Wash and Brush Up

Mr. Croup had prepared tea and a full English breakfast of bacon, sausage, poached eggs, grilled tomatoes, fried mushrooms, and toast for his guests.

Warren was exactly on time; 7 a.m., on the dot, smartly dressed in one of the two suits he had packed. The maid, which was Croup's niece, Adaline, had brought up some hot basin water at 6:30. Warren was happy to shave, feeling like a respectable man again.

Jack was still asleep, he'd been up most of the night looking at maps. His eating habits were odd anyway.

"Will your companion be joining you?" Mr. Croup looked unconcerned, just curious about the strange stranger.

"I have my doubts. He's a man that follows a calling most can't hear." Warren sipped his tea, smiling.

Adaline served the breakfast,she did all the odd jobs, lingering for a moment as she gazed at the dashing young man.

"Would you be need'n any'ting else... sir?" She said with sugar in her voice.

Jack suddenly appeared behind her, giving her a start, when his deep voice rumbles the cozy space.

"Oh, he does, but you see before you a gentleman." Jack smirks at his friend, sitting down across from Warren grabbing a piece of toast.

The small fire crackles and sizzles as the girl's eyes go wide. She'd never heard such talk from gentlemen; that kind of frank talk was expected at the docks or certain parts of London and with a different class of men.

Jack was so different from Warren; dark hair, pale skin, and a few errant freckles. He hadn't made an effort in his dress; in fact, he looked as though he'd crawled out of bed and walked downstairs.

"Sir." She pursed those plump lips and left the room to get his plate.

"Honestly, my dear Jack, you do make an entrance to unsettle the orderly world." Warren spread jelly on the last piece of toast.

Scoffing as he poured a cuppa, Jack raised a brow at his logical friend.

"The world is hardly 'orderly'. Chaos reigns and I need to whip it."

Adaline walked in and her eyes went wide again as she caught the end of Jack's comment.

"Do you gents require... would you care for..." She stammered and both men looked at her, causing her cherub cheeks to flush.

"More toast and tea, please Adaline." Warren said warmly; he'd heard her Uncle call her by name.

She dashed back to the small kitchen, her heart in a flutter.

Mr.Croup looked at his niece. "What's go you in a tizzy?"

Wiping her hands, Adaline prepares toast and tea. "Not'ting Uncle." Straightening her dress, she watched the toast as it turned golden over the open fire. Trying to seem uninterested, she avoided looking at her Uncle as she stacked the toast in a small white cotton towel, keeping them warm.

"How... how long them two stay'n?"

The kettle whistled.

"Ah, said a fort-night, maybe longer. Why?" Croup was drying glasses and smiled at the young girl.

Grabbing the tray, exiting the small, tidy kitchen she nonchalantly
replied, "Oh... just wanted to know, so as I can do it up proper for 'em."

Shaking his head, Croup followed with a large crate of clean bar glasses. "Mind your manners girl."

Jack and Warren were deep in conversation when the young, eager to please, woman set down the refresh of tea and toast, in fact, they ignored her; making her depart with an upturned nose.

"What is our agenda?" Warren knew Jack always had some kind of plan brewing. "You must have slept for 5-minutes, at least you look it." He was concerned about Jack's habits.

"I didn't let you come along, so you could lecture me." Jack's tone was a bit terse.

"Someone needs to be watchful, you seem oblivious."

Leaning back, Jack rubs his chin, he hadn't shaved yet. Amused by the concern, he humors the fair-haired man seated across from him.

"Mark my words, you'll see why I am 'oblivious'... everyday challenges will become inconsequential."

Warren smiled wide, "We'll see, we'll...see."