The Apprentice

Frank was irritable. He had been searching everywhere for the soot boy, he would never call him the soot master, so that he could take his aggression out on him. No one seemed to know where he was. Frank finally went to check down the servant wing to see if he skipped out on his duty at the party.

Gerard had taken the last of the plates down to the kitchen, where Elena had told him to go to his room to rest, as she had plenty of staff to handle the washing up. He was on his way when he ran into Frank...literally.

"Sorry sir, I'm so so sorry."

Well it wasn't the boy he was looking for, but he would take this one in his place.

"Gerard was it?"

"Yessir."

"What are you doing down here? Were you sent by someone?"

Frank wondered if he was looking for another servant...or servant girl.

"I was sent to rest sir."

"And whose room are you going to rest in?"

"Uh...I have a room just down there."

Gerard pointed down a hallway a couple feet away.

"Wait...you work for me? Why have I never seen you before?"

Gerard knew that Frank hadn't recognised him before.

"Y-you ‘ave sir."

"Tell me when?"

"Many times sir...but I's not normally dressed like this sir."

Frank is even more intrigued now. Gerard stood waiting for abuse, or permission to leave.

"What's your position?"

Before Gerard could say anything else another servant arrived.

"M'Lord, you are wanted by your mother."

Gerard let out a quiet sigh of relief...hopefully he could remain anonymous.

"Yes yes, tell her I’m coming."

Frank looked back at the mysterious servant and then left. Gerard sighed again then headed to his room.

*

*

*

Lady Iero was sat in her salon, relaxing now that the party was over. She heard the knock on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened and her personal maid stepped inside.

"Your son is on his way ma'am."

"Thank you. Tell him to come straight in when he arrives."

"Yes ma'am."

The maid left and Lady Iero waited. Frank grumbled as he watched the party ending. He had managed to avoid too many dances, but he still felt like he was on display. He arrived at his mother's salon and knocked.

"Come in Frank."

Frank walked in and made an effort to smile.

"Yes mother?"

Linda looked up with a tired smile. She patted the spot next to her on the edge of her bed.

"Come, tell me. I saw you talking to Lord Cavendish's daughter, Emily. She's very pretty...don't you think?"

Frank inwardly groaned.

"She was nice, but she mostly talked about her father’s hunting dogs."

"Oh, well what about that girl with the yellow dress? I didn't catch her name."

"Oh, the one that her father is the proud owner of several funeral Parlors."

Linda shuddered slightly.

"Ah, well perhaps not then..."

She sipped her cup of tea then looked at Frank again.

"So was there anyone that caught your eye tonight Frank?"

"Actually...I wanted to ask about a boy that was there."

Linda raised an eyebrow at her son, teacup pausing an inch from her lips.

"A boy Frank, you were supposed to be getting to know the young ladies."

"You asked me if anyone caught my eye tonight and I told you."

Linda sighed.

"But a boy Frank..."

She shook her head disappointedly.

"I tolerate your having 'fun' Frank, but it is time for you to settle down, and you cannot do that with a boy."

"So you are clearly not interested in what I have to say then."

Frank stood up and bowed to his mother then left the room. He went to where the party was held and saw that everything was back in order. He heard a cough and saw a cloud of black. Frank smirked.

"Perfect."

Gerard had seen the fire become low early during the evening, and had decided that once the guests had left, he would go and see to it...before someone ordered him up there.

He was about two foot up inside the chimney as he tried to dislodge a blockage. He suspected another dead bird, but he was having trouble reaching it. He was going to have to climb a little higher.

Frank walked over to where the fireplace was. He was about the give the boy a fright when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Patrick had seen Frank walking toward the fireplace with a look in his eye, and knew this could only mean trouble.

"Frank, could we speak please? I hate that we're arguing."

Gerard heard Master Stump's muffled voice in the room below him. He heard Frank's name and froze, holding his breath and hoping that Master Stump would draw Frank away. He could feel soot in his throat and knew he was going to have a coughing fit any moment. He hoped they left quickly.

Frank looked back at Patrick and then at the fireplace. He sighed.

"Yes, come to my salon, we'll have a drink."

Patrick smiled and patted Frank on the back before steering him from the room. Once the room was quiet, Gerard started to cough violently, but finally got himself under control without falling back down the chimney, then got back to work.

