Disclaimer: Hehe hehe, I've been a wery wery bad girl. I know. So sue me, things are coming around now at a slower pace. I just want to make sure my writing doesn't go downhill now that I've finally gotten to the places I started this story for. There are a lot of surprises ahead and before anyone asks, I did say that I was trying like hell not to fall in love here…I just never said with whom.

Enjoy. And don't worry, table dancing with Abberline next chapter...so's stick around!

I didn't have much of an appetite after that, needless to say. Good thing the meal was almost over, after Olivia was done gloating. Bad thing, we were now preparing to go out and ride. Hi ho SILVER, AWAAAAAY! And all that crap. I wasn't much of a horse person. Actually I was, I just didn't like riding them, you know ever since one stepped on my foot and I brought the stables down with my screams.

I was not entirely sure that if I got on one of those beasts, that I would stay on for more than say about…five seconds. I stood trying to stare down the carnal animal before me.

"So…you're the demented-killer version of My Little Ponies? Just don't pull anything, bud…"

The horse snorted making me jump back. Hell, those things were scary up close, ya know within stomping distance I mean.

"Need some assistance?" Inquired a smooth voice from behind me.

Darque was observing me from the stable door, leaning casually against the frame. Why was it that all sexy men when they were trying to seduce someone knew how to do that? Was there some seminar that taught them how to get a girl to give it up in twenty-four hours or less? If there was, there was no hope for the pure and chaste in the world.

"Oh…" I stuttered nervously, "Oh, no. Thank you, Mr. Darque, but no. I shall be fine."

His eyes twinkled with an impish laughing gleam. "I thought I had made it quite clear I wanted you to address me as John from now on."

I turned back to the horse, trying not to feel how intimately that name was pressed on me. "No offense meant, Lord Darque," I threw over my shoulder, "but you've a touch of brass to you, and while that's intriguing in it's own right, it's not entirely proper…and neither is calling you by your first name."

"You surprise me, Ms. Harlington. I wouldn't have classed you as one to think poorly of impropriety, or to find it a bad quality."

"Not a bad quality per se, but perhaps you should tread with care."

"Well, we are in a stable, and one does have to mindful of ones footing. You never know what you may unwittingly step in."

He made me laugh. Go figure. I struggled into the saddle nearly falling off twice in the process.

"Are you absolutely certain you don't want to ride side saddle?" He asked pleasantly as he stroked my horse's neck. Just watching those hands could hypnotize some unsuspecting person.

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

"Cause side saddle's for sissies." I muttered, gathering tight the reigns.

"Beg your pardon?"

"I said, 'Last one out has to buy tea and crumpets.'"

And that would've been a great exit line, if I had gotten the horse to move.

Well, that was the most embarrassing thing that I'd ever done in front of a cool guy short of getting drunk and proclaiming my horny teenaged hormone induced fantasies to his face. But it was bad enough.

My dappled gray and I were the last ones out of the stable house, to find Olivia's prissy white steed, Abberline's solid hazelnut, and Darque's majestic black waiting. Oh it was going to be a long day. I was dying for my Walkman.

We all settled into a somewhat normal pace. First on the right was Olivia, then Abberline, me, and Mr. Darque bringing up the left flank.

And I was right, it was a long day. And then it got even worse if you can believe it.

Stupid horse threw me. It hurt. Stupid horse, who can ride those things without being maimed. You can? Shuddup.

I landed on my rump and looked up in bewildered awe as John calmed my horse with a few murmured words.

How did he do that?

"Are you hurt?"

John slid from his mount's back and came to kneel beside me, his features stern.

"I am perfectly well." I snapped in irritation at being handled like some delicate glass vase that could shatter at a moments notice…and because it was mortifying enough without his concern to add to it. I made to rise.

"Stay still." He ordered, pulling me down by the sleeve, which he needn't have done as I found my joints had seized up to lock into place at the swift utterance of his command.

He began unlacing my boots.

"What do you think you are doing…!"

"Miss Harlington." He warned me with a look, like it would be in my best interests if I remained silent. He slipped the boot from my foot.

A horrible fluttering began in my middle, "Now, really is this necessary?"

"Yes." He replied succinctly, pinning me with a glare. "I'm not letting you go until I've made very sure there are no broken bones or sprains."

