He leant down behind her to talk into her ear where she sat at her desk, looking out onto the hospital garden. She wasn't quite sure if he did this to avoid them being overheard- though the door was closed- or to drive her mad with the gentle brushing of his breath on the top of her ear, but quite frankly she didn't care; she liked it.

"I'm taking you away."

She looked up at him; seeing that he was not joking a smile crept into her face.

"That's kidnap," she told him, knowing he could see the spark in her eyes, pretending to return to the document in her hand when really she was looking at his hand resting firmly on the wood of her desk, while the other hovered on the back of the chair in line with her spine.

"Only for a week," he protested.

"I don't believe it's the length of time you detain me for, but whether I agree to it that stops it being kidnap," she pointed out, "I will let you know where I stand on the matter once you have explained yourself."

She knew full well that her face was telling him that, whatever he said next, she was delighted by the prospect.

"Scarborough," he told her, "I know a little hotel that looks out onto the seafront, and we can go for walks along by the water. And I can walk with your arm on mine and hold your hand without worrying about anyone seeing. Or we can just stay in," she did not miss the twinkle in his eye as he said this, "And be together as much as we like. That is, if you want to?" he added hurriedly, "You're not worried about what Matthew will say?"

She looked at him very clearly.

"Do you honestly think my son hasn't wondered where I've disappeared off to all the nights I've mysteriously not been at home. He's not a fool, he'd practically worked out that I was with you before I told him."

"And does he-...?"

"Well, I don't think he's absolutely thrilled about it," she told him dryly, "But apart from anything else, if he was going to challenge you over my honour I think he'd have done it by now. I don't mind," she told him honestly, brushing her thumb quickly across the back of his hand, "As long as he can live with it, it can't bother me because it makes me very happy to be with you."

He leant forwards and over her to plant a kiss on her temple and, surprised, she felt herself smile again.

"So you'll come with me?" he asked.

"Of course I will, you silly man."

…...

She hadn't done anything like this, not this reckless, since she had been a foolish young girl, madly in love with a handsome doctor. Come to think of it, she couldn't remember doing anything this reckless even then, and here she was now, a foolish mature lady- she loathed to say old- running off for a week with a handsome doctor, whom she could only suppose she was also madly in love with. Life had certainly dealt her an unexpected hand, she reflected as she pressed a dress down in her suitcase and wondered if one more might fit in. Not that she could imagine that they would spend every moment out of doors, there was no point in being dishonest with herself on that score.

She had refused Molesley's instruction that Ellen should help her to pack, hoping that he would not be offended by her overruling him. Somehow she didn't think she'd feel entirely comfortable packing for a week away with her lover with anyone's help. Poor Molesley, she thought, he was so terribly naïve. She didn't think he had caught on to what was really going on at all despite her several night's absence. Not that she minded, she was more concerned on his behalf if he hadn't. Either that or he was a lot more discreet than she ever gave him credit for. Whatever the state of Molesley's naivety or otherwise, she was not having anyone expect Richard seeing the nightdress she had bought. Ellen was a good girl, but she didn't think she could take the look of incredulity it would undoubtedly earn her if she saw it.

She closed the case, pressing it down, then after a few failed attempts, turned and sat on it for a minute. Then, before it had the chance to spring back open, jumped off it and flicked the latch closed.

"Mother? Are you quite alright?"

Oh heavens, she had obviously made more noise than she had counted on jumping on her case.

"Yes, fine, Matthew," she called back, picking the case up off the bed and setting it down on the floor.

There was a slight knock on the door before it opened a touch, and she could see her son peering cautiously into the room.

"What was the noise?" he asked.

"Oh, just me trying to break my suitcase," she told him cheerfully, "Matthew, either come in or go away, please don't hover in the door like that, it makes me nervous."

He came inside an shut the door. They were both silent for a few moments, but even given that it seemed unnaturally silent to her.

"Have you got everything packed?" he asked politely.

"I think so, yes."

They were both silent for a few more moments, neither quite looking at the other.

"Matthew," she asked tentatively after a little while, "You are alright with me going, aren't you? I know you don't strictly approve of me, and I'm not asking you to, but if it makes you dreadfully unhappy I won't."

He looked up from where he had been glancing at the floor.

"Will it make you unhappy not to go?" he asked her.

She consider lying for a moment, but decided he deserved the truth. There was no point in having this conversation if they were not honest with one another.

"Yes, I think it probably would."

"Then don't mind me," he told her, smiling slightly at her, showing his earnestness, "If it makes you happy, then I want you to go."

She smiled back, reaching up to kiss her son on the cheek.

"Let me take that," he told her as she returned to the foot of her bed to pick up her case.

…...

"You're driving?" she asked him rather incredulously, forgetting for a moment to spare his feelings on the matter.

"Well, how else did you think we were going to get there?" he asked her seriously as he put her case in the back of the car.

"I don't know," she admitted, "On the train, I suppose. I didn't know you could drive, Richard."

"Oh, I can't I'll just work it out as I go along."

She didn't need to see the look on his face to know that he was joking, but thought it best to warn him.

"Don't say that when Matthew's here, or you will get a thrashing. Or Molesley, but I don't suppose you'd get more than a telling off from him."

She saw him grin a little over the bonnet of the car before he crossed to her side to help her into the front passenger seat.

"Or would you rather sit in the back?" he asked, "And travel in state?"

She snorted a little as she closed the door.

"No, I'd find it lonely back there. Anyway, I want to be with you."

For a fleeting moment she felt almost radiantly happy as he got into the driver's seat beside her.

"Is there anyone you haven't said goodbye to?" he asked.

"No, I've seen them all."

With that, he began to drive, and the fleeting happiness set in permanently in her; tinged with an edge of excitement.

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