Chapter 6: Frustrating Man

Both Dre and Rose made their way into the carriage without a word. She felt a tall wall come up between her and Mr Rickhorn in the last few hours. Not because she was trying to create a distance but more due to the things she had heard and seen.

Even more so, she had never felt more out of place. Outside the window of the once more silent carriage, the bustling streets and starry sky no longer seemed like a dream. She knew that this place was not somewhere she could fit in easily but now it was even more evident. The very man sitting across her was an example as to why she will never belong to the city and always be a 'country folk'.

She had mentioned to Daisy that she wanted to become a doctor, and it was true. Part of the reason for her coming to the city, apart from her parents going on holiday, is that there was doctor here in the city who was acquainted with her father. Not many women in the kingdom aspire to become doctors since almost all professions are taken by men and so it was difficult for a women to try that particular career path. In these times, women are expected to be housewives and nothing more. To see a woman doing a job that you would normally see a man doing, which is almost anything unrelated to cooking and cleaning, it is unusual. There were some women who broke away from the norm, but very few and they were often those from high society in the cities and families with a strong influence.

The doctor who was acquainted with her father, was to meet him soon. Her father and mother at first did not think it a good idea to follow a career as a doctor, though as watched how dedicated she was throughout her teens where she would read and learn all things healing related and basics on treating patients, they slowly changed their minds and soon agreed that she go to meet Doctor Ganie and request that he make her his apprentice so that she could learn from him.

It was a dream come true just coming all the way to the capitol, but now she started to feel discouraged. Can she really do this, she thought.

All these thoughts ran through her mind as she gazed out the window. So when Dre spoke, she jumped a little in surprise.

"I am assuming that you did not enjoy your time, Miss Woods?" he asked with his head slightly tilted to the side.

Not knowing how to respond as she did not want to seem defeated, she said, "Apologies for making you leave early with me, Mr Rickhorn."

"You seem upset." he said but at the same time displayed the same expression that she would always see on his face as if he was utterly and absolutely bored. Or was it indifference? She asked herself. He just seemed to not care about a thing around him, and now he makes such a statement?

"Do I?" she snapped back unintentionally. This caught his attention but did not ask on it.

"Yes, you do."

"And does it matter if I do?" she asked, getting more agitated.

"Fair enough, milady." he responded. This irritated Rose as he could have stayed quiet but instead he decided to have a poke at her. Was he mocking her because she had said at the beginning of the evening that she would be able to handle herself but ended up leaving?

"Is there something you would like to say to me?" she asked, now not concealing her bad mood.

"Nothing at all Miss Woods, I merely asked because you look so obviously upset." he said this time not bothering to look at her but rather watch the bustling streets outside.

"Well, all those women had a lot to say about you, Mr Rickhorn." she couldn't help throwing at him. But he didn't react the way she expected, instead he just turned his bored gaze to her and replied, "Did they?"

"Mr Rickhorn, does it not bother you, the things that circulate regarding your private life?" she asked feeling exasperated.

"Why should it? They are merely women who like to gossip, nothing more." he replied.

"That is absurd! You must care about your image. You are after all a councilman." she tried to reason.

"You seem very concerned, Miss Woods."

"Rest assured, I have no interest in you like the women back at the Flora hotel." she said with her chin up.

"Then we have nothing to worry about." he said before leaning his head on the seat behind him and closing his eyes.

This frustrated her to no end. She didn't respond and chose to continue watching the road outside the window of the carriage.

While the two road along, making their way back to Rickhorn Mansion, Daisy had exited the servant quarters that where behind the mansion.

She was now outside, slowly making her way to the front of the building where she was asked to meet with Sir Roy.

The night was quiet and tranquil unlike the streets that went into the center of the city where Rose and Dre had gone. Here there was soft hum as the crickets chirrup sounded across the grounds together with the slight warm breeze. It was summer in Kantor and the grass was soft as Daisy padded across the lawn. She stopped just before rounding the corner of the building where the balcony situated outside Roy's room was.

Hesitating, she looked up into the sky where the stars twinkled playfully and she clutched the skirt of her linen frock with one hand, the other holding a lit lantern as she felt her heart thump in her chest.