Charlie Rawdon, the future Earl of Rothford, was fidgeting and beginning to make sounds of whining discontent.

Jason studied the action from opposite his betrothed, finding amusement in the way Nicola's face clenched with pained confusion as she balanced the infant on her knees, her hands splayed against his tiny back and head.

She looked decidedly uncomfortable.

Beautiful, but uncomfortable.

"Perhaps I should take him from you," Diana said quietly, edging closer to Nicola from where she sat beside her on the settee in the parlour. She set her teacup down on the table and began to reach for her son, but Nicola shook her head.

"It is fine, really." She did not, Jason thought, sound fine. "You should enjoy your tea, while you can and while it is still hot."

Diana didn't put up much of an argument as she slouched back slightly, exhaustion and sadness warring over her face. They had convened in the parlour after dinner that night with the intention to formulate a strategy over the impending visitation of Wilhelmina, who had no doubt some vile announcement of her own that would impact the progression of his and Nicola's nuptials.

"Perhaps he just needs a cake," Blanche supplied happily from Nicola's other side, peering at Charlie as if he were some interesting bug she had found on the ground.

"Babies do not eat cake, Blanche," Kathleen sighed.

Charlie protested most loudly at that news. Nicola's eyes filled with panic. "I'm just not sure what to do with him," she admitted sheepishly. "What does he want?"

Jason supplied the answer to that, most unwelcomingly it seemed. "I assume he wants what most men want."

"Continue with that train of thought, boy," Kathleen murmured darkly, "and you'll find Charlie spending the night in your chambers tonight."

"Who says I won't welcome the company?" Jason retorted. "It's about time Northwick had more of a male presence."

Charlie opened his small mouth and let out a sharp wail at that, much to Nicola's horror. She held him aloft awkwardly, as if the small, swaddled buddle may explode in her hands, before Kathleen rose and relieved her of her burden.

Promptly dumping him in Jason's arms. He didn't mind, however, and proceeded to cuddle the boy close to his chest. Nestled, Charlie stilled. He threw Nicola a pointedly smug look, yet for whatever reason that uniquely intriguing expression washed over her features- the look she had given him last night while they had danced, right before she had insinuated to him that they meet somewhere in private.

"Now that he is settled," Kathleen said, disrupting his contemplations, "we should discuss how to broach Wilhelmina's impending visit."

Indeed, Jason thought, but he would rather chew rusty nails than put Nicola threw that ordeal again. His actions the night before had been carefully deliberate to ensure that his intentions were well known; that Nicola was favoured by his family and friends alike. Word would have gotten to Wilhelmina and he had been anticipating this reaction, and how he would deal with it.

As it turned out, Nicola wasn't quite done surprising him just yet. Her expression cleared and she turned to Kathleen, calmly astute. She looked so proud, so femininely exquisite, perched on the edge of her seat with her stiffly poised shoulders and proud chin. A proper lady- mostly. "I would like to meet with Lady Wilhelmina," she said to the room, "alone."

A few beats of silence met her announcement.

"You're either terribly brave," Blanche snarked, "or terribly stupid."

"Although I don't share my youngest daughter's crass sentiments in their entirety," Kathleen told Nicola with a frown at Blanche for effect, "I must agree. Do you think that is wise, dear?"

"Yes, I do." She tilted her chin. "At first, I think it is best. Perhaps she will feel less inclined to react... badly if it is only I opposing her wishes, rather than her entire family."

The female populace of the Blackwood namesake turned their heads to look at him. A usual gesture whenever a final decision is needed, something he was familiar with by now. "It is entirely your decision, dear," he told Nicola. "Though if she fails to see reason, and if I am to witness even the slightest slur against you, she will be exiled to stay with a distant relative I have suddenly remembered we have who happens to reside in Spain."

"I don't wish that." Nicola looked truly concerned about what would transpire. "I don't wish to be the reason for it. I would rather she... come round."

