Maiden by Decree
Chapter Six
 By Maggie Finson
 

On Learning to be a Lady

or, I’m stuck with it, and a deal is a deal

 

Deirdre awakened without a great deal of disorientation but a lot of trepidation as she felt the smoothness of silk both clothing and covering her.

Events of the previous few days were so completely burnt into her memories that the recently proclaimed lady sourly reflected that the images themselves would always remain brightly active in her mind no matter how long she lived.

With a groan, Deirdre pushed the silken covers off herself and gingerly sat up to note the violet silk nightgown she was wearing — sans the padding that was becoming a bit uncomfortable at times. At least the robing maid assigned to her, Bertelle, hadn’t batted so much as an eyelash when the girl had assisted her new lady out of that padding, even when catching sight of Deirdre’s so called manhood.

The bedroom, or more correctly, sleeping chambers that had been given to her were sumptuous beyond mere needs of comfort. The immense canopied bed alone was probably nearly the size of the room Derek had called his own only a few days before. Elegantly delicate furnishings of highly polished wood covered in satins, silks, and intricate brocades were spaced carefully with an eye to being available without causing a sense of clutter, heavy rose colored satin drapes covered the wide, floor to ceiling windows and were quite effective at keeping the daylight outside at bay.

Definitely a woman’s chambers. The Rose, violets, lavenders and other pastel colors of the furnishings and walls, along with a few brighter colors for accent left no doubts of that at all. Staring at her surroundings, Deirdre let out a long sigh. “I could get used to all this luxury, I suppose.”

The usual morning urges arrived, were taken care of with a minimum of fuss other than making sure the delicate silk sleeping gown was out of the way, then she stood there wondering what to do next. Bertelle’s final words of the night, or early morning before came back to her then. “When you awaken m’lady, just pull on the bell rope beside your bed and I will come.”

“Well, may as well get this farce started.” Deirdre grumbled as she walked over and gave the velvet braiding of the rope a light tug. “I don’t imagine I could get away with hiding in here all day, anyway.”

The doors to her sleeping chambers opened and a smiling Bertelle appeared with a curtsey as if she had been waiting just outside. Something the girl probably had been doing, Deirdre reflected gloomily. “Good morning, m’lady. Did you sleep well?”

“Umm, actually I did.” The lady in question answered with a smile in response to the maid’s good cheer. “I hope I haven’t slept the day away.”

“Oh, that was allowed for today, m’lady.” Bertelle grinned then pointedly went to the huge bed and retrieved a satin robe that was far less transparent than the sleeping gown then helping Deirdre get into it. “It is scarcely two hours since sunrise, so you are up and about much earlier than anticipated. Your guests are still sleeping, by the way.”

“I take it that I should always put on a robe before summoning someone in the morning?” Deirdre had gotten the hint and waved away a response before the girl could make it. “Never mind, I got it, dear. Now what?”

“A bath is in order first then we get you properly dressed for a late breakfast, m’lady.”

“I had a bath yesterday, Bertelle.” Deirdre pointed out, hoping to avoid that particular ordeal for at least a while yet.

“A proper lady bathes every day, m’lady.” The maid countered simply. “It wouldn’t do at all for unpleasant odors to be warring with your delicate perfumes, after all.”

“Every day…” Deirdre somehow knew that protesting would not deter the gently determined young woman in front of her, but gave one last valiant try. “Really? Is that necessary every day?”

“Of course it is, m’lady.” Bertelle answered simply and thus implying without rebuke that such an activity was not only necessary, but expected. “Your bath is being prepared now, please follow me and we’ll get you all cleaned up and smelling sweetly as a lady should.”

“I’m not going to get out of this, am I?”

“If you chose not to bathe, that is your right, m’lady.” The girl answered carefully, but didn’t bother to hide the disapproval the thought of that raised in her mind.

“Never mind.” Deirdre sighed. “I am in your capable hands, Bertelle. Lead on, if you please.”

