The butler yelps. "Young Master, what ever is the big rush?!" he asks following behind the taller man.
"We're losing valuable sunlight!"
Eddward chuckles "All good things come to those who wait."
"What are we waiting for?"
"Not so much waiting as having patience" Eddward says gently, grabbing the basket and following him outside.
Kevin was quietly talking to Red and he responds with a soft nicker. Kevin smiled and mounted him without a saddle or blanket. "Come on, Eddward!"
"Let me get the black horse saddled, Young Master" Eddward chuckles.
"Why? Just go bareback like I do" Kevin chimed in while Red leaned over to communicate with the black stallion. "Ya know, I named him when I was younger. Named him Raven... he responds pretty well to it. You should try it."
"Raven? How odd to name a horse after a bird" Eddward chuckles pulling the bridle down for him and putting it into his mouth before hopping on without a saddle. "If I get bucked off I will be blaming you."
"I named him that because it reminded me of the color of his coat, thank you very much. Also I was like, 8 or something..." Kevin waved him to follow him. The butler just snickers and follows him closely.
They eventually make it to the river, talking the whole time. Kevin dismounted and tethered Red to the tree limb. "I'm hungry, Eddward..." he stated simply.
"Yes, I figured you might be" he chuckles hopping down and spreading out the blanket before setting the food out. "Here you are, Young Master."
Kevin sat down and proceeded to eat, filling up and coaxing Eddward down to sit next to him.
"Must you always break proper etiquette?" he teases as he sits.
"Yes, just with you though. My father does with Giles all the time."
Over the time he has been with the Barrs, Eddward had noticed a rather strange pattern of behavior with the Head Butler and the Master of the house. Namely, Giles very rarely sleeps in his own quarters. The other servants all thought he got back late but with Eddward's insomnia, he knew better. "Yes, I have noticed that" he says chuckling in his secret knowledge.
"He's been like that with us since forever but especially when my mother died, he really stepped up with helping raise me and taking care of my father and myself. I look to him like another father figure... honestly I like him more than I like my actual father most of the time."
Eddward smiles softly hearing this. "Yes, I've noticed your father is rather rough on you and Giles is kinder and gentler with you almost like a mother."
Kevin grins with a chuckle "Yeah, he kinda is! But I like it, he runs interference between us a lot so I know he gets it from both of us." Kevin leans back on his hands, his shirt fell open more to revel more of his sculpted, slightly sweaty chest.
Eddward looks away swiftly after catching himself staring. This has been happening more and more as the days wore on and it was almost to the point that the butler was going to have to ask the ginger to dress and bathe himself.
"Reading time?" Kevin asked, sounding almost like a child asking a parent.
He chuckles nervously, glad for the excuse. "Of course, Young Master" he says softly, grabbing the book and turning to the page they left off on. Kevin moved to lie down but he couldn't get comfortable. He eyed Eddward's legs outstretched in front of him and thought 'why not?' He had seen Giles read to his father and him lay his head in his lap before. Before Eddward could protest, Kevin laid his head on his thigh and immediately relaxed.
Eddward stiffens immediately. "Y-young M-master..." he says before clearing his throat. "Young Master, what are you doing?" he asks.
"Getting comfortable."
Eddward blushes but is able to hide it with the book. He needed to make him move but if he was honest with himself he didn't want him to. "Yes... Very well." he says before he begins reading again.
Eventually, Kevin relaxed and closed his eyes as Eddward's deep voice pulling him to sleep. Just before he was about officially slip off, he heard a female's voice call out to him. "Kevin!" Natalie and Marie come walking up the hillside. Kevin groans.
Eddward stiffens and pushes the ginger off and stands before the women could see the rather intimate position they were in. "Get up and greet your guests, Young Master" he scolds when he doesn't move.
"Why is she here?!" Kevin frowns, getting up and dusting himself off. "Yes Natalie, hello, how can I assist you?"
"I come to visit you and that is how you greet me?" she asks huffily crossing her arms.
