Lower Then the Horses
 

“Thomas! Thomas! Just look at what this clumsy cow did to my dress!” Her shriek rose above the soft notes of the song he was playing. It’s always one thing or another with that woman setting the bow carefully on the end table near his cello he stood up waiting for the inevitable. Sure enough there it was, beautiful Rosaline stormed into the room dragging along a wine red dress. “Look at this! Just look” leaning in close all he could see was a small stain, “it’s ruined, I can’t wear this!” seemed to him she had already ruined the dress beyond repair anyway with her dragging it all the way through the house to the library just to find him and show it to him. “I want that woman out of my house Thomas, she should be sent away for being so careless with my things” she stomped her foot for emphasis her face twisted with anger. Thomas sighed and rubbed his temples. How had this woman changed so much in the three years they had been married? Maybe it was the lack of a child, the fact that she hadn’t gotten pregnant no matter how hard they tried, or had tried before she kicked him out of her bed.

“Dear I’m sure it was an accident” he said dryly taking the dress from her and tossing it over the back of a chair. “No need to send someone away I’ll just get you a new one” he clasped her hands and drew her along beside him, no doubt it was no accident despite the fact that he was more interested in composing his music over running his household he knew how much the help hated his wife, she wasn’t the easiest person to get along with. “How about we take a walk in the garden and discuss your new dress” he said with an easy smile pushing his glasses back up on his nose when they threatened to slip down.

The gardens were lovely at this time of day, and the rain had refreshed them making the garden seem more alive. Rosaline chattered at his side appeased by his promise of a new dress, one she described in detail for him, although he paid not a whit of attention. As they walked they passed by one of the help, a young man who worked in the stables if he remembered correctly, he smiled at the youth nodding his head, a small inclination. “How’s my Shadow?” he asked referring to his prized black stallion he took on a ride every morning. His wife hadn’t even noticed him speaking just continued talking as though he hadn’t said a word. It didn’t bother him, he was used to that, didn’t have much to say to her anyway.

The other workers of the household Hurried themselves with work, knowing that when the mistress was angry, there jobs were at stake. Glad when she was gone, they calmed a bit. Sarah had heard the conversation and frowned. She was one of the many who hated that foul woman. She went out to watch her master and his wife walk in the garden. She wanted to be sure that awful woman didn't meds up the just manicured flowers. She looked over and saw the master talking to a boy. One that she couldn't really remember his name, but knew he was a pathetic idiot with a huge crush on her. She rolled her eyes, watching as he turned a little red when the man spoke to him. She didn't quite understand why talking to the master would get him all bothered. It was kind of cute she guessed, and then an idea came into her head. A sinful fantasy. What if that little idiot actually liked the master? She thought about that, deciding she liked the way that would look. It sounded delightful, though she wasn't sure why thinking about those two men sinning was so pleasing to her. She shrugged it off. Maybe it was because both men were attractive. And the fact that the younger was flushing like a love smitten girl.

Nathan was surprised that the master was even paying him any attention. "S-Shadow is good sir. A very fine horse if I say so myself." This was the man. The man that made his breath catch and his stomach feel funny. He couldn't understand why. He felt like he wanted to be with this man. But that was a vile sin. He was sure his master would be disgusted by the very thought of him seeing him that way. "I can't help but notice the mistress wasn't very happy." He frowned. "Is she ok sir?". He asked, though he seriously didn't care. He didn't really like her. She often calle him names and mean stuff like that. He tried to lean against the tree in an inviting way, wondering if this was noticed. He felt silly and kind of like an idiot. Showing off for a man was stupid. Why would a man look at him? He was more than confused when around his Master. "Sir?" He was half afraid that he'd be killed for even sayif this. "A lot of gossip goes around these days, and I heard the lady threw you from her bed...p-perhaps..I mean, if you have no place to sleep..you could have my bed..? I'd be fine sleeping on the straw in the stable. I keep it really clean and it wouldn't be so bad since I'm used to worse..." He had never been inside of the manor, and he didn't know that a person could own more than one bed. "I'm so sorry if that was to forward..I just..you're a really good master, and you should have a place to lay your head at night." He took a gulp, waiting for judgement. He wondered if he'd be executed, laughed at, or both. He felt stupid for even asking now.

