Chapter 13

Chapter 13 Isobel stared in disbelief at the handwritten invitation inviting her to a four-day garden party and ball at Countess Valencia's estate, to be held during the spring festival when the college was closed and the staff and faculty were on break. In the past, Isobel and her friends stayed with the sisters while the other students were home. Isobel would have thought the invitation was some clever trick except that a large leather trunk had arrived with the invitation, and inside the trunk were nine gowns in shades of blue and light green, four-day gowns, four formal dinner gowns, and the most beautiful ball gown of sapphire blue and silver she had ever seen. Inside the trunk was a note from the countess expressing her wish that Isobel would attend so that they could discuss herbal medicines, and saying how much the countess had enjoyed reading Isobel's papers on herbal medicine. The note had gone on to say that the gowns were presents of appreciation for all that Isobel had done to help her servants during the last bout of winter fever that had affected the town. There was a rapid knock on her office door and Bridgette and Sasha appeared in her door both holding invitations. "I see you were both invited as well," Isobel said as her friends stepped into the room. "Yes, I thought it was a jest except a chest full of gowns arrived as well as a note from the countess saying she is looking forward to me coming and that the gowns are a thank-you gift for my help for caring for her servants during the fever outbreak," Sasha said. “I also received a chest of gowns and a note asking me to come as the countess has heard of my work with animals and wishes to discuss animal medicines with me and that she was a friend of my mother. I’m not sure what to make of any of this, do you both plan to attend?” Bridgette demanded. “I do, I have heard the countess has a garden that rivals the city gardens, and it would be wonderful to have someone pamper me for once, and to sleep in a soft bed,” Isobel replied with a sigh. “Not to sound ungrateful but my cot in the dorm was lumpy and my cot at the Baker’s is rather thin and I wake with an aching back every day.” “I agree it would be nice to be pampered, at home father always made me work in the forge or the kitchen and I never have the chance to dress in pretty gowns.” Sasha looked down at her grey serviceable gown. “And our novice gowns are awful, I am sick of grey every day.” “While I do not feel the same as you about the gowns or the gardens it would be wonderful to eat something other than porridge or vegetable soup with hard bread every day. I shall say yes if you both come, I would be too much of a coward to go alone.” Bridgette replied. “Well, I guess we all say yes then.” Isobel set the invitation on her workbench as the first morning bell sounded calling them all to the first lesson of the day. Isobel ushered her friends out of her work chamber and then carefully locked the door after her not wanting anything to happen to the fine gowns. She briefly thought of Alex and that she would miss him but she was sure he would understand; besides she was a bit annoyed that he had told her he had a huge secret to share and that he had yet to divulge it to her. Isobel knew Alex was more than he pretended to be, and it was becoming irritating that he still did not trust her enough to tell her the truth, he was of noble birth she was sure of it but why was he pretending to be a flower seller. She sighed mentally she would continue to be patient till he told her the truth, for she did not love him for his wealth or lack thereof she loved him because he was so kind, brave, and considerate. Isobel and her friends stepped into the lecture hall and heard giggles and saw Lady Laura and Lady Sarah standing with several of the junior students giggling and pointing at her. Isobel bristled in annoyance and took her seat at the front of the class as Sister Margaret stepped into the room. “If you would all take your seats girls and take out your notebooks will begin.” Sister Margaret turned to the wall behind her to pull a large colorful chart of mushrooms down from a recess in the ceiling, as she did Laura began whispering loudly to the girls next to her. Sister Margaret turned in annoyance to scowl at Laura. “Is there something you wish to share Lady Laura so that we may begin today’s lecture,” Margaret said tapping a long wooden pointer in her left palm while she glared at Lady Laura. “Sorry sister it’s just we are so excited to have been invited to Countess Valencia’s exclusive ball and we feel sorry for our poor upper classmates who were not invited, but of course, good breeding does tell,” Laura said with a saccharine smile. “I am confused by your insulating statement as I know for a fact that Lady Isobel, Lady Sasha, and Lady Bridgette were not only invited to the ball but to the private house party before it. Now if you are done acting like an addlepated ninny we shall begin the lecture.” Sister Margaret said firmly. “What do you mean they are invited, they are nothing, especially her.” Laura stood to point at Isobel. “She is an orphan, a nobody, she doesn’t belong here, she’s nothing but a charity case she should be out on the streets.” “That is enough Lady Laura; I suggest you be quiet before you make any more of a fool of yourself than you already have. If you continue acting like a witless fool you shall be assigned kitchen duty for a month.” Sister Margaret snapped. “Now sit down, the lady Isobel is related to a king, and even if she were no more than a scullery maid her character makes her far nobler than you. Now get out your notebook, if you fail one more class I shall have no choice but to expel you.” “You can’t, you wouldn’t.” Lady Laura stammered. “I can and I would now sit down and be quiet.” Margaret bellowed loud enough to make all the girls jump. Lady Laura’s face dissolved into tears and she fled from the lecture hall slamming the door behind her, silence reined in her wake. Sister Margaret shook her head and gave the girls a detached look. “Now we shall continue without any more foolish interruptions.” Bridgette leaned next to Isobel. “She shall be trouble just mark my words.” “I think you are right, but I shall not let one foolish girl ruin my day I am happy, let her do her worse I shall be prepared,” Isobel whispered before turning her attention to the lecture. Isobel followed Bridgette and Sasha out of the lecture hall, her two friends discussing whom among their fellow classmates they would like to feed the mushrooms that made one see things when Peter one of the door