Jonathan took in a deep, calming breath. The gentle summer breeze toyed with his fair locks,slowly pushing them to hide his usually warm brown eyes that at the moment were quite troubled.
   Somewhere in the distance he heard the crickets chirping, but even they would soon be retiring for the night. He turned his head upward slightly, staring at the moon. It was lovely, half immersed in shadows as it was. It seemed to him tonight was the night of the moon, not a single star was in sight.  But the moon did not need them, though only half visible, brightened even the darkest of nights.
    Jonathan loved his room, the balcony over looked the entire castle grounds, but mainly the forest and stables. But what he really treasured was the clear sky he was able to witness very night. Sleeping under the stars had become becoming to him, the roof of his chambers  felt suffocating, almost. Or maybe it was the darkness of the night, a darkness which was his very own, one that was a part of him.
   At times it seemed to Jonathan his body was too fond of the moon, it would not allow him to sleep. But he cherished being alone in the darkness of the night, in being cloaked in its blanket while the world slept away. He could hear his thoughts, he need not worry about anyone else. All but one...
    Mercifully, he had gotten his Kitten to agree to marry him, but he had to learn what that sarding bint of a mother was up to? Mayhap if he simply poisoned her food it would be enough? Jonathan shook his head, she was poison herself, an addition of the vile liquid would hardly cause her any harm. He pursed his lips, thinking of all the possibilities. Wretched woman could be up to anything. Jonathan sighed, that was a worry for another day. For now he had to make certain his plan succeeded and drink the now cold milk Abu had left. Jonathan grimaced, he loathed warm milk and almonds.

  ***
  "Wake up!" A pillow was thrown promptly afterwards.

  "I said wake up you! Look at the time! We have much to do. I say, wake up, boy." Lord Davidson threw another pillow to Edward's face.

   Edward groaned, rolling onto his side.

  "Wake up, boy." The words were followed with a kick to his side.

   "Damnation." Edward growled.

  "Tis no good to use such foul language." Abu smirked as he yet again kicked Edward's side.

  If one were to enter the chambers at that exact moment they would find a comical sight. Lord Davidson sat up in bed, his legs stretched outwards towards Edward's side, his toes just brushing him. While Edward lay in vain trying to sleep. Lord Davidson smirked as he, for the third time, kicked Edward's side.

  "Bloody Nora!" Edward growled as he finally sat up in bed. Seeing his father to be, some of his anger seemed to deflate.

  "Abu!" Edward half whined, half growled, "tis barely dawn. Why must I be awake?"
 
   "I have a mind to stroll the gardens and I need you to accompany me." Abu smiled as he rose from the bed, his night tunic barely covering his protruding belly.

  "Abu, you will nay be able to see anything, tis too dark." Edward tried to persuade him back to bed. If he could get the old coot to sleep, then he could mayhap go see Annabelle.

  "Nonsense! By the time you get dressed it shall be dawn." Lord Davidson smiled as he stretched his arms, his chubby cheeks a rosy red.

   "If you insist." Edward grumbled, as he too, arose from bed and headed towards his armoire. His raven locks stuck out in odd angles. No use, he had to think of something else.

   "You have fifteen minutes to wash, lad. I would like to see you post haste." Abu instructed.

  "Aye." Edward answered as he took out a fresh pair of trousers. Mayhap he could convince Abu to take Jonathan as well.

   Lord Davidson left the chambers while Edward began to don his clothing, all the while mumbling about the ungodliness of the hour.

  "Stroll in the garden? Who in their right mind goes for a stroll in the garden at this time? Old man wants to ruin my sleep, that he does." Edward muttered to himself as he washed his face and then proceeded to tame his hair.

    He looked towards his bed, debating if he could go back to sleep. Just as he was about to head back towards his beloved bed, the door opened with a loud bang.

  "Do nay even consider the option." Lord Davidson snickered as he watched Edward from the door way.

  "I would nay dream of it."

  "Aye, you will nay be dreaming." Abu snickered.

   "Drink this glass of water." Lord Davidson instructed as he handed the glass towards Edward.

