Carpet muffled silence filled the hallway, hanging between the two brothers as they walked towards the dining room. Sheril lost in his own world unaware of Tyki intermittently throwing frustrated glances in his direction.
Not moments ago Tyki had wanted nothing more than for his brother to be quiet, to shut his mouth, choke on his own tongue- something! But now walking along the corridor the silence was deafening.
Too used to Sheril spouting nonsense, the uncharacteristic thoughtful air did not sit well with him. The quiet was too much especially now that his own mind was trying it hardest not too think about the conversation they just had. It pressed in on him. It made him itch.
Tyki fidgeted uncomfortably, hands in pockets then out, picking at his collar, straightening his shirts. Finally he settled with one hand in a pocket and the other methodically mussing his hair. Another glance at Sheril: no response. No doubt he was carefully planning his next extravagant party showcasing Tyki as his prize horse.
This would have annoyed him more than it did had Tyki not already become too used to this treatment from the Earl. He was no stranger to parties, rakish good looks and natural charm often made the social scavengers swarm around him. The Earl put him to good use sweet talking women and business exchange with the men, indeed the Earl owed a great many of his successful enterprises to Tyki's efforts.
Sheril would need no such help, he was charismatic enough to secure his own business dealings and control publicity. The man revelled in the attention. The bothersome part would be the fluff that Sheril's almost weekly parties would attract. Exclusive as Sheril's parties were, it would be a mistake to underestimate the mental uselessness of high society individuals who were bred only to attend parties, especially when gathered all in one room.
A new set of footsteps cut into his thoughts, instinctively eyes flicked in the direction of the newcomer. A dark haired maid was walking towards the brothers. She paused when she noticed them. The maid stepped aside to let them pass first, catching Tyki's gaze and held it, smirking almost predatorily.
Tyki watched her retreating back as she continued along the corridor, half interested and half simply glad for the distraction. There was a challenge glinting behind those dark eyes.
"I'd steer clear of that one." Sheril fiddled with his cuff, not sure whether he should fold it back or let hang fashionably over his knuckles. The lord was too engrossed in his styling to notice the wry look directed at him.
"Staking a claim are we?"
"A claim? Oh my no," Sheril threw an arm over his shoulder, putting on his best wise older brother voice. "You're welcome to her. Though word of advice: the eager horse has many a rider."
"You're disgusting." Tyki shrugged the arm off and put some extra distance between them for good measure. A hoot of laughter was Sheril's response. "You're insufferable," Tyki said giving the other a sidelong glare.
"I have it down to an art." And indeed he did as he returned his attention to his sleeve length, an amused smile on his face instead of shame or embarrassment.
The Lord Kamelot must have skin made of rubber, Tyki reflected. No amount of insults thrown at him could have any affect; he took everything in his stride. It was almost admirable that Sheril was so aware of his own faults and even took pride in them. As far as he knew there were really only two types of insults that could un-foot Sheril and they insults regarding his daughter Road and oddly enough Tyki himself.
Tyki increased his pace to leave his brother behind. If he was not going to be graced with any decent conversation than there was no need to delay breakfast was there. A sudden thought struck him.
"An art?" He looked over his shoulder at Sheril still glowing with smugness. "So it's art to bring your whore to breakfast?"
Tyki took a moment to enjoy the stunned expression on Sheril's face. No there really were not many things you could say to disarm Sheril Kamelot, but sometimes you could get lucky. Tyki continued walking; the dining room was just up ahead now. Behind him, Sheril's footsteps quickened to catch up.
"What are you talking about?" Sheril put a hand over the door knob to stop Tyki entering the dining room. Tyki noticed he had lowered his voice. Was this to prevent any sound filtering through the thick wooden door and into the other side?
"The red haired little thing from last night," Tyki began, noting how Sheril narrowed his eyes. "I just find it odd that she should still be in the Manor this morning with an invite to the family table no less."
"And so you assume that she is a scarlet woman?" Crossing his arms across his chest he made the very image of an upstanding citizen. "Oh dear brother, a woman deserves much more respect than that."
When Tyki only stared silently at his brother, Sheril spread his arms placation, "Party guests sometime stay the night and god knows I have enough rooms in the Manor to provide. I believe Cross Marian is still prowling these corridors…"
"Yes, last I saw him he was plundering the treasures of your servants' quarters." The brothers shared a chuckle over the jibe.
"He's a very good merchant and I like doing business with him. It's the least I can do to turn a blind eye now and again." A broad grin stretched across his face, one that did not quite reach the eyes.
Hunger was biting at Tyki making him irritable, and now he was curious too. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"Who is she then?"
Sheril gave him an appraising look before he explained. "She is Lady Lovely, sixth cousin to Judge Hawthorne, a ward placed into my care. The poor dear, her guardian passed away some time ago and I just could not bear to see her starve. Near broke my heart when the Judge mentioned his predicament."
The words seemed to flow too easily, whether the words were scripted or simply because Sheril must have had to explain this countless times to guests at the party last night, Tyki could not tell. But he could not help but laugh at the image of Sheril rushing to the aid of a damsel in distress.
"Why Sheril I never knew you were such a saint." Barely able to keep a straight face Tyki patted his brother on the shoulder.
"Yes I am a philanthropist." He puffed out his chest ever so slightly, before laughing along with Tyki.
"An odd name don't you think?" Tyki watched Sheril carefully, but the man did not miss a step as he replied.
