Hello my dears. I would like to thank DeanBean (Guest) for the lovely review. I would also like to thank those of you who have followed and favoured since my last update.
So here is the next chapter, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural.
It was the eve of the Hemsworth's ball, and the start of the season. Most people of the ton would be attending small soirees with friends, or trying to make sure their charges had a jump start on the other debutantes. But that was not the case for the Haynes and Winchester brothers. No they were on their way to a family dinner, to introduce Dean and Sam to the duke and duchess, and let them see with their own eyes that Lady Penelope was in the best of hands. Not that anyone said the last, that was more stated in the nonverbal glare Dean sent Gabriel's way at regular occasions throughout the short journey from his home to the one his parents lived in. Though Gabriel had to concede that it might well also be due to the fact he had forced the younger man into clothes of the highest fashion. Thinking back to earlier that day when Gabriel had taken the Winchesters to his tailors he knew he would find it funny, in time. Knew it would become an anecdote he would tell at parties in the future, especially if Dean happened to be there. But now all he could remember was the complete exasperation he had with the younger man. In fact the last thing he wanted to be doing right then was having dinner with him, he would much prefer to be lying down in a darkened room with a glass of good brandy in his hand.
Yes, it had been a trying day to say the least. He had risen early to take his guests to the most prestigious tailor in London, if not England, and had even arranged for them to each have an outfit prepared for this evening's dinner. He felt this was more than generous of him. He knew the Winchesters financial situation was not an affluent one, but he also knew they could not go into the ton wearing what they had come with. But of course Dean had protested extremely loudly, even Castiel it seemed could not stem his refusal to take charity, as he saw it. It wasn't until Gabriel lost his temper and told him in no uncertain terms that if he did not get a new wardrobe he would not be taking him into the ton, and he would not let him stand at the side of Lady Penelope, that Dean finally agreed. But at least now his guests had decent clothing, even if it did shred Gabriel's nerves in the process. Hmm, maybe he should start billing Castiel for the strain on his emotions, he wasn't sure he could take that again.
In fact Gabriel was so busy remembering with horror the torture he had been put through that morning that he was startled when the carriage came to a stop and the door was promptly opened. He had not realised they were already at Ravenscliff House. Moving out of the door, he nodded in acceptance of the bow the footman was giving him, though looking at him closer he realised he wasn't the usual man his mother had employed. No it was the man who had come with Penny. Remembering his name quickly Gabriel couldn't stop the quirk of his lips as he said regally, "thank you, Peter."
"You're welcome, my lord." Peter replied, somewhat surprised that the Marquess knew his name. Or more to the point, remembered him enough to be able to identify him.
Gabriel thought about this development as he made his way towards the front door. He was pleased to see Peter there, and not just because it showed that Penny's staff were integrating into the household. No, if he had been given the job of greeting them then that had to mean that Brighton had given him that role of responsibility, one that was not usually given to newcomers he knew. It boded well for when Penny had her own home and had Peter was her butler. If Brighton trusted him, then he would be up to the responsibility of looking after all the ladies in the house.
Walking through the door he noticed the small smile on said butlers lips, and Gabriel knew he knew exactly what he was thinking, well not exactly, but enough to take pleasure in watching the young master worry about the ones under his protection. But he had nothing against that. In the minds of the servants she was going to be his wife, did Brighton really think he would do anything differently? Of course he didn't. Therefore he returned the slight smile as he gave over his coat and hat, moving out of the way so the three behind him could do the same.
Turning his mind away from thoughts of servants as he turned towards the stairs he instead found himself thinking of the lady who it seemed, had taken up semi-permanent residence in his mind. He had not seen her much since their ride together through the park, and any time they had been together, it had been in a crowd. He really needed to make sure this evening he managed to get her alone. There were things they needed to discuss before the coming start of the season, and time was running out.
