Following their extraordinary conversation on the day of his arrival, Ruth and Edward did not discuss Sir Henry again. Instead, they did what they should have done all along and learnt to be friends. They went on walks around the estate, discussed novels and poetry and reminisced about Susannah and the children. The preparations for the season were well underway at Kieley, too, and there was plenty for the pair to do in the way of hanging paper decorations and gathering greenery. Ruth spent one particularly amusing afternoon watching Edward struggle (ultimately unsuccessfully) to manhandle a Yule log across the estate. It seemed, too, that Lady Radford, while still not completely recovered from whatever illness had been plaguing her, was gaining strength and pleasure from the presence of another person in her house.

And so it was that, when the Norths arrived five days before Christmas Day, Ruth was happy to receive them and to reintroduce them to her brother-in-law. It was a smiling party that was gathered in the drawing room that evening, full of the joys of the approaching days - and the pleasure of several members of the party was increased greatly by the appearance of Sir Henry Pearce and his sister among them. Mrs Darnay's husband had, it seemed, had to return to town on business the day before, and thought it unlikely that he would be returning to the country for the rest of the season.

After greeting his hostess, Sir Henry had, of course, made his way immediately to Miss Evershed, who was seated by the fire, and whose conversation with Mrs North had broken off, conspicuously and suddenly, upon the gentleman's arrival.

"Good evening, Miss Evershed, Mrs North. I trust you are both in health?" he smiled down upon them.

Ruth smiled in return, but she could not help recalling her conversation with Edward and marvelling at the flutter in her chest, almost like dancing birds. "Y-yes, thank you, Sir Henry. I am sure we are all very glad that you have both been able to join us." And then, daringly, she admitted, "I am very glad." She was rewarded by a widening of the gentleman's smile and his move to settle on the sofa opposite them. There followed a pleasant few moments of calm conversation. Sir Henry had been very much engaged in business with his estate for the past few weeks, and there had therefore been very little opportunity for him to call upon Miss Evershed.

"But I can see that you have been far more pleasantly occupied than I," he said, nodding at the boughs of holly that decorated the room. "How festive the room looks!" Ruth inclined her head, taking his thanks quietly.

"I have indeed been well occupied. I do not believe that I have had a moment to study or read at all in the past seven-night at least!" she laughed. The gentleman added a hearty chuckle of his own.

The laughter caught the attention of two other members of the party, who made their way separately to the little fireside group - Mrs Darnay and Mr Bailey. Ruth rose to welcome them, and made the necessary introductions, and reintroductions, carefully watching Edward's face as he was remembered to Sir Henry. But none of his knowledge showed as the gentlemen bowed to one another.

"Sir Henry. I'm delighted to see you again, sir. I do not believe that anyone can truly become acquainted in town."

Sir Henry's bow was less relaxed, his words less cheerful, and Ruth sensed that he was wary of this gentleman. In her less guarded moments, she had let slip certain nuggets of information to him about her shared history with Edward - he knew of the first failed marriage proposal, of Edward's subsequent marriage to Susannah, of the austerity with which he had treated his sister-in-law for much of her stay in his house, and had not been slow to express his disapprobation. He would not, of course, know of Edward and Ruth's new resolve of friendliness and amiability and Miss Evershed felt the desperate need to rescue him from a situation which might become embarrassing to both parties, but knew not how it could be accomplished.

However, Mrs Darnay seemed to have been pondering the same matter and brightly, she announced, "I understand from Miss Evershed that your daughter is married to a captain in the -th Foot, sir. My own husband was in the Army in his youth, before his father's death, and I still think on my days as an officer's wife with pleasure."

Both gentlemen relaxed visibly, and the talk turned effortlessly to military life, its trials and little delights, and so the time passed until the dinner gong was rung. Miss Evershed entered the dining room on Sir Henry's arm, positively glowing with happiness, and this fact did not go unnoticed. Lady Radford and Mrs North cast approving eyes over the couple and turned as one to smile quietly at each other - a silent congratulation on a job well done.

Miss Evershed's thoughts at dinner, however, while occupied to a large extent with Sir Henry's conversation, were also turning upon a question which she had to put to Rosalind. In the delights of country life, one might have imagined that Miss Evershed would have forgotten all about her intention to become a governess. One would have been wrong. She had promised Lady Radford that she would remain with her until the New Year; well, it was almost the New Year, and Ruth felt that she must start looking for situations, whatever might transpire between herself and Sir Henry in the foreseeable future. Lady Radford's apparent illness had only served to strengthen her resolve - her ladyship would do much better when not burdened by her goddaughter. Mrs North was intimately acquainted with much of polite society; if a family were searching for a governess, then she would know of it.

And so it was that, when the ladies retired to the drawing room after dinner, leaving the men of the party to their port and chatter, Ruth approached Rosalind to make her request. Mrs North was, to say the least, surprised. "I believed you had given up on the idea," she confessed disapprovingly. "A governess, indeed! You are quite comfortable here, are you not? You have no need to lower yourself and enter service!"

