Chapter 1

Annette’s POV:

Well the day was going well from the moment I awoke and found the new day steaming in on the sunbeams. The maids brought in my gown for the day, a dark blue one my mother had picked out, and began to get all my petticoats and under clothes ready while I ate the fruit and toast they had brought me for my breakfast.

When I was finished eating I went to my private bathroom where a hot bat was waiting for me. I slid in and relaxed for a moment as the maids gathered my soaps and oils. The hot water flowed around me in the great tub and it felt so wonderful I wished it could just stay that way.

They began with my hair slowly rubbing in the soft liquid soap and creating a cascade of foam from my golden brown hair. I closed my eyes and waited for them to be finished with the rubbing and the rinsing. Then came the lemon-scented oils that I loved so much. The citrus smell wafted through the room and they poured it on liberally and massaged it though my hair and along my scalp. I leaned back and let them continue to go through the weekly schedule of washing my hair.

When they were finished, I stood and they began assisting in helping me lather myself with soap all over my body. Then I dipped myself back into the water and rinsed it all of. I looked at my water, which was now dirtied with the soaps and oils. It was no longer hot and pleasant but dirty and cold.

I got up and stepped out of the tub and they placed a large towel around my shoulders, which I used to rub the water off of myself. Then I went through the tedious yet necessary job of getting dressed.

First the most under under garments as I call them. Then the horrid, yet wonderful, creation called the corset. They strapped it on and I held onto the bedpost with all my might and they began to tie the laces. At first, it feels fine but then they continue to tighten it and then your breaths come in short and shallow as the contraption squeezes you into that beautiful form. I have had to wear a corset for years now, since I could walk actually, so by now my form is already in the shape it gives you and it does not bother me so much.

After the corset comes the seemingly endless yards of silk petticoats that make my dress into the bell shape. Then finally comes the dress. Once the dress is on and tied correctly I sit as the do my hair and cosmetics, as is proper for a young lady.

Today my hair is done up in a twist that wraps around my head like a crown. They weave in a gold thread so that it truly does look so. Then I close my eyes as they put the colored powders and liquids on my eyes lips and cheeks. I do not really like wearing cosmetics but then I do not want to be stared at like an outsider for not wearing them either.

Once all of my hours of preparation are complete I am finally ready to leave my rooms. My first activity is to go and sit with my mother and do our stitching work. I have never been too good at it but mother says that when I become a wife with children who have all grown up then I will wish for something to do and that she is only getting me started on something. So I go to my mother’s parlor where she is already setting out her thread and needle. I pick up my basket from where I had left it the day before and prepare my stand where the piece I am working on is left.

We sit for a couple hours working on our intricate patterns while having a bit of small talk. She asks me the usual about how I slept and how I am feeling. Then she tells me the news from my brother who lives with his wife out on the coast in a beautiful mansion right on the cliff that overlooks the ocean. Jonathan and his wife, Elizabeth, moved there about two years ago, right after they were married. Every year for the holiday they come and visit us though so we get to see them.

One day I would like to go and visit them because the only way I know about their place is in the letters Jon sends home every week. He sends a separate note to father about the expenses and all that but that is men’s business so I never bothered with it, I am not allowed to anyway.

So my mother and I sit doing our stitchery for the next couple of hours then we stop for tea. Tea is brought in by one of the servants and it is loaded with not only the hot tea but with small cakes and biscuits. Sometimes father will come and join us fro tea but today he has an important meeting with an old friend of his from the military so they will be taking tea in his study.

When tea is finished I say good-bye and then am quite free to go whatever I please. I like to go and walk in the gardens because I love the beautiful flowers this time of year. There is a small waterfall at the other end of the garden where I like to sit and feed the small fish at the pool at the bottom of the waterfall. But I forgot to get some bread this morning off of my plate so I am satisfied with just watching then and putting my fingers in the water.

As I am sitting next to the small pond I hear voices nearby. I assume it is only the gardeners until I hear my father’s deep voice.

“Why I think it a perfect plan Gerald. And I think we’ve waited long enough, I mean she is already fifteen.” Were they talking about me, I wonder? I listen closer trying to hear what else they say but their voices trail off so they must be walking away from me.

I wonder what they meant by we have waited long enough. Is there something supposed to happen to me? Perhaps I can coax it out of father during dinner without letting him know that I heard him. Well I get bored sitting with my fish so I say good-bye and go to check on my horse Starling. She is a beautiful chestnut colored mare that my father gave to my for my birthday three years back. He even hired me a teacher to teach me how to ride her.

