Cecilia:

I awoke to find a warm, muscular arm securely wrapped around my waist. I held in a scream before the events of last night drifted back to me. I had asked Rory to spend the night with me and what's more, I had asked him to embrace me.

I had most definitely lost my sanity. I blushed as I recounted how he had held me and calmed me down after my nightmare. Lord, I was turning into an infatuated little girl.

I tried to slip out from his hold on me but his arm only tightened around me. I groaned in frustration, before flipping around to come face to face with his chest.

My eyes traced over the contours of his powerful physique as his chest rose and fell again in time with his breathing. I felt a crimson tinge rise up my cheeks as I watched him sleep.

Eager to get up and not wanting to wait for Rory to wake I poked his cheek forcefully. He did not stir even when I jabbed my finger into his face again. "Rory," I whisper-shouted, "Wake up!" But still he continued to sleep on, I rolled my eyes, trust Rory to trap me in my own bed.

I mulled over the various methods I could use to try and wake him from his deep slumber, one in particular standing out. A grin slowly stretched across my face and I flexed my fingers excitedly. Shuffling myself into the best position I could locked in his arms, I reached my hands out to his chest and began to tickle him mercilessly.

I watched amusedly as his hazel eyes snapped open and his body began to squirm as my hands ran their course over his body. I couldn't help but giggle at the pained expression on his face as he tried to escape my grasp in between panting laughs.

"C-Cecilia," he gasped, "Stop," he drew out the 'p' as he begged me to release him but I was enjoying myself too much to pay attention to his demands. Suddenly I felt his own hands reach out and attack my sides. Well shit. Tickling was one of my few weaknesses and I knew I wouldn't be able to withstand his prodding fingers for long.

I fell into fits of hysteria and wriggled in his grip trying to escape his attacking fingers. Without warning Rory flipped his body so that I was pinned beneath him to the bed, his eyes glinting with victory. Had my attempt to escape really turned into my own entrapment again? No, I wouldn't give up just yet.

I summoned all my will power to stop me from writhing in his grip as his relentless fingers assaulted me. Then, lifting my head from the bed, I pressed my lips firmly against his. His reaction was almost immediate, his fingers stopped their onslaught against my body as his lips urgently searched mine. I smiled, I was not defeated yet.

I quickly wriggled out from under him and ran across to the other side of the room. "Finally," I laughed, Rory's expression momentarily confused before realisation spread across his face and he chuckled at my motive.

"You," he laughed pointing his finger at me, "Young lady, are playing with fire." His eyes glinted with a playful menace as he climbed off the bed and began to walk around the large bed.

My eyes flickered to the door before realising that I was only dressed in my nightgown, and it was certainly not appropriate for the duchess to be running around her house in her nightwear.

"I wish to dress," I lifted my chin with an air of superiority, challenging him to remain in my room.

"Very well," he said, a cunning smile on his face. I sighed in relief, at last he would leave me alone, but within four strides Rory was in front of me and had reached his hands up to the top of my dress. His hands fumbled slightly as he undid the strings at the neck of the dress and I sucked in a sharp breath, what in God's name...

"What are you doing?" I breathed.

"You wanted to dress did you not?" I threw him a puzzled expression before it dawned on me. "I am merely helping you dress as you so wished." His wicked grin was still in place and his hands were still working with my nightdress. My mind remained numb for a moment before I instantly jerked backwards, clutching the undone part of my dress to my chest.

"You are a filthy rogue! Leave me at once!" I shouted at him as I blushed profusely. Rory pouted at me, a smug smile still on his lips, before turning on his heel and sauntering across the room to his own door, just before he closed it though he peeped his head back through and threw me a cheeky wink.

"Out!" I demanded again, feeling the heat in my cheeks growing at the action.

"I'm going, I'm going," he said laughingly as he closed the door separating our chambers. I let out a growl of frustration, that man would be the death of my sanity.

**********

I was sitting in one of the many parlours of Clampton when Ellis entered the room, he cleared his throat, "You have a -" Ellis was interrupted by a beaming Sybil slipping around him and announcing herself.

