‘Lainie!’ Hamish hissed, crossing his arms, ‘what are you doing?’
‘You thought you could just get on a horse and ride away?’ I demanded, unsure why I was upset. That was after all his mission.
‘I am going with Lord Tomas’ soldiers to collect our dead comrade.’ Hamish said slowly, pronouncing every word clearly.
‘What?’ I asked, confused by the change of conversation.
‘I was invited to collect Daniel,’ Hamish clarified.
‘Will you return?’
‘I may, however I am expected home within a week.’
‘Captain Hamish,’ I said awkwardly, ‘I want you to stay here. With me. Here.’
He looked so incredulous that I felt foolish. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WkocQNbvQ
‘Why?’ he asked quietly, ‘do you enjoy bossing me around so much you wish me here?’
He instantly looked uncomfortable at his comment, shifting his weight, ‘you can of course order me to stay. But you would need a reason. Do you doubt the security of your betrothed?’
It was my turn to feel uncomfortable, pressing my hands down the front of my gown, ‘no.’ I mumbled.
‘Then what service would I be to you?’
‘A known one.’ I said, lifting my chin, ‘I want you to be my body guard.’
Taken aback, he uncrossed his arms and glared at me. ‘No.’
I watched him, ready to use my puppy eyes to good use. Foreseeing my tactics he shook his head doggedly, ‘you do not need me!’
‘Go collect your fallen comrade and return – my mind is made up.’ I said in my best commanding voice.
He growled under his breath and I smiled, walking away back towards the gardens. I turned at the edge of the stables, watching him watch me with an expression part anger part shock. I found it amusing so I beamed back, his anger dissipating at my grin before entering the gardens.
O.o.O
‘Madelaine,’ Sarah said, standing before the bed with her hands on her hips.
‘Yes?’ I asked sheepishly.
‘Is it true you commanded Captain Hamish to be your body guard?’
I looked at my fingers, ‘maybe.’
‘He’s a captain! He has responsibilities and privileges that you are ignoring!’
‘I’m not demoting him,’ I sat up from the bed, ‘besides; my family have many captains at their disposal. I want him.’
‘You’re acting like a spoilt child unwilling to part with a toy.’ Sarah said rudely, walking towards the cupboard where an evening dress waited. Pulling it out, she expected it with critical eyes.
‘We all act like children,’ I mumbled, sliding off the bed. My blue dress was folded over a chair, the corset leaning against it. The moment I had entered my suet I had thanked and dismissed the male servant, after the girl had helped me undress, her as well.
‘How angry are you at me?’ I asked quietly, taking up the whale bone corset in two hands and pressing myself into it. Sarah’s eyes softened, gently placing the dress back on the chair. I turned and she began to do up the laces, moving my hair over my shoulder and out of the way.
‘I am worried how your reckless behavior has impacted the Lord and the captain alike. You do not know your influence well enough!’ 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK7FMKLJfR
I sighed and she finished lacing up the corset, turning me around to help slip on my kirtle. I fingered the intricate pattern, the red like blood against the white.
‘I know all you want is a trusted friend near, however you need to remember you are going to be married soon. You will no longer be part of your family. You will belong-’
‘Here.’ I whispered and I felt her nod as I walked over to the vanity table. I did not want to be here. I did not want to be powdered up and dressed up like a prized doll. I was a person, a being filled with emotion and feeling.
‘Lord Tomas would not allow his betrothed to want for anything,’ I said slowly, watching my face in the mirror. My mind’s eye projected his beautiful, caring blue eyes in the glass. Surly a man with such a heart would know the isolation I feel, cut off from all I know.
I was not a painted doll. Surly he knew that.
Sarah clucked behind me, a hairbrush magically appearing in her hand.
‘You’re only two, three years older than me, stop acting like my mother.’ I snapped, wanting to hurt her.
‘Someone has to,’ she laughed, my insults falling past her like mist. She ran the brush through my hair, fingers gently straightening painful tangles. I leaned back unintentionally and she laughed again, shaking her head. ‘As soon as someone strokes your hair they can no longer be your enemy.’ She said, smiling at me through the mirror.
