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Fortune telling, festivals, castles, magick, tradition, a quest -- read to find out :) |
| [Introduction]
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| Life as a maid could sometimes be difficult for Emily. She was born and raised with the Delware's, and had certainly been looked after, but it got lonely. Her favourite thing about being with the family was their daughter, Daniella. She was born on the day Emily turned eight, which was almost exactly ten years ago. Daniella's mother, Lady Annabelle, died giving birth to her. Emily's mother, Patricia, was the Lady's maid and midwife. She was given the task of raising Daniella, as Lord Patrick had never raised a child, and trusted Patricia as the Lady's maid to look after his daughter. Daniella called her Nanny. As a result, Daniella was constantly in the maids' chambers, playing and chatting and dancing. Her favourite thing was dancing. Emily was the youngest maid there, and her main task was to keep Daniella entertained so that she didn't interrupt the other maids with their work. She also helped to educate her. Lord Patrick was nice enough to have a tutor in to teach the maids around the time Emily was born, because he saw uneducated maids as pointless. Emily was taught by the older maids, and then she helped teach Daniella with them. Daniella was always coming up with something funny or exciting, strange or new, and everyone there was in love with her. She was about to turn ten, and Lord Patrick had always insisted to hold a celebration for her, every year, with a great dinner and a day in town. She always got so excited to go out. After the big celebration, Patricia usually took Daniella out to town for the day, and the maids arranged a second celebration for Emily. At the second celebration they usually danced and sung and entertained Emily and Daniella until the small girl got too tired to watch, and then Emily's mother would take her to bed, and more fun would take place when she came back. This year was special -- as Daniella was turning ten, Patricia had asked Emily to take her out. She said that Emily would know what Daniella would like, and Daniella would have more fun with a younger woman. She also thought it would be nice for Emily, as she was turning eighteen. Emily was so excited. The celebration was the next day. Emily was helping her mother organise the food for Daniella's great dinner. |
'Mother," Emily said. "Do you think this looks good?" Emily had arranged the fruit bowls, filling them with apples and pears. "Yes," Patricia said. "Can you do something about the draperies? Look how the one at the east window sags." Daniella grabbed Emily's hands to playfully swing around with her and they danced their way to the window. "I'll need a step stool," Emily said. "Wait here and I'll be right back." "No!" Daniella said and grabbed Emily's arm so that the two of them went looking for the stool and when they found it they returned with each carrying an end of it. "Can I do it?" Daniella asked. "You're not tall enough, but hold the stool so I don't fall." Daniella gripped the stool tightly. "Do you think your William will be at the party?" "He's not my William. He's just William." Emily had to stretch her arms to reach the top of the drapery. "Don't you want him to be your William?" "I'm sure I don't care," Emily said in an imitation of Duchess Marlboro's voice, a snobby old woman that neither girl liked very much. Daniella giggled and put her hand to her mouth and the stool started to slide on the polished marble floor. "Daniella!" Emily yelled as the stool slipped out from under her. She hung in the air for a moment, fearing the drapery would rip loose, but Daniella quickly slipped the stool back in place and said, "Sorry!" Then both girls were laughing so much that Patricia called from the other side of the room, "Stop that! What did I tell you about it being unladylike to bray like a donkey?" But the words "bray like a donkey'" only made them laugh all the louder. |
