Diamonds and Ice

It took a whole week filled with doctor visits, remedy baths, gourmet meals in bed, breathing excesses to strengthen my lungs, and dose after dose of prescribed brews before I started feeling well enough to get out of bed without any assistance. The restored strength is liberating and for the first time since I got here, there’s no need for that little call bell. It was nice, but at the same time a bit weird having maids wait on me and serve my every need. It’s like I’m in some kind of parallel universe. This Governor’s Mansion is a whole new world. Liam’s world and then I come crushing in in a middle of a night.

Wearing a velvet house robe, I sit down at a mahogany desk and pull out a sheet of paper.

“Good morning, Ma’am,” a maid dressed in a black and white uniform enters with a silver tray and I can’t help but wonder what kind of laundry soap they use to keep such deep color from fading.

“Good morning,” I look up and giggle at my new title, because no matter how many times I’ve asked the staff to call me by my first name, everyone still calls me ’Ma’am’ or ‘Miss Sterling’.

“It’s so good to see you up and about, but do you need any help with that? I can call for a secretary to help you with that letter,” she sets my breakfast down.

“No, thank you. This is something I must do myself right away,” politely, I shake my head.

Mika must be dead worried and I must let him know that I’m alive,well, and safe. He’s the only reason why I bother thinking of my old life in the village. He’s the only one I miss. The only bridge that’s left standing.

I sigh with a fresh pen ready in hand. “One thing at a time, Victoria.“

With that in mind, I finish the letter in my own handwriting and put the Governor’s seal on the envelope - proof that this is really from me and really am okay. Only then, do I feel free to start this day.

After eating my syrupy waffles and bowl of minty fruit salad, I take a nice long bath. Playing with layers of dried flowers in the hot water is my favorite part of my new morning routine. Sometimes, I feel like the very fruit salad I just ate. Smelling like dessert out of every pore and dressed in a blue dress with brown silk ribbon wrapped around my waist, I exit my room for the first time. With Mika’s letter in hand, my brand new kitten heels carry me down a flight of stairs to find the messenger.

“Good morning, Miss Sterling. So good to see you feeling so well,” instead, he finds me.

“Good morning, Sebastian. I was wondering if you could sent this letter out to the village.”

“Of course,” he takes it, “it will be my pleasure, Ma’am.”

“Thank you,” I watch him put on his fur coat and head out the back door.

Well, that’s done. What should I do now? I look around the grand lobby and accidentally make eye contact with a maid dusting that grand chandelier. I smile back, giving her a greeting nod. With all the cleaning going on without needing me, I must find something else to do. So, I pick a hall to my right and start exploring this new and beautiful world from there.

“There you are!” Liam’s voice echoes from behind.

I can’t help but grin like an idiot and wait for him to catch up.

“Good morning, Sir,” I curtsey, showing off my health.

“Good morning. I see you finally got your strength back,” impressed, he returns my curtesy with a gentleman’s bow.

“Thanks to you.”

“Now that you’re up and about. Would you like a tour of the mansion?” he offers me his arm.

“I would love that,” blushing, I take it.

“Past these doors is my office, but you’ve already seen it during our interview. But, down this way is the library. Would you like to see it?”

“Yes, please,” I squeal on the inside.

He lets go of me and with both hands gives a firm push at the tall double doors, revealing a multi-story grandness. It’s like a world within this world! No wall space is wasted with paintings or mirrors, and every single foot is occupied by volumes and volumes of books. I’ve never been so amazed or pleased to feel so small.

Liam can see that is tour is on a roll and is excited to keep it going, “and past these doors is an all-season veranda. It’s fully glass inclosed and heated, so you can watch the garden and drink your tea while you read any time you want.”

In aw, I follow him into the enormous dome. Beyond the sheets and sheets of cut glass, is even a more impressive world of vegetation tucked in for a long winter’ nap under a never-ending blanket.

The landscape is well matured and not at all intimidated by the cold. Over the years, it’s been cultured and trained on how to use the white powder to its full potential. Except of flowers and leaves, frost crystals bloom all over the bushes and tear-shaped ice crystals drip from the trees’ branches. I can almost hear their soft twinkle swinging in the breeze.

Winter almost killed me. How can something so deadly, be so...

“Beautiful,” I say it out loud.

“Yes,” but his eyes aren’t on the garden, “absolutely stunning.”

Looking down, my cheeks rush from second-hand embarrassment, “You know what, for someone so handsome and charming, you can be so cheesy at times.”

“I’m so sorry for the confusion, but I was referring to that doe over there licking the salt block,” he points.

Indeed, there is a deer and she spots us looking at her.

“Sure you were,” I roll my eyes.

“Like I told you before, I prefer my prey with a little bit more meat on her thighs,” he winks.

“You’re must be a very busy person; showing off to the human females and flirting with the wildlife.”

“And tomorrow I’m having a meeting with the wolves, believe it or not,” causally, he mentions his pack.

“Wolves? Like you?”

“Would you like to meet them? They sure would like to meet you.”

“Of course, I would love to meet the rest of the team. I’m part of this now, aren’t I?”

“Yes, you are. Shall we?” he motions to go on with the tour.

We go to the next room- his personal gallery filled with sculptures, art and antiquities and I can’t wait for what’s next in store for me.

Hey there guys! Are you ready to meet the pack?