Undiscovered Origins

Undiscovered Origins - Chapter 3

Chapter 3:

            A surprising feeling came across Jade as she awoke in the morning. She felt warm and secure. It was the first time she ever remembered such a feeling. She pulled the wool covers back completely over her and snuggled to the fluffy feather pillows. That’s when realization hit her and she snapped awake and sprung up in the bed. Where was she - and why was she so comfortable? She noticed the pillow cases she lay on were ebony linen as well as the sheets, and the blankets were very expensive thick and soft wool.

            The bed she lay on was the most comfortable mattress she had ever experienced. She fought her mind trying to delve what had happened last night but nothing came to mind. She had a slight headache and it was obvious that she had celebrated way too much. As she slid out of bed she noticed the softness of what she was wearing. She looked down and gasped in utter shock. What she wore was worth more than every costume inside the circus. Her nightgown was red velvet and her undergarments were of a red died linen. It was as if she went to bed as a slave and woke up as royalty. Her jaw hung open with almost certainty that it would never close. Who had undressed her the night before? Surely it could not have been Autumn, while her family had coin, these riches were far beyond any in the circus.

            The bedroom was small and she quietly tiptoed off the bed and placed her feet in silk slippers that matched the rest of her nightgown. All that sat in the room where she stood was a solid oak desk and end table. The stain on them was dark and on the desk was a feather pen and quill which she very cautiously took a look at. The letter seemed to be started in high regards for the receiver but wasn’t finished yet.

            Creaking footsteps startled her and she turned to look at the massive door made of the same oak as the desk and end table. The handle was silver and finely polished, creating a sparkle that irritated her eyes. She pushed down her thumb and eased the door open peeking into a dimly candlelit house. The floor was medium oak solid wood and a chandelier danced above the magnificent kitchen table. It was the most remarkable sight she had ever seen. She tiptoed past the dimly lit kitchen and into the living room.

            When she stepped into the slightly brighter living room she gasped and it was too late to keep it from being too loud. There was a solid oak table in front of the white linen couch and a few chairs on both sides. In one of the chairs a man sat with his feet propped up on an ottoman reading a leather covered book. Her rash gasping made the man put the book down and raise his eyebrow as he studied her. He had a small cedar pipe in his mouth and smoke circled throughout the room. Closing his book he set it on the end table along with his pipe.

            “Good morning Ms. Jade. How did you sleep?” The man asked.

            Tall, dark, handsome, and muscular. He was shirtless as well. It was him. He was the one who took her home. She shivered as the knowledge hit her. It could only be plausible that he was the one who undressed her and dressed her in the fancy clothes. Suddenly she felt the flush of her cheeks and quickly glanced away from his staring gaze.

            “Did you… did we?” She whispered looking back up to his sparkling green eyes.

            A flush smile brushed across his lips as he looked at her and his eyes seemed to twinkle. “No, I simply put you in to bed after you passed out in my arms.”

            “In your arms?” She asked quietly.

            “Ah… yes… you were quite intoxicated last night. You came and disturbed me, relentlessly asking me questions about who I was and my name. You got uncomfortably close to me and blacked out, nearly hit the floor if I didn’t catch you.” He smiled.