Well, it feels good to be sitting in front of a computer again. Yep, I didn't actually write anything on my travels, but I was kind of sleep-deprived then, so you guys weren't missing out on much. Oh, and I'm kind of out of inspiration right now, but bear with me.
Enjoy!
Annabeth was sleepily chewing on a buttered croissant in her dressing chamber, where she usually had her breakfast, when Julia the maid burst inside, her serving cap tilted from the commotion.
"Miss!" she burst out excitedly. Then she stopped and frowned at her. "Are you eating a pastry with butter? And you're spilling crumbs all over your new damask gown!"
Annabeth looked down. "Oh, oops."
Annica snorted, one of her few unladylike gestures. "It's alright, miss. I can wipe it off." She fetched a dainty cloth from the side table and smoothly swiped at Annabeth's lap. "Now, Julia, out with it."
Julia sucked in a deep breath. "I have extremely urgent news. An invitation has just come in from the mail. From the Hermes house."
Annica shrieked excitedly, clapping her hands together. "Annabeth! My goodness!" She rushed to her vanity, running her fingers over the millions of different jars and bottles. "We need to find her some perfume! Rosewater won't do it!" Other maids giddily rushed to her side.
Annabeth slowly turned back to Julia. "Um, what's the big deal about today?"
Julia's energetic grin slipped off, and she studied her carefully. "Are you really asking me that, miss?"
"Yes…?"
Julia offered her a sly smile. "I think you'll find out, soon enough." She edged closer to her. "Now, do you like the Tulip Hall or the Corrington Estate better? Or you are going to choose the Westfield Manor, for tradition?"
Annabeth blinked at her. "Why are you asking?" Her brain tugged at different ideas and theories, but it couldn't land on one. It was too early in the morning.
Someone came over to her settee with a huge box of gleaming jewels. "Which one will it be, miss?"
Annabeth stared at the emeralds longer than her thumb, and the diamonds with so many facets she could hardly look at their shine. "Um, I don't know."
Annica briskly appeared at their side, a pot of beeswax in one hand and a paint-coated brush in the other. "Gray diamonds, of course, Lilianna. She's an Athena daughter," she admonished.
"Oh," Lilianna said, ducking her head. She quickly returned a new box with stones in every shade of smoke. "Which one now, miss?"
Annabeth stared at the different rings and necklaces and bracelets, feeling overwhelmingly like they were all the same. "The small one, I suppose."
"No, no, miss. You need a larger one." Annica grabbed a tear-drop shaped stone and slid it onto her middle finger, carefully avoiding her ring finger. Julia, in turn, secured a dark strand of diamonds around her neck. A third maid came, an engraved vase vial in her hand. "It's lily-of-the-valley mixed with some jasmine, miss," she reported.
"I think that's alright," she said uncertainly.
The maid immediately lifted ringlets of her hair to spray her neck, and then her wrists, behind her ears and other miscellaneous spots around her gown. She could hardly breathe anything in except for the heavy scent.
Annica turned back to Julia. "Excuse me, did you say invitation? To where?"
Julia's eyes went huge. "Oh, goodness." She covered her mouth. "I forgot, miss. He called. His carriage is waiting outside."
Annabeth gripped the edge of her seat, suddenly feeling nervous. She barely had time to process what was happening until now. Luke, her oldest suitor, was here! She was normally comforted by his familiarity and their childhood together, but all these new expectations… she realized that all her maids were already referencing her wedding. She shook her head and stood up, shrugging off the others' hands.
"I don't need any more of this," she said sharply, feeling her emotions twirl around inside her. "Thank you." And then she strode out of the room, her skirts flying around her ankles in her rush.
In the front hall, she found her butler polishing his timepiece. "Williamson!"
He glanced up, and startled, before a warm smile immediately spread across his face. "Miss Chase, hello," he said, bowing lowly.
His friendly greeting melted her annoyance a little. "Hello, Williamson. I heard that I have received a call. From…" she couldn't force his name out of her throat. "He is here now, yes?"
"Yes, he is. I was waiting for the news to get to you. For you to find me yourself… is unconventional."
She nodded crisply, but made no comment. "I agree to the call. Allow him in, please. And leave his card off the side."
