It's been forever since I posted a chapter, I know. I promise I haven't forgotten this story.


Felicity, Jane, and Alice giggled as they ascended the stairs to Alice's room. Alice closed the door to her room and lit a few candles. After getting their corsets off, they all sat on Alice's bed and started to talk. The conversation flowed naturally and effortlessly. Felicity was glad that Jane was so easy to be friends with. Felicity unbound her hair, the curls tumbled down over her shoulders and down her back, and she moved to put the pins in her bag, pausing as she pulled out the handkerchief.

"Bring it here," Jane ordered, reaching out. Felicity passed it over to her and sat down next to her new friend. "If he's from London, I'll figure out who he is." Jane held the handkerchief up to the candlelight and peered at the initials. JWG. Her lips pursed.

"Do you recognize the initials?" Felicity asked. "I'd like to return it and thank him."

"I-" Jane thought hard. "I don't. He must not be from London." She shrugged and passed the handkerchief back to Felicity, "The initials look like it might be Lord Wilkes, but I've seen his handkerchief; it doesn't look anything like this. Besides, Lord Wilkes wouldn't have walked off without speaking with you after the play."

Felicity glanced at the handkerchief again. It was white silk with cream-colored initials and a cream border. Finally, she folded it gently and put it back inside her bag. The conversation turned to another topic as Alice mentioned a man she'd been seeing in London.

Felicity turned, smiling. "Alice, you've been keeping secrets!" she accused happily. "You must tell me everything about him." She leaned forward eagerly. "What's his name?"

Even in the candlelight, Felicity could see how Alice blushed a bright pink. "I-" Alice's embarrassment surprised Felicity since her friend was usually the first to start talking about the boys she liked. Why was she suddenly so quiet about it?

"I know!" Jane teased, "It's my cousin, Lord Collins."

Alice's laugh of "Oh heavens no!" was drowned out by Felicity gasp of surprise. "Lord Collins is your cousin!?"

"Twice removed. I think." Jane seemed uncertain of their exact relationship. "His father is my grandfather's cousin." One hand waved impatiently to erase the family connection. "I do not call him 'cousin' willingly."

Felicity breathed a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn't have to put up with Lord Collins much if she and Jane remained friends. The three girls laughed into the night, gossiping and chatting until finally, they fell asleep.


Lord Grey looked up from his desk as Mr. Carson walked into the study. "Yes, Mr. Carson?"

"You have a letter, sir." Lord Grey took it and glanced at the front. He didn't recognize the handwriting but opened it and quickly read. After finishing the letter, he tossed it on his desk, thinking deeply, then glanced at the message his father had sent the week before.

His parents were due to arrive in London in less than a week. He had not been looking forward to helping his father save the family business. Aunt Rebekah's letter gave him the escape he was looking for. His father wouldn't complain about him leaving London to get an inheritance. And two years in the English countryside would be a small price to pay if it meant having his own money separate from his mother's and the declining business.

He picked up Aunt Rebekah's letter and reread it, slower, his mind still on his father's letter. He could feel his blood pressure rising; no doubt that it would take his father less than a week to find the nearest brothel and yet another mistress. Decision made, he scribbled a letter of acceptance and called for his valet to start packing.


Lord Grey rode up to his Aunt Rebekah's house Although it had been over a day's ride from London, he could see that he might be able to make it in less than a day now that he knew the way. He made a mental note not to mention that little bit of information to his father.

Bringing the horse to a standstill, he dismounted as an older man appeared at the front door. "My name is Lord Grey; I'm here to call after Lady Allen," Lord Grey introduced himself. "I'm not sure if my letter has arrived yet…"

"I will take you to see Lady Allen. She is expecting you." A young boy ran up to take the reins. Lord Grey followed the butler into the foyer. It was not the grandest house that he had ever seen, but it was tastefully decorated and well maintained.

The butler led Lord Grey to the grand library. Impressed, he looked around. There was a piano in the far right corner; a nice oak desk sat in the center of the large bay windows. A fireplace was directly across, with two overstuffed high back chairs positioned close enough to gather the warmth of a fire. He was surprised to see the walls were floor to ceiling shelves filled with books. Aunt Rebekah stood, and Lord Grey stepped forward to greet her.

Lady Allen eyed him quietly, her eyes glanced over him in assessment. "I've been expecting you."

Lord Grey smiled. "I'm glad my letter arrived so quickly. I-"

"Your response hasn't arrived yet, John." It surprised him that Aunt Rebekah used his Christian name. "But you'd have to be a fool not to take me up on my offer." There was a pause. "And you don't strike me as a fool." There was another pause as Lord Grey contemplated how to respond, but Aunt Rebekah continued, "In fact, you strike me as the exact opposite of your father."

The implication that his father was a fool was not lost on Lord Grey, but he ignored the dig. But, she was correct. "I can assure you, Aunt Rebekah, the last thing I ever wish to do is follow in my father's footsteps."

"As widely spread as they seem to be, I doubt you could keep up." Aunt Rebekah looked at him carefully, as if gauging his response.

Lord Grey coughed in agreement and ran a hand through his hair. "Running around that much is best left to….. other men." Aunt Rebekah motioned for him to sit. He looked over at her once they were both seated.

"As I said in my letter, you are next in line to inherit," Aunt Rebekah said without emotion. "I insist on having some stipulations, though, otherwise, I'll disinherit you as well."

"If it will get me away from my father, I will do just about anything you require," Lord Grey solemnly promised.

"You send money to a woman in France. Claudette Martin." One of Aunt Rebekah's eyebrows arched. "Tell me about her, and her son, Jean Albert. He just turned seven, am I correct?" A maid set a tea tray on the table beside Aunt Rebekah. "And tell me about Jean Albert's father."

Lord Grey gave a dry chuckle. "I'm surprised you didn't mention them in your letter to me."

"I have my suspicions as to who they really are, but I want to hear it from you," Aunt Rebekah countered, then motioned to the large dessert plate. "Scone?"

"No, thank you." Lord Grey took a sip of tea. "Claudette was mine and Sophia's nanny for several years until we grew too old for one. Then she was Sophia's tutor while I went out to school. Claudette... We were not lovers, but she was very kind to me when my mother was distant. Apparently, that kindness stretched to my father, and Claudette came up in the family way. Father fired her without a reference or full payment for her wages." Lord Grey took in a breath. "My father refuses to take responsibility for his actions, and my brother, Jean Albert, would suffer if I didn't send money."

Aunt Rebekah eyed him carefully. "What would your response be if I were to say that to inherit anything, you couldn't send them any further funds?"

Lord Grey set the teacup down with more force than needed. The tea sploshed over the rim. He quickly grabbed a napkin to blot the spill before a maid stepped up to finish cleaning. There was silence for several moments Lord Grey and Lady Allen looked at each other.

Finally, Lord Grey lowered his eyes. "I'm rather hoping this is a theoretical question, not an actual stipulation. While I don't approve of Claudette being a mistress, it's not Jean Albert's fault either. Why should he suffer for his parent's actions?"

This time, the silence was deafening before Aunt Rebekah spoke primly, her words crisp and regal. "It is purely theoretical."

"May I have some time to think about it?" Lord Grey asked.

"Of course," Lady Allen said. Her eyes were slightly narrowed as she gave her nephew another intense look before changing the subject to safer topics.


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