   "Are we not going to break our fast?" Edward looked horrified by the notion.

  "We shall, but after our stroll." Lord Davidson sniggered.

  "Should we awake Jonathan?"

"Johnny? Nay, let the lad sleep. The bloke needs his sleep."

   Edward chugged the glass of water down without another word, but he did send a glare the older lords way. Abu merely smiled, shoving Edward's back rather roughly to have him begin walking.

  "For a short, beefy, old man your hands sure do have strength." Edward muttered.

  "Why, I thank you for the generous compliment." Abu beamed as they descended the stairs.

  Edward made a noise at the back of his throat but remained mute, there was no use in arguing with the old coot.

  "You should wake up at this hour more often, tis good for the soul."

   "What my soul needs is more sleep." Edward grunted.

  "My darling boy, if this is the way you think, I'm afraid I shall have to bring you here every morn. Tis not beneficial for the body to be abused in such a manner." Lord Davidson retaliated with faux concern, the mischievous twinkle in his eyes could not be hidden.
   
   Edward glared but kept his mouth shut, all the while walking beside's his future father to be.
    Abu, catching Edward's glare, turned to the side and smiled widely. Riling Edward had become an amusement for Abu, although it started out as anything but. Edward was infamous for his anger throughout court, and his tongue, it was sharper than any blade he had come in contact with. Abu had started to rile his anger to teach him how to control said anger, and so far, in his presence at least, Edward was doing a fine job. But the trick was to keep the lad on his toes, something Lord Davidson enjoyed immensely. Howbeit, he had yet to see Edward's infamous anger.

  They walked in companionable silence across the neatly trimmed grass, not willing to disturb the peace of the morning.

   "Take a deep breath in, lad. Close your eyes and breathe in deeply."

  Edward did as he was told. They had reached the gates to the gardens now.

   "Now look there, nay, to your right, aye there."

  Edward looked to the direction Abu had pointed and a small smile occupied his lips.

  "Beautiful, isn't it?"

  "Aye." Edward breathed as he watched the sun slowly ascend in the sky, painting it a vivid picture of peaches, pinks, whites, yellows, and blues. 

   "Truly magnificent," Edward breathed.

   "I would sacrifice all the sleep in the world to watch the sun wake and spread its warmth. Only a few people truly appreciate its efforts." Lord Davidson mumbled as he stared, transfixed. He must have seen the sun rise a thousand times, but it still managed to have him mesmerized.

   "Look there, lad," Lord Davidson led him inside the gardens to its many flowers.
  Edward's eyes were enchanted as he watched the pale light wash over the Reds and pinks, making them come to life.

   "Did that flower?" Edward couldn't finish his sentence as he watched in awe as the flower fully bloom.

  "Aye, my boy, some flowers sleep with the moon and rise with the sun. Tis glorious, if only we were not so caught up in our lives to notice."

  Edward nodded absently as his fingers felt the softness of a petal.

  "What is this flower called, Abu?"

  "How the devil am I to know? The name does not concern me. The color, the scent, that is what has my attention. Humans created the names, in another hundred years the name shall change to suit someone else's needs." Lord Davidson grumbled while he shifted on his right leg.

   "As you say, Abu." Edward smiled softly, letting the old man be.

  "I wonder if that is the reason ladies are so fascinated by them."

   Lord Davidson snorted. "Bloody hell, of course not. All they care about is if the flower is pretty to the eye or not. They tend to forget beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Look here." He directed Edward's gaze to a simple green plant. There was nothing remarkable about the herb, not even the scent was appealing, it appeared to be the type of plant people would trample over without a backward glance.

   "What think you of this?"

  "Eh, tis leaves." Edward mumbled as he stared at the weed with disinterest.

  "By Nora! I pray my grandchildren do not take their brains after their father." Davidson grunted.

   "This plant has the ability to fight of a very rare type of fever. Without this plant mixed with the tonic, the one inflicted could die. And this particular plant is not found anywhere in England. Tis only in the highlands, and that to, but a few. Rivers did a bloody good job procuring it."

   Edward watched the plant with a new light, finding its beauty greater than the flowers which had ensnared him earlier.

