She went out of the Whitman Manor with Jane, currently in the Boleus Capital's business district, as part of her plan to explore this world. And her very first excursion resulted in a mini accident.
"Ow!" She exclaimed involuntarily. Her maid gasped and her footman looked visibly concerned.
The big man who crashed into her helped her up, but when she tried to put her weight evenly on both legs, one leg almost buckled down. She would have sprawled down on the ground once again, had it not been for the man's arms wrapping around her more securely and steadying her. She could feel his strong muscles through his clothes. Holding on to his arm with more confidence, she tried to hop on one leg, favoring the other.
"Oh dear, it seems that you might have sprained an ankle when I barreled into you." The man twinkled at her. "I am so sorry."
"It's alright," she assured the man. "Jane, let's just go home." She tried to stretch one hand towards her footman for help.
"Oh no, please. Allow me to help alleviate your pain." The man gripped one of her elbows more securely, whether to support her or prevent her from leaving, she couldn't tell. "My conscience will not permit me any sleep tonight if my lady would not allow me to rectify this matter."
She looked closely at the well-dressed man beside her. He was wearing some sort of dark military uniform that looked similar to the one that the earl wore during their one breakfast together. The man also seemed slightly familiar to her. Who was he? Had she seen him before? He had a regal air about him, with his slicked-back silver hair, sun-kissed skin, emerald eyes, aquiline nose, and wide mouth that seemed prone to smiling. He was currently looking solemn, though, as he bowed to her.
"Pray, permit me to offer my heartfelt apologies in more than words for my carelessness, my lady."
She looked at Jane for any advice. The maid only nodded at her which might mean she could allow the man to safely help her. "Okay, sure." She finally relented.
"Excellent," satisfaction was clearly visible in the man's features as he lifted his hand in a waving gesture.
A couple of minutes later, a four-horse teamed carriage ground to a halt beside them. It was an elegant, black carriage with gold trimmings and gold crest by its doors. He must be a member of nobility as well, judging by the carriage as well as the uniformed driver and footman. He also had two knights riding in their own horses following behind the carriage. Wow, the people around were starting to gawk at them.
"Wait," she stopped the man from helping her inside his carriage. "May I know your name?"
There was a flash of surprise in the man's face before it was quickly replaced by earnestness. He bowed with a hand to his heart and spoke. "Your Ladyship, I am grateful for the honor of an introduction. I am Edward Matthew Chambers, by the grace of His Majesty, Grand Duke of Synthos." He laid out his hand, palm up, and looked pointedly at her own hand.
Tentatively, she laid her own hand on top of his. She didn't know if it was the right thing to do, she was just guessing. The duke then lifted it and kissed the back of her hand.
"It is said that fortune smiles upon those who are graced with fine company—if that is true, then I am most fortunate this day."
"Oh okay," she replied, bewildered. That was a long-assed introduction. "Hello Grand Duke, my name is Countess Bettina Anne Whitman." She introduced herself as well as she felt it was good manners to do so. A grand duke, she mused. That was just one step down from the royal family!
The duke lifted a brow at her informal greeting. "Lady Whitman, I find it quite impossible that any man of sense would not know of the Countess. It seems fate has finally allowed our paths to cross once again."
Oh, he seemed to be saying he already knows her. The way he spoke was a little bit too flowery and formal for her, very old world. She allowed the man, who seemed bent on charming her, to help her alight his carriage, followed by Jane who sat beside her. She noticed too that her footman climbed at the back of the carriage, and sat beside the duke's own footman.
Grand Duke Chambers…wait, she remembered now! She saw his picture in that book she found in the library where key figures of the empire were featured.
She looked more closely at the duke who sat across from her. He looked better in person than in the painted picture. Very fit, judging by the way his clothes were nicely draped on his form. Hmmm, she didn't really know anything about him since she skipped his short biography in favor of her husband's. It was like seeing a celebrity up close and personal. She better get that book again and read up on him when she gets back home. Ah, too bad she couldn't ask for his autograph, she almost giggled. Asking for autographs must look weird for people here.
Mary Jane blinked and quickly averted her eyes when she noticed that the grand duke was also staring at her. "Are we going to a clinic or hospital?" She asked to fill up the silence.
The man tilted his head on the side in question. "Klinik? Hospi…tal? What are those, my lady?"
"A…. A place where you bring your sick or injured people? To cure them?"
The duke frowned and looked at her curiously. "I'm afraid there's no such place in the empire, my lady."
Do they not have hospitals in this world? How backward is this place? "Then, where must a sick person go to be cured?"
"If one wishes to be cured, one must either retain a doctor or summon a priest to their home, visit a doctor's home, or go to the church. And, the church is our destination today." The grand duke glanced at her maid, too swiftly for her to notice. She was busy looking out the window and seeing the panoramic sights.
Go to the church to get healed? Hmm, based on the book about magic she recently read, then perhaps the church here could perform the Healing Arts. She couldn't wait to see it in action.
She didn't know why or how, but despite his sheer size and apparent strength, the grand duke's demeanor and treatment of her was making her feel at ease.
