Three: A BEAUTIFUL DREAM

#Hazel

Silver eyes stared into mine as I tried to say something. Like who was he and why was I with him? How had he found me? Where was my brother? The man looked frozen in place, but his captivating eyes continued blinking, giving away that he was indeed; real. His face was breathtaking, strong jaw and gaze, just as I remembered from my dream. One side of his face was horribly burnt, and I had an overwhelming desire to reach out and soothe him, even though it did nothing to take away from his beauty. Nothing could ever make him any less beautiful, I thought.

He had at least a day's stubble on his wonderful face, a golden brown, just like his short hair, and pale lips. Why couldn't I speak?! And even more so, why wouldn't he? That was my last thought as sleep claimed me again. My eyes involuntarily closed just as I heard him leave.

I opened my eyes to unfamiliar walls, white and not at all like the beige, stained ones at home. I groaned as I sat up, my muscles stiff from laying down for a while, but how long exactly, I had no idea. Looking around the room, I spotted a small cupboard with books and a cup on top, and the only other furniture was a cabinet in the corner, which I supposed was for clothing. I stretched my arms in a yawn, sensing no immediate threat in this foreign place, all I had to was find Henry now.

I was sitting on a mattress, it was thick and extremely comfortable; one could only imagine how long I had slept just enjoying the comfort! I was not one to sleep for more than five hours in a night, and the stiff muscles were a dead giveaway that my body had gone through an alien experience. I drew the warm covers from my body, surprised to see my trousers had been cut from the knees downwards! I laughed at the ridiculous and jagged art, done to gain access to treat my wound I supposed. I felt no pain, just an annoying itch I failed to scratch on top of the thick bandage. But I had to find my brother, I would check my wound later.

The door opened then, making me draw back in defense, just as my young brother entered.

"Henry!" was the first word I said to my brother when he entered.

My younger sibling rushed and embraced me where I sat," Hazel! I am so glad you are awake."

He proceeded to rain kisses on my forehead and cheeks as I chuckled at his antics.

I pushed him away gently and looked at him.

"What happened? And where are we?" I asked.

"Your leg became infected, and you collapsed. Two men helped us, brought us to this home and got a physician for you. You have been sleeping for two days." Henry said, all in one breath.

"Two days!" I exclaimed, alarmed, then quickly reached out for my brother," I am so sorry I failed to protect you!"

I was a terrible guardian! Not even a week on our own and I had already placed him in harm's way. Leaving him to be the adult while I lay at the mercy of road bandits!

Henry smiled, "I am perfectly fine, and we protect each other."

"Have they been good to you? The two men you mentioned. "I asked, worried nonetheless.

Henry beamed, "Yes, very much so."

"I am glad, you did good Henry." I gave him an encouraging smile, genuinely proud of the young boy. And grateful too, he had managed to save my life.

"Thank you," he said, then bit his lip, looking away.

"Henry? What is it?" I asked, worry flooding me once more.

"I... I told them you were my brother." He mumbled.

I burst into laughter, "My clever young brother! What made you think of such a thing?!"

"I thought it would help to keep you safe, and if you wanted to look for a job around the area-"

"Henry, you are brilliant! I taught you well, I see." I laughed again.

"Keep screaming like that and they will never believe that you are a boy. I had to hide your bag in case anyone found your... feminine things." My brother rolled his eyes.

"Is this better?" I asked, deepening my voice, making a terrible impression of a man.

Henry nodded though, "I am really glad you are alright, I could not bear it if I lost you too-"

"Hush now, do not speak like that. I will not leave you."

I am certain he refrained from pointing out to me that I had no control over such things, and even though I did not want to, I had almost died. If those men had not helped us, the infection would have killed me for certain.

We embraced, comforting one another with each thinking of their worst fears. I was terrified that I had made promises to my brother I could not keep. I had failed to care for and protect him, death was not in my control! I drew back from him then, as a memory rushed back to me.

"Just before I woke up, there was a man here." I said, hoping he would know why.

"Are you certain? No one enters this room except for the physician and myself. And the physician is not even on these premises as we speak."

"I am certain I saw him." My imagination could not have conjured up someone so handsome, of that I was certain! I had been sleepy though, but there had been someone here.

"Perhaps you were still dreaming, what did he say?"

"Nothing, he left rather abruptly. I was not dreaming, Henry."

"I believe you, brother," Henry smirked, earning a playful punch from me.

"I swear I saw him. He was…handsome," My face heated up and my brother raised a brow at me. I ignored him and continued," but he had a scar on his neck, at least I think I saw a scar."

"Mr. Donoghue?" My brother said, surprised.

"Who is Mr. Donoghue?" I asked, curious. And perhaps more than a little excited that I had not been dreaming after all, he was indeed real!

"The master of this house," my brother answered, "but I can promise you that he would not have been here!"

"Why is that?" I asked.

"He is not a very... hospitable man," Henry grimaced.

"But I thought you said we were welcome here!" I accused.

"We are," my brother rolled his eyes at my outburst, as if it was uncalled for!

But he had just said Mr. Donoghue was not hospitable, and whether he had helped us or not, I would not stand for my brother paying for it in being unfairly treated!

"He is generally a surly man," Henry continued.

"Never utters a single word, does not want people around him. He has not said it in words, but I am certain he wants us out of here soon as you are well enough."

"Of course, this was not our intended destination." I agreed. My leg felt good enough, we could leave in a day. It did not, however, explain why Donoghue was here.

"But I know I saw him here."

"How come I did not meet him on his way out? I think you must have seen him in the carriage when you were still ill, then had a dream about him."

"Hmm, perhaps." I said, still not quite convinced.

"Although I do not see why you would think him handsome," Henry smirked, earning another punch from me.

