Sorryyy for the late update! Also! If you see an asterisk (*) I suggest you merely keep on reading, instead of scrolling to the bottom. I also noticed that though I typed the edited previous chapters; I never updated them! That is so embarrassing, I'll get to it soon! Tell me if I missed an asterisk.
Bonnes Lectures!
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
The following day was one of gloom.
It began inauspiciously, with a new letter from Madame Lavalle, which threw Naru into such a fever of apprehension that she couldn't forbear to plague Kurama any longer. She sent round a letter to his lodgings immediately, imploring him to either tell her what to do, or to negotiate a loan for her "with a respectable usurer". She dispatched this letter with a falling heart; Kurama was her only hope to setting her fix into order.
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
Sasuke exchanged a glance with Itachi, his brow knitting together for a moment before unravelling apart with quite some difficulty.
You see? his gaze said, she didn't even bother talking to me after the greeting, instead she rushed upstairs with a stricken look once she set hands on that letter, and came rushing down with a responding message; to whom? Kurama. Of course, who else could it be? Sasuke's theory was confirmed when he glimpsed at her lips as she gave the footman orders; to leave for the Viscount's current lodgings. Sending the letter off with such a worried gaze that set his concealed anger wavering for a moment (a moment).
Sasuke merely flicked his glare to the coin he had been inspecting before Naru scrambled off to exchange letters (she hadn't even told him anything about its contents!) with her brother, looking like as though malchance had struck her. A small smirk suddenly escaped onto his features, he could most certainly deal with that; hopefully something dreadful had happened to Kurama, and Sasuke was Not (with a capital letter to emphasize), going to go running to help him. He might shed a tear at his funeral ceremony, though, just to keep appearances, and would immediately rejoice having Naru all to himself. But there was that other brat, Tenshi, their crimson-haired sibling; a total not-an-angel.
Sasuke scowled.
He spied Itachi standing up, from the corner of his eye, and walking to take a seat besides Naru. What was Brother scheming now?
'Is everything all right, Naru?'
She glanced up, her smile quivering for a moment before solidifying. 'Of course, Sir Itachi, what could possibly be wrong?'
Your attitude, for one, and whatever it is that you are hiding from me, Sasuke thought, I'm practically green with envy at whatever has been stealing your attention, Naru.
'Merely fancied something dreadful had happened,' he remarked, his eyes meeting Sasuke's for a second. 'You looked to be out of sorts, dear.'
(Ignoring the fact that they had his complete attention) Sasuke's eyes narrowed when Naru gave a nearly imperceptible start, she is hiding something.
'Am I?' she uttered a little laugh, which would have fooled them, had they not have known better. 'Oh, it is simply Kyū, he said something dreadful happened.'
The attached side of Sasuke immediately sent a small wave of worry through his thoughts, but he immediately squashed it, and, unfeelingly feeling a little smug at that, he nearly chuckled with madness.
'I need to call on the Misses Berry, so if I may be excused..' she said with a short curtsey and flurried steps out of the room.
'I find this all suspicious, brother,' said Sasuke.
Itachi looked as though he wanted to roll his eyes up to the ceiling, but otherwise (to the untrained eye) had a really calm countenance. 'I find that you two are merely the most pitifully oblivious and blindfolded couple I have ever seen, Brother.'
'I am not oblivious, or blind, Elder Brother,' he said, adding bitterly: 'As I once was.'
'Is that so?' Itachi wondered out loud.
'Of course,' he declared. 'I do know that she is hiding something from me.. traipsing out to go visit someone at the most surprising of times.'
'Why do you not follow her, then?' Itachi asked. 'To see what she is hiding?'
'That is most improper, Brother, you know that,' he recited.
'It is not... for a spy,' he retorted, his voice never lifting from its calm drifts.
'Which I am not, I have no training in that, and if she received training from the Master Jiraiya, as you suspect, I shall be ferreted out in the matter of a few seconds, at all events.'
Itachi sighed exasperatedly. 'I hope that young Kurama calls, today.'
Sasuke scowled, quite unhappy, what is it about the Namikazes that people admire so much? 'Hn.'
