Emerald's Rogue (Part 1)

"I am top in all my classes’ young mistress. I have scored higher on every test given, whether in or out of the classroom. I read quiet often and I also know all there is to know about horses. I have a very quick and clever mind. And I have musical skills." She giggled then.

His jaw twitched again and he quickly left. She went to her room and laid down, saying nothing to her maid who had been her nanny. The woman had known and that was why she had chosen the clothes she did for her young mistress to wear. Emerald was angry with her parents for doing this to her but she knew it was her duty as the last daughter. Her sister’s were married, as were her two elder brothers.

She decided to go out then and had her nanny help her change into a simple gown of dark green cotton. She then pulled on her riding breeches and boots.

"Don’t say anything to me Alice. I am not happy with the world right now and wish to ride for a while. I promise to back in time to clean up for the evening meal." She left then with her hair in a tight braid. She hurried down the stairs and across the great hall and out the front doors into the warmth of the sun and ran to the stables. She had grabbed an apple off her table to bring to the new colt.

He was beautiful. A solid black with a white diamond in the center of his forehead. He happily ate the apple as she stroked his neck. She put an extra scoop of oats in the feeding trough for Ruby; his mother then went to find Marcus, the stable master.

"Marcus, I wish to go out for a bit. Can you find someone to go with me?" She asked. She never demanded anything of the servants, for she felt that they were a part of the family. She had known them all her life.

"Of course, young mistress." He summoned over Philip a young boy of eighteen. "Saddle up Daisy and a horse for yourself. The young mistress wishes to ride and needs an escort."

"Aye sir." He ran off to do as told as Emerald waited patiently. Philip returned quickly and helped her up. She tore out of the bailey as if being chased.

She felt free when she rode and knew that in a short time her hair would be flowing freely behind her. Philip kept up but just barely.

He knew that if aught happened to the young mistress it was his head. They rode to the great lake. Emerald dismounted and let Daisy water as she walked in the field and gathered wild flowers and thought. Philip though near also stayed far enough back to give her privacy.

She kept going over this morning’s event. She knew it was going to happen someday. It had happened to her sisters and brothers, why not her too. She hadn’t decided to be come a priestess so marriage was all that was left. Maxwell, the youngest son, was already studying to be a priest. And he was only a year older than her. And Jacob, named after Jacob Hawkington was studying to be a knight, like Rogue. She wished she were man sometimes.

"Mistress?" Philip said softly pulling her out of her thoughts. "It is getting late. We better hurry back or Marcus will have my head." He looked worried. She looked up at the sky, not realizing so much time had passed.

"You’re right.