VI
It was two days since Willow has arrived into 19th century.
Slowly she started accepting the reality that there's no logical explanation for that fact. Perhaps it was univere's way of punishing her for everything that happened in the past few months. Then again, perhaps it was just the opposite, she wanted to distance herself from her normal life and she got more than she bargained for.
No matter the cause, she was submerged into this strange world, into this wicked reality and it wouldn't do her much good if she spent her days wallowing in self-pity. So, she decided to explore.
The Ashford's house was larger than Willow's first impression was when she arrived. Two stories high, it was built of red bricks and separated into two identical wings. Multiple large, white windows allowed sun rays in each and every room and, like a crown on top of it, roof was made out of brownish tiles complementing red bricks in beautiful was.
First floor was dedicated to morning room, drawing room, kitchen and Mr. Ashford's study. Willow was informed that the study was considered Mr. Ashford's sanctuary and to avoid roaming around that room for he considered it the only place he could be in peace. Second floor was where bedrooms were, along with bathrooms and dressing room.
The garden was rather breathtaking too. Mrs. Ashford particularly made sure that the front yard was decorated with flowers in every color, pointing out how the first impression was most important. But Willow thought that the backyard garden was far more beautiful, settled in between tall walls of the house and small lake that rounded it the backyard gained somewhat intimate and tucked appearance.
Willow was avid reader of all Jane Austin's novels and she often pictured herself waltzing in those balls that 19th century was famous for dressed in long, feminine gowns. However, as she stood in front of mirror femininity is the last that she thought of herself.
-"I look like stuffed turkey," - she dead-penned staring at her reflection in horror. Mary giggled from her spot on the chair where she sat in graceful way, one that was rarely seen in 21st century, the era where people's spine was formed to fit the need to be as comfortable as they stalked people on Facebook.
-"Of course not, you look rather dazzling," - Mary reassured her, but from her voice Willow was sure she thought the opposite.
-"Exactly, people will go blind at the sight of me," - Willow retorted snorting in unladylike way and Mary scolded her with narrowed eyes. Returning her eyes back to the mirror, Willow observed her appearance once again.
The dress Mrs. Ashford provided her with was in awful yellow color of the filthy, muddy water, and it drained all color from Willow's face. The shoulders were puffy and Willow deemed it make her look like Mike Tyson, rectangular neckline flattened her breasts like she was wrapped in duck tape. Red, satin ribbon was tied right under her chest allowing the dress to fall freely, but considering it was made from stiff material it looked like starched tablecloth rather than elegant morning gown.
-"I look like a barrel," - Willow announced once more, sighing deeply and pealing her eyes from disturbing image in the mirror. -"I really appreciate the thought, but wouldn't it be better if I wore my clothes?"
Mary imitated her sighing, raising up on her feet. They were stuck in dressing room for more than an half and hour discussing about Willow's clothing, and Mary was slowly getting bored. Although she was used to indecision about clothing all her friends experiences, it was first time that she met with refusal of every kind of gown that was presented.
-"Willow, your clothes are rather inappropriate for young lady your age to wear," - Mary explained, trying to coax Willow to quit protesting, but she frowned remembering her original clothes. -"To be honest, they are inappropriate for the girl in general."
-"You wouldn't be saying that if you saw how comfortable they are," - Willow mumbled as her ships slowly sank and she considered change of tactic. -"Can I at least redesign it?"
-"Of course, why not?" - Mary sighed but still smiled at Willow and walked towards the door. -"I will be in the morning room so you can join me there for some tea after you are finished."
With a mild nod, Mary excused herself and disappeared through the door. Willow checked herself out in the mirror once again and grabbed the scissors from the table. Bracing herself, she nodded at her reflection in the mirror.
-"Well, here goes nothing."
*********
-"Ta-da!" - Willow shouted bursting into the room. Twirling around she showed the masterpiece she made bur froze once she caught the look faces staring at her.
The morning room was crowded. Mary was sitting in the chair, next to the older man Willow didn't know. His hair was ash grey, deep blue eyes rounded by a web of wrinkles and separated with long, straight nose. He looked elegant and strict, but there was something about the way he smiled at Willow that made him approachable, friendly looking.
Opposite of them, Mrs. Ashford was gaping like a fish, sat beside young man that looked in his early twenties. His blond hair was like liquid gold and held the same shine Mary's hair did, his almond eyes hazel.
-"Oh," - Willow blurted, embarrassed for her sudden burst in, -"my bad."
Turning around on her heel, her goal was to skedaddle away from that room but was stopped with soft, yet firm voice.
-"Please, do stay Miss," - older gentlemen said, nodding his head towards the chair by the table and Willow obliged. Sitting down, she noticed how everyone stared at her dress and her hands flew to straighten the wrinkles on instinct.
By cutting off the puffy shoulders, the dress was now spaghetti strapped, and it reached few inches below her knees. The ribbon that was tied below her breasts was now tied around her waist exposing Willow's thin waist. By losing unnecessary length, the dress received flowy look that complimented Willow's body and she loved it.