'I have something I wished to discuss with him.'
'I hope that he does not call, at all events,' he said, rising and grabbing his cane. 'Excuse me, I am going to stroll round a bit.'
Stroll around, hell's ass, I'm going to search for Naru, Sasuke thought, making for the door. Itachi knows something I do not, I can tell.
'Run after sweet Naru, you meant?'
'Damned Brother and his conception powers,' Sasuke muttered.
He closed the door to Itachi's deep but soft, amused chuckle. He treaded down a flight of stairs and walked down a lighted corridor, passing by his quarters and walking as patiently as he could manage down to Naru's door. He impatiently knocked once and swung open the heavy door, his mood lifting imperceptibly.
It was empty.
Void of Naru, he stood there, a frown creeping onto his features. Had she not said she had to go call on the Berrys? Sutton, her dresser, would never let her go out looking anything less than désaxante, he had been convinced he would find her here, under the hands of the aloof dresser. He was wrong, it seemed.
Where was she, then?
Sasuke scowled at the thought of her leaving to go meet someone, no, surely not, she was merely somewhere else in the house. Maybe with Sakura? They had said they will go as a party, sometime yesterday, Sakura and Naru sometimes got ready together. Sasuke blinked, yes, that was it, he just had to walk up a flight of stairs, walk up some corridors and he would find Naru in Sakura's room.
He turned around, halting when he spied Naru's drawer-table across the room; that was where she kept her letters. His eyes flitted to the door, his ears open for any sounds of footsteps, as he weighed his thoughts around for a moment. He could simply walk to it, and find out what big secret was going on behind his back. He inclined his head, as though reaching conclusion, glancing around for a second before making way round to the table.
Oh, Naru, he thought, with a shake of his head, this was; the key to your drawers should not be left in the open like that. In the open? It was literally inviting, what with being left in the turnkey, the key chain heavy with many other keys.
Feeling like a criminal, he seated himself and pulled open her drawer. Sure enough, it was filled with letters, piled neatly, one over the other. He grabbed the first one..
116, second Storey
Tottenham Court Road
London, England
Dear Naruto
I am writing to inquire after your health
..it was obviously an acquaintance of hers, Kurama was never this formal, nor did he compose his letters correctly (it was not needed if one was simply messaging someone across the block, but it still made Sasuke wonder if the blonde had not cheated his way through school [letter writing was taught to pre-schoolers!]). Sasuke scowled and set it back down, grabbing another. It was also not from the Viscount.
Maybe he was rummaging through the wrong drawer?
His grey eyes skipped to the bottom drawer, grabbing the keys, he unlocked it and pulled it open; finding nothing more than a battered novel titled Icha Icha vol.I, Sasuke paused, heat creeping up his neck. Icha Icha?! The vulgar series of romance novels written by the renowned Master Jiraiya?
Unwillingly, he grabbed it, owning that it was a good hiding place for any secret letters, for merely the title would ward it of any self-respecting creature. Breathing out levellingly, he opened it.
Hey, little brat, I'm giving you this one so you can practice. It is hand written, so that you may get used to it before trying it out for real.
Kurama already finished his, by the by, I'm expecting a letter from you once you finish the book!
Toad Master
Considerably awed, Sasuke reread the text (it was handwritten by Jiraiya himself!), before skimming through the pages, finding no pieces of letters. He sighed and placed it back; he was about to close it when he noticed that the drawer was shorter than usual; while that could be normal, he knew that it wasn't so, but why would Naru place a false wall in it?
Sasuke frowned, trying to figure out how to open it up, after a few prodding and pressing, he growled at the frustration and rattled the drawer angrily, ordering it rather childishly to open. It came open.
His eyelids dropped and he brooded darkly for a second; he was going to get revenge for this embarrassing situation. Let it never be said that he had unravelled the drawer by pure chance. Anyways.. there it was.
Sasuke pulled out the first bundle of silk cloth, unwrapping the contents carefully... hmm, expensive paper. Kurama never used such writing material, his eyes narrowing dangerously when he noticed the Uchiha crest embossed onto the top letter. Maybe his thoughts on Obito taking a fancy for Naru were not as farfetched as he thought, only the main family used those; and Obito was of main family.
