Author's note: FFFFFF I'm sorry I didn't update this earlier! Stuff happened and I put off posting it. But it's here now c: I'm trying to get as much motivation as I can to finish my chapter fanfics. I've got quite a few started but none of them finished .///.;;;
Also, the other maids are NOT aware that 'Francine' is actually a man. Some of them might suspect, but he won't ever tell them.
My Maid's A Man
Chapter 3
The next morning, Arthur rolled over in bed with a goofy smile on his face. "Francine, I had an odd dream about you last night."
"Oh?" Francis said as he opened the shades.
"Yeah, I touched your tit. And it wasn't squishy at all," he murmured. "And then I put my hand up your dress and you, listen to this, you had a cock! Like a man! Isn't that funny?"
Francis paled slightly. "Oh…yes. Very funny."
"Oi."
"Yes?"
"Can I feel your tit?"
Francis threw a pillow at him. "Monsieur, you need to be completely sober when your sister arrives today."
"Oh who cares," he growled. "Erin drinks more than I ever do. Why should I try to impress her? She hates me anyway."
"Regardless, she is still your sister and I am obliged to make you look presentable. You've got drool on your chin, by the way."
Arthur flopped down on the bed. "I don't want to get up."
"Don't make me flip the bed, sir."
Arthur smiled into his pillow. "I'm naked under here."
"No you're not, I made sure to keep your underwear on last night when tucking you in."
The Englishman frowned. "Well now you've gone and ruined all my fun."
"Good. Now get dressed."
Francis left his room, trying to make the blush on his cheeks go away. Normally Arthur's flirting never got to him but lately…lately he had been getting more and more flustered by it. He knew Arthur never really meant it; he wasn't interested in finding a woman yet but Francis had to mentally berate himself for that because he wasn't really a woman, he was a man. But regardless, Arthur would never want him.
Arthur came out of his room a few minutes later, scowling angrily. "She left to get away from me all those years ago, I don't understand why she suddenly wants to see me now."
"Perhaps she misses you?"
He snorted. "Oh please. You know how Erin is."
A second later the doorbell rang. Another maid rushed to answer the door and a woman in her late twenties walked in, her curly red hair pulled into an elegant bun. She wore a feathered hat atop her head. As soon as she spotted Arthur, her green eyes narrowed. "Brother," she sneered.
"Bitch," Arthur replied cheerfully. Francis elbowed him in the side.
Erin raised her eyebrows at the familiar blonde. "Hello, Francine."
Francis bowed. "Good to see you again, my lady."
"Don't lie," Arthur hissed under his breath. "So Erin," he said loudly. "What brings you back to England?"
"Mother called."
"Of course," he groaned. They settled down in the sitting room while Francis busied himself bringing in their tea.
"She tells me you won't take a woman," Erin continued, sniffing the tea in disgust.
"There are no women to be taken," he said. "And for heaven's sake, the tea is fine. Just drink it."
She took a sip and pursed her lips. "There are plenty women who'll have you, I'm sure."
"Oh yes, many. I just don't want them."
Francis laughed softly. Erin, unfortunately, heard him. "You find this amusing, Francine?"
Francis turned around. "N-No, of course not."
"My brother will forever be a shame to this family and it's all your fault."
"Now wait just a minute!" Arthur hissed. "Her fault? How on earth is it her fault?"
"She is the only woman you have ever truly known. She's put a spell on you, brother."
"Oh please. Francine is just my maid, Erin. It's not like I love her or anything."
Francis stopped listening then, realizing with a heavy heart that no matter how much he might care for Arthur, he could never tell him; not as Francine and not as himself. He left the room, holding back the tears that wanted to fall. Once he was in the servants' quarters, he leaned against the door and took deep, rattling breaths.
"I heard raised voices," another maid said. "Are they arguing? F-Francine? What's the matter, darling?" She walked towards him, motherly instincts kicking in.
Francis shook his head. "It's nothing, Martha. J-Just something in my eye."
"Oh dear, what's the master said? He's not firing you, is he?"
"No, nothing like that," he mumbled, leaning into her touch. He had missed the touch of a mother for so long.
"Shh, it's all right. Those two will keep arguing long into the night, you can bet your salary on that. I'll whip you up a little something, how does that sound?"
"Merci," he whispered.
By the time Erin left, Arthur was exhausted. Francine had left sometime during the argument and he wasn't keen on finding her just to make him dinner so he grabbed his coat and went off to the bar yet again. Gilbert and Søren were already there, ordering pint after pint of beer.
"So how was the meeting?" Gilbert sneered.
"Disastrous," Arthur groaned, slumping down on the table. "Erin never knows when to shut her goddamn mouth."
"I like a woman who uses her mouth," Søren laughed.
"Yes, well she uses hers to talk my bloody ear off."
The other two laughed. "So why'd she even come in the first place?" the Dane asked.
"My mother called her." Arthur reached for a glass of beer and chugged it down. "Said I need to find a proper woman to marry. Bollocks."
"You don't have your eye on anyone?" Gilbert said.
"All the women I meet are stiff and boring."
"And what about your maid?"
Arthur blinked. "Francine? Well I…She's not really…I mean I always flirted with her but I never actually meant it."
"But would she be the type of woman you'd marry?" Søren mumbled.
"She's French, by default I should hate her."
"So? She's beautiful and you always say how much you like her company, Artie."
"I do, but—"
"Have you even kissed her?"
"Of course not, she's my maid. It's indecent."
Gilbert groaned. "You need to stop putting on this gentleman act. It's fucking annoying."
Arthur glared at him. "What do you want me to do? Take her to my bed and have my way with her?"
"Exactly!"
"I can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"I just…I can't, all right?!"
Arthur was so furious he couldn't finish drinking and ended up leaving the bar early. When he came home, Francine was cleaning up the kitchen.
"You're home early," she said in shock. "Did something happen with your friends?"
"I was too tired to drink, that's all," he mumbled.
"Sir…?"
"Francine, am I an undesirable man?"
She stared at him curiously, furrowing her brow. "Why are you asking me such a question?"
"Just answer it."
He noted how her cheeks turned pink suddenly. "I have always found you to be a handsome man, sir."
"Really?" He walked towards her, taking a lock of her golden hair into his fingers. "I was always under the impression that I disgusted you with my habits."
"Perhaps it is because I am so used to your habits that I still find you desirable?"
He smiled, caressing her face. "Thank you, Francine." He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "I am going to bed. Wake me up early tomorrow. I have something I must buy."