Although, judging by the looks everybody has been giving her, Willow doubted they shared her thoughts.
-"Lord Richmond," - Mrs. Ashton composed herself and immediately jumped into her usual activity, -"allow me to introduce you Miss Willow...," - she paused, occurring to her she didn't know Willow's last name.
-"Blackwood," - Willow supplemented Mrs. Ashton's sentence that was left hanging and the latter nodded.
-"Miss Willow Blackwood. She's a guest and will sojourn in our humble home for a while," - Mrs. Ashford proceeded, smiling in direction of the old man. Lord Richmond nodded, piercing Willow with his blue eyes.
Young gentlemen introduced himself as Mr. Edmund Collins, grandson of the older man, and it didn't miss Willow's eye how Mary's breath hitched when he spoke or how her cheeks slowly reddened when he would glance at her.
Willow stifled a laugh.
-"I'm pleased to make your acquaintance," - Lord Richmond remarked, and Willow hand shot up to give a lame, half wave.
-"Nice to meet you too," - she said, glancing in between the Richmonds.
The conversation that was hindered by Willow's not-so-graceful entrance revived, and they chatted away about the things that were too abstract to her mind. They talked about dinner parties and balls, about recent gossips and important people of the Ton.
Not able to contribute to the conservation, Willow looked in between Mary and Edmund, catching secret glances they threw at each other. Just by looking at Mary's face anybody could detect her affection towards this young man.
Even though Willow had few boyfriends before, she has never actually felt that kind of feeling but she knew the power of woman's love. Once in love, woman has eyes, ears and heart only for the one that fills her dreams and she resembles a little girls that received a barbie doll, her object of worship, idol and dream.
-"That's a rather unusual attire you have on, Ms. Blackwood," - Willow was snapped out of her stalking and she blinked towards Lord Richmond. -"Very unaccustomed too."
-"Well, more like visionary," - Willow commented, not really knowing how to respond. There was something in that old man that made Willow want to impress him, she felt like she needed his approval.
Maybe she could have sucked it up and accepted looking like Mike Tyson's and stuffed turkey's love child. At least she wouldn't be called out for her unusual and unaccustomed attire.
-"Yes," - Lord Richmond murmured, -"a visionary."
Something flashed through the dark seas of his eyes, something similar to lighting of realization but it was masked quicker than Willow needed to understand it. From that point Willow was again left feeling like a sore thumb in the corner of the room while they conversed.
Thoughts about home settled in the back of her mind, cocooned into cloud of what seems will became routine and lifted a little bit of weight from Willow's chest. Residues of her optimistic personality still existed in her heart, cruel hands of fate were unable to swat away all of it and they urged Willow to accept and use the situation she's in.
Who else gets a chance to first handedly experience 19th?
-"We must bid our goodbyes for now," - Willow heard firm voice and everyone rose on their feet. Blinking away her thoughts, Willow quickly scrambled up as well. -"I sincerely hope that you will grace us with your presence at our dinner party tomorrow night, Ms. Ashford."
-"Of course, Lord Richmond, it will be my pleasure," - Mary responded, bowing her head in respect. Bowing back, Lord Richmond turned towards Willow that was observing their conversation in curiosity. She found their manners to be like a fresh breeze, so distant from casualty and disrespect most of the people her age conversed in 21st century.
-"Ms. Blackwood, I would like to extend my invitation for you, as well. It would be an honor to welcome you in Elysium."
-"Sure Mr...I mean..Lord Richmond, the honor would be mine," - Willow retorted, trying to mimic the posh way they were speaking.
Bowing, both gentlemen bid their goodbyes and left, leaving Mrs. Ashford and her daughter to squeak in happiness.
And for the first time in a while, Willow's laughter was ringing with same feeling.
********
-"I can't believe I'm doing this," - Willow mumbled to herself as she marched through the forest, leading a horse on a leash.
Few hours after Richmonds left and the euphoria that followed them died out in the Ashford's home, Willow decided on embark on a dangerous trip.
She needed to recover her belongings from the house that criminal Jack captured her in.
-"I'm actually doing this," - she further mumbled, baffled by her own stupidity but still assured in her decision.
From all the movies about journey to past she has learned one thing: no one must know. Everything that was inside her bag wasn't part of this era and somebody discovering it could cause a paradox.
But what was more important to Willow was that bag was her only link to home, to her sanity. Only proof that she was thrown into the world she doesn't belong and must return home.
Pushing herself forward, she past beside familiar threes, stepped on twigs she snapped before and kicked the same pebbles she did when she was running in opposite direction.
Now, consciously was darting towards that same house she escaped.
The horse neighed besides her and Willow winced, jumping three feet to her left. Mrs. Ashford advised her to take a horse for it was getting darker and "it's not safe for young ladies to wonder about in the dark". After the way Ashford family showed her unlimited hospitality, Willow couldn't bring herself to refuse anything they wanted.
Pulling the reins, she guided the horse to follow her and it snorted in outcry. The animal wanted to run freely, but the only thing Willow's fear allowed was trotting after her like a dog on a leash. However, Willow was thankful for its companion for it made her feel safer.
