Chapter 23

A/N: Hi Dearies, I have been plotting the next chapters for this story and hence the long time between updates. But hopefully, updates should get regular from here on. A big thanks to Jansfamily4, Levenez, Guest, Artemis1813, Deanna27, nikje, London201516 and my lovely friend huntermoon52 for your lovely review(s). Jansfamily4 and Levenez thanks for your individual reviews on each chapter, they were super fun to read!

Important: I am aware that there are some discrepancies in dates of the last four chapters and this one. I will fix that, but please consider the following:-

Chapter 19- 15th Jan

Chapter 20- 24th Jan

Chapter 21- 31st Jan/1st Feb

Chapter 22- 3rd Feb

Also, Niklaus is Nikolai in Russian. Kolya is a pet name for Nikolai and Linochka is the pet name for Alina in Russian. Same for Vasya for Vasilisa. I was a big vampire academy fan some years ago, and Alina's character has some roots in the Russian characters of the series with their lovely names and pet names. Dimitri Belikov and Rose Hathaway, I love you Mum and Dad. And I love you Richelle Mead.

Please fasten your seatbelts because we are about to have some turbulence.

To London we go, even though no one wants to Pt. 1

February 4th, 1808,

The Rose Parlour,

Milton Hall

After roaming around the house, despondent that they would be in London in a fortnight and away from her favourite place in the world, Alina finally entered the rose parlour only to see the curious sight of her Grand Aunt Vasilisa plastered against a rather uninteresting tapestry on the far wall.

'Aunt Vasya', Alina called out as she approached the old lady. 'What are you doing?'

'Sssshhh, they'll hear us', Vasya hissed.

'But what are you doing?' Alina was puzzled, why was her Aunt sticking to a dusty tapestry depicting the origins of the Fitzwilliams, it was a little late to be worrying about the lineage about the family Alexandra married into, since she and the earl would be celebrating twenty seven years of togetherness this year.

Vasya beckoned Alina to her side impatiently. When Alina stepped up next to her, Vasya smacked her head right into the tapestry with her bony hands.

'Ow', Alina's eyes closed reflexively as her forehead collided with the tapestry and the wall beyond.

'Open your eyes, girl', Vasya whispered excitedly. 'And see what lies before you!'

'Oh My Goodness', Alina gasped. This was the wall shared by the rose parlour and the morning room and the holes in the tapestry in the rose parlour corresponded with the holes in the walls of the morning room perfectly. One could see clear into the morning room from this vantage point and what a sight it was.

Darcy, Niklaus, Robert and Richard looked to be sparring in pairs of two. Despite the cold weather, the boys were partially unclothed. Perhaps it was the large fire they had going in the morning room that made it possible to be shirtless. Alina had obviously seen the boys in this state of undress before considering the numerous adventures they had had in their childhood but their bodies had changed quite a lot since then. Gone were the scrawny limbs and hairless chests, all four were quite tall, with muscular limbs and a dusting of hair on their chests and arms.

Alina found herself transfixed by Niklaus. He moved with a fluid grace as he sparred with Richard, his golden skin glistening with sweat. She was hypnotised by a drop of sweat on his neck as it travelled down his throat, to his collarbone and then his muscular chest, making its way to the ridges of his stomach, gliding along a hard line that led straight into his trousers. The hard line and it's twin hypnotised Alina, they both disappeared into his trousers, Alina wanted to see where they ended and what they led to.

Alina's lascivious thoughts were promptly interrupted by a smack on the back of her head. 'Move away, girl', Vasya grunted. 'Let me look so I can die in peace.'

'There's enough holes for the both of us', Alina argued. (I KNOW!) 'I want to see too!'

'Hmmpphh', Vasya grumbled. 'Very well.'

She and Alina jostled each other a bit as they tried to get perfect vantage points to spy on the boys in the next room.

'Nikolai is my favourite', Vasya sighed dreamily. 'He reminds me of my dear departed husband, who he shares a name with. And look at him! He's so tall, so lean yet muscular-'

Niklaus and Richard turned abruptly and now Niklaus had his back to them.

