Annatrice of Cayborne by Jonathan Davison Read Free Book Online Page A

what you want them to think. Personally, I think they will be jealous of your bold nature and fetching looks then given time, they will have great respect for you. I see a leader in you, a woman with great promise.”
    Annatrice raised her eyebrows at Marianne's gushing account.
    “Come, let us go and meet the others.” Marianne took Annatrice's hand and aided her up from her bed.
    “I have been thinking...” Annatrice stopped abruptly.
    “Go on?”
    “Who will bury my father? He is alone out there. I don't want to think of him lying there with the wolves...”
    Marianne swallowed hard. She had no good answer for that question; she was hardly in a position to aid Annatrice in laying her father properly to rest. After a sustained period of thinking, Marianne tapped Annatrice on the arm.
    “I will arrange it. I will speak with someone who might offer his kindness.”
    The answer was enough for Annatrice to ease her mind over the issue which had surfaced many times that day. The fact that Marianne was utterly clueless in how to fulfil her promise weighed heavily on her shoulders.
    Annatrice bravely rejoined the group who were waiting patiently around the crackling open fire. A hot pot of steaming milk and an engaging story would be enough to send Annatrice temporarily to a better place and take her mind off what was yet to come.

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Daily life at Marianne's school began at daybreak. A short period of time allowing the girls to find some kind of decency ended with the arrival of breakfast. Much like the other meals, there seemed for Annatrice to be an embarrassment of riches. There were fresh eggs, bread, sliced meat and even a curious sweet and tangy preserve which Annatrice had not yet before encountered. Meal times took place in the 'day room' as did schooling and creative time which usually involved needlework of some kind although some preferred poetry or art. The baffling lack of everyday grind was quite disconcerting for Annatrice who ordinarily would rise to a freezing chill and an unpleasant trip to a nearby well to collect water for the day. In this place, the collection of wood for the fire was performed by some unsung soul who would never know the comforts that the girls would obtain from his efforts. Annatrice began to understand what it was to be both poor and wealthy and this began to play on her mind and open up a never ending series of philosophical quandaries.
    Without repeating any of the tribulations of the previous day, Annatrice tried hard to integrate with the other girls and once she had risen above her own prejudices, she found them all to be decent and fairly humble young people. Once the talk of common interests took hold, it was easily forgotten that a peasant girl from Cayborne was socialising with the late Lord Cheavher's daughter from Threace. Annatrice quickly noted that conversation was rarely drawn towards the past. Negativity had been banished in this curious household and talk was often of the future. Despite Annatrice's cynicism, it was each girl's belief that one day, they would be offered to a noble of the land for matrimony. They did not dare speculate when this might come about and considering that half of the ladies were of marrying age, Annatrice could not help feel that their hopes were high but misplaced. The King would allow them to leave only when he saw fit and in Marianne, there was her case in point.
    It was clear that the matriarch enjoyed and prospered in her role as guardian and tutor. Annatrice found her to be a captivating and inspirational teacher as well as a patient one. Annatrice was of course well schooled in the harsh realities of everyday life but there was now so much more that seemed to be open to her as she realised the beauty of knowledge. It would be a tough start for the Cayborne daughter; her spoken word was eloquent but her written use of language non-existent. Marianne insisted that it was of no consequence and she could be pulled up to