A/N: Here it is - Brunch! Thanks to everyone with kind words and follows for this fic. Please continue to R&R and don't be afraid to let me know when I'm going a bit astray.

As always: The Nanny = not mine. Sad face. But Niles and CC fic = happy face

CC reminded herself that she currently hated Niles while she admired the cut of the three-piece navy blue pinstripe suit he was wearing, and he had not even put the coat on yet. His movements were stiff, no doubt from having spent the night on the floor. She did not feel particularly bad about that, not when he looked, well, 'no need to go there, CC,' she thought to herself. The light blue shirt Niles wore matched the color of his eyes, a detail she noted when he turned to look at her while he was in the midst of tying the purple and gray tie CC had selected for him before leaving New York City. Dressed in a navy and gray sleeveless number with a matching sweater, they looked a pair. CC risked another glance at Niles to admire the way the tailoring of his waistcoat hugged his frame in all the right places. She was certain they were going to turn a few heads when they appeared for brunch in a matter of moments.

'If we could get rid of the look of death on you, Niles, you could pass for a real boy,' she said as she helped him with the cufflinks. 'How did you manage to cover up the scent of decay?'

As she teased him, Niles noted CC had done up her hair with a bit more care. 'I see you must have snuck out on your broom when I wasn't looking to get your own beauty treatment.' Despite what happened the night before, they felt on even ground again, the words having a familiar hint of malice without being overly cutting. He looked her over. By Niles' estimation they resembled jet-lagged tourists, but, on the whole, they were more than adequate. 'Chin up, Babs. Time to show them where they can really stick their money.' He pulled on the coat to finish his ensemble. CC looked away in order to remember to breathe.

She settled her hand in the crook of his arm as they left the room. She wished for a mirror so she could see how they looked together. Their reflection in the elevator doors gave her a hint, but the image was not clear enough to get a strong sense of the overall image. Still, she took in his body carriage. Niles looked almost regal, not like the humble butler with a wicked sense of humor and the biggest damn heart of anyone she had ever met. She looked a little bitchy, but the kind of bitchy that suggested money and social status rather than someone who was just unhappy all the time.

On the elevator ride CC said, 'If we keep up appearances, they will be offering us whatever we desire, Niles.'

'I'm glad one of us has faith in our ability to fool them,' Niles said. The doors opened. He led her to the large dining room where the brunch was being held. After giving their names and being cleared to enter, they both dropped the façade. Tired from jet lag and a restless night, they realized there was no way they could keep up. People were flitting about as if they had not had a late, booze-filled night. Niles watched CC wander in an attempt to talk to a group of wives and girlfriends with little joy. He floundered for a few moments near a group of middle-aged old moneyed gentlemen. Eventually both Niles and CC settled at tables across the room from the other.

Niles had to admit that, awful as the trip had been so far, not having to cook the food in front of him was a pleasure. He was engrossed in his selection of traditional English breakfast items when a familiar dashing young man from the previous evening sat next to him. Niles needed to glance twice to verify this was the same fellow that had been dancing with CC.

'I must say,' the younger man said, 'that you are very light on your feet, my good man.' Niles recognized the attempt of a lower class sort trying to play at being higher up the social standings. By his estimate, the young man was no more than mid-thirties in age and just over six feet of willowy muscle. The tails stretched the young man out even more. 'Gareth Fairley. I'm married to Lord Henley's daughter, Isabella.'

'Niles,' Niles said as he firmly shook the young man's hand. Niles noted a rough quality to the other man's grip that would be unexpected if he were a proper gentleman.

'The butler who married the American socialite, yes. You're quite the talk around town this weekend.'

'So I gathered,' Niles said as he tried and failed to hide his annoyance. He offered nothing more in the conversation in hopes of getting the other man to wander off. Instead, Niles got the confession he was expecting.

