Dutch had somehow wormed his way into getting invited to some ornate and frilly business man’s party. Of course he also lied out of his ass about them also being traveling business men and now Arthur was stuck wearing a suit that was too itchy, too suffocating.

Just get a quick layout of the house and come back, Dutch had instructed him.

It sounded simple enough if this damned house wasn’t so big. He’d managed to sneak off after talking to their host who seemed to only want to boast about his beautiful daughter, Sylvia. She was a vision, even he could admit that but he couldn’t get distracted.

He heard two maids chatting as they made their way down the hall, Arthur quickly slipped into the nearest room to avoid detection, yet he nearly jumped out of his skin when he turned and realized he had accidentally stepped into a young lady’s room.

You looked just as surprised, sitting at your window, your curtains drawn but opened just a tad so you could look down at the party below.

Shit, he needed to play this off.

“My apologies ma’am, I was looking for the… powder room.” He said, cringing internally as he tried to mimic the fancy words he’d heard downstairs of the others.

You looked up at him, all doe eyed and soft-curved. You had a strange resemblance towards Sylvia and her father— but he only mentioned one daughter? Then who was this pretty little doll who was hidden away, looking so longingly out?

A quick look around the room and you was enough to tell him that you weren’t staff, maybe a family friend? But was this your bedroom? Why were you hiding up here when everyone was downstairs clinking glasses and having a grand ol’ time?

“I can show you!” He looked a bit surprised at how eager you were to help, almost as if speaking to someone was a luxury you rarely had.

His heart clenched subconsciously as he really hoped this wasn’t what he thought it was. He’d rich families hide away daughters who they deemed not worthy or beautiful enough, and this sadly seemed to be the case.