| Patricia couldn't help but smile and shook her head at them. "You girls are going to realize, one day, how important it is to be 'ladylike'. You will meet a young, handsome man and hope for all the world that he thinks you are a beautiful, worthy woman." Daniella stopped laughing and glanced at Emily, who had caught her balance and had almost finished fixing the drapery. "Nanny?" Daniella called to Patricia. "Can I ask you a question?" "Of course, dear. What is it?" Patricia stopped what she was doing and turned towards Daniella. "What happens when you do meet a man? One you like?" Daniella asked. Emily gave Daniella a sharp look and stepped down from the stool. "I think we should put this back." Patricia looked at Daniella with a smile and answered, facing Emily as she did so. "Well, when you meet a man you like, you start to visit more often, and maybe you'll go out together a few times, to find out if he likes you too. If he does, you might be lucky enough to become his wife." "I wish you would stop nagging, mother,' Emily sighed and went out of the room to put the step stool back. Patricia went back to looking for a nice tablecloth and Daniella skipped over to her. "Can I tell you a secret?" Daniella whispered. "A secret? Well, I suppose so," Patricia leant down so that Daniella could whisper to her. "Emily likes William," Daniella whispered, and then ran back across the room giggling. "Do not run, Daniella, it is unladylike. And you might trip on your skirts. Then you wouldn't be able to go out to town tomorrow, and you wouldn't like to be stuck here all day, would you?" Patricia scolded, smiling all the same. She already knew about William. Daniella shook her head and made a silly face, and then sat down, cross legged, on the floor. Emily returned and asked her mother what else needed to be done. "Well, I'm trying to find a nice tablecloth. The fruit bowl is done, the drapery is fixed, the plates are all ready for tomorrow morning and the kitchen maid has all the ingredients she needs for the great breakfast tomorrow. I don't suppose you know where that lovely tablecloth with the roses is, do you?" "Oh, yes, that one is downstairs. I'll go fetch it for you, if you like." Emily waited for her mother to confirm. "You mean it's being used? Oh, never mind, I'll find another one. See if you can help Daniella choose her clothing for tomorrow, and figure out where you are going to go. I heard there's a travelling fair coming to town. Maybe you can go there and have some fun." "Thank you, mother." Emily grinned and took Daniella's hand. "Let's go to your room then, Daniella. We'll pick an outfit for tomorrow." Daniella jumped up with the help of Emily's hand and rushed towards Patricia. "Nanny, there's a nice tablecloth right at the bottom of the pile, the one with the lace in it. Can we use that one?" Patricia smiled and nodded. "Yes, thank you Daniella. Now go and choose what to wear tomorrow. You want to look nice for when you go out!" |
Daniella had an armoire i9n her room that was filled with many gowns. There was a yellow one and a white one and a mint green one and a pink one and a pale blue one. Daniella looked pretty in all of them. Maybe it was partly because she was a child and would look charming in anything, but you could also see in her healthy blonde hair and smooth skin and fine features that she would grow into being quite a beauty when she was Emily's age. "How about the green one?" Emily asked. "No, no, no, I wore that just two weeks ago at Mirabella's birthday party. The yellow! I've only worn that once and it was almost a year ago," "I hope it still fits," Emily said. "Have I been growing?" "I think so. Haven't you?" "I don't know." The girls laughed and Emily helped Daniella slip into the gown. It was complicated to put on because it had a tight waist and had to be fastened in the back. "Oof!" Daniealla said. "I can hardly breathe!" "Maybe Auntie Jane can alter it." "Let's go see her now!" Daniella ran off in the direction of the servant's quarters with Emily right behind her. Auntie Jane was acknowledged to be the best seamstress in the castle. She supervised the making of all of Daniella's clothes. Sometimes Emily and Daniella would help with the sewing, but there was also a servant girl named Betty who assisted. "What is it now?" Auntie Jane asked. "My gown is too tight!" Auntie Jane walked around Daniella and tugged at the gown. "Yes it is, but I can let it out a bit. When are you going to wear it?" "Tomorrow." "Tomorrow! My gracious, child, I can't fix it that fast. Don't you have another gown you can wear?" "I suppose so," Daniella said, "but this is the one I am sure no one has seen for awhile." "Well, go see if there is another gown that will do. While you do that, I'll take a closer look at this gown. Maybe I can do something quick with it. Leave it here. You can wear one of the robes from my chest back to your room." Along one wall were several large wooden chests where Auntie Jane stored cloth and clothing. Daniella quickly slipped out of the yellow gown and into a fur robe. "This feels good! Let's go back to my room and try another gown, Emily!" |
