Resolution
"Delia, I’ve been thinking that maybe we would profit from a change." "What kind of change?" Delia said, straightening the caps in the window, as people passed in the streets. "Maybe, well…maybe leaving here." "Leave here? But I thought we were starting to really get along well here in the business. We would have to start all over again, and leave Godfrey and Juliana and…" "No, I know, but…well, I felt like I should at least mention it to you." "Alright, what were you thinking then, dear?" Delia asked, coming to stand by him in the back of the room.
"The fine hats you made finally sold." "Oh, yes! I wish I’d seen the people who bought them." "Well, it was a woman from court." "From the royal court?" Delia asked agape. "Yes." "I should string you up for not calling me down. I’ve never even seen anyone from court." "Well, I would have thought you’d had your fill of aristocrats." Delia looked at Mark as if stung by an imaginary slap. She turned back towards the store. "No, forgive me. I didn’t mean it to sound like that. You see Delia; this is what I mean. We…we aren’t doing as well as we should." "In the business?" "No, us Delia," he said, taking her by the shoulders. Delia sighed. She knew what he said was true: they had their moments of sheer bliss, but then a ghost would walk by, waking one of them or both of them from their blissful heaven. "I want to fix us, and that matters more to me than any business. I want to leave," Mark stated simply, putting his arms around Delia’s waist. "I don’t want to…no, I won’t be poor and cold anymore, Mark. We’ll have to work on things here I’m afraid."
He could tell she was still angry from his previous remark, but then he hadn’t been thinking of the rape, not for once. He had only meant to draw on her bizarre experiences with the lady of the manor, about whom Delia had told such odd stories. She clanked the tools on the bench heavily and fooled with the papers needlessly. "You wouldn’t believe me, I suppose if I told you that I meant to refer to the lady of the manor?" "Why should I?" "Because, I’ve sworn to you enough times for you to believe me finally, I think." Delia melted: how could she be so harsh when faced with his handsome pleading countenance, when just a few hours he had held her to his warm naked chest. She hurried over to him and kissed him on the cheek quickly and pressed his hand, asking wordlessly for forgiveness.
"The hats," he said, pulling off her own cap and smoothing the thick hair underneath. "The lady…" she said, softening with a smile. "She thought your hats were exquisite. Truly." Delia beamed with pride, and ‘I didn’t even know what to make them look like exactly,’ she thought. "This lady, she was traveling with her servants on some errand or another, but without her husband, who could not leave court. Apparently, she was rather…impressed with my skills, as I wrote some things down for her as well and discussed some things…anyway, she recommended me to her husband as a possible new clerk. I received a letter yesterday." "Oh my!" Delia exclaimed, and she turned to see the official letter Mark held up. She couldn’t read any of it and sighed, knowing Mark thought it effortless.
"Delia," he paused, putting the letter down, "you’ve never asked me to teach you to read." "Oh, I couldn’t. I’m a woman." "Don’t be ridiculous." "I’m too old. It would be impossible." Mark folded up the letter, kissing her on the cheek. "So, this man is in need of a clerk who can read, write, everything, and yet, for some reason he does not want a religious cleric." "And he has offered you the job based on his wife’s recommendation?" "It appears so." "I don’t know whether I like this woman," Delia said playfully pinching his side. "And why is that?" "Because she apparently took one look at you and fell under your spell," Delia said playfully pushing at him. He kissed her quickly; not wishing someone in the street to catch a glimpse of something he felt was special and sacred.
"We’d go to the court then…our life would be entirely different than it is here…but I’m comfortable with our life, don’t misunderstand me. I was never so pampered in Christianium. I only…I wonder if a change wouldn’t help us heal. It is up to you, Delia. I certainly haven’t decided." Delia tried to absorb what he has said, and began to look like she was very far away. Mark broke in, "I know what you do here makes you happy and you’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and believe me I am too, so just say the word, Delia. I know we’ll be all right where ever we are anyhow." She looked up at him. "I am proud of this Mark, but that is quite an offer." "Well, I was flattered. Certainly not as flattered as when you first told me you thought me handsome in the woods of Christianium, but…" now he was playfully pulling on her and smiling.
"Do they know…is this man aware that you are a married man?" "Yes, I told the lady how my beautiful wife had made the hats." "You tease me." "No, and I did. You wouldn’t think I would leave you in order to fix our marriage, would you?" "Oh, Mark it hurts every time you say ‘fix’…it worries me." "I’m sorry my pet. That’s just it though. I don’t think there are any problems other than remembering painful things that have gone on in the past. We’ve both moved on, but perhaps our own demons, not demons related to each other, still haunt. You, my dear," he said, taking her hand, "are perfect." "As are you, dearest. May I think on this?" "Of course, think as much as you like."
