Warning: Mentions death and minor innuendo.

***

Five years ago: London.

***

Nova moved slowly through the crowded streets of London, lost in thought, paying no attention to the jostling people about. She'd just left Lord Corbin and although he'd kept his stoic manner, she could see the pain lurking in his eyes. He'd just buried his parents.

Nova knew all too well, the pain associated with losing one's parents. Despite they're differences, the grief still managed to worm its way inside. She reached her own nearly empty manor house, listlessly wandering inside as he her butler held the door open for her, asking if she required anything. Nova dumbly shook her head, passing off her damp cloak before slipping up the wooden steps.

She continued, not pausing until she reached the head of the stairs, her gaze landing on the formal portrait of her parents. As Nova studied the faces of her parents, she realized how severe they appeared, almost as if they were still silently judging her from beyond the grave.

Nova floated away from the portrait, her mind filled with images of dreary coffins, dark cloaked individuals weeping into their handkerchiefs and deep, formless shadows. She wandered into her room, softly closing the door and moving to settle down in her chair, gazing intently into the crackling fire in front of her.

She sighed, her thoughts of death slipping away as they turned to ones of deep longing and..love. How she yearned for a love. A deep, satisfying love, which she'd witnessed in her own parents lives. Someone who would love her as passionately and deeply as she would love them.

Nova stirred restlessly, sighing once more. She knew there wasn't much chance of that happening. Especially not in today's society. Loving someone of the same gender wasn't what was expected of someone in her position. She'd be expected to wed a man. Nova inwardly cringed, her body tensing up at the very idea of a man making love to her.

She recalled a conversation between herself and a few, close friends when she was probably around thirteen years of age. She recalled her friends giggling and twittering about what took place between the sexes in the marriage bed. Nova had laughed along with them, yet inside, she was secretly put off by the thought of a man making love to her.

A couple of years later, she had come across a beautiful young lady, aged fifteen, same as her, with piles of shining golden hair and eyes as blue as the sky when the sun shone. Her name was Olivia and she had recently moved to London from abroad.

Nova was enthralled by the beautiful young lady and struck up a kindly relationship with her. After several months, Olivia revealed that she was interested in women, the same way as Nova. The two began a very risky relationship with one another, spending as much time together as possible.

Nova couldn't remember being happier. Olivia was exactly what she'd always hoped for in a romantic partner. One day, however, Olivia arrived, looking downcast and Nova immediately sensed something awful had happened. She dared to ask her beloved what was wrong.

Olivia told her that her parents had arranged for her to wed a respectable duke and that she would be leaving London the following week. Nova was positively heartbroken. The two girls clung to one another and wept. Nova vowed to find a way to stop Olivia's departure, but no matter what she tried, she was unsuccessful and Olivia was torn away from her and Nova never saw her again.

Nova felt the dampness on her cheeks as the tears trickled down her cheeks, dripping off on to her lap. She cried, remembering how hollow and worthless she felt, that day, when Olivia was taken away from her. She thought, too, that perhaps it just wasn't meant for her to have someone to love.

***

Present Day:

Talia practically skipped down the corridor of the house, her heart soaring as she remembered that moment between her and Lady Barrington. She knew now, that Lady Barrington was indeed as attracted to her as she was to Lady Barrington.

Talia stopped by the bedroom door, knocking, waiting for her mistress to allow her to enter.

"Come in." Talia's heart rate instantly sped up at the mere sound of Lady Barrington's voice. She had to steady herself before twisting the door knob and pushing open the door.

"Ah, Miss Mason. I appreciate you coming. I have something to discuss with you," Lady Barrington said. Talia nodded, closing the door and hurrying over to the closet, where Lady Barrington stood.

"What is it, my lady?" Talia asked.

"As you know, I'll be attending that ghastly, boring dinner next Tuesday and I would like your personal opinion on what I should wear," Lady Barrington replied. Talia's eyes widened.

"Me?! I..I..surely you'd have a much better idea of what's appropriate to wear," Talia stammered, her cheeks coloring slightly. Lady Barrington laughed, though not unkindly.

"Actually, all of us noble ladies enjoy taking suggestions from our ladies maids. So you'd be a great assistance."

"Well, of course, my lady," Talia said, moving to the closet and began removing several beautiful gowns. She set the pile on top of Lady Barrington's bed, and began sorting them out. "These are so very fine."

Lady Barrington joined her, and Talia couldn't miss the perplexed look on her mistress' face.

"Is something the matter?" Talia asked softly. Lady Barrington shook her head, the perplexed look slipping off her pretty face as she pasted a smile on.

"Nothing worth mentioning, my dear Talia. Now! Let us choose from one of these lovely dresses." Lady Barrington looked over at Talia. Instantly she remembered that moment between them. It took every ounce of Nova's strength not to reach out and caress the pinked cheek of the lovely young woman standing beside her.

"What precisely are you expected to do at this dinner party?" Talia asked abruptly as she arranged the dresses on the bed.

"Appease the nobility," Lady Barrington replied dryly. Talia cast her a quick look before returning her gaze to the dresses.

"Sounds like a terrible pressure," Talia murmured, arranging the skirt of a beautiful crimson dress.

