For a Servant and a Master

Part 1: Chapter 9

Alexander refused to see anyone, Magnus included.

The young man had locked his door, and hid the key. When the spare key was found in Mr. Davies' office, he resorted to barricading half of his ancient, solid wood furniture against the door so it was impossible to reach Alexander.

Magnus paced the dining halls, occasionally interrupted by Mr. Davies who was always at the ready with little odd jobs to be done. He allowed his mind to be strayed for a few moments at a time but he always returned to worrying about Alexander.

It was in the middle of the fourth day when a parlor maid said she heard the shuffling of furniture in the room below Alexander's.

When Magnus made it up there, running up the servants' stairs, the door was open and the room empty.

"He's going to be gone for awhile."

Magnus turned around to find Jace in the door way.

"He went straight to Robert's study," Jace said. "I tried to stop him."

"Well, it's none of my business."

"Oh please," Jace said, stepping in. He shut the door, and sat. "I know you've been with him."

Magnus' heart skipped a beat.

"He's going to tell Robert that he'll marry Emma. He's going to fix everything," Jace said.

Magnus dropped his eyes. This wasn't ideal, but it was the best they could do.

The door opened, and Alexander was frozen where Jace had once been standing.

"What are you doing?"

He looked thin, paler than usual.

"One of you answer me," Alexander ordered.

"We were talking," Jace said. "And now I'm leaving." He stood, slipping past Alexander.

"You should eat," Magnus mumbled.

"Do you not want to know what I told him?"

"I can guess," Magnus said, walking past. Alexander caught his wrist and pulled the door shut.

"I don't want you to be mad at me," Alexander said softly.

"I'm not mad--"

"Disappointed then."

"I'm not angry with you," Magnus said. "But it pains me to see you have to lie."

"I'll work it out," Alexander said.

"You'll have me," Magnus added.

"No, I won't," Alexander said. "You've been dismissed."

"I--"

Fired?

"What?"

"Mr. Davies was supposed to be looking for you," Alexander started.

"You couldn't let me go yourself?" Magnus snapped.

"Magnus--"

"You're insufferable," Magnus said, shaking Alexander's grip free.

"Please don't make this a scene," Alexander mumbled.

"I'll make a scene if I wish," Magnus said.

Alexander pulled an envelope out of the deep pocket of his trousers, offering it to Magnus.

"Use it to pay for board until you find a new place. There's a letter of recommendation in there as well--"

"How long did you know?" Magnus asked, hurt etched across his face. "Is that what you spent so long in here doing? Trying to figure out to make everyone happy and deciding you couldn't save everyone so you'd toss me onto the streets."