“Aunt, I am home.” Jack stood at the door and announced.Unlike the last time they came, everyone was home today except for uncle and second brother. Farm hands at the Slegh estate had to work 6 days a week. Second brother was working as the blacksmith’s apprentice and also had to work 6 days a week.Anne-Marie the youngest came running as she heard her favorite brother’s voice. She moved back shyly as she saw Mira. She knew this big sister didn’t like them. Mira smiled sweetly at the little girl, but it didn’t have much effect, the damage from her previous vicious behavior was too deep.“Come in… why are you standing there?” Oden pulled the door to open wider.“This will always be your home.” Oden added as he saw Jack’s hesitation. “You left on your own, no one sent you off.”Oden wasn’t wrong. It was Jack who insisted on moving and never came back. None of them had seen him these 3 months. Actually, that’s not right. Beth did tell them about Jack’s visit 5 days ago, but no one bough
“What is it?” Mira asked curiously once she couldn’t see the horse cart anymore.“Must be tools.” Jack guessed as he opened the sack.Sure enough, the sack had 4 spades of two different sizes each, 2 hoes, 2 rakes and a pitchfork.“This….” Mira had a conflicted expression as she looked at the items. This would cost more than 10 gold coins.“Like Dad said, we must repay this kindness with our actions.” Jack knew there was no point in being conflicted. He swore inwardly to return this kindness when he had the ability.“Umm.” Mira nodded with determination.“Wife, has the fish soup finished?” Jack asked with regret as he saw the empty bowls on the table.“No. I have left a tiny portion for you.” Mira giggled as she took the bowls to the kitchen to wash.She bought a bowl full of the last portion of the fish soup after washing the bowl
Jack walked around for a while before he returned back home. The walk cleared his head and there was a smile dancing on his lips as he entered. Mira was waiting anxiously, she kept pacing back and forth in the front room.“Jack” Mira’s voice was strained as she rushed to him. She was stepped back in confusion as she saw his smile. She knitted her brows with a pout.“Wife, you are right.” Jack chuckled as he gently knocked on her forehead.“I know I am right.” Mira pouted as she rubbed her forehead “What are you talking about now?”“That you were too stupid.” Jack chuckled as he embraced her.Mira pursed her lips into a resentful pout as she gently fisted on his chests.“Do you want to hear what I figured out?” Jack tapped her nose with an affectionate gaze.“Um.”“Do you remember saying that you thought I stormed out of the room because I overheard your conversation?”“Um…mm” Mira nodded confidently.“That’s why I said my love is too stupid.”“Huh??”“Think about it…. you told me what
The next few days were without events. Mira completed all the embroidery work that she had bought home by the time Jack returned home on Thursday.“I will come to the city with you tomorrow.” Mira informed Jack as they sat for supper.“So fast?” Jack raised his eyebrows “Didn’t your Madam give you 10 days?”“Um” Mira nodded “But I finished them early.”“Love don’t tire yourself. I will work harder.” Jack frowned. He knew she was straining herself too much.“Not hard.” Mira smiled “The stand you made for me is too good. I don’t get tired that easily. We need to pay our debts and get better.”“I will make those stands.” Jack pursed his lips “Let me do the hard work.”“We will work together.” Mira smiled sweetly as she leaned onto his shoulders.“Um” Jack nodded with determination. He would work harder so that his wife didn’t have to tire herself.“The seedlings have all grown.” Mira remembered as they laid down.“Um” Jack nodded. “I will go to Godfather’s to pick up the horses for ploug
Mira was so happy, she literally skipped all the way to Almera’s shop. “Someone’s very happy.” Almera spoke with a lopsided grin. “Your brother called you a dragon.” Mira giggled and whispered. “And he’s the baby dragon.” Almera scoffed. “What are you going to do with this?” Almera asked curiously as she saw Mira playing around with the cloth, she took from the rag section. “I was still thinking.” Mira kept fiddling with the cloth before asking with a curious expression “How long does it take to make a neckerchief normally?” “Varies on the pattern and experience.” Almera shrugged “My most experienced worker might take a day for a complex pattern with embroidery. The less experienced can take 2 days.” “Um” Mira nodded pursing her lips. “Do you embroider?” Mira asked curiously. “Yes… but only my own clothes.” Mira nodded as she carefully took the watch pendant Almera gave her, like a precious treasure and opened to look at the time. It was getting almost 2 pm. She decided to sl
Jack hurried over to Uncle Harry’s place. He wanted to get back to his wife quickly. He saw Uncle Harry loading sacks on to a cart. Jack rushed over to help. “Godfather” Jack called out as he bend down to pick a sack and load it. “Jack…” Harry laughed “I thought you guys have forgotten when I didn’t see you yesterday.” “That…” Jack scratched the back of his head; his face filling with an unnatural color. How could he tell Godfather that he forgot time staring at his wife? “Ha….ha….ha….” Harry laughed even louder without giving him any face. “Godfather, can I borrow the plough horses again this week?” “Yes… yes… I have got everything ready for you.” Harry pointed at the cart that was loaded. “This….” “It is the manure that you need. I had to go to Larkin’s and got it along the way.” Harry lied with his eyes wide open. “There’s 10 bags of cow manure, sheep manure and hen manure. You have to mix it properly before spreading it.” Harry started to explain but soon sighed shaking hi