"Yeah, when you show up out of the blue. I'm all sweaty and trying to relax..." Kevin retorted snarkily. "What if I wasn't here? Then you would have made a trip for nothing."
"I sent a messenger ahead actually and I was informed by the head butler that you were out galivanting around with him" she says pointing to Eddward, who stiffened at her tone. "Now will you help me down please?" she asks from on top of a paint horse. Meanwhile, Marie had walked the whole way as a servant was supposed to do.
"Why did you ride up here if you can't get down?" Kevin wondered aloud, holding his hands up to help her slide off. "And I would appreciate it if you didn't use that tone when addressing my butler, thanks."
"Because I wanted to see you of course" she giggles sliding into his out stretched hands as Eddward greets a panting Marie with a glass of water. "What do you mean? He is just a butler, why does it matter?" she asks.
"Madam, please come sit in the shade" he says gently ushering her to the said tree.
"Because he's my friend, even ranks up there with Nat. He knows me better than anyone... not to mention, he is still a person and deserves to be treated as such. Just like your hand maiden..."
Natalie rolls her eyes "Yes, yes, very well" she says clapping her hands. "Marie, the flower choices for the wedding please" she orders but the Raven butler stops her.
"Allow me, please rest. I will serve her in your place until you recover" he whispers gently winking as he takes the flower samples and hands them to the blonde. "My Lady, the poor girl is exhausted from walking here on foot. Allow me to serve you in her place for the time being" he says pleasantly shoving down the urge to smack the fair haired woman.
"Very well, I guess I will have to get used to you anyway" she sighed irritatingly. Kevin just rolled his eyes as different flowers were shoved under his nose and waited for him to say yay or nay to them.
Eddward's eyebrow twitches in annoyance, he wasn't sure he could deal with this woman for long. He sits next to Marie and gives her more water. "How on earth do you do it madam?"
"She really isn't too bad once you get past her rough exterior. When it's just us, she is very sweet and lets me sit down and eat with her or rest. I know we, as wait staff, shouldn't do it but it's nice to rest."
"It is indeed..." Eddward smiles softly "I'll be taking you back on Raven, if you do not mind" he says pointing out the black stallion.
"I don't, as long as it is okay with my Lady" Marie nods in Natalie's direction, who is currently making Kevin go through more flowers which make his sneeze. "Do whatever ones you want to do, I'm a guy! I don't care!" Kevin eventually gives up and slouches against the trunk of the tree as his intended gives him a pointed look.
"The Young Master likes white roses and lavender, my Lady" The butler pipes up in an attempt to help.
"Thank you!" Natalie gives Kevin a smile. "At least someone is working with me... it's your wedding too, Kevin... not just mine."
"I know, I just can't bring myself to care too much... this is more for the women to plan, isn't it?"
Eddward sighs softly. "Forgive my Young Master's tongue" he says to Natalie as the Sun begins to set. "We should be heading back, I have things I need to be doing" he says more to himself than anyone else.
"That's not for you to decide" Natalie snaps, not wanting to part with Kevin just yet but before Kevin can say anything the butler bows his head.
"Of course, my Lady. Forgive me for speaking out of turn" He says with a painted smile.
"It's time to go. I need to bathe before dinner and get to bed early. I have lessons early in the morning" Kevin stands and holds a hand out to Natalie to help her stand, knowing if he didn't Eddward would give him that look and scold him.
Meanwhile, Eddward stands and helps Marie up kissing her hand gently before leading her over to the horse. Lifting her to the stallion's back, "There we are, just hold on one moment as I clean up the picnic" he orders as Marie just blushes and nods.
Kevin helps Natalie onto her horse before walking over to Eddward. "Wanna switch women?"
Eddward stifles a laugh and gives him an amused glare "Young Master, mind your manners" he scolds light heartedly.
"I guess I should be grateful, at least she is relatively normal."
"Yes, at least she is not like that dreadful woman you always describe. What was her name... Lady Sarah, was it?" he asks folding the blanket.
"Nothing about that boar is a lady!"
