The Apprentice

***Time Stamp: Two Weeks Later***

"Please please you have to save me!"

Frank had never begged for anything in his life, and now he was desperate on his knees in front of one of his best childhood friends.

"Please Lindsey."

Lindsey giggled.

"Oh Frank, don't be so dramatic...it's just a party."

"No it’s not just a party! She's going to parade me around for eligible girls!"

"Wouldn't you like that Frank?"

Lindsey teased.

Frank refrained from using vulgar language because Patrick was there and would give him a lecture.

"Come on Lindsey. You and me Patrick and Jamia. No one will bother us that way."

Jamia and Patrick looked at each other for a moment then burst out laughing.

"We should switch that Frank..."

Jamia giggled.

"That would be like I'm dancing with my brother...no offence Patrick."

"None taken, and I agree..."

Patrick stepped over to Lindsey and put his arm around her waist.

"So how about it Lin?...you and I..."

He looked at Frank.

"...then Frank and Jamia can act like a couple for the evening."

"I'm happy with that..."

Lindsey giggled.

"Frank?...will that suit your needs and keep your mother at bay?"

"I can only hope. Ugh, I hate this so much. Why did he have to go and die and ruin my life. Everything was perfect before this."

"Frank!..."

Patrick clipped Frank around the back of his head sharply.

"Do not talk like that...he was your father, and I know you're angry...but I also know that you love and miss him..."

He raised an eyebrow at Frank.

"Don't try to deny it."

Frank just grumbled and sat next to Jamia. Jamia put her arm around his shoulders, squeezing gently.

"It still hurts, but it will get easier...just don't push everyone away before then...alright?"

"Pardon us."

The soot master appeared with his apprentice. Frank could see Patrick pleading with his eyes, but nothing made him feel better than picking on the soot boy.

"Well now Cinderella, how is your back? Anymore incidents involving wood? "

Robert’s eyes went wide and he looks at Gerard. The boy looked down. Robert claimed the need to clean another room and left Gerard to their Master's mercy.

"Be nice."

Patrick said, giving Frank a pointed look.

Gerard hesitated a moment, unsure if he should start on this chimney, or go to another. Frank just rolled his eyes and looked to the girls for support.

"Is he the one you told us about Frank?..."

Lindsey giggled, eyeing the boy as she left Patrick's side and walked over to where Gerard was stood, just inside the doorway. She did a circle around him, then walked back to Frank.

"I see what you mean."

She laughed. Patrick frowned...he was used to Frank's nastiness toward the boy, but he hadn't expected either of the girls to join in. Gerard wanted to just leave, or begin his task, but with all eyes on him, he couldn't unless he was dismissed.

"Oh yes and was I right? I mean look at his face. Only a mother could love it, a pretty shame that he didn't get her looks. Must look like the cad that knocked her up and then ran off."

Lindsey giggled.

"He probably looks even worse without the soot...maybe it's a good thing he's covered in it."

Gerard swallowed, a heavy feeling in his chest.

*

*

*

Michael was on his way to see Lady Iero. He had a question from his father to ask about some plants she requested for the summer festivities. He was passing the drawing room when he heard the telltale cackle of the boy he hated most. He stopped and looked in. Gerard was surrounded by Frank and two of his friends. Hussy's they were the lot of them. They were taunting him and Mikey could see the boy was scared. Frank's other friend, the one Michael thought was alright and that he knew for a bit before he and Frank...Michael shook that off.

" 'ere, wat's goin' on in 'ere?"

Gerard looked up at his friend's voice. He was grateful for the distraction, but he didn't want Michael to get in trouble. He shook his head urgently at him, trying to tell him with his eyes to just walk away.

"What's it to you? Look at you two, the dirt twins. Oh, but you can't be twins cause you have no mum and he has no dad. Guess we could allow your parents to marry, but I don’t think that the gardener wants another ugly child."

Frank started to laugh at how upset the soot servant was getting. What he didn't expect was to get grabbed by Michael and pushed.

"You leave 'im alone you foul urchin. You 'ave no faver either now."

"Yes, which means I am the man of the house and I can get rid of you."

