Heiress In Blood

one

  Delta sat at the back on the carriage,  thoughts running through her mind as the driver swerved left and right and climbed hills which seemed too high.
  She was on her way to meet her father's family in a town unknown of. The driver had fetched her from the airport almost six hours ago, and they'd been travelling by horse and carriage since.
  The fields which stretched out were beautiful, and trimmed neatly and kept bright green. The fresh smell filled her nose as the cool breeze brushed across her face and through her hair.
  This part seemed very serene, very peaceful and definitely far from the city she lived in. Delta was hopeful that the city she was heading to would be just a corner away or just below the hill, but even she knew she was expecting much. So she sighed and rested her head against the cool brim of the window frame, knowing that the driver would wake her once they reached.

  Delta assumed she'd been asleep for two hours. She hadn't checked the time and no one told her so, but it just felt as if it had been two hours, when the driver knocked the carriage wall and asked for her repeatedly.
  "Miss?" He asked a sixth time, more silently and worried than the first five.
  "Y-yes? Yes, I'm here."
  Delta felt as if she could feel the breathe of relief from the driver, but she knew that she was being ridiculous.
  "We are near the family mansion."
  "Mansion?"
  "Yes." He stated obviously, and then continued worringly. "When you enter, state your full name and reason of visit. Then ask the house women of what to do next."
  By the time the driver had stopped talking, he ran out of bumpy road and finally came to a stop. Delta sat back, absorbing all the courage she once had, which quickly disappeared once she saw the colossal edifice her family called a home.
  "Miss." A lady in black and white rushed forward to Delta and helped with her luggage.
  "Miss, allow me to help." Another one fussed.
  Delta remained silent and allowed the working women to do as they pleased as she followed one - a more superior looking one - into the mansion. She hadn't said anything to make delta follow, but the look exchange they had was enough to get Delta walking.
  "I am Marcia. You shall follow me and do as I say. Please." The lady added in quickly.
  "Okay."
  "Loudly state your full name and reason for stay as soon as we enter the entrance hall." Marcia said.
  Delta followed her into the large dark blue doors - so dark, they looked black - and into a corridor.
  The cream walls had oil paintings hanging with intricate carvings in the frames and wooden canvases which stood along. Electric lamps hung every few metres onto the wall, causing an orange light.
  "Then ask for lady Withlock. She will assist me in guiding you further."
  Delta looked back at Marcia. She had even forgotten that she had been speaking.
  "I hope you're ready because you have run out of time to go over that name of yours."
  Delta stopped when the tiling changed. She looked up and saw a large twin staircase which met at the top. The ceiling was high and so was the flight. When delta looked down, she saw a round rug in the centre, and furniture and ornaments in expensive browns, golds and bronzes.
  As her eyes roamed around the magnificance of the room, Delta came across Marcia who raised her eyebrow and waited for Delta. That was when she came to realise all that which the driver and Marcia had said. She had to introduce herself and state her reason for coming, but . . . Hadn't they invited her?
  "Delta Aldaine. My- My name is Delta Aldaine." Delta turned to look at Marcia who had the same look on her face.
  "And I came here on invite. Now may I please meet with lady Withlock so that she may decide what she may do with me." She continued.
  Delta hadn't spoken how she would usually, but she respected this place too much to bring in her American slang.
  When Delta caught Marcia's attention again, she couldn't help but smile at the anoyyed yet impressed look she was showing.
  "But I am here."
  Delta looked up, and that was when she noticed the other people in the room. Above the staircase, a lady in a green and gold dress - one all puffy and sparkly that Cinderella's step mother would wear - stood with her dark hair in a twisted hairstyle. Besides her was a blonde girl with a thin, long face, in a leaner orange dress and a boy in a brown and white suit. All of them looked as if they'd walked out of a magazine or photoshoot for a family in the medieval times.
  The older looking lady - the one in the green dress - descended until she was only a step in front of Delta.
  "Delta." She said. "You say your name with too much ease."
  Delta remained silent, not wanting to test the waters with this family. In just these few seconds, Delta understood that they were cold and had no space for humor.
  The lady - who she assumed was lady Withlock - looked at delta top to bottom and then turned to Marcia.
  "Take her to her her room and choose for her a fine dress. Today we will be having lunch with the Ashbonds."
  "Yes."
  Marcia made a head movement which compelled Delta to follow.
  "Who are the Ashbonds?" Delta asked.
  "A very influencial family in this town." Marcia said and continued walking.
   They went up the stairs and took a right turn. After that, Delta lost direction and just kept following until Marcia stopped in front of a large brown door. She turned her hand on the handle and then pushed it.
  "Your room." Marcia said.
  The room was large with nothing other than a king size bed and a wooden cupboard in one corner. There were large windows up high that were secured with iron rods and a metal sheets.
  "Was this a prison room before?" Delta asked, but Marcia ignored her.
  "That is your closet." She said pointing to the cupboard. "It opens up and has enough dresses for your entire stay."
  Delta opened the doors and found herself entering the largest walk-in closet. Marcia was right, there were enough dresses to last her entire stay here - if her entire stay was eternity. At the end of the closet was a bulky dressing table and chair.
  Marcia snatched a plum coloured dress off from a hanger and tossed it to Delta.
  "I'm sure you know how to dress into that."
  Delta looked down at her skinny jeans and branded tee and smiled up at Marcia.
  "There's always a first."