A Winter's Tale

Chapter 12:

Chapter 12:

EMERY'S POV:

Four days later, I was sitting in the garden, reading a book that William brought me. Alice had duties to do, Geoffrey was getting meat for dinner, Miriam was gardening, and William was meeting with the Count. I was alone for the first time since coming to my new home, and no matter how many pages of the book I read, I could not shake the boredom. It's been half or the day, since I woke up, and now it was nearing lunch with me spending the entire time, sitting here. I loved reading, but I'd finished the book twice already. There were only so many times Sir Author could explore the ruins that was his home court. I put the book down, sighing, and looking out at the garden. I'd explored it already; I explored every part of the estate I was allowed to go into. I was comfortable calling this place my home now, yet, I could not go anywhere past the library. I could only go there when the Count told William it was okay, and I had to be escorted there.

I couldn't even read there, I had to take my books out to the garden. I didn't think I'd be spending much time reading today, so, I'd only brought one book. Except, Alice was called for a particularly long chore, and I ended up reading the same book over again. I stood from the bench I was sitting on, stretching my wound muscles. I saw the path Geoffrey went down earlier to go where the sheep, lamb, and cows were held. I didn't know if I could go down there or not, and I didn't chance it. The last time I'd wandered somewhere I wasn't supposed to be, the house was thrown in turmoil for days. I found myself thinking back on the project Alice said the Count was working on. If it was as big as Alice eluded, then the Count could just be protecting those he cared about from getting hurt.

What if he was doing something that could potentially kill him? What would William, Miriam, Geoffrey, and Alice do then? Where would they go for work? There was a nice, little community they'd made here, one that took years of understanding to make. Miriam was never curious, William followed orders, and Alice obeyed her parents. I wasn't quite sure how Geoffrey fit into the picture. Honestly, I wasn't sure how any of them came to work for the Count. Had all of them seem him, then? Was the offer in person? Or, had a letter come for them in the mail like a summoning? I assumed I would never know the story. William was not speaking to me, Alice was kept under a very watchful eye, and Miriam thought I was foolish, or at the very least reckless.

Things had been going very well for them in their quiet life here, until I came. I was tempted to go back to the library to get another book. The boredom was causing me to overthink things that didn't truly need to be. I knew that, but, here I was- asking myself questions I didn't know the answer to. I sat back down on the bench, heaving a big sigh. This was not how I wanted to spend my day. I wanted to talk to Alice, or anyone really. I wanted to help Miriam prepare the meals again, or ask Geoffrey if my letter to Lucy had been sent off yet. Instead, I was forced to sit in one place, staring at the same thing.

I closed my eyes, suddenly very tired. I hadn't slept well these past few nights. I would always lay there, my mind playing back the last few days. I was still waiting for Lucy's letter, hopefully she received mine. I knew she was going to enjoy teasing me about my suddenly very exciting life. Maybe she'd gotten a marriage proposal while I'd been gone, and I would receive an invitation to her wedding. That could be my key to slip back into the world I knew best, if only for a few hours. Suddenly, I longed for the simplicity that came with being the outcast, unwanted, unseen. Here, I was the center of attention, tilting the world they'd lived in for years.

I wondered if Edith had gotten married yet, or if she was still dealing with whatever punishment the King decided to give her for yelling at him the way she did. Perhaps, she'd gotten over not being able to marry the Count. Perhaps she hadn't. Either way, I doubted I would ever find out. I glanced back down at the book again, skimming through to the chapter where Sir Author's son was born. It made my mind go to children. I'd always wanted them, yet I never thought I'd have the luxury. Before, at King James' court, it was because no one wanted to marry the poor outcast. I always thought I'd be a spinster.