“Love, what are you doing?” Jack raised his hand to tuck a loose strand of hair that fell on to her face. “I am getting dinner ready.” Mira smiled bashfully before raising her eyebrows in concern “Hungry?” “Um” Jack nodded truthfully; He lowered his voice and asked, “Is there enough for everyone?” “Um” Mira nodded “I have used all our eggs and fish.” She added in after thought “Luckily we went fishing yesterday.” “Um” Jack chuckled “My wife is clever.” “I have made a special something with the eggs.” Mira smiled mysteriously as she lowered her voice and whispered, “This is something I learned in my previous life.” “Love, I am even more hungry now.” Jack feigned a pitiful expression. “There is enough for everyone.” Mira tapped his hands that were extending towards her but sighed softly “I hope.” “Help me bring the table from the outer storeroom.” “There’s a table in that room?” Jack asked in surprise. He had never really paid much attention to the things in the room. “Um… ther
Mira opened the second room and started to work once everyone went. She finished the neckerchief for Godmother before the daylight went off and then with the light from the fireplace, she started to look at the work she bought back from Almera. She chose one that she thought was easier. The pattern was a floral design starting at the waist going all the way down to the hem of skirt of the ball gown. This had to be repeated eight times. The design was a narrow single vine near the waist and would grow thicker as it went down, ending up at least 5 inches wide for a single pattern. The hem of the skirt was a single vine connecting all the vines radiating down. The cloth was a royal purple in color; Mira chose to use darkest shade of purple for the inner shadings of the flowers on the pattern while the parts were done in a lighter shade… almost close to pink… like a purple pink. The vines and leaves were done using dark and light shades of teal green. Jack cleared the backyard; He tidie
Matthew and Harry stood in front of the weird looking mansion with an unreadable expression. There was a reason for their mood; this was the very mansion that they had won in a gamble along with their dear friend, Jerome in their carefree younger days. The mansions aesthetics were the result of their rebellion towards the norms that existed regarding the do's and don’t of building mansions for nobility.They had never thought of this place as they had never returned after wining the bet and remodelling the place. Gradually as their days and exploits became too many to count on fingers, as their adventures and achievements started to leave a mark on every feat they undertook, as one of the first and more insignificant feat, this place seemed to lose its original lustre and was tucked away in their memories, only to be forgotten; But now that they were standing in front of it, how could they not remember?The trio had personally deformed the place with their own hands and with the guidan
Matthew left Southamberston palace in the wee hours of the morning, he didn’t take the carriage that was carefully prepared for him and took the horse that he had taken a fancy to and rode off; his first stop was his office to leave instructions for his assistant and also to let them know that he wouldn’t be coming in for the next 2 days due to urgent family matter.As soon as Matthew came out of the chamber of trade and book of hereditary rights, he saw Harry waiting anxiously, next to his ride, mounted and ready to bolt the minute he came.“You took the beauty even before I woke up…” Harry chuckled as he leaned forward and rubbed the mane of Matthew's ride “You didn’t play fair.”“Hur … .hur…hur…” Matthew chuckled smugly as he jumped on to his ride and the two friends rode, bickering non-stop just like the good old days.It took half a day of riding non-stop to reach the west end of the water tribe county, the poor horses were ridden to their death when they finally alighted at the i
They returned to the manor by late afternoon and had the footman deliver all the items that they had purchased from Old Joe to the cottage where Martha and the rest were staying.As they were planning to leave, Jack called Lazarus to instruct him to leave behind 2 men to guard the manor.“Your grace, two men won’t be enough to cover the expanse of the land.” Lazarus shook his head as he explained “The woods of the manor border three other properties of which one is commoner property, and one belongs to someone who does not have a good reputation. Now that your grace’s status has been elevated, there might be unnecessary eyes on the property.” He paused before adding “I have brought six men that can be left here to guard the place if your grace permits.”“Go ahead.” Jack nodded while Mira asked in a low voice “Can those men cook on their own? Should we transfer a cook from the main house?”“They are rough men… they can take care of themselves.” Lazarus shook his head although he was hap
