Hello, sorry there wasn't a chapter last week. I have been sick and then had to catch up on some work.

I also noticed I'm up on 9 followers on this story, so thank you :)

One week later.

Wendy sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes.

This bed was so big, that she actually had to crawl out of it.

She pulled at the heavy curtain.

The morning twilight glowed outside.

Wendy had never been able to watch it before, but it was beautiful and peaceful.

The sun slowly rose over the forest in the distance and lit up her bedroom.

There was a quiet knock on her door and Lilian and Sarah let themselves in.

"Miss Wendy," Lilian sighed. "You are ready up?"

Wendy turned to them with a smile. "I am sorry."

"There is nothing to apologize for, Miss," Sarah said as she made the bed. "We are here to serve you."

Lilian pulled open her closet and took out a few dresses. "Now, which one would you like?"

Wendy looked at the three dresses in dark colors. "Could you choose one for me?"

Lilian nodded. "Then I would choose this one."

She held up a brown dress, as Sarah went past her into the bathroom.

Wendy nodded, and Lilian hung the dress on the wardrobe door.

It was so odd to her, that they only did anything after getting her approval on these things. It reminded her of how Edward had always looked to her before he started on his chores.

She smiled at the thought.

"The bath is ready, Miss," Sarah said as she peered out of the bathroom door.

Wendy stepped away from the window and followed her into the bathroom.

"Is this really alright?" Wendy said as the maids helped her get out of her nightgown. "I never used to take baths every day."

"Then how do you stay clean?" Sarah asked and quickly added: "Miss," as Wendy slipped into the water.

"We would still wash ourselves, of course," Wendy said as she enjoyed the nice smelling, foamy water. "And we swam in the lakes during the summer, but we only took bathes sometimes."

Sarah sighed as she washed Wendy's hair. "It sounds so romantic."

"Sarah!" Lilian scolded.

"I am not offended." Wendy smiled as she enjoyed Sarah massaging her head and hair. "It was very … different than this…"

"Thank you, Miss," Lilian said. "But there are still things we should not be asking you."

Sarah and Lilian were quiet, as they dried her off and helped her get dressed and fixed her hair.

"And this is just for breakfast." She mumbled at the mirror.

"Of course, Miss." Lilian nodded.

There was a knock at the door. "Breakfast is ready to be served." A man said from the other side.

"I will be right there," Wendy said and got up from the vanity.

"There you are dear," The Baroness smiled warmly at her, as Wendy entered the dining hall. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, my lady," Wendy said as a man pulled a chair out for her and others poured tea and served her breakfast.

"Good, good. Your tutor will arrive after breakfast." The Baroness said and sipped her tea. "I look forward to introducing the two of you."

"I am sure you will do great, my love," Eric said from the other side of the table.

Wendy smiled at him. "I will, Eric."

She sipped her milky tea. It had an oddly bland taste. "What will you be doing today?"

Eric sighed – like he had already been working. "Just some management of the estate, my love. But I look forward to our walk in the gardens."

Wendy smiled. She had mostly been spending time with his mother the last few days, so the thought of seeing Eric without his parents sounded good.

"How are things going, dear?" The Baroness asked.

"Good, my sweet." The Baron smiled at his wife. "Your help was exceptional, as always."

"Oh, you flatterer." She chuckled behind her hand.

Wendy smiled at them and hoped she and Eric would be like that one day.

"Madam Elena, this is my future daughter-in-law, Miss Wendy." Eric's mother said and gestured toward her with pride.

The other nicely dressed woman looked at Wendy confused, then at the Baroness. "No last name?"

The woman just shook her head slowly.

Madame Elena Shearmore looked at Wendy so closely, that it made Wendy uncomfortable.

"Can you read and write?" The woman asked her.

Wendy nodded. "Yes…"

"French? Spanish? German?"

It took Wendy a moment to realize that the woman was asking if she could read and write those languages.

She shook her head. "No, just English…"

"Speak them?" The woman asked with a face made of stone.

Wendy just shook her head again.

The woman narrowed her eyes. "Dance?"

Wendy smiled and nodded.

Mrs. Shearmore then asked about words Wendy had never heard before.

"I don't know what that is." She answered.

