Chapter 38

Thank you all so much for sticking with this story! I know it's been almost four weeks since the last update, so hopefully this will make up for it.

Enjoy!

Wayne manor

Of course I hadn't packed anything fitting for a night out, let alone a charity ball which required formal attire. Alfred had left in quite a hurry after having a not so subtle look at the tag inside my current outfit. Bruce wanted him to get me a dress, but where on Earth was he going to fetch me one? Still that butler always had some trick up his sleeves. At least he was finally starting to feel better. I rummaged through my suitcase hoping to find something fitting for tonight when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in!" I shouted as I kept searching.

The door opened and Bruce glanced into the room. He was already dressed in his tux and looking quite handsome in it. I stopped what I was doing and smiled at him. "Don't you look dapper."

Bruce blushed and spread his arms. "You think so, Miss Wood?"

I stood up and walked over to him. "Extremely." I grabbed his shoulders and turned him around. Not a speck of dirt, dust or hair on it. "Alfred did a good job." I noted.

"Oh, no I did it myself. Alfred is busy retrieving clothes for you and Miss Kyle."

Miss Kyle? "I don't think I've heard that name before, have I?" I frowned at Bruce.

Bruce cocked his head. "I haven't mentioned her before?"

Now it was my turn to frown, I couldn't remember having heard the name before. "I'm not sure. Usually I'm rather good with remembering names and all, teacher's curse."

"No, wait. You're right. I mean you have seen her, you've just never officially met before." Bruce explained but still I had no image of Miss Kyle in my mind.

"Have I?"

Bruce nodded vigorously. "She was the girl who I was with after the attack on the manor. She even visited the hospital when,-" He paused. "I just like her a lot."

"Ah, I see." I couldn't hide the smile which was forming. I remembered it now. The curly haired girl who kept Bruce from rushing over to me from across the street. Had she been the girl Bruce was upset about a few weeks ago? Whatever had happened he didn't seem as upset now as he'd done back then.

"You're bringing her has your date, I reckon?" Again Bruce blushed.

"How about I fix your hair then?" I suggested and his eyes beamed at me.

"Thank you, Miss Wood."

We walked out of the room and towards one of the guest bathrooms. He'd offered we could go to his bathroom but somehow that made me feel rather awkward. Not to mention inappropriate, I was his teacher for goodness sake.

I placed him in front of the mirror and began to wet his hair to start combing it out. IT was quite unruly, more curly than I could have imagined. IT never looked that way when I used to see him at school.

"Are you nervous for tonight?" I asked him.

He looked up at the reflection in the mirror. "What do you mean, Miss Wood?"

"Your date." I clarified.

"Oh. I don't know. I know her quite well. Should I be nervous?"

I chuckled at his innocence, which was something I could learn from. "Not at all. Now, head straight."

"Are you nervous, Miss Wood?"

"Me?"

"For you date with Alfred?"

I stopped combing the boy's hair and looked at him. He was actually smirking. Smart lad. "Should I be?"

Bruce shook his head, immediately undoing everything I'd just done to fix his hair.

"Alfred is a true gentleman, you must have noticed it so far. He's a great chef, he knows how to survive and he knows how to fight so he can always protect you. He might look tough but he is kind and caring." He said. "I think he's the one who is nervous about tonight."

I couldn't stop it. I didn't mean to. But the way Bruce was describing, more like selling, Alfred to me was the sweetest and funniest thing he'd done in a while/ I started to laugh. Really laugh. Tears flowing down my cheeks.

"Oh, Bruce. I,-" I quickly covered my mouth before another laugh escaped me. "I'm sorry. That was really nice of you to say of him."

A small smile appeared on his face and he nodded, but then his eyes widened. "Don't tell him I said that. He'll give me a hard time about it."

"I won't. I promise. Now, as for your hair. It's giving me a rather hard time."

A knock sounded from behind the door and Bruce and I nearly jumped out of our skins.

"Miss Rosalind, are you in there?" It was Alfred, back from wherever he'd been.

"Miss Wood is fixing my hair." Bruce yelled back before I could reply. "You can come in, Alfred."

Alfred opened the door and stood there proudly. Dressed in his formal outfit for the evening. A tuxedo, almost the same a Bruce's. I couldn't keep my eyes of him. Bruce nudged me in my side, which made me noticed my mouth had been hanging open.

"So, what do you think?" He asked standing tall, his chin pointing up into the air.

"You look great, Alfred." Bruce said to him before showing off his own garments.

