The sky was still the pre-dawnshade of grey [s]that comes before dawn[/s] when I slipped silently out of bed. The fire had gone out and the wood floor felt cold against my bare feet. I walked across the room towards the fireplace No comma here and sat down in the intricately carved wooden chair placed by the hearth. My eyes traveled to the few glowing embers that stood out against the dull ash and soot in the fireplace. I noticed a [s]scarlet[/s] book with a scarlet cover and binding left askew on the floor and picked it up. Opening to a random page, I stared at the lines of words, but I [s]felt[/s] was so distracted that I couldn’t concentrate long enough to read a whole sentence. It didn’t matter; I wasn’t in the mood to read anyway. I lay the book back down soundlessly and returned my gaze to the ashes, my chin in my hand.
I felt a frustrating mix of emotions toying with my mind: sadness, excitement, nervousness, and a few others that I cannot name for lack of words. [s]Today I would leave this house for another one.[/s] Today I would abandon this house, only to be installed in another. A slightly better one, for I was leaving to marry a count with my cousin Elizabeth. She was marrying the count’s brother. How excited I was when I learned that I would not have to leave Elizabeth, who was like a sister to me. *
*This part was stated very bluntly and with little emphasis. In fact, I thought you were joking. Because of its casual undertone, I didn't really take it seriously. I thought Emma might have a little more brains to put a distinct emotion of the whole affair, like nerves or contentedness.
For what seemed like an eternity I sat staring into the fireplace. Finally sunlight began to show through the gap between the thick curtains which veiled my window. [s]Then[/s] I heard a faint knock.
“Miss Hereford?” called a voice, muffled by the large wooden door.
“Come in,” I called back. A stout maid entered carrying a long yellow gown. Elizabeth came in behind her, already dressed in a pale green gown. The maid glanced over at me.
“[s]You are up early.[/s] You have been awake for a while. Thinking about your journey, are you?”
I did not believe that such a question should warrant a response, so I stayed silent and held my gaze. The maid walked over to the curtains and pulled them aside, letting in the radiant sunlight. I was not yet accustomed to the light. I squinted and held my hand over my eyes.
“Come, Miss, Lord Robert [s]waits for[/s] awaits you downstairs. You must get dressed.”
Reluctantly, I stood up from the chair and walked over to the maid. I pulled my shift over my head, and slipped on two petticoats. Yikes. Undressing with the window uncovered? That would make me nervous.
Over all of this went the extravagant yellow gown. It was the most beautiful gown I’d ever had, with white ruffles on the sleeves and the front of the bodice and a flowered embroidery pattern. The maid combed my hair and pulled it up into an [s]very[/s] elaborate bun which she tied with white ribbons, leaving two ringlets hanging by my temples.
NP>> Finally, Elizabeth handed me a white fan decorated with little green flowers. She stood next to me and we stared at our reflections in the mirror. We were the same height and had the same chocolate brown hair and fair complexion. Her eyes were a light brown while mine were a deep blue. Our dresses were quite similar, but hers was light green. I could see faint traces of the abundant freckles that had covered my face as a child, but they were hardly noticeable anymore. We smiled at our reflections, but did not speak for nerves. I think those nerves may have come from excitement.
“Thank you,” I said to the maid.
“It was my pleasure, Miss Hereford.” She smiled at me before [s]turning[/s] bobbing a curtsy and heading out the door. I looked at Elizabeth, who turned and threw her arms around me.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving. We’ve spent our entire lives here,” she said into my shoulder. Tone of voice? Sad? Worried? Ecstatic?
“But we’ll be together.”
“Yes,” she said, “I thank God for that.”
We stood at the doorway with our arms around each other for another minute, and then I pulled back.
NP>> Elizabeth pausedbefore saying, [b]connected lines “What do you think it’ll be like being married? I’ve never thought about it much.”
“I can’t say. I’ve always thought that I would feel different after being married…” I trailed off, recalling childhood dreams.
“In what way?” Elizabeth asked.
“I don’t know… Just different.” Elizabeth looked thoughtful.
“I’ve heard that Penshurst is beautiful. I think I’ll enjoy living there.”
I smiled. Elizabeth always seemed so blithe and carefree. She was the opposite of me in that way. It made me feel peaceful to be around her.
“Are you ready?” I asked. She waited, thinking.
“Yes.”
We descended the grand stairs to the first floor to find Lord Robert Carre and Lord Thomas Carre, our husbands elect, waiting for us at the base of the staircase. They smiled up at us timidly. My eyes were fixed on Lord Robert, the count. He had the most wonderful smile I had ever seen. His striking, emerald green eyes twinkled as he watched me climb down the stairs.
Almost a month ago I turned fifteen, and there I was walking down the stairs to greet a man that in a year or so would be my husband. I walked slowly, almost wondering if it were all a dream. When I reached the base of the stairs, Robert took my hand and bowed deeply over it.
“Miss Hereford,” was all he said, his tone stiff and formal. (I just added this because it is how I heard it in my mind.
“Lord Robert,” I breathed, and sank into a low curtsy. “How do you do?”
“I am well, thank you,” he said, a bit awkwardly. I suppose he must have been nervous as well. “You are taller,” he remarked.
“Yes, well it has been a year, sir. I was but fourteen when we met last,” I replied. Robert smiled; I amused him.
OVERALL: So far it is wonderful. I'm really liking the storyline, excluding the marriage part. I just want to know Emma's personal feelings on the subject. I know marriage wasn't exactly an intimate thing back then, but Emma seems smart and independent, so I want to know what she thinks of it. She seems to like Robert, which it good.
Anyway, I like it a lot. PM me when chapter 2 is up, 'kay?
~Sunny
