Raine paced back and forth under the apple trees as she waited for her nurse to return. Her gaze alternated between staring at the gateway in the stonewall that led towards the harbour, and the balcony by her father’s office.
“Gah!” She kicked a fallen apple and watched it skitter over the roots, before it splattered into the base of the tree and released a sickly-sweet smell. “It was nine in the morning when I gave her the bottle and asked her to deliver it to him.”
Scrunching her nose at the smashed apple, she flounced over to the bench on the opposite side of the garden and flopped onto it. Her cheeks prickled as she imagined her mother lecturing her about presenting the image of a lady, so she adjusted herself to exuded some semblance of grace.
The bell rang the quarter of the hour and then the half hour. Moaning, she gave up on pretending to be graceful and draped her head over the back of the bench. “It’s been three hours since she left. Three long hours. Where is she? Did she die?” Raine stood abruptly and began stalking around the green space. “She’s old enough, that I wouldn’t put it past her.” With her hands on her hips, Raine glared at the door. “If she only knew what it was like to be in love, she would move with a bit more urgency. But no, she’s as old and pale as the grave she belongs in. So naturally, she has to move as swift as the worms she should be feeding.”
The gateway’s hinge creaked as the heavy wooden door was pushed inwards. “She’s here. Finally!” Raine clapped her hands together and picked up her skirts as she rushed towards the door. Skidding to a stop, she pulled the door the rest of the way open and threw open her arms to welcome the nurse back. “Well, what happened?”
Her nurse tottered into the garden, and wiped her brow with a cloth. Behind her, Raine spotted Peter as he stepped into the cool space. Shaking her head she pointed at the young boy. “Send him away. I want to speak with you in private, not in front of a child.”
The nurse panted and waved Peter away. “Stay at the gate boy. I’ll call for you later.”
With a bow, Peter stepped back out of the garden and pulled the heavy door shut.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Raine stared at the shut door for a few more minutes before pouncing on her nurse. “Oh dear nurse, why do you look so sad? Can you pretend to be happy for a few moments while you tell me what happened—even if the news is sad? Because,” she leaned forward hopefully, “if it is good news, you’re going to spoil it by looking so miserable.”
Her nurse waved her away as she stumbled to the bench and sat down heavily. “Bah, away with you girl. Let me sit a while.” Sighing, the older woman crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes.
“Oh come on,” Raine flopped down beside her. “Please. Please tell me.”
The nurse opened one eye. “What’s the rush girl? Can’t you see I’m out of breath?”
Raine’s eyebrows kissed her forehead as she swivelled to look at the other woman. “Out of breath? You saying you’re out of breath? How can you possibly be out of breath, when you still have enough breath to tell me that?” Her hair bounced around her shoulders as she shook her head in disbelief. “If you’re really out of breath, the least you could do is tell me what I want to know instead of complaining that you have no breath with which to speak. So now, tell me what I want to know. Is your news good news or bad news?”
Raine resisted the unladylike urge to shake her nurse as the other woman gulped in several large breaths of air before opening her eyes and facing Raine. “Well I can tell you one thing; you do not know how to choose a man.” The woman smiled before continuing. “He is pretty attractive, but knowing all of the men you’ve met, that doesn’t say much. He’s a bit rude, but I think if you can get by that, he’ll be quite gentle.”
Raine groaned and rolled her eyes. “I already know that. What I want to know is,” she dropped her voice low, “what did he say about our marriage?”
“Oh my body aches so.” The nurse moan dramatically before she massaged her arms and legs. “I can’t believe you, sending me down along the rocks to the wharf. I could have slipped and fallen to my death with all of this traipsing about I’ve done today.”
Suppressing a sigh, Raine patted her nurse’s knee in what she hoped was a soothing and placating manner. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. Now please, please tell me what he said.”
The nurse harrumphed. “From now on you can pass along your own messages.”
“I’d like to, but I’m sure someone would notice if I went down to the docks. And it’s not like I can always be here during high tide.”
“Are you able to be here during high tide today?”
“Yes.” Raine sat up a little straighter as she smiled excitedly.
“Then you should do that. Because he will be there and the two of you can become husband and wife. No go, get yourself ready. It is going to be an interesting night.”