“Of course, m’lady.” The girl gave another curtsey and smiled brightly before walking towards the door to the robing room. “Your bathing chamber is this way.”

* * * *

Being so pampered wasn’t a thing that the former boy was used to. Three maids were present in the bathing chamber, and diligently applied sweet smelling soaps, oils, lotions, creams, and other unnamable things — at least for Deirdre — until she emerged from the large tub for even more ministrations.

The application of all the lotions at least had the effect of easing the nearly constant itching at chest, hips, and bottom.
“All that for breakfast?” Deirdre gave the selection of garments a disbelieving look .

“It is properly simple morning attire, m’lady.” Bertelle answered imperturbably.

“I’ll have to take your word for that, I’m afraid.” Deirdre gave the mass of garments, most meant to be covered by the outer gown a frown then muttered. “I’ll never get the hang of this.”

“Don’t worry, m’lady.” Bertelle gave her a comforting pat to a slim shoulder. “In no time at all, this kind of thing will become quite normal for you, even second nature.”

“That’s what worries me.” Deirdre anwered quietly, to the amusement of the maid.

* * * *

Wearing a gown of shimmering lavender satin with only two petticoats under the split skirts, Deirdre emerged from her chambers with no idea of just how resplendent and beautiful she was.

“I can’t believe it took an hour to get me dressed in a simple outfit that’s only presentable for mornings.” She muttered to herself while giving a slightly superior grin to her obviously suffering guests. “Hung over, are we?”

“You drank more than we did.” Ilene growled while glaring at her new sister. “You should know.”

“I have connections.” Deirdre smirked then offered each of the suffering ladies a vial that Harald had left with her the night before. “Here, this will fix that.”

“You cheated.” Katrina gave her a suspicious look once the potion had taken effect.

“Harald had to remind me to remove the cork so I could drink it last night.” Deirdre chuckled. “But it does help, doesn’t it?”

Ilene said nothing but the blissful expression of relief on her young face was eloquent enough.

Jessica frowned, took a long draught of the potion and closed her eyes as it began its work. “Wow, that worked fast!”

“You should have heard the earful I gave Harald for sobering me up last night.” Deirdre grinned. “All that lovely brandy gone to waste in moments.”

“We heard some of it.” Katrina chuckled. “But then nothing more so we just assumed that once sober you and Harald had a most interesting conversation that was best left private.”

“You look quite splendid in that gown, dear.” Jessica changed the subject with a gesture at the clothing Deirdre was wearing. “It does look much better on you than it did on me, by the way.”

“Thank you, I think.” Deirdre answered with a puzzled expression on her face. “Is all that stuff in my — dressing room from you?”

“Yes.” Jessica grinned then shrugged. “I really had far too many clothes to be able to even properly store them, let alone wear them. So just thought I may as well do something nice for my new sister.”

Lifting her gown, Deirdre let out a sigh. “All this is really going to take some getting used to, you know?”

“Speaking of proper clothing.” Katrina put in. “I’ll need you at the shop to get your gown for the ball ready in time. You’ll love it, Deirdre, satins, silks, deep reds, and pure whites for contrast.”

“Red, for blood, white for virginal?” Deirdre questioned with a sidelong glance to her mentor and a shake of her head then raised a hand to forestall any response. “Never mind. I don’t think I’d like the answer anyway.”

“But it will be beautiful on you, dearest.” Katrina soothed. “Trust me on that.”

“The last time I trusted you, Sir Garret and his sister saw me wearing a dress.” Deirdre grumbled then slid one hand down her skirts.
“And this is the result. So don’t blame me if I don’t seem all that enthusiastic about that ball gown.”

“Oh, you worry too much, big sister.” Ilene grinned. “Look at things this way. How much more could possibly happen to you now? Given what has over the past day or so, I mean?”

“That’s what worries me.” Deirdre grumped in response. “With me, if something can go wrong, or turn things completely upside down, it will gleefully do so.”

The others answered that with trills of feminine laughter, and teased the newly made lady about her worries.

