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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 0:53:11 GMT -8
Once Elizabeth and Angeline had picked out their colors for everything, they took them up to Geralt.
"Holy bug in beer! Think you chose bright enough colors?" Geralt exclaimed.
"Oh come now, Geralt. You know me. Have I ever chosen dark ones?"
"Very true, Missy. Alright then, explain whats what so I can write this down. You first Angeline."
Angeline looked hesitantly up at Elizabeth. In the back they had been practicing her grammer, and how she was to present the fabric choices to Geralt.
Her voice was soft at first, "Um...the red is the overgown for one dress, with the cornflower blue undergown..." But her voice grew firmer as she continued tell him what she wanted, "And then, the sunflower yellow overgown with the emerald green undergown..."
"Not mother and daughter, huh?" Geralt teased. "You know young missy, those are your mistresses colors?" Angeline beamed and said "I know! But opposite and she said I could!"
Geralt chuckled and waved a hand for her to continue, "And pink overgown with white under; and then a sky blue with gold under. And for my sleeping wear, I would like this bur...burg-andy, burgandy! And the slips I would like each one for each dress to match the undergown, please."
Elizabeth beamed.
Geralt chuckled. "And for you, Elizabeth?"
"A bright red with gold; teal with emerald; brown with emerald; and a gold with emerald." Geralt and Elizabeth had worked together for so long that that was all she had to say for him to understand what she wanted. And she had never had a single complaint. Geralt looked up before he wrote down the last one.
"You...you want to match?"
"Yes. There is a banquet coming up where you are supposed to bring your first female attendant with you instead of an escort. And I fancy Angeline coming with me. It would be perfect if we could match."
Geralt raised his eyebrows at the young girl beaming with excitment and shock.
He leaned in close and asked, "Do you know something I don't?"
"Only a hunch." She smiled and said louder, "We will pick the gold dresses up in two days, and the others as always."
"Perfect. They will be here by high-noon."
"Great. Good-bye Geralt!"
Angeline and Elizabeth made their way out the door and toward the Shoe shop. And Geralt watched them go.
"If only I could be sure about Jayden...That would make her so happy..." Geralt mumbled to himself and shook his head. He sighed and began to work on the relatively easy task ahead of him.
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 1:10:35 GMT -8
Feeling clean and properly dressed, his black hair pulled back into a low pony tale, all scars bar those on his face and hands hidden. That done he made his bed and went up to Elizabeth's room, tidying and making the bed, removing any left over evidence he may have left from their night together. Realistically this was supposed to be her new handmaiden's job but since she was new at it and Jayden had to keep busy somehow he decided to do it. And to make sure there was no evidence of him left in the room.
After going from room to room and making sure everything was in order, he went down to the kitchens to get some food, avoiding eye contact with the cooks and servants working there; they knew who he was and he knew who they were but that was the level of their relationship; Jayden tried not to get too close to anyone.
Finishing his lunch he went out to the stables and smiled when he found their horses stabled and well looked after. Going over to his, a finiky midnight black stallion he murmured soothingly to him as he saddled him up. The horse was difficult to handle and Jayden was the only one who could ride him so the stable hand had to let him run lose in the field to get his exercise; it would do him good to get some exercise with a rider.
Leading him out he mounted up and began putting him through his paces, walking first, then trotting, making sure the horse got his blood pumping before pushing to faster speeds to avoid injuring him. Gallopping through the fields Jayden let the horse have his head and instantly they shot forward, much faster than the average house, giving away the animal's good breeding. Jayden let out a whoop of exhilaration, missing the sensation.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 1:15:43 GMT -8
After aquiring their new shoes, hair pins, and other such girlish things, Elizabeth and Angeline tiredly walked back to Elizabeths room.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see it clean, but smiled and mentally thanked Jayden. "Even though Jayden did it this morning, this will be your duty. To keep my room, along with yours, clean. Although I'm already overly oderly, it is something you should learn."
She threw the things on the bed and brought out a pair of riding skirts. "We are going riding." Elizabeth wanted to do this because she figured there was a 90 percent chance at seeing Jayden.
