"The Red rose rises." My nursemaid called to me, on a bright summer's morn. I sat up gracefully in my bed.
"Good morning, miss." Charity said. I smiled. She sat at the end of my bed, removing the heated pan from under it. She worked closely and carefully, trying not to burn herself.
"Good morning to you, Charity," I replied. She smiled.
"You're very kind, miss." She said, and got up, hurrying to leave the room. I rose from my bed and let my nursemaid fuss over me.
"Tsk, Tsk. You really must wear these corsets more often. Think of how the boys must think of you!" She said as she helped me put a dreaded corset on.
"I honestly don't care what they think, Carlotta." I replied. Carlotta huffed at me and continued to help me dress. After I was dressed, Carlotta rushed me down to breakfast. Mother smiled at me as I gracefully stepped down the stairs, careful to keep my back perfectly straight.
We ate breakfast in silence until the butler Alden entered the room.
"Ms. Lyra has been summoned to the Smith's Estate." He said, carrying a tray of letters. The Smiths were another powerful and rich family in Virginia.
"Lyra would be delighted to go. When shall she leave?" Father asked Alden.
"Anytime, sir," Alden answered.
"Prepare a carriage," Father said. Alden bowed and left for the stables.
I got up and hurried to my chamber to get ready. Some time later, I stepped into an ornate carriage and sat down. Carlotta was to accompany me to the Smith's.
On the long and bumpy ride to the Smith's, Carlotta stitched on samplers. In Mother's and Carlotta's opinion, this was the best way to pass the time. Personally, I hate it. As Carlotta stitched, I read a book called "The Tale of Sarah Ridley". The book is truly interesting.
"Resistance is futile." Sarah's friend, Mark, was saying, just as the carriage entered the Smith's Estate.
I stepped out of the carriage onto the perfectly manicured grass. A long, blue dress followed me. Abella, the Smith's head maid, ran out to greet me.
"Good morning, Miss." She said. I bowed my head.
"Yes."
The Smith's entry way was long and ornate. My steps echoed down the long hall. I smiled. There was a painting on the wall closely resembling me. The entire Smith family swore that it was a coincidence, but I knew that not to be true.
As I entered the Parlor, two people came to greet me. Mr. Smith, the head of the family. Mr. Smith was a rich business man that worked with Father. Jacob, his son, also got up to see me.
"Lyra." Mr. Smith nodded at me. I bowed. Jacob looked me up and down. He took my arm and we walked out to the grounds.
"Good morning, Lyra." He said as we walked. I blushed, as a lady should.
"Good morning, Jacob." I replied. Suddenly, Markus, the Gardener's son, ran towards us.
"Markus!" Jacob shouted. We had all been childhood friends, playing together as children and were still friends now. As he got closer, I could see that Markus held something in his hand.
"Jolly good to see you , old friend!" Jacob said.
"Pleasure! Garden's good, so I thought I'd come see you two." Markus said. I smiled. Markus pulled something out from behind his back.
"A red rose of a flower for a red rose of a lady." Markus said, bowing, as he presented me with a bright red rose. I giggled. Markus has known for quite a while that I see the two of us as a little more than friends. I have, for quite a while, loved Markus, in a way. He liked to tease me about it, in a playful way.
"Why thank you." I said. Jacob laughed too. We walked together through the gardens for a while, talking the time away. After some time, however, Markus left to go tend to the stables. After he left, Jacob seemed quiet. Finally, he spoke to me.
"Lyra, you are sixteen now." He said.
"Yes?" I replied, confused. Jacob stopped walking.
"And your family is quite high profile, like mine." He continued.
"Yes?"
"And many of the people in my family believe that it is time for me to take a wife."
"Yes?" I said, intrigued.
"And... I see the sense in it. I have been... looking for a while." He paused. "But then, I saw that the perfect person was right before my eyes." I looked up at him, confused.
"What?" I said. Jacob pulled me close.
"Lyra Williams, will you marry me?"