Chapter 17 - Emilia

This garden is quickly becoming my favourite garden here in Hadlau, excluding the palace's own garden that is. I think it's the privacy of this garden that I prefer especially when I'm spending time with my mates, soon we won't have time for this or the space. Not with the amount of people who'll soon be arriving in case war is declared, and even if it isn't my mates have told me that they'll have to retake Nerkise anyway to restore order and keep the peace.

They'll get busier every day, it's a waiting game at the moment for troops and information to arrive but once those things start arriving it'll be non-stop planning and training. Luckily it seems that Lady Hess will keep me busy, first with the ball she's hosting soon and then she mentioned various charities that she helps and supports which I might be interested in helping as well.

It's nice getting to sit and enjoy a private dinner with them even though we always have dinner together since we got here it's never truly been alone. There'd always be servants running around just outside the dining room or coming in with more food or to take plates away. Now we're actually alone no servants around our only company being each other and the animals we can hear in the garden.

We take our time finishing dinner, picking at the food we'd been sent, before taking a slow walk around the garden to help the food go down. Only doing one lap around the garden we head back to the palace, today has been a long day but at least tomorrow will be easier. I have tea with Lady Hess and her friends in the morning but after that I've got the whole day to spend with my mates unless they get called in to deal with a Council issue. They don't think that'll happen though instead it might be a few days before another letter arrives.

Climbing into bed together we share a few kisses, they keep the kisses brief and light helping me to feel more comfortable with it. Lilas may have explained a lot about sex between them and it helped but I'm still not ready for anything more than these light sorts of kisses, although watching the deeper kisses they share together is starting to make me curious. Maybe soon I'll be comfortable enough for that.

In the morning with Talindra's help I carefully pick out a dress for the day, it needs to be comfortable but still nice enough to be meeting Lady Hess's friends in. We settle on an elegant red dress with sheer sleeves and beautiful embroidery around the neckline. I sit down allowing Talindra to brush and style my hair while I look over the jewellery trying to decide what'll go with the dress eventually settling on a pearl necklace and headdress.

Once I'm dressed I re-join my mates downstairs in the dining room, they've already started picking at breakfast so maybe it had taken longer than I thought for me to get ready. As I enter they look up towards the door and start staring for some reason.

"Is there something wrong? Should I wear something else?" I ask looking down at my dress trying to figure out what could be wrong with it.

"Nothing, you look beautiful." Lilas reassures me, "Come and eat something before you need to leave." Complying I walk over taking the seat next to Lilas and starting my own breakfast. Across from me I can still feel Bel looking at me.

"Having you given any thought to what you'll wear to Lady Hess's ball?" Bel asks leaning over the table slightly towards me.

"Not really, Madame Joanna has been sending the dresses I ordered here as soon as she finishes them but I don't really know what to wear for a ball."

"Don't worry. I've got an idea for one." Bel grins happily excitement shining in his eyes, "I'll start working on it today and if you don't like it you don't have to wear it." I nod in agreement making his smile grow even more. The dresses that Bel has made for me are my favourites and I know that I'll love whatever he makes.

Breakfast goes by quietly and quickly so before long I'm leaving the palace to go to Lady Hess's manor. Talindra is coming with me and not having anything else to do this morning my mates walk us there, after my first trip into the city I'm grateful that they're there. I know that I shouldn't be scared of going outside the Council area after all our day out at the market was fun but it couldn't undo a life of fear.

"We're going to go for a ride but we should be back before your tea with Lady Hess is finished." Lilas tells me when we arrive at Lady Hess's manor. Nodding I wave goodbye to them as I head inside with Talindra.

"Lady Emilia, welcome. Lady Hess is waiting outside." The butler greets when I enter. "If you'll follow me." He leads us through the manor out to the gardens where a tent is set up with Lady Hess sat under it picking at some fruit.

"Ah, Emilia you're here." Lady Hess greets standing and to my surprise pulls me into a gentle hug.

"Maryam it's good to see you again." I reply taking a seat at the table once she releases me from the hug. Talindra gives a curtsy before going and join Maryam's lady's maid at a separate table.

"The others should be joining us soon." Maryam tells me, "If they all come there'll be four of them joining us. Lady Orla Holmes, Lady Sophia Garner, Lady Kara Sutherland and Lady Kathleen Morgan have been my friends for many years. They are all lovely and we've been part of the court here for decades so will be able to help you find your way."

Just as Maryam predicted it isn't long before her butler is escorting two ladies towards us, like Maryam they're older one has brown hair and the other is blonde. As they get close Maryam rises to greet them pulling them into hugs just like she done with me.

