Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Oliver hadn't seen Callum in the past few days as he and Liam had had to leave for Winchester to settle family matters.

Oliver wasn't provided any further details and Callum had told him to use the time as he pleased. He wrote a letter to his sister and put it in an envelope. He was planning on giving it to his friend when they met the following week.

It was past eight and the dinner was over, so Oliver was sitting in his usual company in the kitchen, the white Irish hound playing with something he'd found on the ground.

"This wretched ball coming has us all working our butts off." Jenny said and poured tea for each of them.”And it takes ages to prepare everything, My God. “

"I won't tolerate such language, even in the kitchens."

Adelia scolded her.

From the time Oliver had spent here, he'd gathered Adelia seemed harsh at first glance, but the woman was much softer on the inside once a man got to know her. Thomas was a different matter, though.

"Sorry, madam. But it's true. We do this while, while it’s a mess everywhere. People are dying sick, and all those trials. I get why master Callum hates everything here so much." She sat heavily on her chair and took her cup.

"Jenny..."

The dog's paws patted on the stone floor and he came to rest his head on Oliver's knee.

"Cian likes you," Adelia said.

"He's a huge dog," he said and scratched the hound behind the ears. Adelia’s expression softened and she said.

"He's old now, but master Callum loved playing with him before. The Master sometimes does even now, but I haven't seen him recently."

"The Lord does, really? But I sometimes see the dog with him, but that’s all."

He had a hard time imagining Callum engaging in something like this, even though he hadn’t expected him to spend time with Jay, either.

"I've been in this house since Edward was born and I've never seen another kid love animals as much as Callum did. It's why he hates hunting and never rides."

Oliver remembered the bruise on Callum's ribs, but that only confirmed what he already knew- the man lied through his teeth all the time.

"Edward?"

He asked and the two women exchanged a look . Jenny pushed her teacup.

"I'll bring some of the cheap wine I know Hattie hides under the sink."

The younger woman got up and returned with a half-full bottle, filled with something that resembled a thick red liquid. She put some of it in the tea for the three of them and sat back down.

"So- Edward's?" Oliver asked when she was back down in the chair.

"Lord Tennyson's oldest son. " Jenny said quickly.

Oliver tried his spiked tea and almost choked on it.

"What is this?"

"Brandy and wine. But maybe it's gone bad?" she smelled the bottle.

"God. Never mind. But I've never seen him here in the house?"

"He's somewhere in China."

"China?" Oliver tried to look puzzled. "What does he do there?"

"Jenny, check if Thomas is not somewhere around and close the door. "

The girl stood back up and murmured "You tell us not to gossip and look at what you're making me do. No, all clear. "

"This bloody old man tells Lord Tennyson everything," Adelia said. Oliver reminded himself he'll have to speak with their master soon as well.

"You know the Lord trades with China. " Adelia continued.

"I know, besides I've seen many items from there in the house."

"Right. He doesn’t go there now, but he did before. He took the boys to Canton. Edward was 15 and Liam 12."

"What about Callum?"

"Well, he was only eight back then and stayed here. The Lord's never..." she paused.

"He doesn't care about him, because he's the youngest and will never be a master anyway. " Jenny provided and poured herself more from the bottle. Adelia took the bottle from her hands and placed it further away "Maybe slow down with that, young lady. "

"Well Callum may not be the head of the family, but he's still his son?" Oliver asked.

"Yes, but... While Edward and Liam went to the army, Callum didn't. He's never wanted to take any part in it. He..let’s say he doesn't approve of anything the old Lord does overall and he doesn’t really hide it."

"At least he doesn't pretend. " Jenny said and continued sipping her tea.

"So what happened after they came back to England?" Oliver asked.

"Liam and Edward were in the army, then Edward left back for China again. It was at the same time when Lord Tennyson was gaining more and more political support and his trade was flourishing."

Oliver weighed his chances whether to ask this and said.

"Yes, but he is the head of the government now. They’re voting for higher taxes, now, correct?"

"I've never been involved in political matters, Oliver" Adelia said, "but at the time when the lord was expanding his trade, Edward was..." She took a sip from her drink too"he was the oldest and our master always expected he'd inherit the family trade, perhaps enter politics too."

"You said was?"

"We haven't seen him since he went to Canton as a general."

"How long ago was this? Is he all right?"

“It’s been years, everyone’s lost track of him.”

"They say he's become an opium addict and died somewhere there." the younger woman said.

"Jenny!"

"I'm only saying what everyone thinks."

"Enough with this," Adelia said and checked the big clock above the fireplace. "Enough with everything, we shouldn’t talk about this in the first place. It's getting late. And we have preparations to make, come on."

They got up to clean the table and when Oliver wished them good night, Adelia stopped him at the door.

