808 Broadway | Laszlo Kreizler [Chapter Two]
Chapter Two | Cyrus and Stevie
Aurora's POV:
I woke up extremely early so I could get dressed and have a bite to eat before heading to work. Henry had a much more sleepy start than I had, but I think that's because I was feeling nervous. Nerves can wake a person better than a good cup of coffee sometimes. "I'll see you later. Try not to burn the place down while I'm gone." I joked. "I'm not making any promises." He replied through a yawn. We said our goodbyes and I headed out into the brisk morning air. A thin fog blanketed the ground. The gas lamps that lined the street were still lit, making my surroundings feel a bit eerie. Due to the early hour, I desperately hoped there was a cab driver near by. I placed my forefinger and thumb into my mouth and whistled. To my relief, the sound of horse hooves came towards the spot where I was standing."283 East Seventeenth Street, please." I told the cab driver as I climbed aboard. During the ride I was way to occupied with my thoughts to enjoy the misty early morning.
All I did was think about the plans I created inside of my head for the day. The cab ride seemed to go quicker than usual but I wasn't at all surprised. After giving my driver what I owed him I, I headed inside through the back door with the key Dr. Kreizler had given to me yesterday. I quietly opened the door and gently closed it behind me, making sure it was locked before taking my jacket off. Today I wasn't wearing a dress and hoped that the doctor wouldn't mind. I had on a pair of dark green trousers that were being help up by suspenders and a white buttoned down shirt. I pressed my thoughts to the back of my mind and started getting breakfast started. After brewing coffee, I fried steak to go with the eggs I had prepared. There wasn't any bacon or sausage in the ice box they had, so I desperately hoped they weren't saving the steak for some important occasion. A few minutes later a young boy with brown hair walked into the room.
He was tall and skinny. The clothes he was wearing suggested lots of work in the stables. "Who are you? I thought a Miss. Perish was to be the new housekeeper." He said in a confused sounding voice. "I am Miss. Perish." I replied in an amused sort of way. "Oh... oh... I'm sorry for assuming you were a man." He said, blushing in embarrassment. "It's fine, I get mistaken for being a man a lot. I'm fairly use to it now." I replied with a small smile before offering him some coffee. "I'm Stevie by the way." He said as he poured some of the steaming black liquid into a cup. "It's nice to meet you, Stevie. You may call me Aurora if you'd like." I replied. He nodded and hummed slightly after taking a sip of the coffee. He left the kitchen and headed outside to no doubt tend to the horses. Then the tall black man I met on the day of my interview came into the room. "Good morning, Miss Perish." He said in his deep voice.
"Good morning. Please, call me Aurora." I replied with a small smile. "Well, in that case... call me Cyrus." He said before pouring himself a cup of coffee. After informing me that the Doctor rises at eight o'clock, he too left the kitchen and went outside. I finished cooking and prepared a tray to take to Dr. Kreizler. There were footsteps on the stairs and I assumed they were his, so I waited. I wanted to make sure he was in the dinning room before I went barging in. I took a deep breath and took the tray with me out into the hall and into the sitting room, which lead into the dinning area. "Good morning Doctor." I said with a small smile as I walked through the doorway. I found him sitting in an armchair putting his shoes on. To be honest, I thought it was a little odd, but I didn't say anything. "Good morning, Miss. Perish. Would you be able to help me button my shoes?" He said with one of his soft smiles. "Of course." I replied.
I sat the tray of food on the dinning table before walking over to where he was seated. I took the metal tool used for buttoning shoes, and crouched down on my knees to do what he asked of me. I wasn't entirely sure why he couldn't do this himself, but I've heard of some wealthy people prefer to be dressed by other people. Buttoning someone's shoes for them was doable; it wasn't like he asked me to put his underwear on for him. I pressed my thoughts to the back of my mind and focused on the task at hand. "So, I see you've prepared breakfast for us. Assuming you've met Stevie and Cyrus this morning." He said, breaking the comfortable silence. "Yes, I have... on both accounts." I replied with a small smile, glancing up at him only once to find him watching me. It didn't make me uncomfortable like I usually feel when I realize someone's watching me. There was something very different about my employer, and I was actually quite happy about that.
"I do hope the three of you will get along fairly well during your employment here." He spoke as I finished buttoning his shoes. "I have a feeling we'll get along just fine. They seem like nice people." I replied as I stood up and sat the tool I had been using on the ottoman. He then stood up and walked over to the dinning table and took a seat. I uncovered the dish I had prepared and hoped it was good enough. "Steak and eggs," He said, glancing up at me with a sparkle in his dark eyes. A smile was playing at the corners of his lips as well. "You'll certainly be in Stevie's good books once he seems what you've cooked; it's his favorite breakfast." He said, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. I told him that if he had any meal preferences to only mention them to me, and I'd be happy to oblige. He said it wasn't necessary, and he believed he's enjoy anything I prepared for them. To be honest it was like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders in an odd sort of way.