I resigned myself to being coddled like a child, with more than an ounce of annoyance.

He gently began to massage my ankle. How Sense and Sensibility was this? My skin began to tingle ever so slightly.

"I think that is more than enough, Malfoy." I said tersely.

"Excuse me?" He looked up in kind puzzlement, his hands never ceasing their ministrations.

Whoops.

"That will do, Tavington!" I tried again flustered.

"Say again, Miss Harlington?"

Damnit!

"Release my foot at once, James Hook!"

Crud buckets. What is was wrong with me?

Darque chuckled amused and returned the boot to my foot, choosing to ignore the complete absurdity of my words. "Well, I'm pleased to announce that there are no injuries whatsoever on your person." He helped me to my feet.

"Thank you, Devlin."

Darque peered at me queerly.

I winced and tried again.

"Much obliged…John. Mr. Darque. John Darque…Sir."

Abberline line rolled his eyes.

"Miss Harlington," John replied with a grin, "I am now starting to fear it was your head instead of your foot that befell the most damage from the fall."

"Are you positive she didn't sustain it before she fell."

It was uttered softy, but I knew who dared murmur such a thing.

The bitch was going down. I'll take puns like that from hot men who show interest in my ankles but not from Olivia Hernandez…never from her.

She didn't look like she had just insulted me. She looked the very picture of the Virgin Mary, innocent, angelic and guiless as always, and when next she spoke it was all mothering concern. "Perhaps you should take her back to the Manor, John. She does look a bit pale."

That's cause I was grinding my teeth together in an effort to keep from serving her a can of First Class Harlington Whup.

She continued, "The Inspector and I will finish our ride and we'll all meet back in the Music Room."

I looked at Abberline desperately. Say something!

"Inspired idea, Miss Hernandez."

I hate him.

"I do try, Frederick." She answered modestly.

And I loathe her.

"Miss Harlington?" Mr. Darque inquired as if asking my opinion in all this.

Now I'm asking you, why didn't I just drop Abberline cold on his pathetic ass and run off with this strapping guy. We had the horses. Hell, all I had to do was pull Darque into a passionate embrace which would entail (CENSORED FOR YOUR VIEWING) get back in the saddle again, and say "Wedding Chapel or Bust, baby!"

I glanced at Abberline again but no change. He wasn't going to stand up for me. Well fine, the bastard could rot for all I cared. Could be eaten alive by wild dogs and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Mother-F'in-A could go to hell for all I cared. Ah, who was I kidding? I was just throwing a hissy fit cause I was being sent back.

I nodded despondently to John and with a sympathetic glance he began preparing to load all of the packages holding down his mount to mine.

"Perhaps I'm being dull-witted," I began stepping closer, "but how do you expect me to ride back if your belongings are occupying the space in where I sit?"

John chuckled, "If you think for one moment I am letting you get on that horse again, you are sadly mistaken. I think for your safety and for the horse's comfort it would be in everyone's best interest if you rode with me.

Oh he was a sly one…

I nodded again, this time with a blinding grin of happiness adorning my face. If Abberline was running off with Olivia well, hell I was going my own way with Darque. While he finished up the preparations, and Olivia was trying (and probably succeeding) in engaging Abberline in a discussion, I decided to do something rash.

No one was looking, except for the horse.

I slowly bent down to the ground, and picked up a fairly large skipping stone on the path.

I looked left, and then right.

It was just too easy.

I pulled my arm back and chucked the stone at Olivia's horse's flank. With a whiny of startled surprise and shock the animal reared up, causing the terrified Hernandez brat to cling to its mane in an effort for stay in the saddle. And then…she was off!

It was great.

"What the devil…?" John turned just in time to see Olivia helplessly canter into the thick foliage and vegetation of the surrounding woods. Throwing an irritated and disapproving frown at me, Abberline kicked his own mount into a gallop and went after her.

Ok, good feeling gone now.

I had a horrible suspicion that my righteous punishment had merely turned the tables, and I was now on the losing side.

Mr. Darque turned to regard me candidly. I knew by his expression my earlier assumptions had been wrong. He saw the whole thing. "I truly am flattered, but if you had so desperately wanted us to be alone, you merely had to have said as much and I would've been more than glad to get rid of them for you." He admitted simply.