"Look Oliver. I wanted to ask you for something. "

"What is it? "

"Please, try to look after Callum. I've been here since he was a baby and he's lost enough people. And while you haven't been here long, for some reason he trusts you. Please, don't betray that trust."

Oliver nodded and wished he could do more than just that.

***

The two young lords had come back a few days later. The talks in the mansion, and in the papers were that Liam was planning on entering politics too, as his father's successor. It was to no one's surprise, of course.

Oliver and his master were now sitting in the carriage, driving up the English countryside of Winchester to meet the lady Callum had bought the gift for.

Oliver was in the foulest mood he'd been in a very long time. Even the good weather today wasn't enough to fix the way he felt, or at least improve it in the slightest.

He was reading the same page for the fourth time. Oliver even hated the bloody book and wondered who'd written such nonsense.

When he looked up, Callum was watching him.

"Am I really the worst company in the family?

"Sir?" Oliver asked.

"I told you to stop using that with me."

"I don't think you did, My Lord."

"Then I am asking you now."

Oliver looked back down at his book, then said "I will keep that in mind."

"Can I call you Oliver, then?"

Callum had put his elbows on his knees and was looking at him expectantly. He was  like a small child, asking his friend if they could play together. The sunlight was playing with his eyes and they looked crystal clear, like every time when the weather was this good.

Oliver had noticed when the weather was bad, Callum's eyes looked somehow darker and cloudy too, mirroring the sky.

Oliver snapped his book shut.

"Oliver?"

"Yes, Sir. I mean- Callum."

His lord smiled widely then. He looked much younger, boyish even, in those rare cases when he seemed more relaxed.

The way he was now.

"You didn't ask me how the trip with my brother was."

"And how was it?"

"You've been in a very foul mood since I told you where we were going."

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

Oliver clenched the book in his hands and had the need to just throw it away through the window of the carriage. Or beat someone with it, it didn't matter.

He absolutely didn't want to meet this lady and watch Callum give her presents. She'd most likely be attending the wretched ball next week.

The good thing was he was only a servant and he wasn't expected to attend anything.

He clenched his teeth and said

"It's my pleasure to accompany you."

Callum was still smiling widely when he said "Thank you. I'm sure you'll love Henriette."

Damn all of this, Oliver thought.

He was running out of curses in his head and the need to break something was only getting stronger during their trip.

On the other hand, Callum was unusually chatty, although it was most likely expected. Oliver assumed if he was to meet his darling, he wouldn't have been in any different mood as well.

Callum was pointing at sheep, telling him stories about the trips he'd had when he was younger in the countryside and the family house they had near Kent.

He was lovely and the entire time Oliver couldn't stop imagining wrapping his hands around his slim figure and kissing him.

****

They were greeted by a butler- the same old man as Thomas. Oliver thought all the wretched butlers were most likely the same.

He despised everything- the narrow, stupid chair he was invited to sit in, the awfully small cup they served him tea in while he was waiting for Callum. Oliver wanted to crush the fragile china with his hand and maybe everything around.

Everything.

The lord emerged from the drawing-room after less than an hour, followed by the lady they had traveled for hours to meet. Oliver stood up as she trailed after Callum.

And, of course, she had to be a really nice young woman.

Henriette was beautiful, her long dark hair was made into an intricate, fashionable hairstyle and her clever green eyes shined with a charming sparkle.

She smiled politely in his direction Oliver bowed.

"My Lady."

"Thank you, Lord Fernsby." She told Callum and he kissed her delicate hand.

"Pleasure was entirely mine."

“I should hope to see you soon, then.”

“I am looking forward to it. “

They exchanged goodbyes with a promise for a next visit and headed out, accompanied by the servant who saw them out.

I can't wait, Oliver thought, suppressing the need to run down the stairs. .

Once they were outside, Callum said

"It's getting late, so we'll need to stay somewhere. I suggest an inn, since..."

"It wasn't an official visit, of course."

He looked back and saw Callum was trying to keep up with him.

"Are you angry with me?"

"No." Oliver said and quickened his pace. He was taking two steps at a time, he just couldn't wait to get away from there.

The visit had been short, yet Oliver felt like they'd spent hours there.

Although he had no idea where was he going to go, given the choice.  Just somewhere far.

Oliver didn't want to spend another night where he'd lie in his bed with Callum only a few doors away, and yet being so unreachable.

Distance had never mattered, though.

Ophelia had been entirely wrong when she'd said Callum didn't like anyone. He obviously did. And judging by everything that had happened today, Henriette liked his Lord back.

No, not his lord, Oliver thought.

Unfortunately, Oliver had to admit Ophelia had been right for the other thing she'd guessed.