A ghost form the past ( closed for Evayla)

[JonathanBair]

Jon could only lay still and peak out from under the blanket with his one eye as he listens to the girl talk.... Tho Olivia's question did put a smile on his face as he lays in the darkens. As Olivia dose her normal stuff with Senna unaware of him.

 

[Evayla]

"But suppose I did." Olivia stubbornly insisted. "How would you go about that without loosing the family?"

Senna pondered the question while finishing up brushing. She took a few strands of hair and started braiding. "I don't know...are you out for a secret affair or do you mean something official?"

"Well, official, of course. I mean, if I get to meet the man of my dreams, I'd want to marry him, right?"

The maid chuckled. "Ahhh young romance. Well, hm, then I'd have to make sure my parents saw his worth? That a family name is not all that matters?"

Olivia perked up. Jon was a woodworker, her father a lumbertrader. This should be a match made in heaven, right?

 

[JonathanBair]

As Jon lays under the bed, he can only look at the back side of Senna as she blocks the view of Olivia and the mirror.

Jon can only wonder if she will get wrapped up in the girl talk and forget about him under the bed.

 

[Evayla]

There was something about Senna that made Olivia trust her. Maybe it was the fact she was the only female around her age in the household. Certainly miss Margareth was not a person to gossip with!

"And what...if there was no choice? Like...I would *be* with this man?" She flushed a deep red, hoping Senna understood what she meant.

Oh yes, the maid did. She stopped her brushing and looked at the girl in front of her inquisitively. "Sweety...did you..."

"No! No no, I did not, but...I am trying to find the loopholes, Senna. I feel caught." Olivia sighed. "I wish I could be free like you and just be with whoever I wanted."

The maid laughed. "Wellll that freedom is not all it seems to be either, but I understand what you mean. Less rules, more fun, hah! And if no one is interesting? I could always see if someone could make *you* a copy of..."

"NO need to say that out loud!" It was one thing hypothesizing the matters between man and wife, it was quite another discussing playful objects she was not supposed to know anything about! Olivia felt slightly awkward for leading the discussion in this direction, especially with Jon under the bed! He could tell her a thousand times to forget about him, but that was hardly possible when her heart beat faster every time she thought of him, of that warm touch, of his kiss...

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon could only lay still and listen as he peaks out with one eye under the blanket.

 

[Evayla]

That was it, really. With the added incentive from Senna's words and her own determination Olivia got up as soon as the maid was done with her hair. She purposefully sat down on the bed once more, just to give Jon a little sign she did not forget. "I think I shall talk to papa today about how matters are proceeding. I am not enjoying the people he tries to throw in my lap."

Bold words.
Brave words.
But it needed to happen. She had to somehow get her father to agree to enlist Jon in his group of craftsmen back home!

She slipped one foot under the bed for just a moment, softly, carefully, as if to say goodbye for the day, then got up and left, leaving Jon to his devices.

--- (little summary to further the story, in agreement with Jon)---
The rest of the day was spent in endless meetings, lunches and walks with no less than three respectable families with -gosh, who'd have guessed- single sons. Olivia was not impressed, nor interested and remained no more than polite towards every one of them.

The talk with her father, however, actually got something of a response from the stern man. He agreed with her that they needed actual woodworkers at the house, which was nowhere near finished to be representative of their status. The man had seen what Jon could do and Olivia could easily pretend that it was indeed the shop that had set her on that trail, rather than the man himself.

After all, it made so much sense to ask the owner to take Jon with them in a kind of apprenticeship!

Much, MUCH to her delight her father promised to have a talk with the woodworker on this matter.

It was with a much lighter heart that the girl went through the next days.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon could only watch and listen as they worked with the Olivia's hair.... Then Jon was glad to see Olivia move to the bed. As Olivia heal slipped under the blanket a bit, Jon gave her foot a quick quite kiss before she went to talk to dad...

Jon watched both lady's leave...Jon then slipped out the window and down the back streets to the barn/wagon shed. So he can start to do the pick up jobs... When Jon comes back with all the pick up in the wagon. Jon sees his dad in a meeting with Olivia's dad... Jon's dad new Jon wanted to go so he quickly agreed to send Jon over seas with the family.

 

[Evayla]

And just like that things got arranged just the way Olivia wanted. With a huge, content smile she sat out the rest of their weeks, allowing the several suitors to meet up with her, but never letting them get any closer or giving them any hopes.