Peaking from behind a three she searched for any sign of Jack. Willow observed the house for the first time, founding it creepy. It was small, one story high house made from what seems once were brown bricks, but the years of abandonment and non-preservation washed their color to yellow. However, windows seemed renewed and solidified therefore stood out from old walls.
-"Hush Shadowfax, we need to be quiet," - Willow whispered to her horse, whom she named after one of her favourite movies because of its color. Stepping forward, she tiptoed towards the house, illuminated by last drops of Sun, pulling the horse behind her.
Just as she approached the door and raised her hand to push the door open, she was stopped by sickly sweet voice.
-"Ah, Lady Oak, welcome back."
Damn, mission failed.
Willow stood frozen in the same spot, closing her eyes in disappointment. Sighing deeply, she was surprised she felt no fear but only furry towards this annoying male person.
-"You are not real, your sickly voice is just part of nightmare," - she mumbled to herself, hoping that if she said that mantra long enough it would eventually become reality.
-"Tsk, tsk, tsk," - Jack scoffed, urging his horse to trot closer to Willow. -"Such harsh words, Lady Oak. You are breaking my heart."
Hearing approaching sound of hooves, Willow whirled around and scooted towards her horse seeking protection. It seemed to her that the damage horse could do was lesser than Jack-ass in front of her would.
-"Your heart is not something I would like to break, Lord Jack-ass," - she retorted spitefully, fake smile plastered on her face. -"I prefer breaking your face."
Jack smiled, a sincere one, but there was surprise in his eyes tough quickly masked. His eyes roamed about Willow's body, from her hair that was thrown over her shoulders in careless way to her unusual clothes.
-"The dress compliments you," - he said nodding towards her dress, smile never leaving his full mouth. -"I am not sure whether it is a part of your mask, albeit if you would grant me liberty to give you an advise - espionage is not a profession you should pursue."
Willow let out a cynical laugh, raising her head towards the sky to emphasize the absurdity of his statement.
-"Of course not, being professional in espionage and anything associated with crime you would know," - she scoffed at his direction, misanthropic smile on her face.
Jack laughed wholeheartedly but refrained from further comment. Frankly, he was quite intrigued to learn the reason she returned to this place again for he was confident their paths will never cross again.
Puckering her lips, Willow stood by her guardian horse glaring at Jack in spite but inwardly she was cursing at herself. How stupid of her to appear here after only two days, guided by the idea he will not be here. Even though all odds were against that decision, her heart still encouraged it for she needed to retrieve her bag.
-"I'm very flattered, but I cannot abstain from asking why are you here?" - Jack voiced his thoughts and his eyebrows furrowed in sincere curiosity, but hi mouth curled into conceited smile. -"Or you became so fascinated with me that your infatuated heart lead you back here?"
Willow snorted at his stupidity and rolled her eyes, growing more annoyed at his egoistical self. At this point she wanted to leave, with or without the bag and never repeat the same mistake of coming anywhere near him. The casual way he was sitting on top of his midnight black horse, his head cocked to the side and devilish smile on his face frustrated her to a point she wanted to overthrow him to the ground and pummel until her hands bleed.
-"I'm here to retrieve my bag," - she informed him, ignoring his foolish question.
-"Unfortunately, your quest was in vain," - he retorted, straightening his spine to tower over her. -"You bag for sold to the highest bidder."
Gasped escaped Willow's mouth when his words penetrated to her scull and her eyes widened in perplexity. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, as the thought that the only thing that linked her to her life was snatched away from her. Willow's eyes remained glued to Jack's in bafflement, but a glimpse of remorse that shimmered in those dark seas escaped her.
-"Oh, I see I misjudged you" - Willow remarked sternly, her grief slowly becoming replaced by anger. -"You are not just a kidnapper but also a thief."
To Willow's astonishment Jack only shrugged both of shoulders and let out a small sight, further frustrating her.
-"Agree to disagree, while you call it thievery I would classify it as well-used opportunity," - he retorted, unaffected by her spiteful words.
Willow groaned loudly, giving up on trying to inculcate a sense of shame in his thick head, but couldn't help her tongue to voice her thoughts.
-"You are impossible," - she commented, tugging on a leash and turning to her right and stormed towards the forest and back to Ashford's house.
-"You ought to stop with the flattery, Lady Oak, pink does not compliment my complexion!" - Jack shouted after her, letting out loud laugh that reverberated from surrounding forest and rang in Willow's ears like sound of fingernails scraping on chalkboard.
-"I hope you keel over and die!" - Willow yelled back, not even bothering to turn around to check whether he heard her, because his laughter only amplified and embedded deep into Willow's scull never to be forgotten again.
And maybe if she wasn't busy mumbling profanities directed to Jack while stomping back to Ashford's house, Willow would hear soft promise that was breathed into the air and flew around the forest, mixing with soft breeze and raising to the sky.
-"We shall meet again, strange Lady Oak."
ns 15.158.61.20da2
