"Lord Cloud your room is at the end of the hall to your left." The servant bowed.
As the servant lead the cousins to their room Cloud walked towards his room. Before reaching it he heard foot steps, thinking quickly Cloud lunged for the door. He dragged his body into the room and shut the door without making a noise. He leaned against the door and heard the footsteps approaching, he crouched down to the little keyhole to peep out of it. Jerome and Mrs Leonard were walking down the hall to see themselves to their rooms, they had stopped right outside of Clouds room.
Jerome had entered his room after saying goodnight to his mother, and giving her a tightly hug. When his door had shut Mrs Leonard turned towards the stairs and had raised her voice only slightly.
"Ethel!"
"Yes mama I'm coming." Ethels delicate voice was like a mouses squeak, her little feet patted against the cold hard steps before reaching the top, she had reached her mothers feet before releasing an engulfing yawn. Ether picked up her daughter and cuddled in her arms, she planted a kiss on her forehead.
"Get some rest child tomorrow is going to be eventful." Ether Leonard knew of the events tomorrow would hold, her voice sounded bubbly.
Ethel had fallen asleep in that short amount of time in her mothers arms.
***
Ethel had slept through out the night and had risen quite early. Not all the vampires had awoken only her mother and father.
Her mother had helped her prepare for the day, she washed her face with a warm flannel and combed her long white hair. Ethel had slept so much that she was full of energy, her feet took her to a large wardrobe that gazed at the end of her bed from the opposite wall.
Her mother opened the wardrobe and took two pretty dresses out, both were blue and long but the one of the right had short sleeves and was baby blue with white frilly bits on the sleeves. A white belt rested in the loopes of the dress, a white Lacey mesh flowed down and complimented the dress.
The dress on the left was however a navy blue and had long sleeves, the hem of the dress spread out at the back whilst white silk escaped from underneath the dress. At the front the blue navy it would slipt in the middle from the waist revealing the lovely white silk underneath.
Ethel stared at both the dresses for a short moment before picking the dark blue one.
"This one mama!" Her voice full of excitement.
Her mother placed the light blue dress in the wardrobe before taking the navy dress and placed it over Ethels head and helped the dress fall into place. The elegant dress made her look like a princess, her mother then began gathering a small part of her white hair and tied a blue ribbon into it, she then tied the ribbon into a large bow at the back of Ethels head. Mrs Leonard then took out a pair of black velvet shoes and places them on Ethels feet.
"My don't you look wonderful Effy." Her mother spouted in a daze.
Ether Leonard knew her daughter would grow up to be beautiful and there would be many men after her hand when she would come of age. Ether slowly plopped herself on the floor and let out her arms for an embrace, Ethel then hugged her mother tightly as if she never wanted to let go.
"Ethel look at me…"
Het mother had placed her hands on her chin and lifted her head.
"You don't have to be scared my child, I promise to always love you."
Ethel's mind seemed eased by her mothers words, the edges of her lips seemed to lift to crate a smile.
Mrs Leonard knew that when the time comes to send Ethel away she would be devastated, which is why she had invited the Vuron's to stay. Ethel would see them as how her parents would see them in time.
***
The vampires gathered in the dining hall for breakfast. Each of their plates had been filled with thick crispy slices of bore with cinder beans as well as freshly baked buns and fried eggs. They sat and ate their delicious breakfasts whilst the sun gleamed through the crystal windows which illuminated the dining hall.
The vampires had little conversation while they ate their breakfast, when they finished the servants begin cleaning the table.
After the table was cleared they remained seated.
"I think we should have lunch at the lake before the Valairs leave our company, wouldn't that be wonderful." Mrs Leonard announced.
"I think that would be lovely, is the lake safe to swim? The weather seems to be perfect for a little dip" Mrs Vuron ended her words with a light giggle.
"The lake is perfectly safe, we take Ethel and Jerome often when the weather is like this." Mr Leonard projected.
Mrs Leonard waved at a servant that was statured by the entrance.
"Gather our bathing suits and prepare two of our carriages as well as Mr Vuron's carriage. We need blankets and food. We will also need the towels and tent. Instruct the other servants to help you, if you have any problems inform Arina the house keeper." The servant then bowed and gathered three other servants after Mr Leonard halted his orders.
The twins headed to their room to gets themselves ready as did Jerome. Ethel had left the dining hall without her mother to go her room when she could hear footsteps behind her. The steps soon become closer, before time she saw Cloud walking in unison beside her.
"Where are you going?" He questioned her passively.
"To my room, are you coming too?"
He seemed confused, only last night was she scared of him yet here she was now being so bold.
"I'll accept your invitation." Cloud smiled to himself waiting for Ethels response.
However Ethel did not comment on his answer. They walked in silence until they reached her bedroom door.