Unexpected visitors

A gentle drizzle veiled the colors of the sky, thick clouds obscuring the sun's radiance. Before even reaching five in the afternoon, the city's streetlights were already ablaze. The air bore no traces of summer's scorching heat; instead, the desolation of autumn eagerly unfolded amidst the patter of raindrops. This was the quintessential London weather. Compared to the vivid tales in literature, today's wind was not forceful, which in itself counted as good news.

A taxi came to a halt before a vintage building. The mottled brick walls exhibited the intricate patterns of water seepage, the once-marbled façade nearly faded from sight, transitioning into deep brown hues. Characteristic of Victorian architecture, the structure exuded a sense of antiquity and elegance. The somber exterior walls emitted an indescribable sense of heaviness and restraint. The rustic and weighty entrance door stood firmly before them, dividing the world into two distinct realms: the interior and the exterior.

The layout spanned three floors along the entirety of the street, exuding the elegance and grandeur peculiar to Britain. Across the street, clusters of greenery stretched indefinitely, an uncommon sight in the space-starved London.

Matthew Dunlop opened the car door, and a man in a black three-piece suit briskly descended the stairs to meet him. The man appeared to be at least fifty years old, his head almost entirely devoid of hair, yet the remaining strands were meticulously arranged. Even in the perpetually overcast weather, his white shirt and black tie were immaculate, devoid of any negligence.

In his right hand, he held a black umbrella, sheltering Matthew from the sky, guiding him into the ornate wooden door ahead. Once inside, he folded the umbrella and placed it in an iron bucket beside the entrance. He then accepted the briefcase from Matthew's hand. "Master Matthew, has everything gone smoothly with today's work?"

"Yes, quite well." Matthew stood by the doorway, wiping the mud from his shoes onto the carpet. "Hayden, are Father and Mother returning from their vacation this weekend?"

"Yes. Their plane lands on Friday afternoon," Hayden Wesley smoothly replied, "And also, Lord Renly has come here."

Matthew's action of removing his coat faltered for a moment, surprise giving way to a faint hint of delight, his smile curling upward. "What? When did he arrive? Why wasn't I informed earlier?"

"At two in the afternoon," Hayden's tone remained steady and dutiful, "He mentioned needing to adjust to the time difference. He's resting upstairs now. Master Matthew, should we inform Lord George, as well?"

Matthew paused for a moment. "No need." He took a couple of steps out, then halted again. After a brief contemplation, he added, "And for now, let's not tell Father and Mother either." Handing his overcoat to Hayden, Matthew ascended the stairs two steps at a time, heading confidently toward the guest rooms.

As he neared the door, he lightened his footsteps, aiming to avoid making any noise. He gently turned the doorknob, cautiously pushing it open.

The room's curtains were tightly drawn, leaving only the faint glow of a bedside lamp illuminating the space. The dark room exuded a subtle warmth; clothes were strewn haphazardly on the floor, and he couldn't fathom why a lone shoe had found its way near the door, a familiar touch that someone always carried with them. A figure lay on the bed, deep in slumber, steady breaths signaling a profound sleep that not even thunder and lightning could interrupt.

Approaching the bedside, through that hazy glow, Matthew recognized the face he knew so well.

Unexpectedly, this guy had returned to London without a sound. It had truly been a long time. The last time they met in London was already ten months ago. The city seemed unchanged, still suffused with lifelessness and gloom. However, he had changed, so familiar yet so unfamiliar.

In his mind, he effortlessly painted the image of him grumbling about London's dreadful weather, a face filled with disdain between the brows. And this social occasion was sure to become lively for a while again—the irresponsible youngest son of the Hall family had returned. Thinking of the disdainful look he always wore, Matthew couldn't help but chuckle.

He bent down and tidied up all the scattered clothes on the ground, neatly folding them and placing them on the nearby couch. Then, he quietly exited the room, returning to the guest room on the floor. "Hayden, prepare some hot water. Renly will be getting up, and he'll surely want to take a bath. Did he mention where he flew in from this time?"

"Los Angeles," Hayden replied with hands crossed in front of him, polite and gentlemanly.

"He took a taxi here by himself?" Matthew's question received a confirming nod from Hayden. Shaking his head in resignation, he said, "Give him a call next time to notify us. It would be much more convenient to pick him up from the airport."

"Master Matthew, what about tonight's dinner? How should it be prepared?" Hayden inquired once more.

