From Bad to Worse
Ok, so maybe I lied about the no mice thing, but sitting outside the manor the last thing I expected to encounter was a mouse. I started at it and it stared at me. I knew it had to be a talking mouse because its eyes held a certain understanding that you do not find in non-talking animals. And to tell you the truth, it is a little disturbing to see a mouse glaring at you like that.
"Miss, Miss," it said to me in a surprising not very squeaky voice. It cleared its throat. "Miss!" I looked down at it.
I grunted. "Yes," I said glancing at it.
"Good, for a moment I thought you were hard of hearing," it continued. "I did not mean to disturb you but you see I have lost my way, and I was wondering if you could help me."
"Help you?" I replied curiously.
"Well yes, I am on my way to the palace. I, my lady, am a knight," it said very regally.
"A knight?" I asked trying very hard not to laugh.
"You don't believe me. Well, I'll have you know mice are very valuable to the king. We serve as a messenger battling all sorts of danger to make sure the news is properly received." Now I had to laugh at this pompous looking mouse. As he was saying this he puffed out his chest and spoke in a very deep voice. He gave me a scowl or a close as a mouse can come to giving one.
"I am very sorry Sir I do not know what came over me."
"Very well, my lady," he said not catching my sarcasm. "I am Sir Lawrence."
"And I am Isabella."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," he said while sweeping into a low bow. Now that I got a better look at him I could see that he was a very cute mouse. He had on a navy blue tunic and tights, with a sword the size of a toothpick at his belt. "Very pleased," Sir Lawrence repeated. "Now that introductions have been made I will explain to you why I have come to your modest estate," he proclaimed looking around. "As a knight for the king himself I have very special news for him. Of course, I cannot tell you this news, very classified this news is, nor can I tell you who sent the message, because that information is very classified as well, what I can tell is that, what I can tell, well, you see, I have told you all I can tell," he finished, looking very satisfied with himself. "So, do you understand why I must get to the king?"
"Not exactly," I said. It was just my luck to not only come across a talking mouse, but one that does not shut up. "I do not understand how I can help you?"
"Well, I was wondering if you might take me there, as I said before I have lost my way. If you help me I will certainly succeed," he announced thrusting his sword upward. I couldn't contain my laughter and broke out into a fit. Only stopping when I heard footsteps.
Luckily the feet did not belong to my step-mother or step-sisters but to Benjamin.
"Bella," he called.
"I'm out here Ben," I whispered back noisily.
"What are you doing here?" he answered back, opening the back door. He walked towards me and sat down. "What happened now?" he asked with a smile.
"I took a little too long in town today, so step-mother thought I should sleep outside as punishment." I explained.
"Oh, well come inside. I'm sure everyone is asleep by now. I would be too except that someone was making a ruckus out here." He eyed me suspiciously. I felt a prick at my hand. I looked down at it and discovered Sir Lawrence pocking at me with his sword. I narrowed my eyes at him. He cleared his throat. "What was that?" Ben said looking around the courtyard.
"Um, nothing." The mouse poked me again. "Stop" I whispered. "Let's go inside," I told Benjamin.
"Okay," he said still suspicious. We got up and shooed Sir Lawrence away. "Are you alright Bella?"
"Fine Ben," I said grinning. He wished me good night, giving me a kiss on the forehead. Ben then went back outside to the shed where he sleeps. Fact number 3: My room is in the kitchen, figuratively speaking. My step-mother gave my former room as a second room to Alison and the attic is used as an oversized wardrobe. My room is in the part of the kitchen that was burned in a cooking fire several years ago and was never properly rebuilt. My step-mother hung a curtain to divide the new and old kitchen and alas a room for me was made.
******
My good night's rest was sort lived.
"Isabella, Isabella." I heard in the wee hours of the morning. "Get up!" The caller was none other than Ms. Hobe, our housekeeper. Ms. Hobe is a very small woman with a sharp tongue. She had first come to our estate when I was a child and had only stayed with us after our father's death to look after Benjamin and I. Ben, well to be honest, mostly me, played some nasty tricks on her when we were young and I have to say that because of it she doesn't like me much. "Your step-mother requests you," she said, pulling my curtain open. "Now Bella!" She threw me a periwinkle dress she had been holding under her arm.
"What is this for?" I asked with a groan. I usually wore fairy simple cotton dresses and this dress was anything but simple. Delicate embroidery surrounded the edges. The sleeves were puffy and the bodice looked extremely small. Lace adorned the collar. I groaned again, I hate lace.
"I don't know miss, Madame told me that you are to look presentable. Hurry on and get dressed I will make you her tea so you can bring it up." She exited my room and as much as I despised it, I knew that I did not do what my step-mother asked, the consequences would not be pleasant. So I got dressed and brought my step-mother her tea feeling very much like one of my step-sisters.
