"Who are you?" Serena asked in a hushed tone. She held a mug of fresh apple cider to her lips, welcoming its warmth. The dim amber light from the chandeliers made of deer antlers filled the room creating a luminescent glow around Serena, her golden gown sparkled in the soft light.
Peter leaned over the small wooden table taking a sip of ale from the mug he held.
"Peter Longstride, son of Lord William Longstride."
"I take it you're not from around here?" she asked.
"Nay. I reside in London. However when my father has business to tend to, I travel with him."
"And I take it that your father's business led you to Ruby Field?" Serena asked with a smile.
"Aye and I am glad of it too! If I would not have been here, God only knows where you'd be right now." he chuckled. Serena sat up straight and squared her shoulders.
"I would have been alright." she said in a confident tone. Peter laughed and gulped down more ale.
"Yes, yes. Sure, sure." he said in agreement, not particularly wanting to commence in an argument with the beautiful lady whom he had just rescued. Serena stared at Peter, her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You don't believe me?"
"I have no desire to quarrel with you dearie." Serena slammed the mug down onto the wooden table sloshing cider from the mug.
"You think that just because I am a woman that I am defenseless?" she asked in offense. Peter looked at her and shrugged.
"Aye. There's no way in Heaven that you could have defeated him. He was a brute, yes." Serena knew that he told the truth but she still felt offended nonetheless.
"Well I still believe that I could have taken him." she said arrogantly. Peter laughed and reached for her hand.
"I like you! You have a strong spirit, yes you have!" he exclaimed and raised her hand to his lips gently and kissed it. Serena gasped a little, unsure of what to say. She was awed by his romance and mesmerized by his handsome looks.
"Tell me damsel, what is thine name?" he asked as he released her hand.
"Serena Noelle Huff, daughter of Lord Norman Huff." she replied blushing.
"Ah yes, Lord Norman. I have met with him briefly on an occasion or two. A noble man he is." Peter replied commencing to further the conversation.
As the afternoon melted into dusk, the snow did not let up. Slowly, night fell along with the blizzard and soon enough the tavern had nearly emptied itself of merry drinkers who now stumbled along to their homes in the pouring snow.
Tilly, the toothless waitress approached the table where Serena and Peter had been sitting for hours talking about anything and everything.
"I hate to say it but ye both have to leave! We're closing for the night. The storm shows not a sign of letting up." she replied and took a dingy bar towel from her apron and began to wipe the grimy table tops. It suddenly dawned on Serena that she had lost track of time and that she was many miles from home.
"I can never make it home now! What am I to do?" she asked in a worried tone. Peter stood and held out his hand for Serena.
"Have no fear, my lady, I will make arrangements." Serena wasn't sure if his reply pleased her or frightened her. Peter noticed her panicked look and quickly added, "My father and I are staying in the Appletree Inn, it shall be no problem to pay for a room for you as well." Relief flooded Serena and she smiled and took Peter's hand.
"That would be nice."
Peter leaned over the small wooden table taking a sip of ale from the mug he held.
"Peter Longstride, son of Lord William Longstride."
"I take it you're not from around here?" she asked.
"Nay. I reside in London. However when my father has business to tend to, I travel with him."
"And I take it that your father's business led you to Ruby Field?" Serena asked with a smile.
"Aye and I am glad of it too! If I would not have been here, God only knows where you'd be right now." he chuckled. Serena sat up straight and squared her shoulders.
"I would have been alright." she said in a confident tone. Peter laughed and gulped down more ale.
"Yes, yes. Sure, sure." he said in agreement, not particularly wanting to commence in an argument with the beautiful lady whom he had just rescued. Serena stared at Peter, her cheeks turned bright pink.
"You don't believe me?"
"I have no desire to quarrel with you dearie." Serena slammed the mug down onto the wooden table sloshing cider from the mug.
"You think that just because I am a woman that I am defenseless?" she asked in offense. Peter looked at her and shrugged.
"Aye. There's no way in Heaven that you could have defeated him. He was a brute, yes." Serena knew that he told the truth but she still felt offended nonetheless.
"Well I still believe that I could have taken him." she said arrogantly. Peter laughed and reached for her hand.
"I like you! You have a strong spirit, yes you have!" he exclaimed and raised her hand to his lips gently and kissed it. Serena gasped a little, unsure of what to say. She was awed by his romance and mesmerized by his handsome looks.
"Tell me damsel, what is thine name?" he asked as he released her hand.
"Serena Noelle Huff, daughter of Lord Norman Huff." she replied blushing.
"Ah yes, Lord Norman. I have met with him briefly on an occasion or two. A noble man he is." Peter replied commencing to further the conversation.
As the afternoon melted into dusk, the snow did not let up. Slowly, night fell along with the blizzard and soon enough the tavern had nearly emptied itself of merry drinkers who now stumbled along to their homes in the pouring snow.
Tilly, the toothless waitress approached the table where Serena and Peter had been sitting for hours talking about anything and everything.
"I hate to say it but ye both have to leave! We're closing for the night. The storm shows not a sign of letting up." she replied and took a dingy bar towel from her apron and began to wipe the grimy table tops. It suddenly dawned on Serena that she had lost track of time and that she was many miles from home.
"I can never make it home now! What am I to do?" she asked in a worried tone. Peter stood and held out his hand for Serena.
"Have no fear, my lady, I will make arrangements." Serena wasn't sure if his reply pleased her or frightened her. Peter noticed her panicked look and quickly added, "My father and I are staying in the Appletree Inn, it shall be no problem to pay for a room for you as well." Relief flooded Serena and she smiled and took Peter's hand.
"That would be nice."
~*~
Peter had seen to it that Aerionna was fed, watered, and safe inside the stables of the inn. Once he showed Serena to her room, he bid her a goodnight and left her to herself for the remainder of the evening.
Serena walked around the little room, taking in the surroundings. The room was small, cozy and seemed to appear furnished well enough. A four poster bed was placed against the wooden walls towards the back of the room. Soft white sheets were folded neatly on top of the thick rose damask quilt that lay over the mattress. Beside the bed stood a wooden end table that held a small glass vase of withered roses. A short wardrobe also furnished the room, Serena opened the drawers but found that it was empty besides a couple of dingy towels that lay crumpled inside. A beige porcelain basin full of cold water sat atop the wardrobe. Serena took note of the intricate pink roses that someone had painted onto the basin.
"Guess I may as well try and sleep." she said to herself and turned to latch the door. She quickly undressed down to her white cotton night shift that she always wore during the winter months for extra warmth. She folded her gown and cape and lay them neatly in the cane chair then unfolded the extra sheets and climbed into bed beneath the heavy quilts. She turned and blew out the little lamp and relaxed into the cool crisp sheets.
Fatigue swept through her body and she suddenly realized how tired she was. Today had proved to be a day different from any other. She was simply happy to be alive and unharmed thanks to Peter Longstride.
Peter Longstride....the name flashed through Serena's mind as her senses dulled and she began to slowly slip into a deep slumber.
Why if only father could find me a man like that to marry....