Thanks to Snowin You' (u get to see Castiel with the young ones and he does bump into Dean again), Winter Gray (I'm glad you are enjoying the Gothic vibe) and Lee Marie Jack (I love writing historicals. I used to gobble up historical romance novels back in the day. Picked up the hobby again) for reviewing.
Castiel rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hands. He had become accustomed to waking up around seven in the morning. No sunlight crept through the closed velvet curtains in his new bed chamber. The prince sat in the center of the canopied bed. He stretched his arms up towards the arched ceiling and wiggled his toes. Fortunately, his head did not hurt too much this morning. Castiel settled his meager belongings quickly last night. Mrs. Harvelle offered to start a fire for him but the prince declined the woman's gracious offer. He arranged kindling in the fireplace and lit a fire on his own. Ever since he was a child in the royal palace, Castiel loathed having to depend on servants.
His father playfully reprimanded a four year old Castiel, when the boy made his own bed. The young royal refused to have his own valet. He'd rather bathe and dress himself. He opted to eat breakfast with the kitchen staff early each morning.
The lit fireplace made the prince's chamber in the Winchester estate quite toasty. Castiel wasted no time in removing all of his clothes. He loved to sleep in the nude. The prince did miss silk sheets which were an indulgence of his. There was something wicked and decadent, feeling the sensuous material caress his nude form.
Castiel slid from the bed and went in search of the clothes he'd don today. This day he began his new life as Mr. Amberline, tutor extraordinaire. He fervently hoped that his two new charges took a liking to him. Castiel looked forward to meeting the young men and starting their daily lessons.
The prince chose a plain outfit. After all, he needs to give an impression of a modest upbringing. So Balthy came up with the idea of Castiel's new wardrobe. Nothing too fancy had been packed in his satchel bag. His boots had been purchased at a general store and didn't hold the sheen of his former pairs of Hessian boots. The royal butler personally waxed them until they practically glittered.
A timid knock was heard on the door. Castiel opened it in the middle of buttoning a cream colored shirt. A mousy looking maid with fiery red hair stood at the threshold. Her eyes immediately locked on to the tutor's chiseled, bronzed chest. She cleared her throat.
Castiel grinned. "Good morning"
"Mrs. Harvelle instructed me to bring you water for your morning ablutions." She handed him a tin wash basin filled with warm water.
The prince smiled. "Thank you very much." He arched a brow. "And your name is?"
The maid blushed. "Anna Milton at your service, Mr. Amberline."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Anna." Castiel retrieved the basin and settled it over a mantel.
"Breakfast is served in an hour." Anna bowed her head and closed the door.
Castiel splashed warm water over his face and went on to shave. He brushed his teeth before continuing to dress for the day. Ten minutes later, he found his way to the kitchen where he met with Mrs. Harvelle. Hannah brought a batch of freshly baked biscuits from the oven. Ellen cooked fried eggs over a cast-iron Dutch oven. The scintillating aroma caused his stomach to grumble.
"Ah Good morning, Mr. Amberline." Ellen stirred gravy, warming in a pot.
"I told you to call me Castiel." The prince approached the older woman. "Can I be of assistance?"
"Breakfast is almost done. Why don't you wake the boys? Lil' Adam is not a morning person. It will take you at least half an hour to get the little bee out of bed. Sammy shouldn't give you any trouble. They know today is your first day."
"Very well" Castiel turned to Hannah to say good morning. The cook smiled back.
"Your chamber is between both boys' rooms." Ellen said, while she removed the gravy pot from the Dutch oven.
Castiel nodded and left the kitchen. He whistled on his way up the stairs. His eyes took in the framed paintings and portraits which decorated the second floor hallway. He stopped in front of a painting of a good looking couple on their wedding day. Castiel deduced the pair was the late John and Mary Winchester. What a sad shame they perished so young.
He walked further down the hall and stood in front of a family painting. In it John stood behind Mary, who held a bald baby. The infant must be the infamous Adam. The family patriarch was surrounded by a ten year old Samuel. On the other side, a beautiful young man, who couldn't be more than twenty, when the portrait was originally painted stood. Castiel furrowed his brows. He hadn't been told of the existence of another son.