"I know if it was up to you, you would give me a world of time, being so generous, but what about this man…does he have a name?" "Sir Roger of Kent." "Then, Sir Roger, will he be expecting an answer soon?" "He will be sending a messenger and people to help us move, if we so choose, in two weeks." "Oh goodness. Then you haven’t long to send him word?" "I don‘t suppose that I do. But, I would rather the opportunity pass than rush you." Delia nodded. "I’ll think on it, Mark, but you must do the same. I trust your judgment as well, and I would like to hear more of your opinion." "Certainly, sweetness."
***
"Mark?" Delia asked, rolling over to face Mark in bed. He was closer than she thought, and he sleepily put his arm around her. "Mark, dearest, are you awake?" He mumbled, brushing her face with his lips. "I want to go with you to court." "What was that?" Mark asked her, pressing her cheek to his face. "I want to go with you to court. I think you should be Sir Roger’s clerk. I know how intelligent you are, and it seems to me like there would be endless opportunity for you there." "Darling, are you sure?" "Yes. I don’t need to live here, Mark. I just want to be with you and to have a happy life together." He held her body close to him. "Then we’ll prepare to leave?" "I’ll start tomorrow, dearest," Delia replied, kissing his chin before resting her head in the curve of his neck between his head and his chest.
***
Delia was not the type of girl to regret a decision once it was made, and now she threw herself into preparing for the move to court. She even began to truly look forward to the promise of new excitement.
"To court? Oh goodness child, shall you know how to act? Not that I mean that you aren’t a very proper girl and very much above the common sort, but I don’t think I should ever know how to act amongst royalty!" Juliana expounded upon being told of their move. "No, I know I shan’t know exactly how to act, but I’m sure Mark will help me, as he is so intelligent. I’m not afraid as long as he shall be with me." "Well that will be good then." "And you know, I’ve worked with nobility before." "Have you now? I don’t recall you ever mentioning it." "No, I know. I’ve never breathed a word about it to anyone: it caused Mark and I more trouble than anything else in the world." "And you still want to go?" "These weren’t refined people, like I assume the people at court shall be, no not at all, but I suppose I learned a thing or two about serving them." "What was it you did, my dear?"
Delia laid down the hat she was working on and sighed, "I was a lady in waiting I suppose, but it wasn’t a very nice place to be. Mark and I left and came here, you see, to leave that place." Juliana nodded solemnly, and since she could see that Delia was more upset than she let on about the subject, she decided to drop it. "Well, I don’t suppose we’ll ever see you again then, dear child! What a life you shall live at court. I do envy you, for while we are more than comfortable, there is something so young and new and beautiful about the life at court!" "Oh, I should hope we would be able to visit again some day, ma’am. But as for life at court, how come you to know so very much about it?"
Juliana sat down on the empty stool and leaned her elbows on the table, clasping her hands together. "Oh goodness, we used to live near the town." "Really! You lived by the royal castle?" "Yes, but it wasn’t so grand then, for they’ve built so much on to that one since then, and I do believe an entirely new castle was established just north of there for the new queen. Ah, such a life! I was just a young girl mind you, and my family farmed there by, and I delivered some things to court as just a little errand girl, but such things I saw! They were not to be rivaled." "Then I really shan’t worry any longer at all about it. With Mark’s and your encouragement I should only look forward to this with great spirit."
Mark entered the storeroom from the back door, where he had been working on some new trunks in the back. "Hello, and how are you, ma’am?" Mark asked, coming over with a broad smile to Juliana and Delia. "Oh, just fine thank you. Your dear wife was just acquainting me with your plans to go to court. Such a compliment to be thus singled out, Mark. Really, I am sure that my husband will be vastly pleased when he hears of it." "Thank you ma’am. I do mean to go to him today in order to give him the word. I also mean to give him the possibility of buying the store. I would be happy to see him take it, instead of just leaving the place." "I’m sure he would be very glad to do so, as you all do a very nice business here from what I’ve seen." "Oh, we get along fairly well, but it is a lot of work for your husband to be taking on in addition to your own store," Delia put in concernedly. "True, I don’t think that he was wishing for more work at this point." "Well, I must confess that I considered that Alan and his wife might be able to use this store more than anyone else. She very quickly took to the skill of making caps with Delia’s help and Alan is a smart chap," Mark had come to stand behind Delia, and rested his hand on her shoulder.
