It's been a tradition in my multichapter fics for years that the sixth chapter features A Significant Angsty Plot Point. Something bad has to happen :)
Chapter 6
He was just itching to get out again. Desperate. It had been ages – months – since Ian had coaxed Ed into leaving the manor and as much as he'd tried to fall in line, and trust that his friend had only his best interests in mind, the outside world seemed to call out to him. An hour of freedom. Half an hour. Five minutes! Anything. It was the same routine, day in and day out; washing and hanging out clothes and linens and the like, an hour in the kitchen with Agnes, another in the stables with Nick, attending to his lordship's every need. Whenever it seemed a reasonable time to take a break, he would be called on by someone else and whisked away. He wondered if anyone in this house besides the earl himself ever had a moment to rest and relax.
After several days' worth of pestering, Edmund gave in. The earl had arrived home after a day at the queen's court in his usual state and it wasn't long before he was passed out, drunk, in his bedchambers at an earlier hour than normal. The two slipped out for a little while, knowing full well they'd be getting an earful from Agnes when they got back, while the kitchen staff cleaned up around them. He was visiting home again in only a matter of days, was it really worth sneaking out now?
That didn't matter to Ian, though. He couldn't wait until then.
Besides, leaving when he was allowed to didn't have the same rush.
– SUCH SWEET SORROW –
Ian was awake bright and early, as he always was on his days off; it may not be far to travel to the village, but he wasn't going to lose a single minute if he could spend it at home. He jumped off the carriage before it came to a complete stop and Alice was already running to meet him. They collided halfway up the path, Ian lifting Alice right off the ground.
She loved hearing stories about Ian's work and his new friends. She always laughed at the way he described the Earl of Croydon, which was a welcome change to what he was used to back at the manor. No-one ever risked making fun of his lordship, except for maybe Aggie, although she kept it subtle, and to a minimum. But whenever Ian mentioned Edmund, Alice would go quiet.
"... Is Ed your best friend now?" she asked in a small voice and he paused.
She sat on the floor, her knees hugged to her chest, while he lay on his stomach before her, propped up on his elbows. He scanned her face.
"I suppose he is," he said eventually, then shifted so he was now sitting cross-legged and leaned in closer to her, "But even if he's my best friend, you're still my little sister. You're still the most special person in the world to me."
"Promise?"
Ian reached inside his collar, into the lining of his doublet, and pulled out a handkerchief. He unfolded it to reveal the pressed daisy and a smile stretched across Alice's face.
"Promise. This is always here to remind me."
He carefully tucked it away again.
– SUCH SWEET SORROW –
Something was different. Since the minute he returned.
Was Edmund... avoiding him?
He was thrown right back into his work, as always, and he was used to that by now, but what was odd was how quiet Ed seemed as they cleared away the earl's breakfast dishes and began gathering up the laundry. He never once met his eye, and he barely spoke at all. When he did, it was short, one-word responses, shushing him and urging him to just get back to work.
An hour in the kitchen with Agnes. Ian was distracted, worried about Edmund. Agnes wouldn't answer his questions about it, but she did give him a sympathetic look. A somewhat sorry look, like she wished she could explain everything. She didn't, though.
The stables then, with Nick. It was more of the same; he asked about Ed and got no clear answer. Nick only shrugged and told him he couldn't say anything for sure.
The whole day went by without the usual banter between them. Without the friendliness. If he didn't know any better, Ian would think he had jinxed it when he told Alice that Ed was his best friend, but no. Of course not. The real reason was far worse.
Edmund finished his work a little earlier than Ian, and once he completed his final task, he hurried to the servants' quarters in the hopes that he'd finally get an explanation out of him. It would only keep him up all night if he didn't. But when Ian pushed open the door and stepped inside the bedroom, he didn't need to hear a single word. Edmund was there, in the middle of getting himself ready for bed and beneath the billowing fabric of his unbuttoned nightshirt, even in the minimal candlelight, he could clearly see the dark purple mark on his skin.
... Oh...
Ian stared at the bruise. He had seen enough of them to know the difference between an accidental fall, and the lasting impression of a hand raised in anger. He tried to meet Ed's eyes, but his friend wouldn't let him. He sucked in a breath.
"Who did that to you?"
He already knew. How could he not?
"Who do you think?" he gave Ian a quick glance, and nothing more, "His lordship."
"He beat you?"
As firm and imposing as he could be, Ian had never expected the earl to turn to violence. It certainly wasn't unheard of for him to raise his voice, even scare his staff into submission with idle threats or sharp glares, but for it to turn that physical?
For a moment, Edmund didn't say anything. Then he looked up at Ian, "We did warn you. You break his rules, there'll be consequences."
"I-I..." for the first time, Ian felt truly guilty. This was his fault. His friend had suffered, and it was his fault, "I'm sorry," an image flashed in his mind of Alice, of every time she'd been hurt due to his neglect, "If I hadn't-"
"I don't blame you, Ian," Edmund said gently, "I am responsible for you. I'm older, I've been here longer than you have. I should have known better. I should have stopped you."
Before Ian could respond, he had fastened the remaining buttons, blown out his candle and climbed into bed.
I should have listened.
He hardly slept that night.
– SUCH SWEET SORROW –
"You asked to speak with me, my Lord?"
Ian had never felt so frightened to address the earl as he did now, summoned to see him completely on his own, with not a single other servant in sight, the day after learning of Edmund's punishment.
"Hmm?" the earl looked up as he came into the room, "Ah, yes. Ian. Come in, and close the door behind you."
He did, and came to stand before his master, hoping he wouldn't notice how he was shaking.
"I'm sure you know why you're here," the earl continued, not waiting for an answer, "It has recently come to my attention that you and Edmund have been abandoning your stations and sneaking out."
He stared expectantly at Ian. He nodded, hesitantly, his head low.
"Yes, my Lord."
The earl began pacing around the room, his agonisingly slow footsteps echoing, ringing in Ian's ears.
"I would recommend, Ian," he said as he walked, "That these... extended breaks end now. And that you not waste your time on your friends. In fact," he paused, turning back to face Ian before taking another step, "You probably shouldn't even be making friends on the job at all. You are here to work," he looked at Ian for a moment and when he got no response, he slammed a hand onto the nearby table, "Do I make myself clear?"
Ian jumped.
"Yes, si- My Lord."
The earl regarded him for a moment, likely deliberating over whether or not his correction was fast enough. After a few seconds, he seemed satisfied enough.
"You will not be assigned to work together with Edmund any longer. And should you continue your little excursions by yourself, well," he stopped dead in front of him, "I'm sure you can imagine what will happen. Can't you?"
Ian nodded, "Yes, my Lord."
"Good. And before I let you go, there's one more little thing. Your visits with your family will be decreased, to once every three months, rather than on a monthly basis," the earl said as if Ian's heart didn't break at the news, "I will be travelling to London for an extended period soon, with all of the staff, of course, and having you make the trip back to Croydon so often will be rather inconvenient. I'll have them notified of the change."
With that, Ian was dismissed. The earl hadn't laid a finger on him, but still, he left feeling a deep pain in his chest.