"Hallam is back in the country tomorrow".

Blanche turned in the bathtub to look at Agnes, and gently stroked her leg. "How do you feel about that?" she asked quietly.

"Oh, scared, relieved, annoyed. All of those things." She squeezed the water from her sponge onto the back of Blanche's neck, nuzzling the spot softly with her lips.

"You don't have to tell him yet, Agnes, really, if you'd rather wait?"

"No, he has to know. And I'm tired of us sneaking around. I won't keep you a secret Blanche, you know that."

"I know darling, but you know that he is going to make life very unpleasant. I'm not even sure what he will do. The children, Agnes…"

Agnes stiffened. "He's not taking my children. We'll run away if we have to Blanche. I won't let him destroy us. As long as I have you and my babies then I don't need his money or status."

"You say that now, dear…"

Agnes pulled Blanche back against her tightly her arms wrapping around her middle, "and I mean it my love" she said fiercely. "I won't be apart from you, it's unimaginable."

Blanche turned and laid soft kisses on the slim arm next to hers. "It is for me too. Nobody has ever made me feel so wanted."

Agnes hugged her tighter, "And nobody else ever will again. You're mine, and I am yours."

Blanche smiled at Agnes's possessive tone. It was a quality that she had not expected, and one that she loved about her new partner.

"It has been rather fun, though, sneaking around the house for secret assignations after dark, except for nearly getting caught by Mr Amanjit that afternoon last week."

"Which was entirely your fault!"

"Agnes! You crept up behind me in my study and forced me onto the desk! How is that my fault?"

"Because you were reaching over the desk, and your dress was pulled tight over your glorious posterior. How else was I going to react?"

Blanche snorted. "Well we were nearly caught in flagrante delicto my dear."

Agnes chuckled, "I'm still not entirely sure the poor man didn't hear anything, with the wonderful, but rather loud noises you were making.

Blanche blushed, "That was definitely your fault."

Agnes hummed in her ear and began to move her fingers southwards. "Oh I take the blame for those entirely, and the result was very much worth the risk."

Blanche gasped as she began to stroke her, "Oh. It definitely was" she agreed before twisting her head around and kissing her.

Agnes sat on the couch, twisting her hands nervously in her lap as Blanche walked the room smoking what seemed like her hundredth cigar.

"Oh God, Agnes, this is torture, how much longer will he take?"

"Blanche, stop pacing! You're making me even more anxious. He's only ten minutes late."

Blanche walked over to the window, jumping when the bell for the front door rang loudly. She stared over at Agnes. "This is it then."

Her lover looked pale. "Agnes you know, I can leave you to speak to him alone."

"No! I want you here. This is about us, not just me."

Blanche nodded briefly as Pritchard showed Hallam into the drawing room. He stood awkwardly, looking over to Agnes first and then noticing Blanche.

"Aunt Blanche" he nodded stiffly.

She nodded back, "Hallam."

He strode towards Agnes, stopping in front of her and beginning to speak. "Agnes, I was so glad to get your call. I would have come sooner if I hadn't been caught up in Berlin. Things are at a head there now, it's getting very dangerous…."He trailed off, "Agnes, I want you to know how sorry I am for what I did, if I could turn back the clock…"

She interrupted him, "But you can't Hallam. You betrayed me, with my own sister no less!"

"Oh God Agnes, I know, I don't know how I could have….."

She held her hand up, "Hallam, stop. I didn't ask you here to listen to your apologies. There is something I have to tell you."

Hallam looked at her, and then over to Blanche who was nervously watching them. "Do you think you could give my wife and I some privacy?" He asked testily.

Blanche opened her mouth to speak, but Agnes beat her to it. "No, Blanche is to remain. What I have to say concerns her also."

Hallam looked over at Blanche warily. "Very well. If you insist."

Blanche moved across the room to stand next to Agnes, hoping the woman could somehow feel the love and support that filled her entire being.

Agnes began. "Hallam, what you did, to me, to our children…" she blinked back tears and Blanche rested a hand on her arm. "You broke me. You took my love and trust and you shattered it in the cruellest way possible." Hallam looked devastated, and he moved toward her beginning to speak.

"No!" she said vehemently. "Let me finish. After I asked you to leave life became very dark, and difficult. I couldn't see past the pain. I couldn't imagine smiling again." Her eyes flitted to the woman at her side. "Blanche looked after me, made me get up and face the day, held me when I cried. She gave me the strength to get through each day. And she asked for nothing in return".

Hallam looked at Blanche sheepishly, bowing his head.

Agnes continued, slowly. "And something changed within me Hallam. Feelings changed."

"What feelings?" he asked confusedly.

"My feelings for you. For, for Blanche." She trembled and struggled to find the words to go on.

"Oh God, this is not easy." She took a breath, "Hallam, I don't love you anymore, I'm sorry."

His face paled. "Agnes you don't mean that", he whispered.