That was interrupted when her Major Domo entered the room with a courtly bow. “M’lady, Sir Garret requests your company for breakfast.”

“Where does Sir Garret wish to have this breakfast?” Deirdre questioned with a little sigh.

“In his chambers, I would imagine, M’lady.” Came the uninflected response, then the man added. “He awaits your pleasure outside.”

“Well.” Deirdre shook her head, got off the couch with a smooth grace that put the lie to any protest she might make about being a boy, and nodded. “Please escort me to meet him, Aevestos. Then make certain that my guests are seen to for the morning meal, if you would.”

“Of course, M’lady.” The man responded then gestured towards the door leading out of rooms into the hall. “If you would be kind enough to follow me?”

“Why do I feel like I’m being led by the nose around here?” Deirdre muttered.

Aevestos didn’t deign to answer that question, though he had heard it, and simply led his Lady to the door which he opened with a flourish. “His most honorable and just lord, Sir Garret, M’lady.”

Garret’s eyes widened appreciatively when Aevestos moved away from the door and he was able to see Deirdre fully. “Good morning, m’lady. I hope you slept well and that your chambers are satisfactory?”

“Yes I did, yes they are, and you and I need to have a long talk, Sir.” Deirdre replied with a little frown that slowly turned into a halfway reluctant smile. “I believe something was said about breakfast?”

“Of course, dear.” Garret offered his arm, and Deirdre found her own linked with the man’s and was being gently led down the hallway. “Seeing you makes getting up in the morning worth the effort, you know. You’re radiant.”

“It was the bath, and everything else that was rubbed, smoothed, and patted onto my body and face.” She said with a grimace. “I’m actually quite a grump for a while in the morning.”

His laugh in response to that was full of good humor and not teasing at all. “Oh, you should see Jessica on one of her bad mornings, I’m sure that I’ll be able to cope, my dear.”

“You’ll cope?” Came her almost tart response. “You haven’t got the first idea of what coping is, trust me on that one.”

“Oh, I think I may have more of an idea than you think.” He quietly answered then shrugged. “But we will discuss that, and other things in the privacy of my own rooms if that is all right with you?”

“That will be fine.” Deirdre nodded then sighed while thinking of some of the things Harald had told her. “You didn’t deserve that, I apologize for my outburst.”

“Quite understandable under the circumstances, dear.” Garret smiled and shook his head. “I know how I would be reacting under the circumstances you’re dealing with just now. It would not be nearly as well as you are managing so far, I can assure you.”

“Thank you. I think.” Deirdre began noticing other people in the hallways they were walking along. People who greeted the couple with bows, smiles, and a few scattered ‘good mornings’ as they passed. It seemed to the new lady that each of those people were boring holes into her with their eyes, even if they were doing so discretely. “Is it my imagination, or is everyone staring at me?”

“They admire beauty.” Garret answered with a grin. “While trying to take your measure since you are new to the palace, and my obvious choice of ladies.”

“Beauty!” Deirdre held back a derisive snort at that idea, and shook her head slightly while returning one of the many smiles she was receiving and tightened her grasp on the knight’s arm. “It feels more like a flaying from a distance at the moment.”

“I’m sure it does. They’re measuring you by what they see at the moment, dear one.” He replied while giving her hand an encouraging squeeze. “Your appearance — which is wonderful, your poise — and you appear to be quite confident and at ease with your surroundings, your bearing — quite graceful, with just the right touch of the demure, head held high, and you have that understated elegance of motion that some women never manage. In short, you look every inch of what you appear to be right now. A lovely young lady enjoying a morning stroll with her intended.”

Deirdre refrained from rolling her eyes, but did let out a little sigh of near frustrated worry. She was more of the opinion that everyone was trying to penetrate the disguise and find the boy under all that finery. “I’ll take that on faith at the moment, Sir. I’m actually much too terrified to do anything but walk right now.”

“You’re doing fine, and actually come across as very girlish and dainty just now.” He reassured her with a small laugh as if she’d said something amusing.

