You felt awkward as you awoke in the morning. Alastor was still fast asleep, his arm placed over your waist. You doubted he had moved all night. There was a small part of you that didn't want to wake him. This was nice, this was soothing. A physical intimacy but not in a way you'd experienced before, it was intoxicating yet overwhelming every one of your senses. You turned over to face him, lightly brushing a few of the tufts of hair from his face, his gentle features. He was a handsome man, you couldn't deny that and he had a jawline you felt you could cut yourself on should you have run your finger along it.
You didn't know how to wake him, did you just gently shake him? You didn't want to startle him but the clock was ticking and he would be required in the studio sooner or later. "Alastor?" You speak softly at first but he shows no sign of rising. "Alastor?" Your voice now is slightly more raised and this seems to catch his attention. "Quelle heure est-il?" He said, his voice croaky and hoarse but you could not understand a word he'd said. "Umm, what?" He seems to be coming more too. "What time is it?" something you did understand, you turn your sights to the clock, "05:37" You reply. "I didn't know what time you needed to be up by, I didn't want you to miss work." You continue. He lets out a loud groan as he sits up.
"Are you feeling okay?" A growing concern was rising. "Just a little hungover, nothing more. But I should make my way to the studio post haste" he offered, his voice breaking as he spoke but still trying to brush it off. You had seen enough hangovers in your life to feel this was something more, the beads of sweat glistened over his skin. You thought about how warm he had felt against you last night and placed your hand on his forehead. "Oh Alastor, you're burning up. Lay down and I shall fetch you some water." You spring to action, rushing to the bathroom and filling a glass with water. Making sure to run the tap a moment so the water was cold.
When you came back into the room, Alastor was picking up his clothes from the floor. "You can't be serious! You're going to try and do a broadcast when you can barely speak?" You chide him and grab his shirt before he can. "I'm not saying you have to stay here, but I can't let you go to work like this. You're burning up, you look a mess and do you think that's going to do any wonders for your public image? Swallow your pride for a day or two and think about how you're going to appear. Your silvery voice only gets you so far, you think that's all the ladies are swooning over? No. they see you walking down the street and see a handsome man, I should know, I hear nothing else but about what a good-looking chap you are."
Alastor chuckles slightly but has to clear his throat after beginning to cough. "If I didn't know any better, it almost sounds like you care about my reputation more than I do." He smirks. "Oh don't flatter yourself. I have been seen to associate with you, if you make a mess of yourself in public, it affects me too now. So you have two options, option one is that you stay here until this cold or flu passes and George can look after you. Or I will call a carriage and as the one paying, demand it is sent to your home and your home only." You could feel the frustration rising in you. For maybe the first time you were trying to do the decent thing, help him out after he had helped you, and instead, he had to make things so difficult for you.
"I must say I am not used to a woman being so commanding of me." It was hard to judge his tone when he spoke. All you could read is that he was trying to spare his voice in this moment, only confirming he was in no state to be performing. "Look...I'm trying to do the nice thing here. Whilst I still stand by my statement that this would affect my own social standing. I don't want someone I care about, making themselves worse." You huffed out and he arched an eyebrow at you. "Well, I never knew you cared so much." Any goodwill you had was quickly disappearing. "I care about you as a friend, nothing more. Do I need to remind you not to flatter yourself?"
"Ahh yes, such friendly cuddles we shared last night when you slipped inside my room." He purred. "Oh, your room? Is that so, are you planning on moving in permanently?" As you ask the question, Alastor glides over to you. "Well if I were to receive your company on a regular basis, like last night. That doesn't sound like such a bad idea." His voice although cracking still had salacious undertones to it and you could feel the deep crimson rise to your cheeks. He places the back of his hand on your forehead, then in a fluid motion, moves his hand down the side of your face, along your jaw line, and eventually twists his hand around so his forefinger is resting under your chin, his thumb softly brushing your lower lip. "You seem to look a little flustered darling, are you feeling okay? I would hate to think you're catching a cold too." He ran his tongue over his lower lips whilst moving his thumb in the same motion over your bottom lip.
You could have stood there for a while longer, enjoying the intensity of his gaze focused solely on you. The moment was ruined as Alastor let out a succession of coughs. The trance was broken. "You can stop trying to be all dark, tall, and handsome and get into bed. Please?" You had heard your fumble the second the words left your mouth, Alastor had indeed managed to get you just a little flustered. However, he would concede and return to bed. You had requested George to go into town and pick up some medicine whilst you got to work on a simple breakfast of eggs and bacon. Bringing it upstairs on a tray with a glass of orange juice, something George always insisted you drank when ill.
"I'm not gonna promise it's good but it is hot and nutritious and you shouldn't complain about a gesture of goodwill." You weren't certain as to why you felt so guarded about the quality of the food. Maybe trying to be nice to another person without trying to gain anything in return, left you feeling somewhat vulnerable in the moment. Alastor took his first bite of the eggs. "Would you be open to some constructive feedback?" he asked placing the fork down and you felt your heart sink a little but muttered a "Yes," anyway. "Adding a splash of milk to the eggs will create a smoother, creamy texture. Also, some salt and pepper wouldn't go amiss."
"Duly noted, I can fetch some salt and pepper." His tone had been soft, and delicate even, as though he was actively trying to not discourage you from cooking them again, and it had worked. You went downstairs, making a mental note about the milk. Just as you'd put your foot on the first step to head back upstairs, there is a knock on the door. This was maybe the most visitors you'd had at the house without hosting a social event. As you swing the door open, you nearly drop the salt and pepper. A large silhouette blocks the sunlight from the hallway. "Daddy..?"
