Chapter 1 New Year New You
London, England, September, 1973
Chapter 1
New Year New You
Sebastian stood watching the new students arriving at the exclusive boarding school where he taught. Eagle and Salmon was where Sebastian had gone to school for seven years, and he had now been a teacher there for four. Being a maths and chemistry professor, he had spent the entire time teaching teenagers, all of whom were old enough to know and fear Victor Todd. Sebastian’s… husband? Lover?
Sebastian was used to keeping an eye on a boarding house full of boys. It had been his responsibility to keep them safe and raise them to be gentlemen. He was used to the sleeping quarters, off to the side of the luxurious sitting room where the boys would sit and study. The older boys’ quarters had a dozen or more large inviting beds in muted earth tones, all in a row. And as much as Sebastian had to watch for boys trying to sneak out, they rarely needed anything once he had put them to bed.
This year was going to be different, though. This year he had been assigned to the youngest students. The students who were too young but granted admission due to special circumstances.
Sebastian had prepared the house for the younger kids, where there were only three beds. And they were small with brightly coloured bedding, one with woodland creatures, one with toy soldiers, and one with a cartoon style world map. Their sitting room had toys and a rocking chair alongside the regular desks and couches.
Surely they didn’t expect Sebastian to rock the children to sleep. But Jacob Jr, aka JJ, has only turned five a couple weeks ago. Perhaps they did.
Sebastian wasn’t sure if he could do that, especially if JJ looked or acted anything like his father. Jacob Meyers was Victor’s cousin, and rival for the title of Duke of Oxford. On top of that, Jacob was a cruel and bloodthirsty man…
Although, it isn’t the boy’s fault his father is a psychopath.
Sebastian took a deep breath, determined to do everything in his power to raise JJ to be nothing like his father.
No, by hook or by crook, I will raise JJ to be a good man! If nothing else, to spite his father.
The first child from his house to arrive was Blair. He was tall for having just turned seven, with pale blond hair, pale blue eyes, and a pale complexion.
He will be easy to see in the dark, Sebastian chuckled to himself.
He knew Blair because he had been the youngest child at Eagle and Salmon for the last two years. Blair’s father was arrogant and cold, especially to his son, and Sebastian barely tolerated him. On top of that, at least two of Blair’s family members were hunters, the polite term used for hired guns. Blair was desperate to be loved and would do anything anyone told him to do, if they would just be kind to him.
Blair should be an easy student, Sebastian smiled. As long as I keep him away from bad influences.
He had been reading up on what children Blair and JJ’s age needed, and so greeted Blair with a smile and returned the hug that Blair gave him. Sebastian was not an affectionate man, so it felt very foreign to hug anyone but Victor. But he was determined to be the best house parent he could be for these kids, even if he did hate their parents. It wasn’t their fault their parents were… best not to think like that.
Blair’s nanny fussed over him as he chose the bed with the toy soldiers, and put his things away. But as she left, she turned to Sebastian.
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you more. I only met Blair when I picked him up for the summer break, two and a half months ago. He’s a sweet boy, and very eager to please, so he shouldn’t give you any trouble. Although... I’ve heard stories about his family...”
“I am fully aware of his family,” Sebastian told her, trying to give her a reassuring smile. “Probably far more so than you are. I will take good care of Blair. I promise.”
The nanny smiled but Sebastian’s heart broke for Blair. Eagle and Salmon was the only constant in his life. But thankfully, due to that, he was growing to be nothing like his father. Or his aunt and uncle.
While Sebastian was talking to Blair’s nanny, the second boy arrived with his chauffeur and his mother. His mother was tall for a woman, with dark brown hair tied tightly back and piercing brown eyes. She spoke to Sebastian in clipped tones, and probably could have been beautiful, had she not looked like she was sucking on a lemon.
“This is Jack. He is eight. It is your job to turn him into a man.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Sebastian answered, trying not to laugh. He then turned to Jack, who stayed a step behind his mother, his head bowed in submission.
If she wanted Sebastian to raise this boy to be a man, the first thing he was going to do was teach him how to hold his head high with his shoulders back, and bow his head to no one but their queen. Yeah, Jack’s mother wasn’t going to like Sebastian. But Jack would.
“Come,” Sebastian smiled. “You get to choose between two beds. Which would you prefer?”
Jack’s brown eyes lit up, and a smile pulled at his lips when he followed Sebastian into the sleeping quarters and saw the beds. He quickly chose the one with the map but was still eyeing the toys in the common room.
“There will be no need for toys!” his mother barked. “Jack is eight. He needs to study, not play.”
Sebastian’s jaw clenched but he forced himself to remain polite. “There are only two other boys under the age of eleven attending Eagle and Salmon, and one turned five only a few weeks ago. I will not deprive a small child of toys just because he is forced to room with older students.”
“Oh… I didn’t know that,” his mother softened. She then turned to Jack. “I expect you to learn, not play.” Turning back to Sebastian she firmly ordered him, “Jack will spend the majority of his time here with the older children, not the younger ones.”
Sebastian wanted to yell, You probably should have sent him to a school for children his age and older, then, rather than one where you knew he would be rooming in with children younger than him. But instead he just nodded and showed them around Jack’s new home for the next year.
Jack’s mother spent the entire time she was there ordering him around and scolding him any time he did something age appropriate. Blair’s demeanour soon began to mirror Jack’s, and Sebastian couldn’t get her out of the school fast enough.
Once he had finally convinced her to leave, Sebastian sat down with the two boys, feeling like he had gone several rounds with a boxer. Taking a long cleansing breath, he did his best to put the poor boys at ease, as well as get to know them.
But he had yet to meet JJ.
These two boys were sweet and submissive. Would JJ shatter the quiet spirit of the house? Or worse, bully them? JJ’s father, and one of his “uncles” had always been big for their age and had bullied Sebastian mercilessly when they had gone to Eagle and Salmon together as children. The likelihood was high.
