By the River

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER 11:

Dria sat with her aunt on the coach as they made their way into the village to shop. She glanced at her aunt with a large happy smile on her face. Her aunt noticed her smile and tilted her head to the side and smiled back at her niece.

“What has you in such a good mood my dear?” Her aunt asked.

“I have realized I have been so horrible to be around, and I have been dragging people down when all you have been trying to help me. I know you do not deserve any of this and I am not making it easier for you. I am so sorry, and I truly am overly excited to go shopping. I am going to be nicer and make the best of everything. Today is a new day and a new me. It is time for a change. I am not going to let this bring me down.” Dria replied happily.

Her aunt chuckled “I am so glad to hear that my dear. It was getting very depressing not seeing your smile and your happiness. I was afraid we were going to lose you to the sadness.”

“Oh, Auntie you will never lose me to such nonsense. I was just being a child and not behaving like I should have been. I am ashamed of myself. So much so that I was sick this morning after giving myself a mental shake and talking. It was very humiliating. But I am better now and will be so from now on.” Dria said.

Her aunt nodded her head and hummed in agreement with her niece. She watched her niece glance back out the window and hum to herself. Cecilia sat watching her niece and knew they would be talking soon but also wanted to have her enjoy her day before she had to ask the dreaded questions, they all needed the answers too. She wished she could just look and know the answers and not have to ask.

She was incredibly happy that her aunt had finally come out of her slump and decided to join the real world and be a happy soul again. She was missing her nieces’ smiles and the light she brought into the room whenever she was around. She was a true joy and she hoped whoever she ended up with would realize the gem she was. She was determined to make sure that would happen no matter what.

After riding in silence for a little while longer they finally reached the dress shop. Dria squealed like a child and clapped her hands. Her aunt looked at her and raised her eyebrows at her unlady-like behavior. Dria smiled and calmed down, waiting for the footman to open the door.

Once the door was opened and they had stepped down Cecilia directed her niece into the shop and walked to the matron of the establishment, a good friend she had known for some time. The two women clasped hands in greeting as they said their hellos. “And who do we have here Cece? Is this Alexandria? She had grown so much since I saw her last year. Still not married young lady?” Vanna said.

Vanna was a robust older woman. She had a round face with high cheek bones and flashy green eyes that always sparkled with joy. Her lips were thin but always smiling. She was an average sized women with brown hair streaked with silver pulled tightly up into a stylish bun. Her dress was a deep burgundy that brought out the blush on her cheeks and the green in her eyes. She was a kind lady with a quick wit and great fun personality.

“Thank you, Vanna. I am not married yet, no. Perhaps this season I will find the one.” Dria laughed while speaking to Vanna.

“I am sure he will be the catch of the season. For you should only have the best of the best. He shall be a handsome gent, I am sure. You will be the pair of the seasons and make the most beautiful children.” Vanna rambled on unaware that what she had said struck a nerve with Dria.

Her face drained of color when she thought about the words, and she smiled and nodded when she needed to as she began to think. She glanced at her aunt and saw she had not noticed her silence. She sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I agree we should definitely get new dresses to find the perfect man. That is in fact why my aunt and I have come here to you. We knew who would make the perfect dresses.”

“Let us get started my dear! We have a lot of work to do since you have grown so much since I have last saw you. We need measurements and colors and all the works.” Replied Vanna. The ladies nodded their heads and began the process of getting her all measured and fabrics all picked out.

Soon the floor and table were covered in fabrics from reds, blues, green, yellows to browns, purples and pink. Ribbons tossed here and there placed against gowns and slippers. After a few more minutes the three ladies sat down and sighed. “My goodness how I love this job and all the fun designs I can do and the masterpieces I create. But you my dear are one of my favorite artworks. There is only so much one can do with people but when you are presented with beauty you hardly have to work.” Vanna said.

Dria blushed and shook her head looking down at the sketch book in her hands. She continued to flip through the pages pointing out the ones she liked and ones of which she was not too fond. They worked together diligently matching and changing till all were satisfied.

Enrique stood in the foyer waiting for his sister. He had promised her he would take her to town and let her shop while he did some business. He was becoming impatient with how long she was deciding to take getting ready. He looked up at the stairs and did not see his sister still and began pacing back and forth. He sighed as he ran his hand through his hair irritably.

After a few more minutes he heard a sound and glared up the stairs at his sister who smiled sweetly at him and began a slow descent down the stairs to annoy her brother further. She had woken up in a teasing mood and was wont to torment her brother knowing he was in a hurry today.

“Isa really? Of all days you decide to be a minx?” Enrique growled at his sister.

She smiled hugely up at him and pulled on her wrapper and gloves, “Really brother you are no fun this morning. I am merely in a good mood and wish to look good. Is that really a crime?”