Dean had followed Castiel up the steps to the massive front doors, had had to force himself not to gape as he handed over his overcoat and top hat. And while he would never admit it, he was glad Gabriel had insisted he and Sam had new clothing. It was daunting enough being in this place as a guest, he did not want to be conspicuous in his outdated attire. It was there, standing in the hall of his best friend's familial home that he realised that tomorrow night would be even worse. Because tomorrow night it would not be just Castiel parents he would be meeting, but all the ton. Why had he decided to do this again? What had possessed him to enter this pretentious society? How was he ever going to be able to pretend to be one of them? He was not part of this world. His father had been a second son of a second son, far removed from the lowly title of baron his cousins held. Unlike those he had worked with, he had earnt his position of major, working his way up through the officer's ranks by taking the most dangerous, most risky assignments he could until he was finally someone of note in Wellington's army. He then had scrimped and saved to buy Sam his Captain's commission in his regiment, though he always felt his brother would have been better off going into the law as he had trained to do. Well, maybe he could now, the war was over and they were home. Sammy could be whoever he wanted to be now, and maybe with this connection to Castiel's family, he would be able to get noticed by the right people. Yes, that was how he would get though the months ahead. He would not only watch over the Lady Penelope, but he would also see if he could get his brother settled. With that new determination in his mind, Dean stopped staring at his plush surrounding and instead moved to stand next to Gabriel.
Of course Castiel for his part had already considered what had only just crossed Dean's mind, and as such had already dropped hints to his father about Sam's education, hoping he would make sure he met the right people while he was in town for the season. He knew his father would, but not because Sam was his friend. No, but because he would take one look at the man and see what Castiel did. That he was a man worthy of their help.
Once there outer clothing had been removed, the four men made their way to the drawing room, where they were met by the duke, duchess and all the Coburn ladies. As soon as they were through the door, Anne descended upon the Winchester boys, smiling and talking and trying to make them feel at ease, though she could see the younger did not seem tense about meeting them. In fact in barely no time her husband had him cornered and was discussing the latest parliamentary laws, asking for his opinion on them. That left Dean to her, but she was fine with that. He was the one she truly had wanted to meet anyway, he was the one who was closest to her youngest son. He was the one she was determined to repay for making sure Castiel came back to them.
Gabriel exchanged quick pleasantries with his parents before moving to greet Penny. It would seem odd if he had not, and it gave him the perfect place to stand and watch his mother terrorise Dean. Perhaps he was glad he had come out this evening after all.
"You seem particularly pleased with yourself. What are you up to now, Gabriel?" Came a quiet but even tone from beside him, causing him to turn his beaming smile on full force to the woman next to him.
"I'm making bets with myself about how long Dean-o will last before he concedes defeat to mama." Gabriel replied making Penny chuckle quietly as she too turned her eyes to the man they were discussing, just in time to see his eyes dart about as if looking for someone to rescue him.
Gabriel waited, expecting his brother to move to redirect on Dean's behalf, but it was another who did it instead. He watched as Bea made her way over to his mother's side, and curtseyed to the major as she was introduced. He stood there blinking as somehow she managed to extract him from the older lady's grasp and lead him towards her younger sisters in mere minutes. "That, I did not expect." He muttered surprised that one so young was able to bend his mama to her will without thought.
"I did." Penny responded smiling at her younger sisters, watching how the three of them were helping Major Winchester relax. She was glad Bea had gone to his aid. She could still remember the haunted look in his eyes when he had come to offer her his hand. Hopefully spending some time with her sisters would help to lessen the pain she saw in him. Hopefully they could infuse some of their innocence into the man who so desperately needed it.
Gabriel turned from watching Dean, and for the first time took in the lady next to him. Took in the dusky pink gown she was wearing that in the candle light clashed perfectly with the red in her hair. Took in how it made her eyes sparkle with a hint of green, even when they were trained on her sisters and usually he saw only a soft brown.
"You are a vision." He said gently smiling a sincere smile down at her.
"A vision of what?" Penny couldn't help but reply trying to make light of his words, though she could also feel her cheeks flush slightly at the way Gabriel was looking at her. It was a look that made her chest tighten, and a strange feeling to flutter inside of her.
"A vision of my Pen, of course." Gabriel answered, reaching for her hand and raising it to his lips as he stared deep into her eyes, catching their attention so much so that to the both of them, everything else just melted away. It was just the two of them, in their own little world in that moment, and nothing could be more perfect. But it could not last, he lowered her hand, and she blinked, their surroundings rushing back to them both. "May I request a private word later?" Gabriel asked, standing straight and reverting to the formal wording he had been taught until it was an ingrained part of him.
"Of course." Penny agreed, inclining her head regally as if he was her subject and not the Marquess to her Viscounts daughter.
With her agreement secured Gabriel picked up her hand once more, placing it on his arm before guiding towards the other people in the room. It was time to socialise with his family and hers.
