The Earl's Kitten

Chapter XVII

July 12th 1887, 18:00 PM

Guests were beginning to arrive. I had made James and Thomas tidy themselves up and wear suits, changing their position to footmen and butlers for the night. They greeted each guest at the door, taking coats and bags and neatly storing them away on the coat racks that Jackson had shown them.

Jackson and I were already waltzing around the dance floor when the first guest arrived, lost in our own little world as we discussed the afternoon's music lesson.
"Well don't you two look a charm!" Both Jackson and I parted as soon as we heard the voice, bowing and curtsying respectively, before turning to the first guests.
"Earl Trancy!" My cheeks felt hot, and I cast my gaze to the ground. "My apologies for not noticing you sooner. My Butler and I were discussing my music lesson this afternoon." I looked up as Alois stepped forward, scanning over his company. "Ah, I see you brought all your servants? It's a pleasure to see you all." I bowed my head, and Alois tutted.
"A Lady such as yourself should not be acknowledging peasants like them." My eyes widened as Alois took my hand, pulling me close. How could he say that when he was the only human in his household? 

Jackson took a step forward at seeing my eyes widen, but I turned to him. "Stay back, Jackson. That's an order." The demon frowned, but bowed and retreated to the edge of the room. I desperately wished to take back the order, suddenly remembering how harsh Alois had been when he got upset about his flowers. I sighed softly, turning my attention back to Alois.
"Shall we dance, Earl Trancy?" I smiled, placing my hand on his shoulder. He smirked down at me, his hand resting on my hip.
"I thought you'd never ask, Lady Rose." We timed to the music, and then stepped into a waltz of our own, lost for the next few minutes in music and each other's eyes. Admittedly, I was slightly entranced by his blue eyes. On the other hand, I was also trying to understand him. Would he snap anytime soon? I could hear whispering over to the side of the room, and deemed it to be the Triplets. There were soon footsteps heading towards us, and Alois stopped dancing when his shoulder was tapped.
"What is it?" One of the Triplets stood to his side, watching Alois carefully. "You want to dance with her? Is that it?" He snorted, then laughed in the boy's face.

"Oh, Alois!" I frowned and pulled away from him. "How rude of you. Anyone can dance. This is not merely a party for nobility, you know." Alois narrowed his gaze on me and I backed up a step. He soon huffed, and returned to Claude. I sighed heavily in relief, and then turned to the Triplet.
"Which Triplet are you then?"

He frowned at me, and then placed his hands over his mouth before taking my smaller hands in his and beginning to gently twirl us. There was an expertise and gracefulness in his dancing that was not present in Alois', causing me to relax and smile softly.

"My name is Timber, Miss." I looked up at him in surprise, not having expected him to speak. "I told you when we first met."

I smiled shyly, looking away. "Indeed you did. I remember. You're always in the middle of your brothers, yes?" He nodded in response and I turned my attention back to him. "Well, Timber, it's very nice to talk to you. You have a wonderful name, by the way. Highly unusual."

Timber smirked at me, and out of the corner of my eye I saw Jackson shift as if to head towards us. "As do you, Miss."

I paused in dancing as James arrived at the top of the stairs, announcing a few other guests. Soon, there were enough to begin handing drinks around. When other couples joined the dance floor, Timber and I retired to the refreshments table. I got a glass of water, while Timber merely stood there.
"How come it was you who dared to approach me, then? Did Thompson and Cantebury not have enough courage?" I heard a small snort in response, and looked over to him. He was watching me out of the corner of his red eyes, his purple bangs falling forward slightly. I received no reply besides that, but it seemed not to matter as my attention was taken away by someone else. Had I been paying attention, I would have seen Timber slip away, returning to his brothers and whispering. But I wasn't watching, and therefore I didn't see.