Chapter 14- Learning
The ride to the lake is fairly short. Tairy and Duke Orin ride in silence, traveling at a fairly fast pace for no particular reason. The land on which they traveled was flat and barren. The moment the lake comes into view Tairy urges Lady Beth into a gallop. The Duke arrives seconds after Tairy and dismounts.
"I've never seen water so beautiful. It's so calm; the oceans are always busy and lapping water. They seem to never be truly at peace. Here you can be. And there on the other side of it is the forest. It almost gives a foreboding feeling, yet it is not one to worry about. I think I will enjoy this immensely." Tairy turns, smiling at the Duke. When he returns the smile, she realizes all that she has said aloud. The blush rushes indiscreetly up her neck to the roots of her hair.
The Duke being bred as he was turns away and walks over to the edge of the lake. Stooping down, he sifts through the many pebbles lining the shore. After picking a few small flat ones, he stands back up and stares at the lake for a moment.
"The reason the lake is so blue is become it is bottomless." He turns towards Tairy again.
Her cheeks are still pink, but in disbelief of the statement, she walks up to the shoreline.
"Is it now? A bottomless lake?" Her eyebrows rise, in a mocking fashion.
His eyes narrow, but a corner of his mouth ticks upwards, nearing a grin.
"As a matter of fact it is? As a child, our family traveled here often, visiting my uncle. We loved to play in this lake, but we would never travel too far in, because in a bottomless lake, who knows what could be in there?" He gives an exaggerated shudder, and sends a rock skipping across the lake.
She turns to him and giggles. He gives a small laugh saying, "I was ten years old, not to mention the youngest. My older siblings were quite cruel with their stories…"
Tairy's face falls some and she turns and walks down the lake a little. Near the bank is a flat boulder; Tairy sits down on it and stares into the forest. After sending a few more rocks flying, Duke Orin comes and sits by her.
"Did I say something to offend you Miss Dantes?"
Tairy starts. "Goodness no. It just got me thinking. I'm sorry; I fear I might be bad company for you. I did honestly come out here for a retreat. But don't leave." She says this as she notices the Duke starting to stand up. "I'm bad company for you, but your being here is nice; you don't seem to be expecting so much out of me."
He settles back comfortably.
"That isn't entirely true." Tairy turns her head sharply towards him. He blushes and raises his hands in protection. "Nothing bad, I promise. I desired to talk with you. I know you're engaged and this may appear improper, but I've never met one such as you before. One moment you seem meek as a servant, the next you boldly ride to the palace and call me a cad. And I sincerely want to know why you dressed up that night as a stable boy."
Tairy's facial expression smoothly cascaded from surprise to confusion to fear to blushing, in a matter of seconds. She was unsure if she could trust him, and yet again his eyes dripped of honesty.
"M'Lord, I am hardly like this. Yet for some reason I am compelled to tell you my story. I do not tell you this in order to receive pity; it is to help you gain an understanding of why I am me."
She starts somewhere near the beginning; it was her beginning, the death of Ellie. Giving out small details of how her father blamed her, and treated her unkindly. Never did Tairy actually mention the physical abuse, nor was there any of her almost giving up while she was sick.
At the reference to the old Fortune Teller, Duke Orin's face blanches some. Tairy, absorbed in her story, doesn't notice. When she mentions the part of their first meeting, Duke Orin makes a poor attempt at covering a cough. Tairy stops her story and turns to glare at him.
"I'm sorry Miss Dantes; something seems to be in my throat." He gives a few mock coughs. "Please continue." His lips manage to stay relatively straight, but a certain amount of strain is seen in the corners.
Continuing on with her tale, Tairy keeps her eyes on the Dukes face, but it is impenetrable. It was as though he had become a statue, staring over the lake.
"So, what have you to say Duke Orin?"
He blinks and turns to her. "You'll really marry any man simply to escape your father? Please don't misunderstand me, it seems quite the only choice, but is it the only choice?"
"Well you can't say he's just any man. He's been a friend for years, and I know he'll take care of me. With him I would never have to worry."
"But you don't love him." The Duke blurts out. He turns away. Tairy abruptly stands up and walks towards the lake. The tips of her toes touch the water.
"Love is a luxury I'm not allowed. At least I was given the option of liking him. This could have been arranged with a man who would have been just like my father. And I am quite positive that had I waited much longer I would have been. I'm sure this is why my father wanted me up here. Find me a match as far away from him as possible. And why are you so persistent about love? Your family does arranged marriages, no? Why is it that you're not married?" She turns her body fully around and crosses her arms.
"Yes, it is true to an extent that we have arranged marriages. We are chosen for a certain state to govern and from that particular ruling family we choose a spouse, usually there is limited option, but we mostly still have option. Well as it happened my father's uncle had only one child and he and his wife became the Duke and Duchess of Italy. They are unable to produce offspring. They were still hopeful up until the time that I came to rule; but at that point there was no possibility. So I am left with finding a wife on my own. Which has been rather hard considering my main priority is to rule over my small land fairly. Believe me, when I came to Spain, the ball that was put on was not merely for enjoyment; I was trying to find a wife. Personally, yes I would like to find love, I believe everyone should try if they can. And honestly yes Baron Dantes brought you up here to try to marry you off… to me"
TBC
Quite interesting I must say. That wasn't exactly supossed to happen. But it did and I'm going with it. I appologize for the delayed update (considering I've been doing pretty much nothing for the last two weeks...). Naturally I love you guys for reviewing my story, you're amazing and helpful, and you make feel all good and prickly on the inside. So please review more. Loves until later!