Bambi and the Duke

Vivian felt the heat transmit from his warm fingers, the pad of his fingers still touching her cheek as she looked into Leonard's eyes as hidden emotions surfaced through those maroon eyes. It felt as if someone had told him snow had begun to fall in summer. Though he would never admit it out loud, he loved the snow.

She was glad that she had told him about her gift and with his expression it was enough to know that he liked it.

For confirmation, she asked, "You liked it?"

He moved his hand from her cheek, "Yes. It's a lovely sweater," he replied continuing to look at her. She smiled, happiness stretching over the compliment he made,

"But," he started and her smile faltered. She opened her mouth to speak but Leonard continued, "I can't overlook your behaviour with Lady Shirley. Right or wrong, you forgot the maid's conduct and for that, you shall re-pot the plants from the garden to the glass room tonight."

Her shoulders slumped in response and suddenly felt his hand on her head before it retraced back to his side.

"I will see you later," he said leaving the study room.

She felt her heart lighten at his words and action. It felt like old times when he would scold her very lightly before guiding her on what had to be done. Bringing her hand on her cheek, she felt the once warm cheek turn cold due to the cold weather that had already begun approaching the land of Bonelake.

When night fell, Vivian sat outside the mansion in the garden digging the wet ground with a trowel in her hand. With most of the servants who had retired to bed with only one walking the grounds of the deserted area outside the mansion.

She thanked the heavens for now letting it rain right now because if it did, she didn't know if she could complete the punishment Leonard had given her. Shivering slightly, she planted the plant in the ground which she had picked from the glass room. Her hands and boots were covered in mud which also included the bottom of her skirt as she had bent down to do the work.

Taking the other plant which was to be re-potted, she went around the mansion to enter from the kitchen to avoid dirtying the halls. Keeping the muddy boots in the corner of the kitchen, she took the plant with her to the glass room, her face tilting up to see the master of the house sitting in his usual place. On the wooden board near the roof. He had a book in his hand, his eyes glued to it as he continued to read without looking down at her intrusion into the room.

She pushed the pot which needed to be planted with fresh soil and used the trowel to loosen the soil as she jagged it up and down.

So far as she remembered, Leonard was always with a book or two next to him when he was in the mansion. Even when they were young he spent his time reading books like his cousin Rhys. Julliard and Charlotte were more inclined to play games in the mansion during their holidays. Thinking about that a sad smile fell on her face. Julliard was one of those pureblooded vampires who was extremely kind in nature. In the group of cousins, he was the pacifier, and with what she had noticed he was an alley, a brother and a best friend to Leonard. To think that he was no more was saddening and the more to know that he was the closest cousin to Leonard.

From where she stood next to the plants, Vivian looked up again at him to see him sitting in the same position without a change. The pain would have been unexplainable to speak about or to share.

It took her a while before she was done with the work given to her. She washed her hands with the water, letting the water pour down from her hand to the pot which was recently redone. Once her hands felt cleaner, she placed the can of water down before dusting her skirt. The floor would be cleaned in the morning, therefore, she didn't find it necessary to clean it right now.

Bending down to pick up all the things that were brought in to the glass room, Vivian made a turn to head towards the door when she saw Leonard jump down on the floor like a cat in ease before standing up on both his feet.

"You're done?" he asked looking at her hold the water can and tools inside it.

"Yes," she saw him stare at him for a second.

"A tea party has been arranged in Lord Nicholas' mansion. A few guests will arrive here before we head to the mansion," he informed her ready to take his leave from the glass room but Vivian opened her mouth to ask something to him.

"Master Leonard," he stopped himself, "Um, I...It is about Paul and his family. Isn't a trial going to be held before the execution?" her words turned meek seeing his hardened expression.

"There won't be another trial for it. The council and the others have already concluded that he is the culprit and there is nothing more to investigate when everything points at him," replied Leonard his eyes clouding back with coldness.

"What about you?" Vivian asked him carefully, "Do you believe him to be the one murdered too? Paul would never do something-"

"Are you done with the cleaning? You should retire to your room," came Leonard's clipped tone.

"He might be inn-"

"Innocent?!" Leonard turned fully to face her, rage marking every inch of his handsome face, "His footmarks, his handprints were all over the bottle which was poured into the vessel in the kitchen. He was the one who was in charge of the food and he confessed that himself. Are you going to say something else?! Or was it you who did it?" his voice echoed through the room making her flinch. Vivian had never been on the receiving end of his anger.

"The information was not completely checked. When I went-" she stopped suddenly when his hand made contact with the pillar next to her, the pieces of pain and dust falling on the floor.

"I saw him lurking out in the mansion, even the day the murder took place. I saw him holding on to the bottle. You don't know what happened," he whispered and before she could say anything more, his eyes blazed in anger, "All fucking servants are the same. Get out!"

Vivian flinched further at his words that brought tears in her eyes. Bowing, she made a quick dash from the room.