Becoming Love

Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

As years went by, John developed his manners as expected. He was a well natured boy, thoughtful, sensible, smart, and very well educated. Nursemaid Adele had no doubt taught him well as he grew up, and after he started his schooling years, he excelled as his classes, and he had learned a lot from his tutor, Mister Yates, with whom, eventually, he would spend his mornings. As he was still young and learning, the afternoons were spent with Adele, and with Willow, although Mr. Yates wasn’t exactly too fond of the idea of a gentleman to be so close to women who were not family, but John would not have it other way.

   He enjoyed spending time with Willow, they played, talked, and they learned from each other. There was never a dull moment, although they had had their quarrels, but it was forgotten easily by the next day, or not too long after that. As he was reaching his fourteen years of age, he was already almost a complete gentleman in every way but age. He was becoming a grown, handsome boy, with beautiful dark, chocolate hair, and silvery gray eyes that made him, along with the fact that he was the heir to the Whitestone Hall estate, very attractive to the eyes of all those mothers with daughters, who hoped to make good matches for their girls.

   Willow had grown, too, into a spirited, smart and witty girl. Closing in on thirteen now, she still enjoyed playing around with John when they had the chance, but as she grew up she helped more and more in the kitchen, although her ‘status’ as the Young Master’s playmate allowed her a more relaxed life than any of the other workers’ children had ever had. She also had learned some manners, and even reading a little bit, because John took a fancy to ‘teach her’ when he was about ten, and Adele had happily helped as well, as she found Willow adorable and very intelligent.

   Her natural beauty had been obvious since a young age. Had she been born in a wealthy family, she probably would’ve been a very popular girl once she was old enough for marriage, and her looks alone could’ve earned her an advantageous union with ease, with her beautiful, shiny blond hair and a striking pair of fiery, light-reddish brown eyes, that often seemed like the color rust.

   Although she wasn’t properly a ‘lady’ and her manners weren’t exactly polished, she was a quick learner and had a graceful way that was, without a doubt, something she picked from Adele and John himself. Even so, she could all the same be happy to play rough and get dirty like a young little boy. She loved to see the horses, her dad had taught her to love them, and even sneaked some lessons for her. That was the only thing she liked about the class sessions that kept John away for long hours in the morning: She learned about horses, or cooking, or other stuff from other workers.

   Although Willow always enjoyed conversations with Adele and John, they weren’t always available for her. When John studied, Adele was expected to do chores in the house, and she herself was not exactly allowed in there, so she spent most of her time with other workers and servants, and she enjoyed it very much. She laughed and enjoyed with them more openly, after all, there was no need to pay attention to her manners and everything was way more relatable to her daily life.

   That morning, they were bringing a new horse, so Adele was already close by the stables! It was a magnificent beast, coated black, with a white patch along his face that caught everyone’s attention. Willow gasped the moment she saw him.

“It’s a skull!” she said, immediately guessing the shape the spots formed. The stable-staff around her laughed, including her father.

“Masquerade.” Said her father simply, as he checked the beast. Willow widened her eyes and nodded, forming a little ‘o’ with her lips, understanding why that name had been chosen.

“You have a wild mind, Willow! A skull?” chuckled Theo Martin, a groom assistant, he was about 18, Willow guessed. She blushed at his comment.

“It looks like a skull!” she retorted, flustered.

“When have you seen one?” Theo grinned at her, teasing. Willow pouted.

“In a book!” she said almost huffing, and in a know-it-all tone. Truth was, of course, it was just a drawing that she saw, but she figured it was accurate!

   Theo laughed and she stuck her tongue at him. While the staff took care of the horse, making sure it was healthy and that there would be no issues with it in the future, the Lord Grey arrived, to oversee everything, and give instructions. John was with him as well as Mr. Yates, but as they came over, Willow took a fast leave. Lord Richard was a fearsome person, and although he had agreed to Willow and John’s interactions, he didn’t hold much love for the girl.

   The day went on normally, and in the afternoon, John and Adele came to get Willow for their walk. She quickly joined happily and the trio left off.

“What did you think about the new horse, Will?” asked John, as they walked side to side.

“Oh, Masquerade? He was wonderful! I really think it’s now the best horse you have!” she said, as if she knew everything about it. John chuckled.

