Her hands shook as she pushed back a stray curl that fell over her face. Sitting back upon her legs, she heaved in a small breath. The third time that morning she had been awoken with the urge to purge. After the first it was simply dry heaving and she had attempted to keep quiet as best she could, not to alarm the servants within the estate.
Slowly she rose to her feet and moved over to the sink. Her fingers clenched firmly around the rim of it. Her knuckles were chapped and had bled the evening before due to the cold and icy winds that battled her upon the wall she stood post upon. Flexing her fingers, she splayed them out upon the flatter part of the sink. Her mind wandered to all the hands had touched as of late: a gloved but masculine hand, the firm arm of a dear friend in red, the cool wood of the bow she wielded while upon the wall, the silky fabric of her own dress over her middle.
Up went her head, Darcie finally gazing at her reflection. Her hair was its normal mane before it had been brushed and styled into an intricate hairstyle. The eyes that stared back were not ones she recognized anymore. The eyes that would light up and twinkle with mischief had been placed with a pair of steely, cold ones.
Raising her hands, she dragged them through her curls, attempting to make them into something more presentable. It was early, but a few servants had to be awake. Breakfast was in order, something light that wouldn't upset her stomach.
Unlocking the door and stepping out into the hallway, she glanced to the side hearing the soft jingle of a bell and a large husky dog trotted towards her. Rufus wore a purple handkerchief of sorts, knotted intricately with a bell hanging in the middle that jingled as he moved his large canine body. Darcie brightened as her pet joined her as the two headed downstairs.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, the woman picking absently at the cheese and fruit before her. A servant hovered on the threshold of the dining room, a concerned expression upon his features.
A sharp rap upon the front door pulled Darcie from her picking and she looked up. Rufus raised his head from where it lay upon the floor, alerted by the noise as well.
Hushed voices came from the entrance way and then the sound of a door closing followed by hurried footfalls.
The servant from before entered the dining room and quickly made his way to Darcie's side. His expression was grim as he handed a folded piece of parchment that had just arrived as it was damp from the light snowfall outside.
Her eyes flicked over the paper's contents before clutching it firmly into her hand, wrinkling the paper.
"Ready my riding gown."
"B-but Madame! Y-you're in no condition to-"
"DO AS I SAY!"
Her voice was sharp and angry. The servant shifted backwards, moving off to do as he had been told.
Darcie slumped down into the chair, staring across the table at the vacant seat that was normally occupied by the other resident of the estate.Her hand held firmly still to the note delivered.
It was going to be another long day.
Slowly she rose to her feet and moved over to the sink. Her fingers clenched firmly around the rim of it. Her knuckles were chapped and had bled the evening before due to the cold and icy winds that battled her upon the wall she stood post upon. Flexing her fingers, she splayed them out upon the flatter part of the sink. Her mind wandered to all the hands had touched as of late: a gloved but masculine hand, the firm arm of a dear friend in red, the cool wood of the bow she wielded while upon the wall, the silky fabric of her own dress over her middle.
Up went her head, Darcie finally gazing at her reflection. Her hair was its normal mane before it had been brushed and styled into an intricate hairstyle. The eyes that stared back were not ones she recognized anymore. The eyes that would light up and twinkle with mischief had been placed with a pair of steely, cold ones.
Raising her hands, she dragged them through her curls, attempting to make them into something more presentable. It was early, but a few servants had to be awake. Breakfast was in order, something light that wouldn't upset her stomach.
Unlocking the door and stepping out into the hallway, she glanced to the side hearing the soft jingle of a bell and a large husky dog trotted towards her. Rufus wore a purple handkerchief of sorts, knotted intricately with a bell hanging in the middle that jingled as he moved his large canine body. Darcie brightened as her pet joined her as the two headed downstairs.
Breakfast was a quiet affair, the woman picking absently at the cheese and fruit before her. A servant hovered on the threshold of the dining room, a concerned expression upon his features.
A sharp rap upon the front door pulled Darcie from her picking and she looked up. Rufus raised his head from where it lay upon the floor, alerted by the noise as well.
Hushed voices came from the entrance way and then the sound of a door closing followed by hurried footfalls.
The servant from before entered the dining room and quickly made his way to Darcie's side. His expression was grim as he handed a folded piece of parchment that had just arrived as it was damp from the light snowfall outside.
Her eyes flicked over the paper's contents before clutching it firmly into her hand, wrinkling the paper.
"Ready my riding gown."
"B-but Madame! Y-you're in no condition to-"
"DO AS I SAY!"
Her voice was sharp and angry. The servant shifted backwards, moving off to do as he had been told.
Darcie slumped down into the chair, staring across the table at the vacant seat that was normally occupied by the other resident of the estate.Her hand held firmly still to the note delivered.
It was going to be another long day.
