The next morning, Mirana rose at her usual early time. She opened the
curtains and looked outside. The sunlight gave the garden a soft effect.
All different kinds of flowers had opened their blossoms. Mirana opened the
windows and leaned out. A bird sang in the tree next to her window and the
air smelled fresh and clean.
Choosing a red skirt and a white blouse, Mirana changed out of her night wear. Stepping in front of the mirror, she brushed her hair and tied it back. The skirt was lose and let in air. The blouse, also lose, left her arms bare with out revealing too much flesh. It was a summer outfit and very comfortable.
Hearing movement in the other room, Mirana knocked on the door. "Come in, I am decent." Miss Catherine sounded sleepy and not fully awake. Mirana opened the door and slipped into the room. The light was dim. Hands outstretched in front of herself, Mirana felt her way across the room to the window. Drawing back the curtains, she opened the window and let the cool, morning breeze into the room.
Miss Catherine had her head buried under her pillow trying to block out the sun. Mirana grinned evilly "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" The only replay was grumble from beneath the quilts. Returning to her own room, Mirana left Miss Catherine to get dressed. Recognizing the fact that she still had over a bell left before breakfast, she decided to look at the library Lady Ellen had been talking about. Pulling on the shoes, Mirana opened the door and stepped out onto the corridor.
Halfway down the staircase, Mirana ran into a group of servants carrying buckets and mops. Feeling guilt at having to disturb them, she asked for directions and, after a few wrong turns, managed to find the gigantic library.
Mirana browsed through the shelves, every now and again picking up an book and reading a few pages. Finding a book with a interesting storyline, she sat down in one of the armchairs standing around the room. So absorbed was the lass in the book, that she didn't even here the bell in the distance or the door opening and someone entering the library.
"Miss Mirana?" The voice surprised Mirana; she jumped to her feet, dropping the book. Don stood in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed down her skirt and glared at the boy. "Is there something I don't know about? How is it, if I may ask, that we always seem to run into each other?" Don bowed before answering her question. "Ya see, miss, my Lady Ellen asked me and Ann to take care of ya and Miss Catherine. I'm always close by makin' sure that no 'arm comes to ya."
The boy straightened up and smiled broadly. Muttering under her breath, Mirana returned the book. With out turning around she grumbled "You seem happy with yourself. Aren't you lucky that I'm a morning person!" Don shook his head confused "Why, miss?" "Because otherwise I would have bitten of your head! I can, you know!" Pretending to be distraught, he said with mock horror "But, miss Mirana, I like my head!" Mirana laughed and shook her head.
Turning serious again, Don motioned Mirana to the door "Miss Catherine wanted me to tell ya that ya missed breakfast." Mirana cursed, "I knew I was forgetting something. Is she angry with me?" Don jiggled his head form side to side "No, miss, she just told me to find ya and tell ya that the table is still set in the Dinning room. If ya want, I can show ya the way!" Grinning, Don bowed. Mirana stared straight ahead (trying not to laugh) and said in a curt voice "That would be pleasant!"
After a rushed breakfast and a short chat about time with Miss Catherine Mirana went back to the library. Finding a few good books, she managed to find her way to the garden and sat on the same bench as the day before. Miss Catherine joined her after some time and together they spend a lazy, but peaceful, day in the sun.
The next day started the same, just for the little difference that Mirana was on time for breakfast. Lady Ellen was already seated. A servant was pouring tea as the owner of the house wished Mirana a good morning and bade her to sit.
Mirana, who felt uneasy in the presence of the lady with out Miss Catherine, clasped her hands in her lap and stared silently at her plate. Lady Ellen buttered herself a piece of dark brown bread while asking the girl if she was enjoying her stay. Mirana nodded, but than remembered that a spoken answer was required. "Yes, madam, it has been most relaxing. I went to the library you had been talking about," unsure what to say, the girl bit her lip. "Go on!" Lady Ellen seemed interested. Delicately she bit into her bread and watched Mirana intently. Mirana was opening her mouth to continue when Miss Catherine entered the Dinning Room. Curtsying she told them that she had gotten lost and hoped that they forgive he this once. Lady Elle rose and said "Of course, my dear. It is perfectly all right. This is a big house with lots of corridors and many different rooms. It has happened to me too. Now come and join us." She pointed to a chair and went back to her bread.
