Premo is Latin for, "Overwhelm".
Chapter Eight: Premo
The smell of the fresh morning blooms just outside her windows along with the serene melody of fluttering birds greets her the next day. The daily joy of a new and fresh start feels more daunting today than she can ever remember. She tries to keep up her optimism when the hopeful rays of sunshine beam so brightly. Still, it is difficult to when she feels so filled with nervous agitation. As much as she would like to hide away in her room in hopes that they will forget about her, she knows she needs to do otherwise. It would not do to have the new lady of the house hiding away like a frightened mouse. Even though, really, that was exactly how she felt. All she needed was for Mrs. Etro to come and fetch her again. It is that worry that has her out of her door and heading down towards the dining room instead of remaining in hiding. To her immense relief she does not run into any servants along the way and she studiously ignores the West Wing while hurrying down the steps.
How was it that the house seemed grandeur and more intimidating than the day before? Sunlight casts a charming glow that showcased even more rich details in the architecture that she had not been able to make out in the dark the night before. It was a truly stunning house. She would need a more detailed tour because she would certainly get lost if left on her own. If only she could actually make such a request given her lack of nerves. At least, she knew where the dining hall was.
Timidly, she opens one of the massive double doors and peers into the room in hopes of finding Noctis. Only to see that not only was he not there, but there was a man about Noctis' age, settled at the other end of the table facing the doorway. He stands at attention when he sees her hiding behind the door and adjusts his glasses in a nervous gesture. Somehow that made her feel at ease with him and a small smile touches her lips as they walk towards each other in greeting.
"Hello," she says with her first easy smile, to someone besides Noctis, since coming here.
"The Princess Caelum, I presume," the man says cordially and a tad shyly. "You are, aren't you?"
"Yes, I believe so," she responds kindly.
"My name is Ignis. I'm the one that handles the Prince's estate here."
"It is very nice to meet you Ignis," she says, remembering what Noctis has already told her about him. This was the man that Noctis trusted the most and from his shy and friendly countenance, she instantly feels at east with him too. "Noctis has told me so much about you."
"Oh," he stammers, looking a little bashful which even further endears him to her. "I was just getting ready to make the announcement that in honor your wedding, the servants will be getting an extra month's worth of wages and the tenant farmers will have a month's free rent."
"Oh! Was that Noctis' idea?" she asks, touched by her husband's generosity.
"Yes, it was."
"How lovely."
"Hello there, Ignis," calls out Noctis from the door way. It fills her with such joy with just the sight of him there. Most especially when he looks at her with a small affectionate smile with his approach. "Good morning, darling. Has Ignis gotten around to tell you about his precious books? I do not know how I could manage anything without him."
"If you ever need any help, please let me know, Ignis," she offers, hoping that it would be something to help her feel useful.
"See how precious she is?" comments Noctis, before pulling her into a hug. "None of this nonsense about working. Now, be a good girl and eat up. Cook will be very upset if you leave anything left on the buffet."
"I shall try my best Noctis," she says shyly pressing her forehead agains this chest briefly.
"We must be off," he says, patting her back gently. "I need to catch up on all that I have missed while being away." He pulls back to smile down at her. "And you need to get better acquainted with your new home."
She can only offer him a small smile in return because she is too intimidated to give him a big one. The thought of becoming adequately acquainted with this marvelous place was almost daunting. Especially when she had to ask Mrs. Etro for help with it. Even if she were comfortable, the thought of becoming familiar to such splendor as Manderley was something she did not think she would ever get accustomed to.
He lays another adoring kiss upon her forehead and another reassuring squeeze before heading towards the doors with Ignis.
"Oh yes!" he says, turning around with a snap of his fingers and looks back at her apprehensively. "My sister Beatrice and her husband are coming this afternoon."
"Today?" she asks, fighting the squeak of fright that she wishes she could release at the news.
"Seems the old girl cannot wait to have a look at you," he explains with a smile. "You will find her very direct. If she does not like you she will very well tell you to your face."
Ignis chuckles silently in answer which makes her feel even more nervous. Those were not comforting words, but she can appreciate the fair warning. She would much prefer direct disapproval than subtle disdain.
"I will be back before they get here to rescue you so do not worry darling," he reassures, continuing on his way. "Good bye darling!"
"Good bye," she says weakly and offers Ignis a parting wave as the doors close behind them. He in turn gives her an awkward wave before the doors close completely behind them.
Left alone in the massive dining room, she gingerly makes her way to the breakfast buffet with her appetite completely taken away by nerves. A supreme waste when everything looks quite tasty but she cannot even think to eat any of it. Meeting Noctis' sister so quickly adds more anxiety to her already anxious situation. His sister, who was quite beautiful and regal and a bit of a tomboy, so the rumors said. She would undoubtedly think the same thoughts as Mrs. Harper as soon as she set her eyes on her.
After staring at each tray and finding nothing that she could possibly eat, she settles on a cup of tea before sitting awkwardly in one of the ornate dining chairs. She takes a deep breathe and remembers not to slouch. Not soon afterwards, Frank comes in along with Robert, another servant to wait on her. They each bow to her briefly in greeting before checking each tray on the buffet. Frank looks at her in worry when he sees that she has touched nothing.
"Was everything not to your liking, Madam?" he asks gently.