guards approached them. “Excuse me Miss Isobel but your friend master Alex is at the door and is asking if you could come speak to him,” Peter said giving her a quick smile. “Oh yes, of course, Bridgette, Sasha I shall see you both later.” Isobel gave her friends a smile and without waiting for an answer followed Peter through the school to the massive front door where Joseph the other porter opened the door for her and she stepped outside into the bright sun. Isobel looked towards the square where Alex’s wagon was and frowned when she only saw his new helper Marcus and the boys there. She turned to look the other way and Alex stepped before her a smile on his tan face. “Good morning, you’re not at your wagon,” Isobel said. “No, Marcus can handle everything without me. I was hoping I could coax you away from your studies with a picnic in the park; I have meat pies, rolls, and two bottles of cold cider. There is something I must tell you and we must do it in private.” Alex said and lifted a large basket in the air. “Oh yes I would like that, I am hungry and had only porridge for breakfast,” Isobel replied giving Alex another smile, she wished she could take his arm and let everyone know they were betrothed but till she was done with her studies she was afraid of what people would say. “Well come with me my lady I know I can do better than porridge.” Alex turned and motioned for Isobel to precede him down the street. They walked in companionable silence till they were away from the school, then Alex turned to Isobel. “I missed you, how was your morning my love?” Alex said softly so no one would overhear him. “It was good thank you, Bridgette, Sasha, and I were all invited to a house party and ball by countess Valencia, in addition, she sent us each a chest full of gowns to wear. It is very odd but a pleasant surprise nonetheless, I do not know the countess that well, but I hear she is very kind.” Isobel replied. “Yes, she is, very kind,” Alex said then cursed his quick reply. “You know the countess?” Isobel paused as they reached the top of the street and waited for two wagons to rattle past before they crossed the street. Alex slid his hand under Isobel’s elbow and helped her across the street while he quickly thought of how to answer her question. “Yes, I do, it is from her fields that my flowers come from.” “Her fields, but why?” Isobel demanded as Alex led them into the park and to one of the wide stone benches by the fountain. Alex set the basket down and offered Isobel his hand helping her to sit. “ Alex, how do you know her?” Alex sat on the other side of the basket and opened it while he considered how to begin; something of the truth was the best he decided. “My mother knew the countess; they were friends for many years and so the countess has extended her kindness to me.” Alex handed a meat pie to Isobel. “I see, is there something else you would tell me?” Isobel asked seeing Alex fidget. “Yes damn it there is but I am afraid you shall be angry, I have withheld things from you, things about me because I had to but I no longer wish to. I am not usually a simple flower merchant, my father is an important and titled man and I must marry soon.” Alex began and saw Isobel frown. “Wait let me finish, at home women only wanted me for my title and not for me the man, so my friends thought up the idea of coming here in disguise to try and find a woman that liked me for me. I thought only to find a suitable bride; I never thought I would fall in love.” Alex laid his hand on Isobel’s knee. “I never thought I would fall in love with anybody, but I have. I love you Isobel and I am terrified that when you learn who I truly am you will hate me for lying to you.” “You truly love me?” Isobel murmured. “Oh yes being apart from you is torture I long to hold you in my arms, to make love to you,” Alex replied. “You must go to the countess’ party, everything will be explained there and afterward we can be together. Do you trust me?” “Yes I do, it is odd I knew you were a kind and honorable man almost from the first moment I saw you.” Isobel took a nibble of her pie and saw Alex give her a grin. “It is you who is kind; you must only be patient for a few more days at the ball everything will be revealed to you. Afterward, I would like to make our betrothal official, and I would like us to wed as soon as you graduate. I would like sooner but I know how important your education is, and I know how gifted you are, I would be a poor husband to take what you love from you.” Alex said handing a bottle of cider to Isobel. “Very well, I shall be patient though it shall be hard. I have known you are a wealthy man for some time Alex your bearing and speech give you away, and I know you have a reason to keep your identity hidden. Where there many women after you?” Isobel asked with a sudden flare of jealousy. “A few but none interested me, I wished for more than a pretty face as my wife. I wanted a woman that liked what I did, a woman that was as kind as she was lovely and that is you. Now eat and tell me about your day.” Alex replied relieved that Isobel had accepted his answers. Isobel knew that she should demand Alex tell her who he really was, demand that he answer all her questions but she was a patient woman and she could tell by his manner that he was truly upset about keeping secrets from her. It was enough for now that he loved her and she loved him in return, since the death of her family she wasn’t sure she’d ever find anyone who would truly love her. Who Alex truly was wasn’t as important as his character, she knew he was a good and kind man, she knew he wasn’t a womanizer or a murderer and she also knew he didn’t want her for her inheritance. “Well after the wonderful surprise from the countess sister Margaret gave a fascinating lecture about the various uses of mushrooms and toadstools, I had not known they had so many uses. I knew about the poisonous ones of course but not that there were ones that if you consumed them made you hallucinate.” Isobel took another dainty bite of her pie. “Tell me all about it; my mother was very skilled in their usage. After we are wed I shall show you her journals on the subject, she would have loved you as much as I do.” Alex said and was rewarded with a smile that made his heart beat faster, he had truly lost his heart to shy little Isobel and he didn’t care. “I shall begin with the poisons ones, I didn’t know there were so many kinds, it is really fascinating,” Isobel replied, as long as she had Alex, a roof over her head, and a garden she would be happy for all that really mattered was love and family.