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 1:25:28 GMT -8
Jayden only started to reign the horse in when he could feel it flagging as he directed it out of the field and into the forest towards a creek. This time of year there should be otters in the water. He and Elizabeth had found this place a year ago and it became a favourite hiding place of his.
Dismounting as they reached the creek, Jayden loosly looped the reigns over a branch and allowed the horse to graze and drink, Jayden doing the same, knealing at the creek's edge and cupping some of its icey water before leaning back against a tree trunk, his fingers trailing in the water.
He loved this place, it was soothing and relaxing and held nothing that could stir any bad memories. He just wished he had thought to bring some lunch so he could have a picnic. Of course they were never as good without Elizabeth but he could have stayed here longer without having to return for food.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 1:42:04 GMT -8
Elizabeth instructed Angeline how to get on a horse and how to sit the lady way. Then, after that, she showed her how to tuck in her skirts and ride the fun way. She was glad to find that there was another horse in the stables that Angeline could ride. A lovely white mare named Angel, perfect for Angeline.
Once Angeline was atop Angel, Elizabeth mounted her own horse, Bonamy. A gorgeous red tinted chestnut mare. Once they were both mounted, they took off from the stables, both horses wanting out of the boxes they were confined in. And Elizabeth didn't have to steer Bonamy anywhere. She was infatuated with Jaydens horse, and knew where he was at all time.
They headed for a clump of trees and Elizabeth knew immedietly wher eJayden was. Of course. It was their spot...well, the one that had called their spot since they had to leave their other one!
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 5:27:08 GMT -8
Jayden had been lightly dozing in the sunlight but came instantly awake at the sound of hoofbeats and stood, moving forward and unlooping his mount's reigns, ready to leap into the saddle and gallop away at a moments notice. It was then that one of the horses gave a whinny of greeting, and his own replied, that Jayden recognised the horse as Elizabeth's. He relaxed and tied the reigns around the saddle horn, letting his mount wander. He knew he wouldn't go away from Elizabeth's unless Jayden was atop him and Elizabeth's wasn't of the temprament to go wandering off or to avoid recapture should she.
"I see you let Bonamy have her head," he said when the two were close enough to speak without raising his voice. He nodded a greeting to Angeline before turning back to Elizabeth. "I thought I would put the horses through their paces after so long of having someone really ride them, but paused by this stream to have a drink, both me and the horse," he said, slipping into his old commoner accent he had had as a boy, denoting his status. He still didn't know if they could trust Angeline with how intimate they really were so best to act the mistress and mansevant for now.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 10:25:26 GMT -8
ELizabeth laughed. "Well Bonamy needed to be free, even with a rider." She winked and said, "Just like you."
Angeline fell off of the saddle trying to get down. She got up very quickly and smiled. "I'm alright." Her commoner accent had nearly all gone away, and her grammer was getting better and better. Mez smiled fondly at her. "Angeline, why don't you go pick some ladyslippers? There are tons around here, and then later we can braid them into your hair." Angeline squeeled and dashed off deeper into the woods and soon she wasn't seen at all.
Elizabeth watched her go, but once she couldn't see her anymore, she threw her arms around Jayden and kissed him. "Oh how I wish we were just back at the cabin...just us, all alone...all day."
The two of them stood envoloped in each other for longer than they realized, and Angeline started to come back. Before she had gotten to close to them, she saw them together. She dropped the lady slippers and inhaled sharply. She lowered her eyes and even though it was socially wrong to be doing what they were doing...Angeline found herself smiling. If they could conquer the image of servant and mistress, then why couldn't she? She had watched the Marquess for a while, and ... She brought herself back, and before she was seen, she picked up the slippers and started skipping noisily towards them, singing.
Elizabeth and Jayden exploded apart then they heard her coming. "Those are gorgeous, Angeline! I was just telling Jayden about our adventure in the Market with Geralt." She looked at Jayden and her eyes told him she thought Geralt was hiding something.
Elizabeth sighed and turned towards Angeline and said, "Well we should go. It isn't very ladly like to be gone for so long. We will just walk our horses back. But don't tell anyone about this spot. We will come back and picnic tomorrow." She helped Angeline get onto the horse and then she swung up on Bonamy. "Jayden...hold your horse." She had wanted to tell him she loved him, but couldn't with Angeline here.
