"My lord, apologies for disrupting your work, but I think it is about time for you to retire." Sebastian entered the room and took his position before my desk. "It's approaching midnight and you must rise early tomorrow. Lady Midford has scheduled a visit for tomorrow morning."
I groaned, trying to rub the oncoming sleep from my eyes. When had it gotten so late? When we arrived back at the manor the sun was still high up in the sky, it was merely early afternoon. "I suppose you're right Sebastian. No use trying to solve a case while my mind and physical being are exhausted. Plus, I'd upset Elizabeth if I was in a bad mood." I stood from my chair and circled around my desk, to the door and out to the hall with Sebastian following, illuminating our path with a candelabra. As I was prepared for bed I thought over my mistake. How could I have forgotten Elizabeth was visiting? She's not going to be happy at all if she finds out I forgot. Maybe I'll find a way for Sebastian to bring my case findings and reports along with us and while I get Elizabeth to go shopping. Then Elizabeth will be happy, I'll stay a good fiancé, and I won't be unloyal to her majesty. We all win in the end.
But still, no matter how hard I try to push the events of today to the very back of my mind, sleep won't come to me. A feeling of paranoia hit me head on the minute Sebastian left the room, but I just shrugged it off. Now the feeling was becoming overwhelming, practically drowning the room in it. It was suffocating. I sat up, resting my back against my headboard. I felt extremely anxious, like someone was watching me. I could feel the eyes piercing through my very being as I sat there. I glared at the forest line that was visible through my window, trying to spot the source of my unease. I pushed my duvet back and got out of my bed, silently padding my way over to my window on bare feet.
"My lord, if you wanted to leave bed at this hour then I'd suggest you at least put on a pair of trousers. Going around in just your nightshirt at this hour will make you catch a cold." I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard his voice, spinning around so quickly it left me dizzy.
"Sebastian! What have I told you about sneaking behind me! I'll start making you wear a bell if you don't knock it off! What are you even doing in my bed chambers? I never invited you in." I could feel the colour that had drained from my face return, but returning in a bright shade of red from my fury.
"I simply returned to check on my master, as I do every night. I hadn't expected you to be up, seeing as you're usually sleeping at this hour. May I ask young master, why are you awake at such an early hour? You haven't already come down with an illness have you?" he tried to reach a hand forward to test my temperature but I swatted it away stubbornly.
"I'm fine Sebastian, don't touch me. I just thought I heard something outside so I went to investigate." I scowled, the feeling of the eyes was gone. Whoever it was had fled. "Sebastian leave my room. I wish to return to bed and requireprivacy." I turned and walked back to my bed, crawling atop of it. He just bowed and left, leaving me to my thoughts. I tried laying back down to sleep but the light from the moon was making it impossible. Somehow I started to drift off, but before I had, I could've sworn I saw someone looking at me from outside...