Both surprised and touched by the offer coming from a boy he didn’t even know the name of Thomas chuckled and ruffled the young man’s hair affectionately, Rosaline had wandered off on her own towards the house, something about a dinner at a friend’s house. He knew she wanted him to go but he always turned them down. They had never really interested him enough to go. He would rather stay here work on his music, ride his beloved horse Shadow, and read. Let his wife be the social butterfly. “That’s very kind of you lad, but I’m bunking in the guest bedroom already. It’s actually quieter there” he chuckled again his eyes warm when he looked down at his stable hand. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m fine in the room I’m in. I sleep better without my wife’s constant nagging” he joked winking down at Nathan. Clapping a warm hand on the boys shoulder he patted it lightly. “Well its time I made my departure. I’ve got some work to take care of, don’t work to hard now I’ll see you tomorrow when I take Shadow out for his daily ride” he called over his shoulder as he went into the house. His wife was already gone, pleased silence, strolling through the house he stopped in the kitchen and grabbed a quick bite turning down the chef’s offer to make him a real dinner. Going back up to the library he settled down for something he really loved. Making music.

Early the next day Thomas made his way down the stairs with a package clamped under his arm. He was heading for the stables ready for his morning ride. Humming a nothing little tune he closed his eyes enjoying the feel of the crisp air on his face. His wife was still abed, luckily for the household, she had been in a foul mood last night after coming home, he had gotten all of that anger as she railed at him for not coming with her. He did what he always had, pretty much ignored it or let it go in one ear and out the other. “Morning” he said with a smile at the young man who tended to his horse “as a thank you for yesterday I wanted to give you this” he offered out the bulky package. Inside were two new shirts and a new blanket for his bed. The shirts were Thomas’s own, he didn’t want to throw them away, seemed wasteful so he thought better to give them to someone who would use them. “Sorry if it’s used, it was one of my favorite shirts till my wife expressed such hatred for it because I wore it so often” he laughed sheepishly running a hand over his dark hair, hair pulled back in a pony tail at the nape of his neck today. “The blanket was also mine back before I married and she made us get new ones” he shrugged and handed the package over. Before heading right over to Shadow and checking the cinches on his saddle. Without another word he mounted the stallion and rode out of the stables.

Nathan frowned as the man left, wishing that he'd come back to his own humble little home. He could at least give him dinner.. He walked back to the little home and washed up before going to bed. He snuggled into the mattress. It wasn't really very nice, mostly just made of straw and stuff, but it was better than nothing. He thought about the day, and how much he liked that man. He seemed so nice and Nathan really admired him. He wondered if Thomas even knew how his servants lived. Their living quarters were never clean, and sickness always spread through the place. It was muddy and gross. He figured that not everyone could live all fancy, so he just decided to be thankful for what he did have. With that he fell into a sleep, dreams of his master plaguing his mind. Dreams that he didn't understand or even want. He woke up wet and groaned, finding that his roof was leaking once again. It was raining, and his roof had a crack in it where the dried mud had messed up. He got up from his bed and sealed it up with hay. He then laid back and tried to sleep again.

The next morning, Nathan wasn't really well rested, and sleep seemed like the best thing for him, though he knew he had work to do. He for dressed and got down to the stable. He was happy when the master dropped by, and he smiled at him, taking the package, happy when he saw what was inside. For someone like him, this was pure gold. "Thank you sir! That you so much! Oh this is such nice stuff!" He seemed delighted, waving as the name trotted off in his horse.