  "Do not be fooled by the eye, lad. Always look for what is hidden; The eye is full of trickery."

   Edward nodded, still staring at the plant, a stormy darkness obscured his cobalt gaze.

   "When did Rivers acquire this plant?"

     "Not too long ago. I come to these gardens as frequently as I can. The last time I visited England this particular plant was not in the gardens, Twas only yesterday that I came across it." Abu watched Edward shrewdly, the lad's behavior was peculiar.

   "When was the last time you visited England?" There was no urgency in his voice as he asked the question, no curiosity, he asked the question devoid of all emotion. As if the answer did not concern him, when in reality it played a heavy burden in his life.

  "About two years ago." Abu answered, his hand resting atop his thigh, gently rubbing it.

    "Shall we return inside now?"

   "As you wish, my boy." Lord Davidson answered softly.

  Edward walked briskly back to the castle, but he made certain his pace was not putting Abu under any hardship.

  He loathed fevers, nothing angered him as much as that one infliction. There could be a severed arm brought to him and he wouldn't flinch. But the mention of 'fever' had a red haze fogging his mind.
   In no time they had reached the castle, the servants greeted them with tentative smiles, but Edward did not return the smiles. Nor did he see the blushing maids which walked slower as he approached, or the way Abu winked at Cook, causing her to turn her eyes heavenward but smile nonetheless.
The castle would be alive soon enough, bustling with the day's events. God's teeth, he needed to go see Annabelle.

   ***

  "Is that anyway to treat the lord of the castle?"

  "You're not the lord of the castle, you're Lord barbarian." Albert snorted.

   "Aye? Then you are a lousy cerberus." Jonathan snapped as Albert slapped his hand once more.

  "You zounderkite! Let me eat!"

   "You shall eat with the your guests in the great hall, my lord."

  "God's teeth. I shall not wait that long." Jonathan snapped, he needed to eat and leave.

  "You shall."

  "Albert." Jonathan growled.

   "Johnny." Albert stared at his ward defiantly.

   "You need to entertain your guests." Albert said slowly as if talking to a small child, and at this particular moment in time, he was.

   "I have to entertain them the rest of the bloody day. We have a damned card game scheduled and then a sarding dinner."

  "Can ye not speak a single sentence without dirtying yer tongue?" Cook admonished.

"I can nay." Jonathan grinned devilishly at the woman.

   "You have to break your fast with your guests." Albert repeated.

  "I do not want to." Jonathan replied through gritted teeth. Old coot.

  "You mule, I placed you beside your bride and Annabelle. No lady shall bother you in the morn." Albert smirked.
  
   Jonathan scowled at the man. Last night he had left his room in need of something to eat. His intentions were pure, he only needed to satisfy his stomach and what happens to innocent men? They get accosted by harlots. And who happens to come upon the poor accosted man? Their good for nothing stewards.

   "I could have arranged that myself. You should have helped me last night when I was in need." Jonathan glared.

  "I was under the impression you had everything under control, my lord." Albert smirked. He had never seen Jonathan in such an uncomfortable position before, that too by a lass. Albert would not have given up seeing that sight for all the gold in the world.

  "You very well know I did not." Jonathan seethed. He had thought the old man would be a blessing in disguise. Instead, he was a wolf in sheep's clothing, the devil himself. The old coot and had seen him struggling with the bint but he had simply smiled and slipped away.

   "You could have fooled me, my lord. I was under the impression you were gifted with the ladies." Albert teased, humming to himself softly.

  "I'm gifted to the ones I prefer to lavish my attention towards. Unwanted attention only repels my gift." Jonathan barked. His mood was something foul this morn.

  "I shall bear that in mind, my lord."

  "I'm certain you shall." Jonathan muttered dryly as he straightened from his chair.

  "Since you all decided to starve me, I shall have to go and wait to be fed." Jonathan scowled at Cook and Albert as he exited the kitchens.

  Bloody servants he had. He could nay even be fed.

