Chapter Text
Mr Wooster and I were staying at the home of a one Sir Alexander Crofte, a generous, elderly gentleman who was descended from a long line of Silk garment manufacturers to see in the new year. Sir Crofte had been hoping his daughter, Eliza, would have married by now, and so Mr Wooster (the eligible bachelor that he is) had been cajoled into visiting by his aunt Agatha.
The first day under Sir Croftes roof was uneventful and pleasant. While Miss Eliza Crofte was a charming young lady, it seemed her charms were ineffective on Mr Wooster, who lamented to me that he thought she was a frightful bore and had "a rummy curve to her nose". While I could not really see what strange curve he was talking about (Miss Eliza seemed to have a perfectly lovely button nose) I would be lying if I were to say I was not relieved.
You see, I am irreparably in love with Mr Wooster and would be frightfully upset should I have to leave his service - something that will eventually happen when he takes on a wife.
Fortunately for my aching heart, Mr Wooster is a determined bachelor. He regularly expresses a desire to escape marriage permanently, and I must admit that I do nothing to dissuade him of this. Although I know he will never love me as I love him, it does bring some comfort that I will get to remain in his service for as long as I can.
I cannot express when I first fell in love with Mr Wooster. It was probably a month or two after I began working for him. At first I thought he was a foolish and irresponsible young man, but now I see that actually he is the most considerate and caring man I have ever met. Handsome and talented too - I never truly appreciated piano until I heard him effortlessly play Mozart and Beethoven when bored. He takes on an almost ethereal property when playing classical music - as if the music was written for his beautiful hands to play.
I have fallen completely for him and it is incredibly unprofessional.
It is coming up to my forth year serving Mr Wooster and there is something bubbling under the surface recently. Sometimes I catch him watching me with a look in his eyes that I haven't seen before. I cannot explain it because it looks almost desperate, as if he is terrified of something I cannot see. I ask him how he is feeling but when asked this the look disappears and he is back to his usual, cheery self.
This evening, Mr Wooster was dining as usual with the Crofte family, and I helped the Crofte staff serve. Standing opposite him as he talked to Eliza and her mother, I took a moment to examine his handsome features again. He really is the most handsome man I have ever worked for. In fact, have ever met. I catch myself staring too obviously when his eyes raise to meet mine. He smiles at the eye contact and I find myself looking away. I am painfully aware of a warmth in my face.
"...Jeeves then?" The mention of my name from Lord Crofte starts me out of my daze. It seems Mr Wooster had been lost in thought too, because Lord Crofte had to repeat himself. "I asked you how much it would cost to buy his services off you."
Mr Wooster laughs and looks me up and down before quipping
"How long for? I'm at my limit usually after a week". The family laugh and Lord Crofte shakes his head.
"Now, now Wooster, don't hold out on me - I am willing to triple his salary and pay you both that amount to keep him!" He then adds "In cash!" And sits back in his seat - already triumphant.
Triple salary still sounded an abysmal price, even though any manservant should be flattered at such praise. I try to meet Mr Woosters eyes. Money was no object for him, this I knew, but this was an unusually large sum of money to be given as a lump sum!
I think of all the hideous clothes he could buy with that much money. I wonder what I am worth to him and for a moment I feel devalued. I imagine Wooster and Crofte bargaining over me like an antique cow shaped gravy pot. Like a possession to be traded.
"I would not part with Jeeves for all the money in England, Lord Crofte." There is no hint of humour in his voice now, and now his possessive tone sends a different, excited shiver down my spine.