Williamson lifted a bushy gray eyebrow, not comprehending. Annabeth steeled herself, reminding herself that he did not think the same way as the rest of them.
"I know Athena will examine the tray soon, and I want to relieve her of her worries about me," she said flatly.
He nodded quickly. "I'll tell his footman to let him in." He went to a finely-dressed man professionally blending into the shadows, and passed along a few words with him before he disappeared outside. The front door opened again, and Luke came in, the footman almost invisible behind in.
Luke, grinning, acted like the Athena Estate was his home. He smiled at Williamson, turned just as a servant walked up to take his coat and hat, and he even basked in the light pooling from their many tall windows. Finally, he turned and greeted Annabeth like they were… she swallowed against his chest.
"Annabeth!" He exclaimed brightly, a fresh, happy look on his face. "How are you?"
She swallowed again. She felt confused, awkward, unprepared, and there was a soft ache in her chest. She raised her eyes to his smooth chin and said, "I'm fine. Thank you." Then she curtsied deeply.
She could feel his smile warmly against the top of her head. "That's brilliant. Was my call too interruptive?"
"No, no, it's great. I'll enjoy it."
A still pause followed. There was nothing, really, for either of them to say, and she could almost imagine all the heavy thoughts he was also having.
Finally, Luke cleared his throat. "Well, Annabeth, where do you think we should be, here?"
The stilted, but hardly formal speech, shook her slightly. "Would you like to have tea on the back porch? It's a bit chilly this time of year, but Williamson can provide blankets."
Luke nodded, a bit of the light returning to his clear blue eyes. "I remember you have this maid, Lily, who makes the best afghans."
"Oh, yes, she's one of our oldest maids. And she makes them completely by herself."
"Yes, they're very comfy."
Annabeth blinked. Why they were having such an awkward talk? She felt a desperate need to either out what he was thinking or to run as far away from it as possible. "Luke, can we just go to the porch?"
He slowly picked up on her hidden meaning. "Yes, yes, let's go."
They traveled down the winding hallways, carefully designed to show the most luxury and conserve heat. As they passed their fourth wide-open doorway, opening into a large pearl-inlaid parlor, Annabeth lead them into a sharp right. At the end of the short hallway, there was a set of ancient French doors. The sleepy-looking servant boy there startled awake and shoved them open. It led out into a charming little porch with even ash wood-floors and plushy brocaded chairs. The large glass windows were a little misty with the cold. The boy rushed in beside them and kneeled next to the hearth, expertly rustling up a fire.
Annabeth, ever the host, made sure they were both comfortably seated until ordering the boy to find a kitchen maid to make them some tea.
"This is nice," Luke said softly, looking around. The floral fresco above the hearth and wooden armrests worn smooth by hands were rather different from the rest of the sharp-edged steel and elaborately embroidered cloths of the rest of the house. Annabeth didn't dare to say it aloud, but Athena designed this room to encourage romance for her children (with their approved pairs, of course).
"Well, thank you. I actually spend a lot of my time here, unless others are here."
Luke cocked his head, his eyes flicking about her face as he considered her. "Your older sisters," he stated after a short pause. Of course, he'd hardly met any of them.
"Yes, and they're all married to pleasantly smart husbands." She frowned a little, and Luke, used to reading her, immediately understood.
"I'm sure none of them are as smart as you. Don't feel bad," he ordered.
"Thank you." Her voice was so quiet it was almost hoarse. His protectiveness just wrapped around her like her oldest shift, but it seemed out of place in their adulthood.
"I can see, though, how you spend your time here," he said, pointing his chin at a stack of books in the corner.
She smiled. She was sometimes still surprised by how well he knew her. "Yes, it can be quite warm here, and perfect to read at," she said, tilting her head at the crackling hearth. A maid quietly slipped in and starting making tea, the ceramic surfaces clinking as they touched.
"Yes, it does seem so," he said. "You always did like the smell of maple wood smoke. And you were always cold in these seasons. Do you need an extra blanket?"
Annabeth glanced at him curiously. Did he always bring up so many facts he found out about her? Yes, he seemed to in her memory. Then why was she just noticing it now?
"No, no, I'm fine. And you are never cold, really," she answered softly. "Perhaps I should keep all of Lily's blankets for myself." She, of course, did no such thing.
