The Travelor (closed for Rockinzoe)

[rockinzoe]

She felt herself flush just the slightest bit as he smiled at her, slowly making her way further into the room and perching herself on the opposite side of the bed.
“It’s not a burden at all, we have lots of staff and plenty of rooms.” She laughed slightly.

“I just wanted to pop in and make sure you were comfortable and if you felt better. You seemed awfully confused earlier on.”

 

[RidePlayer]

Axel smiled again and said "Still thank you you opened your home to a complete stranger in need. You are very Kind Lady Elizabeth." He watched her come and sit down on the opposite side of the bed. He said "I'm feeling a lot better now the doctor gave me some herbs to help my thoughts." That wasn't a lie he had to think if he was stuck here he needed a alibi a way to live in this time. He couldn't count on Ms. Elizabeth's generosity forever.

He stretched slightly he had removed his vest and dress shirt per the doctors instructions to get comfortable. Despite his not overly large frame he was fit and toned enjoying the occasional run and exercise left his chest toned but not hulking. Something a lot of historical majors like himself couldn't say in his time.

He said "please forgive my lack of shirt Milady the doctor instructed me to get comfortable. Sitting up so she could now see his upper torso and arms. He said "once I'm better I was hoping to repay you and your father in some way for my care. I know I never learned my fathers trade but I am good at writing and smart from my studies. Does your father need a log keeper or anyway for me to earn a income to pay him back for his aid."

It was a shot in the dark still remembering things he's read about Elizabeth summerset her foreigner husband had started out keeping logs of her father's rent collections from the people for there land acting as his leger keeper. It was a long shot but if this was the Same Elizabeth it would give him a way to earn a living in this time. He would save up as much money as possible and if the real foreigner arrived and he had his times wrong he would bolt and use the money to try to find a way back home. If he was already here or her father didn't need a keeper he would have to think of something else. Unfortunately his scholastic merits wouldn't help much in a time when everyone was either nobility or a tradesman and right now he was neither. All he could count on was his education and writing skills.

 

[rockinzoe]

She looked away from him, it not being entirely proper their current position,

"Well Mr Atkinson I am not entirely sure, I shall send for him tomorrow after you have rested, you can ask him yourself." She replied,

Elizabeth shuffled back slowly, moving her feet off the ground and leaving her back resting slightly against Franks leg, her eyes still fixed on the other side of the room.

Who is this stranger and why was he making her act quite so strangely.

"I'm sure he will insist that no repayment is necessary though, we al must perform our acts of charity."

 

[RidePlayer]

He noticed her discomfort but she seemed to get more comfortable as she leaned ever slightly against his leg. He said "forgive me my lady I meant not to make you uncomfortable." He smiled she may have her back to him but she was talking to him.

He said "I don't have much my parents suffered much to make sure I could be educated. There land his equipment was seized by the crown when he could not pay. They passed in illness and squalor still worrying about my future. I have no grunted of employment when I finish my education. I don't wanna put there sacrifices to waste. I didn't bring up there fates as not to bother you milady."

He smiled sadly if he stayed in this time. His real parents were as good as dead to him. He said "while I appreciate your charity if your father is in need of a ledger keeper. I would rather take the education they granted me with there sacrifice and put it to use now earning a living and repaying the aid you have offered me. I will always appreciate your charity Milady I would be dead without you."

Deciding to change the subject for now he said "my injury must of had me saying some strange things I apologize for my.muddled thoughts."

 

[rockinzoe]

She had been facing him and couldn't help but smile at his story before laughing and turning away from him.

"You did sound a little mad, saying some bizarre things, clearly you must have really damaged your head." For some strange reason she had a compulsion to touch his head at that point.
"Quite lucky that we found you, others may have taken you to an asylum instead."

She had occasionally seen the odd farmer topless working in the fields, for some reason Frank had been bored into her head, without a moments thought she touched his bandaged head,

"How is your head now actually?" She had whispered to him, her hand shaking ever so slightly.

 

[RidePlayer]

Frank smiled and said "yes I'm glad it was you that found me then." When he felt her touch his bandaged head he flinched a bit but didn't recoil. He said "its still a little sore to the touch but my thoughts are alot clearer rest will do me well." He said "its getting late I'd hate for someone to see you in a man's room so late and speak ill of your honor my lady. We can talk more tomorrow if you would like." He looked at her hoping she would be willing to talk.

The next morning he was roused to the smell of breakfast coming from the kitchen downstairs. Wondering if he should get out of bed and join his gracious hosts.

 

[rockinzoe]

She nodded at his response, feeling slightly wounded but not sure why, and rose from the bed, leaving his room with a brief "Goodnight,"


Her dreams had been filled with the stranger on the road, him holding her in his arms, their bodies pressed together as he spoke softly to her. She had awoken warm and too early to rise, the rest of the morning filled with restless slumber.

