Bambi and the Duke

"What happened?" asked the maid seeing Vivian come back.

"I thought I saw someone I know," she said turning again to look at the people but whoever had helped her from falling was long gone. Picking up the gunny bag and hoisting it up on her hip, she followed the maid back to the carriage.

"Seriously, you gave me a fright back there. I thought someone stole something from you," she gave the girl an apologetic smile. Reaching the mansion after placing the bags in the store room the maid said, "By the way, this fell from your dress when you ran previously," the maid showed the flower in her hand.

"Thank you," Vivian took it in her hand but the other maids who were around couldn't help but ask.

"Who is the flower from? Don't tell me you found a suitor in the market."

"Do you think we will be allowed to leave if we find suitors?"

"It isn't from a suitor," Vivian tried to clear the air of misunderstanding but her fellow maids had already drawn up the conclusion to the flower she held.

"Of course. So Vivian who is the flower from? I once received a proposal which I now regret not accepting it," the maids went on to discuss it, not in a low voice which attracted the housekeeper's attention.

"What's going on in here?" Jan asked, his bright red eyes looking at the four maids in an accusing manner as if they were conspiring about something. The maids who had previously been curious about Vivian's flower were no longer interested to hear the story and instead bowed their head, scattering away from each other to continue their work.

Before the housekeeper had the opportunity to look at what Vivian held in her hand, she had safely put it back in her dress pocket.

But just because Jan, the housekeeper didn't see the matter which was unclear had begun to circulate among the other maids as they did their chores. Altering the words to a rumor that the maids spoke as they had no more information to bite into.

Leonard was only walking across the hall when he heard two maids whispering to each other about something, slight annoyance hovering over him. The maids didn't know when to keep their mouth shut. He heard one of them speak who was nipping the leaves from the vase,

"But wasn't that what it was?"

"You heard it wrong. I heard it was a very handsome man who gave her the flower," said the other.

"How do you know that? You weren't there to listen."

"That's what Hana said. Apparently, she also went in search of the man but he was long gone after giving her the flower," said the maid with the information that had been twisted into a whole new story. Not minding them for now, he walked but only for a few steps when heard the maid continue to speak, "Do you think Vivian will accept the man?"

"I don't know, I thought she was going to accept Mr. Wells proposal."

"Yes, Mr. Wells, he's a decent man."

Hearing this Leonard's hands balled into tight fists, knuckles turning white as he stormed from there. With every step he took as he went to find Vivian, anger began simmering up in his mind.

He should have known. He should have known that something like this was bound to happen especially with the visits to the market where there were opportunities of meeting people. What he didn't expect was Vivian accepting the flower from another man who wasn't him.

He had thought he had made his feelings for her clear but it didn't seem to be the case. Did she think the kisses and the affection he had shared with her to be a pass time that didn't hold any sort of value?

As peaceful and harmless Leonard appeared on the surface the same couldn't be said about his emotions. Having one of the best mentors whom he had grown under, Leonard was not on the same level as the Lord himself but he was a man capable of many things which people weren't aware of. For the maids to know about Jerome's interest in Vivian, it only bubbled the anger like a volcano that was brewing slowly before the molten lava would be out burning everything and anything on its way.

Making his way to the back of the mansion where Vivian was currently hanging the sheets that were washed and brought back. The cool wind blew, unable to pick anything from the ground as it was wet but to move the sheets that freely flowed in its direction. He could see her silhouette behind the white sheet. When she moved to the front he could see her hanging another sheet on the rope, stretching her arms while making sure the fabric didn't cramp around each other.

He stood there, watching her who was immersed in her work. Her hair was tied into a single braid that rested on her right side of the shoulder. Some of the hair hovered over her face due to the wind.

With his temper that had soothed down by the wind by looking at her, he went to walk towards her.

Vivian was busy wringing the clothes to squeeze out the water before hanging them on the rope when she heard someone call her name. Slightly furrowed eyes looked around to catch sight of Leonard standing not far from where she stood.

"Leo..." What was he doing out here? thought Vivian to herself staring at him.

The long strands of his hair hovered over his eyes but his eyes never wavered. Vivian couldn't help but wonder at times as to why Leonard was attracted to her.

In the world of vampires, most of the purebloods were often found choosing partners of their own caliber and status. A vampire would always choose a vampire and if one chose to spend time with the human it would be for temporary reasons unless a soul bond was placed. With the hate both the humans and vampires shared, the relationship of different species was shunned.

"Are you done with your work?" he walked to where she was, he lifted his hand to push back his hair behind before the blonde strands of his hair fell back on his forehead.

"Jan asked me to water the plants in the glass room. I should be done for the evening."

"That's alright. Jan can have someone else to do that. Go get ready," Leonard looked around the sheets that swung on the ropes, "I will ask Jan to get the carriage ready to go out."

Vivian looked at him a little lost, forgotten that they had made plans to go out today. Since she had left the market, she had been occupied with the thoughts about the man she had come across.

She felt a cold palm on her cheek which was none other than Leo's.

"You don't want to?" she saw him frown.

"What? No!" Vivian spoke hurriedly, "I mean I want to," she looked flustered, her cheeks turning a tint of pink.

This brought a smile on his lips and he leaned forward to see her sway back slightly at his action. Vivian herself didn't understand why she had moved back.

Letting go of her cheek, he picked her hand to place a kiss on the back of her hand, "See you soon," and he disappeared behind the white and black sheets, heading inside the mansion.