I stopped the playful banter I was engaged in with my brother and looked at the door. I suddenly felt compelled to go and open it wider, and had an odd prickling on my neck alerting me that we were being watched. Henry must have followed my stare, because he stood up, making his way to the door. He opened it ajar, looking down the corridor, then looked at me again.

"There is no one there, Hazel. No one followed us here," he reassured me.

"It is not that, I did not feel threatened, just watched." I tried to explain. Which was true enough.

"I think that dream really shook you up," Henry shook his head slightly, "I am certain you will change your mind when you meet him."

"This is not about Mr. Donoghue!" I protested, narrowing my eyes at my brother, but felt my face coloring nonetheless.

"Of course, brother. Just do not forget you cannot be found making moon eyes at him, lest they think there is something wrong in that head of yours." He said, thumbing said head.

I bated my eyelashes at him in an exaggerated manner,

"There are gentlemen known to prefer other gentlemen all over the land."

"Yes, but even they, have to hide it because society would ruin them!"

"You have developed quite an attachment to this place, haven't you?" I sighed.

"It feels like home, might not be for long but I like it here," my brother shrugged.

"We will find a permanent home soon, I promise you. I will get a good job and we will be happy, you will see." I could only hope.

Henry's sad eyes looked up at me, "It will never be the same without papa around."

"Hush now, do not dwell much on that. We are still a family, let us be grateful for that."

"But-"

"No, none of that. Nothing will take me from you, do you understand!"

"Do not go stepping in any more animal traps then, I do not think you could handle a bear trap!" My brother grinned mischievously, making me ruffle his hair as we laughed.

No, definitely no more traps for me. But I would make a better life for us, of that I was determined!

"So what is my new given name?" I finally asked.

"Hector," my brother responded, making me grin.

I liked Hector, and I could see myself making a good Hector. And first order of business tomorrow was to go and visit this Mr. Donoghue. To thank him for helping us, and find out if he had really been in the room while I slept!

#Wren

I went through the boys' bag of clothing, finding nothing suspicious or anything of value. They had a few changes of clothing, mainly shirts and vests, a small bible and a worn picture of two adults. The older boy was sound asleep while the younger one was in the workers' kitchen. I had made sure that I would not be caught snooping, it would not do for the servants to think I had no respect for their privacy. I did not, have any respect for their privacy that is, this was my house and I did what I pleased. But I also did not want them to know.

I turned to the sleeping boy again, his rosy lips in a small pout and his delicate hands clenched in front of his face. Now that he was cleaned up and treated, his skin had a healthier glow about it and natural tan. I was taken aback by the beauty of his face, no man should ever be so perfect! Everything about this boy was pretty and delicate, it appeared, and in his sleep he looked like a child.

I held my breath when he suddenly opened his eyes, staring at me like he had in the carriage. His intriguing eyes held so many questions it seemed, ones I was not prepared to answer. Like what was I really doing here? Why, investigating of course! I hated when things were not in my control, just like the fate of these boys. Matthias had taken it upon himself to care for them, bringing the younger one with him to work and not bothering to even update me! He stared at me for a little while before drifting off again, and I took that as my cue to leave, and quickly.

I heard footsteps coming from the main door and I immediately retreated, entering one of the rooms I knew were never locked. I heard the person enter the room I had just left but did not hear the door close. I cursed my luck, how would I leave now! After waiting for a few minutes, I decided to try and sneak out, exhaling when I realized the door was not ajar, but slightly open. Open enough for me to hear the words, 'when I woke up, there was a man here.'

The boy's voice was just as I had expected, soft and almost feminine. It suited his face and build, just as delicate as the rest of him.

"I swear I saw him. He was," he hesitated for a bit before continuing, "handsome."

I was surprised to find myself smiling, something I rarely even did. So the boy thought me handsome? Intriguing.

"But he had a scar on his neck, at least I think I saw a scar."

Instinctively, I reached out to touch my scar, instantly reminding me that I was behaving like a fool. Sneaking around to investigate two boys? Being intrigued by one of them? What kind of man was I! I was never one to do odd and juvenile things, and yet here I was. The boys had to leave, and soon, before I made a fool of himself more than he already had.

"Mr. Donoghue?" The younger one questioned, sounding very much surprised.

"Who is Mr. Donoghue?" His ill brother asked.

"The master of this house," was the answer, "but I can promise you that he would not have been here!"

"Why is that?"

"He is not a very... hospitable man."

For a moment, I felt a pang of guilt. But it fleeted just as I felt it.

"But I thought you said we were welcome here!" His brother accused.

"We are," he paused before continuing. "He is generally a surly man, never utters a single word, and does not want people around him. He has not said it in words, but I am certain he wants us out of here soon as you are well enough."

"Of course, this was not our intended destination." His brother agreed.

"But I know I saw him here."

"How come I did not meet him on his way out? I think you must have seen him in the carriage when you were still ill, then had a dream about him."

"Hmm, perhaps." He replied, not at all convinced.

"Although I do not see why you would think him handsome," the younger one teased.

Their playful banter stopped just as I felt it. A prickling sensation down my spine, like he was looking right at me! It was the most peculiar and unnerving thing! I hurried out of there before either of the boys realized my presence!

:::::

I took my supper in my room, facing away from Catherine's portrait. On normal days, it had the most amazing ability to make me lose my appetite! Why then keep it, you might wonder, because I needed the reminder and punishment for my stupidity. It was the only way I could avoid making the same mistake twice.

If only it had all been a simple nightmare I could forget!

I might not have been able to forget, but for tonight, I was content with dreaming of a unique pair of eyes. One blue, and one green. There was something different about that boy, and I could not afford to let him stay long enough for me to unearth it.