Chapter 9: A De Noir Discussion
Weeks had gone by since Maria's and Robin's trip to the beach. With each day that passed, Maria fell in love with Moonacre more and more. When Robin wasn't busy, he would visit the Merryweather Manor and continued to show Maria how to navigate the forests.
He taught her how watch the birds, how to follow a trail, and he even took her out to the river to collect her own stones to paint. These would be used to mark a trail for the rest of the passageways in the Moon Princess' dwelling.
When Robin was busy, she went out on her own accompanied by Wrolf and Periwinkle to explore the valley.
Maria was happy she no longer felt alone in Moonacre. Like her love for Moonacre, her friendship with Loveday and Robin grew each day. Ms. Heliotrope too no longer complained about the countryside and Maria was sure it also had to do with her decreasing problems of indigestion and new company.
On a few occasions, she had spotted Digweed and Ms. Heliotrope walking through the gardens, hand in hand.
As the wedding day drew closer, the ladies found themselves busy helping Loveday prepare for her wedding. She would occasionally leave the De Noir castle to spend a few days at the Merryweather manor.
Back home, neither Robin nor her father could offer any advice aside from suggesting the type of wine and food that should be served. But at the Manor, Loveday was able to divide her tasks among Maria and Miss Heliotrope.
Currently, the ladies were busy in the piano room. At their request, Digweed and Sir Benjamin had moved a small sofa and table set so that the ladies could continue working while listening to music. Maria was seated by the table, inscribing the invitations. Loveday and Miss Heliotrope were seated on the sofa across from Maria. They were inspecting various embroidery designs to decorate the table clothes and napkins with.
When Loveday was satisfied with her choice, she sighed in relief and said to the ladies, "thank you both so much, without either of your help I would be in such a state!"
"Loveday dear, there is nothing else I would rather do. It's been so long since I've been to a wedding!" Miss Heliotrope sighed, "and I am sure Maria appreciates a break from her studies."
Maria only raised her eyes and smiled.
It is true, the past few weeks, Miss Heliotrope ensured Maria was sufficiently busy with her studies. She wanted to make sure Maria was ready for finishing school.
"Well Miss Heliotrope, if I may be so bold, soon there may be a second wedding," responded Loveday to Miss Heliotrope.
"Oh, me? No good heavens. I'm much too old to be parading in such displays! Maria, would you please play us a song on the pianoforte?" Miss Heliotrope asked Maria, changing the subject.
Maria nodded, she felt her hands could use a break from writing. She sat down in front of the piano, and stretched her fingers, easing their tension. She let out a deep breath and began to play.
Maria first played single notes, softly letting them flow from her fingers. Then slowly, the notes joined together. It was Loveday's and Sir Benjamin's song.
"Maria you play beautifully," Loveday said with a smiled.
Maria, deep in concentration closed her eyes and the ladies' conversation was drowned by the soft music of the waltz. Soon the song grew in complexity. Her hands were small but moved quickly through the keys, trying her best to match the tune that played so beautifully in her mind.
She was beginning to feel frustrated.
She struggled to move her hands long the piano, when suddenly she felt another hand brush over hers and join her playing. Maria opened her eyes and was surprised to find a familiar mane of curly hair and feathered scarf sitting by her.
"Robin?" She questioned the bird boy, his hat rested on the piano and his hands moved nimbly along the keys. They were much larger than hers and easily struck the varying cords.
"Well princess, you going to finish or just leave me playing?" Robin teased as he continued to play.
Maria grinned and refocused her attention on the piano, joining Robin in a beautiful duet.
It was an odd sight for the two ladies. Both had noticed Robin come in, but he had placed his fingers to his lips asking them not to reveal his presence. He snuck around Maria and sat down. The women were puzzled, they had expected him to scare her, not join her!
Very strange indeed, to see a young man with charcoal under his eyes and a mess of curls all clad in leather, sitting next to a beautiful girl who almost appeared fairly like in her pink silky dress, playing such a wonderful song.
Their hands danced as they poured the music that filled their thoughts, the music of Moonacre. Together, they struck all the cords and ended the song masterfully.
"Thank you for playing with me," Robin said to Maria as he placed his hat back on his head. He then stood and mockingly bowed to the two stunned ladies.
Miss Heliotrope had her hand over her mouth in disbelief and could do no more than glance between Robin and Maria as she struggled to find her words. Loveday meanwhile was bouncing in her seat with glee.
"Robin, I—that was beautiful. That, it was just, incredible!" Stuttered Miss Heliotrope, recomposing herself.
"Thank you Miss Heliotrope. I couldn't have done it without Maria. Actually I could have, but it wouldn't have sounded as nice." He responded with a smug smile.
Maria only rolled her eyes and said, "I didn't know you could play Robin."
"Well you see Moon Princess, before I was old enough to hunt and Loveday was still around, my father thought it best to keep us out of the way by having us practice mundane skills such as piano playing—"
"But Robin, even I wasn't aware of how well you play," interrupted Loveday.
Robin just shrugged his shoulders.
"As nice as it's been, I actually came to ask Maria if she would like come with me to the seaport? With your permission of course, Miss Heliotrope."
"Yes, yes. Of course. Maria please be back before supper and take care of your dress." Miss Heliotrope smiled kindly.
Maria and Robin walked out the manor and headed towards the stables. Although Maria understood how Robin came to learn to play the piano, she still had one last question, "Robin, when did you learn to play that song."
