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 Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 7:32 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter smiled at Eduard, seeing that if he went down to the garden, he'd probably make Eduard feel better. He didn't want to leave, but he knew that Eduard would be much more at peace if he did, so he stood up. "May only the most gentle dreams come to you, Marquess," he whispered and walked out to find his own way to the garden.
He got lost several times, but stubbornly refused to ask for any directions when he came in contact with anyone. He eventually found himself in the most beautiful rose garden he had ever seen—even grander than those that he could imagine. There were a multitude of colors all displayed, but they were all starting to wilt.
That's when Peter remembered that little tidbit about Eduard's gardener. That was truly a saddening story. Well, Peter had done some gardening in his time, when he was helping out his mother back in France. He quickly located the tool shed and got to work, thankful that he was in such a light dress. He had taken off his shoes and rolled up his sleeves, looking quite improper and unbecoming, but he didn't care. No one was there to see him.L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:03 pm
It didn't take long for Eduard to fall asleep. He was glad that Peter was occupying himself with something instead of sitting beside him and worrying.
Even as he fell asleep however, the Marquess couldn't help but run Peter's parting words through his mind.
Thanks to that, his fever wasn't plagued by nightmares.
By dinner time, Sebastian entered the garden and smiled at the 'Lady'. "Dinner will be served within the hour, Lady Rosaline. I umm... suggest you get washed up."
He was obviously trying not to laugh at Peter, who looked like a female gardener and less like a 'Lady' as he should.
"I trust you had a pleasant time in the gardens?" Sebastian asked.
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:16 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter turned and looked completely shocked, embarrassed at being found out. He looked to the ground and murmured, "I'm very sor—" he stopped halfway through, deciding that Sebastian probably wasn't in need of an apology at the moment and smiled. "Yes... I-I had quite a l-lot of fun..." He had tended to at least half of the grand garden while he was out there. His arms and feet were covered in dirt. There was even a small smudge on his cheeks.
He nodded and walked past Sebastian and towards the door. "I-I had a w-wonderful time... Umm... Do you m-m-mind bringing it up to E-Eduard's room?" With that, he left to find his way back to the place that he had just mentioned, figuring that he should wake Eduard first before getting ready himself. That way, Eduard could prepare for dinner also, even though he probably didn't need to do much.
Looking very messy, he gently nudged Eduard. Deciding to practice his character for a little, he smiled gently and murmured, "Eduard, dear... Wake up..." He was glad that Eduard looked peaceful instead of being plagued by nightmares.L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 8:41 pm
Sebastian smiled, "As you wish, Lady Rosaline." he spoke, heading inside after Peter.
As for Eduard, the man had slept all day. His fever was once again gone and color was beginning to return to his normally pale cheeks.
When his dark eyes opened at Peter's prodding, there was a look of complete confusion on his face.
"Pe... Peter?" Eduard asked, his gaze scanning the man's dress and... well, mainly his face and hands. "What did..."
But then he started to laugh, smiling after he got control of his laughter. "You had fun in the garden, didn't you?" the Marquess asked. "I'm glad..." he whispered, sitting up carefully and resting against the headboard.
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 3:29 am
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter smiled serenely. "I-I had a l-lovely time..." he murmured, not looking at Eduard. "Umm... I-I just wanted t-to wake y-you up for dinner... I a-asked Sebastian to b-bring it here." Peter was very self conscious at the moment, realizing that he looked quite disheveled and unpresentable.
He looked down at his own hands and glanced at the door. "I-if you d-don't mind, I need to g-go and freshen up." But even though he had to go, he waited until Eduard gave him permission to. He was a little afraid of Eduard, truth be told. Ever since he saw that wound on Rutherford's face, deep fear had been instilled in him of Eduard's wrath.
He knew that Eduard was kind, but he had thought that Eduard was always kind and gentlemanly, and he soon realized that he was wrong. But now that his picture perfect image of Eduard was broken, he started fearing all of the other things that Eduard was capable of. He was an aristocrat after all. And maybe he wasn't quite unlike the rest as Peter had once thought.((I know that "unpresentable" isn't a real word, but a synonym for it escapes me at the moment, so I just used that.)) L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:59 pm
Eduard's dark gaze softened considerably and he slipped from bed, sitting on the edge.
Carefully, he took one of Peter's hands in his own. "Peter... what is it?" the Marquess asked.
'Dear god, is he... is he afraid?' the young man thought, wary of the sudden tension between them.
"Did... did something happen? Something while I was asleep?" Eduard couldn't escape the sudden fear that perhaps Rutherford had returned.
The Marquess didn't care that Peter's hands were dirty, or that now his own hands were coated in earth from the garden. He didn't care about dinner or about how he still felt a tad bit weak in the legs. He didn't care about anything really.
Except that Peter seemed upset...
He seemed afraid...
