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EmethStepping into the manor House was accompanied by a feeling akin to taking a trip to the past. William almost looked down upon himself to make sure that his body had not shrunk back to his five-year-old self, his hand clutched by his mother. Everything remained the way it had been in his memories, the same rugs on the floors, paintings and tapestries on the walls, even an ornate vase filled to the brim with flowers standing on a table in the entrance hall. The young lord looked upon it all with fondness, feeling as if he were being welcomed home.
A maid servant exited out of one of the hallways, a basket of laundry in her arms. She hesitated when she saw the two men standing in the entrance hall, but almost dropped her basket with surprise when she realized who it was that she gazed upon.
"oh! Master Lockwood, Lord Arrington! I was not expecting you back so soon. Welcome home my lord." The maid said quickly, sweeping into a low curtsy despite the basket she carried in her arms.
Mr. Lockwood's sniffed disapprovingly, dismissing the woman at once as he glanced away. But William offered a ready smile to the girl, causing a creep of blush to color her cheeks. "My thanks to you Miss. I daresay, it's good to be home." He responded cheerfully, deepening the color in the made's cheeks and earning him a brief look of exasperation from his companion, the latter of which he ignored. "please inform the kitchen staff for me that Mr. Lockwood and I would enjoy some chilled juice in the study."he then went on to say, receiving another curtsy in response.
"Yes master Arrington, right away." The maid servant murmured respectfully, hurrying off towards the opposite hallway.
Satisfied, William quickly began making his way in the direction of the study, mr. Lockwood following close behind, smiling softly to himself. He didn't notice the man behind him give his head a shake, nor the woman pause at the edge of the entrance hall to cast a curious and rather admiring look in his direction. She nearly jumped out of her skin as the front door suddenly opened on it's own accord and she hurried forward to close it once again, muttering about drafts and breezes and people not shutting doors properly behind them before she continued on her way.
The study itself was a rather grand room, much less intimidating than William remembered it being from his childhood, with dark oak furniture, A large fireplace, and hundreds of books. Sections of the tomes had been removed, Evidence of his uncle's taking his favorites away with him when he had left, But the majority of the room still lay intact. Making his way over to the large desk set in front of a wide window that looked out upon the front gardens, lowered Arrington settled into the chair behind the desk with a feeling of nostalgia. Briefly taking a moment to run his fingers over the soft upholstery,William finally turned his attention to a couple of stacks of documents resting on the surface of the desk, Gesturing with one of his hands towards another chair on the other side of the desk.
"please take a seat Mr. Lockwood. Refreshments should be here shortly." William invited warmly, briefly watching the older man incline his head and take one of the chairs. Picking up one of the papers, William skimmed over the contents. "I take it these are the applications for head Butler and housekeeper if I'm not mistaken." He noted, picking up the next paper in the stack.
"Indeed my Lord. There are five Applications for each position. And there should be a schedule of all of the appointments to interview the applicants them selves." Thomas responded, crossing his legs and lacing his fingers together in his lap.
"... Very good." William murmured distractedly, having picked up a parchment from the second stack and gotten caught by the name. He momentarily furrowed his brow, Memories tugging at him as he studied the application.
"Is there a problem my Lord? You look unsettled."mr. Lockwood observed, frowning slightly.
William blinked, coming back to himself and looking up at the man across from him. He gave his head a shake before looking back down at the piece of paper in his hands. "nothing is wrong. I just feel as if I know this woman... Wasn't a Mrs. Campbell working as part of the staff when my uncle and aunt lived here?"
Mr. Lockwood blinked once in surprise, His brown deepening considerably yes... I believe so. But I don't remember reading over her application. My apologies my Lord, I'm not sure how that document got in there. Please, disregard that particular application. I'm sure Mrs. Campbell is far too old to be bothered running a household." He sniffed, His smile returning, as if he had triumphed over something.
William considered him for several seconds, adopting a similar frown to the one that had just been abandoned on the other's face. His dark green gaze fell back to the application, reading over Mrs. Campbell's name once again before his lips quite abruptly quirked up in a mischievous expression. "on the contrary. I think that she would be perfect for the position. She already has knowledge of the manor House and how things should run smoothly in such a place. I'll take it upon myself to draft a letter to her right away."
As expected, Thomas Lockwood did not look very pleased with his decision, but did his best to disguise the expression. After a moment, the older gentleman knotted stiffly. "as you wish my Lord. It is your household after all." He intoned dryly, obviously making at least some effort to sound respectful.