I groaned, slowly nodding affirmative. She continued stroking for thirty more; only when the brush lifted off my head did I meet Sarah’s eyes and smiled. My long hair was glossy enough for my vanity, clean and perfumed. As I admired my reflection Sarah held in her hands a long deep crimson surcoat.
‘Thankyou.’ 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTd5pQ7sAJ
She shrugged and I stood up, turning to hold her shoulders.
‘I’m serious Sarah. No one else could talk to me the way you do, look after me the way you do,’ I smiled into her bright eyes, ‘love me the way you do.’ She huffed and unfolded the surcoat, holding it out for me. I stepped into it and kissed her cheek, hearing her chuckle.
‘Stop that! Being gooey isn’t going to help you get your way.’
I gazed smugly in her direction, ‘funny enough, it generally does.’
She snorted and buttoned the back, picking invisible lint off it. I stared into the vanity’s mirror, seeing the kirtle peak out through the split of the middle of the surcoat. It was flattering, high quality and striking. The sleeves cupped my arms down near my elbow, covering my shoulders.
‘How will I do your hair?’
‘I kept the flowers, he mentioned them – so I want to use them.’
‘Braid?’ Sarah asked, speaking around the pins in her mouth.
I nodded, settling down back into the seat at the vanity table. Along the edges of the mirror mice were carved into the white wood, standing on each other’s shoulders as they appeared to teeter precariously. They seemed to struggle the higher they were in the stack, until the two top mice held hands, forming a precarious arch between the two mice towers, their paws pressed against the other. It was a curious thing to use as decoration in a Lady’s room. It seemed more a child’s musings than fitting for a noble woman’s vanity table.
‘Why so quiet?’
‘These carvings,’ I said, moving a hand to run over the mice, ‘they are strange.’
‘Perhaps you can ask the Lord what they represent?’ she asked, curling my hair within her hands.
‘Have a conversation about a vanity table?’ I laughed, ‘shall I ask him how he fancies the flower arrangement on the table also?’
‘He may find it pleasing.’
‘Or tedious.’
She smiled knowingly at me through the mirror, her hands still for a moment. ‘Sometimes there is more than what they wish us to see.’ Was all she said.
-OoO-
I walked down the stairs carefully, watching my feet slip in and out of sight under the gown. I messenger had come moments before, his eyes flickering so not to meet my own. We were to dine not in the Hall as was custom, rather a secluded, smaller room to combat the night chill.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyGQGpKUSm
Now, the messenger casting frightened looks behind him, led me through a corridor and into the east wing of the castle. The ashen stone walls down the corridor were decorated with the history of the castle, the caretakers and protectors as different from each other as silk from hessian. Curious, I moved closer to one side of the walls, hovering a hand over the scene before me. Hidden within the folds of a Lady’s gown a little silver mouse poked a nose out to sniff the air. If I had not been searching, surly I would have missed him! He wore a coat that melted into the woman’s gown, eyes knowing. Knowing what? My escort stood a small distance away, attempting to hide his anxiety at keeping the Lord waiting. I glanced at the messenger with his small peaky cheeks under overly large eyes which made him appear constantly frightened. He coughed at my blatant overlook of curtesy, his expression morphing from frightened to embarrassed.
I smoothly walked away from the hangings, silently making a reminder to view them again. Mice. What did these Western people find so interesting in rodents of all things? Not stars or gold or jewels, but small food snatching beasts with a promise of disease. I walked through the door held open for me, smiling cheerfully at the boy as I entered. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMm9LpwAhC
The appropriate word for the room would be cosy; it was indeed small, however well furnished. A large fireplace blossomed in the middle of the wall, casting deep shadows along the table. As though the shadows were stalks of grass, they waved across the ebony dining table and the beautiful white china plates. I walked closer to better expect the intricate design. The swirls were black against the white, lines twirling around each other along the top and bottom of the plate. The forks and knives were decorated with the same swirling pattern, as though the black had seeped from the plates to the cutlery beside it. I pressed a hand to the plate, finding the black swirls rise to my cool touch.
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