Prologue
Nate walked briskly from the agency, disappointed that he was not able to secure a position that day, he rushes to catch the bus. The landlord of the flat he was staying in, if it could in fact be called a flat, was determined to evict him today; it wasn't that Nate had no money, nor that he could not access the money, it was that he was gay. How he had found out Nate would never know, but he was determined not to have any 'fags' staying in his building, it could give him a bad reputation. Nate had to get home before he was kicked out onto the streets, London was an unforgiving place to the homeless and Nate didn't want to be in that position for even a second. That was why he had been at the agency.
Now, the term agency might seem a little sinister, but it isn't at all. He had applied at an agency for live-in housekeepers, certain that with his large amount of qualifications and natural skill it would be easy to find a job; Nate would have lived in a shed and been paid next to nothing, just so that he could be out of that hovel of a flat and away from his homophobic landlord. However, fortune, it seems, had not been smiling on Nate for many years, he had applied three weeks before the date of his eviction, but time and time again he was rejected at interviews. Perhaps it was his quiet disposition, the faraway look in his eyes that put people off or maybe he carried an air of misery about him, no one could tell. So jobless he left, briskly walking to catch the bus.
Disheartened at his situation and seemingly never ending bad luck, he sat at the bus stop, three minutes to wait. "Mr. Osric, Mr. Osric!" called a voice from behind him, Nate turned to see the receptionist from the agency running towards him, her face red from exertion, "We've found you a job!"
Chapter 1
I must have had a bemused look on my face, for once she had stopped and started breathing again, she said "A job Sir, with the agency."
"But, Miss, I've just come from there and was told that it was likely that there would be few positions for a number of weeks." I had definitely been told that, so that was when I had left, not seeing the need to stay while my possessions were being thrown to the pavements far below my flat.
"Sir, I assure you that this position has just come up and we believe that you'd be perfect for it!" She turned and began to walk back towards the agency, "If you'd come back sir" she called over her retreating shoulder, "we can get you started today." I jogged to catch up, clutching my bag to stop it from bouncing on my hip.
"What about my..." I began only to be cut off as she turned back to face me.
"Could we please talk about this inside Sir, I know you're anxious to get your things, but your new employer has already dealt with it, we informed him that you would be honored to take the job, but that you were having housing troubles and could not start today. He told us that he needed you to start immediately and would deal with it." She reached across a took my hand, a motherly gesture that instantly made me trust her, "He's one of the gentlest men we've ever come across, every other housekeeper he's had has had nothing but glowing reviews about him, you'll be safe with him Nate." She turned again to walk away.
"He?" I said dumbly, it had not occurred to me that I could end up working for a man, "I...things...take...house...I said yes!?" I babbled. Sighing she turned and took my arm.
"C'mon Nate, things are starting to look up." We walked back to the agency, I was in a daze, what had I done to deserve this reversal of fortune today?
As we entered the agency I saw a portly man sat in one of the chairs scattered throughout the foyer, Mrs Reeves, the receptionist, steered me gently towards him, "Mr Lucas", she said sweetly, "This is Mr Osric, Mr Coran's new housekeeper." The man turned to look at us, he had a pleasant face, and stood to shake my hand, warm and soft to the touch his hands that is. I was beginning to wonder why I had been introduced to this man, but again Mrs Reeves cleared my confusion, she turned to me and said, "Mr Lucas is a close associate of Mr Coran, your new employer, he has come to take you to the house." Again she turned to Mr Lucas, "If you wouldn't mind waiting Sir, I have a few forms that Mr Osric here needs to fill out for the agency's records. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes."
"By all means, please go ahead." He smiled at both of us as he returned to his seat. Mrs Reeves led me to an empty office; she directed me to a chair and began to root through the draws for the required forms. Ten minutes later we were finished and together we returned to find Mr Lucas.
"He's all yours Mr Lucas" Mrs Reeves says, gently pushing me towards him. Mr Lucas stands and gestures for me to follow. Together we walk to his car, an Aston Martin, I'm impressed, not something you see everyday in this part of town.
"Please make yourself comfortable" he says to me as we get in, "It's a bit of a drive." As we pull out of the car park I wonder what I've gotten myself into. Twenty minutes into the journey he begins to speak again, "So, I suppose you're wondering where we are going then?" I nod yes, "Well, first to Finn's house here in London, that's where you'll be living most of the time, but we're off to Yorkshire today, he's at the manor house, he'll bring you back tomorrow with him." A few minutes later, we pull into the garage of a well-to-do townhouse, "Let's just check your things got here ok and then we can be off!" Mr Lucas said jovially.