"Orla, Kathleen this is Lady Emilia. Emilia this is Lady Orla and Lady Kathleen." She explains pointing out Lady Orla as the one with brown hair and Kathleen as the blonde. I stand up curtsying to them both.

"It's nice to meet you both."

"Any friend of Maryam's is a friend of ours. She has good instincts when it comes to people and we don't believe that the Gods would pair the Lords with a bad person. Congratulations by the way on finding your mates." Lady Kathleen says as we take seats around the table.

"Thank you." I reply not sure what else to say.

"Sophia and Kara should be here soon then we can get started planning the ball." Maryam tells us as we pick at some of the fruit laid out on the table. I stay quiet as the three of them chat about their families, all of their children are married adults now and either have children themselves or will soon. While their talking I learn that Maryam's youngest daughter is married to Lady Orla's only son and Lady Kathleen's second son is married to Lady Sophia's eldest daughter. When Maryam said they were close I didn't realise it meant this close.

Maryam's butler returns escorting Lady Sophie and Lady Kara into the garden and they're quick to join us at the table apologising for being late. With everyone here Maryam calls for tea to be served and the fruit is joined by different cakes and sandwiches.

"This is the list of everyone I was planning to invite. Before the invitation are sent out though I wanted to check for any problems that you may have heard about, this is for Willard's acceptance to the Council I will not tolerate anyone ruining it." Maryam passes around a copy of the list for everyone to look over. Even with the lessons I've been having with Lilas I can't read it, not quite sure how to put the letter together. "Emilia I know that won't know anyone on the list but this might help give you some insight into the court."

"Lord and Lady Massey have left the city, she's newly pregnant so they've left for the quiet of the countryside." Orla comments looking over the list. While we'd been talking all four of Maryam's friends had given me permission to just use their names and I'd done the same.

"That's nice to hear, Lady Massey has been wanting children for so long." Maryam adds smiling as she makes a note of it on the list.

"Lady Rowland is planning to leave in the next few days, the possibility of war has scared her so she's taking her children to stay at her parent's estate in the South." Kathleen says which is noted down again on the list.

"Lord Lowery is currently ill; I'd send an invitation to him just in case though. You know what he's like." Sophia adds from next to me before leaning over slightly towards me, "Lord Lowery is easily offended so if he doesn't get an invitation at all he'll become a pest, well more of one than he already is." She'd still spoken loud enough for everyone to hear and we all ended up laughing at her words.

They continue commenting on the list letting Maryam know if there are any problems she should be aware of. Ongoing fights between different nobles or if they've left the city after hearing about the possible war, many of them having estates they can retreat to. It's fascinating listening to them and starting to learn the names of the nobles that live here, even if it's only for court purposes, but all the information is starting to give me a headache.

"I believe that is everyone on the list. Thank you for all your help." Maryam smiles, "Oh, before I forget Emilia did the Lords agree to come, usually they only attend Council events that they can't get out of." Suddenly I have all eyes on me waiting for my answer.

"Yes they're going to come. Bel seems excited about it; he's even designing me a dress for it." They all smile at my answer releasing a noise that I've usually only hear around cute animals.

"Lord Belath is a very talented dress designer; I can't wait to see what he makes for you. No doubt he'll make something truly for you." Kara replies making me blush.

"He's made me a few before and they're my favourites." I admit.

"It's so wonderful that you're all getting along so well." Sophia adds, "They look happier than I've seen them before. I saw the four of you out at the market and it's the first time I've seen the Lords so happy to be there."

"Yes, I spotted Lords Lilas and Belath returning to the palace after their first meeting when you got here. They were almost running back as though they were being chased." Orla says making us all laugh but at the same time I can imagine my mates doing that.

"We've only been together a few weeks now and a week of that was spent travelling here. I guess that we still want to spend as much time together as we can, we're still getting to know each other." I confess making them return to looking at me.

"That's wonderful." Maryam replies, "I love spending time with Willard but it is getting more difficult now that he's on the Council."

"I'm sure that once this war possibility is sorted out you'll have more time together." Kathleen replies placing a comforting hand on top of Maryams'.

We talk for a little longer mainly about what they're planning to wear to the ball along with the food and decoration possibilities. As midday comes around we go our separate ways after arranging to meet tomorrow afternoon to taste some food for the ball having somehow spent all morning together, I'm surprised at how I managed to lose track of the time. By now my mates should be back at the palace after going out on their ride.