"Fish and chips," Matthew contemplated, then stated seriously, the clean lines of his face seeming nothing short of earnest. However, a mischievous gleam could be caught between his brows. Seeing Hayden nod respectfully in agreement, Matthew shook his head to deny his own idea. "No, let's prepare roasted rabbit instead. The ones Henry hunted and caught over the weekend. Also, prepare a pan-seared steak, medium rare. Bring out the caviar and whiskey as well."

"Do you need to bring out the silver cutlery and Chinese porcelain?" Hayden asked as part of his routine duties.

"No, there's no need. You know Renly doesn't like those." Matthew waved his hand dismissively. As he watched Hayden depart, Matthew stood in place for a moment, seriously considering everything and ensuring nothing was overlooked. Only then did he return to his upstairs study and start working.

Time passed quietly amid the sound of falling raindrops. It appeared that this autumn rain had no intention of stopping in the near future.

"Knock, knock," a muffled knocking disrupted the tranquility of the study. Matthew looked up and saw Renly standing at the door.

Just awoken, Renly appeared somewhat languid. His slightly curly hair was tousled and messy, his bright eyes hidden behind a hazy halo of light. A dreamy aura lingered between his brows, resembling tendrils of dissipating smoke. Dragging his weary feet, he walked towards the couch adjacent to the study and plopped down with a thud, sprawling out like a disassembled puzzle. It seemed he could slip back into slumber at any moment.

Matthew quietly observed his childhood friend, shaking his head in disbelief, a smile curling up at the corners of his mouth. "Why did you suddenly come back? You didn't even let me know in advance. I would have had Hayden pick you up from the airport."

"Hayden didn't do anything wrong. Why punish him needlessly?" Renly's eyes remained closed, his lazy voice carrying a distinct nasal tone. Clearly, he hadn't fully awakened yet.

Hayden was the butler of the Dunlop family, having worked for over thirty years. Hayden's father and grandfather had also served as butlers for the Dunlop family. As a result, Hayden not only grew up in the Dunlop household but also watched Matthew grow up. Despite being a butler, their statuses were different. For Renly, his relationship with Hayden was naturally distinct as well.

"Believe me, Hayden would be more than willing to pick you up from the airport," Matthew seated himself on a nearby single couch. "If you don't want to go to Bayswater, you could also go back to the Knightsbridge apartment."

London was an immense city, with the central downtown area divided into districts, ranging from Zone 1 to Zone 6, similar to the rings in Beijing.

Bayswater was a sub-district in Zone 2. It had two stations and three subway lines passing through it. It was arguably the most convenient area for coming and going from the city center, yet rents were at least one-third lower, if not more. Knightsbridge, on the other hand, was located right in the heart of London, adjacent to Hyde Park. Not only was it a gathering place for the upper echelons of society, but it was also a high-end shopping area.

Noble families like the Hall family had more than one place of residence. For example, the villa in Bayswater was their main residence, with a master bedroom and two guest reception halls. However, aside from this, everyone in London had their own private residence. Renly's apartment was located in Knightsbridge, a place where young aristocrats liked to congregate.

The Dunlop family was similar. The mansion Renly was visiting was located in Green Park, serving as their downtown foothold.

This was one of the areas that the emerging nobility favored. Although the park area wasn't large, it held unparalleled geographical advantages. Situated between Hyde Park and St. James's Park, at the end of Oxford Street and close to Buckingham Palace, it had several avenues lined with tall, historic trees. It wasn't as bustling or prosperous as Hyde Park, yet it possessed a unique tranquility.

"Because the scenery here is more beautiful. I've been yearning for these rows of trees outside for a very long time," Renly joked lightly.

Rolling his eyes, Matthew knew, of course. The Knightsbridge apartment was managed by George. As soon as Renly returned there, his whereabouts would undoubtedly be exposed. However, coming to Green Park would allow him at least a day or two of serenity. "Don't worry, I've told Hayden. Your parents won't be informed."

Renly shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a very small circle." In London's upper class society, even the tiniest bit of information would spread rapidly without any need for deliberate provocation. Moreover, his older brother Arthur was an exceptionally well-informed individual. Even if not this afternoon, news would certainly spread tomorrow or the day after. "What about your parents?"

"They're on vacation in Sicily and will be back this weekend," Matthew replied. "Do you plan to greet them?"

"Of course, if I run into them face-to-face." Renly's manner was indifferent.

"If you don't want to meet them, you can go to Notting Hill. I've rented my own apartment there." Matthew smiled and then saw Renly open his eyes, a look of surprise crossing his face. Matthew's smile widened; how could he not understand the genuine thoughts of this young man? "Take a bath first. Hayden should have the hot water ready. After dinner, we'll head to Notting Hill."