He shook his head at his sister and turned on his heels, heading towards the door and out to wait by the carriage for her. She descended the steps and bounced into the carriage while her brother alighted in the carriage. She watched her brother with a wide grin as he huffed and puffed his irritation at her.

She could not help herself and let out a large laugh. “Oh brother, lighten up. You are going to become a bore in your old age if you cannot smile a little.”

He glanced at her and scowled at her smiling face, far from in the mood to be dealing with her silly antics. He raised a brow at her then turned back towards the window without saying a thing to her. She quickly snuck her tongue out and made a face at her brothers, turned head before turning her head to look out the window as well.

The ride seemed to take forever due to the uncomfortable silence that had filled the carriage once the wheels had begun their movement. Once it had come to a stop she glanced at her brother as he opened the door and stepped out onto the cobbled walkway. He lifted his hand up to his sister and helped her down.

“I will meet you at the dress shop once I am done with my business. Do not wander off without me.” Enrique advised.

She nodded her head at her brother, her jolly mood diminished from his sour attitude. She turned towards the shop and went inside to find some new dresses. When she stepped inside, she saw her friend Dria off with the dressmaker. She smiled, her mood lifting as she waved to her friend who she had not seen for a few days and was missing her company.

“Dria I am so happy to see you. What are you doing here?” Isa asked.

“My family needed a break and came here for a few weeks. We needed to breathe the clear air. You know how I feel about the city. I am so glad to see you as well. Why are you here?” replied Dria?

“My brother had business to do here, and we also needed a break from the city as well. “Isa said.

“I still have yet to meet your brother. Perhaps you can bring him to tea sometime.” Dria smiled at her friend.

“That would be lovely. Perhaps once he is in a better mood we can come. He has been such a sour puss lately and I am loath to be around his company while he is in that mood.” Laughed Isa. The girls giggled and Isa came to sit next to Dria, and they began talking about the dresses. Isa helped Dria finish her wardrobe and vice versa. Soon the girls had finished everything and were enjoying a cup of tea while they waited for Isa’s brother.

After what felt like forever Cecilia Dria’s aunt came to fetch her. “I apologize for having to come steal Alexandria away, but we must be off, and we are running late. I am deeply sorry.”

“That is okay I completely understand. He should not be much longer and ill simply sitting and waiting for him. He has been gone for long enough.” Replied Isa.

Dria rose and said her goodbyes and joined her aunt at the front door and stepped outside. She smiled and took a deep breath of fresh air when she heard her name being said and turned her head.

When her eyes met the eyes of the person who had whispered her name, she felt like she had been run over by a carriage. She lifted her hand as the color drained from her face and she pointed at him. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she could utter a word. “YOU!”

At her niece’s word Cecilia turned her head and looked at Dria to see what was going on. She followed her nieces’ fingers to see a tall darkly handsome man with his mouth hanging opened. “Dria who is this?”

Enrique could not believe his eyes when he came to fetch his sister. She stepped out of the door as he rounded the corner. He stopped dead in his tracks staring like a madman. He watched her smile and lift her head up to the sky enjoying the cool air. He whispered her name “Dria.”

He watched as her head whipped to him so fast, you would think her head would snap off. She opened her mouth and closed it multiple times before pointing at him and saying “YOU!”

He looked at the other lady who had walked out the door right before her and watched her give him a curious look before asking who he was. He looked back at Dria and watched as her eyes widened before rolling in the back of her head. He darted forward and caught her before she hit the ground. He looked at the other lady and she looked at him with a frown before looking down at her niece.

“So, it is you who did the damage. I hope you are ready to be a husband and father.” Cecilia said to him before motioning him to her carriage across the street. He followed her and gently climbed into the carriage and laid her down on the seat and turned back to the other lady as she climbed in.

“And who are you for that matter?” said Cecilia.

“I am the Duke of Zaragoza, Enrique Alvarez. It is a pleasure to meet you. I do wish it were in better circumstances.” Enrique answered.

Cecilia studied the young man and nodded her head. She was pleased with what she saw and was hoping that her instincts were right, and he would treat her niece right. “Well, it is a pleasure to meet you finally as well. Just to let you know I will expect you tomorrow at our house at noon with a marriage certificate in hand. We simply cannot wait any longer. She will begin to show before you know it.”

“I will be there. Wait show?” Enrique gaped at the older women who had yet to introduce herself.

“Well yes, she does not even realize she is with child yet. Poor dear and I rather you be married before the news is broken to her. She has had enough issues of late then to stress and worry her even more than she already is. She is a sweet innocent thing and should have a small relief before a new issue arises.” Replied Cecilia.