***Time Stamp: July***

It was hot and Frank was irritable. Since the party more eligible ladies had been round for tea or a surprise visit...that was never a surprise. It had been annoying to say the least and Frank was tired of it all. Jamia and Lindsey were off on a family holiday so there was no one around to help with his misery. He snapped at servants left and right, especially the soot boy.

*

*

*

Gerard knew that all of the chimneys throughout the large house were due their annual cleaning about now, and that Robert used to ask for permission to get help as it was way too much work for just the two of them. It was now just Gerard, and as the current soot master, the responsibility sat firmly on his shoulders...and he was too nervous to make the request for help. He would just have to do it all himself. The stress of the job was getting to him so he was barely eating now, so at least he was thin enough to climb up nice and high...like he was now. Gerard was about eight feet up the chimney in the library when his left foot slipped. He shrieked slightly, fingers grabbing at the greasy bricks, and then...he stopped falling.

Gerard sighed in relief and wriggled to get back to where he'd been before the slip. His heart nearly went to his throat when he realised that he couldn't move...he was stuck! His bony left hip had somehow become wedged, and now he didn't know what to do...maybe cry?

*

*

*

Frank had just left the kitchen. He actually yelled at Elena because they had not baked any bread due to the heat, but he had wanted it. Frank knew he was wrong, but then again, these are his servants. Still Linda heard him and stood up for Elena. Now Frank was more irritable than he was before. He went into the library to find a book to ease his mind.

Gerard was trying not to panic, because he knew that would do no good. He had wriggled and shuffled and sucked in his non-existent belly...but nothing was working, and by the chimes of the Grandfather clock in the library, he knew he had been stuck there for more than three hours, and no one had come into the room until now. He heard footsteps and took a shaky breath before calling out.

" 'ello?...is anybody out there?...I's stuck."

Frank was just settling down to read his book when he heard a muffed voice.

"Hello?"

Gerard couldn't hear who it was, just that it was someone...the first someone he'd heard in hours.

"Please, can y' 'elp me?...I's stuck in the chimney."

He called, coughing on soot a little. Frank strained to hear the voice. It was high pitched like a girl, but reminded him of someone. Gerard tried to adjust his position a little, as he was in quite a bit of discomfort.

"Ahh!"

He cried out as he felt the edge of a brick grating painfully across his skin. Frank heard that. He jumped out of his seat and followed the noise. It was coming from the fireplace. He realised he missed all the cleaning supplies. It must be the soot boy.

"Well well Cinderella, what are you doing up there?"

Gerard almost groaned out loud when he realised who he had just asked for help. He held it in and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before answering.

"I’s cleaning Sir. I slipped and now I's stuck."

Frank couldn't help it.

"You're...stuck?"

"Yessir."

Gerard muttered, quietly banging his head back against the bricks.

"Well...that is a shame huh? So now what?"

Gerard felt tears slip from his eyes. Why couldn't it have been someone else...anyone else.

"Err...could you...err..."

He chewed on his lip. He didn't want to ask.

"I'm sorry, you have to speak a little louder Cinderella, I can't hear you."

Gerard swallowed then sighed.

"Could y' get Michael t' come 'elp me Sir?...please?"

"Michael? Now why would you want him?"

" 'e could fetch the soot master from the Cavendish estate Sir."

"He could...but it would take him a few hours and then that is time that he did not get his work done...although I don't believe he actually does anything."

Gerard shifted again, feeling a sharp pain in his side...he wasn't certain, but he thought that maybe he had cracked a rib...or two.

"Sir please?"

Gerard gasped slightly.

"Begging now are we? It's very unbecoming to beg you know Cinderella. I guess I could go and find someone to help you...after I take my afternoon nap. You can hold on till then right?"

Frank chuckled and left the room closing the door. Gerard tried to stay calm, but after a couple breaths that were about as deep as he could semi-comfortably take, he burst into great racking sobs. They hurt his ribs even more, but he was becoming pretty much inconsolable now...and he was also becoming a bit light headed.

*

*

*

"Gerard, ya in 'ere?"

Donna had been looking for her son for hours now. She had checked all the rooms and out in the garden, but had no luck. Finally she checked the library.

"Gerard?"

Gerard opened his eyes slowly...had he fallen asleep?...he didn't remember.

"M-ma?"

He croaked out quietly, his throat feeling raw and thick with soot. He coughed, wincing at the pain it caused him.

"Gerard?"

Donna thought he heard her son’s voice.

