The Colours of Love, a Romance fanfic

The Colours of Love

Chapter 1- The Coming

It had been five years since Professor James Rutherford had set foot in Ivory Hall but his coming instigated the excitement of the Rutherford household. The servants woke at dawn; yesterday’s furious workload did not stop the hefty amount of tasks still to be done. The third and fourth floors still needed to be waxed, the banisters scrubbed to perfection, the desserts for lunch had yet to be made. Towering steel gates painted gold barred the way to the acres of gently undulating fields and brightly coloured flowers swaying gently in the fields. To the east, a small wood where the children sometimes wandered and in the west, an expanse of fields as far as the eye could see which then melted into the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets the household received. Ivory Halls stood magnificently, an imposing figure, the early sun rays shining on the thick marble slabs that were the walls of Ivory Halls.

Jeanie Snell, who stood in one of the many rooms of Ivory Halls, blinked in the morning sunshine tiredly and allowed herself a small smile. The rays enveloped her in their warmth and felt superb against her dark caramel skin. Her light brown eyes glittered. She had been up since before dawn, helping Aida and the others with the cooking and had helped May with the laundry and could only now stop and appreciate the beauty of nature. She returned to her work of folding undergarments and putting them away and carefully hanging up the beautiful but discarded gowns of her mistress, Lady Henrietta Christine Rutherford. Jeannie looked around at her lady and smiled softly at the nervousness she observed in the girl’s face. Henrietta smiled at her weakly as she looked away from her vanity mirror and then rushed into Jeannie’s embrace.

“Oh Jeannie, you always speak honestly, tell me, how do I look?” Henrietta asked, waited nervously for her opinion. She had always held her maid’s opinion in the highest regard. They had been companions-no, friends, for more than ten years. She wished the difference in their skin colours would not set them apart so, but knew nothing could prevent it.

“Honestly…” Jeannie tailed off, making Henrietta chew her lip nervously. “You look beautiful and you always shall. Your brother will shower you with the most flattering compliments, no doubt, Henny.” After much discussion and worry, Henrietta had donned a pale blue walking-out day dress. The jacket bodice was close fitting and had a high ruffle collar. The sleeves were light, tight up to the elbows and then frilling out. The trained overskirt caught up at the sides, the detailed embroidery catching the light. Jeannie had taken great pains of ensuring her lady’s hair looked spectacular, it was one of the most important parts of her look.

It was coiffed into tight rolls like sausages, some of her magnificent golden hair curled and fell down her back like a wave and a small, frizzy fringe was arranged carefully on her high forehead. Rouge darkened her full lips and blush brought the colour out in her cheeks. The dark makeup around her eyelids brought out her dark blue eyes. Henrietta looked so much like the respectable ladies Jeannie had seen at town and heard about at balls from others that she could not help but be proud. The two girls smiled at each other in nervous anticipation of the new arrival. Henrietta had not seen her brother for five years; he had boarded at the university and fulfilled his ambition (or their father’s) to become a professor of law. She did not know what to expect, she knew he must have changed dramatically. The letters she received from him made her think he was much devoted to his work and friends. He had always been the life and soul of the party, not that she had gone to any, but she had heard things. She could not wait to see him. He was her hero, she loved him.

Jeannie was slightly afraid. Though she could barely remember the man, Aida and May told her that he liked his drink and the years of study could not have changed him. He had liked to go to parties and loved his women. His father had sent him to university to knock some sense into the boy. He needed to learn that there were more important things in life than reckless drink and women. Jeannie did not know what to expect, but her hopes were not high. Young men of this social class took little, if anything, seriously.

“Do you need anything Henrietta while you wait?” Jeannie asked politely.

Henrietta looked up at this, twisting her fingers in nervousness. “Oh, no, nothing, perhaps a drink. I am rather parched.”

“Certainly, madam.” Jeannie smiled at her, told her not to worry and departed through a side door that lead directly to the servants’ hall. She took another door at the end of a hall, down many sets of steps and entered the kitchen. Aida, an old cook, looked up from her task of icing a cake. Other servants were dotted about the large kitchens.

“Jeannie, what brings you here? You should be with Lady Henrietta at an important time like this.”

“Yes, my lady is thirsty. Cool lemonade should do the trick, I think.” She filled a glass with lemonade and exited the room, but not before throwing over her shoulder,

“They have you working too hard, Aida. I shall come and help in a moment.”

But Jeannie could not go down to the kitchens again for when she entered her mistress’s rooms, Lady Prunella Rutherford, the lady of the house, stood there, shaking with silent fury. However the silence did not last.

“What is this ghastly shade of blue my daughter is wearing?” She did not give Jeannie a chance to answer. “I have never seen a respectable woman so painted, her brother will not think good of it, take it off, and it’s despicable. What would my friends say if they ever saw you like this, my darling Henrietta?” She shot Jeannie a cold glare, said “I suppose it’s down to you, Snell, filling her mind with lies about how she’s in the height of fashion when you very well know she isn’t. I suppose you want to make her look bad in front of her friends and brothers.” She watched as Jeannie silently removed some of the make up. Apparently, it was too late to change the gown as she had heard that her youngest son’s carriage would soon be here. Henrietta followed her mother’s exit and turned to face her maid.

“Don’t take anything my mother said to heart. It was I who forced you to put more on, I only wanted to leave an impression on James and…”

“And?” Jeannie pressed, smiling. She need not have asked, she knew Henrietta wanted to impress any young bachelor who would arrive with her brother. He had said he would be inviting some friends.

“Oh, do stop asking questions, Jeannie please, we must go down now before we miss my brother’s arrival. I would so hate to not be there when he arrives, he would think me ghastly no doubt. I wonder what his opinion of me will be.” Jeannie watched as the young girl before her blabbered on, obviously nervous.

“Come miss. We cannot be late.” Henrietta stood and went to the receiving room door, her back straight. Jeannie looked at herself in the mirror quickly. Her dark hair was messy underneath her white, starched cap. She quickly flattened it down. She had thin lines under her eyes from tiredness but hopes no one would notice. She straightened her grey uniform and licked her lips nervously, her brown eyes staring back at her. She jumped when Henrietta asked her what was taking so long. She hurriedly fetched her mistress’s parasol and gloves, wondering if the wind had picked up outside.

They travelled downstairs and waited with Lord Rutherford, the master of the house, Lady Prunella Rutherford, their eldest son, Lord Markus Rutherford and his wife, Lady Cordelia Rutherford. Servants stood behind them, waiting anxiously and glancing around the hall, looking for any flaws in their cleaning. Quiet chatter started as the minutes went on. At last a herald announced that a carriage had entered the grounds. The Master of the house led the procession outside into the windy front of the house. Jeannie clicked her tongue as some of her hair escaped her cap and flitted around. She quickly pushed it behind her hair as a dark, gleaming carriage came into view, shimmering beautifully in the light.

It seemed all the servants had formed a long line outside the house behind them. The family stood in the front, waiting excitedly. Jeannie stood a little behind Henrietta as was expected. At last the carriage rolled up onto the driveway and the door was opened. Jeannie; as short as she was, stood on tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the man that exited the carriage first.

AN: Tell me what you think, I'm experimenting!