"Likewise, sir." He then glanced over at me. "Miss Rosalind?"

"Dashing." I beamed.

The upper right corner of his mouth twitched. He chuckled. "I'll take that any day. Now what's this I hear about fixing your hair?" Alfred glanced down at Bruce, whose hair was still curling all over the place. It didn't really need any explanation. "How about I fix this and you,-"

He pointed at me before escaping back into the hallway for a quick second. He soon came back holding various bags. My eyes widened. "You try these and choose whichever one you like."

He practically shoved all of the bags into my arms, proceeded to guide Bruce out of the bathroom and then left me there all alone staring incredibly dumbfounded at the door.

::::::…::::::

After about thirty minutes I finally managed to choose a dress out of the many Alfred had left with me. I couldn't believe he had actually done this. I also couldn't believe his taste in clothing. Each gown had been as beautiful as the next making it almost impossible for me to pick one out. Different shapes, different colours and I had no idea what was expected to be appropriate for such an occasion as the Wayne Charity Ball. Although I was certain Alfred had already made sure these were the exact type of dresses one would see at such an event.

I'd settled on a vibrant but dark green silk dress with an incredible low cut at the back. The dress reached all the way down to my ankles. It hugged my figure in all the right places, actually most of them did. Alfred sure knew how to choose a dress.

After having placed the other dresses over a chair, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. The hallway was quiet and deserted. I imagined Alfred and Bruce were already downstairs, they couldn't possible still be busy fixing the boy's hair.

With one hand on the handrail and the other one holding my dress up, I descended down the stairs. Halfway down Alfred came around the corner and he stopped immediately. He looked at me from top to bottom, not once but twice and his lips turned into a broad smile. I reached the bottom of the stairs and made a quick twirl.

"Wow." Alfred exclaimed.

"Did I choose the right one?"

"I don't think it would have mattered, love. But this, I,-" He took a deep breath.

"Miss Wood?" Bruce appeared next to us. His hair styled to the nines. "You look beautiful."

I chuckled. "Thank you, Bruce. Alfred knows how to pick a dress for a lady."

"He does." Bruce nodded in agreement. He turned to Alfred. "Perhaps it's time to pick Selina up?"

"Right away, Master Bruce."

"Oh, before we leave. There is one tiny problem." I said and both men looked at me. I lifted the skirt of my dress and showed them my feet. "You wouldn't happen to have some heels to go with this dress, would you?"

:::::::...:::::::

The moment we set foot inside the building where the Wayne Enterprise Charity Ball was held my heart stopped for a second or two, and I started to wonder how on Earth I'd gotten here again.

The amount of people, the variety of food, fancy clothes and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I felt like a fifteen year old girl again and my father had been invited to Buckingham palace and brought me along instead of mother.

In front of me stood a gigantic statue made out of ice, illuminated from the bottom to give it an extra icy spark. The Wayne name carved in to oval centre. I wanted to touch it but I didn't dare in case I would knock it over and the whole thing would shatter into a million pieces.

"You alright, love?" Alfred asked me. I blinked and looked his way.

"I'm not sure." I replied and he smiled.

Selina Kyle and Bruce stood next to us. The exchange between her and me had been rather awkward to say the least. She came out of the building, dressed in a beautiful gown which reached to her calves, her curly hair styled upright and high heels which were to high for me to walk in. Bruce introduced us to each other.

"Miss Wood, this is Selina Kyle." He said ever so proudly.

I extended my hand towards her. "Hello, Selina. I'm Rosalind Wood."

She glanced at me and after a few seconds took my hand and gave it a firm shook. "I heard about you. Teacher, right? You have a nice bike." She smiled and got into the car.

I threw Alfred a confused look, thinking she'd used some type of American slang but Alfred cleared his throat and shook his head at me, which confused me even more. Even Bruce averted his eyes from me.

Selina chuckled. "Oops. I don't think my manners are up there as Bruce's." She leaned back into the seat and clumsily tried to cross her legs in the same manner as mine.

"Compared to some kids I know, no one is as well mannered as Bruce is." I replied.

The girl pursed her lips. "Guess I won't disappoint then."

Suddenly a voice boomed through the room and I jumped a little.

"PRESENTING HEAD OF WAYNE ENTERPRISES, SIR BRUCE WAYNE."

Every head in the room turned our way and all went quiet. I searched for Alfred's hands and gave it a tight squeeze. I know they were probably all looking at Bruce and Selina, but with us standing almost right next to him it was pretty obvious the four of us had come in together. Bruce gave a nod and the music began to play again. I let out a deep breath.

