Bambi and the Duke

Carrying the pruning scissors in one hand and in another hand an empty bucket so that the twigs and leaves could be put in it than litter on the ground. Standing in front of the right pillar, she looked left and right pulling up the branches and extending it enough so that she could snip it with one snap. The slender branch was stubborn as it didn't break away from its family with one snip. Vivian had to jag around it before it finally broke free which she threw into the bucket. It wasn't just the front pillars that had the creepers running up and down. Most parts of the mansion outside were filled with creepers. It was one of the things Mrs Carmichael fancied and had planted it when they Mr and Mrs Carmichael had bought the house.

"What are you doing? If you jag it like that it will only hurt the plants," Vivian turned around to see Paul standing behind her. He looked at her then the bucket where the stems were cut.

"Sorry," murmuring apologetically, she handed him the pruning scissors she was using.

"Hold this," he gave her the stem to hold. Unlike her who had struggled to get it cut, Paul had got it snipped in one single movement. Maybe this is why people relied on experience, thought Vivian to herself, "That's how you do it."

"Thank you, I will manage the rest," Paul's eyes darted across the windows of the mansion at the top, moving one after another with a smile, "We will have to clean the windows up there clean."

"Again?" asked Vivian tilting her head. It had been less than a week since they last cleaned the windows spotless, "Myril and Freddie have taken the ladder to fix the light in the backend of the mansion right now. And I don't think it's a steady one because every time I stand on one of the top rungs I can feel it moving, waiting to plop me on the hard floor."

"Let me go speak to Lady Renae about it. We might need more than one ladder this week," they would definitely need more than one ladder. With Leonard's birthday right around the corner which was in less than three days, Vivian could tell that Mr and Mrs Carmichael would like to host a grand party for their son who had also taken up the title of Duke from his father, "And careful again," he said over his shoulders to walk inside the mansion.

Leonard's birthday. Thinking about it a big smile appeared on her face. She had been waiting for it since he had returned back to the mansion.

With her life spent in the Carmichael mansion, the members she had come to care were the housekeeper Martha, Paul the attendant, Grace who was Paul's sister and her son Thomas, Burton the Carmichael's coachman, Leonard, Mrs Shelby who was an old vampiress who lived not too far with her two cats. Not to forget Mr Jerome who was a kind, handsome vampire who treated her like a lady every time he visited than a servant who was lower to him. Basically, Vivian cared for everyone whom she came across to be nice and polite with her. It was a character she had picked from the deceased housekeeper.

Fortunately, she had finished knitting the sweater along with the sleeves before his birthday had arrived. Unable to get direct measurements from him to check if it would fit him right, she had checked it from his shirts that went to laundry. She had taken extra care to make sure it would fit him right, checking the length of his sleeves, counting the space between his broad shoulders by using her hands as the measuring tape. She had picked the maroon wool while keeping in mind of his beautiful dark red eyes where she had witnessed emotions behind them. She hoped he would like it because his words mattered a lot to her. If there was something common between both Leonard and Vivian, it was them themselves.

Removing the smudge of mud on few leaves with her hand, she wiped her hand over her apron. It was when she was about to pick the bucket of unwanted twigs and stems that would be going to the fire later did she notice someone behind the bushes. The atmosphere was dark as even the little amount of light that had graced on them in the morning was back to be hiding behind the clouds making the atmosphere dark and gloomy. Out of shock and surprise, Vivian ended up stumbling forward right at the pillar which she managed to hold on time before her face could meet the pillared stone but that didn't stop the very jagged stems she had cut to graze over her.

Looking up again, she found no shadow anymore. She wondered if someone was really there or if it was only her imagination. Biting her bottom lip she leaned back and forth slowly to have a look from where she stood but it didn't seem like there was anyone there.

Giving it one last glance she turned around to only meet Leonard and Lady Shirley as they walked past the two large doors of the main entrance. They were talking about something which Vivian couldn't hear.

Seeing Vivian out in the front, Lady Shirley expressed in concern, "Are you alright? You hurt your face."

"Did you fall down?" Leonard furrowed his brows, pulling out the handkerchief from his trousers, he stepped closer to Vivian and placed the cool white cloth on her cheek, "Hold it on," he advised, "Are you alright?"

"I am fine," Vivian assured him with a smile but he wasn't satisfied.

"Let me see," said Leonard turning her cheek to inspect the sharp line that ran down from the side of her eye.

Lady Shirley stood in her place staring at both Leonard and the maid whom Leonard was tending to at the moment, forgotten that she was here accompanying him a few seconds ago. She did miss the way Mr Carmichael's voice fell a few octaves down as he spoke to the maid. It was the first time she noticed the maid working here. Shirley who was sixteen years old had made her mind when her mother had first introduced her to Mr and Mrs Carmichael along with their son who had stayed for the briefest time that Leonard would be the one she would be marrying. It was also what her mother wanted. Her family hailed from an average vampire line. A year ago everything had been good until her father was killed by a black witch.

Since she had met the young Carmichael man she had been bewitched by his mere presence. And she could tell that anyone around or of her age felt the same way about him. Jealousy brewed in Lady Shirley's chest at the sight of Leonard speaking to the maid who was below his and her very own status.

"You have to go clean it before it causes any infection," this seemed to get both their attention and the maid stepped back.

Leonard's hand was left hanging in the air when Vivian stepped back from him to create enough space between them. Her heart began to thurm gradually and not wanting any more attention that she had right now, she apologized and excused herself but not before having another look at the bush.