The sun slipped in through curtains to expose a layer of rumpled sheets. Regia turned on her bed towards the streaks of sunlight. The heat from the light began to tingle her face,gently awaking her from her bed.
She battered her eyelashes slowly gaining consciousness. She sat up and almost simultaneously,was hit with sudden realisation.
She was late again and on a day when a special guest was visiting.
She almost flew off her bed as she rushed to her observatory hurriedly taking off her night shift and slipped into the bath tub.
She rushed herself through her bath and sought to wear the first gown of hers she could find before rushing out of the room to the living room.
She almost ran into her mother in her haste. Her mother gave a chiding look and she gave her a sheepish smile in return.
"Good morrow mother,how was your night", she said with as much sweetness as she could muster.
Her mother raised her brows at her.
" And since when did you get so interested in poetry to greet me in such a formal manner",her mother asked softly before changing her tone to a demanding tone.
"You are going to be late for class again Regia", she said,her hands on her hip.
"I know but last night I was really exhausted and...", she paused when her mother raised her hands to stop her speech.
" Enough excuses,come on look at you,your hair is a huge mess ",she said shaking her head.
Regia's eyes widened,she had totally forgotten about her hair. So much for being a prim and proper young woman.
" Now come on,let me do something about that ",her mother said leading her to the living room.
Her mother grabbed her tools before sitting on a chair and she sat Regia down on the floor between her legs.
" Oh,Reggie,would you ever learn",her mother commented as she tugged at her tangled hair.
"You would become a mistress soon and yet you behave like such a child", she said heaving a thoughtful sigh.
Regia's eyes darkened upon hearing her mother's words. She had always detested the idea of being a second class mistress of any man but it had to be laid on her in the guise of destiny.
She refused to engage her mother in another battle of words and idly listened to her words as she tended to her hair.
She couldn't wait for her mother to be done and over with. When her mother was done with the hair,she said a quick thank you and darted to the door in order to avoid hearing anything else but paused in her tracks on hearing her mother clear her throat.
She slowly turned stiffly like a child caught stealing from her mother's pot.
A small smile creped unto her mother's lips as she approached her daughter.
" I know you like nothing of what I say but do remember that I love you and am only wishing the best for you",she said softly stroking wild strands of her silvery white hair.
Regia did suddenly feel like she had indeed stolen and her face grew sober.
"I'm sorry mother", was all she found to say.
Her mother gave her a weak smile before planting a soft kiss on her head.
" Go in grace,you have kept dear Mr Alsop waiting for far too long",she stated as she nudged her to go.
Regia turned to go but stopped and ran back to give her mother a hug, planting a light peck on her cheeks after which she disappeared into the full day's sun.
She headed to Mr Alsop's house two houses away from theirs and freely walked into the stable. Mr Alsop was a merchant in the town's biggest market. He prospered in the venture as he had four horses,a luxury for people from those parts.
Mr Alsop paused tending to his horses as he saw Miss Regia arrive.
"My,you were up early today Gigi, what a miracle", he said in a feigned surprised tone.
Regia chuckled heartily as she heard Mr Alsop.
" And a good morning to you two Mr Alsop, you seemed to have slept well",she said with humour.
It was then Mr Alsop's turn to chuckle as he saw the damsel before him. He had taken a daughterly liking to Miss Regia. She was such a care free child with much heart.
"Oh Regia again with your punctuality issues", he said with a more serious tone shaking his head,knowing any further mince of words would result in a truce.
Regia desisted from rolling her eyes at him,
" Of course,I tire of this life,going for classes everyday with no freedom and when there is,I am bound with having to practice one thing or the other just so I can end up as some dead end mistress ",she said,feeling her temper flare steadily.
Mr Alsop looked at her with a soft look. He didn't want to get into another argument with her but he couldn't help himself with her.
" You know a lot of girls wish to be chosen for Madame Rosa's class, but only few handpicked girls like yourself are privileged to",he said walking over to help her into the wooden carriage.
"Oh please,whatever happened to true love and happiness", she said with a frown having gotten settled into the seat.
Mr Alsop sighed in exasperation as he got into the carriage and held the reigns of the horses. He paused and turned to face her.
" Your lackadaisical behaviour has cost you several vying suitors, you are eighteen for heaven's sake,all those you started with have gotten betrothed long ago",he said slowly realising his voice was slightly raised.
He sighed again but of resignation as he relaxed his grip of the reigns.
"Gigi..,You know I love you like a daughter and I don't want to see you toil and sweat like the rest of us,like your mother,I'm only talking with you in heart", he stated with finality and started the carriage.
As the carriage pulled into the road,Regia reflected on his words. She had been hearing the same words over again but it never seemed to sink until now.
She began to think they were right. She was just harming herself by being stubborn.
She finally agreed with them, she had to change. She turned to face Mr Alsop, then her eyes caught something else.
A man in a dark cloak was walking right besides the coach and he happened to be walking at the same speed as the carriage.
Her eyes almost bulged out of its socket in shock.
" Mr Alsop,do you see that",she said astonished.