'Don't let him be afraid of me...' the stray thought escaped Eduard's subconscious, and he suddenly realized that Peter might very well be afraid.
Eduard was a gentle soul, a kind young man who had just happened to be running an incredibly high fever from being drugged by the very man who had, not only insulted him and his station, but had insulted the most innocent person he knew.
Who had just happened to be punched by the Marquess out of a semi-delirious rage.
It was something Eduard never would have done...
At least not when in his right mind.
"Please, Peter... you can tell me what's wrong. I swore to you that you never need fear me." Eduard pressed, wanting desperately to know what had brought on such a self-conscious stutter?
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 6:48 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter flinched quite a bit when Eduard took hold of one of his hands. He hadn't consciously done it. He didn't want to be afraid of Eduard; he just was. Peter remained silent, his complexion pale and his eyes studying the pattern of the carpet with great interest.
Finally, he just muttered, "I-It's nothing, m-my lord... Y-your hands... they... they'll g-get dirty..." It was obvious that he was terrified. He had placed all of his trust in another person, and an aristocrat at that. It wasn't something that he did often, not even with his friends. And now he feared that the first risky thing that he had done in a while would be a complete mistake. But he seemed so nice all the time... He's given me a fortune in exchange for my acting! Surely he can't be that bad... right...?L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:01 pm
There was an obvious flash of disappointment and sadness pass through Eduard's eyes.
He released Peter's hand, but didn't move to wipe the dirt from his own pale hands.
"I... I see..." Eduard spoke before smiling charmingly.
His masks were always so perfect...
The mask of happiness and contentment that he wore now, had only been flawed by that fleeting flash in his gaze.
"I'm not feeling quite hungry, to tell the truth." the Marquess replied, and this was true actually. "How about you get washed up and take dinner without me, hmm? Give you some time to get to know the servants a bit more. Perhaps Elizabeth or Sebastian could treat you to a dinner with them?"
'Peter's frightened... of me...' Eduard thought... and it was that thought which nearly shattered his mask. 'What have I done?'
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:12 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sBecause of that little flash of sadness in Eduard's eyes, Peter knew that he had struck something deep inside Eduard. He didn't know what it was, but he felt terribly guilty because of it. He wanted to amend whatever he had said, but how could he when he didn't know what part of it had affected Eduard?
"I-if... If that's w-what you wish, Marquess..." Peter was very sad about Eduard letting go of his hand so easily. The small gesture had made him, curiously, very happy. He loved the feeling, even if he didn't know why he felt so at peace when it had happened. For a moment, his fear of Eduard had been overpowered by his body's natural emotion. But of course, that disappeared so fast that he wasn't even sure if he had imagined it.
Peter bowed and walked to the door, never looking up from the carpet. He stopped at the door and turned around, not even aware that he was using such formal speech. "I-I'm sorry i-if I have h-hurt you anyway, m-my lord. P-please forgive me..." He bowed once again and left in a rush, running back to his room. He didn't say anything to Sebastian as he passed Sebastian in the hallway. He was an actor after all.
He smiled graciously at Sebastian. "Even though Eduard may insist against it, please force him to eat something. He needs it." He started walking again. "As for me, I'm actually feeling quite tired, so I'll retire early. Do not worry about my dinner." He flashed an excited grin. "I'll just eat a lot at breakfast." With that, he quickly made his way back to his room to cry again for a second time that day. This time, it was out of fear. He wasn't confused anymore. Still seeing things very naively, but no longer mistaken about anything.L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:41 pm
Not long after Peter had left the room, Sebastian entered with a tray. Amongst the silver dishes was some hot tea and a chicken and vegetable soup, something light that Eduard would be able to stomach.
"Sir?"
The Marquess was standing next to the window.
The beautifully sunny day which Peter had enjoyed earlier had turned dark and cloudy, thunder rumbling and lightning flashing to illuminate the rose garden.
Eduard didn't turn when he heard Sebastian, but he did speak. "I'm sorry."
"For what, mi'lord?" Sebastian asked with a slight smirk. "Decking Rutherford seemed quite appropriate for his ilk. Peter enjoyed his time in the gardens this afternoon. And I..."
"He's frightened." Eduard spoke, his voice cold and somehow strangely calm. "He's frightened because I couldn't stomach Rutherford's insults. Frightened because I tried to bash in my guest's face."
"He did deserve it, Sir." Sebastian reminded, setting the tray down next to the large armchair in the room. He carefully tended to the dying fire. "If I may suggest... perhaps... if you thought of Peter in the same sense as if he were a woman and..."
Eduard turned, his chin tilted up slightly as if trying to come to terms with something. Sebastian stopped talking.
"Go on." the Marquess prompted.
Nodding, Sebastian continued. "He's a bit too naive for his own good, sir. I'm merely suggesting you handle his fear like you would if he were an actual lady."
For a long moment, Eduard seemed to consider this.
