"You can find something truly important in an ordinary minute."― Mitch Albom 

The Kentshires and Raymonds were having a picnic at Raymond's private lake near the beautiful stone structure. Oliver and Caro were once again isolated to spend time with each other.  

"What are you thinking about?" Oliver asked.

"The baby. I am worried about him. He was not in very good shape when they left the manor and since then we have no news of him," Caro said worry etched on her beautiful face.

The doctor moved the baby to his clinic the very next day after treating him in the Manor and bringing down his temperature.

"I have been wondering about the same thing," said Oliver.

"Maybe we should go and visit the orphanage."  

"Orphanage?" Oliver asked puzzled.

"Oliver," Seb shouted from near the pond, "help me. Nick and Luke are throwing me in the water."

Oliver ignored them as he always does, knowing fully well that all three of them will turn against him if he tried to help. He turned away from the three monkeys to look at Caro who was giggling at the debacle near the pond and she looked heavenly, sunlight reflecting over her, illuminating her pale skin and brown hairs reflecting gold in the sunlight. He can't help but wonder how such a beautiful lady is still without a wedding proposal.

"My lord, are you alright?" He caught himself staring at her.

"When will you answer my question, my lady, we both are running out of time," Oliver said bluntly.

Caro hesitated for a moment before answering.

"It should have been easy to answer you since I have known you almost my entire life but somehow I feel I need to think more about it," Caro said after a moment of silence.

"Do you fancy someone?"

The question came out of nowhere that for a moment both of them were startled.

"Uh," Caro stuttered and Oliver realized she did fancy someone.

When she opened her mouth to deny he cut her short.

"Don't bother lying Caro, your face showed it all. So who might be this lucky gentleman?" Oliver asked playfully.

"It is nothing, my lord, just a passing fancy," she said tight-lipped.

Passing fancy! He chuckled.

"Who?" He asked again smiling, " Your secret will be safe with me."

"Someone unreachable, my lord" Caro Said thoughtfully.

They walked toward the manor in silence. Oliver thoroughly enjoyed Caro's flustered state.

The sombre mood got gloomy when Lord Kentshire and Lord Raymond soon joined everyone and announced that the orphanage was destroyed due to the rain.

"What about the children?" Nick asked.

"Browns are unable to take care of anyone anymore. So they will transfer the children  into the orphanage of London and the staff is being relieved." Lord Raymond explained.

"How is the baby?" Lady Ida asked.

"Doctor is sceptical, he is trying his best but he feels the child won't make it," Lord Raymond answered.

"We should ask for a better doctor from London," Seb suggested.

"William, send the letter to Doctor Johannes. Ask him to come as soon as he gets the letter," Oliver said.

The child took his last breath even before the letter reached London. Everyone went to a small funeral service for the child. And everyone soon forgot about the child and retired to their relaxing vacation. Raymond was like another home to Kentshires and they enjoyed the time with their family to the fullest. 

Oliver and Caroline were spending more time with each other every day much to everyone's delight. The time spent between them was a comfortable silence and reminiscing the days from their childhood. They knew they were compatible with each other and if they decide to get married they can see themselves establishing a good relationship, hopefully becoming lovers one day. Till then they will be good companions.

Oliver wasn't bothered by Caro's feelings for someone else, he wasn't in love with her either. For him, she was the best candidate for becoming future Lady Kentshire.  

The parliament was going to be in session soon so were the brothels and gambling houses. Kentshire brothers were leaving for London, the eldest two for parliament whereas the younger two for their escapades. The Kentshire parents were staying at Raymond's for the rest of the season joining their children for the final ball of the season the "Prince's ball".

The inauguration ball of the season "Queen's ball" is held in honour of the queen and ends with "Prince's ball" declaring the official end of the parliament session which is thrown by the prince and princess. Queen balls showed royalty and elegance whereas Prince's ball was whatever the royal children wanted to do. The great houses of Britain do not host a ball before Queen's ball and after Prince's ball as a sign of respect to the royal house. Everyone else follows their lead retiring to their family estate for the rest of the summer.

Oliver had to accompany his best friend Prince of Wales for the preparation of the ball which was doing nothing but be present at court with his friend and save him from his newly wedded wife. William was joining the parliament as vice president of the Liberal party. Sebastian, Nicholas, and Lucas were going to gallivant with their friends among various brothel and gambling houses.

Their things were packed and ready to go the next morning. The party was returning from their evening walk when Lady Ida was informed of Mrs Brown wanting an audience with her.

"Is everything alright with Mrs Brown, darling?," Lord Raymond asked his wife after dinner.

"Yes, they relieved all of their staff and she actually came to ask if we can employ Miss. Murphy," Lady Ida sighed. Raymond's family faces morphed into pity.

"So, what is the issue?" William voiced the question everyone was thinking about.

"What is it, Ida?" Lady Faith questioned, "She had a child out of wedlock cannot be the only reason." 

"Faith, she doesn't have a child out of wedlock," Lady Ida answered confused at the questions.

"Then whose child was it?" Seb asked astonished.

"Someone left the poor child in rain at the doorsteps of the orphanage, Miss. Murphy worked as a caretaker at the orphanage," Lord Raymond answered.

"Then I do not see any problem at hiring Miss. Murphy," Oliver said.

"Do you know the infamous scandal of Benjamin Strauss, Lord of Greenville?," Lord Raymond asked his audience.

"Yes, it created quite an uproar. I think it was during the time Seb was born. I remember Lord Strauss was found guilty of murdering a prostitute, her body was found in his bed drenched in blood. It was horrifying to witness. It shook everyone at the time," recalled Lord Kentshire.

"Some people claimed Lord Strauss was possessed by the devil," Lady Faith added.

"The Strauss scandal they called it. The prostitute had a daughter from her previous unknown lover before she went to Strauss, whom she left at the orphanage naming her daughter after herself, Henrietta Murphy," Lord Raymond explain. Understanding dawn on everyone and Oliver couldn't help but feel protective of the woman. Her parent's sins were not her own.

"I still do not understand the problem," said Nicholas.

"The problem is the people in the county, they know about her past hence no one wants to provide her employment. The orphanage owner faced quite a problem due to her past but since she was left as a child in their care they gave her the employment too," Lord Raymond said.

"I won't mind taking her under my care, but I have a daughter that needs to be wed and I do not want to be any problem in her marriage because of the people we employ," Lady Ida continued.

"Well, you shouldn't marry Caro to the family with such thinking," Seb scoffed.

"It is not practical every time, Son. Many times we have to think about the society we live in, even if we don't like it," Lord Raymond said.

"I think we should employ her aunt," Caro said, " She doesn't have anywhere to go. The Browns did it even though people created problems for them."

"We will think about it," Lord Raymond said, "Let's enjoy the night". Soon, the conversation was diverted to a different topic the thought of Henrietta far away from there minds.

Oliver told his family how the crown prince is always on his toes as his wife is giving him a difficult time. The crown prince married the princess of Spain last summer as age long treaty of friendship between the two kingdoms. And it was no secret that the princess was quite reluctant to marry the prince from far away land. 

Being close to the royal family they were privy to almost all the happenings in the palace. They were after all in line for the heir to the crown and they found time and time being close to the reigning monarch brings advantages and disadvantages of its own form. 

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