Two days later Gigi stepped out from her dressing room and into the main sitting room. A soft butter yellow afternoon light filled the space with a golden glow. Along with the light came the scent of the sea through the open balcony doors. It was a smell Gigi was familiar with at this point.
Perched on the edge of a wooden chair in the sitting room was Margo. Her head was bent over her hands, which held a small slip of paper. A knowing smile tugged at Gigi's lips. She tucked up a strand of hair and moved further into the room.
"Does it say anything good?" she asked.
Even through the countless times Gigi had carried the love notes back and forth between Margo and Vic, she had never once read one. Startled, Margo jumped up from her seat, closing her hand over the note.
"You have no reason to be embarrassed on my account," Gigi said.
Margo relaxed and carefully folded the note before tucking into a pocket.
"I know, Lady. I was surprised."
As Gigi studied Margo, she mulled over a question. "Will you marry him?"
The question brought a blush to Margo's cheeks as well as a shy smile that spoke volumes. She looked up at Gigi, hope and hesitation brimming in her eyes.
"Yes," she said, but there was a doubt behind the word. "We are waiting...the situation makes it..."
Margo seemed to struggle with her thoughts, her gaze shifting purposefully away from Gigi.
"The situation makes it what?" Gigi asked, tilting her head to be brought back into Margo's line of sight.
Margo conceded to look at Gigi again.
"Vic is waiting to become second in charge in his Lordship's stables before asking Lord Brixton if he can marry me," she said.
Gigi frowned. "Why would my grandfather's approval have any bearing on your relationship?"
Uncomfortable with the topic, Margo fidgeted.
"It means changes in his lordship's estate. We would have to find quarters together and there is the possibility of a child. Our marriage would change my position as well as putting a shift in loyalties on Vic. His mind would be to his family, not his Lordship."
Gigi stared at Margo, surprised by the statement and the restrictions that were held even on a maid and stable hand.
"This is all true?" she said, still trying to grasp the information.
Margo gave a single nod.
"I can talk with my grandfather," Gigi said. "Surely if I ask him to approve then you two could-"
As Gigi spoke, Margo shook her head furiously. "Please, Lady. Do not talk to him. I am honored by your desire to help but this is best left as it is. We do not mind waiting."
"But even if I could convince him-"
Margo step forward and took Gigi's hand, gripping it with desperation. "Lady, we know the course we must take and are fine with it. To change anything might hinder our future marriage. I ask you to keep this to yourself."
Confusion swept over Gigi but she gave a reassuring nod and squeezed Margo's hand in comfort.
"If you wish it, I will do nothing. But let me know if you change your mind. I am sure I could find favor for you with my grandfather."
Margo released Gigi's hand and offered up a tight smile.
"Thank you, Lady. But there is no need."
Though she was still felt baffled, Gigi said no more, sensing Margo's agitation but at a loss to what caused it.
"Were you going somewhere, Lady?" Margo asked.
Gigi accepted the change of topic.
"Yes, I planned to wander the grounds, preferably alone. I found my riding companions this morning to be rather dull and to be honest I was not sure what they were talking about the entire time." She gave a wry chuckle. "Though my puzzlement did not seem to hinder them in the least."
Margo gave her a genuine smile, her qualms set aside. "Who were they?"
Gigi waved a careless hand. "Earl Kesley and Duke Vin. They both have Holdings to the West near the Ashmore border. I believe most of their talk was about that."
"I hope your time in the gardens is less tiresome."
Gigi moved towards the door. "As do I."
She slipped out and headed down the hall, wary of anyone she passed.
At first she had been overwhelmed and flattered with the attention of many of the men at court. But after numerous interactions in where her companions inquired into Lord Brixton's Estate or talked of their own Holdings, Gigi found the spark of it beginning to fade. There were some though that still managed to hold her interest. Though the number was dwindling.
She made it all the way to the terrace with out a run in with any of her previous suitors. That was where her luck ran out. She was at the top of the stairs when a male voice stopped her. Gigi gripped the front of her dress.