"Why what a plan Mark! This is just the type of thing that my boy I’m sure would be overjoyed to buy. You are too good to think of it." "Well, ma’am I’m afraid when I said ‘sell’ I wasn’t being fair. I feel that Delia and I already owe your family so much that it would be better to give you the store. We shouldn’t be needing the money." "No, no…now I know neither my son nor my husband would hear such a suggestion as that and not rankle. You have certainly paid us back, so there is no reason for you not to get something back from your own hard work. And forgive me for saying this, but one never knows when hard times may come about, so it is better not to give things entirely away based on hopes for the future." "You are too kind," Delia said, patting Juliana’s hand.
II
The carriage arrived in which they were to be conveyed, and the menservants sent to convey them loaded up their belongings into the carriage. Delia watched with some sadness as their worldly good were carried out of the storefront. Mark was helping the men, explaining that this was breakable and that this should be treated with great care, as it was his wife’s, etc. Delia stopped him as he went through the door once more carrying a trunk himself. "What is it, dear?" he asked, setting the trunk down out of the way. "I’ve never ridden in a carriage, Mark." "Well, neither have I, sweetness," he confessed, kissing her on the cheek. "Are you frightened, darling?" "No, I’m rather excited, Mark." "Good, that’s what I like to hear." He picked the trunk back up and handed it over to the manservant who was loading the carriage.
There was a man to drive the carriage, a man who rode behind the carriage, and two men on horse back, who Delia noticed carried arms at their sides. "Who are they?" Delia asked catching Mark once more, as he looked around their apartment to make sure nothing had been missed. "They’re servants of Sir Roger, Delia. Didn’t I tell you he was sending servants? He wouldn’t come himself, I assure you." "Oh, do you suppose him to be…that sort of man?" Delia had meant snobbish, and Mark realized his mistake. "No, I meant that he is a very busy man at court, and rather influential, so he can not be spared to ride about for days on end after clerics. Having met his wife and her servants and his now, I think he shall prove to be a very good sort of man. Don’t be worried on that account." "Oh, I shan’t be. I figure I won’t be mixing much with them anyway." "I actually think when they meet you my dear you might very well be drawn into their circle, but then that is my opinion, and I will understand if you don’t wish to mix with them. This shall be my job, and you need not think yourself bound to take part," Mark looked very seriously at her, and squeezed her hand in order to reassure.
"Oh, thank you, Mark. You are so dear and good to me. Only, I did realize these were servants," she said with a smile, and Mark began to laugh, "of course you did. Then what did you mean by your first question?" "Only two of those men…they carry arms my dear…swords and such, which has me wondering why they are here." "Ah…" Mark hesitated to answer Delia’s question: he knew that while traveling was always dangerous, it was actually more dangerous for people traveling in some luxury. People who rode in carriages were prey to men on horses who were looking for money and jewels or just trouble. Those who traveled on foot were usually not use the trouble of bothering, so actually, they were safer from armed men. Of course, it was another story if one met a lone robber on the road, who was also on foot. Altogether though, it was necessary for wealthy travelers to take their trips accompanied by some protection. "Well…" "Mark, just tell me dear, for now you are frightening me with your casting about of looks." "I’m sorry dear. I don’t want to worry you, but there are some worries when traveling as we shall be traveling that require the protection of guards such as these. They are here to make sure we’ll be safe, and we will be, so don’t worry about it, all right?" "Oh, well, if they are to protect us from probable harm, the I shall be happy they’re with us, and not worry about what could happen then." "There is my sensible girl," he said leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Why don’t you go outside and I’ll give everything one last look," he said putting his arm around her waist for one moment. "Ah, then I’ll say good bye to the place. It isn’t a bad place, is it?" "No, I don’t think so at all, dear. The new place will hopefully be even more pleasing to you though. At least, that’s what I hope." "I have no doubt it will be," Delia said cheerily and left the room making her way to the store, where she glanced around once more and went outside to join the carriage.
***
Mark sat in the carriage with Delia, holding her hand. Delia’s head rested against his shoulder as they bumped along over the rocky and dusty roads. He petted her smooth hair, sweeping it away from her face where it had fallen from disturbance. "My hair must look a fright," she sighed, smiling up at him. "A bit dusty, I’m afraid, but not a fright. You could never look a fright." "How you do compliment me, but I know that isn’t the truth. I have many times looked a fright. Now I don’t wish to meet all these very fine people looking so mussed, but I don’t suppose I will have time to straighten myself up!" "Look out the window there, Delia. Just look at that." Mark gestured out the window, which was without any closure, which resulted in their being covered in dust. Delia sat up, peered out the window, and saw the great tower of a cathedral rising over the tip of the horizon. "Is that a church, Mark?" "I believe it is the cathedral, and our first sight of town." "To imagine that we should see such things. And to believe that we shall live among such people." "I don’t doubt you shall be the equal of anyone at court, my dear," he said kissing her on the cheek. "Well, we shall see, Mark. We shall see."
