Chapter 6: Reminiscing

I decided not to fight it anymore, I just had to accept my fate as it is. Albert was too good for me anyway, if I had married him, people would have mocked him for marrying a poor lady with hardly any education. Sure, I could read and write comfortably, but I had no class or status, I fit nowhere in his world. He also wouldn't have accepted pa anyway...

And this man, he defended papa to the drunks and he did save me... Twice. He seems like a decent man and now he's explained himself, I understand how much in a haste he was. He needs my help after all and not as a slave but as a wife.

He didn't look like he had any status and being with him would earn me a comfortable life, plus I could very well boast of his looks.

I smiled and turned to him.

"My ma died of a fever too. What are your children like?" He didn't answer right away, he studied me first, then cleared his throat.

"The oldest is Alan, he is six and the brains behind all mischievous acts his siblings and himself engage in. He is quick to understand situations but he's very much just a child. His brother Arthur..." He paused and stared at nothing for a moment. "He is quiet and follows his brother around, mirroring his behaviour. He is four years old and the only blond child."

"And the third?" A small smile played on his lips, it made him look more handsome and younger. This man really had three young children? He must have been married at seventeen.

"She's my favourite. Her name is Maya and she's three years old, very shy and barely talks but she's so adorable, you would be tempted to squeeze those little cheeks..." He trailed off and cleared his throat, trying to mask his embarrassment. I really wanted to laugh then but it would be impolite as he was already uncomfortable.

"They sound wonderful." I commented, earning a light chuckle from him.

"Maya, yes... the boys, no. They are little devils that have managed to scare away not less than nine governesses."

"Just nine? I was once a governess myself, to the Rudert boys; two sets of twins and a very cunning snippet."

"Five boys?"

"Yes and they had two and twenty governesses before I arrived." I said proudly. The boys were devils in little boys' clothing but when you get to really understand them, you'd see just how cute they were.

"How did you manage five boys on your own? And aren't you a little too young to be a governess?" It was my turn to chuckle at the sheer disbelief on his face.

"Yes, I am only eighteen but I was sixteen when I became their governess. I had no qualifications but I got the job on my own without even meaning to. I was in church one Sunday and the sermon was going on when I heard one of the second twins screaming and asking to go back home. Their dear tired mother was trying to hush the child but his brothers joined in and the entire church was in great disturbance. I couldn't take it anymore, so I took my friend Hailey with me and we dragged the children out by their ears. Few minutes later, we returned to church with the most behaved boys." As I grinned at the memory, Julien kept studying me.

"I am tempted to ask how you managed to control the boys, but I feel I might be shaken by your reply."

"Let's just say, I had a monster as my best friend. After church, Mr and Mrs Rudert asked me to be the boys' governess. It wasn't that easy but I only had to threaten to call Hailey and they were in their best behaviour again." I finished and sighed. I could only imagine how crazy with worry Hailey would be right now. I missed her.

"Well, I hope your method works on the boys." Julien got off the bed. "You should rest as we will be on the road again soon enough."

I looked down at my ruined dress. What do I do about it? Julien seemed to know what I was thinking.

"There is a dressing gown in the wardrobe, change into that. We will worry about what you'll wear later." As he made for the door, I got up suddenly, scared of being left alone.

"Where are you going?"

"I will be back soon. Can I trust you won't try to run away again?" I nodded.

"Yes, I will be here."

"Good." With that, he left. 

I looked around the room again, making sure no one can break in. I thought about locking the door but if I locked the door and fall asleep, Julien wouldn't be able to get in when he returned. I decided to just let it be.

I went to the wardrobe and took out one of the two dressing gowns there, then I went to the bath, the water was cold. I thought better of taking a bath but since I heard dirt all over me from my struggle with the rapist, I tore a piece of my dress and with the water, I cleaned myself.

When I was done, I put on the dressing gown and made for the bed; it was a bit too hard but nevertheless comfortable that I was asleep in no time.

I woke up to someone shaking me lightly, it was Julien, looking and smelling like he just emerged from a field of roses. He wore blue trousers and a white shirt; his sword never left his side.

"We are leaving." He said flatly. Was he in a bad mood?

"O-okay." I sat up on the bed, then I remembered I had nothing to change into.

"My dress, I can't travel like..." He threw a bag on my lap.

"I'll saddle the horse." He said and left. Why was he is such a foul mood? Is he not a morning person?

I opened the bag to check it contents, there was a green dress in it, a green cotton dress. It was almost plain but for the beautiful designs on the helm; it was beautiful. Besides the dress, there was a pair of shoes my size also.

I hurriedly put on the dress and shoes and looked down at myself, admiring how pretty I looked. It was my first time accepting a gift from a man; Albert had offered lots of gifts before but I didn't want to feel indebted to him and marry him against my wish, so I always refused his gifts.

"He asks for you." I was startled to hear the girl's voice coming from the door. When did she open it? Why didn't I hear anything.

"What did you say?" She had her head bent and just wouldn't look at me.

"He asks for you." She repeated and ran off. Why was she so shy? I would have loved her opinion on my new dress.

Remembering Julien mood, I hurriedly put my ruined clothes in the bag and ran out to meet him.