse to beat the valet to a bloody pulp even in the house of god and in front of a vicar.

Slowly Flora opened her eyes, glancing up from his waistcoat she locked eyes with Walter, staring deeply into them, there were definite traces of guilt but no sign of deception within their cerulean depths, nodding slightly she turned and faced the vicar once more, there was no way she going to let her child down again. Damn Walter for not being able to keep his trousers and damn Frank for broadcasting their personal business in such a public and humiliating way, but there was no way that she was going to let their mistakes ruin her last chance and her child's only chance for a normal life.

"I fail to see how this is a legal impediment?" Flora murmured softly, locking her gaze with the stunned cleric.

"Well no…" The young Reverend replied. "But are you sure, you don't need time to think or anything?"

"I'm sure!" Flora replied an edge of steel entering her voice. "Please continue…"

"But you can't be SERIOUS!" Frank shouted angrily as he saw his carefully laid plan slowly slipping away in front of him. "How can you even consider marrying him after that? He's been lying to you, having it off with a toff under your very nose, and one day his bastard child will probably end up ordering you around…How can you even consider going back to that house as Mrs Walter Corey knowing damn well that his lover will be looking down her nose and sniggering at your stupidity and ignorance, have you no pride at all woman?"

"How dare you talk to her like that? That child has nothing to do with ME!" Jarvis barked. "We all know who the real father is, MR KENEALLY!"

At this Flora's head whirled round her mouth open and an aghast expression on her face, as the pieces fell into place, Lady Francesca! How could he? She might have understood it if Walter had embarked on an affair with a certain younger pretty lady's maid for example, but to choose to go to bed with that ugly aristocratic tart rather than come to her bed, how could he humiliate her in such a way and in front of all these people. Shaking now with fury and indignation Flora looked past her husband to be, catching Mr Adams eye and nodding in Franks direction, for a moment the under-butler stared at her a perplexed and pitying expression on his face before suddenly understanding dawned.

"I think that you've said enough Mr Keneally." Adams piped up as he cracked his knuckles threateningly closing the distance between himself and valet. "Its time you were on your merry way!"

"You keep your guard dog away from me Jarvis!" Frank squeaked unable to keep the fear out of his voice as Adams backed him down the aisle and towards the double doors.

"Now there is no need to be like that Frank my boy!" Adams hissed. "I just want to check your invitation, after all it's hardly fair gate crashing an event you haven't even been invited to attend now is it?"

Glancing around in fear Frank looked for anyone who would stand up and intervene on his behalf, anyone who would stop the under-butler from advancing on him with that mad glint in his eye, a look that Frank had seen on two occasions before and both times he had been beaten senseless. "Stay away from me Adams if you know what is good for you, I know far too much about other pregnant women at Taplows if you know what I mean, and I know you do! We wouldn't want certain other home truths to come slipping out now would we?" Frank hissed, resisting the urge to glance across at the front row where he could see out of the corner of his eye Lady Rebecca had begun to shake in her pew.

For a moment Adams stopped dead as if Frank had slapped him, instead he nodded across at Fred and Joe who jumped up from their seats. "Escort Mr Keneally back to the house and take him too his room, I think he's been indulging in too much of the hard stuff and needs to lie down until he's regained his sanity." Adams barked loudly, not even stopping to watch as the two footmen manhandled the valet out the door returning to his place by the butler's side.

For a moment no one spoke but then after a pointed look from Jarvis the vicar was brought out of his stupor.. "Oh yes…well now where were we?" He muttered pulling off his glasses and wiping the steam off of them before putting them back on his pimpled face. "Repeat after me…."

Surprisingly for the congregation the rest of the ceremony passed without incident, well by comparison with Frank Keneally's dramatic entrance Mr Adams fumbling around in his pocket unable to find where 'that blasted ring' had gotten too seemed almost commonplace; especially since he was only checking the wrong pocket and as soon as Rebecca pointed this out it was found without further delay. However despite this most still held their breath as the vicar came to the final part of the ceremony, many convinced that some other disaster was bound to occur and strike the vicar down before he could say:

"And by the power vested in me by God Almighty I now pronounce you husband and wife…."

But the lightening bolt from heaven did not occur and there was audible sighs from around the church as the Vicar closed his bible, smiling in relief that was finally over before leaning forward to be the first to wish the couple his congratulations, but on seeing the relieved look of the groom compared with the silently fuming face of his bride the words stuck in his throat.

"Haven't you forgotten something Reverend?" Adams jokily prompted.

"Umm…Oh you may now kiss the bride…" He added finally.