The carriage pulled up in front of the palace, and Delia’s eyes grew large seeing all the beauty in front of her. Livery men stood waiting to hand them out of the carriage, and their clothes was indeed better than that what Mark and Delia themselves wore. Mark left the carriage first, and then offered his hand to Delia, as she stepped out, feeling as if her legs would give out underneath her from having ridden for such a long time, not to mention all the awful dirt that covered her. One of them men gestured up the stairs, which were steep and grand stone leading up to the back entrance of the palace. "You have business with Sir Roger?" "Yes." "He awaits you inside, sir. But if it would be all right with you, I can convey you to your apartments, so that you might be able to freshen up first." "Thank you." Mark took Delia’s arm and led her up the stairs and through the heavy wooden carved door with giant metal hinges.
Inside was not nearly as dark as the castle Delia compared it to in her memory. She realized there were more windows and more lanterns and candelabras, which accounted for the false brightness. She held tightly to Mark’s arm, and he looked down on her supportively. "This way if you please, sir," the man who continued to attend them said bending from the waist. They walked along a narrow passageway, their heels echoing on the stone floor. The man stopped in front of an open door, which led into a middle-sized apartment furnished much more grandly than anything Delia had ever hoped for herself would. The man bowed and Mark and Delia entered. "This will be your apartments, sir. As you can see, there is this receiving room and a bedchamber to our right. Is everything all right then sir?" "Yes, thank you very much. Everything seems to be very well suited," Mark said calmly, although Delia figured he was as much astounded with their new surroundings as she was. "Fine then sir…" He was interrupted by the appearance of servants carrying Mark and Delia’s trunks into the room. "Put those down over there men," the man said gesturing towards an empty spot in the room. Delia watched amazed as people did things for them, and at once had a wish to run about the room examining everything. "Now, you shall have about an hour to get ready. I can send for a maid to help you, Miss." Delia blushed, not knowing how to answer. "Thank you, but I think my wife will be all right for now. Should you be coming back for us in an hour?" "Yes, someone will be here to conduct you, sir. Is there anything else that you desire." "No, thank you very much." The man bowed and left the room, shutting the door.
Delia turned to Mark. "Mark, only look about us!" "Yes, I know. Come let us look at the bedchamber." Delia began to laugh as he took her hand, "Mark, we only have an hour, and we’re a mess!" He bent down to softly kiss her. "That is not what I had meant sweetness, but now that you put me in mind…" "Oh, you tease me, Mark." "A bit. But you’re right: we must get ready. Let’s get into these trunks. I think we should put on our finest clothes, what do you think?" "Oh, nothing will even be close to being fine enough from what we’ve seen so far. How shall we find enough to dress everyday in nearly so fine a manner?" "Well, be assured that they will no doubt find us some clothes."
***
Mark was led in front of the table at which Sir Roger sat in one of the large administrative rooms within the palace. Delia stayed a number of steps behind, looking demure and listening carefully to what passed. "Ah, you must be my new cleric," Sir Roger said standing up and stretching out his arm. Sir Roger was taller than Mark, which made him extremely tall, and he was also wider and more thickly muscled. He hair was a dark as a raven’s feathers and full, even though he might have been five and thirty. His features were very chiseled, and yet not forbearing. Delia did not feel frightened at his side, and Mark was not left speechless: "yes sir, I arrived a little while ago." "Well, Mark, I’ve been very much looking forward to our meeting, ever since my wife brought up the excellent idea. I’m not much for this type of work, indeed, it is nearly hopeless," he said gesturing to the thick parchments scattered on the table with large inkblots. "Now I can give this over to you, and I trust not being an inflated Church man, you will not reproach me for not having much knowledge of these things," he said with a hearty smile.
Sir Roger then turned his attention on Delia, and held out his hand, "you have not introduced me to your wife." Delia stepped forward and let him take her hand, which he bent to press to his forehead harmlessly, and she curtsied. "This is my wife, Delia, sir." "Very good," Sir Roger said letting go of her hand still smiling. "I would very much like to introduce you to my wife, but of course you’ll want to rest for the remainder of the day." "Thank you sir," Delia said curtseying and blushing at such a compliment. "In fact, Miss Delia, would you mind if I sent you back with one of my wife’s servants for a little while so that I can discuss some things with your excellent husband?" It frightened Delia to be so soon separated from Mark, but then Mark put his hand on her back comfortingly and smiled to encourage her to heed Sir Roger’s request. "I wouldn’t mind at all sir," Delia said curtseying. "Very good then." Sir Roger went to one of the men standing at the door, who then walked out the door.