Perhaps the young man happened to be Mary's younger brother. They shared the same coloring. Castiel's eyes traced every inch of the mysterious man's face. His eyes were a gorgeous forest green and merry. Castiel found the freckles that dotted his cheeks and nose adorable. But what the prince really loved were the man's full and firm lips. Castiel vividly imagined them wrapped around his phallus.
The prince shook his head. Since Eric died he hadn't thought about any other man in a sexual manner. Castiel covered his chest with a hand. His heart ached whenever he remembered his lost love. He felt guilty thinking wicked things about the man in the painting. Castiel felt like he was being unfaithful to Eric's memory.
He walked to the chamber to the right of his. Castiel knocked twice. He heard an adolescent voice invite him inside. Castiel turned the knob and entered. A tall and gangly boy with shaggy, chestnut hair tied the curtains open.
"Good morning Samuel." Castiel leaned against a Louis XV style, ebonized desk.
The adolescent turned around. He smiled, revealing dimples. "You must be the tutor." He scurried over to the prince to offer a hand.
"Castiel Amberline at your service, Samuel." They shook hands.
"I am glad you arrived, Mr. Amberline. I miss school tremendously."
"This is exactly the attitude I hoped for. Is there any particular subject you would like to start with?" Castiel noticed a Globe standing on an iron stand in a corner. "Is that a Treaty of Versailles globe?" He strolled over to it. His fingers traced the ivory globe and spun it.
"Dad gave it to me for my last birthday." Sam's smile turned into a frown.
"I am terribly sorry for your loss." The adolescent shrugged his shoulders. "I never knew my mother. She died, giving birth to me. My father passed away last year."
"My condolences, Mr. Amberline."
"Whenever you wish to speak about it, I am here." Castiel placed a hand over Samuel's shoulder.
The boy nodded. "Thank you"
"Ready for breakfast? Food smells delicious."
"Ellen and Hannah are the best cooks in all of Lawrence. I am dying for some biscuits with gravy."
"Well you are in luck. Mind joining me in waking your little brother?" Castiel waited for Sam by the door.
Samuel rolled his eyes. "Good luck with that."
The duo walked towards the nursery. Sam opened the door. The large chamber was dark. Samuel instantly walked to the window and tied the curtains; even though the sun hadn't made an appearance yet. Heavy snowfall continued its assault on Lawrence. Everything outside was white. Sam walked to the side of a small bed. A tiny lump lay in the middle. Tufts of blond hair peeked from a white and sky blue quilt. Sam shook the small body.
The tutor took in his surroundings. Walls painted sky blue with a few bumble bees in flight greeted Castiel. He smiled. As a child he himself had been obsessed with the laborious, fuzzy creatures.
"No, leave me alone!" a small voice screamed.
"Get up, Adam. Breakfast is ready. Ellen is going to tan your pale, little butt if you don't get out of bed right now!"
Adam did not stir. Castiel watched the amusing scene with a grin on his face. Young Adam already seemed to be quite the handful. "Adam, our tutor has arrived. He wishes to meet you."
All of a sudden, a cute face appeared from within the quilt. A pair of large, aquamarine eyes stared at Castiel. The prince waved at the four year old. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Adam."
The inquisitive and innocent eyes glanced at the tutor some more. Sam hit his baby brother on the head. "It's rude to stare!"
Castiel chuckled. "Perhaps we may go sledding later today but only if Adam behaves and does as he is told."
The four year old flew out of bed. "Promise! Why don't we go now?" He began searching for clothes to wear in a cherry wood chest at the foot of the bed. Adam tossed a plethora of clothes on the wood floor. Castiel knelt next to him. He gathered the discarded clothes.
"Hold your horses, Adam!" Sam scolded his little brother. "I'll help you get dressed. We need to ask Mr. Amberline what our itinerary is for today and then go eat breakfast."
"But what about the sleigh ride?" Adam pouted.
"First we will have breakfast and then the two of you will show me where the classroom is. After today's lesson we can go on a sleigh ride."
