The Earl's Kitten

Chapter IX

May 3rd 1886, 10:35 AM

I barely had time to register Mei-Rin's scream before I landed in a pair of comfortable arms. I chuckled, looking up at Jackson as he put me down and took Clover.

"No! Clover!" Jackson sighed.

"M'lady, both kittens need a bath." I pouted up at the butler.

"Then I'll bathe them! They're my kittens!" Jackson chuckled, patting my head.
"Very well then. Put your boots back on and we'll bathe the kittens, M'lady." I grinned and ran over to put my boots on before running back to Jackson.

"Canwegocanwego?" I asked excitedly, clapping before taking Clover from his arms. I giggled, pressing my nose gently against Clover's. The male kitten purred softly and I purred in return. "Oh, right." I pulled away, cuddling the kitten to my chest. I turned to the group stood at the doorway, ignoring Jackson as he picked up Hope, my other kitten. "Morning everyone!" I grinned, "Ciel, what are you doing here? I thought business was done yesterday." Ciel was scowling at the creature in my arms.

"I came here to ask your uncle some questions, Rose." He sighed, "Please keep the kittens away from me... I have allergies." I nodded understandingly.

"Oh, well... Fiona, can you show Ciel and Sebastian up to uncle's study, please? And thank you!" I grinned. "Uhm, Mei-Rin? Bard? Finny?"

"We wanted to see your uncle's manor miss, yes we did!" Mei-Rin grinned at me and I laughed.

"Well feel free to make yourself at home! Would you like to join us out in the garden while we bathe the kittens?" I smiled once again and turned, heading deeper into the manor. The maids had already set up the small tub we were using to bathe the kittens. It was basically an old iron tub that babies would be bathed in. I sighed once we got into the garden, checking the temperature with my finger. The water was the perfect temperature, so I placed Clover in – only to have him jump straight out. "Clover!" I yelled in frustration.

"I'll get 'im!" Bard chased after the kitten and eventually caught him, bringing him back to the bath.

"Thank you, Bard." I smiled, taking Clover and poking his nose. "Bad kitty." The kitten growled at me in the back of his throat and I smiled. Bard kneeled on the opposite side of the bath, ready to catch Clover should he try to run away again. Slowly I placed Clover back in the water and huffed, keeping hold of him as he tried to run away again. "Bard, can you hold him while I wash him down?" The cook nodded, taking hold of the kitten as I washed him with the soapy water. I looked to my right to see Mei-Rin helping Jackson. I looked around for Finny to see him watching birds in the tree.

I sighed, gently rubbing Clover's ear to calm him. Once I finished washing him, I grabbed a towel that I had set to the side and placed it in my lap. Bard lifted Clover from the tub and placed him on his side on the towel. I wrapped Clover up, cradling him to my chest as I dried his head off.

The little guy gave a mewl and I laughed. Kittens are the cutest creatures ever, I absolutely love them.

I sighed softly, standing and walking into the manor. We keep a guest bedroom free for the kittens, so they can get it as hairy as they like and ruin it to their hearts content, and it doesn't bother anyone else. The maids clean it every day, so it always smells clean in the least. I close my eyes, humming softly as I ascend the stairs to the kitten's bedroom. Once there, I placed Clover on the bed and unwrapped him. I dried him off a little more, ruffled his fur, and then left the room. I left the door open so that he can come and go as he wishes. With that done, I skipped to the music room.

Uncle liked his instruments. He liked to listen to them being played, and he liked to play them. He had Violas, Violins, Trumpets, Trombones, French Horns... If he had enough people, he could make an orchestra in the room. Sadly, he didn't have enough people. I often liked to go in here for one instrument though... The piano.