Promised

Chapter 11

As you awoke late the next morning. Both of you were smiling and giggling over all sorts of things as you ate your breakfast. A few fellow guests rolled their eyes over their cups and plates, but neither of you cared. Then, dressed in your peasant clothes, you hopped inside to cuddle, kiss, and talk for the rest of the journey.

The carriage kept wheeling by. Both of you were smiling. Your ribs hurt from laughing so hard with Grigor recalling memories and chatting.

"So, you both ate it?!" you cried.

"Yes! And you should have seen Peter's face hours later! We were both curled up with our stomachs hurting on the floor! That's what you get when you're 15 and stupid!" he recalled.

"Well once, I was with my friend, we were about six, and we both snuck into my mother's closet to try on her dresses until she caught us with them on!" you recalled.

You reached the gates, and they opened. Both of you exhaled deeply as you saw that familiar home.

A young maid was sweeping at the front door. She looked up and the broom dropped from her hands onto the ground, she let out a loud gasp. She ran inside, forgetting the broom, and soon in a panicked hurry, lines of servants and serfs outside. They got into their lines with big eyes and struggled to smooth their clothes. The housekeeper's jaw was still dropped as she scurried to her own place at the center.

The carriage stopped before the front door. Grigor went out and then skipped his way to the front and helped you out.

"Here, my lady, take my arm," he offered.

"Grigor! How gentlemanly of you!" you replied.

"On occasion, I have been known to be a gentleman," he boasted.

"Well, perhaps I should try and press my luck!" you retorted.

You accepted his arm with both hands curled around it demurely. You walked off the step onto the ground to face them. He turned to greet them, his free hand tipping off his hat.

"Hello everyone!" he chirruped.

"Master Dymov!" greeted the housekeeper. There was an echo of "Mousier Dymov, welcome!" among the staff as they bowed their heads.

Grigor cleared his throat and looked down at you. It was comforting that those many familiar faces were smiling at you, eyes beaming.

"Everyone! I trust you are well acquainted with my wife already!" he announced.

He led you by the hand forward and they all bowed their heads respectfully again, keeping their smiles.

"Of course, we are," said the housekeeper.

"How is the dog? Where's Sonya?" you asked.

"She's quite used to being the sole mistress of the manor now! Spoiled little thing!" The housekeeper joked.

As if on cue, little Sonya ran forward from the house letting out excited whines and barks. You leaned forward and picked her up, cuddling her as she licked your face eagerly in greeting. You laughed at how the little pink tongue tickled your nose.

The staff began to look at the carriage. One serf looked at Grigor with a tilted head.

"Mouseier Dymov, there's no luggage!? And why are you dressed in peasant garb?"

"There are clothes here! We had to run from the palace- I'll explain it later before dinner," he said.

You bent down and released Sonya to the ground where she skipped around, sniffing and wagging her little tail.