'Oh dear, just look at his back', Vasya exclaimed. 'Do you see the way his muscles flex as he throws a punch? I wonder if the muscles would move the same if he was above a woman, hmmm, how would I see that…aha, a mirror on the ceiling above the bed would solve that I believe.'

'Aunt Vasya!' Alina whisper yelled. 'You are not bedding him! He's much too young for you and he's..he's reserved for someone else.'

'Ofcourse not, Linochka', Aunt Vasya said solicitously. 'I'm well-aware that Kolya belongs to you, my love. I would never be so crass as to bed my soon to be grand nephew.'

'Aunt Vasya', Alina groaned. 'Kolya, I mean Niklaus doesn't belong to me. You misunderstand.'

'Child, you are drooling at the sight of him', Aunt Vasya chided Alina. 'If he doesn't belong to you, I suggest you take measures to make him as soon as possible.'

'He's not interested in me' Alina sighed defeatedly. 'He's quite firmly enamoured with a loose lady who is probably his mistress.'

'Men are simple creatures my dear', Aunt Vasya shrugged. 'Just tighten your corset considerably, or a little in your case, and watch as he forgets all about his mistress.'

'I-I-I-', Alina spluttered.

'Richard', Niklaus gasped suddenly. 'I need a moment.' Richard lowered his hands and nodded before stepping back to observe Darcy and Robert. Niklaus groaned and tottered on his feet as he made his way to the very wall Alina and Vasya were sticking to. There was a loud thud as his back collided with the wall and he slid down the wall a little until his face was on the level with the holes in the wall.

'Good Morning Ladies! How are you this fine morning? Enjoying the view?' Alina could hear the smile in his voice as he whispered to them. She felt a shiver go down her back in response. Had he heard what they had been saying?

'Yes, my dear Kolya', Aunt Vasya said airily. 'I'm feeling miraculously recovered from the melancholy that has been plaguing me. A smidgen of illness remains, but I believe it could be cured if you boxed only in your drawers.'

Alina almost gasped, but smacked a hand on her mouth in time. She didn't want Niklaus finding out that she had been acting like a creepy peeping Tom with her seventy year old grand aunt.

Niklaus laughed. 'My dear Vasya, if you go to London with the Fitzwilliams, you can enjoy boxing exhibitions daily and have your fill of shirtless men. I daresay some of them would make you forget me.'

Vasilisa would have flapped her fan if they had been face to face but since they were not, she settled for giggling flirtatiously. 'Tell me, Kolya', she asked, 'Did you hear what we were saying about you?'

'I'll answer your question if you answer mine, Vasya', Niklaus grinned. 'Who is this we?'

'Well, it's me and your future wife-' Vasilisa's words were abruptly cut off as Alina smacked a palm over her mouth and dragged her away from the wall.

'Really, Aunt Vasya, could you be anymore obvious? Why don't you just write that I'm infatuated with Niklaus on my forehead for everyone to see?' Alina said crossly, as she led her Aunt out of the room.

They promptly smacked into Niklaus in all his shirtless glory.

'Oooooh', Vasya crowed. 'You look even more handsome from up close, Kolya.' She squeezed his bicep with her granled hands. 'Oh my, my, you're so strong, my Nikolai!'

Niklaus flexed his biceps for her, which made his other muscles also bunch rather attractively.

Alina felt herself flush crimson. 'I'm so sorry, my lord-'

Niklaus interrupted her. 'No need to apologise amongst friends, Allie. Vasya flatters me with her praise. To think that I could compare with her dear departed Nikolai is the highest of compliments.' He held a hand to his heart as he grinned at them both.

A swarm of butterflies took flight in Alina's stomach. How was this fair? Why was she to feel all these sensations when she saw Niklaus but he seemed just fine and peachy?

