The Rose's Ruse

Chapter 2

To say that Daniel Humphrey was nervous about meeting his new master was similar to saying that the butcher's wife was merely blessed with big bones for carrying cattle carcasses. He mumbled prayers under his breath, a vain attempt to stop himself from stumbling over his words later when he met the famed captain. He had heard all about him, of course, and was conflicted.

He envied Captain Bass for his adventures. There must be so many things to write about, places to explore, people to meet. How grand it must be to be the captain of his own ship. To be protected by the crown yet set sail whenever he wished. Not that he was not grateful for Lord Waldorf's kindness towards his family. Of course not. Daniel was merely curious about the world beyond this town. Because of the captain's worldliness though, he was wary. He liked the town for what it was. He liked the people there and their simple ways. He even liked Lady Blair, the girl he had looked after as a child and who continued to keep his life interesting with her whimsical nature, to put it kindly. Truly, he loved her dearly, perhaps as a sister, as she is oftened accompanied by his own flesh and blood. All he knew was that he liked seeing her smile.

He watched by the door of the manor as the two men approached and nearly stumbled down the stairs to meet him. All the practiced prayers were forgotten as he introduced himself. "Welcome, Master Bass. Sir Archibald. I am pleased to serve you on this beautiful day and if you don't mind-"

The brunette shoved his jacket and bag into his arms and proceeded past him and through the front door, not waiting to be led by anyone. It was the blonde who offered a hand. "Nathaniel will be fine for me. And your name, kind sir?"

"Daniel, sir. Daniel Humphrey. I have worked for the Waldorf family for as long as I can-"

"Come, Daniel. Before Chuck ransacks the house by himself. Let us follow." He took, stepped in ahead of Daniel, weighed down by his companion's possessions and walked through the door. Clumsily, he followed, trying his best not to spill anything onto the floor or make noise.

They were greeted by Dorota in the sitting room and were offered tea and asked to wait a moment until Lady Blair finished dressing. Chuck smirked at Nathaniel at the prospect of a half naked woman under the same roof and Nathaniel merely sipped his tea politely, all the while making inquiries regarding the architecture and local business. Daniel had never felt more awkward or invisible in his life, nor had he missed Lord Waldorf's gentle smile as much as he did at this moment.

The doors opened and the two most important young women in his life walked through them. His heart stopped. Surely, they could not be serious. He looked over at Dorota, who had raised him like a son, and saw his shock reflected upon her face.

For his sister had stepped in front in a curtsy, wearing her mistress's most expensive gown, and introduced herself as Lady Jennifer, while the real one stood behind her in her maid's garb, head down with undoubtedly sparkling eyes.

***

While Jenny led the gentlemen on the tour of the manorhouse, Blair could not help herself but rush to her father's study and collapse in his old chair, nearly bursting with laughter. Daniel followed her in and closed the door swiftly behind him. Her laughter subsided when she saw him march angrily towards her. "Have you completely lost your mind, Blair?" Asides, from her mother, he was now the only person in the house allowed to address her only by her name - a privilege given only by her and her father. Dorota, of course, was offered, but was trained to never perform such a breach in manner. "When they find out, and I assure you they will, Jenny will lose her head!"

"Daniel, will you relax? I am certain that no one has ever heard of me. Father hardly ever went to court and when he did, he detested speaking of us to those bloodthirsty dogs. When this game is over, I promise you that I will not allow any harm to come to Little Jenny. Won't you trust me?" She walked around the desk to him and placed her hands on his shoulders, gently kneading the tension that always seemed to be there and pushing him down onto the guest chair. She bent down to his ear and said softly, "Don't be angry, Daniel."

And of course, he would concede, as he always did. He padded a hand over hers and she smiled that same teeth showing smile that she bestowed upon her late father whenever he approved of her newest purchases or latest schemes.

"And what do we have here?" The two jumped up and turned around at the arrogant voice. Immediately, Daniel regretted agreeing to this.