"No fair!" Adam sat on top of the chest.
"Yes, it is fair. Do you not want to learn about the stars and how to read and write? When you grow up you can join the army or go on sea adventures like pirates." Castiel knelt in front of Adam.
"Pirates don't need to read and write."
"There you are wrong. Pirates need to read co-ordinates and write logs." Castiel stood up.
"Oh I didn't know that." Adam frowned. "I can't read or write."
"That is why I am here for. You will be reading and writing in less than a year. I give you my word." Castiel crossed his heart. "Do we have a deal?"
Adam spat on the palm of his hand. He extended it to the tutor. Castiel squirmed on the inside. Sam rolled his eyes. He turned to Mr. Amberline. "He wants you to spit on your own hand and shake his."
Castiel arched a raven brow before spitting on the palm of his hand. He shook Adam's small hand. The four year old giggled, revealing a wide gap in his top, front teeth. Castiel chuckled. He led his youngest charge to wash his hands in a basin and then went on to clean his own.
Ellen entered the nursery. "Someone did not bathe yesterday, claiming it was too cold."
A tall bear of a man entered the chamber, carrying a child size, copper tub. Adam froze. "No!"
"Leave the tub by the window, Benny." Ellen thanked the male servant.
Benny turned to Castiel and introduced himself. The two men shook hands. "Holler if you need anything, Amberline." The tutor thanked Benny before he vacated the nursery.
"Adam Scott Winchester, you better start undressing before I tan your pale tush."
"I don't want to take a bath!" Adam sat on the floor.
"Adam, breakfast is getting cold. Just take a bath already!" Sam tapped a foot on the floor. "You are such a dirty pig."
Ellen grabbed the four year old and began to undress him. Castiel excused himself and left the nursery. He could hear Adam's screams of protest in the hallway. "I am going to be a pirate. Pirates do not take baths!"
As soon as Castiel got to the stairs, a small Tasmanian Devil flew by him. Adam ran away from his nanny in the buff. The four year old laughed his way down the stairs. "Adam!" Ellen bellowed.
Castiel descended the stairs and went in search of his charge. This boy was not going to make things easy. The prince searched in a sitting room and Adam was nowhere to be found in there. He headed to the living room area. Castiel observed curtains moving.
"Hmm I wonder where young Adam is." He sauntered over to the floor to ceiling window and stood adjacent to it. Giggles were heard from behind the curtains.
Adam attempted to escape from behind the silk curtains. His tutor grabbed him by the waist. The boy kicked and screamed while Castiel carried him to the nursery. "Thank God you found him!' Ellen stood by the tub.
Castiel dunked the boy in the tub. "No!"
Adam tried wiggling from the tub. Sam and Ellen surrounded him. He finally looked defeated. He stuck his tongue out at Castiel. "Traitor!" The prince chuckled on his way out.
Twenty minutes later, the boys accompanied by Ellen entered the kitchen. Castiel helped Hannah set the table. Once the boys were settled, their tutor served them milk. Sam eagerly lathered two biscuits with gravy. Castiel served Adam a biscuit and a fried egg.
"Mind tending to Adam, Mr. Amberline? I need to take Dean his breakfast."
"Not at all, Mrs. Harvelle." Castiel wondered who Dean was. The man who saved him last night came to mind.
"What did I tell you? Call me Ellen," the nanny playfully scolded Castiel.
"Then call me by my given name."
"Very well," Ellen winked at him before leaving the kitchen, carrying a large tray of food.
After Castiel placed a linen napkin under Adam's shirt and lathering raspberry marmalade on the boy's biscuit, he served himself a plate. Hannah served the tutor hot tea laced with honey. Castiel asked the boys what they wanted to learn today.
"I wouldn't mind a geography lesson," Sam suggested.
"Splendid...what about you Adam?"
"Math," the child replied with a mouth full of egg.
"Gentlemen do not speak while chewing food," the tutor explained.
Adam finished chewing the egg and swallowed. He gulped down milk and wiped some from his upper lip. "Sorry"
"You are disgusting." Sam shook his head.
