My extremely awesome mood tonight prompted me to update! This chapter's pretty good. Kinda mellow. It's shorter, though.
I feel too lazy to proof-read. Fix my mistakes.
Yay! Update!
Okay, go ahead and read.
"Look what I found," Gwen said cheerfully, stepping into the parlor with a tray.
We had been sitting for a long while in the parlor, laughing about a mishap involving a cow and Henry. I felt strange, sitting so straight and tall while the rest of them had sat so casually. I hadn't realized how it had grown to be something so automatic.
When Ralph and Gwen had disappeared, nobody really took much notice but me. Only when sweet smells came wafting from the kitchen did they boys begin to grow excited. I hadn't noticed how delicious cake smelled before. Smells from the kitchen never really reached much of the palace.
Ralph followed behind her with a stack of smaller plates and utensils. Ever silent, he began serving the cake as Gwen held it. She smiled. "It's Holmes's favorite."
I looked over curiously at him, wondering about his reaction. He smiled broadly and then laughed. "Oh Mother, really."
She just shook her head as the cake pieces were passed around. "It was Ralph, not I," she told him. I eyed the cake pieces going around the room. I wasn't sure I wanted to try it.
When a piece finally reached me, I took it instead of refusing it. I knew it would be the proper thing to do to eat this cake. It was plain, not at all as elegant as the cakes to which I was accustomed. Its icing was spread plainly on it as well, with no embellishments or the little sugar flowers my father had once loved. I accepted a fork and waited a moment. Once everyone had a piece and eating, I took a small bite. To my surprise, it was far better than any cake I had before. Though simple, it was full of flavor, but not too rich. It had the perfect moisture a cake should have and just sweet enough.
I continued to eat as the rest of the family interacted. The whole family gushed about the delicious cake. Every so often, Holmes glanced in my direction, giving me a warm smile. I would be included in a conversation every so often, but hardly at all. They barely seemed to notice my presence. Strangely enough, I didn't feel left out. I enjoyed being the observer, the quiet one. It was what I had always been, and it felt comfortable to take that role again after so much attention with the wedding.
Soon the plates were taken to the kitchen by the twins with Penny and Gwen trailing behind, and the younger boys were going upstairs to sleep. Holmes moved from his location on a chair to the sofa where I was. "How are you doing, Sophie?"
I gave him a smile that I hoped seemed confident enough. "I'm doing well, I suppose," I murmured.
"It's a completely different world, isn't it?" he asked.
"Most definitely," I agreed. "It's wonderful, though. Your family is so… close."
He laughed. "They are, indeed."
Penny and Gwen returned from the kitchen with Ralph in tow. The twins followed soon after. Bennett, who had gone upstairs to make sure Fred and Wesley were behaving, returned to the parlor. From their posture and expressions, I realized that this was not a normal thing for them.
Gwen sighed and sat down in a chair, looking weary. "Obviously, having Sophie here is going to change things dramatically. We need to be careful about what we say and how we deal with visitors. I'll let Holmes explain things a bit more."
Holmes nodded. "The queen had ordered me to kill Sophie, which is what she thinks I am doing right now, which buys us some time. I must return to the palace in two days to give her Sophie's heart."
"Her heart?" Henry asked, his voice shocked.
John seemed just as confused. "Why on earth…?"
"Perhaps she wants the heart for proof," Holmes said with a shrug. "Whatever the reason, she will receive a pig's heart in place of the human one she wants. Once she gets the heart, she will make an official death announcement. Marjolaine will no longer exist. This means she will move to become queen. There shouldn't be any problems concerning us."
Bennett frowned. "And if she does discover the truth?"
"She cannot do much if that occurs. There will be nobody that knows the truth. I am the only other person she claimed to have confided with. Her story to the public will be irreversible. It will be almost impossible for her to make a move that won't anger anyone. Nobody likes the French foreigner at court. If she tries to pay off someone else to find Sophie, they will refuse to do it, and spread word around."