Frank sneered at the young man figuring he would back off. Instead he advanced on him.

"Try it...Lord Iero."

Patrick saw it was getting out of hand quickly and decided he couldn't wait any longer.

"ENOUGH!..."

He hollered, standing with his fists clenched at his sides as the room fell silent and everyone turned to look at him.

"Michael...take the boy out please. I need to talk with my friends."

Michael stepped back and took Gerard's hand.

"Come on."

Michael could see him protesting getting his work done, but he still obeyed. Frank sneered at him one more time.

"You and your father will find yourself on the streets!"

"Enough Frank!..."

Patrick said, his voice strained with exasperation.

"Don't you ever get tired of being an arse?..."

He grabbed his coat from where he'd laid it over the arm of one of the chairs and shrugged into it, then picked up his hat and put it on.

"When you decide to act like a civil gentleman..."

He looked at the girls.

"...and you like ladies...then you know where to find me..."

He tipped his hat at them before heading out. At the door he turned back.

"Oh and if you fire Michael and his father just because he defended his friend from your cruelty...then I will have to reevaluate my opinion of our friendship. Good day."

Then he left.

"Spoil sport."

Frank flopped down and sulked.

"He's no fun."

Lindsey sat down on his left, Jamia on his right.

"No, he's not..."

Lindsey concurred.

"But you know your mother would be upset if you fired any more of the staff..."

She looked at him.

"How many have you dismissed this month Frank...hmm?"

"Five and that arse and his father would have been lucky number seven."

"Pardon, but 'ave ya seen me apprentice?"

The soot master stood at the door nervously. Frank watched him. Patrick said he couldn't fire the brat and his father, but he never said anything about the soot master and his apprentice.

Lindsey pouted.

"He was here, but he left."

"Oh..."

Robert saw the cleaning items still and wondered if the job was done.

"He did not complete the job if that is what you are wondering. In fact once you left, he refused to do the cleaning. I must say you are a poor task master and you have an even poorer apprentice. As Lord of the manor now, I will have to decide what to do with this behavior. You are dismissed."

Lindsey giggled, but Jamia managed to hold hers in.

"Yes M’Lord."

Robert grabbed the cleaning supplies and walked out. He would find the boy and take him up for his embarrassment.

"Oh dear, look what I have done."

Frank laughed as he pulled the ladies into his side and kissed each one's cheek.

"Shall we enjoy the fun?"

"Let's."

Lindsey smirked.

"Do you think the boy will get flogged?"

Jamia asked, barely containing the glee in her voice.

"Come on, let's go find out."

Robert had dragged Gerard to the whipping post. He had listened to the boy claim what happened, but Robert knew that they would all be punished and if he was going to lose his position, he was going to have satisfaction first.

"Ya should 'ave just gotten to work boy."

"I couldn' sir!...ask Mikey..."

He whined desperately as his hands were bound to the post.

"Please sir."

"Bit or no bit?"

Gerard hung his head in defeat.

"Bit sir."

He said quiet and resigned.

"Open up then."

Gerard lifted his face a little and opened his mouth. He kept his eyes on the ground. Robert placed the bit in and then making sure the boy was secure, he grabbed the whip.

*

*

*

Gerard was panting, tears rolling down his face as he felt lash after lash fall on his already torn back. His knees had given way beneath him and it was just the ropes around his wrists that prevented him from falling face first into the dirt. He didn't have the strength to look up as he heard footsteps approach.

"STOP!"

Michael ran up and grabbed the whip from Robert.

"What are you doing!?"

"Punishing him!"

"Why! It was all that bastard's fault, not Gee's!"

"That's no wat 'e said!"

"Master Stump was there! 'e can vouch for 'im!"

"Well 'e was not there when I arrived to be told that my position is in danger!"

"Well I will prove it then, just stop whipping 'im for fuck sake!"

Michael ran for the stables. He knew he would get in trouble, but he would not see the boy punished for something that was not his fault.

"Where is he going?"

