"Infernal cat", growled Thomas crouched looking under the sofa of the most presentable drawing room in Carlsdale Manor, which was saying a lot since all the rooms in the Manor looked fit to host royalty at a moment's notice. Vast, glittering with polished coats of arms in strategic places and coated with heavy brocade fabrics, he'd been afraid to sit on anything since he'd arrived two days ago.
Not that the staff were very welcoming. He could swear Mrs. Farrow the housekeeper was giving him death stares whenever his back was turned. And the butler Mr. Spelt was the epitome of a cantankerous jailor. His right knee was throbbing in pain and he almost wished the stupid cat was never found, if only he weren't afraid for his health and safety.
"Any luck Milord?", called the old dragon sweetly, sitting behind him. Lady Marsden had decided to grace him with a visit today, dragging along a reluctant Nibbles and an even more reluctant son. Henry Marsden was currently across the room looking for the damned furball that had decided to claw out Thomas' knee the minute he decided to sit down after a long day of touring the house and setting it up for Emily's arrival.
After the heinous crime, the cat had decided he'd had enough of their tense company and streaked to goodness knows where. This resulted in hysterics from the mother and a search party composed of the two men in the room. He'd have to enlist the butler and housekeeper if he didn't spot a tail soon. And he didn't want to have to speak to them unless he was certain the house was falling apart. Never had he met household staff more inclined to surliness.
He wasn't sure the Marsdens would leave without their vicious pet and he wasn't sure he'd survive an extended stay with four people in the house who seemed to hate his guts. And they all did seem to have an intense dislike to him. The household staff had taken their cues from the butler and housekeeper. Which he could almost forgive given what he could remember of his uncle's obnoxious personality. They clearly thought of him as a continuation of his uncle's tyrannical reign.
The Marsdens he couldn't quite figure out, however. The mother was politeness itself if one could ignore the unannounced early morning visit, unforgivable in Town. A petite woman with greying starting at her temples and small circular spectacles perched at the end of a pert nose, she looked rather unassuming. Until she opened her mouth that is. A continuous barrage, the likes of which would fell the sternest soldiers, followed and Thomas was helpless against her nosy inquiries into the Manor's state of affairs.
Quite lucky that he wasn't equipped to answer anything since he hadn't yet met with his estate manager. The son on the other hand was grim and silent in stark contrast to his vociferous relative. But grim and silent never looked so good.
Thomas doubted he'd seen a better-looking man in his life and considering that he'd spent the better part of his life in school with only men, it was a tough contest. Henry Marsden was a notorious rake perhaps because he didn't even need to try at it.
Angelic blonde hair, delicate features and shockingly blue eyes that were shot with a touch of green, Marsden's silence only added to his attractiveness. It made him seem mysterious and aloof. He'd barely glanced at Thomas after the introductions, before he walked across the room to the window and stared outside, making noncommittal sounds whenever his mother directed a remark at him.
It took all of Thomas' willpower not to scowl at the annoyingly attractive man, who was being pointedly rude to his host. It was while he was making a mental note to ensure Emily maintained her distance from this man (it would be insufferable to have him for an in-law), that Nibbles decided to make a run for it. But not without a good dose of maiming thrown in for the heck of it.
Just then, the door swung open fully with a small jangle followed by a hoarse whisper, "At my age, making me serve…".
"Ah thank you Mrs. Farrow", he said brightly, spinning on his knees towards the curmudgeonly housekeeper. Her glare could've turned his insides but instead merely made him freeze in place while she looked him from head to knee.
A moment of silence ensued in which the clearly befuddled housekeeper quickly glanced at the seated Lady Marsden, prim and proper in her chair before asking hesitantly, "Are you quite comfortable there sir?".
She was clutching a heavy tea tray and eyeing the unexpected scene as though she'd been transported into a different dimension.
"Why thank you, yes Mrs. Farrow! Just testing the rugs. Quite cushiony and springy with age aren't they? Impressive work", smiled Thomas at her maintaining a cheery grin even as his knees screamed bloody murder at him. Creaking to his feet, he performed a casual stretch, lifting each trouser-clad leg and rotating his ankles. Bliss!
At Mrs. Farrow's blank stare, his smile slipped slightly. "Only a joke, dear lady! We're looking for a sweet cat, about ye high", gesturing at his shins. "Tubby, with a slightly smashed face. Utterly adorable of course" he said hastily in Lady Marsden's direction. Too late, she was already narrowing her eyes at him, a stormy blue quite similar to her son's.
"Nibbles happens to be missing, Mrs. Farrow", stated Marsden's mother calmly. "As the men seem to be having a difficult time of it, in this room", here she paused delicately to look about the room before glancing disparagingly at Thomas, then continued with "The door had been left ajar which may explain poor Nibble's absence. Perhaps you could enlist the household to lend a hand? That is, if Lord Carlsdale could possibly spare them of course?"
