"I hate her," Nikki huffed, beating her stick into the bushes as she walked past. Her tone now mocking of the older woman, "Miss Alexander you should walk like this, Miss Alexander you should talk like this, Miss Alexander this and Miss Alexander that. Oh I am sick of her Harry."
Harry couldn't help but chuckle at her as they stopped on the path; their chaperones stopping a few metres behind them also, "It has only been a week, Nikki," he pointed out.
"A week too long at that," she folded her arms. "When I have a child, I guarantee you that I shall not be putting them through this charade. They will be free to do as they please, not forced into a life they do not want."
"So you don't want marriage? A husband? Who will provide these children?" He raised an eyebrow as he turned to continue down the path, leaving Nikki behind a few paces.
She was quick to catch up however, "Of course I want a husband. But I don't see how learning to be a lady as she puts it should help me in finding one," she started. "If someone were to fall in love with me then it should be for who I am not who I am trying to be. I hate having to pretend. I am not lady like, I enjoy sports and running. Jumping into lakes as I see fit."
"Then good luck finding a man who sees those qualities in a woman attractive," Harry breathed. "Men do not want a woman they cannot trust to adequately raise a child."
Nikki's face screwed together, not quite getting Harry's point and feeling a hint of disappointment that his feelings may not be genuine for her - or she had, at the very least, overestimated him in that department. She let out a sigh, "Perhaps I am not fit for this world. Should I have been born a man, I think I would like to have become someone who catches criminals-"
"Now you're just acting like a child," Harry interrupted her, rolling his eyes as he stopped their walk for the second time. "You need to grow up. In a few weeks you are going to be under the watchful eye of grown men from around the country, they will be wanting a suitable wife. If you continue on this child-like parade you will grow into nothing but a spinster. No man shall want you."
Her lips parted, taken aback by his harsh words - of all the people she expected to take the side of her aunt and her uncle, Harry had been one of the last. She had nothing to say, nothing to argue back with; she was in shock.
"Listen to your aunt. Do as she says," he spoke. "You will learn a great deal from her and you will become a better woman. A proper lady."
Nikki nodded, knowing that he was right deep down. The last thing she wanted to do was to push Harry away, she wasn't sure if she could deal with the heartbreak of that. So, if he wanted her to learn how to become proper then she would do it, for him.
So learning to become proper is exactly what she did. Although it didn't take her long to grow bored of the sessions again. She had tried but her mind had never been able to concentrate on one thing, there were too many distractions. Too many thoughts buzzing around her head.
"Nicola Alexander will you concentrate please," Sam demanded, her hands on her hips now. Nikki struggled to suppress her laughter as the older woman's face turned a bright shade of pink from anger.
Her hand shot to her mouth as a giggle managed to escape and she knew instantly that her aunt was about to tip over the edge.
"What is so amusing?" She spat. "You have really tested my patience today young lady."
Nikki raised an eyebrow, seizing an opportunity, "Does that mean I am a lady now and I no longer have to sit through these tedious lessons you insist upon?"
"You had better watch your tone with me child," Sam took a step forward. Her voice growing louder as she edged closer to Nikki. "You have vexed me greatly this past week. I don't have to be here, I have come on my own free will. I could've just left you to fend for yourself. To make yourself look a fool amongst the men-"
"Well perhaps you should've," Nikki answered back, making her voice bigger than Sam's. "At least then I wouldn't be squeezed into such ridiculous costumes, or pretend to be interested in the conversation men have to offer. I wouldn't have to stand back and let everyone judge me and have their say as if I were some meat on a market-"
She was quickly cut off by a sharp stinging to the side of her face as it felt as though her whole body had been knocked sideways. Her palm came to rest on her cheek; hot and red in only a matter of seconds. The tears spilling from her eyes despite being determined to not let herself cry. Least not in front of her aunt.
It was at that moment her uncle had stormed into the room after hearing raised voices, his eyes flicked between the two women, "What has happened?"
"She is out of control," Sam headed for Leo. "She can't manage the simplest of tasks. She argues with me and she's got a poisonous tongue. I don't know much more of this I can take, there may be no hope for her."
Nikki watched as the lines on Leo's face grew deeper and she knew that the last thing she had to worry about was Sam's hand striking her. He marched towards her, his hand wrapping around her wrist and pulling it away from her face. Nikki gasped in pain as his grasp tightened.
"You will stop with those tears at once," he said through gritted teeth as his nostrils flared. "You have nobody to blame but yourself. Why do you insist on doing everything you can to work against us?"
