Hello readers! How have you all been? The next chapter's up and I hope you all liked it! I'm gonna shamelessly ask for reviews xD can i have reviews? Oh well. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and I'll see you guys at the bottom of the chapter!

- Jim -

It was somewhere around mid-July, when Jim got worried. The last letter he got from Elizabeth after waiting for weeks was depressing. It spoke of her disdain towards him, and how she never wanted to see him again. He knew something was wrong. When Jim wrote back, he didn't get a reply, so he wrote a letter to Clara and Harry who were down in Aston, requesting for their presence up in Scarborough. He had no idea what to do.

- Clara -

Clara had been home for more or less three months. She helped around with household chores while Harry, who both her parents took a liking to almost immediately, went out to get some temporary work at a nearby bookshop, as a store assistant. While it didn't pay as much as his job as an officer on a ship, he felt bad living as a freeloader in the Hayes household, albeit being told many times that he wasn't a trouble to put up.

That day, Harry had a day off from work, since his boss had a personal matter to attend to. Clara told him to get the mail. Harry came back with a few envelopes, stopping when he saw one addressed to he and his wife, from his dear friend, James Moody.

"Clary, dear! Jim sent us a letter." Harry went to the sitting room as he called out, taking a seat on the armchair. Clara rushed into the room and sat on his lap excitedly, urging him to open the letter so that they could read it.

Basically, Jim had requested them to go to Scarborough, as he was worried about Elizabeth and had no clue whatsoever on what to do. Clara and Harry wanted to go, and would've gone even if Jim didn't ask.

That night, when Clara's parents returned from their respective work, the engaged couple told them of their plans to go to Scarborough. Although they didn't want to see their daughter and future son-in-law leave again, they allowed them to, for they knew it was inevitable.

A day or two later, Jim was helping his mother arrange a bouquet of flowers in a vase when he heard a loud knock at the door. He went to check it out and was absolutely delighted when he found that his friends had indeed come. He gave each of them a hug and invited them into the house, letting them set down their baggage near the stairs.

"I'm so sorry to have bothered the two of you, but I really think that something's up with Liz. I can't help but have a nagging feeling." Jim said.

"You don't have to feel sorry Jim. Liz is our friend too. But what do you suggest we do?" Clara spoke up from beside Harry. The room was silent for a few moments before Harry snapped his fingers.

"Why don't we pay her a little visit?" He said, a smile lighting up his face. "Are you mad?" Clara asked, placing the back of her hand against his forehead.

"I'm serious, Clara. There's no better way to solve an issue like this than to get to the source of the problem."

"Then when do we leave?" Jim asked.

"As soon as possible. If I'm not wrong, the next ship for months sets sail in two days. I saw the schedule in town on the way to your house." Harry informed him.

"I can't! My sister's getting married in two days! Coincidence or not, I can't go." Jim said, shocked at the clashing dates, and being stuck with the decision of attending his beloved baby sister's wedding or being with the love of his life.

"I'm sorry, Jim, but you're going to have to make a decision. Clara and I will go and walk around town first." Harry placed a comforting hand on Jim's arm before leaving the room with Clara, hand in hand.

Jim sat there and ran his fingers through his hair, unsure of what to do.

- Elizabeth -

When she found out that Alissa had told Diana about her letters to Jim, she was completely furious. But soon she realized that the young maid didn't have much of a choice. Victoria became her main maid again, much to her chagrin.

Elizabeth wasn't allowed to write letters to Jim anymore, and was mostly in her own room, refusing to leave.

She sat in her room, staring out of the window when there was a light knock at the door. "Come in." She said softly. She turned and saw Jasper coming in. Elizabeth remained silent and went back to looking at the garden outside her room.

"Elizabeth. Please talk to me." Jasper said sadly, going over to sit next to her on the couch near the window. "There's nothing for me to say to you."

"I know I'm the person you'd want to see the least right now but I really do love you Elizabeth. I'll give you as much time and space as you need to calm your beautiful heart. I only ask that you don't push me aside. We could even start out as friends, or even acquaintances." He said with feeling and sincerity in his voice. Elizabeth felt that he was genuine this time.

She turned around to face him meekly. Jasper offered his hand. "Good morning ma'am. My name is Jasper Bennett." He said in a cheery tone, kissing her knuckles. "I…I'm Elizabeth Andrews." She said softly, not really sure where this was going.

"Would you like to dance?" He suddenly asked. "Here? Now? Are you out of your mind? There isn't even any music." She almost laughed at the ludicrous idea. "Doesn't matter. It's the company, and the thought that counts." He stood up, helping her up to her feet as well.

