Missy's Dilemma

'Missy, surely Tabitha must have said something more.' Gina made to stand up from the bed, but Missy dragged her back.

'Yes! Of course, she said other things!' Missy smiled broadly.

'Whatever is it? Do you not know how to speak to people? Shall I force words from your mouth?'

Gina was not a very patient person and so it disturbed her that Missy did not divulge complete information in a breath.

'Patience dear cousin. This is great news. I reckon it shall be the solution to my problems.' Missy stood up from the bed and danced a little.

'Whatever are you doing that for? Shall you tell me what this great news is or shall I go to the kitchen to help your mother prepare nonmete?' Gina asked, frustrated.

'The king shall throw a ball. The prince has returned from Bakhil at long last. I reckon he shall be searching for a wife.' Missy squealed.

She told herself that suitors were not coming for her hand because the prince was the one for her. She lied to herself so much that she began to believe the lie.

'The prince has returned from Bakhil? Whoever told you that pot of lie?' Gina burst into laughter.

It was slightly unbelievable that the prince had returned because he left Gerald with his mother as a baby. When word went round about the queen's passing, the town assumed the prince was dead too so Gina found it hard to believe that the prince was back.

'Tabitha. I tell you, she said it.' Missy sat on the bed.

'A woman who gossips that much must surely pass along lies. The prince is dead, he has been dead for many years now. Or do people suddenly return from the dead?' Gina asked.

Missy began to think about what Gina said and suddenly, the return of the prince began to sound like a lie.

'Why shall Tabitha lie then? If there shall be a ball, then we must go. We must set our eyes on this prince that has returned.' Missy's voice was low.

All of her happiness had been drained and the lie she told herself suddenly vanished. She was pushed back to the reality of having no callers.

'We shall go for the ball but that is the very least of our problems at this time. We must find out why your father does not want you working at the tavern.' Gina said.

'Then you must go with me to Tabitha. I tell you, that old woman is the only person who will divulge the truth.' Missy said.

Just when Gina wanted to state her reasons for not wanting to go to Tabitha, someone knocked on her room door.

'Whoever is that?' Gina shouted.

The person who knocked did not say anything, but the door flew open and revealed Freya, the housekeeper.

'Freya.' Gina and Missy chorused.

'Girls, you must not stay here all day. Your presence is needed everywhere. Gina, a caller has come for you and Missy, your mother requests that you help her prepare the nonmete for today.' Freya walked gracefully into the room.

Gina immediately thought about Ansley. She wondered why he had come to her house and all she wanted to do was make it to him before he had the chance to talk to Benedict, her uncle.

Missy on the other hand was dying of jealousy. She wished that the caller had come for her instead.

'Very well, we shall be where we are needed but first, I must help Gina with her hair.' Missy looked at her cousin.

Even though she was jealous of Gina, she wanted her to be happy.

'Do not take too much time.' Freya said and left the room.

'Another caller for you. But I must wait until snow touches the ground.' Missy said. She was still holding on to what her mother told her. But who could blame her, she had no choice.

'I reckon it is Ansley. I do not enjoy my time with him at all.' Gina walked to the chair that was placed in front of a mirror.

She was glad her cousin had volunteered to help her with her hair because she hated doing it herself.

'Do not worry, we shall make the man on whom you have set your eyes adore you. Before long, you shall be clinging to his arms in Oaktree valley.' Missy began combing Gina's hair.

Oaktree valley was a place where people in courtship went to spend time with each other and Gina wanted more than anything to go there clinging to Richard's arms.

'I reckon that will happen. We shall also find the stranger you served at the bar. We shall both be happy.' Gina began to imagine how things were going to be when she and her cousin settled with the men after their hearts.

If only she had the slightest idea that they were both thinking of the same man.

'I have not been thinking about the stranger for a while but I must find him no matter what it takes.' Missy said.

After Missy fixed Gina's hair, they went to where their presence was needed. Missy went to her mother in the kitchen and Gina went to the room where her caller waited.

When Gina set eyes on him, she saw that he was not Ansley. Another man had called for her. She was happy about it, at least, she did not need to deal with Ansley at that moment.

Benedict, her uncle was there with the caller. They had been drinking tea before she arrived.

'You look even better than when I last saw you.' The caller said.

Gina had not set her eyes on him before that moment, so she knew not the time he had last seen her.

'Thank you.' Gina smiled.

The man before her looked appealing to the eyes. He looked strong yet his skin appeared soft and smooth. She could tell at a glance that he was wealthy.

'Gina, I shall leave you to get acquainted with Rudd Emberton. His father is a noble and so is yours. I reckon you shall get along just fine.' Benedict smiled and left the room.

Gina walked closer to Rudd. She had heard of his father before that moment and so she wondered what someone so wealthy was doing, calling on her.

'I am honoured by your visit.' Gina smiled.

'Shall we walk by the river? I do not like the atmosphere here.' Rudd said.

Gina could tell that he was well read and so she could not act freely. She did not want to be tagged as stupid by him.