Nikki tried to push him away, the tears falling freely now. She could feel the bruises forming already on her wrist and she knew they would only worsen the more she struggled. So she relaxed and took deep breaths; an attempt to calm herself, or at least enough so her uncle would let go of her and she could leave the room.
It seemed to have done the trick as his fingers loosened as she was able to free herself, the coin-shaped purple-blue markings as clear as day against her pale complexion.
"I asked you a question Nicola Alexander," Leo continued, not letting her get away with it so easily. He could not be seen as weak, especially not in front of Sam. Nikki had an ability to look at him in such a way that would make him crumble, but that look had landed them here and he would not give in to her any longer.
"And I do not wish to answer it," the anger was still there despite her attempt to steady herself. And she wanted nothing more than to get on her horse and be with the man who she had loved most in the world. She remained stood there for a few moments, urging for her feet to move. She waited for her uncle to say something, for her aunt to say something.
But they stayed quiet so she pushed past them and made her way out of the room. She heard them calling after her as she picked up her speed, not wanting them to catch up with her. Her hands clawing at her dress, pulling it up, so as not to trip over the hems.
She eventually reached the stables and without hesitation she headed for her horse. It was then it dawned on her that she had yet to learn how to correctly tack the saddle but in that moment she did not care for the finer details. She yanked on the reins and tacked the saddle as best she could, the tears blurring her eyes making it that little bit harder. She jumped as she heard a voice.
"Miss Alexander," he approached her warily, quick to notice that she was in a state. "You don't want to do that, you'll spook her."
"Leave me be," she managed to get out for the lump in her throat. She unhooked the lock for the stall and guided her horse out, with somewhat of a force she didn't know she had.
The boy watched her, he attempted to reach out to grab the reins but she was moving too quickly for him, "Miss Alexander, please," he could see that the horse was growing agitated and he knew that this wasn't going to end well. "You really shouldn't handle her like that," he tried again but she was already mounting her.
He let out a deep breath, watching as she tried to pick up speed upon leaving the stables. He ran after her, knowing what was going to happen. And sure enough he was right as the horse reared, sending Nikki down to the ground with a thud. He was sprinting now, quick to grab hold of the reins to try and calm the horse before it ran off. A few pats of reassurance and she was relaxed once again, thankful that he seemed to have a way with the horses. But he put that down to having grown up surrounded by the animals.
A small groan pulled him from his thoughts. Satisfied that the horse would remain where she was, he was at Nikki's side, "Miss Alexander," he spoke softly, his fingers brushing her hair from her face. She appeared to be fine, apart from the red mark on her face and being obviously shaken. "Can you stand?"
She had never felt pain quite like it but she thought it might have been the shock more than anything. She placed her hands flat on the floor as she tried to push herself up. The boy watched as she struggled, eventually holding his hand out for her to take.
Nikki hesitated but took it anyway, knowing that she wouldn't be able to get up on her own - now feeling rather lightheaded. His hand felt strong against hers and he had seemed to lift her with ease. He didn't let go until he was sure that she was stable on her feet. But as they took a step forward, she stumbled and his arm was quick to wrap around her waist, supporting her.
"Come on, let's get you back to the stables," he breathed. One arm holding her up whilst his other hand gripped onto the reins as he guided the two back to the stables. Once inside, he lowered Nikki down onto one of the hay stacks whilst he settled the horse back into her stall, untacking her saddle in the process.
Nikki watched the boy manoeuvre around quietly, making it all seem so effortless. She had seen his face over the years, spoken the bare minimum to him but she was ashamed to not know of his name. She was sure she had been told it before but she had not cared enough to remember it.
Happy that the horse was now settled, he turned his attention back to Nikki who had not moved an inch but she was watching every little move he made. He could feel his heart racing, he wasn't sure what from, the fact that the woman - or girl rather - he had spent the past eight years admiring was now sat in front of him staring at him. Or the fact that anyone could catch them right now and think the worst.
He had been told many times over the years to keep his distance, them thinking the worst of him since he had been a young boy - not much older than Miss Alexander herself. But it would not do him well to be seen interacting with her, the scandal it would cause. And the last thing he needed was to lose his job that he had fought so hard to acquire in the first place.
"What is your name?" Nikki asked suddenly, wanting to get straight to the point.
He was taken aback but she had asked him a question and he was obliged to answer, being her inferior, "Jack, Miss Alexander."
"Jack, that's it," she grinned, feeling somewhat proud of herself - almost as if she had forgotten about what had happened in the last couple of minutes.
Jack stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to say. Not knowing if he was allowed to say anything at all. He couldn't help but notice the red mark that was still on her face however and as his eyes drifted down he spotted the fresh bruises settling in the skin on her wrist.