“Is he? I trust Mr. Edwards thinks so too?” he asked, and then he looked over at her with a bit more attention as he added “And Martins?” he added, carefully.

“Yeah! My father said that he’s without a doubt a great addition to the stables. Everyone agrees.” She nodded without noting the more marked part of his question, and John gave one nod in approoval, smiling. “I will go out and ride it tomorrow morning.” He announced, and Willow’s eyes snapped to him, Adele caught sight and chuckled at the reaction. John grinned, knowingly.

“He will be yours!?” she asked, wide eyed, and having stopped in her tracks out of surprise.

“Indeed.” Smiled John, looking over at her, both arms behind him.

“You were right, master John. She did freak out.” Snickered Adele.

“Oh, John! That’s wonderful!” called the girl, excited for him. “Oh, I shall come see you off in the morning!” she suggested, or announced.

   Right then, someone called behind, a maid, who requested to talk to Adele, so she excused herself and walked towards the maid leaving the young people for a moment. John and Willow continued the conversation without taking much notice.

“Perhaps no.” replied John softly to her words, and Willow looked at him confused. He sighed. “Well, I will be going out with Mr. Yates, and…” he trailed off, as he looked at her, and the girl immediately understood and nodded. “I just… Don’t want to have the conversation when we ride to be about how I shouldn’t talk to you much.” He explained softly.

   He didn’t like it when people made a comment on that. Willow had become a dear friend to him, and probably his favorite person.

   She chuckled. “It’s fine, I understand. Oh! But to tell me how things go!” said she, clasping her hands in front of herself, smiling brightly at him. He returned the smile, and his hand reached to fix a little strand of hair by her forehead, carefully, and she stared at him as he did.

“I will, Will.” He smirked, and then she huffed.

“You always make it sound like I’m a guy!” she protested.

   She really didn’t care he called like that when they were children, but as she was turning into a a more mature girl, it somehow was more evident that the tone made it sound more masculine. Although truth be told, she didn’t really mind it, but she found it entertaining to complain.

“Apologies, Miss Edwards.” He smiled and exaggerated a bow, to which she replied by doing a little curtsey, Adele had taught her.

“I forgive you, Little Master!” she said playfully, and then she ran off, while he went after her for retribution.

   They were still young. Willow was barely reaching the age where she would start to feel more like a woman than a girl. John, was already experiencing a shift in his interests and definitely was more of a young man than a kid anymore.

   Their interactions had become more civil lately. Walking around, talking, making witty remarks, mocking or teasing each other was the usual; but sometimes, he would still play with her like that, running and laughing like little kids. She was still, mostly, in that childish mindset. She didn’t yet see the nature of the attentions that a young, beautiful lady might sometimes secure for herself.

   It didn’t take much longer for her to start noticing on those matters, though, especially with some of the attentions she received from other young men, and other older, single men, too, when she was out helping with errands in the town.

   There was the Jacob, the child of one of the merchants, who always made a comment about how pretty she looked that day, any day. Butcher Michaels, the man would be like in his mid-thirties perhaps, always saying he was saving the best for her, which is why it wasn’t uncommon that she was asked to join on supply runs. Other people complimented her, too, and most of her life she thought people were just nice, until she started thinking about those things herself.

   Although she appreciated the attention, no one compelled her much. Of course, Jacob was handsome, but so was Theo, and Jake, and other guys she met who she noticed gave her attention, although she assumed there was not much to think of any of it.

   John, she noticed, too, gave her a different kind of attention than he had always given her. Sometimes he would stand closer, and his manners towards her, lately, were much more soft and gentle than they had ever been. She had noted his changes as they grew, he was definitely becoming more of a gentleman and not just the boy who was her best friend. Their playtime was much more tamed, even if they had their childish moments.

   Their conversations were different, too. John would sometimes talk to her about his classes, and even brought his books over sometimes. This was why she had learned so much more than a normal servant, and with him and Adele, she even knew some stuff that would mainly concern the upper class. The most difference in John would be when they had a moment alone.

His eyes looked at her more intently, fixing on her eyes, and this time not for a little game of ‘who blinks first.’ He made her nervous sometimes, although she didn’t understand why, and it wasn’t unusual she would try to change the mood by whining at him for whatever came to her mind, just to escape the fluttering feeling that almost seemed uncomfortable, and she even find both relief and disappointment when Adele came back to them.