Luke grinned. "Aw, come on, Beth." He fingered the heavy fabric. "You know, one of my best friends also has an extremely loyal team of maids. Their family has been serving his family for decades. They're brilliant at cleaning, and finish all the housework very efficiently. I try to stay for dinner all the time, because they have incredible food, and my coat is returned to me ironed and smelling like sage. There is no better level of hospitality."
Annabeth smiled at him to continued and settled in her chair, ready to listen to him for most of the afternoon.
"I do wish I could hire that group, you know. Every part of his house is clean and neat. Though I don't know how to fit them in the Hermes manor. We barely have any room for the servants, and I can't house them anywhere else," he explained. Since Annabeth had been there a few times before, she nodded understandingly.
"My home is just cramped, really. We can hardly live together. I'm just waiting for my siblings to get married and move to the countryside, like all the others before them. I don't think more than a few Hermes children chose to stay in London. I'm also waiting to get out myself. I mean, it's such an incredible plot of land, which my father wasted by just building a tiny house. It would sell for quite a lot right now. The grandest estate of the century, maybe, could be built on it." He sighed. "But there's no staying there for the future, not with my father and his many businesses and the rest of my family." He stared into the dark depths of his teacup before hurriedly glancing back up at her. "Oh, sorry, it's-it's alright if this doesn't make that much sense to you. It doesn't affect you, Annabeth."
She nodded slowly, confused by his interruption. "Sure. You can just continue."
"Well, nowadays, you can't really find big estates anymore. Well, recently I've been traveling around the outskirts of London, and there's this really large one. But it looks completely decrepit, like it could fall down in a few more years of bad weather. It is huge, though. If I entered it into the market of house-buyers, it would earn so much money. Even when it gets visited. In fact, it could get a new family to arrive." He looked at her. "That would mean others in society, greater, bigger parties, and more possible couples. But there's a limit, since they'll all be mortals."
Annabeth just methodically stirred her tea and nodded along. In conversations like these, she didn't feel like adding along, and that would be out of place.
Their afternoon went on like this. Luke introducing new societal topics and things he'd encountered on his traveling job, and Annabeth eagerly trying to absorb everything. She couldn't help but be pleased at all he knew about other couples and their relationships and estates in the market. He'll do fine, out in this world, she thought randomly. Then she stopped herself. Where did a thought like that come from? It… almost sounded like she'd be surveying him all these years to see if he was prepared for… what, she couldn't guess. That didn't sound right at all, though.
She shook herself for a second time. All her confusion about Luke was gathering together into an apex, and now she was having all these uncharacteristic thoughts. Why couldn't she find any sort of normalcy between them? Luke was clearly adapted into their usual routine, she should too. They should remain like so until…
She trailed off again at the unknown, or at least, what she was too afraid to explore. The future for them bared a long line of expected, pre-destined stages to go through. But were they nearing those phases? Was she ready?
Hesitancy was the only answer, and that caused her to tighten her grip on her cup in panic. She didn't know what she was walking into, but it was nearing at an unstoppable speed. She needed to be prepared. She needed to have a comfortable relationship with him, one that was suited for adjustments. She needed to have actual…she didn't let herself finish the thought, as if in fear that it would come true.
Annabeth sagged against her pillow, exhausted by all this puzzlement and non-answers and impossible things to accomplish. She heavily set her teacup down on the carved table. Just then, Luke was describing one of the most peculiar clients he'd met on his travels. As he leaned in, gesticulating about their curly hair and strange limping, his elbow bumped into the table. Annabeth, intrigued by his story, didn't even notice that when a strange, tinny sound reached her ears. It was soft, so she could hardly find the source. She looked around, discreetly, as to not interrupt Luke, and spotted her teacup rolling down the table, splashing pale brown tea everywhere, and denting its delicate gold rim slightly. It was nearly the edge, and her instincts overcame her, and she lunged across the table.
Her heavy skirts slowed her rising, but she bended and stretched her arm until she could grasp the tiny cup. For one breath-stealing moment, her light satin gloves slipped on the glazed ceramic sides, but then she clenched her grip around it. She straightened and carefully set it back onto her saucer, but as she was backing into her chair, her heel slammed into the leg of the table. Pain racked up her leg, and she crumpled slightly in a profusion of tulle petticoats.