"Lovely?" He shrugged, "hardly odd. Ask for a name once in a while and you'll find all the young ladies are called something silly like Patience or Precious. I knew a girl called Honour once; her mother told me they had meant to call her Beauty but the poor little thing just could not do justice to the name. The mother on the other hand…"
He did not laugh long however. "You only arrived in the Manor last night how do you know about arrangements made only this morning?"
Something reminiscent of suspicion and wariness passed across his face. Tyki didn't quite like the look of it and he remembered the way Lovely had flinched away from Sheril last night.
"I have my ways." He answered enigmatically.
"Hmm," Sheril raised an eyebrow. "If you should run into Lovely during your stay, I must warn you…"
Annoyed Tyki cut him off with a dismissive wave of his arm. "So full of warnings today, you would think that I don't know how to handle myself around a pretty face."
Sheril's face darkened, "I can think of at least one occasion. You know I almost installed her as Road's governess, but I recall you have a fondness for governess' don't you? What was her name? Lila… Lisa…?"
Tyki pushed his brother roughly against the door and lowered his voice to barely above a whisper. "Leave it alone dear brother."
"Are you angry?" A wide smile broke across Sheril face as he looked down on Tyki. "You are just so handsome when you get all angry!" Tyki's hand twisted and tightened around Sheril's collar –
A great crash followed by a shriek came from inside the room shocking both brothers back to their senses. Tyki disentangled himself from Sheril and the pair burst into the dining room.
The scene inside the dining room was not more than two moments away from becoming a battle ground by Tyki's calculations. At one end of the large dark wood table stood the girl Lovely, arms crossed before her with an almost bored expression her face. The opposite side of the table was filled by his niece shoulders trembling in threat of a tantrum. At her feet the broken ruins of a white dinner plate, evidently the source of the clamour.
"What is going on in here?" demanded Sheril. The two girls continued to stare each other taking no notice of the lord of the household which amused Tyki.
A light cough broke the stalemate and Tyki noticed for the first time of his sister-in-law. Tricia Kamelot sat in a high backed chair coughing into a handkerchief. Her vague presence had been overwhelmed by the burning auras of the two younger females. He made a move towards Tricia, but he was beaten to it by Lovely. She bent over Tricia speaking softly and reached for a drinking cup.
"My lady, drink some water -"
"STAY AWAY FROM MY MOTHER!" The small girl shrieked loud enough to alert a pair of maids who rushed to clear the porcelain remains that littered the floor.
"Now now Road, none of that you're making your mother unwell." Sheril strode across the room sweeping his daughter into his arms and onto his lap as he took his place at the head of the table.
"It's not my fault." Road pointed an accusatory finger at Lovely. "It's her fault."
Tyki slipped into the empty seat beside Tricia, leaning over to pinch Road. "Was it Lovely who arranged the plates so nicely on the floor too?"
"She wouldn't leave when I told her to." She turned to her father, "Why is she here? I don't want her here!" Her voice had taken on a whiney quality that grated on Tyki's ears.
"Lovely is our guest Road and you will treat her with respect." Tricia spoke firmly from across the table sounding much healthier than she looked. There were lines at the corners of her eyes and dark circles under them, but her eyes were a rich hue of blue and bore down on her child. "Thank you dear. Here sit next to me." She gave Lovely a motherly smile as she drew a chair out for her.
"I. Don't. Want. Her. Here." Road would have hammered her words into the table if she wasn't already grasping the arms of her father's chair tight enough to make her knuckles white. "She's not family!"
Sheril gestured for Lovely to go to him. "Perhaps it would be best if you were to continue to continue taking your meals in your rooms."
"And I was so looking forward to continuing our conversation." A dark expression crossed Sheril's face, almost too to catch. But Tyki did see it and he counted it as a point to him after their own altercation outside the dining room. He didn't even care that it made the red haired girl uncomfortable.
"Something's are better left separate. Don't you think so Lovely?" Lovely stumbled, looking for the right words to respond. Sheril smirked at Tyki, turning to looking more a wolf than a man. It was Tricia who came to the girl's rescue.
"Sheril you are being unfair to the girl. Let her stay." Tricia interjected, "she's your ward. This is her home now."
Finding her tongue again, Lovely bowed her head to Tricia. "No, it's alright my lady. I don't want to cause anymore bother, I'll go."
That was not the end, however. Sheril grabbed her arm, pulling Lovely back to stand by his chair. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What?" she said through gritted teeth. "What am I forgetting my lord?"
"Apologise to Road." Smiling smugly Sheril waited for Lovely's response. In his lap Road sat up straighter, the expression plastered on her face as her father's.
An uncomfortable silence fell on the room. Red colour crept into Lovely's pale skin, her fists clenched at her sides. The green of her eye became a piece of coloured ice. The anger radiating from her was palpable, hot enough to sear. Tyki and Tricia exchanged a glance when the girl remained quiet.
"For heavens' sake Sheril, the girl has been embarrassed enough today." Tricia exclaimed. "If she cannot stay then dismiss her." She broke down into a fit coughs.
Lovely stood up straight, her mouth a thin tight line. Holding back a million and one insults for the father-daughter pair Tyki imagined. She surprised him when she performed the most exaggerated curtsy he had ever seen.
"Please accept my apologies my lady." Her voice dripping in mockery and scorn, "I am only poor child, humbled by your charity."
With that she turned on her heel and swept out of the room, her hair streaming behind her like fire. Tricia looked as if she might have tried to stop her, but Tyki placed a hand on her arm and silently shook his head. His brother and his niece had already forgotten about Lovely, blissfully engrossed in studying some trinket Sheril had produced from his pockets.
Sorry it's been so long since my last update.
Enjoy and let me know what you think.