"I believe table etiquette will be added to your lessons." Castiel looked at the boys. "Now that we have finished breakfast we can head to the classroom."
"Follow me!" Sam was excited.
Meanwhile, Dean sat on the corner of his bed, waiting for Ellen's daily morning arrival. She knocked and he stood to allow her to enter. He held the door open for his former nanny. "Biscuits with gravy and fried eggs make up today's menu."
Dean's stomach rumbled pretty loud. Ellen set the tray over the small eating table. "The tutor arrived last evening but I know you've already met. You saved him."
The man shrugged his shoulders and dug into the gravy lathered biscuits. "Why don't you make yourself presentable and go downstairs to meet him formally? Mr. Amberline needs to be introduced to the boys' guardian."
Dean tensed up. He fervently shook his head. He poured himself a generous cup of freshly brewed coffee. The tutor's vivid, baby blue eyes flashed in front of him. Dean had no courage. He refused to have the handsome man come face to face with the Beast.
Ellen pulled the other chair to sit down. "Dean Michael Winchester, stop acting like a big, stupid baby. Look at me, when I speak to you!" She noticed the young man's nostrils flare. Dean tossed the spoon hard against the metal plate. His enraged, forest green eyes clashed with her warm and kind, brown ones.
"What happened to you was vile and I would have switched places with you in a heartbeat. But life goes on and you need to resume living life. Obviously not the way you were after your folks passed."
Dean rubbed a thumb and forefinger along his long scar. He breathed hard. "Your parents must've been rolling in their graves. You became a disgrace, whoring and gambling your family's money away."
The young man flinched. Dean had done a ton of inner soul searching during his self-imposed exile. He admitted to being disgusted with his behavior after his parents' accident. At times he believed God allowed him to be assaulted and scarred in order for Dean to change his wild about ways. Some role model he turned out to be for his kid brothers. His appetite evaporated. Dean slid the plate towards Ellen.
Tears slipped down Ellen's cheeks. She covered Dean's folded hands with one of hers. The nanny became surprised. This was the first time since the incident that Dean did not flinch from any form of tactile contact. Dean stared at their hands. His were larger, bronzed and callused compared to her smaller and paler ones.
"I love you like you were my own, Dean Michael. I bathed you and changed your dirty nappies since you were born. It hurts to see your current hermit lifestyle."
Dean breathed in deeply. Caring for the tutor last night uncurled something in his heart. He'd spent the entire evening alone in his empty room, thinking of the man. His heart would break if Mr. Amberline turned away from him once he got a good look at his scarred face. He removed his hands from under Ellen's to rub at the scar again.
"Stop that! You remain as handsome as you've always been. Although I gotta say, you stink a little." Ellen glanced around the large bedroom. "I noticed you got rid of the mirrors. I'll have Benny bring you one for shaving. It's about time you started grooming yourself."
Dean opened his mouth to argue but Ellen waved a hand at him. "And tomorrow after lunch I am cutting that lion's mane. You will no longer hide your beautiful face."
Dean held the door open for Ellen. She brought her fingers to stop his from rubbing the scar. "Mr. Amberline seems like someone you'll gel with, sweetheart. He is only nineteen. Why don't you make an appearance during lunch? Your brothers will be over the moon. The new tutor would like to thank you for saving his life."
He swallowed hard and shook his head. "Very well but tomorrow you're getting a haircut whether you like it or not." For the first time in months, Dean smiled at her.
Castiel followed his charges down a long corridor. Adam opened the door to a huge room that was obviously a library. Built in book cases that reached the ceiling aligned the walls. A mahogany, writing desk stood in the center of the library. A small desk designed for a child had been placed by a tall window. A world map was displayed on an entire wall, as well as a large chalkboard.
Sam scurried over to a bookcase to fetch a geography book. He handed it to his tutor. Adam sat on the small desk. The boy seemed bored already. Castiel found a puzzle with wood shapes on the writing desk. He gave it to Adam. "Start placing the pieces in the shape where they belong. Once you finish, we'll go over the names of the shapes."
