To Guest: Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review - it means so much. I'm thrilled you love the story so much. Hope you continue to like the story. I'm also hoping for a happy ending for them in the Christmas Special, but I'm not counting on it.

NOTE: My computer crashed Thursday, and I've only gotten it back today. That's why, I have not been able to upload new chapters. I had hoped that I would've been able to finish this story posting the last chapter on the 23rd, but that won't be the case. I'm going home to my parents on the 20th, and while I'm there I won't have time to write on my story. I would have been able to upload the chapters, but that would also be it. And so with only 2-3 days left to write in, I don't see it as a possibility that I will finish this story, as I still believe there will be about 18 chapters all together, and I still have 8 or so chapters to write. But I hope to write more on the story, so that I can post more over the next few days.

Chapter 8

"Welcome," Rosamund greeted as everyone walked in. "So glad to see you all here. Well, almost everyone."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Martha asked raising an eyebrow questioningly and a little challengingly. "You wouldn't by any chance be referring to Harold and I would you?"

"Of course not," she answered though not completely truthfully. "I was referring to Isobel. It's such a shame that she couldn't come. Such a shame she chose to go to luncheon with Lord Merton," she said a little annoyed.

"You don't like him?" Martha asked.

"No, I do not! I thought that much was obvious to you by now," she replied a little surprised and incredulously.

Martha started grinning a little, before taking hold of Rosamund's arms much to her annoyance.

"I do, my Dear. But it's too much fun getting you all riled up." Rosamund gaped at that, while both Violet and Robert rolled their eyes. "Besides," she went on letting go of Rosamund, much to her relief, "I honestly don't understand why you don't like the man. He seems quite charming to me."

"Yes, he may seem that way to you, but unfortunately we are not all born with good taste."

"Now that was definitely directed at me," Martha said though not at all offended by the remark.

"Think what you will."

"But what exactly is your problem with him?" Martha inquired.

"I do not wish to elaborate on that. I've invited you all for a nice luncheon, and it won't be if we're to discuss Lord Merton. So enough of that please!"

Martha held up her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll say no more on the subject, if that is what you wish."

"It is."

"Very well, very well," she said and started to turn away to the sitting room that one of Rosamund's footmen held the door open to. "Oh but," she said turning back, "I do think that it's very nice that Isobel gets to spend time with him. He seems quite the gentleman, though perhaps a little dull," she said in conclusion, but not missing Rosamund's annoyed eye roll.

"Well, I do agree with the dull part," Rosamund said dryly and a little to herself, as she received sympathetic looks from everyone but Harold, as they joined Martha in the sitting room. She started walking towards the door herself, when she noticed that Violet hadn't followed them. "Aren't you coming, Mama?" When Violet gave no reply and looked rather upset, Rosamund walked back to her. "Mama, are you alright?" she asked concerned.

"Hmm?" Violet blinked turning to Rosamund.

"I asked if you were alright. You don't look at all well. Are you ill?"

"No, no, I'm quite well, thank you," she answered smiling a little, so as not to worry Rosamund.

"Then it was just Martha then," she concluded.

"Yes, it had something to do with what she said," Violet said quietly.

"I don't understa…."

"Telephone call for you, Milady," Rosamund's butler, Mead, interrupted causing them both to look at him.

"Thank you, Mead," she replied dismissing him with a nod. Looking back at Violet and still being a little concerned, she said, "I better get that, Mama. You should join the others."

"Yes, but first I need to use the facilities," she said and started walking in that direction with Rosamund following in the same direction to answer the telephone call, in the library.

Violet returned moments later passing the library on her way to the sitting room.

"Yes that's right The Golden Duckling," she heard Rosamund say causing her to stop immediately and take a few steps back, so she could listen in on the telephone conversation. "Well, you won't know unless you try, and I'd certainly try," she heard Rosamund say with enthusiasm. "You really have nothing to lose," she then heard her say encouragingly. "You are most welcome. Yes, goodbye," she heard her say in conclusion clearly ending the conversation.

"Who were you talking to?" Violet asked startling Rosamund in the process, when she entered the hallway.

"Goodness, Mama!" she said surprised clutching a hand to her heart. "You gave me quite a fright."

"Never mind that," she said causing Rosamund to roll her eyes at the lack of concern for her. "Who were you talking to?"

"No one," she answered surprised by Violet's curiosity."So never you mind," she said smiling.

"But Í do mind."

"Well, it's not something you need to concern yourself with."

"But I do wish to concern myself with it. So who was it?" she pressed on.

"Honestly, Mama," she said a little annoyed. "I'm a grown woman. I don't need to tell you anything, if I don't want to."

"No, that much became apparent last year," she said quietly but with a slight edge to her tone, "when, you and Edith withheld something very important from me."

Rosamund sighed. "But it all worked out in the end," she said just as quietly. "No one but you, Edith, and I know the truth about why she and I went to Switzerland. And that dear litt…"

"Stop!" Violet said holding up a hand stopping Rosamund from going any further. "I may have helped, because it was the right thing to do, and I'm glad to hear that the baby was adopted into a nice family. However," she said a little sharply, "I do not wish to know whether I had a great-granddaughter or a great-grandson," she said then taking a deep breath. "It would hurt too much," she added quietly and a little sadly.

Rosamund gave her a compassionate smile. "I know, Mama. And you have my word that I'll never say."

"Thank you," she said smiling in gratitude. "Now about this telephone call," she then said much more cheerfully. "Who was it?"

"I keep telling you that it was no one important," she said rolling her eyes incredulously.

"But it must have been someone," Violet said smiling a little excitedly.

"If you must know it was just a friend of a friend that I was happy to do a favor for. Nothing more than that."

"A friend of a friend?" Violet asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, Mama. Just a friend of a friend, and that's the end of this ridiculous conversation."

"Yes very well, Dear, we'll leave it at that. But I'm very happy to hear that you helped a friend of a friend," she said smiling brightly."That's all I needed to know," she added a little to herself.

"Glad to know I've been of help," Rosemund said rolling her eyes, but then eyed Violet a little as she smiled to herself and more excitedly than before. "You certainly seem happier than you did, when you arrived,"she said at the look on Violet's face. "What's gotten into you?"

Violet just shrugged a little smiling very secretly. "Oh nothing, nothing."

"You seem awfully excited over nothing." When Violet simply just kept smiling, Rosamund shook her head. "Well, I'm not curious to know anything more, so I think it's time we join the others. I'm afraid that if we don't, everyone will soon come find us and talk some sense into us for staying away for too long."

"Well, it does work wonders talking sense into people."

"What?" Rosamund asked the confusion evident on her face.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Violet replied smiling even more secretly than before, leaving Rosamund to give her a strange look. "It's certainly turning out to be a wonderful day," she commented happily as they walked towards the sitting room.

"Really?"Rosamund asked incredulously. "With Martha and Harold here? How is that even possible? They're quite intolerable!"

"Oh believe me, My Dear," Violet said padding Rosamund's arm soothingly, much to her surprise. "There are worse things in life," she said leaving a gaping Rosamund behind.

Seconds later Rosamund followed shaking her head not having understood what was going on with Violet.

TBC