So… I really enjoy writing Marina and Philip, and I dunno… The idea that they just have a happily ever after is not quite mundane enough for them I think. So I'm going to keep writing, but it's going to be more freeform I think (somehow, even more skipping around than before haha). So, if you're into it – enjoy. If you're not – you can't say I didn't warn you.

"Good morning Gloria! It's so wonderful to see you – what brings you into town today?" Marina got up to kiss her friend on the cheek and indicated that she should sit across from Marina's desk. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Yes thank you," Gloria said, taking a seat. "I'm actually here for some legal help today. Well, and I suppose I will be for some time to come – is Philip here?"

Marina shook her head. "He's just gone out to deliver a will. He should be back in an hour or so." She set down the teacup in front of Gloria. "But why do you need legal help?" she asked. "Are you taking on a new tenant?"

Gloria shook her head. "It's…" She took Marina's hand in hers. "I'm sure you don't want to hear any more about it, but Philip told me about my brother's involvement at your trial."

"Oh."

Gloria shook her head angrily. "I can't believe he would do such a thing. Or rather, I can believe it. I just wish he was better. But he is not – he is a bastard through and through. If only he was a literal bastard…" she muttered.

Marina put a comforting hand on her friend's shoulder. "There's nothing we can do about who our family is," she said. "It's not your fault."

"Well, it is true that I can't do anything about who was born into my family, but I am hoping I can do something about who is my family now," Gloria said. She looked up at Marina, her face grim. "That's what I came to speak with Philip about. To see if I can remove my brother from the family estate. I don't want him to have control over our holdings anymore."

Marina sat at her desk, amazed at this turn. "Is that possible?" she asked.

"I don't know," Gloria admitted. "My father actually left the estate in my name when he died – he knew my brother was not to be trusted – but I don't know if I could really take control from my brother. We have never fought about it before. He always just left it up to me while he swanned about elsewhere. But I worry that, as the male heir, he could return and try to take it from me."

Marina nodded. She jotted down some notes from what Gloria was saying.

"And after what he did to you, I would rather not have anything to do with him anymore," she added.

Marina smiled at Gloria. Had she ever had such a good friend before? Somehow who would scorn her own family for their bad behavior?

Gloria was a woman unlike any other, though. She had the headstrong personality to know what she wanted, and the fortune and freedom to actually do so.

"If it can be done – Philip will find a way," Marina assured her. "He really is making a career of emancipating women it seems."

Gloria laughed, and Philip walked in at that moment. They both turned to look at him silently, and then burst out laughing again.

"Should I leave you two alone?" he asked, taking a step back out the door.

"No, don't fret," Marina told him. "Ms. Braithewite is here for legal advice."

"Yes, I told you I would be coming," Gloria reminded him.

"Ah, yes." Philip pulled a chair closer to the two women. "You're certain you want to go through with this?"

Gloria nodded. "If it is possible – absolutely. I'm not just being petty you know – I want to make sure our family's estate stays intact. I have plans for the future."

Philip smiled at her. "I know you're not being petty – I know you never would be," he assured her. Marina felt a tiny pang of jealousy, seeing him acting so charming with another woman, but she knew Gloria was perfectly immune to his charms, and reminded herself not to interfere with Philip's friendships.

Marina got to her feet. "Well, now that you are back in the office, I'll go pick up Celeste from the Hursts," she said. "And let you two get into client-solicitor privilege things." She pushed her notes over to Philip and leaned over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving. He blushed bright red, no doubt embarrassed that she would show such affection in front of Ms. Braithewite – which is exactly why she had done it. Grinning wickedly to herself, she stepped out.

It was a rather gloomy, overcast day, but Marina felt sunny and cheerful, and couldn't help smiling as she walked down the street.

It wasn't that everything was perfect – she still received sidelong looks from men on the street, some leering, some disgusted. There were still plenty of Mrs. Carmodys in the world. But Marina felt some measure of hope, now that she had won against Mr. Abernathy. She could beat them.

And it didn't hurt that her home life was much happier now.