After his work, Nathan went back to his home and put the blanket on his bed, bathing and then putting on the really nice shirt his kind master had given him. He felt stares from other's and he cringed a little. Stares always made him highly uncomfortable. He saw the look on one man's face and he felt sick instantly. "Hey son. Why don't you give me that nice short of yours?" Nathaniel turned to run, and ended up getting beat up, the shirt stolen off of him. He managed to pick himself up, bruised and bloody. On the plus side, he handn't gotten any broken bones. He went hack to his home, sitting on the bed sadly as he thought about what had happened. He was bruised an bloody, not to mention the fact that he didn't have that short anymore.

Kicking Shadow lightly into a trot Thomas turned in the saddle to wave at the sweet little stable boy who looked so happy to have a new shirt. The woods were as peaceful and calming as ever, he had planned on being out for quite awhile today it was why he asked the cook to prepare him a little food and wine before he left the manor, it was all tucked away in his saddle bag. He wasn’t sure what the cook had packed but he was sure it was delicious. On his peaceful ride he thought about his home and how he should pay more attention to it, back when the keeper ran the place it was always in tiptop shape and he never had to worry about it, but since his wife had taken over he had noticed a general decline in the smoothness in its running. And as always his mind rolled around to the subject of his marriage. It had started out happy enough, a sweet woman in the beginning she turned sour when she realized having a lord as a husband and an accomplished composer wasn’t as glamorous as she originally thought. She thought they would see the king, or go to the city often, see plays, throw parties. When she learned he wanted a simple life happy with his love at home she had become a shrew. He thought a baby might help settle her and at first she seemed happy with that idea. But for two years they had been trying and no baby, up until last month when she kicked him out of their marriage bed.

Sighing he blew a strand of dark hair out of his face and stopped for a rest at the stream where Shadow guzzled down some water and started grazing on the grass near the stream he was content, spreading out his small breakfast simple fresh baked bread, cheese, an apple he fed to Shadow, and a poached egg he munched on it as he stared into the water. Oddly his mind turned to the sweet stable boy, Nathan if his mind served him correct, he had asked the cook what the name of the boy was. He wondered how the kid was and if he liked the shirts that were given to him. After about lunch time he headed back home and upstairs to work leaving Shadow to another one of the stable boys, he didn’t see Nathan but it was just as well he had some letters to answer and didn’t have time to chat.

As he was heading downstairs to grab something quick to eat for dinner having missed lunch entirely, Rosaline was out at her friends again, one of the servant girls ran up to him her face red at having to address the master of the house. He hated that some found him so unapproachable, he smiled at the dark haired girl who looked no more than twelve, she worked in the kitchen he remembered seeing her there before. “Deep breath little one what is it?” he asked smiling kindly at the young girl, after tripping over her tongue a few times she explained what she had seen. The smile disappeared and a hard glint took its place. “The manor is so big I know a lot of our servants live here or he could have stayed in the loft over the stables the other stable hand does. He is under my protection I will not have my workers hurt so not while I can help it” he had the young girl lead him towards Nathan’s house.

Thanking the girl made her go red in the face and she scampered off after a quick clumsy little curtsey. He sighed as he watched her run away, he wanted children to fill the silent halls of his home, or at least laughter, not the yelling Rosaline was so prone to. The house was run down, not something he would consider living in, pushing open the door he found Nathan on his bed bruised and bloody. “Nathan come with me we shall get you cleaned up, and I don’t want you staying here anymore. You’ll come live in the manor there’s plenty of space. I hate having all that space and no one to share it with other then a crazy wife and servants who act as though I’m the big bad wolf” it was an order but said gently so he wouldn’t seem overbearing. He decided then and there that he would be more involved with his home, he was done having it feel like everyone was tiptoeing around his wife, she ran the house yes but he was the true master.