'I thought it was Georgina with Vasya, you know, since she proposed to me not two days ago', Niklaus chuckled. 'It was refreshing to see a female taking the initiative. I would love to be proposed to by my future wife, it would certainly shake things up!'

'I'm so sorry Niklaus for your continuous mistreatment at the hands of the ladies of this house', Alina said again. He had been insulted and then proposed to by Georgiana and then ogled and manhandled by Aunt Vasya and Alina was sure that her parents would have a talk with him about his letters to her before he left. She was mortified by her family's behaviour towards him.

'Allie', Niklaus tutted. 'Don't apologise. I'm fine.'

'No, you deserve better, I'm sorry', Alina couldn't meet his eyes. If he harboured even a fraction of fond feelings towards her, they would be annihilated by the behaviour of her family for sure.

'Alina-Marie', Niklaus said strictly. 'Look at me.' When she didn't, he tipped her chin up with his fingers. 'I'm fine. I don't mind. I haven't been insulted. Stop apologizing. I'm having the time of my life at Milton.'

'Are you sure?', Alina whispered. Her skin tingled where his fingers touched her and she had a hard time not looking below his neck. Niklaus was looking intently into her eyes as if searching for something.

'Yes, I'm sure', Niklaus sounded firm. 'It's been a lovely holiday after the year I've had. I didn't know how much I needed this interlude. You don't need to worry about my feelings. If I say I'm fine, I'm fine. I would not insult your intelligence by lying to you.'

'I'm going to swoon', Vasya interrupted. 'You better catch me in your sturdy arms, Kolya.'

Niklaus grinned at Vasya, letting go of Alina. Alina took a deep breath as soon as he turned away. This man made her breathless!

'You just want an excuse to feel my muscles, Vasya', he said. 'I don't even have that many, let me call Darcy for you. He's much more sturdy. You deserve choices, my dear.'

'Niklaus', came Richard's voice from behind them. He was glaring at Niklaus with his arms crossed across his chest. 'Why are you speaking to my sister naked?'

'Oh, he's not naked', Vasya butted in. 'Believe me, I would have noticed.'

Richard arched an eyebrow as he looked at Vasya. He said nothing.

'Niklaus, come back, we need to talk', Richard said, his expression serious.

'Richard, he ran into us by accident', Alina explained. Niklaus really didn't need to be berated for the mischief she and Vasya had caused.

Niklaus patted her on the shoulder. 'Stop worrying about me, I can take care of myself, Allie.'

Richard looked at his hand on her shoulder and raised his eyebrows. Niklaus removed his hand and raised his arms in surrender. 'I'm coming, Lieutenant Colonel!'

He bowed to Alina and Aunt Vasya in farewell and whispered, 'Don't you dare spy on us again. Promise me, Alina!'

'I promise', Alina nodded her head fervently.

Niklaus nodded in acknowledgement. 'Richard, please ask Darcy to escort Aunt Vasya to her chambers. She almost swooned and needs to rest.'

'Oh you wicked boy', Aunt Vasya grumbled. 'He clearly has no faith in me.'

'And for good reason', Alina muttered under her breath.

Darcy rushed out of the morning room, a little flushed and sweaty from all the exertion. He was unfortunately clothed again. He bowed to Aunt Vasya and Alina. 'Please, allow me to escort you.'

Vasya grumbled a little before she was led away on Darcy's arm. Alina saw her squeezing Darcy's bicep as they rounded the corner and she sighed loudly. Vasya was incorrigible.

'Sister' Robert smacked her on the back of her head. 'Let's go and bother the cook for some snacks, I'm famished from all that sparring.'

'Ow, why did you do that?' Alina said indignantly, rubbing her head.

'Because I have only one sister and it is fun to annoy her!' Robert laughed and threw an arm around her shoulder. 'Come, let us go and give Nik and Dickie some privacy.'

Inside the room, Niklaus and Richard were getting dressed as they talked.

'Look, Niklaus, I'm leaving the country soon on His Majesty's business and I need you to help me with a couple of things.' Richard said as he shrugged on his shirt.

