The week that followed had been like some kind of vacation from reality. Her and Sebastian had spent most of it together in her study, as opposed to her room so as to prevent the rumors from worsening. All they'd done was talk over games of chess or cups of tea, and, when they weren't in the mood for talking, the pair would sit reading together, shrouded in comfortable silence. Ordinarily, she wouldn't let Sebastian interact with her in such a casual way. But, she figured, the circumstances were far from ordinary. She'd nearly killed herself, and suddenly her usually cold and stoic companion was showing ten times as much emotion as she thought he was capable of.

She'd heard him laugh- genuinely laugh- for the very first time. It was then she'd noticed the musicality of his voice. So much smoother than other people's. She reasoned she had grown up listening to it, and so she didn't process it until now. Or perhaps she just wasn't truly listening.

Sebastian, on the other hand, was growing more and more anxious by the day. There was an ongoing investigation on the murder of Andrew Hensley. They'd been sloppy. In his rush to return Kate to the manor he'd left the evidence in easy access to anyone looking to find it. Kate's dress was left on the ground. As far as he knew, there was nothing all that distinguishable about the gown so as to point the investigation in their direction. After all, it was designed by her father's company, and luckily for them, he had probably sold several hundred, if not, then thousands, of similar gowns. And, on top of that, it had been ripped almost irreparably in Hensley's rush to strip his mistress of it. He shouldn't be worried.

And yet he was.

Everything was so fragile. Among them, and holding the most importance to him, was his mistress's sanity. She hadn't been cutting herself since the night he'd saved her life, but she also hadn't been left alone since then either. She was aware that he was treating her like a wounded animal, and while she felt it unnecessary, she almost found herself enjoying it. She'd been without the touch and gentle care of a friend or family member for nearly eight years, and she was pleased with the sudden change. Of course, she was still surprised this new behavior was coming from her butler. And though it was one of the most pressing curiosities of her mind, it did not at any point become a topic in their week long conversation.

"It's been exactly a week," Sebastian noted as he retrieved the cart of food from Carrie who had prepared it and brought it up to them. He set it up before her as she replied.

"Has it really?" She said, though she was already aware. Kate didn't want it to end. She liked talking to him, much to her surprise. And even though she was aware that the whole thing could just be a mask he chose to wear, she felt herself finding joy in hearing his comments and opinions. This was a whole new relationship, one unlike Sebastian had ever shared with a master before. There had been a few which had come close, a certain blue eyed earl came to mind, but never to this scale. He would be lying if he said it didn't make the pursuit of her soul simultaneously more enjoyable and, for the first time, conflicting.

"I suppose we should let the rest of the servants know that we are, in fact, still alive. Though they've probably come to... Another conclusion." She rolled her eyes. He gave her an amused smirk.

"Indeed." He said, standing straight up again to watch her eat. She'd noticed this was something he did. He'd done it before, but never this intensely. Before she'd just felt as though he was waiting patiently to collect the dishes. Now Kate felt as if he was analyzing every movement she made with a severity that made her extremely self-conscious. She had half a mind to tell him to cut it out, but she didn't want to risk rubbing him the wrong way, and losing this spark of friendship they were communally trying to fuel into flame.

She'd avoided his gaze as he cleaned up after her, putting the soiled dishes on the cart to be brought to the kitchen and cleaned for re-use. She stood, smoothing out the wrinkles of her day dress. A pale yellow number with a floral print and a thin and delicate ribbon which matched the one in her hair. Contrary to British fashion, there was no corset. She had no intention of leaving her home that day, anyways, and besides, the dress was far too innocent and feminine for her to be seen in in public.

There was a silence that descended upon the chatting servants as Kate and Sebastian entered their quarters. Charlotte and Jessica had knowing smirks on their average faces, whereas Carrie regarded them both with the respect socially appropriate for someone of her status to give to a superior. George looked at her which a hint of anger. Clearly the loose-lipped maids had convinced him that she and Sebastian were, in fact, together and he wasn't happy about it. Leslie looked hurt, pride wounded and heart broken. Of course she would rather have Sebastian. He was more attractive, taller, graceful, seductive. He was just a man, no more. Not enough. Her heart went out to him, and inwardly she decided she would help him find a woman he could truly be happy with.

"I hope you all will be able to overlook my sudden disappearance. I had business to attend to and I needed to remain in an uninterrupted state of concentration." She spoke with a noble tone, the one she'd gotten down to a science but hadn't used once in the past week.