So this is what you have been hiding, Naru, Sasuke thought, ignoring the wounded weight cracking invisibly through his chest. Anger filled his emotions, his brow snapping together, he was going to murder him, hang the family humdudgeon! That dammed Tobi cut the ties first!
He calmly flipped it open, no one could have guessed that he was cussing a storm in his attic, and froze, involuntarily.
WHAT... the devil?
This was his! the whole letter was his! from the handwriting to the very words he could recall writing down. What? Sasuke gawked (wide eyed) at the letter for a few moments... realization came upon him with a tremendous wave of embarrassed relief. It was actually very own his letter that she had gone through the trouble of locking away safely.
A stupid grin cracked across his face; he could not have stopped had he even tried.
'You look silly with that grin on your face, Younger Brother.'
A sound of startle escaped his lips. 'When did you get here?' he demanded, flushing.
'Oh, when you were reading and rereading Master Jiraiya's handwritten note with stars in your eyes,' Itachi admitted, a smirk playing on his lips. 'Why do you ask? Is there an inconvenience?'
Of course there is! he yelled inwardly, settling to say: 'I hate your spying tendencies.'
'Now, now, don't get all hostile,' he implored with a smile. 'I was admiring the way in which you composed your love letters.'
Sasuke scowled at him and turned his heating face away, folding the letter and placing it back. Siblings are the worst.
'You aren't going to check all the letters? What about if the evidence you are searching for was concealed amongst these?'
'Hn,' Sasuke grunted, of course he was, quite miffed with his annoying sibling.
Itachi merely smirked, with all the airs of someone who knew exactly what was going to happen.
He pulled out the next, also a fancy Uchiha paper; hoping that it was his, and not anyone else's. It was.
'Wow,' Itachi murmured. 'I guess this rivals your own secret box of Naru's letters.'
'Did you have to mention that?' Sasuke huffed.
'Why not?' his torturous voice was sucrée. 'I find it very cute and sweet.'
Sasuke sneered and glared at him. 'Hn.'
'I'm guessing that is the "hn" that says "it is not cute," right Brother?' Itachi smirked, gesturing to the bunch of papers. 'Go on, she could walk in any moment, now, I suggest reading as many as we can before that happens.'
Sasuke glared at him and began inspecting them, they were all his; and he couldn't help but feel idiotically elated at that information.
'How sweet,' Itachi cooed. 'She even treasures your cold, unfeeling notes: I am leaving for the Duffy Gentlemen's Club Meeting.'
Sasuke gritted his teeth, wishing dearly that he could simply wring his brother's neck, wrapping the letters and placing them back in place once more. His eyelids lower slightly with smugness, guess who's letters were locked away in silk, Kurama?
'Yours, and someone else's?'
He did not just say that out loud, did he? Sasuke glared at his brother, who stood up from his crouch and collected his cane, saying vengefully: 'You are insufferable, Brother.'
'I was just leaving,' he replied, poking Sasuke's forehead and ruffling his hair indelicately. 'I find myself needing answers to many things; and they won't be answered here.'
Sasuke stared after him as he stalked out of the room, nothing in his countenance and dress less than perfect, and Sasuke briefly remembered a younger him watching haplessly each time Itachi left. He then turned back to the drawer, there was another silk bundle to inspect, after all.
As the Earl reached into the drawer for the bundle, a sudden realization struck him: who else was special enough to have their letters kept here? He sourly wished it was not the Viscount Uzumaki-Namikaze, or else that would give him more reason to wish for his brother-in-law's head. Sasuke pulled the bundle out, noting that it was quite heavy, and unwrapped it; uncovering novels.
Icha Icha!!! vol.I
His brows snapped together.
Icha Icha!!! vol.II
What's so special about them?
Icha Icha!!! vol.III
Was Naru one of those closet-crotchety females who read this books hidden in a rose bush?
Icha Icha!!! vol.IV
Sasuke shuddered, he was most probably dreaming: his sweet Naru would never, ever read this sort of abomination, would she?
