My little beauty Arabella... Hope you love her as much or more than me.
May 1890,
Nalia looked up as their carriage turned the corner and headed up the hill towards Havcrove Manor. Her hand 4if you do not breath you will surely expire or faint dead away then," here she paused to ensure her charge was paying attention, "Ara and I both will follow suit... Heavens! The shock the footman shall get as he opens the door and behold all the occupants are unmoving."
She,was a small woman with graying hair and striking blue eyes.
Nalia felt herself smile for the first time in weeks, a true genuine smile before giving her answer.
"My dear, Mrs.Stockman,I believe that would be very inconsiderate of you thus be sure to hold on to your senses,while I give in to the strangles of this corset Maria put on me and do as you said."
Before her companion had time to answer the carriage stopped and the door was opened.
Stepping down she turned to receive the child in her companions arms. Praying spiritedly that the lord of this manor would not turn her on her heels she took a bracing breath into her constricted lungs.
They had travelled nigh for 10 days and although Ara never complained she had become quite and looked about with a bleakness in her small round eyes.
Glancing at her now,Nalia saw her curly blond wisps were more unruly than usual and her small mouth was puckered in her sleep. A smile broke on her own lips thinking that she was probably quarrelling with someone in her sleep,most likely chef for extra dessert. Giving in to the impulse, she placed a quick kiss on her forehead and went forth ready to part the red sea to get her to bed.
Favour seemed to be upon her though,for Mrs.Stockman had already matched to the door,back ramrod straight and was giving the butler rapid fired instructions. Biting back her smile, Nalia followed the footman, into the house. It did not escape her that no one was there to receive them nor did it miss her notice that the servants were crowding the hallway. Trying to smile sincerely and praying her hair was not as rumbled as that of the 3 year old in her arms, she politely waited to be announced before matching into the palour.
Nathaniel,Duke of Hahn,was quietly sipping his tea. His mother and aunt had taken it upon themselves to be present. He had no allusions as to their purpose,for while it could be said they were there for support, it was true that it was not for his benefit. That it seemed was for the poor woman he was to meet no doubt.
For the past 2 hours he had been forced to bear the sharp tongue of both women and this he thought was underation. He nderstood the fear the ton had for the Dowager Duchess and her sister in law the Dowager Countess of Whill. The one time when he had, despite himself, shot a glare that usually silenced many to them, they had returned it without a beat,looking at him from beneath their noses like an insolent rat who'd dared enter their chambers.
Now as the announcement of their guest was made,he forced himself not to get up and go look.To see for his own self if indeed she resembled his beloved Talia. His heart ached as it did whenever he thought of her. The sparkling green eyes with hints of brown and wild red hair that was incredibly uncommon which had attracted her to him the first time. Her soft smile that was always filled with such asurance and long legs that wrapped around his waist as he delved into her warmth.
He sighed as he was brought out of his reveer by the loud cough of his mother and looked up to see her giving him a chilling look before he realised he had missed something. He was about to ask for clarification when a movement on her right caught his attention.A petite young woman stood next to his mother.Her skin was covered in clothing but he could see how well the clothes fit.She held a blanket close to her bossom but what caught his attention and struck his heart was the mass of wispy red hair that was held loose on her head.It seemed that it had come out of its pins at some point and a few strands were dancing on the side of her face. He met her eyes and took a deep breath to ease the choke he felt in his throat. Hazel eyes stared back at him with such haughtiness that he nearly laughed. She must have sensed his humour for she lifted a pointed chin upwards and puckered her mouth in a way that made him want to plant a quick kiss on her lips. Faith,but she looked so much like Talia that his arms ached to crush her in them. He started towards her but the bundle in her arms started squirming. Her gaze reverted to her arms and a tender expression crossed her face.Her lips parted in a smile and her whole face brightened. Dimly he wondered what could elicit such a reaction from her while his mind reacted to that smile-Talia's smile that she wore so often as she laughed at him over something or other.
The silence that had fallen over the room was broken by a sweet childish voice emitting from her blankets. "Mama?" It sounded so disconserted that for a second he did not understand what it had said. When he did however he could not hide his expression quick enough. It must be a child. A child!Who had called his bethrothed mama.He shot a look to his mother but she seemed just as disoriented. His aunt was looking to her with eyes wide with questions.
He saw a mass of curly blond hair emerge from the bundle and small pale fists reach out to cling to the lady's neck in what he assumed was fright.
