"My young mistress, you mustn't sleep the day away!" Anna my maid said loudly as she opened my bedroom curtain allowing the bright sun to shine in from the windows. I groaned throwing my arm over my eyes not yet wanting to wake. I quite enjoyed the dream I was having sitting in a flowery meadow enjoy tea alone, in a magical looking land.. "Just a little longer Anna…" I grumbled rolling over so my back was facing her and the sunlight.
I could hear her heavily sigh before the blanket and bed sheets were violently torn away from me causing my to fall to the ground.. "ow! Okay.. I'm up. I'm up… what is the big deal about today…?" I asked sitting up rubbing the sleep from my eyes before glancing up at Anna. Her chestnut brown hair and doe like brown eyes remind me of a small squirrel especially when she puffed out her cheeks in frustration. She was only a year or two younger than myself so I treated her more like a friend than a servant. Much to my Mothers dismay and tutors lecturing about class, statue and hierarchy. "Lady Viridian, Duke, and Dutchess Beechum are arriving today with their son. Lord Sedrick." Anna said in a dreamy tone, my gut sank… I had just turned seventeen… I had managed to stave off marriage and marriage proposals due to my weakened heart condition but it seemed my Mother had other ideas.. I knew the Beechum's were a powerful family the Duke was first cousin to the current King. However they rarely participated in social gatherings and events… 'Why would the Beechum family come here of all places…? Marriage to a lower noble family like ours wouldn't help them.. so there must be other reasons for their visit…' I thought to myself slowly standing up and heading to the water basin to bathe.
My father is the Captain of the Knights and mother was a Lady from a lesser Novle family. My elder broth Adrian is a medical scholar, and I was a sickly Lady with a weak heart. I rarely went to tea parties, social events or balls. I rather enjoyed my time by reading books and drinking tea in the library, my room or the garden when permitted. Anna set to work scrubbing my skin treating me like I had been rolling in mud, before helping me dress in a elegant saifire blue dress, braided up my Snow White hair. I was born with white hair and viridian colored eyes. That is how my Mother came to name me, after the color of my eyes.
"I'll take breakfast in my room this morning Anna," I said hoping I could avoid the whole event by hiding in my room. However I was quite curious about the Beechum family. They were shrouded in mystery, and rarely anyone got to meet them.
"I'll go prepare it now, also the young lord should be here soon with your medicine," Anna said curtising before leaving my bedroom chamber. I sighed glancing at myself in the mirror, Anna had dressed me up like a doll many years and was always disappointed that I could never be shown off. I never denied her the opportunity to dress me as she desired. I felt guilty she put in so much work that no one would ever see.
There was a soft knock on the oak door, I turned walking over to open it and smiled seeing Adrian. He looked dashing as ever besides looking like he skipped sleep, staying up to late in his lab again working on medicine and potions. "Good morning Brother, or shall I say good night?" I teased poking fun at how sleepy he appeared.
"Very funny Sis, how are you feeling today…? Anna seems to have done a great job waking you and getting you presentable." He said flicking my forehead. I rolled my eyes, rubbing the spot with my fingers. "It's not like I'll be doing anything today.." I said softly glancing down to the small silver tray in his hand. "Here, take your medicine and this potion. It will give you a little more stamina for the day." Adrian said offering the small medicine vial to me. I groaned knowing neither of theses things would taste pleasant but it was much better than the stabbing feeling I received in the chest when I have an episode… Begrudgingly I downed both quickly, before holding out my hand he placed a small honey candy in my palm. I smiled quickly popping it into my mouth glade it washed out the bitter tasting liquids.
"So Adrian, do you know why the Beechum family is arriving today…? Anna told me an outlandish rumor.. We haven't offended them somehow have we? Other than Father being One of the better sword Knight to the King. I don't see why they'd pay a personal visit to a lesser Noble house hold like ours.." I had to ask, he was the more well informed of the two of us in the house hold. He shrugged quickly and looked away, his light green eyes avoiding mine. "Adrian..?" I said again but quickly he turned "I also must get ready for their visit.. I'd hate to be rude to such esteemed guests." Adrian said quickly disappearing down the long hall way.
I narrowed my eyes, I didn't like this feeling and uneasyness rested in my stomach… or maybe it was the effects or the medicine and potion…? My ear was drawn to the sound of a carriage and horses approaching the estate. Curiously I walked over to the window and gazed down at the beautiful horses and horse drawn carriage for for even the King himself. Entracently designed with dark black ash wood and gold, the horses were each pitch black like ravens. The driver was even finely dressed.. I sat on the edge of the window seal watching as the head butler and servants stood outside with my Father and Mother dressed in their finest attire waiting to great them. My stren father his neat blonde hair, green eyes finely manicured mustache and beard. My Mother in a deep dark blue gowned with white accents, her platinum blond hair and icy blue eyes.
Then I spotted them, not to well since my room is on the third floor but Duke Beechum even though he was rumored to be in his early fourties' looked only in his late thirties, even with his own black mucstach, short black slicked back hair and bark eyes he stood a foot taller than my father with broad shoulders, his wife Lady Beecham was also tall and slinder wearing a elegant purple and black dress. Her long curtly brown hair and dark eyes. Then a younger tall slender man stepped out of the carriage, dressed in a finely tailored black suit, long raven black hair and crimson eyes. He immediately seemed to look up in my direction, i knew it was impossible for them to know I was peeking at them but I still moved to hide behind the curtain feeling nervous.
Anna came in setting my breakfast on the table, I walked over and sat trying to distract myself from the odd feeling growing inside my gut and the feeling I'd been caught peeking at them.