“Yes, sir.” David wiped his eyes quickly.
“Good. Go then.” He stopped him when David reached out for the damn silverware. “Leave it. Don’t worry about it. You need to wash and change. That shirt is soaked, and you’re sweaty. You might catch a cold.”
With another, “Yes, sir,” David left the room.
Ethan placed his hands on the table and hunched his shoulders. The bicarbonate paste used to clean silver was spread everywhere, a testament to David’s hard work. He was the last person who could help a thirteen-year-old boy understand he and his mother were safe with him, but somehow he had to. He retired to his room and inhaled the smell of gravy and spices. He mentally thanked his cook.
David arrived in a set of fresh clothes too big for him. Ethan would have to provide something better for the boy.
“Sit.” Ethan gestured at the chair in front of him.
David perched on it, his gaze roaming the plates of food on the table.
“You must be starving. We’ll eat first and talk later, all right?”
David nodded. He did that a lot.
Ethan kept an eye on the boy as he wolfed down his portion of cured meat, bread, and roasted vegetables. Somehow, David’s appetite hurt. Ethan had slept all day while David had done chores, exhausting himself for no reason. Ethan couldn’t even enjoy his dinner. Never had he felt so… guilty although he couldn’t tell about what.
By the time David polished his plate and leant back in the chair with a satisfied exhale, Ethan hadn’t decided on a proper strategy yet.
“David.” Ethan hoped he didn’t sound too intimidating. “You and your mother are my guests and under my protection. I feel responsible for both of you. Not to mention that your mother is currently my patient. You don’t have to earn your keep, do chores, or do anything to prove to me you’re a hard worker to stay here. Is that clear?”
David fiddled with his hands covered by the too-long sleeves. “But why would you keep us here, let us eat your food, and use your coal, if we don’t pay for anything?”
“As I said, you’re under my protection, and it’s my duty and pleasure to take care of you.”
David’s expression changed in a moment. Gone was the frightened boy. Now he was an angry man. His lines hardened, showing what promised to become a hard jaw. “And what does my mother have to do to have your protection? I may be thirteen, but I’m no child. I know what powerful men do to women who don’t have money to pay for food and a roof over their heads.”
The dinner stirred in Ethan’s stomach. “If you don’t want to be treated like a child, then I won’t hold my tongue,” he said, controlling his voice. He reminded himself that Roxbury wasn’t the best example of masculinity and that David didn’t know Ethan would never, ever take advantage of someone in difficulty. “Your mother doesn’t have to do anything to receivemy protection, food, or shelter. I will not touch your mother inappropriately under any circumstances. I would never do that. I’m not that type of man. I won’t disrespect you or your mother with such disgraceful behaviour. I don’t know about your father, but Iama gentleman.”
“Do you promise you won’t touch my mother, I mean, aside from treating her wound?” David didn’t cower in front of Ethan’s hard stare. The boy had courage and a fierce desire to protect his mother.
Ethan gave him his hand to shake. “I swear it on my honour and that of my ancestors of the House of Stark that I will be nothing but a gentleman.”
David shook his hand. “Thank you, sir.”
Ethan held his hand. “You must promise me you’ll stop doing chores.”
David looked taken aback. “What do you want me to do then?”
“What I want you to do here is take care of your studies.”
“Studies?” The hardened expression was gone. He was a boy once again. “What studies?”
Ethan sipped his wine. “What did your tutor teach you? What about your future?”
He traced the pattern of the tablecloth with a finger. “I’m not a good student.”
“I wasn’t a good student at thirteen either. What would you like to do?”
“I like studying languages.” David didn’t gaze up and kept staring at the tablecloth.
“Languages. We’ll have to find a tutor for the role then. Why languages?”
He shrugged. “I like different languages and talking with different people. People who speak another language have the most interesting stories.”
Ethan couldn’t help but ruffle David’s hair. “Interpreter. Excellent choice.”
