Turning the handle of the bathroom door, Flora entered and made her way over to the big sink by the wall. Placing the jug on the side she looked up at herself in the mirror before splashing water from the bowl over her face. Get a grip Flora she told herself. But why had he come to her room that evening? His excuse about the maids was ludicrous; she didn't believe that one for an instant. Did she dare to hope that his reason for being outside her door was because of their conversation in the garden? Was he going to ask her to stay for him but then his courage failed at the last minute? Don't be silly Flora, she chided herself, this is exactly the kind of female delusions and fantasies that he dislikes and finds irritating. But maybe you aren't being so irrational, another voice in her mind piped up with. His behaviour towards Mr Edwards has been barely short of hostile ever since the man took a shine to you, he certainly doesn't want you to leave Taplows whatever his reasons may be, he danced with you this evening and as for by the lake, he certainly didn't seem indifferent to you then.

Why had he kissed her? Surely he wouldn't have done that if he didn't feel anything for her. This was Mr Jarvis, a man who was a stickler for propriety and decorum when it came to almost everything. He so rarely gave his feelings away that such a display was totally unlike him and made it all the harder to interpret. Shivering slightly she allowed herself to remember their encounter by the lake that evening, after all it was probably the only way she would ever be able to be close to him again. Closing her eyes, she let herself replay it all in her mind; the feel of his arms round her, the scent of his aftershave, his lips on hers and then…if she hadn't been so angry with him she'd probably have swooned in his arms there and then. Why oh why had she reacted that way! It wasn't as though that wasn't what she wanted, after all how many nights had she dreamt of him kissing her and then when it actually happened she rejects him and behaves how everyone thinks the prudish Mrs Ryan would behave when a man showed any interest in her.

Blinking furiously as she felt the tears begin to well up in her eyes, she began to rifle through her pockets in search of a handkerchief. She just had to accept that it was never going to happen and move on, something she had been telling herself for months. Only know that she knew he may have been interested and she had blown her chance it was going to be that bit harder. Although if he really did have feelings for her then why had he still not asked her to stay. What do you think he was doing outside your room tonight Flora, her heart screamed back at her, and why the hell do you think he kissed you?

"Oh Walter, why did you?" Flora murmured, wiping the remains of tears from her face.

"Why did I what?" Jarvis suddenly replied from the doorway causing the housekeeper to whirl round and stare at him in shock.

"Mr Ja…Walter. What are you doing here?" Flora stammered

"Why did I do what?" Jarvis repeated, ignoring her question and moving into the room, closing the door behind him.

"I…I was wondering why…"

"Yes…" Jarvis prompted, taking another step towards her, the reflections of the moonlight throwing shadows over his face and hiding his expression from her.

"Why you kissed me earlier. Why did you do that Walter, you've never given any indication of interest in me before that?" Flora practically whispered.

"Why do you think I did Flora?" Jarvis retorted "What I want to know though, is why you really want to leave, and none of that rubbish you were giving me earlier, I know when you're hiding something Flora…" Jarvis added softly.

For a moment Flora stood there just looking at him, could she really tell him why she was leaving? He hadn't told her why he kissed her and what would she do if he said he wasn't interested in anything other than friendship, that would be devastating to hear from his own lips, that he didn't think of her like that, but then again maybe she needed to hear it…

"I….I told you earlier Mr Jarvis, I need to move on with my life, and now seems as good a time as any to do so." Flora muttered in response, fidgeting with her shawl and staring at the wall rather than him.

"Move on from what Flora?" Jarvis insisted, taking another step towards her.

"I've been a fool, I've been deluding myself that something might happen in the future but the other night I heard something that confirmed it wouldn't. And so I need to move on from here." Flora whispered, finally looking up at him, trying to see his expression but the shadows still masked it from her.

"I see." Jarvis replied impassively. "Tell me, what did you want me to say earlier when asking me for a reason to stay at Taplows."

"I'm not going to feed you an answer Walter!" Flora cried, exasperated with his evasions. "If you have such a problem with me leaving then you tell me why. And you still haven't answered my question about why you kissed me!"

Not answering her immediately, Jarvis took a couple more steps towards her so they were only a few inches apart. Reaching a hand up, he brushed a couple of loose strands of hair off her face, watching as she closed her eyes and a slight shudder ran through her. "Why do people normally kiss Flora?" He whispered huskily in her ear before gently brushing his lips against hers, feeling her start to respond and return the kiss. However, suddenly she pulled away.

"No! I will not have you think of me as just some conquest of yours once I've left!" Flora cried angrily. Was this all he wanted from her? Just a quick roll in the hay before she disappeared into the sunset, well no, she wasn't going to give him that satisfaction.

"Then don't go!" Jarvis whispered intently, grasping her by the wrist and pulling her resistant form against him. "Stay here…….with me." He added, reaching up once more to gently trace the side of her face brush the loose hair back from it.

"Really…?" Flora murmured, looking up at him, her expression of disbelief slowly turning to one of joy.

"Really" Jarvis whispered back, sliding his arms slowly round her waist and pulling her firmly against him, her shawl falling forgotten to the ground as he leant down and kissed her on the lips once more. This time not pulling away, Flora returned the kiss, sliding her arms up round his neck and running a hand up into his hair.

"Why are so curious when you showed little interest in my motives earlier? Although that didn't exactly stop you from responding rather enthusiastically when I was actually kissing you." He added with a smirk, watching as she blushed and refused to meet his gaze.