A reply

The weeks passed by quickly. Mary enjoyed her life and started to get a routine. Tenac would take her out into the city two or three times a week. They would walk around, and he would teach her about the customs, the city’s history and help her with her Salamis.

Sometimes they were joined by Sinhera or Jontak, sometimes they walked alone. Kopa hadn’t made any more surprise visits. Mary enjoyed their walks, Tenac was patient and let her take things in her own pace, but he also knew when to push her to get her out of her comfort zone.

On days when she didn’t walk with Tenac, she spent her day with Bettina. Helping her in the garden that was starting to come alive, going to visit clients and she got to see a baby being born. That was actually quite terrifying, but beautiful at the same time.

The evenings were spent with Bettina and Kopa at home. Bettina had started teaching Mary embroidery and they had started adding flowers to the bottom of her cloak. That was the custom here, Bettina explained. You bought a plain cloak and then you decorated it.

Mary liked the idea of walking around in a flowering garden. So, they started emborder flowers at the bottom of her cloak and also added flower garlands along the opening. If you looked closely, it was easy to see which flowers were made by Bettina and which was made by Mary. But overall, it looked really nice, and Mary was happy with it.

It was in the middle of the day and Mary had just rolled out a top for the pie that she had made for dessert. Tenac would be coming by tomorrow and they would have the whole day to walk about. Tenac had promised that they would go to the harbour and watch the big ships.

There was a knock at the door and Bettina went to open it. When she returned to the kitchen, she handed something to Mary.

“This apparently came with the latest merchant run from Dorme” Bettina said, and Mary realised it was a letter. Her heart skipped a beat as she wiped her hands clean and took it.

“Thank you, can you get the pie in and watch it?” she asked Bettina.

“Sure, you go up and read it. Do you want a cup of tea to take with you?” Bettina said.

“No, I’m good thanks” Mary said as she was already heading out of the kitchen. She went straight up to her room and sat on the bed, looking at the letter.
She would recognise Zerden’s penmanship anywhere, she didn’t know why she was so nervous. He was just writing on his mother’s behalf.

She carefully opened it, her hands trebled slightly, she took a deep breath before starting to read.

‘Dear Mary,

Thank you for your lovely letter. It was so nice to hear that you arrived and that you have found a place to live that seems to make you happy. Zerden is kind enough to write my reply back to you.

It sounds like you have many new things to discover, I’m happy for you, you have deserved this new start. You are a clever girl, you have always been, and therefore I’m certain that you will figure everything out.

I miss you terribly, my head aches are still coming regularly so Ken and Zerden has me staying home. I miss our tea parties.

I had lady Sarah over for tea the other week, but it wasn’t the same. No one can replace you Mary, I hope you know that you are missed.

The sickness is still running ramped in the city and people are more paranoid than before. It scares me how quickly people are turning against their neighbours and friends.

On a positive note, Zerden made captain and both Ken and I are so proud of him. I’m hoping that he will be ready to take over for Ken in a couple of years. Ken could use the peace and quiet. Although I know that retirement will drive that husband of mine insane.

Ken sends his regards, he tells me that they are inquiring about you in the kitchen. Mrs Carrots still hasn’t found someone to replace you. Ken told me that she has made three candidates cry already. None of them has lived up to her standards. You have spoiled us all Mary.

I think that spring has finally taken a firm hold on the city. It will be a nice change after a long a depressing winter. Hopefully the nice weather will bring more merchants to the city. We are running low on meat and fish.

Ken is worried that the outer parts of the city will riot if things don’t change soon. I hope not. But I find peace in that you are not here and therefor are safe.

As a answer to your question; you are free to write to me as often as you like. I will try and reply as often as I can. If nothing else, it gets Zerden to sit down and spend some time with me. He is to much like his father, always working.

I hope you are well and that you are still enjoying yourself, you deserve to be happy.

With love
Anna Bore

Hi Mary,

As I’m writing my mothers reply, I was thinking that I could add one of my own.

Mother already told you I made captain. It was a lot of hard work, but I made it in the end. Father says that I’m the youngest captain in three generations.

I met Sarah’s father last week. He wasn’t thrilled about me courting Sarah. I think he had hoped that she would fall for a nobleman. But with a little persuasion from Sarah, she really is good with persuading people, he agreed to let us get engaged.

The only issue is that he has asked for a longer engagement than we had hoped. He wants us to wait a full year before getting married. Something about me getting established in my position. It’s not what I had hoped for, you know how much I love her. But for her I’ll wait.

I would like to say that Sarah sends her regards, but she doesn’t know I’m writing you. We don’t talk that much about you, but I’m sure she would send her regards if she knew.

I do miss you, Mary. It has been hard to find a chaperone for Sarah’s and my meetings. We have to rely on one of her friends and it’s not that often that they are free at the same time. It’s really inconvenient.

I hope to hear from you soon and please remember to be gracious and follow the correct etiquette. I know that you sometimes are too naïve to follow it. But I’m no longer there to protect you so you need to be extra careful.

Best Regards
Zerden Bore’

There were so many emotions that ran through Mary that she had a hard time differentiating them all. She was happy to hear from them, and to know that they were alive. But she was afraid for them at the same time.

Zerden’s letter had the old feelings of not being good enough and heartbreak come to the surface with full force. Zerden did miss her, but only as a way so that he could meet Sarah. Mary had hoped that he would miss her as his friend. But apparently, she didn’t mean that much to him. She was just convenient to have around.

Was that how everyone saw her? As someone that was convenient to have around? She didn’t think Kopa felt like that, probably not Bettina either. Tenac would more likely see her as a burden, a responsibility he didn’t want. Old wounds that had begun to heal were ripped open.

“Mary, can you come down?” Bettina called. Mary looked up and realised she had been thinking for a long time. It was almost dark outside. Kopa would be home any minute. She hadn’t helped Bettina with dinner. She didn’t feel good, she felt sad and lonely.

She put the letter under her pillow and hurried down. In the living room Tenac stood, waiting for her.

“Hi. I thought you would be here tomorrow, did I have the wrong day?” Mary asked surprised.

“Hi. No, you’re right. But something has come up. I won’t be able to make it tomorrow and I wanted to let you know and reschedule” he told her. “I’m really sorry but it’s out of my hand” he apologised.

Mary looked at him for a second. This is where it starts, she thought. Zerden had done the same thing. Once she had gotten comfortable with him and started to see him as a friend, he had started cancelling their meetings. Was Tenac doing the same thing? Would he treat her the same way?