Ch. 4

"Your room miss." One of the attendees of the Dames de l'école de Fin d'études, the London Finishing School I was sent to attend. My home for the 4 years, granted there are breaks. The building is located in the heart of London, a simple building on the outside just as the inside. The school boarded 200 ladies of the finest breed, a few were however of "poor" merits who successfully grasped a scholarship. The school consisted of classrooms, dining room, a very large ballroom (each school is to host one ball in a school year, two if they wanted), a very long corridor of rooms, and above that another long corridor of rooms (4 to a room). My room was on the second story of rooms about midway down. The room consisted of 4 poster beds, all with the same bedspread of the school colors (a pale pink and white). It was simple but pretty. The room had exactly two windows and I picked one of the beds next to the first window. At the end of each bed was a chest meant for all of our belongings brought from home. We were told to only pack one or two dresses as we had a uniform to wear everyday in school, and hardly ever made it into town. The attendee disappeared leaving me to take in my new home…well not my home but where my head is to hit the pillow everynight for the next 4 years. It was about 2 hours of unpacking and sitting in silence when the door swung open and revealed a girl who was taller and thinner, blonde hair and blue eyes. Her hair cascaded down her back brushing against her pastel pink adorned with silver lace London fashioned gown. She smiled at me and I stood up and gave a courtesy.

"Hello, I'm Maria" , returning the smile.

She courtside back "Elizabeth, it's nice to meet you Maria."

"Well, I see we have lovely quarters…hmmm I do suppose a window would be nice to look out of." And she plumped onto the bed that was next to the second window. "Where are you from?"

I looked up at her and saw her curious eyes wonder about the entirety of my dress. Eyebrows furrowed a bit, pursed lips, and then in a blink of an eye her face went back to the normal persona.

"Moonacre, its quite small."

"Hmmm… I'm not sure I've heard of it. What do your parents do?"

I took a few seconds to answer catching her to lurch further towards me and the mystery I hung in the air "My father and mother were formerly the Duke and Duchess of Moonacre"

"Was?" Her eyebrows raised

"My mother died when I was very little. My father died 6 months ago. We resided in London my entire life up until I was sent to live with my uncle who inherited the title. Moonacre is my real home though I only lived there for a short 5 ½ months." The sorrow in my voice as I said could've sliced through the air.

"I'm sorry."

I brushed it off "Where are you from?"

"France." Which made sense as she had a very thick french accent. "My parents are the Count and Countess of Mirabeau. I lived in France my entire life. I so miss it."

"As do I miss my home." I sighed. Elizabeth unpacked her belongings and didn't stop talking until the door swung open once again. We both stood to greet our newest roommate. She was about the same height as me but a little more filled out in the chest. She had gorgeous deep brunette hair that was pinned up in twisting braids. Her eyes were a pretty green, and she adorned a beautiful green London styled gown.

She courtside " Good day fellow roomates. I'm Katherina."

Elizabeth and I take turns curtseying and introducing our selves. "Where are you from?"

"Spain. I'm the daughter of Marquess de Borghetto. My family is huge, I have 4 brothers; two younger and two older, and 3 sisters; one older and two younger."

"Wow! I always wanted to have siblings!"

"You can have them all." She giggled.

"They are the best at times." Elizabeth added. " I have two older brothers who are just dreadful at times, especially when it comes to potential suitors."

We all giggled at that. "Aren't we a bit young to be talking about suitors." Katherina laughed. At this comment I blushed at the thought of Robin.

"Ooo Maria do tell us why you're blushing." Elizabeth jabbed at me giggling but also intrigued. I was about to retort when the door opened once again and in came a another girl, presumably our last roommate. She had on a simple blue gown that complimented her pale features. She had a light brown almost sandy colored hair along with brown eyes–though from here I could see small specks of what seemed to be gold. She was the shortest out of us all and quite thin–thinner than me.

"Hello!" Elizabeth said still standing and doing a courtesy and introducing herself along with her parents and where she came from. Then Katherine. Than I introduced myself.

"Lucy—my parents are Baron and Baroness Grey of Codnor. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I also have siblings–3 to be exact, two older sisters and a younger brother-who is a nuisance at times." We all started to giggle again.

"So Maria, please tell why you were blushing." Katherine said

"I–"

"Maria! Do you have a courtship? Oh please give us all the details."

"He's just a friend…"

"A male friend is never just a friend." Lucy chimed with almost a knowing similarity.

"Soooo who is he?" Elizabeth said anxiously. They all seemed to have gather by my bed awaiting for my answer.

I fell on my back onto the bed and with a huff "He's a birdbrain of an oaf." I let that sit for a few seconds before continuing. "He's a hunter, wears all leather and this black sort of hat on his head. His hair a deep brown with curls framing his face. His eyes resemble the likes of chocolate and his lips-" All the girls shreiked at excitement. "His lips curve into the slightest grin ever when he's up to no good, that just makes you want to squel or smack it off of his face. His shoulders are broad and his muscles oh goodness god himself is to thank for that…" I blushed at what I was saying.

"Maria, he sounds soooo dreamy." Katherine said

"Oh I want to see him!" Lucy shrieked

"Me too!" Elizabeth chimed in.

We all giggled and they all fell onto the bed with a huff. I sat up a bit "So ladies, am I the only one with material?"

Lucy's face was the only one to blush. I poked at her until she told us all about her mystery man.