Eddward out right laughs at this causing Natalie to frown "Kevin, dear, why don't we go on ahead?" she suggests.
Kevin sighs "I have to go with her, don't I?" Eddward cocks his eyebrow and gives him the Look. Kevin groans before looking at Marie on Raven waiting for Eddward. "Alright, good luck with yours. I'm gonna try to touch something..." Kevin gives a grins before walking off.
Eddward frowns the thought of Kevin's hands on that horrid woman but he shakes it off and hands the basket up to Marie. "Hold this for me, will you madam?" he asks gently.
"Of course Eddward, anything for you" she says as he hauls himself up on the horse. He looks at her and takes the basket.
"If you would please wrap your arms around me and hold tightly" he murmurs, placing her hands around his waist.
Marie does as she is told, feeling the strong body of the man in front of her. She held on tight as Raven moved through the fields at a leisurely pace. Soon they are back at the mansion and Eddward helps her down to holding her close. "Would it be forward if me to request the lady's permission to place a kiss upon her lips?" he asks, brushing a gloved hand across her cheek.
"Not at all. Kiss away" Marie leaned towards him with a shy smile.
Eddward grins before leaning down and kissing her but soon it turned more heated and the butler pressed her into the wall one hand cupping her neck and the other her hip.
Marie releases a little moan as she wraps her arms around his shoulders, bringing him closer to her. When Eddward's tongue touched hers, her body lit on fire and she wanted more.
He lets out a small moan. He found that kissing was pleasant and gave him a warm feeling so he decided to continue the kiss by swirling his tongue around hers, not hearing the voices that were drawing closer.
Marie slid her hands down his chest and under his overcoat, feeling the lithe torso and strong back. Another moan escapes her throat and she feels Eddward pull her closer. Heat raced through her veins and she felt her heart speed up and butterflies in her stomach flutter madly.
"Marie?!" a shrill voice cried out.
Eddward sighs and pulls back knowing that voice. He straightens Marie out then himself combing a hand through his hair to put it back into place. "Lady Natalie, do forgive us. We got carried away" he says with a respectful bow noting the look of shock on Kevin's face.
Kevin snickered "You dog! Right on ya, Eddward! Got farther than I did!"
"That's because I'm a lady, Kevin!" Natalie stomps off with a curt goodbye.
Eddward sighs softly taking her hand. "Don't listen to her, you are every bit a lady as she is" he says, kissing her hand and ignoring the ginger. "Go on, lest you wish for her to leave you" he says. She blushes and thanks him, giving him a good bye kiss to his cheek before rushing off.
"Right then, your bath..." he says snapping back into butler mode immediately and walking past the ginger trying to figure out what had happened or rather what didn't happen. The rest of the night passed uneventfully but Kevin hadn't let the sly smirk leave his face.
"If you are not careful your face will be stuck like that" Eddward sighs as he turns down the bed
"Natalie's handmaiden, huh? Is that the farthest you've gotten with her?"
"I am not discussing my romantic life with you, Young Master" he chuckles getting his pajamas ready.
"Oh come on! I gotta know something! I need to know about someone's love life, mine is stagnant!"
"You saw quite enough."
"Why can I get a girl that wants to make out in the stables?" Kevin pouted
"You lack charm and finesse" Eddward chuckles smugly.
"I still get women throwing themselves at me..."
"Yes because you are a muscled rouge but Lady Natalie is a woman that requires charm and elegance which you lack with your rough ways."
"You can have her! Give me Marie!"
"I think not, I cannot stand her" Eddward blurts out without realizing it.
"There's my Eddward! I knew he was hiding in there somewhere!" Kevin barks out with a boisterous laugh. "Give the annoying woman to the brat of the house, huh? Alright, Eddward, I'll take her."
Eddward groans "You, Young Master, are going to get me into trouble" he chuckles.
Kevin releases a large yawn before letting Eddward change his clothes and get into bed. "Alright Eddward, alright. Good night, see you tomorrow."
