The letter was sealed with a red dot of wax embossed with an elegant Celtic diamond-like flower. The paper was slightly rumpled and had apparently been around for a long time. The script was flowingly elegant and unrushed. The parchment had the scent of rose water when opened.
She paused a moment then broke the seal and skimmed the letter quickly picking up only some words. She took a deep breath and then started at the beginning, slowly she read.
?To the dear woman I call sister,
For all of my knowledge, ye are an only child. However I have searched so long for ye that I have affectionately affixed ye the title of sister. There is much ye do nae know, and even more that ye need to know. Forgive me for being so vague but letters too often become found by those who have no business placing their eyes upon the words. If ye heed nothing else, your life has become endangered by the very idea of ye looking at this letter. Ye are my cousin. Please forgive me for endangering ye, but there are words that must be exchanged about the man ye call ?father?. Believe me, we shall speak again. Now that I know who ye are, we will meet again. It would do ye well to burn this letter, your life depends on it. Please, please take care.?
The letter was left unsigned
Her hands clutched the letter and they fell into her lap. Blinking a couple of times then reading it again. She huffed a laugh, "Vague is not the word for it." She read on, "Cousin? But how?" She shook her head and looked up, moving her eyes over the furniture in her room as she thought. "My parents were only children," she whispered and looked back to the letter. "And how can finding family be such a danger to my life?" A knock came on the door and she jumped back into the pillows clutching the letter to her chest. "Who is it?"
"My lady," Gloria started. "Are you alright? Colonel Shafer asked me to see after you. He said you weren't feeling feel?" She tried to turn the knob but it was locked.
"Aye Gloria I am just tired from the sun," she looked around frantically to hide the letter. As she realized her words she groaned, there was no point lying to Gloria, she had the ability to 'see' through people. Gloria knew Aubrianna would rather sleep in the sun all day than be shut away in her room.
Gloria gave a large laugh. "Do you think I?ve gone mad girl?" She giggled the knob again. "Open up this door."
"I am coming!" She stuffed the letter under her pillows and rushed to unlock the door. It swung open and Aubrianna stood there with a beaming grin.
Gloria glared. "What is going on?"
She knew she could trust Gloria; but what was it she would tell her? And would she understand anything about the letter? "I...I just needed to get away from the Colonel." Please believe me, please believe me, she prayed.
Gloria gave the girl a wry look. "I was not born yesterday girl, now what has got ye all a fluster?"
She sighed and lowered her head as if to concede. She then stood aside and gestured for Gloria to enter.
She gave the girl a touch to the shoulder as she passed, noticing the rumpled bed and pillows that she had straightened earlier.
Aubrianna shut the door and locked it. Then rushed to the bed and pulled the letter from the pillows. Clutching it to her chest she gave Gloria the most pitiful look anyone had ever seen. "Please, please swear to me that if any of this makes sense to you...you will tell me." She held up her hand to stop a comment so she could finish. "And...swear not to mention this to anyone?" Her eyes pleaded seriously.
Gloria took in the pleading look her daughter was performing then the letter. Her eyes moved slowly back up the girls face as she listened to her plea, her face a touch paler as she moved a hand to wipe her own brow. She looked to the door making sure of the bolt the back to Aubrianna. She quieted her voice as she moved like lighting to Aubrianna's side. "If that letter is what I believe it to be, I may not have to promise....they may just cut my tongue out.?
Her eyes widened and then she clutched the letter tighter to her chest. "They who?" Her hands began to shake at the thought of what could be so terrible they would cut out a woman's tongue.
Gloria hesitated, a hand had moved to touch the peak of a seal between the girls fingers then stopped. Taking in a deep breath she braced herself looking about at the fireplace and paintings around the room. She had almost forgotten herself. Her eyes sought those of Aubrianna. "These walls have ears dear one. I have kept you safe enough this long..." Gloria gives a grunt as she moves away hastily toward her writing desk.
Aubrianna scooted off the bed and followed Gloria, her eyes welling with tears from the confusion and danger. "Safe from what?" She whispered staying close to her.
Her hand hastily sought after the ink well, a sheet of parchment, and a quill. Upon the paper she wrote. -Your father would be the one who would take my tongue.-
She shook her head and kneeled next to Gloria, just moving her mouth. "Why?"