Penny bit her lip. "And you're sure of this?"
Holmes looked to me, his face expressionless. "I have no doubt."
"Will she become true queen, then?" Henry asked.
Holmes's face immediately broke into a mischievous grin. "The country cannot be without a ruler. She will become queen once Sophie's death is announced. However, once I return here from the palace, I will write to a certain family residing in Scotland that has relation to the royal line. If they wish to take the throne, there will be little opposition. However, the queen knows nothing of this family and believes there will be no conflict when she moves to rule."
"Holmes, I do truly hope you're correct with all of this. We live not far from the palace. You have put yourself- and all of us- in a very precarious position," Gwen stated, her worry obvious. "I would hate to see any of my children- or Sophie- harmed."
He nodded solemnly. "I realize this," he said quietly, subtly sneaking his hand in my own hand, which had been sitting between us on the sofa cushion.
The dangers Gwen had been worrying about vanished from my mind as Holmes's presence filled all of my consciousness. The rest of their conversation, about how to keep me hidden and disguised, was a blur. I felt confused, my heart drumming quickly. Did his hand in mine mean something significant? Did I want it to? Did it come from a certain… fondness for me, or was it merely to comfort me?
The rest of them stood and Holmes quickly relinquished my hand. My mind quickly focused on the family. "We should all get some rest," Gwen said, and everyone nodded, moving towards the entrance hall. I looked to Holmes, but he shook his head slightly. Gwen looked back at us. "I'm sure you have much to discuss," she said. "Don't be up late."
"Of course not, Mother," Holmes said.
When she was gone, Holmes sighed. "I'm sorry I didn't warn you that it might be a bit more complicated."
I shrugged. "It doesn't make much of a difference."
"No, I should have still told you everything."
"We both know the palace isn't a safe place to speak," I retorted. "You probably have done the best thing not giving me full details."
He took my words in and studied me. "I suppose you're right," he finally said. He paused. "And… about…" He gave a little gesture with his right hand, the one that had held my own left hand. "I'm sorry if it was inappropriate of me," he murmured, looking ashamed. He looked away from me.
I wasn't sure out to respond. "No, it's fine," I replied finally, my voice soft and shaky.
"I wasn't sure if I was doing it to make you feel okay… or if I was doing it so I could explain things to my family…" He looked back up at me, his face apologetic.
I bit my lip, feeling awkward now. "Really, it's nothing. You don't need to explain."
He didn't respond right away. His face gave away that he was debating his thoughts. He seemed to give up and said weakly, "I should let you get to bed now. Come, I'll take you up to your room."
I nodded meekly, following him upstairs to my room. "Goodnight," he said once I was at the right door. I went inside my room, feeling odd. Suddenly, I realized I had to be able to undress myself. As I was debating how to, someone knocked on my door. I opened it, revealing Penny, already in her nightgown.
She gave me a kind smile. "I thought you might need some assistance."
"Oh. Thank you," I said, startled.
As she found a nightgown in the wardrobe, she said, "It's not hard once you get used to it. Some of the laces might be a bit difficult, but nothing impossible."
She helped me out of my clothes and I put on the nightgown. "Don't worry about waking early," she told me. "Sleep as long as you wish. Do you think you can manage dressing yourself in the morning? I'm afraid you'll have to wear this dress again."
I eyed the dress, trying to decide if I could do it own my own. I nodded meekly, adding, "I think I might."
"I'll check on you periodically, just in case."
"Thank you, Penny."
She gave me an encouraging smile. "You're welcome, Sophie." She wished me goodnight and left for her own room with Bennett.
I sighed, staring at the bed. A wave of exhaustion swept through my body and I blew out the candle sitting on the desk. After momentary blindness, the moonlight lit the room, revealing the bed. I quickly climbed in, pulling the covers close to me. The bed was nowhere near as comfortable as the one back at the palace, but it felt cozier.
Without any delay, I was fast asleep in the new room.
o.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.o
The Queen smiled as the baron kissed her. "Tell me again," she murmured.
