So Far From I Expected

17

Theodore arrived just as I put the kettle on to boil. Papa answered the door and shook his hand before moving to let him enter our little home. He took off his hat and nodded to Mama and smiled warmly at me.

‘Mrs Black, I brought this for you. It’s nothing big, I just saw it in the boutique today on my way back to the hotel and well, I thought it was nice. I bought one for my mother too.’ He blushed and handed Mama a package of brown paper in twine.

She smiled and thanked him graciously, obviously aware of his nerves. She opened the package on the table and pulled out a woollen shawl of green and purple. It was so beautiful and soft, far more expensive than anything she had ever owned. I only hoped she wouldn’t tell him it was too much.

Mama rubbed the beautiful shawl against her cheek and her face looked young again. ‘Thank you Mr Desala, it’s very generous of you. I’ll keep it for best.’

She wrapped the shawl around her shoulders as Theodore placed some other bundles on the table.

‘Unfortunately these aren’t all from me; Lord Tumlus sent these for the boys. His boys are too old for them now.’ He left the bundle on the table and moved towards me, I looked at me feet hoping he wouldn’t do anything that would make me blush. He lifted my hand and kissed it gently, and pulled a small bunch of dried lavender from his pocket putting it gently in my hand.

‘Mr Desala would you like tea? Or something stronger maybe?’ Mama poured tea for me and Papa filled a flagon with ale for himself. Theodore opted for tea and sat beside me at the table.

‘So, I hear you are in love with my Caireann.’ The words were out of Mama’s mouth before I had put milk in the tea; and Theodore responded before Papa had time to apologise for Mama’s abruptness.

‘I do Mrs Black. I hope she feels at least something for me in return; I think she does. I would walk to the ends of the earth to make her happy, if it meant she would be mine.’ Theodore looked into my eyes; my heart was beating so hard my chest hurt. Although what he had said were mere romantic words, I couldn’t help but smile ridiculously; before Mama posed her next question.

‘Lovely words Mr Desala, I don’t deny that, but my Caireann is a simple Tynaian girl with no money and a lowly upbringing. You are an Junaathn with money and an education, parents in business and an abundance of girls in Junaath chasing you no doubt. Do you intend to go back to Junaath and leave her here for when you visit? Have you intentions to take her with you as your mistress? Surely I know your parents won’t approve of your making her a wife.’

Here we were, exactly what I wanted to know, but what I was scared of hearing. What would he say? An age seemed to pass before Theodore answered Mama.

‘I will marry her, if she will have me. My mother and father are not from the same class of people and believe that love is more important. They would sooner see me happy with a ‘lowly’ girl, than miserable with someone who has money and an education. Besides, my parents have decided to stay in Tynaia, who better to ensure their son comes back to see them, than an Tynaian girl.’