The following evening, the night before they were due to return to Harker Hall — if Mai chose to go, that is — Lady Pembridge had acquired invitations to a ball. Everyone attended, as they chose to make it something of a celebration before their party split.

Lady Pembridge disappeared with Lady Anne almost as soon as they arrived, arm in arm and gossiping about something or rather.

Lord Pembridge, to Mai's surprise, turned to Madoka and asked her to dance. Madoka, of course, could not refuse. So Mai watched her two friends from the sidelines. There were an awful lot of debutants at this particular ball and Mai thought there were rather few gentlemen.

"It seems he prefers older women," a familiar voice said.

"Mr Berkeley!"

"Lady Astley, how do I find you?"

"Quite well."

"I did not expect you back in London so soon."

"I did not expect to find myself back in London so soon!" She laughed. "But circumstances being what they are, I am glad to be here."

"And you are not dancing?"

"We arrived a little late, so no one had a chance to ask me before this first dance."

"And yet your Lord Pembridge asked your friend?"

"Miss Mori is a fine dancer, very lively. He does her a kindness in asking her."

"Well yes, I think amongst all these debutantes she will struggle to find a partner."

"So will any lady over the age of twenty," Mai commented. "But I think that is to be expected. Besides, youth is not everything. I think myself a far better conversant than I was when I was only eighteen."

"I cannot imagine you being any lovelier than you are now."

"You flatter me," Mai said.

"You are a lady worthy of being flattered. How did you enjoy my book?"

"Oh very much so, it was highly interesting. And I very much enjoyed the pictures. So imaginative!"

"I'm glad you found it useful," Berkeley said, before leaning forward. "Did it match up with my theory? Of your Lord being a league with a demon?"

Mai laughed pointedly.

"Oh no. I have seen his research rooms. Microscopes and all sorts of equipment to study the properties. I have no idea what he has learnt, but he has been distracted of late. I think he is moving on from his science."

"Oh… Really?"

"Yes, I believe this science was a distraction after the death of his brother and father. In such quick succession, he needed something to focus himself. But I believe he is looking more to the future now."

"That's… That's good."

"Yes, it is, isn't it?"

Mai beamed at Berkeley, giving him no other option than to agree with her. The dance came to an end, and Mai applauded the performance. However her hands fell to her side when she saw Madoka depart the dance floor in a rush away from Mai. She frowned as Lord Pembridge walked over.

"What did you say to her?" Mai demanded, ignoring Berkeley entirely.

"I gave her some news that shocked her, I think she needs time to gather her thoughts."

"You weren't rude were you?"

"You've been spending too much time with my mother," he grumbled. "No, I was not rude. It was good news. Well, I believe it to be good news, even if I have not told the recipient yet…"

"Lor—"

"Come on, Mai, dance with me."

Mai was so flustered she could not refuse. She took his hand and allowed herself to be led towards the other couples taking their position for the next dance.

"You should have seen Berkeley's face, it was worth it."

"If he wasn't such a great prat, I would scold you for talking to me like that," Mai muttered darkly. "But I will forgive you if you tell me what you told Miss Mori."

The dance began.

"My brother had some government bonds attached to his name, such that when I inherited, he still had some wealth of his own. My father put it in place when we were born as he did not want either of us to suffer for our position."

"Kind of him."

"These bonds were transferred to me upon his death, initially, I had plans to assign them to my own second son, should I ever be fortunate enough to have one. However, recent events have altered my plans. Given the extent of Lin's injuries…"

Mai's eyes widened.

"He can no longer work effectively. And I am the cause of this. It was my folly…"

"You have given him a fortune," Mai concluded. "You have made him a gentleman."

"The fund will only give him two thousand a year, but that combined with the small house I shall give him on the estate for use for the rest of his natural life should set him up nicely. He has been a good man to me and my brother for our entire lives. I cannot think my father would disapprove."

"But he does not have the education, he will be shunned—"

"Which is why he needs an educated wife, perhaps one that would consider him despite his humble beginnings."

"You knew about Miss Mori's affection for him?"

"It was hard to miss it, Lady Astley. And he will not be shunned if I invite him to events."

"How does he feel about all this?"

"I have not told him yet. But I know he is concerned about his current position. His leg has healed, but he is still limping, and his eye is beyond saving. He will be blind in it for the rest of his life."

"You are a good man," Mai concluded. "What about Miss Matsuzaki?"

"The doctor concluded she had lost too much blood, and must remain on bed rest for quite some time. He has prescribed many foul smelling potions for her to drink daily to regain her strength. But she will make a full recovery. I offered her a sum for her troubles, but she only begged not to be fired. It will be some time before she can work again, so I have hired another cook in her absence. But she remains on full pay, and I am paying for her medical treatment. When she returns, I will give her a pay rise. If she decides to move on, I shall give her the glowing references she deserves."

"I still do not understand why she remained in the house…"

"I do not know for certain, but I overheard an argument she had with Takigawa."

"She is well enough to argue?"

"Oh yes, she goes lightheaded very often, but she is well enough to give him an earful," Lord Pembridge said with a smirk. "The argument was along the lines that she would not have still been in the house if she hadn't been looking for him."

Mai smiled at the information.

"Perhaps you ought to keep that other cook on your staff for a little while," she said.

"Yes, I had considered that. I hope that Miss Matsuzaki can train them up a little before she might need to leave us…"

Mai ignored the use of the word 'us'. He meant the household, not… And yet the idea of an 'us' made her heart beat a little faster.

