@beatingheart-bride

At the suggestion of going into town and dropping by the haberdashery, Dorian lit up, his previous weariness beginning to fade away as a smile crossed his fair face, saying, "I think that's a wonderful idea. And I have a good feeling that they'll be open to excusing us early-no doubt they'll believe we're a canoodling couple, eager to walk together and make our plans for the future!"

He supposed, in a way, they were making plans for the future, looking ahead to their wedding-just not the wedding their parents had in mind...it no doubt wouldn't hurt if they learned that he had stopped by the haberdashery to put in a commission for a top hat while out and about, no doubt thinking he and Emily spent a little time window-shopping, thinking ahead...

Feeling reinvigorated, Dorian's smile didn't fade as he found himself actually looking forward to rejoining his parents and their guests, if only because he felt it wouldn't be long before he and Emily could leave the discussion in favor of getting out of the house and visiting his best friend. That alone would give him the strength he needed to power through this brunch...

…though he had to say, he wasn't sure how much more he could coast by on that power; as he and Emily prepared to return to brunch, he commented with a little laugh, "After we get back though, I may need a nap, I'm exhausted-how do you and Randall do it, staying up so late together, and yet firing on all cylinders the next day?"

The Ghost In My Heart

Pt.1

Warnings: romance, illness, death, canon character death, grief, overall really sad.

Preface: Listen we all know what happens between the Graceys getting the mansion and William bringing in Madame Leota so if you aren’t up for it feel free to wait for pt.3 to drop, if not then please proceed with caution.

After your long business trip in Kentucky, you finally arrived back at your Chateau. You drag your tired body to your bedroom and flop down on your bed, and before you know it you're asleep. You wake up at dawn, the morning rays dancing on your eyelids. Then you hear a loud and somewhat urgent sounding knock at the front door. You rise not so gracefully and head to the door. You open the door and see that it's William looking like he hasn't slept in days. "Y/n, you're back oh thank goodness." He sighs "William? What's wrong? I only got home last night." He gives you a sorrowful look, "It's Eleanor, she has yellow fever…" he chokes. "Oh no William." You gently put your hand on his shoulder. "She doesn't have much time left. But she requested your company. As one of her final wishes." "Then I shall be there for her." You get ready and ride over to Gracey Manor. 

Meeting William at the door. “She’s just this way,”  he guides you up the stairs and to a door with an odd looking animal head carved into the center of the door and the handle bared much resemblance to a serpent of sorts. William rapped on the door just enough for it to be audible on the other side and opened the door slowly. “Darling, y/n is here to see you.” William spoke softly into the room. You followed William closely behind. You look around the room noticing it’s not the master bedroom but a guest bedroom. The ruffled red curtains were drawn open to let the midmorning light into the room. Your eyes then find Eleanor’s sickly frame lay on a single bed. Your heart breaks in your chest at the sight of her. Eleanor opens her eyes and meets your gaze. “Oh how wonderful it is to see you again.” Eleanor says with a raspy voice. “I wish it were under better circumstances than this.” you say sorrowfully. “Oh goodness please do not mourn me now. For does my heart still not beat? Am I still not alive with you?” She retorts and you chuckle grimly and move to her bedside. “Indeed you are.” you reply. “Enough fuss, tell me, what grand adventure did you have that took you so long to return.” Eleanor teased. You recount to her your journey by carriage to Louisville, Kentucky, and that you met with the owners and fellow shareholders of a company that had designed and developed a new engine that runs on steam. You tell her how magnificent it was to be one of the first to travel from Louisville to Brownsville by the brilliant new invention. Eleanor seems enthralled by your retelling all the way through. “There's even talk about that very steamboat making a voyage to New Orleans." You tell her. "My, that would be wonderful to see." She says wistfully and looks out the window. 

None of you had noticed that time had passed so quickly, it was already afternoon. "William," she puts a hand out to him. He steps forward, takes her hand, and kneels at her bedside. "Yes? What is it?" He says, concerned. Eleanor looks over to you as well. "Will you help me to the balcony, my lovelies?" She asks. "Of course." You both responded almost in sync with each other. You help her out of bed and out to the balcony into a wicker chair that faces west. The sun shines on her face, warming her skin, almost making her look like her old self again. William went back inside and grabbed a blanket for her. "There. Is that all darling?" William asked. She smiled and closed her eyes but didn’t answer. William then looked at you. "Is there anything else I can do for you Eleanor?" You inquire. She sighs still smiling in the light. "Just sit here with me and we will enjoy the last light of this day together." She said contently. So you and William pull up chairs on either side of her. She reaches out and grasps both your and William’s hand. And you all sat comfortably in the silence just watching the horizon. 

You listen tentatively to her breathing for an hour, maybe more, until it stops. You wait for a few minutes and know that she’s gone. “William…” you say softly, still looking out at the sunset. “I know.” he chokes out. “I’ll call upon the maids and servants.” You say quietly. “Yes, they’ll know what to do.” William says, holding back tears. You rise and head inside and see one of the maids folding linens in the hall. They meet your gaze and nod knowingly. “I’ll go get the others.” they say and head downstairs.

The next thing you know, you’re watching Eleanor be entombed in her mausoleum at the new Gracey family cemetery. You watched on, standing beside William, until the maids and servants had gone. He reaches out his hand to you, still watching over her, and you take his hand in kind. As soon as a beat has gone and passed, he starts quietly crying and gasping. “Oh William.” You say and let go of his hand in favor of holding him in an embrace. He openly weeps into your shoulder and then to the crook of your neck. You both stay like that for a while and you just hold him, rubbing his back, and petting his head. He grasps onto you for dear life the whole time, as if you would leave him just as Eleanor did. It takes some time, but he calms down a bit. “Come, let’s go inside and I’ll make you some tea alright?” he sniffs and nods. You guide him inside, make him some earl grey tea, and just sit with him.

Pt.3: https://www.tumblr.com/seriously-nobody/728468626379784192/the-ghost-in-my-heart?source=share

@beatingheart-bride

"Don't worry," Dorian assured her with a smile. "I've, uh...I've already taken the liberty of...filling him in on the plan."

Honestly, even if he hadn't, Beau-clever, observant Beau-would have figured it out in no time, he was sure. The head butler of the Gracey family, in many ways, knew Dorian better than he knew himself (and considering how long he'd known Dorian, how much time they'd spent together as the young master grew up, he should), and so when Dorian's attitude went from somber and quiet to bright and excited, he immediately knew something was afoot.

"Granted, he doesn't know all the details," he admitted with a small shrug. "He doesn't know about your time travel, or our afterlives as ghosts, haunting the manor, for instance...but he does know about our plan to escape with Lizzie and Randall, and he was very keen to help in any way he can, as well as come along when I asked. Lizzie's going to talk to her mother this afternoon, and hopefully, she'll be joining us."

It thrilled him to know that Beau would be coming with them-honestly, he couldn't imagine starting a new life in California without the man he considered more of a father figure than his own father, nor could he imagine the lives of his and Elizabeth's future children being without Beau, who wouldn't be a butler in their new home, but instead a part of the family, as he always was in Dorian's eyes (even if his parents thought otherwise).