Chapter 107: Caught in the Middle
Teslaimia saw Gertrude heading into Emily's office and stopped her just outside the door, "Gertrude, I need you to cover for me. If she asks, you saw me at my office yesterday evening."
Gertrude's eyes grew larger, "You want me to lie to Her Majesty?"
Teslaimia rolled her eyes, "I am not asking you to lie, I am just asking you to exaggerate the time of day. Didn't you see me in my office during the afternoon? Well, just stretch that a bit and call it the evening."
Gertrude looked a little upset, "Won't she get the truth from someone else? Why do you want to put me in a tough position?"
Teslaimia looked sad, "You're my only hope, Gertrude."
"Fine, if she asks me, I'll say that I saw you sometime in the afternoon or evening. Will that be enough?" Gertrude looked a little upset.
"That's just what I need, thank you." Teslaimia beamed. "She probably won't ask, I just need to cover my ass."
Gertrude shook her head and walked into Emily's office for her normal morning report. Teslaimia followed behind looking completely normal as she took her seat on the couch reading the morning paper.
*****
Lord Harmon was pacing back and forth just outside of Wendy's classroom as the students started to leave after the class ended. He didn't see her come out so he walked over to the door. A single male student was in the classroom talking with the professor. After they finished the student headed for the door Lord Harmon, waved to him, "Excuse me, could you tell me, was Wendy Baronsdotter in class today?"
"Who? Oh! Do you mean the commoner girl? Yeah, she left early. She had a visitor." The young man said.
"Do you know, was it a male or female visitor?" Lord Harmon looked concerned.
The young man shrugged and said, "Honestly, I am not sure, she raised her hand and asked to be excused."
Lord Harmon looked a little concerned, "Alright, thank you."
As Lord Harmon looked disappointed and started to walk away from the young man, "Hey, you know, you should try looking for her over at the cafeteria. I've seen her eating in the back corner a few times. She usually reads a book while eating alone."
Lord Harmon smiled and nodded, "Thank you, again."
Lord Harmon walked past the dorm building and noticed the bright orange carriage belonging to House Morely and frowned. Upstairs in Wendy's dorm room Duke Morely's tailor smiled at her and said, "I'll be back Friday afternoon with the finished gown and we'll make any adjustments we need then."
Wendy smiled at him and said, "Thank you, I really appreciate you making the dress on such short notice. My mother is a clothing designer, I know how long it takes to make a gown like this, I know you'll have to work quickly to get it made in time."
He chuckled, "It's no problem at all, I have assistants to help me, I won't have to kill myself sewing it all by hand. You and the Duke will look stunning, that I can promise you." He bowed and then collected his tools and headed out. Wendy grabbed the book she was reading and headed to the cafeteria.
Lord Harmon had been in the academy for two years and yet he had never actually set foot in the cafeteria. As the son of a count, he could afford to live off-campus with his own private chef or eat out with the other Lords and Ladies who lived off-campus. He wasn't even sure how you ordered food. So he stood near the door waiting for someone else to come in and order food. A young man walked through the door and walked over grabbing a tray and then walked along the buffet line and asked for the items he wanted. Lord Harmon then walked over and took a tray himself and followed behind.
The young man noticed he hadn't asked for any of the food yet and asked, "First time coming here?" Lord Harmon nodded so the young man pointed at a few of the dishes, "This isn't gourmet food by a longshot, but the roast elk isn't bad and they do make good cobbler. Their steamed vegetables just need salt and pepper. The Stuffing is as dry as your grandmother's who ha, but if you add a little gravy it's edible."
"Thank you, friend." Lord Harmon smiled.
The young man held out his hand and said, "Baron Worthington, I know what you are thinking, yeah, I'm really a Baron and I am too poor to eat somewhere nice. I have the misfortune of being a Baron under Count Hawthorne, so money is a little tight."
"Lord Harmon, the fourth son, Mark. If I am may be honest, I came here because I am trying to ask a girl to the dance and was told I might be able to find her here."
The young man nodded and thought for a minute, "Well the only attractive girl that eats here just walked through the door, so I am guessing you are looking for the commoner?"
Lord Harmon turned his head and smiled, "Just the lady I was looking to find."
The young man shook his head, "I wouldn't bother, you have no shot with her, you know?"
Lord Harmon looked back at the young Baron, "Why is that?"
He leaned close and whispered, "She's turned down every man who has approached her here. A couple of us were talking and we think she might already have a fiancé. One of the girls who lives next to her in the dorms said she met a man from House Morely in her room today."
Lord Harmon stood up straight and watched as she started to slide down the buffet line. He turned to Baron Worthington and whispered back, "To a commoner?"
The Baron shrugged. Lord Harmon purposely waited until she was standing by his side and then turned to her and asked, "Excuse me, Lady Baronsdotter?"
She looked up at him and gently brushed the hair out of her eyes, "Yes, may I help you?"
"I was wondering if I might sit with you to dine?"
She chuckled and the in a soft voice asked, "Why would you want to do that?"