“Oh, that’s just what I needed to hear.” Deirdre still hadn’t completely gotten her mind around thinking of herself as a she instead of a he and suspected it would be some time before something like that would truly settle in, if at all. “I wonder if I’ll ever get used to this.”

“Of course you will, darling.” Her escort answered. “Any awkwardness you show will be taken as that of a young commoner girl suddenly raised into the nobility and most will find that quite endearing.”

“Whatever you say, dear.” Deirdre smirked then asked a question adults travelling with children had endured since people began making journeys. “Are we there yet?”

“Nearly.” Garret chuckled and patted her hand. “Another few minutes is all it will take.”

“Good, I really am hungry, you know.”

* * * *

Thankfully away from all the curious, and to Deirdre’s chagrin, envious looks from the ladies, Garret led her to a small table, held the chair for her, and gently pushed it forward so she could reach the tableware without reaching then seated himself in a chair to her left.

Once Deirdre had started to relax a bit, with an obvious sigh of relief, servants began delivering a bewildering array or fruits, steaming cereals, sweet rolls, and beverages.

“What, no wine?” She questioned with a smirk while eyeing the beverage offerings with more than a little suspicion and pointing to one in particular. “What is that?”

Garrret looked at the steaming black brew and grinned. “Caff. It’s really quite invigorating.”

“It smells like burnt beans.” Wrinkling her nose she gave him a challenging look.

“Not burnt, roasted then ground.” Garret responded after taking an appreciative sip from the cup of the noxious stuff he had. “The panacea for those of us who are morning impaired, my love. Try it.”

Giving the almost noxious smelling brew a doubtful look, Deirdre very carefully raised the cup, took a sip, and almost threw the cup across the room. “Gah! That’s horrible! How can you drink this stuff?”

“Well.” Garret admitted with a mischievous grin. “It is kind of an acquired taste.”

Very carefully setting the cup full of steaming, black liquid back on the table, she gave him a thin smile. “I noticed. Would you happen to have provided tea for this intimate little breakfast?”

“Sarcasm again.” Garret chuckled then waved to a servant to bring a fresh cup and a pot of fragrant morning tea. As the servant poured the tea Garret grinned again. “I knew I’d have fun with you around, dear. Is that more to your liking?”

“Much better.” Deirdre nodded with a momentary glare at him. “Now stop picking on me, I have more than enough problems to deal with as it is without my ‘boyfriend’ teasing me.”

“I am your betrothed, darling.” He drawled with a lift of one eyebrow. “I am allowed to tease you. It’s in the rules somewhere.”

“Show me those rules, my love.” Deirdre growled, but to her embarrassment, it sounded more like a purr.

“They’re unwritten, love.” Garret answered with a smug look.

“Then write them out for me.” Deirdre replied while giving him the gimlet ‘You are in soo much trouble’ look that women always give their men. “I’ll wait.”

“Give me a few weeks, and I’ll find them for you.” He chuckled.

“Right, while hoping I’ll forget that I asked you.” She grumbled, then laughed. “Why do I like you so much, Garret?”

“Oh, my winning personality, maybe?” He innocently asked.

“Hold still.” Deirdre told him. “While I aim this pot at your head.”

“I love you, too, dear.”

“Just how much trouble could I get into for killing a Lord to be of the Realm?” She questioned.

“Oh, lots.” Garret responded with another infuriating grin. “But do you really want to kill me, darling?”

“WILL you please STOP calling me that?!!”

“But you are my darling, love.” Garret responded without flinching. “I have waited all my life for you.”

“Okay. I give up.” Deirdre sighed. “Let’s change the subject, shall we?”

“To whatever you wish to talk about, dear.” He answered with the smug grin that told her that he had her whether she wanted it or not.

“Stop that!”

“What?”

“Making me feel as if it’s preordained that you and I will get married! That’s what!” Deirdre almost screamed.

“Calm down, darling.” Garret soothed. “You can’t fight fate, after all.”