'You know I would help you with anything'. Niklaus looked at Richard earnestly, waiting for his explanation.

'I won some prize money in the Latin Americas. I want you to put that in a trust for Michelle as her dowry for when she comes out in society', Richard said.

'I've already made provisions for her dowry. It's two thousand pounds, if it was more, you know it would attract fortune hunters.' Niklaus explained. 'I will set aside the amount you give in a trust that will give her a monthly allowance once she is presented and that can continue until she gets married. Does that seem sensible?'

'Yes, it does, and I am a little surprised that you are not questioning my reasons for helping Michelle.' Richard wanted to smack himself, now he had given Niklaus an opening to question him about his intentions.

'You'll tell me everything I need to know', Niklaus shrugged. 'There's more, isn't there?'

'Have you made provisions for Michelle's season? I would suggest coordinating with my mother on this. Maybe Alina and Michelle can be presented at Court at the same time and have their season together. Michelle and her mother can live at our house in London since they clearly cannot live with you in your bachelor's lodgings.' Richard paced as he talked, clearly concerned with arranging things for Michelle. 'Are you sponsoring her debut?'

'I am', Niklaus explained. 'I will take care of all their expenses but it will help if they can stay at Fitzwilliam House during the season. I'll speak to Aunt Alexandra about this, do not fret.'

'Good, good', Richard muttered as he came to a stop in front of the fire. He turned back to face Niklaus abruptly. 'Nik, if something happens to me, look after Michelle, alright? Make sure she marries a good man.'

'I will', Niklaus promised. 'And how risky is His Majesty's business? You are talking as if you might die.'

'In the army, anything can happen, you have to know that', Richard wouldn't look Niklaus in the eye as he said that.

Niklaus wanted to question him further but he refrained, looking at his expression, he would getting nothing out of Richard.

'One more thing', Richard sighed. 'In the worst case scenario, in case I am not here and you want to marry Alina, I want you to know that you have my blessing.'

'Oh sweet lord', Niklaus exclaimed. 'I've had it with this! Your family really needs to stop doing this behind Alina's back. Who she marries is a big decision and it is HER decision. Let her be the one to make it and stop disrespecting her like this.'

Niklaus' face was flushed in anger. 'And for the record, I don't agree with your parents' restrictions on my relationship with her. I will write to her, I will visit her and be friends with her. I will not put our friendship on pause till she gets married. We have been friends for more than a decade, and no one had any problem, it wasn't inappropriate and as soon as she turns eligible for marriage, any interaction with me is improper? Your parents should trust me enough to know that I will act with the utmost discretion in public. They should know that I would never do anything to endanger her reputation. I will do anything they ask, but I will not pretend like she doesn't exist till she gets married!

He was breathing hard by the time he finished his tirade. He put both arms on the mantle and bent his head between them, gazing into the fire with unseeing eyes.

Richard patted his back. 'Here, here, old chap, take a deep breath. Maybe count backwards from ten. I haven't seen you this angry in years. Are you sure you're not in love with my sister?'

'Richard, I swear to God, I will punch you so hard, I'll knock your front teeth out and then you won't be able to say Michelle without lisping. It'll sound like Piss-il', Niklaus replied with a straight face.

They both looked at each other and burst out laughing.

'I have the sight you know', Vasya said to Darcy as he fulfilled her umpteenth request upon dropping her in her chamber. She kept finding random things for him to do and keep him from leaving. 'My Linochka will be betrayed by family and she will need you. Only you will be able to help her. Do not hesitate and act without mercy. Be completely ruthless. Do you understand me boy?'

'I understand', Darcy nodded. 'You know, I would do anything for her.'

'You just might have to, Uilyam, you might just have to.'

February 6th, 1808

War Office,

London

The god forsaken day for his meeting with Sir Maximilian Downbridge had finally arrived. Though Richard had had a good mind to delay his trip to London by a fortnight on account of Alina's recent bout of illness, his Father had advised him against provoking dear ol' crazy Maxie, so here he was, pacing a hole in the room outside Maxie's office as he waited to be called in.