He stood there with a dumb look on his face trying to think his way out of the awkwardness, "I'm sorry, let me start over. My name is Mark Harmon, Lord Harmon, the fourth son of Count Harmon. I am not very good with this kind of thing, but I was hoping to get to know you."
She nodded and said, "No, thank you." He looked confused. She smiled and said, "You need to show her your school ID token so she can tally your meal, Lord Almond."
"Harmon, and thank you..." He pulled out his token and then picked up his tray.
She chuckled and said, "I'm in a good mood, so feel free to join me at the table in the back, not as if I have any say over it since seating in the cafeteria is open."
"Ah! Then, I thank you, Lady Baronsdotter." He followed her to a table in the corner and sat down picking at the food he chose.
She started eating quickly like he would take it from her if she was slow. She noticed him staring at her and asked, "Why did you want to get to know me?"
He smiled and then said softly, "You're beautiful and smart is there any more reason a man would need to approach you?"
She sat back from the table and looked into his eyes, "You think because I was raised as a commoner that I am some easy girl you can trick into your bed with a little flattery, right? Do you know how many of idiots have tried that since I started the academy?"
He shook his head no, "I understand you have had some bad experiences, but I am not like that at all. You can ask around, I have never even asked a lady to the dance before. I am not really good at this sort of thing, which is why I am having such a hard time right now..."
She laughed cutely and then said, "You're the second man this week to approach me like this, is this the new method for trying to bed me?"
He looked shocked, "The second? Then... You already have an escort to the dance?"
She nodded, "Mhm. I already have an escort.
He looked like his entire world shattered. "Ah, of course, you do. I waited too long." His head dropped as he pushed the barely eaten tray of food away, "Thank you, Lady Baronsdotter, I'm sorry to have bothered you."
She felt a little sorry for him so she asked, "Oh? Is that all it takes for you to give up?"
He shivered slightly and met her soft gaze, "This Sunday, would you be interested in taking a walk with me through the Royal Botanical Garden?"
She thought for a while and then replied, "I've never been, are you insinuating you wish to take my first?"
He turned bright red and stammered unable to reply cleanly, "That's not w-what I meant!"
She giggled and then gave him a serious answer, "Alright, we can visit the park this Sunday."
*****
Emily rubbed the bridge of her nose like she was fighting off a headache, "Gertrude, she's not cheating on me. You of all people should know what she is trying to do."
Gertrude looked confused for a moment, "You mean... I'm sorry, so many things have been happening recently I lost track of the calendar, of course, she would be secretive around your birthday."
"It's alright Gertrude, it's only once a year after all. Mia just wants to surprise me. It's better if you let her. otherwise, she might really take revenge against you." Emily shook her head and sighed.
Gertrude suddenly slipped into her seductive voice and body language, "Are you sure you don't want me to find out what it's going to be?"
Emily frowned and responded shortly, "Yes. Let her do as she pleases, when she is happy, I am happy."
Gertrude giggled and replied in a sultry voice, "My mother used to always say, happy wife, happy life."
Emily nodded, "Mhm, exactly. Speaking of that, how are things going between you and Jon?"
Gertrude shrugged, "I think he is already bored of me. We went to the club the other day and he spent the entire evening staring at Jamie."
Emily nodded and replied softly, "Jon has always had a short attention span when it comes to women, if you want to keep a man like Jon's attention, you have to keep forcing him to look at you. That's why he was so obsessed with Mia."
Gertrude nodded, "Ah, that's what I am doing wrong. I thought he was staring at Jamie because he was attracted to her, but I have been doing the opposite and holding back from Jon to get him to ask me to marry him. She was dressed sexily and I was dressed conservatively."
Emily raised an eyebrow, "You are hoping to marry Jon? You haven't been seeing each other very long, why are you set on Jon?"
Gertrude shrugged. She thought for a while before finally speaking, "The sex is great, he makes me laugh and he hasn't hurt me."
Emily nodded, "Mm, we can always hurt each other even when it's completely unintentional. The key is, will they be there for you when it's bad as well as when it's good."
Gertrude nodded, "Jon is the kind of man that breaks down a door and takes down a knife-wielding maniac for you. I have no need to fear him leaving when things get tough."
Emily smiled and nodded, "I would just ask him. He isn't the kind of man that thinks of it on his own."
Gertrude laughed and then said, "That reminds me, your friend Katarina? You know her airhead routine is just acting right?"
Emily raised an eyebrow, "What have you found?"
Gertrude brought out a report and said, "She has always been the mastermind behind the Dane West Injia Company and now the East Injia Company. She uses the act of playing dumb to lure those wealthy men into letting their guard down. That tall handsome man she brings around always speaks for her allowing people to believe that she is just a decorative figurehead, but behind closed doors, she is terrifyingly clever."
Emily nodded, "Mhm, that sounds about right. When we were little she used to play the airhead too until she was embarrassed and then the real her would show in flashes. As long as she supports Connaissance leave her alone, once we notice her company playing people against us, we'll take action."
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