"Sometimes," Diana said a bit weakly, as if she didn't have the energy to think or feel anymore, "people are only determined to hurt you to their own bitter ends."

"True," Blanche agreed, reaching around Nicola to grasp her sister's arm in support.

"But sometimes," Nicola added, "they can also surprise you."

"The likelihood of Wilhelmina changing an opinion that has been ingrained into her since the day she was born is unlikely," Kathleen explained.

"But not impossible," Jason argued, once again drawing the attention of the occupants of the room. "Our father managed it."

Kathleen's face darkened at the mention of her late husband. "It was difficult for us, Jason, but I was fortunate to have a strong lineage in my family. Wilhelmina's protests could only go so far when it came to our betrothal. Unfortunately, she will have far more leverage with Nicola to harbour ill-feelings for much longer."

"Then she can harbour them in Spain."

Kathleen sighed. "It is not as simple as sending her off to live somewhere else. She holds clout, as does Lord Edwin Rawdon, which is why we also need to take the matters of a divorce as seriously. If someone disfavours us because of our insult to one of them, we will be snubbed in matters of business and our social circles."

"Diana should not remain married to that ass!" Blanche hissed, her face reddening at the mention of Edwin, Diana's husband, once more. She was so incensed it was almost as if the transgression had happened to her. Diana merely slumped in defeat, her eyes downcast.

"If matters pertaining to Northwick's income are dependent on our social circles' opinions alone," Jason began drolly, "perhaps then it is time to make new ones. Our ancestral coffers are not as deep as you may think. If the family is to remain financially stable, advancements should be implemented to the land and repairs made to sustain the tenants who are working it. I have already discussed and implemented several investment opportunities with Mr Eversley."

"You have?" Nicola asked, smiling at him.

"Of course." He continued explaining to his mother, "The Blackwoods have little need for the opinion of outdated notions of bigotry. The world is advancing and moving forward. If we align ourselves incorrectly, we will get left behind and our family will suffer more for it." Charlie stirred against his chest, as if wriggling in agreement.

"We will face the prejudice of half of London, Jason," Kathleen said, not in protest of her son's decision but merely in acknowledgement of the likelihood of the struggle ahead.

"And the other half will be our allies." Jason shrugged, rolling to his feet. He sauntered across the carpet and gently handed his mother the child in his arms. "I'll do right by anyone in this family, but I do not believe we need to stand by idly and allow discontent to fester among us because of the actions of a few individuals."

Diana blinked up at him, tears welling in her eyes again. "I do not know what to do," she admitted.

"You do not need to make any decision yet," Jason told her. In fact, the longer the matter rested, the better. Soon, banns would need to be announced for his wedding, and the less people opposed to the Blackwood family, the better. If Diana decided to proceed with divorcing Edwin, no doubt the earl would be in a right rage. Something to look forward to. "Northwick is still your home, Diana. Tell Edwin you are staying on with your family for some time if you must."

"And in the meantime," Blanche proposed, "we can plot to have him driven over by a carriage."

"I am concerned for the man that ends up married to you, Bee," Jason said dryly, wondering over to Nicola and offering her his hand. "Whoever that may be."

Nicola accepted his hand, a question on her face.

His mother was not as subtle. "What do you think you are doing?" she demanded as Nicola rose to her feet, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm.

"I am going to enjoy an after-dinner stroll around the grounds with my fiancée."

"Jason-"

He held up his hand to ward off whatever protest may come out of his mother's lips. "Allow me this time to enjoy her to myself," he pled, "for you know as well as I do that as soon as the banns are announced Nicola will need to return to London and none of us will have the luxury of her company here at Northwick for the next month, at least."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of that," Nicola muttered, somewhat off-put. "Do we really need to get married, if that's the case?"

"Nicola, really." Kathleen grimaced, looking tormented.

"Well, I certainly do," Jason muttered. "My honour has been impugned."

With a free hand, his mother rubbed her temples. "I would request only one normal day without incident from my children, but I know the Lord does not grant the impossible."