Summers at Isllesmore-Chapter Four: Adornment of Folly

The morning song of the robin sounded throughout the garden. The small bright birds fluttered above my head as I sat beneath the rose vine in the garden maze.1

My first winter at Isllesmore had come and gone, but not quitely and peacefully as we had all hoped. Mother had died after catching a chill during the first frost of fall. I spent the next three months hidden away in my Mother’s room. My Lord Gerard the only companion in my grief.2

As the first snows of winter descended I ventured from my sorrow filled prison to the gardens.3

How beautiful they were, yet how harrowing. The green which covered the ground was brown with decay. And the rose bush, her stems stripped bare and her shy blush bleached.4

I had sat myself down in the frigid white and cried till Gerard found me.5

But now as winter has melted away and spring’s flush has bloomed into summer I feel more contented than before.6

Gerard has given me more authority over the household. And much more so now as he is away visiting in Fellsburg.7

The beginning of summer marked the time of the great ball here at Isllesmore, and I was to plan it this year. I found great trouble as I had never before attened the gala. Every year I had been too young and so was sent to my room to read my book silently. And last year’s ball had been canceled due to my fever. So I found myself confiding in my Lady’s maid Anna for help.8

I scribbled a few illegible marks into my diary and the soft rustling of grass being trampled interrupted my thoughts.9

“Writing about me?” Gerard stood in the nearest corner of the maze. His lips set in a way that I had learned ment he had been up to something.10

“No, I’m trying to figure out this ball. You know I do believe you hate me.” I closed my diary and set it beside me. I watched to see his reaction.11

“Oh, now you know I could never hate you. Even if you were to burn Isllesmore down.” I grinned slightly then just as fast I frowned.12

“Oh no! Who told you!” Gerard flashed a glance quickly to the manor then grabed a hold of me. 13

“You do love tormenting me don’t you?” I kissed his cheek and slid from his hold.14

“It would not be as fun if you would not fall for it everytime.” I went to pick up my diary when Gerard snatched it before me.15

“If you want it back you must catch me.” He began to run from the maze. His pace much faster than my own.16

By time I finally caught up with him he was in the drawing room reading what I had wrote.17

“What do you think you are doing?!” I grabbed the book from his hands and watched him pick up his glass of brandy.18

“Not like I could read it anyway.” I glared at him, wishing very much to hit him.19

“Here while I was in Fellsburg I bought you something.” He picked up a large flat box from beside him. Somehow the need to hit him faded as I opened the box.20

“Oh my! Gerard, how beautiful!” Nestled neatly in the package was a white and gold dress. 21

“Well I thought you needed a gown for the ball.” I carefully took the dress from the box, my fingers sliding across the soft velvet.22

“But this is so elegant. A less adorned dress would of done just fine.” I could not believe what he had just done. The amount of money this must of cost him!23

“No it would not of been. I would not be happy unless you had the most beautiful and most expensive gown at the ball. Now go and try it on. We must make sure it fits.” I smiled and laughed a slight bit.24

“Fine, but don’t think you are seeing this on me till the night of the ball.”25