I'd been staring at this paperwork for hours, mostly because my thoughts kept drifting to Zoë last night. I sighed, it was only 12pm and I could already tell I wasn't going to get anything else done today. There was a knock at my door and Henry one of the younger servants poked his head round the corner. "Err master, I thought I would let you know the mistress is in the garden reading." He didn't seem to know what else to say "Err Mr Williams told me to tell you" he added. I nodded "Okay thank you for letting me know, you may leave" and he scurried out of the room. I went to the window. I loved these blinds, it allowed me to see out but no-one to see in. I could see where Zoë was set up, underneath the big tree towards the fence. I wished she hadn't sat there. It was too close to things I couldn't protect her from. To reach her in time I would have to sprint. She suddenly turned her head, something had caught her attention. She got up and went to the fence. 'No Zoë!! What the fuck are you doing?' I screamed in my head. Panicked I looked more closely. Fucking hell. Luke. Why was he sniffing around Zoë?
I sighed and texted Father, 'Why is Luke here?' He replied almost instantly, he was probably expecting it. 'He's just come over to see you' Fucking liar. Luke was my half brother, a bastard from one of the many flings father liked to have. It pained mother every time she saw Luke. It was a reminder that when she was pregnant with me, my father had another child on the way. Luke liked to cosy up to father, he was willing to do whatever father said. But even through all that he never got the recognition of being his actual son. In a way I felt sorry for him. Growing up Luke was never allowed in our house. He was kept in the servants quarters. He was allowed schooling but only till 12. Then he was sent to a family in the slums. When he was 18 father took him under his wing, saying he needed another son around. Still dangling that carrot to Luke every chance he got to manipulate him. Luke resented me and I don't blame him but Father would use this to his advantage and pit us against each other when we were growing up. I guess though when I turned 18, I never saw him as a threat anymore. Father had no intention of giving Luke anything. So I didn't have that to worry about and as for fathers love he could have it, I didn't want it anymore.
I tired to calm myself down as I walked out to the garden towards Zoë and Luke. They were deep in conversation and Zoë's musical laughter filled the air. "Hello Luke" I said as I approached. He looked at me with contempt . "Hello brother" he replied. I hated when he called me that, despite being born from different mothers, there was no love between us to call us that. Zoë looked between us in confusion. I guess I could see it, we looked nothing alike. She came and stood slightly behind me. I wasn't sure if it was because she felt uneasy with Luke or because she felt it was her duty to stick by me. "Well aren't you going to invite me in?" Luke asked. I didn't want to but I begrudgingly said "Sure, we can have lunch" he smirked he knew he had got on my nerves. I took Zoë's hand and began to walk up to the manor. I felt her pulse quicken as I held on to her. I just wanted to protect her from Luke. Luke trailed behind us, keeping enough distance to not seem intimidating but close enough so I knew he was there.
We all reached the house and I led us to the dining room. I pulled Zoë's chair out for her, sitting her closer to me, more for show for Luke than anything. He looked on with bemusement. Motherfucker. As soon as I sat down, the servants scurried in setting places and serving lunch. We ate in silence, Zoë keeping her eyes cast downwards with occasional glances at me. "So you two, how's committed life? Guess you'll have to give up your extra curricular activities now brother?" Luke said. I glared at him, and when I felt Zoë's eyes on me for longer than a second, I gave a small nod of my head and felt her relax sort of. "Everything's going very well brother. Father is going to enjoy having grandchildren." Ha, he narrowed his eyes at me. He knew father would only ever accept my children and never his. You could cut the tension in the room with a blade, Zoë looked very uncomfortable so I reached my hand and rested it on her knee. She relaxed a bit and smiled up at me shyly. I forgot about Luke for a moment and soften my features into a smile for her. "I guess I'll be off now" Luke broke the exchange we were having and I grinned at him. He angled himself towards Zoë "My offer still stands, I'd like to take you around sometime" I bristled, he noticed and now it was his turn to grin at me. He left without another word.