The Wrong Time

Morning after syndrome

I open my eyes to sunlight streaming directly into my face. Not the most pleasant thing in the world. Flashes of last night start to pass through my head, not that I was drunk but simply that I have a terrible memory that activates only st the worst of times. I remember being dressed as a woman, that's fairly hard to forget. Then meeting possibly the most beautiful creature alive, again fairly hard to forget. And dancing with him, our conversation afterwards which was cut short by... Victoria. Of course she would find someway to drag me away from the one thing I was enjoying about my evening. Probably made up some lie about avoiding some old friend of hers. Typical Vicy.

Suddenly a loud knock comes from the door. "Brother dearest are you up yet?" My sisters voice follows the knocking and I let out a groan, not wanting to talk to people right now still feeling oddly tired.

Apparently she thought the groan a positive response and she opens the door peeking her head around it. "Mother says we have a guest arriving in a few hours so you should get up. Apparently hes high standing, Duke something or other. So make yourself at least a little presentable." I give another groan and throw a pillow in her direction.

"I'm getting up but I am by no means happy about it. Is there food?" I grumble out as I sit up letting the sheets fall off of my torso. She gives a short laugh and nods kicking the pillow away from where it had fallen at her feet.

"Yes, lunch it about to be served for us early risers. If you care to join you had better hurry. This is what you get for turning down mothers offer of a personal butler. I shall see you down there." And with that she closes the door before I can get another word in. I sigh and slowly make my way out of bed, stretching as I do so. As I dress myself I can't help thinking about those eyes that seemed to see right through me and the man who posessed those eyes whos touch made my skin tingle and burn.

All just silly passing thoughts. I'll forget about it all by tomorrow. I swear it's my sisters influence that has me thinking such rubbish.

I soon finish making myself presentable and start heading downstairs to the dining room. I see my mother as soon as I walk in and go over to her to kiss her cheek. "Good afternoon mother, lovely day isn't it?" She looks at me in mild shock as i take my seat across from her.

"I say my dear, what has you in such high spirits?" I shrug in response and place some food on my plate.

"Who knows. Maybe it's the sun himself smiling upon me making me feel rather blessed." Victoria hides a laugh behind hee hand as our mother eyes my wearily but does not question it, choosing in stead to return to her food. "So I hear we have a guest arriving. Am I allowed to know whom exactly?" I ask before taking a sip of water.

"Ah yes, the duke. His father was an old friend of mine as was his mother, they passed some years ago and left everything to him. He's but shut up in their old country residence for far too long so I thought it might be good to invite him here. He needs some proper friends, I was hoping you two might get to know each other, lord knows you need to get out more." I stare at her a moment then nod.

"I see." Is all I say in reply. Mother doesn't quite understand that I prefer the company of books to people. As if she ever could. It's not entirely as if she's wrong though. And if I can manage to provide someone with some much needed company then I suppose a few days of playing nice can't hurt. "How long will he be staying?"

"Oh, well hopefully about a month." I almost spit my water out but manage to catch myself and swallow it down.

"A month... of course." Internally I groan and whine to myself. Outwardly I put on my best smile. "I'm sure this will be no problem."

*

This is a huge problem.

When my mother had explained to me the details of our visitors stay I had imagined someone slightly older, maybe with a beard. Someone cold with very little sense of humour and maybe just as anti-social as I am.

All of that was tossed out the window as soon as he stepped out of the carriage and I was struck by those same wonderful peridot coloured eyes. I felt myself go pale. The man from last night.

His gently tanned skin that seems to have been lightly kissed by the sun himself, as if he and the sun had once been sweet lovers who deeply cared for one another. And his dark hair, now left irresistibly messy yet in the most perfect and sophisticated way possible, gave him an almost exotic look making him all the more stunning. He now wore a dark red jacket fastened over a black waistcoat and white shirt closed at the collar by a red cravat with black gracing his legs and feet giving him an imagine of perfection and gentlemanliness with a hint of darkness to him. Far surpassing the image of a simple duke. It was like seeing him for the first time again, now with a completely clear mind and able to truly process all of him.

"Lady Helena, thank you for having me." He spoke calmly with a soothing tone. His voice is so luscious I could listen to it forever. My mother stepped forward and leaned up to kiss his cheeks.

"No need to thank me, it's lovely to have you Alexander. My last time I saw you was when you were still such a little thing. How handsome you've become." She cooed over him, embracing him in a quick hug.

"You too have only become more beautiful since last I saw you. And please, just call me Alex." So his name is Alex, and he's a duke. And he knows my mother. Christ almighty please let him of been drunk and not remember last night, or at least not remeber my sister and ask her about it.

"You do flatter me duke. Let me introduce you to my children. This is my daughter Victoria." She gestures to Victoria who curtsied and greeted the duke politely.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance your grace." He takes her hand and kisses the top of it gently.

"Like wise my lady. You are certainly your mothers daughter." They share a small smile and my mother turns to me.

"And here is my son, Erasmus." I bow and hold out my hand to shake his.

"A pleasure your grace." He takes my offered hand and gets a sly look on his face.

"I say, have we met before?" His voice is full of wonderment and question. I internally panic and hastily reply.

"I-i do nit believe so." I glance away and cough. He nods in return and smiles at me.

"Of course, must have mistaken you for someone else. The pleasure is all mine Erasmus." My name from his lips sounds all the sweeter. I really must stop thinking like this. He takes my hand which is still in his gentle hold and kisses it between the two knuckles. I have to hold my breath to stop myself from gasping at the gesture. My mother and Victoria don't seem to notice my panic.

"I am sure you are tired from your long journey Alex, Erasmus why don't you show him to his room and I'll have the footman bring up his things."

"Yes, I would love the chance to rest if you don't mind. Lead the way good sir." I nod curtly and motion foe him to follow me then lead the way inside and upstairs to the room just across the hall from mine.

"My room is just across the hall if you need anything. I'd be more than happy to give you a tour once you're well rested your grace." I have to act normal, like I would treat any other guest. Maybe if I do it'll be easier to ignore my thoughts and forget about last night.

"Please, no need to be so formal with me, just call me Alex, or Alexander if that makes you feel more comfortable." I give him a small smile.

"Of course, Alex. You can call me Erasmus, or Red as my friends do. If you'd feel more comfortable with that." I look away shyly not really knowing what compelled me to say that to him. He places a gently hand on my shoulder and I glance back at him.

"Red it is then." And with that he swiftly opens the door and steps into the room, smiling at me as he closes it again. I stay outside the door for a while, frozen to the spot.

Dear lord, I'm doomed.