Maggi had said that it would be fine, quick and that I wouldn’t feel anything, but apparently she had also lied through her teeth.
I felt horrible. It felt like a tornado was raging inside of my head. I needed an aspirin. My limbs felt sore and I think I didn’t own a stomach anymore. I groaned and slowly peeked through one eye. It took a few moments for my eyes to adjust to the brightness. Then I saw a ceiling and brown patterned curtains. Not very modern.
Opening the other eye I realised that I was in a bedroom… of sorts. I was on the floor. I pushed myself up on my elbows and that’s when a horrible smell overwhelmed my senses. I gagged and frantically looked around trying to find the source of the smell. I didn’t have to look far, because right next to my head was a strange container. It was bronze and pear-shaped. I glanced at the contents inside.
I hurled myself across the room and slammed against the opposite wall. I wanted to retch when I realised what it was. The horrid thing was a chamber pot!
Where am I?!
I glanced down at my wardrobe. I was wearing a strange dress. It was a pale colour and almost transparent. I then realised it was a shift. I was in the past. The shift and chamber pot explained it. I was thrown into history. Why did Maggi bring me here? Was I supposed to finish my task here? I took a closer look at my surroundings. It was a lavish room decorated with silk and velvet. It was also used as bedding upon the gigantic bed, which was pushed against one wall. Curtains surrounded the bed and golden patterns decorated the cushions. I took a shaky step towards the door, trying to determine where I was.
Where was Maggi?
Rustling occurred behind the door and I froze. A knock came. “My lady, have you awoken?” I panicked.
What should I do? My first instinct was to run and hide in one of the closets, but that sounded ridiculous. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath, “Yes.” The door swung open and a small and timid girl entered. I expected a murderer with an axe, but this was fine.
She kept her gaze lowered. “Good morning, my lady. Your father sent me to prepare you for the morning meal.”
What on earth was she talking about? “My father?” She nodded, “Yes, my lady. He thought you should arrive before King James and Queen Joan entered the hall.”
Why did those names sound so familiar? “Where am I?”
For the first time I saw emotion flash in her eyes. She gave me a peculiar and suspicious look. “The English Courts in London, my lady.” My entire world stopped. London!? How the hell did I get here? And where the hell was Maggi!?
The timid girl took a step towards me and suddenly pulled the shift that I was wearing over my head, bearing my body to the cool air. “Hey!” I quickly covered my chest and glared at her. I wish I had my pepper spray with me.
She ignored me and continued to remove the shift. She then rummaged through the drawers and produced a dress with stockings and a guarder belt while I was shivering the entire time! I was shocked at her behaviour, but I suppose this was a normal routine, because she handled the task with an attitude of indifference.
She proceeded to dress me as well. Pulling the corset a bit too tight. I stood like a rag doll and endured the abuse. She may look timid, but she handled me with questionable roughness. I was lead to a mirror where she sat me down and started pulling at my hair and braiding it. I felt like a toy being used to play dress-up.
“Who are you?” Deftly fingers weaving an intricate braid in my hair stopped. “Annie, your ladies maid, my lady. Are you ill?”
“Yes, I just have a terrible headache this morning.” The pulling and weaving continued and she mumble something about aristocrats and their low tolerance for pain, but I ignored her and stared at myself in the mirror. It was me in the mirror, but I didn’t recognize myself. Was I truly thrown into time or is this another dimension?
“What year is it?” I suddenly asked. “1424, my lady.” My whole world stopped.
What was I going to do?
* * *
After a thorough inspection of my clothing and hair she pulled me out the door and down the hall. I was awed by the structure of the building. Stone floors and walls, but they were decorated with heavy curtains and tapestries.
I tried to examine the weaving of the tapestries, but my maid bustled me down the corridor, down a few stairways and then she pushed me through an open archway. We entered a gigantic room.
From my point of view I’d say it was the great hall.
Annie had pushed me with all of her strength and it caused me to stumble through the archway. I swung around and saw her behind the wall only grinning. I glared. According to history this was not how maids treated their charges. She was lucky I didn’t believe in whipping someone.
The hall was filled with wooden, elegant tables and chairs. The plates and cutlery looked lavish, heck even more lavish than Mom’s set at home. These Brits sure knew how to dine in style.
Everyone was seated and they all stared at me. Conversation stopped. I straightened my shoulders and tried not to blush from embarrassment. I wanted to retreat and maybe follow Annie to throw a good tantrum, but it was too late for that. I might as well find a seat and eat something, because I was starving.
The entire hall was filled with people. At the end of the hall was a long table and at the end of the table was one empty chair. It looked like the most important people sat at that table and I guess I was one of them. I headed towards the seat and tried to look as elegant as possible. It was a horrible feeling when you knew everyone was looking. I finally reached my seat, but I’ve got to admit it felt like a decade had passed. I gave a relieved sigh when I finally sat down. Everyone at the long table gave me disapproving looks, especially some guy seated next to me who could’ve been my father. His black hair had grey streaks in them and wrinkles formed around his eyes. Although he was aging he still commanded attention with his presence. I gave him a sheepish smile. His glare deepened. He could really make a person feel guilty.
