applepie

[I]See, I'm on a ball at the moment. Well, I really couldn't sleep, but that is because I've many ideas pushing at me about this story. I'll not likely have any more to add for a week or so, but I hope you like this chapter. I've finals this week, so I'm going to try and not write to avoid the distraction. Hopefully this will calm the brain for a few days so I can concentrate on my test;)

Enjoy,
Meg[/I]

Chapter 9

Philomina regarded Arabella with a dubious look. They had completed their meal, and while they were eating she had be regaled with the tale of Arabella’s appearance in this world. She understood why Allarick wanted her to tutor the woman, her brother was kind and generous despite what he thought of himself, but she was still a little disbelieving at what she had heard. Stories of flying through space did not seem legitimate to Philomina, but she had to concede that Arabella did not seem to be of this world. She had the coloring of a worker, but her features were too refined to be those of a laborer. It was possible that she was the illegitimate child that resulted from the mating of a lord with a worker. Philomina sat and considered the possibilities of the newcomer’s parentage while half listening to her brother talk.

Allarick had spent much of the lunch talking to both Arabella and Philomina. He wanted to be sure that his concerns for his guest’s safety would be addressed. He knew that Arabella would be unable to fit in if she did not learn of their ways, and he was depending upon his baby sister to teach her. He needed her to understand the position and responsibilities of a lady, and no one would be able to teach her as well as Philomina. He had sworn to keep her safe during his fitful night, but in order to keep her safe he must see that she fit in as much as possible. He had spent the meal giving instructions about what needed to be done to make his plan work. He planned to announce Arabella’s position as a guest under his protection at the close of council later in the day. Nothing more would be said about her origins, and he hoped to keep undue attention from being cast her way.

“Mina, will you be sure to see Arabella attired in clothing that would befit a lady. If she is dressed as some lord’s daughter or wife maybe she will draw less attention.”

“If you think that dressing her up is going to keep people from noticing her beauty brother, then I don’t believe that you have looked closely enough.” At Philomina’s comment, Allarick began to look decidedly uncomfortable. She regarded him from beneath her golden lashes as she toyed with the deep red folds of her dress. She had noticed for the first time that her brother was oddly tense, and she wanted some time to contemplate his reaction to the woman. There was more to his plan of making Arabella invisible than he was letting on. She had observed during the meal that her brother was taking special effort to not gaze upon his guest too closely, and he seemed to work even harder to not converse with her. Her brother was hiding something from her, and she had a suspicion it was concerning the pretty female before her. She had never seen Allarick so uncomfortable around a woman. She was curious to determine the reason for the lack of his normal reserve, so, some imp within caused her to agree to her brother’s demands. “I’ll be sure to see that she has some proper clothing before the evening meal, and she will be garbed as a lady when she sits at the table beside us.” What Philomina didn’t tell her beloved brother was that she was not looking to make Arabella seem less attractive. She was already planning on how to adjust a gown of the darkest turquoise larsik, a fabric much like silk, to fit Arabella. The color would be devastating on the already lovely woman, and Philomina wanted to see how Allarick reacted this evening to her presence.

Allarick continued to rattle off instructions and he relayed the tale of his visit to the Ara X. Philomina plotted to herself, but she was intrigued by her brother’s description of the vessel. Arabella was sitting quietly. She was surprised at the affection between the siblings. Neither seemed to think it was odd that Allarick was requesting a tutor to teach her the ways of this world. Philomina had seemed doubtful about how she had arrived at this place, but all doubt vanished when Allarick mentioned the visit they had made to the Ara X. It seemed that they were completely trusting of one another. She knew now that Allarick had raised Philomina from childhood after the death of their parents, and the camaraderie between them made Arabella long for her loved ones at home.

The interaction between Allarick and Philomina made Arabella yearn for the comfort and safety of Vern’s presence. She felt her heart ache at the thought of never experiencing the overprotective, fatherly love he supplied. She was still concerned over how Vern was reacting to her disappearance. She knew that her mother and sister would be upset, but they had one another. Arabella had always felt as if she didn’t belong with the charmed circle of their love. It encompassed her mother, sister, and niece, but she always felt as if she was on the outskirts looking in. Vern was closer to her than anyone else, and it was their relationship that had sustained them. Each had their own sorrows and problems, but they always were able to rely on the other to see them through it. Arabella could not hide the look of anguish in her eyes quickly enough, and Allarick turned to her questioningly.

“Are you well Arabella? I know there is much to do, but if you would prefer to wait I’m sure that Philomina will understand.”

“Of course I would understand,” Philomina added with a sweet smile, “I can only imagine how difficult all of this is for you right now.”

“No,” Arabella said quickly, too quickly, “I would like to start as soon as you would like. I have no wish to be an inconvenience, and I know that fitting in here will help make me less of a burden.” Arabella offered no explanation for her sudden melancholy, but Philomina looked on with a sympathetic smile. She seemed to know that thoughts of her own home had been on her mind, but she did not try to pry about what had put such a sad look in Arabella’s eyes. Allarick looked as if he wished to question Arabella further, but instead he rose from his seat.

“If you are both comfortable, I must return to the council. There is still much to do this day, and I need to give an announcement regarding your presence here. I will expect to see you at the evening meal, and it is here that you will be introduced to the visiting lords and ladies.”

“We will be ready by the evening, Allarick,” replied Philomina with a girlish laugh. “You have nothing to worry over. I’ll take care of all Arabella needs to wear, and I will also be sure to offer instruction on some of the etiquette that she may need to know this night.”

With the barest of nods, Allarick left the gardens. Philomina turned to Arabella and held out a small, pale hand. “I suppose that we should begin with fitting you to some dresses. I have some that belonged to our mother. She was not as short as me, and they have been well cared for over the years. I think that with a few changes they will fit you perfectly. They will not be the height of fashion, but many of mother’s gowns were of a more classic and simple style that is always suitable. I know the perfect one for you to wear this evening. Come with me, and we’ll see to the preparations.”

Arabella grasped the hand offered, and she squeezed gently to convey her thanks. Philomina rewarded the gesture with a dazzling smile, and she led Arabella to her chambers above the hall. She issued orders to the servants along the way instructing them to bring the trunks of clothes that had belonged to her mother. Only Philomina noticed that Necehmya shadowed them as they exited the garden. She suspected that Allarick had set him as Arabella’s personal guard, and she was pleased that her suspicions were likely to be confirmed that evening. Her brother had finally found a female who he could not deny an attraction to if she was correct in her assumption. It was about time that she saw Allarick happy, and maybe their guest would be the one to provide it.