Sasuke doubted his thoughts, he did not really even know anything about her... all he was reading about her colours were that she spent an incredible amount of time at balls and spent money the same way her brother did.
He scowled and pulled out the last book, a thick, battered one.
Tale of a Gutsy Ninja vol.I
Where was volume 2 or something? It looked like an interesting storybook. Sasuke turned over the book and stacked them back into the order they were once in, wrapped them in silk and closed the drawer, carefully putting the false back into place once more. He frowned, his will to go on wilting, maybe he was not that willing to even find out exactly how Naru felt about him.
They do say: if the truth does not kill, then it wounds.
Uchiha was not ready for that yet, maybe he could still win over her affections, it was simply a matter of time. Sasuke nodded his head once and stood up, getting tid of any evidence that might give his snooping away, leaving the room and heading for Sakura's chambers.
He swept open the doors, hearing Naru exclaim the word "unbecoming" and was just in time to hear a pretty dressed-up Sakura (from her laying position on the sofa) reply:
I won't go!' she reiterated mulishly.
'Won't go where?' asked Sasuke, quite curious about her declaration.
'I won't go to Osterly with Naru!' she said, setting her gaze upon her cousin. 'And I don't care if people do gossip!'
What was his cousin brewing, this time around? 'Of course you will go to Osterly,' he said calmly. 'What excuse could you possibly offer for crying off?'
'I have already told Naru that I have the tic, and if she doesn't choose to believe me it doesn't matter, but neither of you can force me to go!'
Sasuke's gaze softened, and he said, in tones of sad understanding: 'Naru doesn't believe you?' he sent his wife a mischievous look. ' I believe you, my pet, and I shall send a message round to Dr Baillie, desiring him to call.' He added, a glimmer at the back of his eyes: 'I have no particular engagements, at the moment, and I promise to remain at home with you.'
Her eyes twitched something terrible. 'Rather than endure your company I will go to Osterly!' she said, quivering with suppressed fury.
A smirk mastered his features.
'Yes, I thought you would,' he observed.
She glared at him and sprung up, stalked towards the door, and Sasuke, ever the gentleman, turned around and held the door open for her as she passed out of the room.
He raised an eyebrow at Naru, and said, shutting the door behind him: 'I wonder what mischief she is plotting? A clandestine meeting?'
Naru, a worried wrinkle on her brow said: 'I hope not. I can't help but sympathize with her, but it will not do for her to meet him in such a way.'
Sasuke approached, slightly, playing his cards carefully, as Naru rambled on.
'..I fear she has let her partiality for Lee to be seen, seen too clearly.. oh, dear, wearing one's heart on a sleeve is so very unbecoming! Just the other day Miss Tucking inquired after the affair. . and there is already a little gossip about her... in a certain set.'
'Take care, then, she doesn't give you the slip! Secret meetings, I will not endure.'
'No, indeed! But I have been wondering, Uchiha, if you would,' she finally glanced up as she said this, finding that he was less than an arm's length away, she faltered: '- if you - would - permit - permit me to invite Mr Lee to dine with us before he leaves England.'
She turned to the side slightly. 'Poor Sakura! it shall be very sad if she is not even granted the opportunity of taking leave of him.'
Sasuke paused. 'You are asking me to lend my countenance to an engagement of which I disapprove?' he said quizzically.
'Well, you already did say that she could marry him when he returns from Brazil! A simple dinner is not more than you have done already!' she urged. 'I am persuaded that it would make her feel no need to meet him secretly.'
Sasuke, feeling skeptical for a moment (her persuasions were hard to counter most times), shrugged, and said, stepping forward with a brooding presence: 'Very well. You may do as seems best to you.'
Naru, acutely aware of his looming presence, rubbed the nape of her neck, unconsciously, trying to make the flush creep back down. 'Tha - thank you! I will tell her, and I do hope it may comfort her a l - little!'
'Not so fast, Nar',' he murmured, grasping her hand. 'I do not wish for you to leave, yet.'
This time the flush escaped past her neck, she was quite sure that he could feel the heat radiating off her cheeks, his (dashing!) smirk was not helping. Naru closed her eyes as Sasuke leant forward, her heart hammering against her cage of rib-bones, his eyelids lowering.