He lead me to a room on the second floor and indicated that I should step inside, true to Mrs Reeve's words, all of my belongings were there. "It's all here Mr Lucas." I hoped that I managed to express my gratitude through my words.
"Simon, please, I'm not your boss, although I should imagine, knowing him as I do, that he'll want to be called Finn" he replied, "Well, if it's all here, we'd best be off, the rest of the journey awaits us." Together we walked back through the house, he set the alarm and we climbed back into the car. Within minutes I was asleep.
I awoke in the darkness to the sensation of being gently shaken at the shoulders, "Nate, c'mon, it's just a little way to your room." I was vaguely aware of there being people around me but shrugged it of as I was so tired. Simon took me to a room, almost carried me I guess and led me down, "Sleep tight, someone should wake you in the morning, but if you need anything the kitchen is at the end of the hall and down the stairs, it's where everyone migrates to." I think he might have said something else, but I was asleep and didn't even notice that he had left.
I was intercepted as I reached the kitchen, "Simon, is he ok? He didn't look so good." I put my arm around Finn, he was nervous, which was unlike him, usually so laid back he was practically horizontal. Maybe he knew something I didn't about Nate.
"He's fine Finn", I saw a strange look in his eyes, "Just tired, it's been a strange day for him." Finn pulled me to his body in a tight hug.
"I know, I'm just so worried about him", he said, obviously still on edge. What does he know?
"Finn, you'll see him in the morning, after all that sleeping he'll probably be up at the crack of dawn anyway!" I said laughing as I walked away, "Now, how about you and I both get some sleep too, you need your beauty sleep old man!"
"Old man! Old man! I'll give you old man!" I heard as Finn ran to catch up with me. I jumped as he pinched my bum! "Ha!" he stated triumphantly, before retiring to his room, directly opposite from Nate's I noticed in passing, before continuing on to my own room. Maybe this would look clearer in the morning.
I awoke confused, the room around me unfamiliar. As my head began to clear, it became apparent to me that I must be in the Yorkshire house; Simon had after all driven me here. I remembered vaguely something about the kitchen and decided that that was probably the best place to head; once I am awake, there is seldom chance that I will fall back into slumber again, it simply was not my nature. So, on gaining my bearings I decided to head to the kitchen. I followed the hallway from my room to a large ornate staircase, but all I could see was what I took to be the entrance hall; turning again I walked to the other end of the hall, not really paying attention to my surroundings and found a smaller, steep staircase that lead directly into the kitchen.
The kitchen was the stuff of dreams, a good and proper manor kitchen, I could have cooked Christmas dinner for an entire village and very easily too. After searching cupboards for a little while I found a glass and filled it at the tap, resting against the work top I drank slowly, the water cooling my body and settling my stomach.
A noise behind me made me turn sharply, a barely dressed man stood there rubbing sleep from his eyes, I dropped my glass shocked by his presence. It shattered loudly on the slate floor, the shards spreading wide and water splashing up my bare legs. Embarrassed, I quickly knelt to scoop up the pieces, my face turning red, I didn't dare look up, but I saw his feet move towards me, bare feet. His hand came to rest on my shoulder, gently urging me up, bringing me to a standing position, then tilting my face to look at him.
"You've caused no harm" he said to me, "there's no need to be embarrassed." The man's voice was soft and calming, but almost at once I became aware of both of our states of undress, there couldn't have been more than two items of clothing between us. Stammering, I turned and ran for the stairs, as I ran I felt the glass cutting into my hands and feet, I stumbled up the stairs towards the bedrooms. I turned into the first one I found. The room was empty thankfully; I slid down at the foot of the bed and cradled my head in my arms, sobbing from embarrassment and pain.
I hadn't been in there more than a minute when the door opened, I assumed the actual occupant of the room had returned and as such tried to stand, but as I did I felt those warns hands again pushing my back down gently.
"Careful, you'll hurt yourself." There he was again, the man from the kitchen, only I could have stumbled into his room. "Look what you've done to yourself, your poor hands and feet", carefully he examined them, "What am I to do with you Nate?"
Nate, he'd said my name, how did he know who I was? The only person I knew was Simon, this was definitely not Simon.
"Finn" he said, I must have been staring blankly, "Your new boss, Nate, you've come to live with me remember?" That brought a fresh wave of tears from me, how could I work for him now, now that I had humiliated myself, I'd have to go back to the flat, but no, I could not, the flat was gone, I was all alone. Then, very suddenly, I felt his arms surround me, holding me close to his chest. "It's going to be ok Nate." I drifted into an uneasy sleep in his arms, worn out from my crying jag and through shock.
Author's Note:
This is my first story so any comments are welcome and gladly accepted, even and perhaps especially if you think it sucked!