"You know her."

The accusation fell from Lin's lips as soon as we were left alone. Our rooms were opposite each other in the guest wing.

"I beg your pardon."

"You know the young Lady, and the Lord of this house," he expanded. "But from the look in their eyes, they do not know you."`

There was no point lying to the man.

"That is incorrect. They do not remember me. But I told you that before."

"Will you tell me more? Or must I pry every detail from you."

"It is nothing more than my memory being superior to theirs, that is all."

Lin sighed.

"Of course it is. And that is why you appeared disappointed at the mention of Lady Taniyama's betrothed."

"She is not betrothed. Lord Sanditon has yet to ask her hand."

"You are keen to point that out," Lin said, a slight smirk playing about his lips.

"I am keen to go to bed."

"Then I bid you goodnight."

Lin turned into his own room, leaving me in the empty hallway, staring at his closed door.

I sighed and turned into my own room.

"Damn you, Gene," I muttered as I stripped off my clothing.

I changed in silence and too a moment to check the view of the park from my window. I could not see much in the moonlight, but I recognised the wood and the lake from my childhood.

As I climbed into bed and blew out the remaining candle, I thought of the young Lady. She had grown into an attractive thing. How would my brother have put it… 'A tempting armful'...

She had been an awkward and quite loud child…

I fell asleep lost in my memories, but woke fresh and ready for a new day.

Lin and I broke our fast together. When we were about halfway through eating when the rest of the family traipsed in.

"We will leave straight after we have eaten," Miss Matsuzaki was saying to Lady Mai. "I have already ordered the carriage."

"Hmm," Lady Mai replied, apparently too sleepy to form a proper response.

She had the cat in her arms again. The animal jumped down and began to weave through the chair legs. I cut a bit of my bacon off and held it down to the cat.

She took it gently from my fingers, ate it and then jumped onto my lap.

"Luna!" Lady Mai cried. She had missed me feeding the cat as she had been taking her own seat. "You can't jump on people! I am so sorry Sir Davis. Let me get her out of your way."

"It's no bother," I insisted and began to stroke Luna.

But Lady Mai had already jumped up and lifted the cat from my lap.

"She's usually not so friendly with strangers."

Because strangers usually do not feed her, I imagine…

I noticed Lin's eyes on me again and so returned my attention to my food.

"Now men, when will we be starting the designs for my carriage?" Lord Mallin asked.

"Lin will work with you this morning to narrow down the details," I replied.

"And what will you do?"

"He could accompany us to the village," Lady Mai suggested with enthusiasm. "You are a visitor to these parts are you not, Sir Davis?"

"I was here during my childhood," I said. "But I would be delighted to visit the village."

"Well that's settled then," Lord Mallin declared. "As long as you are all back before Lord Sanditon arrives. Perhaps if Sir Davis is with you, you will not be as tardy as usual..."

I saw Lady Mai roll her eyes and I smiled to myself. Something pawed at my leg and I looked down to see Luna. I cut off a little more bacon and dropped it down for the cat.

Lady Mai caught me doing this, but did not condemn me in front of everyone. Instead she raised an eyebrow. I looked away.

Half an hour or so later, I found myself in a carriage with Lady Mai and Miss Matsuzaki. The latter of whom did not seem thrilled with my presence. It was almost as if she thought a business man beneath her. Imagine what she would think if she discovered my true roots.

The carriage stopped in the village and allowed me out. I was not invited to visit Lady Mai's friend. It was understandable. So instead I walked around the village. Many of the shops I had known as a child remained.

Only now I could walk into one without being shooed out. Now I could go in and purchase things without being accused of stealing the money I have.

I strode into the bookshop and began to peruse its collection. I selected one or two titles and flicked them open. I shelved the first one and as I started to look into the second, the voices of the bookseller caught my attention.

"... sheet music straight from London. I want this in pride of place," the man said to the boy who I presumed to be his son. "Clear out that window."

I looked over to the stack of sheet music.

"Excuse me, is that for the pianoforte?" I asked.

"Yes sir, it's one of Haydn's newest pieces. Would you like a copy for your lady?"

I looked away to hide my reddening cheeks.

"She's not my lady, but yes, I would. I will take this book too."

I paid for my purchases and left the shop. I had a little time left to me before the women would return. I meandered through the village, taking in my surroundings with idle curiosity, when a carriage drew up beside me.

