Life in the Victorian (for AlfaStag3711)

[YaoiXMandy]

Ah, morning. Dawn had come, bringing its slight rain and misty air. The first few rays of sunlight were caught by only those who had to wake so early, those who had to make a living in the strenuous factories that littered the city. Times could be hard, so very hard...

If you were not rich.

On the upper east side of the city was where most of the wealthy resided. Manors belonging to prestigious company owners and the like, all who lived the lavish lifestyles of those who have made it. Of course, upperclass only mingled with their own kind, and children were made.

Such as Mary and Nigel Livingston. They only bore one son before the death of Mary, a terrible fate she suffered during childbirth of young Edmund. Nigel was a businessman, traveling most of his time, hardly home. The maids often gossiped about his numerous absences, some saying he saw his wife in Edmund so much so that he did not wished to stay home. It was, in a sense, a way he dealt with grief. A terrible one at that!

Edmund grew up as many upper-class boys did. The careful watch of nannies and butlers, all of whom truly raised the boy. But they spoiled him terribly, at least, most of his nannies did even to this day. At twelve, they created a bit of a tyrant, bratty by nature yet smart and sardonic. He got what he wanted often, and with those enchanting blue eyes, he manipulated them to a tee. Though, not all of his workers spoiled him. In fact, the one he were most close to, his butler, was the only one he could not manipulate. Could not throw tantrums until he got his way, or feign ill to shirk off studying arithmetic. His butler was almost a father that Nigel never was, and as much as Edmund would become crossed or annoyed with him, it filled a gap in the boy.

Morning soon came quicker than warranted, and Edmund grumbled softly into his pillow. The twelve year old drew the blankets over him, choosing to ignore every maid who attempted to wake him. Soon it would be time to for his studying with that God awful tutor. He'd rather not deal with that this morning.

[AlfaStag3711]

Pacing the landing back and forth outside of the boy’s room, he shook his head and tut-tutted before pushing the grand door out of his way.

“I’ll do that miss lay, please ensure Master Edmund here gets his breakfast.” A gruff voice came from behind the woman and child. He nodded at her departure.

It was Charles Brown, The Butler. He was a few years older that Edmund’s father. His frosty blue eyes rested upon the chamber, now un-accompanied by the maid.

Charles practically ran the Livingston household day-to-day. He arranged for the best tutor to come and teach young Eddie. He hoped that one day the boy would go to Eton to study.

Charles used practitioner in the medical side, he too went to Eton College but after the war in India he caught a bad case of Malaria left him redundant.

Smartly dressed in blue clothing, he jingled his pockets then stripped off the bed sheets from over Eddie’s head.

“Ok Master Livingston... I’ll make a deal with you, you get up now, wash and dress yourself to save good miss lay another hard job I’ll give you a shilling. Do it now and be down before the tutor arrives I shall give you two. Refusal to do either and you know what comes at the end of the day. Do I make myself clear?” He asked, puffing out his chest. His short blonde hair looked grey as the sun shone bright in the room.

[YaoiXMandy]

Edmund had enveloped himself within his comforters to the point of only his dark hair being shown. The boy had no intentions of moving, at least not for another couple of minutes. And if he could skip that bloody lesson that would be fine and well too. But alas, the sound of his butler, Charles, made the boy inwardly groan. Upon hearing the maid's footsteps as she left the room, Edmund knew the sheets would be peeled off in about three..two..one..

"Ugh..!"

Edmund's count was never normally wrong.

The boy sat upright, deep blue eyes scrutinizing the male before him. He was going to say something, but paused to hear the deal that would be made.

The boy tapped his chin, rolling his eyes at the ghost of a threat the lingered in the air. "Alright Charles." The boy stated, his gaze meeting the other man. "I will dress myself, but you need not give me a shilling. I already have quite more than I could ever ask for. But if you want to waste your money...who am I to stop you?" For twelve, the boy rarely viewed himself as a child. A coy smile formed on his lips before he slid out of bed. "I cannot promise you it will happen before that...tutor arrived though. I tend to move a bit slowly in the morning. As you may already know."

[AlfaStag3711]

Charles was annoyed with this bratty attitude but decided to let it slide, putting it down to lack of sleep. “Fine Master Edmund but If you don’t see your tutor I WILL tutor you myself. Is that clear?!” He barked back and left the room.

Standing tall and proud as descended the stairs into the kitchen to tell the cooks that the boy would be down shortly.

[YaoiXMandy]

Edmund couldn't help the smirk forming on his lips as Charles looked clearly annoyed by his flippant attitude. However, he never lost his sternness much to his chagrin, and the boy glowered at being yelled at. Rolling his eyes, the twelve year old simply nodded, watching as the older man headed out of the room. With a resigned sigh, Edmund weighed his options. He could get dressed, see the tutor and sit through a terrible lecture, or he could find a way to evade the man all together.

But even if he did..he'd have to deal with Charles' wrath. The twelve year old frowned as he slid out of bed, looking through his chest of different beautifully made clothing. Was he really afraid of incurring Charles' consequences?

"I am not afraid of him.." The boy mumbled, hating to be told what to do and hating to give in just as much. Clicking his tongue, the boy picked out his own clothing before heading to the washroom. Once there, Edmund began to take as much time as he could in primping himself. Hey, he was already a bit of a narcissist, there is no crime in taking interest in one's appearance!

[AlfaStag3711]

(sorry I kept you waiting *wink*)

Charles had been timing the young man on his pocket watch and for someone to wash and dress , he sure was taking his time.

In result of Edmunds slowness, Charles dismissed the Tutor telling him that the boy was sick.’I will teach him today and it won’t just be maths and literature he we’ll be learning; it will be manners too. It’s rude to keep people waiting’.

With that thought, Brown didn’t rush his ward, instead he just sat and waited and waited.... ‘the longer he will take, the longer the lesson will be’.