The Comte and the Peasant Chapter 11
Hi everyone! I am SO sorry it has taken me so long to get another chapter out. No worries though, I do intend to finish this fanfic, but how long it's going to take me is anyone's guess. If you have any suggestions or comments about the story so far, or what you might like to see happen, please feel free to email me. I'm always on the lookout for new ideas. Okay, well I guess that's about it for now. Until next time, happy reading!
HYD does not belong to me. HYD does not belong to me. HYD does not belong to me.
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Thadea sat outside in the early morning light, staring absently as she watched the sun rise over the red horizon. It had been a week since Serafina Toreau had left the Comte's house, and three days since Ruiz had departed as well. A gloom had settled over the entire household since then. Thadea tried hard not to think much these days, especially when there were so many chores to be done, but no matter what she did, her mind would always wander back to Serafina, and the morning that she had left Troyes for good.
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A week ago…
Serafina and her entourage were well packed by dawn, and ready to embark on their long journey back to Paris where she would meet her future husband, the eldest son of Charles IV of Luxembourg, king of Bohemia. Thadea had risen early to help the other servants prepare for the lady's departure, though she had gotten little sleep from the night before. Her encounter with Tiernan Doumet had unsettled her, and for some reason, had created an immense feeling of guilt inside her heart.
"Was I too harsh with him?" she wondered as she handed the last parcel to another servant, "Why is he making me feel like I did something wrong?"
"Thadea." Serafina's soft voice penetrated through the thick haze of her thoughts and Thadea glanced up to see the beautiful young noblewoman standing in front of her. She was wearing a light blue silk riding dress with silver and gold embroidered designs sparkling on the corset and a long dark blue cloak that hung loosely around her thin shoulders. Thadea thought that she had never seen anyone look so beautiful.
"My lady?"
"Do you know the whereabouts of Lord Hainault? He is not here to see my departure." There was sadness in her silvery voice as she spoke.
Thadea glanced around quickly, scanning the area for any sign of Ruiz. She had been so preoccupied that she had not even noticed his absence.
"I'm not sure my lady," Thadea said, "I did not see him this morning. I thought that he would be with you."
"Will you find him for me?" Serafina asked. She offered Thadea a small smile, but there was a sadness that lingered in her eyes.
Thadea hesitated. She wasn't sure why Serafina would ask her of all people to find Ruiz, especially after all that had been said in the stairwell the other day. But she could not disobey the lady.
"I will go check the gardens for him milady," Thadea offered, suggesting the first place that had popped into her head. She couldn't think of anywhere else to look.
"Thank you," Serafina replied softly, "I will wait here for you."
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Walking towards the rose gardens, Thadea wondered again why Serafina did not call off her engagement. It was obvious to her that Serafina loved Ruiz, and she had admitted as much to her in the stairwell. She just couldn't understand why…
"You commoners will never understand."
Thadea froze as Serafina's words flashed through her mind yet again…and she realized for the first time that Serafina's words were true. Serafina was right - she didn't understand. She couldn't understand why all this was happening. All her thoughts from the past few days suddenly exploded inside her mind, as if this realization had suddenly opened a floodgate. Thousands of incomprehensible thoughts flashed through her consciousness:
Serafina chose to leave. Ruiz never proposed. Ruiz never tried to stop the engagement. They never tried to fight it. They never tried to resolve the problem. They're both sad. They're both angry. They're both miserable. They're not doing anything!
"Why? Why aren't they doing anything?" Thadea wondered as she searched for Ruiz, "How can they blame anyone but themselves for all that is happening?"