Adam became involved and concentrated where the correct pieces of carved wood belonged. His tongue stuck out as he concentrated. Castiel taught Sam about South America. The focus was on Brazil, Bolivia and Peru. Sam absorbed the information like a sponge. After two hours, the tutor instructed his charge to write a two page summary of what he learned.
The four year old managed to get the entire puzzle correct. He did have difficulty remembering the word hexagon. Castiel was impressed. This particular puzzle had been designed for children ages 8 and up. He wouldn't be surprised if Adam turned out to be rather intelligent.
The look of disappointment could not be taken away from Ellen's face at lunch time. Dean made no appearance. After the boys and their tutor ate turkey sandwiches and chicken broth, Ellen sent Hannah to take Dean his meal. The nanny helped Adam put on a long blue coat, wool gloves and cap. Mr. Amberline pulled over the four year old's feet snow boots. Sam patiently waited for them to go outside.
Adam walked over to his brother and held hands with him. Castiel brought a sled along that would hold all three of them. Outside everything was covered in snow. As Castiel pulled the sled across three feet of snow, the man, who saved him last night, came to mind. The prince planned on asking Ellen, who he was as soon as they returned to the manor.
Adam jumped up and down in exhilaration. The trio walked towards a small hill. Castiel sat in the back with Adam in the middle and Sam in the front. Benny jogged through the snow to pull the sled. He nodded at Castiel and greeted the boys.
"Hurry Benny! I want to fly!" Adam screamed.
Dean stood by the window. His baby brother's giggles captured his attention. He traced the glass of the cold window. That should be him with his siblings not a stranger. From a distance, Dean could see the tutor's cheeks becoming red due to the cold temperature. His dark hair was wild. Suddenly, Dean had a vision of the man naked beneath him. That would be a better way for him to flush. Dean cleared his thoughts. A smile adorned his face, when Benny pulled at the sled and it went sliding down the hill. Castiel, Sammy and Adam all threw their arms up in the air. He stepped away from the window once the sled disappeared.
Half an hour later, the trio returned to the manor. Adam's eyes began to close. Sam quickly picked his baby brother up to take him to his room. It was time for the little rascal's afternoon nap. Castiel found Ellen in the kitchen, instructing Hannah on what to prepare for the evening meal.
The older woman smiled gently at him. "How about some tea?" Castiel nodded his approval.
She joined him. This was the perfect opportunity. "Forgive my inquisitiveness but who is the young man in the family portrait? Is he the late Mrs. Winchester's brother?"
Ellen put down her tea cup. She nibbled her lower lip before speaking. "That's Dean Michael. He is the boy's big brother."
"Really?"
Ellen went on in telling the tutor about how Dean handled his parents passing and the huge responsibility of handling a thriving business and two little brothers. "Too much to be put on young shoulders," the prince said.
"That's not the worst part." The nanny shared with him all about Dean's assault.
Castiel's heart broke even more if it was humanly possible. "So that is why he hardly looked at me. His hair covered the scar. I bet it is not as bad as he thinks it is."
"It was rather ugly at first but with the proper treatment it's healed nicely. Yes, he'll have a long scar for the rest of his life but it hasn't changed his beautiful face."
Castiel thought that was something else they shared besides having lost both of their parents. Dean Winchester's scar travelled along the top part of his face while his back was covered in ugly lashes. The prince hoped the two of them crossed paths soon.
Later that evening after dinner, Castiel played a parlor game from his homeland with the boys. Adam loved wearing a blindfold and having to guess in which part of the sitting room Castiel, Ellen or Sam hid. He needed to guess what animal sound the people, hiding made.
A little after nine it was time for Adam to hit the hay. Ellen tucked him in and said prayers along with the four year old. Castiel had been touched to hear his youngest charge ask God for his well-being along with his entire family and Ellen.
Ellen and Castiel were on their way out of the nursery, when Adam asked his tutor to tell him a story. The prince exchanged a glance with the nanny. She whispered, "Dean used to tell him pirate stories at bed time."