***

"Where is he?" Savannah paced her chambers, frustration oozed from her person. Leslie stood in the corner of the room, trying to make herself as small as possible. Lest she should do anything to anger her mistress, not that it would make a difference. If her mistress wished to inflict her with her wrath she need not a reason.

   "I have conscientiously searched this  castle, there is not one place I have not looked, and yet, that man is no where in sight. And those damned servants." Savannah snarled. She had asked them sly questions regarding Abbot, when they had remained mute to her she had made Leslie do her bidding, all to no avail. Bloody mongrels remained tight lipped.
    If she were to send a missive she would soon be discovered, but what other choice did she have? She could not have Katherine marry Rivers, it would only please her husband. She had to find a way.

   "Why are you standing there!" Her mistress's shrill voice had Leslie's small frame begin to tremble slightly.

  "What should I do mistress?" Leslie's voice was meek as she asked the question, trembling slightly.

***

Katherine picked at the grass in front of her, not really seeing it. The sun shone high above her, almost reaching its peak, but she could not feel it's scorching heat. The birds chirped above her, or mayhap they were around her, she wouldn't be able to tell, her mind had seemed to abandon her. Deftly, her slim fingers broke one blade of grass after another.

   "At the rate you are going, I doubt I would need a gardener, Kitten." His voice was playful enough, if not some what confused, as he stood behind her,  offering shade from the sun's heat.

  "I've searched the entire castle for you." 
  Jonathan tilted his head, studying her shrewdly. The bloody chit didn't seem to hear him.

  "Kitten."
   
    Still no response.
 
  Jonathan sat beside her, raising his knees as he made himself more comfortable.
    Even seated in the grass as she was, his Kitten still managed to make the task look ladylike. She sat atop a small blanket, her legs folded beneath her, and one hand rested on her thigh as the other picked at his precious grass.

   " Kiittenn." Jonathan sang the name, a mischievous glint entered his warm brown eyes.

   Still no response.

  Jonathan leaned towards Katherine until his breathe kissed her lobes.

  "Kitten." He whispered.

  Still no answer. The chit would be the cause of her own death, one should never be this distracted.
  
  "Kitten." His voice was barely above a whisper. Still no answer

    If Katherine were to turn her head at that exact moment, her nose would connect with Jonathan's tongue. For that very moment the berk stuck his tongue out, licking her lobe before biting it.

   Jonathan quickly moved away so he could see the expression on her face. He was like a small child playing a prank.

   "How dare- my lord!" Katherine sputtered once she realized who had done the deed. She had felt the tip of her ear turn wet followed by a sharp pain. At first she felt shocked, then angry, then scandalized, and now she didn't know how she felt. The playful yet slightly worried glimmer in his eyes told her she shouldn't be upset.

    She took a deep breathe and offered a slight smile, which in fact looked like a grimace. 

  "You look like you ate something sour." Jonathan remarked as he placed his head in her lap and stretched his legs.

   "My lord, this is most-"

  "Indecent," Jonathan interrupted her with a smirk.

  "But my dear Kitten, not only are we engaged to be married, in a month's time, I may add, we are also very much alone." Jonathan grumbled looking pointedly at the trees which surrounded them. His Kitten had chosen a  sequestered area.

   "I had a bloody time looking for you."

  Katherine smiled slightly, her concentration going towards controlling her hand. Her fingers had the oddest urge to run through his locks, to see if they felt as soft as they looked. It was a rather strange urge. She must get rid of it.

   "Why were you searching for me, my lord?"

   Jonathan closed his eyes, enjoying the light breeze.

   "You were not present at the morning meal."

    "You went in search of me because I was not at the morning meal?" Katherine scrunched her nose, confused.

    "You were not present at the morning meal. Then I checked your chambers, those too, were empty. Then I found you here."

   "How did you come to know my whereabouts, my lord?" Katherine allowed her hand to rest next to his head. It refused to simply stay away.

    "I have eyes everywhere, my lady." Jonathan opened his eyes to wink.

   "That is not possible, my lord." Katherine sniffed.

  "Tis is, my lady." Jonathan smirked as he watched her wide eyes. They were mesmerizing. 

  "Since you shan't tell me how you found me, at least tell me why you wanted  me."
  