Gloria jumped and almost gave a squeak as a harsh rap on the door shattered the silence. A male servant?s voice came after to announce that the lord Colonel awaited an audience with the lady Aubrianna
Aubrianna jumped and gripped Gloria's skirt hem. "We...I will be down in moment!" She shouted.Her heart was beating out of her chest. She looked to Gloria and her look begged for her to continue. "Please," she whispered.
Gloria chimed in as well right behind her. "Thank you Kevin"
Gloria looked ready to kick the girl for accepting the offer to have the audience, but she looked to her and shook her head. "Not now child," Gloria's hand reached for the chain around her neck and pulled the charm from her bosom. Untangling it from her hair as she pulled it over her head, she looked at it for a long moment before placing it over the girls head. "This was given to me by your mother before she died. It is yours, but you must keep it hidden. Your father must not know of it. Now go before we draw suspicion upon ourselves.?
She took to emblem in her hand and looked at it. Her eyes widened and then looked to the seal on the letter. "What is this?"
?If you had not answered to Keven, I could have covered fore you but your tongue is quicker than your head sometimes. I love you girl. Now, skit.?
She scoffed the Colonel. "He is about to catch a lashing from my tongue. What more does he want with me?" She pushed to her feet. "You know I love you too Gloria." She sighed.
?Aubrianna, do not bring the world down upon your head. The world is doing enough of that already. Do you have enough information from that letter? I will take care of it. I will be down in a moment to rescue you. Play sick little ol' me, it will go well with your complexion as it is." Gloria extended her hand out for the letter.
She tucked the symbol into her dress. She gave the letter one last look and handed it to Gloria giving her a knowing smile. "Please hurry." She turned and rushed from the room, slowly making her way down the steps, she put on her best, 'I am not well' face. "Colonel..."
Gloria scanned the letter, absentmindedly locking the door behind Aubrianna. ?Dear heavens protect us. Cordealia?s ghost is in our mists.? She shakily lit the candle on the bed side table. It took two tries before it lit into an amber flame. Taking the candle she moved over to the fireplace and knelt in front of it. Quietly saying a prayer for their souls and lives she watched as the letter browned then blackened as the flames licked at the words scrawled over the parchment. Satisfied that the letter was mere cinders she swept them into the ash keeper.
Shafer stood in a doorway looking up the stairs to watch for the first glimpse of Aubrianna. He had merely wanted to be sure she was well least that is what he had told himself.
She smiled weakly. "Colonel," she made her way to him, her complexion pale. "I am sorry for rushing off like I did. Please do forgive me. I...I am just not feeling well."
Looking her over he nodded slightly. "I do apologize for bringing you from your bedchamber. I hope you will still be able to enjoy the festivities.?
She smiled but she never met his eyes; always keeping them on the room or floor. "No apology needed Colonel and I am sure the festivities will be wonderful. I do plan on being there."
?As a delight as my lieutenant is...I would hate to have to spend my entire evening with her."
She kept a smile, though forced. Yes the woman, the one who gave her the letter...Iolani was her name, yes. "She is dreadful? She did seem to pay nice compliments."
Gloria then moved down the stairs having finished her business with the letter, tisking the Colonel for risking the constitution of the dear Lady Aubrianna in this manner.
Her gaze went quickly to Gloria, and it was one which could burn asking, 'What took so long?'
Shafer looked to Gloria then back to Aubrianna. "No she is quite the character, just a little rough around the edges. She is one of my men; my top advisor and confidant. She more than once has saved my life. But that is not something my lovely Aubrianna should worry herself over."
She batted her eye lashes and laid a hand on his arm. "How nice of you to be concerned with my...worries. And this woman," she said almost distastefully. "Sounds like a wonderful soldier."
Catching the look from Gloria, he raised an eyebrow. "Well my dear, I suppose the Lady Gloria is right?I should be going. We shall see you at the festivities." His hand moved to hers, a smile playing on his lips as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently. He bowed to them both then turned to leave
She smiled watching him drool on her hand, making a mental note to scrub it clean when he was gone. "I shall rest up and be very much delighted to see you there." She watched until he was gone and then turned to Gloria. She took her arm and led her quickly through the kitchen and out to the small garden attached to the side. Going directly to a bench she sat and pulled Gloria down with her.
Gloria looked to Aubrianna and gave a sigh, her look was slightly sad, either knowing she did not wish to marry the man or for the trials that were to come. "Come dear, you need to start getting ready. I will help you into the corset and dress ye father bought."
She sighed sadly and lowered her head. She turned and followed behind Gloria quietly, always one to do as she's told.