He frowned, unhappy that she'd say that as if it mattered. Of course, as we mentioned, we have a debt to repay, something that transcends what gender you are. He was about to add something else when the door opened and Edmund stepped inside. Apologies brother, I was wondering if I could have a moment with miss Hall. Victor nodded, stood and left the room silently. Edmund sat in the chair Victor was in and spoke, his Rheinlandic accent more pronounced in the quite room. John assures me you will, after some time, fully recover. It'll be painful of course but you'll be alright. Now, tell me what happened, and tell me why you walked home by yourself. He asked with a mix of sympathy and concern. True, she was of lower rank and of lesser social status, but she was also a ward of his family, and he had a duty of care towards her both as an officer and a gentleman. Although her ease on his eyes made it somewhat difficult for him to maintain full professionalism.
She stretched her body in the bed, tempting the attention of Edmund's eyes with her protruding chest, which was supposedly unintentional.
"You have been so kind to me, dear gentlemen." She yawned. "But I believe I am at least able to come home from the hospital on my own, be I a man or a woman?"
He struggled to flick his eyes upwards but managed eventually. You are of course at liberty to do what you please, we will not stop you. But the question is, how'd you end up in such a sorry state?
"Excuse my manners, Sir, I have just woken up and I am not thinking clearly. I have had neither dinner, nor breakfast, but I will answer whatever you need to ask with as much detail as I can."
He stood and gave a curt bow, Apologies my dear, I shall leave you and have something to eat sent to your room or wherever you choose and I shall leave you to recover.
He smiled, Of course my lady, I will meet you in the east Hall. One of the maids can show you the way if you cannot find it. I'll have the cooks prepare something nice for us. With that, he gave another curt bow and made his way back to his room where he changed his clothes. After a time, he made his way to the kitchens and spoke to the cook, instructing him to create something that would impress a lady, sternly reminding him that she was to regarded as one of the family for the duration of her stay and there was no excuse whatsoever for a sub-standard meal, she was more than a guest. With that, he had the table set properly and the windows opened.
The table was situated near the windows allowing for a glorious view of the plains and the forest before the towering mountain ranges set the background. While he waited, he stood watching the gardeners prune the tulips and hydrangeas at the front of the house.
If Elizabeth's nightgown and bedroom were the colour of a star's fire, then what she dressed now would fit in the void of space. If the whiteness of her bedchamber was a fire that consumed her old mask of a helpless child, her dress now was the ashes of the past evening, and it was meant to enrich the soil for something new to grow.
The maid opened the door of the East Hall before Elizabeth. The draft made the billowing curtains wake Edmund from reverie and direct his gaze to Elizabeth's new magnificence. Her gown was that of a mourning woman, but her face reflected the fresh and mighty landscape after the rainy night. "Since you are treating me more as a resident than a guest n-" But it wasn't a fresh and clean start anew, still drawing roots from the turbulent past -- as soon as she stepped in, Elizabeth's spine emitted a pulse of pain which made her proud image crumble the facade and shrivel into a grimace for a second. "-now", she immediately recovered, "I believe it would be acceptable if I wore black as if I was at home. May I have a seat?"
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