Guest

With Alan's teacher ill, William had taken the place of tutor, teaching the child his mathematics, being sure to keep it interesting less the child lost focus. "Are you still working?" William asked again in the span of three minutes.

Alan nodded. "Mm hm." he looked down at his paper, watching his pen move across it. "I think I'm doing good."

William moved from the counter to look over Alan's shoulder. He might have been helping Alan with his studies, but he was also the butler meaning he had the job of multitasking making lunch preparations as well. "Very good." William praised. "This isn't so bad, is it?"

"…it's not very fun."

William smiled, running fingers through Alan's hair. "Well, when you're all done, you have the rest of the day to do fun things."

"Draw?"

"Yes, drawing included." He pat Alan's shoulder before returning to the counter, slicing up the tomatoes. Every five minutes, William would peer over his own shoulder to make sure he continued working, scolding him once or twice when he found distractions in doodling then working. As much as he encouraged a child's creative mind, he knew the importance of a good education.

As William began washing the dishes from preparing lunch, knocking from the large front doors echoed throughout the lower half of the manor. Sighing almost irritably, William quickly dried his hands, ordered Alan to stay put and continue his work before moving toward the door. "Good afternoon. May I help you?" William asked as he opened the door to greet whoever stood there.

Yet he was no expecting someone as…scruffy, as who stood there. The man was his height with blonde hair that oddly enough seemed to have a black patch on the left side of his head. A goatee spread across his chin, his noble clothing a great contrast to his appearance. "'Ello." He greeted with a smile, his green eyes giving a glisten of what William interrupted as hope. "I came by and was hoping ta speak ta Mister Humphries for my employer."

William eyed him again. "Your employer is…?"

"Ah, right, sorry." He stood straight. "Miss Sutcliffe."

William blinked; one eye twitched just the slightest. "You work…for her?"

"Well, I dun work for her exactly. I work for her husband, but she's usin' me ta speak with Mister Humphries."

"Mm…well, I'll see if Master Humphries is willing to-"

"William, I'm done." Alan interrupted tugging at William's coat. "You can mark it now."

"Alright Alan. I'll be there in a moment."

The man looked down at the child, another smiling tugging at his lips. "You gotta be 'is son, right?"

Alan looked up at the man then instantly hid behind William, gripping the butlers coat again. "Uh huh."

The man laughed. "Ah, I ain't gonna hurt ya. In fact, you remind of me baby brother.

William turned enough to put his arm around Alan and pull him out of hiding. "Your fathers told you to be brave with new people." William chided softly.

Alan swallowed, the man intimidating him. He hadn't seen such intenseness in anyone's eyes. "H-Hi."

The man knelt, holding out his hand. "'Ello. Me names Eric."

Alan looked at his large hand before placing his smaller on in the man's palm. "Alan."

"Ah, you're a cute thing." He ruffled Alan's hair then popped back to his feet, nodding to William. "So, you gonna relay the message ta Mister Humphries for me?"

"That message is?"

"Miss Sutcliffe wants a word with 'im."

"Couldn't she have phoned or sent a letter?"

"I was already out gettin' the things she wanted so she told me ta stop by."

"Ah. Well, come in. I'll have a quick word with the master before relaying what his answer is to you."

"Great." Eric stepped inside before William closed the door then disappeared up the stairs. When William was gone, Eric knelt back to Alan, resting both hands on his knee. "So, you just finishin' school?"

"Um…William's teaching me math."

"Really? Well, maybe you could teach me. I never went ta school when I was your age."

Alan cocked his head folding his hands behind his back. "Does that mean your brains small?"

Eric laughed, his hand moving to ruffle Alan's hair. "Nah. Just means I won't be smarter than you." It was Alan's turn to laugh as Eric's fingers tickled his neck. "Yep. Just like me brother."

"S-Stop!" he laughed, his laughter continuing even when Eric's fingers left. "I…I like you." Alan breathed after a minute. "You make me laugh."

Eric pat his head. "I like ya too."

Alan took his hand. "Does that mean you're my friend?"

Eric gently squeezed Alan's hand. "Well, 'm a guest right now, but if I see ya again, then why not? I'll be your friend."

Alan hugged him. "I have two friends now!"

"Two?"

"Uh huh. William and you."

"Ya got no friends your own age?"

Alan shook his head, pulling away from Eric. "Papa said he doesn't want me to leave home until I'm sixteen."

Eric frowned at that. "'m sorry ta hear that."

"It's okay."

"Master Humphries has agreed for a meeting with Miss Sutcliffe." William announced, returning to the two. "Would Thursday afternoon suffice?"

Eric stood, nodding to William. "Aye, Thursdays good."

"Then we will see you again Thursday if you plan to accompany her."

"I plan ta, yes."

"Alright." William opened the doors. "Good day, Eric."

"…yer William 'm guessin'?"

"I am, yes."

"Then Good day ta you too, Will." He waved to Alan. "And I'll see ya Thursday too Al."

"Bye!" Alan waved enthusiastically.

William closed the doors and picked Alan from the floor. "Do you like him?"

"Yep! He's my guest friend." He took William's glasses from his face, putting them on his own, the frames tilting as they didn't fit to well on Alan's smaller head.

William sighed, returning to the kitchen then setting Alan at his seat. "I do hope one day you'll find friends your own age." He muttered returning to clean the dishes he still had left while Alan took a fresh piece of paper and drew whatever popped into his young mind.

Longest one yet. Well, enjoy fair readers and yes, Eric and Grell's family make an appearance in this.