In Verity's chamber
After Lunch, which Verity ate alone in the dining hall because the duchess was having her lunch with the sisters in the town square, she waited for the maids to serve her tea in her chamber.
<< Obviously they were having their lunch there after searching for a striking new dress for Adella and Clarissa to impress the other noble ladies from the aristocrat families of the empire. Maybe they will not return home any time soon. Let's not think about them anymore. I can finally use my free time without them at home to relax. >>
<< Hmm… I should asked the maid to move my teatime at the terrace on the balcony so I can enjoy the view since the weather is really nice today. >>
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and the maid entered Verity's room.
Verity could smelled the sweet aroma from the distance.
'My lady, we have prepared your tea. We have also some pastries for you as we know how you like to pair it with your tea.'
'Yes, thank you. I like it very much.'
<< The lady can be very cute when she talked about pastries. >>
'Could you place the pastries and tea to the terrace. I would like to eat it there.'
'Of course, my lady. Do you have any orders for us, my lady?'
'No. For now, I'm fine. Thank you.'
'Then if you need anything, please call us. Enjoy your time, my lady.'
<< Which pastries should I have a taste first? The sweet colored macaroons, the nicely decorated tarts or the fluffy soft muffins. Hmm… It's so hard to choose, all of these will certainly taste very delicious. >>
<< Alright, I should take the pastry that is near my plate first. The tart then. >>
Verity placed the tart, that had creams and especially sparkling fresh juicy fruits on it, on the plate and pick up her spoon to take a scoop of the tart.
<< Sooo tasty. I think I can eat this every day without getting tired of it and with tea … it is a perfect match. >>
Soon she consumed almost all pastries, which was placed on the terrace table, without her knowledge.
All of a sudden from a distance she could see a row of carriages, the leading carriage had their emerald colored family crest on it, an elegant bow and a gust of wind were craved on the crest. It couldn't be overlooked. As they moved slowly nearer, the other animal family crests were seen.
<< Why did they return? I thought the social gathering will be held at a lady's noble family residence. Did they change it somehow? >>
The servants already assembled in front of the entrance of the Ventburg's mansion to welcome the honorable guests.
When the Ventburg's carriage arrived at the entrance, the guards helped them to get out of their carriages. Then the ladies were shown by the maids to the lovely full-bloomed garden, where they can enjoy their tea party while admiring the flowers. From above Verity got a glimpse of her sisters.
Clarissa wore a simply yet elegant light green dress, adorned with pearls like her strawberry red soft braided hair from this morning. Her garment complements her dark brown eyes, it gave her a calm elegantly look like her demeanor.
In contrast to Clarissa, Adella had a gorgeous layered red dress. It matches her wavy red hair around her plain face and her light brown irises. She was really beautiful.
<< They looked very happy while they converse with each other. ….. Where is mother and Charlotte? Didn't they come back too? >>
The employees were going to serve them tea and sweets while Verity decided to stay on the balcony to read a book.
After some time the maids came to Verity's chamber to inform about the noble invitation to join them in the garden.
'My lady, the other ladies wanted to invite you to join them.'
'What?'
<< Mother never allowed me to attend to such an event like the social gathering. Should Clarissa and Adella not know it? Why would they deliberately want to invite me? >>
'Had my sister asked for me to come or the other ladies kindly invited me?'
'The first and second lady insisted because the noble ladies wanted to meet you and they felt sorry for you, my lady if you are the only one, who could not attend the gathering.'
<< Should I accept their sudden invitation? It's an opportunity, I should not waste it. >>
'What is your answer, my lady. Should I accept for you?'
'Sure, please pass the message that I will gladly accept their invite. I will be coming soon.'
'I understand, I will pass your approval, my lady.'
<< It's better if I changed my garment since they all dressed elegantly for the tea party. >>
Fully dressed, Verity was on her way to the garden. As she came near them step by step, laughter filled the air. One of the ladies saw Verity coming towards them to the table.
'You must be lady Verity, am I right. It's very nice to finally meet you in person.'
