The sun was setting over the hillside as I stepped outside. My skirt graced the stone-bricked path as I descended the stone steps. At the end stood a golden carriage with leaves detailing around the door and up the roof, as if holding it up. Next to the carriage stood Lord Nicholas talking with a man I hadn't seen before, both wearing their best suits and finest top hats.
They were in deep conversation joking around with one another, unaware of my immediate arrival. I was only a few steps away when they finally noticed me. They straightened their backs and turned towards me.
I stopped a few feet before them, "my lords," I said politely.
"Lady Blair," Lord Nicholas greeted me with a bow. I looked over at his friend, who was staring back at me. Nicholas put his hand on his friend's shoulder almost pulling him forward. "This is my good friend from boarding school, Lord Colinder," he said.
Colinder stepped forward and took my hand while greeting me, "My lady Blair, it is an honor to meet you." He bowed down and gently kissed the back of my hand.
I could not hide the shock on my face, or the red on my cheeks. "It is an honor to meet you too, Colinder," I said giving a short curtsy.
He looked up at me and smiled. "Please call me Colin and might I say you look lovely this evening," he said slowly letting go of my hand.
"You might," I said jokingly, not sure what the best response would be.
"So, where did you go to school?" I asked trying to get their attention of myself.
"We went to Lampolin boarding school, the greatest school there is!" he said proudly.
"Lampolin? As in Lampolin, Norlia in Torvelia?" I asked.
"Yes, only the most modernized city in the world! We have so much to learn from them," said Nicholas, taking off his hat as if it could not contain his aspiration.
"And such a beautiful country it is, truly the pride of the North!" said Colinder.
"Speak for yourself, I almost froze my as-" Nicholas quickly stopped himself remembering he was speaking in front of a Lady. "-My toes off."
"Nice save," I could not help myself but it was too fun not to point out, lady-like or not. The others thought so too, there was a moment of uncertainty quickly followed by laughter.
"I am a born and bred Torvailian you see, I am not much affected by the cold," Colin explained.
"And I promised to show him sensible weather," Nicholas teased.
"I see, well there is no better way to show off our country than the Hillsburry ball," I agreed. It was the greatest ball of the season; the Hendricks always opened the season with Hillsburry. Their house was grand with a large ballroom and a great garden they opened for dancing, performances, and walking about the garden. Last year there was a hedge cut to the likeness of Edward.
"Is Princess Janessa far away? I looked at Nicholas who was scouting the entrance for Jane.
I tried my best to hide the smile forming on my face, not that he would have seen it the way he was scouting the entrance.
Colin watched his friend with the same joy as I. Our gaze met and we immediately knew what the other thought. This young Lord had fallen hard for my Jane, his eyes nearly fell off his face how hard he stared and we could not help but laugh. Nicholas ripped his gaze away from the doors and I could see his face turn pink.
"Jane should be right out, Edward wanted to talk to her since it was our first night out alone," I said hoping to ease his nervous look.
Colin pushed his shoulder against Nicholas. "Don't be so nervous Nichy! I'm sure she hasn't forgotten you yet, am I right my lady Blair?" he said with a cocky tone.
Oh, he was right. I do not believe Jane has been able to breathe without thinking of her dear Nicholas. However, I was not about to expose her to her crush and his college roommate.
I put on my sweetest smile. "Yes, Nichy," I said mockingly, the nickname felt strange to say out loud. "-do you fear your time spent together has been dull?" I said watching their reaction to my sarcastic performance of the times they spent together, from what Jane told me that is. "You know how forgetful the mind gets when it is wasted away with long walks and deep conversations-" I gave him a wink and continued "Oh, and do not get me started on the flowers. A woman should not have to suffer the smell of every season at once," I finished.
Nicholas let out a short laugh, unsure if I were being serious, "I shall have to apologize to Princess Janessa for my inconsiderate behavior to her senses, I did not know a lady could drown in fragrance," he said.