*****By echoes of the past forlorn*****
"Jason."
"Yes father?"
"Do you know why I called you here?" He was still sitting behind his mahogany desk, his back to the tall window behind him, and his little discussion with the servants about the countess just finished. In front stood his son whose head was bent; hands clasped behind his back. They were alone in his study.
"Yes father."
"Nanny Jones claims you were with the Countess at first light. Am I to take her word as truth?"
No answer. The boy began scuffling his shoe in the carpet.
"Jason." He waited for his son to acknowledge him.
"Yes father?"
"Do you remember what your promise was to me a few days ago?"
"Yes father."
"Will you repeat it to me?"
"That I will not come close to Mother."
"Then, is it true that you passed the early hours of today with the Countess? Without anyone else?"
Still no answer.
"Nanny Jones said, when she went to your room at the early hours of the morning, you could not be found in your bedroom."
"The storm was too loud last night and Father was not here."
A pinch of pain hurt the earl's chest. He was always feeling guilty that he could not spend more time with his son.
"Was Nanny Jones not resting in the adjoining room from yours?"
"She was."
"Then what prevented you from seeking her shelter from the thunderstorm?"
No answer once again. He knew how his son was desperately seeking a relationship with his stepmother. He could not blame his boy for feeling that way. But he also knew that, along with him, everyone in this household had already impressed upon the boy how dangerous his stepmother was. He sighed. His sigh seemed to have come from the deepest part of his troubled soul.
Keeping his tone level and light, he asked. "Jason, do you believe that there was a good reason for me to ask for that kind of promise?"
"But, Father, why must I promise such a thing? She is not as they say. She has never been cruel to me."
"You have a good heart, and that is why you do not see the shadows beneath her smile. But you must learn that goodness alone will not shield you, nor will it change what she has done. Will you continue to break your promise to me?"
"I do not wish to break my word, Father, but I do not see the danger you fear."
He could see the defiance in his son's clenched hands by his sides.
"Jason. It is not always the openly cruel who pose the greatest danger. But, most importantly, a promise is not merely a group of words spoken carelessly—it is a vow of the heart. To honor your word is to prove yourself worthy of the trust placed in you. A man who does not honor his word will soon find that his word is worth nothing. If you would be respected, if you would be trusted, then let no oath pass your lips that you do not intend to keep."
His son looked up to him.
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, father." The sound of resignation could be heard in the boy's voice.
"Good. Now run along, it is time for your swordsmanship lesson."
With a bow, and without another word, the boy turned and left the study.
The earl slumped in his seat, pinching the bridge of his nose at the onset of a headache. What should I do?
*****Let will and purpose intertwine*****
The vast stone edifice of the church loomed before them, its towering spires piercing the heavens as if reaching for the very hand of God. The façade, an intricate masterpiece of carved reliefs and arched buttresses, bore the solemn faces of saints and angels, their stony gazes eternally fixed upon those who wish enter. Columns soared like the trunks of ancient trees, holding aloft a ceiling that seemed woven from light and shadow, reminding her of the famous and aesthetically beautiful churches in her former world, like the Duomo di Milano in Italy or the St. Peter's Basilica.
Mary Jane was unable to help herself, forgetting her resolve at being more reserved in the face of such beauty. Gasping out loud, she pushed her head out the window to take in as much of the wonderful architecture and landscape that she could see. Today marked another day in her whole life when she wished she owned a cellphone and was able to capture this beauty for herself.
"My lady, please sit back for your safety," Jane cautioned her.
That was when she noticed that her body was almost half out the window. Blushing, she went back to her seat.
The grand duke left them inside the carriage to fetch a priest because of her sprained ankle. He said it would be more prudent if she just stayed in her seat and let the priest be brought to her.
A few more minutes later, the great wooden doors, bound in iron filigree, opened wide. The duke could be seen walking back to them from inside. Behind him, a white-clad priest was walking with his hands clasped in front of him. She was just glad they didn't see her gawk stupidly at the sight of their church.
"My lady," the duke opened the carriage door. "Please show your injured foot to Priest Leo."
Mary Jane nodded and smiled at the priest who seemed to be checking her out curiously. She stuck her sprained foot out and the priest proceeded to hover his palms to it.
The priest spoke some sort of incantation, and a ball of translucent green light enveloped her foot. She felt a nice warmth course through her foot and, slowly, she felt the throbbing pain dissipate. Never, not even in her wildest dreams, would she even consider the possibility that she would someday see real healing magic before her eyes. She thought she would only see it in fantasy animes back home. It was amazing!
In no time at all, the priest was done. The pain and swelling of her foot disappeared altogether.
"Thank you, Priest Leo," she told the priest. She longed to ask some questions to the priest, but she also knew that keeping quiet is her best move.
The duke thanked him, handed a small pouch which the priest accepted with a bow. And then the priest went back inside the church.
"How are you feeling, my lady?" The duke asked after he climbed back up the carriage and joined them.
"I feel much better. Thank you," She smiled gratefully at the duke.
"Where to next, my lady?"
"Well, you can just bring us back to the business district. We have a little shopping to do."
