Elizabeth frowned as the knocks to Jim's door went unanswered. The mansion was chilly that morning, though Elizabeth's frozen knuckles knocked with purpose. Or tried, at least. She let loose locks of blonde curls fall limp on her forehead as she dipped her head forward in disappointment. Jim made no move to answer the door.

"Jim, I'm coming in…" she said delicately to the frozen door, and then she gripped the cold metal knob, twisted, and eased herself inside. The room was somewhat dim with the curtains closed. She squinted, and finding the main bedroom empty, she looked toward the bathroom. Sure enough, Jim peeked his head out.

"I…I'm sorry," he muttered gently, tears still fresh in his eyes.

Elizabeth rushed over to him, and he backed away from the door as she pushed it open. She gently took hold of his hand and pulled him into her. He gasped at the sudden contact, but eventually succumbed to her warmth and wrapped his lanky arms around her, beginning to cry freely.

"It's okay," she cooed as gently as a mother. "Claude can be intimidating, but I assure you he doesn't mean to be…"

"I-it's not…" Jim hiccupped.

"Not what?" she asked, gently pulling away to wipe at his tears. The blonde sniffled.

"I'm such a burden to you, my lady." He dipped his head shamefully. "I have nothing to repay you with, yet you promise to help me and…I can't do anything!" Another sob ripped his throat and Elizabeth hushed him, wiping his tears with her gloved hands and placing a few motherly kisses on his cheeks.

"Jim Macken," she began. "I want nothing more than for you to live happily. I wish for absolutely nothing in return. Please," she begged, "Do not trouble yourself with these needless worries. Not when I've given so much just for the joy of seeing you smile."

Jim looked down at her with large, watery eyes, sniffling. Then he nodded and gave her a shaky, pathetic grin. But that was enough for her. She returned this smile, and wiped away the last of his tears.

"C-Claude doesn't like me very much."

Elizabeth gave a sort of nod, not disagreeing with the statement. "Claude doesn't really care much for anybody—"

"Except you," Jim interjected.

Elizabeth's eyebrows rose in question.

"He cares about you an awful lot. That's why he doesn't like me being so close…"

"Huh? Jim…"

"I don't really blame him. You are very beautiful, miss…"

"N-No! It's really not like that…"

"It is," Jim implored. "I can tell. But I just…I hope I don't offend him but it feels as if fill this emptiness I had when Luka died was filled up again when I met you."

"Jim…" Elizabeth had casted her eyes downward. She sighed. "You don't have to leave, you know. You can stay here…as long as you want."

Jim blinked innocently. "T-Thank you, Elizabeth. Thank you so much."

Elizabeth's lips curled upward, looking upward again. She slowly reached up on her toes and placed a long and gentle kiss on the hollow of his right cheek. When she pulled away, she smiled cheerily. "Shall we go down to break our fast? Er…we will have to dress you, of course…"

Jim nodded eagerly, his stomach aching. He was starved.

After breakfast, Elizabeth led Jim to the garden, as they usually did, and stared at the flowers which the rainy-eyed boy thoroughly enjoyed. He picked a small, blue flower from the flower bed and helped put it in Elizabeth's hair. Then she put dozens of little blue flowers in his hair, which he blushed about, but didn't have the courage to remove.

Around noon, Claude brought out lunch: small sandwiches and tea. Lunch was a bit quiet, as Claude stood near, but Elizabeth didn't really mind, nor notice the tension between the two males. Jim simply stirred uncomfortably, nibbling on his sandwich and sipping his tea to hide his face. Only once they had finished did Jim find something to say.

"The l-lady at the orphanage was kind…"

"Madame—Anne? Yes, she is. It's very surprising," Elizabeth mused, lifting her tea cup to her lips.

"Why would it be s-surprising?" Jim replied in a quiet voice.

Elizabeth lifted her emerald eyes. "Well…in truth, Anne should be a terribly grieving woman. Her sister and that sister's fiancé died in a fire years ago, and later on a carriage wreck caused her to lose her husband and unborn child. Almost all she has loved has been taken from her…but she still lives on and smiles. She used her remaining wealth to make that girls' orphanage. She'd always wanted a girl…and so she has received many!"