Mirana had never experienced so much freedom before. Except for meal times, she was able to come and go as she pleased. Don was always close by, going about his work but making sure Mirana had everything she required. After a week and a few days in Lady Ellen's household Mirana felt relaxed but restless. She was dying to see something else.
She confined this to Don while he was sweeping the terrace and she was sitting close by and not doing anything in particular. Her hands itched to pick up a broom and to help him with his chores. "Please, let me help you! I feel so useless!" Don just kept working. "Ya aren't useless. A lady isn't supposed to clean or work. Ya are just meant to sit and look good." Glaring at him she replayed "Some are, but you seem to forget, I am no lady." Don just raised his eyebrows "My lady Ellen treats ya like a lady and, anyway, ya don't know yar parents. Who knows, they might have been royalty!" Mirana, who had told him about her past, just laughed it off "Yes, sure, I might be related to the his highness, the King of this beautiful country." Mirana pretended to be all prim and prober and acted to be waving to an invisible crowd. Don mock-bowed and continued sweeping.
Some time later Mirana had a new argument. "If I don't sweep I'll get out of practise. If I'm out of practise and don't my chores properly at the orphanage I will get into trouble with the mistresses. You don't want to get me into trouble, do you!?" She glared at the boy who ducked his head. Mirana had made it difficult for him to object, but Mirana had forgotten one thing: Don wasn't born yesterday and had done his fair share with chores.
"No offence, miss Mirana, but yar arguments aren't very good!" Don thought for a moment that he had gone too far, but was relieved to see Mirana snort. They grinned at each other, but Mirana wasn't to be out done by a boy (or any one else, for that matter!). "But, Don, I'm serious! I will get into trouble and I was hoping to get into the mistresses good books so that . . ." Mirana broke off. She had said too much already. Don peeked at the girl and asked curiously "So that. . .? Keep going." She however shook her head and didn't replay. Knowing that if Mirana wanted to talk she would, the boy didn't push her and finished his chore.
Later Mirana got up and shook out her skirts. The petticoats underneath were sticking to her legs; it was a humid day. Turning, she went to the steps that lead into the garden and descended them. Don called after her "Where are ya going, miss?" Feeling guilty at having to question his mistress/friend he also had a duty to the owner of the house. "Just to the trees. You don't have to follow me. I will be fine. Take a break, you really don't need to watch me all the time." Don nodded, but his grey eyes followed Mirana's progress through the garden.
Mirana didn't stop when she reached the trees. On she walked till she reached the wall surrounding the property. A bit to the left the girl spotted the black iron gate through which they had entered. Planning to turn back Mirana caught a glimpse of a pathway to the right. Deciding to explore a bit, she ducked under the branch of a small tree and was amazed.
The clearing on which she now stood was beautiful. The grass was lush and flowers of all sorts bloomed in and around the small glade. A creek snaked its way through the grass and sunlight was filtered in between the branches and leaves overhead. Deciding to have a break, Mirana took of her shoes and stockings and sat down on a large flat stone, dangling her feet into the cool creek. A bird sang above her. Lying back the girl closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Mirana woke all of a sudden. The shadows were long; she must have been asleep for a long time. She couldn't feel her feet. Looking down at them she noticed that they had changed colour. They had turned a pale blue. Wincing, the girl lifted them out of the water and rubbed them till a little feeling returned. Putting the shoes and stockings back on, Mirana felt dizzy. Her sickness was catching up with her. I better go to bed early tonight, she thought to herself.
Standing up, the world swayed around Mirana. Yup, an early bedtime coming up. Grasping the stone, she forced herself forward . . . straight into someone's arms. Blinking desperately, she recognised brown breeches, a white tunic and grey eyes. "So tired," she muttered to Don "Need to rest." She rested her head against the boy's shoulder. "Hush, miss Mirana, I'll help ya." Don tried to hold Mirana up right. "Yes, I know you will." Darkness closed in over Mirana and she fell into the black tunnel of unconsciousness.
