Viscount (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

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"Rogers, this? This is something I feel that we should've been told about". Tony now came up to them and pointed to Jocelyn's bump in amusement. 

Steve smirked. "Well we thought we'd just see if anybody noticed..."

"Errr, I think they did!" Tony's voice became a little high pitched, but he embraced Jocelyn and shook his friend's hand. "Congratulations, I'll send Morgan over for babysitting". 

Pepper admired Jocelyn's bump. "How long?" 

"End of summer, at least that's what the doctor has said.It would appear that all I needed was to hide away from society" 

Tony turned to Pepper. "Can we go do the same for a year?"

"Stop". She shot him a knowing look. "Come get some lemonade, I feel we've got a lot to catch up on". Turning to Jocelyn.

Still hesitant, Steve let got of his wife's hand regardless and watched her go. "Rogers, she's with Pepper, she's fine. Don't get clingy" 

"I'm not getting 'clingy'" Steve now defended himself. 

"You are, trust me - I was the same. So much that Pepper locked me in my study all day just to get some peace - in fact she still does". 

Steve chuckled and the pair went to get some drinks from a passing servant. "I'm just worried about her, that's all". He said, eyes finding Jocelyn who now had a group of ladies flock to her. He went to go over but Tony stopped him. 

"Steve. She's fine, trust me. She has Pepper with her and that woman could break a few balls just by staring". 

"After everything? I don't want her stressed because of people's jealousy. She was criticised enough last year". He didn't take his eyes from his wife once, but she was now engaged in conversation happily with women who had simply ignored her before. She was smiling, genuinely. It wasn't false like he'd learnt to read from her when she was upset. 

Now she clearly felt him watching her, as she looked over to him and smiled, mouthing to him that she was ok. 

Good. 

It was all good. He finally dared to take his gaze from her and turned back to Tony, now greeting Clint as he came over with his wife Laura. 

**

Jocelyn set herself down on a chair at the side of the room, a little away from everyone else later that evening, fanning herself. 

A figure approached and stood there waiting before clearly their throat. "Hello Peg", was all she said as she now looked up at her cousin. 

"I see you've been working hard". Peggy mused as her eyes went to her cousin's stomach. "About time you caught up". 

"Indeed, how is your daughter?" Jocelyn threw back casually. 

Peggy smiled. "She's going to have all the suitors after her when she's older for sure. Not that Daniel would allow them". 

"I expect she would". 

There was silence for a moment before Peggy spoke. "Did you know that Micheal had married a servant?"

Jocelyn shook her head. "No, I rarely hear from him. Why? Have Aunt and Uncle had a letter?" 

Peggy nodded. "Yes. Apparently she's from nothing and yet he married her anyway. Mother and father are beside themselves. I really have no idea what he was thinking!"

"Perhaps he was thinking that he loved this woman enough to want to spend the rest of his life with her? Fortune or no fortune". Jocelyn's hand rested protectively across her bump. "Are you really going to disapprove of love Peg?" 

Another silence before Peggy sighed. "No...no I'm not. It was just a shock that's all. Although don't tell anyone else, but I do miss him at times". 

Jocelyn nodded. "Me too...but he deserves happiness as much as everyone else". 

"Yes. Quite right". 

"So...have Aunt and Uncle cut him off?" Jocelyn dared to ask. 

Peggy shook her head. "Not yet. That's yet to be decided. Father is still furious but I think mother is trying to persuade him to not do anything drastic". Another pause before she began to fiddle with the lace on her dress. "I...I was hoping that perhaps you could speak to him? Try to make him see that cutting off Micheal will do nothing". 

"Is uncle here tonight?" 

"No. Mother is but father refused". 

Jocelyn knew that if Micheal was cut off then Steve wouldn't hesitate to help, but if she could at least do one thing then she could try to help. "I will go to him". 

Peggy watched her stand up and then go to find Steve, but stopped her, looking like she was wrestling with her conscience before she spoke. "Thank you..." 

Jocelyn made her way to Steve and took him to one side. "I need to speak with my uncle, now". 

"Want me to come with you?" 

"Please. I need to persuade him not to cut Micheal off, he's found out about him and Hattie". 

Steve nodded at this and then told Tony they needed to leave. As they made their way to the carriage, he looked at his wife. "Do you need me to speak to him alone?" 

"No. I think I need to do this by myself - but if you wait in the carriage then at least I know that if my words won't work, then yours might". 

"I'll wait in the hallway, then I can listen in, just in case you need me sooner". He told her, giving her hand a squeeze. 

Jocelyn smiled at him. "Thank you, my love".