I stared at him in shock. Was he for real? I mean, jeeze, he was being really cool about all of this.

Chuckling, he hoisted himself into his saddle with incredible ease and leaned down to offer me a friendly hand.

Hey, the losing side wasn't looking too bad.

So…a recap.

Abberline and Awful Olivia were probably making like rabbits in the forest while I was being carefully and artfully seduced by a man twice my age. I'm no idiot and I know when I'm being seduced (at least I'm pretty sure I do) but considering no one had actually ever tried to put the moves on me before I guess I could be wrong. Either way I was enjoying it while it lasted. It's a nice feeling, knowing you're wanted but more than that…that you're desired. And well damnit, I'm spoiled and I wanted to keep this feeling going for a while more.

"Well Mr. Darque, you've shown me Olivia's dinning hall, sitting room, portrait gallery, conservatory, music room and library." I commented running a hand over the leather bound spine of an Atlas, "I'm starting to form my own conclusions about why you have such a vast knowledge of the Hernandez Estate." I teased him lightly.

"Oh really, Miss Harlington?" He smiled gently removing a book from another shelf.

"Yes, really." I assured him, "And I must warn you the only possible reason for my final analysis is quite scandalous."

Placing the book back he approached with an untroubled gait, "Well then, let's hear it. I'm aquiver with curiosity now."

I didn't waste time beating about the bush, "I believe she was your lover."

"My," his brows rose, "you are a brute when it comes to speaking your mind. I admire that quality."

"In a woman?" I challenged.

"In anyone." He retorted.

I smiled, "Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Darque, you still have yet to answer to these allegations. Is it perhaps because they are well founded?" I goaded him.

"To be frank, Olivia is a darling girl, Miss Harlington, but I find she is not…" He paused, "not quite what I'm looking for in a companion. As a friend there is none better, but as a lover…" He shook his head, his eyes laughing, "I pity the man who makes that venture."

I fingered the pages of an open book on a reading table idly, "As would I…" I agreed personally sweeping up the book in one swift movement and holding it open in front of his face. He leaned in a bit to get a better look. I snapped the book shut with a snap causing him to stifle a reflexive movement, "…but you still have not answered the question."

"No," he smiled, "I have not."

I stomped a foot playfully, "Oh no you don't. You can't just drop such an interesting conversation like that! I demand you tell me this instant." I ordered poking him in the side. He caught my wrist.

"Very well then, only if you agree to tell me this instant about your relationship with the stony faced Inspector."

I pulled by wrist from his grasp. "There is no relationship of any kind, Mr. Darque."

His expression which had shown concern at my withdrawal changed to one of skeptic disbelief at my words. The words I didn't even know the reason behind saying. I should have been propelling along all possible gossips I could get out of this man, instead of wishing he'd touch my skin again.

"Oh of course a relationship in where one shares your home, your food, comfort and company is hardly a relationship at all." The sarcasm in his voice was not lost on me.

I turned away from him, "We have a business proposition. That is all." And wasn't it? I certainly wouldn't be getting the upside in this bargain. It was strictly business. "I'm merely looking after him until all of his affairs are in order."

John moved in front of me, "There is no need to hide behind these false pretenses, Cassandra. I already know."

"-------------------------------"

That's was being speechless sounds like.

No joke. Jus plain ol' "-------------------------" whatever.

This time it was John who turned, "Olivia has already informed me of your feelings for the Inspector…"

Jesus Wacky Christ, I can't handle any more of these near scares. I gathered my wits enough to pose, "And what feelings would those be?"

His shoulders hunched as he let out a bark of laughter as if he were the butt of a horrible joke, "You don't need to play coy, Cassandra. I knew in the beginning that there was some deep emotion for that man in you. I knew and still I…" He raised his hands in a helpless gesture of defeat.

I was entranced, hearing this, hearing these words from him. How could he know these things when I hardly knew them myself? "Knew what?"

He turned then and beheld me as if he could not see why I had not noticed it all this time, "That you were in love with him, of course."

I surprised myself when I found myself recoiling from the statement. I couldn't figure out the reason why I did until I realized it was because I WASN'T in love with Abberline. Sure I cared about him, cared about what happened to him, and yeah he was hot but those three things were an ocean's distance from love.