She knew what she wanted.
She knew who she wanted.
And that person was coming back home with them.

The trip back home was odd, not being allowed to be with Jon in private, not having any chance for secret moments. Yet when they finally arrived at the mansion, Olivia all but bolted out of the coach to be able to see Jon's reaction at seeing her beloved home for the first time.

"I'll make sure the wood worker knows where to go, papa." She tried and before he could object -he certainly would- she walked up to the young man with sparkling eyes. "This...is my home. Our family home. And I think I shall have papa see the reason of having your beautiful art ALL over it!"

How she wanted to touch him! But she kept her hands modestly in front. "Now, there is a place for all the working men we keep. It's the cottage. It looks small but it can fit more people than you think! Also, papa is particular about who he invests in, so...you can be sure it won't get crowded. You'll be free most evenings, to spend...as you want."

Ah, the promise in that last sentence.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon asks to no one persay but while looking at Olivia " Would you like me to move the mirror stand into the bedroom? Would hate to see it banged into a wall and dingged up."

Jon had the hopeful look on his face while looking at her, but changed it more to a questioning look when looking at her father. Jon needed his ok to be in her bedroom (in the light of day tho Jon will be planning on spending allot of nights in there with out his blessing)

 

[Evayla]

"That would be perfect. Thank you." Olivia inclined her head politely.

Her father eyed the woodworker, but nodded. "Come back when you've installed the mirror. We could use more help with unpacking." He simply said and moved towards the mansion's door. God forbid he would carry anything himself...

"Let me show you the way." The girl tried, but of course Margareth interfered.

"I shall show the man, Olivia. You need to rest."

"But I'm n..." One look from the matron and Olivia shut up. "Yes miss." She said meekly.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon used all his will to hide the disappointment on his face that he would be fallowing Margareth. Jon asked "Shouldn't Olivia come too, to make sure it is the perfect spot. Best to move it once in the best spot then to come back and move it again, or would I be mistaken?" Jon did his best to sound confident in his statement so it would sound like fact. Rather then a young boys hopes to get some alone time with a girl.

 

[Evayla]

Olivia perked up again. Brilliant suggestion!

Miss Margareth eyed the man, then nodded. "Good thinking. Come along, Olivia."

"Yes miss!" And follow she did!

Jon was lead up the stairs, the balustrade clearly having seen better days. It was a drab white and could use a good hand. On the first floor they entered the room closest to the stairs. It was roomy, lovely large windows just as the girl had described. A large cabinet was situated against the wall. Otherwise it had the typical dressings of a young woman's room...not that he could see the bed, because the matron stood PERFECTLY in front of it. Not one to have a man see her charge's bed, obviously.
Not done.
Tsk.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon tried to take note of the room with out looking like he was looking to hard. Jon said "Olivia would you please go to where you would be at in-front of the mirror.. To make you are happy with it there before I move it?

Jon tries his best to hide his happiness that he is in her room. Jon hopes he will be in here more often then not for the mornings.

 

[Evayla]

"But of course." Olivia all but floated towards where she would be seated. "This would be the place, so the windows do not reflect fully into the mirror. Otherwise it will be too hard to discern the colours of my attire."

Margareth kept moving in front of that bed, lips pursed. Oh, she was not a happy woman.

"This is absolutely wondrous, sir." The girl added, having a hard time hiding her happiness. "Thank you so much for your hard work!"

How she loved looking at him, how he moved around, seeing those muscles work under his shirt. She flushed ever so slightly, quickly averting her eyes as not to alert her chaperonne.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon did his best to only peak at her bed out the of the corner of the eye tho mostly his eyes where on Olivia, as he did his best to ignore Margareth politely, but acting like he was there for only the job at hand.

Jon loved seeing her so happy.. Jon asked "And your sure you wont want a bench to sit on, to store stuff under the seat area? Spare bedding or something like that?"

 

[Evayla]

The bed was simply that: a bed. Designed to be slept in and not much more. A lovely bed spread covered the whole of it, the subtle flowery patterns standing out against the soft pink blanket underneath.

Olivia too looked at Margareth to check how much she was paying attention before she spoke: "Well, a storage bench would be utterly practical, don't you think, miss?"

Madame Pursed Lips nodded slowly.

Olivia beamed again! She took a chance: "And...perhaps you could fashion storage space below the bed somehow? For my keepsakes?"