The door slammed open with terrible force, an enraged Sakura standing on the threshold. Naru snatched the opportunity to spin around and exclaim, relief flooding her senses: 'Oh! Sakura! You shall be most pleased with the news I have to tell you!'
Sasuke, outwardly calm, for a scathing moment was wishing someone would hang Sakura. He watched as Naru informed her of the treat, leaving the room when Sakura gave a negative response to her information. He was not pleased at the frustration that was meeting him at every turn. Quite furious with it, actually.
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
Naru left to go call on the Misses Berry, coming back, later on, with hopes of finding Kurama. Alas, her brother did not show up, and she, worried, sent him another message. When she received no reply, Naru merely sighed and went to prepare herself to leave for Osterley.
Shortly after noon, some time after the ladies had left, the porter heard the knocker being knocked. So he opened the door, to behold the Viscount Kurama.
His lordship Kurama was dressed for travel, in breeches and top-boots, his cloaks hanging majestically off his shoulders, his cane gleaming, and his hair neatly combed back from his face to hover over his shoulders; he actually looked like a real Viscount, embarking for an adventure. The porter gawked at him for a moment before gathering himself and opening the door with an incline of his head. Kurama trod briskly into the hall, Tabi following him with an unnerving gaze shot at the porter. The porter closed the door and followed the Viscount, who halted and turned around, setting his heavy gaze on the shorter man.
'Where's Kit?' he demanded.
'Lady Uchiha has, unfortunately, left on an expedition with Lady Sakura, he said, sincerely. 'I may, if you wish, for they are out at Osterley, pass on-'
The Viscount, who had been standing there looking thunderstruck, suddenly looked wrathful. 'Gone to Osterley?' he exclaimed. 'Well, hell and the devil confound it! Did she leave any message for me?'
'No,' the porter said apologetically. 'I do not think her ladyship left any message, unless, perhaps, with Farley.'
Kurama sighed, aggravated.
'Viscount Namikaze.'
Kurama's eyes snapped to the side, his eyes widening with surprise, for Farley was the one who had greeted him. Where on Earth did he appear from! His eye twitched as he watched the butler bow, elegantly, with stately civility. He never understood how butlers always appeared from the nether regions whenever someone needed them.
'Did her ladyship say when she would be back?' he demanded.
'No, my lord - merely that she had no expectations of being late. I understand it is an al fresco party: something, doubtless, in the nature of a picnic.'
'Well, if that don't beat all hallow!'* said the Viscount, in accents of disgust.
'I fancy that Earl Uchiha has not gone out, yet, my lord, if you care to see him?' Farley offered. 'Mr Kent was with him, several moments ago, but-'
'No, no, I won't disturb him,' interrupted Kurama, with aplomb. 'In fact, there's no need to tell him I called: came to see her ladyship on a private matter!'
'Just so, my lord,' said Farley, accepting with a wonderful air of unconsciousness the handsome douceur which Kurama gave him.
'I'm stepping up to Kit's dressing-room, and write a note to her,' said Kurama. 'And you'd better give me my hat again! Don't want his lordship to catch sight of it!'
However, the porter undertook to keep the hat hidden from the Earl's eyes.
Kurama, quite unembarrassed, told him to "see that you do," and declined Farley's offer of escort. He then went off up the broad stairway, leaving an awed porter.
'As bold as a Beauchamp, that's what he is,' remarked the porter. 'Down as a hammer, up like a watch-boy! He ain't one of the stiff-rumped sort, for one, and even if he's swallowed a spider, he never forgets to tip a cove! I know plenty wealthier men who wouldn't give me more than a borde for hiding their tiles... What did he drop in your famble, Mr Farley?'
Farley, revolted by such vulgar curiosity, set a smouldering stare upon the porter (who withered), and silently retired once again to his own quarters.
Twenty minutes later Kurama came lightly down the stairs again, pausing for a moment on the half-landing to make sure the coast was clear. Encouraged by a nod and wink from the porter, he descended the remaining half-flight, and handed over a sealed billet. 'Give that to Kit, will you, George?'
