For a Servant and a Master

Part 2: Chapter 8

One month later. . .

At first, he was certain he woke up in a street gutter. The smell was awful, and something felt wet beneath his head. Sitting up was excruciating, but he managed to lift his head enough to see Jace laying on top of his legs, snoring.

They were in a pub, granted, not the one Alexander last remembered visiting. It was empty, like Alexander's pockets. He kicked Jace in the shoulder. He woke with a start, grabbing for something at his side that wasn't there.

"Well, looks like the men of the White Eagle pub are true to their word," Jace muttered.

"What are you talking about?" Alexander asked.

"I vaguely remember paying the barman quite a bit of money to let us sleep in here."

"I don't know if I slept in beer or piss," Alexander said, sniffing the liquid he seemed to be sitting in.

"Can't tell the difference with Irish beer," Jace said, jumping to his feet, unfazed. "Come on. If we're not back in the next hour, I told Isabelle to assume we're dead."

"In that case. . . " Alexander muttered, grabbing the edge of the bar counter to hoist himself up.

"I know you're not thrilled," Jace said, clapping his hand on Alexander's back as they made for the door. "But at least you'll have the memory of last night to carry you through the dark days of marriage."

"I don't remember anything from last night," Alexander pointed out.

"Me either," Jace laughed. He flung open the pub's front door and a rare beam of sunshine hit them straight in the eyes.

........

If Isabelle could tell the boys were hungover, she said nothing. She entered Alexander's room, dressed in a soft purple gown.

Alexander looked back at the mirror, but he watched his siblings. They were exchanging silent glances.

"Mom is here," Isabelle said, walking to Alexander. She quietly fixed Alexander's crooked collar. Jace was lounging on the couch.

"Have you spoken to her yet?" Alexander asked.

"No," Isabelle said. "I saw her and went the other way."

Jace snickered.

"It's easy for you to laugh," Isabelle snapped. "She doesn't hate you."

"You still haven't told her about Simon?"

"I'll tell her when it's over," Isabelle said, stepping back to inspect Alexander. "Today is about you and Lydia."

The room was quiet again. They could hear guests downstairs, mingling.

"Is Magnus coming?" Isabelle asked.

"I don't know," Alexander mumbled. He had spent the last few weeks feeling miserable about the whole affair.

"Magnus? That butler from before?" Jace asked.

Alexander nodded.

"But I thought--"

"Jace," Isabelle snapped with exasperation. "I have to check on Lydia again."

She put a hand on Alexander's shoulder and kissed his cheek.

"What was that about?" Jace asked, as Alexander moved to sit on his bed.

"Magnus and I may have spent a morning together."

"So?"

"Do I have to spell it out?" Alexander asked with flushed cheeks.

"Ooh," Jace said. "How does that work exactly?"

"We aren't having this conversation," Alexander said, fleeing the room and a cackling Jace.

As soon as he step foot in the hallway, he ran into his mother.

"Mother--"

"I was looking for you," she said, with her typical curtness. "Is Jonathan in there?"

"I am!" Jace called.

"Where are you running to?" Maryse asked.

"I was going to check on Mr. Davies," Alexander lied.

"Don't bother. The old man is perfectly capable of running this house-- certainly better than you or I."

"Welcome back," Alexander said.

"Welcom home, you mean."

"Of course; the Lightwood estate is always open to you."

"I should hope so, considering I am still a Lightwood."

"You'll return to Scotland, though," Alexander said, gaining just enough courage to make it a statement rather than a question.

His mother's lips pressed together.

"I suppose I will," she said. She opened her purse, and pulled out a packet of papers. "My gift to you and Lydia. A week in Edinburgh. The last train out will take you there tonight."

"Thank you," Alexander said. He knew the gift was coming, but he still felt slightly weird taking his mother's money like this.

"And when is the child arriving?"

Alexander feigned confusion but couldn't stop his heart from racing.

"A woman knows when another woman is pregnant," Maryse said. "When is it due?"

"Five months," Alexander said, not bothering with the lie. Maryse nodded.

"I know it's not yours, Alexander. You're very lucky to have found such a promiscuous girl of appropriate status. Play your cards right and you just might pull this illusion off."

She looked at him with pleasure on her face, like she had won a game.