The Whitesmith

[a_libertine]

This story is closed for Arianna1994, please enjoy.



Edward was bent over his work bench, painstakingly embedding sapphires and diamonds into a pendant that had been commissioned by Sir William Cecil for a favored woman, perhaps even his wife. Rumor had it that Sir William was to be appointed Secretary of State, and Edward assumed that the pendant was a celebration of that appointment. The pendant was shaped like a dolphin, the eyes diamond, the body Ceylon sapphires. No expense was to be spared, and Edward wanted the piece to be a master piece.

He heard the door to his shop open as he was working and firm foot falls approached him. As he crimped the gold prongs that held the sapphire in place Edward muttered, "A moment if you please, sir."

A familiar voice said, "Of course Master Woodward."

As he finished Edward placed the voice, it belonged to the man that delivered the post. Placing his tools carefully into their respective slots, for everything had its place, and in its place it should be placed, he looked up with a wan smile, "Hello Ethan."

The younger man stepped up and placed a letter on the bench the backed away, "Good day sir."

He looked at the letter a moment, pondering it before picking it up and mechanically opening it with sure movements.

Dear Sir;

It is with great regret we inform you that your niece Isabel has reached the age which she must decide whether to continue with her education and tutelage in serving Our Lord Jesus Christ as a nun, or return to her family.

She has stated that she feels no Calling and wishes to rejoin her family.

As her last surviving kin, it is to you that she shall return. Do expect her on the First of September.

In Grace

Abbot Hensley

​

Edward placed the letter down and stared at it a moment. "What in heaven's name shall I do with a woman in the house?" he muttered to himself.

Glancing at the calendar he noticed that it noticed that it was the First of September already! Glancing at the letter, it had been delayed in its arrival by nearly a week.

His blue eyes, much the same color as the sapphires he was working on, flicked from the letter to the calendar to the door to the pendant. Sighing, there was nothing to do just yet but work, Edward bent his head to the task, finishing the piece.

 

[Arianna1994]

Isabel had been in the care of the nuns since she was just five years of age, ever since her mother, father and older brother had been taken away from her by an illness, one which she had been lucky enough to avoid... In some ways she had also been unlucky.. Having only one living relative left.. A man that she barely even knew.

However once she reached the age of eighteen, she decided that she did not want to train to become a nun like so many of the other girls had done, she didn't think that the lord would hold it against her, she just wasn't built for that life, she wanted more, a husband and to raise a family.

So now here she stands, outside what looks like a workshop of some sort, this must be where he uncle works.

"Goodbye Isabel and may the lord bless you" the nun who had travelled here with her says quietly, a small nod before she turns and returns back to the carriage, leaving Isabel all by herself.

Her hands tremble as her nerves take over she had no idea how to act around a man, the only ones she had ever seen was the priest.

Plucking up her last bit of courage and picking up the small bag, she walks forward slowly, her skirts dragging against the mud as she enters through the door seeing a man there, working on something or other.

"Good evening sir" she says politely before she curtseys polietly just like she was told too.

It felt so awkward and strange to be around him, she didn't even know the man. "Its me isabel uncle" she says, her dark green eyes trained on the ground, her dark hair falling out of the clip and around her face, waiting for him to speak.

 

[a_libertine]

Edward set the last sapphire as the door to the shop opened and tentative steps came in a few feet then stopped. As he set the tools back in their places he heard Isabel's greeting and introduction.

The faint, soft, almost whisper like voice brought his eyes up and he took the sight of her in. He plain, well made dress was shapeless, hiding her figure beneath, but her stance, and the way her head was tilted forward properly caught Edward's attention.

Edward stood up, uncoiling his frame from behind the bench and walked over to her. "I fear," his voice rumbling deeply, "that I have not had an opportunity to prepare for your arrival, but we shall make do tonight, and get you properly arranged tomorrow."

Glancing at her sole bag, he lift it up and turned toward the back of the shop after locking the door. "Come along Isabel, it is nice to see you."

 

[Arianna1994]

Isabel did not understand how he would not have had time to prepare for this,,, the letter had been sent three weeks ago, which means that he should have gotten it a week ago at the latest! Though she did not question this, she was trying to act like a lady of her age would, her back straight, her head held high and she was polite just as the nuns had taught her to be..

It had been so long since she had been around another man and she couldn't help but admire his tall strong frame.. The way he spoke to her, his voice was so deep and she wanted to hear more.. She quickly shakes her head. No she can not think those wicked sinful thoughts, the man was not her husband she couldn't even think about it.

"It is nice to see you too" she says warmly and almost shyly as she tucks one of the loose curls behind her ear. "Thank you for letting me stay here, I will try not too bother you too much, I do not mean to put you out, but I have no where else to go" she says.

Isabel quickly scurries after him, admiring the pretty objects and some strange ones that she did not quite know what they were.

 

[a_libertine]

Edward led his niece toward the back of the shop and then up the stairs to his modest sized, nearly opulent, apartment above the shop. Rich thick rugs under foot as they passed into the living room.

"Sit, Isabel," he instructed while pointing at a chair. "I will be back in a few minutes, I must lock away my work."

Turning he placed the bag near the door and headed back downstairs to store his stock, his tools, and the pendant he had finished assembling, yet needed to polish before heading back upstairs.

 

[Arianna1994]

Isabel hears her uncle's voice and glances upwards and then towards the chair, nodding just once at him, before she slowly makes her way over and obediantly sits down.

The whole situation felt strange to her, sure she hadn't exactly expected him to welcome her with open arms, but she had at least expected him to speak with her..

As he leaves the room, she immediatly stands her curiousity getting the better of her as she looks around the room.. he had books.. plenty of books, her fingers touch against the hard back, wondering if he will allow her to read one, the only thing they had allowed her to read was the bible and after thirteen years it wore pretty thin.

Her hands move down as she removes her shoes, her bare feet sinking into the thick rug, causing her to laugh, she had to admit that it did feel very nice.

The door creeps open and not wanting to be caught looking through his things, she rushes back to her chair, sitting down her back straight as she glances down at her lap, waiting for him to say something.

 

[a_libertine]

Edward stepped into the room his eyes sweeping across it quickly. Spotting her shoes near the book case, too neatly laid out to have been thrown, Edward glanced back at her.

"Did you disobey me, Isabel?" He asked