At the dragon's eyebrow lift at him, Thomas vigorously nodded his head and said "Please Mrs. Farrow, we would all be most obliged." "
At once sir, milady", said Farrow with a surprisingly nimble curtsey before she placed down the heavy tea seat and exited the room silently.
"Wonderful. Excellent. That settles that then", said Thomas to fill the silence. Henry Marsden was making his way back to the window and his mother had turned her attention to the tea.
"Cream and sugar?", she asked, fixing him a cup after hers. "No, thank you", he said surprised at her attentiveness. He was used to Emily and him taking turns when they took tea together. It had been too long since they'd begun being inseparable and now even drinking tea was a bit lonesome without his sister.
"Henry, tea?", his mother called softly, the question more an order than inquiry. Marsden turned to them and strode over before taking the proffered cup, cream and sugar noted Thomas, before seating himself in a comfortable chair between his mother and Thomas. Sipping slowly, he glanced at Thomas with a flint-eyed stare that made Thomas feel as if he could see through him.
"Lord Carlsdale, I understand you have a sister? When are you expecting her?", asked Lady Marsden, with a polished sip at her tea and a nibble at a biscuit.
Speaking through a mouthful of the rather delicious biscuit, Thomas replied, "Three days hence, madam. She's just packing up the rest of the house while I set up what is required for our stay in the Manor."
"Wonderful, I look forward to meeting her."
"I'm sure she would be delighted to be acquainted with you as well", said Thomas, pointedly ignoring the blonde man on his left.
Lady Marsden leaned forward as if imparting a great secret, and with a conspiratorial whisper asked, "Just between us, does your sister carry the gift? I can't spy a hint of magic on you".
Thomas froze for the second time that day. Except this time he felt rather like his heart would fly from his chest. Like his blood had frozen in his veins. Rather like he wanted to boot Lady Marsden from his house and never see her or her infernal cat again.
The sheer audacity of the question took his breath away. Emily and he rarely discussed this subject between themselves. It certainly wasn't spoken of in polite society. Magic was a taboo topic even in the lower hells. To be asked this question was to indicate a deep disregard for societal norms or a form of insanity. He could easily believe the latter of Lady Marsden as much as the former.
After what felt like an eternity, he fixed a polite look on his face, one which he hoped gave little away. "My sister practices nothing of the sort, and neither do I. My apologies Lady Marsden, perhaps it is getting a little late in the day and I do have to meet with my solicitor and agent." Standing up, he placed his cup down with a resonant clink and waited expectantly. From the corner of his eye, he could see Marsden has a small smirk tugging at his lips and he leaned forward to return his cup to the tray.
"Dear, of dear, I do hope I haven't offended! We are a bit freer in the country which is why I asked. Of course, your uncle was rather against magic wasn't he?", asked Lady Marsden, saying the word "magic" in a whisper, Thomas was sure could be heard in the hallway.
"As everyone ought to be", said Thomas stone-faced. "I think I hear Mrs. Farrow! Do you suppose she's found the cat?" he asked heading to the doors. He knew he was being rude but he couldn't stand another second of conversation with the woman.
However, she ignored his blatant distraction. Blinking owlishly up at him, she stood up slowly and persisted, "It was your father's side of the family wasn't it? The Lovingtons are infamous for their magical bloodlines, aren't they? I've heard your dear uncle, may he rest in peace, complain about his sister marrying into-". She finally noticed his expression.
"I hear the cat", spoke Henry suddenly, his deep baritone suddenly breaking the tension. "Mother, perhaps you should see Mrs. Farrow before we leave?"
Like his mother, his question wasn't an inquiry. A change seemed to come over the lady as she exchanged a look with her son.
"Very well. Thank you for your kind hospitality Lord Carlsdale. I look forward to future visits", her polite mask back on her wrinkle-lined face. With a shallow curtsey, she made a stately exit from the drawing room.
Thomas looked at Marsden who'd turned back to pick up a biscuit. "These truly are delicious", he said snapping the biscuit in half in a bite.
"It's been quite interesting making your acquaintance, Carlsdale. Apologies for the mater, but I could swear she's taken a shine to you." He lazily winked a soft blue eye at Thomas as he drew close.
Dwarfing Thomas, he sent a shadow over him as he passed by. His arm brushed Thomas', the red wool swishing gently against the black one Thomas wore. He caught a whiff of jasmine and sandalwood, a musky undertone that frissons of awareness throughout him, making the hair on his arms stand on end.
He couldn't help closing his eyes and breathing deeply before he caught himself, shook his head and spun around to the door.
"Why-", began Thomas before noticing the empty doorway and the echoes of the carriage wheels on the front driveway. The Marsdens had finally left.