I found myself spending all my days with Blaine while Mrs Hopper was laid up in bed. She continued to flounce in her bedroom, determined to make the most out of her malady and the weary expression on the face of the nurse made me feel that I was extremely lucky not to be needed.

Blaine would meet me for breakfast or at the bottom of the stairs and we would take long journeys to different parts of the south – woods, vineyards, beaches, walkways and I drew the landscape and drank coffee. We chatted about anything and everything that interested us – books, music, thoughts, feelings. I even drew Blaine though he laughed at how I had portrayed his nose. I felt as light as a feather around him and the unease and worry of before disappeared in his presence.

I had suspected that Mrs Hopper had been improving enough each day that on one journey back to the hotel in the car, I voiced my worry to Blaine that I would not be able to see him tomorrow. He continued to look ahead as he drove, his face not betraying any worry or feeling and I suddenly felt silly that I should start to miss him. I felt tears spring to my eyes whereas I had probably not made such a dent in Blaine's emotional core. He looked over quickly, and clearly seeing me struggle, he simply asked me what I was thinking.

"I think I will miss our time together very much. I wish I could trap each memory, each moment this week, in a jar and whenever I felt blue or needed reminding I could sniff the bottle and be brought back here, with you."

I looked away, as the car continued and my tears threatened to fall. I had so enjoyed my time with him, simply talking and being listened to that I would hate to go back to being ignored and considered inconsequential. Perhaps it would have been better not to have experienced those things and not know the difference. Blaine slowed the car along the road, stopping at a space on the side and touching my chin lightly to force my eyes to look directly at his warm amber orbs.

"What do you think? What causes you to look so pained Kurt?"

"I will miss you," I whispered, feeling foolish for revealing too much.

"I will miss you too," he smiled, "But I will not allow you to spend all your time with Mrs Hopper, I will save you occasionally, until your visit finishes."

"Perhaps it would be best if I had never met you after all, perhaps it would be easier now," I felt indignant, annoyed that I would mean nothing to him. "Better to know nothing of being valued if it is to be taken away from me." New angry tears appeared and trailed down my face and Blaine stroked my cheeks to remove the sadness.

"You wish you had never met me?" Blaine looked hurt, such sadness in his eyes.

"You don't know what it has been like Blaine, I was nothing before and I will go back to being nothing. You made me feel important, valued, like you might lo-"

"You are important Kurt, so valued, I am so grateful that I got to meet you, you don't know what I was like before Kurt, I was broken, I feel like you have brought me back to life."

A sudden hard kiss was placed on my lips, so passionate but determined as if meaning could be imparted through the lips. I understood after all and the kiss was softened. He tentatively licked my bottom lip and I gasped, allowing him to softly caress my tongue with his own. I sighed and melted.

I could see Blaine's warm eyes looking at me as I opened my eyes slowly.

"You must never think you are unimportant to me Kurt, you are everything." He looked so earnest, so desperate to be understood I simply kissed his cheek and smiled.

xXx

The following morning I was indeed right in assuming that Mrs Hopper would be well and would continue to demand my company.

"You must help me today with my errands in town and we will shop. You cannot have any more of these tennis lessons. I assume you must be almost a professional by how much time you have spent on the court."

Upon returning to the hotel late morning, Mrs Hopper had received a telegram explaining that her daughter had just got engaged to her sweetheart.

"We must go at once my dear," she said, already directing people around her to pack her belongings, "She will need my help in planning the wedding."

I spoke to the hotel staff immediately, asking if I could speak to Mr Anderson to explain but I was told he was horse riding and wouldn't be back until midday. I panicked but continued to pack my belongings and started helping pack Mrs Hopper, which took far more time. Midday soon arrived and we were told the car was outside the hotel waiting.

"I think I have forgotten my book!" I exclaimed, running back into the hotel to ask if Mr Anderson had returned and upon finding out he had asked for breakfast in his room, I ran as fast as I could.

I knocked timidly on his door and hearing the running water, I entered quietly, worried I would be noticed.

"Hello!" I shouted once to make my presence known.

Blaine came out in only a towel, wrapped around his waist and I couldn't help but follow the trail of water along his chest, lovingly. I gulped.

"Well hello," Blaine said, smirking mischievously, "I see I have an unexpected visitor." He returned to the bathroom to continue changing.

"I have come to explain I am leaving," I said outside the bathroom, my throat constricting. "Mrs Hopper has received a telegram about her daughter's engagement. We must go at once, our car waits outside."

"And will you go with her?" Blaine asked from inside.

"Of course, I must, I have nowhere else to go."

"Why don't you stay with me? Come to Manderley, live with me."

I gasped at the suggestion, as Blaine emerged from the bathroom fully dressed. He suddenly noticed his breakfast cart awaiting him and he sat down to eat.

"Won't you join me?" Blaine asked politely. I sat down slowly, unsure how to proceed. He simply carried on eating and shared the food.

"You still haven't replied to my offer. Do you think it a foolish one?"

"Yes, I really must go downstairs; Mrs Hopper will be waiting and I…" I stood up to leave but Blaine touched my hand.

"I am deadly serious Kurt. You cannot leave. Do you not want to live with me?"

"Of course I do Blaine," my voice softening, "But it is impossible."

"Not if you will it so. I will say you are working for me as my secretary and no one will ever know. Manderley has only two servants now who have been with me since I was born, they will not breathe a word. It is quite possible I assure you."

I did not know what to say but I smiled timidly, starting to picture this possible future with Blaine. He took this as a sign so he called the room service to ask for Mrs Hopper to come up here to see him and we waited.

Mrs Hopper was all smiles as she approached Blaine but as soon as Blaine referred to me behind her, she turned to give me a stare that could curdle milk.

"What have you been doing Kurt? I hope you have not been disturbing Mr Anderson. We have been called away Mr Anderson; my daughter is to be married."

"So I hear. Congratulations Mrs Hopper but I feel I must explain: you see I wish to take your company from you. Mr Hummel has been helping me with my letters and business these last few days and I feel he would be invaluable at Manderley. You see since my wife died it is in disrepair and I will need someone to help me manage it. Mr Hummel would make a most excellent secretary and I have asked him if he would remain with me and come back to England when I return in a few days."

Mrs Hopper had at first looked shocked, that someone would see such good qualities in me and as she looked me up and down, she raised an eyebrow.

"I hope you haven't been making a nuisance of yourself Kurt?" Only my gaping face was evident.

"I assure you Mrs Hopper it was all my own doing. What do you say?"

"Well I can't very well keep him; he will of course not be any good to me while I plan the wedding. Now I must take my leave, the car is waiting."

As Blaine returned to his bathroom, Mrs Hopper whispered to me that I had best beware as she had heard such rumours about Blaine and his wife. She left quickly, wishing me luck. I closed the door behind her, glad to get rid of the old bat. Upon turning, Blaine came back to the room and smiled.

"Finally!" He exclaimed, "I thought she would never leave." He walked confidently towards me and grabbed my waist. "You are mine Kurt, all mine." He kissed me passionately and I sank into the kiss, feeling protected and so glad to be owned in such a freeing way.

"You do realise that you will be my equal really Kurt. You will have to perform certain duties as a ruse only, a cover. In every other respect you are my equal." He looked so earnest, I kissed the worry away and smiled to reassure him.

"Thank you Blaine."