The tutor turned to Adam. "I do not know any pirate tales but would you like to hear the adventures of Eric and his dragon best friend Misha?"
The four year old nodded eagerly. Ellen smiled at Castiel. She left the nursery door open. The tutor brought a rocking chair adjacent to the bed. "There once lived a short yet brave red haired lad named Eric, whose best friend happened to be a baby dragon named Misha."
Adam stayed awake until Eric and Misha entered the cave of the evil troll king. Unknown to Castiel, Dean had witnessed the sweet exchange from a tiny opening in a secret passage. The Winchester enjoyed listening to the tutor's low, gravelly voice while he regaled his baby brother with the fantasy story. As soon as the tutor stood up, Dean lightly closed the panel and made his way down a dark passageway.
Sam went to bed around eleven. Before that Castiel and the fourteen year old sat on an iron bench in the garden to have an astronomy lesson. Sam gobbled up every word that came out of the tutor's mouth. The adolescent could tell the man was passionate about the stars and the solar system. When the weather became too cold, Castiel ordered his charge to enter the warm manor. Sam didn't put up a fight and wished his tutor a good night.
Castiel remained, sitting on the bench for some time. He tipped his head backwards to gaze at the stars. Due to the remains of the snowstorm, the sky was dark and not many stars were visible. He breathed deeply the country air. During nights like these, Castiel missed Eric tremendously. The two of them fell in love through their love of astronomy.
The sound of wood being chopped captured the prince's attention. Castiel rose and breathed into his hands. He followed the sound into the woods. He froze upon the sight which greeted him. Dean Winchester chopped wood to be used as kindling. Muscles were outlined through a heavy, wool coat. The wind blew his long, tawny hair over his face.
Castiel walked closer. He cleared his throat to make his presence known. Dean ceased his movements. He turned around and his eyes became wide. Dean dropped the ax and started to walk towards the manor.
"Dean, wait please!" Castiel swallowed hard.
The Winchester stopped his trek through the snow. "Don't leave on my account."
Dean turned to see Mr. Amberline. So he knew who he was now. Damn Ellen and her big mouth! Dean walked back to the ax and grabbed it. He resumed cutting wood. The tutor approached him. "Need any help?"
Dean shook his head. "Mind if I stay?" Dean shrugged his shoulders.
"I want to thank you again for saving me last night." Dean looked at Castiel. "Someone would have found my frozen corpse today if it weren't for you."
God the man was beautiful. Dean could see his electric blue eyes perfectly from the distance of two feet in the dark. Snowflakes covered his raven hair and coat. Dean no longer would make love to a faceless man in his dreams and fantasies. He breathed deeply. From now on Castiel Amberline would haunt his forbidden fantasies.
"Your brothers are very smart."
Dean chopped two more pieces of wood and hauled an armful. Mr. Amberline grabbed an armful, as well, and followed him to the manor. Once they arrived outside the window, Dean dropped his wood and Castiel did the same.
The wind wasn't as brutal here as in the forest. "Would you join us for tomorrow's class session? I know Adam would be happy as a clam. He told me he misses you terribly. Sam does, too. We know boys that age do not open up much about their feelings."
Dean couldn't remove his eyes from the tutor. This man must be an angel brought down from Heaven under orders to bring life again to the Winchester household. He also began to turn a small light inside of Dean's lifeless heart.
Dean smiled at the man. Castiel's breath caught. Dean's smile was even more devastating in person than in the painting. He needed to watch out for Dean Winchester. The man was irresistible.
"You have a beautiful smile, Dean." Castiel fought the urge to run a hand gently across the Winchester's face. How could people refer to him as the Beast? So far all Castiel has seen is a recluse, scared of how people would react to his wicked looking scar. The prince wished to hold him in his arms, kiss his freckled cheeks and tell him he didn't give a damn about the scar.
Dean inched closer to him and touched the back of his head. He felt for the lump. The prince smiled. "It's barely there. Thank you again."
Castiel wished Dean a good night. As he opened the kitchen door, the prince jumped.
"Good night, Mr. Amberline," Dean said in a hoarse voice caused by disuse.