He does not wait for you to invite him inside, simply brushing past you and making his way to the lounge. "It's gone 7 AM and you're still not dressed. Have you been out all night, drinking again?" He offered no hello or hi sweetie. Starting straight away with the scoldings. Edward and John said you looked like you were on something when they came to visit the other day. As you entered the lounge, he took your face in his hands with a rough grip, his thumb and forefinger pushing firmly into your cheeks, and moved your head from side to side to look at your eyes. "Not to mention the rumors I've heard about you at work. I've had enough Lilian."
You were at a loss for words to begin with. "Daddy you shouldn't listen to the towns gossip, it's." He cut you off "No! I don't want to hear excuses. I will be setting you up with a suitor who I believe will keep you in line." His voice bellowed out and echoed through the halls of the house. "Daddy, please listen. I promise I'm looking. I just don't know if I have found anyone." You splutter out. "Well you can stop looking, I have found a gentleman for you, you shall meet him this afternoon and we shall begin the prep." He stops and is now gazing over your shoulder. You turn to see what has caught his attention.
Alastor, who is now dressed, was in the doorway and now approaching you and your father. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir." His voice chimes out, you can still hear its hoarseness but he is trying his best to hide it. "And you have the audacity to tell me not to listen to the rumors ?" Your father's gaze is now back on you. "Daddy, he's just..." However this time Alastor cuts you off. "I was just here, discussing when best to meet you, sir. Lilian had told me you are a very busy man, something I deeply respect. Your dedication to your work is something I admire and aspire to achieve myself." Alastor was on a full-charm offensive at this point. "If you are in need of police assistance, you must make a report through the station." Your father's voice was now not as gruff but still stand-offish. "Oh no sir, nothing like that. I must admit I've become quite enamored with your daughter. She is a fine lady and I had hoped on asking for her hand in marriage but it would not be right to not ask for your blessing first."
Your father looked between the two of you and you forced a smile, deciding it best to go along with the act. At first, your father had seemed hesitant to the idea but after speaking with Alastor, he seemed to be coming around to it. He had wanted to know all about Alastor from where he'd grown up to what job he worked. Alastor provided him with all the details being sure to flatter your father's ego throughout the discussion, something your father responded well to. You had remained silent throughout most of what felt almost sounded like an interrogation, only nodding to agree with Alastor on a few points of his story. He had lied a few times and said you had met months ago, had been on several lavish dates, and also mentioned how you had already met his mother and that she was just captivated by you. That she had offered to teach you how to cook and clean, believing that you would make a fine housewife.
By the end of the discussion, your father was joking and laughing with Alastor and seemed to be happy to welcome him into the family. Also mentioning how well-behaved you had been in Alastor's presence. Your father had been old-fashioned in his beliefs, that women and children should be seen and not heard. Taking your silence to be obedience rather than the state of shock you had been at Alastor's idea. Your father had pulled out the envelope of your allowance but Alastor had offered that he would provide for you but your father had not taken him up on that offer, saying until there was a ring on your finger that he would continue to provide for you.
You said your goodbyes to your father who seemed to be content with the outcome of the conversation but as you closed the door the house fell silent, you couldn't bring yourself to turn and face Alastor. "I think you should leave!" Was the only thing you could muster. Alastor now slid up behind you placing one hand on your shoulder. "My dear, I can only offer my apologies for the suddenness of my proposal but I assure you it was only so you did not end up with someone who tried to douse the flame that burns inside you. I can promise you that should you go through with this ploy, I will not interfere with your life as it is. This would merely be a marriage of convenience and nothing more." You slapped his hand away from your shoulder and finally turned to face him.
"Did you not think to discuss such an idea with me first!" You screech out at him and he takes a step backwards. "I didn't think we had the time, however, if you do not wish to go through with this then I understand. I just felt it was a better outcome than what was being offered to you." He may have been right but you didn't want to accept that fact. Your mind was racing, you felt like you couldn't breathe, as though your gilded cage was shrinking around you. "We would be expected to be loving husband and wife, I would be expected to bear your children." You could hear your own voice breaking at the idea. "I can be quite the actor and from what I saw of you with your father today, I am certain you can be quite the actress. I would never expect you to join me in bed if you did not want to and I would not step in the way of you entertaining male company if you so pleased, although you may have to be more discreet about it. As for any children, I would raise them as my own even if they were not."
You knew he was trying his best to soothe you but you still saw the idea of marriage like a ball and chain. However he was right, no matter the circumstances, you would be married to someone, one way or another. At least with Alastor, he did amuse you, he kept you on your toes and kept the conversation light and playful. He did seem to genuinely care for you and not because of your money or your family name but, as so many others did. But because of who you were as a person. You had admitted to yourself before, he wasn't the worst-looking man alive, he had chiseled features but soft, warm eyes. His smile was always devilish his voice inviting, he had a laugh that was infectious. In reality, you could find much worse, and maybe if it was left to your father, it would be.
"Would you be expecting to entertain other women?" You finally asked. You didn't want to ask it, but it was the question that was burning inside you. As you'd been thinking about this not being such a bad situation, you had also thought of the jealousy that had bubbled up inside you when he would speak to his female fans. "Hmm, I didn't think about that. I suppose if you're enjoying other men's company then it would only be fitting." Your face must have shifted as he was speaking. "But only if you would permit it, that is. I have no strong desire for such things." He continued. You weighed up the options in your mind but in reality, there wasn't much of a choice between the two. "Then we have a deal." You extended your hand to him to shake on it but he instead dipped down onto one knee, taking your hand and placing a kiss on your ring finger. "It would seem we do."