Frog Meets Girl

Chapter 18-- Words and Doors

Surprise! Another chapter complete. Yay!

What surprised Gabby the most, as she left the dinner table and returned to her rooms was that this feeling propelling her into action was not the simmering anger that had been her constant companion earlier in life.

Perhaps anger had been the catalyst, but as she’d mulled over the possibility of a conference with her father, something deep in her gut had untangled, sending a rushing feeling of freedom tingling through her arms and legs.

            This feeling tugged at her memories of a distant afternoon spent on horseback when she felt as though she were capable of taking on the world. It was tinged now with sadness that she wasn’t sure would ever completely leave, but it was the same nonetheless.

            It was late in the evening by the time she was ready for bed and although she was exhausted, she sat at her writing desk for a moment to carefully compose a note.

            Father,

           

            I would like to speak to you about something of importance. Please expect to see me in your study just after lunch tomorrow. If this is not a good time, Acantha will be happy to make other arrangements with you upon the receipt of this note.

 

            Thank you,

 

            Gabriella

            She folded in the edges of her stationery and emblazoned her seal upon the hot wax used to close the paper.

            “Acantha,” she called, “Please deliver this into my father’s hands at once. I would like you to wait for a response.”

            Both irritated and pompous because of her mysterious errand, Acantha bustled out of the room.

            Will looked curiously at Gabby. Though baffled at her sudden behavior change, he’d really liked the way she carried her chin just then, and the confident movements of her hands as she settled onto the couch with a book on the Anglo-Saxon conflict. Though an odd choice for a bit of bedtime reading, Will was fascinated by it. He inched a little closer so that he might read over her shoulder.

            Not the only one to notice her behavior, Isabella—who’d never really been working on her needlework anyway—spoke up. “You’re different today, Gabby.”

            She looked up from her book, “Yes. I am.”

            “What’s going on?”

            Twisting her bottom lip slightly, she bit it softly as she thought about it. “I’m really not sure, but I feel different.” She knew it had a lot to do with her bedtime conversation with Will, but she wasn’t ready to say it aloud. The quiet conversation held a hallowed place in her mind, forging a golden thread connecting her forever with Will.

            Isabella studied her for a moment before reaching out and squeezing Gabby’s hand. “Whatever it is, I think it’s good for you.”

            Despite the sad ache in her throat, Gabby smiled back at her. “Yes. I think so too.”