Daniella rushed around the corner and Emily almost tripped trying to catch up. "Slow down, Daniella!" Emily called, but Daniella kept the same speed. By the time Emily caught up, Daniella had laid out all of her gowns on her big four poster bed. The green one was still hanging in the closet, but the others were spread out. Daniella was holding the white one up against her small body, and twirling around the room. "Daniella! You must learn to slow down! You could have tripped!" Emily sat down on a comfortable chair in the corner and sighed. "I'm sorry, Emily. How do you like this one?" Daniella stood in front of Emily and spun around. "Here, let me help you put it on." Daniella slipped the dress over her head and Emily tied up the ribbon at the back. "It's cute. But don't you think it might get a little bit dirty when we go out?" "Oh. I didn't think about that. Well, if the yellow dress isn't finished by tomorrow morning then I'll wear the pink one." Daniella smiled and threw herself onto her bed. "Okay. Well, I'm sure that it will be finished. Auntie Jane always has Betty to help her. Later I'll go see how it's doing, but for now, how about choosing some things to go with your dress?" Emily slid open a draw in the armoire and took out a small box. "Oh! Jewellry! And do you think I should wear a nice powder too? And maybe a hat?" Daniella jumped up and down. "A hat, of course. You need to protect yourself from the sun. But powder? Really? Why would you want to wear powder? You're still only young." Emily said disapprovingly. Daniella's face fell. "But you wear powder... and I am turning ten. I thought ten was special." "Of course ten is special! And Daniella, I only wear powder because... well..." Emily hesitated. Daniella sensed a secret and her eyes went wide. Then she understood. "Oh! Is it because of William? You wear powder to look nice for your William don't you?" Daniella grinned. Emily playfully shoved Daniella's arm. "Yes, for William. But I wish you would stop calling him my William! He doesn't belong to anyone, and he certainly doesn't care for me." "I'm sure he does." Daniella giggled. "So... can I wear some?" Emily looked at Daniella sideways. "You don't like a boy, do you?" Daniella made a face. "Not until I have to! Boys are silly. And they make messes." Emily burst out laughing. "Okay, Daniella. After all... ten is pretty special, isn't it?" Daniella gave Emily a big hug and looked up at her. "It's your birthday too. How old are you turning?" "Eighteen." "Oh, wow! Does that mean you get to do special things?" "I already get to do special things. I get to look after you! You are my favourite special thing." Emily smiled. "But what about William? Isn't he your favourite special thing?" Emily looked thoughtful for a second, then replied. "No. Not even William is more special than you are." Daniella's face lit up and she gave Emily a great big squeeze. "I love you, Emily." It was Emily's turn to glow. "I love you too. Now, let's choose a hat to go out with tomorrow." |
The day of the double birthday dawned grey and threatening. "Oh no!" Daniella said as she gazed out the window. "Is it going to rain all day? This is awful!" "Maybe it won't rain all day," Emily said. "It might clear up later." "Oh I hope so!" Despite the stormy skies, it was bright and cheerful inside the castle because the girls had hung colorful streamers everywhere, but now their plans to go to town were in jeopardy. When it rained, the streets of the village were a sea of mud. Patricia decided they would have a festive birthday luncheon and if the afternoon saw clear skies, then maybe then they could go to town then. The cook roasted dozens of tiny birds, one of Daniella's favorites, and baked dozens of berry tarts and tiny sweetcakes. Emily and Daniella pointed with delight at the different colors of icing. "So pretty!" The first thing that morning Patricia had presented Emily with a birthday present. It was a new dress, sewn by Auntie Jane, and they wanted her to wear it for the celebration. It was a complete surprise to Emily. "It's beautiful!" she said. Around midmorning there was a commotion in the courtyard and Emily and Daniella ran to see who was making so much noise at the main gate. They looked out from the high window of the tower so they had a good view. An old woman dressed in rags was trying to enter the castle. "Begone, hag!" the guard was saying to thye woman when she looked up and