Nathan was sitting on his bed, trying to clean up his multiple wounds when the master himself came busting through his door. He got all weepy. "I'm sorry sir! I didn't mean to lose the shirt..I just got beat up by really mean men and they took it from me!" He cried, but stopped as the man spoke. He was going to let Nathanial live in the manner? "O sir!" He cried, jumping up and kissing the man's hand. (hugging him would've gotten Nathan's blood all over him.) "I'm so greatful! I've heard your home is a most beautiful place." He took the blanket from the bed and then went with the man. He had no other belongings other than the clothes he was wearing. As they got closer, he became highly excited, humming a tune as he walked. He saw Sarah and waved to her. Today sure was a good day aside from having the tar beat from him.

Sarah watched the two and grinned, her mind immediately sinking to the gutter. So Nathan was going with the master into the house? What did that mean? Was her little fantasy a reality? And what the hell had happened to that child's face? No doubt he'd been beat up by jealous idiots. That's the way a lot of the men were around here. She went in as well, going up to where the mistress was to help sew her new dress. She hated dealing with that bitch. Just as she was going to go up, the woman came down, staring at Nathan with disgust. "Why would you bring this filth into my home?!" She yelled, yanking at Nathan's wrist and terrifying the youth. "M-M-Ma'am in sorry...I don't mean to be so filthy..I got beaten up." She cupped his face to inspect him. "Hm. You're actually not that bad. Eliza!" She called and a woman ran in. "Clean up this child. Be sure he is dressed nicely." She ran off with Nathan to do as we commanded. "It seems you do know what you're doing at times. He'll make a most wonderful little servant for me." She smiled as he was brought back in, shiny and dressed up in very nice clothing that fit his figure nicely. "Mm." The mistress inspected him very carefully. "Blonde hair..gorgeous brown eyes..well. You're a rarity aren't you. Quite a jewel." Nathan shuttered, looking at his master. Was this what his master had wanted him here for? He'd do what he was told. "Ma'am..I'm just a lowly horse keeper..I don't know how to--" She cut him off. "I'll teach you. First rule, do not speak until told to. You are not my equal and will not speak to me as if you are. Now, do you understand?" He wasn't sure if that was his cue to talk. "Boy! Answer me!" "Y-Yes ma'am!!" He answered frantically, terrified of this woman.

It was a long moment before Thomas said anything, maybe letting him serve his wife would work out better for the both of them, though one look at the lad’s face told him otherwise. The boy Nathan was terrified of Rosaline, for good reason. “I didn’t bring him here for you to use Rosy” he said in a soft voice using the nickname he knew she hated with a burning passion. It was why he used it at all. “He’s here to become my little helper after all unlike you I don’t have personal servants.” He was thinking fast now lying on his feet. He hadn’t really thought of what Nathan would do in the house, he assumed just live down in the kitchens and continue with the work he had always done before. But all cleaned up like this, brought about the idea, that and saving him from the horror of his wife. Her lips pursed, her body taking on a posture he knew well. She was angry at losing a new little plaything, but Thomas was having none of it. He hadn’t brought the kid into this house so he could be at the mercy of this wolf in sheep’s clothes, otherwise known as his wife.

“One can never have enough helpers Thomas!” she snapped her voice rising in pitch along with her anger, “I am the mistress of this household and your wife, you’re just going to have to find another helper because he is the one I want” truth was she could probably find another servant to help her, not that she needed it, easily. But, she wanted Nathan now with a burning passion, simply because Thomas was trying to take him away. “You overstep your bounds woman” Thomas said softly, that soft voice said it all for Rosaline. She had angered him, Thomas was never a yeller, he was one of those who you couldn’t tell he was mad unless you knew him, and when he did get mad, he was scary. “You are mistress of this household and are accorded the proper respect, but never forget who is master here I let you take to many liberties around here. A failing on my part, one I intend to remedy, I have not paid as much attention to the inner workings of my house as I should, I assumed you had it all under control. Well I was wrong” he placed his hand on Nathan’s shoulder steering the boy away towards his own rooms. “He is my helper Rosy, do well to remember that” she shivered as though an icy draft had just blown through the room. Thomas had a cold anger it’s what made him so dangerous, because he kept his head when angry unlike his wife who just blew up a hot angry ball of passion.

