Chapter
four--Sudden TruthsTime passed quickly those days and those days weighed more and more on my back screaming for me to reveal my true identity to my new companions. I had grown to trust the two men and I felt like it was rude of me not to tell them the truth. I could hear the past say trust and tell in a muffled scream.
The day was over and the night fell quickly. Joshua, Manning and myself had made ourselves comfortable by the fire. Manning sat in the more comfortable chair while I sat on the floor next to him. They were both unhappy about my choice of seats but I assured them that it was more comfortable to me. However I had chosen to sit closer to the fire. There was the usual moment of silence where words disappeared and we were left to our thoughts. My heart pounded telling me that now was the time. I looked at the fire and decided I would stare into it while I spoke, unwilling to meet their eyes.
“Armista…” I spoke suddenly. I seemed to have wakened the two men out of their thoughts and brought their attention to me.
“Armista? That sounds familiar…he’s a Baron or a Count or something isn’t he?” Manning had a confused hint in his voice, he was unsure as to what I meant. I kept my eyes steady on the fire.
“Both actually. A Baron in England and a Count in France.” I stopped for a heartbeat. “He is a lonely man.” So far Manning had not gotten the point of my words. However Joshua stayed silent and watchful as if he knew.
“I’m sure I heard his wife was murdered and only a few weeks after that his daughter ran away with the son of his sworn enemy the Duke Ereghn. Is that true?” I shook my head in disagreement slowly still staring steadfastly into the fire.
“’Tis true his wife was murdered and his daughter did run away but not with the Duke’s son. The Duke’s son died before she ran away. Some say that’s why she ran.”
“But…” Joshua spoke this time. “Is that the reason you ran Orianna? Was it Ereghn?” I finally broke my gaze on the fire to meet eyes with Joshua. Tears filled my eyes but they didn’t leave them. I knew that he had already guessed.
“A part of it.” My voice was soft. “My father’s domineering personality contributed to it. Also my mother’s death.” I sighed and went back to my fire. “I didn’t…I didn’t want to marry my teacher or the man who…” I let it trail off. I still hadn’t looked at Manning but I was sure he was confused.
“The man who…?” Manning asked.
“The father of my child.” I looked up at Manning who looked back down to me his face went from confused to blank. “The father of my unborn child.” My voice was soft and almost choking. I was so scared that they would be angry. I believe that I was more afraid that Manning would not like me.
“A Lady…” Manning spoke mainly to himself. “It explains a lot. And to think we’ve been treating you like less than nobility—” I interrupted him.
“Oh no please don’t think that. You have treated me so well…better than I should have been. I didn’t want to be treated differently…”
I looked up at him, scared that he would look away but he didn’t, he looked me straight in my eyes and smiled softly.
“To have such nobility and not flaunt it…makes you truly human.” Manning seemed a bit impressed. There was yet another hint of some deeper meaning or deeper relation that I couldn’t place. “May I ask you why you do so?” He asked.
I thought for a heartbeat, trying to bring order to my thoughts.
“Because…there are other things in life, things more important than power, money, the size of your estate, the significance of your name…things more…earthly…more joining with one’s soul that can give more happiness than material things.”
“I agree.” Manning’s voice was sullen but blank and Joshua nodded in agreement. Perhaps they understood my meaning…at least I knew Joshua did. Joshua knew about the earth and the special things that are in it that most people cannot see. Manning always seemed too interested in his religion to worry about the real part of living in this gift from the Goddess. Perhaps he saw it in his own way as many other people did. Their God gave them their perspective. Perhaps our Gods were not that different. Perhaps they were.
Spring flew into summer with a quickness that was blinding. My belly grew with the growing of my child but not so much that I could not hide it efficiently. Manning and Joshua started taking me to Southampton and Salisbury to make a sell things at the market. It was almost like old times in Portsmouth yet it lacked one thing: Aarie.
“You thoughts are flying Ori.” Manning nudged me bringing me back.
“Ah, yes.” I smiled nudging back. “Memories.” He smiled back at me with a smile that made my heart melt. “’Tis all, ‘tis all.” ‘Tis all I have. I said to myself but quickly corrected it. No, I have this now. Manning and Joshua…and my child. I touched my stomach and smiled to myself. I walked over to were the children were playing and laughed as I watched kids be the sweet fools that they were. The anticipation of my own child grew more and more with each passing week.
“Oh how beautiful!” A French woman’s voice broke my thoughts and made me look around. A nobles woman walked up to me, smiling. Her light blonde hair was put up in an elaborate head dress that had a veil attached and flowing down her back. She had pale skin and light brown eyes. She wore a beautiful blue dress with tight embroidered patterns and long elaborate sleeves. A silver chain connected to either side of her head dress met to a ice blue tear drop that draped over her forehead near her eyebrows.
She swept a piece of my hair over my shoulder.
“You are most lovely. You look as if you could dance in the French courts for years.” I tried to keep my face blank but it was hard. She was definitely from France but she seemed to be British born and bred. Could she know who I am? No, no not possible. She looked me over for a minute. “Yes, quite beautiful. Tell me young girl, what is your name?” I blinked unsure.
“O…Orianna Madame.” I said quietly and carefully. He eyes grew some emotion but it was quickly gone. She looked young, tired but young. Maybe six years older than me.
“Ah, and a noble name. Tell me what is your last name?”
“I…I have none Madame.” I hoped she would see my pause as shame instead of a lie. There was a pause between us.
“Well by a sylph did you gain such beauty? Sprung from the moon in thy beauty? Who was your father?” Her reference to a sylph and the moon made me question her religious background. Perhaps the religion of the earth?
“I know not Madame.” I looked down.
“Your mother?”
“Dead Madame.” I lowered my voice.
“Her name?” I paused debating the fact of her knowing me again. Should I tell? No.
“Lilly.”
“A gypsy?”
“Oh no…Madame.” I started out with a raised voice but lowered it remembering my stature.
“Well such a beautiful name anyway. No matter. Come my child and in our walk go this way and let us talk.” She smiled pleased with her own rhyme. We walked down the market, I glanced back looking at Manning who seemed busy selling to some women.
“Madame…I…”
“I’ll be just a moment.” We stopped and she faced me to her. “I want you to come live with me. I could make you loved by the whole French court the prince himself would not be able to resist you. No man could resist you. So what say you?” I blinked again wide eyed. Could I really go back to that life? Yes…but not now.
“Madame I cannot. I am with child and I need to stay with the father of my child. I thank you for wanting to help my unworthy case but the father would not agree and a woman is bound to her betrothed.” I winced in anticipation of her anger but there was none.
“Well Orianna I will be nearby should you change your mind but only for two months. Come see me at the estate nearby you know which I talk of?” I nodded. It was the only one within a mile from the market. “You will be welcomed.” With that she walked away and got into her carriage. I watched her leave, left to my thoughts. Then I walked back to our booth thinking, my mind racing. Manning…the father of my child, not true, but all the same appealing…in a strange way I wished he were the father…not just because he was a dear friend but because there was something more…a hint of something…maybe attraction…
Copyright of PN Luciérnaga 2000-01
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