saw the two girls in the window. Daniella gasped because the old woman's face was so hideous. The crone pointed her finger at Daniella and yelled, "Beware the lion of the mountain! He shall have your head in his jaws!" As the guard hustled the old woman away from the castle, Daniella turned to Emily with wide eyes and giggled. "Did you hear that?" Emily pretended to be the old woman and spoke in a raspy voice, "Beware the lion of the mountain. He shall have your head in his jaws!" Both girls laughed. Daniella said, "She spoke well for a peasant woman, don't you think?" "Maybe she is a queen of a distant land who escaped from invaders by dressing in rags?" Soon the girls had spun an exciting tale to explain the sudden appearance of the old woman. Later, they forgot all about their imaginings, but they were never to forget the old woman's words. |
Before lunch was served, Lord Patrick sent Daniella to fetch Emily's mother. Patricia was confused, but went to see him with an idea that it might be about the weather. They met in the study, where Lord Patrick spent most of his time, and had a short conversation. "I want you to have lunch with us, Patricia. It will be a sign of my appreciation." Lord Patrick stated, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. Patricia was surprised. "Oh, really? Well, I am not prepared at all. I don't have anything nice to wear and -- " "No need to worry!" Lord Patrick threw up his hands. "I can trust you enough to borrow one of my wife's gowns, can't I?" Patricia gasped and started to fidget. "Well, that is very generous of you, but I don't think..." "Please, Patricia. I insist. But this is not the only matter I wanted to talk about." Lord Patrick motioned for Patricia to sit down. She did. "What is it, my Lord? Has Emily disturbed you again? Oh I'll -- " "No! No, of course not. Emily is a good girl. Am I correct in that she has turned... eighteen, today?" "Yes, that's right. Is something the matter?" "At our luncheon today, we will celebrate not only Daniella's birthday, but Emily's special day also. I have a gift for her, if you don't mind. I would like you to be present for my gift giving, to both girls. Emily has been with us for a long time, and has been like a sister to Daniella, just as you have been like a mother to my daughter." Lord Patrick smiled. "A gift? Oh, my, she will be surprised. Thank you." Patricia said. "Don't thank me. She earned it. Now, hurry along and get ready. Lunch will be served soon. Make sure that the girls are ready too!" Lord Patrick shooed Patricia out of his study. "Oh, don't worry about the girls, they will be ready." Patricia rushed off to the servants quarters and found Auntie Jane. "What is it, Pat? Is something wrong?" Jane asked with a concerned look. "No, I mean, I don't know. I've just been asked to join in the luncheon." "Oh, that's wonderful! Did you want me to find you something to wear?" Jane turned to the boxes behind her. "No, no! I've been told to... borrow one of the Lady's gowns." Patricia blushed slightly. "I was wondering if you could help me?" "Of course! This is amazing. You will look stunning!" |
The luncheon began well but Patricia could not get over her discomfort at wearing the gown of Lord Patrick's dead wife, Lady Annabelle. There was something disturbing about it to her. But no one else seemed to care. Everyone was in good spirits. Lord Patrick stood up to make a toast. "To two fine girls who today are both reaching milestones along the road to maturity -- Daniella and Emily!" Everyone cheered and drank, but when Lord Patrick added, "And here is to their wonderful mother, Patricia, who has raised them in as fine a manner as any father could ever want to see!" Patricia had a little sinking feeling inside. But no one else seemed to notice Lord Patrick's misstatement. Or did they think Patricia really was Daniella's mother? Patricia blushed just to imagine that odd state of affairs. All through the meal Patricia wanted to excuse herself and leave but she couldn't possibly embarrass Emily by running out on the luncheon. So she sat and said nothing and suffered silently. Finally Emily whispered, "Mother, aren't you enjoying yourself? You look uncomfortable." "It's this dress," Patricia whispered back. "It binds and chaffs and fits me not. I'll be glad to be out of it." "But it looks so lovely on you and it fits like it was made for you." Hearing Emily say that made Patricia turn pale. Oh, if only the luncheon would hurry and be over. |
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