Hello my lovelies! Here is Chapter 2!
The sun that gleamed over the Séverin estate could not be further from representing Azelma's mood as she made her way to receive the mail from the boy that brought it from the post office every morning. Zoe, Azelma's ladies maid, had been ill, and could not fulfill her duties, such as getting the mail from Thomas. Though she was upset that Zoe was sick, Zelma still detested the fact that she had to receive the mail this morning, for she had been spending all of her extra time riding Rosie, her horse. Riding her horse gave her a clear head and calmed her greatly. She was under a great amount of pressure from the entire family to make Rosie a show horse; she had to prove that this could be what she did for a living. Azelma was already confident that Rosie and herself could win; it was just the very fact that there was no other option.
While waiting for Thomas at the edge of the southern gardens, Zelma looked at the courtyard she spent so much time in when first arriving here. When she had first come to this estate she was still quite shy, so as to lighten her up a bit, Mére had given her free rein as to decorate the garden as she pleased. Though she was not the typical 14 year old girl, she still wanted her garden to represent her, so to symbolize who she was, the soil was to be filled with unusual, rare and beautiful flowers. The walls closing in the garden had been covered with vibrant Daisies, Honeysuckles and Climbing Roses. To her left Zelma had planted rows of Orchids, her favorite flower, and Calla Lilies. To her right the beautiful Peonies and Angel's Trumpets seemed to go on forever, but in reality they soon ended at the approaching wall. And behind her, the alluring pink Cherry trees, as well as the white and rare Franklin trees, that seemed to brighten her morning. And in the center of it all, sat a rather large fountain, which held water lilies. On mornings when she woke up early, she would come out with a book and sit on the benches surrounding the outpouring water. She is proud to say that her garden is unique, and was not like any other around the world.
Zelma was literally shaken out of her thoughts by Thomas who had just arrived.
"Alright there Azelma?" his hands still on her shoulders searching her emerald green eyes for an answer.
"Bonjour Thomas and yes I am fine." replied Azelma looking up to Thomas' steel-grey blue eyes that looked as though electricity pulsed through them. 'Why hadn't I noticed the that his eyes weren't just blue but a watery pale blue like a winter sky before?' Realizing she had been staring at him for all too long, she continued "Just simply admiring the flowers. Do you have any mail for me?"
Looking at her skeptically with a smile plastered on his face, he answered "Oui, quite a lot actually." he said while handing her the letters "Well I better be off. I have to watch the little brothers. Adieu belle." He kissed Azelma on her cheek, which immediately turned red, and then he was off down the pathway out of the gardens.
"He called me beautiful." Azelma said to herself in a hushed tone.
She lifted her hand to her cheek and looked at the retreating boy while a welcoming smile appeared on her face. When he looked back after a few moments, she waved and in that moment she saw him as more than the post boy. In that moment she knew she was developing feelings for Thomas. She was now glad she came to get the mail.
After a few moments of wishing he would come back, Zelma went to sit on her favorite bench beside the Orchids. She then looked down at the letters in her hands, and she did not even know it was at all possible for her to have anymore joy this morning as she picked up her dress a little and ran towards the two story white Victorian mansion the family called home.
"It has arrived." said an out of breath Zelma with glowing face.
Éponine looked up from her novel startled and curious at what has come "What has arrived, ma sœur?"
Azelma had plastered a radiant smile plastered on her face and replied as she sat down next to her sister on the sofa "We just received the invitations to your best friend's 22nd birthday party!"
"Why such a big fuss over Amelia's invitations?" Éponine said with a face resembling the Mona Lisa's. She then returned her attention to her novel, already knowing everything that was on the invitations.
"'Why such a big fuss?' It's only going to be the party of the year! All of Paris is invited!" Azelma squealed.
Éponine answered with an amused smile "This is what this is all about? That party of the year?" chucking, eyes still on the page she was reading.
"Oh you know you're excited too, Ponine, you cannot hide it from me!"
"Azelma! It's not that I'm not excited, I am! It's my best friend's birthday party, but I am afraid someone will discover who we truly are! We have been missing for years; no doubt the Patron-Minette is still lurking around."
It was now evident that Azelma's happiness was slowly disappearing from her face "Ponine, we have been to Paris since we left, nothing happened then, and anyway we are not helpless little girls anymore, we have training in protecting ourselves. We're safe."
"I know, I know!" realizing it was too harsh, she lowered her voice. "I just want to be careful is all. Anyways, I spoke to Mia last week and she gave me all the amazing details your heart desires! We are leaving for Paris tomorrow, Mia picked out the court's attire, we just need to attend the fittings. You, Noele and I are wearing different, but still similar, red gowns. Mia's gown is also red but her's will be more extravagant."
A smirk of curiosity had once again appeared on Ponine's face "What was that over-cheeriness you seem to have discovered this morning? I know you were not happy to know that you must get the mail!"
"Nothing!" said Azelma trying to hide the blush creeping up her neck and onto her cheeks.
"Do not lie to me, what has happened?"
"Thomas kissed me on the cheek and called me beautiful!" Azelma blurted out as if she could not get it out fast enough.
"Thomas? Thomas as in the post boy? You are discovering feelings for him?" Azelma nodded. "This is fantastic! Finally you have found a nice boy to like! Now let's go, we're late for tea with Maman and Tante Dominique!" She then stood up from the white silk claw sofa with a day-dreaming Zelma following in suit.
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