"No, not at all," she reassures, jumping to her feet nervously. "I am not really hungry this morning is all." She is almost to the doors when she realizes that she has forgotten her purse at the table.
Frank beats her to it and kindly hands it to her, though he looks understandably confused that she should be carrying it at all.
"Are you headed out somewhere this morning, Madam?" he inquires politely.
"Oh... well, I was not planning...," she explains awkwardly. She realizes how foolish it is to carry her purse around with her in her own house, but the house was so big that she felt she had to in order to have something for her hands to do. "Force of habit, I suppose."
She offers him an embarrassed smile, to which he looks back at her blankly in a comical way before she manages to shuffle towards the doors. A move which would have looked more dignified had she not stumbled on the door frame in her haste. Frank, who had been following behind her had swiftly steadied her with a hand on her elbow.
"Are you...?"
"I'm all right," she says quickly, with an awkward laugh. "I just slipped."
A few more steps and she has solid footing again. Then finds herself frozen at the sight of the vaulted receiving area. A grand entry way that led off to every portion of the house and perfectly enhanced by the light of the sun peeking in from the high windows. Everything was so exquisite that she was afraid to touch anything for fear of marring any of its beauty.
"It's all so lovely, isn't it?" she asks, marveling at the perfect symmetry of the walls around her.
"Yes, madam," answers Frank studiously. "Manderley is a beautiful place."
They both stand together for a moment to enjoy the view.
"As you know, the public is allowed to visit once a month and tour the grounds."
"How nice," she says with a smile of approval and heads to the one room she had grown comfortable in the night before with Noctis. The Library. Only, once she gets there, all the windows are open and there is a strong draft coming in. The massive fireplace is unlit as well. The room which had been so warm and cozy the night before, was too chilly to stay within now.
"We do not usually light the fire in the library until the late afternoon," explains Frank from the doorway. "Of course, if you would like the fire lit now, Madam."
"No, no Frank," she says with an urgent shake of her head. "I would not dream of changing the schedule." She rushes back out of the door but pauses at the threshold indecisively.
She really has no where to go.
"Princess Caelum," Frank says but stops short. "I mean, the former Princess always spent her mornings after breakfast in The Morning Room."
she tries very hard not to flinch at the reminder, but she graciously thanks Frank for giving her a place to go and starts to walk away. Only, to go three steps before she has to stop and ask him where the Morning Room was to begin with.
"Everything all right, Madam?" asks Frank, coming to stand beside her once again.
"Um, well," she asks, biting her nails nervously. "Where is The Morning Room?"
"Just across us, through that door there, Madam," states Frank, pointing towards a small door off to the side.
After thanking him again, she tries to walk as regally as she can, taking a deep breathe before slowly opening the door that led to the Morning Room.
Just as its name suggests, the room is cheerful and bright. A small fireplace flickers happily along the far wall with an elegant writing desk aligned with exquisite and adorable figurines decorated across the top. A cozy looking lounge sat near a large window over looking the inner courtyard and a fainting couch lay in front of the fireplace with a delicate table for one's use. This was, by all accounts, a woman's room; decorated by a woman for a woman. It was feminine and delicate, refined and tasteful. It was obvious who had made it just so by the carefully laid address book and stationary set with the bold letter "R" engraved across the covers. The room looks ready for use, but not by her. It was waiting for the rightful owner. The room was still waiting for Rebecca to return. Instead there was only her.
Curiously, she opens the address book to catch a glimpse of the people that had known Rebecca and Noctis. Every page seemed filled with the names of nobles, celebrities and many names that sounded familiar from her newspaper readings. She is just moving the book to get a better look at each of their names when her elbow pushes one of the delicate figures off the desk, where it shatters into thick pieces.
"Oh no!" she whispers hysterically. She needlessly looks about her to see if anyone might have been watching from the outside before she gathers the pieces and shoves it towards the back of one of the desk drawers.
Closing the drawer with a hard shove, she leans back in the chair with a loud sigh and a fast beating heart. Only to jump with a squeak when the telephone on top of the desk begins to ring insistently. She carefully picks up the receiver when no one rushes in to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Princess Caelum?"
"Oh I'm sorry. I am afraid you have made a mistake. The Princess has been dead for over a year," she says and replaces the receiver before she realizes her blunder. "Oh! But I am the Princess..."
As if on cue, there is a knock at the door before Mrs. Etro strolls in with the same cold and uninviting face. If anything, she looks even more imposing after everything that she has been through this long morning.
"That was most likely the head gardener, calling to ask for instructions on the new plants," Mrs. Etro explains.
"Oh, well..."
"I have come to go over tonight's menu with you. The Prince has told me that his sister is to come to dine for luncheon."
"Oh yes, she is."
Mrs. Etro holds out another menu card for her and she can already tell that she has no idea what will be appropriate.
"I will leave that in your capable hands, Mrs. Etro," she says.
"Very well, Madam," the older woman replies stiffly. "When you have finished your letters, Robert will take them to the post."
"My, my letters?" she asks dumbly before she realizes that she, as the lady of the house, should have many letters to write to her many friends. "Oh, thank you, Mrs. Etro."
The lady gives her an unreadable look, t hen bows before turning to slowly make her way out of the door, leaving her alone once again to wonder just how she was ever going to make a success of any of this.