"Lady Genevieve."
Spinning towards the voice, she pulled up the reserved smile her grandmother's tutors had drilled into her.
"Baron Ander," she greeted, her voice soft.
"Are you taking a stroll through the gardens, Lady?" he asked.
He was a man seven years older than Gigi, with a pinched face and hair that was already thinning. The fact that she was at the top of the steps, about to step down, blocked any form of lie Gigi could come up with.
"I was."
"Allow me to accompany you then."
He held out an arm devoid of muscle.
"Truly," she said, "I would not like to detain you from what important matters I am sure you have."
"For a lady as beautiful as you, I would gladly be detained."
The compliment had no effect on Gigi, not after hearing the slue of compliments she had over the past two weeks. Reluctantly, she accepted his arm and they descended the steps. The fragrance of the grounds pulled a piece of her smile back. Flowers with rich, velvet pelts hung from trellises, light cutting through the many hues.
"I hear your grandfather has the second largest stables, Lady," Ander said.
Gigi tried to fight her annoyance, as she stared away from him. It was a comment she had heard countless times.
"He does," she said, reaching out and caressing a pelt.
Her mind was already traveling away from her companion, knowing most responses would not even be necessary.
"You must enjoy knowing that one day you will be over those stables," he said.
Gigi hummed in agreement, but then stopped the full thought behind the comment hitting her. She looked at him.
"You must be mistaken," she said.
They stopped walking as Ander turned to her, puzzled at her confusion.
"Pardon me, Lady, if I have talked out of place. I only mean at your grandparents passing..." his face paled as he realized what he said. "Lady, I apologize. I do not wish to put thoughts of death in to your mind so close to your own father's..."
He didn't finish his sentence, his brow creased as if worried Gigi would collapse into tears at the mention of her, supposedly, dead father. His look of anxiety on her behalf irritated Gigi. In order to hide this fact, she spun and walked on. Ander quickly rejoined her, but didn't try to take her arm.
"Forgive me, Lady for my words. I did not mean to make you flustered."
"It is fine," Gigi said, forcing her voice to sound calm.
"Of course. We must talk of happier things." Ander was silent for a moment as if he couldn't come up with a single thing that fell under that title. Gigi was grateful a moment of peace, which she allowed herself a relieved breath.
"Have I told you of the improvements my Holding in Helix has seen over the late year."
Gigi bit back an annoyed outburst, keeping her thoughts from being exposed by looking away.
"Oh," she managed to say.
It was all it took to guide Ander into a long boring monologue on the state of his family's Holding. Gigi was about to toss propriety aside and make a run for it when someone approached from behind. When she glanced back, a giddy, relieved smile spread across her face.
Raif's own lips lifted at his reception. Ander stopped and looked back, realizing that Gigi's attention was no longer his. Noticing Raif, he bowed his head.
"Duke," he said, "it is a pleasure to see you."
Though the words were simply given there was a covetous look in his eyes that countered them. Raif stopped and nodded.
"I am sorry to tell you this Baron, but the Lady has done you a wrong," he said.
Gigi looked at him surprised, while Ander looked mystified by his words.
"I do not believe Lady Genevieve could ever commit a wrong," he said. "And none towards me."
"Oh but she has," Raif said, his voice deadly serious.
As Gigi watched him a brightness grew in her eyes. Raif's gaze flashed towards her, catching the spark.
"Truly, you must be mistaken Duke. The Lady has caused no such offense to me."
"She has agreed to walk with you among the gardens," Raif said, waving his hand about. "When her promise had been already given to me."
His gray eyes landed on her, and Gigi felt something in her chest leap. There was something about those eyes that brought out the untutored side of her. It was as if she found a kindred spirit who lived out of the court even as it lived inside it.
Frowning, Ander didn't seem to know how to respond to the statement. Gigi looked at him, her eyes wide with an apology. She laid a hand on his arm, a gesture she had seen numerous times since arriving in Loria.
"Baron Ander, I must beg your forgiveness for my mistake. Truly, I lost my thoughts upon seeing you."