"That child never compared to you," he said huskily. "I'm glad she's gone."
She laughed. "You and I both," she said. She paused. "Am I beautiful?"
"Only the most beautiful," he answered.
"The fairest of them all?"
He chuckled. "Of course you're the fairest of them all."
She grinned. "As soon as I declare her dead, we can be married."
o.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.O.o.o
I yawned, feeling content and peaceful in the small bed. I felt bad for taking advantage of the invitation to sleep as late as I wished, but I felt too relaxed to move.
I curled up in a tighter ball, tugging the sheets up to my chin. I felt so safe and comfortable as I stayed still in the slightly lumpy bed.
I heard the door squeak open and I looked up to see Gwen in the doorframe. She took a small step into the room. "Did I wake you?"
I shook my head, making my cloudy mind almost spin. "No, I've been awake for a couple minutes now," I replied thickly.
"Did you want me to come back in a bit?" she asked.
I shook my head again. "I'll just get up now," I said, pulling the covers off of me and swung my feet over the edge of the bed.
"I'll get Ralph to make you some lunch," Gwen said as she assisted me into my dress.
I frowned. "What time is it?"
She chuckled. "You've been sleeping for quite some time. It's nearly time for lunch."
My eyes widened. "Oh my!"
"Don't fret about it, darling," she said, continuing to work on my appearance. She kept quiet for a while until she began to put my hair up simply. "I pack lunches for the rest of the boys. They all go and work out in the fields, except for Fred and Ralph. Fred learns his lessons from Ralph and helps Penny and I in the garden. Sometimes he'll tend to sick animals with Ralph as well."
She gave no explanation for Ralph's absence from the fields, but I assumed it was to teach Fred and help with work that needed to be done in the barn or on the farmyard.
We went downstairs and met Fred and Ralph sitting at the dining room table, working on Fred's lessons.
They looked up at us when we entered and Gwen said, "Ralph, you two can take a lunch break. Do you mind feeding Sophie?"
He shook his head, rising from the table and leaving the room. As he disappeared, I wondered what his voice sounded like before Gwen began talking again. "Fred, why don't we go out and work in the garden?" Fred perked up a bit, looking excited to once again indulge himself in the care of plants. Gwen turned to me. "What would you care to do while Ralph is making you lunch?"
"I-I'm not sure," I said, startled.
She thought for a moment. "Do you like to… draw?"
I paused. "I don't know," I replied.
She grinned excitedly and said, "Here's some extra paper and a pencil." She picked up a pile of paper from under Fred's lessons and took his pencil. "Take a whack at it." I hesitantly took it from her and she continued, "After you've finished your lunch, just put your dishes on the kitchen table and come out into the garden."
I nodded. She then guided Fred from the dining room and out the door in the kitchen. Soon I heard muffled sounds coming from the kitchen as Ralph made me a mysterious lunch. With a small sigh, I sat down at the table. I didn't know what I was supposed to draw. I tapped the pencil against the paper, debating what to sketch. Finally, I began to drag the pencil deliberately across the blank page.
I finished just as Ralph came in with my bowl of soup. He gave me a wary look and set the bowl on the table with a hollow thunk. The soup sloshed up the sides of the bowl, threatening to spill over the side and onto my sketch. I looked up at him with surprise, but gave my thanks. He strode out without any acknowledgement. I heard the door open and close loudly and winced.
Despite the sting his behavior left, I began to eat the watery soup. My stomach growled for food too loudly to let me wonder about Ralph. To my surprise, it was strong and delicious. I dipped my spoon into the soup and tipped it slightly so that the soup spilled back into the bowl. Meat and vegetables made it simple, but some herb made it taste far more delicious than the complicated meals at the palace.
Once I was finished, I set the bowl in the kitchen and went back into the dining room to retrieve my sketch. I set the pencil and paper back by Fred's schoolwork and folded the sketch, sticking it into a pocket sewn onto the outside of my dress's skirt.
