Duchess of Lancaster, or Lady Ginny as we knew her then, kept a beautiful flower garden. Dorian had been with us and when Penny proposed we steal some roses for her I had thought he might die of fright. Dorian had been a big worrier even then. In the end I picked three roses, one for each of us, although Dorian was too nervous to keep his.
“I never! You took those roses!” she exclaimed.
“Well, you put me up to it,” I answered dryly.
“Mort they might fire me if you tell that story.” She looked nervous but I could see her natural spirit starting to reassert itself.
“Relax, I was just kidding. Now explain to me how you wound up as a retainer for the Lancasters.” Actually if I had paused to give it thought it wasn’t hard to figure out. The servants in the keep were generally well compensated and the work was usually better than what you could find in town. All things considered a job here was a stroke of luck for anyone that managed to get one. The pay was generous and whoever she married someday would be blessed with a second income.
“My Da’s business hasn’t been going well lately, he hurt his back last year and we were having trouble making enough to keep food on the table, much less pay the tax man. So when I heard the castle had a position come open, I put in for it. Anyway! Stop distracting me; you’ll get me in trouble for sure. And don’t you dare mention that story about the roses again!” She said this with a tone of annoyance, but her eyes held a smile in them. “I’m supposed to tell you that your clothes are laid out for you on the dressing table and you’d best get moving if you expect to be dressed in time for dinner.”
Now I was off balance again, “Clothes?” I said stupidly.
“You can’t be wearing those if you expect to rub elbows with the Duke’s family, much less the guests who’ll arrive tomorrow.” She wrinkled her nose as she indicated my simple attire. I had worn my best tunic which only had a few patched spots. Mother had even washed it for me this morning so there weren’t any stains.
“There’s nothing wrong with my clothes,” I replied grumpily.
“Not if you’re planning to muck out the stables,” she retorted, “but for Master Eldridge, scholar and gentleman they simple won’t do.” She indicated the clothes laid out for me with a sweep of her hand. There on the dressing table was a fine dark grey doublet and hose, accented with black lacing and ebony buttons. Soft cloth shoes completed the outfit.
Oh hell no, I thought to myself.
Penny was something of a mind reader it seems, or my face gave away my thoughts. She tried another tactic, “Please Master Eldridge! You simply must be properly dressed or else I’ll get in ever so much trouble.” She looked at me with large brown eyes that seemed about to brim over with tears. Had she always had such large eyes?
“What the hell is wrong with you?” I growled.
“Please Master Eldridge; I would be so grateful if you would just deign to wear these garments.” The Penny I knew never acted like this. In fact I remembered her being more of a tomboy. Glancing down I could see she had developed in more ways than one. I blushed a bit then.
“Fine dammit, just get out and let me get dressed.” I was angrier at my own reaction than I was at her.
Her face lit up happily in that annoying way women have when they get what they want. “I’ll just wait in the hall.”
“Damn right you will.” I muttered to myself. I stripped off my clothes and began struggling with the unfamiliar clothes. The hose and shoes I managed without a problem. The white under tunic was simple enough, but when I got to the doublet things got complicated. It had entirely too many buttons and laces and soon I was hopelessly lost.
“Penny,” I called, “are you still there? I think I need some help.”
“I’ve heard that before,” she teased as she peeked into the room. “I knew you’d be calling for help before too long. Here now, stand up straight! Face the mirror… no, not there, I need light from the window to see properly.” She took charge and began sorting out the mess I’d made of the doublet. Standing behind me she reached around me to draw up the laces holding the front together, looking over my shoulder to see her hands in the mirror.
I could feel her hair tickling my neck as she worked to tighten up the laces, something which caused me to develop all sorts of unwelcome thoughts. She didn’t seem to notice thankfully. “When did you get so tall Mordecai?” she said, her breath warm beside my ear. I was pretty sure the softness behind me was a product of the development I’d noticed in her before. My cheeks flushed. “What were you thinking?” she continued without waiting for me to answer, “You have to tuck the shirt in before you tie up the hose.” She slipped her hands in around my waist and deftly began tucking the shirt in. I yelped in an entirely manly manner and jumped away.
“I can do that!” I said, and then continued by putting my foot in my mouth. “I hope you don’t dress all the guests like that.”
“Of course not you dolt! That’s what valets are for!” She looked angry and perhaps a little embarrassed although I wasn’t sure.
“Well then why are you here?” My clever wit was in fine form this evening.
“Marcus thought you might like to see a friendly face rather than deal with a stranger! Honestly Mort, what do you think I am? Some sort of doxy?” Some men claim angry women are attractive but I’ve never been one of them. Penny was scowling at me as I tried to figure out how she had gotten from what I had said to the idea that she was some sort of prostitute.
“Wait Penny, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I was startled and I feel out of place here. I spoke out of turn.” At last my legendary charms were returning to save me. She glared at me for a second longer and then her features softened a bit.
“I guess I can understand that, this place can be intimidating.” She relaxed and then when I wasn’t expecting it she punched me on the shoulder. “There, we’re even now.” For a moment things felt like they did when we were kids, back when things were simpler. “What startled you though?” she asked.
Sometimes you can be too comfortable expressing yourself around your friends, “Well last time I saw you, you were just this big gap toothed tomboy and now you’re… well… you…” Yep I had done it again. Did I mention I’m a genius?
“Tomboy?” She was obviously sorting through and trying to figure out if I had insulted her again. “I guess I was, but what does that have to do with anything? I’m still the same for the most part. We’re both taller after all. Are you trying to say I look funny?”
“No, no… you look great! I mean really really great, beautiful in fact, so much so that I feel a bit awkward.” I turned red as my inner voice replayed what I had just said back to me. By now she understood what I was getting at, and I swear for an instant I saw her smile before she blushed and turned her back on me. I’m sure I imagined it.
“Apology accepted,” she replied, “and thank you for the compliment.” She walked to the door before looking back, “You’d best hurry or you’ll be late for dinner, Master Eldridge.” I snatched up a pillow and threw it at her, but she shut the door before it got there. I’ll never understand women, but I guess having one for a friend isn’t so bad.
I gave myself a last look over in the mirror. The change was astonishing. A tall dark haired man stared back at me, blue eyes standing out in stark contrast. I was still a bit lanky, but the doublet did a lot to address that and I had to admit the grey looked good on me. There was a knock at the door and I found a small boy outside the room.
“An it please you sir, it’s time for dinner, Master Marcus said you’d be wanting to know.” He was a scruffy young boy somewhere between eight and ten years old. One of his front teeth was missing, giving him an off-kilter grin.
“What’s your name boy?” I said, sounding so much like an adult I almost believed it myself.
His answer came with a faint lisp, “Timothy sir. t th
“Lead the way Timothy,” I replied, and gave him a deep bow. Sensing my mood Timothy put on airs himself and we strode down the corridors and hallways like great lords. At least until we encountered the Duchess along the way. We dropped our act then and I gave Timothy a wink as he left. I walked with her grace the rest of the way, in a much more somber mood.
Luckily I knew my way around the keep fairly well so I had no trouble finding the great hall. I would have seated myself at the servants table, where I obviously belonged, but Marc caught me as I entered and steered me to the high table. It felt like everyone in the room was staring at me as I sat down. The duke occupied the head of
