Disclaimer: I do not own Trinity Blood or its characters.

11. Little Women

The days flew by. It was clear that Princess Bridget would soon succeed her father given his failing health. In fact, the king was content to turn over the reins of powers, with close supervision from his trusted ministers, to the princess. Princess Bridget graduated with a respectable degree in diplomatic relations from the Albion University. Virgil sighed and leaned back in his chair. Bridget was good at that. She had helped him forge an agreement to provide computer chips to the Albion airship industry, paving the way for the Ghetto's venture into technology.

There were other things bothering him. Bridie was now in her twenty-third year and the councillors were keen that she married suitably. Marriage proposals came from royal houses the length and breadth of Western Europe. Bridget politely but firmly turned them down. "I'm sorry but I can't think of marriage yet," she would always say with a smile to her ministers and suitors. Her remarks were more candid around Virgil.

"Philip doesn't speak a word of English and he expects me to merge Albion with Hispania as he's the Crown Prince," Bridie made a face as they watched the Spanish envoy leave through the palace gate. "Cousin Michal is a man of too many affairs. Lord knows how many mistresses he has housed in Paris alone." She unceremoniously dumped a bouquet of roses into the wastebasket. Virgil nodded in agreement. The Marquis of Calais' affairs have reached his ears through the society gossip at the balls he escorted Bridie to. "And the Duke of Normandy, he's a sweet gentleman but he's old enough to be my grandfather! Who suggested I marry him?"

"That would be Baron Cedric of the Fisheries Ministry… He reasons that since the duke is fond of you like an uncle, he would take care of you," Virgil replied. "Bridie, those proposals are not drying up until you get married, you know. What kind of husband are you looking for?"

"Someone responsible, trustworthy…." Bridie mused. "Someone like you," she stroked his cheek with a slender finger. Virgil's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met… "Shall we get back to the new trade proposal with Rome?" Virgil hurriedly shuffled his stack of papers. A few drifted to the carpet.

"Yes," Bridie bent down to help him retrieve the scattered papers. They both knew it was impossible between them. "Virgil, which one of us will get married first?" Bridie asked. "Have they found some young lady for you after Vera let? I would like to be godmother to your kids."

"I'm living out of my office. I have no time for dates or courting…" Virgil laughed and rearranged the papers in order

"Shall I give you some time off?"

"No thanks, we have to finalize the trade agreement… Is the trade minister outside? He should be informed for the final negotiations in Rome." They quickly turned the conversation to the trade negotiations.

The children's home in the Ghetto was increasingly crowded as many parents found it more convenient to leave their children there while they slogged away. Many were lucky if they saw their parents once a month. Young Vanessa was an active child, a bright child. She was raised in an overcrowded institute staffed by overworked nurses. When she turned seven, she would be sent to the Ghetto's only public school like her peers. It was unlikely a governess would be found for her.

As with any group of children of varying strengths, there was a bully in Vanessa's dorm. Six-year-old Amanda Barlow was a large-built girl who liked nothing better than picking on the smaller girls. Five-year-old Vanessa had been moved to Amanda's dorm to make space for more toddlers. Then the bully made the mistake of emptying a jar of paint onto the raven hair of Vanessa Walsh…

"Sir Virgil… I'm Kristie from the Children's Home…" Virgil sat up. Mortimer kept his face poker-straight, but Virgil suspected he may already have spoken with the nurse on the phone. "Is Vanessa sick?" Virgil asked.

"No, she…" Virgil groaned as the nurse continued. He really didn't need this.

"Who are you?" Rebellious dark eyes glared at him. Her hair was clean and wet from a shower to remove the paint. She scowled at her brother. A bruise was appearing on her cheek. Vanessa had reacted fiercely to bullying. Only the timely intervention of three staff members prevented either bully or victim from further hurt. Still, Amanda had been sent to the hospital for observation after Vanessa smashed a baseball bat on her head. They now stood in the infirmary with a feverish child and a boy having his elbow attended to by the matron. It struck the count how overcrowded and understaffed the place was.

"Vanessa, as your brother, I am very disappointed in you," Virgil tried to be firm. Vanessa frowned. "You are my brother?" The dress she was wearing was paint-splattered, patched in many places and much too small for her. "Why are you barefoot?" Virgil noticed that the little girl was hopping about on the bare tiles. "No shoes that fit," the matron explained tiredly. "We have boots for all the children but Vanessa complains hers pinch."

"They do too!" Vanessa retorted.

"We always get them new boots at Christmas…" the matron continued. "-but we can get Vanessa hers sooner…"

Virgil made a mental note to review the welfare system. The degree of neglect was shocking. Vanessa must be educated properly. He decided there and then to bring Vanessa home and find a governess for her. Virgil groaned. He had too many tasks to see to. Put out an ad for a governess, a nursemaid… but first, his sister needed proper shoes. Maybe he could bring her out to the stores, if he could find the time to.

"We don't look alike," Vanessa observed as she dried her hair with a flannel towel. "Ain't we brother and sister?" She pulled herself onto a bed. The matron set about combing and braiding her raven hair in twin plaits.

"I will be bringing her home," Virgil announced. Vanessa gave a little gasp of surprise. "Home? I'm home, ain't I?"

"No, Vanessa. I mean your real home, with me," Virgil clarified. "You'll have your own room and toys… Maybe we can get some nice frocks for you…"

"NO! Nessa's home is here!" Vanessa howled. "I ain't leaving! My friends are here! I don't know you!" She kicked him in the shin, screeched a few assorted curses for good measure before scampering out of the infirmary. Virgil shook his head. Five years had turned the howling baby he once held in his arms to a veritable foul-mouthed little savage. He had to find a proper governess to undertake Vanessa's education.

Author's Notes:

Vanessa's a little bundle of merry sunshine isn't she? Now you know how estranged the siblings are. Vanessa's upbringing is going to be very, very different from that of her brother.