"Ma I's *cough*...I's stuck ma."

Donna ran over to the fireplace.

"Son! What...'ow long yet been there!?"

"Wha' time's it ma?"

Donna looked at the large grandfather clock.

"Its 'alf past seven. It's why I was lookin' fer ya. Yer missed supper."

Gerard gasped slightly.

"I started in 'ere at about one ma."

He said weakly. He really didn't feel too good right now.

"Gerard, I can barely 'ear you. I'm gonna get someone to 'elp ya."

Gerard heard her footsteps leaving as darkness crowded his vision once again.

"Ma..."

He breathed as he slipped back into unconsciousness.

"Donald!"

Donna ran across the yard to where the gardener's hut was. She saw Michael grabbing a wheel barrel.

"Michael, where's Don?"

"Whoa, slow down there Donna, wha's going on?"

"Gerard...it's Gerard, ‘e's stuck in the library chimney. I...I think he's ‘urt too."

"Fuck, dad's in the ‘ut, I'll go keep the kid company and let ‘im know ‘elp is comin!"

Donna nodded and hugged Michael and then they ran in opposite directions. Michael ran to the house. He didn't care how dirty he was this time; he had to get to the boy. He ran into the kitchen door.

"Michael, what's going on?"

"It's Gee Elena, ‘e's stuck in a chimney."

"OH no! I knew he was getting too skinny!"

Elena went to find the lady of the house and Michael ran through the parlor to the library.

Frank stretched from his nap. He really didn't mean to take one, but it felt good. He walked out of his salon and headed to find something to eat. He heard commotion coming from the east wing where the library was. He saw his mother holding Elena.

"What's going on?"

No one answered him so he moved into the doorway. There he saw Donald and Michael in the fire place. Donna was frantic ordering them to be careful. Frank then remembered the conversation he had with the soot boy.

"I was cleaning Sir. I slipped and now I's stuck."

"You're...stuck?"

"Yessir."

"Well...that is a shame huh? So now what?"

Slight guilt crept in as he saw that his mother was distressed too, but he didn't understand that.

"I got him!"

Michael pulled the limp body of the soot boy out of the enclosure. He was darker than Frank had ever seen him.

"My baby!"

"Back Donna, he's swallowed the soot, we need to clear his lungs out."

"I'll do it!"

Michael ran over to the boy...who was getting everything dirty including Frank's favorite chair. He inwardly groaned at having to get rid of it. He'll just make the soot boy clean it, if he survives. Frank watched as Michael got on his knees as Donald laid the boy down. He placed his mouth over the boy’s mouth pushing air into it and pressing on his chest.

"Come on Gee, come on, don't die on me!"

Michael did it a few more times and then the boy coughed violently. He turned to the side and spewed black vomit. Frank was disgusted. He turned to his mother.

"Mother, you don’t have to be here for this."

Linda looked at Frank.

"Hush now, of course I do. This is part of being a Lord and taking care of your property."

Frank could tell that she was disappointed in him. Another servant ran in.

"I ‘as the bath ready musses."

Frank was shocked, his mother was going to let that thing bathe in her salon?

"Michael bring him to...Anthony's salon."

Frank did a double take. His father's!?

"Mother no! Why would you want that disgusting creature in father's room?! He's not worthy of...”

*crack*

Everyone froze. Frank held his cheek as he looked at the hand that slapped him.

"If my grandson dies because of this, I promise you I will haunt you for the rest of your existence!"

"Mother!"

Elena collapsed in Linda's arms. Two other servants ran over.

"Put her in my salon."

They picked her up and did as they were told. Linda turned to her son.

"I do not know how I ever raised such an uncaring or unfeeling human being as you Frank."

Linda dismissed her son as Michael carried the boy from the room to the west wing where the bedrooms were.

"Donald...I'm goin' to lose ‘im."

"No Donna, you're not."

"He's all I ‘ave!"

"You ‘ave Elena, and Michael...and me."

Donald looked down at the frightened girl. He held her tightly.

"We are not going to lose ‘im."

Linda listened to the conversation. She saw how broken up Donald was like Donna.

"You need to go to him. He needs his parents."

Donna had forgotten that her Mistress was even there.

"I...I'm..."

"Later, we will talk, right now, the boy is most important."

Both Donna and Donald bowed to her and then left.

"Wait...Donald is..."

Linda ignored Frank and headed to her room to check on Elena. Frank was left alone to stand and ponder all he saw.

