Miss Catherine was sitting in front of a makeup table. Ann was standing
behind her and was running a comb through the woman's curly hair.
Miss Catherine saw Mirana in the mirror and mentioned for her to take a
seat. The lass waited quietly for her companion to finish. Finally she
couldn't wait any longer and stood up.
The room was furnished in a similar style to Mirana's room. Cream and a light red were used instead of yellow and blue. The main difference was, however the bookcase. Mirana didn't have one in her room. What a shame, she thought, I doubt I brought enough books to last me for two whole weeks.
Letting her eyes glide over the spines of the books, she recognised a number of titles and authors. Miss Catherine, who had been watching her young friend, said "You are welcome to borrow some, Mirana, there is no way for me to read all of them." Sighing she stood up "Thank you, Ann, this looks great." Mirana turned around and eyed Miss Catherine. The older woman was wearing a tight red dress. A low collar revealed a silver necklace with a locket. The hem of the dress reached the floor and the sleeves were full length. Mirana liked what she saw. The blue brought out matching shades in Miss Catherine's eyes and the tight cut made her look taller and slimmer.
Miss Catherine stroked down the dress telling Mirana "Lady Ellen has been most kind. She gave me too, a number of elegant new dresses. They are wonderful! And you look most beautiful." Mirana blushed, "Thank you, so do you." Ann had been watching the two with an air of importance. Now she could no longer contain herself "Ladies, may I be so bold to say that I helped make the dresses? They suit you wonderfully."
Both Mirana and Miss Catherine turned to the older servant woman. Miss Catherine walked up to the mirror and looked at herself saying "Ann, I am impressed. These dresses are masterworks. I thank you." Mirana just nodded. Ann looked proud "Thank you, fine lady, but now we must be on our way. Lady Ellen doesn't like to be kept waiting." She ushered the two out of the room and closed the door.
Ann brought the to a terrace overlooking a rose garden. A small table had been set for three. Two women were standing in the shade close to the table. The were wearing brown skirts, white blouses, white, spotless aprons and their hair had been pulled into tight buns. Ann was wearing the same. They bobbed a curtesy when Miss Catherine and Mirana, flanked by Ann, stepped onto the terrace. "Good after noon, ladies," one muttered, "please, sit down, tea will be served shortly." They pulled out two chairs and motioned for Miss Catherine and Mirana to sit.
Sitting down, Mirana noticed that Ann had gone and that the other two servants were eyeing the French doors warily. Miss Catherine had just arranged her skirts comfortably, when the swish of skirts and petticoats were heard. Mirana who had her back o the doors, turned around. When she saw Lady Ellen, she jumped to her feet and curtsied. Miss Catherine followed suit. "Good after noon, ladies. Please, take a seat." Lady Ellen sat and motioned for Miss Catherine and Mirana to do so too. They both did, avoiding to crumple the new dresses.
A servant was pouring tea while an other one cut the fruit pie. Lady Ellen looked her guests up and down. Mirana was nervous. She nearly dropped the cup of tea and spilled a few drops onto her new dress. Finally Lady Ellen broke the tension by saying "Those dresses look stunning on you." Expectantly she raised her eyebrows. Mirana swallowed the piece of pie and thanked the lady. "You are welcome, my child. Now, you are welcome, like I said before, to roam through the house and gardens. You can stay in your rooms or you can sit on the terrace and other areas in and around the house. If you want to go to town, ask one of the servants to prepare a carriage. "I have a large library. Mirana, you might enjoy going through it. There aren't really any 'out-of-bounds' areas, just keep away from the servant's wing and my personal chambers, I like a little space." Lady Ellen smiled, but her eyes stayed blank of expression. "We dine together except for tomorrow because I wont be here. If you have any other questions, please ask any of the servants or myself." She sipped at her tea and took piece of pie. Than turning to Miss Catherine, she asked about the orphanage.