The duke smiled once more, ignoring the very casual way the countess was speaking with her. "I noticed that you were only traveling with one attendant and one footman, my lady. That will not do."
"What? Why?"
"My lady, a woman of your social standing should have been escorted by at least one lady's maid, one footman, and at least 2 knights for your safety."
"Ah, I think that's a bit too much—"
"Your ladyship, you are not merely a woman of title—you are a figure of power, and that makes you a target. Thieves will see your wealth, rivals will see opportunity, and the law will see impropriety should you be found alone in the wrong company."
She bit the inside of her cheek in contemplation. To her, it felt like the grand duke was educating her in the ways of the nobility. Once again, her fear of being found out that she wasn't the old Bettina was resurfacing. It was already too evident that Bettina had become ignorant of noble etiquette. But she really didn't know what to do about it. She must think of a way to explain herself. But how?
"I…I was not traveling to court nor into dangerous districts, my lord. I merely wished to make a few purchases. I saw no need for an excess of guards when a single footman and my maid were sufficient." She hoped this was enough of an excuse on why she didn't bring more people to escort her.
"A lady's maid and a footman are no defense should misfortune find you. And so, as I have nothing else better to do, it would ease my heart if my lady would allow me to escort you about town. Only then would I be reassured that my lady has truly accepted my apologies," the duke laid one hand on his heart and looked beseechingly at her.
Looking bewildered at the man in front of her, she thought, did he have no job to go to? She couldn't understand why this high-ranking person was insisting to accompany her. She looked at Jane, who nodded again in assent to the duke's proposition.
"Okay then," she agreed. Perhaps it was okay to let him follow them around then.
"Excellent."
And follow he did.
Jane directed the duke's carriage to stop back at the mercer's shop. The duke kept a respectable distance as they went in the shop to look around.
It was a nice little shop filled with colorful fabrics, boxes of sewing materials, closures, and ribbons. Jane started showing her pretty materials that she might want to buy, however, Mary Jane was more concerned on wanting to know first if she could afford any of it.
As if summoned magically, the proprietor himself, went over to them, introduced himself, and asked if he could help. Ah, yes, part of her plan was to find out how this world works including how to use their currency.
"Um, would you give us a moment please, sir?" She politely asked the proprietor before turning back to Jane. "Jane," she whispered, fishing out the pouch of coins in her pocket and handing it over to her. "I want you to make the purchase for me. I'll tell you what I need and make sure the money in there is enough for the purchase."
The maid looked at her, confused. "My lady, you can purchase the whole store if you want to."
"Oh, but I didn't bring much money, except for that," she whispered back, pointing at the pouch of coins in the maid's hands.
"My lady, you can pay using your banking sigil on your right wrist."
She looked down, and sure enough, she could see a small red magical circle that looked like it was tattooed on the inside of her right wrist. She slowly rubbed the magical circle and it seemed to be a permanent fixture on her skin. Wow, does this work like that RFID biochip that some banks implant under the skin and can be used for payments? She would very much like to see how this worked.
Once her chosen items were boxed on the counter, the proprietor handed her a square sheet of light metal which was around the same size and dimensions of an iPad. She blinked.
Jane, perhaps getting more attuned to the meaning of her expressions, whispered to her. "Tap your banking sigil on the metal, my lady."
She did. The metal sheet glowed blue and her name, along with the total amount of purchase appeared on it. Whoa!
Although it was so fascinating to see, making her want to make another purchase, she didn't want to spend much since she didn't really feel like it was her own money. It was Bettina's money, not hers. Perhaps it was time for her to start on her plans in making her own money. There was so much in her mind she already forgot that one of her escorts was a grand duke who was closely observing her.
That was, until he spoke to her once they went out of the mercer's shop.
"My lady, you've made some wonderful purchases. It seems like you're working on a project. I do hope I get to see the finished product of your project."
She looked at the couple of boxes containing the sewing materials and fabrics she bought that were being carried by the footman. He wanted to see the panties I'll be making? —she wondered.
"I actually have a different project in mind," she said absentmindedly.
"Well, now, I'd love to see that project as well," added the grand duke.
"Ah, well, that's for another day. We'd best be going home now. Thank you for accompanying us today."
She forgot to curtsy…and neglected to refer to my title once again. – The amused grand duke smiled at her. "As it is already nearing lunch time, may I invite you to a light lunch before we part ways?"
"Um, thank you for the invitation, but I really wish to go home now," she said. She didn't need more people, in an enclosed building, witnessing her lack of table manners. She wanted to go back quickly and start reading those books on etiquette as an additional part of her survival plan.
The duke held out her hand and waited for her to lay her own hand on top of it. With such gallantry, he bent down and lifted her hand to his lips. "I take my leave with reluctance, my lady, for time in your company is time most well spent."
He also waited until her carriage stopped in front of them. The duke helped her up in her own carriage this time, with some parting words. "I fervently hope that I shall have the pleasure of your company once more."
"Oh, okay, thank you again," she didn't know what else to say. That duke certainly had a smooth tongue. She looked back through the back window of the carriage to see that he was still standing by the curb looking at them with a wide smile.