Victor was wrong. There was one more option open to Ms.Loven and she took it. She gave notice and was gone within a fortnight. Victoria was relieved and quickly found a replacement, a younger but rather plain young woman called Ms. Eliza Dunmore .She was just as efficient as Ms. Loven had been though more inclind to mind her own affairs and not comment upon how Victoria ran her home. This suited the young couple very well. Though there was a spot of trouble with Victoria's parents when they and the Van Dorts came over for tea after all this had transpired.

"Victoria what's become of Ms. Loven?" Her mother enquired noiselessly setting down her cup and saucer for her daugther to refill.

As she poured, Victoria responded, "She quit mother."

"Ahh. May one enquire why?"

Victoria hesitated and looked at Victor who blushed and began to intently butter a scone. "She and I had... differences about household sleeping arrangements. She took it as a personal insult that Victor generally does not retire to the master bedroom."

"Victor..." Mr. Van Dort mock-scolded. "We had that discussion about bathtubs years ago, remember?"

Victor flushed a deeper shade of crimson and all three Everglots looked at the Van Dorts quizically.

"Bathtub?"

"Oh yes, William!" Mrs. Van Dort laughed heartily. "I remember when Victor believed there were monsters under his bed and took to taking all his bedclothes and layering them into the bathtub."

"I was five mother."

Victoria wiped her lips on her napkin to conceal a laugh. She knew Victor hated it when his mother brought up those childhood memories in front of people but they were all so funny and really only endeared him to her all the more. "Yes this problem is a bit more... adult."

"How do you mean?" Lady Everglot asked in a tone that chilled Victoria straight through.

Victor unexpectedly came to his wife's rescue. "She means that I generally retire with Victoria to her room rather than go to my own."

"Well done son!" Mr. Van Dort laughed. "That's what I like to hear." No one else at the table appart from the young couple appeared to agree with him.

"Ms. Loven had a valid objection, then." Lady Everglot remarked and sipped her tea. Mrs. Van Dort clicked her tongue in agreement.

"I don't believe she did, mother." Victoria put in quietly but steadily. "Victor and I are married. This is our home and if we wish to retire together I don't see why we should not."

"As you wish." Lady Everglot said frostily and then fell silent and it was somehow worse than if shse had spoken for hours.