When your friend might be a few sandwiches short of a picnic.

Colin was at the meeting point Fabian has detailed in his letter, however and much to Colin's disappointment and confusion, his friend wasn't there.

But the confusion didn't last, as he heard few people walking by whispering about a strange looking man and another man disputing in front of a nearby pub.

So after a short timed search, "Fabian!" Colin called his friend's name when he managed to locate him, like he heard he found his friend outside a pub, with another man, both waiting for Colin.

Well, waiting was an overstatement, as only one of them seemed in his right mind, while the other was just drunk beyond saving.

The sober gentleman was a smart looking Caucasian man, he wasn't heavyset as his arms and legs were slender but he had a round gut visable from underneath his shirt, he was just a bit shorter than Colin but much more older looking at least in his mid 40s, the sober gentleman with brown eyes wore a pair of glasses, he was clean-shaven and his dark hair cut in a typical short boyish haircut, Colin didn't recognize this man but he sure did recognize the drunken one as his friend.

The drunken mess of a gentleman was what you might call, unusual for his times.

He was young possibly in his late 20s, early 30s, also clean-shaven but stood at slightly taller height than Colin, his skin tone was so pale he Seems at first glance like a ghost, but his most striking feature was his long straight white hair which was long enough to cover half of his back, his hair wasn't tied or anything, it was free and about just left untied and covering most of his face.

In short scientific words, the man was an albino, a rare sight for many people especially those who didn't knew back then that such people existed and that it was normal.

"Leave me be!...*hiccups* I do not need your help!...Be gone!"

"Stop it young man! You're going to kill yourself this way! It's bloody morning and you're as drunk as an Irish sailor!"

"I do not wish to live anymore!...leave me...*Hiccups* to my fate! You are... Insanely...persistent!"

"Goodness why me?!"

So upon noticing how drunk the albino man Colin came to see was, and the fact that the drunken gentleman was actively trying to get into the pub to get more drinks but the sober gentleman was trying to stop him, "Oh God what happened to him?!" Colin began asking as he did his best to help the sober man drag his drunk friend away from the pub, each man grabbing one arm of Fabian's.

"I don't know! I found him this way! I don't know how much he had, but he definitely had about enough! He can barely stand yet want to have more!" The smart gentleman said, "By the way, I do not think I ever met you before? Are you a family member of Fabian?" Colin asked him while grabbing Fabian once more after Fabian briefly freed his arm from Colin's grasp.

"No, I am the lawyer, My name is William Smith!

I have urgent business in the upcoming days so I needed to meet Fabian early on about his aunt and her husband's inheritance and Will, so I can have an early start on my journey!

Unfortunately it seems like my efforts went in vein, I mean I knew the Stuart couple but just not good enough to know about Fabian and his character, so I didn't expect him to be like this!

But now I suppose I have no other choice but to accompany This young man to his aunt's house, in hopes the trip would sober him up a little so I may tell him in details about the content of the will." The lawyer replied.

"I see, well I will help you get him into a carriage then! my plan was to meet him and then we would head together to the Stuart estate anyways, so I am joining you." Colin replied.

The lawyer nodded but just then, "I do not...wish *gagging * to go to my aunt's house!" Fabian said before He collapsed on his knees, and started vomiting.

Embarrassed and equally impressed, Colin's eyes widened, "Good God just how much did he have!" He said.

"Ugh!" The mortified lawyer grunted before he mumbled, "I should've been born a bird or something else...why me mother?!"

...Meanwhile...

All around the Vega manor, the other non permanent servants were busy doing their jobs, except for two people.

All alone in the parlor room, "LADY STUART IS DEAD?!" Wolfgang shouted in disbelief, "Please Don't shout... you're scaring me..." Clara replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout, I just cannot believe it! The woman was an angel, it's so devastating!" Wolfgang said with a deep frown.

Sighing, "I know! Remember that young boy that lord Teaton hired few months ago to help the Gardner? He actually worked for Lord Stuart before he came to us, and he only left the Struat House because Lord Stuart was unsatisfied with his work and constantly yelled at him.

the boy said that lady Stuart defended him against her husband many times, and Eventually the boy left their house because his was afraid to cause a major disagreement between the couple.". Clara replied.

"Yes, I heard the late Lord Stuart had a wild temper." Wolfgang said.

Curious, "Speaking of which, I thought you and Safa kept away from society... how come you know of The Stuarts?" Clara asked.

Wolfgang looked around before he pulled Clara close as he whispered, "Do not tell Safa I told you this...I'm not sure whether I have permission to say this but we met the Lady years ago at a funeral.

it was the first and last time...we've met the woman in."

Letting a big "Ohh!" Clara nodded then Asked, "Are you going to the funeral then, now that you know? It'll take some time to make it there, but since you seem to have a good impression of the woman, doesn't she deserve this at least?"

