Summary: Maria was sent off to boarding school at the age of sixteen by her Uncle Sir Benjamin to better her education after two years of learning from her governess. Now she returns as a young woman, ready to come out into society, but she is not the same Maria and not everything has remained the same at Moonacre Valley.
A/N: Generally women are out in society around 16 or 17, but I wanted Maria to be a little bit older.
Four years; it had been four years since Maria had saved Moonacre valley and put an end to both the curse and hatred between the Merryweathers and the De Noirs. She had been so young, so pure hearted, and wild; a fourteen year old girl with a mission and a large repertoire of friends. Now she is eighteen, coming out in society, and not as brave, pure hearted, and wild as she had once been. That is not to say she is completely downtrodden and that all has fallen apart; no, her surroundings, her friends, had not changed very much at all since she had saved them. No, it was she that had changed.
Or at least, that's what she'd tried to tell herself when the coach paused at the gate to Moonacre Valley and her driver proceeded to alight from his station to unlock it. Memories of her first coming to Moonacre flooded her mind, a fond smile growing on her pale, now freckle-less face. Then, as quickly as it came, her smile fell and her somber mood from before returned. The pull of the horses suddenly moving startled her from her reveries, her brow slightly furrowing as she focused on the scenery outside her coach compartment. The familiar roads of her home, or what had become her home for the few years she had lived there, occupied her mind just enough to be able to tear her mind away from whatever depressed thoughts had been swirling around in her head.
"We're here missus." The voice of the driver fell upon deaf ears after so many hours of silence, but was soon recognized when the coach came to a lurching halt. Maria quickly clutched at the door to the coach, stabilizing herself enough to be able to return to a regular sitting position. She let go of it quickly as it was pulled from her grasp, her hand soon finding that of a familiar one.
"My darling Maria!" The voice of her uncle brought a smile to Maria's face as she was helped from the coach, a sudden moment of childish joy causing her to propel forward and hug her father-figure. Her uncle let out a loud laugh and pulled her into a hug, stumbling backwards as he did so, but not letting go.
"Uncle!" Maria felt fourteen again as she descended, although this time her booted feet touched the ground easily while her long dark curly red locks flew from their restraints.
"Maria! You must act with a little more decorum!" The shrill voice of Miss. Heliotrope, now Mrs. Digweed, seemed to break the sound barrier as she tried to chastise her ward as she acted improperly.
"Oh Miss. Heliotrope, how I've missed you!" Maria cried as she released her uncle to hug her governess, paying little mind to the woman's cries for propriety as she continued her round of hugging her loved ones, ending with her Aunt Loveday.
"Maria, you look so beautiful, darling. I'm so happy to see you! Oh, I've got so many new animals for you to meet! Oh and father and Robin will be by soon to welcome you home, they've been held up in the woods. I'm sure Robin will tell you all about it. Come along now, back to your old room!" Loveday ushered her into the house, ignoring her husband's wish to see his niece more and the voices of all the other occupants of the house.
"We've kept it up just as it was. I know you're older, but still, I thought you might like to be in a familiar setting. Also, if you feel the need to escape, the passageway still works." Maria nearly hit her head on the entryway as she made her way into her room at Loveday's last statement while she turned, her eyebrow lifting in questioning.
"What do you-?" Maria started, but the door was closed and Loveday was gone before she even heard the soft 'thud' of the wood sliding shut. Confused, but not daring to question anything that happened in Moonacre, Maria stood up to her full height and glanced about the room. Everything was, indeed, as she had left it at the age of sixteen. In fact, the bowler hat Robin had bequeathed to her on her fifteenth birthday still hung on the head of the Unicorn statue on of her fireplace. Another smile etched itself across her face as she strode towards the hat, its velvet texture and resemblance to Robin's own hat bringing up memories of times when she was happy. With care she plucked the hat from its resting place and perched it atop her head, not caring at the moment how society perceived her and glad Loveday had thought to give her a time to collect herself as memories of the article and their adventures swarmed her.