Frank, Lindsey, and Jamia were crouched hidden behind the hedges taking great delight in watching the boy whipped. Frank was disappointed not to hear him scream. Then that bastard ran up and stopped the soot master. They argued and then he ran off toward the stables. Shortly after, he was seen galloping away on one of the estate horses.

"Well I guess he will get a whipping too when he returns."

Frank smirked,

"Come ladies, entertainment is over for now, let's have tea."

He led them into the house.

*

*

*

"Whom shall I say is calling...sir?"

Michael could feel the eyes of the butler on him. He swallowed hard, he knew he looked a sight.

"Tell 'im..."

Michael took a deep breath.

"Tell 'im Mikey Way is 'ere."

Patrick was sat in the drawing room with a glass of scotch in his hand as the boy he'd known long ago was led in by the butler. He set the drink down and stood as he saw his distressed state.

"Mikey!...what happened?"

"It's..."

Mikey was down to the end. He couldn’t hold it together any longer. He collapsed. Patrick gasped, dashing forward to catch the boy.

"Mikey?"

He scooped him up and carried him over to the sofa, laying him down gently. He looked at his butler.

"Could you fetch a glass of water please..."

He crouched next to the boy's head, lightly patting his cheek.

"Mikey, wake up."

"No Robert, please stop 'urting Gee. It wasn't 'is fault."

Michael was delirious as he lolled his head back and forth in Patrick's hands. Patrick frowned at this.

"Mikey?...wake up...tell me what's going on."

Michael woke with a start at his nick name. He saw Patrick looming over him and scrambled out of his reach, knocking him off the sofa.

"I-I-I-I beg yer pardon Master Stump, but I's needs yer 'elp."

"Calm down Mikey...just tell me what's happened."

"Fra...Lord Iero has taken 'is punishment from me and gave it to Robert, who whooped Gee instead."

"Gee?...you mean the sweep's apprentice?..."

The butler returned with a glass of water on a tray. Patrick took it with a smile and nod, then handed it to Michael as the butler left without a word.

"Here. Drink this slowly...it's just water."

Michael was used to drinking warm water from the outside pump so this tasted amazing to him. He finished the glass quickly.

Patrick chuckled slightly.

"That good?...now, you were saying...Gee?"

He reminded gently.

With the water in him Michael’s wits returned.

"Please Sir, ya 'ave to 'urry an' come wiv me! "

Patrick nodded and stood. He offered the boy his hand.

"Come, you can ride in the carriage with me...you are in no condition to ride back."

"But M’Lord's 'orse?"

Michael was protesting, but he was also allowing himself to be pulled up.

"I will have one of my staff ride it back with us..."

Patrick looked toward the window and saw rain was starting to fall.

"Let's find you a coat...I don't want you catching a chill..."

He led Michael into the hallway where he called over one of the household staff.

"Janie, could you fetch my coat, and one for my friend here please?"

The girl nodded, curtsied, then hurried away.

Michael saw the coat being brought and backed up.

"That's too good fer the likes of me."

"Nonsense..."

Patrick took both coats from the girl and turned back to face Michael.

"Now come on, I thought we were in a hurry?"

He raised an eyebrow and smirked slightly as he held one of the coats open for the boy. Michael blushed at his treatment. He was used to manual labor where he knew what he was doing, but this...this was new territory for him. he felt like a maid and...he wasn't sure how he felt about that.

Patrick sighed seeing the boy's hesitation.

"We need to go Mikey, but we're not leaving this house in the rain until you put this on...so come on."

Michael sighed and turned his back on Patrick offering his body to the coat. Patrick smiled and stepped forward, helping Michael into the coat. It sort of drowned the slim boy, but Patrick thought it looked cute on him.

"Alright, let's go."

He said, pulling on his own coat and nodding to the butler as he opened the front door for them. He put his hand on the small of Michael's back and ushered him outside.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

So we're sorry for slow updates lately, but I've been suffering major all-day migraines that have stopped me from writing as much. Hopefully my new pills will do their job to fix that, and I can get back to writing and updating properly again.

anyway...how much more do you hate Frank now than you did before...huh?

Until next time...PLEASE COMMENT, and peace out babies!
<3