By the time Raile gets home, it is early afternoon and it has started to snow harder. His stomach rumbles slightly. He decides to have lunch after he hides his coat again.
"Good afternoon, sir," says the voice of the Butler as he enters the kitchen. The man is sitting down at the table, helping himself to a bowl of tomato soup. Raile doesn't particularly like it, but takes some anyway. "I see that you're up and about today. I called for you in the library, but you weren't there."
Raile shakes his head. "I was exploring," he says, taking a spoonful of the soup. It's gone lukewarm.
The Butler nods. "Ah, yes. Well, sir, that's just fine. It is important for a young man such as yourself to learn about the Manor and its history. I take it you found your explorations interesting?"
"Very," says the boy simply, thinking about the children earlier and the things that they said. "Why do..." he starts, then changes the question suddenly. "What do the people in the village think of Father?"
Halfway towards his mouth, the Butler's spoon makes a full stop in the air. He is obviously half shocked. "Why do you ask, sir?"
Raile shrugs and continues eating. "It was only a question."
Recovering somewhat, the Butler finishes his spoonful. "Well," he starts, "the Atkins family tradition goes back for centuries. Your ancestors, sir, have always been good to the people, thus earning their respect. Your father, of course, carries on the traditions, including a generous annual donation to the township... Where people respect and appreciate both him and his heir. Of course-"
As the Butler continues talking, Raile manages to tune him out and thinks instead about what he'll do this afternoon. He's been putting off reading most of the medical books because they looked rather dull, but maybe he should try them.
When the speech is finally finished, silence reigns over the kitchen. Raile chases the last few drops of soup around his plate.
"So, sir," says the Butler finally, as he puts away his bowl in the oversized kitchen sink, "I've recieved a letter from your father just this morning. It seems that the search is over. He'll be coming home with the girl as soon as possible, and you'll be introduced."
Raile's foot bangs against a table leg as he tries to stand up. He doesn't notice. "Girl?" he asks confusedly. "What girl?"
The Butler looks, if possible, even more surprised than he does. "Your father didn't tell you, sir?"
"Didn't tell me what?" Raile echoes.
"About your engagement," replies the man, looking down at him. "Your father has been searching for a sutible wife for the succesor of the Atkins family business. He has finally found a girl who he thinks will make an excellent match. She'll be staying here until the arrangements are finished, at which point you will be married."
Engagement. Wife. Family business. The words hit Raile like bullets, and he could only keep listening as the Butler continued to speak.
"Then comes your tutoring, of course- you must have a sharp mind for trades in order to continue where your father left off..." The man cleared his throat. "Anyway, sir, the point is that your fiancee will be arriving here shortly along with your father."
Raile stood up again. He could almost have laughed, the situation was so insane. "Excuse me," he said hoarsely, pushing in his chair and breaking into a run once he was out of sight.
(Fixed sentence per suggestion. Thanks. ^_^)
Edited by: [url=http://pub30.ezboard.com/brpgww60462.showUserPublicProfile?gid=kotoki@rpgww60462>Kotoki</A] at: 7/10/03 5:18 pm