"Oh Cecilia, she gushed, I have so much to tell you!" I offered Ellis a slightly apologetic smile, I knew he liked to do his job properly.

"Thank you Ellis, would you be so kind as to ask to have some tea sent up for Lady Sybil and myself?" Ellis bowed.

"Of course your grace, I believe Mrs Stone has made scones, shall I send some up with the tea?" Ellis asked politely.

"Ooh yes please," Sybil nodded eagerly. I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiastic behaviour and wondered what had got her in such a good mood. If I could place a bet on it I probably would have said it had something to do with one certain Denny Whimslock.

"Thank you Ellis that would be lovely," I smiled up at the benign old man who nodded before leaving the room.

Sybil rushed over to my side immediately, settling herself comfortably on the sofa next to me and grabbing my hand in between her own. I raised my eyebrow at her, the poor girl looked like she was about to burst.

"Denny offered!" She squealed in excitement. We had all known it would happen at some point but I was glad that it had happened sooner rather than later for them. The two had been in love with each other for years now after all.

"But of course, he's been sweet on you ever since I've known him," I laughed at the rapturous Sybil.

"So he said," she looked away dreamily, and then blushed a dark crimson leaving me to wonder what else he'd said. I grinned, I was so happy for them both, two of my closest friends were to finally be married.

"Oh Cecilia, I am so happy," Sybil was practically glowing, her smile stretching the full width of her face. "Denny wants us to marry as soon as possible and so do I, but mama says we must wait and marry on the new year, so new years it shall be. Oh you will come won't you? You and Rory?"

"But of course," I smiled, "We wouldn't miss our best friends' wedding for the world." I placed my hand over hers in assurance, the poor girl looked half worried I wouldn't agree to go.

"Oh, I'm so excited I can hardly sit still! And lord, I have to wait until new years too! What ever will I do Ce?" Sybil's face turned anxious and I couldn't help but laugh at her antics.

"You'll be fine," I offered her an encouraging smile as she stood from the sofa and began to pace in front of the window. There was a knock on the door before a footman entered carrying a tray of tea and scones.

"Thank you Christopher," I smiled at the footman as he placed the tray on the small table in the centre of the room. He bowed then retreated from the room closing the door as Sybil's attention suddenly switched to the food on the table.

"Help yourself," I laughed as Sybil hovered over the tray. She threw me a toothy grin before grabbing a plate and lathering her scone with cream and strawberry jam.

"So," Sybil said through a mouthful of scone, "Denny tells me we are soon to be expecting a little Cecilia." She winked at me before continuing, "Who would've thought? I thought you'd be tearing each other to pieces rather than tearing each other's clothes off." I felt my face burn scarlet at her words.

"Sybil," I hissed, "How could you suggest such a notion. There has been no tearing off of clothes and there won't be any time soon either." I fanned my hands in front of my face in an attempt to cool my burning cheeks.

"Well that is a shame," I looked up, startled, to see Rory standing in the doorway, his eyes crinkled as his laughter echoed around the room. I felt my face redden further. Oh god, he had heard what Sybil had said. I was sure I would never live down that embarrassment.

After managing to reduce the scarlet colour spreading across my face I turned back to Rory who had walked further into the room. "Sybil was just telling me that she and Denny are engaged to be married."

"Well I'm hardly surprised." Rory chuckled, "But thank Denny on my behalf will you? William owes me twenty pounds, I knew it had to happen this year..." He grinned boyishly, his cheeks dimpling handsomely.

"Well ladies, I am sorry to cut this lovely tête-à-tête short but I must see to some pressing business. I shall leave you to return to your conversation, I must say it did sound particularly interesting." He threw us both a wink before sauntering out of the room, closing the door on his way out.

"My, my," Sybil turned her head to me, "What have you done to our Rory? He is quite the changed man," She smiled conspiratorially at me, "I think Denny was right, there may be a bairn before too long."

Hey All,

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