"Maria?" With a gasp of surprise Maria turned quickly towards the door, pulling the hat off her head and hiding it behind her back in an attempt to conceal its existence.
"Maria?" A knock resounded on her door and she rolled her eyes at herself before placing the hat back on its perch and striding to the door, opening it hastily so that she could easily speak to the man on the other side.
"Yes, Uncle?" Maria crouched ever so slightly so that she could easily speak to her last surviving blood relative, a smile plastered on her face as she questioned him.
"The De Noir's aren't to be here until tomorrow, as they have been detained by their business in the woods. Would you care to join us for our evening meal or would you prefer to take it in your room? You must be tired after your journey." Maria's smile fell at his words, but she quickly recovered herself and reigned in her disappointment to appear cheery, but worn by the day's journey.
"I believe I shall take in my room, Uncle. It has been a long coach ride to Moonacre and I'm feeling quite faint." Her uncle nodded, as if he had thought as much before turning away to go relate to Marmaduke where to send the meal when he turned back and leaned in to the doorway so that he was closer to his niece.
"Maria, I am glad that you are home, but I must ask you to not go in the woods-." Her uncle began.
"Why ever not, Uncle? I thought you were on good terms with Coeur De Noir-."
"Maria, please, listen carefully to me. It is not because of the De Noirs, it is because of something else. Something is in the woods and it's not safe. I do not wish for you to be hurt, I know of your attachment to Robin, but it is dangerous as of late to be in the woods. I would prefer it if you stayed close to home and let Robin come to visit you instead of you going to him." Her uncle's voice took on a fatherly tone, one that he had adopted over time, as he took her hand in his and pleaded with her to stay out of the forest.
"Oh Uncle," Maria grasped one of the hands that held hers, a small smile lighting up her face while a hand moved wickedly behind her back and crossed its fingers, "I'll stay out of the woods. Do not fear for me, I am no longer a rebellious child of fourteen."
"Oh…yes, good…" Her uncle seemed to be at a loss for words as she acted so mature and according to his wishes. "Well, goodnight my dear; please, rest and don't fear for anything. Wrolf sits outside the Manor at night, guarding it at all times. He will protect us all." And with that, Sir Benjamin patted her hand and leaned in to kiss her forehead, as if she were still a young girl, before turning on his heel and exiting the tower. Maria rolled her eyes and sighed, once again falling into her somber mood from earlier.
Shutting her door, Maria threw herself backwards, easily landing on her bed with ease and familiarity of the action. Everything seemed like she'd never left, except for the absence of the bowler-capped boy perched precariously on her windowsill. She never did figure out how Robin had managed to visit her all those nights, especially when Wrolf patrolled the grounds and still held a contempt for the De Noir clan. A sigh flew from Maria's pale lips before she sat up lazily and frowned at her room, her hands clasped together in her lap as she waited for her meal to arrive.
As if on cue there was a knock at the door and Maria rose to greet the tiny cook she knew would be on the other side of it. With a practiced smile and the ease of knowing how to fool anyone in the vicinity, Maria opened the door and was met with the sight of her good friend Marmaduke. He was grinning from ear to ear, his thin needle-like mustache curling at the ends as was his way, the chef stood, holding a tasty looking meal out in front of him.
"Oh Marmaduke, it looks lovely! Thank you so much!" Maria ducked through her doorway to hug the small chef, retrieving the platter of food from him as she pulled away.
"Now that you've returned again, I've got even more of my gusto back, Princess. It's only a matter of time before you'll be eating the best of my dessert recipes!" And with that phrase, he was gone, causing her to roll her eyes and shake her head in knowing. He had taken to doing that, not finishing conversations, when she was preparing to leave Moonacre Valley and now it seems he could not stop the habit. With a sigh, Maria ducked through the threshold and sat down her platter of food on her bed before turning back around to close and lock her door. With a sigh she turned back to her food, her eyebrow rising at the choice of meal, her favorite, before another smile appeared on her face.
