Different Worlds - A Luke Brooks Fanfiction

Chapter 5 - Brothers In Arms

Luke smiled broadly, but it was quickly taken, almost knocked from his face. “What in god’s name are you doing here?” Beau spat, quietly apologizing to the officer beside him before gripping onto his brothers sleeve and dragging him away so no one could hear what they were saying. “I could ask you the same.” Luke muttered in response, Beau’s face turning into a scowl. “I was sent here by the factory owner a few years ago, he said I had good hands, and thought I would be better at use here,” His words quickly twisted from anger to sadness. “But you’re here for a different reason, aren’t you?”

Luke quickly explained the story, hastily adding in the part about their mother, as he wasn’t sure how he’d take it. Beau stayed quiet, before rubbing his temples with his fingers. For a minute Luke thought he would burst into tears, but no, he did the complete opposite. He swung out and punched Luke in the face, the blow causing Luke to stumble back slightly, his hand instinctively going to his nose. “That,” Beau said, before twisting away, now not looking at his younger brother, “Was for leaving mother.”  

Astonished, Luke quickly recomposed himself and walked back over to the building site, only to be met by the officer Beau had been talking to a moment before hand. “I want you to deliver this to High Manor,” He begun. “As a peace offering gift, showing that we mean them no harm, go it?” Nodding, Luke took the basket of what he guessed was fruit or maybe even a pie, and began walking towards the house, a giddy feeling growing in his stomach, one word and one word only passing through his thoughts.

Sophia.

***

Sophia watched on as Charity did her hair, as she insisted on doing so. “For a maid you are quite fine with hair,” Sophia said. “Why not work as a hairdresser instead?” Charity just sighed. “I would if I could Miss Carter, but my mother worked in this old house, as well as her mother. It’s a generational thing that has to be carried on.” Sophia just nodded, before stepping back from the mirror, admiring the others girl’s handiwork. Her curls were strewn up in a bun, with lose ringlets falling down her face gracefully, she couldn’t help but stare in awe at the reflection looking back at her.

“Do you like it?” Charity asked wearily, as if she was expecting a rude answer after. She must have done Abigale’s hair, Sophia thought, the poor girl. “I do not like it,” She begun, the other girls face dropping remarkably. “I adore it.” Her blue eyes shone in delight, but before she could talk, a loud ringing came from down stairs. “The doorbell,” Charity said confused. “Who could that be?”

Sophia picked up her pink dress before leaving the room, walking down the winding corridors before stopping at the top if the spiral staircase, looking on as William answered the door.

***

William looked at the boy in confusion, he didn’t look like the man Mr Price was meant to be meeting this afternoon, he looked far too young for that. “Good afternoon.” The boy eventually said, William still staring at him like he was a dog walking on its hind legs. “I was sent from the fields to give the owner of this house a gift,” The boy brought forward a basket. “For good intentions of the convicts working here.”

William sucked in a breath. “You work out there?” He swallowed; he’d never been so close to one of them in real life before, so he was obviously expecting someone shabby and cruel looking, but this boy, he looked somewhat harmless. He nodded and handed William the basket. “I’m guessing he’s not in so I may as well hand this to you instead…” He trailed off, looking up into the house. William, in curiosity and also confusion, turned around to see Sophia, looking pale faced down at the boy, before rushing back down the hall.

Without a second thought the boy had pushed past William and descended into the house. Will just groaned before walking after him, muttering, “Not again.”

***

Sophia, in utter and complete shock, rushed back to her quarters, Charity still in there tidying, stopping as she saw the state the other girl was in. “Are you okay Miss Carter?” She asked, Sophia quickly nodding, before turning to lock the door behind her, a shriek escaping her lips. The boy from the other night was there, in her house, staring down at her, a smile tugged on his lips.

“Well this is a better meeting than the last Miss Carter.” He said, forcing out his hand to stop the door from closing. Sophia couldn’t help but smile slightly. “I guess, I mean I haven’t fallen yet if that’s what you mean.” Luke stared at her for a second, before footsteps echoed throughout the hall, Sophia’s heart dropping slightly. This boy is one of the only non boring things in this place, she thought, why take him away?

Before she could protest, William and a boy she’d never seen before had reached the door.

“Could you please leave this poor girl alone and leave the premises at once please.” William said politely, like a convict wasn’t standing at the door. “We do wish for this not to be messy.” The other boy added, his brown eyes showing a tiny hint of excitement. “You mustn’t get out much,” Luke finally said, Charity now standing beside Sophia to see what all the fuss was about. “This looks as if it’s the most exciting thing you’ve done all year and it’s merely July.” The other boy just shrugged. “Well you must know, apart from watching those ragged men build stables all day there really isn’t much to do,” She could see Luke’s eyes narrow significantly. “You of all people should know.”

As if William knew what was about to happen, he stood in between the two, his head held high. “Daniel, that is no way to treat someone like that, remember what happened the last time?” Daniel remembered vaguely, mouthing off a well built convict isn’t really the best thing you could do. “I will hold my tongue next time Pierce.” He muttered, before walking off down the hall. “Sorry about him,” William quickly said. “He’s the coachman who just loves to pick a fight.”

Luke’s shoulders were still tense as they left the room, Sophia quietly walking beside him, unsure of the mood he was in. He must take pride in how he can hide his emotions, she thought, as they came to the door, none other than Abigale walking straight in, almost knocking Sophia down by the force of it. She shrieked slightly in shock as she laid eyes on Luke, obviously not prepared to see anyone, let alone such a good looking boy like Luke.

With one swift movement Abigale had taken Sophia by the arm and pulled her just out of ear shot from the boy. “What are you doing with him?” She said, sounding a bit shaken. “I have no clue what you mean.” Sophia said in a hushed voice, avoiding Luke’s intense glare on the two. Abigale huffed slightly, but before she could talk, Luke bet her to it. “Sorry for barging in like that Sophia,” He began, turning away from them. “I didn’t know you already had a suitor.”

Abigale’s jaw dropped remarkably, while Sophia just stayed quiet, doing her best to keep in her laugh she was suppressing. Luke quickly left soon after, while Abigale still looked shocked to the core. “What- I do not- Do I look like-“She quickly shut her mouth, before taking a deep breath and walking up the stairs, muttering one name over and over again.

Sophia gazed up at the stair well confused. “Who in the bloody hell is Jaidon?”

***

The boy pulled up his collar to block his neck from the cool breeze, his footsteps on the hard wooden platform somewhat settling to him, as he hadn’t felt proper ground in what felt like months. He descended past all the people on the docks, wanting to look unseen, as he didn’t have the time or patience for anybody at the moment.

He then waited at the curb for a carriage, pulling down his hat slightly as the wind began to intensify, his brown eyes camping shut momentarily, before he heard the familiar rumble of a coach. He stepped up and sat down, the coach man asking for where he intended to go. “High Manor,” He said, lifting his head up so his smirk could be seen. “I dare not wish them to be waiting.”

_____________________

I have nothing to say but sorry for the wait. And thank you for the slowing building reads on all my stories it means heaps.

And also Jai is yet again a bad ass in this, idk once you write someone like this it’s hard to stop.

But don’t you love it? He’s just- *throws self at wall* *dies* *gets back up to continues stories*

~Skylar xx