A Tender Kiss Could End A War 🕰️(MxM ›1840s)

||Twenty One||-›Clement Chapman

“Thank heavens for your arrival, Julius,” Rebekah nagged as soon as he entered. “Can you please tell Madame Marian I truly wasn't with you and that I am utterly unaware of your encounter with master Reuben,” she added as she slid off the water-filled hogshead.

Julius looked from her to Marian, who was standing in the middle of the room.
Her greying hair fell over one shoulder, and her arms were crossed over her chest as she tapped her foot.

“You took the Duke's son horse riding, didn't you?” Marian curtly spoke, eyeing him fiercely.

“He came to me. I told him I couldn't ride with him, but he insisted.” Though the words spoken were true, to Julius it felt like lies upon his tongue.

Yes, Reuben was the one who came to him and was the one who asked to be ridden around, but Julius had basked in the moment, nothing was forced on him, because he loved it all.

“Rebekah wasn't with me at the time, she has no knowledge of anything,” he murmured, staring at Rebekah, eyes pleading for her to stay.

“You may leave,” Marian instructed with a dismissive wave, not even glancing Rebekah's way. “You spend the most time with him, it was only reasonable for me to doubt you.”

“I wanted to clarify my innocence, but it does not mean I wish to leave, I'd like to stay until you are done scolding my friend,” Rebekah told as she stared back at Julius, who gave her a small grateful smile in return.

“Do as you wish,” Marian simply replied.

“I on the other hand would appreciate your permission to leave. I do not know why I must be involved in all of this,” Ferguson finally interjected from where he was standing with his back against the wall. He remained unflustered, Marian's anger quite did not move him.

As usual, Ferguson went ignored. Instead, Marian spoke with her stare never leaving Julius. “Go on, is that it? Is that your excuse? Him wanting to ride a horse but not with any other footman but yourself.”

“I truly did not want to go against your word,” Julius murmured, nervously plucking at the cuff of his worn vest.

“He speaks the truth. I think the young master has found some form of unexpected and mind-boggling companionship in Julius. Even I could not believe my eyes when he paid him a visit,” Ferguson argued.

Rebekah was nonplussed. She has known Reuben for years; though not personally. Reuben never even used to glance at the quarter, let alone step a foot inside.

“This is all madness, why would Reuben of all people pay his worker a visit,” Marian muttered to herself in distress.

“It may sound absurd, but it is true,” Ferguson countered.

Immense worry flashed across Marian's eyes, she panicked. Suddenly, she lurched towards Julius, features no longer of one in anger, but of one who was greatly troubled.

“I did not want to explicitly say this at first, but I do not trust the Duke's son at all. He can be very devious, I have seen it, you yourself have seen it. Please stay away from him,” she pleaded, clasping his hand in hers as she stared wearily and deeply into his light cerulean coloured eyes.

“Y–Yes ma'am,” Julius lips slightly quivered, not because he had agreed to Marian's request, but because he knew he had lied. He wouldn't be able to stay away.

♛

☘︎THE NEXT DAY☘︎

Reuben's BedChamber ꨄ︎.

“I cannot believe Alice would deceive me!” Reuben exclaimed, fiercely nettled.