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| By the time evening fell, Angella's heart had returned to its former heaviness. Her head was lowered and her step carefully silent as she entered the small room where Lissy led her. Its walls were bare of artwork, cold and empty. The two windows were narrow, muffled, as they all were. The tiny fireplace glowed, but gave off no heat. A table stood before it, and a straight-backed chair, where Mistress Kyzing sat. Angella curtsied, gracefully, and stood quietly. Mistress Kyzing rose, circling her. She suppressed a shudder as she felt the woman's cold, considering gaze. "Well, Miss Angella." Mistress Kyzing returned to stand before her chair. "You are satisfied with your rooms?" "Yes, mademsol." "You are unpacked?" "Mostly, mademsol." Mistress Kyzing nodded. "Very well. Come with me." She led Angella from the room, through the dark halls, and into a large library. A carved wooden plaque above the door was inscribed with the name of the current duke's great-grandmother, an old patron. As soon as she was through the door, though, the old woman's generosity was lost on Angella. The great chamber took up two stories of height, the tall walls completely lined with books. Here, as in the dance room, the windows were free of the heavy velvet curtains, instead draped with the same blue silk. Two spacious window seats were lined with ivory cushions. The floors were covered with Eastern rugs, and a ladder/staircase stood in one corner. The ceiling was domed, and stained glass glowed with the last of the sunlight, setting the brilliant scarlet roses aflame... "So you are...Angella." She jerked her head down, and met the gray eyes of the white haired gentleman she had met once before. He bowed, and she quickly sank into a curtsy, scrabbling for some vestige of her carefully learned grace. As he stood, his eyes lingered on her black scarf, and a knowledgeable smile half touched his lips. "This is Siegnot Lambert, Miss Angella. You will take your lessons from him here in the library." "Lamb-air, Mistress Kyzing, as I have told you." He didn't look at her. "Of course, Siegnot Lambert." She said it wrong again. "I will leave you to become acquainted with your new charge." She went out, and Angella felt tension go out of her in a rush, and her shoulders relaxed. She looked up at her new tutor. He smiled at her and bowed again. "Lady Angella. Shall we review your studies?" "Of course, aun siegnot." The last of the tension went out of her. |
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