If Thadea had been a nobleman's daughter, she might have understood the significance of Serafina's betrothal. She might have known that Charles IV had spent his early years growing up in the French court, and had eventually married Blanche, the sister of Philip VI of Valois, king of France. She might have realized that Serafina's marriage was a way of strengthening ties between her family and that of both royal houses. Had she known all of these things, Thadea may have been able to empathize with Serafina, to see that she was being treated as a piece of property for her family to sell and use as they pleased. She might have understood the expected role of noble women, not only as faithful wives and obedient daughters, but crucial players whose main purpose was to further the success of their families. Had she been raised in this society of wealth and privilege, she would have been taught and understood that blood is thicker than water, and individual happiness should be sacrificed in order to further the good of the whole. But fortunately, being born a peasant, she understood and knew none of these things. All she thought of was the pain and confusion that had been rendered by Serafina's decision to leave, and that's all that really mattered to her.
"May I ask what you are doing?"
Startled, Thadea turned and saw Ruiz sitting on a nearby marble bench, his gray eyes studying her with barely concealed amusement.
"I…I was looking for you milord," she replied.
"Well why in the world would you be looking there? Did you think I would be hiding in the rose bushes?"
"N…No! I…I mean…" Thadea floundered helplessly, a blush creeping up into her cheeks.
Ruiz grinned in response, and Thadea suddenly realized that he was teasing her. "Well his mood certainly changes fast," she thought as she stared at him. Why was he in such good humor?
"Lady Serafina sent me to look for you," Thadea said cautiously, "She was wondering why you weren't there to see her off."
The smile did not leave Ruiz's face. "What's the point?" he asked lightly, shrugging his shoulders. "I think all that has needed to be said has been said. There is no need for some tearful farewell."
"Would you shed tears to see her leave?" Thadea asked.
"Of course not. You don't see me crying now do you?"
"I said see her leave. You're not there to see her leave. You're hiding here, by yourself, afraid to face the truth."
Ruiz's smile faded. "Who are you to judge my actions? I'm not hiding! It matters little to me where she goes. She can go to Hades for all I care!"
"Hades?" Thadea wasn't quite sure what he meant by that, but from his tone, she could tell that she had struck a cord. "You wouldn't be getting so upset right now if you didn't care about her. Why won't you go and see her? I don't understand why the both of you aren't doing anything to stop this engagement, if you truly loved each other…"
"Stop trying to give me advice on something that you do not understand Thadea!" Ruiz abruptly stood up and began walking away. "I am through talking with you about this. You are just a servant, and this is none of your damn business."
The last sentence hit her the hardest, and Thadea felt tears stinging at the back of her eyes. Ruiz had never spoken to her like this before. Certainly he had never been extremely warm towards her, but he had never treated her as anything less than an equal. He had never tried to hurt her by using her status as a reason for dismissal. He had seemed to care about how she felt.
"There, there, please do not cry. I did not mean what I said. You have tried everything to help me, and I…I'm sorry."
Thadea felt warm arms wrap around her shaking shoulders, and she leaned her head into Ruiz's chest, her tears dampening the soft fabric of his dark blue tunic. She felt a warm hand gently stroking the back her head, and she cried harder, letting all the anger and frustration out of her system.
"That was beastly of me to say those things to you, and you did not deserve any of it. Please, please do not be upset with me. I did not mean to make you cry."
"I…it's okay, I…I'm sorry," Thadea replied, gently pushing herself out of his embrace. She was more than a little embarrassed for acting so poorly towards the future comte. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and tried to regain some of her composure. She glanced up tentatively at Ruiz, afraid to find what emotions she might find.
To her surprise, he did not look angry or frustrated. There was a softness on his face that she had never seen before…well, at least not directed at her, and she instantly began to feel a sensation of calmness flow over her. She offered Ruiz a small smile, and he responded with one of his own.
"You are a very wise girl Thadea Marcoux. Thank you."
Thadea watched him leave silently, not wanting to disturb the tranquility that had settled between the two of them. She did not bother to follow him, and did not know whether he had decided to bid farewell to Serafina that day. When she returned to the courtyard, Serafina and her entourage had already left.
Four days later, Ruiz had left without a word to anyone about his departure. The whole household worried about the whereabouts of their young lord, and speculated on whether he may have gone after the Lady Serafina. Thadea felt both happiness and bitterness towards Ruiz's departure, but she could not express her feelings to him now that he was gone.
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