Hello again. I've added yet another chapter and I hope my grammer isn't too horrific, but if so, please bear with me. Oh, and if you ever feel like seeing a comedy see Shawn of the Dead. It's hilarious and I'm sure you'll get a good laugh! Please R&R! Thanks!
"Why, whatever is the matter?" Mrs. Ranou asked seeming bewildered by my sudden reaction.
"Did you just hear something? I was quite sure…" I pondered my voice uneven.
She looked at me with a concerned frown. "I'm afraid not." Mrs. Ranou said looking around a bit.
"Oh," I said, feeling relieved. "It must've been just me then." I smiled at the thought. Yes, it probably was just me.
"May I be dismissed?" I asked suddenly after a moment's silence.
"Of course, Raina. Your lessons are finished. We will continue tomorrow. Do pray, have a glass of water will you?" she said, a worried crease in her brow. "You're looking quite pale."
"Yes mademoiselle." I answered, trying to remain on an even tone. Then I walked out the door, rigid in every step.
Once out in the hall, I headed to my room to put on some more functional clothes for outside. It was still pouring and as much as I had wanted to run freely around under the wonderful downpour, my mother was very strict about me doing so. I ran up to change. I wanted to see Beth; needed to speak with her.
Then I went down the stairs, skipping every other step and, I, considering I was acting very foolishly anyway, decided to jump of that last five steps. I could hear the cook coming around the corner "Now Raina, if you ever do that again I'll…" but I was out of hearing distance after the quick dash to avoid her scolds.
Surprisingly, Beth was walking in from the front gate. She came up to me and I could tell it wasn't just me that had news to be shared. It was only on occasions such as this, that she would arrive at this time of day. And I knew from the smile that lit up her face that as soon as she started talking, that there was no stopping her.
"Raina, you'll never begin to guess what happened!" Beth said excitedly as I reached her. The rain was so loud that we had to raise our voices slightly to be heard.
"Well what is it then?" I asked her. "Come on now. Out with it!" I could tell from the expression on her face that she was indeed about to burst.
"First, let us stride over to the trees. They would give us more shelter from this rain." She said, and I could tell that she was trying her very best to not just tell me on the spot. Good for her. Acting like a lady has to come some time. I giggled at the thought.
"Now what is it? Whenever you come over early, I am generally under the impression that something intriguing has occurred."
"Very intriguing indeed!" she exclaimed now that we were under the protection of a small tree in the garden. "And it's not what has previously occurred. It is what is going to occur!"
I looked at her confused. But I realized I would find out soon enough.
"So I was down at the market earlier, you know how I dislike having servants doing everything. I was choosing apples, and disposing of the bruised, when I dropped one. And guess who picked it up?" she said excitedly.
Before I could even open my mouth to ask she squealed, "Mr. Knollins!"
"Really?!" I exclaimed. This was news indeed. Of course, it was always like this I suppose. She was always in the midst of gossip and such; always knew what was going on while, I, the countess's daughter, was expected something completely different. Oh, how must fate be so cruel at times?
"Indeed! He was not only courteous enough to do just that, in fact I've been invited to one of his dances!" But then she suddenly frowned and looked at me helplessly. "But whatever will I wear?!"
I scowled. "That the first thing you worry about? My goodness Beth, I'll never truly understand you I swear."
Beth then continued on about her "acquaintance" with the prince. I, being a loyal friend, listened to her every word as she babbled on enthusiastically. It wasn't until she finally ran out of energy that she began to subside. She just laid down the grass, not caring how terribly drizzled it must've been, and closed her eyes, listening to the rain, and grinning from ear to ear. Her head was up in the clouds and I knew at that moment that nothing else existed for her.
It wasn't until we bid each other farewell that my thoughts increased with curiosity again on the strange events that had happened in my own life. That painting. It seemed so strange. Then again I tend to create quite odd paintings normally nonetheless. I'm sure I was just imaging such things. And I decided to try and put it out of mind. It only for a little while.
Supper seemed, as always, to last forever. Mother was always too preoccupied to enjoy an evening meal with me; her daughter. Like she used to. Before, well, that was before…father died. I suppose I wasn't hungry anyways. I looked down at my plate and it seemed very clear that I hadn't eaten much. I just pushed my plate away at arms length, and then got up. I'd eat later.
So I headed towards my chambers. The hallways, now gloomy, as I held a candle to find my way through the darkness. My breath was slow and careful; my heart beat seemed to blunder out in the silence of the night.
My hair moved slightly with the….wait. The wind? A breeze, of all places! I moved my candle towards the obscuration. I went into the room from which I felt the air flowing around me. What was it? The window?
Yes indeed, and as I once again went to close it, I held it shut. The rain was, thankfully beginning to subside a bit so I was not completely drenched. I lean my back against the cool glass for a moment, closing my eye. And then I heard it.
"Heh, heh," an amused deep voice called out from the dark. It proved low and ominous. I froze. My eyes wide, as though it would help me see through the now, pitch black room. My heart raced as well as my mind. Should I escape? Who was it? What was it?
After a moments silence there was nothing and finally I breathed out a sigh. Then I walked slowly to the door speeding up slightly every step. I closed the door behind me and walked swiftly towards my room, not looking back.
When I reached my bed chamber I went and got into bed without putting on my night gown. I hadn't cared at the moment; all I wanted was to feel the safe, secure, warm blankets of my bed, and to hide beneath them.