A Time Forgotten.Sofia's Tale.

The moon had risen slowly as night had approached.The wind was blowing a light breeze causing the leaves on the Oak trees to rustle ever so slightlyin the Dukes Vast Orchard.The Ivy appeared interwoven deep within the trees and all about was an air of subtle magic as if the Orchard had been brought to life,everything seemed to pulse loudly with life but none as loud as my beating heart.I stood with my face upturned to the moon so that it felt on my face and the dress that i wore that night.It was not as fine a dress as the Dukes daughters but better than the Majority of Ladies in the Queens Court.I was not a Dukes Daughter but rather a lords daughter before a foul poisoned pheasant had taken my noble parents in a most evil deed.

The Moonlight still fell as i watched it light the yellow tint of my dress and the scattered pearl detail,It reflected a Glorious shine off the pearls however little they were.In all the Places i could have waited this Orchard had enchanted me by its overgrown beauty and peace.I risked being sent away in shame for the deed i had done so far which was no more than leaving hidden from the dukes manor,It was a Great risk to just be Caught here alone and an even greater one if caught with the person i meant to meet...

As I heard a Rustle behind me I turned and smiled the Smile of a girl Embracing freedom through love..

I had lived at the dukes manor since my parents death at age 9,My Fathers estate and titles had been retracted by the Queen as I was an only child and a only a Girl so I couldnt Inherit the estate and the court is always in need of property to hand out to favourites of the Queen,I had been left to my kind Uncles good fortune who felt his responsibility to care for his extended family but therefore on the whims of his younger Wife and Daughters,However My cousins were highly stung,illmannered twin copies of their mother Lady Camillie ..Prissila and Silvia were one age with me but I was a few months older than them.They did not try to Warm towards me.
Prissila and Silvia were not considered a pretty pair since the three of us had 'come out' into society earlier this year,It wasnt that they were physically unattractive..their hair always styled to perfection and their gowns the latest in fashhion but rather their trademark condescending sneers that they wore on their faces gave them an ugly look and along with their false laughs its not hard to imagine why I was asked to dance at certain balls by young men before them.

Sometimes my only companion in the manor was Cestelio,my horse was the only thing i had kept from my fathers estate,he was such a magnificant horse with a glossy brown coat that whenever I felt like an outsider and alone in my grief for my parents I would rest my head on his side and feel comforted..The Summer season approached swiftly,my Lady Aunt as I called her away from her ears. My Relatives and I were off to court this season as they had decided that we could not withdraw from the Various Occasions that were going on.

They all wanted me married off as soon as possible no doubt to a fat pocketed courtier with lands they could benefit from themselves.I found the idea of being married off appalling but I did as i was bid by my lady aunt,wore what i was told to and spoke when I was bid to.I did this to insure that they could not find fault because I know they wanted to every minute I was in their presence.So with this in mind i was the perfect courtier whereever we went.the Season played out merrily for the court,We danced,dined and were as gay as nymphs and as light hearted as fools,Unlike my cousins my blonde hair shone brighter in the fair sunshine each day.

The Gentlemen that vied for favours or a wife or a secret mistress were all witty and charming when called upon to be for they knew they wouldnt survive court otherwise.Though Behind all the charm and lightheartedness were dark shadows of ambition for wealth,power and favour that followed each gentlemen..they all had some purpose for being there.