Luke was right by her side, his blond eyebrows drawn together. "Anna?" He asked cautiously, sliding his arms under her with expert familiarity. Her mind registered this warm, common scene straight from their childhood and dispelled all of her panic and worry. His surprised, reassuring smile, just like in her memories from when she was young, blurred into the sun, and his arms around her were sturdy tree branches. The pain was gone; she was home now.
"I'm fine," she answered softly when she realized he was waiting for an answer. Then, he easily lifted her up like she was nothing and carried her to her chair, setting her down as carefully as if she was a porcelain doll. "You're not hurt, right?" he asked, touching her hand.
She blinked, trying to do a mental scan of herself, and then Luke was unabashedly lifting her skirts and gently pulling out her foot and taking off her slipper like he'd done it a million times. Which, to think of it, he probably had. He crouched closer to the ground for a better angle of her heel, and the strangeness of this scene hardly registered.
"You're fine," he announced. "That wasn't a big thing. But step more carefully, Annabeth." He lifted his chin to give her a serious look.
"Yes, Luke," she answered, the words coming easily to her.
He settled back into his chair, still glancing over at her foot or face time to time, making sure she was completely okay. Then he plunged back into his well of modern discussion topics, only stopping to take a few sips of tea.
It was only when the sun dipped and they could hear a grandfather cloth outside, signaling that it was six, almost dinnertime, they stopped. Luke grinned at her, his face cast in shadow from the burning orange sky. "Well, this was a pleasant afternoon. Thank you for accepting my call."
"You know I would do nothing else." She grinned back.
"I regret that I must leave, but I will visit again soon."
"No, no, I shall return the call."
"I will look forward to it. Now, I hope my horses have enjoyed your stable," he said, getting up.
She hoisted herself up, feeling suddenly drained. Perhaps it was the long hours, or the conversation, though she couldn't decide why. "I think they should've, since—" she said, continuing the conversation, but Luke stopped her by rushing to her side.
"Careful, Beth!" He admonished. He held out his arm, almost forcefully, and she confusedly placed hers inside his. Her arm was much smaller than his, and it fit as well as an organized household. She reveled in the moment of feeling complete, if just for a second, before looking up at him.
"What is there to be careful about, pray tell?"
He clasped her hand in his. "Well, we don't want you to hurt your feet again, do we?"
"Thank you. I think I'll be fine, though."
"I hope so too." Then he walked her outside. "If you hurt yourself, you'll be banished inside forever, and I don't think you'd like that."
I'm banished inside anyway, she thought dryly, thinking of how carriages and huge parasols would follow her the second she set foot outside. "That would be dreadful," she said, faking a shudder.
"Yes, but at least I will still be able to visit you," he said with a small smile.
She tried to return it, but it probably looked forced in her tiredness.
A corner approached, and he slowed himself down, and carefully steered her around it. "You were awfully close to the edge. Stay away from those, please."
"Yes, of course." Wow, he is really concerned, she thought.
"But you're still completely fine, right? Is anything returning?"
"No. See, I'm almost gliding." She pointed to her light but purposeful stride.
He cocked his head. "Pardon, what?"
Annabeth shook her head with a smile. "It's a thing my teacher has taught me in my lessons. It's the perfect way for a lady to walk." She couldn't force the sardonic tinge from her voice.
"Why, Annabeth, these lessons are beneficial. You must use them as you involve yourself into society." He clasped her hand carefully, but with force.
She stared down at their entwined arms and held hands, and then up at his stoic face. He delivered the sentiment almost emotionlessly. "Oh," she said quietly. "Thank you."
They went down the other hallways almost completely silent, except for Luke studying the expensive paintings or Annabeth's loud wonderings in her mind. They finally arrived at the front hall, where Williamson was clearly waiting for them eagerly.
"Hello, Miss Chase! And Lord Hermes!" His excited words were almost cramped together.
"Hello," she answered, offering him only a light, formal smile.
"It's a pleasure to see you again," Luke said, much more nicely.
The butler retreated slightly, clearly trying to figure out what happened between them. A maid came up, bearing Luke's coat and hat (Annabeth made a mental note for them to tuck a sprig of sage in the inner pocket next time, so he would appreciate their service too), and his footman ushered him outside.
