An: For my lovelies, enjoy.
6. A Gentleman Caller
"Good morning papa!" I smiled brightly as I sat across from my father at the breakfast table.
"And to you Genevieve, how was yesterdays lesson?" he asked.
"It was amazing papa I learned so much and I'm picking it up so easily." I said.
"Well perhaps I'll come down and see for myself one of these days." He said as he tucked into his meal.
"That would be delightful papa." I returned after swallowing the bit of eggs I was eating.
We finished our meal in silence and I excused myself to the stables.
"Emmett!" I called once I reached the stables. "Emmett where are you?"
"In here Geni!" I heard him say and started walking towards the sound of his voice.
"Geni? Why ever would you call me that?" I called as I peeked into a stall to see if Emmett was in there.
"Well your name is kind of a mouthful so I figured that now that we are on a first name basis I could shorten it." He said.
"Well that's fine I guess as long as I get to call you-" Suddenly I tripped over a barrel of hay and I immediately shut my eyes and waited for impact. I felt myself land against something but I didn't feel any pain. I felt strong arms supporting me and opened my eyes to find that I was resting against Emmett's chest. I tilted my head to see his face and we were just mere inches apart. I couldn't do anything but stare.
"As long as you get to call me what?" He whispered.
"As long as I um...get to call you Emmy." I stumbled.
"Emmy?"
"Yes I find that I enjoy that name quite a bit."
"Well then that is what you shall call me." He smiled causing me to blush even brighter than I already was.
"Alright...Emmy." I felt him start to move closer and perhaps I was moving closer too. Whatever was about to happen I found that I wanted it desperately and just as our lips where about to touch, we were startled apart by the sound of Minerva's voice.
"MISS! MISS! OH DEAR WHERE ARE YOU!?" She shouted. As I moved away from Emmett I checked to make sure I looked perfectly in place and then called out to her.
"I am here Minerva." I called and she soon came bustling, red faced, around the corner. "Oh my Minerva what is all this fuss about?"
"The Count..." she wheezed. "The Count is on his way. He shall arrive on the hour! We have to get you out of those dreadful clothes and into something much more presentable."
"But I-" I started.
"Can finish your riding lessons later." She said sternly.
"Goodbye ." I waved glumly.
"Goodbye Miss. Enjoy your visit." He said curtly,avoiding any eye contact with me. A frown settled in on my face at the cold feel of his words as I walked away.
Forty minutes later...
"Oh I just knew he would take a liking to you! How could he not? Your just so beautiful and accomplished, he'd be blind not to see you'd make an excellent wife..." I'd been zoning in and out as Minerva prattled on and on about the Count and I's "budding romance". She'd bathed me, fixed my hair, did my makeup, and dressed me in a fine dress for a stroll in our gardens here, but I couldn't bring myself to care or even pretend to be excited. Yes Count Stefan Matei was a very nice and handsome man, nothing like those grubby old men that had been vying for my attention at the ball, but my mind was to occupied with Emmett and our almost kiss...and his inability to look at me when Minerva came to take me away. We were fine yesterday, great before we were interrupted...what changed. A knock at the door startled me from my thoughts.
"Announcing the arrival of Count Stefan Matei." I heard our butler Aro say from outside my room.
"Thank you Aro, I'll be out shortly." I answered through the door. I reached for the handle and was immediately stopped by Minerva who powdered my face once more.
"Now you are ready to go dear." she said. I rolled my eyes, unable to shake my horrendous mood, and procceeded to exit the room. My face turned to blankness as I descended the stairs. I refused to disgrace my father by allowing my annoyance to show...but then I saw Stefan.
In his hand he held a bouqet of flowers and the smile he wore seemed to be just for me. I couldn't be angry with him. Not when he shows up at my home so innocently, and with a gift! It's not like he deliberately disrupted my time with Emmett. Emmett. Is that why I went there this morning? Just to see him? He sure seemed happy to see me...until Minerva showed up. His cool features reappeared in my mind. No. I would not think of him now. Not when there was a man here to call upon me. This man was nice enough to assume me worthy of his courtship, and when thinking upon my other choices I would not complain if the Count be the only one to think so. I had one chance to make a good match and I would not ruin it with thoughts of my stable boy.
I smiled back at Stefan as I reached the place where he stood with my father. I curtsied low to them both.
"Hello Count Stefan, father." I said in greeting.
"Genevieve, the Count has come to accompany you on a stroll in the gardens." My father stated.
"That sounds lovely." I responded.
"I am glad you think so, shall we Miss. Dumitru?" He offered his arm and I took it shyly. After we'd made it out onto the stone path that lead to the garden I broke our calm silence.
"So Count Matei, would those flowers happen to be for me?" I smirked.
"Oh no I'm just waiting for the right time to present them to your father." He teased.
"Haha you are very funny Count." My tone was filled with sarcasm. I heard the door to the house open and close in the distance. Looks like Minerva has finally decided to start spying-I mean chaperoning us.
"Anyways, um yes the flowers are definitely for you." Stefan said, suddenly very shy. "Do you like chrysanthemums?"
"They're my favorite," I said as I took them and held them to my nose, inhaling deeply. "Thank you." I blushed. Suddenly I felt as though someone was watching me. I glanced behind me and noticed you could see the stables from here. Was Emmett watching us?
"What are you looking at ?" Stefan asked.
"Oh nothing...just the stables," where I longed to be, for more than just one reason I now suspected."I never noticed how well you can see them from here."
"Do you visit the stables often?" He inquired. I looked away and stayed silent, not sure if I should divulge my secret to him. I felt his hand caress my cheek and then he moved to tilt my chin up. Now we were staring right into each others eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, it's nothing." I was mesmerized. He was beautiful. His Romanian lineage evident in his face, with his dark hair and black eyes. His sharp features. I can't imagine a girl who wouldn't swoon.
"You can tell me anything . I want to know about you...that is what courting is about after all." He smiled.
"Well...I do visit there often. I've taken up riding, it makes me feel closer to my mother." I felt my eyes water with tears.
"Goodness, Genevieve don't cry." He said suddenly less formal. He brushed his thumb across my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn't realize had fallen.
"I am sorry Count I don't usually cry like this." I apologized.
"It's alright Genevieve, why don't we go down there instead?" He suggested.
"Really?" I asked feeling suddenly more excited.
"Why of course. It seems to be something you quite enjoy, and like I said...I want to know you." His cheeks reddened a little and I smiled brightly at him.
"Alright let's go. I can't wait for you to meet Ash." I took his hand and started to pull him toward the stables.
"Um, Miss. I don't think that to be wise." Minerva called out. "You are supposed to be walking in the gardens."
"I see no reason why we can't do what the lady wants." Stefan said in my defense. Minerva stood and sputtered for a moment and then complied.
"Yes, sir Count." Minerva humbly replied. And so, with flowers in hand and Count Stefan in tow, I made my way to the stables.
AN: Reviews are love...