Feeling a little tired when she had risen she had stood half asleep as she was dressed for the day before heading down for breakfast.

"Has our guest been fed yet?" She had asked the butler serving her father, "If he is feeling up to it I may take him a walk around the gardens, I also gather he is keen to speak to you Father." She had said, serving herself.

"We have not arranged anything yet, my lady." The butler had replied, looking towards the Duke for his instructions.

 

[RidePlayer]

The duke said "fetch our guest if he is feeling better. Provide him some spare clothes." As the maid left the Duke said "if your sure he can be trusted. If he does anything uncouth you tell the guards immediatly." The duke returned to his meal wondering what there guest wanted.

Frank was fetched by the maid and after carefully dressing he descended down to the dining room. He said "I want to offer my thanks again Duke." He sat down as the staff made to serve him. The Duke said "my daughter said you had something to ask me." Frank said "yes sir thank you. As a way to repay your aid I'm sure your daughter has told you of some of my studies." The Duke nodded he said "yes Oxford a good school."

Frank nodded and said "yes I'd like to offer my services handling your rent ledgers for your people. Keeping records for you and maybe permanent employment after if I do well." The Duke nodded and said "while no payment is necessary if you insist we could try it on a trial period. It has been difficult without some proper help. Now I believe my daughter also had something to ask you?"

Frank looking over at her smiling.

 

[rockinzoe]

He looked more normal, in proper clothes instead of the strange items she had found him in, less mad now.

She had smiled at him as he entered the room, listened and nibbled on food as he spoke. It had pleased her he would be staying, she wasn't sure why though, perhaps it was new company or the fact he was a little different.

As her Father moved their attention to her she had blushed slightly,

"I'm going for a walk around the gardens and grounds this morning, I was wondering if you would like to accompany me?" She had asked, slightly hesitantly, "I should love to show you around." She added with a little more confidence, "Only if you feel well enough," She quickly finished, not wanting to drag an unwilling invalid around her home.

 

[RidePlayer]

Frank smiled unable to ignore how beautiful Elizabeth looked with the blush creating across her features. He said "I'd like that. The fresh air will do me good. My head has been feeling a lot better. So yes milady if you would have me I'd be happy to walk with you."

They finished there meal. When they were ready he said "need me to carry anything for you milady." He gazed at her trying not to leave his gaze linger so long that it bothered her."

 

[rockinzoe]

With a shake of her head she walked out of the front door of her house, not looking back to see if he was keeping up, she continued walking in front of him down the hill towards the walled gardens. Once they had reached the bottom, after a slow descent she turned to him,

"May I hold onto your arm? I should hate for you to fall on the path whilst already injured." She stated at Frank, realising she should have probably held onto him at the top of the hill instead.

 

[RidePlayer]

Frank smiled and said "while I appreciate your concern. I am okay if you would like I would love to offer my arm for you to hold. It would be my honor and duty as a man to do so on our walk."

He offered his arm feeling her take it as he escorted her like a proper gentlemen on this walk. He smiled he was finding himself charmed by lady Elizabeth. It was ashame that someday that unknown man would come and take Elizabeth's hand. He wondered what it would be like if he never came and if frank was stuck here he could picture a life with Elizabeth.

He needed to change his thoughts he said "this is all beautiful milady." He noticed the slight sleepiness in her eyes and said "are you well milady you seem a little tired did sleep elude you last night?"

 

[rockinzoe]

She had looped her arm through his, quite comfortable in the silence with him,

On his comment about her sleep she had glanced at him from the corner of her eye, grinning ever so slighly.

"Well, I did have trouble sleeping last night as it happens, such strange dreams actually. Nothing really made sense." She had lied lightly.

"Have you slept well? I hope you were comfortable? How pleasant you shall get to taste our hospitality for longer now." She changed the subject.

 

[RidePlayer]

Frank smiled and said "interesting they say dreams are like windows into the soul. They can potentially show us maybe things we desire that we don't realize or haven't consciously accepted."

When she changed the subject he said "yes I slept quite well." He chuckled and said "yes your hospitality is great but I'm thankful I'll be able to earn my keep. Plus getting to spend more time with you is the greatest part." He realized what he said and apologized "sorry Milady meant now disrespect you are pleasant to be around is all."

 

[RidePlayer]

He looked at her and he loved the sly smile she gave or the way the blush crept across her face.

His hand on his free arm brushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Before it found the base of her neck. Pulling her gently but firmly into a kiss. The lips melding together.

When they finally broke he said "please forgive me milady. I just couldn't resist I hope my kiss wasn't unpleasant or unwanted." He inwardly hoped he had not just screwed up not only his chance at employment in this time but also his only source of residence.