Lady Mai stuck her head out of the window.

"Sir Davis! I'm glad we found you, we are stopping to buy ribbons!"

"Ribbons?"

Lady Mai all but fell out of the carriage, followed by her disgruntled governess.

"Oh yes, I quite forgot, but there is a public ball tomorrow night and Miss Hara, she is my dear friend, wants to go. But of course she does not want to go alone, so I am going to go with her. Which means you and Mr Lin must come too."

"Ribbons?" I repeated.

"Oh yes, I need new ribbons if I am going to look my best. Do you have the required dress for such an outing? Though things are not so strict about these things for public balls. You will be gone before Miss Hara and her parents hold their ball. It's such a shame."

"I will do my best to look the part," I said.

"If you were to wear what you wore last night, that would do just fine! But perhaps a nicer cravat… Let us check. Perhaps we can find something. A handsome gentleman like you will cause quite a stir."

"You think me handsome?"

The words had slipped from my lips before I had a chance to stop them. The Lady's cheeks flushed pink.

"You must have noticed the attentions you get from the ladies," she said quickly. "Now come on, we must hurry or we'll be late back and my Uncle will be displeased."

I allowed the Lady to take my arm and lead me to the relevant shops. Miss Matsuzaki followed behind occasionally making snide remarks. I was pleased to find that the shopkeepers seemed to know Lady Mai well and treated her with the utmost respect. Lady Mai made her purchases. She tried a few times to ask my opinion on ribbons, but I admitted having no eye for the things. It was only as we returned to the carriage that she noticed my package.

"I bought myself a book," I said in response to her questioning eye.

"Our collection is not to your tastes?"

"I had not had a chance to peruse them, but this book caught my attention and I have my own library to think of."

She smiled and the carriage set off.

Miss Matsuzaki then decided to ruin my good mood.

"So why are you here if you aren't designing Lord Mallin's carriage personally?"

"I wanted to oversee Lin's work. I have been considering making him a partner in the business and what better way to assess him than on such an important job?" I paused before continuing. "I also now have the fortune to purchase a manor, so I thought I would look in this area while I was here on business."

While not a lie, I knew I would never chose to live in this neighbourhood. There were too many memories I wished to forget.

"You want to move into our neighbourhood?" Lady Mai asked, obviously delighted.

"And how great is your fortune?"

I blinked.

"Miss Matsuzaki! You can't just— Sir Davis, I am so sorry for her—"

"It's nothing," I insisted with a forced smile, not wanting the journey to sour. "I have enough for my station in life."

There. That would keep her guessing.

We journeyed back in silence, but as I left the carriage I overheard something of Miss Matsuzaki's conversation with Lady Mai.

"You know exactly what he's really after! What is it that book you like so much says? Men only want wives?"

I silently grumbled at the horrific butchering of the oh so famous opening lines to that book.

"He's not interested in me," Lady Mai batted off her governess suggestions.

"I should hope not. 'Enough for my station in life' means that he is poor. He's only after you for your money no doubt."

I felt that Lady Mai ought to be rather offended by that statement, but I was out of earshot by the time she responded. Instead, I met Lin in the library and went over the plans he had made so far.

"These look good," I told him. "But you may be required to create some false plans for a barouche to fool the young lady."

"Already done," Lin said, "I started some last night in case they were required."

He pulled another sheet of paper from a pile and showed it to me.

"Good. Oh and by the way, Lady Taniyama will be inviting us to a public ball, you must accept."

Lin scowled.

"Why?"

"Because it is polite."

"I never thought I would live to see the day that you, Davis, would be lecturing me on manners. Let alone insisting we went to a ball. Miss Mori had to drag you to the last one." Lin smirked. "I think this girl really does have something over you. What is it, I wonder?"

"She is a Lady, Lin. Do not call her—"

"She is pretty, I suppose," Lin went on. "And not uncaptivating in her conversation… But I wonder… That would not be enough after so little time. But you did know her before, didn't you?" I scowled at him. "I must conclude that she was your childhood sweetheart."

I hate this man. How had I ever considered him a friend?

"I'm going to my room."

"But her betrothed is due to arrive at any minute, we really ought to be polite and welcome him," Lin called after me.

I glowered at him over my shoulder and stalked off. I needed to put my book in my room if nothing else, but I got no further than the front hall when a gentleman strode through the doors.