“That was unexpected” Thomas closed the door to his room softly looking down at the newly washed and dressed former stable boy who was now his personal servant. “I apologize about that, seems you are now my personal servant. Not what I was intending on but it works well enough. Long as you don’t mind” he perched on the end of his bed and looked around the room. It was messy, sheets of music littered the desk, clothes in little piles on the floor, bed unmade. He was a little embarrassed though he wasn’t sure why, “so you sleep here in these rooms, there’s a small room with a bed adjoined to this one” he showed the small but comfy room that would be Nathan’s “I’ve never had need of a personal anything before but I assume you would rather be at my right hand then you would my wife, feel free to speak freely with me. You have a mouth and a mind use it”

The argument drew a good bit of attention from the other servants, getting stares. Nathaniel cringed a little. He didn't like all of the attention. "I'm scared.." He whispered, hiding behind the master. He was glad when the angry woman had to back off. He followed the master up to the rooms, looking at the room he was supposed to stay in. "Wow! Sir! This is such a nice place." He said. He looked completly enchanted. "That's such a huge bed..." His eyes were really wide with excitement. He turned very ubruptly and hugged the man, quite litteraly crying tears of joy. "I'll do anything sir!" He said, not knowing how to process all that was going on.

After weeping and being really emotional for a while, he went and made up the bed and started to clean. "Oh, sir, I'd never talk like I was your equal!" he seemed horrified. "That would be a terrible thing to do. Youre the master, I'm simply a humble servant." He tried to keep his clothes clean while he cleaned the room. "I can cook and clean..I'll help with anything you'd like me too." He promised. He was determined to be the most loyal servant ever.

Rosaline was still very angry about losing a new boy toy. She liked that child. He was cute and she liked attractive men. He was supposed to be hers, not her husband's servant. She had to get him. She wouldn't give up. She glared, holding her chin in her hand as she thought. She'd begun to hate her husband more and more over the years. She needed to get rid of him. She gritted her teeth. "I need to be in control." She grinned. Killing him seemed a good thing to do.

Thomas rifled through the documents on his desk, there were three of real importance. One was his will stating that upon his death everything would be left to not his wife, as most assumed, but to his nephew in the event that he didn’t have children. He wouldn’t leave his beloved house to this woman who wouldn’t treat the servants with any kindness. It was also stated that the servants were to be kept on and treated with respect or the house and the grounds would be voided and the money and everything with it put into the safekeeping of his lawyer to give out to family on the list Thomas had given him. He wasn’t leaving anything to his wife, she could just go on back home to her decrepit father and harsh as nails mother.

The next document was a set of divorce papers he had received not very long ago. He had hoped to fix this sham of a marriage, he wanted a happy family, children running around the house, laughter filling these lonely halls with their melody. But his wife was not the mothering sort, she had made that very clear with her treatment of the servants children. She hated kids, and he saw no reason to try and fix things anymore. Though in truth he was loathe to divorce when there was a chance things could work out for the better, in the beginning he had love her. Maybe a tendril of love for the shrew still remained, despite her repeated acts of adultery, and treatment of his servants.

The third document was a letter he had received from the minister who wrote up the papers, in it was stated that because of Rosaline’s repeated infidelities, and the fact that she had not been pure when they had first wed, their marriage could be dissolved if he so wished it. It was a card up his sleeve how quickly she could be sent back home, what her father would do with her, he had no idea. “A convenient would be good for her, the lying cheat” he mumbled scooping up the precious papers and locking them away in his desk. Turning he caught sight of Nathan he had almost forgotten the boy. “I would stay pretty much attached to my side for awhile, Rosaline… well she doesn’t like not getting her way. She might… try something” reaching over he pet the boy’s hair lightly smiling at him. “I hope you will be happy with me”