Mirana had dragged the chair in front of the window. There she sat and looked out. A group of men were working in the garden. Weeding and watering plants: a peaceful life. Not necessarily a fulfilling life, but a peaceful one. In the distance sounded a bell, it rang five times. I still have some time before I need to get ready, Mirana thought, a walk in the garden sounds good. She slipped out the door and down the steps. Taking a left turn at the bottom, she soon was helplessly lost. Deciding to take a rest, she sat down on a chair in the hallway. Taking a deep breath she looked around. A open door lead into a sitting room and another door was closed.
All of a sudden, she heard voices. Quickly she stood up and pretended to be going about her business. Two men came around the corner of the hallway. Mirana recognised the man who had brought the trunk to her room. When they saw her they stopped talking. Mirana walked up to them and they bowed stiffly. Stepping aside so that she could pass, they kept their heads down and their hands behind their backs. "Ahh, excuse me, could you please, um, tell me how to get to the garden?" Mirana wasn't sure how to address them. They looked up, startled. The man she knew offered his help, "Of course, miss, I helpe ya. Please, folla me, I show ya." He nodded to his companion and bowed to Mirana. Than he entered the sitting room motioning Mirana to follow him.
A door lead out on the other side and they were on a different, wider corridor. Mirana was curious "What is you name?" She asked the man. He stopped and turned around to her. Bowing he said "Dan, if it pleases, ma lady." Mirana was getting annoyed with the bowing and "my lady". She told him so. "Dan, please stop calling me a lady: Mirana will do!" Dan seemed surprised "But, ma la. . ., I mean, miss Mirana, I am just a servant." Mirana brushed it off, "And I am just a girl in an orphanage with no past and no future. Please, just Mirana will do." She continued walking. Dan ran to catch up. Walking next to her, he made sure that there was a large gap between Mirana and himself. Mirana asked a couple of question. She discovered that Dan was fifteen and that he had left school to earn money for his family. It turned out that his accent came from living in a different part of the country in his childhood. When Mirana asked for specific answers he just shrugged it off and said close to the ocean.
Mirana was going to ask more questions about the ocean, when Dan interrupted politely "Miss Mirana, why are ya so interested in de ocean?" The girl was sparred to answer because Dan opened a door and they were outside. The rose garden was a little to the left and a group of fir trees to the right. Turning back to Dan, she thanked him. He bowed mumbling a replay. Than straightening, he said "Miss, will ya find yar way back to yar rooms?" About to say yes, she changed her mind "Probably not, but I will manage, thank you." Turning away, she walked down the steps. Just than a bell sounded in the distance. Half a bell left, she thought grumpily to herself, I better make the most of it. She headed into the garden.
A bench beneath birch tree was a good resting place for Mirana. She was just about to doze off, when a hand on her shoulder interrupted her peace. Getting ready to snap at the person, she popped open her eyes. Liquid amber eyes looked back. Mirana let out a tiny growl, half shriek. Dan stood in front of her.
Uncertainly her bowed "Sorra to disturb ya, lady, but I was send to get ya." Mirana looked up at him. He avoided her glare. Finally she sighed heavily and enquired "By whom?" "Lady Catherine". She swore under her breath. She simply wanted some peace! "Well," she said after composing herself, "I better not keep Miss Catherine waiting." Miserably she got to her feet.
Don asked slyly "Miss Mirana, do ya require any help returning to yar chambers?" Mirana stopped and turned around to him. Eyeing him carefully she noticed that he was still a boy at heart and that he was trying to be funny. She opened her mouth to replay, but instead of words all her air was pushed out of her lungs making her cough. Mirana swayed and Don lurched to catch her. Helping her back to the seat, Don watched her breathing closely. The coughing stopped and Mirana's breath came back.
Searching through his pockets, Don produced a clean handkerchief and handed it to her. Bowing, he retreated to give her some space. Mirana thanked him and wiped teary eyes and running nose. After some time Don asked "Are you feeling better, miss?" Mirana decided to be brave and nodded. Carefully she rose to her feet. Don new pride when he saw it and knew not to enquire about her health. He just opened the French doors and lead Mirana to her rooms.