Enrique stared at the women with his mouth slightly open then clamped it shut and nodded his head. He smiled slightly thinking how happy his parents would be with the turn of events, two for one. “Please forgive me but I don’t know your name and fear I can’t call upon someone I don’t know.”

“Pardon me and my horrible manners that have seemed to slip me. I am Lady Cecilia Northbourne. We are over on levy road. I am Alexandria’s aunt.” At his confused face she smiled and said, “Dria as you seem to call her.”

He nodded his head and kissed her gloved hand in proper greetings. “I will be there tomorrow with everything at noon. Will she be, okay? And will you both be okay making it home?”

“We shall be fine. She will wake up shortly, and I will explain everything to her when she does. Now off with you. No need to give her another scare.” Replied Cecilia.

He smiled at her then said his goodbyes while descending the carriage and walking thoughtfully back over to the dress shop to fetch his sister. He walked into the store and was jolted back to reality when his sister pinched his arm. “What did you do to Dria? Is she okay? Why were you so long in the carriage? Perhaps I should go check on her. You and your brutish behavior Kike.”

He stood shocked staring at his sister as she went to leave the shop and walk across the street. He snapped out of it and quickly left the shop and grabbed his sisters’ arm before she could cross the street. “You know who Dria is?” he asked her.

She turned and looked at him like he had grown three heads. “Of course, I know who she is. Who is it you think I have been talking about these past two months? Honestly, you never listen to me when I talk. Wait how do you know her?”

Suddenly Isa’s eyes turned wide then murderous as she slapped her brother across the cheek. “ENRIQUE! Dria was the girl. How could you do that to her? How dare you!”

Enrique stood there watching his sister then glanced around and grabbed her elbow and dragged her to their carriage as she rained down curse words upon his head. He tossed her into the carriage then got in and closed the door rapping on the ceiling to get them moving before she caused a bigger scene.

She continues to curse him out and even slapped him another time and attempted a third time, but he stopped her before she could lay a hand on him again. “Are you done madam?”

Isa scowled darkly at him and closed her mouth. She sat looking at her brother and imagined all the most horrific tortures that could befall him. She only stopped when she realized that her friend was the girl they had been looking for and that she was going to become their sister-in-law. All at once her face burst into a huge smile and she looked happily at her brother.

Enrique watched the emotions play across her face and when the huge smile appeared on her face, he leaned a little farther away from her and waited for the next attack. “Dria is who we have been looking for this whole time and she has been under our noses. She never said a thing. Though in all honesty I can see why she did not. It would have been a huge scandal if the wrong person heard. Do you know what this means? It means my good friend is going to be my sister-in-law! I am so happy! Now tell me brother what the next plan of action is? She obviously recognized you.” Isa said and stopped to take a deep breath. Enrique quickly held up his hand silencing her so he could get a word in.

“Cease your prattle and let me speak. You do not even stop for breath to let me say a word. I am going to get a special license we are heading there now, and I will be going tomorrow at noon to speak with her family and marry her.” He replied. He decided since Dria was a good friend of his big, mouthed sister that he would leave out the part where she was pregnant until after they were married, and he had a chance to speak with her himself.

Isa squealed and clapped her hands almost jumping up and down on the seat in her excitement. “This is such wonderful news! Madre y padre will be so happy to hear this. And to think I will get a new sister-in-law, a happy brother, and satisfied parents. Wait what will you tell them?”

“I will simply tell them I married her in haste due to the fact that we were caught kissing and did not wish to ruin anyone’s reputation. No need for more details. It will remain between the ones who already know of it.” Replied Enrique.

He sat back and let his sister have a moment of happiness and celebration. He crossed his boots and smiled at his sister as she began to ramble off nonsense to him. His head was already otherwise occupied. He was very relieved and happy to know he had finally found her and to know that he would be able to repair the damage he had done.

He was even slightly thrilled to know he was going to be a father soon. He frowned as he thought of that. People were going to talk and find out that they had married because she was good and caught up. He hated knowing he would be the one that had caused this problem she was going to face. Perhaps he could bring her home until after the baby was born and then people would not talk as much.

He shook his head and knew she would hate being away from family, especially being with him, who had done so much harm to her. He was leery getting even more on her bad side by taking her away. He knew he would have to do something to make it up to her and win her trust. Trust took time to build, and he wanted them to be at least happy in this marriage they were going to embark on. It was a life together forever and had to be treated exactly right.

He looked out the window and placed his hand under his chin while he debated what the best course of action would be. Perhaps he would ask her family and even her. Asking her might help to show some faith and buy him a little goodwill. He looked back at his sister as the carriage drew to a stop and he told her to wait while he got the license.

She nodded her head happily and smiled, thinking how much easier it would be now knowing who the girl was and how she would be able to help her adjust and get used to everything including her boorish brute of a brother.