A Beautiful Curse

Chapter 13 - A Morning of Surprises

A/N: An Irish Cob Horse (aka Gypsy Horse) (image above)

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Anne's P.O.V

  I was very well when I woke the next morning.

My feet no longer ached. My body was no longer tired.

And I was alone in the bed.

I sat up just in time for the door to open and Marilyn appear from behind it. "A merry morning to you, my lady Anne!"

Her cheer relaxed me. "Good morning, Marilyn."

"Ye' look well," she commented as she trudged around the room, placing the tray she carried on the table beside the door, drawing back curtains and fixing pillows. She finally reached the wardrobe and was on a mission to pick out suitable piece of clothing.

"I feel well, thank you," I acknowledged, moving to sit on the side of the bed. I tested my feet on the ground and found no pain. 'Twas truly a miracle.

"I'm afraid," she began, taking out a rather exquisite fur and woolen dress and gingerly placing it on the bed beside me. "The style clothes we 'ave 'ere are not as up t' date with t'day's fashions."

And indeed, it was not. In fact, I have only ever seen such fashion in plays and old paintings. "That's no matter." I stared at it in awe, for 'twas a very lovely dress.

"The master wishes fer ye t' go riding with him after ye' break yer fast." She moved to collect the tray and reached it out to me. I accepted it and thought about the master she spoke of.

He had made me sleep with his soft touch, made me calm in his presence. His instincts were too acute, his presumptions too forward and yet felt too right. Since the moment he first touched me, I have wanted him to touch me again and again. I knew myself, whether I agreed with my true feelings or not.

I had never wanted a man to touch me. Perhaps I should explore this. I was not under any jurisdiction. Here, I was my own.

"Very well. Does he expect me now?"

She answered as she fetched a fresh pair of boots. "He will be waiting for ye' as soon as I've told him ye've changed."

I nodded and proceeded to eat my first piece of fresh bread. It was warm and heavenly. I almost moaned at the delectable taste.

"I will eat this, then I will dress. Is it well with you to stay a little longer?"

She nodded her head with a smile. "Of course, Lady Anne. I'm 'ere to look after ye."

I chuckled as I took another bite. I swallowed and confessed, "I must tell you, Marilyn, though I am flattered by the title you grace me, I am not a Lady. My proper title is Miss."

Marilyn made an expression as if to say this was the first she was hearing of this information. "Well, ye' are my lady, and I'll call ye' such," she declared.

My eyebrows raised in surprise, though I was not offended. "Very well. That is your choice to make," I said with a bow of my head in acknowledgement. "Tell me, what other work do you do here?"

She clutched her hands together and went on to explain, "I help cook, I fix illness, I clean, I serve meals and I tend t' the gardens."

My eyes widened. "All in one day?"

She cackled and shook her head. "From day t' day, I do somethin' different. I'm what ye' would call the housekeeper. I tend t' be a bit of everythin' 'round 'ere."