Choosing a red skirt and a white blouse, Mirana changed out of her night wear. Stepping in front of the mirror, she brushed her hair and tied it back. The skirt was lose and let in air. The blouse, also lose, left her arms bare with out revealing too much flesh. It was a summer outfit and very comfortable.
Hearing movement in the other room, Mirana knocked on the door. "Come in, I am decent." Miss Catherine sounded sleepy and not fully awake. Mirana opened the door and slipped into the room. The light was dim. Hands outstretched in front of herself, Mirana felt her way across the room to the window. Drawing back the curtains, she opened the window and let the cool, morning breeze into the room.
Miss Catherine had her head buried under her pillow trying to block out the sun. Mirana grinned evilly "Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" The only replay was grumble from beneath the quilts. Returning to her own room, Mirana left Miss Catherine to get dressed. Recognizing the fact that she still had over a bell left before breakfast, she decided to look at the library Lady Ellen had been talking about. Pulling on the shoes, Mirana opened the door and stepped out onto the corridor.
Halfway down the staircase, Mirana ran into a group of servants carrying buckets and mops. Feeling guilt at having to disturb them, she asked for directions and, after a few wrong turns, managed to find the gigantic library.
Mirana browsed through the shelves, every now and again picking up an book and reading a few pages. Finding a book with a interesting storyline, she sat down in one of the armchairs standing around the room. So absorbed was the lass in the book, that she didn't even here the bell in the distance or the door opening and someone entering the library.
"Miss Mirana?" The voice surprised Mirana; she jumped to her feet, dropping the book. Don stood in front of her. Taking a deep breath, she smoothed down her skirt and glared at the boy. "Is there something I don't know about? How is it, if I may ask, that we always seem to run into each other?" Don bowed before answering her question. "Ya see, miss, my Lady Ellen asked me and Ann to take care of ya and Miss Catherine. I'm always close by makin' sure that no 'arm comes to ya."
The boy straightened up and smiled broadly. Muttering under her breath, Mirana returned the book. With out turning around she grumbled "You seem happy with yourself. Aren't you lucky that I'm a morning person!" Don shook his head confused "Why, miss?" "Because otherwise I would have bitten of your head! I can, you know!" Pretending to be distraught, he said with mock horror "But, miss Mirana, I like my head!" Mirana laughed and shook her head.
Turning serious again, Don motioned Mirana to the door "Miss Catherine wanted me to tell ya that ya missed breakfast." Mirana cursed, "I knew I was forgetting something. Is she angry with me?" Don jiggled his head form side to side "No, miss, she just told me to find ya and tell ya that the table is still set in the Dinning room. If ya want, I can show ya the way!" Grinning, Don bowed. Mirana stared straight ahead (trying not to laugh) and said in a curt voice "That would be pleasant!"
After a rushed breakfast and a short chat about time with Miss Catherine Mirana went back to the library. Finding a few good books, she managed to find her way to the garden and sat on the same bench as the day before. Miss Catherine joined her after some time and together they spend a lazy, but peaceful, day in the sun.
The next day started the same, just for the little difference that Mirana was on time for breakfast. Lady Ellen was already seated. A servant was pouring tea as the owner of the house wished Mirana a good morning and bade her to sit.
Mirana, who felt uneasy in the presence of the lady with out Miss Catherine, clasped her hands in her lap and stared silently at her plate. Lady Ellen buttered herself a piece of dark brown bread while asking the girl if she was enjoying her stay. Mirana nodded, but than remembered that a spoken answer was required. "Yes, madam, it has been most relaxing. I went to the library you had been talking about," unsure what to say, the girl bit her lip. "Go on!" Lady Ellen seemed interested. Delicately she bit into her bread and watched Mirana intently. Mirana was opening her mouth to continue when Miss Catherine entered the Dinning Room. Curtsying she told them that she had gotten lost and hoped that they forgive he this once. Lady Elle rose and said "Of course, my dear. It is perfectly all right. This is a big house with lots of corridors and many different rooms. It has happened to me too. Now come and join us." She pointed to a chair and went back to her bread.