Maxmillian had already kept him waiting for an hour without any refreshments, a twisted power play of sorts, he guessed but rendered ineffectual by the fact that he had eaten a good, heavy breakfast just before seeing Maxie to fortify himself for whatever nonsense was to come his way.

'Lieutenant Colonel Fitzwilliam', a familiar voice called out, and Richard was surprised to see his friend Colonel Brandon striding out from the door that led to Maxie's office. 'Sir Downbridge is ready to see you.'

'Colonel Brandon', Richard smiled at his friend in greeting, shaking his hand. 'What are you doing here, my friend?'

'The same as you, I guess', Christoper replied. 'Maxie wanted me to interview for an intelligence mission. I think he has pulled a lot of men from regiments that travelled to South America, hoping the French wouldn't be familiar with our faces, if he indeed sends us beyond enemy lines.'

'Why don't you just shout and tell the whole world, Colonel Brandon?' came an angry voice from inside. 'You are a bloody terrible choice for a secret agent! And Lieutenant Colonel Fitzwilliam, are you a bride on her wedding day? How much longer will you keep me waiting?'

Christoper rolled his eyes. 'I apologise for my carelessness, Sir Maxmillian.' In a lower voice he added, 'you better go in, Richard, before he bursts a vein-' 'A happy turn of events for our dear Sophia', Richard muttered under his breath and Christopher laughed softly. 'Let's meet tonight at the soiree Sophia is throwing tonight and we can discuss more then.'

Richard nodded his agreement before taking a deep breath and entering Maxmillian's room. He closed the door behind him and turned to face his fate. The man in question was sprawled like a nawab in his chair, blowing smoke rings from his pipe. The whole room was full of pipe smoke and the unpleasant aroma of tobacco. Richard tried his best to hold it in, but he couldn't help sneezing a couple of times. 'Dear God Maxmillian, are you trying to choke your visitors to death?' He coughed out.

'That'll be Sir Maxmillian Downbridge to you, my dear Richard', Maxie said from somewhere behind the giant cloud of smoke covering him.

'Please', Richard bit out, taking a seat opposite Maxie. 'I have seen you naked in school, Maxie and please excuse me if the slightest glimpse of you reminds me of your tiny, hairy and warty balls making it difficult to treat you with the proper respect a man in your oh-so-lofty position deserves.'

'Always irreverent', Maxmillian grimaced. 'I would've thought that the army would have beaten some of that insouciance out of you by now.'

'Why am I here Maxie?' Richard leant forward, steepling his fingers. 'Sophia didn't give me many details.'

'It's quite simple, we're going to war with France in Spain soon. I have lots of agents present on the ground but I need someone to assimilate the information they provide, understand its implications and convey the same to our military command. Basically, run a branch of the War office on enemy territory and in the middle of a war.'

'I don't think I am qualified for this job at all, Maxi', Richard replied, flabbergasted. 'You must have men in your employ much better equipped than me to run this operation-'

'I have heard all about your exploits in the Latin Americas, Dick', Maxie interrupted. 'I know you set up a rudimentary spy ring consisting of locals and double agents that supplied you with information that helped our forces greatly. You are fluent in Spanish, more so than any better qualified man in my employ, and you'd be the perfect choice for this operation.'

Richard sighed and leant back in his chair. 'I don't want to do this, Maxie. I decided to sell my commission aboard the Wisteria, I'm done with military life.'

'I never took you for a coward, Dick', Maxie said angrily. 'What is holding you back from serving your country and making a name for yourself, which is why you joined the army in the first place?'

'I don't want to cause my family any more pain on my account', Richard replied. 'They've been through enough as it is. I cannot bear their worry and tears..I just cannot.'

