A/N: So sorry this update took forever and a day. RL got in the way between NaNo, packing for a move, plotting the end of 2 D&D campaigns, and getting things sorted with work. Anyway, here it is. I shall try to get the remaining chappies up by the end of the year as I'm going to a have a lot of free time for a while after next weekend.

Dang; just checked. I still don't own The Nanny.

'Relax, Niles,' Isabella said. 'Marie and Gareth simply wish to interrogate you. I'm a neutral party in all this.' The words did nothing to put Niles at ease. Isabella continued. 'You're probably wondering why the charade on our end.'

He shifted as he looked at one of the paintings they passed. 'The question had crossed my mind,' Niles said. He noticed she had not stopped for him, so he did not linger. He had not been in such a grand house as Dunburn Manor for a very long time. Many of the old estates had fallen into disrepair or had been refurbished for other causes in recent years. As they walked toward the library, Niles noted the upkeep of the manor was impressive, though likely costly. Not for the first time since arriving that day he wondered exactly how much Lord and Lady Henley were worth.

'Have a seat,' Isabella said indicating a chair. 'I didn't wish to bore your associate with all the specifics of inheritance law and the like. I doubt I'd be remiss in assuming she knows enough about that.' Isabella sat in a cozy-looking reading chair and instinctively crossed her right leg over her left. 'Besides, Daddy wanted so dreadfully to tell her something he insisted was of the utmost importance. So, I am afraid you are stuck with me.'

Niles carefully lowered onto the edge of the sofa opposite Isabella, unable to relax. He might have no trouble relaxing on occasion in the Sheffield residence in New York, but that was also his home. Here he was reminded of the old ways everywhere he looked and that meant a certain separation of the servants from the rest of the household. 'I can think of worse situations,' he said. His gaze flitted about the room for a time before settling on the young woman in front of him.

'Suffice to say, we've plenty of money provided it is invested wisely. You heard about the renovations to the east wing?' Isabella asked. Niles nodded. 'Yes, well, that's a lark, I'm sure. Daddy thinks Mummy's ghost is haunting her old rooms. More likely to be mice, I say. So, you see why a Broadway production looks appetizing from my perspective, even if it's not a guarantee.' Her eyes shifted off Niles toward the door. 'Ah, the lovebirds.'

Niles turned to see Gareth and Marie entering the library. They moved to either side of Niles forcing him to sit back and attempt to relax. Gareth turned to the guest. 'Marie has been telling me you have a bit of a mischievous streak in you. Do you still get up to pranks?'

'When I can,' Niles said. 'I have a wonderful accomplice in the current nanny who I shall hope will also be the last nanny if Mr. Sheffield ever opens his eyes.' He thought about some of the better jokes and zingers he and Babcock had exchanged, especially the one the previous year that led to the most passionate moment he ever exchanged with another human being.

'Men are always a bit behind in my experience,' Isabella said. 'Present company excluded, of course.' She winked at Gareth who turned a few shades redder than normal.

Niles smiled the thought of his oldest friend/employer and Fran Fine admitting their feelings for one another. 'Whether they care to admit it or not, they do care for each other,' Niles said. 'Miss Fine has certainly livened up the place.' He looked among the assembled, realizing he was about to ramble. 'You were going to explain yourselves, I believe.' Something about admitting feelings suddenly made him uncomfortable.

Gareth gave Niles a solid pat on the shoulder. 'I suppose we ought. The thing is, only a few people who go to those sorts of things care if the real ladyship is present.'

Isabella let out a chuckle. 'Thought it was worth trying just to see what happened. Could we possibly play off my maid and Daddy's valet as a pair? Did anyone care? No one really knows me, after all. And Marie does passably resemble me. Turns out no one does care, really.'

Marie looked past Niles to Gareth. 'Gary and I even get a bit of time to be together outside the house. It's done wonders for our marriage.' She reached across Niles and took her husband's hand. Gareth put his free hand to his heart and raised his eyes to the heavens.

