Thank you to my one and only *tear* reviewer, Kaio!!!!! Luv ya much!
(kidding)
Chapter One: say what? Plans for what, I'm sorry, I haven't had any sugar or caffeine for a while, so my sense of understanding is at a minimum.
Chapter Two: Yeah, we wouldn't want him to think that, would we? Meh, we'll see.
Everyone else who hasn't bothered to review: I'm shocked and ashamed. But I still love you all. Please review (. And I'm sorry that this chapter (which is so short that it doesn't deserve to be called a chapter) is so short, you have my not-so humble apologies. And now...
Abigail leaned heavily against the house and watched him walk away. Such excitement boiled in her veins that she felt like jumping up and down and singing forever! However, the more practical part of her took over and she felt a sudden drop in her spirits. What if I never see him again? What if he forgets about me? Abigail climbed up to her room and hauled in the rope ladder before closing the window. I'll be leaving for court in the morning, and I shall never see him again. Sighing sadly, Abigail undressed, put on her nightgown and climbed into bed.
The next morn, at half after five, Keosha awoke a drowsy Abigail. While shaking her gently, Keosha briskly told her mistress,
"Lady 'tis time to get up and dressed. We leave for Lenicks at seven." Abigail got up and wiped her face with the cloth in the washbowl. A warm bath awaited her in the bathroom and Abigail gladly took advantage of it. Feeling refreshed, Abigail allowed Keosha to dress her in her travelling habit. A maid at the door delivered a tray with food to break the fast. As Abigail sipped her tea and chewed her toast she watched Keosha pray to her Manisanrin gods.
Keosha, with her dark skin and graceful composure could not be mistaken for anything but a dark skinned and usually abrupt Manisanrin from the island of Turisan. The noble Manikankins treated their slaves with such brutality that those who could manage it, ran away. Keosha herself was a run-away- slave. As Keosha finished her ritual, Abigail put on her cloak with a sigh. Quietly she slipped out the doorway. Abigail wanted to say good-bye to all her favourite places. Before she could close the door behind her, it was wrenched open again. Keosha raised and eyebrow and scolded,
" Now, Miz Abby, we be goin' soon. This is not the time to be a wanderin' off. You jest come back in here, we almost ready to go!" And with that, Keosha pulled Abigail into the room and handed her Abigail's handbag. Abigail noticed that her normally light handbag was unusually heavy. Opening it, she found two rolls, a thick slice of ham, a slice of thick, creamy, white cheese, a glass bottle of rose-scented lotion, a glass bottle of rose water, and the novel Abby had been reading. Abigail glanced up at Keosha who was lugging their bags to the door for the awaiting footman, and said in plaintive tone,
"Why must this all go in my handbag, Keosha? Surely there is another bag." Keosha glared at her mistress-friend.
"You want to know why, missy? Because I puts it in there for you tah' see what we servant need tah' carry 'round with us anytime we go any where with you. Not tah' mention any otha' stuff you be needin'."
"Oh." Abigail turned a bright red and mumbled an apology. Keosha just shrugged and they walked out of the room, Abby, still red- faced and Keosha muttering under her breath. When they reached the entranceway, The Earl was waiting. The Earl raised an eyebrow over Abigail's still somewhat pink and embarrassed looking face, but made no mention of it. He motioned for the footman and Keosha to go out to the carriage and they obeyed. The Earl looked at his daughter.
"You shall need to be on your guard. Men like to take advantage of any relatively pretty girl they see, you must be aloof to all but the richest." The Earl paused, "Do not fail me, wench." The last sentence was said in a hard voice that left Abby quivering inside. The Earl turned crisply on his heel and walked away, leaving Abby to ponder his words. She didn't have much time, and soon she was in the carriage, gazing at the rolling hills that surrounded Mattensworth.
Chapter One: say what? Plans for what, I'm sorry, I haven't had any sugar or caffeine for a while, so my sense of understanding is at a minimum.
Chapter Two: Yeah, we wouldn't want him to think that, would we? Meh, we'll see.
Everyone else who hasn't bothered to review: I'm shocked and ashamed. But I still love you all. Please review (. And I'm sorry that this chapter (which is so short that it doesn't deserve to be called a chapter) is so short, you have my not-so humble apologies. And now...
Abigail leaned heavily against the house and watched him walk away. Such excitement boiled in her veins that she felt like jumping up and down and singing forever! However, the more practical part of her took over and she felt a sudden drop in her spirits. What if I never see him again? What if he forgets about me? Abigail climbed up to her room and hauled in the rope ladder before closing the window. I'll be leaving for court in the morning, and I shall never see him again. Sighing sadly, Abigail undressed, put on her nightgown and climbed into bed.
The next morn, at half after five, Keosha awoke a drowsy Abigail. While shaking her gently, Keosha briskly told her mistress,
"Lady 'tis time to get up and dressed. We leave for Lenicks at seven." Abigail got up and wiped her face with the cloth in the washbowl. A warm bath awaited her in the bathroom and Abigail gladly took advantage of it. Feeling refreshed, Abigail allowed Keosha to dress her in her travelling habit. A maid at the door delivered a tray with food to break the fast. As Abigail sipped her tea and chewed her toast she watched Keosha pray to her Manisanrin gods.
Keosha, with her dark skin and graceful composure could not be mistaken for anything but a dark skinned and usually abrupt Manisanrin from the island of Turisan. The noble Manikankins treated their slaves with such brutality that those who could manage it, ran away. Keosha herself was a run-away- slave. As Keosha finished her ritual, Abigail put on her cloak with a sigh. Quietly she slipped out the doorway. Abigail wanted to say good-bye to all her favourite places. Before she could close the door behind her, it was wrenched open again. Keosha raised and eyebrow and scolded,
" Now, Miz Abby, we be goin' soon. This is not the time to be a wanderin' off. You jest come back in here, we almost ready to go!" And with that, Keosha pulled Abigail into the room and handed her Abigail's handbag. Abigail noticed that her normally light handbag was unusually heavy. Opening it, she found two rolls, a thick slice of ham, a slice of thick, creamy, white cheese, a glass bottle of rose-scented lotion, a glass bottle of rose water, and the novel Abby had been reading. Abigail glanced up at Keosha who was lugging their bags to the door for the awaiting footman, and said in plaintive tone,
"Why must this all go in my handbag, Keosha? Surely there is another bag." Keosha glared at her mistress-friend.
"You want to know why, missy? Because I puts it in there for you tah' see what we servant need tah' carry 'round with us anytime we go any where with you. Not tah' mention any otha' stuff you be needin'."
"Oh." Abigail turned a bright red and mumbled an apology. Keosha just shrugged and they walked out of the room, Abby, still red- faced and Keosha muttering under her breath. When they reached the entranceway, The Earl was waiting. The Earl raised an eyebrow over Abigail's still somewhat pink and embarrassed looking face, but made no mention of it. He motioned for the footman and Keosha to go out to the carriage and they obeyed. The Earl looked at his daughter.
"You shall need to be on your guard. Men like to take advantage of any relatively pretty girl they see, you must be aloof to all but the richest." The Earl paused, "Do not fail me, wench." The last sentence was said in a hard voice that left Abby quivering inside. The Earl turned crisply on his heel and walked away, leaving Abby to ponder his words. She didn't have much time, and soon she was in the carriage, gazing at the rolling hills that surrounded Mattensworth.