Yep, that would more or less force him to work with the bed.
Well gosh.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon asked "Are you thinking something long, say to store a dress in? Or few smaller ones?" As Jon asked he turned to face the bed and dropping to his back to look at the frame of the bed. Sticking his head under the blanket and bed frame.

His body on the floor in the middle of the two ladys a few steps away from each so no risk of peaking up a dress unless they moved to him...And if Olivia wanted to get to the bed she would have to move closer to Jon. Maybe even stepping over him.

 

[Evayla]

"Hmm, I think something long would be smart, just in case, but...would it be easy to handle? Or too rough? I do not know if I can handle a long storage facility."

Yes, Olivia wanted to step closer to point out what she meant, but...just as she was about to step over him, miss Margareth HUMMED loudly.

Olivia flushed and walked around the woodworker. At least she could still be close as she sat on the bed to point things out. "From here...to here? But would that be possible?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon said "Yes I can make it any size to fit this gape. Can be a pull out, or a open at the top and set in. If you don't mind lifting the mattress up to get into it. The side opening one would be best if you want to use it often and with ease.

Jon scooted his shoulders under the bed. This hiding his hand as he slips it to the back of Olivia's shoed foot. Jon is unsure if she can feel his hand as it plays along the back of her shoe and hidden from view by her dress. If she dont feel his hand, he knows it may be pinned under her foot.

 

[Evayla]

"A side one, yes please." Olivia beamed a smile, feeling his hand touch her like he had done before. She kept her foot in place, enjoying the secret touch. It was so...adventurous to be rebellious in the sight of miss Margareth!

"Can you see enough? Should we get a lamp?"

 

[JonathanBair]

With Jon's head under the bed hidden from view he smiles. Both feeling Olivia's foot stay in place as he brush her heal. Jon says "Oh no, can't have a light down here but I got a good feel with my hands here... Jon pauses and then says "I can get started as the bed frame door, as my first task after getting the carts unloaded. Should take me a few days tho. I will need to come back with a plank and get the markings on it to make a guide, then few days it should be ready to install. What I am feeling is very good signs with its firmness." Jon cant help but to be beaming with a smile. Jon hopes to him self that Olivia will realize he is talking about feeling her foot in the hidden message about the bed frame.... Jon says " Oh yes very nice, I will be glad to work on such a treat."

 

[Evayla]

Olivia tried to suppress a shiver of happiness. She was so certain he was not just talking about the bed!

Miss Margareth harrumphed but otherwise kept silent. She didn't know about woodwork and all that, but the fact that there was a stranger under the bed of her pupil?
Unthinkable!
Tsk!

"Well, then I hope we can discuss the options at a later moment." The young woman smiled. How she hoped he would understand he would be so welcome for a late night meeting.

 

[JonathanBair]

Just before Jon pulled back out from under the bed. He put his hand on top her foot giving it a soft squese.

When Jon got out from under the bed, he said "unless you need me to look at something more, I should get down stairs get to unloading the wagon."

 

[Evayla]

((as it seems the board has eaten a few messages, I am doing a li'l summary of my own vanished post and copy-pasting the last one from Jon here that I got in the mail.))

Olivia agreed, although she loathed having to let him go. She could only hope he understood her unspoken invitation to return later tonight, not just later in daytime to work here on his storage ideas.
***************
As much as Jon hated to leave Olivia's room. Jon got up and left the room to get to work. Jon's mind is racing tho for tonight.
***************

That evening Olivia sat down to brush her hair. She liked taking her time for it. It was a nice little ritual before going to sleep. Little did she know Jon might already be watching her as she got herself ready, changing into her nightwear after her hair was shining from the steady care.

She sat down on the bed with a sigh, wondering if the man would find a way to get in here at all. Her eyes moved to the window.

 

[JonathanBair]

As Jon worked unloading the wagons, and repairing them. His last job was to bring the bath tub up to the main house. He had hid the tub in the wagon shed where he was to be working till near sundown. As the sun started to set, he carried the solid tub up to the house. He had it over his back as he was bend over so his chest was along the same line as the floor. Jon knew it was a woman who opened the door from the dress she wore, and she was one of the workers. Jon made his way up to Olivia's door and knocked saying "Your bath delivery is here." As Jon hopes this will get someone to open the bedroom door quicker.

All day long Jon's mind was filled with getting back into Olivia's bedroom. He could only hope he didn't miss to much of her afternoon/nightly activity's. Jon hoped with the bath being brought in, the maid or lady workers of the house would not notice he never came out of Olivia's room with her in it while they got the water ready.