William tried not to let his smile spread into a victorious grin, Disguising the temptation by nodding his head and placing Mrs. Campbell's application apart from the rest and returning to his perusal of the remaining applications for. The position of head butler. Luckily for him, just as his control momentarily slipped and his smile widened, there came a soft knock at the door of the study and a servant stepped in, bearing a tray of fruit and juice upon its surface.
A maid servant exited out of one of the hallways, a basket of laundry in her arms. She hesitated when she saw the two men standing in the entrance hall, but almost dropped her basket with surprise when she realized who it was that she gazed upon.
"oh! Master Lockwood, Lord Arrington! I was not expecting you back so soon. Welcome home my lord." The maid said quickly, sweeping into a low curtsy despite the basket she carried in her arms.
Mr. Lockwood's sniffed disapprovingly, dismissing the woman at once as he glanced away. But William offered a ready smile to the girl, causing a creep of blush to color her cheeks. "My thanks to you Miss. I daresay, it's good to be home." He responded cheerfully, deepening the color in the made's cheeks and earning him a brief look of exasperation from his companion, the latter of which he ignored. "please inform the kitchen staff for me that Mr. Lockwood and I would enjoy some chilled juice in the study."he then went on to say, receiving another curtsy in response.
"Yes master Arrington, right away." The maid servant murmured respectfully, hurrying off towards the opposite hallway.
Satisfied, William quickly began making his way in the direction of the study, mr. Lockwood following close behind, smiling softly to himself. He didn't notice the man behind him give his head a shake, nor the woman pause at the edge of the entrance hall to cast a curious and rather admiring look in his direction. She nearly jumped out of her skin as the front door suddenly opened on it's own accord and she hurried forward to close it once again, muttering about drafts and breezes and people not shutting doors properly behind them before she continued on her way.
The study itself was a rather grand room, much less intimidating than William remembered it being from his childhood, with dark oak furniture, A large fireplace, and hundreds of books. Sections of the tomes had been removed, Evidence of his uncle's taking his favorites away with him when he had left, But the majority of the room still lay intact. Making his way over to the large desk set in front of a wide window that looked out upon the front gardens, lowered Arrington settled into the chair behind the desk with a feeling of nostalgia. Briefly taking a moment to run his fingers over the soft upholstery,William finally turned his attention to a couple of stacks of documents resting on the surface of the desk, Gesturing with one of his hands towards another chair on the other side of the desk.
"please take a seat Mr. Lockwood. Refreshments should be here shortly." William invited warmly, briefly watching the older man incline his head and take one of the chairs. Picking up one of the papers, William skimmed over the contents. "I take it these are the applications for head Butler and housekeeper if I'm not mistaken." He noted, picking up the next paper in the stack.
"Indeed my Lord. There are five Applications for each position. And there should be a schedule of all of the appointments to interview the applicants them selves." Thomas responded, crossing his legs and lacing his fingers together in his lap.
"... Very good." William murmured distractedly, having picked up a parchment from the second stack and gotten caught by the name. He momentarily furrowed his brow, Memories tugging at him as he studied the application.
"Is there a problem my Lord? You look unsettled."mr. Lockwood observed, frowning slightly.
William blinked, coming back to himself and looking up at the man across from him. He gave his head a shake before looking back down at the piece of paper in his hands. "nothing is wrong. I just feel as if I know this woman... Wasn't a Mrs. Campbell working as part of the staff when my uncle and aunt lived here?"
Mr. Lockwood blinked once in surprise, His brown deepening considerably yes... I believe so. But I don't remember reading over her application. My apologies my Lord, I'm not sure how that document got in there. Please, disregard that particular application. I'm sure Mrs. Campbell is far too old to be bothered running a household." He sniffed, His smile returning, as if he had triumphed over something.
William considered him for several seconds, adopting a similar frown to the one that had just been abandoned on the other's face. His dark green gaze fell back to the application, reading over Mrs. Campbell's name once again before his lips quite abruptly quirked up in a mischievous expression. "on the contrary. I think that she would be perfect for the position. She already has knowledge of the manor House and how things should run smoothly in such a place. I'll take it upon myself to draft a letter to her right away."
As expected, Thomas Lockwood did not look very pleased with his decision, but did his best to disguise the expression. After a moment, the older gentleman knotted stiffly. "as you wish my Lord. It is your household after all." He intoned dryly, obviously making at least some effort to sound respectful.
William tried not to let his smile spread into a victorious grin, Disguising the temptation by nodding his head and placing Mrs. Campbell's application apart from the rest and returning to his perusal of the remaining applications for. The position of head butler. Luckily for him, just as his control momentarily slipped and his smile widened, there came a soft knock at the door of the study and a servant stepped in, bearing a tray of fruit and juice upon its surface.