“Are you going to apologize for your tardiness, Mary, or shall you make us wait in suspense until you come to your senses?”
Geez, the guy was rude. I guess I now have to apologize. “I’m terribly sorry for my lateness.” Wow I sounded like one of those fancy people in the regency era! This might actually be fun, pretending to be something I’m not.
The rest of the table and hall continued with their breakfast leaving me to wonder if they even accepted my apology, but I shrugged it off and started eating like the rest.
For traveling through time I sure felt hunger. “I sent Beatrice to your room for a reason. How is it that you are still late when I sent her at the crack of dawn, daughter?” The same man who spoke earlier to me hissed these words in my ear. He had a strong grip on my forearm and I winched when he tightened it. I guess this was my ‘father’. Horrid man. “Have you no tongue to use?” He spat.
I ripped my arm from his grasp. “I have already apologized, father. There is nothing more I can do than try to be earlier next time. What else would you have me do?” I whispered, because I knew if anyone else heard, this man would be humiliated and probably become violent.
For a moment he looked shocked, but he quickly recovered. “Make no mistake, Mary, you will be punished for your rudeness and sharpness of tongue. My goodness, you’ve never spoken that way before!” He glowered and then continued eating.
“Where are those two? It’s been more than six months and they still act like newlyweds!” One of the men at the table grumbled.
My ‘father’ turned his sharp gaze on the man. “Watch your tongue, Lord Beaufort. She is your daughter after all, isn’t she?”
He huffed. “And are you sure your father is your true father, Thomas?”
My ‘father’, Thomas, had a murderous look. “Watch your tongue, Beaufort, before I rip it from your throat. You have no opinion seeing as your own daughter is a bastard!”
There was a clang of a knife being slammed on the table then an older woman stood and bellowed, “Both of you stop it! You act like children and may I remind you that “that girl” is queen and it is treason to speak ill of her!” She sat back down. Beaufort, kept silent, but he didn’t look pleased. At all.
“Who was he talking about, father?” Thomas continued eating. “King James and your cousin, Queen Joan, their seats are still unoccupied. Lucky for you, otherwise those two would’ve been furious.”
Queen Joan. Illegitimate. 1424. Thomas.
Something suddenly clicked. “Is it May the 28th?”
The woman’s head shot up from the long table. “Heavens no, Lady Mary, it is May the 27th. Tomorrow is the day King James and Queen Joan depart to Scotland. Thank heavens.” She muttered under her breath, but I heard her quite clearly. What have those two done to receive such hostility?
“King James is finally set free.” I muttered. I remember him now. Dad taught me about him and his history. He was captured as a young boy by the English crown and has been in captivity for more than twenty years. He spent a few years in the Tower of London and then the remainder he spent on the battled field and in the English courts.
Thomas, my ‘father’, was or more like is Lord Chancellor, Lord High Admiral and 1st Duke of Exeter and that would make me a grandchild and cousin of the crown. I was royalty and Queen Joan of Scotland is my cousin.
Joan and her other siblings were born out of wedlock. It was now understandable why Thomas described Joan as a bastard.
It’s 1424 and a period in time which my father was obsessed with or will be. It feels overwhelming to be in this historic period and be surrounded by famous people of whom my father and I would’ve discussed at the kitchen table while my mother sulked in a corner. She never liked history.
I cleared my throat and spoke. “If you would excuse me, I do not feel well.” They all ignored me except Thomas, he shot me a poisonous look, but said nothing. I stumbled out of my chair and made a beeline for the archway.
I staggered out of the doors and through another stone archway. My eyes wildly searched for an escape. I saw a garden and without thinking I quickly entered. It was beautiful and I would’ve appreciated it if I wasn’t freaking out right now.
“Where am I? Maggi, where are you? What the hell am I doing here?” I staggered deeper into the gardens. I frantically looked around for something, but not truly knowing what. I unexpectedly slammed into someone. It was a woman. She looked like a noble. She gasped and tumbled to the floor. “Sorry!” I yelled and ran like a coward. I jumped, literally, behind a bush and peeked through the leaves. I quickly realized that I was acting like an idiot and stood up.
I brushed the leaves and most of the dirt from my skirts. I then tried to calm down by taking small steps and deep breaths.
I reached a small pond surrounded by bushes and fell in a heap upon the ground. I fisted my hands in my hair and kept muttering to myself. I guess the calming technique didn’t work. If I had to label this moment I’d call it my crazy meltdown. “Am I dreaming?” I quickly pinched myself on the arm. Regrettably I only injured myself. “Ow!”
“Was that really necessary?” My head shot up. Maggi finally appeared. This time she stood in a diner outfit that looked suspiciously like the one I owned and had a few curlers in her pink hair.
