2 Chapter Two: The Peculiar One

Other than patching his wounds except for the ones on his back, which he wouldn't let her, and let him rest; Eve didn't know how to deal with the young stranger. She could have brought him to a police station or hospital, but he would shake his head furiously in objection. He would not answer either when he was asked about where he lived at. Eve paced around the room, trying to figure out a way of taking care of him without letting Aunt Emil find out; so he wouldn't be forced to do work around the house with such serious wounds. The other maids can't help her now, especially when Camille is around watching them like a hawk not letting go of its prey. So, the only person who came to mind was June.

Before dawn, she let the small boy clamber up her back with a large trench coat on to prevent anyone from recognising it was her. It took a few knocks on the door of the part home and part bakery building before June opened the door with flour on her face and hands wet, who needless to say, was quite surprised by the fact that Eve was standing there right in front of her door, with her hair still loose and ruffled while her uniform still on. "Good morning, June.", Eve said with a hint of awkwardness, as it was still two o'clock in the morning and with the morning snowfall still going it was an awfully inconvenient time to visit someone. June, who was of course horrified quickly pulled her in to the warmth of the bakery.

"My goodness, Eve, you are really taking early to the next level, I haven't even began to make my dough yet. I guess it must really be urgent. So do you want to talk about it?", she said as she closed the door after she came in.

"Actually, this is more of a request than a problem.", Eve said while playing with her fingers.

"Go on. I'm listening.", June said resting her hands at her hips.

"The problem is I need you to take care of someone for me."

"Who?"

Eve pulled the hood down to reveal the tiny figure latching on her back.

"Him."

"Now who is this little guy?", June asked as she got closer to take a look at the young boy. His features were adorable, dark brown hair and big doe eyes made him intriguing for June.

"Honestly, I don't know, June.", Eve said shaking her head.

The young boy ducked his head down further in hopes of hiding his embarrassment of being stared at.

"Where in the world did you get this boy?", June asked as she patted his head and carrying him off Eve. At that moment, his stomach growled. June laughed a moment and headed towards the kitchen beckoning Eve to follow as she continued.

"I found him in the shed lying on the floor. He was terribly injured, I wished I could keep him but with Aunt Emil and Camille, I just couldn't find anywhere to hide him around the house."

"And so you came to me instead.", June said handing the young boy a plate of chocolate cookies and milk which he quickly took away from her hands. "Yes.", Eve said scratching the back of her head in awkwardness. It has been long since she had ever asked for favours, usually she would be the one doing them and not the other way around.

"Alright."

Eve's face brightened before happily ran to her friend with a hug. "Thank you.", Eve whispered as June returned the hug. As the grandfather clock from the living room beside rang five, Eve broke loose from her grip and dashed out the door with a gasp and a few I am lates before the bell could even finish ringing by her leave.

Eve quickly took off the coat, tossing it behind a nearby bush which she figured she would retrieve later, while running hurriedly to the kitchen just after Camille.

"Evelyn, late again? It has been the third time this week. What happened this time?", she said with a tone of suspicion.

"I am sorry, ma'am. I overslept.", Eve apologised as she hung her head and thought about the many reasons she was late this week, including the time when she was stuck in the well for retrieving the so-called lost brooch belonging to her aunt. She could still remember the horror of being trapped till it was the next day when someone else came in her stead to fetch water.

"Overslept? Is the work I have given you all too easy for you all to tuck into bed late at night? Or are they too overbearing and you wish me to deal with them myself?"

"No, ma'am. I didn't mean that ma'am. If we made you do all the work then certainly hiring maids like us would be useless. It was my fault that I turned into bed late."

"Very well then. Make yourself useful and clean the young masters' bedrooms by yourself until they are all spick and span. I want it done by this evening and if I find out anyone who helps her, your punishment will be far more severe than this. Understand?", she said pointing her finger back and forth at them.

