Back In The Empire

Fourteen years later:

"That's why I wanted you all to arrive yesterday, it would have given her more time to rest and get ready for her debut today. It begins in three hours time and the Palace is an hour drive from here. The Queen is not known for being a patient person so I worry what she will do if the girls arrive late." Lady Erskine says rushing down the stairs.

Crossing her leg and taking a sip of tea from the cup she was offered. "Relax, Agnès. You worry too much." Count Tegha says leaning her head back on the sofa and closing her eyes as if nothing in the world was wrong or could go wrong.

"I have not seen the girl in many years and you ask me to relax? All we've done these years is write to each other, I haven't laid eyes on the girl since she bloomed and you ask me to relax?" Lady Erskine comes to stand in the middle of the drawing-room, turning to face the Count. "You of all people know how much time and years it took before we could finally convince the girl to return home and have a debut. What if she changes her mind? The gods know she is like a rock when she sets her mind on something."

Count Tegha laughs. "Calm down Agnes, lest you fall from worry. She's here now, isn't she?"

Sighing, she turns around to look, but she couldn't find her new ward. Her servants and maids were moving in the boxes and bags that belonged to the Lady, but she couldn't see the Lady anywhere. Turning quickly to face the Count. "And where is she?" Lady Erskine asks worry lacing her voice all over again.

Smiling, she leans away from the sofa and takes another sip of her tea.

~

The sound of a horse galloping could be heard from a long distance away. The horse's feet made not a single sound as it rode across the green pastures in the direction its rider steered it. It jumps the wooden fence of the barn and comes to a steady halt. The rider hands over the reins of the horse to the boy in the barn and somersaults from the horse to the ground beginning to run at that same instant. She takes off her gloves and throws them above her head and the gloves were caught by a hand mid-air, while another clean one was thrown at her from nowhere and she caught it, putting it on. She finally comes to a halt in front of a door, a smile on her face. A hand was stretched forward to her and she took it.

"You are late." Her brother says wrapping her hand in the crook of his own and turning into the house, his walking stick in his left hand. The door was closed behind them by the servant.

"Only by two minutes. The ride was just too amazing I couldn't get myself to come back so soon, especially when I remember what a day I am having today."

"I shouldn't have brought Cyrano along." Her brother says as they make a turn into the hallway.

She scoffs. "I wouldn't have followed you all without Cyrano. He is my favorite mare and you know it."

"Come, your maids and servants are waiting to get you ready for the debut."

Rolling her eyes. "You all know nothing good will come out of this. I am just doing this for two reasons and two reasons alone."

"Because you want to get married?" He asks her.

Rolling her eyes at his words. "Because I want the privileges of being out in society, and because I want to help Eddna and Joan find a good match this season."

"Hmmmmmm. And here I was already giving details for your wedding gown to the modiste." Her brother teased.

"There they are." Count Tegha says nodding Lady Erskine to the duo who just walked into the drawing room.

"Bloom!" Lady Erskine exclaims excitedly opening her hands wide.

"Aunt Agnes!" She calls out running to go and hug her aunt. When Lady Erskine gives her a narrowed look, she laughs and stops running but continues to head for where the woman stood until she gets engulfed in a hug. "Aunt Agnes." She calls again dreamily. "I have missed -

"No no no." Lady Erskine says stepping backward away from the hug. "We will talk about all that much later. For now, it is the moment I have dreamed of for years, your Debut. Now let's go upstairs and get you ready, your cousins are almost ready."

Looking from Lady Erskine, to Count Tegha. "Do I really have to do this?" She asks both women.

Count Tegha shrugs with a smile, not saying a word.

"Of course, you have to, it is every lady's dream. It is what your Mama would have wanted, it is what I want for you." Smiling up at the girl. "Come," she takes her hand. "Let's go get you ready."

Count Tegha turns to her brother once the others have left the drawing room. "The other duo?"

He walks forward and leans on his walking stick. "They are back too."

~

Eddna and Joan were the first to come down the stairs with their maid holding onto the tail of their gown. They both looked radiant, especially as their smile broadened when they lay eyes on their mother who was standing by the end of the stairs with the rest.

Her smile almost got to her ears as she watched her two daughters step down the stairs. "The gods are good." She said still smiling. Two days ago, the girls still had fears about their Debut, but after they had heard that their favorite cousin was going to be a debutante too, and was coming over to spend the entire season with them, their fear had melted away, and they had begun to look forward to the big day.

"You two look very beautiful." Count Tegha said to them with a smile.

"Thank you very much, Count Tegha." Eddna appreciated.

"Isn't she here yet?" Joan asks, referring to her cousin.

Her mother nods towards the stairs. "She is still getting ready." Lady Erskine says.

"I am so excited about this already, this is the first time am going to see Cousin -"

The sound of the door opening cut off her words, and they all turn and look giddily towards the stairs, anxiously waiting for her appearance.

After some minutes when everyone had begun to want to give up on her appearance, she steps into view and they all gasp. She wore a blush white gown with silk embroidery, a lace-edged veil, and long sheer gloves with an embroidered floral pattern. Her hair was adorned with pink and blue roses, with two coils of hair by the side of her face, and the scarf that covered her face had a hibiscus flower stitched on it. Step after another, she swaggers down the stairs, eyes fixed on no one in particular.

"She is beautiful!" Joan exclaims mouth slightly agape.

"Goddess!" Lady Erskine exclaims

Count Tegha smiled proudly, eyes drinking in the girl who was walking down the stairs. So did her brother too, who stood behind the Count.

Finally arriving the end of the stairs. "I cannot wait to get out of all this loads of crab. Please tell me the debut has been cancelled." She says when she saw everyone staring at her.

Her words were enough to break everyone out of the spell.

 Shaking her head to get out of her trance. "We will have to be very fast if we must arrive the palace on time. I hope the carriages are ready, Lord Ralph?" Lady Erskine asks the young man with them, turning to face him.

Nodding. "On standby as we speak." He answers with a smile.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go." Lady Erskine says heading for the door.