He left the window, looking down at the tray on the table and noticing that there was also a plate of roast beef and potatoes.
"Sebastian... meet me at Peter's room with another cup of tea, would you?" the Marquess asked, picking the tray up in his hands. "And another set of silverware."
Bowing, Sebastian left quickly.
Eduard, for his part, headed toward Peter's room, carrying the tray of food. Thanks to the servant corridors, Sebastian arrived at Peter's door just before Eduard, and carefully set the tea and the extra silverware on the tray.
Sebastian departed, and Eduard knocked on Peter's door lightly.
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:55 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter had just finished his bout of crying as he heard some noise outside of his door. He sat up from his bed, drying his tears. He had taken a quick shower, but only for the purpose of not dirtying the sheets that he knew someone would then have to wash.
He immediately suspected that Eduard was up to something when heard a light knock at the door. Fear gripped him. Peter knew that he had made Eduard sad and disappointed before with his words. Was Eduard angry? Was he going to be fired from his job because he was too weak? Those thoughts almost made Peter cry again. He always hated when he failed at something, which was one of the reasons that he was such a hard worker, but it seemed like no matter how hard he worked on his specific matter, he couldn't feel any better about it.
Peter sat for a moment in his bed, rigid and tense. He finally decided that it would have been impolite if he didn't open the door to let Eduard in. He clung on to the little hope that it could be Sebastian. It hadn't remotely occurred to him that Eduard wouldn't be mad at him.
Peter slowly opened the door to let Eduard or Sebastian in. But when he saw Eduard, his eyes immediately averted to the ground and his skin became as white as snow. He said nothing, stepping aside to allow Eduard entry into his room.(("ilk"?)) L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:45 pm
Pausing, Eduard took notice of Peter's sudden shyness and refusal to look up at him. "I thought you'd need dinner as much as I." the Marquess spoke kindly, entering the room and placing the tray down next to a chaise and armchair.
He turned, crossing the distance between himself and Peter and gently took the actor's chin in one hand, slowly forcing him to look up. "What have I done?" Eduard asked softly, his gaze open and pleading for an answer. "I hurt you... and yet I know not how."
(((Ilk... as in "someone of his manner" or "someone of his kind". Ilk's kinda another way of saying "of that class". Basically, it was an insult to Rutherford and those like him.)))
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:20 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter couldn't avoid Eduard's gaze. He flinched and blushed as Eduard lifted up his chin; there was now really no where to look but at Eduard. "I... I-I'm fine..." He couldn't admit it. Wouldn't he then appear weak? And what would Eduard do if he knew that Peter was so easily afraid? His heart had been locked away after all. Though he loved like anyone, he didn't give his deepest trust to most people, and when he did, he found himself hurt. How was one supposed to put that all into words?
By Peter's eyes, it was evident that he had been crying. He was so comforted by Eduard's touch, yet so fearful of it too. He couldn't understand himself, but part of him felt deeply wounded, and he wanted to both let that out and keep it in. His mind was full of paradoxes.((That's interesting... I didn't know that! xD)) L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 5:28 pm
Eduard shook his head, "You're not fine, Peter." he replied softly, reaching his other hand out to gently wipe away a stray tear from Peter's cheek. "I am not angry with you, Peter. Far from it... I am simply worried."
His hand left Peter's chin and Eduard touched his forehead to that of the young actor before him.
He pulled back, placing his hand over Peter's forehead next and frowning.
"I had thought you might be feverish and unwell, especially since we did get rather drenched last night... but you have no fever." sighing softly, the Marquess smiled charmingly, his gaze remaining imploring.
"Please, Peter... don't hide from me... nothing you can say will anger me... remember?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 17, 2009 6:13 pm
P e t e r - W i n t e r sPeter suddenly felt very insecure—well, he was insecure before, but now he was actually aware of it. He stepped backwards, recoiling from Eduard's hand once again, finally remembering what that same hand had done earlier that day. He kept backing up, his body moving on its own accord.
"I... I had a-always thought that a-aristocrats were a-all mean and s-snobby... Not c-caring about th-those in other c-classes... O-or anyone b-but thems-selves for that matter..." It was a good start, but he wasn't sure where to go from here. He had started off their relationship with that prejudice, but it quickly disappeared once he came to know Eduard.
It was probably because of the fact that he welcomed this change in notion so much that he almost thrust himself at Eduard—mentally, at least. He had given Eduard his full trust, just because Eduard seemed so trustworthy compared to what he thought aristocrats should be like. And since he also thought that they were snobbish and mean, Eduard seemed so kind in comparison.
But that wound that he saw on Rutherford's face today had brought him back to reality. No one could be as nice as he had made Eduard out to be. Even though Peter could probably never find it in himself to punch someone—though he could slap them if really angry—seeing Eduard do it completely broke the perfect image in his mind. And with that shattered, every other fear and prejudice that he had started with came back to him.L a d y - R o s a l i n e
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