"Have you decided if you will return to Harker Hall with me?"

Mai took several turns of the dance to answer him.

"I need to know several things before I make that decision, Lord Pembridge."

The dance came to an end, Lord Pembridge bowed, Mai curtsied.

"Perhaps we ought to continue this conversation," Mai said. "I fancy a game of piquet."

"Then I would be happy to oblige you."

They walked together in silence to the card room and took up residence in the corner, a little way away from the rest of the room. Lord Pembridge dealt the cards.

"What is it you wish to know?"

"What happened to your brother? After I left?"

"We… I beheaded him. We buried him with the chisel where I placed it. I asked Mr Brown to come and say a few words over his grave the following day. He obliged most willingly. I told him that the beast that attacked the house had knocked over the grave too and he understood why I would want something done."

"And he has not returned again?"

"No. He is most certainly dead now."

"And how do you feel about it now?" Mai asked.

"For several days I was distraught. I had lost him all over again. But the release of no longer having to cater to his needs was… I felt lighter, happier… More hopeful. I will not pretend it does not still hurt me that he is gone. I doubt that will ever go away truly. But it has become easier over these few weeks."

"You say more hopeful, what are you hopeful for?"

"A future. A life with a family and a thriving household. Perhaps time to actually do some of that science I am wont to do…"

"And does that future include me?"

"If you want it to," Lord Pembridge said quietly, not looking up from his cards. "I cannot deny that I enjoy your company. You are a fine woman and you have proven yourself sensible in a crisis, that is something I admire. I am bound by my promise to care for you for the rest of my life or yours, but whether I do that with you in my household or in another is your choice. I would understand if you did not want to return to Harker Hall after what has happened there."

Mai concentrated on her cards for a little while.

"I don't know who you would ask for permission," she said finally. "If you were to ask for my hand, my father is gone and it would be odd for you to ask yourself as my appointed protector."

"I could ask the present Lord Astley?" Lord Pembridge suggested. "Or perhaps some other male figure in your life that you would trust with such a decision."

"The current Lord Astley would agree if you suggested I marry a beggar, he only wants my third of the estate back under his control."

"Yes, I am sure he is suffering greatly for that loss," Lord Pembridge said with no hint of sympathy.

"I hear it is his wife that suffers for it. She does not like that I, the dowager, am younger than herself. She is also known for her expensive tastes." Mai sighed. "What has happened to the West Wing?"

"It has been cleaned up and the furniture that belongs there has returned to their rightful places. My father's study remains untouched, but I think other rooms should be repurposed. I really need a housekeeper… And a new butler…"

"Have you put out adverts?" Mai asked.

"Yes, and my mother has some recommendations for me. But my mother's suggestions do not stop there, as I am sure you can imagine."

"It sounds to me as if my return to Harker Hall would benefit you greatly."

"Oh yes, it would. I would not have the trouble in future to find a wife and you could assist with any redecorating. I take after my father in many respects, but the least fortunate of those is most definitely when it comes to taste in furnishings. My brother accused me of being entirely too practical."

Mai smiled at this.

"I think that is not the greatest sin. It is better than those who think only of fashion without a care for the use of the furniture. I had a friend in my childhood whose mother was fond of fashion and their chairs, while beautiful, were so uncomfortable that I could not sit down for any length of time."

Mai glanced around the room, admiring the other groups of card players.

"Which property will Mr Lin reside in?" she asked. "For if he is to marry Miss Mori, which I trust will happen very soon given the recent change in his circumstances, I would very much like for them to live within a comfortable walk."

Lord Pembridge smiled.

"I was thinking of the small house to the north of Harker Hall. It is perhaps a mile or two by foot. It has several bedrooms, and some good sized rooms with windows to the south, to catch the most of the daylight. It has room for an animal or two if they choose. I have heard Lin mention he would like a dog. I think that is wise given his injury."

"Room for servants?"

"Yes, they would be able to keep a few servants there I think," he said. "A butler, a cook, a maid or two. I would allow them to use one of our carriages if needed. No point in my men standing idle when the horses could be exercised."

"And this house is in good condition?"

"Structurally? Yes. However the decor could do with some renovation no doubt. But a newly married couple needs something to occupy their minds so I think that is no evil."

Mai laughed.

"A mile or two sounds like a nice distance," she agreed. "Do you think Mr Lin will take this news well?"

"Oh no, not at all. He will protest and complain that he is perfectly able to continue his job. But he will relent in the end. In truth, I enjoy the idea of inviting him over for a quiet game of cards where he will treat me as an equal. I do not know if he will ever view himself as such though. He has been in the role of caretaker for as long as I can remember."

"It is a pretty picture you paint for our future life."

Lord Pembridge let out a bark of laughter.

"I am sure it will not all be so pretty. I fully expect there will be problems. Perhaps this new cook is abysmal. Perhaps your taste in furniture is worse than my father's. Perhaps we will never agree on names for our children."

"You are teasing me."

"I am. But in truth, I think we have come through something very difficult. I think we can work through future difficulties."

"And if we do not, Mr Lin will only live a mile or two away. So I can send you there for the night if you vex me too much."

He laughed again.

"So you will return to Harker Hall with me?"

Mai nodded slowly.

"Yes, yes I think I will."


Author's Note: Only two more chapters left...