“FATE?!!” Drawing in a long, slow, calming breath, Deirdre glared at her intended. “What in the NINE HELLS does that have to do with what’s happening to me?”

“Can’t fight it.” He calmly answered then nuzzled her neck. “Just enjoy it, dear. I plan to do that.”

“Easy for you to say.” She retorted. “You aren’t growing… Breasts!”

“I noticed.” He grinned.

“Can I get away with slapping you?”

“In private, yes.”

*WHAP!!!*

“Ow!” rubbing his jaw, Garret shook his head. “You are going to be a handful, m’lady.”

“I’m so glad you approve.” She smiled.

“So who wants a boring wife?” He grinned.

“All right, enough of the little love chats.” Deirdre glowered at him. “We need to talk about a few things here.”

“Indeed we do.”

“To begin with.” She pointed a finger at him . “What do you know about a certain prophecy?”

“which one?” Giving her an innocent look, he shrugged. “There are a lot of prophesies floating around, you know.”

Deirdre wanted to grab him by the throat and shake him. “The one about you and me, dimwit!”

“Oh, that one.”

“Yes! That one!” She almost grabbed him by the throat. “Tell me!”

“Well, it has to do with the love of my life.”

“And that’s supposed to be me?!!”

“Evidently.” He shrugged. “I didn’t write the damned thing, after all.”

“Details!”

“Oh, those.”

“Yes, THOSE!”

“Look, honestly.” He told her. “All it said was I would find the love of my life, and my ultimate foil, among the boys. You think it’s been easy paying attention to scrawny boys all my life?”

“You think it’s easy being the boy you found?” She shot back. “Do you know I’m growing t… umm.. breasts?”

“I did notice.” He answered with a grin. “I like it.”

“You would.” She grumbled. “But I’m not supposed to be doing that! I’m a boy. Why, why, am I going through the same kind of puberty my sister did?!!”

“Because you love me?”

“Don’t push your luck, bucko.” Deirdre sighed. “I’m still getting used to this girl thing, after all. Being in love with a man? I am definitely NOT ready for that one.”

“I’ll love you anyway.”

“Oh, thanks.” She answered a little acerbically. “If it means anything, that does help, I suppose.”

“That’s a start.” He told her.

“Doomed, I’m doomed!” She muttered. “Do you have the least idea of what I’m going through just now?”

“No.” He admitted then reached across the table to take her hand. “But I do know that you are the one meant for me, and I am meant for you.”

“Yeah, I have that one figured out.” Deirdre grimaced. “But what do we do with that? I can’t bear your children, after all. I don’t have the necessary equipment to do that.”

“Things change.” He shrugged. “If you can’t do that, you can’t. I’ll still love you.”

“You’re running me into a corner here, do you know that?”

“All according to plan, dearest.”

“WILL you please stop calling me that?!!” She almost screamed.

“All right.” He gave a negligent shrug. “Would you accept me calling you darling?”

“I give up.” Deirdre shook her head. “Can we change the subject here?”

“We need to.” He agreed.

“What?” Giving the man a long searching look, she continued the question. “What else could go wrong here?”

“Well, you recall when I told you about my unsavory cousin?”

“Yes, and what does that have to do with the present situation?” Deirdre Demanded.

“Simply put.” Garret told her. “There is a faction that would back my cousin for the seat of Chalmnessa. And the presence of a chosen lady for me is a very real threat to those ambitions. You are in some danger because of the situation, I fear.”

“Danger?” Deirdre questioned. “Please give me more information on that.”

“Simply be aware of all that is around you, my love.” He answered. “There are people who would either imprison you for life or kill you just to keep you from being my bride.”

“Which one is worse?” Deirdre muttered then gave Garret a glare that would have flayed the flesh from a weaker individual.

“Just be on your guard, m’lady.” He answered.

“Oh, I will be.”

“Good.” He answered. “That is all I ask. I cannot protect you all the time so you must work at protecting yourself.”

“I get the feeling I should be worried here.” Deirdre muttered.