A Day Out 0.5

“My lord, it’s nearly lunchtime. Would you be joining the young miss or would you prefer eating in your office?” Behind the piles of paper, Louis sat with the sun shining on the back of his head, half-opened lids that looked as if they were about to close shut. Now that most shops were back and ready for business, he was busy dealing with reports of problems that came late to the house due to the merciless snow a couple days back. And ever since the night Louis had returned from his day out to the marchioness’ place, he busied himself-- as if to prove to someone or people like the marchioness that he was capable of being the head of the house. Although this should not be new to him, seeing those old nobles think that they can finally take down the Arundel family’s pride and status set a flame within him.

When Louis returned home yesterday, he was quite in a mood. Although it didn’t show on his face, the servants could tell that something had bothered their master with how spacey he was with a concentrated look. He shut himself in the office for the remainder of that day. Heck, he didn’t even leave the office until now. He fell asleep once but when he awoke, he went back to work.

“I’ll be taking my lunch in my office, thank you.” The reason why Ronan had asked whether he would be eating in the office or with the girl, was to remind him that a fragile child was in his care, but Louis was too busy with whispers that said to sleep to even realize. This made the old man sigh. “My lord, why don’t you take a rest? I heard that you’ve not returned to your chambers last night.”

“I’m alright,” was all he said. Ronan closes his eyes, brows drooping in concern. “Master, I apologize if this comes to offend your lack of awareness.. But you have been neglecting the girl since yesterday.” Louis draws to a halt, the ink on his quilt splotted on the empty space of the paper. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the matters of that girl; I know you’ve spent time with her days ago so that she wouldn’t be lonely, however, now that the snowstorm has passed, don’t you think it’s time to send her somewhere in the proper care of someone else?”

It was true that all Louis was doing was accompanying her so that she wasn’t too scared to be in the care of strangers. However, when they parted ways, he acted like she didn’t exist. Why did Louis decide that a little longer with her would be okay? He clearly decided that it wouldn’t hurt to keep her around a little longer, but what was the reason for it? He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair suddenly recalling the two words that she said. “It’s warm,” he mumbled. Did he decide to let her experience such a lavish life out of pity?

Outside the door, chatter that rang the halls could be heard.. It was odd to hear boisterous chatter in the house, however, this did not grow concerns within Louis or made him annoyed. While he has been stuck in his office when he could, the girl was left in the care of the servants, including yesterday. This made her closer to people. “My lord, while you were out yesterday, the young miss managed to smile.” It was weird to say something like that, but a fluttering feeling made its way to his heart nonetheless. It’s similar to the feelings you get when you know you’ve helped someone and knowing that they are happy.

“I’ll prepare your table beside the young miss.” Ronan did not need to ask the same question earlier, knowing what his master of many years was thinking.

-

When Louis entered the room, the chatter ceased. Louis never scolded his servants or did anything to make them fear him, but since young, he was a quiet boy who sometimes appeared cold when he didn’t know it himself. In other words, there wasn’t much to speak of when he was around.

This made Louis feel awkward and out of place. Should he have not come? But before he could utter an excuse, apologize, and leave, the door opened with a loud noise. “Young miss, look what I--” A boy who looked to be around Louis’ age or older stormed into the awkward atmosphere unaware, but drew to a halt when he noticed that his master was in the room. He was slightly tanned and scruffy-looking and was certainly taller than Louis. “O-oh, my lord, I didn’t expect..” He continues in a mumbled, afraid that if he spoke any further, he might get fired.

“It’s okay. I was simply lost and came here by accident. Sorry for interrupting..” Just as he was about to leave, the head butler spoke up and saved Louis from feeling embarrassed later on, “I’m sure the young miss wouldn’t mind company, master.”

Having said that, a place for him at the table was set with a plate and utensils in no time. He says nothing and takes his place across the young girl who shied away the moment he came. It was unbearably silent during the meal and Louis regretted listening to the head butler. The teenage boy that came earlier felt the atmosphere of the room and was uncomfortable with it. “Um, my lord, don’t you think it’s a nice day today?” The shock on the faces of everyone in the room go unnoticed. Maybe it was idiocy. Maybe it was boldness. Or maybe it was because he was one of the people who were recently hired to work for House Arundel, who knows? But one thing for sure that they feared was that he would receive their master’s gold stare-- and that’s if the master was kind enough to not fire him.

When Louis hadn’t said anything, the older servant- a lady- spoke up. “M, my lord, I apologize in behalf of boy.. You see, he’s--” “It is,” Louis’ answers. It was a new experience for him- having a servant talk to him about someting silly as the weather- that he was simply cut off guard.

Ronan, taking this in mind, smiled. “Master, don’t you think that the young miss needs dresses for her wardrobe?” he asks, drawing in Louis’ attention. “The young miss has been here for a while, but all she had been wearing are dresses that were gifted to your mother when everyone thought she was having a little girl.”

Louis hadn’t thought of that. When he looks over the table, he sees that the dresses on her looked almost a little too tight, even though she was skinny herself. If he had to guess, the dresses were meant for a 7 year-old and not of those- who Louis had to guess- a 12 year-old girl.

Despite the many times he kept her company, he was too much of an introvert that rarely speak, which is why she was a bit hesitant to talk to him-- let alone thanking him for providing her warmth. It was her own thinking that maybe he just wanted silence, after all, he looked like he needed it.