Mirana had never experienced so much freedom before. Except for meal times, she was able to come and go as she pleased. Don was always close by, going about his work but making sure Mirana had everything she required. After a week and a few days in Lady Ellen's household Mirana felt relaxed but restless. She was dying to see something else.
She confined this to Don while he was sweeping the terrace and she was sitting close by and not doing anything in particular. Her hands itched to pick up a broom and to help him with his chores. "Please, let me help you! I feel so useless!" Don just kept working. "Ya aren't useless. A lady isn't supposed to clean or work. Ya are just meant to sit and look good." Glaring at him she replayed "Some are, but you seem to forget, I am no lady." Don just raised his eyebrows "My lady Ellen treats ya like a lady and, anyway, ya don't know yar parents. Who knows, they might have been royalty!" Mirana, who had told him about her past, just laughed it off "Yes, sure, I might be related to the his highness, the King of this beautiful country." Mirana pretended to be all prim and prober and acted to be waving to an invisible crowd. Don mock-bowed and continued sweeping.
Some time later Mirana had a new argument. "If I don't sweep I'll get out of practise. If I'm out of practise and don't my chores properly at the orphanage I will get into trouble with the mistresses. You don't want to get me into trouble, do you!?" She glared at the boy who ducked his head. Mirana had made it difficult for him to object, but Mirana had forgotten one thing: Don wasn't born yesterday and had done his fair share with chores.
"No offence, miss Mirana, but yar arguments aren't very good!" Don thought for a moment that he had gone too far, but was relieved to see Mirana snort. They grinned at each other, but Mirana wasn't to be out done by a boy (or any one else, for that matter!). "But, Don, I'm serious! I will get into trouble and I was hoping to get into the mistresses good books so that . . ." Mirana broke off. She had said too much already. Don peeked at the girl and asked curiously "So that. . .? Keep going." She however shook her head and didn't replay. Knowing that if Mirana wanted to talk she would, the boy didn't push her and finished his chore.
Later Mirana got up and shook out her skirts. The petticoats underneath were sticking to her legs; it was a humid day. Turning, she went to the steps that lead into the garden and descended them. Don called after her "Where are ya going, miss?" Feeling guilty at having to question his mistress/friend he also had a duty to the owner of the house. "Just to the trees. You don't have to follow me. I will be fine. Take a break, you really don't need to watch me all the time." Don nodded, but his grey eyes followed Mirana's progress through the garden.
Mirana didn't stop when she reached the trees. On she walked till she reached the wall surrounding the property. A bit to the left the girl spotted the black iron gate through which they had entered. Planning to turn back Mirana caught a glimpse of a pathway to the right. Deciding to explore a bit, she ducked under the branch of a small tree and was amazed.
The clearing on which she now stood was beautiful. The grass was lush and flowers of all sorts bloomed in and around the small glade. A creek snaked its way through the grass and sunlight was filtered in between the branches and leaves overhead. Deciding to have a break, Mirana took of her shoes and stockings and sat down on a large flat stone, dangling her feet into the cool creek. A bird sang above her. Lying back the girl closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Mirana woke all of a sudden. The shadows were long; she must have been asleep for a long time. She couldn't feel her feet. Looking down at them she noticed that they had changed colour. They had turned a pale blue. Wincing, the girl lifted them out of the water and rubbed them till a little feeling returned. Putting the shoes and stockings back on, Mirana felt dizzy. Her sickness was catching up with her. I better go to bed early tonight, she thought to herself.
Standing up, the world swayed around Mirana. Yup, an early bedtime coming up. Grasping the stone, she forced herself forward . . . straight into someone's arms. Blinking desperately, she recognised brown breeches, a white tunic and grey eyes. "So tired," she muttered to Don "Need to rest." She rested her head against the boy's shoulder. "Hush, miss Mirana, I'll help ya." Don tried to hold Mirana up right. "Yes, I know you will." Darkness closed in over Mirana and she fell into the black tunnel of unconsciousness.