"This is where we part for the evening, Master Bruce." Alfred said. "I trust all will be well? If not, you know where to find me. Best behaviour." The latter part he said looking at Selina and she answered by rolling her eyes. The two of them scurried off, leaving me and Alfred alone in front of the ice statue.

"Alone at last." Alfred smiled. He lifted my hand and nodded in the direction of the dance floor. "Will you do me the honour?"

"You dance?"

"It's part of the butler programme." He winked. I couldn't tell if Alfred was having a laugh or was telling the truth. I took his hand nonetheless and he guided me onto the dance floor.

It has been years since I danced across a room and even then I was too mesmerized by the palace to even focus on my own two feet. This time I didn't look around the room or the people in it. I focused only on the person in front of me, dressed in a suit looking every bit the knight in shining armour. Alfred pulled me close, his hand resting on my lower back, stroking my bare skin right gently with his thumb. He held my hand, gently but not too loose. The musicians began a new song and Alfred moved his feet. Halfway through the song Alfred suddenly smiled shyly.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing. Nothing at all." He quickly collected himself. "It's just, I guess I'm surprised, that's all."

"Surprised I haven't stepped on your toes yet?"

"Right, now you're making me sound like a complete ass." Alfred replied and I chuckled.

"A very nice ass." I smiled and Alfred pulled me closer.

"Wicked woman." He whispered into my ear.

After a second dance we stepped off the dance floor to get a drink. Alfred had just left when suddenly a familiar face popped up in front of me. Someone I hadn't seen in a long time, not since he fired me. Richard Crowne, the principal of Anders Academy. Bruce's school.

"Hello, Rosalind." He said with a smug grin. "Attending balls now, are we?"

"Richard." I nodded politely.

"So how's life teaching Bruce Wayne?" Richard continued. "Although from the look of things I'd say you've become a bigger part of the Wayne family. Was that the boy's butler I saw you dance with?"

Oh for heaven's sake. "Richard, whatever it is you're currently going through, leave me out of it."

"Please, if I hadn't fired you, you would have never gone to Switzerland with them and thus not be where you were now. I did you a favour."

My blood was starting to boil. The alcohol stench coming from Richard was obvious, but even then I hadn't expected him to address me on this out in the open. I guess it still bothered him immensely that I declined to help him out with his little school funding problem. The fact that Richard still thought I had gone off to Switzerland with Alfred and Bruce, made me think he thought I was an opportunistic slag.

"How's about you do me a favour now by leaving me alone?" I sneered at him. Richard moved quicker than I'd anticipated and he grabbed hold of my arm. His nails digging into my skin as he pushed me against the wall I'd been leaning against.

"It was just one simple thing. All you had to do was hand over those documents and that was all. You could have kept your,-"

"Are you all right, Miss Wood?"

I recognized that voice, but it wasn't Alfred. It was Lucius Fox.

"She's fine, mister. We're acquainted." Richard replied not taking his eyes of mine.

I winched and Lucius placed his hand on Richard's shoulder. "I don't think you know who I am, good man. But I reckon I'm a better acquaintance of Miss Wood than you are turning out to be."

Richard's nostrils flared but he let go of my arm and stepped back, slapping Lucius's hand off his shoulder. Lucius looked over his shoulder and snapped his fingers. Two burly men approached us and grabbed hold of Richard Crowne who began to struggle causing a couple of people to look our way, including Alfred. He stood only a few feet away holding two glasses of champagne in his hands. When he noticed I was standing there he immediately placed the glasses on a random table and ran over.

"What happened?" He asked. But as soon as he saw who the guards were holding his expression changed to pure fury.

"No, Alfred. Don't!" I hissed at him grabbing hold of his arm. Lucius stepped in front of him, blocking his view on Richard who was currently being dragged away against his will.

"If he laid one hand on you, I swear I will,-"

"Stop, please. Stop." I breathed heavily. "Think of Bruce."

It took a second to hit home but finally Alfred calmed down, though his expression of anger remained. He slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me against him. "We're leaving. Now."

I was more than glad to. I pushed Alfred aside for a minute to thank Lucius for getting rid of Richard, but he was gone. I glanced around the room of people dancing, but to no avail. He'd vanished.

Oh the excitement! And Lucius to the rescue. I told you we hadn't seen the last of Bruce's headmaster.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Next chapter will be...well...let's just say Alfred finally gets what he wants.

Until next time!