"Good night, Young Master" Eddward says softly taking the lit candelabra with him. As he leaves, the light was casting haunting shadows throughout the house as he gets lost in his own thoughts about the days events. Suddenly, he runs into Giles heading for the older Barr's bed chamber and he jumps in surprise.
"You have nerves of steel, Eddward. Better not let your charge know that, he enjoys pranking people" Giles warns light heartedly.
"My apologies, I just have a lot on my mind" Eddward sighs softly as his heart calms down.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Eddward smiles and shakes his head. "No, I fear this is something I must take care of myself."
"Well, I'm always here to talk, shall you find yourself in need of an ear. Alas, my job is never ending, I must tend to my own charge. Good night, Eddward." Giles turns and heads to the elder Barr's room, smirking and closing the door.
Eddward frowns watching him before he heads to his own room thinking again how odd it was for a butler to act as Giles did.
Kevin was walking down one of the numerous hallways in the Barr estate looking for his butler.
"Eddward!" he called out with just the answering echo. He continued walking and turning this way and that, calling out Eddward's name every once in awhile. He stopped in a corridor, looking between the two ways he could go. He called out to Eddward again but this time instead of an echo back he heard a low moan of Eddward's name. Kevin cocked a brow as his head whipped around to see where the sound came from.
"Eddward?" he tried again only to hear another moan and a gasp softly echoed through the hallway. Kevin gritted his teeth and started going room to room, trying to open any and all doors.
"Eddward! Answer me!" Kevin called out angrily and yet again, only moans and gasps answered him. As he continued to try all the doors, he discovered that they all were locked. The moans and gasps of Eddward's name go louder and louder and it was pissing him off. Finally getting to the last door, he grabbed the door handle and all the moans stopped and Kevin gave a pause... he noticed that he was right in front of his own bedroom door.
"Eddward?" Kevin called out cautiously. Suddenly, Eddward's voice sounded loudly through the door, strained with pleasure mixed with the name of a certain handmaiden. Kevin felt his anger spike as he slammed the door open. On his bed, he saw his butler and Marie in the throes of passion. Eddward calls out Marie's name with a low growl as Marie turns her head to lock eyes with Kevin. She smirks as she throws her head back and cries out a moan. Kevin awakens with a cry and sits straight up in bed, sweating and panting. Running his hands through his hair he glanced out the window, seeing the Sun starting to rise.
"Best to just get up..." Kevin muttered as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and sighed.
Eddward entered the ginger's chambers as he always did in the early morning to pick out his clothes for him, only to find that Kevin was awake. "Well, someone is an early riser today" he cheerily comments walking towards the standing wardrobe.
Kevin's bad mood worsened as Eddward moved about the room. "Well, I'm certainly not going to sleep all day. I'm not allowed to do that."
"No, certainly not. I was merely pointing out you are up earlier than usual" Eddward says frowning. "Are you alright, Young Master?" he asks.
"Peachy" he says shortly before grabbing his clothes and walking to his bathroom. "Stay here!" he commanded his butler. Eddward blinks in surprise raising a brow but stays where he was, out of sheer curiosity.
Kevin stayed in the bathroom longer than normal. He dressed himself and then tried to calm himself down, breathing deeply he finally stood up and exited the bathroom. It vaguely dawned on him that he was mad for no reason but he couldn't help it. The thought that kept racing through his head was the worst. 'No one is allowed to touch my Eddward!'
Eddward taps on the bathroom door. "Young Master, are you in need of assistance?" he asks.
"I'm fine, go tend to your other duties. I can take care of myself."
Eddward scowls. "You told me to wait here and now you are telling me to go attend to my other duties? Which is it Young Master?"
"Go. Away. That clear?"
Eddward looks at the door and nods. "Very well, Young Master" he grinds his teeth before walking off.
Kevin listened as Eddward walked off and his anger faded a bit. He sighs as he sat on the side of the tub. Being an asshole isn't going to keep Eddward close to him. "Damnit..." he quickly stood up and took off behind his butler.