At her question Robin's smile fell and he shrugged his shoulders, "I dunno. It just came naturally."
"You're lying. The first time I ever heard that song was when I came to Moonacre. It played by itself, and then I saw it in a vision. Loveday and Uncle danced to it."
Robin pursed his lips and finally answered, "It was Loveday's favorite song, she taught it to me before she left. I played it to remember her by."
"Oh," Maria nodded her head in understanding.
"Anyways, I've asked Digweed to prepare Periwinkle for you. We're going on horseback!"
"—and my friends are coming." Robin added.
Maria's excitement took a sharp fall. She hadn't seen his friends since their awkward introduction, and she certainly wasn't excited about seeing them now. She was hoping to spend her day with only Robin.
Maria and Robin found Digweed waiting for them at the stables.
"It'll be a lovely ride out today m'am" Digweed greeted her. Maria forced a smile, her thoughts still on Robin's friends.
They mounted their horses and rode out to the manor gate where Robin's friends waited. Like typical De Noir Style, all the young men rode black horses.
"Robin what took you so long?" Asked Henry.
Robin just shrugged his shoulders.
Turning to Maria, Henry greeted her, "Miss Merryweather, that's quite a steed you got there."
"Miss Maria, looking as pretty as ever!" Richard said with his usual charming smile.
"Hello Miss Merryweather." David was the last to greet her. Although he was cordial there was a coldness about his greeting that Maria did not fail to notice.
"Hello! This is Periwinkle" Maria patted her pony's head.
"And please, call me Maria. I know we haven't been so friendly, but I hope these next few weeks will be different. Even with you David," she said meeting David's eyes. He quickly looked away.
Robin and Maria led the party to the seaport. They were followed by Henry, Richard and David. As Robin was explaining some of the seaport's history to Maria, Richard rode up next to him.
"Hey Robin! How about you let me give Maria a more a livelier conversation," Richard said as he jerked his head back towards Henry's direction.
"I'll make sure to avoid any mention of your misadventures." He joked with a smirk.
Confused, Robin nodded and slowed down to ride alongside Henry and David. Henry's brows were furrowed and he looked deep in thought. David didn't look much happy either.
"What's going on?" Robin asked. Richard was now telling Maria about the time Robin broke his arm climbing trees when he was 7.
"There hasn't been any news from my father," Henry replied. He took off his hat and ran his hands through his shaggy black hair.
"Isn't his ship supposed to arrive today?" Robin asked. He was starting to understand Henry's concern. His father always sent a letter announcing the day a shipment was to be expected. They hadn't received any word since he had arrived at their destination.
"Dunno, that's why we tagged along. Mr. De Noir wants us to get word about their whereabouts, in case they're still not here…" He trailed of.
"Robin," David said, "your dad's becoming impatient. Really wants you to start the trade with nearby cities soon."
"I think he's worried sea-trade may have to stop for a while." Added Henry.
"Also I," David said, looking from Henry to Robin, "I heard from the servants, there's been some unrest among a few De Noirs. They're upset about the Merryweather peace. Just reckon you should know."
Robin scoffed, "for a second I actually thought the wedding was going to be a peaceful event."
"Well if Maria wants a real De Noir introduction, she's going to get that," David responded sarcastically.
Robin narrowed his eyes at David and lowered his voice out of Maria's earshot, "Grow up will you? The fights over!"
"Oh I'll grow up alright! But I'm not going to go around falling in love with her and kissing her feet if that's what you want!" David shot back.
Robin roughly pulled his horse next to David. The horses' cries startled Richard and Maria.
Richard, noticing the tension between Robin and David, let out a forced laugh and told Maria it was a typical De Noir discussion at play.
"Is that a Moonacre rabbit?" He hurriedly said trying to distract her attention towards a hare out in the rode. He shot Robin and David a warning glare before taking her towards it, riding further from the commotion.
Robin returned his focus back to David. There was a dark and deadly gleam in his eyes that made David regret his choice of words.
"You owe her your life. We all do," Robin growled.
"David, Robin does have a point. Try to lighten up a little," Henry said breaking the tension.
"But Robin, it would help your future heir title if you showed less favoritism to a Merryweather girl. Wouldn't want those charming cousins of yours finding more reason to try to boot you," he added.
"You're all idiots the lot of you. Maria is as good as a friend as any of you. And as I've told every single soul, she's 13. It gets weird."
"Hmm not really, my uncle was 70 when he married his 25 year old wife. They went on to have 2 boys," Henry casually remarked.
"That's gross, your uncle was how old when she was born?" Asked Robin.
"45! Old enough to be her father!" answered David.
"Yup. Four years is nothing compared to that," Henry finished.
The boys all laughed, their mood visibly improving.
True story. My 70 year old great grandpa married my 25 year old great grandma…. Yeah the family was not happy…
Thank you wonderful readers and reviewers for reading this :). I don't want to spoil much and I can't personally message Lily101 (I don't know why :/ ) so ill give brief answers:
1. Yes she is going to be in finishing school by chapter 13. Chp 10 is continuation of this and 11/12 is wedding. These chps are all tentative as the story continues to evolve I may have to change or shorten things.
2. Boys will be involved, but we'll see about BFs….
3. And that last question… hmmm how do I answer that… It is the end goal right? LOL
If this wasn't enough, please message me if anyone wants more detailed answers. ^-^ I dont want to spoil it here
Many thank yous! *heart*
-gladsss
