A/N: Thanks to those who reviewed and followed; it made my day! Thank you all for being supportive when my first chapter was posted wrong the first time. Hopefully the early update makes up for it. I will respond to reviews the moment I figure it out.

Disclamer: I do not own these charcters; I asked Cassandra Clare nicely, but that didn't help.

Chapter 2

The household went inside, cheerful conversation following. Alec grabbed Aline and approached Jem. He grabbed the bags Jem had pulled out of the car and handed them to Aline. "Can you take these to Lord Alicante's room? I'll take care of them afterwards. I have to go serve."

Aline nodded. "Sure thing, Alec." She walked into the Manor, leaving Jem and Alec.

Jem shut the door to the car. "So, you're Lord Alicante's valet."

"Henry and Charlotte just told me today," explained Alec.

Jem clapped Alec's shoulder. "Good for you. I have to go park the car and you have to serve one last time."

Alec nodded and walked towards the Manor.

Magnus sat at the head of the table. Ragnor was on his left and Catarina and Tessa were on his right.

"So how was your trip," asked Tessa.

"Fairly decent. It's nice to be off the boat. That was a little queasy," said Magnus.

"What have you been doing the last few years since you were here last," asked Ragnor.

Magnus took a sip of his wine. "I've been overseeing an estate that belonged to my mother. It's not nearly as magnificent as Brooklyn Manor." Alec took his plate away and walked off. "It shouldn't be hard for me to transfer the skills."

"You'll do fine, Magnus. If you need any extra help we can hire someone," offered Catarina.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Aunt Catarina. So Tessa, have the suitors come flocking yet," asked Magnus with a smile. Jace and Alec came back with new plates.

Tessa blinked at the question. "I only had my debut three months ago. It will take some time."

Ragnor chuckled. "You don't have to be so modest. She's had a few suitors come by. Lord Mortmain has come by several times, in fact."

"I don't see you here with a wife. What are your plans, Magnus. You can't be a bachelor for life if you want to keep the Manor in your father's line," pointed out Tessa.

Magnus laughed. "You are something. I'm only twenty four, dear cousin. I still have some time on my hands. Though you are right, it is slipping past me."

"I'm sure when others hear you're back they'll be presenting their daughters to you," assured Catarina.

"It will only be a matter of time," replied Magnus.

"Fairchild, do you have the plates done," asked Jace.

"Yes, if you looked, they're behind you," replied Clary.

"What is he like," asked Will as Alec walked by.

"A bit like a pompous ass," he replied as he hurried up the stairs.

Jem slowly took a drag and looked at Will. "This can't be good if Alec doesn't like him."

Will turned towards the ceiling. "Heaven have mercy on our souls."

"Stop gossiping William and James. That's not good for you," chastised Helen.

Will flashed her a smile. "I'm just joking, Helen."

Helen rolled her eyes and continued to work.

"We should have a party sometime now that you're back. Who knows, there might be wedding bells that follow after it," suggested Catarina.

"I don't have the desire to rush into marriage. It will happen when it happens," Magnus said nonchalantly.

"A party would be fun. It's been awhile since this place has seen some fun. Remind me to talk to you about this later, Branwell," said Ragnor.

Henry nodded. "Certainly, sir."

Magnus took a long sip of wine from his glass. "I feel like retiring to the parlor. Would you care to join me?"

Ragnor got up from the table. "Certainly, Catarina, Tessa, will you accompany us?"

"Yes, we will. Come along, Tessa," said Catarina.

They stood up and followed the men to the parlor.

Clary placed a platter on the table as Jace and Alec came down the stairs. "I was starting to wonder if you boys were ever coming down."

"I was wondering that myself," said Alec as he sat down.

"Food's ready. We just have to wait for the Branwells," said Helen.

Henry and Charlotte came into the room and the staff stood up. He sat down and the rest followed suit.

"What is the young Lord Alicante like," asked Helen.

"He's not much like his father; He's more like his mother," said Henry.

"I thought he was interesting," added Jace.

"Alec certainly thought he was," Will said with a smirk.

Jace turned to face him. "You did."

Alec gave a slight blush. "Yes, he seems to think very highly of himself."

Charlotte set her fork down. "Did you really say that."

"No, he actually said he was a pompous ass," confessed Will.

Two angry splotches appeared on Charlotte's face. "Mr. Lightwood, do you have no respect for those above you? We may have given you a higher position today, but don't think Mr. Branwell and I won't revoke it."

"That's right," added Henry.

Alec sunk in his chair a bit. "Sorry, m'am. It won't happen again."

An awkward silence enveloped the table and those sitting at it. Henry cleared his throat. "Lord Ragnor suggest at dinner this evening that a party might be held."

Isabelle squealed in delight. "We haven't had one since I came here. This is so exciting."

"There hasn't been a date set or if it is even definite," said Henry.

"Still, a party would be a nice change of pace," remarked Aline.

"I would need to pull put some old recipes," murmured Helen.

"Depending on the size we might have to hire extra help," added Jem.

"We would need to get the good linens from the back of the cupboard," Sophie told Aline.

The ringing of a bell silenced the happy chatter. They all looked at the bell system on the wall to see which room the call came from. The bell, which was still ringing, was above the plaque that read 'Lord Alicante'.

"Oh hell, I forgot that I needed to unpack his belongings," Alec said as he pushed himself away from the table. He went up the stairs and turned around when he heard footsteps from behind. "What are you doing?"

Will leaned against the wall. "Sorry to get you in trouble back there."

"It's fine. I shouldn't have said that; I should have kept it to myself," Alec said with a sigh.

"Jace and I have said plenty of things worse you," pointed out Will.

"I know, but you aren't his valet," argued Alec.

"But I am one. Just remember, you aren't the first person to bad mouth their boss and you won't be the last."

"Thank you, Will," Alec said with a smile.

"Anytime," replied Will as he walked back down stairs.

Alec hurried upstairs to Magnus's room, hoping he hadn't angered him. He approached the door and knocked. "Come in," he said.

Alec pushed the door opened and saw Magnus lounging in a chair by the fire, a cat in his lap. "Are you my new valet?"

Alec turned a faint shade of pink, "Yes."

Magnus stood up and dropped the cat on the floor. "I thought you were a footman."

Alec walked over to Magnus's bed where his luggage was and began to unpack it. "I had to revive the role one last time before the replacement came."

Magnus snorted. "Do you know what you're doing?"

Alec froze before he spoke. "If the Branwells did not think that I was capable they wouldn't have appointed me."

"I'll be the judge of that," he said as he scooped the cat on to his bed.

Alec mumbled something under his breath so faintly that it could be barely heard. Just barely.

"What was that," asked Magnus.

Alec turned his cold blue eyes toward him. "I said you were being a pompous ass."

The first cliffhanger! Don't forget to review, follow and favorite!