The Gardens [Claire]

[Arabella Elder]

Arabella strolled through the courtyard. After checking to see if anyone was coming, she started walking faster, taking larger, unladylike steps. She especially missed this part of living out in the country. There was no one there to reprimand you for riding astride in the stead of sidesaddle, or for taking to large of steps for your skirts when you walked.

Arabella slowed back down to the dainty walk approved of ladies when she saw a figure down the path. As she approached, she could see it was Lady Claire. Arabella thought Claire was unusual. She was always disappearing for hours on end, though she never seemed to be sick. She dipped into a small curtsy, nearly losing her balance. Blast these stupid dresses. Besides being extremely hot, they often made Arabella clumsy, usually in the presence of other court members.

[Claire Morgan]

Claire had stopped on the way back to the palace to remind herself that she was now a lady. The worst thing about being a spy was that you never knew who you really were, or where you fit in, because you didn't fit in. She held her peasant's dress over one arm, ready to claim it was her maid's if anyone saw.

Claire took a deep breath, filling her head with thoughts of clothing, ettiquite, and castle gossip. She opened her eyes in time to see Lady Arabella curtsy to her. Bobbing a lower curtsy than hers, as was the custom for younger to older, Claire smiled at her. She had investigated Arabella, as with all of the members of the court, and found nothing interesting. Arabella stayed out of the gossip circles, and it seemed all she wanted was to ride horses and be outside. Of course, that was intersesting as Arabella was a Lady-in-waiting, but not the kind of interesting Claire was looking for.