'The other benefit is that it keeps away unwanted suitors,' said Isabella, amused by the display of affection coming from the staff. 'They're much better at rooting out the money grubbers than I am. Parties and the like don't interest me. I'd rather oversee the renovations to the manor and spend time with my horses.'

'Her ladyship breeds race horses,' Marie said. 'Had a few winners, too. No one knows that, though, since she doesn't take any credit in public.'

'Hush now, Marie. He'll want tips next,' Isabella said. She winked at Niles so stealthily he thought he missed the gesture. 'But, Niles, enough about us. Tell us about Miss Babcock. We're all so curious. Bit guarded and that's saying a lot from our lot, don't you think?'

Niles forced a smile on his face as he glanced at everyone. They looked so eager. He did not really wish to talk about CC Babcock in the manner they wanted him to. He barely admitted to himself that there were feelings simmering under the surface. He knew so much about Miss Babcock in some ways, but she was still a total stranger to him in other ways despite their decade and a half association.

'Miss Babcock is generally careful,' Niles said slowly. 'If you knew her family, this would not come as a surprise. She does come from money, has chosen to work for a living, is the cog that keeps Sheffield-Babcock Productions running smoothly, and manages to keep me from an entirely dull existence.' He sighed. Where had all that come from? 'I would never admit this to her, but it is difficult for me to turn down any opportunity to spend time with her.' I started so I might as well finish, he thought.

:P:p:P:p:P:p

CC Babcock knew old money when she saw it, but her life experience had not taught her how to relate to it. The type of money Eustace Cruikshank, also known as Lord Henley of Dunburn Manor, inherited was money many times older than the money CC stood to inherit. The estate, grand as it currently was to behold, had likely been grander once. Even so, CC knew she was out of her depth the moment she arrived. It had taken a near Herculean effort to not goggle at every small thing. Even Niles, who had grown up surrounded by some of the opulence, had been speechless during much of the tour. Now, CC felt adrift without her constant companion from the last week, especially since protocol was lost on her. Lord Henley was much richer and more eccentric than she could have fathomed. The whole trip had been disarming, but this really took the cake, so to speak.

'I had a maid once,' Lord Henley said. 'She was very special to me.' They walked at a slow but steady pace away from the house. 'Mummy was still alive, pressuring me for an heir and to settle down with a very well-to-do heiress. Owned a good parcel of land, she did. It abuts our holdings just yonder.' He pointed and nodded vaguely to their right. 'Doesn't look like much, in truth. It's just grassland, but ideal for shooting parties and the like. The heiress would find her way over here frequently enough for luncheons. Mummy called her our special regular. No wonder everyone thought there was something going on. The heiress had gumption.' He stopped, so CC stopped. Lord Henley looked at her appraisingly. 'Do you have gumption, CC?'

CC looked at the lone visible tree that they had stopped near. 'No one expected me to work, let alone be good at a job,' she said after a moment of thought. 'I'm not in need of money, after all.' She wrapped her arms around her body to guard against the slight breeze that had kicked up. Her blazer offered little warmth, but at least she had the scarf.

'But you are in need of a challenge.'

It was not a question, but CC answered as if it was. 'Yes. I suppose I do like to have something to occupy my time and utilize my skills.' Or someone she thought. Lord Henley nodded then indicated he was ready to walk on. CC followed as he tottered toward the gazebo that was slowly revealing itself beyond a slight rise. 'You mentioned a maid,' CC said. She felt certain Lord Henley had brought up the subject for a reason, but with eccentrics she had found they often meandered in thought. She decided not to presume too much.

'Died, sadly,' Lord Henley said. 'Pneumonia. I did love her so. Would have married her had I the chance to do so.'

'Oh?' A hint of sadness, CC hoped the right amount since she was not the best dealing with anyone's emotions including her own, creeped into the inherent curiosity of the single word.