"Ah! Lord Sanditon!" Lord Mallin cried as he entered the hallway. "I'm so glad you made it in good time. How was the journey?"

"It was fine. Where are the ladies? I have a present for Lady Mai, the latest sheet music from Haydn!"

I clutched my package tighter and scowled. This only served to draw attention to me.

"Ah, Sir Davis," Lord Mallin said. "Come meet Lord Sanditon, eldest son of the Marquess of Guinton. Lord Sanditon, please meet Sir Davis, owner of SPR Carriages. He's designing something for me."

"A pleasure," Lord Sanditon said, offering me his hand.

I conducted the required civilities and excused myself, if there was any hope of my giving the sheet music to Lady Mai first I needed to—

When I returned, the newcomer was already conversing with the Lady, a new package clutched in her hand.

Dinner that evening was a dull affair. Lord Sanditon really liked to talk. And Lord Mallin liked to encourage him.

The only consolation was that afterwards, Lady Mai chose to seat herself next to me for her evening leisure.

"I thought you would be reading your new book," she said. "But you seem preoccupied."

"Just lost in my thoughts."

"Did you mean what you said earlier? About wanting to move to the area?"

"It is something I have considered. I no longer need to be as involved in the business so being this distance from London is no worry."

"It is a lovely neighbourhood, I, for one, would be delighted for you to join us on one condition."

"And what is that?"

"That you hold a couple of balls. I do love dancing."

I smiled at the glee in her voice. Dancing was something I had forced myself to learn as soon as I realised my presence was required in society. I had even hired a tutor. A preferable option to having Mrs Davis teach me.

"I think I would have to wait until I had a wife for such a thing," I replied. "For I would not know how to plan a ball."

"You do not hold parties in London?"

"No, I have been too busy with my work to consider such an activity."

"And what do you look for in a wife?" Lady Mai asked. I noticed the change in her tone. She had become a little more serious. Perhaps Miss Matsuzaki's words earlier had struck a chord.

"Intelligence and kindness," I answered honestly. "I abhor those with empty heads and I do not think I could stand a woman that treated her inferiors badly."

"I overheard Mr Lin saying you treat your workers well."

"I find that if I treat my staff well, then they work better. It benefits us all."

"Well as you are coming to the ball tomorrow night, perhaps we will find you a wife! Unless, I mean to say, that is, unless you already have someone in your sights?"

"Oh, well, I—"

"And what are you two talking about so conspiratorially?" Lord Sanditon asked as he ducked his head between Lady Mai's and my own.

"Oh Lord Sanditon! You did make me jump, you beast!"

"I'm sorry, dear Lady, I was hoping the pair of you would join us in playing cards. Mr Lin has agreed to play but Lord Mallin and Miss Matsuzaki are being frightful bores."

"They always are," Lady Mai muttered. "I will join you. Sir Davis, will you come too?"

I opened my mouth to refuse, but she smiled at me.

"Yes, I suppose so."

I was familiar enough with the game to not embarrass myself. Lin, on the other hand, turned out to be something of a professional.

"You have played this before?" Lord Sanditon asked.

"Yes, during my time in the army."

"You were in the army?" Lady Mai asked, clearly interested. "Why did you leave?"

"I was blinded by gunpowder in my right eye," Lin replied, sweeping his fringe to one side to show his ruined eye. "I was not fit to serve after that. But Davis here hired me as I have a way with the horses."

"A way with the horses," Lord Sanditon repeated. "Then we must ride together. Are you busy tomorrow? Before the ball? We could all go!"

He looked to me too to seek my agreement.

"I would be honoured to join you, but I am afraid my work will keep me busy," Lin replied.

"Oh I'm sure my Uncle can give you a day off," Lady Mai said.

"I'm afraid it is not your Uncle that sets my working patterns."

Lady Mai looked immediately to me.

"You would give him time off, would you not?"

"Of course I would, if there was no time pressure," I said.

"Sir Davis is such a wonderful employer," Lady Mai said to Lord Sanditon. "I quite approve of his behaviour."

"That is splendid," Lord Sanditon replied, beaming at Lady Mai in a way I did not like one bit.

Author's note: ANOTHER CHAPTER BECAUSE IT'S MY BIRTHDAY AND AMYNCHAN ASKED FOR IT!