Chapter 2
The silks and muslins arrived a month after Arial had written to her father. They were quite beautiful fabrics. As ordered, Arial decided to take them to Mrs. Holmes’ Dress Shop.
“Good morning Mary.” Arial smiled as she entered the kitchens. The kitchens was one of the places Arial liked best. The floor was its natural state, just plain old dirt floor. The kitchen always smelled like exotic spices. Dried herbs hung from the ceiling, amongst pots and pans. The old cupboards were of dark wood and beautifully carved. Golden light spilled in from the windows, giving the room a very cozy effect. The kitchens’ floor plan was very jumbled up. One kitchen led to another and that one led to another room and so on.
“What are you doing here Arial?” Mary said looking up from her work. Her large pinks hands stuck in the sticky mess of dough and flour.
“I am going to the town. I have to get the fabrics to the Dress Shop before I am in more trouble with Margery.” Arial said as she poured herself a mug of milk.
“Hmpf! Those girls are so rotten and spoiled! And that old fool of a woman! Drives your father of your own home, and tortures you! God help me if I kill them.” Mary started her rant about the corruption of the world. While Arial sneaked a fresh bun from the warming basket and spread some butter onto it. Mary was very touchy with her buns. She always baked an even number.
“I’ll see you later Mary!” Arial shouted as she sneaked out of the side which lead outside. Arial smiled at Mary’s affection for her and she shook her head in amusement. Mary was as close to being her mother than her own mother. If it had not been for Mary, Arial might have been driven into insanity!
Arial walked onto the road and secured the knots on the bag containing the fabrics and her little pouch that held her gold coins. She hummed and sang as she walked for the next hour as she made her way to town. She could have taken the carriage, but she enjoyed walking. After she grew hungry in exercise, she took out the bun she had buttered and packed for her little trip, and ate it.
A little while later, the town came into view. Arial grimaced as the horrible stench of the sewer meet up with her nose. “How do people stand the smell?” Arial asked herself as she entered the town.
“People have become so used to it, that they don’t even notice.” Someone said behind Arial, she turned around to see a young handsome blacksmith. His face was gleaming with sweat and red from the heat. His golden locks of hair and kind brown eyes seemed to sparkle in kindness.
“Er… Sorry, I was sort of talking to myself.” Arial said in confusion. After realizing she forgot to introduce herself, she quickly added, “My name is Arial McLake.” and she extended her hand.
“Cedric James.” He said and took her hand and kissed it. “And may I ask why such a fair lady that I have never seen before doing in town all by herself?” He smiled.
“Oh, um… I am just going to Mrs. Holmes’ Dress Shop.” Arial replied in a nervous manner.
“I see. Are you getting dresses for yourself, my lady?” He asked. Arial felt kind of suspicious that a complete stranger was asking such questions. But
she pushed her thoughts aside.
“No, actually I am getting dress for my sisters. And please call me Arial” Arial said.
“Alright then, Arial. Then you shall call me Cedric.” He smiled and said, “You seems somewhat familiar to me now. Have we ever meet before?” He asked as he arched his eyebrows. “No wait! I think I know who you are. Does your father happen to be Lord Marcus McLake?”
“Yes, how did you know?” Arial asked in a high nervous voice. This Cedric guy was really starting to creep her out.
“Well, your father is quite famous around here. He brings a lot of goods from all over Europe to us. All the way from India and China sometimes.” He said. Arial let a breath she didn’t even know she was holding. “Its quite odd that I thought he didn’t have any family. He never mention a word about it.”
“My father is quite busy and very engrossed in his work. I guess he never thought about it.” Arial said. She wanted to get away from Cedric so she added, “I guess, I should be going. I have a lot of things to do. It was nice meeting you Cedric.” She said.
“The pleasure was all mine.” He smiled and kissed her hand once more before he let Arial go. She gave him a weak smile and a curtsy and walked off. Arial’s heart was beating a thousand beats a second. She had never been this scared in her whole life!
After Arial gave Mrs. Holmes the measurements and fabric. She found that she had extra left over. So she toke it for herself. She bought a bun at a bakery and ate it on her way home. She meet a lot of people who seemed to know her father. All seemed to complement her. Even Mrs. Holmes offer to make her a dress for half the usual price, but Arial politely declined. She already had enough dress.
Arial arrived just before sunset and marched straight into her room to take a bath. She felt so filthy from just being in that town! She warmed up the water and got into the tub. Enjoying every single moment of it. She washed her hair and her self and got out, after the water started to get cold.
Drying herself off, she went into her room and looked through her closet and decided on her light grassy green dress. She braided her hair and skipped down to the kitchens to find Mary.
Once there, she found all the servants running around like chickens with their heats cut off. Finally she found Mary in the pantry, and asked her what in the world was going on.
“It seems that your father is coming home,” She said and Arial interrupted her with a whoop of joy. Mary gave her a look and she immediately subsided and Mary continued. “And he seems to have company with him.”
“What, why?” Arial started to question but Mary cut her off.
“Now go upstairs and fix your hair and put on a nice gown.” Mary said and walked off to do her work. Arial shrugged to herself and skipped back to her room. All the while her stomach jolted with excitement.
Author: HOKAY! I hope you quizillians liked it! R&M! Weird weather we are having no? ITS ALL BECAUSE OF GLOBAL WARMING! RECYCLE! TURN OFF EXTRA LIGHTS! DON'T USE TO MUCH GAS! AND BUY JAPANESE OR OTHER FUEL EFFICIENT CARS!