Gareth dropped the posh accent and the volume of his speaking voice. 'Truth be told, I'm as much a misfit as you. Lord Henley's rather the eccentric so he sends me off with Izzy to act as her husband. I'm the valet, but none of this lot cares to investigate because His Lordship rarely leaves the estate and never invites anyone to visit.' Niles turned to stare at the young man, his breakfast semi-forgotten. 'You can call me Gary. Anyone I like usually does, even my employer. Us odd ones need to stick together.' There was no hint of a lie in the words. Niles had been around actors enough to know when people were lying. 'What? Kipper in my teeth?'

Niles realized he was staring. 'No. I'm just,' he gave a shrug, struggling to find the right words. He took a glance around the room, found CC, and noted she was in conversation with a young woman who looked vaguely like someone from Niles' past. Something clicked in his head, but he was not ready to give the thought full voice. 'Why the charade?' he asked Gareth, hoping for more information and to distract himself from the meanderings of his own mind.

'Everyone who is anyone wants Henley money. It's famous for being good luck, apparently. Lord Henley is a careful sort, though. He's particular, and doesn't want it going to any old thing. Izzy isn't much better. She takes after her father, preferring to go against everyone's expectations.

'At these things, there's an agreement of sorts. You've no doubt noticed. You saw through them a lot faster than I ever did. Pay the money, circulate the room, be a bore. Doesn't matter what the money actually goes toward so long as you can be seen to support something and be part of the social season.' Gareth stopped speaking long enough to shove some food down his throat. Niles was still listening but was watching CC as closely as possible. Whatever agitation she felt was not in evidence from his perch.

Gareth took a drink then spoke again. 'Your wife probably thinks you're cruel for what you did last night.'

This valet was a smart one, Niles knew now. 'Yes,' he agreed. 'Last night was not my best moment, but she would never have believed me on my word alone.'

'Resilient woman you have, Niles. She's holding court over there as if nothing was the matter. I see why you fell in love with her.' Niles risked a glance at Gareth and noted they were gazing the same general direction, just focusing on different women at the table. Niles looked away and held comment, focusing on the delightful pastry that was on his plate. His thoughts were running rampant, trying desperately not to focus on the woman who he was supposed to be married to the last two days.

CC had discovered a group of women joined her at the table, one of which happened to be Isabella, Lord Henley's daughter and the current Lady Henley. Her dress was almost ordinary, but maybe that was the point. She seemed the sort to not desire too much attention, only the right amount.

'Daddy just abhors social events,' she told CC. 'He says that the only people who ever invest in anyone's projects at these things are looking to hide their money during divorce proceedings or get a tax break or something just as underhanded. But then, investing in one of Webber's shows is so drab and common. He never comes to these things, either. Sometimes he sends one of his hirelings, but I've never seen the man himself.'

'Webber as in Andrew Lloyd?' CC asked. Here was a topic she could relate to. She had only picked at the fruit on her plate but suddenly the Danish looked very appetizing.

'Exactly that one. Do you know him? You're part of the Broadway community, aren't you?'

'We've met,' CC said while attempting and probably failing to hide her disdain for the man who was Sheffield-Babcock Productions' main rival. 'What do you mean that he doesn't come to these things? Surely he spends money. We all paid to be here. Didn't we?'

'Oh, you know,' Isabella said with a flick of her hand. 'He doesn't want to directly associate with the dirty old men and the playboys that are attracted to these benefits. But I have it on good authority he is more than happy to take their money when they visit New York.'

CC sized up the young woman. She could not be more than thirty and there was an overall plain quality about her. Yet Lady Henley's entourage was bedecked in the fashion world's finest and most current haute couture. This lady was a complete mystery to CC Babcock, but disliking the man who made Cats a hit was enough for CC to like the young woman. In a lot of ways CC was reminded of a younger version of herself, just that she was never so naturally blonde or petite or had a family that was apparently as exceedingly eccentric. Nor did CC have the woman's confidence among her peers. Okay, so Isabella was basically everything CC wished she had been at that age and younger.

One of Isabella's friends spoke their direction. 'Harold says the new Webber show is opening in the East End.' This one had bad teeth that looked to be genetic and not caused by a lack of dental care. To CC she said, 'Are you opening anything in London?'