"Curiouser and Curiouser." Her smile spread into a grin as she quoted one of her childhood favorites while she moved across the room, ungracefully plopping herself down upon the bed next to her food.
"This is so much easier than living alongside nine-and-twenty other girls." She spoke to herself as she rolled onto her side, propping her head up with her arm, her other arm extending so that she could grasp the fork next to her plate and stab at the quail on her plate. With a newfound rebellion against society's way of composing herself, Maria ate with little decorum, finding that Marmaduke's cooking was still her favorite as she greedily ate her plateful. As soon as she finished her meal she was up, off the bed, and pulling at her skirts to straighten them before she took up her platter and went to open the door. Balancing the platter while also trying to lean forward through the door as she opened it, Maria huffed in annoyance at her small doorway before finally making her way through it.
Stumbling, but catching herself, Maria managed to make it down the few steps from her room's entrance just as a shrill howl pierced the air. A shiver ran up her spine and her knees became suddenly like the molasses she had just used to sweeten up her quail, causing her to furrow her brow in contemplation.
'I thought I'd grown out of being frightened like a small child at odd noises? Silly Maria, it is more than likely Wrolf….who has turned into a lion and cannot howl.' Her eyes widened at the realization just as voices were heard from the ground floor, their loud quality causing them to echo up to her.
"What in God's name was that?" Her uncle's voice was clear to her and one of the most familiar.
"I don't know, Merryweather. Robin and I have been scouring the woods with a scouting party, trying to find the infernal beast, but we've not even managed to find a den fit for such an animal." De Noir's voice, she remembered it well, as it was frightening to her when she was younger, but had become somewhat familiar. Her brow furrowed even more in her confusion at the man's being in the manor.
'Didn't Uncle say they were to dine with us tomorrow night?' Suspicion arose in her mind, causing her hackles to rise. She had been lied to, or at least had knowledge kept from her! Rolling her eyes, Maria shrugged off her annoyance at the people she loved, once again returning to her task at hand and attempting to carry the platter down the tower steps.
"Have you found anything out, Rochester?" Her Uncle's voice once again carried up her towers stair, as the door to the entryway into their wing opened and closed, footsteps of a new inhabitant causing her to slow her pace as she listened for this 'Rochester' to respond.
"Not a thing, Benjamin. I checked the perimeter, but the beast has not shown itself around your home. Wrolf is still on guard, though. He seems nervous." The man's voice was deep and clearly from the North, more than likely Scottish, and it caused her to momentarily lose focus and trip on her last step. A cry escaped her lips and she squeezed her eyes shut as the platter flew from her hand and she tried to grab hold of anything nearby to stop herself from falling flat on her face.
"Maria!" Several voices chorused in surprise as her fall was suddenly halted, a pair of strong hands holding her up while she grasped the lapels of someone's coat tightly. Slowly the fire haired woman opened her eyes to look up into the dark, golden irises of another's gaze. With a start Maria straightened herself, blushing as she released the man from her hold on him, though he seemed hesitant to do so himself. She could not help but stare, unflinchingly, into the eyes of the mysterious man, one whom she could only think might be Rochester.
"Maria, what ever are you doing?" Mrs. Digweed's was the voice to first startle her from her trance just as the platter clanged to the floor, seemingly delayed by her unwitting toss of it high into the air. She flinched at the sound of the noise, the man before her doing the same, though seemingly more so than she.
"Maria, are you alright, dear?" Maria's attention toward man was broken and she looked away from him with a start, turning out of his hold as Loveday spoke to her.
"Uh…." Maria, for all her newfound gentility from boarding school and education, could not even fathom how to reply to her. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out, and she felt as though she were a gasping fish upon the shore.
"Is your ankle alright, Madam?" The man spoke, causing her to turn her attention back to him momentarily.