I was about to ask John what new drug he'd been sniffing when I caught myself, but my reply was no less horrified.

"You must be mad!" I accused eyes wide, "We couldn't be worse for each other. We never agree, we fight constantly…" I cast about for more reasons desperately.

"Oh come now, Cassandra," John sighed as if I were making this far more difficult than it aught to be, "even a married couple of sixty years is capable of that."

I shook my head.

"Admit it." He asked gently of me.

"I will not admit to what isn't true!"

My outburst stilled him and he fell quiet, peering at me curiously. I had silenced myself as well. I did not know what else to say.

When next he ventured to speak, his voice was rough and tired, "Your determination to disprove the obvious makes it all too clear, Cassandra. Why can you not simply say it?"

"Because I don't KNOW it." I argued back. God, I was so confused.

"You may not, but I do." He replied with reluctance, "I must confess I knew of it long ago, but I had hoped there was a slight chance I was mistaken…"

I reached out a hand and then stopped.

"John…I don't know what Olivia has told you, and I'm even less sure of what your own ideas have confided to you but…I do not love Abberline. I assure you, my feelings for him are only those of a caring and devoted sister."

Yeah a Hillbilly sister who wanted to jump her kin. I'm so sick.

At these words John's face split into an earnest smile, which he hid quickly as protocol demanded of him. I smiled demurely in return, and pretended to be very interested in the state of my dress.

"Well then…" He coughed to hide his more than apparent relief, "I say…" He seemed at as much a loss for words as I was.

"What have you got there?" He pointed to the book I hat been holding this entire time as an excuse from our mutual embarrassment.

I turned the book over so that I could make out the title. Shakespeare's Combined Works. I waved the book under his nose so he could see as well.

"Ah, Macbeth…" He commented.

"I much prefer his lighter plays…A Midsummer Night's Dream…"

"Do you know Richard the Third well?" He inquired.

I made a face, "Hardly, but I'm not completely ignorant. I've read it once or twice if memory serves me correctly."

Actually I had seen the movie, and let me tell you…Gandalf as a bloodthirsty tyrant and liar…whoa mama, one of the creepiest things I've ever seen.

"Pity. I know it by heart." John admitted proudly

"Then you're the one who deserves the pity, Lord Daque, not I." I laughed.

"Cassandra Harlington, I am astounded you would feel that way about such a work of art as this. There are some very persuasive passages within these pages." He exclaimed taking the book from my hands and searching for a certain place.

"Indeed, they persuade me to fall asleep."

"Oh, you're too witty." He drawled. He paused as he found the scene he was looking for, "There, read the part of Anne, I shall play Richard." He passed the book back to me. I accepted it with a mocking smile. Poor thing, he was trying to impress me. I started to speak the line at which he had indicated I begin.

"Didst thou not kill this king?"

John answered without the use of the script. He wasn't lying. He knew it by heart, "I grant, yea."

"Dost grant me, hedge hog…" I stopped to giggle. I suppose it was supposed to be an insult. Should've just called him an asshole. "…Then God grant me too Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed. He was gentle, mild, and virtuous." I was starting to remember this part from the movie. Richard had killed her husband or something.

John continued embodying the all time bad guy of literature, "The fitter for the King of Heaven that hath him."

Well he was being professional, so I would be too. I let myself slip into the role of a grief stricken widow, "He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come."

"Let him thank me that holp send him thither for he was fitter for that place then earth."

My next words were venomous, "And thou unfit for any place but hell."

"Yes," his reply was sharp, "one place else if you will hear me name it." He intoned these words with a cool, reserved calm that made my chest tighten.

I turned. "Some dungeon." I threw the line over my shoulder at him, playing the part dutifully. My eyes flicked down to his next line, and widened. Holy god. Was he going to say that? He couldn't. I didn't want him to say that line. I hugged the book to my chest and turned frantic to stop him from uttering it, and came within a few inches of running into him.

"Your bedchamber."

Total mental shut down. Have I ever mentioned I don't do well under large amounts of sexual innuendos and insinuations?

