"I spilt the dew —,
But took the mourn, —
I chose this single star
From out the wide night's number —
Sue — forevermore!"
— Emily Dickinson
For a moment, Cereza was without dignity. Her current posture resembled the various puddles around her, including the one into which she had fallen. The previously beautiful cream-colored gown was now soiled, soggy, and absolutely frigid—all in front of Lady Estelle Dryden-Estaughffe, the next Marchioness of Great Britain.
Estelle loomed over Cereza, silently asserting her dominance. Although both women were of similar stature, their power dynamic was drastically different. This was due to Estelle's father, Lord Dryden-Estaughffe, sitting above by two titles, while Lord Arrowesmith was only a viscount. Traditionally, Cereza had no true entitlement to be referred to as a "lady." However, Lord Arrowesmith threatened to take the heads of those who dared treat his daughter as inferior to other noble daughters.
On the contrary, Estelle may not have been born under a title in which others are to bow to her, but she was bound to her name. Since her birth, Estelle has been more than honorable. She has always been a lady, even to those older than her. And she has always carried herself as a lady, better than the rest in her place in high society.
Estelle felt a tug at the corner of her lips as she watched Cereza struggle in the rain. However, she knew it wouldn't be ladylike to snicker at someone in need. Although her purple parasol was not meant for the rain, it did provide some coverage. With a small huff from her nose, Estelle held her parasol out over Cereza. Scrambling to her feet and for her words, Cereza was absolutely mortified. Although the women were not involved in a rivalry, the honorable Cereza was greatly embarrassed by the circumstances of meeting Estelle.
"Lady Dryden-Estaughffe...," Cereza began. Her heart raced with anticipation at the mention of her senior's name. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, glancing down at her dirty dress. She hadn't been on a long journey of any sort, though her exhaustion was beginning to set in. Despite her disheveled appearance, she managed to give Cereza a polite smile during a brief sneeze from all the cold.
"Thank you," Cereza began. "I am …" She paused for a moment, her eyes boring into Estelle's. "…Ever so grateful." Cereza read her. They were both aware of the façade Estelle spoke behind. She knew the pleasantries were not genuine, but possibly mockery. Her feeling of embarassment fizzled out inside of her and was replaced with that of annoyance.
"I shall spare your pride." Estelle gazed back into Cereza's eyes, her gloved hand still firmly gripping the handle of her parasol. "It is simply unfit to be outdoors—you have the likeness of a cat that had fallen into a nearby stream." Estelle looked away with a deep sigh. Cereza would have been offended by such a comparison, though she was too cold to truly mind in the moment.
"Come. We must find you someone to escort you home, you will catch a cold."
Cereza hesitated, not wanting to burden Lady Dryden-Estaughffe any further. She had already felt as though she imposed upon her kindness by merely running into her, and she didn't want to ask for more. But Estelle's offer was truly sincere in its own backhanded way, and Cereza realized that she had no other options in her current state. She was freezing, her feet sore and her stomach empty. The empty feeling from earlier had made its way to the back of her mind for the time being.
With a nod of gratitude, Cereza reluctantly followed Estelle as they made their way down the cobbled streets slick with rainwater. They walked in silence, the only sound being the tap of their boots and occasional splash in a stray puddle. Cereza's mind wandered, thinking about her family and how worried they must be. She anticipated the lectures already.
As they reached the main road, they saw a few warm lights in windows. Shopkeepers had chosen to remain open during the storm. Cereza's heart lifted with hope. Perhaps one of them would take her back home safely? Looking ahead, her eyes settled on a lone gentleman leaning against a carriage - presumably his own. Rain gently tapped his hat as he stood quietly, seemingly lost in thought. His tailcoat was the same familiar blood red Cereza had observed on Rose's dress. The sight made her tense up for a moment, but Estelle kept her stride towards the man and his carriage.
As they approached the man, Estelle called out to him. "Excuse me, sir," she said in a clear voice. The man turned to face them, his expression being one of surprise. "Might you be willing to escort this…young lady safely home?" Estelle continued, gesturing towards Cereza. The man looked at Cereza, taking note of her…less than angelic appearance before clearing his throat.
"Oh dear, where are my manners" he sputtered hastily before tipping his hat toward both women. "It would be my honor, Lady Dryden-Estaughffe and of course, Lady Arrowesmith." Cereza felt a wave of relief wash over her as the man helped her into the carriage, grateful for his kindness even if it was obligatory. Shortly after, Estelle joined her, taking care to ensure her gown and belongings were safely inside and not touching Cereza's muddy hems. Within moments, they were off.
The carriage ride was silent aside from the occasional sound of the wheels on the cobblestone streets. Cereza was lost in thought, reflecting on the encounter with Estelle and the red-clad gentleman. She couldn't help but feel that something was off about the situation. Perhaps it was the way the gentleman had looked at her, with an intensity and puzzled feeling that she couldn't quite place. Cereza wondered if she had met him before, but she couldn't recall any previous encounters. Meanwhile, Estelle appeared to be lost in her own thoughts though merely a foot or so across, her sharp eyes staring out the rain-streaked window.
As they passed by the elegant buildings and quaint shops, Cereza couldn't help but think about her excuse this time. This was not the first time she had been out without anyone knowing, but it was the first time in which she would return home appearing as if she'd taken a dip in the bog. The rain continued to fall, casting a melancholy mood over the carriage ride. Cereza couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something that would change the course of her life forever.
Estelle didn't pay Cereza any attention until they arrived at the Arrowesmith Estate. Suddenly, she stopped Cereza from leaving the carriage for a moment. Rising from her seat, she leaned towards Cereza, causing the younger girl to notice the sound of her dress rustling. While maintaining eye contact, Estelle moved closer and Cereza admired her features. Estelle's slightly lighter complexion, dark eyes, and dark hair gave her a vampiric appearance compared to most. Despite not wearing any makeup, her lips were a plush light red. Cereza's heart raced as Estelle approached her before pausing momentarily.
The space between them was now ever so small and Cereza could hear her heart pounding in her ears. On instinct, she closed her eyes, anticipating a kiss as their warm breaths collided. But instead of a kiss, she felt a gloved hand in her ringlets. Cereza opened her eyes, and Estelle had sat back down.
Confused and embarrassed, Cereza stepped out of the carriage and into the rain, unsure of what had just happened. She couldn't help but feel disappointed as she walked towards the entrance of the Arrowesmith Estate. The encounter left her with more questions than answers. She had covered the remaining traces of Rose's lip tint…had she witnessed the encounter? Was it just a tease or something more? Cereza shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts as she entered the manor.
As she walked down the hallway, she was greeted by familiar faces, including her mother and father. They were clearly worried about her, but relieved to see her safe and sound. Cereza tried to explain what happened during her outing, but her words came out jumbled and incoherent. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had missed something important during her encounter with Lady Estelle.
Later that night, as Cereza lay awake in her bed, she replayed the events of the day in her mind. She couldn't help but feel drawn to Estelle, despite the confusion and embarrassment she felt. Cereza knew that something had changed between them, but she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was. All she knew was that she couldn't wait to see Lady Estelle again—but not in means of excitement.
Dread.