"Pardon?" Maria turned back towards him before a throat was cleared, both Maria and the man turning to face her uncle's direction, though Maria's eyes instantly found her shoes.
"Maria is yet to be out in society, Rochester." Her uncle's voice caused Maria to lock her gaze with his, noting the stern look upon his face and nearly rolling her eyes at it. She had learned to control the impulse, no need to give up such a well practiced hold on herself. She nearly raised her eyebrows in defiance, but proceeded to gather herself, bow, and run her way up the tower stairs and into her room, barely ducking enough to enter it. As soon as she was inside she quickly shut the door, barely restraining herself from slamming it, and turned to face her bed.
"Uuuuuuuuggghhhh!" Maria growled childishly, throwing herself onto her bed and covering her face in embarrassment.
"Uncle, how do you always manage to embarrass me?" She felt like crying, maybe beating her fists against the feather mattress in frustration, but she refrained from both, finding her feet once again and standing up, her hands clenched and her fingernails digging into her skin. A huff flew from her lips and she shook her head, clutching her hair before pulling all of the pins out of her deep red tresses. With a shake of her head her hair was free and she felt slightly less annoyed, but not yet enough. Just as she was about to begin pulling the strings to her corset loose so she could change into her nightdress, yet another person deemed it important to knock upon her door.
"Maria? Maria, darling, are you alright?" Loveday, of course, had come to check up on her, just like she was a small child once more. Maria took a deep breath in, calming her anger as she slowly let it out, before turning to face the door and attempting to be completely civil.
"Yes, I was just caught by surprise, Aunt. I'm just so tired I lost my footing and have exhausted myself in my efforts to return to my chamber. Please, give everyone my bid goodnight, I am sorry to not be able to. Also, please excuse my behavior." Proper words and formality spewed from her lips, years of practice making it easy for her to do so.
"Oh….yes, of course. Goodnight, dear." Loveday spoke, her voice making her seem reluctant to leave her niece.
"Goodnight, Aunt." Maria spoke, trying her best to sound differently than how she felt. The finality in her voice lingered in the air for several moments before she could hear Loveday's retreating footsteps. A pang of regret flew to her chest, piercing her heart, and she rushed towards the door to listen for her aunt, yet heard nothing.
"Good job Maria, very well done." She whispered to herself, chastising the way she treated her lovely aunt as she beat her head slightly against the door.
"All you've done is act like a selfish child. Did your teachers not refine you? Were you not an accomplished young woman but a day's coach ride ago? What is wrong with you?" Again she hit her head lightly against the door before retreating from it and turning back to her task at hand. With less haste than before Maria unfastened the ties to her dress, pulling off her dress into her skivvies. Then she paused, her ears perked, and she waited. The oddest sensation of being watched filled her, causing her to still in her movements as she heard the door to her room, which had been locked, open with a long creak of the wood.
"Maria." The deep voice from before, from Rochester, shook her to her core and made her shiver. Gooseflesh rose on her skin as she felt him moved towards her, his large, warm hands ghosting over her bare skin. Her body arched to his touch, unbidden, and she turned into his awaiting arms, only to find nothing but air. Her eyes widened in confusion, her pale skin losing more of its color as she found the door closed and locked. Her breath quickened, but she brought a slender hand to her heart, holding her chest so as to calm her nerves.
"What on earth is wrong with you Maria?" She shook her head once more before shakily returning to her task of dressing herself for the night and climbing into her warm bed, her candles having already doused their own light. With a final glance to the sky and a silent wish for a better day in the morning, she let sleep claim her, failing to notice the small bumps of gooseflesh on her skin starting to disappear.
A/N: I tried to be kind of periodic-ally accurate. I didn't phrase all of the speaking tones quite correctly; I kind of made it a tiny bit more modern. I know that girls generally came out during 16-17 years of age, but I delayed Maria's because of her adventures.
Thank you for reading!
Please review kindly, if at all.
-Aimze