The Sound of Settling

I let out yet another impatient sigh and scooted a bit closer to the open window as Nezeta pulled the ivory comb through my long damp hair. I’d spent the past half hour seated on the wooden stool, and was eager to escape the confines of my room for a nice walk down to the orchard for an afternoon treat. I was used to the afternoon routine of having my face, arms, and hair washed with rose water, but the sun shone warm on my skin and I longed to be among the sweet scent of orange trees.

“Nezeta, I think my hair has dried enough, don’t you? I’m sure it’s quite untangled by now,” I said in my sweetest tones, and she let out a soft chuckle.

“Just a few more minutes and you’ll be able to roam the grounds all you want until dinner,” she said as she continued to groom me, her deeply tanned face alight with a smile as she looked down at me. I sighed dramatically but smiled back up at her, leaning my head against her stomach with the coarse material of her dress pressed into my cheek.

“How is it that you know me so well that you can know my exact thoughts, when I know so little about you Nezeta?” I asked, and she leaned forward to press a kiss on my forehead.

“Because I am your handmaid, and it is my duty to know all your likes and dislikes, what makes you smile and what could bring you to tears,” she explained, and my brow creased in a frown.

“But are we not friends, Nezeta?”

“Of course we are, dear,” she replied, her aged hands brushing a few strawberry blond wisps of hair from my cheek. “I have known you longer than anyone else save your father; how could we be anything but friends?” she asked, and I turned so that I faced her properly.

“Then why am I not allowed to spend time with Alfonso,” I demanded seriously, and Nezeta let out a tired sigh.

“Filippa, we’ve discussed this before…” she began, but I cut her off angrily.

“I know we have, but it still fails to make the slightest bit of sense,” I said, and she placed her hands on her hips. “For the past two years I’ve been forbidden to speak a word to my best friend whom I adore above all else, yet I’m allowed to talk to you whenever I please. It simply isn’t fair,” I said, my voice rising to a childish whine as I finished. My eyes were watering with tears, and the annoyance quickly dissolved from Nezeta’s face as she pulled me into a hug.

“Life isn’t always fair,” she said softly, and I ground my teeth at the sound of her all too familiar way of saying ‘there’s nothing either of us can do about it so you’ll just have to live with it.’

“Your hair’s dry now, dear,” she said after a few minutes, and I nodded before pulling away and starting towards the door. I’d nearly escaped the apartment before a frustrated Nezeta called me back.

“Filippa, what on earth do you think you’re doing? Finish getting dressed before you vacate this room,” she said sternly, and I immediately began to protest.

“You know it’s completely unacceptable for you to run about dressed solely in your chemise; I do not care how uncomfortable you may feel in your corset, you must dress appropriately for a girl of your age and station,” she admonished, and it took all of my willpower for me to remain still rather than simply run from the room as she approached me with the wire and cloth contraption that she intended to lace around my waist.

“But it isn’t as if I’ll encounter anyone who hasn’t known me since I was an infant,” I reasoned, more annoyed than angry at this point. I knew Nezeta only wanted to keep me from getting in trouble with Papa if he saw me dressed improperly, but I’d rather be comfortable than ‘acceptable’ any day.“Dressing up for the people of the village is completely unnecessary, and even a bit rude if you ask me,” I added in a sing-song voice, knowing I didn’t have any real chance of convincing her to let me leave dressed as I was. I watched as she tried not to allow her smile of amusement to completely envelop her features.

“Then I suppose it’s a good thing no one asked for your opinion, then, isn’t it?” she asked, and I made a face at her as she began to dress me. I managed to talk her out of forcing me to wear stockings in such warm weather, but I was weighted down with a corset, petticoat, hat, and shoes before Nezeta would allow me to leave the room.

“Be sure to return home in an hour or so for dinner,” she reminded me, and I grudgingly assured her that I would as I stepped from the room out into the sunny hall.

I bounded down two flights of stairs and then out into the garden, slowing my pace as I walked down the stone path that wound throughout the area. My mood lightened considerably the moment I was beyond the confines of the house, and I leisurely made my way through the garden as the breeze lightly lifted my hair. I came to a halt beneath the shade of a large tree to remove my shoes and to trade my ostentatious hat for the simple straw one I’d left hanging on a low branch. I had no plans to gallivant about the town dressed so pompously, and had gone through this routine since the first day Papa had required me to wear a petticoat and showy hat.