Elizabeth held one of his hands and placed the other on his toned bicep warily, as he put his free hand on her waist. In a moment, they were jumping up and down the room. Elizabeth started to laugh, knowing how ridiculous they must've looked and laughed even more when Jasper smiled. His smile was contagious and charming, full of life.

Soon, they found themselves in the garden. While he wasn't looking, she tapped his shoulder and yelled, "You're it!" and playfully ran into one of the mazes. Jasper chuckled to himself and ran in to find her. The two circled round and round but couldn't find each other. Elizabeth started to pant, tired. She slowly walked backwards and suddenly felt a pair of strong arms encircle around her waist and lift her up.

Elizabeth started to giggle and the person put her down. She turned and found herself in a close embrace with Jasper. "You're it." He whispered, grinning widely. "That was fun." She managed to say through her laughing fit.

The hedges that formed the maze grew beautiful red roses and Jasper plucked one of them off, giving it to Elizabeth. "I would say something like 'For you, as a reminder of your beauty', but I was never one for dramatics. Or corny and cheesy affairs like that." He said exaggeratedly. Elizabeth accepted it, stifling a giggle.

"Let's go get something to eat." Jasper held her hand gently and started to run again, inciting giggles from her.

- Diana -

Diana was in Georg's study, looking out of the window at the garden, seeing Elizabeth and Jasper happily running about. She shook her head disapprovingly. Georg came into the room and saw what she was looking at.

"Diana, why so upset?" He asked, taking a seat at his usual chair. "After all I've done, she's still happy." She scoffed. Normally, she'd try to hide her hatred for Elizabeth but that day she felt particularly crabby, it being a woman thing.

"Diana, she's never done anything to you. Why do you loathe the girl so much?" He asked her. "You know very well why. I feel indignant for my daughter." Georg sighed. He remembered the days like they were yesterday.

"W…why are you sitting at the porch, Augustine?" Little Helen asked her older sister of two years. "Didn't you hear father? There's a young gentleman coming all the way from Ireland. I heard he's handsome." Augustine habitually curled her hair with her long fingers.

"Oh. Why do you not just wait inside?" Helen asked innocently. "Helen. Stop bothering me. Go away." Augustine said coldly before going back to looking out the gates, waiting for the young gentleman to arrive.

- Helen -

Helen went into the kitchen to see her mother, Bonnie, helping out the servants to prepare that night's dinner, which was to be grand, especially since there were important guests coming over. Namely the arguably richest man in America, a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, his incredibly wealthy wife and their son.

"Good afternoon Miss Helen." The maids sang out. They liked the mother and daughter because under them, they were treated as equals. Both of them were stunningly gorgeous and had hearts of gold, which was why they could often be seen helping around the house with chores and things of the kind.

"Good morning ladies." She smiled gently at them. "Look at that Augustine, would ya? Strolling around the garden waiting for the rich man's son to come out. I tell ya, she'd better not get her hopes up 'cause chances are the rich boy's gonna take a fancy to our little Helen." One of the maids, Elaine, said snidely with her strong Irish accent, looking at Augustine through the lacy curtains.

"Leave her out of it Elaine!" someone else called out and the kitchen started to laugh. "But it's true though. Anyone would be a fool not to fancy Helen over Augustine. Handsome lass she is." Elaine smirked, which made Helen blush a little.

"Ladies, keep your thoughts considerate." Bonnie said in a motherly voice. "I wouldn't think of fancying this rich boy, Helen. I know you're beautiful and capable, but what were to happen then? You know Augustine's going to try for him so I advise you not to compete with her." Bonnie told Helen sympathetically.

Helen nodded. A trait both mother and daughter shared was their meekness and quietness. They weren't exactly mavericks in a sense and preferred to stay silent whenever they could.

Helen exited the kitchen and borrowed a book from her father's library, one of her favorite books by her favorite author, 'The Picture Of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde. She walked down the grand staircase, still reading her book.

Engrossed with her nose between the pages of the book, she didn't hear the voices of the guests and didn't look where she was going and bumped into one of the men, to which she stumbled backwards. He caught her before she could fall but her precious book fell to the floor.

They both reached down to pick it up at the same time and their fingers brushed against each other. She looked up and looked into the eyes of none other than Thomas Andrews.

- Augustine -

Moments before this occurrence, Augustine had been waltzing around in the front yard, near the gate when she heard noises of vehicles pulling up outside the house. She immediately hid behind a few bushes, tall enough to hide her, but holey enough for her to peek through and look at what was happening.

