Often

forever foraging

The sound of the babbling water accompanied Adalia as she searched along the ground. She hadn't lost anything. Rather, she was searching for a particular plant. The open field around her was covered in many different plants, of many different colours, but a white flowered one was what she was after.

She had spent the better part of her morning foraging in the forest, followed by her trusty steed as he too grazed among the plants, from a distance of course. This was not new to her, and while her family estate had a huge garden filled with any plant she could want, Adalia could often be found in the forest.

Her father and mother had tried for years to have a child, and even throughout their difficulties, their love for each other never wavered. The ton had looked down on them, particularly on her mother, as she struggled to maintain a pregnancy. Not being able to carry the children to full term each time they did conceive.

Coming from a wealthy family, and being an only child her father paid for the best physicians and medicines to help them, but nothing was working, at least nothing until a new maid was brought to the house.

A young woman who had traveled the world with her father and learned many things along her way. Not in the way that the rich travel, though, in the way that a vagabond travels. Trading goods and services for food and board, she may not have been rich in wealth but she was rich in knowledge, and it was a special tea that she made that helped settle her madame's pregnant stomach.

The couple went on to sire five children, four boys and the youngest, a girl. The 'magic tea' had done its job moreover and the maid promoted, she acted as nanny more than maid and confidant to the family. When she eventually had children of her own, they were raised alongside Adalia and her brothers, all being taught the importance of herbalism.

Now, they were not taught that modern medicines were bad and to shun the doctors of their day, but rather to work alongside the doctors to live a healthy lifestyle. None of the children took to plants like Adalia Blackmoore had.

When her mother had taken ill, Adalia turned to every medical book, plant book, and miracle that she could find, but nothing seemed to work, that's when she took to searching the woods, at first for a plant but then, and don't laugh too hard, but the ten year old girl hoped to come across a fairy or wizard to help.

Of course, she didn't come across any such mythical being, but the tall trees and open fields provided a solace for her. Her mother fought as hard as she could, and for the next year, the family of seven held on to the memories they were making, knowing that one day there would be one less to share them with.

Her eldest brother, Horace, married in that time, looking for a suitable wife to help run the estate and help raise Adalia in the absence of a mother, a woman that could help lead her through the upper class society and what was meant of her.

He did not marry for love, but they grew to love each other, and over time, Imogen became an older sister figure to Adalia. The family grew apart with the death of her mother, family meals turned from everyday to once a week and the house grew quiet, with her other brothers away at boarding school it was just Adalia, Horace and Imogen.

Her father moved out to the country house almost full time, not being able to be in the once happy home. He still cared for his children but was suffering from losing his soulmate. She longed for the time of year that the marriage season was upon them, for her brothers would come back from school, and their different ventures and noise would fill the house once again.

Her brothers doted on her when they were around, thinking of her as a porcelain doll. She rarely spoke, unless spoken to, but when she did speak the bell sound of her voice and twinkle in her laugh silenced the room and they could not help but be reminded of their mother.

The season was set to start next week, and she knew this might be the last chance she had to sneak out to the forest, as she would have more eyes on her. Her basket was overflowing with herbs and flowers, and her white dress was saved only by the pinafore that covered it, which was slightly stained green at the knees.

She finally found what she was looking for, chamomile, it was a pretty flower itself but was full of many healing and helping properties, and while she loved the noise her brothers brought with them, it also caused her headaches from time to time and her remedy for those called for chamomile.

She called her horse over ready to sit down for a light lunch, she mounted Hal (short for Halford) and set off towards her favorite picnic spot, a spot under a great big tree on top of a nearby hill.

As she rode, the wind whipping through her hair, getting caught on her abundance of curls, she felt free, she was no longer a member of society but rather just a girl and her horse, enjoying a nice day. As they pulled to a stop, she could make out the top of the tree from the bottom of the hill. She dismounted her horse.

Hiking her dress up, she led Hal up towards the magnificent willow. It had initially baffled her how it was able to grow and keep alive on a hill away from damp ground, but it seemed to persevere and was a symbol of hope to her now.

As they reached the top Adalia froze, in all her years coming to this spot, she had never encountered another person, but yet laid out under the tree was a man, arm thrown over his eyes, his coat folded under his head and white shirt unbuttoned dangerously low.

She pondered him for a second, he didn't seem dangerous, there were no notable weapons around him. She decided that she would leave him be and maybe take lunch at home today. As she turned to leave, subtly clicking at Hal to follow her, he called out.

"Anthony, if you've come to retrieve me, I shan't go just yet. Our brothers and sisters would only make what ails me worse."

Adalia was unsure of how to proceed. Should she just continue away? He did say he was ill, though, so how much danger could an ill person inflict if he was dangerous? Damn her bleeding heart.

"I do not know who this, Anthony, you speak of is, but I was just passing by."