Chapter 7

"Can I at least go outside?!" Vincent whined. "I feel fine!"

"No master, you are to stay in bed until your wound is fully healed," Camille replied sternly.

"But I'll stay within the manor grounds."

"No, my lord."

"Please?"

"No."

"May I at least work on the company's paper's?"

Camille sighed. The boy could not be put down. "Fine. I suppose paperwork would not hurt."

"Yes!" The boy threw his blanket off and ran to the study.

"Master, at least change out of your nightshirt!" his maid called after him.

James stopped by the door, holding a pile of tablecloths. "Uh, why was the master running down the corridor in his nightshirt?"

"He cannot be contained," Camille sighed.

Meanwhile, Lucian had brought in the mail. He opened the study door and jumped back when he saw the earl behind the desk.

"Are you not meant to be in bed?" he asked, questioningly.

"Are you not meant to be more respectful?" Vincent asked, one eyebrow raised.

Lucian paused for a moment. "Why are you still in your nightshirt? Can't you change, or do you need help?" he asked, smirking.

"Just keep the mail and leave," Vincent sighed.

"Okay, Vinny," the butler said in a sly tone.

"For the devil's sake, nobody called me that!" the earl protested.

"What's this going on?" a voice behind Lucian sent chills up his spine. That could be only one person. He hesitantly turned around to find an irate Camille glaring at him.

"C-Camille!" Vincent stammered. "What brings you here?"

"Oh, master, I just brought a set of clothes for you to wear. But it appears I may have to discipline the butler."

Lucian was trembling. "M-master, I'm sorry. I-I won't be disrespectful again!" he pleaded.

In all honesty, Vincent was terrified of his maid as well. He could barely move, forget stopping Camille from dragging the butler out the door.

As the door banged shut behind the terrified butler, Vincent hesitantly reached out for the letters on his desk. He skimmed through them, until he came across a letter stamped with a particular symbol: the royal emblem. He hurriedly tore open the letter and read through. He sighed as he put it down. Another night time excursion. Camille was going to kill him.

He dumped the other letters on the side of the table and was about to throw them, when something blue caught his eye. He pulled out a letter with a blue seal from the pile and opened it. An invitation to a ball at the Count Kenward's summer manor.

Might as well bring Margaret and Edward along after giving them such a scare, he thought to himself.

He checked the clock on the bookshelf. 7:20. Camille would come to herd him back to his room in about ten minutes and then bring his supper. She'd come to pick the tray up by five to eight. At eight she'd then bring a cup of warm milk and honey for Vincent and wait for him to finish which generally took about five minutes. She'd then change his bandages and tuck him to bed. By eight fifteen he'd be free from her babysitting. That's when he'd change and make a move to the palace. He had to get there by nine.

"Another long night," he sighed.

As the door closed at eight fifteen, Vincent waited for a few minutes. He pushed himself out of bed and walked to his closet and pulled out a black and red suit. Once he was dressed, he left a note for Camille in case he didn't make it back in time, hoping that he wouldn't won't be dead by the next morning, and took off into the night.