The car sped across the pavement as the bright summer sun shone down on the occupants. Lloyd Asplund and Cecile Croomy had somehow gotten a week's vacation and since Cecile had never met his family, Lloyd thought that it would be a good opportunity for her to go somewhere besides that stuffy lab.

"Ah!" he exclaimed excitedly."There it is. The Asplund family estate." Lloyd stated as they drew nearer. He turned to glance at his assistant, Miss Cecile Croomy, only to do a doubletake. Her mouth was slightly ajar and her eyes were huge.
"Cecile?"
"I-It'shuge!" came her shocked voice. She leaned over towards him and said;
"Y-You didn't tell me it would be this big! You said 'Don't worry Cecile. Bringmaybe a few sundresses and one fancy dress' that's what you told me!" Having never been in such luxury, Cecile had not expected the mansion she laid her eyes on and felt suddenly underdressed in her skirt and blouse. Lloyd laughed at her. This wasn't the first time he'd gotten that reaction from somebody upon them seeing his childhood home for the first time. The car stopped in front of a large, arched doorway and he stepped out, offering his had to Cecile. Taking it gently, she slowly stepped out as well, eye huge and curious as a child's.

Stepping, inside Lloyd watched Cecile glance around uneasily. He understood how it could be intimidating if you were not raised in such a place. From the tapistry covered walls and the polished, white tile, to the high sloping ceilings and the tall, rounded arches, the mansion was the depiction of the wealth that Cecile had not grown up around. A servant stood at the foot of the stairs and announced his parents.

"Lord and Lady Victor and Gabitha Asplund!" Cecile inhailed a sharp, nervous breath and Lloyd smiled up at his parents as they descended the staircase. His mother's hand was slid through his father's arm as she floated gracefully down the sky blue hair, streaked with slight gray and was pulled back, twisted severely into a French knot at the base of her neck. Her eyes were also blue. They were Lloyd's eyes, Cecile noted. His father's hair was the soft purple of his own and he had deep, golden eyes that seemed to smile and radiate all the gentleness of the world. Sideburns came down the side of his face to join into a beard, the same purple as his hair. His mother saw him and immediatly abandoned all of her royal morals. Grinning, she lifted her skirts and bolted down the rest of the stairs towards her only child.

"Oh Lloyd! My baby!" she pulled his face down and covered it with kisses while his father stood back and smiled at his wife's joy. Lloyd's father caught Cecile's eye and she quickly looked away, thinking to be respectful. However, he continued to give her a curious look as he took a step towards her. Suddenly, breaking into a huge grin, he scooped her up into his arms, engulfing her in a bear hug.

"Ah! So you are Cecile Croomy! We have heard much about you from our son!" Lord Asplund was a big man. A good couple of inches taller than his son and definatly more muscular and larger around the waist. He had Lloyd's hair and smile, she noticed. Gabitha peered at her son.
"Cecile Croomy?" Lloyd just nodded and smiled. With affirmation, Lady Asplund bustled over to Cecile, who was still in Victor's arms, smiled, and pecked her on the cheek. Cecile blinked.

"Welcome," she stated, "Welcome to our home! I am truly sorry to meet you and run my dear butmy husband and I must get ready for tonight's party. Lloyd will show you to your room. I hope you don't mind, but you will be in a room adjoined to his. It will be much easier. Especially since you just got here, no? We will see you at the party." Lord Asplund placed her gently on her feet and followed his wife out. Cecile stood and stared, blinking rapidly until Lloyd laughed. She turned and glared at him.
"Just take me to my room Lloyd!" he laughed again at her tone and led her up the stairs.


AN: Alright! So this was FORMERLY known as Visiting Lloyd's Family. But as I re-read that story this evening, I was not at ALL happy with how it was written and the story plot. So basically, this is a re-write. They are still visiting Lloyd's family and there may still be some heart break but I'm not sure where it'll go right now. For now, just enjoy the new and very much improved version called An Earl and His Assistant :) Please let me know if you like this one better or worse than the first version. Though I'm sure finding it worse than the first will be impossible haha For those of you who were following VLF, I apologise. But I hope that all of you have found this story again with little trouble.

(^.^) ~BFA (^.^)