She skipped up the steps two by two to reach the Hursts' small apartment, and knocked briskly. Ms. Hurst answered the door with Celeste, who promptly grabbed Marina's hand and dragged her inside.

"Mama, look what I made!" she said, pulling Marina over to the table where a rather colourful, though mysterious, painting sat on the table. "I'm an artist!"

Marina laughed and picked up the painting. "Indeed! How beautiful!" She looked over and saw Ms. Hurst's painting on the table as well. A floral arrangement, very prettily painted indeed. "What lovely violets!"

Celeste beamed proudly.

"I hope she hasn't been too much trouble," Marina said to Ms. Hurst.

"Not at all – we've had a lovely afternoon painting, haven't we?"

Celeste nodded. "I want to give it to Mrs. Hurss," she said, a little bit of her childish lisp still apparent. She looked up at Ms. Hurst. "May I?"

Ms. Hurst smiled and took her little hand. "Mama is sleeping now, but I can give it to her when she wakes. Or would you prefer to hand it to her yourself?"

Celeste gave this some thought and then took the painting into her own hand. "I'll do it."

Marina smiled and led Celeste to the door, but she turned back to speak to Ms. Hurst there. "Is your mother alright?" she asked. "Is there anything I can do?"

Ms. Hurst smiled. "Thank you. It has been a difficult week for her – she just needs more rest than usual."

"I wish you had told me; I would not have brought Celeste here to make it worse."

"No, it does her good to be around the little one," Ms. Hurst said, smiling gently and rubbing Celeste's arm. "Unless, do you like coming here Celeste?"

Celeste nodded seriously. Sometimes her expression looked exactly like Philip. "Yes. I like Mrs. Hurss – we always have cookies."

Ms. Hurst laughed prettily, and quickly swiped at her eyes. "I'm glad."

Marina reached out and held her arm. "Are you alright?" she asked.

Ms. Hurst shook her head, but she said, "Oh, I'm fine. We'll be alright. I don't think we'll be going to London together though…" Distress flashed across her face, and Marina thought she was going to start weeping, but Ms. Hurst schooled her features back into a smile. "Well, if I'm being honest – we were never going to London anyway."

"If there's anything I can do – anything Philip or I can do – please, let us know."

Ms. Hurst smiled and nodded. "I will, thank you. Just, bring Celeste back anytime you like. We love having her here." She knelt down beside Celeste. "Would you like to come back and paint with me again?"

Celeste nodded and held up her flowers from today. "And give this to Mrs. Hurss."

Marina smiled at her daughter, overcome with how perfect she was. She was such a sweet little girl – she certainly did not learn that from her mother! She scooped Celeste up in her arms and kissed her friend goodbye before heading home. "Thank you again!"

"Goodbye Miss Hurss!" Celeste called. "I love you!"

Ms. Hurst laughed. "I love you too!" she said, then turned to go back into her home.

Gloria had gone by the time they returned home, and the three of them had dinner together. After dinner they sat together in the garden, Philip and Marina watching Celeste poking around, discovering tiny flowers and insects.

"I want to have another child," Marina told him, threading her fingers through his.

"Well, if we continue as we have been…" Philip said, and she laughed. He smiled and turned to face her. "I want another child as well," he said. Marina kissed him quickly and turned back to watching Celeste.

"But you know…" she started.

"What?"

"Well, have you told your mother about us?" she asked him. She faced him, and it was clear from the uneasy look on his face that he hadn't. She didn't blame him. How to tell Mrs. Crane about them? They were already married – it seemed awkward to then have to tell her that they had actually fallen in love with each other.

There was a small part of Marina that worried that Mrs. Crane would not take it well. That she wanted Marina to be always mourning for George, to be George's wife at heart forever.

But surely, Mrs. Crane would want her living son to be happy as well?

Marina grinned and patted Philip's hand. "Well, on the bright side, if you don't want to tell her, she'll figure it out soon enough, when I am with child again."

Philip nodded, and then he laughed suddenly. "Knowing mother, she might not even think it is mine!"