The Duke's Bride

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"I rember" I pause a moment and then it hits me. I reach into my bag and pull out a small silver moon neacklace and hand it to him. "She gave this to me as an engagement gift. Told me she always wanted a sister. Give this to him for me, and ask if he remembers the promise he made us. I will wait here for his reply." As I hand over the necklace I pray he remembers it. He promised us that he would make us sisters even if something happed to her that in life or death we would be sisters.

[Siegfried]

Siegfried takes the necklace, giving a bow before he vanishes up the stairs, leaving Elaina to inspect the kitchen and front hall alone. 

He returns a long few moments later, expression grim. "He remembers," says Siegfried, giving a bow. "He begs of you to depart from this place, and to tell those who sent you that he is deceased."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I stare at him for a few moments, my mind racing. Then it hits me my mother made me promis to either come back married or not at all and not coming back is far scaryer than fighting this poor morose man and before I can get another thought through my head I am dashing up the stares.

"Lance Edmond Reynolds! You will face me this instance!" I shout as pound on the study door. I knew I'd find him there as that was always his favorite hiding place.  "Open this door!" I scream rattling the handle "awnser me!" My voice breaks and I begin to sob.

"Please I miss them too. You don't have to do this alone.....please," I sob sliding down the door, "please just let me in"

[GamesMaster]

The upper floor contains the family suites; the door to Lance's study, the outermost of the rooms in his suite, remains steadfastly closed and locked. 

After a time, Sigfried comes up the stairs, offering a handkerchief. "Come. Let's get you settled here. Perhaps he will listen to reason after he sees you are not departing."

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I shake my head. "I will place a bead roll here. I will not let he think me gone." I smile at Sigfread, "it must be this house it breads madness. Still you and I can fix this place up around him and I shall wait him out. Come with me there is still light and much to do."

[Siegfried]

A house that breeds madness? Perhaps, thinks Sigfried, thinking back over the events that led to the death of the previous Duke. It seems a fighting dog the Duke's brother had been training for pit fights had broken into the house and savaged the family; the dog was put down, as were the rest of the dogs he'd been training, and the brother taken to the King's dungeons, leaving the young lad the only survivor and the new Duke. 

"Very good," he sighs. "Should I bother about the house rules, then?"

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"No. We shall write new ones." I say moving down the stairs. I lead the way to the carriage Lyell my father we will be married before the year is out but there is work that needs done here before we can be wed and to send my maids to help."  As the carriage pulls away I turn back in. "Show me the state of your kitchen" I say tying up my hair

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I sigh as I walk into the kitchen. It's not a total mess but still in need of a good cleaning. I walk to the sink and fill a bucket with soap and water. And lug it to the back door. "I'll start on the walls you start on the floors" I say as I begin to scrub the back wall.

[Siegfried]

Sigfried grumbles, "I clean weekly," but gets out the cleaning supplies. In truth, the kitchen isn't the worst it's ever been. It's clearly suffering from a lack of know-how rather than a lack of care; everything is clean-ish, but nothing's been deep cleaned in years. It's not as bad as the front room, where there are drop-cloths over the furniture under a thick layer of dust. The kitchen gets used.

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I smile a I tuck into the work that needs done. We will have two more helpers come tomorrow afternoon when my maids arrive to help. Still there is much to be done. I can't help but feel light hearted as I scrub the walls, this was always my favorite chore. Father believed that every noble should know how blessed they were and insisted that my sisters and I have chores.in politicos you're never sure where you stand but you can always see how far you've come when cleaning. At the end of two hours the kitchen is cleaned and supper is starting.

"I'll leave you to the cooking and start on the stairs and see how far I get before dinners ready." I say cheerfully picking up a broom in one hand and a soapy bucket and scrub brush in the other

[Siegfried]

"Lovely," says Siegfried, trying to figure out what he can cook that wouldn't be insulting but would also not destroy his scrawny little arms either. I suppose I could slaughter one of the chickens and roast it... 

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

I feel at peace as I sweep the cobwebs clear of the walls and floor. I can't help but sing as I sweep. " lavenders blue dilly dilly lavenders green when you are king dilly dilly I shall be queen" the scrubbing is cathartic to say the least as a scrub my troubles away. I've finished the steps to the entry way when I hear a crash and run back to the kitchen

[Siegfried]

"I'm alright!" calls Siegfried weakly, wincing as he looks at the heavy cast-iron pot he's dropped on his ankle. The ankle is at a crooked angle, crushed beneath the weight of the pot, but he bites his lip, determined not to show the pain of it. 

[Countess Elaina Moorwood]

"My gods why didn't you say you were too tired? Come here!" I tut to the pot as I lift it off him. "That's broken." I say looking at his ankle. "There's nothing to be done I'll take you to a doctor come on lean on me." I say helping him up

[Siegfried]

"I'm certain some rest will resolve it," he says, gritting his teeth. We don't have money for the doctor, at least, not for a mere servant.