The Masquerade Of Black Death (UNDER RE-WRITING AND HEAVY EDITING)

Chapter Eight

Claude-Laurence was awoken to crashing downstairs. Ophelia wasn't in bed, nor were the children. He flung himself downstairs and saw Ophelia on the bench standing looking for something in the top cupboard, and Aurelian catching things she threw.
"It's here somewhere." She groaned.
"I can find it better and I'm blind." He groaned back.
"I'll hit you." She spun with a wooden spoon.
"I'll bite you." He laughed. There was a quick silence then a shriek. Aurelian had pulled Ophelia down. "This is taking forever. You can't cook to save your god damn life." He sighed. He felt around and pulled out a old pot that looked to be ninety years old. "Is this it?"
"Yes be careful!" Ophelia slid forward. "I might not be able to cook, but I want to try."
"Do you want me to cook it and act like you did?" He tilted his head side to side. Ophelia pursed her lips then she hugged him.
"Please." Claude-Laurence silently walked back upstairs. He waited until he smelt food, then smashed his feet against the floor. There was a little bell sound from outside. When he got downstairs Ophelia was mixing what looked like porridge. He walked up to her and slid his hands down her hips and linked his hands around her stomach.
"What smells so nice?" He inhaled her scent.
"My mothers recipe." Ophelia grinned. Claude-Laurence saw Aurelian sitting in Ophelia's seat, his legs crossed.
"Long night?" Claude-Laurence slid in opposite him.
"Very." Aurelian nodded slowly. "I want your opinion on this. You're now the man of this house. Lord Taylor."
"Anything." Claude-Laurence placed his elbows on his knees.
"Last night I was doing as the old man asked. I then went to the bar because it was a early night, I'm not used to coming home that early. I heard someone talk about how it was good the old Quack was dead.
I have a rule. I don't hurt woman or children. Woman are most likely in the positions they are due to men, and kids can't tell right from wrong."
Aurelian sat silently swaying.
"In the end I fought her. She went for my heart, saying in twenty years she'll come find me and kill me. She's the Hypnotist."
"Aurelian. You have a wild imagination." Claude-Laurence chuckled happily. Little did he know, it wasn't just an imagination.
"I've not been genuinely scared of someone since Mr Bellbridge."
"And Monsieur Esclave you shit your pants when you hear his drunk stumbling." Ophelia spun around, some of the porridge slapping Aurelian's cheek.
"Watch your language Lady Thompson." Aurelian smirked. She flicked more on him.
"I'll fight you."
"I'll win."
"You always stand down to me."
"Life or death, instincts take over."
"Lee!"
"What?! Honestly!"
"Leave alone." Aurélie came in, wearing the same outfit, her hair pulled into a low ponytail. Aurelian made a face as she slid onto his knee perching.
"Find a chair." He pushed her off.
"You are my chair." She sat back down. "Lady Thompson, what are my duties as of today?" She dusted dress down so it had no wrinkles whatsoever. Aurelian paused then tugged on her hair.
"Why did you say leave alone and not leave her alone. I'm not a dog you can command." He snarled in her ear.
"You are." She rolled her eyes.
"What is there to do? What exactly did papa do?" Ophelia paused, Aurelian shook his head. "What? I do all of the finances. He is troublesome with numbers."
"Was." Aurelian was hit with porridge again. "Right! Go cook it or wear it!" He jumped up. Aurélie was sent flying.
"Fine! What are you my dad?" Ophelia huffed. She walked outside then popped her head in. "How do I cook it?" Aurélie giggled to herself. She glanced at Aurelian who was sighing heavily.
"Oh I'll go. Sit down old man." She pushed him back on the seat. She skipped out to Ophelia. There was a long silence then Aurelian sighed, he didn't have anything to say. This didn't usually annoy him but he knew Claude-Laurence was a talker.
"Have you proposed to Eden?" Claude-Laurence asked.
"I plan to. Soon. When I turn eighteen. Both me and Lia are still seventeen."
"Is that your sleek way of saying she's too young to wed?"
"It's my direct way of saying I'll break your arms if you lay with her."
"You've had sex with Eden right?"
"Mr Taylor, I've saw sex. My childhood was spent on boats or in the depths of poverty watching people selling their body. Do you really think I'm willing to do that?"
"He's asked so much hasn't he?"
"So much." Aurelian sighed. "I'm scared. He doesn't want people to know about us, but he wants sex."
"I've heard you're a player."
"I use people. I play with them, not their bodies."
"Got any questions?"
"You're eight years older than me, what do you expect me to ask?"
"Anything."
"If you marry Ophelia. You're also marrying me. Wherever she goes I go. We'll die together most likely. I hope you're expectant of that."