Arrival at Gatre

The sudden farewell was one not of great hustle and bustle. Felix's father had been exceedingly eager to have the whole matter over and done with so soon Felix found himself in a first-class carriage in the train with a single bag of possessions.

"I propose you take the opportunity to rest and recover. The train ride is more than 9 hours long.", said Mr.Deston, leaning back into his seat, then adding as to himself, " God knows you're going to need it."

Felix murmured an agreeable hum, leaning back himself and ignoring the muttered words. Be it hell or heaven, his mood would still be bettered by rest. While first he thought of just closing his eyes for a minute, the steady thrum of the train engine soon lulled him to sleep.

"Wake up, young Felix. We have arrived at the Gatre station."

From there, it was a short carriage ride to the iron-wrought gates of the Gatre mansion.

"So how does your new home look?", asked Mr. Deston, smirking at his awed gaze at the mansion. The secretary's mood had brightened the closer they got to his hometown and was now at an all-time high, a far cry from the cold and impersonal nature he exhibited in their first meeting.

"Uh. Intimidating? Cold, I suppose? Certainly could use a bit less… grey.", Felix replied.

"Well, here at Gatre, we're all about the grey." Mr. Deston said as the gates opened with a loud clang.

Felix hurried to keep up with the secretary's large strides as he moved across what seemed to be the garden and entered a large hall.

"Jo! How good to see you again.", exclaimed the secretary, flourishing his hands at a tall, red-headed girl, presumably one of the house staff by her uniform.

"Deston! Same cannot be said for you, I'm afraid. I quite enjoyed the brief respite I had from you.", replied the girl, Jo sarcastically before turning to face Felix. "And who might you be? A new lover of Deston's? Mercy me, I've placed many a bet that he favored women, my pocket just be a dozen coins lighter."

Felix was dumbfounded for a minute, both because of the girl's fast-paced style of talking and her openness.

"Have mercy on the boy, Jo. He's not one of mine, I'm afraid but rather the young master's. You're looking at Andrew's future husband." commented Deston, taking note of Felix's expression.

It was Jo's turn to be stupefied. "Husband? Was he not looking for a wife? Wasn't he insistent that it be a woman so that there's no chance of him ever falling in love with her?"

"Mm. That was my first option too but he's the only one left. The original left to elope with her lover, it seems. There was quite a commotion."

"I dare say!", said Jo, letting out a laugh. " Well, Felix. Welcome to Gatre Mansion."

"I... thank you.", Felix replied, still a bit perturbed but feeling a bit more at ease. After a moment, he asked, " What do you mean so that there's no chance of him ever falling in love with her?"

"Ah.", she grimaced, " He's got some trouble trusting... Well, you'll understand soon enough. Why don't you two go meet the Duke? He has given orders for you to be escorted to his office as soon as you arrive. The young master is in there too, I believe."

"Ah, right. We should be off.", said Deston, glancing over his shoulder at Felix. "Come along, Felix."

Felix hurried to catch up with him, shaking his head in his mind. The man certainly had a knack for making people feel as if they were children. Said man stopped hastily just as they arrived at a thick wooden door, making Felix himself walk right into him. "What's wrong?", he asked once he got over his initial disorientation.

Deston hesitated. "The young master can be… insensitive at times. Perhaps petty. Don't take it to heart. He has issues with trust so he tends to push people away. Try not to take it to heart. He mostly means no harm.", he said in a rush before opening the door and striding inside.

"Mostly?", Felix mouthed before following after him. The two inhabitants of the office seemed to have been in an argument, the air was still thick with tension. One, presumably the Duke, was sat behind a heavy oak desk and looked to be in his latter part of life but age certainly hadn't dulled the bright twinkle in his eyes. "Deston! The house has been in disarray since your departure, how glad we are to have you back! Besides, I see you come bringing another person, who I hope will too bring light to this house. How nice to meet you, Felix Aldenhall."

"I-It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Duke, I mean, Mr. Hart, I mean, Duke Hart.", he stuttered out a reply.

The other inhabitant snorted, bringing all attention to his presence.

"Now, now, Andrew. Let us be courteous.", lightly admonished the Duke, before turning to Felix. "Sit down, sit down."

Felix sat immediately, feeling a bit out of sorts. The man, Andrew, his soon-to-be husband, was tall. Taller than him for sure, and had dark brown hair with some strands falling to his forehead as well, lightly brushing his eyebrows. He was handsome, for sure. More handsome than any of the boys he had met in riding classes and such that didn't cower at having flighty romances beneath the cover of the stables. But his beauty was tempered by his expression, one of distaste, distrust and dislike. One thing was for sure, this was definitely not a falling in love at first sight situation like the ones in books that Micah used to swoon over at the height of puberty.

"Now, I wish to speak with Felix alone for a while. Why not you two wait outside?", said the Duke, steeling his fingers below his chin. "As you wish, Duke Hart. Come along, Andrew.", replied Deston, gesturing towards Andrew.

Felix noted with some pleasure that the secretary's patronizing attitude was not restricted to just him. Andrew shot him one last look of anger before following Deston out. "Young Felix, tell me, are you here out of your own volition? Perhaps this is an arranged marriage but Andrew has acquiesced to this through no threat of mine and it's my belief that no marriage should be tainted by fear.", asked the Duke, his eyes turning a bit steely. Felix hesitated before answering, "No, I came here entirely of my own volition."

The Duke's eyes lingered over him for a while, clearly sensing that there was more to the story but letting it go. "I see. Then, Felix Aldenhall. Welcome to the family.", he said, warmly.

Felix smiled and nodded, feeling a bit more at home at the Duke's welcoming attitude. "Thank you, Duke Hart.", he expressed when a question suddenly came to his mind. "Forgive me but I was wondering, I heard from Mr. Deston that you had expressly asked for a youth of Aldenhall blood. I was a bit puzzled as we are a family of not much wealth and status and certainly nothing to strive for."

"Ah, well that is certainly no short tale but I believe we have no shortage of time. I knew your mother, you see when she was a young maiden and she with her sweetness and kind heart made me enamoured with her. But her parents had promised her to your father and once she wed him, she found out as you no doubt know that your father was one with cruelty in his heart. In throes of sorrow at her pain, I made her a promise that none of her children would not be mistreated in marriage. Andrew has his faults, yes but I know my grandson, he will never hurt a soul and I see, even though he tries so hard to hide it that he too wishes to have a companion through life and there is no better candidate than you for this role with Alice's blood running through your veins. So I ask of you this, stay with my grandson til the first snow falls then you can decide whether you wish to wed him or not. If you do not, you will be compensated for your time handsomely. What do you say?", he asked, ending his explanation?

Felix paused before strongly nodding, "Yes. Yes, I accept."

"Excellent. Then, Deston will escort you to your room.", smiled the Duke, "Please tell Deston to come in for a minute as you go out." Felix nodded as he stood up and left. Both Andrew and Deston were there, engaged in what seemed to be a tense exchange. "Deston. The Duke asked you to come in.", Felix said, turning to Deston.

"Ah, alright. Wait just a moment then, I'll come back to escort you to your room.", he replied before striding off.

Silence reigned for a minute before Felix turned to Andrew to immediately be faced with an expression of hate. "Do you know what kind of people I hate the most? One's who manipulate and trick others into feeling sorry for them. A season? Ha. Trust me, I'll make sure you won't last a month before you go crawling back to daddy.", he spat out before turning on his heel and striding towards the office, coming to it just as Deston stepped out. Deston raised an eyebrow at him as he went into the office and slammed the door. "He certainly seems to be in a bad mood. Now, why don't I show you to your room?"