'Of course, thank you, my lord!' said the porter, as large coins followed the billet.
And if you want a sure thing for the King's Plate at Chester tomorrow,' added the Viscount, pulling on his gloves and setting his hat on his head, 'put all your blunt on Cockroach!'
'Yes, thank you, my lord,' the porter thanked, but with far less fervour this time round.
As he watched Kurama stalk away (he regretted his imprudence), he sighed pityingly and shook his head. Everyone knew that the Viscount took to always betting on the long odds, inheriting their family's notorious gaming unsuccess. If his lordship's new lay was Cockroach, then (he perceived) there would be a sad dwindling in the stream of heavy silver coins the Viscount always tipped. Even he knew that Cockroach was a hopeless lay; the new racing horse had lost all four of his previous races, not even the Prince Regent would dream of placing his blunt on the horse.
Well, at least he got one last tip beforehand, and seeing Kurama's visage as he descended from Lady Uchiha's chambers, he probably thought he had hit on something huge. That glimmer in his eyes spoke it.
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
Kurama could be seen walking down the cobbles of Uchiha Street* a merry whistled tune leaving his lips, he had the look of the cat who just ate their master's canary.
'Hey, Kurama.'
He paused, quite annoyed, that voice way too familiar to him, and flicked his eyes to the side, sure enough, there he was, surrounded by several coves.
'It's been a long time, hey?' the leader said, stepping forward. 'How do you do?'
'Go bury yourself,' he snarled, a heavy wrinkle on his brow. Kurama was much too agitated to notice Tabi slinking away, her nose in the air.
'Now, now, that is no way to salute your brother, now,' an openly sweet smile was on his face. 'Here I was, fancying that Kakashi's much admired manners had rubbed off onto you.'
'Brother?' Kurama scoffed disdainfully. 'You Sicklehams are sickening, and, there is no way on Earth we are related.'
The man tutted and stepped forward, again. 'Manners, manners, this is no way for a young Viscount to act,' he scolded. 'I was even going to forgive you..'
'I don't need any of your forgiveness, the dim-wit was asking for it. There is no way you're going to get my sister with what your pack of dog-witted family is doing.'
'My cousin only spoke the truth!' He snapped back. 'Your sister's a wealth-seeking chipper with a devil's charm. You had not a need to land my cousin in a critical state at a hospital who's fees are high!'
Kurama smirked. 'You'd better prepare funerary money, then.'
'Look'ee, kid, I like you like one of our own, you've got the disposition, but our law doesn't allow us to let you get of with only a smack to the rump.'
'All I'm getting is you are extremely childish - not childlike, don't get me wrong.' He sighed, 'Just give it up like a man.. Kit and you? Ain't going to happen.'
'Just wait when that pampered Uchiha realizes what a scarlet girl your sister is, she's going to come running back to me.'
Kurama's brows snapped together at the center. 'Watch what you spew, you bastard, what's more is; I do not know why you think she'll ever turn to you, she barely even knows your name.'
'If that's what you think, then you are blind, Kuram-'
'It's Viscount Namikaze,' he spat. 'You are moved in your attic if you think that a smile from Naru is a promise to marriage.'
'You didn't see what I saw, her eyes were filled with emotion, she was truly happy when she spoke to me, I haven't seen her smile around that Earl, she only smiles when she's shopping with that pink Uchiha, glowing at the money they spend. I can offer her both money, and that happiness.'
A new voice cut in. 'Even I do not see that happening, Mr Sickleham.'
It was smooth, deep and soft, but held a cutting edge, Kurama blinked what is Itachi doing here?
'Simple a cause Naru can smile with genuineness, unlike many, does not mean she is in love with you.'
'Itachi, how?' Kurama asked.
He gestured to his feet. 'No one keeps a wildcat with them, I knew something was up when she came to me.'
'Tabi,' he said, looking betrayed.
Itachi smiled. 'Anything for my brother.'
'I don't need anyone's help.'
'I do not doubt that,' he said, patiently. 'You are dressed for travel, there's no time for mills.'
'Travel? You're running away, kid?'
