Beloved of Science

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

Burton sat at the dining table and waited. A headache was developing behind his eyes and his mood was quickly deteriorating. He rubbed his eyes and wondered what was taking so long.

[animerider223]

"Emma, please go and explain the hold up." Ms. Weatherbee directed, yelling at Lizzy to run to the cellar and hussle up! Emma entered the dinning room, finding Mr. DeTamble waiting at his seat.

"There was an accident and your dinner is not quite ready." She apologized.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Mm? How long, then?" he mumbled.

[animerider223]

"I am unsure. Would you like a drink?" she asked, trying to make the situation a little better.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Yes. A red wine, please." It would help him sleep. He groaned and leaned his head into his palm.

[animerider223]

"Yes, sir." She went to the wine cupboard, pulling out a bottle of red wine. It clanked musically as she pulled it out. The cork was difficult to pull out, but she managed. She held it out, pulling his cup closer to her and carefully filled it.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

He mumbled a thank you. "Leave the bottle here, please," he said, and sipped his drink.

He couldn't help but be frustrated. It would always happen like this. He would feel fresh and motivated in the morning, and then after some work he would lose his steam and take a nap, which always gave him headaches, and left him half-dead in the brain the rest of the day. Tonight he would drink himself into a stupor and spend tomorrow waiting out a hangover and probably get no work done. Why did he always let himself do this?
Deep down, he knew why.

[animerider223]

"Yes, sir." She left, wondering if his behavior was always so... down. She returned to the kitchen, where some of the choas had died down. "Lizzy, take the bread out, Emma, get the soup." Lizzy took the pan of bread and gracefully took it out. Emma hefted the soup and followed, placing it in the middle of the table. She took the ladle, offering to fill his bowl.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

He wordlessly pushed the bowl towards her so she could fill it. Ms. Weatherbee came in with the side dishes on a tray and put it next to his place setting. "Move your elbow, dear," she told Burton, who placed his hands in his lap and waited, patiently enough. He thought that the wine should start to affect him soon. He was beginning to feel a little numb.

[animerider223]

Emma filled his bowl with the steaming liquid, only half. She returned the ladle into the pot, and deciding her job done, went back into the kitchen. Mary and Lizzy were still removing the mess, but it was mostly done. Emma went to fetch some water, not hard as the rain was providing an ample supply. She placed it over the fire to warm it up to clean the dishes, deciding also to heat up a kettle. Maybe they'd all enjoy a cup of tea. She sat and watched the fire lick the pots, the water swirling around as it warmed up. She wondered if maybe Ms. Weatherbee's first name was Anne... That could be it. She had stated she had been here a long time, maybe they were more informal with each other.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

Burton ate, not lingering to enjoy the taste. As soon as he finished, he picked up the wine bottle and hobbled upstairs.

[animerider223]

"Girls, would you go clear the table." Ms. Weatherbee came into the room, bringing the soup in with her. "He could sit around and enjoy my food once in a while it wouldnt kill him.." she muttered. Emma jumped up, and with Lizzy helping stacked up the plate and bowl, with the forks and knives and spoons. It was a balancing act and Emma feared she might be as clumsy as Mary. She made it though, setting the dinner ware safely down on the table. Emma noticed that the cup and wine were no longer in the dinning room, and she wondered if the Master was a drunkard. That would be horrible. To work for a man with drinking problems. My how her mind seemed to go against this place. Made Emma wonder just was what going on here in the DeTamble House.

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

After soaking the dirty dishes in the sink, Ms. Weatherbee groaned and stretched her back. "Ohh, I've been on my feet all day. Girls, would you mind finishing up for me?" She lowered herself into a chair and put up her feet. "Thank you...So, Emma. How has your first day at the Manor been?" Ms. Weatherbee asked. "What are your first impressions?"

[animerider223]

Emma rolled up her sleeves, dunking in a bowl in the warm water. "It has been enjoyable. Different from the usual." Emma answered. "Mr. DeTamble is certainly a character that will take me some time to get used to."

[PepsiNarcolepsy]

"Yes..." Ms. Weatherbee said quietly. She pondered a moment. "I hope you can excuse him for his...aloofness. He's depressed. He's been this way for some time. Although he's been cheerier lately, it seems- he has a new project he's been working on and it keeps him preoccupied," she explained.