Cinderfall

Ashford Part 1

Ashford awoke the next morning in her own bed, the morning light streaking her face gently. She must have forgotten to pull the curtains last night. Strange, she usually did so to the point of habit, but she did come home in a daze last night. It wouldn't surprise her if she had left the horse still harnessed. She hoped not, she loved her horse dearly and nothing looked so inhumane as a horse with saddle sores.

Stretching as she pushed the gold cream bedding away, she looked to her window. The light was coming in brighter now, as dawn became a definitive line on the horizon. Dark violets and navies of the night were being lightened to soft hues of lilac and periwinkle. The sun contrasted with the jagged dark outline just below the horizon. These would be the silver ash trees. The Cinderfall's special piece of the dukedom was the landwright of these trees. The protected silvery bark was a rarity amongst the forests of the kingdom and many of the adjoining kingdoms.

A very lovely view, though a bit obstructed. In the window, which had somehow been also left open the night before sat a little black bird. It sat perched in the sill, watching the trees below. The small sunlight reflected off specks of gold in the bird's wings. Ashford studied the bird a moment, before smiling.

"Well good morning little one," She whispered cheerfully. The bird picked up its head at her voice. "I do not believe I've seen your kind before, such a pretty thing. I should not have left the window open last evening, but I am glad you found the sill to your liking. If you do not mind though, I very much would like to close the window now."

The bird nodded and hopped off its perch, proceeding to fly into the dark forest below.

Ashford watched as the bird left. "Interesting..." she mumbled to herself but thought of it no more. There were far more pressing things to do this morning and seeing the daylight come in only reminded her of how late she had awoken. The madam would be up in another hour, her sisters the hour after. Ashford liked to have most of the morning orders done before they rose. It gave her some time for herself in the morning before the madam made her plans for the day. The madam was very specific when it came to her orders, not that they were bad ones, but Ashford liked to spend her time the way she had planned and not by any other's orders.

She dressed hastily in a white undershirt, tan vest, and dark blue overcoat. Tan breeches were quick enough to pull on, and for once she was glad she had not been born a woman. She loved petticoats and lace as much as either of her sisters, but they took time to assemble properly, and were not practical for the regular duties of a Duke. As it was, she only had to tug the pants on, wincing only a bit as it passed over the darkening lump on her thigh. It was not broken, but Sir Byron had certainly taken a toll on her. She sighed and buttoned them into place.

The most time had been consumed fastening the white ascot into the correct style. Was it one turn or two? It most likely was two turns, but that felt a little too much like bracing her neck after a major injury. With the white cloth it would look very like the braces she had seen before. It was lucky that Sir Byron hadn't injured her neck, or she may have to do the two turns, or maybe three to keep it steady. She settled on just one turn, knowing that no one but her sisters would fuss over the correctness of it, and they fussed over everything.

She couldn't nitpick over her hair, she didn't have the time to style it appropriately anyway. She guessed she should also be grateful to the madam as well then for having her cut her long locks last year after the funeral. Thought it was unfitting for the man of the household to be sporting longer hair than their sisters, especially when she could not wear the elegant updos that Marina, the older of the two girls wore, or be able to wear the long feathered bonnets that younger Adella seemed to believe were the fashion this season.