He watched carefully and wondered what was wrong with Thomas. "Are you ok sir?" He asked softly. "I Wish there was someone to make you happy sir. Someone who could give you what you need. It must be awful to have to sleep alone all of the time." He had a look on his face that suggested he was thinking. "Sir? Would you like me to try and find you a new wife? I can look for kind beautiful women if you'd like. That way you could have someone to love and to please you the way the lady is supposed to." He hoped he wasn't being to forward with what he was saying. "I just want to help Mr.Tomas sir." He looked extremely innocent, eyes wide and caring. He listened when he was warned about Rosaline. "She won't hurt me will she?" He sounded afraid.

Rosaline came in and stared at her husband with anger. "I need to speak with you." She said, glaring unhappily. "Without you." She said, glaring at Nathan in a way that had him running out of the room. "Why can't I have what I want?" She asked with a pout. "You don't even need a servant." she didn't even know that he was planning on leaving her out of the will and voiding their marriage. "you're my husband! Don't you love me enough to let me be happy?" She was being a complete bitch, and had a knife behind her back to stab him if he refused.

As soon as he left the room, Nathan was nabbed by Rosaline's other servants, dragged off to her room to be dressed scantily and forced to do whatever he was asked. He screamed as loud as he could, calling for Thomas. He was afraid and had no idea what that woman would do to him. She was crazy it seemed an all he wanted was to be back with his kind master.

As a gentleman he was truly against hurting a woman’s feelings, or being rude to them, but there were exceptions to every rule. He hated how his wife believed he was so enamored of her, so taken with her beauty that he couldn’t see her for the evil little bitch she really was. “A year ago I would have said with conviction that yes I am your husband and your happiness is my own. I’m a little wiser then I was a year ago. So no Rosy, I don’t love you. What is there to love? Your shrewdness? The fact that you treat the servants like scum? The fact that you kicked me out of your bed but still expect me to be a puppet for you to play with? I’m sorry to disappoint wife, but I don’t give a rat’s ass if you’re happy or not.” Thomas was never a man to become angry very quickly, but he was now in fact livid. Standing there talking to his wife had him realizing that not only didn’t he love her any longer he in fact hated the selfish cow that stood before him.

Rosaline’s mouth opened and closed a few times surprise etched on her beautiful face, the hand that clutched the knife behind her back tensed the knuckles going white from the force of her hold. “E-excuse me?” she demanded her voice haughty if a little unsure of herself. Thomas had never spoken to her like this before she wasn’t exactly sure how to take it. Calmly his face a mask he said “is there something you didn’t understand?” A fierce hot rage tore through her body “there is many a loveless marriage out there Thomas this is just one of them. Better to just give me what I want it’s easier for us both” shaking his head she watched dumbfounded as he unlocked the desk and pulled out a few sheets of paper, it didn’t even cross her mind to use the knife hidden behind her back. “What is that?” she asked angry all over again because the look on his face said he pitied her.

“These my unfaithful wife are divorce papers, about a week or two ago I received them. I had hoped to work this marriage out, but even I know when something is a lost cause” sighing he flipped through the papers checking to be sure everything was in order. “All I have to do is send the papers to get authorized and then you are officially out of my hair, out of my house, and out of my life. It doesn’t need your consent, you lost that when you started sleeping around. Now if you don’t mind I’ll be taking Nathan back we have work to do” he was blindsided by the knife as it came down into his chest, being who she was there wasn’t too much force behind the blow and she missed her target, but the knife was still forced in pretty deep. His hands closed around her wrist as she yanked the knife out and prepared to stab him again, clearly she didn’t plan for what happened if she didn’t get him the first time, even wounded he was still stronger then her. In the end she was pinned under him, blood lose made his face pale, but he didn’t let up. “Well this can be added to the list of reasons to divorce you” sweat soaked the hair to his pale forehead, the blood from his chest wound dripping down and staining her dress.