This is a bit of a short one, and the last full chapter I have stockpiled, I have half of chapter 4 written so I better get back to writing *^* Don't forget to comment, and please reblog the chapters on tumblr~!

Chapter 3

The boy, as Ian came to learn, was named Edmund, and he was the Earl of Croydon's page. He was friendly, and helpful, and assured Ian that he needn't worry too much.

"You seem eager enough, and if you're willing to do the work, that's all it really takes."

There were other boys in Croydon who he'd spoken to, but apparently it was proving difficult for him to find the right fit for the role. Ian, however, might be just what the earl was looking for. Soon after their first meeting and Edmund initially explaining the job to Ian, he came to discuss the matter with his parents, along with a couple of other, older servants of the earl's. It was all going surprisingly quickly. Not that Ian would know, of course. To him, it just made it clear that he was most likely going to be hired.

When it came to the discussion of the conditions of Ian's employment, it never even occurred to him that any of it should be written down, since he hadn't learned to read anyway. As they had expected, he would have to leave their family home and move into the earl's Croydon residence, and potentially join him on future trips to London if needs be, but he thankfully would be given one full day off every month to visit them. All his basic needs would be met as part of his accommodation, as long as his work was up to par, and his wages would be delivered directly to his parents.

Speaking of his parents, though, they were slightly hesitant to agree to all of this, and Alice didn't much like the thought of her big brother leaving.

"Are you absolutely sure about this, Ian?" his father asked earnestly.

He nodded, "Yes. You won't have to worry about me this way. You can trust I'm taken care of, you get some extra money, and you'll even save some money too since you won't have to feed me."

"It just seems awfully fast," his mother pointed out, looking concerned, "What's the rush?"

Ian shrugged, "The earl wants a new servant. I suppose they just want to carry out his order as soon as possible."

Then Alice spoke up, in a small voice, "Won't you miss us?"

Ian looked at her, taking in her wide, glistening eyes, her furrowed brow and the slight quiver of her lower lip. He leaned down towards her.

"Of course I will. But I'll visit you every month. I'll be able to come home and see you. It won't be forever."

"But what if it is forever?"

"It won't be. I promise."

– SUCH SWEET SORROW –

It was final. The day had come when Ian would be leaving for the earl's Croydon residence to begin working and the servants who had (more or less) interviewed him, including Edmund, came to escort him there. It was comforting to know that he'd have a familiar face beside him, and even moreso to be told that Edmund would be responsible for training him. For the first time, Ian actually felt like he might have a real friend. Or he hoped he would, at least. Someone to help him through.

He hugged his parents goodbye, for once not complaining at all when his mother kissed him, then did the same for Alice but then when he turned and started to walk away, she ran after him, grabbing his arm and forcing him to stop. He looked down at her tear-filled eyes.

"You won't forget about me, will you?"

He knelt down before her, "Never. I'll visit you every month, remember?"

"Every month?"

"Every month. I won't forget. But this is the best way I can take care of you. Provide for you," Ian told her but she just sniffed and rubbed at her eyes. He sighed to himself, then reached into the satchel he was carrying. Alice watched as he took out a handkerchief and unfolded it to reveal the daisy that she had given him some time ago, pressed and preserved so carefully. He met her eyes, "I won't forget."

"Ian!" Edmund called out from the carriage and the siblings both looked up, "We better hurry up, we don't want to keep his lordship waiting!"

"I'm coming!" he shouted back and quickly turned to Alice once more. He hugged her, pressed a kiss to her cheek and stood.

Once he was onboard the carriage, Alice waved to him, and he waved back as they began to move. She ran along the path after them for a short while.

They both kept waving until they couldn't see each other anymore.