My teacher’s name was Master Lawrence and he was a friend of my brother’s many years back. He was very handsome and I wished he had not left but after a year they decided I did not need a teacher anymore and he left. He was the nicest man though and my brother came out with us as a chaperone since we could not go out on our own. The two of them would talk a lot about things like wars and politics and other uninteresting things while we rode. And every once in a while Lawrence would look back at me and correct something like my posture or hold on the reigns.

 Sometimes he would ride beside me and talk to me about things like the weather or the trees and funny stories from his childhood or my brother’s. But now I have don’t ride as much as I cannot go alone and no one can go with me too often.

Father goes with me every once in a while but that’s not often. Mother is usually busy too with writing letters and checking the stocks and such. Sometimes I wish I had a sister who could do things with me but my mother didn’t have any children after me and then Jon moved away and I was sort of left by myself here.

I get a brush from the wall and go to brush Starling’s beautiful coat and mane. I talk to her about little things that are meaningless as I do so and she occasionally nods her head or shakes it. Finally I realize how late it’s getting and that I had better get back to the house to finish my letter to Jon so that it can be sent with mothers tomorrow.

I slowly walk back to my rooms where I go to my study and get out the letter I had started the day before. I write about how everything is going here at home and how much I miss him. And I ask about Elizabeth and how she and the baby are doing. Jon is very proud of his newborn daughter, Miriam named after my mother. When she was born he immediately brought her home so that he could show her off to everyone.

He is very proud of Elizabeth too. She is the youngest daughter of the count of Monterre and she and my brother met at a party that her mother was throwing. At first my brother did not want to go thinking it would be boring and he would have no one to talk to. But then he met Elizabeth and they were together all night, or so they tell me. For the next week all he talked about was Elizabeth. He went riding with her and wrote her poems and letter for months.

After a while my father could not take it any more and spoke with her father about marriage. Her father was very pleased with the arrangement and the two were married not to long after. Then they moved to the coast only a few months later.

I finished writing my letter then slipped it into an envelope. I got the blue dyed candle off of the corner of the desk and dripped several drops of wax onto the envelope and then quickly sealed it with my special seal, a sun dipping behind a hill where they lies a lion. Then I call a servant to take the letter to mother and tell her to send this one with hers.

Dinner is in two hours so I have a bit of time to wander around. We have a large castle and it seems there is always something new to see in it. So I wander about the castle stopping at the library, dining hall, and a few other places just for a few moments.

Before I know it, the bell for dinner is chiming outside. Most of the servants eat at the same time too and those who are serving and helping us have already eaten. So I rushed back to the dining hall where my parents and another man are sitting at the table already waiting for me. Feel a bit embarrassed at being the one to hold everyone up but I quickly take my seat next to my mother and across from the guest.

“Forgive me I completely forgot about supper and didn’t remember till the bell rang.” I said to my father. He nodded then waved and the food was brought in.

“Annette this is the Lord Gerald of Dushial. He is our guest here until the day after tomorrow.”

“Good day my lord a pleasure to meet you.” I said rather automatically.

“Yes of course and it is a pleasure meeting you as well dear. Now Gerald when you say you’ve got a little girl running around the house I expect a little girl, not a full grown lady such as this.”

I blushed at the compliment. Nobody had ever said anything like that about me, especially in front of me.

“Well Gerald I don’t know about a full grown lady but she certainly isn’t a child anymore.” He winked at me and smiled.

“Oh honestly you two,” my mother interjected. “The poor girl is sitting right next to you and you’re talking as though she isn’t even here.” But my mother knew it was all in fun so she didn’t sound very serious.

Dinner was the best we have had in a long time. Father and Lord Gerald were telling my mother and me stories from when they were in the military together. There were some hilarious stories and even my mother was nearly rolling about with laughter at some of them. Lord Gerald is a wonderful storyteller and he made everything seem so real it was as if we were really there.

We sat at the dinner table far past dinnertime and late into the night. Finally, I started to feel the sleepiness creeping over me and had to ask to be excused.

“Oh my yes!” My mother exclaimed when I excused myself.

“I’m sorry dear I forgot how late it was.” My father said as I got up. I curtseyed.

“It truly has been a pleasure meeting you my lord I hope to see you again before you leave.” I said, and this time I truly meant it. He stood up and bowed as though I really were a full-grown lady and said good night.

 I walked to my rooms but could still hear the adults talking in the dinning room. When I got there, my maids were already waiting for me. They had a basin of water to wash the cosmetics off my face and my nightgown was already set out for me. I washed my face and they began undressing me. Off came the dress, which was carried away to be hung in my closet, and off came the endless petticoats, and off came the corset, which allowed me to take deep breaths. Then came off my under under garments and then they pulled the white cotton nightdress down over my head.

Then I slipped into bed and fell instantly asleep.