'Not at the moment, no,' CC said. She made a note to tell Maxwell they needed to think about exporting more shows to London. 'We're currently exploring options for a new production.' If Niles were sitting close enough to hear, he would have scoffed at the code for 'we have nothing, so please don't ask again.' CC glanced around the room, in search of her 'husband.' She noticed she was being watched by nearly everyone at the table. A pair of familiar blue eyes from across the room caught hers briefly before looking away. She sighed at the sight of Niles. She was more willing to openly acknowledge the fact he looked handsome when he would not notice.

'Oh good,' Isabella said, looking the same direction. 'Gary's found your Niles.'

CC shifted her gaze to the other man seated at the table. 'You know him?' CC asked, recognizing the gentleman she had danced with. She self-consciously tucked a purposely loose strand of hair behind her ear.

'Intimately,' Isabella whispered in CC's ear. Isabella made a motion that caused her entourage to skedaddle. CC was not saddened to see them go. 'Truth be told, he's daddy's valet. I bring him out for show. There are certain perks, but you probably know that.' Isabella took a long drink from her juice glass.

CC's gaze shifted back to Niles. 'I don't, actually,' she admitted. Did she want to? The thought vexed her for a moment then the realization of Isabella's words hit. 'How long have you known about Niles and me?'

'A hunch,' Isabella said with an unladylike shrug. 'I can usually pick them out. It's a game I like to play. You're both very good at hiding it, though. Familiarity breeds contempt, but it also makes faking easier, especially when dealing with a difference in class.'

'Hiding what?' CC tore her gaze from Niles and stared at Isabella. She studied the young woman carefully, aware that she would not talk so openly with a Lady under different circumstances. Isabella exuded a carefully constructed sense of carefree ease that was obviously put on, now that CC knew how to look at her breakfast companion.

'There aren't many people who would do what Niles did for you. Gary certainly wouldn't. I had to hide the talk from him the first time. Later, we had a very difficult conversation where he nearly caused a scene. It was brutal.

'The truth is, CC, the two of you look like you belong together. I don't just mean that you're so well coordinated in how you dress. (He's delicious, by the way. Well done, you.) What you needed was someone to pretend to be your significant other, and you selected the natural choice. It's obvious Niles cares deeply for you whether he's said the words or not. I suspect you're still coming to terms with your own feelings for him.'

CC felt the truth in Isabella's words. Maxwell probably would have let the money slide if she had not been so insistent on attending the had gone straight to Niles in her mind when she realized the gravity of the situation. She trusted and knew enough about him to at least reasonably attempt to pull off a faux marriage. In hindsight, believing she could convince Maxwell to be her fake significant other had been stupidest assumption she could have made. Niles was the natural choice.

Isabella kept talking. 'You ought to convince your business partner to let you stay in England a few more days. Maybe you could let Niles show you around somewhere that has meaning to him. In a few days you could come for a visit. I'm sure daddy would love to meet the both of you, and he might be convinced to invest in one of your shows. If not, you can say you gave it your best shot and return home without the taste of sour grapes from last night.'

'That's actually not a bad idea,' CC said slowly. Spending more time with Niles would be a bonus, especially if she could dig up something from his childhood.

Unbeknownst to CC, Gareth was giving Niles a similar talk with similar results. When Niles looked at CC and their eyes locked, his light blue and her darker blue, gravity began to take hold. CC took Isabella's information and promised to call in a couple of days to finalize a visit should Mr. Sheffield agree to the idea of his employees staying in England for a few more days. Niles took down similar information from Gareth and thanked the young man for the pep talk. Eventually CC reconnected with Niles near the exit. She still held some anger toward him, but her anger was tempered with hope of a trip not wasted.

As she took his arm, CC said to Niles 'You know you're better dressed than all of them.'

'Are you complimenting yourself again, Babcock?'

'Yes. But I'm never inviting you to another fancy dinner party.'

'Oh, too bad,' Niles said. 'I like feeling like a stuffed shirt. It compliments your trousers so well.' She dug her nails into his arm hard enough for him to yelp.

'Come along, husband. I have business to discuss with you and Maxwell.' He led her up to the room without protest.

End Part 3