Annabeth was left standing in the empty hall, staring at the closed doors. The servants clearly expected up to go upstairs and prepare for a party or something, but when she remained in place their gazes grew curious and less discreet.
Finally, she was left completely alone. Her muted emotions still swirled like a tsunami inside of her. With one last sigh, she turned and headed up the grand staircase.
-line break-
This time, her maids were not chattering among each other as they did her hair. They were fluttering around her in panic, trying to work quickly but neatly, and trying to not make Annabeth any more nervous.
Julia was raking tortoiseshell combs through her locks with whip-fast speed, sending regular spikes of pain into her scalp each time a tangle was undone. Annica was painting her face heavily with the lightest-colored makeup there was, handing off and grabbing new cosmetics from an assembly line of waiting maids behind her. Lilianna, her new treasurer (or something like that) was randomly selecting the shiniest pieces from her double-locked jewelry case, containing the most expensive stones, and wrapping them around her. Since she was still standing-Julia got the seat since doing her hair was the most tiresome job of all-other maids were still dressing her. They were forcing onto her the newest, tiniest corset, and Annabeth's vision immediately went blurry when it was completely buttoned-up. Her petticoat had exquisite important cotton hems and detailed lace patterns on each thin skirt, and they bore down heavily on her waist. And the gown itself was so choked up with lace and silk that she had to lean against her vanity.
At last, she was ready. A page escorted her to the door of her mother's chambers. She tried to knock confidently, but Athena's sharp, "Come in," wilted all of her bravery. Inside, Athena was perched on an ottoman, her hawk-sharp gaze trained on Annabeth, her whole posture waiting for her.
Swallowing, she took the seat across from her.
"I do not have much to say, Annabeth. I will only repeat what I have already told you." She leaned in, her eyes flashing in the candlelight. They could probably see every pigment of paint on Annabeth's face.
"I do not have many elder daughters left. And you should know that I value my daughters more in this house. They are the most important to hold up this line. They are the ones who are supposed to stake their name in society, provide for this house with wealth, and garner connections with other families to make us more and more powerful." Her eyes never seemed more like stones. "They are representations of me."
"Annabeth, you know a lot is riding on you. Your reputation, your position, your marriage. People think of you as the Athena house. I want all of the above to be perfect. And I know you can achieve that, because I designed you to be so."
She folded her hands. "You should not require me to specify. That would be wasting my time, and my breath. And your lessons with Tutor Parelli would be undeserved. And I have made everything clear enough for you."
She managed to nod. The rest of her was frozen with fear.
"Cover up the messes you've made, and then leave them. Make others forget them. Do you understand?" This question was rhetorical. Athena did not want to know if she really comprehended.
"Yes, Mother," she said in a low voice.
She nodded crisply. "Do not forgot any of this. I want to see a change." Then she picked her cup up and took a sip. All was silent.
Then, with brutal abruptness, she flicked four of her fingers from her right hand. The diamonds on her ring caught in the candlelight.
Annabeth realized-all too slowly, that it was a dismissing gesture. Surprised and blinking in confusion, she clambered up to standing. After dropping into an awkward, embarrassed curtsy, she stumbled towards the door. Her feet were unnaturally clumsy out of her panic.
"Annabeth!" Athena suddenly called sharply.
She spun around, having to grasp the back of the nearest chair in how fast she turned. "Yes, Mother?"
Her eyes ran down her face chillingly, sending shivers down her back. "Take off that pink diamond from your ring finger, please."
She gulped once before managing to lift her shaking hands and tugged at the large ring. Then she fisted her left hand, hiding the huge diamond in the folds of her gloves.
Athena's charcoal eyes dropped from hers. This was also a dismissal, she noticed. She fell into another curtsy before all-but rushing out of the room.
Then, a few steps from the engraved oak door, relief poured through her. She sank against the pastel-wallpapered hallway wall, sighing as adrenaline seeped out of her and was replaced with giddy freedom. A silly smile tugged at her lips and she lowered herself to sitting on the plush carpet.
It's over now, she thought quietly. But you have so much more ahead of you.
YAY I'M DONE BYEEEEE! I UPDATE WITH REVIEW REPLIES TOMORROW!
Au revoir,
Pride-and-loyalty