AURORA

VI

FEBRUARY 1512

THE OLD WORLD

LADY MARISSA EATON

-

"Would you care for a dance, my love," Will asked bowing. I nodded, biting my checks to prevent myself from smiling. As he stood, the light from the chandeliers illuminated his face.

"Of course," I gave him my hand and he led me on to the dance floor. A couple shuffled to the side to allow us some space as we began to dance.

"So, what are you thinking of," he asked.

"That aren't I the most stunning thing here," I laughed as he twirled me. His eyes twinkled and he nodded.

"That is right, I married you for nothing but your beauty," he said. I gave him a mock glare and he grinned.

"What were you actually thinking," he asked.

"How exactly can I go to Duke Marci and ask him about the males in his family without seeming inquisitive."

"When had 'seeming to be inquisitive' been a problem for you, darling," Will asked. I grinned at him.

"It's not for my sake, it's for Adalynn's sake, she would kill me if anyone else knew what state she was in."

"And I assumed you were the prideful one in the friendship."

"Assume all you want, Adalynn would die that admit she is in pain," I remarked. The dance ended quickly as it had begun especially as we had only begun dancing in the last half. This was the second last Duke in all of England and if this family did not produce any clue to who or where Adalynn's beloved was. We were certainly going out of luck.

"I think you should go; the Duke is standing there alone as of now." The Duke of Norfolk had managed to secure us an invitation to a ball conducted by the Duke of Suffolk and Ipswich. I turned to Will, after staring at the Duke.

"Sometimes, you really do come up with good suggestions." He laughed and pushed me away. Smoothing the crease of my dress, I approached the duke.

"My Lord," I said then curtsied.

"Lady Marissa," he said, "it has been a long time, how are you and your family faring."

"Quite splendidly, my lord," I replied.

"What of your wife and your children."

"It is quiet, each of them retreat into their own business, only my eldest son remains close to me," he joked. I laughed though I found nothing funny in what he said.

"I have a small favour to ask of you," I said. He tipped his head, slightly to front, indicating to continue.

"I have taken a liking to painting recently and I heard, you have the most extensive collection of paintings here at your place, would it be intruding if I could perhaps view them," I asked. I wasn't lying, the Marci family were known in their arts and it was common knowledge they had a hall of paintings which portrayed their family in the most beautiful of perspectives.

He laughed at my request and nodded, "Of course, you are welcome to view them." I smiled. He gazed around the room looking for someone in particular before he turned to me.

"If you want, I shall call my wife now, she seems bored out of her mind and I am sure she would like nothing better than give you a tour."

"Of course, I would be delighted," I said almost too eagerly , a beaming smile on my face. He called out to his wife and leaving me for a moment, spoke to her.

"Lady Marissa," she said questioningly.

"Yes, a pleasure to meet you, My Lady," I curtsied. She smiled at me.

"I heard you are interested in painting," she said, "Yes, my lady, I have recently developed an exceedingly high taste in them."

"That's delightful," she said gleefully, "so what aspects of painting do you like."

I froze and stretched my head to look for Will. I had no idea what painting required of me.

"I am-," I said but she cut me off with a sympathetic nod.

"I am sorry, you probably only started off, it will be a delight to teach you though," the duchess smiled, "I have been waiting to find someone like you to show up in my life."

"Then fate it is, that brought us together," I replied with a smooth smile, she responded likewise.

"I suppose my husband informed you of our painted corridor," she said. I didn't contradict her thought as I nodded.

"Well then," she smiled, "follow me." I followed her out of the ballroom into a corridor and then another one.

"We have a whole, lengthwise corridor with paintings," she said.

"Where does the corridor lead to," I asked.

"To an outside garden," she said before turning around to show me the first painting. Honestly, I would have been stunned by the intracity of the painting if I was interested in art.

The painting consisted of Duchess Marci's old generation of men and women. She began speaking of its history and I replied with a nod and 'yes' whenever necessary. We moved on, each painting was as old as the first one and I must say as boring as the first one.

The duchess failed to notice my disinterest and carried on speaking of the pigments used, as well as the canvas types. As she spoke, I felt a bout of dizziness and I clutched the wall for support. I tried to shake it off, but the dizziness soon proved to be fatal. I lurched forward to tell the Duchess so, but my consciousness abandoned me, and I slumped to the floor.

Adalynn wanted to talk.

OOMPA LOOMPA