On a warm sunny spring day, Lady Ellara dressed two-year-old Eric in a soft sky-blue cotton tunic and matching trousers. As she gently combed his tousled dark brown hair, she told him with an excited smile, "We're going on a special trip today to visit my dear friend Lady Amarantha Whitehaven and her daughter Lady Emily at their estate!"
Eric beamed and kicked his little feet happily in the chair, always eager for any chance to venture outside the manor walls and explore somewhere new. The carriage ride to the Whitehaven estate took well over an hour, allowing Eric to gaze with wide-eyed wonder out the window at the vibrant green meadows rolling leisurely by. Plump white sheep and cows dotted the grassy fields, contentedly grazing on the sweet spring grass.
Eventually, the sprawling pastoral fields gave way to an increasingly dense forest on both sides of the winding wooded path. The carriage turned onto a wider cobblestone road that cut through the shaded forest before finally arriving at an elaborate wrought iron gate flanked by carved stone mythic creatures, signaling their entrance onto the Whitehaven family's private lands.
The trees soon opened up to reveal a sprawling moss-covered stone mansion, with leafy ivy tendrils creeping up its ancient weathered facade. Lady Amarantha warmly welcomed her dear friend Lady Ellara at the mansion's grand front entrance with a fierce affectionate embrace, clearly delighted to see her fellow noblewoman after many months apart. Lady Amarantha had lustrous dark chestnut curls elegantly swept up into a loose yet tidy updo that artfully framed her sharp green eyes and angular features. She carried herself with an air of understated grace and confidence befitting her status as a lady of an influential noble house.
As the ladies moved their lively catching up into the solarium over piping hot tea and delicate strawberry tarts, the pitter-patter of little feet heralded the arrival of young Lady Emily. The three-year-old girl shyly approached tiny Eric with great fascination, her bright blue eyes sparkling with enthusiasm for adventures. Emily's long golden blonde hair was tied prettily with pastel ribbons in two pigtails that fell in soft waves across her shoulders.
"Hello, Eric! I'm Emily," she introduced herself in a friendly, singsong voice. Eric gave a timid but happy smile in return, still getting his balance on his own two tiny feet. Being mindful of Eric's unsteady walking, Emily slowly guided him by the hand through the well-manicured garden surrounding the gazebo where their mothers sat conversing. She showed Eric her prized collection of porcelain dolls and helped him toddle around looking at the colorful flowers, keeping him steady whenever he teetered.
Although still rather unsteady on his feet, Eric's large hazel eyes lit up with awe and wonder as he explored the garden's vibrant blooms. He giggled and clapped his hands in pure delight when a bright blue butterfly softly landed on the tip of his nose before fluttering up into the azure sky once more.
Soon, Lady Ellara announced that it was time they must be heading back to the Emberhart estate before dusk fully fell. As the carriage slowly rolled away, she smiled affectionately down at her sleepy-eyed little boy and said, "It looks like you made a wonderful new friend today in Lady Amarantha's equally sweet daughter. I'm sure Emily will have many more fun adventures to share with you." Eric snuggled into his mother's side, recalling with fuzzy toddler contentment all the sights and delights from his first ever playdate. He somehow knew deep down in his heart this was just the beginning of a lifelong childhood friendship.