'I didn't marry the heiress either,' Lord Henley said.

'Oh?' this time the word came out with confusion.

They reached the gazebo, a Spartan white-washed affair that held a bench upon which one might sit and enjoy the view such as it was. A hillside and a field and some small bit of the manor were visible, but not much else. Lord Henley sat. He patted the empty space, so CC sat.

'Marrying the heiress would have put us in a scandalous position seeing as I knew she was less interested in me and more interested in a certain member of Mummy's staff. Mummy never caught on. I met Isabella's mother in the village by chance one day. She was a teacher at the school.'

The picture and the point were becoming clearer to CC. 'How did your mother take the news?'

Lord Henley laughed in a way that worked through his whole body before coming out of his mouth. 'Dreadfully. By then the truth of her favored choice was working through the rumor mill. I had secured a fair bit of the land as a trade-off for my discretion, so we were all happy in a way. Except the heiress. She ran off to Spain and never returned..'

'That's impressive.' CC knew she was dealing with someone she could work with.

'The best part, CC, is that I found the person who most challenged me in every way. The likes of us are not that different in that respect. Does this Mr. Sheffield excite you or is it the work you do?'

CC settled her gaze on the field furthest away. Maxwell was not the person who she most wished to see every day she went to the mansion. Even Nanny Fine's doings of late were of more interest than whatever it was Maxwell got up to in his free time. 'There is someone,' CC said slowly. 'It most certainly is not Maxwell Sheffield. Correcting the fine print of a contract is more interesting most days than he is.' She had never told anyone even though she had felt that way for some time. It was part of why she wanted the partnership, to be recognized. Maxwell may have founded the company, but CC knew she was the one that kept everything interesting. There was something both thrilling and shameful to her about admitting her thoughts to a relative stranger. 'I'm not sure it's even about work some days but about…' CC trailed off as she realized whose name was on her tongue. 'Anyway.' Now she was desperate to fill the awkward silence and to calm the thoughts going through her head.

'Hmm. Just so,' Lord Henley said. 'We should be getting back. I understand you have a long afternoon ahead of you, travel and all. Off to Liverpool today and then to America tomorrow is it?' Lord Henley rose to his feet before extending a hand to CC to help her up. 'I thank you for the time, Miss Babcock. It has been quite a while since I have had a beautiful blonde accompany me on my walk.'

CC took the help up then rested her hand in the crook of Lord Henley's arm as they started toward the house. She knew she was blushing from the compliment. Rarely, if ever, did anyone say such words to her.

:p:P:p:P:p:P

Back at the house, Niles was waiting impatiently. He was suddenly anxious to get back to New York and routine. The vacation had taken several odd turns throughout the week to the point where he desperately wanted to lose himself in someone else's problems for a time. Fran and Mr. Sheffield always had something they needed the butler to fix.

Catching up with Marie had been nice, especially finding her married happily to one such as Gareth. The valet was witty and smart and reminded Niles a fair bit of his younger self. Looking at the happy couple also made Niles long for such an attachment for himself. He had a feeling his last hours in Babcock's presence would be trying. There was so much simmering under the surface threatening to boil over.

Thankfully for CC she heard no more about the past loves of Lord Henley. He spoke of his plans for the estate and inquired about her work and the future plans of Sheffield-Babcock Productions. To CC, business was always the safest topic. She could talk for hours about being involved with Broadway productions so long as she did not have to acknowledge any feelings, romantic or otherwise, for someone else. In fact, she was in better spirits when they reached the manor because of the business talk.

'Isabella, darling, do see our guests to the car,' Lord Henley said. 'I'm away for my nap. Lovely meeting you both.' He waved the guests off as he disappeared further into the house. Isabella saw Niles and CC to the car. She promised to be in touch. CC took the lead in thanking Lady Henley for the hospitality as Niles was obviously in a mood. She tried not to think too much about her companion as they were whisked to the train station.

End Part 7