'Ah yes, the family. Your sister shall make her debut next season, will she not? Tell me, how do you think it will affect her chances if her coming out is accompanied by rumours that her brother is a coward and a desertor who refused a chance to serve his country in the war that is sure to be ongoing at that time?' He held up a hand to stop Richard's incensed response. 'What will it do to your father's standing in the House of Lords and what about the reforms he wants to push if the rumours of your disgrace abound?'

'Selling my commission is not deserting', Richard growled. 'This is a cheap and lowly tactic, Maxie, threatening my family to coerce me into submission.'

'Selling your commission instead of serving your country when it really needs you is deserting in my book!' Maxie retorted. 'And I won't stop at your family, Richard. I'm going to send Christoper in your place. And we both know what will happen to him. He may have helped you a tremendous deal with your operation but without your guidance, I doubt he could survive for long.'

'No!', Richard shouted. 'Don't bring Christopher into this. Don't bring my family into this. Really, Maxmillian, if this is how you are recruiting men to your cause, I really doubt the wisdom of the powers that be of placing you in this position of responsibility. You should be honest and encouraging, offering praise and rewards instead of what you just did!'

'I offered you Sophia', Maxmillian commented, drily. 'That should be enough reward, enough encouragement and enough cajoling.'

'Poor Sophia', Richard said sympathetically. 'I doubt being prostituted for her husband's work was something she wanted out of her marriage.'

'Don't act so high and mighty, Richard. You slept with a married woman too-'

'Because her husband is too busy fucking the minister's backside to fulfill his duties to his wife-'

'You know nothing, Richard, you know absolutely fucking nothing-'

'Oh you forget, Maxmillian, if you threaten my family with rumours, I will spread the same about you and your unsuitable proclivities-'

'I'm surprised at your attitude, my dear Dickie, when your own dear brother, the heir to your father's estate shares my unsuitable proclivities as you refer to them-'

They both were standing on opposite sides of the desk, just moments away from throttling each other when Maxie screamed this.

'What?' Richard said, breathing heavily. He took a couple of steps back, raising his hands as if to ward off Maxie's words. 'Are you dicked in the nob, Maxmillian, Robert is not…he doesn't…he's not like you goddammit!'

'Have you ever seen him with a woman, Richard?'

Maxmillian panted. 'Because I haven't. And it's common knowledge that he has been Lord Byron's lover, the poet has even penned a sonnet or two, in honour of your brother's beauty, his stunning sword that he wields with no mercy-'

'Shut up, Maximilian. I won't have you ridiculing my brother.' Richard turned his back to Maxie, looking at a blank stretch of wallpaper to collect his thoughts. He wiped his face with his hands, letting out a breath to centre himself.

'I am not ridiculing him, I'm just telling you the facts. The truth here is that I have a lot of leverage on you, Dear Dickie, whereas you have none. You have way more to lose by spreading rumours about me than I do..'

'I don't have a choice here, do I, Maximillian?' Richard sighed as he turned to face him.

'No, I don't see how you do', Maximilian replied honestly. 'Listen, Richard, I'm sorry for the rude and undignified way I handled this, but I need you, your country needs you and I'd do anything to have you, even if I have to cajole you into agreeing through unsavoury means.'

'I understand', Richard's shoulders slumped. 'How soon do I leave?'

'We'll have to train you first, but we need you in Spain by the first week of April. The training will begin in two days-'

'No, I need time to say goodbye to my family-'

'Richard, your training is going to be in London, you can go back home to your family each day, so I don't see how-'

'No, there is someone else I need to say goodbye to, in person, before I do this-'

'A woman?' Maxmillian guessed. 'Are you engaged?'

'Do you really think I would share it with you if I were?', Richard groused. 'She's special to me, and I need to tell her to not wait for me.'

'Richard, you are not going to be actively fighting-'

'Do you mean to tell me that this is not a high risk mission? That the enemy will not want capture secret agents to torture us for information and then kill us once we give in or refuse to? Is that what you are saying, Maxmillian?' Richard's eyes glinted with cold fire, his earlier despondency replaced by anger. 'There's a good chance I will die Maximillian, do not insult me by lying to me!'