Mrs. Shearmore sighed. "Then, no to that."

"Music?"

"I can play my fiddle…" Wendy said.

"Violin." The woman corrected her sharply.

It continued like that. Mrs. Shearmore asked him any questions that Wendy didn't know the answer to and would then either frown or narrow her eyes.

After a final question about history, the woman turned to the baroness, who had stood silently by.

"I see your worries, Adaline, but fear not … I know just what to do."

3 weeks later

"Shoulders back child, and keep your chin up." Mrs. Shearmore lifted her chin with the stick she always carried. "A lady should never look at the floor."

Wendy struggled with walking without looking at her feet. "It's just a little hard to walk in these shoes…"

Mrs. Shearmore glanced at her as they continued to walk. "Your natural charm and countryside manner might entice and amuse the nobility, but they will not tolerate your lack of etiquette in the long term.

"What do you mean?" Wendy asked as the woman turned for them to walk back down the hallway.

"You are to be a Baroness if all goes well," Mrs. Shearmore explained instead. "Therefore, you are expected to know how to talk, walk, dance, and conduct yourself so as to not bring shame on the house of Branigan."

"I am trying," Wendy said. "There are just so many lessons…"

"Did you expect it to be easy?" The other woman said sharply. "That it would be tea parties, dances, and romantic walks?" She finally turned to look at Wendy.

Wendy looked down and Mrs. Shearmore raised her head back up with her stick.

"I told you never to look down." She said in a low voice. "It is not impossible for you to become a lady worthy of the Branigan name, me and your other tutors will guide you through every step, but you must show us all that you are worth our effort."

When the clock started chiming.

"It is all the time we have for today," Mrs. Shearmore said as she turned to the clock hanging on the wall.

Wendy curtsied. "Thank you, Mrs. Shearmore."

She started walking out but the tutor stopped her. "Before I forget. The baroness got a letter concerning you."

Wendy turned back around. "Concerning me?" She asked slowly.

Mrs. Shearmore nodded. "And old teacher of yours it appears, a Mrs. Elizabeth Carley Shepherd, who wished to see you."

Wendy grimaced.

What did Miss Elizabeth want with her?

"Do you not know her?" The tutor asked.

"I do." Wendy nodded. "She is the teacher in the village by my father's inn."

Mrs. Shearmore nodded slowly. "It could be good to see how far your manners have gotten. The Baroness is rather eager to introduce you to more people."

Wendy dug her nails into her skirt. "If you think that is best." Then she turned back around.

"Keep your back straight." Her tutor called after her as she left.

"How are your lessons going?" Eric asked.

Wendy sighed.

"There's so many things to learn."

Eric's hand glided down from her arm and their fingers knitted together. "I know you can do this, my sweet. You are brilliant."

She smiled as he pressed his lips against her cheek.

"You are so sweet, Eric. Though both my tutor and your mother seem to think I am ready to meet more people."

"Why would you not?" Eric said with pride and turned towards the rose bushes they were walking past. "It has only been a few weeks and you already carry yourself with such poise." He plucked a rose and put it in her hand. "My beautiful fairy. I cannot wait to see how you shine amongst the nobles."

Wendy blushed and looked down as she held the rose

"Your mother is talking about a ball that is to commence the start of summer?"

"Ah, yes." Eric smiled. "The summer ball. The perfect place for you to debut into society."

He looked at her with his shiny blue eyes. "It is a celebration that my mom holds every year. You will buy follow be the main attraction."

Wendy smiled. "Will I be expected to play my fiddle?"

"Your violin?" Eric smiled at her. "Even without it, all eyes will be on you." He took hold of her chin. "My beautiful fairy dancer."

Wendy wrapped her arms around him, and he kissed her.

"I have often dreamed of kissing you in my flower garden." He whispered to her as their lips parted.

"Just that?" Wendy smiled, mischievous at him.

He ran the hand carefully over her hair as if to not mess up the hairstyle. "No, but there are people watching us now."

Wendy laughed and pulled away.

"My tutor, Mrs. Shearmore, has invited my old teacher from the village for tea in a few weeks." She said as they continued to walk.

"Really?" Eric said absentmindedly. "I did not realize you had a teacher in the village."

Wendy furrowed her brows for a moment. She was sure she had mentioned it before.