"Good time?" Kor asks as soon as I walk into the entrance, he's walking down the stairs and has spotted me as I come in.

"Yes, it was really fun. Did you have a good ride?" I reply joining him to walk into the library where we find Lilas and Bel.

"It was great, it's been too long since we last got the chance. And before we know it I'm sure that you'll be able to come with us." Bel calls over from where he's sitting as Kor and I walk closer. Once I'm within reaching distance Bel gently pulls me to sit down next to him leaving Kor to join Lilas whose busy reading a book.

"I'd like that." I say as I lean against Bel feeling tired already, I'd spent the morning nibbling on sandwiches and cakes plus all the information has given me a slight headache.

"We could go again tomorrow morning; I'm sure Kor's horse could carry Emmy too." Lilas adds not looking up from his book but still listening to the conversation as usual.

"That sounds like fun. I'm meeting Maryam and the others again tomorrow for lunch, we'll be tasting food for the menu." They nod in agreement and I'm glad that I'll be able to try riding for the first time with them.

"So who did Lady Hess invite over today?" Lilas asks as he marks his place in the book and puts it down focusing on the rest of us now.

"Wait let me guess!" Bel calls out from next to me, "Likely she invited her usual group so my bet is Lady Holmes was definitely there. And I'm going to guess that Ladies Garner, Sutherland and Morgan were there too." He looks at me expectantly wanting to know if he'd guessed correctly.

"Yes they were all there. They're all so nice and I learnt a lot from them about the nobles here. Somehow they seem to know everything, the news about a possible war only recently went out and they already know whose leaving the city because of it." Around me they give knowing nods.

"They always know." Kor adds, "Better than some of our spies at gathering information."

"It helps they tell each other everything so they always know every little thing happening at court. At least they us what they know for good, many ladies here wouldn't." Lilas tells me. I nod sleepily struggling to keep my eyes open now.

"Emmy why don't you go take a nap upstairs? We'll have some lunch then come and find you." Bel suggests as I start falling asleep on him. Agreeing I stand and start going upstairs, vaguely aware of Bel following me likely to make sure that I don't fall down the stairs while I try and focus on putting on foot in front of the other.

Happily I fall onto the bed not even bothering to get changed, stopping only to remove the headdress which is not helping my headache. It doesn't take me long to drift off to sleep once I'm lying on the comfortable bed, hoping that when I wake up it'll be without a headache.

When my mates wake me up they let me know that I've slept for a couple of hours, they wanted to let me sleep a bit longer after they'd finished their lunch. The nap had helped because I'd woken up without a headache and I should be able to stay awake for the rest of the day. Together the four of us decide to go for a walk in the garden, sticking close to home where hopefully we won't be bothered by anyone.

It reminds me of the afternoon we spent in the castle garden when Lilas had told me about their history. We're all relaxed against each other, closer than that first time though now that I'm more comfortable around them and there are even a few kisses shared between us. They tell me more about their ride this morning, most of it was spent racing each other but they'd made a stop at the future training grounds at Kor's request so he could look it over.

"After that we came back here and focused on our own interests for a while before we all gathered in the library." Lilas finishes.

"Yes, when we get back I can show you the dress I've been working on for the ball." Bel says grinning over at me, "It just needs a few finishing touches then it'll be ready." At a tap on my shoulder I lean back slightly to look at Kor.

"Finished a necklace. Suits the dress." He tells me as he runs a hand through my hair giving me a gentle smile.

"You didn't have to, either of you. I have so much already and it's all thanks to you." I can't help the slight blush that comes to my cheeks still not used to everything they do for me.

"Don't worry, we want to." Kor reassures me everything about him is as steady as always so it's easy to believe and put my trust in him.

"They're always designing new jewellery and dresses. Before you came they had no one to give them to apart from the occasional piece for our friends, your arrival has finally put an end to Bel's attempts to get me to wear a dress." Lilas tells me making us all laugh.

"Hey!" Bel bursts out as the laughter calms down a bit, "I'd never put you in anything bad. You'd look amazing in a dress Li my love." I end up laughing so much that I start struggling to breathe.

"No thank you. Just stick to making them Emmy." Lilas says back smiling and blushing slightly as well knowing that Bel is complimenting him in a strange way.

Things fall quiet and comfortable again. If someone was to walk past us they might think that we've all gone to sleep but it's nice that we don't feel the need to be talking all the time and can just rest like this. I'm not quite asleep but at the same time I don't feel completely awake and maybe that's how it slips out.

"I think I love you." The silence around me isn't as comfortable as before, there's a slight tension to it now.