"She could not, I was talking about me. Did you really think her room could store all of them?"
Colin burst out laughing. I do not know what they had told him about me, but it was clear he was not expecting my love for a dramatic ramble.
"Well I-"Nicholas tried to answer but I was not finished.
"No, it could not. The first was placed in the hallway until there was no room there either. Then in the common rooms such as the library and dining room. Every day I must walk through this stunning greenhouse that is our home and the multitude of fragrances that accompany it," I let out a much-needed breath before finishing my rant; "It is excruciating."
"I can see I have caused you much pain, I shall try and keep to one season from now on," I had not talked to Nicholas much since Jane introduced him and it was such a shame, I see now we would be good friends. And it was clear he thought the same as I when he added, "Perhaps I could inquire with you from now on?"
"Perhaps that would be for the better," I said and to start our new friendship off I would give him some inside information; "Spring is her season; she loves the early blooms and days filled with more sunlight. Prystalroses is her favorite."
"And what is yours, Lady Blair?" Colin asked taking me off guard.
My little performance was not supposed to somehow lead back to me as the main topic of conversation. I don't know why the question took me off guard. It was not like I hadn't gotten any flowers before. Because I had. Not close to the amount Jane has but a few nonetheless. Sometimes they even spelled my name right. No one has asked me about my favorite season before, not even my favorite flower. It was not that I didn't know what it was, because I knew what my answer would be.
"Winter, there is something special about the flowers that brave the cold weather. I heard the north has the most beautiful frozen roses, I would love to see them one day," I said imagining the drawings I once saw of them in a book I found in the library.
"Why don't you?" he asked plainly.
"The roses will not survive down here; our climate is too unstable. To see them would mean traveling to Torvelia, and with the war brewing there is no chance Edward would let me go," I said.
"I see. The roses are fine and all. Lingull, however, lives all year long, it adapts to every environment it is thrown into. Its petals glow golden in the sun, and at nighttime, it disguises itself from predators. Phytologists say they turn dark as a raven from stem to petals to blend into the darkness," he said.
"Sounds enchanting," I said trying to imagine the flower he described.
"It is, I saw it once as I child, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I have looked for it in the forest and hills of Torvelia with no luck. It is extremely rare, you see, let us hope the legend is true," he said.
Legend? About a flower? How I love the Torvelian folklore, they can make a sagn about anything and make it sound dreamy.
I wanted to ask about it but Jane was running down the stairs yelling, "My Gods, we are so late!"
Nicholas put his hat back onto his head and went to open the carriage door, "do not hate me I bought them before our chat," he whispered to me before pulling a small bouquet out from the seat. "At least they are from spring," he said and I chuckled.
Jane reached us in time for Nicholas to turn back with the flowers in hand. Her cheeks were barely red from the running, her hair was still in a perfect bun and her dress had no wrinkles. Unfair, I would look like a mess after running that distance, with hair everywhere, and a crocked dress.
"Princess Janessa," he said and reached her the flowers, "you look gorgeous-" he reached out and kissed her hand, "-spring was in season and I thought they would look good next to you." That slick son of a Duke.
"Thank you they are stunning and I especially love spring flowers." She looked from him to me and gave a sly smile. If there is one thing Jane knows it is the minds of men and when they had gotten some help. I winked back at her trying my best to hold in my laugh.
"Now we have to leave or we will miss the opening act," she said hurrying us along.
"Ladies first," said Colin reaching out his hand.
"Why thank you, sir Colin," Jane said sweetly gently pushing me forward. "Go on Blair, don't leave the man hanging," she whispered the last part.
I took his hand and walked in the carriage making sure to give Jane the stinky eye first. Jane hopped in after me, she took hold of my hand and squeezed it with much excitement.
"I heard there will be dancers from Kandar this year, they are supposed to be excellent performers," Jane said.
Nicholas was the last to get in, "If that is the case, we better get a move on." He closed the door and knocked on the wall signaling to the coachman it was time to leave.