Underneath the Surface.

Chapter I: The Skye in the Morning.

Chapter One: The Skye in the Morning.

The bright sun of the morning crept into the spacious room as curtains were drawn back by girlish hands, and amber eyes opened dazedly. An arm fell over the amber orbs, and covers were pulled up over black locks with another arm. "Too bright..."

"Miss Skye, your cousin Felicity Burkwell is coming to visit you today. I do suggest that you pull yourself from bed and allow me to help you get ready." The blanket was pulled down, as was the arm covering amber eyes by the same girlish hands that drew back the curtains, and tired eyes peered up into dark blue, almost navy eyes.

"Today, we have the options of Mrs. Henderson coming to teach you to play the piano, or Mrs. Worthington teaching you the Japanese language. You are doing business with several tradesmen and women from Japan, and in order to know what sales are the best, you must know what they are saying, my lady." All was said as Liana reluctantly lifted herself from her bed and turned to the person in her room that was speaking.

Wordless, she stripped herself of her nightgown and stood, moving to her closet to pick out her daily outfit. She picked out a pair of black breeches, a white button down shirt with a black vest, black stockings, black polished shoes to match, and a black ribbon to tie her hair back with.

"I want to wear this." Liana said softly, looking over to the other person. She watched a smile spread over their lips. "Very good, my lady. I shall help you dress." Liana shook her head, black locks splaying out around her as she did so, "no need. I can do it myself!" she chuckled and began to pull on the breeches, buckling them around her waist with a black belt.

Then she slipped the button down shirt on, slowly buttoning it before tucking it into the breeches. She pulled her black stocking on and buckled her shoes around her slender ankles. The vest always came last, because it was the one thing Liana had issues with.

"Allow me." The second person in the room chuckled softly and slipped the vest onto the young girl, "we may have to buy you a new one. It appears to be a bit tighter than the last time you wore it. Are you growing that quickly, my lady?" Liana wrinkled her nose in distaste and shook her head. Buttons slipped through the button holes and a brush was retrieved from the dresser.

"Thank you, Felix." Liana looked up to the other with a smile, amber eyes filled with adoration for the other. The one named Felix smiled back and carefully began to soothe the tangles from her hair. It took a moment, but once the tresses were untangled, black hair shined against pale skin, and the ribbon was picked up to tie the girl's hair back tightly.

"I find it amusing how you refuse to dress in the manner a proper lady such as yourself should. Instead, you choose to wear what noble boys would wear." Felix chuckled. The ribbon was tied into a bow, and Liana stood up, stretching a bit.

"Nobody ever said I had to wear dresses. I don't like them. " Liana gave a visible shiver at the thought. "What about you, Felix? Wouldn't you rather wear a boy's clothes than the horrible tailcoat and tuxedo you always wear? I imagine you'd want to look like other boys." Felix shrugged after a moment, his fingers pushing back a stray strand of his own black hair.

"My lady, you never told me who I should call to the Skye Estate for lessons today." The man suddenly said. Liana frowned slightly and flicked a speck of link from her white undershirt. "Bring the Japanese lady 'round. I want lessons in another language other than English and Latin."

"Understood. I shall make the appointment at once and inform you when it will be later, my lady." Felix said with a bow. "As for your breakfast-"

"I'm not hungry." Liana said immediately. "You know I'm hardly every hungry when I wake up!" The two shared a laugh.

"I know, but I'd rather make sure instead of not asking and leaving you hungry. That would be a horrible thing to do to you." Felix patted the girl's head gently, "now, if I may be excused, I need to check up on the other servants and schedule the appointments. I will return later." With that, the man excused himself from the room.

Liana sat down at her desk in front of her window and tapped the glass with a finger, sighing. "I wish her Majesty would give me something to investigate. I'm bored to death..."