I wished him a lovely day before heading back downstairs to see if Cyrus and Stevie had gotten anything to eat yet. Once I entered the kitchen I found them chowing down like two ravenous ravens. "Miss Perish, this is the best breakfast I've had in a long time." Cyrus said in his deep timber. "Really?" I asked with some surprise. Before I reminded him he could call me by my first name instead of being so formal. "Well, you see... the last housekeepers we've had haven't been what you might say... good." Stevie said after swallowing a mouthful of steak and eggs. "I'll do my best to change that." I replied with a small smile. After they finished eating, I collected the tray and whatnot from the dinning room. As I walked through there wasn't any sign of Dr. Kreizler, so I figured he had went upstairs to his study. Then I set myself to wash the dishes and clean the kitchen before heading out to do some grocery shopping.
There wasn't much in the ice box or cupboards in the house, and I needed food to cook meals. So I left a note on the kitchen table to let the others know where I had went. I walked out the back door and was going to go to the sidewalk to hail a cab, but Cyrus's voice stopped me. "What's wrong, Miss Perish?" He asked curiously with a hint of worry in his eyes. "Nothing. I was just going to purchase some groceries." I replied. "I can drive you into town. There's no need to get a cab when there's ready transportation here for you." He said with a small smile. "But will the doctor allow it?" I asked with furrowed brows. I didn't want to get into trouble on my first day of work. He sent Stevie inside to ask the Doctor if it would be alright to use the calash so I could get food to cook meals. "He said it's alright." Stevie said once he came back outside.
I followed them towards the stables where Stevie introduced me to their two beautiful horses: Fredrick and Gwendolyn. Stevie talked about how trustworthy and reliable the horses were. I could tell that he was fairly emotionally attached to majestic steeds, and I couldn't blame him. "Here," Stevie said as he handed a me few cubes of sugar. He told me to feed the sugar cubes to the horses, and I did so. Their snouts tickled my hand as each of them lapped up the sugar with their tongues. After I got acquainted with the beasts, I realized that Cyrus already had Fredrick attached to the calash. I climbed into the carriage as Stevie climbed into the drivers seat. "You two be careful." Cyrus said before we left the stables and headed out onto the street. The ride was peaceful, but the heat was horrible. Blistering sunlight was beating down on us, and it wasn't even noon yet. When we reached the market I managed to get a good deal of produce, grains, meats, etc. I even had enough money left over to give to Stevie for candy.
A smile spread across his face as he picked out the candy he wanted. Then we quickly went back to 283 East Seventeenth Street to make sure none of the food spoiled. Cyrus helped carry everything inside while Stevie tended to Fredrick. Once everything was put away, I started preparing lunch. If I didn't have to go get groceries I probably would have half finished cleaning the house by now. But I didn't mind the little delay; it allowed me some time with Stevie and Cyrus, and get Mr to know them better is one of my goals. I didn't want to be working here and not have any friends to talk to. After washing the dishes from lunch, I finally got to cleaning. I did my best to keep out of everyone's way, which wasn't that difficult. Dr. Kreizler kept to his study; the other two spent most of their time outside. 'I wonder what my brother is doing right now.' I wondered. 'Probably studying or hanging out with his college buddies.' I thought as I wiped some sweat from my brow.
I finished the first floor and was preparing to start cleaning upstairs when I spotted a figure standing on the first landing. "There's no need to start cleaning upstairs, Miss Perish. That can be dealt with tomorrow. I received a message from some Friends of mine and they've seemed to have invited themselves for cocktails." He said with a soft smile. I got that he wished for me to prepare some cocktails, and I nodded once to let him know I understood. He turned and went back upstairs while I dumped out dirty scrubbing water. Then I quickly washed my hands before getting started. I even put it upon myself to make some hors d'oeuvres just in case his guests were a little hungry. I set up the cocktails in the sitting room where Dr. Kreizler informed me he would be entertaining them. I had everything prepared when the shrill doorbell rang. 'This is it. This is my chance to impress his friends. Don't screw this up, Aurora.' I said inside of my head as I took a deep breath. Either Stevie or Cyrus had opened the door, and I could hear muffled voices in the hall. To say that I was feeling nervous is an understatement.
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A/N: Thanks for reading!