Wolfgang shook his head in disapproval, "That is the problem! The funeral will be swarming with mourners! The woman had no children and her husband was an ill tempered man but she was a good soul, many people loved her!

I bet many will be there to pay their final respects, Safa will never agree to go to the funeral knowing that it would be packed with people!" Wolfgang said.

"You're probably right..." Clara replied.

"By the way, how did her husband die, you said she died of illness three days ago, what about him?" Wolfgang asked, "Apparently..." Clara got nervous.

Wolfgang raised an eyebrow, "Apparently what?"

"He shot himself...few hours after he found his wife dead in...her bed."

"WHAT?!"

"No shouting!"

"Ah, sorry...but why? Most men would celebrate when their wives die."

"You must not know many happily married couple!" Clara said, "Well, I was never married, probably never will be, so I do not know..." Wolfgang replied.

"Well the Stuarts were different! They were by all means happily married! They loved each other!...I heard it was love at first sight!

I heard the two never spent a day apart since their marriage began many years ago." Clara said, "I can't imagine How tragic it must have been for Lord Stuart then, to find the love of his life, no longer Alive!" Wolfgang replied both astonished and sad.

Nodding, "Poor man...God may have not given him a child, but he gave him a loyal and kind wife, I heard she was also too pretty, more beautiful than half women her age, she looked much younger than her real age.

I never saw the woman myself, but I heard a lot about her... apparently she is Austrian...was." Clara said.

"Oh yes! She was a real beauty at least she was from when I met her at that funeral.

She wore a simple black gown yet she was easily the most attractive woman in the room, and I am saying that as a man who isn't even attracted to women." Wolfgang replied.

Giggling, "Don't let Safa hear you say that!" Clara said, "Safa is beautiful as well, just a different kind of beautiful, beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all." Wolfgang replied.

"Yes, yes! that's true!...so am I beautiful too?" Clara asked sheepishly, "You... are adorable!" Wolfgang said pinching the brunette maid's cheeks.

"Owowow haha! Stop it!!" Clara laughed as she tried to stop Wolfgang.

Suddenly, the two paused when they heard the noise of someone clearing their throat.

Embarrassed, "James! I mean Lord Teaton!" Wolfgang said shyly at the sight of James standing by the parlor room's entrance, "My Lord! Good morning." Clara greeted the redhead smiling man.

"I see two of my good friends are having fun, considering that a minute ago you were talking about someone who has passed away." James said, "You heard all of that?" Wolfgang asked.

"Unlike you Wolf, I know how to eavesdrop without being caught early!" James replied with a grin.

Frowning, "Are you mocking me?" Wolfgang asked.

James shook his head with a no, he then noticed something as he looked around the room, "Neither Safa nor Denver are here?" He asked.

Confused, "Denver?" Clara questioned.

"The dog, we named him Denver! Actually the pupper is asleep! I left him on my bed, which reminds me I should go check if he has woken up.

As for Safa, well she is refusing to leave her bed... Apparently she prefers being trapped in a bed than a wheelchair." Wolfgang explained.

Chuckling, "She's a work freak! Once she misses her laboratory, she will beg for the wheelchair." James said.

"I hope so, I cannot imagine how she must be feeling...this is like throwing all her hard work out of the window! For years she pushed her body ignoring all the discomfort and pain to be able to train herself to walk on two feet, being told that she have to use the wheelchair again is a blow she did not anticipate." Wolfgang replied.

"It's just for few weeks and she will be back on her feet, stronger than ever! She needs to understand that sometimes we have to take a step back to be able to step forward." James said.

Surprised, "That is...incredibly the Wisest thing I had ever heard you say!" Wolfgang replied earning a proud smirk from James.

As James and Wolfgang talked, Clara looked back and forth at the two gentlemen, she noticed something that made her smile, "I just remembered...I need to do something, so I will leave you two and go do my business." Clara said happily, she left hopping away like an overjoyed rabbit, it made James laugh at her.

"Haha what a woman!"

Now fully blushing, "James... about yesterday." Wolfgang spoke-up.

James turned his attention back to the manservant, seeing how red Wolfgang quickly got made him blush as well.

Gathering all his courage, "James...Did you attempt to...kiss me?" Wolfgang asked.

With no good reason to deny it, James sighed deeply and nodded shyly, "I'm sorry I must've surprised you when I suddenly started looking...at your...*clears throat* lips..." James replied.

"I see... well you did surprise me...I thought we will start slowly."

"It's too early to try for a kiss...?"

"I suppose...yes..."

"So what...should we try first?"

"How about we start by... holding hands?" Wolfgang suggested, he put on a brave face as he offered his right hand to James, who in returned accepted it by offering his left.

For a minute, the two men stood beside each other, hands locked in without looking at one another.

A smile has found its way on both their faces as they enjoyed the warmth Their hands created together.