The room was furnished in a similar style to Mirana's room. Cream and a light red were used instead of yellow and blue. The main difference was, however the bookcase. Mirana didn't have one in her room. What a shame, she thought, I doubt I brought enough books to last me for two whole weeks.
Letting her eyes glide over the spines of the books, she recognised a number of titles and authors. Miss Catherine, who had been watching her young friend, said "You are welcome to borrow some, Mirana, there is no way for me to read all of them." Sighing she stood up "Thank you, Ann, this looks great." Mirana turned around and eyed Miss Catherine. The older woman was wearing a tight red dress. A low collar revealed a silver necklace with a locket. The hem of the dress reached the floor and the sleeves were full length. Mirana liked what she saw. The blue brought out matching shades in Miss Catherine's eyes and the tight cut made her look taller and slimmer.
Miss Catherine stroked down the dress telling Mirana "Lady Ellen has been most kind. She gave me too, a number of elegant new dresses. They are wonderful! And you look most beautiful." Mirana blushed, "Thank you, so do you." Ann had been watching the two with an air of importance. Now she could no longer contain herself "Ladies, may I be so bold to say that I helped make the dresses? They suit you wonderfully."
Both Mirana and Miss Catherine turned to the older servant woman. Miss Catherine walked up to the mirror and looked at herself saying "Ann, I am impressed. These dresses are masterworks. I thank you." Mirana just nodded. Ann looked proud "Thank you, fine lady, but now we must be on our way. Lady Ellen doesn't like to be kept waiting." She ushered the two out of the room and closed the door.
Ann brought the to a terrace overlooking a rose garden. A small table had been set for three. Two women were standing in the shade close to the table. The were wearing brown skirts, white blouses, white, spotless aprons and their hair had been pulled into tight buns. Ann was wearing the same. They bobbed a curtesy when Miss Catherine and Mirana, flanked by Ann, stepped onto the terrace. "Good after noon, ladies," one muttered, "please, sit down, tea will be served shortly." They pulled out two chairs and motioned for Miss Catherine and Mirana to sit.
Sitting down, Mirana noticed that Ann had gone and that the other two servants were eyeing the French doors warily. Miss Catherine had just arranged her skirts comfortably, when the swish of skirts and petticoats were heard. Mirana who had her back o the doors, turned around. When she saw Lady Ellen, she jumped to her feet and curtsied. Miss Catherine followed suit. "Good after noon, ladies. Please, take a seat." Lady Ellen sat and motioned for Miss Catherine and Mirana to do so too. They both did, avoiding to crumple the new dresses.
A servant was pouring tea while an other one cut the fruit pie. Lady Ellen looked her guests up and down. Mirana was nervous. She nearly dropped the cup of tea and spilled a few drops onto her new dress. Finally Lady Ellen broke the tension by saying "Those dresses look stunning on you." Expectantly she raised her eyebrows. Mirana swallowed the piece of pie and thanked the lady. "You are welcome, my child. Now, you are welcome, like I said before, to roam through the house and gardens. You can stay in your rooms or you can sit on the terrace and other areas in and around the house. If you want to go to town, ask one of the servants to prepare a carriage. "I have a large library. Mirana, you might enjoy going through it. There aren't really any 'out-of-bounds' areas, just keep away from the servant's wing and my personal chambers, I like a little space." Lady Ellen smiled, but her eyes stayed blank of expression. "We dine together except for tomorrow because I wont be here. If you have any other questions, please ask any of the servants or myself." She sipped at her tea and took piece of pie. Than turning to Miss Catherine, she asked about the orphanage.
