Wedding Gift
Florence woke up to a bright room, since none of the curtains were closed the night before. She moaned and groaned before remembering where she was. Then, she sat up abruptly. Thankfully, she was alone in the room. She immediately let out a sigh of relief.
She reaches for the bell to ring for Rilla. It was customary for the bride and groom's families to have breakfast together the day after the wedding, and Florence did not want to be late to that.
Her maid showed up a minute later, she was wearing a large grin on her face.
"How was your night, my lady?" Rilla asked with raised eyebrows.
"It was…uneventful."
Rilla's face changed immediately. She stared at Florence for a moment before she rushed to the bed and started pulling the sheets away.
"What are you doing, Rilla? I need to get ready for breakfast."
"This is more important, my lady," she answered as she bunched the white sheets together. "We cannot have rumors spread about your wedding night."
She felt heat spread across her face and neck. All she could do was nod to her maid.
When Florence finally walked into the castle's dining room, about an hour later, everyone was already there.
"Good morning," she mumbled, embarrassed. She was late despite her efforts.
"Good morning, dear." Sofia rushed to her and hugged her. "Come, we were waiting for you." She guided Florence to the chair beside Henry.
The conversation was immediately steered toward the wedding and the banquet from the day before. Comments about the guests and the ceremony flew around, but Henry and Florence remained silent. Until Jonas called their names.
"Have you decided on where you will spend your honeymoon?"
"Honeymoon?" Florence questioned with a higher pitch than she had intended. She blushed immediately.
"Jonas and I traveled to a small island in the south," Emma said. "What was it called again, darling?" She turned to her husband.
"Cochem," Jonas answered.
"Yes, Cochem. It was beautiful." They both exchanged a smile with enamored eyes, probably recalling their honeymoon.
"I do not have time for a honeymoon," Henry said with a cold voice.
"Surely, you can take a vacation for a couple of weeks." Richard said with a raised brow. He seemed annoyed.
Just as the tension rose between the two men glaring at each other, a footman interrupted. He walked straight to Henry and whispered something in his ear. The latter pushed to his feet abruptly, almost sending the chair flying.
"Excuse me, there is an emergency at the Van Konigls. I must go immediately."
And just like that, Henry stormed out of the room, leaving everyone shocked and curious.
Later in the afternoon, Sofia asked Florence and Lina to join her and Emma for tea. They were going to open the wedding gifts together. Opening the gifts meant–the maids would open the boxes and show them the presents, one by one, before putting everything away.
"Do we know what the emergency at the Van Konigl estate is?" Lina asked, unable to hide her interest.
Sofia looked at Florence for a moment, which made the latter frown.
"I am afraid little Geoffrey was kidnapped last night," Sofia uttered with a pained face.
Florence gasped and covered her mouth in shock.
"It looks like your honeymoon has to be postponed, dear," Sofia added.
Florence did not even register her mother-in-law's comment. "I should go be with Magnolia. She must be–"
"You will do no such thing," the dowager countess interrupted. "How can a bride go visit her friend on the day after her wedding? Isn't it enough that the groom is already away?"
The room grew silent. Florence's eyes casted down as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. Her mother was right in a way, but how could she not be with her closest friend at a time like this.
"How about we pray for his safe return together," Emma was the one to break the silence. "I am sure they need all the prayers they can get."
Florence nodded with a weak smile. Emma was so sweet, and her gentle voice made one think of a fairy every time she spoke.
"I would like that very much," Florence uttered.
Sofia immediately gestured to the maid to bring the next gift, hoping for a good distraction.
"This one had no name on it, my lady," the maid said as she placed the box on the table and started to fiddle with the ribbons. As soon as she opened the lid though, a shriek escaped her mouth and she fell back to the floor.
The four ladies stood at once as some of their tea was spilled and gasps of surprise escaped their lips.
"What is it?" Sofia asked, alarmed.
"The, the, the–"
Impatient, Florence took a step close to the box and with trembling fingers opened the lid again. She gasped as her eyes widened. There was a dead blue jay inside. The bird's neck had been twisted several times and looked quite horrid.
The three ladies were equally shocked as they approached the box and saw its content. There was a small card to the side that had 'To Florence' written on it. Florence's lips were curled down and her heartbeat was fast as she reached for it. When she flipped it to the other side, the words 'With Love' were written.
'What the bloody hell?'
"Clean this up right away," Sofia ordered. She placed her arm around Florence and guided her back to the settee. "Are you alright, dear?"
Florence could only look at her mother-in-law while squeezing the note. Sofia gently unclenched her fingers and took the piece of paper from her.
"Why don't you get some rest? I am sure you can still use some after the tiering past few weeks." The marquise caressed her face. "I will have Jonas and Finn take a look at this."
"Thank you," Florence said with a nod.
"Richard will help as well," Lina added. "We will make sure to find whoever played this tasteless prank."
'A prank? Is that what this is?'
Florence left the sitting room in the direction of the manor while Rilla was on her heel.
"Isn't it strange? Why a blue jay?" Florence uttered, pensive.
"Didn't you lose your handkerchief with the blue jay embroidery not long ago, my lady?"
Florence halted.
'Then, it was probably someone who knows about what the bird represents to me. Who in the world could it be?'