A few men walked by and there he was. She admired how wonderfully handsome he was and sighed dreamily, like a lovesick teenager. The 18-year old didn't stop looking at the young man even as he turned, making eye contact with her. She started to blush but continued to flirt with her eyes. The gentleman bowed very slightly to her as a form of respect before moving on with his party.

Augustine was a little startled that he didn't immediately come up to her but she brushed that thought aside. 'Maybe he's just too shy. Maybe I've already caught his eye, and he's taken a liking to me!' She thought excitedly and satisfied with herself, went into the house. The sight that greeted her though, made her livid.

- Thomas -

He didn't really pay attention to the redhead in the garden so he followed his party into the house without a word. Suddenly, a girl bumped into him and he bent down to help her pick up the book. But the moment he saw her he immediately swooned. This woman of staggering beauty caught his attention. She stared at him, doe-eyed. The way her lips were full, not quite frowning, but not quite smiling intrigued him and her beautiful high cheekbones amazed him.

- Helen -

This man in front of her was incredibly charming. There was certain shyness about him, yet a curiosity that lay under his eyes. Helen couldn't help but feel her heart flutter at the sight of him.

Then she remembered the position she was in and blinked a couple of times before actually responding. "Oh my…I'm deeply sorry! I apologize for being so clumsy." She said quickly, picking up the book but his hands did not let go.

"Oscar Wilde." He read aloud from the hard cover of the book. "Huh? Oh, yes. I enjoy his work greatly." Helen said. "So do I. He was an Irish author, you know?" Thomas brightened up, once he found that the girl he was so taken with shared his interest.

"My, I see you've found a friend, eh son?" His father, Alexander Andrews chuckled. Thomas and Helen blushed. "Good evening, miss." He bent to kiss her knuckles and the man next to him introduced himself as John Jacob Astor the Fourth.

Before Helen could introduce herself, a shrill voice came from the top of the staircase. "Gentlemen, welcome to the Barbour manor. This way please." Diana smiled sweetly at them, leading them into the sitting room, but not before throwing Helen a glare. Thomas wanted to know this girl, but did not have the chance to as he was whisked away by his father.

Helen stared after him longingly but was brought back to reality the sound of someone snapping his or her fingers in front of her face. "Yes Augustine?" She asked politely.

"Don't Augustine me, you bitch. You know exactly what you did." She said in a calm voice, face blank, not expressing any emotion but disappointment and anger behind her eyes.

"I…I didn't do anything." Helen said, a little appalled at her use of profanity so openly, especially since there were guests in the house. "You knew I fancied that gentleman, yet there you go, seducing him. You are cheap." Augustine glared at Helen before walking off, slapping her book back onto the floor in the process.

- Georg -

"That was a long time ago Diana, why are you still holding a grudge?"

"My daughter deserved better than that." Diana said coldly.

"Forget whatever happened. At least for my sake, all right?"

"Hah! You are the very reason why I hold onto it. I stopped loving you the moment you married Bonnie. I wish my Augustine had done the same and moved on."

- Elizabeth -

An hour later, Elizabeth and Jasper found themselves near a tree in the forest nearby. Jasper assured her he knew where they were going and brought her out for a picnic.

They took shade under the tree and enjoyed the sounds of the birds chirping, the butterflies flying around the beautiful flowers. Jasper was a complete gentleman and was absolutely charming that day. Elizabeth knew deep down she enjoyed this spontaneous date. Date? Could she even call it that?

When he escorted her back after a day of fun, she allowed him to kiss her on the cheek and gave him a hug before seeing him off. What was this feeling she felt? She couldn't possibly have been falling for him…could she?

For the sake of no confusion, I've decided to changed T.A's father's name to Alexander. I AM SO SORRY, I MEAN ABSOLUTELY NO DISRESPECT DX In this story he's Alexander Andrews!

This chapter just made me happy. I especially loved writing on Helen & Augustine. In case you all forgot, Helen is Elizabeth's mother and that little snippet was a flashback, or a memory of Augustine. As we all know, Helen & Thomas end up together! Tell me if you liked reading about that! I had SO MUCH FUN writing that part for some reason~

Now to thank the amazing people who left reviews! Thank you to Chloe and dclover for your review!

Chloe : Thank you for your review! In fact, it's only going to get more dramatic from here onwards! :D With Jim, I have a plan for him and you'll find out soon :) Elizabeth's grandfather, Georg, is on Elizabeth's side. She's his only grandchild so of course he dotes on her a lot! I think I mentioned this somewhere before... Anyway, he has a part to play in this story as well so stay tuned for that!

dclover : Thank you for your review! Glad you liked the chapter! :D

To everyone else, I hope you all are enjoying the story as well! Have a nice day and review if you liked the chapter! :D