"Yes, I had. For a short while. She was married to the village shepherd, but she originally came from a town." She smiled at the thought of her and her teaching. "I was never on good terms with her. Though I am a bit sad she never took me with her into town."

"Would you like to go with me to London one day?" Eric said and led her down a side path.

"The capital?" Wendy made big eyes at him. "I would love to."

He looked her lovingly in the eyes. "Your face is the most beautiful thing when you're happy. It's like your eyes sparkle."

Wendy smiled back. "Yours do too."

"Then it is settled." Eric smiled and leaned close to her face again. This time, he did not kiss her. "After the summer ball, we're going to London."

Wendy sighed. "That ball … is it an important thing?"

Eric pulled a little away and gave her a weird smile - like he was looking at a child.

"Yes. My mother hosts it every year. The music and dance and the best food we can offer. It is where we meet important people, where we strike up new friendships and learn many new things. I have seen women who approach my mother all winter long just to get an invitation."

Wendy nodded. "I heard from Mrs. Shearmore, That there's much politics that go through the women."

Eric waved her for the gesture of the hand. "I care little for the politics of women, my love."

He leaned in again. "What I care about is watching you shine like the rose among thorns you are."

Wendy blushed at the compliment. "But what if something goes wrong? What if I mess something up?"

Eric caressed her face. "I know you will not my flower. I believe that you will show me, my father, and my mother, what you are capable of and make us all proud."

Three weeks later

"Are you nervous?" She looked up from the book when she heard Mrs. Shearmore's stiff voice.

"A bit," Wendy admitted. "She was not a nice teacher."

"And not a terribly good one, considering all we have to teach you yet." Mrs. Shearmore said in, what Wendy had learned, was comfort.

Wendy smiled. "Thank you, Mrs. Shearmore."

"There is one thing I would like you to pay attention to." The woman said. "Well, more than one, but I would like you to watch your former teacher."

"Watch her?" Wendy questioned.

There was a knock at the library door.

"Miss Wendy?" The Butler gave her a nod as he was allowed to enter. "A Mrs. Elizabeth has come. She said you are expecting her?"

Wendy nodded - just like she'd been told. "Please send her to the drawing room. And would you prepare some tea and cakes for us?"

The butler smiled, impressed - at least Wendy hoped that was what it was - and bowed his head. "Of course, Miss."

"That was quite good." Her tutor even offered her a slight smile.

"Thank you," Wendy said as she slowly got up. "But what did you say about watching her?"

"I expect you to watch how she behaves." Mrs. Shearmore said as they stepped out of the library. "How does she talk? How does she drink her tea? How did she address you? And while you watch that, I will be watching how you act to see how far you have come."

Wendy's eyes darted downwards. "I know I still have much to learn."

"In some areas." Mrs Shearmore agreed. "You carry yourself with a natural elegance, and you have taken well to the etiquette. I hear from your dance instructor that you are quite the wonderful dancer, and your music teacher is delighted at teaching you after your initial hurdles."

Wendy's eyes darted downwards again. The music teacher had been quite confused at the fact that she could play such wonderful melodies but not read sheet music.

"The things you seem to struggle with seemed to be the academic subjects. Your handwriting is not nearly as neat, as your movements. And you seem completely lost in historical events and languages. But you seem to have a good grasp of mathematics and love to read."

"Thank you," Wendy said again.

Her tutor gave her half a smile. "You can thank me by showing me how you used to dance while playing a violin. I have heard stories from the servants and would like to see if there is a spectacular as they say."

Wendy smiled.

Mrs. Shearmore had begun opening up to her. In her own odd way.

"I could show you. I could also show you how to hunt on horseback."

The older woman looked at her, perplexed. "Like a man? That will not do. But we could go horseback riding. It is a rather new trend amongst the nobility to ride out into the forest and enjoy a lunch." Mrs. Shearmore glanced at her out of the corner of her eye and then smiled. "How do you imagine that started?"

Wendy raised an eyebrow but didn't answer.

"Here we are." Mrs. Shearmore said as they reached the drawing room. "Remember what I said." She said as she opened the doors. "Observe."

Thank you for reading, and tell me what you think :)

I will update next Sunday if all goes well.