The Girl and Her Machine

Chapter 1~Request~ Part 2

     "Oh, Raelle I'm nervous, what if I'm not ready? What if he doesn't like my ideas?" She held her parchment papers in front of her, rolling them up so no prying eyes would see them. She had been working on them for months. Planning, sketching, and prototype making to ensure their success. Charlie hooting, trailed behind the two girls as they made their way down the wing of the manor.

" I don't think he will be disappointed in the slightest bit Dani, your designs have been popular among the people. They have taken to them well, and are used for many of the ceremonies and competitions in military exhibitions. You're a prodigy 

when it comes to your tinkering." Dani sighed her shoulders slumping as Raelle brought it up as they passed the grand hallway of their home, connected to their larger library, formal dining room, foyer, and a grand ballroom. They had multiple in the house and even two in the back of their property just outside and one in the gardens. One would get a good workout traversing all of the sections of their home. It made no wonder that all of their servers and residents were limber.

"Yes but everyone believes the exceptional designer to be a boy, NOT me! Despite having the same name they say it's a Danny with a Y, a boy, Raelle." She humphed as she moved. " A girl couldn't possibly come up with a design for a weapon that's used to kill. Horrifically unlady-like." She said her voice rising to one with posh and nasally character, a perfect imitation to those who have said it before. Raelle giggled quietly as she caught up to Dani, the two of them now charging down the halls side-by-side. Charlie the little owl, still struggled to keep up, he was one for hovering not for sprinting. 

" All that aside, if that really is what he wants to talk to you about then you have no reason to worry so, Dani, quell those fears." Dani's ears pricked, picking up on the grammar of her sentence, " If that really is...Raelle what else would this be about?" One more hallway then they would be at Jack's chambers. She glanced over to her petite but long friend. She stood at a great almost six feet but her entire being was slender. She was elegant, beautiful, and a perfect lady, who towered over most suitors, making them fretful about worthiness just because of stature. Dani would often tell her that the ones who broke her heart due to the size difference were only comparable to shallow lukewarm waters that tinted yellow, and were not boys to be fraught over. She in return would quip it was easier for her because she was so small; If only she would act like a proper lady. Dani's response each and every time was simply, " I have no time to learn all of the means by which I must be a sophisticated lady, and if I started now I wouldn't be till I was eighty."

Raelle paused chewing on her bottom lip thinking of the possibilities. " I don't know he didn't tell me he wanted you to be the one first." A fire lit inside of Dani.

What if it was a letter from their parents...maybe, finally, they could know of their whereabouts. What if it was bad news? What if they were dead? Dani grabbed Raelle's arm and steered the both of them towards his room. In time, they made it. Dani's hand shook as she knocked on her brother's door. She hadn't come to him like this in a long time, usually, they would chat in their free time or he'd request her to go to the factory to work as well. Together they'd check quality to make sure the designs are coming out appropriately, they talked and relaxed often then. But recently that wasn't the case. A fortnight or more she wasn't sure now, her own tiredness dripped into her thoughts.

The door swung open to reveal a man, spotted with freckles and curious green eyes with hair the color of a chestnut, one that they shared. Jack smiled and pulled both of the girls in eagerly, then closed and latched the door behind them. " Ah my two favorite ladies of the house, how are you? We've got things to talk about, and plans to make Dani."

Dani's own violet eyes lit up eagerly, unrolling the plans of a rifle, a pistol, their accessories, and even a grenade on the coffee table that stood between the two love seats. "Ah, I see that you've been hard at work." Jack smiled hugging his sister, to which she gave a sidearm squeeze in return. " Yes, much like you have. Is this what you wanted to talk to me about?" Dani asked as his grip loosened the both of them pulled away. " Well, Dani in part, yes. There are a few things that have been happening and I feel that they must be discussed sooner than later. Here, you two have a seat." He motioned to the little sitting area that his bedroom housed.

It was a nice bedroom, a maroon and dark oak queen canopy bed tucked at one side in the middle of the wall, with nightstands to match. Adorned lamps provided light on long nights and stacks of books with written logs fresh with ink piled on each side. It seemed he didn't have a preference on which part of the bed he liked most. A rather large walk-in closet stood proudly closest to the windows with flourished white crown molding. The other end of the room was a grand view from a wall of windows and a small private balcony of the manor's gardens and the township of Rowanne. To the opposite side of the bed were the two loveseats where the three of them resided facing each other and cozied up a darling fireplace. Not far from the fireplace was a well-loved work desk closest to the window for natural light, and to the right a private selection of books that boasted a personal library. All in all a cozy place to hide away for months of constant work, Dani supposed, knowing that a connecting bathroom was somewhere and that servants would bring food if not seen at the dining table for any of the meals.

"Well," Dani prodded her brother who sat opposite from her to have an easy talking view of the two girls. Jack swallowed, clasping his hands together. " As you know Dani I am turning twenty-two this year, and I'm starting to become a not-so-young suitor anymore. I will need to find someone to marry to help propagate an heir for the company and tend to this place."

Dani's jaw went slack, " Jack, you know that we are more than capable of taking care of everything." Jack nodded side to side, " For now yes, that might be the case but truthfully we are getting older and I would like to settle down, have a family of my own. It was something that our parents encouraged us to do and to do young so that we can be around our own family as long as we can. Isn't that an honorable desire?" Dani nodded, swallowed, her own mouth felt dry.

 " What will the process look like? We're not royalty, we're merchants. How can you court someone while still running the business, let alone a nationally renowned business? What if you find someone that tricks you into loving them but only wants you to marry them for our wealth and status as merchants? What if I don't like her? What if she doesn't like me!?" Dani blurted. Raelle, shocked by the outpour of questions, pulled her friend into her comfortingly. " Dani, Dani, calm down." she shook her friend though Dani felt faint and green. This wasn't turning out to be such a wonderful conversation after all.