A/N Ooh, my loyal readers, we're approaching the closing of one story, and the opening of another! In other words, while this fanfic has but a few more chapters left until the end, it will lead into...A SEQUAL! Yes, you heard it, darlings, there will indeed be a sequal to this and I've already begun planning it. Anywho, special thanks in this chapter to . .X~ In response to one of your comments, of course Grace can improvise! Her butler is one hell of a...no, wait, a die-hard...that's wrong to...He's an actress to die for! I only own Philomena and short chapter is short. Next one will be longer. Enjoy! (Apologies for the long author's note...I'll shut up now...)
yes please do~Lady of Kalam
Chapter 9: The Rocky Road to Manchester
On the train ride to Manchester, I was the definition of nervous-wreck; My hands were sweating profusely to the poin where I had to remove my gloves, my legs were shaking uncontrollably, and my fingers clasped my small, white leather handbag with a death grip. I forced myself to breath slowly as I gazed out the window, not really taking in the scenary that whizzed past.
"Would you like some tea, my lady?" Grell inquired from his spot across from me. I shook my head and pursed my lips. Why was this trip making me so damn anxious? I had been living like this for almost a full four months! Ought I not be accustomed to it by now?
"Grell...I'm...worried," I admitted, struggling to control the evident stammer in my voice as I peered at him from under the sheer veil that was attatched to my traveling hat. "Do you think I can do it?" I mentally slapped myself when I realized how ridiculous I must've sounded; we'd gone through so much to finally get here, and I wasn't about to stop now. I simply had to grit my teeth, get it done, and move on to meet whatever my intended fate would be
"My lady, you've made it this far," I was a bit suprised by how stern he sounded, not at all like either his normal self or his butler act. "I am confident that you will be able to."
"You must think rather highly of me..." I murmured, returning my line of vision to the window. "I'm afraid that I'll choke..." I flinched as I heard him switch seats so he was next to me and felt his fingers entwine with my own.
Sighing, I swung my leg around so my knees were straddling him, effectively perching me on his lap, and leaned my forehead against his. "You'll stay with me...right? I need you more than you know..." I breathed, squeezing his hand tightly.
"Of course, Grace. I will be there for you, unto the end," he promised, moving his face to kiss my neck softly.
"Thank you," I whispered, pressing my cheek against his, at least, as best I could with those big, round spectacles of his butler persona. "Thank you."
We must've made quite a picture to anyone passing our compartment, a young noblewoman in the lap of her butler, but I didn't care. I was content, for the time being, and that was all that mattered to me.
Standing on the platform of the train station in Manchester with only my red butler, a small suitcase, and my handbag, and watching the locomotive pull away brought my nerves back full force. I held my purse tightly and remained frozen on the spot for a moment. Only the sound of Grell's voice snapped me out of my daze.
"My lady? Shall we...pay your mother a little visit now?" I nodded, picking my suitcase up off the ground and handing it to him to carry. When I started walking towards the road, he followed, albeit with a look of confusion on his face. "Haven't you hired a carriage?" I couldn't surpress a tiny smile.
"Ooh, questioning your mistress now, are you? I think that the fact that we now double as lovers is going to your head." I giggled as he gave me a trademark pout. "Anyway, we can't take a carriage because we can't have too many people knowing we're in town. It's only a couple of miles out towards Sale and it's sunny out, so we should be able to walk it." Although I did not say it out loud, I had a dire foreboding that this sunny day might be my last; a tiny feeling, deep in the recesses of my mind, that I would not see the light of day again.
Typically, halfway into what would be about a two hour walk, the beautiful summer sky, which had been displaying a spectacular sunset, became obscured by thick, gray-black clouds, and it began to rain. Not a drizzle, not a sprinkle, but a heavy, torrential downpour that had both myself and Grell soaked in mere moments.
"Damn it all..." I shivered as the lukewarm liquid continued to fall around us. A sudden thought caused me to spin around and snatch my suitcase away from Grell, who appeared slightly taken aback. "Hold on, I think I have...yes!" I smiled brightly as I rummaged through the case and extracted a plain umbrella. I handed my luggage back to him and opened the umbrella eagerly before beckoning for him to join me underneath it. I had to hold my arm, which quickly began to ache, up rather high to accommodate him, but it easily covered both of us. "I packed it to be safe," I explained, somewhat smugly, but Grell wasn't paying attention to me; in fact, his gaze was behind us. "What's the matter?"
"There's a carriage coming," he noted, turning back to glance down at me. "Perhaps they could take us the rest of the way?" I pursed my lips, considering it.
"I did bring some money...I could pay them off, tell them to forget they saw us...if they stop that is," I replied, thinking out loud. "Very well. Let's have them bring us to the manor."
"Now, listen closely, mister," my voice was firm, threatening almost, as I stared down the owner of the carriage. He had most graciously allowed us to clamber aboard and agreed to take us the rest of the way to my mother's home. Although the muddy road impeded our travel, it still took less time than it would have if we continued walking. "You never saw us, understand?"
"Just what the hell are you playing at, girl?" he snapped, giving me the evil eye, only to stop as I poured a handful of coins into his palm. "Right, never saw you, Miss."
"That's what I thought you'd say," I mused as I leapt down from the carriage, landing next to Grell; the man had dropped us off at the front gates of the small manor.
"I'll be off then," he gave the two of us a stiff nod before pulling away with haste. Turning away from the road, I fixed my attention to the gate, only to notice Grell on the other side of it, giving me a wide grin.
"How'd you..." I stopped when I realized he must've jumped it. "Nevermind..." Rolling my eyes, I squeezed myself between the bars and led the way up to the elegant front door.
"I suppose we should knock, my lady," I stumbled forward as he nudged me towards it. I shot him a glare before taking the heavy knocker in my hand and pounding it against the wooden door. My heart was fluttering in my chest by the time it opened, revealing none other than...HER.