Oblivious to the reactions they were eliciting, Nalia ignored protocal and seated herself to the settee next to her.
She pushed Ara a little bit further from her in order to look into her eyes.Smoothing her hair she cooed slowly and whispered reassuringly to her.Hearing her voice she felt Ara calm down.
Her energy came back and she started bouncing up and down on Nalia's laps."Mama? Where are we?" She asked as her eyes darted across the room eyeing the bright blue of the wallpaper then the cherubs and landed-briefly on the other occupants of the room.
She smiled.Her heart bursting with the love she felt for the little toddler in her lap. "We are at Hahn manor,my love, the place I told you about do you recall? Are you feeling better now baby?" She asked her hands going to touch the child's forehead and felt her skin cool.
Those darti g green eyes became so fixed on her with such a brightness that Nalia wondered if she had truly been asleep.
She received a quick nod of bouncing curls which reminded Nalia that they were in company. Trying to smooth her hair to make her atleast presentable,she prepared herself to introduce her daughter,setting Ara softly on her feet.
"Princess,mama needs to introduce you to some other people. Is that ok my love?"
She heard a gasp and struggled not to smile. She had again broken protocol not that it hardly mattered,she was sure that these people would never like her but as long as she had her daughter nothing would distress her.
Ara stood up,her back straight as could be giving her consent by conduct. She took a moment to smile at her daughter whom she suddenly realized was growing too fast.
"Princess,meet the Dowager Duchess of Hahn and her sister in law, the Dowager Countess of Whill."
She hoped they understood the way she had introduced Ara,she was a princess after all. Finally Ara turned and looked up and Nalia heard the dowager gasped.
Ara being respectful, gave a nod and said, "it's a pleasure".
Unfortunately the dowager's legs seem to give way. She'd have fallen flat on her behind if not for her son's help.
Ara confused, forgot to be brave and hurried behind Nalia's skirts. She peeped at the duchess and asked "mama,is she ok?Did I do something to her? "
Nalia smiled even though her body was tired,her feet exhausted, her back ached from sitting for so long and her eyelids felt like they had sand behind them but her daughter needed her for this.
"No my love,you did well, the duchess is just a little tired. "
Ara nodded accepting the words for gospel truth then smiled and promtly stepped foward, the need to help overcoming her shyness. She walk on sturdy plump feet to where the duchess was seated and started a quick conversation that would have been considered chidding from an older person.
"My mama says that if I do not take my naps I will become very tired and not be able to play.You must not have taken your nap and now your tired."
Nalia saw her pause to lift her chin in the way she usually did before giving Ara a punishment.
"You should go rest or else I won't let you play,".
The dowager let out a bark of laughter and Ara seeing that this was not the desired outcome, looked uncertainly back at her mama then she grinned and puckered her lips then added
"neither will you get dessert today and tomorrow".
Nalia bit back her laugh but a smile broke through anyway. She had no idea how this tiny person could mimick her so well. Noticing the dowager was whispering to Ara, she kept her eyes fixed on them refusing to look at the man next to them.
Really? What could she say? How could she explain the cunning resemblance between the two. The blond hair that was as gold as sunlight,the wide eye touching smile, or the wide perfectly bow shaped mouth that had the bottom lip fuller and darker?
Fatigue was burning her body and she simply wanted to rest.
Gathering her courage,she finally met the dowager's eyes and said with a firm voice.
"I apologize for being out of sorts but the journey has been a long one and I feel on the verge of fainting dead away."
she paused and gave her best offended look at the trio to somehow convey her annoyance at their lack of courtesy.
"Ah...I mean, ofcourse, you must be tired. Please, follow Humbert to your chambers. We had a bath drawn incase you needed one and you may rest until supper which is at eight."the woman who had been introduced as the dowager's sister in law said.
Smiling gratefully at her ,Nalia picked up her skirts and extended her hand to Ara
"come my love,lets go take a bath,then you can play later."
Trustingly, she placed her tiny fingers around Nalia's index and picked up her small skirts and they swept off the room.
At the door she stopped to say her excuses to the room and the door closed behind them.
The dowager duchess of Hahn nearly had an apoplexy. She could not believe her eyes but before she spoke,her sister in law broke out
"Faith,I am yet to see two people who look so alike .Were it not for her eyes,I would have believed the ghost of Hahn's Chrismas past had come for a visit."