I considered pulling off my plain dress and leaving it there as well, as the extra layer of fabric prevented the breeze from cooling me as easily. But I could vividly remember how panicked Alfonso had been when he’d come across the pile of my abandoned clothing last summer and had assumed the worst. I resolved to keep the confounded thing on if only to protect his state of mind, and to prevent another town-wide hunt for my supposed kidnapper. I sighed and did my best to push away all thoughts of Alfonso before heading across the garden for the gate.

Once I was beyond the perimeter of Papa’s lands I broke into a run, reaching up to hold down my hat as I turned my face to the sun and galloped across the grass. I raced past vineyards and olive groves, and allowed the rush of energy to wash away all my burdens, fears, and grievances. I waved to the small children who called down to me from their perches in the tall trees, and called out to my neighbors as they shouted greetings. I let out a laugh as I raced the birds that flew high above me, and chased the bees that darted from sweet smelling flower to flower.

Alfonso and I had spent our days roaming these lands in our youth, and each night my dreams were filled with the adventures we’d had beneath the hot sun. No matter how hard I tried to keep him from my mind I couldn’t help but think of him as I galloped along the paths we’d tread so often as children. I knew the more I dwelled on past experiences shared with him, the less pleasure I would gain from my current escapade. Nostalgia was a powerful and inevitable soberer, and once I came to the realization that I’d never be able to return to that blissful past, I was no longer able to enjoy my escapade.

After a bit more aimless roaming I returned to the main road to pick a few oranges from the trees lining the dirt path before I returned home. I had just finished peeling the fruit that appeared to be the ripest when I heard the drum of hooves behind me. I continued to eat my orange in silence, and patiently waited for the horseman to ride past me on the narrow road so I could begin my journey home in safety.

However, I gave a start and dropped the second fruit I’d begun peeling when an indignant neighing followed by an angry shout struck my ears. At the sound of a heavy thud and a cry of pain I abandoned my oranges and hurried towards the sound, kicking up dust as I scrambled down the other side of the hill.

A man lay sprawled on the ground beside a gorgeous black steed, and I was unable to hide my awe as I took in the sight of the gorgeous creature. Papa owned a few work horses and he and I both had mounts of our own, but I’d never seen such a beautiful horse; it took a large sum of my self-control for me to go to the fallen man’s side rather than to continue to marvel his steed. With one last wistful look at the horse I kneeled down beside the man. While his face was twisted in pain, he didn’t seem to have been injured by the fall.

“Are you alright sir?” I asked, more out of habit than concern, and he gave a moan far more pitiful than any noise I’d heard Alfonso make when he’d broken his leg when we were nine. “You act as if you’ve never fallen off of a horse before,” I couldn’t help but laugh, and the man immediately ceased his mewling.

“Have you any idea who I am?” he asked, his voice heavily accented and full of condescension. He propped himself up on an elbow and grumbled something in a language I couldn’t understand as he wiped the dirt from his eyes with the back of his hand. I had never seen him before, but still made a show of sitting back on my heels to take in his clean-shaven face and rather nicely tailored clothes. He couldn’t have been older than twenty five, but he appeared to be quite well bred and had clearly been instilled with a sense of superiority from a very young age. I was suddenly struck with the desire to keep Papa’s role as governor hidden from him, as I was keen to see how such a man would treat me when not enlightened with this information.

“I must say I do not,” I told him, and the man sat up fully with an exasperated sigh. He began to fastidiously brush at the dust that now coated his vest, but gave up when he caught sight of my amused stare. He looked at me with eyes framed by thick brown lashes, and his gaze flitted across my face for a moment before he quickly glanced away.

“If you’re fit to ride I suppose I’ll leave you to your own devices then,” I told him as I rose to my feet, and he blinked up at me with a blank expression before climbing up from the ground.

“Yes, I’ll be quite alright,” he assured me as he returned to his mount, who’d been waiting idly by the roadside. I watched as he climbed into the saddle, and couldn’t help but feel a little offended when he rode off in the direction of my home without thanking me for my kindness. I would be lying if I claimed not to have found the man rather attractive with his clear blue eyes, curly light brown hair, and angular features; but his pompous personality greatly overshadowed his looks, and I was glad to see the back of him.

I waited a few minutes before continuing after him down the road, and was able to eat a few more oranges while tucking another four into my pockets to save for later. I pondered my decision to keep my identity a secret as I walked, and wondered how long I could fool the man. As the only property on this road belonged to Papa, I knew the stranger would be spending at least a few hours at my family’s house tonight. During that time I knew he’d inevitably realize that I was in fact the governor’s daughter. But I’d never met anyone who was even remotely unfamiliar with my parentage, and I was desperate to keep him in the dark for as long as possible.