Thank you for all the lovely words! They feed me and my imagination! Much love and enjoy!
Lonely Boy
Tomorrow's gettin' harder make no mistake
The dining room was brightly lit, showing the room in all its glory. The wooden white washed walls had intricate gold detailing, Chinese ornaments and tapestry's hung from the wall and stood proud along the walls. There was huge glittering crystal chandelier that hung from the middle of the ceiling, hundred of thousands of lights shining through the crystal drops creating rainbow patterns lightly dancing on the wall and polished wooden flooring. The table was not the normal banquet table, instead a smaller solid wooden oak table that seated 8 people comfortably. There was a red silk table runner trimmed in gold with a delicate gold lace pattern. Frank was clearly not at ease, sat uncomfortably upright with his hair carefully parted down the middle with wax and his whiskers turned slightly upwards. Frank was not used to being around the upper class, and the experiences he did have did not end happily. The others looked less than happy at being pulled into such a civilized meal and only spoke when spoken to. Matthew on the other hand was not so easily intimidated. He was still not impressed with the so called job he had been given, therefore had no qualms being himself. He had his hat slightly tilted back and was making a point of talking and eating at the same time. He took a bite from a bread roll and sat back in his chair.
"So Mr Swift, let's be honest here. We weren't the first guys you chose for these 'jobs'. Seems funny they've all left with their tails between their legs. Is your place haunted?" Matthew smiled, chewing the last parts of his bite and raised his eyebrows at Caitlin, who screwed up her face is disgust and looked away, taking a big gulp of wine in the process.
She looked stunning. She had kept her hair in the French plait but replaced the flower with a Sapphire clip surrounded by soft blue small feathers. Her corset was satin blue, the sleeves went to her elbow with soft white ripples around the edge. Her waist looked so tiny before the explosion of blue material that made the skirt. The detailing was very intricate and expensive, as always made the most of her womanly figure and draw a mans eye to certain places. To her annoyance, the other men's eyes flickered to her ample bosom and after a blush looked quickly down at their plates. Frank's eyes even flickered but stared deep into her eyes to the point it felt like her soul was burning, she refused to let him know he creeped her out and stared back until he eventually looked down. Matthew did not look once, he briefly looked at her to acknowledge her, and then proceeded to ignore her. It wasn't that she particularly wanted him all over her, she was just not used to being shown some attention. Besides, she had to learn to control him otherwise all of her careful planning would come undone. She had not suspected her father would stoop so low as to employ the damn Pinkerton boys.
Theodore dabbed the side of his mouth gently with a linen cloth and smiled softly at Matthew. He was growing fond of this lad.
"Ah now that is a question only my Caitlin could answer. They turn up built of steel and leave much like steam, hot and empty. I need men I can trust with my in land business runnings, my property, and of course my family." Theodore raised his glass and tilted it to Caitlin, who just glowered at him in return. Matthew swallowed the last of his bread and was just about to open his mouth when Frank jumped in.
"This has been a wonderful meal Sir, not sit for us but appreciated. I was hoping you could spend some time with me and William going through the sort of errands you wished for us to accomplish in your time abroad." Frank gave Matthew a withering stare, daring him to carry on acting the fool. Matthew enjoyed living so shrugged and pulled out his battered pack of cigarettes from his jacket pocket. As he pulled one out, he heard some obvious coughing. Looking up he could see one of the servant's shaking his head as he approached the table to begin tidying their plates away.
"I would much rather you didn't smoke in this room gentleman. You of course can understand that the Chinese artifacts and trophies that I have collected in my travels will not stand up well to the smoke. I am not a gentleman who, shall we say, likes to burn money." Theodore chuckled at his own little joke and clicked his fingers to get the servant's moving faster.
"Ah, now if I could have the pleasure of Mr Goodnight and Mr Goodnight in my drawing room, I can go over the necessary arrangements and plans I have. Please Mr Judge, Mr Arch and Mr Ernest retire to the billiard room where my dear Caitlin and butler Mr Sanders will be more than happy to answer questions about this property and the surrounding town." Theodore stood up and placed his napkin on the table, nodded to Frank and proceeded to walk away with the Goodnight brothers. Caitlin sighed and placed her napkin on the table with slightly more force than her father. She clicked her fingers and one of the servant's rushed from the doorway to help pull away her seat and offer a hand for her to hold on to as she stood up and straightened out her skirt.
"If you would please follow me gentlemen." Caitlin said in a cold and unquestioning tone, she too turned and walked out the same grand double doors as her father had. Thomas and Joseph looked at Matthew who smirked and popped his cigarette behind his ear. Rubbing his hands together, he got out of his seat, shoved his hands in his pocket and followed Caitlin out with Thomas and Joseph rushing behind him to keep up.
"We've been given our first orders boys." Matthew laughed.
