Better left Unseen.

[Knight_of_None]

"He will be doing it later tonight, while hopefully he will do as I recommended him and say he will be working on his cake decorations....you will have to use some servant passages, that will let you cut through to the side of the estate, and you can sneak into the store room." She said patting her hand gently.

 

[Schoeche]

Clara’s eyes glowed gratefulness. She turned and fussed in the mirror. “Do I look good enough?” She still looked resplendent in her evening gown, but she fiddled with her curls and ribbons nervously anyway.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"My Lady, you would draw the blind to gaze upon you." She assured. "Christopher will be entranced the moment he lays eyes on you."

 

[Schoeche]

Clara pushed Anna self consciously. “Oh stop. You’re just being nice.” She took a deep breath. “Let’s go then.”

A few minutes later, she was nervously stepping into the storage room.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Christopher was standing just out of view, standing by an open crate of preservatives juuuuust in case they were wandered upon by someone other than Clara. But seeing her, he stepped out if the shadows inti the gas lamp light. "Ms.Hedgeworth." He said softly

 

[Schoeche]

“Christopher.” She paused, breathless at the sight of him. “Please… I’m Clara.” She stepped forward into the better light then paused, unsure how to proceed.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"I know...Ah." He touched his lips with his thumb. "Is that...what you desire me to call you?" He said as he stepped closer to her. "Clara?" He said as if he was trying her name for the first time.

 

[Schoeche]

She nodded. “Please. Do.” Her fingers toyed with her gown idly. She moved forward, looking around for a place where both of them could sit. Seeing a couple of old crates, she moved toward them

 

[Knight_of_None]

"My lady- ah....Clara, what did you want to talk about?" He said as he sat on the crates beside her, fidgeting a bit now that they were navigating the new dynamic between them.

 

[Schoeche]

“I…Just tell me about you.” She gazed deep into his eyes. She reached out and touched the back of his hand with her fingers. She hesitated, then pulled back shyly.

 

[Knight_of_None]

He paused as she touched him, but as she let go, he moved his hand, taking hers gently. "It's okay. I don't bite." He said as he held onto her, the act feeling almost too bold for him to handle. "To Tell you about myself...Ah, I'm not sure where to even begin with such a question Clara."

 

[Schoeche]

She dropped her hand on his, letting it remain there. “Just talk to me then. I want to hear your voice.” She leaned forward a little, her eyes looking into the depths of his soul.

 

[Knight_of_None]

His eyes held onto hers, brilliant and blue. "Very well..." he said leaning forward slightly. He began very carefully, starting to tell her something simple of himself. Where he lived in the city, how he normally walked through the lower middle class sections, how he would to her estate early just to be the one to deliver her breakfast. How he'd been arranging her flowers himself so they were always her favorites.

 

[Schoeche]

She listened with rapt attention, squeezing his hand at various moments, occasionally interrupting to ask a question. As they talked, the time flitted by. Suddenly, the two were interrupted by Anna speaking loudly outside. “Clara? No ma’am. I haven’t seen her. She’s not in her room? That is strange.” Footsteps approached the door to the storage room where they were.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Christopher stood up suddenly as he heard the voices. "Oh dear, this way." He said as he moved swiftly, taking her around the back end of thevstore house, amongst the crates abd shelves. He pushed a stack Aide, sliding it from the wall and pushing out the hidden passage way. "Through here, return to your room." He whispers

 

[Schoeche]

She moved quickly to follow, sliding into the passageway. Before she left, she leaned in toward him she pulled him close and planted a hot kiss on his cheek, then turned and fled into the passage.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Christopher stood there, touching his cheek as she fled, his heart dancing in his chest. But he snapped out of it as he heard the footsteps. He pushed the passage shut and moved the crates back. No time to dawdle! He rubbed his cheek just in case any make up had stuck to him, walking out to meet the searching voices

 

[Schoeche]

The housekeeper and Anna were still in the passage, looking into various rooms as they proceeded towards the storage room. “Let me know if she’s down here. She probably just wondered off, but someone thought they saw her heading toward the servant quarters.” The housekeeper turned toward Christopher. “Youre staying the night? Mind you don’t disturb anyone creeping around and getting lost in the middle of the night.” The housekeeper studied him for a moment. Clara’s wherabouts weren’t an emergency, but someone had thought they had seen her down here, which would have been quite unusual.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"Ofcourse, you won't even know that I am here." He said nodding gently to her word. He closed up the Perservative crate. He started walking for the door, to escape her eye, walking to the Servant Qaurters.

 

[Schoeche]

Safe back in her room, Clara spent a long night thinking and daydreaming of her Christopher. When she finally did fall asleep, her night dreams were filled with thoughts of him as well. All was happiness in her heart.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Christopher went up to his new room, opening the door to see it seemed like. He started to prepare for bed, sitting on the mattress that was softer than he had in his own home. He stretched as he laid down, touching his cheek with his finger tips. Clara had kissed him...unprompted. 'Take that Cyril' he thought as he closed his eyes.

 

[Schoeche]

The next morning, Clara was up bright and early. Waiting on her breakfast. She had to force herself to wait to wring, and when she did, it was still noticeably earlier than usual.

 

[Knight_of_None]

As the bell rang, much earlier than usual, Chris and the staff looked around to each other a moment. "The lady must have woken up early. Christopher, finish up!" The head cook said.

"I'm almost finished sir!" He assured as he turned the ham cutlets and let them sear for a few more moments. He set them in a plate, along with eggs and helping bowl of slices fruits. He covered them up with a lid and placed it on a tray, beginning to make the trek up to her room.

 

[Schoeche]

She waited. It seemed that he took much longer than usual. She remembered the letter she had written him and she had it in her hand, which remained under the blanket in case someone else happened to come in. She should have given it to him last night, but it had completely slipped her mind in her excitement.

 

[Knight_of_None]

The time ticked by, her excitement making what was only a few moments feel like minutes. Christopher knocked gently at the door, pausing for her answer.

 

[Schoeche]

“Come in.” Seeing him enter, she pulled out the letter. “I wrote this for you. Take it.” She traded it for the tray of breakfast. Her eyes studied his face to see his reaction.

 

[Knight_of_None]

He drew the note over to him. "You wrote me a letter?" He said as he brought it to close to him. "Thank you." He said looking briefly over to the door, but perhaps it was early enough..."Clara." He whispered carefully, starting to open it.

 

[Schoeche]

She looked up at him. “What is it?” She paused in the middle of lifting the fliers to her nose, then took the time to smell deeply. “These are nice.” She set them down, waiting for him to reply.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"Speaking your name may be seen as too familiar." He said as he opened the letter and reading it. His cheeks flushed gentky as he read it. His heart fluttering and dancing in his chest. "When did you write this?"

 

[Schoeche]

“Yesterday. Before we talked.” She nodded, thinking about it. “Right. We need to be careful. Only when we are alone.”

(I thought he couldn’t read XD)