Nikki followed his gaze, her heart racing as she realised what he had seen. She quickly covered it with her hand but she had known it was too late, he had already acknowledged it.
"How are you feeling now Miss Alexander?" He questioned, breaking the silence, formalities going out of the window. She was in his territory now after all.
She answered with a shrug of her shoulders, not taking much notice of the fact he had addressed her a question inappropriately.
Jack moved to place himself next to her on the haystack, his hand rising to brush the tendrils of her golden locks from her face; the harsh, red imprint of a hand on her cheek. He winced, knowing that it would've hurt.
But she flinched away from him instantly, almost hissing at his touch. She stood, looking down on him now, her eyes wide in shock, "What do you think you're doing?" She was wrapping her arms around her body now, a gesture that brought her a sense of protection.
She had heard plenty of stories from Charlotte about how young men would behave around women when they were on their own. A shiver ran down her spine, Charlotte - or rather Charlie, as Nikki referred to her most of the time - was normally only a few metres away from her. Providing a safety. But then she remembered that she had fled, without a second thought.
Nikki's eyes darted around the room, anything could happen. No one knew that she was here, it had only been Jack who had seen her fall of the horse. For all they knew, she could be anywhere by now. Her heart was racing, what would her uncle say if he found them together? She would manage to embarrass him and bring shame upon the family within the space of an hour.
Jack held his hands up in the air, an attempt to defend himself, now noticing her sudden distress, "I didn't mean to frighten you miss," he was beginning to worry that she may have hit her head in the fall. Either that, or it had been him who had been the cause of her anxiety and that was the last thing he wanted. "They shouldn't treat you like that though. It's not fair, what did you do?"
He had heard many of the raised voices over the past couple of days, never fully knowing the topic of the conversations. But knowing enough that he wouldn't want to be caught in the middle of it all. This particular anger had been directed mostly at Miss Alexander, or at least from what he had seen of it. His heart had felt for her every time he had caught the silver trail crawling down her cheek. She was young, full of life, she should be able to enjoy it. Not be put down at every opportunity by her aunt and uncle.
His mind, however, changed with her reply.
"I wouldn't partake in those stupid lessons my aunt insists I endure," she spat, her eyes scanning over him. She hadn't taken much notice of him before. He'd never caught her eye, not that he would have had much chance to - he was a lowly stable boy after all. But as his eyes caught with hers, she felt a stirring in the pit of her stomach. She shook her head, putting the feeling down to the hour nearing dinner.
Jack's brows furrowed as he took in this new piece of information, a picture building in his mind. A picture he hadn't quite expected. Miss Alexander, who had once appeared as a pretty, down to earth woman. Who had had to deal with incredible atrocities at such an early age of life had now quickly turned to a spoilt, ungrateful little girl.
Jack's opinion of her tainted he no longer felt the need to keep up his polite pretence, it had been the least she deserved.
"Is that all?" He scoffed, now also standing up. The height difference between them becoming much more known. "And what, might I ask, are these lessons for?"
Nikki felt perturbed, his countenance shifting and making her feel uneasy. But she straightened her back, a way of making herself feel taller next to him (even if it didn't make that much difference). "I am to attend glamorous, high societal balls, not that you would know anything about it," she snapped. That feeling that had been growing quickly dwindling down. "I am of age. It is expected of me."
He shook his head in disbelief, unable to process what he was hearing.
"I would give anything to attend of these balls that you choose to speak of. To have a better life, filled with all the riches a man could ever wish for. To not worry about stepping out of line for fear of losing the one thing that keeps me by. I would do anything."
Nikki's lips parted, her mind not being able to string a sentence together. But she didn't have to as she heard the sharp shrill of her aunts voice.
Her head flicked in her aunts direction, her cheeks colouring. She knew how it looked, she knew that rumours would spread instantly if word got out that she had been caught in the stables with a young boy, unchaperoned. She would have no trouble in shutting those people down however. After the manner in which he spoke to her, she would rather be seen dead than breathing the same air as him.
There was a sense of relief that it had just been her aunt however, her uncle would not have reacted so calmly. However, one scornful look from said aunt and Nikki was making her way back to the house. Not all that surprised when Sam hadn't followed behind her.
"If you want to keep your job then might I suggest you stay well away from her," Sam spoke through gritted teeth, her voice low and threatening. She would do well to look down on him, had it not been for the fact he stood a foot above her.
Jack huffed, "You don't have to ask anything of me ma'am." There was more he wanted to say, but he knew it wasn't worth the risk of his job.