Chapter 13- Arriving
A knock on the door wakes Tairy from a deep sleep
A middle aged woman dressed entirely in black, walks into the room.
"'Scuse me miss. I'm Ruth, and I'll be attending your needs while you're staying here. Now we need to get you all fresh and pampered up for this large dinner tonight." She walks over to the bed and helps Tairy to sit up. "Oh, I bet you're all tuckered out from such a trip. We have enough time, if you're willing, to prepare a quick bath for you to relax your sore muscles. But we would have to do your hair while in the tub."
Tairy stares at Ruth with glazed eyes for moment. Ruth shakes Tairy's shoulder, causing her to start. Her eyes show extreme gratitude, and clarity.
"That would be absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much Ruth."
"Not a problem, I'll go tell some to get it started, and then we'll go look for tonight's outfit."
§§§
They keep Tairy's hair and dress simple. A French twist, and a lilac-gray cotton with long, flowing sleeves and a scoop neck. There's a thin purple ribbon below the breasts, creating a princess design. She looks sweetly elegant. But unfortunately is still rather tired. The bath eased her some, but still…
Ruth shows Tairy down into the spacious dinning room. All of the other guests are there milling about, waiting. Tairy spots her father talking and walks over to him.
"Tairy dear, you look so much better all freshened up." She tries to hide her embarrassment. The man to whom Javert had been speaking to suddenly clears his throat. "Oh I'm so sorry. Baron Maximus Alder, may I present to you my daughter Tairy Dantes." She curtsies, but he takes her hand as she rises and gives it the 'chastest' of kisses. Tairy looks into his face and sees a man some years older than her father, who's short, has a receding hairline, and is quite plump. Her smile almost falters.
The next thirty minutes are spent in introductions. All the faces became one in Tairy's brain; the names not attaching. Her minds drifts back to Spain, where Derrick, and her freedom, awaits for her in a few short months. Her mind suddenly clears when she hears her father mention her name behind her.
"You've met Tairy before, have you not Duke Orin?" She turns and looks straight into his eyes, ones she'll never forget. Something inbred in her makes Tairy curtsy.
"It is an honor to see you again." The Duke reaches for her hand and presses it to his lips, but he does not kiss it.
"And a pleasure, Miss Dantes." He lets go.
"Dinner is ready to begin." Everyone goes to their assigned places and sit.
Except Javert. "Before you begin eating, I would like to make a toast." All turn to look at him. "This is for my daughter Tairy, who I have gone far too long without seeing. Next fall she and Derrick, the son of Count Don Alejandro Ferdinand, are to wed." There is a general applause and comments of congratulations. The men stand and both ladies and gentlemen raise their goblets. "To Tairy and Derrick."
Tairy blushes and tries to smile with all her might. She glances at all the unfamiliar faces, feeling out of place here. As her gaze passes the Duke, she sees him finish draining his goblet of wine.
Dinner passes uneventfully, and Tairy bids them all good-night quickly after dessert. It was all she could do to stay awake long enough to not be rude. She makes it upstairs and sees Ruth ready to help her undress for bed.
Once in bed, after the lights are turned out, Ruth says softly, "Sweetest of dreams Tairy." And she leaves the room.
§§§
Tairy wakes up, all tiredness stripped out of her. She had gone to bed hours before the rest of the household. They had all stayed up gamming, and with the set up of a few musical instruments, a few couples danced.
Tairy didn't want to unnecessarily waken anyone, so she dresses easily in an off-white morning dress. It was on the shorter side, resting low around her ankles, and billowing slightly when she moved. It had short capped sleeves, but when Tairy opens a small window, she feels the air is unseasonably warm, so she doesn't bother with bringing a shawl.
She opens the door and glances around the hallway; no one is to be seen, so Tairy makes a dash for the stairs. She rushes down. Slowly she opens the large oaken door just enough to let herself pass through sideways. Then she closes it as silently as she possibly can.
She turns and walks down the few steps and looks around. No one is about, so she runs to the stables. From her window, Tairy had seen a small lake at the edge of the grounds before some wooded area. Tairy needed some time in the fresh open air, so she had decided to ride to it, a walk being much too far.
Nearing the stables, she begins to notice that there doesn't seem to be any servants about. There should have been at least one groom, just for the case of surprise visitors. Tairy sees the main stable door is open, so she slowly walks up towards it. Peering inside, she sees no one so she walks in. Not knowing the stable very well, she's unsure about where her own horses might be.
Tairy walks around the corner to another part of the stable and nearly runs into something. Thinking it's an open stall door at first, Tairy puts her arm out, but instead comes into contact with something rather warmer than a door. She looks up and notices that there're tall, broad shoulders above her hand. She removes her hand and steps back. The back turns around revealing a man with a brown cape over his shoulders and Robin Hood hat on his head. Tairy looks up into his face and sees Duke Orin looking back at her, first confusion and then recognition registering on his face. A corner of his mouth turns upward.
"Miss Dantes," he bows to her.
"You're Highness," she gives a deep curtsy. "I'm so very sorry that I ran into you."
"You're much forgiven Miss Dantes. It seems we have habit of running into each other… in the stables. May I ask what you're doing?" He looks her straight into her eyes. His eyes have a certain look of amusement in them.
Tairy's unsure of what to make of him, so she gives him total indifference. "My Lord, I am out here with the desire to go riding. From my window I saw a small lake that I would like to visit. Since there seems to be no grooms about, would you be so good as to point out which of these horses belong to me?"
He grins, causing Tairy's stomach to flip in an unusual fashion. "I sent the groom away with the intent assuring privacy as I, myself, head off for the very same lake you wish to visit."
Tairy's brows knit together. "Oh I'm sorry; I would not wish to intrude on your solitude…" She begins to turn away from him.
"Miss Dantes please don't go." He says loudly. She turns with a questioning look. "I honestly came with the intention of being alone, as I'm sure you did, but if it doesn't bother you too much I would be honored if I could take you there and show you. Maybe a tour around…?"
Tairy's jaw drops a fraction. She stares hard, wary of an ulterior motive. He had done it before, but then it had been different.
"I'm sure Lady Beth would be pleased to be ridden by you again. That is since it seems we have no idea where your horses could be." His faltering smile weakens Tairy. His eyes show an intense honesty.
"Thank you, m'Lord. I think I should enjoy that."
TBC
Yay, another update! I NEED reviews! Please? I intend to update at least twice more this month. Well one chapter, and how would you feel about a little history? I needed to write it for me, and then I thought others might want to understand a little better... Well I'll love forever and other stuff (not in a wrong way) you if you update.