"Yes, ma'am.", they all replied in unison. Although Eve replied as well she knew very well herself that it was easier said than done. The boys' bedrooms were the third largest rooms in the whole mansion apart from the library, the living room and Belphoebe's rooms. Cleaning them all in one day takes a whole dozen of maids. When Camille's shadow finally disappeared in the hallways, all of them slumped and gave out a sigh of relief. After a few pats across the shoulders and ensuring them that she would be alright, Eve took a bucket of cleaning tools and went on her way out saying to herself,

"Alright, let's get to work shall we?"

Making her way up and down to fetch pails of water for cleaning was getting tiring. Her hands blistered from the splinters, her joints popped and sore from the heavy lifting and drenched in her own sweat; yet she couldn't complain. It was punishment after all. What made her more tiring was the face of the person waiting for her right above the stairs in his silk nightgown sipping his morning coffee.

"Good morning, Benedict.", she greeted as she walked past him without another concern on how he charmingly smiled at her. It did not impress the young man as he was expecting something much more.

"Hey, wait up. I am not done with you yet.", he said while chasing up to her, placing the cup aside the small table.

"I didn't expect Celeste to bring my breakfast today.", he said trying acting high-classed keeping his hands behind him.

"So, what is the commotion? She is a maid after all, isn't she?", she grunted as she hefted.

"But I did specify who I wanted to bring me my meals, didn't I?", he said standing in front of her and staring at her.

"I suppose you did, Young Master Benedict.", she sighed, putting the bucket down to rest her arms on her hips, to pant.

"Are you sick?", he asked, staring, as soon as he saw her poor complexion.

When she wouldn't answer him, it got to the point when he scooped her up and walked towards his room, her old room actually, which was a few rooms away.

"Benedict, what are you doing put me down!", she said struggling to break free from him but to no avail. He kicked the door wider and plopped her into bed, pulling the sheets so hard enough to send it flying before it landed on her.

"I'm going to soil your bed. You know that, don't you?", she reminded him about his concept of being clean when needed.

"I suppose the maids can redo my sheets again."

I am the one who needs to clean them, you idiot. She thought.

"But I suppose they won't be the ones doing it today are they? Because the person on duty today is only you.", he said as he got closer to her to prevent her from trying to run away. "Which means that no one will be at the hallways to hear your cries.", he said grinning.

Those very actions scared her, she knew what would happen next but there was nothing she could do except closing her eyes and hoping for the worst. She tried her best to hide away under the covers. The moment Benedict's hands slipped into the covers ready to tickle her, a slight cough was heard and when they turned to see who it was they quickly pulled away from each other acting as if nothing had happened.

"You both shouldn't be leaving the door open like that you know?", Mason said grinning while leaning on the door with his arms crossed.

"Anyone could just come right in without notice, and you should know that includes mother too, Benedict.", he continued cheerfully. With that said, Benedict sighed and patted Eve on the head a few times without looking at her then left with Mason, taking extra care to close the door softly.

The both of them found privacy on the balcony. Benedict placed his hands near the railings, back arched and body leaned forward to gaze at the scenery in front of him, the front yard of what was rightfully his cousin's mansion. "Well can you believe that, my brother Benedict, the only person in the whole world who doesn't pay attention at any woman at all, is being playful to his own maid.", Mason started, back leaning against the railing, staring straight in the window for anyone. "She isn't just a maid, she's our cousin, Mason.", he protested.

"Our cousin who you deliberately fell in love with.", he teased. "But what do you think mother would do with her if she found out?"

"That depends on if you are willing to keep a secret."

Eve made her way to the bakery as soon as she was done finishing up the work which took more than an evening to finish it; she ended up working till the next night with a few interruptions from Benedict, telling her she should rest.

Surely, she was surprised by how June was so glad to see her. Eve got pulled in unexpectedly with June hushing her by covering her hand over her mouth.

"What's the matter?", Eve asked in a whisper.

"The boy, Eve, the boy.", she whispered in excitement.

"What? Has his wound reopened again?"

"No, Eve. He has wings!", she said in exaggeration.

Alright, I am dying. I have finally finished my exams. So, here's a choice, for the next part shall we introduce our main male character? Comment and vote.