The Unexpected Act

At 6:00 a.m. Creighton is awake to prepare himself for work at the horse stables wearing the same clothes he wore when he first met Butler Donald. Liam is still asleep as he slowly leaves the room. He knows that Liam usually wakes up before 8:00 a.m. He puts the feeding bottle beside him, and a pillow is placed near the edge of the bed to protect him from falling. Liam can crawl, and grab things.

Before he went to the horse stable, he went to the kitchen and asked Carrie a favor to check on his son before 8:00 am so he would not worry about leaving alone his son in the basement quarters. Carrie happily accepted his request.

At the horse stables, Creighton took Spencer out of the stables, clean him up, and puts on the saddle, bridle, and harness to ready him for Lady Agatha before 7:00 am.

While brushing the horse's black hair, Lady Agatha quietly arrives in her Equestrian apparel for horse riding, as she holds the helmet in her right hand. She was looking at Creighton's back as she approaches. Suddenly, Creighton saw her, and was amazed to see her appearance, as the wind blows Lady Agatha's hair from her left side with her mask on.

Creighton feels a sudden unexplained throb in his heart, yet he ignores it and must do his job.

"Good morning, Lady Agatha." Creighton politely greeted as he holds the end of the bridle.

"Good morning, Creighton." Lady Agatha approaches.

"The horse is ready for you," Creighton said and moved backward on the side.

"Thank you." she looked and caressed Spencer's head.

"Good morning, Spencer, let's go for a run."

She puts on her helmet and hops on Spencer's saddle. She grabs the bridle and looked at Creighton politely.

"I will see you in an hour."

"Yes, Lady Agatha" he vowed.

Lady Agatha gently squeezes the middle of the horse's ribcage as she uses the calves of her legs of Spencer to move, as they go.

Creighton quickly went back into the mansion - kitchen to check on Liam. He found Liam sitting on the floor playing and making sounds on the stainless bowl with a spoon while Carrie and Ashley prepare the food ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and snacks and at the same time checked on Liam while his father is away.

They feed him with soft biscuits when he starts crawling around the kitchen to avoid any accidents while they are cooking.

**

Creighton is feeding Stacey and caresses Stacey's head, as it neighs.

Lady Agatha is on her way in his direction riding the horse. He looks in her direction.

Lady Agatha catches her breath as she went off the horse and gives a good tap to Spencer.

"Did you have a nice ride, Lady Agatha?" Creighton politely asked as he walks and grab Spencer's bridle.

"Yes, I did, Creighton. Thank you." She said while taking off her helmet and untangling her hair.

Creighton was just staring at how she moved gracefully. He is more interested in Lady Agatha's mask, but he could not dare to ask if he wants to keep living and working in the mansion.

"How's everything, Creighton?" taking off her black leather gloves with her helmet on her left underarm locked together.

"Everything is fine, Lady Agatha. My son and I are truly grateful for your kindness." he nods trying to avoid eye contact with her.

"That's good then, isn't the basement quarters too cold for your son?" a sudden question.

"Ah, we sleep fine, Lady Agatha. The blanket keeps us warm, and my son is healthy and rarely gets sick." he suddenly looked at her.

Lady Agatha tilted her head and stared at him, in thought. Creighton was slightly enchanted but looked away to avoid his eyes meeting hers after a glance. Because he was captivated by the ocean blue eyes of Lady Agatha and that sad eyes look. Again, he wonders how long she has been living sadly in misery.

"If that's what you say, I'll head inside then."

Lady Agatha turned around as she walks back to the mansion. Creighton looked at her back when she walked away, shifting his sight towards Spencer and caressing Spencer's head again.

"Isn't she beautiful Spencer? I do not know what kind of scar is underneath that mask but to me, she is beautiful, with or without her mask. She is far more beautiful with a big heart."

Spencer neighs and Creighton smiled. He pulled Spencer's bridle to clean him up and feed him.

**

Butler Donald came into Lady Agatha's office holding a silver set of the tea tray. It has Lady Agatha's favorite Colston Bun and black tea. He puts it beside Lady Agatha as she was writing a letter using her father's fountain pen.

"How's the horse riding, my Lady."

"It was fine, Donald. Creighton seems to do his job well."

"He's a fast learner. He will do well as an adjutant and later he could start learning the things that I do." Butler Donald walks and stands side front of Lady Agatha's desk.

Lady Agatha stops writing as she took the teacup and have a little sip in her left hand.

"Is that so, and his son?"

"Oh, Liam seems to enjoy his time with Carrie and Ashley who are looking after him while Creighton is in the stables,"

Lady Agatha quietened down for a moment, in thought, as she puts back the teacup.

"Is there something wrong, my Lady?"

"I want you to move Creighton and his son to the far-right end guest room." An unexpected order from her.

"Pardon?"

Butler Donald was in disbelief, a little surprised as he was not expecting it from Lady Agatha.

"The basement quarters are too cold even though he said that his son is healthy and rarely gets sick. I don't want to feel guilty later if something happens. Besides, the guest room has not been used for so many years. So, it's fine if they stay there for the time being"

She takes another sip of black tea while in thought about Creighton and his son's situation. Lady Agatha never felt a lighter mood until Creighton and Liam came to live in the mansion. She thought of trusting Creighton even though it has not been a month. But she feels comfortable and renewed whenever she sees them around and she somehow wants to feel that, that warm smile that begins to fix her hollow heart.

"Very well, my Lady. I will do as you say." Butler Donald smiled as he slightly vows and left the office.