The other ladies began to greet her, too and gave her compliments on how her navy dress suited her light wavy silver hair which laid softly on her shoulder and her clear emerald irises as they never saw any person with such eyes like her that only the Ventburg's heir possessed. Even her birthmark underneath her right eye did they comment on. It enhanced her refine appearance and make her very breathtaking. Because nobody had ever came in contact with her, they were very surprised at her presence. It made them to be more curious about her.
'Elder sister, we have waited for you to come. What took you so long? Oh, you are so finely dressed today than usual, I remembered you had an another dress on this morning. Well, I guess that's why you took your time in your chamber. You wanted to wear something beautiful too, cause mother bought for Clarissa, Charlotte and even for me a gorgeous garments for the gathering. Am I right?'
Adella said leisurely with a smile while she took a sip from her tea cup.
<< I thought she would show some concern for me as her sister for the first time but wrong, I had hoped for her to treat me with respect like she does to Clarissa. And here, now she wants to use an excuse to embarrassed me in front of everyone, who doesn't know me at all. No chance, little sister. I know you too well to be agitated by your words. >>
'Yes, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that it took me so long even though I had hurried quickly so that you all didn't have to wait so long. I didn't expected that you were so eager to see me, sister. I hope the ladies could forgive my tardiness for I wanted to present myself appropriately for the tea party like the other noble ladies here. Because they all looked very breathtaking in todays dresses.'
All ladies at the table had the same thoughts. The first lady of Ventburg was very pleasant polite and very well mannered not as the rumors, the people portrayed.
'Adella, she is our older sister, surely she didn't intend to let us waiting. Above all she already apologized. The other ladies certainly didn't mind that she is late so don't make any harder for her anymore.'
<< To think, Clarissa would help me out. She usually doesn't speak up for me in front of a crowd. Maybe she doesn't hate me like I have thought as opposed to Adella. She definitely can not stand my presence near her. >>
The noble daughters of other families gave each other a glance and nodded to indicate their confirmation.
'Sister, please have a seat. Let's taste the new tea that mother had bought for us today to share with the ladies here.'
'Thank you, Clarissa.'
As she took her seat, all the ladies looked curiously at her, while Adella's mood dropped. Therefore she decided to simply ignore her.
'The tea smelled really good, it had a light aroma, it also had a hint of a flowery note in it. Very delicious. Where did you buy it?'
<< I should visit this shop next time if I go to the city. >>
'The duchess had suggest for us to buy some tea in the big new tea shop near the book shop in the city, so we went to look.'
'Mother had insisted that I should choose one so I had picked this tea there. I'm glad that it is to your taste.'
'Oh, I see. Then didn't she return with you back?'
'Mother was invited to an event and she brought Charlotte with her. Probably they will not be back after dinnertime.'
<< That's so typical of her. She nearly always spends her time outside, visiting other social gathering, rather being at home. The only exception is when she arrange a social gathering herself. >>
Some ladies, who watched them talking with each other, wanted to talk to Verity too for she seems very nice.
'Miss Verity, I hope it is not rude for me to ask you this question, but I'm very curious to why you never attend some social event. I'm sure the other ladies share my thought too.'
'I didn't attend because I had never the time to go. As the heir of the Ventburg in line after my father, I have so much to learn therefore I spend mostly of my time with reading. I didn't want to disappoint my father, the duke, so I had never the opportunity to go.'
The first lady of Ventburg is not only a kind person, she is also a very hard-working as to have such an attitude. The other nobly ladies couldn't help to think like that and they all really like her remarkable behavior.
Adella, who was feeling disturbed, how Verity started to get attention from the other ladies presents, which didn't sit well with her.
'Sister Verity, since you mention that, isn't it time for you to go to the library now. You used to visit the library at this time every day by now.'
'Oh really, miss Verity. We didn't know it, I hope we didn't hold you back with our questions.'
'No, you didn't. I myself wanted to join you guys. But because Adella mentioned it , I guess I will be going then. Please enjoy your remain time here at the estate. I will excuse myself for today.'
'Then we won't delay you anymore. We will see you at an another event.'
As Verity was far away, it could be seen that Adella was very happy while the other ladies was disappointed that they didn't get a chance to know the first lady of Ventburg anymore.