"There you are," my step-mother said when I entered. "I was wondering when you would bring me tea."
"Sorry step-mother," I whispered.
"Well, you look presentable," she said surprised. "The hair must be fixed but with that and a little bit rouge you should be just fine, perhaps even comely."
"But what is this for step-mother?" I asked sweetly, losing patience.
"I am hoping you will make a very good impression on someone at the market today."
"What!" I said shocked. Did she mean she was marrying me off? I was barley seventeen.
"Do not argue Isabella. You will behave and be sweet and courteous to this man."
"But why me, why not Madison or Alison?"
"He is not good enough for my daughters." She laughed. "When your father died he left me his debt. This is the last of it that needs to be paid off. The man is offering to wave it if I give him a daughter of mine as a wife. That is how it will be." She smiled at me. "Now, won't you be a good girl and do this for your mama." It took everything not to smack here smug little face. "Leave me," she said dismissing me from the room. I left and ran down the stairs, trying very hard not to let tears fall from my eyes. Just then there was a knock at the door.
"Bella can you get that," Ms. Hobe called from somewhere in the house. I opened the door to see a dwarf.
"Good day miss," he said bowing.
"Good day sir," I muttered. "How may I help you?"
"Are you the lady of the house?" he asked.
"Her daughter," I replied smartly, smiling to myself.
"I see, very well."
"Bella, who is at the door?" Alison asked interrupting him. I turned to face her and she walked towards me. "Have you any manners? Let them in," she whispered to me. She opened the door wider "And who might you be?"
"I bear royal news for the maidens of this household," the dwarf announced looking rather annoyed.
"Well then come in," Alison said smiling. "Forgive the servant, she is not well," she whispered pointing at me. "Mother, Mother," no answer. "MOTHER!" she shouted.
"Yes dear." Came the reply, my step-mother descending the stairs.
"We have news from the king," she proclaimed. Madison appeared behind her mother and all three of them sat down to receive the news.
"Isabella, some tea for the gentlemen," my step–mother said. I nodded and returned in time to here the dwarf announce,
"there will be a Ball."
"Oh, wonderful!" Alison exclaimed.
"Yes," the dwarf said, not liking to be cut off. "All maidens are invited to attend in the hopes that Crown Prince Chadwick will find a wife a suitable wife." Madison put a hand over her heart. I placed down the tea noisily and walked back to the kitchen. I could still heard them gasping and in wonder over the ball, my step-mother probably the loudest of the three. I rolled my eyes. Did that witch honestly think she could marry off one of her excuses for daughters? Suddenly, Sir Lawrence appeared at the window.
"Hello, my lady," he announced.
"Please just call me Isabella," I said sharply, annoyed about the whole situation. I was being married off to pay a debt, my step-sisters were to attend a ball, and an annoying talking mouse was living in my rose bushes. Sir Lawrence's ears shot up. He scurried away from the window and returned a few minutes later.
"That is a representative from the palace in your house," he said with a grin.
"So,"
"He says there will be a ball in one week's time for Prince Chadwick," I glanced at him still not understanding. "You can go and bring me to the palace."
"No," I announced not looking up.
"Please Isabella, it's the perfect plan," he begged. "Aren't you going anyway?" I sighed, not wanting to answer that question.
"Sir Lawrence you do not understand. I cannot just go to the king and announce you," I whispered.
"Please Isabella. It will be the only chance for me to get into the palace."
"How 'bout I just give you directions," I said. The little mouse frowned, obviously angry with me.
"You are the most insuperable maiden in all of Faylinn," he grumbled. I smirked. It was oddly enjoyable to annoy Sir Lawrence. I heard the representative from the palace being ushered out. A few moments later Madison appeared in the kitchen. Sir Lawrence scampered away. She would not have seen him anyway, her huge nose distorts her vision.
"Mother says that she expects you ready in an hour. Benjamin is already at the market, unpacking the produce," she announced with a wicked smile. I nodded. "Mother thinks it will be a perfect opportunity for Alison and I to start looking for a gown for the ball, so all three of us will be joining you," she continued. "I can see it now, Crown Prince Chadwick and I twirling in a waltz while all the other girls look on with envy." Here she turned as if in a real dance. I rolled my eyes. "But I'm sure you wouldn't understand things about a ball," she said meanly, turning away from me. "Isabella the servant girl," she muttered with an evil grin and exited the kitchen.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Do not be mistaken, I am not the kind of girl who cries much. I whipped my eyes and went to find Ms. Hobe so she could help me get ready; ready to be shown at the market like produce, given to the highest bidder.
Poor Isabella, I hope you liked this chapter. I am half way down with the next one. If you review I will put it up faster, lol. But really please review, (begging like Sir Lawrence). Thank you to all my reviewers from last chapter, comments and criticism is always appreciated. Thanks for reading. ~IrisLily~