While they were walking back towards the barn, enjoying the sun, Elizabeth turned to look at Angeline. "Why do you look so downcast? It's a gorgeous day out."
Angeline said softly, "I saw you, an' him."
Elizabeth stopped her horse and her eyes grew wide. "What?"
Angeline stopped her horse as well and nodded.
"Oh. Well..."
"I won't tell anyone, but I want to know if he's just a plaything, or if you are in love."
Elizabeth sighed and nodded. "Love. Love since I was younger than you."
Angeline smiled and said, "Good. It's our secret then."
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 15:06:45 GMT -8
Jayden winced a little when Elizabeth hugged him but held her close anyway. It felt so good just to hold her especially when he had had such a rough nice and in a place like this. He could just forget everything when he held her like this. No words needed to be spoken.
All too soon for Jayden Angeline came back and they leapt apart, not wanting to be discovered thus. Immediately he turned towards his horse, Shenadin, pulling a brush out of the small pack attatched to the saddle and brushing his black fur down, not that he really needed it.
"I'll be back soon," he replied. He needed time to recover and recompose himself before slipping into the role of sevant once more.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 15:22:58 GMT -8
Angeline and Elizabeth talked all the way back to her room. They talked about everything, including the upcoming ball.
"Now, since we will be wearing matching gowns, I want to make sure we look the same. Same hair, same clothes..." Elizabeth smiled "I will even teach you to walk like I do."
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 15:37:34 GMT -8
After a while Jayden remounted Shenadin and rode back to the mannor, not going as fast as he had earlier. Stabling the horse and making sure the others were all watered, fed and cared for, he went back inside to the kitchen to get some food; his stomach was rumbling.
As he cooked, feeling like a hot meal, his deep voice sang softly to himself. It had been a while since he sang, he enjoyed it and, surprisingly, was very good at it, but he was always too shy to sing infront of anyone, even Elizabeth. Funny really. He wasn't too shy to show his scars to Elizabeth but he was to sing infront of her or to her.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 15:49:26 GMT -8
After much talking between Elizabeth and Angeline, their stomachs started to growl. So Elizabeth helped Angeline to get out of the riding skirt and into her other gown. Once that was finished, Angeline was sent off in search of food.
Angeline twirled down the stairs towards the kitchen, humming contentedly. She came around the corner of the kitchen and saw Jayden standing there, cooking. "Oh, sorry to both you. Elizabeth sent me own to fetch food." She rummaged through an ice box in search of something that might apease her Mistress. While she gathered things into a pot, and began chopping carrots for a stew, Angeline asked, "So do you plan on wedding her?"
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 15:56:19 GMT -8
Jayden stopped his quiet singing as soon as he heard someone approaching and gave a nod to Angeline when she entered the kitchen. He found he never knew how to react around the girl; the only girl-child he had known had been Elizabeth and he wasn't much older than her at the time, no more than a boy himself when he met though, like all boys, he considered himself a man at twelve.
At her question he stiffened, the blood draining from his face. How did she find out? Did she see something? Or was she guessing? If he admitted to his feelings would she tell someone? As the 'servant' or even the lower born citizen he would likely be executed, or at least imprisoned for such a 'crime' as having an affair with someone above his station and he knew he would rather die than be imprisoned again; if that were to happen he doubted any thoughts of Elizabeth would keep him sane this time.
Knowing his silence could only incriminate further, though the shock of the situation had forced him back into old silent habbits, he decided to play it dumb for now and instead asked in a rather forced tone, "Wedding who?"
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 16:02:37 GMT -8
Angeline smiled to herself and lifted her head saying, "You know exactly who. I saw you two lovebirds in the forest. I won't say anything, Elizabeth is my Mistress as well and I like her very much, and wouldn't see her in distress." Her blonde hair had fallen out of her braid and was now hanging loosely around her shoulders and down to her naval.
She scooped up the carrots and threw them into the boiling pot of stew. Then she turned around to face Jaydens back. "You know, you arn't the only one with love for a higher class." Her voice dropped low and she almost whispered, "I'm not going to blackmail you, that's not my intention at all. But I want to know how you and her keep it hidden."
