The Art of Being a Gentleman

Chapter 4

"Judging from how you look, I can tell that you're ecstatic about starting our second lesson." Harry says, trying his best to hold in a laugh.

Louis is currently slumped back in his armchair and rubbing his temples. His hair resembles a jacked up crow's nest, he's dressed in sweats instead of the promiscuous clothing he always wears, and a pair of sunglasses are covering his bloodshot eyes. His night at Wonderland was a little too wild.

"Would you like some water?" Harry asks as a small chuckle manages to escape him.

"Please." Louis whines.

Instead of calling out for Pam and Sam, Harry decides to have mercy on Louis' migraine and texts them to bring up a glass of water. Not even five minutes later, the sound of heels frantically clicking against the floor can be heard before the twin maids burst into the room.

"Water!" They shout in unison as Pam thrusts a glass of water out towards Harry.

Louis groans at the volume of their voices and slides down in his armchair.

"What's wrong, Lou?" Pam asks warily.

"Are you sick?" Sam muses, her tone riddled with concern.

"Are you hurt?"

"Are you mad?"

"Are you sad?"

"Are you-"

"He has a hangover." Harry interrupts.

The twins glance at each other before they both let out a sympathetic, "How awful."

"Just hand me the fucking water." Louis grits out.

Harry rolls his eyes and hands Louis the glass. He doesn't bother with reprimanding Louis for his language, not this time. Louis tips back the glass and drinks more than half of the water in one go.

"I'm never drinking that much ever again." Louis groans. In the very back of his mind, he's completely aware of how huge of a lie his statement is.

"Well, we would love to stay and talk..." Sam begins.

"But we have work to do!" Pam finishes.

The two scamper out of the room, their identical messes of red hair flying behind them. As much as Louis wants to acknowledge how cute their constant eagerness to work is, he feels way too awful to do so. The pounding in his head has a slow and steady rhythm that reduces him to a miserable mess.

"That's what you get for drinking so much," Harry chides. "I swear, hangovers are just God's way of-"

"Spare me," Louis groans as his head lolls to the side. "I do not want to hear whatever preachy, holier than thou bullshit you have managed to come up with."

Harry raises his hands in mock defense, feeling only slightly put off by Louis' candor. As time progresses, he's growing more and more use to Louis' personality. When they first started this process, Harry viewed Louis as a common spoiled rich kid simply acting out just because he can, but ever since the test yesterday, he's been starting to rethink everything he's ever thought about the man.

Harry was shocked to learn just how intelligent and well-mannered Louis can be. He only placed Louis in that setting to see how good his speech is, but he ended up observing a refined gentleman systematically winning over an entire room, utilizing his vast knowledge to further conversations and displaying an air of grace and dignity one can expect from a person of high status. Harry is going to continue his lessons and carry on normally, but he's doing so with one thing in mind, a conclusion he came to last night as he tossed and turned in his bed. Louis doesn't need any mentoring or teaching. He knows exactly what he's supposed to do.