At the compliment the Baron straightened a bit, the frown leaving.
"It is only right that I walk with the Duke since it is to him I gave my promise," she continued. "What type of Lady would I be if I did not stay true to my word."
In the corner of her eye she caught the smirk from Raif at her title. Ander took a step back and bowed.
"Of course," he said. He looked at her with a look so many other men had given her. It wasn't affection but almost a desire, a need to stay close to her. "I hope our paths cross again very soon, Lady."
Gigi's only response was a sweet smile. Ander waited a beat then left. Before he could be lost to their sight, Raif was turning to Gigi, his eyes teasing.
"I hope you do not mind that I have stolen you from the Baron," he said, stretching out his arm.
Gigi slipped her hand into it, enjoying the feel of the hard muscle that lay beneath his sleeve.
"If you know Baron Ander then you already know my answer."
Raif laughed, the sound filling Gigi up.
"Come vagabond girl, I wish to hide away and not be found."
Gigi felt her heart echo the statement and beat in time to his voice.
"Where have you been?" she asked, wanting a reason for him to talk.
"I had business in the Seau islands. Have you been there?" he asked.
"No. What is it like?"
Raif talked, his words pulling her in and sending her down sandy shores, dirt streets and tiled rooms. Before Gigi was ready, Raif finished his story. She craved more.
"I have told you many stories," he said. "But I do not want to talk. What I want is to hear about you." His eyes searched her face as if her could read her secrets from there. "Tell me, vagabond girl where you came from. I have traveled to Lord Brixton's Estate for over six years and only this summer have I heard of you. Tell me you are not a dream that I will wake up from."
"This world is more a dream than I," Gigi said.
"Convince me. Where are you from?"
Gigi waved a careless hand. "All over."
"It seems we share a similar life." She smiled at the comment. "I call Varon my home. Where is yours?"
The question brought Gigi up short. Memories of a sea of tents, bonfires, canopy of leaves and soft grass beneath bare feet swam through her mind. The effect of it left a quiet smile on her lips and a distant look in her eyes. The sight of her expression heightened Raif's curiosity.
"It must be a place of wonder to cause such a look," he said.
Gigi pulled herself back and shook her head, giving an embarrassed chuckle.
"It is not. Some would see it as dull."
"But to you it means something else."
Gigi gave a single nod. "It does."
She could see the questions building in his mind, but they were never voiced, the sound of footsteps stalling them. A servant appeared and bowed before them.
"There is a messenger arrived for you, your grace," the servant said. "He expressed that it was urgent."
"Thank you, Dalton. I will be there shortly."
The servant nodded and disappeared. Instead of seeming disappointed in the interruption, Raif merely seemed amused, though he still held questions.
"You seem to always be leaving me," Gigi said, trying to hide the full weight of her words with a teasing note.
Raif took her hand and kissed the back of it. His lips were soft and the touch sent a shutter of delight through her.
"A habit I will work to break," Raif said.
He released her hand and walked away without another glance. Gigi was left watching him go, wishing he would stay.
**********************************************************************
Tell me good traveler, how is the road to Tüne?
Raif is back! Gosh I've missed him! He should never leave again! Who is team Raif?
*Holds out bucket* If you have any thoughts to impart drop them in here!
Now! I have a question for you cause sometimes I feel behind the times or not with the times at all. So when did being 'innocent' and 'naive' start meaning weak?
I've come across some books and even a movie recently where the bad boy approaches the innocent girl and is trying to intimidate and seduce her and the girl just stands there and takes it!
I'll have you know I'm pretty dang innocent when it comes to all THAT sort of stuff but I would shove him away and tell him to leave me alone. I think us innocent girls should be painted in a better light! We're tough too you know! *hits hand with fist* Ow! Okay, well you know what I mean!
If you have knowledge on this, drop it on me! (But only figuratively, I'm fragile)
Question of the day! What is your favorite fantasy novel?
(Add the author because I'm looking for recommendations)
Don't, Be, Afraid! (Or vote, comment, follow. They are basically the same thing ð)