The billiard room was of course decadent with green walls and red borders. There were hunting and general sport based paintings lined the wall, with a deer, elephant and black bear heads mounted on wooden shields placed over the roaring fire place. There was a games table that looked like it had previously been used for poker. There was a small bar with glass cabinets filled to the brim with alcohols and spirits from all over the world. A bar keep of sorts with black hair finally separated and a huge bushy mustache was cleaning one of the glasses. He wore a white shirt that was rolled up to the elbows and a grey waistcoat. He had an expensive looking gold chain on his left wrist that gently chimed when made contact with the glass. There were always four brandy glasses filled rather generously lined at the bar. Caitlin herself was perched on one of the tall bar stools, her blue satin skirt casting off shades of blue. Her bosom somehow shimmered in the light.
"Please help yourself to some brandy, I can assure you we will not be running dry any time soon so please help yourself to whatever you like." Caitlin smiled tightly at them and took her glass and gulped the warm brown liquid down in one shot. Matthew whistled, this was a lady he could get on with.
"Better take it slow Miss, don't want you following off your perch too soon." Matthew winked and shot his back too. Thomas and Joseph took their glasses and sipped, in complete awe of Caitlin and the room they were in. It wasn't too long before Thomas began eyeing up the laid out poker table.
"Seeing as you will soon be my shadow, at least have the courtesy to say my name. Another brandy for myself and Matthew." Caitlin didn't even look at the bar keep as she placed her empty glass down. Matthew nodded and popped his cigarette into his mouth.
"Caitlin." He rolled it over his mouth, smiled and lit his cigarette, taking a love overdue drag. As soon as the glasses touched the bar Caitlin had downed hers again. Popping it back, she delicately wiped her mouth and tilted her head to look at Thomas who had not taken a sip of his drink.
"I see that drinking does not appear to be quick of nature to you Thomas." Caitlin called out, knowing now what his vice was. She was determined to use their first names; it was a trust gaining technique she had learnt from watching her father's many dealings. He hadn't been completely useless. Thomas looked back and smiled in a shy way.
"No my lad-Caitlin. I am a man of cards rather than drink. I find it hazes my judgment and I make uncalculated risks. A cheap man's loss." Matthew snorted and downed his brandy.
"All my judgments in cards are uncalculated risks. But what is life without risk eh?" Matthew winked at Thomas and put his glass on the table. Joseph stood up and placed his glass on the table and turned to face Caitlin.
"Thank you for the drinks miss, sorry Caitlin. I was just wondering how many carriages come into your grounds during the week? How many people are accounted for?" Caitlin banked her small fist on the bar and the three glasses were filled with more brandy. For the next hour or so Caitlin and Mr Sanders, who turned out to be acting the role of bar keep, answered questions for the two men about the comings and goings of Saffron House. Matthew didn't say much as he wasn't particularly interested, he just drank his brandy and laughed occasionally. Though his mind was getting hazy, he knew Caitlin was watching him subtly and trying to mark his movements. He was curious why she was trying to gain their trusts and understand them as he was far too aware of her distaste of them. Soon Joseph and Thomas thanked Caitlin and Sanders for their help and turned themselves in for the night, one full of drink and one full of lust for cards. Caitlin had promised to arrange a game later on in the week. Matthew swallowed the last of his drink and leant against the bar. Sanders began to open the fourth bottle of brandy but Matthew put his hand up to say no more. Caitlin finished her drink and slammed it onto the table. Carefully, she got off of the bar stool and smoothed herself out. She did not appear affected by the drink at all, but her face had become softer and her smile more genuine. Matthew was beginning to worry that the only way to soften her would be through eventual alcohol poisoning. Taking off his hat and doing an elaborate bow, he offered his arm.
"My lady Caitlin, may I escort you to your room." Matthew smirked as her cheeks briefly flushed with red but her eyes flashed. She slowly walked over to him and wove her arm through his.
"That will not be necessary Matthew, you may walk me to the first staircase though." Matthew smiled and slowly walked her through the dimed corridors. He couldn't help but smell a soft musk like that of an autumn morning through a park and her eyes were bright and full of life. He also had to admit he enjoyed watching her soft looking breasts bounce slightly in their captive bodice as her walk was less than steady. Still, as he did like to live he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind. Sure he wanted sex, but for a few coins he could happily quench that thirst tomorrow in town.
"Well here we are, thank you for walking me Matthew. I bid you goodnight." She looked at him through her now heavy lidded eyes, smiled softly and turned to begin walking the stairs. Matthew whistled and placed his hands on his hips, shaking his head.
"Are you sure you don't need further assistance? I can call Sanders to help?" He laughed. She sighed and carried on walking up the stairs, her back to him.
"If I require someone to scare away the monsters hiding under my bed, please be rest assured you are the last man I'd call." Caitlin called back and vanished from the top of the stairs down the corridor. Matthew shook his head again and placed his hands at the back of his head. Smiling to himself, he walked to the other staircase where his bedroom was better placed. 'At least I don't have to watch her playing with dolls' he thought to himself and starting humming a tune he had picked up in his travels. Looking around as he climbed the stairs, he was beginning to sense this was the calm before the storm. But from which direction the storm was blowing in from, he had yet to know.
Bit of a longer chapter! I hope you are enjoying the build up! Getting excited myself about what is going to happen next ;)