Awkwardly Jarvis turned, he still held Flora's left hand tightly in his, the wedding band now sitting proudly alongside his beautiful engagement ring a perfect fit, but even when he had been sliding it onto her finger she had refused to meet his eye, keeping her gaze firmly locked on the Reverend instead. At that moment he wanted nothing more than to draw her into his arms and force her to look at him, even if it meant he had to face that look of pain and betrayal on her face; he knew that given enough time, and they now had the rest of their lives, he could win her round. But now they had an entire church full of people all looking at them and waiting for some sign that everything would be alright, it was a traditional gesture and he was damned if he was going to let Frank ruin his entire wedding.

Before the valet had turned up everything had been going so well, the moment he had turned around and spotted Flora walking up the aisle his heart had practically stopped she was so beautiful and in that moment he truly realised how much he loved her; if she had turned and fled then he was certain he would have died of a broken heart. But nothing had prepared him for the look in her eyes when she had raised them to meet his, the expression of love and devotion had brought tears to his eyes and he had to force himself to resist taking her into his arms then and there and kissing her senseless.

But now had been given permission to do just that, it would be the first time he had kissed his wife and he was aching to touch her, for a moment wishing there was nobody else there so he wouldn't have to show restraint that he certainly didn't feel. Sliding his free hand round her waist he pulled her towards him bending down he brushed his nose gently against hers intending to capture her rosy lips but just as he could feel her breath on his face and was closing in Flora suddenly turned away and his lips met her icy cheek instead.

Pulling away in shock Walter could barely mutter a reply when the equally stunned vicar asked them and two witnesses to accompany him to sign the register. Sliding his hand to gently grasp her elbow Walter tried desperately to ignore the sinking feeling in his stomach as she still refused to meet his gaze, her eyes faced forward and were as cold as flint. Even when the vicar handed him the silver pen and he signed his name dipping it in the ink once more before handing it over to his new wife, watching with pride as he watched her sign her name for the first time Mrs Flora Corey.

"Now I only need the witnesses signatures…" The Reverend added, trying to sound cheerful as he handed the pen first to the exquisite Lady Rebecca who signed her name with a flourish before coyly handing it over to Andrew their fingers meeting as they lingered perhaps longer than was appropriate causing the reverend to discretely glance at his pocket watch.

"Everyone ready?" He asked cheerfully nodding towards the organist who moved once more to resume his place.

"No!" Flora snapped. "I'm sorry I need a moment…I am feeling somewhat unwell…" She added raising a hand to her brow, which immediately drew a concerned Walter to her like a moth to a flame.

"What is it? Is it the baby…Do you need to sit down or perhaps a drink of water…?" Walter fussed bringing a hand to rest on her forehead but Flora automatically pushed him away.

"No It's just I need some space, I can't breath…" She replied tugging at the tight lacings on her dress.

"Well perhaps I can help….." Rebecca tried to intervene.

"No just leave me alone!" Flora snapped backing away from everybody and heading towards the door to the vestry as the tears that had been threatening began to fall. "I just need space to breath I'll only be a moment…" She added as she pulled the door open, for a moment meeting Walter's concerned gaze before reluctantly dragging her eyes away.

"I'll be waiting…" Jarvis whispered as the door closed behind her.

Closing the door behind her Flora leant heavily against it, unable to keep a lid any longer on her turbulent emotions, sobs wracking her tiny frame as she buried her head in her hands not caring if she messed up her hair or made her eyes red and puffy. Walter had admitted to at least attempting adulatory, but it wasn't so much how far he had gotten it was the fact that he had actually wanted another woman and on the night before their wedding when she was only a few corridors away and willing to welcome him with open arms.

What would happen when he was away in India, away from her for six months, how could she expect him to remain faithful to their wedding vows? Vows that they had just stood and taken under the pall of Keneally's revelation, how could they embark on a happy married life in such an atmosphere?

Suddenly even the vestry began to feel claustrophobic; staggering towards the side door Flora wrenched it open taking grateful gulps of cold fresh air. How could she go back out there, walk back through that congregation with them all knowing and pointing, in truth it wasn't Franny's smugness that she couldn't stand it was all those pitying looks from her friends and colleagues and they would never go away not till the day she died.

Before she knew what she was doing Flora was out of the door, dropping her bouquet on the threshold and stepping out into the biting December weather, ignoring the small flakes of snow that were beginning to drift down in her need to get away. To get home, to her own room were she could shut out the world and hopefully that mocking voice in her head, the one that told her she should have expected this, the one that kept on repeating it was all her own fault.

A few minutes later a concerned Walter knocked gently on the door, pushing it open when he received no answer. "Flora dearest…Everyone is waiting…" He began but suddenly his gaze fell on the open door and abandoned bouquet, then out into the now rapidly falling snow. Storming over to the door he gathered up the flowers looking this way and that for any sign of his runaway bride before turning and heading back into the church a plan forming in his mind as he muttered to himself. "I am not going to loose you now Flora Corey, just you wait and see."