Kurama glared at him, before smirking and smiling. 'No, I'm getting a way to get the dibs in tune, you were the last thing on my mind.'
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
Naru was eager to get the billet from the porter, sge read it's contents immediately:
Dear Kit,
I have just come down from your quarters, my real message lies there.
Your, now mollified, brother.
So she left for the privacy of her bedchamber to look for his letter. When she read it, she did not know if she could be cosoled or alarmed, she read its contents over twice more, her brow knitting together worriedly.
"What the devil," wrote Kurama, without preamble, " is the use of setting up a squawk for me to come see you if the next thing you do is to go jauntering off to a pic-nic? I can't wait here to see you, I'm going out of town for a day or two, but you may well stop fretting and fuming, because I have hit on a way of setting the Fix to rights, and more besides.
" I shan't tell you what it is,because ten to one you would not like it, for I never knew one to gain such buffleheaded scruples. I'm sure you would have even tried to throw a rub in the way, had you been at home, so I am glad that you are not. If that hot-grubbing mantua-maker Mme Levro (or whatever it is they call her) starts dunning you before I come rescue you, tell her she shall be paid before this week is out.
Now, don't be in a pucker, silly Kit, for I shan't fail this time.
And don't go wondering if I've sold any of "yer gewgaws," or anything else, for I have not.
Your affectionate and handsome brother, Kurama
P.S. I greases Farley in the fist to not tell Uchiha I was in the house, and your porter too - at least, I shall, when I'm leaving - so don't go blubbering to him.
Naru's spirits rose a little. There was no doubt now, or else Kurama wouldn't have written with such earnesty. Shw also had no doubts that it was something dreadful, since he had been so indignant when she had supposed that he would play highwayman once more. He had also assured her that he had not taken any of her jewels, so she didn't pursue those thoughts any longer. His words were contained so much certainty that she was fully convinced that he would not fail. So she concluded that he was going to complete some crazy exploit or wager with his acquaintances.
For twenty-four hours she was stuck between hope and fear, paying very little attention to anything else.
She had run up the stairs to write an answer to a message that needed an immediate answer, she sat down at the tambour-top writing-table in her dressing-room to scribble a reply. She was just signing her name one hand reaching out to ring for Sutton to help prepare her for dinner, the other hand holding the pounce-box, when the door opened behind her.
'Oh, my lady!'
It was Miss Sutton, Naru shaked the pounce-box over her sheet of paper, wondering what could shake her dresser's firm countenance so. She concluded that she had thought she was late, for Sutton only became agitated when she thought that she had fallen short of Naruto's expectations. So, to calm her, Naru said cheerfully: 'Yes, I am back, but I hadn't yet rung for you, so there's not a single need to worry.'
'It is not that, my lady!' Sutton cried. 'It is the necklace!'
'The necklace?' Naru repeated uncomprehendingly.
'The necklace of diamonds and emeralds! One of the Uchiha Necklaces! The one your ladyship never liked out of the set, and which we had placed for safety in your closet!' said Sutton tragically.
A cold feeling was creeping into her stomach at those words.
'The one between the folds of the blue velvet pelisse his lordship had purchased for you to wear, come winter, a place where one wouldn't look for such a thing! Never in all my years has this happened to any of my ladies!'
Sutton sucked in a shaking breath. 'The necklace is gone! Gone, my lady!'
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
/Our New Lady/
/Uchiha/
*all hallow: all hallow's tide/halloween, it was a legendary sort o of myth, long ago, concerning harvest, evil spirits, and such. I'm pretty sure everyone knows the origins of the holiday quite many people enjoy. So when Kurama said ''if that don't beat all hallow'' he meant the spirits that people used to ward their crop from.
A/N
I hate marriages. That's a fact, especially since marriages in here take looooonnggggg (Gehhh), they're gonna make the husband broke at this rate, eh, seriously, and I'm a bridesmaid (-insert groan-). Not that I'm not happy, I'm just extremely honoured and embarrassed. The dresses she ordered are clingy, too, (joy) all the more reason to be nervous.
Bye, for now, I need to go choose a hairstyle.
I'm stopping the "Next chap" thingy. I barely keep it true, sorry!