"Oh indeed," Lady Barrington conceded. "However Lord Corbin is an old family friend and we've always been fond of one another, despite the fact that neither of us is interested in wedding the other."

"He seems like a gentleman," Talia said, lifting the crimson dress, holding it up for Lady Barrington's appraisal. She studied it briefly before shaking her head and Talia set it aside, in complete agreement.

"He is. He's had a bit of a difficult life," Lady Barrington said. Talia simply nodded, holding up the next dress for appraisal. This one was a deep green color. Lady Barrington shook her head at this one as well.

"You mentioned his parents had fallen into some sort of disagreement?" Talia reached for a white dress, but Lady Barrington immediately dismissed it before she had a proper chance to ask.

"Yes," Lady Barrington replied. "However I'm unaware of the exact details of what took place. Only that his father had fallen out of favor with his father."

"I never realized that the nobles had so many..problems," Talia said, holding up a pale blue dress. She rather thought Lady Barrington would look beautiful in this dress and voiced her opinion. Lady Barrington nodded.

"It's actually one of my favorites," she said, of the dress. "We'll set it aside just in case none of these others appeals to me." Lady Barrington paused. "As for nobility and issues, we unfortunately seem to have more than our fair share."

Talia blushed, realizing her comment was rather inappropriate. She immediately apologized, but Lady Barrington wouldn't hear of it.

"There's no need to apologize. I believe most lower class people assume that just because we're blessed with wealth and status, we're somehow freed from hardship."

"Oh, I certainly didn't mean that," Talia said quickly. "Any human being, alive, is bound to suffer. It's the price we all pay for living."

Lady Barrington smiled, reaching for Talia's hand. Talia's heart flip-flopped in her chest. She couldn't hardly focus on anything other than the warmth of Lady Barrington's skin against hers.

"You're very wise for one so young," she murmured. Talia blushed, ducking her head.

"I'm..I'm not certain of that, my lady. After all, I couldn't even keep a proper job until I found this position."

"That's not saying much," Lady Barrington said. She reluctantly released Talia's Hans, her skin still tingling from the contact. Talia nodded, moving to lift up the last two dresses, a brown one and a black one.

"I really couldn't say that either of these dresses are particularly appealing," Talia said, looking from one dress to the other. "I still believe the blue one suits you the best."

Lady Barrington nodded. She was in agreement with her maid. "Yes, you're absolutely right."

Talia smiled at the small victory, pleased more than words could say that Lady Barrington accepted her advice. She started picking up the other dresses and returning them to the closet.

"We should probably make certain that there's nothing the matter with this blue dress," Lady Barrington said. "As soon as you've finished putting those away, I'll try it on."

"Yes, my lady." Talia was trembling a little, knowing that within a few minutes, she'd be seeing Lady Barrington in nothing but her undergarments. She quickly composed herself. She was somewhat vexed with herself for even entertaining such nonsense.

Talia quickly finished putting away the remaining dresses and hurried over to assist Lady Barrington with removing her current dress and putting on the beautiful blue one. When Lady Barrington was clothed properly again, Talia sucked in her breath. Her mistress was stunning.

"Oh, my lady!" Talia breathed. "You look lovely!" Lady Barrington glanced over at Talia and smiled in satisfaction.

"I do look rather fetching, don't I?"

"You look like royalty," Talia murmured, admiring just how the dress splendidly fit on every curve of Lady Barrington's body. Talia was practically squirming inside. She couldn't remember seeing a woman as beautiful as this one standing before her.

Lady Barrington chuckled. She wasn't quite sure she fit into the royalty category, but she was certainly enjoying Talia's response.

"You're too kind." Lady Barrington stepped closer to Talia. "I suppose if you could get away with it and I gave my permission, you'd rather enjoy tearing this dress off of me."

Talia stared hard at her! Was Lady Barrington implying that perhaps she'd preferred if Talia ripped that beautiful dress off of her slender frame and even perhaps...did more than just ogle her? The very thought nearly did poor Talia in!

"I..well, that...that wouldn't be very..appropriate, would it, my lady?" Talia just managed to find her tongue.

"No," Lady Barrington agreed. "It wouldn't be appropriate, in the least. However, I wasn't asking if it was appropriate."

Talia swallowed hard. She was wavering. She thought perhaps Lady Barrington was either testing her or she was simply tired of restraining herself. Talia wasn't certain of what the right response was meant to be. She shakingly took a step back.

"Shall I assist you in removing this dress?" She asked quietly. Lady Barrington nodded, turning so that Talia could unlace it. Talia began slowly unlacing the dress, her trembling fingers lightly grazing across Lady Barrington's body.

Once the dress was removed, Talia assisted in putting on the dress that Lady Barrington had on before. She held the blue one in her arms, the heat from Lady Barrington's body still lingering in the dress.

"If there's nothing else you require, my lady," Talia said softly. "I shall get this other dress pressed and ready for your dinner engagement next week."

"That will be all for now, Talia," Nova murmured, her voice thick with desire. Talia dropped a quick cursty before turning and leaving, wondering what exactly just took place between her and Lady Barrington.