Ruth winced, as much at the tone of her old friend's voice as at her words. "It would not be 'entering service', precisely, Rosalind. I'm not intending to be a scullery maid. But I cannot remain here, living off Lady Radford's money. It would not be right." She folded her hands in her lap and repeated her question of a few minutes before. "Will you write to your acquaintances, and ask after any suitable positions?"

Mrs North gave an irritated sigh and at last nodded. "If that is what you wish, then I shall do so, of course. I heard somewhere that the Harrises' governess had left them last month - perhaps the situation will still be vacant." Her voice made it clear that she hoped very much that it would not. Ruth, however, smiled, if not a pleased, at least a grateful, smile and squeezed her friend's hand. "I am indebted to you, Rosalind. The knowledge that I have a place to go to in the New Year would relieve me from… some anxiety."

Rosalind's eyes sharpened. "Surely you do not think that Lady Radford plans to cast you out?"

Ruth reached out a placating hand. "No, her ladyship has shown me every kindness! But… she is ill, however much she attempts to deny it, and even though it may not be serious - and I pray that it is not - it cannot be conducive to her recovery to have a permanent guest in residence in her house."

Rosalind's face was grave but her reply was kind. "I am sure that Lady Radford does not consider you a guest, Ruth."

The door opened at that moment to admit the gentlemen, and the subsequent bustle and rearrangement of persons prevented Miss Evershed from replying, but the sad little smile that passed briefly over her face was enough that Mrs North found herself well able to imagine what that reply would have been, and she determined to speak to Sir Henry Pearce in private before the night was out.

Her chance came at the end of the evening - Sir Henry was returning to his own house that evening, as were several of the other guests, and everyone stepped out into the entrance hall to bid them farewell. When Rosalind could be sure that Ruth was occupied with the lengthy, formal civilities of old Sir Jeremy, and that Mrs Darnay was likewise occupied in conversation with Lady Radford and Mr Bailey, she caught Sir Henry's eye and contrived to lead him away a little distance from the main party.

"Goodbye, Harry. We shall see you tomorrow, I expect."

He inclined his head in silent acquiescence. "Indeed. I have promised to bring Miss Evershed a book from my library which she will undoubtedly enjoy." Rosalind smiled inwardly at the presentation of so obvious an opening for her tidings, and replied, "How kind of you! Doubtless Miss Evershed shall miss your kind attentions when she leaves Kieley."

The gentleman's face seemed to crinkle in surprise, but he was well-practiced in dissembling and it soon smoothed once more. But he had been affected by the news, Mrs North could tell. "Forgive me, ma'am," he said at length. "I had not heard that Miss Evershed had plans to leave Kieley in the foreseeable future."

Rosalind occupied herself with admiring a vase of Christmas greenery and forced herself to sound as unconcerned as possible when she replied. "Yes, indeed. She never intended to make a long stay with her godmother, you know - she has asked me to look out for governessing situations." The gentleman froze and his low exclamation of, "Good God!" showed that his mild surprise had deepened into stunned shock. "Miss Evershed a governess? Impossible!" He was attempting, in vain, to cover his shock with false bravado, trying to convince himself that it was not true.

Rosalind made no reply, and at last Sir Henry seemed to accept that what she had told him was true. "With Lady Radford so ill?" he asked quietly, his head turning to observe the two ladies of whom they spoke. Of course, he would have noticed the transformation in his usually sprightly neighbour, and drawn his own conclusions.

Rosalind followed his eye. "I understand from Lady Radford that Ruth is not aware of how serious the ailment is - and that her ladyship is quite content with the situation as it stands." She had admitted some uneasiness to Lady Radford at the nature of the deception, but what could be done? Ruth appeared aware, in any case, that all was not well - but to break Lady Radford's confidence so completely would be unsupportable.

Sir Henry contemplated this information with an impassive countenance. "I see," he murmured at last. "Why are you telling me this, Rosalind?"

Mrs North raised an elegant eyebrow and sighed. "You are an intelligent man, Harry. I should have thought my intention obvious." His eyes flickered over her shoulder, fixed on Miss Evershed, unsure and yet completely certain.

"Then… you think she would not be averse to a… a declaration?" His voice was shakier than she had ever heard it before. She drew closer and informed him smugly, "Her face lit up when you entered the drawing room." Rosalind paused for a moment to allow the full effect of her words to take hold, and then, retreating once more behind her customary mask of cool irony, she advised him, "Go and play the romantic hero, Harry - save her from a life of servitude, live happily ever after with her at Middlethorpe, and bore us all to death with your bliss."

Sir Henry's lips quivered into an appreciative smile. He bowed and she curtsied.

"As always, Mrs North, I shall consider your excellent advice very carefully. Very carefully indeed."

And next time... a proposal?