Being a Barrow - A Sequel to Barrow's Boy

To Earn Trust

     Theodore barely slept that night, mind replaying the image of Rosaine reaching, missing, and falling over and over again. The scream he let out echoed in his head. 

     Ashton, the ever-wonderful roommate that he was, seemed to notice Teddy's tossing and turning, for his lamp turned on after what felt like an eternity. The clock on Teddy's desk would claim it to be an hour and a half.

     "How about some tea?"

    So, the two put on their slippers and robes and quietly walked down the hall to the communal kitchen, where Ashton filled the kettle with as little noise as possible.

     "You know," Teddy said, trying not to yawn, "I can make tea for myself."

     "I know," Ashton's reply came. "But I've been told that I make a lovely cuppa."

     "By whom?"

     "Ah, I remember it well," Ashton turned to Theodore with a grin. "It was summer, 1913. My sisters were holding a tea party with the dolls they had long since stopped playing with. I was the host, and my tea was so wonderful that it had an air-like quality to it."

     Theodore found a smile forming on his face. 

     "Of course," Ashton continued, leaning on his forearms against the table as he stood across from Teddy, "one may argue that I didn't fill the cups enough. Or at all. But Georgia and Rebecca, the educated ladies that they are, did not complain, so I count it as a win."

    "And how, pray tell," Teddy inquired, "did young Ashton prepare this tea?"

    "Much faster than he is right now."

    With that, Teddy laughed. Ashton smiled triumphantly, turning back to the kettle. Satisfied with its whistling, he poured the water into the two teacups that he had prepared.

     It was Teddy who heard the footsteps and hushed voices in the hall, turning to look at them as they entered the room. 

    "Oh." Dansworth, with Monty right behind him, looked between Teddy and Ashton, eyes like saucers. 

    "What brings you to the third floor?" Ashton asked in a tone that somehow walked the line of nonchalant and stern. Teddy vowed to never make Ashton use that voice with him. 

    "Um-" Monty nudged Dansworth forward. 

     "We were talking," Dansworth started. Theodore took his teacup from Ashton, both silent as they waited for Dansworth to continue.

    "I'm sorry I didn't believe you about Miss Bennett."

    Theodore nearly spit out his sip of tea. 

     "And that I called her-" Dansworth looked to Monty, who nodded encouragingly, "what I did. That's how they used to talk about girls at Winchester, which apparently is not a universal thing."

    "Definitely not," Theodore commented, staring down Dansworth. 

     "And Ashton," Dansworth continued. "I've contacted your parents about that thing I broke, so we're going to figure out some compensation for it."

    "You-" Ashton very circumspectly set down his teacup. "That is very conscientious of you."

    "I'm not the smartest person," Dansworth admitted, venturing to take a step further into the room. "Which I know sounds dumb since I'm literally in medical school. But I make these ridiculous impulsive decisions, and I forgot that you two couldn't know that yet, and I'm sorry that my brain is always too late to stop me from being a bastard who says and does all of the wrong things."