I can’t help but laugh watching Herschel, he makes jokes as Mr. Walsh tries his best to help me understand the material in front of me. He’s not even supposed to be here gesturing and doing impressions from the doorway as I snort giving away his position.

“Mr.Stott don’t you have business to attend to?” It always amazes me that my personal tutor could almost see exactly what we were getting up to without even looking.

“C’mon teach, hasn't she been studying enough?” Herschel winks at me and I can feel myself smile involuntarily. My teacher turns around with a deep sigh looking increasingly tired with every moment of the conversation dragging on. 

“Mr.Stott the lady has been given strict guidelines of how many hours a week she needs to spend studying, and I have cut those hours into an easy to swallow lesson plan that-” My charismatic friend walks into the room cutting him off.

“Come on! Just this once, you guys’re almost done for the day anyway I'm sure leaving a few minutes early ain’t gunna make much ‘a difference.” Mr.Walsh seems almost personally offended by Herchel’s butchering of the human language and I can't help but laugh again.

“No. go away.” The older man turns around and I watch my good friend stumble back as if he's been physically assaulted.

“You WOUND me! Do you have no heart?! Is black sludge and BOOKS all that pumps through your Veins?!” he yells falling against the wall in a dramatic way as Mr.Walsh ignores him completely. Herschel makes sputtering noises to drive his point home, The older man rolls his eyes looking over as I laugh uncontrollably at my friend and his antics. He glares at my friend and points to the doorway.

“Out. Now. or I will call the estate guards.” he threatens with a voice like ice, very different from his usual soft droning while he teaches. Herschel stands and waves at me with a goofy grin before leaving the room swiftly, Mr. Walsh closes the door behind him mumbling about “hooligans” under his breath.

The sophisticated and articulate Mister Sullivan Walsh is one of the brightest men in the country and at such a young age. Barely eleven Years older than my own eighteen and alreadyj a top researcher of the kingdom. With sharp eyes as dark and blue as the night sky protected by spindly rounded spectacles. Brown curls adorn his scalp, he runs his hand through the matting around his crown staring at his notes while I watch the clock tick by as slow as it can possibly manage. Mr. Walsh Mumbles to himself while going through his notes frantically, 

“It's useless, I've lost my train of thought just…" he stops to take off his eyewear and rub the bridge of his nose.

“Go after that idiot we will study an hour longer than usual tomorrow.” he grumbles gathering his things and leaving the room in quite a huff. I stand up the confusion most definitely plastered across my face before Herschel makes his second appearance in the doorway.

“Well who pissed in his liquor?” he asks with a dashing smile and a twinkle in his honey brown eyes.

“I believe that would be you” I raise an eyebrow as he bends taking my hand brushing his lips against my knuckles, I rip it away as he straightens.

“And now I must study for an extra hour tomorrow instead of going to my fitting!” I smack him lightly as he chuckles

“So I did you a favor!” he looks triumphant and I can’t help smacking him again watching his auburn hair bounce as he fakes an injury.

“My mother is going to have a fit Herschel!” I can’t help but laugh at his antics while trying to get my point across.

“Lady Adilyn,” he pauses and I know by his deep bow he is going to imitate the proper English he neglected learning as a child.

“My Deepest apologies to you, but it seems as though I did you a favor” he grins and I cross my arms letting out a sigh.

“My Debut is in less than a fortnight I can’t be gallivanting around with the help” I smirk walking past him.

“The HELP!” he yells running after me until he is towering over me once again the usual smugness in his expression is wiped clean.

“I ain’t the help! Imma House guard that is jus’ one heroic escapade short of knighthood.” He looks proud of himself.

“That and a few brain cells” I chuckle walking around him before he can react but tripping over myself just as I pass him. With a gasp and a flutter of clothing I close my eyes to brace for impact on the marble floors but instead feel a hand on my front. I look up to see Hershcel with a serious look on his face, he barely moved in the commotion but manages to regain my balance for me.

“You should be nicer or I might not always catch you, My lady.” he smiles and I get a good look at his Bowtie lips feeling my face flush and my heart jump to my throat.

“I-i’m sorry Herschel you know I didn’t mean it” I stutter slightly with the scare and he hums in agreement with my apology.

“O’course Adi” he chuckles letting me go so I can regain my composure.