Chapter 2- Ravensmere
There were no words for the feeling that encompassed Rowan when she first set her eyes on Ravensmere. It was as if the land itself was telling her that everything was alright and would always be. For Rowan, Rowan the orphan, Rowan the bastard, it was the first place she had ever felt truly at ease, and that she, who had never belonged anywhere, might possibly belong here. And this was just the feeling she got sitting in an old truck with a woman she had just met.
They drove down a long avenue that almost seemed golden in the late afternoon sun. It was an avenue bordered by huge lime trees, snaking its way through the vast and beautiful parkland, dotted by great oak trees sheltering the lazy sheep lying beneath them with their leafed canopy. In the distance, barely visible, was a herd of red deer that hardly started at the movement and unavoidable noise of the truck. They reached a black iron signpost at the middle of a fork in the avenue, and Mai took a left, in line with the arm that declared "Garden". They had pulled off the lime avenue, but this one was lined with a brilliant display of banked azaleas and flowering shrubs, some reaching higher than the truck. They passed a large, grand building made of creamy stone, and Rowan was amazed when Mai mentioned nonchalantly, "Stables. They converted it into living quarters about sixteen years ago. James, my husband, and I lived there for a while." She had thought that it was the House. They passed by a long hedge that was broken in places that could only be considered entrances. Rowan noticed odd, glass buildings rising over the top in places. Suddenly the truck stopped and Mai said, "Here we are. The greenhouses. You can hop out and check it out if you want." Rowan hardly hesitated. She dislodged the sleeping kitten and placed her on the backpack on the floor, then hopped out.
Mai was busy moving plants from the back of the truck to the greenhouse and wasn't entirely surprised when Rowan silently started to help her. From what she had observed about the girl, Rowan probably was expected to do things, told or not, and was punished when she didn't. She stopped when she first saw the greenhouse, her eyes growing wide and round. "Never seen a greenhouse before?" Mai asked smiling. Rowan shook her head. "Basically, they're places where plants can be sheltered from the environment, and kept before being planted. Certain ones are also used to keep flowers blooming all year round. I can tell you more about them later." She paused. "Why don't you run around for a bit while I finish up here? These are mostly the herb and vegetable gardens. I'll show you the formal ones later. You can see parts of the House through the trees and walls. Go on, run along. Stretch your legs. Don't be concerned if you see people around. They won't bother you and if they do, just direct them back to me." When Rowan seemed hesitant to leave, Mai physically turned the girl around and pushed her towards the remainder of the gardens. The girl followed the line of direction.
Rowan felt at ease, though she was in a strange place. She had always been good with plants. She didn't mind when Mrs. Carenswood made her work in her vegetable garden. It was very peaceful, gardening. Plants were so simple to understand. If they were watered and received enough sun, they were happy and content. She roamed around, occasionally bending over to smell a flower or check a plant. Everything was in prime condition. She half-hoped that maybe, just maybe she could prove herself useful, useful enough to stay here. Rowan had lost track of time when suddenly Mai's voice rang out, "Rowan?" Guiltily, Rowan turned and ran lightly along the pathways back to the greenhouses. She slowed as she saw Mai talking with another woman. She hesitated but obediently moved forward towards Mai's beckoning finger.
"This is Rowan Barton, Clare. I picked her up working diligently at a farm. I thought maybe to keep her for the meantime. Rowan, this is Dr. Clare Aylward."
"How do you do, Dr. Aylward, ma'am," Rowan asked quietly, lowering her eyes from the woman's direct gaze.
"Very well, thank you, Rowan, and I prefer to be called Clare. Feel free to wander around with ease as long as you're here. Any friend of Mai's is a friend of ours" Clare said firmly. She continued her conversation with Mai as Rowan tried to be invisible and sneak off quietly to the truck, to check on her kitten. Her head was spinning. Twice now, in a single day, she had met someone who had insisted that she, an insignificant child, call them by their given name. Never had an adult told her that, and treated her so nicely. She was as fascinated by this new woman and she had been by Mai, but she didn't trust either. It was too dangerous to trust, too dangerous to risk that trust being betrayed.
The kitten woke up, mewing, as Rowan opened the door. She caught the kitten before it escaped out the door and worked on soothing its pitiful cries.
"You know, she's-he's- probably hungry." Rowan turned around. Mai was leaning in the door of her truck, grinning. "And I'd imagine you are too. As am I. Let's go fulfill that requirement." She swung into the truck with practiced ease, started the engine, and they rolled away. Rowan, while caressing the kitten, stared out the window as more wonders of Ravensmere began to enfold before her eyes. She gave a small gasp of surprise and awe as they passed by the magnificent grand front of the House, a lush creamy stone pile rising out of the turf. It was like something out of a dream, looking golden in the late afternoon sun. There were rows of windows looking out like watchful eyes over the grounds and four tall pillars held up a portico over two flanking flights of stairs that led up to the imposing, double front doors. Mai laughed at the awestruck expression on Rowan's face. "Yep," she said. "The famous North Front of the House. Guaranteed to make everyone know that these were rich people indeed, and built lovingly over many generations. If my hunch is right, you'll have plenty of time to gawk over and roam about Ravensmere later. But for now, onward we go to Kenward Farm and food!" She laughed and the truck sprung forwards, dragging them away from Ravensmere.