Sir Roger had no more returned to the table and offered them both seats than a fine looking middle aged woman bustled into the room and came before them. "Mistress Hilde, this is Mark and his wife Delia." Hilde inclined her head slightly and smiled slowly, but not unkindly. "Would you be so good as to return Miss Delia to her room? I wish to speak with Mark for a while." "Yes, certainly, Sir Roger," Hilde said, and Delia noticed she had not yet curtseyed, and yet seemed to please Sir Roger nonetheless. Delia nodded to Mark and Sir Roger before following the thick figure of Hilde out of the room and down the hallway back the way she had come.
"You are the wife of Sir Roger’s new cleric then?" she said more as a statement, as she glanced over her shoulder. "Yes, I am. We arrived today." "Well, I can tell you, we’re all amazed that Master Roger was able to find a cleric not of religious orders. Your husband must be very intelligent, miss." Delia although not intimidated by the woman, was afraid to answer, not knowing the correct response. Of course Mark was intelligent: He was the most intelligent man she had ever met. "Here we are," Hilde said pushing through their apartment’s doorway; she brushed both sides of the door with her heavy skirts and thick stature. "Thank you," Delia said thinking that Hilde would now leave. "Would it be a help if I arranged some of your things, miss?" Hilde asked. "Oh…I think I can manage myself." "Nonsense. There is no reason for you to be left with the entire task. More hands make for lighter work," she said simply and began to walk towards the trunk. "Are you sure our lady won’t be needing you?" "She can certainly have me called for. I have more work to do here than anything concerning her," Hilde said looking up at Delia with seeming surprise at such a concern. "Well, then thank you, I appreciate the help."
They began to unpack the trunks with the clothes, and Hilde silently performed her unnamed task of determining what clothes should be requested for the two new comers. The tailor would have to be brought in the next day, she determined from the modest items within the trunks. Hilde worked diligently and the task was more quickly completed than Delia had hoped. It was also done with little talk, which was not really unpleasant: Delia didn’t have anything much to say, so Hilde’s lack of conversation was more easy to handle. Delia almost felt as if Hilde was aware of her shyness, and wasn’t going to force her and make her uncomfortable.
"Well, miss, it seems as if everything is at least unpacked. I’ll let you settle as to where to put the rest of it," Hilde said brushing her hands together. From her natural personality Delia felt like she was more of a matronly milk lady than a lady’s servant. "Thank you for your help." "Think nothing of it. We all help around here with this and that. No standing on formalities among most of us, dearie." "Please thank our lady for me as well, for sparing your time." "Ah, well, I’ll do that, if you wish," she said nodding her head and ushering herself out the door brushing the sides with her body as before.
***
Mark blew out the candle after pulling back the thick coverings on the bed for Delia, who climbed in and under them, snuggling down in the warmth. The light being extinguished neither of them could make out the other. Mark eased into the bed himself and reached out across the bed to find Delia’s arm extended to meet him. Grabbing hold of her hand he brought it to his lips and then rested his head on the same pillow with hers: the bed was not narrow, indeed it was the widest Mark and Delia had ever slept in, but they always slept very close together. He whispered warmly to her, so close that his lips brushed her cheek and ear, "I like this Sir Roger, Delia. I like him a lot. I think he is a good man." "I’m glad Mark," Delia said sincerely, turning her head to make out his features in the dark, and bumping his nose and lips. "Oh my," she said laughing quietly. He bestowed upon her a kiss by which means she could tell that his mouth was broadened into a smile. "I believe I shall respect him," he said after the moment of lightheartedness. "I’m so happy for you, Mark." "I know. You’re so good. But I want to make sure that you’ll be happy as well." "I think I shall be. Hilde, the woman who escorted me, she seemed like a kind woman." "She helped you unpack the trunks, didn’t she?" "Yes. I’m just a little unsure as to what shall be my position here, and what I shall do." "I know. But tomorrow, you shall meet Sir Roger’s wife. Perhaps that will make things more clear." "Perhaps so. I’m not worried though," she said snuggling against his chest as he encircled her in his arms. "No?" "No, everything will be fine as long as I have you." He kissed the crown of her head and smoothed her hair. "Go to sleep, Delia love, I know you’re tired." "Good night Mark." "Good night Delia."