   "I didn't want you, Kitten, I needed you. Would you like to discuss the wedding preparations?"

   Katherine bit the inside of her cheek. "Aren't we to attend the day's events?"

  "We can, if that is what you wish."

    "What is there to discuss regarding a wedding?" Katherine inquired, frowning slightly. Her fingers were toying with his hair, when did they decide to do that?

  "We have to prepare the guest list, the people you would like to invite. Then there's the food, you may discuss with Cook the meals you want prepared, or mayhap we can find someone else. What ever you wish."

   "I don't particularly have anyone I wish to invite, my lord. I do not have many associates. And regarding the food, what ever is your preference, my lord, as long as the names of the food are correct." Katherine smiled teasingly.

   Jonathan abruptly sat forward, his warm brown eyes sparkling with mischief.

  "Did you just make a jest, my dear Kitten?"

   Katherine's ears colored. She knew she shouldn't have attempted such a silly notion.

   "No, no, you mustn't be bashful now." Jonathan laughed as Katherine began to straighten. He quickly grabbed her hand, preventing her from fleeing.

  "Unhand me, my lord." Katherine ordered hotly, she was mortified.

  "I was only jesting." Jonathan pulled her against him, tilting her head upward.

  "I can not resist teasing you." Jonathan whispered as he softly kissed her forehead.

  "Aye, well, I'm not accustomed to jesting, teasing, and the likes."

    "Worry not, my lady. You will gain practice with me." Jonathan smirked as he wrapped his right arm around her waist, lifting her until their gazes were leveled.

   "My lord?"

  "Hmm?" Jonathan mumbled as he brushed his lips against her jaw.
 
   Katherine suddenly felt her eyelids turn heavy, begging to be closed, she obviously, fought the strange sensation.

   "What are you doing?"  

    "Trying to kiss you. Somethings are only felt, Kitten, not understood. This is one of those things."

   "Oh..."

  Katherine let her eyes droop closed, enjoy the the foreignly pleasant feeling this man was invoking in her. She allowed herself what she thought was a decent amount of time, when in reality it was barely five minutes, before speaking once more.

   "These kisses feel different."

   Jonathan pulled away from her, his eyes slightly glazed.

"Kitten, I have one request."

  "Yes, my lord?" Her hunter orbs widened, a slight unease entering their deep depths. God, he loved those doe like eyes of hers. And her freckles. He loved them.

  "When we are married, and when I kiss you, anywhere, you shan't ask any questions. Your only requirement is to enjoy my touch. You will learn by feeling." Jonathan added quickly before she could further pursue her pleasant, but at times not so pleasant, curiosity.

   "Why must we wait until we wed? Why can't you kiss me now?"

   Sweet lord. Surely this was the Lord's way of punishing him. By God he was no saint.

   "My lord?" Katherine prompted when he stayed silent.

  Jonathan cleared his throat, putting her down and taking a step backward.

  "There will be more than kissing, Kitten."

  "Oh?" Her gaze brightened.

"How so? Can we learn now?" She took a step forward. Jonathan visibly swallowed. The chit wasn't even trying
to seduce him and he was as randy as a bull.

  "We need to return." Jonathan said through gritted teeth. The light of the sun made her look stunning.

  "You haven't answered my question, my lord." Katherine frowned, giving Jonathan a patronizing look; as if he had done something wrong.  The one time he tried being a gentleman damnation!

   He stood there, staring at the tiny chit before shaking his head.

  "We must be off." Jonathan growled turning around.

   "If we must, but allow me a liberty." Katherine walked until she stood in front of him, her head tilting backward, the beast.

   Jonathan stood still, waiting for her to continue, his eyes wary.

  She placed her hands beside his ears, pulling him to her and placing her lips atop his, kissing him the way he had kissed her. But she kept it sweet, and far too short for Jonathan's liking.

  "My maid taught me a true gentleman never kept a lady waiting. Tis very ill mannered, especially to have to make her ask."

****

Sorry!!! I haven't updated in over a month

But I'm off work for abt 2 weeks so hopefully an update next week

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