I clambered to my feet. “Where were you? You left me! Why am I here? And what on earth are you wearing?!”
She looked irritated. “Really! I always get the bratty types. I’ve never encountered one single grateful soul! Can’t any of you ever be just a little bit positive? You’re always whining! Where am I? What did you do? I want to go home! Why did you give me this dress? It makes me look fat!”
I gave her a bemused look. “I’m confused! I think I have a right to be mad right now so just answer the questions!”
She looked very calm for someone who was being shouted at. She lifted her right hand with two fingers tucked against her palm and spoke. “Let me see… That was three questions. One: I was busy with another client. Two: You’re here to fulfil your task. And three: it’s called an outfit. What are you wearing?” I glared. “A dress, that is apparently very stylish and in fashion these days. Or so said that woman who dressed me. Actually that was more like harassment. I would’ve loved to sue her if we were in my time. Now would you please tell me what on earth is going on?”
She gave a dramatic sigh. I glared. If someone was allowed to overreact then it was me. “What is my task?” I asked through gritted teeth.
“First let me ask you this, dearie: in which century are we?”
I frowned. “Fifteenth century.”
“And…”
I kept frowning, “And… people talk funny here?”
Maggi looked bemused. “Isn’t this a specific period of time that your father was interested in?”
“Well, he will be seeing as he hasn’t been born yet!!” Maggi looked downright annoyed.
“Do I need to spell it out for you?!” All I could give her was a dumbfounded look. She gave a huge sigh as if it were her last. “You were placed here, because you have an abundant amount of knowledge about this period and you can use that knowledge to your advantage.”
Ooooh. “So what is my task?”
“You have to change history. My superiors have never been happy about how things turned out for poor Mary. So they’ve assigned you to this period to change things. Do you remember when James the first died?”
“Yes, it was 1437. He was forty-two years old.” She snapped her fingers and a few sparks flew again. I quickly ducked.
“Exactly! He died very young. My superiors have never been happy with that fact.”
My brows puckered. “You want me to stop him from dying? In 1437.” I threw a fit at this. I flayed my hands about and shouted, “How the hell am I to stop a king from being assassinated in 1437 when it’s 1424?! That makes it impossible! Are your superiors out of their minds?! That’s thirteen years from now! The only thing I can do is to make him promise to stay on a healthy diet and exercise every day, but that won’t help either, because he didn’t die of natural causes! Oh, no! Someone killed him!” Maggi tried to shush me the entire time, but I chose to ignore her. “Will you shut up, that is not why you’re here!”
“Then why did you ask about James?”
“I just wanted a refresher course. One of my other clients will try and save his life, but you are here to get married.”
“I’m sorry, what?!”
“Marry married an English gentleman, horrid man, and my superiors want to change that so that the future will differ. You will be tasked with finding a husband, anyone but a Brit! And try to marry someone nice. You have three months. If you complete the task then you get to go home with no debt to your name.”
“Are you serious? I can’t get married, I’m eighteen and how the hell am I to marry someone within three months? Plus, where is the real Mary?”
Maggi rolled her eyes. “There you go again. Whine. Whine. Whine!”
“Would you just please answer the question?”
Maggi’s expression grew sombre. “The whole point of the task is to make it difficult. So, yes, you have to make your own plan. And the real Mary is… occupied.”
I was afraid to ask this question, but swallowed the fear and asked anyway. “So what if I can’t complete this task?”
She hesitated. “If you can’t complete it then… you don’t get to go back to your old life. You’re forced to act as an assistant fairy godmother for two decades.”
Horror and dread filled me, “What? You’re saying that if I can’t do this then I’ll never see my parents again? Why didn’t you say this before? Shouldn’t it be written on the page with instructions? Shouldn’t the words ‘Caution’ be in red and then this rule be stated? I should actually sue these superiors of yours! This isn’t fair!”
At least she looked sympathetic. “I’m sorry, dearie, but this is how it works.”
I felt powerless. “All right. I guess I’ll just have to win this thing.” Maggi clapped her hands together and some of her curlers fell out of her hair.
“That’s the spirit, dearie! Oh! There’s one more thing I should tell you, you have to make that person care about you.
“That won’t be hard at all.” I was sarcastic, but Maggi was clearly clueless.
She bounced in the air and then patted me on the head like a dog. “Now you’re positive. You might just be my best client yet! That also reminds me. I have other clients and then there might be the possibility of a few new clients so I won’t always be here, but I’ll pop in from time to time to see how it’s going. I’m allowed to give you advice and motivate you and I’ll give you a few hints. They let that sort of thing slide. My first piece of advice is to tell you that James and Joan are leaving tomorrow and if I were you I’d find a way to go with them. The only way you can complete this task is by staying close to James.”
I nodded my head, vigorously.
She smiled. “Good.” And then she vanished and I was left alone in a garden with a hysterical noble woman who looked familiar and was peeking from behind the bushes. I guess she’s never seen a person fly…
Hopefully she doesn’t say anything…
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