Mirana had dragged the chair in front of the window. There she sat and looked out. A group of men were working in the garden. Weeding and watering plants: a peaceful life. Not necessarily a fulfilling life, but a peaceful one. In the distance sounded a bell, it rang five times. I still have some time before I need to get ready, Mirana thought, a walk in the garden sounds good. She slipped out the door and down the steps. Taking a left turn at the bottom, she soon was helplessly lost. Deciding to take a rest, she sat down on a chair in the hallway. Taking a deep breath she looked around. A open door lead into a sitting room and another door was closed.
All of a sudden, she heard voices. Quickly she stood up and pretended to be going about her business. Two men came around the corner of the hallway. Mirana recognised the man who had brought the trunk to her room. When they saw her they stopped talking. Mirana walked up to them and they bowed stiffly. Stepping aside so that she could pass, they kept their heads down and their hands behind their backs. "Ahh, excuse me, could you please, um, tell me how to get to the garden?" Mirana wasn't sure how to address them. They looked up, startled. The man she knew offered his help, "Of course, miss, I helpe ya. Please, folla me, I show ya." He nodded to his companion and bowed to Mirana. Than he entered the sitting room motioning Mirana to follow him.
A door lead out on the other side and they were on a different, wider corridor. Mirana was curious "What is you name?" She asked the man. He stopped and turned around to her. Bowing he said "Dan, if it pleases, ma lady." Mirana was getting annoyed with the bowing and "my lady". She told him so. "Dan, please stop calling me a lady: Mirana will do!" Dan seemed surprised "But, ma la. . ., I mean, miss Mirana, I am just a servant." Mirana brushed it off, "And I am just a girl in an orphanage with no past and no future. Please, just Mirana will do." She continued walking. Dan ran to catch up. Walking next to her, he made sure that there was a large gap between Mirana and himself. Mirana asked a couple of question. She discovered that Dan was fifteen and that he had left school to earn money for his family. It turned out that his accent came from living in a different part of the country in his childhood. When Mirana asked for specific answers he just shrugged it off and said close to the ocean.
Mirana was going to ask more questions about the ocean, when Dan interrupted politely "Miss Mirana, why are ya so interested in de ocean?" The girl was sparred to answer because Dan opened a door and they were outside. The rose garden was a little to the left and a group of fir trees to the right. Turning back to Dan, she thanked him. He bowed mumbling a replay. Than straightening, he said "Miss, will ya find yar way back to yar rooms?" About to say yes, she changed her mind "Probably not, but I will manage, thank you." Turning away, she walked down the steps. Just than a bell sounded in the distance. Half a bell left, she thought grumpily to herself, I better make the most of it. She headed into the garden.
A bench beneath birch tree was a good resting place for Mirana. She was just about to doze off, when a hand on her shoulder interrupted her peace. Getting ready to snap at the person, she popped open her eyes. Liquid amber eyes looked back. Mirana let out a tiny growl, half shriek. Dan stood in front of her.
Uncertainly her bowed "Sorra to disturb ya, lady, but I was send to get ya." Mirana looked up at him. He avoided her glare. Finally she sighed heavily and enquired "By whom?" "Lady Catherine". She swore under her breath. She simply wanted some peace! "Well," she said after composing herself, "I better not keep Miss Catherine waiting." Miserably she got to her feet.
Don asked slyly "Miss Mirana, do ya require any help returning to yar chambers?" Mirana stopped and turned around to him. Eyeing him carefully she noticed that he was still a boy at heart and that he was trying to be funny. She opened her mouth to replay, but instead of words all her air was pushed out of her lungs making her cough. Mirana swayed and Don lurched to catch her. Helping her back to the seat, Don watched her breathing closely. The coughing stopped and Mirana's breath came back.
Searching through his pockets, Don produced a clean handkerchief and handed it to her. Bowing, he retreated to give her some space. Mirana thanked him and wiped teary eyes and running nose. After some time Don asked "Are you feeling better, miss?" Mirana decided to be brave and nodded. Carefully she rose to her feet. Don new pride when he saw it and knew not to enquire about her health. He just opened the French doors and lead Mirana to her rooms.