16 Birthday Surprise

The solstice party goes on for a few more hours. As the guest start to leave and the party comes, to a close. After all the guests have gone the maids start to clean, all but one maid Daisy must have snuck off early to go to sleep. Such a lazy thing she is. I help the staff to clean up for a little bit, then I go to find my lord in his study. I knock on the door and then enter not waiting for an answer.

"My lord I overheard the duke and his wife talking, they still plot against you." I say to him with worry heavy in my voice.

"I know all too well that they are wanting my title and power" he says in a matter of fact tone.

"MY lord I hate to ask but they said I was in Shelly's wedding dress, is it true?" I ask looking down afraid of the answer.

"It's not a lie, but one day I will tell you the story of what was done. Just know for now you remind me of her, and I felt the dress needed to be worn. You look like a vision in it just as she would of, I am sure." He says with such sorrow in his voice my heart breaks for him.

"I am sorry I asked my lord, I will take me leave now" I say and turn to head to me room.

"Good night my darlin' and keep the dress it looks great on you and I have no need of it" he says without turning from looking out the window.

"Thank you, mi lord," I say as I leave the room and head to my room. I want to cry, I remind him of her I am torturing him every day. I lay down in my bed and fall asleep. When I wake, I remember today is the Lord's birthday he has never asked us to celebrate though. I want to make him a cake, I wonder if Daisy will help? I may still end up doing most of it myself as she seems so lazy. I go and wake Daisy by knocking on her door. When she doesn't respond I go in and shake her awake.

"Mm mm, five more minutes please I am so tired" Daisy says in a groggy voice as she rolls over to go back to sleep.

"Get up you, lazy fool if you want to survive around here you need to start doing the work and getting up, you left last night before work was done and now you want to sleep in." I say anger in my voice, I take the blankets off the bed. "If you are not out of bed in the next two minutes, I will throw cold water on you."

"I am up, why are you so mad I told you I don't like work or waking up early" she says, stretching and slowly getting out of bed.

"I am mad because, you are lazy and if you don't like work then you should have never come and apply to be a maid." I say as I turn to leave the room. "Also be in the kitchen in five today we are making a cake" with that I close the door behind me and check on the daily chores. I clean the study the lord is not up yet, so I get it done quickly and have the other maids work on making everything perfect. I want today to be perfect for my lord. I reach the kitchen and start pulling out all that is needed to make a vanilla cake with white chocolate frosting. I also want to add fudge drizzle and chocolate curls. Daisy finally shows, later then what I told her.

"Today we are making a cake it is the lord's birthday, once the cake is cooking, I will be finishing up my gift." I say not even looking up at her. I start the cake and she help's mix things and getting the oven and pans ready. I am rather shock she is helping at all and not asking a million questions. The frosting is done the cake is cooking and I head to the library a nice quiet place and finish my cross-stitch picture of sunflowers. I get up after about twenty minutes and take the cake out of the oven and put it on a cooling rack. I head back to finish my gift it is almost done after months of work. Daisy joins me and we play the 20 questions again.

"I did not know it was the Lords birthday, do you think he will like this scarf I am crocheting?" She asks me, holding up a simple striped scarf that is black and ivory.

"I think he would like any gift as he has asked us not to celebrate but I felt we needed to this year" I say glancing up at the scarf. I am not sure it is really heart felt enough, mine is of a flower field that Shelly loved it means something to my lord. She is new so that may be why hers seems lack luster she really does not know the lord that well. I finish my gift and get up.

"I am going to go to my room then I will make dinner, see you after a while." I tell her as I get up to leave. I go to my room to write a heartfelt note to my lord.

Lord Terminus,

Thank you for the dress. I am truly sorry that I remind you of Shelly. It breaks my heart to know that I remind you of her and have for so many years. I do hope one day you can open your heart again and find happiness.

Sincerely your love

Knittin

Once the note is written I package the picture and the note. I make my way to the kitchen to get dinner ready. I am going to make some lemon pepper chicken backed in the oven with some corn on the cob from the garden along with baked potatoes. Once dinner is done, I make a plate and take some cake up to the study where the lord has been all day working. I knock lightly on the door and then enter.

"Happy birthday my lord" I say as I enter the study. The lord has a look of surprise on his face. l set the food and cake on the small table in the room. Terminus gets up and walks to the table.

"Thank you, no one has ever made a cake for me before." He says with joy on his face but sorrow in his voice.

"Your welcome mi lord also here is this gift I made you" I says handing him my gift with the note. I turn to leave and hear him say softly.

"Thank you." Its time for bed as the day has come to an end. I think on what happened between last night and today but quickly fall asleep. Terminus cast a white magic spell, so I don't know he is there he touches my hair. Feeling a new softness in his heart, even with his broken heart. He always wanted to give cupid one more chance. He kisses her softly and turns to leave. He leaves me new winter clothes and says, "Good night, my sweet."