"I do", she said. "And I think it may have been a long time since I did love you." She breathed in, "Oh Hallam, I just have to say it. I, I love Blanche, and she loves me. We're in love Hallam."

He gasped and looked between both women, "What sort of sick joke is this?" he spluttered. "I don't find it at all amusing."

Blanche spoke softly to her nephew. "It's no joke. Agnes speaks the truth. I love her, and she loves me. I'm sorry Hallam." Agnes reached out and grasped her hand.

Hallam stared at their joined hands his jaw hanging open. "But, you are my wife! And she is my Aunt." His face was white and disbelieving, and Blanche found herself feeling sorry for him.

"Hallam please try to understand, this wasn't planned. But I won't give her up. I can't."

He looked up at Agnes aghast. "No, no, no, this is not happening. This cannot be happening!" Shifting his gaze to Blanche, his eyes narrowed.

"You? This is all your doing. How dare you take advantage of my wife like this! Introducing her to your unnatural ways, and while she was vulnerable!"

Agnes's voice was laced with quiet anger. "It was nothing like that! Do not speak to her in that manner, I won't stand for it!"

Hallam's temper broke, and he began shouting. "Speak to her like that?" He waved his hands at Blanche, "This deviant, inviting herself into my home and then seducing my wife. Well it ends now!"

Reaching out he grabbed Blanche by the arm and turned dragging her with him. Blanche winced as his fingers pressed into her skin.

"I will not have you in my house for one minute longer. I'm throwing you out onto the street where you belong!" Blanche struggled to free herself, but Hallam was stronger and fuelled by anger.

She heard Agnes's desperate cries, and felt a small hand grasping hers as Hallam marched her out of the room and towards the entrance hall.

"My mother always said you were a blot on this family's good character! She knew there was something iniquitous about you. How dare you expose my wife to your sordid habits, and with my children under the same roof!"

"I never gave a fig about your wretched mother's opinion of me! And you didn't seem so concerned with your children when you were taking your wife's sister to bed! Let go of me!"

His fury increased at her words and he pulled her along more quickly, uncaring as she tripped and twisted her ankle, wincing. Agnes tried to stop him, crying, her voice breaking as she clawed at him.

"Hallam, stop this! Let her go, Hallam! Take your hands off her!"

But as they approached the front door, Mr Amanjit stepped out from the side room, and placed himself in front of them, causing Hallam to stop suddenly. "Out of my way!" he spat.

The other man held his stance, "Sir, please let the lady go."

"Lady! This invert is no lady."

Mr Amanjit remained unmoved and calm, "Again, Sir Hallam, I ask that you let the lady go."

Blanche noticed a steeliness in the servant's eyes that she had never seen before.

Hallam sneered, "You are giving me orders now are you? Well it wouldn't surprise me. The lunatics appear to have taken over the asylum!

As he spoke, Pritchard came down the stairs and placed himself next to his colleague. "Sir Hallam, I also ask that you let go of Dr Mottershead."

"Do the servants have the run of the house now Agnes? Is this something else that you have learned from your new lover?"

Agnes moved forward. "Let her go Hallam, please. This won't solve anything."

Hallam looked at each face, realising that he would have a fight on his hands if he intended to throw Blanche out.

"Fetch my children Pritchard; I won't have them under this roof for a moment longer."

Pritchard coughed. "The children are not here, Sir. They are on a day trip with Miss Ballard."

Hallam laughed mirthlessly. "Oh, I might have guessed. Had it all planned perfectly, didn't you Agnes?"

He dropped Blanche's arm and Agnes sighed in relief, moving forward to gently lay her hand there.

Hallam made a noise of disgust and stormed towards the door. "I'll be back for the children tomorrow", he threatened

Agnes stared at him coldly. "The children that you never see, or even speak to? I won't let you have them Hallam."

"You won't have a choice Agnes. The law will be on my side."

He stormed towards the door pushing past Mr Amanjit and striding out into the afternoon sunshine.

Blanche looked at Agnes and rubbed her arm, wincing.

"Well. It could have been worse," she joked feebly. "At least I'm still alive."

Agnes offered her a watery smile and took her elbow. "Come, we must look at this arm". Blanche took a few steps and hissed as her ankle injury made itself known.

"You're hurt!" Agnes exclaimed, worry crossing her pretty features.

"Just a twisted ankle Agnes, nothing serious."

Agnes looked pained "Mr Amanjit, please assist me, we must get Blanche's leg elevated, and please fetch an ice pack Mr Pritchard. And, thank you, both", she added.

As they made their way slowly to the drawing room, Agnes rested her head against Blanche's shoulder, and said softly, "I won't let him do this, Blanche. I won't."

Blanche leaned against her and replied gently, "Nor will I Agnes. We will get through this, I promise. We will work this through, together."

Agnes smiled at her and Blanche knew that she had been wrong all of those weeks back. Weeks that now seemed to belong to another lifetime. This place wasn't her home. But this woman was.