Matthew gazed down at the window, folding his arms behind his back. He looked around for any sign for a car approaching in the driveway. After a few more minutes, He gave up and sighed.
" Matthieu ?" Francis called from the back of the room, who was sitting down in a lavish armchair near the fireplace reading.
" Father, are you sure you can trust them to come on time?" Matthew asked, still looking out the window.
" mon Cher." Francis replied calmly, " just be patient, all right? I know your excited about having found out that you have a brother out there-but remember- Alfred isn't...how you say... " Right in the head" and his father had to put up with him for his entire life. Be patient with them."
Matthew nodded his head in agreement but truth be told, he was actually dreading the idea of having a brother around. He was already unknown to everyone at the village and even in his own home! Surely , people will pay way more attention to his brother, who does have a mental disability (which by the way counts as "pre-born popularity.)
Francis had prepared for them a grand banquet and completely redecorated the manor. Mathew stood aside, watching as the servants prepared all the trouble his father had gone through of welcoming Alfred into their home.
Nonetheless, Matthew will have to suck it up for him and love, as well as care for Alfred like an older brother should.
He looked over to his father , who was sitting down and reading. Matthew stared at him and admired just how beautiful he was, even with his dark bags under his blue eyes and silver streaks in his hair. It was an absolute tragedy when Matthew's mother died 3 years ago. Francis didn't come out of his room for months, nearly a year! He just laid there , on the bed that they once shared, and grieved. Matthew felt unspeakable sorrow too, but he tried to keep his composure for the sake of all the servants in the manor.
He hasn't cried since her death.
Did Alfred had a mother? Well of course he did...but where was she?
Matthew, lost in thought , did not notice the car pulling in on the driveway. He turned around and his heart started racing.
They were here.