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 16:09:06 GMT -8
Jayden suddenly found himself very busy as he pottered around the kitchen, making as many chores for himelf as completed, made extremely uncomfortable by her admission that she had seen them earlier; he knew adopting someone as a maid was a bad idea!
His ever busy hands slowed and he glanced up at her when she mentioned a love for a higher class. Did she... fancy someone? Surely she was a bit young for such flights of fancy. But then he and Elizabeth had started exploring feelings around her age, only really getting truely serious perhaps a year or two later. He felt a little relief when she said she wasn't going to blackmail them but he still didn't trust her; he wasn't a very trusting person, not anymore.
"Obviously we didn't do a very good job," was all he said. He wasn't about to go and tell her about their cabin in the woods near the ruins; that would be telling her far too much.
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Post by Shiningami on May 15, 2008 22:48:11 GMT -8
Angeline watched as Jayden nervously fretted about. "It's not that you didn't keep it well hidden...It's just that there weren't very many flowers around!" Angeline giggled.
"And if you are trying to guess whom has caught my eye, I'll trade with you. You tell me the key to a mans heart, and I'll tell you who I fancy." Angeline looked at Jayden with hopefull eyes. "Deal?" Her blue eyes shined as she awaited his answer.
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Post by Luna on May 15, 2008 23:09:43 GMT -8
"Wouldn't Elizabeth be the best person to ask that?" he said. "How would I know? Perhaps you should try the old additive: 'The way to a man's heart is through his stomach and move out from there'," he said before finishing what he was doing and fleeing the kitchen as soberly as he could. He paused in the passage before making up his mind to confront Elizabeth with his plans tonight.
Knocking on her door, he waited silently outside her door for her to answer.
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Post by Shiningami on May 16, 2008 20:49:46 GMT -8
Angeline smiled and wondered to herself as he left as quickly as he could, 'I wonder if he's right...'
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Elizabeth went to the door wrapping a silken robe around her as she walked. When she got to the door, she tied the band around her waist, making sure she was modestly covered, then opened the door.
"Jayden!"
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Post by Luna on May 16, 2008 21:13:55 GMT -8
The corner of his mouth twitched in a smile at her reaction when she opened the door. "Such surprise," he commented.
"I thought I should tell you of what I've found out and what I intend to find out tonight with any luck while your maid is otherwise occupied." With that came the memory of what had traspired down in the kitchen and his eyes narrowed. "She's a devious one," he said. "She tried blackmailing me with not telling about 'us' if I told her 'the secret to a man's heart' were her words..."
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Post by Shiningami on May 16, 2008 21:42:03 GMT -8
"She didn't blackmail you. I told her to ask you what you thought the secret to a mans heart was. Because I have no idea, as you know. She already told me that she saw us, and she told me about her love affair with a Marquess, although she wouldn't tell me which one...And since I don't know the key to a mans heart, I told her to tell you about her love affair to even the playing feild with us and her, and you might be willing to share your marivolous insight. But I can tell from your oh-so-excited face that you despise her and that you didn't tell her anywthing. Wait, I take back the anything...you told her the whole stomach and the heart thing, didn't you?" Elizabeth became more and more flaberghasted as she talked. She knew Jayden, and from that, figured what she believe went on.
Before she let Jayden speak, she continued. "And anyway, I don't want you judging her right off the bat, because I know how you can do that, and I don't want you to because I like her and we really have a connection, and it's really nice to be able to just talk to another girl without the whole political 'you're not in my class,' and the 'you're not good enough' crap! So please. Just try and like her. And anyway....what were you saying?"
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Post by Luna on May 16, 2008 21:57:44 GMT -8
As Elizabeth spoke Jayden's eyebrow rose ever higher as she went on and on. He opened his mouth to speak but she kept going without giving him a chance to say anyting.
"Take a breath," he reminded her with a bit of a smirk; it had been a while since she raved like that. "For a start I don't hate her, she just unnerves me. And how am I supposed to know how she's to win this man she's fallen for? I don't even know him. But as I was saying, I wanted to talk to you about what I had discovered last night and what I hope to discover tonight while your maid is otherwise occupied.
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