For a Servant and a Master

Part 1: Chapter 4

In a rather unsurprising turn of events, Miss Emma was set to be married to Mister Alexander, who had transformed himself into the ideal 20th century man. He escorted her into the dining room and dinner began.

Magnus tried to keep his eyes off of Alexander but it was incredibly difficult when his laugh kept ringing out across the room.

Apparently, Miss Emma was known for her humor.

Magnus caught the endings of her jokes and never found the urge to laugh.

Instead he circulated the dining table, tray in hand, leaning down at just the right angle to assist the dinner party in serving themselves.

He had hated being a footman at his old master's house, and for good reason.

The old man only ate one thing for dinner-- liver and onions. He never had any dinner guests either, due to his horrid personality and eternally horrid breath.

Everyone once in awhile, his son would visit and those days would bring a new life into the house.

The Lightwood house seemed to be constantly full of life though.

Dinner took well over an hour, and treated like a special occasion since Miss Emma had come for dinner.

Alexander decided to skip cigars with his father and future father-in-law. As he excused himself, he beckoned for Magnus to follow.

Magnus turned to Mr. Davies who gave him leave to follow Alexander.

They walked in silence to his room, where Alexander shut the door for his valet, an act of submission.

"I apologize for my outbursts," Alexander said. "I hope you can forget them."

"I cannot forget; only forgive," Magnus said.

"Then that is what I ask."

"Would you like to talk about it?"

"To you?" Alexander asked. "My brother and friend lives two rooms down from me. Why would I speak to you about my personal life?"

"Because I am nobody to you. You don't have to worry about me judging you because I am not allowed to judge you," Magnus said.

"If I tell you," Alexander said, "I risk my life. I've only known you for two days."

"If I truly wanted to know, I would have read your letter, which you so carelessly left out," Magnus said. "I do respect you and the basis of respect is a sense of trust."

"Wise."

"I like to think I am," Magnus smiled.

"Mr. Bane, it truly could risk everything if I told you," Alexander said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "But this secret is killing me."

"I understand," Magnus nodded.

"Maybe it would be best if you read the letter?" Alexander offered. He gestured to the still open desk, the letter still resting on top.

"Only if you're sure--"

"I am," Alexander said. Magnus crossed the room, the letter waiting for him. He picked it up and began reading.

My dearest A,

I do understand the risk in writing to you. Should this letter be intercepted, I fear I will have ruined everything for the both of us. It is true, I should have called on you in person to speak to you about this. But the risk is just as great in meeting you.

My life has come to a crossroads like all lives do, and like yours will eventually and I am forced to make the choice between the life my father has intended on me and the life I truly wish to live. If it were up to me, I'd be next to you in a heartbeat. But my father has worked far too hard for me to give it up on my heart's desires. So it is with great sorrow that I tell you that I am to take over my father's position as head of the household since his untimely passing and I am to marry as soon as a suitable match is found for me. Between work and my personal responsibilities, I lack the time to go on adventures like the ones we've had for the last months.

They were the best days of my lives, the ones I spent with you. But they shall cease to be from now on.

I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors, A, and know that I will always have a place in my heart for you.

S

"Alexander," Magnus set the letter aside, "you were seeing a man, weren't you?"

Alexander nodded, staring at the empty wall, his lips slightly parted.

"And now he's left me," Alexander breathed. "Do you see why you can't tell anyone?"

"I won't," Magnus said. "I understand. I understand more than you know."

Alexander turned around, looking at Magnus with saddened eyes.

"You feel the same way?" Alexander asked. "Towards--"

"Yes," Magnus said, cutting him off. "So you see, Mister Alexander, we have more in common than you thought."