Sebastian eyed her as she spoke. Like him, she was so talented in changing faces to fit the occasion. For the first time since she was thirteen years old, she had exposed her true self to him. She hadn't known, but in letting her guard down, the essence of her soul had amplified. He'd had to excuse himself on a number of occasions just to keep himself from claiming her too soon. It was a pity as well, though. He was very much enjoying seeing her true colors. It seemed a waste to lose precious minutes of that on attempting to control his hunger. No matter. He guard was up again and she didn't wreak of that distinctive odor he'd compared many times to an intoxicating perfume. He'd sampled fine souls in his time, but hers was truly unique. A drop of fine wine in an ocean of slightly less distinguished drinks.

"It won't happen again, I assure you." At that Sebastian's attention returned to Kate. What had she meant by that? Did she not want to repeat the preceding weeks activities? Had he not upheld engaging conversation and showered her with human-like attention?

As if sensing his questions, she whispered to him once they'd climbed the stairs ascending from the basement, "I've enjoyed your company immensely, Sebastian."

The sincerity in her tone shook him. He took a second to regain his cool composure before bowing.

"It is my duty and pleasure to serve you in whatever way you require, My Lady."

Suddenly things were formal again. She didn't want that! That was why she'd thanked him as she had. Did he respond that way specifically to reestablish the formalities once present between them? Had she bored him to the point where he was desperate to return to his own quarters and finally have privacy? She had been rather intrusive this past week, asking him questions about his seemingly endless past. He'd seen so much, and her so little. Kate wanted to hear about it all, and now she feared she'd ruined her chances by demanding for too much at once.

But as he straightened his back once again, he added. "It truly was an honor to be your intellectual companion. I look forward to the next time."

She smiled and before she knew what she was doing, hugged him.

God! Hell must have frozen over! They must have entered some alternative universe! That was the only logical explanation for her sudden desire to touch him so affectionately and for him to reciprocate by enclosing her in his arms. Awkwardly, as though she was a little girl who'd just stolen a kiss from a childhood sweetheart, she slid out of his warm grasp and excused herself, retreating as calmly as she could back to her room.

This was so unlike her. She wasn't the kind of girl to honestly blush when confronted with an attractive man's attention. She wasn't the kind of girl to mistake feelings of friendship for something more. She had had a crush on him when she was young, before she'd begun to see him as the father to replace the one who was never there. He'd rescued her like some princely hero and she had so loved fairytales. She couldn't help it. It faded, of course, with age, but now? Could she really have gone from his commanding mistress to his friend in one week, and then his friend to his admirer in one conversation? Perhaps she was overwhelmed by the sudden shift his is attitude towards her. Perhaps she just hadn't talked to many attractive men in a while. Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding on her part. There was no way she had actual feelings for the demon who had every intention of killing her. The thought of their contract snapped her out of her love struck mindset. There was no room for anything more than a contained and monitored friendship in their relations. Anything more would make things complicated and neither of them wanted that. It would fade. She knew it would. It had to...

Meanwhile Sebastian was prevented from following a similar trail of thoughts by a knock on the main door. Straightening his jacket, he opened the door and bowed before standing up to see who it was who requested entry. He was a tall man, looking somewhere between two to three years older than his mistress. He was reasonably attractive, his eyes were bright blue yet warm and welcoming, and, Sebastian supposed, if he had been smiling, that would only enhance his features.

However, he didn't smile. A gloomy look of seriousness overtook him.

"I'm here to see the lady of the house. Lady Kate Mitchell. We met at Lord Hensley's manor about a week ago..."

He felt a twinge of apprehension strike him. After the initial shock wore off, he stepped aside, bowing again and inviting the visitor inside.

"If you'll please wait in the sitting room while I inform My Lady to your presence."he said through a fake yet convincing smile. The guest nodded and he turned and exited the room, calmly ascending to the second floor where Kate had retreated into her bedroom.

A knock on the door pulled Kate away from her bedroom window and back into reality. Instead of voicing an invitation to enter, she opened the door herself.

"Sebastian." She stated, seeing the familiar figure looming over her own significantly shorter one. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure." He stated honestly. "You have a visitor who claims to have met you last week."

"At the party..." She repressed the urge to dwell on the events of that night. "Julian." She whispered decisively.

"My Lady?"

"The only person I talked to besides that scum Hensley was a young man named Julian. Though I can't imagine why he'd want to see me."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at her ignorance.

"Aside from that, I mean. He didn't strike me as the kind of man for such an aggressive move as to appear uninvited at a lady's home. Not only that, but it's been more than a week since we first met. If he's here to pursue me, then why now?"

"I suppose you'll have to find out." He said, stepping aside to let her exit the room. "Lead the way, My Lady."