'Yes, there is a chance you might die', Maximillian agreed. 'But there is no need to act like we are sending you on a suicide mission. You're going to be leading the English agents in Spain, I hope for the sake of team morale that you do not act like this.'

'I need a week's time before training', Richard said, ignoring Maxmillian's comments entirely. 'I need to sort my affairs.'

'Alright, I'll see you here on the 14th then. Do not divulge any details of your mission to this young lady or your family. I leave it to you to come up with a suitable cover story but remember telling anything to these people could put both them and your mission in danger.' Maximillian collapsed in his chair by the end of this little speech.

Richard wanted to retort that yes, he had led a spy ring for a year before being injured, thank you very much and knew the risks of being indiscreet but he refrained, merely nodding at Maximillian as he turned to leave.

'Richard', Maximillian called out. 'Sophia is hosting a soiree tonight, we'd love to have you attend, we have arranged for a lot of entertainment. I think you'd enjoy it.'

'I hope you'll understand if I choose to excuse myself tonight', Richard replied. 'I have a lot to process. Please pass on my regrets to Sophia.'

'I will. I'll see you soon then.'

'You can count on it.'

Later that day,

Lord Milton's Study,

Fitzwilliam House, London

'He has a lot of information on us, Father', Richard said, as he paced in front of the fire in his father's study. 'He is threatening to ruin Alina's debut, your reforms in Parliament and Robert's reputation by spreading salacious rumours about us.'

'He is right, Richard', Lord Milton said. 'We will go to war with France in Spain by the summer this year. The Parliament is up in arms about Portugal, I don't see how I can extract you from this situation without serious repercussions to your and our family's social standing. Some may even go far enough to question our loyalty to the Crown. You know how there has always been an undercurrent of that ever since I married your mother, even though our Queen herself was born on foreign soil.'

'I am not expecting you to place your reputation on the line for me, Father', Richard replied. 'I know what my duty is and that is what I will do. I will however need your help in figuring out what to tell our family. Maxmillian has forbidden me from revealing the details of my mission to anyone.'

'They arrive here between the tenth or the fifteenth, I think I should have some story figured out by then. Though you know how your sister is, she's sure to figure out holes in any tale I come up with and ask incessant questions.' They both smiled as they remembered their little Spitfire.

'I don't want to leave, Father', Richard confessed. 'I had wanted to sell my commission and settle in the country. I wanted to spend time with all of you, perhaps get married in a couple of years and give you grand babies to spoil. I didn't have clarity on exactly what I would do, but I didn't want to continue to do this.'

'I'm sorry, son, that I cannot help you', Lord Milton laid a hand on Richard's shoulder. 'I will try my best to ease your way, and I'm proud of you for going ahead with this. This family and this country is fortunate to have you.'

Richard nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears at his father's praise and obvious pride in him and then he did something he hadn't done ever since he graduated from Eton. He brought his arms up to embrace his Father, burying his face in his shoulder.

Lord Milton sighed as he hugged his middle child, and stroked his head gently. He only hoped that God would look upon his son kindly and keep him safe wherever he went.

Dearest Christopher,

I don't feel up to joining you at Maximillian and Sophia's soiree tonight. I have told Maxmillian the same. Please offer them my regrets. I hope you enjoy your evening. Maxmillian supposedly has various entertainments planned for his guests and I can guess that they will include some adventurous widows. I encourage you to take full advantage of any and all propositions, you need a bit of fun in your life. I'm leaving for Gloucestershire tomorrow morning and shall be back in London by the thirteenth. As I anticipate being tired by travelling, I request you to visit me at my home with my family and join us for dinner on the thirteenth. We can discuss Maxmillian's plans for us then.

Your Friend,

Richard

A/N : I hope you enjoyed this chapter. For the years old reviews that asked who Richard's mother was, I hope this chapter cleared it up. Please do leave reviews, they are my inspiration to write more!