*

*

*

"Come on Gee, you're gonna be alright."

Michael splashed water over Gerard's body and face. He cleared out his nostrils and wiped his face. The water had to be changed twice now. He was careful not to make a mess in the Master's salon though.

"Come on Gee, talk to me."

Gerard's eyes fluttered slightly, but nothing more. He was in darkness, a warm soft darkness that held him close and whispered to him, calling him in. He couldn't make out words, or who was speaking, but he would've been certain that he was dead...if it were not for the pain that he seemed unable to escape. Frank walked to his father's salon. He still didn't understand the fuss or why his mother would let a servant slap him...even if it was Elena. He walked in and saw Michael on his knees with Donald and Donna standing by. He could not see the soot boy's face. Gerard felt pain through every inch of his thin body, but most prominently around his ribs, stomach and hips. He wanted to scream out, but all that escaped his lips was a weak groan.

"Gee, oh thank God."

Michael pulled the boy into his chest.

Tears slid down Gerard's cheeks. He wasn't certain who was holding him, as he still couldn't make out voices clearly and couldn't open his eyes...but he wished they would let him go, because if hurt way too much right now.

"Baby..."

Donna had not called her son that in years.

"Baby...wake up, come on, I 'ave some good news for y'."

Gerard whimpered. He could hear talking, but couldn't seem to break out of the darkness.

"Son...please open your eyes."

Gerard was trying to wake up, he really was...but it was like he was trapped in a nightmare.

"M...ma..."

"Son..."

Michael watched as his father let go of her and she got down on her knees.

"Son...please, open your eyes."

Gerard coughed weakly, whimpering as it sent spikes of pain through his rib cage. He tried again to open his eyes and managed for a second before they slipped closed again.

"I'm going to lose my son."

Donna was in despair. Frank saw a servant coming up the way toward him.

"The doctor is ‘ere."

Frank was in shock.

"Mother sent for him?"

"Yes, ‘e was checking on Elena and now is coming ‘ere."

As he spoke the doctor arrived.

"Well Frank, nice to see you again."

"You as well Doctor."

"Is my patient in here?"

"Yes, but are you aware who it is?"

"Oh yes, I remember all my babies."

He smiled at Frank and then entered.

"Well what's going on here?"

Donna looks up surprised.

"Doctor?"

"Donna."

He nodded and then moved to the bath where Gerard was. He carefully examined him in the cloudy water.

"Well this is not good, but not as bad as it could be. He has contusions and a cracked rib."

"Oh no!"

"Calm down Donna, let's get him out of the bath and to the bed...gently."

"I'll move ‘im"

Donald gets down and scoops the boy up.

Gerard shook and gasped as he was suddenly cold and in more pain simultaneously.

"Wrap him up."

Frank watched as the boy was carried to his father's bed. No one had slept in it since the man left for the front lines almost three years ago. They laid him down and Frank heard his groan. He moved into the room more so he could see better. The doctor was examining the boy as Donald, Donna, and Michael hovered close by.

"His hip bone is damaged as well. I can set them both though."

"Thank you doctor."

Gerard's eyes fluttered open, rolling around without really seeing. He felt like he was in a dream...a very painful dream.

"He inhaled a lot of soot though so I am not sure how his lungs will be. He may have breathing problems."

Gerard's eyes slipped shut again as a racking cough shook his fragile body. Black spit, dotted with red flew from his lips.

"Will ‘e..."

"He will be weak, but he is a strong willed boy, so I believe he will make it. I will advise the Lord and Lady though that he is not to continue being a soot apprentice..."

"Oh, 'e is the master now."

"Well I would congratulate him but…now, please clear the room so I can work."

Frank watched everyone move and he finally got to see the soot boy.

"Gerard."

Everyone spun around.

"My Lord."

Donna bowed as did Donald. Michael stood with his arm crossed.

"M' Lord, you will need to find a new soot master."

Frank was too in shock to hear anything. His Cinderella was the beautiful servant Gerard that he met at the party. Gerard heard his name like a bell through the fog. His eyes opened again, head rolling to the side. He saw Frank for a moment...and then he passed out again.

Notes

Hi there chipmunks...how's you?

So, Frank finally knows that Gerard from the party, is the little soot boy he's loved tormenting for so long...do you think he'll change his attitude toward him know he knows?
And poor Gerard had a bad time didn't he...do you think he'll be ok?

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