For the rest of the morning, Mira taught Sierra how to make the flowers and leaves with the remaining satin cloth she had in space; of course, she pretended to take the spare cloths from her work room in the manor. She stayed with them for the entire morning, until the Jack came over with grievance in his eyes “Wife, I am hungry.”“Aha…. I forgot …. Wait, I will make you, your favorite meal.” Mira smiled sweetly as she rushed to pacify her husband.Jessie, Martha and Sierra struggled to hold their laughter till the shameless couple walked away before bursting out laughing.Once lunch was ready, Mira didn’t forget to give more than half of the meal to Martha “Call everyone and share among yourself.”“Thank you” Martha bowed as she whispered in a soft voice. They were just worrying about food when their master brought them a generous share of meat and bread. In their excitement to start a new life, at Mira’s invitation, they grabbed their belonging and set off in the morning without thin
“Are you crazy?” Mira frowned once she saw what was written; previously when they were discussing although she couldn’t hear them, she assumed that they were discussing how long they wanted to work for her. She felt like she had crows flying around her head once she read what Sierra had scribbled; before she could stop them, she had done the same to Martha’s contract. Martha hurriedly signed as she heard Mira, worried that she would stop her and grinned happily as she handed the contract saying, “Its signed.” “Yeah… now you cannot get rid of us in this lifetime.” Sierra too laughed happily. Mira seemed momentarily lost in a daze; she forgot to respond; she remembered that they had said the same thing in their last life when they found her sitting on her own and crying her heart out, overwhelmed by loneliness. They sat on either side of her and promised her that they would always accompany her, never leaving her side and even joked with the same words 'you cannot get rid of us in thi
The carriage stopped at the manor; it was a short ride. Jack and Mira alighted from the carriage without waiting for the etiquette that was customary in the circle of nobility.Mira’s face lit up, her lips curling up into a blissfully happy arc as she whispered, “We are back.”“Um” Jack habitually snaked his arm around her waist and walked forward; he raised his hand to gesture the footman to stay back, conveying that their services were no longer required.“Help the ladies with their luggage and rest after that till we are ready to leave.” Mira turned around and instructed in a gentle tone at the footman who was waiting eagerly for his master’s orders while Jack opened the doors.“Let’s open the side gate and lead the ladies to their homes before resting.” Mira spoke softly, as she looked at the footmen who were carrying the heavy suitcase over.“Um” Jack nodded and silently walked over to the side wicket gate on the right side of the manor and opened it. He walked in along with Mira;
“I asked you if there is a chance….” Mira smiled mischievously “What will you be willing to do to get that chance?”“I could sell my soul to the devil for that chance.” Jessie’s face beamed with genuine happiness as she boldly declared; there wasn't even the slightest hint of hesitation on her face.“How about selling it to me?” Mira lifted her chin arrogantly, her lips curling in a happy arc “I am much prettier and kinder than the devil.”Jack inwardly shook his head helplessly as he looked at his wife, who was smiling happily like a sly fox, with eyes filled with affection.“Ha….ha…ha…” Jessie laughed watching Mira’s adorable actions before sighing “Thank you for listening so patiently. I don’t know why I told you all this. I don’t even know you.”“I am not joking.” Mira’s expression turned serious “What if I can give you that chance? Are you willing?”Jessie looked at Mira for a long time with a sizing gaze before shaking her head, “Why me? I have nothing to offer.”Mira pursed her
“My husband lives with his family in their estate. He wanted me to stay back in the countryside till he convinced his relatives of the idea of us being married and bring me along once he received everyone’s approval, but my father disagreed. He rented this apartment for me so that I could be close to my husband.” Jessie’s voice became lower and lower as she spoke; she didn’t know why she was pouring her heart out to the lady in front of her but she wanted to… she didn’t feel any reservation when she was talking with her.“I see.” Mira nodded in understanding; it was the same as in their previous life but why was the timeline different? She thought for a few minutes before pushing it to the back of her mind. She looked at Jessie and asked “Will your husband be angry if you are not there when he comes? Do you want to head back?”“He won’t come.” Jessie bit her lips “He has never come to see me in these two weeks. He dumped me here and left as though he was fleeing for his life.” She shru
The caretaker walked over to apartment 53 once he made sure Carl and Oden had all the ledgers and materials they required. He knocked loudly and waited patiently without a trace of his usual impatience and disdain. He had a feeling that the tenants in this apartment were very important to the duke and duchess; he stood reflecting on whether he had done anything excessive in the past.He sighed in relief inwardly once he finished introspection; he hadn’t done anything excessive other than his usual impatience and grumpiness. He had even given them some extra time to catch up rent on several occasions.“Mr Williams.” Sierra greeted with a bored expression as she opened the door. She had no idea why this grinch would come so early to their apartment to take the joy out of their life. She knew their rent was due; it was not like they were going to run away or anything. Martha’s funds would be soon depleted, and they couldn’t afford to keep staying here any longer. They needed to figure a w