Satisfied that everything was in order, I stepped outside. I heard talking and remembered where the garden was. I walked to the back of the house and found Fred, Penny, and Gwen all sitting under a tree, eating soup as well. I was shocked to see them holding the bowl in one hand and the spoon in the other, with no napkins or a table and chairs.
As I approached, Fred waved at me. "Hello, Sophie."
I gave him a small wave in return. "Hello."
"I hope you got enough to eat," Gwen said, waving her spoon at the soup.
I nodded.
Penny motioned for me to sit by her, so I moved to her side and sat, carefully rearranging my dress around me. It felt strange, not having the voluminous skirts of court. I was surprised how comfortable I was feeling on this farm already. The air was rich and fresh, fragrant with the scent of the countryside. I had hardly ever been outside of the palace and my school, but I recalled how much I enjoyed the scent of the countryside when I would take my coach to the seaside, where I got on a ferry that took me to France. I had never liked the smell of the sea, however.
"It's such a pleasant day," Gwen commented.
Penny nodded in agreement. "Oh absolutely."
Fred slurped the rest of his soup and stood. "Do you want me to take your bowls to the kitchen?" he asked.
Gwen beamed. "Yes, thank you, darling."
Penny took one quick spoonful and held it out to him. "Yes, thank you very much, Fred."
He snatched up the bowls and dashed into the house. Rather than getting up and heading back to work like I expected, the women sat under the tree for a bit longer.
Once again, the simplicity of this life I adopted myself into hit me hard in the face. The sun's rays filtered through the leaves above me and the rustling was calming. The sounds of animals far off and the muffled echoes of voices filled my ears. I enjoyed how speaking wasn't important here. It felt comforting and familiar, as if being silent was actually a way of including me. I was strangely comforted by not being spoken to.
I sighed inaudibly with content as a butterfly flitted past us, a symbol of the farm's serenity.
REVIEWERS- Another big number of eight reviewers!
chanteuse: I'm glad you like it so much! It makes me excited to hear you're enjoying it so much! Ahh! Yay! Keep reading, keep reviewing! Thanks!!
HopeGrace1290: You might be disappointed in me the next chapter... However, don't give up hope! I'm glad you think I'm an awesome writer! That boosts my self-esteem! Thanks!
Forever Daydreaming: I'm glad you're still breathing and were not interrupted!! I despise that sort of thing. Yes, Sophie's incredible beauty was quite obvious, even as a slime-covered newborn. Besides, Soph's beauty is somewhat like a legend- a scarce one, however- and a select few would know her instantly. Not everybody has such... remarkable looks in the country! Keep in mind, the baron's pretty darned handsome, too, and easily manipulated- perfect for the Queen!
Amelie Noelle: Yeah, they're some pretty amazing movies. Oh yes, the characters are... erm... would be very... hug-able. Hahaha. I like making characters like that. Hugs are nice.
FaylinnNorse: My goodness! It does somewhat remind me of Tuck Everlasting... I hadn't thought about that. Well, next chapter, you'll see some turmoil concerning the important girl in the average household. Muaha. Ha. Ha... haa... Yeahhh... Ralph is interesting. So far, he's my favorite of the siblings... besides Holmes. Kind of independent, that handsome devil is. Haha. Yeah...
C.S.LewisFan: Should she fall more deeply in love with Holmes? I don't knooowww... I'm kind of reluctant about the whole thing. We'll see about their blossoming relationship next chapter, hmm?
vanderspektacular: Yay! Lovely? I'm excited! I loove writing this story!
Viv the Rabid Ballet Freak: I'm glad you think so. I despise overly complicated stories, but stories without much of a plot make me frustrated with the author sometimes. I hope you keep reading!!
For those who wanted a Coke Zero and/or a straw goat, you may have one! Yaaayy! Anyhoo, this week you get... a gaudy, second-hand, yet chic, scarf... if you review! Now I know how much everybody loves old lady scarves...
Next chapter is gonna be good.
Seriously. So review, and I might update soon!
