Bambi and the Duke

The housekeeper found the maid looking at him for permission, to permit her walking with Mr Wells who was Duke Leonard’s guest. Seeing no harm in it, he gave a nod of approval.

Seeing the housekeeper go inside the mansion, Mr Wells asked, ”Shall we?”

”How has work been? Were you able to acquire the land next to the Isle estate to build the market there?” Vivian asked taking small steps next to him as they began walking away from the entrance and towards the garden.

”It has been going well. About the land next to Isle...hmm,” he hummed thoughtfully before continuing to speak, ”I have put in a letter to the council hoping they would take it into consideration but I am not sure if it will be. Maybe if Duke Leonard could look into the matter, it would be easier and quicker too. After all, I have heard what an influential man he is when it comes to the council duties and also with the Lord.”

”That might be a good idea,” Vivian responded knowing that Leonard could push for the barren land to be turned to a market place for the vampires where clothes and other items could be sold to people at a place.

”I wasn’t lying when I said I came here to not only meet the Lord but also you,” Mr Wells stopped by to look at her who was looking down at the ground as they walked next to each other, ”Have you been doing well?” he asked in a worried tone.

Vivian nodded her head, looking up at his face and smiling, ”I have been doing well, Jerome,” she used his name just the way he always insisted her to call him. In response, he smiled at her.

”I am glad to hear that. How have things been in the mansion? Your housekeeper doesn’t look bad,” he turned around to look in the direction where the housekeeper had disappeared.

”He’s an exceptional worker. He knows almost everything and was quick to learn about Paul’s work,” mentioning the former housekeeper’s name stopped her from speaking. She cleared her throat then, ”He’s very strict though,” laughing at the end.

”Well, you did mention about him being a former employee of the Lord’s mansion. You cannot expect anything less than that,” the vampire chimed in the words, smiling before his expression turned slightly serious which Vivian noticed, ”Has there been any case of missing servants?”

Missing servants? Vivian didn’t understand initially what he was talking about until it hit her. She had spoken about the death of a maid before all of them were given the master-servant bond.

”I don’t think so,” she replied to see him furrow his brows.

”You don’t have to be worried, Vivian. If something goes wrong in the mansion, let me know about it immediately,” he looked around them to make sure there was no one in sight. Once he finished confirming it, he lowered his voice, ”Though your master is a Duke no one is given the authority to take away someone’s life, not even the Lord himself. Things like these are done behind closed doors, hell a lot of things are done behind the closed doors of rich families which we aren’t aware of but you do know that it isn’t right, right?” there was concern present in his eyes

.

She nodded her head.

She then asked him, ”Was there anything you could find about Paul?” he shook his head.

”Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that can be produced in front of the council to prove his innocence. When I asked one of an acquaintance of mine who works inside the council deputy of scroll works, she said she found no plea being recorded which would have been put forth by the Lord or anyone else for that matter.”

”Is there no way to extend the time?” she asked hopefully before disappointment was replaced in her black eyes.

”They have prolonged his sentence for a long time. We cannot do anything but watch it through.”

”Would it be possible for me to meet him and the others? Before they...execute him?”

”Of course, I can arrange it tomorrow,” she had less than two days before the council would execute him in front of the town like any other criminal of the society.

”Thank you,” she offered her thanks.

She then heard him sigh, ”I really wished things turned out to be better for all of us in this world but there are always people to disrupt the little peace we have built between the vampires and humans. Please do remember Vivian. If anytime in the future things get out of hand, please don’t hesitate to let me or anyone out of the mansion know about it,” he repeated his words, ”I will be sure to drop by once in a while though I doubt it will be difficult from now,” he said looking over his shoulders.

Wondering what he meant by it, she turned around as the sounds of the wheels entering through the mansion gates became prominent. The carriage pulled up in front of the mansion which was none other than Leonard Carmichael’s personal carriage.

As Leonard got down from his carriage, the housekeeper Jan was quick to appear from inside the mansion, taking the master’s coat before speaking to him, making Leonard turn towards the people in the garden. He had returned back after closing a deal that needed parchments to be inked and signed in the town to only return to see Vivian and Mr Wells standing close next to each other.

Vivian was quick to bow and she raised her head to look at him, who was already headed in their direction, she was greeted with Leonard’s displeased look. Forgotten that Leonard disliked her speaking to Jerome she took one discreet step away from Mr Wells she stood quietly with both her hands holding each other.

”Duke Carmichael,” Jerome bowed his head, a piece of his hair coming to fall on his forehead which he swiped back with his hand.

”Mr Wells,” Leonard greeted with no smile on his face which made Jerome smile at his obvious distaste to him, ”To what do I owe you the pleasure? Vivian, you can go ahead and continue your work,” he said not looking at the girl who scurried away the very next second.

Vivian didn’t turn around to see or hear anything more, not making eye contact with the housekeeper on her way inside the mansion, she went straight in not looking left or right until she reached the servants quarters to change her clothes so that she could help others in preparing dinner.

After spending less than an hour in the kitchen, she found out that Mr Wells had already left while the housekeeper sent her up to Leonard’s room to assist him with whatever was needed. As reluctant as she was to step in the zone where there might be a furious pureblooded vampire waiting for, there was no way she could pass on the job to anyone else.

Going to his room, where the door was shut close, she raised her hand and knocked once, ”Master Leonard.”

”Come in,” she heard him from the other side of the door.

”Is there anything you would like to help me with?” she asked him, her voice sounding meek and she cleared her throat.

”Help me change,” he raised his hand, his expression void of any emotions as if he were talking to any maid.

”Yes,” going to him, she was about to take his cuff buttons in her hand to unbutton it, Leonard pulled her towards him. A surprised gasp escaped her lips. He looked into her eyes, his red eyes burning into her.

”Is it very hard to listen to what I say, Bambi?”

”What?”

”I asked you very specifically not to entertain Mr Wells, yet you go walk in the garden with him, exchange letters. Are you doing it intentionally?” the hand that was placed on her small back was pushed such that there was no space left between them,

”I didn’t mean to,” she frowned, ”He only arrived a few minutes before you arrived. He asked me to accompany him for a walk and I thought it would be rude to refuse. Jerome didn’t speak much,” she didn’t realize that in the flow, she hadn’t referred to the person as Mr Wells but as Jerome which made Leonard narrow his eyes at her.

His hand made way to her shoulders then to her neck, to hold it firm yet gently as he leant down to kiss her on her lips. He didn’t want to hear her speaking of another man. Taking another man’s name which was his fault as he had initiated the subject.

Sucking her lips, he sank his teeth very lightly on her lower lip, pulling it along with him as he retreated back before letting it go.

”The next time he comes, I don’t want to see you talking to each other. I want you completing the work Jan has assigned you for the day. He will be told to keep you busy,” he brushed her hair away from her face.

”Okay,” she nodded her head while chewing her lower lip which stung a little.

She began unbuttoning his shirt once he stepped back, one button after another she could feel her hands shake out of nervousness. Though Leonard noticed it, he didn’t stop her and instead found it quite endearing. Her cheeks had begun to flush red and he wondered what would happen if he took her to the night theatre.

He would definitely take her there. Not right now or this week but soon enough.