Roses Bloom Among Thorns - Chapter Four
James Carstairs was reaching the crescendo in Ballade when the door to his bedroom clicked open audibly. "Will? Will is that you?" He said, pulling the violin away from his shoulder. "Yes, James it's me. I also have a visitor." Said Will from the door. James whirled around clutching the violin in his left and the bow in his right. What he saw he net nearly made him drop the beloved object in his hand.
A lovely young girl,about seventeen or eightteen, stood beside Will in the doorway. Her hair like melted chocolate, cascading around her face in loose curls that had excaped from a bun pinned at the top of her head. Her eyes were a light gray, like the sky after a storm. Her dress hugged her every curve. Her nose was small and cute and a slight spay of light brown freckles ran across her face, making her look absolutely beautiful.
"Lord James, it is a honor to meet you." She said, giving a slight inlination of her head. Her voice was high and chimed like sweet silver bells. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss?" "Gray. Theresa Gray. You are most welcome to call me Tessa. Everybody does." She said, twirling a strand of her hair between slim fingers. James walked over and put his violin in the case. Then he turned around with his hands at his sides and said, "Please, call me Jem."
"Of coarse." She said. Only then did Jem notice that she was holding Will's favorite copy of A Tale of Two Cities. He could tell it was his because of all the dog earred pages. "Why, that's Will's isn't it?" said Jem, gesturing toward the green book in Tessa's hand.
...
Will watched in curiosity at what would happen as Tessa looked down and realized that she was still holding his favorite copy of A Tale of Two Cities. Her eyes widened and she looked flushed. "I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't m-mean to-" She managed to stutter out and started thrusting the book in her hand at Will, as if it were private property that did not belong to her. In which case it did not.
Will chuckled in spite of the scene before him. "Tessa, please. You are welcome to touch my books any time you wish." She flushed even darker as her beautiful eyes darted back and forth between himself and Jem. As if he read her mind, Jem said, "You aren't making a fool of yourself, if that's what you thinking. Now, I do have a question. Why is she here this early? I thought they weren't supposed to arrive until around 7:00?"
"You needn't talk about me as if I'm not here! And yes I did arrive early because my aunt shoved me out of the house this morning and told me to get here early, I didn't necessarily want to get here early but she insisted. And she also sends her greatest regards to you both. Just thought you ought to know." Said Tessa, sticking her nose in the air.
"Well I am sure your aunt is a wonderful person. Now I have grown bored! What should we do until the other women arrive?" Said Will. "William, if you are so bored why don't you think of something yourself." Said Jem smartly. "HIDE AND SEEK!" screamed Will in an ungentlemanly manner, but he did not care. He then ran out of the room and down the corridor, leaving his two companions behind him.
...
Tessa's eyes widened quite a bit when Will practically screamed in her ear then left, running out the door like a madman.
"My gracious! Is he always like this?" She asked with a expression of humor on her face. "You haven't the slightest idea." said Jem, shaking his head slightly and chuckling. "So, who is going to go hide with him?" asked Tessa. "It's best if you do. I don't want you to get lost in this humongous palace and that will surely happen if you are the one who is seeking two people who know the castle like the palm of their hand. So you go and catch up with William and I shall count to one hundred." said he. She gave a slight inclination of her head and hurried out and into the corridor.
She gathered up her skirts and followed the sound of William's foot falls, which were quite loud indeed. She eventually caught up him, panting like she had been racing a steed. "Where are we going to hide?" Will, who was panting himself, answered, "Just follow me, Tessa. I know just the place." He was smiling a devilish smile.
They ran down corridor after corridor, turning corner after corner, until Will finally stopped, with Tessa behind him, panting in an unladylike manner. "Here said Will, pointing to something on the wall that, unfortunately, she could not see. "Will! What are you blathering on about?" She asked. "I believe that I am not blathering on about anything." He said defiantly. He took out a key, which was made out of copper and was shaped like an angel at the end. Will stuck the teeth of the key inside of the wall. The faint edges of what looked like a door, glowed once. Then a faint click could be heard as the secret door opened.
Tessa felt her eyes widen in surprise. "Are you going to stand there and risk being caught by James, or are you coming with me?" Tessa quickly scrambled inside.
The foyer was like a small mud room, if not a smidge bigger. There was a small gasolier hanging from the celling, shedding a warm yellow glow to the room. There were steps leading up to another room. As Will took to the stairs, and Tessa was striding to keep up with him.
