LORD CLIFFORD

Easter festival 1

The next morning Clifford got up from his bed, with red rimmed eyes from less sleep. He stood up languidly and grabbed his coat from his worn wooden closet and strolled outside the house, He went to the sheep's pen and opened it up and sheep came out.

He counted each as they walked down the slanting plank and when he was done, he held his rod and started to guide the sheep to their grazing area.

As he strolled with the sheep on the murrum road he spotted a young lady coming ahead of him dressed in a faded gray dress that sweeped the ground and her head covered with a white cloth, he didn't recognize her until she drew closer and it was Naitee, his childhood friend

" Naitee, what brings you here this early morning.?" Clifford inquired his voice tinged with curiosity as she drew closer to him making her way through the sheep." Good morrow my friend," Naitee inquired with a radiant smile on her face.

"Good morrow, where are you going?" Clifford asked again his eyes searching Naitee's face for answers and Naitee replied," I have an appointment with your mother she wants me to plait her hair for the Easter festival two days from now."

"Easter festival, but, this early." Clifford replied in wonder as he still focused on Naitee and she smiled and said,"I told her am coming early because I'm busy today, with the preparations for the festival, Mr Clayton asked me to help, since he's the one hosting them."

"Okay, so how long will it take?" Clifford inquired, "Um I think it'll take an hour or two because she wants something so surreal." Naitee answered while gigglingly and Clifford smiled and said "Typically my mother, So will I find you at there?" and Naitee looked up to the sky and then back to Clifford, "It depends will you take long with the sheep at the field?" she inquired.

" I think I'll take an hour and bring them back to their paddocks for Claire and her friends to look after." Clifford replied his voice low and smooth," Okay I'll be there." Naitee replied and moved past him and she had barely taken five steps when she turned back and asked "Clifford, will you come for practice today?" and Clifford turned to her with a smile and said,"Yes I will." and Naitee replied " Okay, so we shall leave together when you return." she suggested.

"Yes we shall, let me do this quick." Clifford agreed to Naitee's suggestion and she concluded," Indeed you should the sheep are getting away." while she pointed forward and Clifford hastened the sheep behind to catch up with the ones in front and he turned back and shouted, "Make sure you don't leave without me." and Naitee looked back to him and nodded in agreement and she minded her way and so did Clifford.

As the morning hours went by, in the city of Venturia, in Blackstone, preparations for the Easter festival were also on going in the city park, with colorful flowers and ribbons tied up as decorations, lanterns with artistic embroidery hanged on poles, things were going well.

During the preparations a man stood aside watching everything being put into place with a critical eye as he watched, another man came beside him and asked, "My lord are the decorations to your liking?" his voice laced with humility and then the other man said," Yes John, everything is splendid, and I believe we shall have a blast this year." his voice laced with pride.

" Indeed my lord, everyone will appreciate your kindness and that of the Ravenswood." John added his eyes scanning the site and the man said,"Exactly John," as they stood there, a worker interrupted them with a concern, "My lord, Alexander Ravenswood," he did his formalities and Alexander said," Yes what is it?" his voice tinged with pride and his eyes narrow.

"My lord, we are missing a few items." the worker said and Alexander inquired, " What exactly is missing?" as he scanned the site and the worker said, " Um we are missing out on drinks and the eggs for the games, and also sweets for the children."

"That's easy, go to the sweet factory in downtown and tell him that I the duke has asked for abundant sweets and for the eggs and drinks, go to the necessary places and tell them what you will tell the sweet factory owners." Alexander stated and then he tapped on John and said "Go with him with letters to be clear and not to see him as a fraud." and John nodded in agreement and said,"Yes my lord."

"Young man, you shall go with my butler here, he's called John and you shall get all the remaining necessities." Alexander stated and then the worker said," Thank you my lord." and Alexander concluded,"No problem, make sure everything is around and whatever is missing inform me if am around or John," and then the worker concluded, " Thank you sir, you have a good day,"

"Good day to you, son." Alexander stated and then John and the worker left leaving him alone watching the ongoing preparations.

Meanwhile at the Ravenswood Manor, a lady walked in the hallways of the manor with a maid by her side, "Phoebe have you, seen to it that my dress is sewn up for the festival?" she inquired her voice laced with wariness and then Phoebe said hastily," Yes lady Octavia, the seamstress said she was left with only a few finishing touches." she replied.

"What about Arabella and Xanthe's dresses, what did she say about them?" Lady Octavia asked as she made her way to the front door of the manor, "All are done my lady." Phoebe replied with a smooth tone and lady Octavia inquired with curiosity,"Are you sure Phoebe, you saw them with your eyes?" and Phoebe replied"Yes my lady, I did." and Octavia said,"Well, go inform her that she must finish my dress by today and tomorrow it should be in my closet ready for the festival." and Phoebe made a gentle dip and turned to return to her duties.

Lady Octavia moved out of the manor doors and she looked around, everything was spotless from the roundabout to the flower garden and then she spotted her youngest daughter Xanthe, "Xanthe my dear, Xanthe." she called out as Xanthe as taking a stroll in the flower garden and she replied," Yes mother."

As she moved languidly towards her mother, Octavia impatiently said, " Lass can you hurry up, am not getting any younger here." and Xanthe increased on her pace while stomping her shoes on the pavement. When she reached her mother's presence, Octavia said,"You should know that you've outgrown those foolish behaviors of stomping your feet, you are not a child anymore."

Xanthe, her face folded into a scowl said, "But I was taking care of my flowers and you interrupted me." Instantly Octavia said,"Nonsense lass, I'm your mother and when I call you, you leave all you are doing and attend to me, because that's what I do for you, understand."and Xanthe replied," Understood." her voice barely audible and Octavia said" Good, now have you seen Christopher and James anywhere today?" she inquired and Xanthe nodded her head in disagreement and Octavia wondered," Where could they be?" her voice barely audible and Xanthe replied and said," I heard them plan yesterday to go hunting."

"Hunting! where exactly?" Octavia inquired her voice laced with anger and Xanthe replied and said," I don't know, maybe they went to Elvendom woods." and Octavia rested her palm on her forehead and said, " Those lads never listen, no matter how many times I talk to them, I when Is my William returning from Cedarville, he's the only one who listens." and Xanthe said," But mother even I do listen to you." and Octavia chuckled mirthlessly and said,"Nonsense, you don't, and there is Arabella a total nuisance, bane to my existence."

Suddenly a voice from behind Octavia said," Are you gossiping about me mother." and it was Arabella. Octavia didn't bother to turn around because she recognized her voice and said," I am, now send me to hell if you wish."