And then suddenly he was step nearer to me. I took a hesitant step back in return. I didn't like the way he was looking at me. Well yes I did but I wasn't an animal, I had to learn to control my raging warpath of girlish hormones. In an attempt to try to cool the direction where this was heading, I peered nervously at my next line as Queen Anne. I wished my hands weren't trembling so much; it made it somewhat hard to read.

"Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest." My back hit the bookcase behind me with a jolt. I lifted my eyes from the written words.

He stood over me a bit, but not intimidating like, but he was intimidating…oh I don't know what I'm saying anymore. Don't listen to me; I'm making absolutely no sense.

So he stood tall, a kind soft tenderness in his every line. His hand reached out and gently coiled firmly about the wrist that held the book to my chest and slowly lowered it to my side, stepping closer to fill the space which it had recently vacated.

It seemed he took a breath to steady himself before delivering his next line through cloudy eyes, "So will it, madam…till I lie with you."

My mouth opened either to utter a soft exclamation of startlement or to pull in a hiss of air, but neither would benefit me. I could do nothing. I wasn't breathing, I couldn't risk so much as a breath to give me away.

His thumb moved comfortingly over the pulse point on my wrist in a circular like motion as he looked on me. Then his lips were at my ear and in a delicate warm breath he whispered, "It's your line, Cass."

I felt my knees start to buckle as I struggled to remain standing. The constant caress of his thumb at my wrist had not ceased its motion and I felt my arm shudder to sleep. I held the book loosely in my hand. Had he spoken? I couldn't seem to form my senses input into full manageable thoughts. Through the haze one thought surfaced and I spoke it aloud.

"But he was a villain…" I murmured. I was of course referring to Richard the Third.

He withdrew enough to give a lingering glance over my face, "Do you think me a villain, Cassandra?" And then he paused.

At first I didn't understand why he'd stopped but then I realized what he was asking. My head bent in a nod of assent then tilted up to him, I closed my eyes and waited.

As his warm breath spread across my face, I thought with giddy happiness that this was it. I was going to be kissed for the first time.

'You already have been.'

Annoying inner voice of reason was back.

'Piss off.' I retaliated, 'I'm busy.'

'Aberline kissed you.'

'He thought I was her. It didn't matter.'

'Didn't it?"

'Go away.'

I tried to focus on the fact that John's lips were just barely touching me now. Soon it would be like my dream. But my dream (nightmare I had argued last night)? The blood….

'Who helped you wake from it?' The voice asked.

Abberline broken, cheeks wet with salty tears, murmuring in a scratched and aching voice, "I tried Mary…I tried…"

Abberline rocking me, shielding me from the images in my dream. Comforting me, feather light touches to the side of my face…

'Would you betray his kindness now? Now that you're halfway there?'

Mother effing eff…

My eyes flittered open and the book fell from my hands, hitting the floor with a bang.

John jerked back with a start as if he had betrayed something in himself by being so forward. He looked at the book on the floor in confusion, as if he didn't understand how it had come to be there. My gaze was drawn to the book as well. Had I dropped it on accident or had it been intentional?

John drew in a breath to speak but then forced back whatever he'd been about to say.

"John…I…" My own voice surprised me.

He turned to face me.

"I don't think that I can do this. I just can't. I'm sorry, I truly am but…"

He raised a hand gracefully to silence me. It looked as if he were trying to compose himself from emotions I could not gauge.

"Forgive me." He finally said softly, "That was uncalled for. I was…I was an idiot."

"John, I just…I can't. It's not that I don't…"

"I understand." He reassured me, and it sounded as if he did. Maybe he understood better than I did.

His mouth lifted in a regretful smirk, "If you'll allow me…?" He asked cupping my face in his hands. He laid a chaste kiss on my forehead and pulled back, "Until you can."

I felt so grateful to him for being so nice to me, when I had practically led him on, like a dog on a leash. So grateful that he didn't hate me, wasn't angry with me… that I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. He hesitated responding for a moment but then his arms enfolded me in a warm return as he rested his chin on my head.

"We wondered what was taking you two so long."

John and I broke apart immediately at Olivia's polished and intoxicatingly sweet voice.

She stood in the doorway, a smug expression on her lips that seemed to say, "I knew it. You can't fool me." Abberline stood beside her, looking murderous.