Placing a clean wooden bowl upon the drying wrack, the young wife sighed deprecatingly into her knees as she rolled her sleeves further past her elbows.
Doing the dishes was one of the worst things Cotton could ever imagine carrying out in her spare time. It was an absolute insanity just soaping and rinsing the wooden bowls and plates over and over. Performing the same motions continuously was just a blight!
Sagging against the dark oak counters, the sour lavender haired woman groaned at the aggravating pile beside her. They were just sitting there, almost mocking her exhaustion and annoyance. This was, most definitely, going to take a long while. Far longer than she wished it to be.
How in all of Icetonia could one ever enjoy such a torture? The mention of dish washing alone drove Cotton to excruciating mental madness! If only she could enjoy the chore as much as her Cousin-in-law.
Why does he have to be such a big eater..? The young wife complained languidly, sighing as she piled another squeaky clean dish. Not that it's a bad thing! The angel in her conscious added, exuberantly clapping to the thought of her Husband eating their homemade meals.
"I suppose.." She muttered out loud, mechanically flicking water off her hands and the freshly washed bowls from the wooden basin. "It would have been nice if he stayed longer, it's a shame that he had to-- What's this?"
Confused upon strange shape swimming within the basin, she rummaged into the soapy bucket and retrieved, yet again, another letter. Her ocean-blue eyes glared with disbelief at the dry parchment in her dripping hands. How could it be? Was she really that tired?
With a deadpanned huff, Cotton scrunched her dark brows and closed her drowsy orbs. Slapping her wet hands over her still smile, she rubbed her pruned fingers between her eyes and nose in utter incredulity.
"I must be going insane. I need a break." She mutters. Wiping her hands off, she left the crisp dry letter floating in the soapy waves as she halfheartedly readied for bed.
Slowly changing into her nightgown and combing through her thick lilac strands, Cotton grunts from the sharp and prickly pain of her brush gathering a bundle of knots into its bristles. After several more irked attempts, the young woman abandoned the mission of taming her crazy hair and leaned dejectedly into her crossed arms upon the vanity table.
In a daze, she sleepily gazed into the foggy mirror, watching the wooden door of their room closely. The silence within the house, that was once filled laughter and light, was dreadfully unpleasant. Harsh and frigid winds sharpened it's claws over their old and creaky house, heightening the whistling bare branches rapidly clacking against the wired windows. Once again, another miserable silent night; empty, cold, and lonely without him.
The sense of destitute and desolation was far worse then any dish washing chore. She never thought it could become like this. The lavender haired woman had never pondered on these barren feelings, or the hollowness of their home that was devoid of his warmth.
Then, as if a dying torch light had been lit, the dry letter floating upon the dishwater miraculously appeared in her darkened mind. Quickly shaking her head, Cotton shot up from the stool in a stuttering mess, unaccepting of the parchment that had not been soaked.
"N-no I... I was just imagining it!"
But you haven't seen a letter all day! Her conscious argued, angrily slapping her nerves. Usually you would have discovered it by now.
"I guess, but..." The lilac lass tentatively replies, subconsciously rubbing her fingers over her chin. She spent the whole day untouched by any of her Husband's ridiculous hiding spots for his letters. It was almost kind of strange that she had not stumbled upon one today.
Just check if it's still there. If not, then it is time we rest.
Groaning in defeat, Cotton stumbled down the uneven stairs. The hearth flickered with weak embers as she passed, hesitantly stepping towards the wooden basin filled with unclean water. With a skeptical gaze, her blue eyes zoned in on the floating parchment void of any wetness.
"It wasn't..." The lavender haired maiden croaked as she bent and scooped the beloved letter from it's horrendous hiding space.
Water dribbled down the missive and caked her bare feet in cold chills, yet Lady Cotton ignored the frigid bites of the murky liquid as she hurried to read the letter. Fingers brushed against the dry parchment as she traced every word etched into the paper. Her heart warmed and full, she clutched her chest as her pale cheeks turned a lovely shade of raspberry preserves.
.
.
.
My Dearest Lady Cotton,
As you may have noticed, this letter is not as soaked as you would have thought, eh? Well, at least not as soaked my heart is for you.
Lately a new product from the Enchanters has driven the Royal Family into great excitement! It is indeed quite amazing what our people can create. Therefore, our captain has graciously gifted me a small vile of this lovely water-invasive ink the other day! Isn't it grand? When I write, the ink that I have inscribed will not allow it to be soaked, but dry! It's as if the parchment had not been submerged in Icetonia's thickest lakes!
I do wonder what magical gems they infused to create this splendor. Perhaps Lady Vivian has knowledge of such? She is the best Enchanter we know of. The next time we visit we should indulge ourselves upon this mystery!
Of course, with this small amount, I can only write so much. Which is why I have decided to write to you instead. Do you like my little trick? I managed to sneak it in while you weren't looking!
Quite a sly man I am, aren't I, my dearest Cotton? I can already see you have discovered the rest of my letters in my absence, you were observing me very closely during the entirety of our dinner.
My lovely wife, I cannot express how wonderfully strong your patience is. How do you ever deal with my ridiculousness? You are the perfect mix of heaven and hell. More Heavenly of course! You're a sweet peach in my garden, forever blooming into one of grand wonders. I cannot wait to return to you, please, do not worry for my sake and be happy. Before you know it, I shall be beside you once again.
Forever Yours,
Your Handsome Husband in Shining Armor,
Louis.
YOU ARE READING
My Dearest Lady Cotton
Short Story"To My Dearest Lady Cotton..." In the faraway winter Kingdom of Icetonia, lived a young house Wife and her dearly loved Husband. Busy as he is instructing the young Knightly recruits, the home they shared was consistently lonely. Without an air of...