***

Chuck Bass was not a fool, but he would play this girl's game for now. The challenge, at least, may prove to be entertaining and it does present itself as the perfect opportunity to show her once and for all that he was not just some brute. He would claim his territory through his wit as well. He was already impressed by how well this false lady knew the house and the whole scheme unraveled. The handmaiden, he was sure, was the flower he had seen at the window and the true lady of the house and this guide was, in fact, her maid.

Role reversal. Child's play.

She was a child, though, he supposed, so he would play along. She had scurried out of the room with the excuse to 'polish something' and he did not miss the bell-like giggle or the skip in her step. He regretted not learning her name.

And yet, here fate presented another opportunity. He must have a word with this Daniel. He did not like other men touching his things and, for all purposes under the flag, she belonged to him. She was one of the many treasures the king had bestowed upon him for his services to the crown and he intended on keeping her his. By the way she jumped at his voice and the way her blush spread across her cheeks in the way he stared, he would dare wager that she was untouched as well.

The silence was unbearable and even with her bowed head, he saw the power in her gaze as she tried to covertly glare at her partner in crime. "This, captain, would be my late father's study. I believe you have met Daniel Humphrey, my father's scribe, and this is La-" she paused. "Blair. This is Blair, my handmaiden." She curtsied again and he caught the grace in her movement. He almost felt sorry for her, as she played her role so well and yet her partner was clumsy in her speech.

He was determined to win. To do that, he would have to play the game, he supposed.

He slowly stepped towards her and placed a finger under her chin to tilt her face towards his. What a face it was - enough to tempt his men to throw themselves overboard just for a glimpse of that face. He had lain with many, but never one as pristine and doll-like as this. "Blair, was it?" His gaze moved down her body and in her cotton, peasant dress, he could see the curves that had recently blossomed. Her blush spread down her neck to her chest and he had never seen anything more beautiful.

"Aye, captain."

"As you are a maid in this household, you belong to me, do you understand? And so long as you belong to me, you will address me as 'lord.'" He watched her lips twitch. With her type of upbringing he just knew she wanted to debate his self-imposed title. He could also see out of the corner of his eye that his dear friend was about to come to the girl's rescue when he silenced him with a glance.

"Aye, milord." My lord. He liked the way that sound on her honey-dipped tongue.

"Very good. Now, I will be requiring your services in the future and I expect you to make yourself available to me at all hours, do you understand? I will treat you as well as your late master, but only if you follow my instructions with as much care as you have before."

"Aye," she said, her eyes hardening in a glare. He raised his eyebrows and smirked, waiting. "Milord," she grounded out.

That was one point for him. "Do you have a last name, Blair?"

"Aye, milord. 'Tis...Humphrey. Blair Humphrey." He detested the sound of another man's name attached to hers, but swallowed the jagged lump in his throat.

"I see. Siblings, I presume?" He passed a look between the two of them. "Yes, I do see the family resemblance." And that, he supposed as he walked out of the room, would probably keep any thoughts Daniel may have for Lady Blair away for a long, long time.

***

"I knew he would be dreadful, Dorota, I just knew it! Could you believe that he has me working and cleaning like a common servant?" She leaned her hip onto the kitchen counter while her maid kneaded the dough for the night's welcome feast. "To think, I of noble birth must call him, a common thief, lord and master."

Dorota wiped her forehead with the back of her forearm. "Perhaps if Lady Blair were to tell Captain Bass the truth, you would not be subjected to such labor."

"No! If I tell the truth, he wins!" She straightened a pin in her hair and looked on as her maid put one pie in the oven and removed the bird from where it had been roasting on the fire. The scent called to her hunger and she reached out, her fingertips greedy for a hint of that tough, flavorful skin hiding the soft, juicy meat.

"Lady Blair!" Dorota slapped her hand lightly away as if she had been chastising a child and she responded in kind, head down, slightly ashamed.

"Right. Focus, Blair. If he figures things out, he wins. If he figures things out, he wins. If he figure things out..." She paced the kitchen, repeating the mantra all the while. Her maid shook her head but went along with it. A busy Lady Blair is much better than a scheming Lady Blair.