Jim smiled gently. "That's wonderful…"

After lunch, they went back into the mansion, and a game of hide and seek was suggested. Jim hid in the kitchen cupboard the first round, and Elizabeth failed to find him and until he slipped out, dusty and coughing. The second round, Elizabeth hid, but couldn't find a place to hide. So she simply wandered as far as she could and in a 'hide and run' manner.

Jim was quiet as he roamed, occasionally getting lost but quickly finding familiar areas. He gazed around the main entrance, scratching his head. He'd checked everywhere available to him… Should he check the bedrooms again..?

Elizabeth watched amusedly from behind one of the entrance marble pillars. She quickly ducked her head as his swiveled in her direction, and she giggled lightly—he was too far to hear. She peaked at him again, then made a run for it.

It came too late. She felt it there, the shadowy existence. A presence. She had run behind the staircase, and turned all but too late. Her arm was yanked, and she was diving sideways, thrown completely off balance. She gasped, ready to scream, trying to yank her arm as she stumbled. A brown hand went to her mouth, smothering her. He smelled kind of nice—like spice…

"Do not move, Miss. I will not hurt you, that is assured." There was a thick, Indian accent.

"You won't, now?"

That familiar voice brought Elizabeth's heart to a much calmer pace. She almost sighed in relief. The man that held her turned, slowly so the girl could move with him. Her eyes found Claude, who looked absolutely feral.

"Would you do me the pleasure of unhanding my mistress?"

"I shall—after she is thoroughly interrogated."

Elizabeth jerked forward, causing the Indian man to go with her, trying to get a better grasp on her. She used the limited amount of space between them to propel herself backwards again and ram her elbow into his chest, to which he gasped. "That is not for you to decide!"

"Elizabeth?" she heard Jim call. She clenched her eyes shut as the lanky blonde came running around to see the scene.

"Stay there, Jim. Don't…don't say anything."

Jim swallowed, looking from Elizabeth to the man who held her. He looked terrified.

Elizabeth rasped out, "Release me, and I will do my best to answer your questions. I will not do so until I am free. Keep in mind that you are outnumbered."

The Indian man did nothing for the longest of times. Claude eyed him suspiciously, eyes sharpening threateningly.

His hold lessened a bit.

And that was all that was needed.

Elizabeth grabbed his hands, twisting out from under him and yanking him forward with all the strength she could muster. When he lurched toward her, she lifted her knee and rammed it into his open gut. Another gasp left his throat as he fell on his knees.

Claude moved forward, grabbing the Indian man's hands and pulling them behind, lifting him so he would face Elizabeth fully.

Elizabeth took a deep breath, shooting daggers at the man. "Jim. Please go to your bedroom until you are informed that you can come back down."

It didn't take long for Jim to listen.

"What is your name, sir?"

Silence answered.

"Please do not try my patience." Elizabeth sounded tired. Must her fun always be interrupted?

"I am Agni."

Elizabeth raised an eyebrow. "What business has sent you here, Agni?"

"The business of my prince."

"Who is your prince?"

Agni's slate-grey eyes sharpened, and he tugged weakly on his restraint that was Claude. Then he turned the gaze to Elizabeth. How strangely capable she was. "Soma Asman Kadar of Bengal."

"And what business must be dealt with at my expense?"

"Robbery, Lady Elizabeth Ethel Cordelia Midford."


Anti dramatic ending is anti dramatic. *sighs* I know I haven't updated in forever...I'm sorry. High school's hell. Inspiration is lost, so I figured I'd put up what I had in hopes that new reviews would reawaken me.

I promised someone I'd bring in the cutest prince in India? Ugh, I love his voice so much. Those accents intrigue me greatly.

Um, I'm sick. I feel like I'm sneezing up my guts. My eyes might blow out of my head.

And, thank you GrellAKAFruitQueen for the fanart offer...very much. I'm sorry I couldn't update in the time given to you. I didn't have internet until now. Parents left me to go to Vegas.