Retrace bxbxb

Caution

Four Years Later-

There was little more he could have hoped for than what he had obtained over his first few years of service to his new master. The man was kind but strict. He had brought Harper into his home and taught him how much he could truly be worth if he put forth the effort to change. He'd gone from having one set of grimy clothing and no shoes to a small wardrobe of two dresses and aprons, two pairs of shoes and a pair of trousers gifted to him as a jest due to the misidentification of his gender that fateful evening he'd been caught by the lord's friends.

The first evening he'd shown up to clear his master's supper away wearing the garments under his dress, the old man had had a great laugh. Their tattered brown color hadn't matched the pristine whites and blacks of the maid outfit in the least, but his master never seemed to mind when he continued to wear them more and more frequently. He even gifted him another pair after a few months, along with a ratty old shirt that had likely belonged to one of the stable lads that had outgrown it. 

Come the evening of his fourth year working for the man, he was called into his study after the rest of the maids and butlers had been dismissed for the night. "Hello, little Hari," the man said as Harper stepped into the large room and gently closed the door behind him. He offered his master a bow, then made his way to the seat he was being gestured to take.

He'd always been quite short, even as his teenage years continued to pass and he watched all of the other young boys on the property grow tall and lose the high-pitched notes to their voices. His voice had mellowed out some, but it was still easy for him to sound like a female. Which was quite a good thing, as his employment was completely reliant on him remaining as feminine as possible. But now at a mere five foot five inches in his nineteenth year, he'd been awarded the new title of little Hari, for even most of the other maids had overtaken his height by at least an inch or two.

Any other lad would have likely been frustrated with the nickname, but the idea that his master was thoughtful enough to give him a nickname, even if it was likely just in jest, made Hari's heart swell with pride. He loved working for the man, and admired the way he looked after his staff and the people of his tenure.

"Good evening, my lord." Hari said, inclining his head as he sat straight in his chair, his posture perfect as he folded his hands in his lap.

"I see that you are wearing those trousers again, lass."

Hari blinked up at the older man, his chest tightening slightly with curious worry. "Yes, my lord. I very much enjoy wearing them." He knew that if he ever told the maids, butlers, stable boys, or any other help on the large property that, he'd be poked fun at, but his lordship never seemed to bother with such mockery.

"Dukes Arthur and Rule are coming for a visit late this evening and I would like for their regular rooms to be prepared with haste."

With a relaxing smile, Hari nodded. "Absolutely, my lord."

"Now listen, Hari. I know I always task you with looking after their effects, then let you disappear off to wherever you do when they come calling..." Hari pursed his lips with worry, but the man held his hand up to show that he hadn't finished speaking. "I do not fault you for that, lass. I would be wary of them, too, if I had been put through what you had. You are free to do as you wish during their visit as long as their rooms are tended and your duties are fulfilled. They also noted in their message that they were bringing a dog, so be sure to prepare for the pup as well."

Hari tilted his head, smiling slightly, though he wanted to shudder. "Thank you, my lord. I will gladly keep their rooms in order and be sure that they, and their dog, are quite comfortable during their stay."