Chapitre 7: How Rich
''Mama!'' Louisa shouted and ran excitedly toward the house. Her shoes pounded sloppily against the earth. There was mud but she jumped over the ditch to reach the portico in time. The bag of edibles she held on to, weighed on her shoulder but her happiness was much greater than this. She reached the entrance and pushed the door open. Her cheeks got smudged with blushes. The sun was out but she praised the previous rain for being her good luck on this day.
''Mama!'' She called again and dropped the bag onto the floor of the house, standing in wait. Nobody came, yet she did not feel offended by it.
'Mama might be busy.' She mused and padded her way toward the kitchen. She reached there and stumbled on her mother.
''You're here.'' She announced and her eyes lit up. Chiming a rhythm in her head, she smiled gracefully. Right now, her heart was so full of joy that she did not mind that the food on fire had got burnt on her mother's account.
She walked closer to her mum and hugged her from behind.
''My heart is full, mother. So full… '' She said.
''Louisa, can you not do this now? I am trying to savage this burning food.''
''That's not important, mother.''
''It is not?'' Mrs. Blythe sprained her neck to the side in order to observe her daughter properly. Her hazels sparkled with mischief. ''What shenanigan are you up to, this girl?''
''No Shenanigan, mama.'' Louisa let her hands drop from holding her mum, then she danced briskly in the little place of the kitchen.
Her mother looked at her.
''My darling, come. Share with me the cause of your happiness so I can also rejoice with you.'' She said.
Louisa giggled mildly for a bit.
When she got ready to talk, she said. ''You'll not believe how lucky I got today.''
''What luck? And where's the stuff I sent you to buy? Also… '' The woman moved forward to stop in front of her. ''Your hair is a mess and your clothes too. Did the rain beat you so bad? I hope you aren't hurt anywhere?'' She probed further whilst assessing the slender beaut before her eyes; sizing her up with her eyes all over. ''You look fine.'' She soon declared. ''But why didn't you hide inside a Stall until the rain subsided?''
Louisa gleamed brightly now.
''Mama, I should thank the rains if I were you because it brought such goodluck my way.''
The kitchen got smoky because of the badly burnt food and they started to choke becauae of it. They soon decided to pull themselves out of there in one piece.
''Come.'' Was her mother's remark as she held her by the arm and ushered her into the sitting room.
They reached that side and the plump woman backed the door first before picking up the bag of items which Louisa had bought.
She placed it near her legs and sat comfortably on a chair; her favourite chair.
''Why did you leave the door wide open?'' She chided her gently and adjusted herself well enough on her seat.
''Mama what I have to say is far more important than any door.'' Was all Louisa said, happily.
''Louisa… ''
''Mother… ''
''I am truly sorry for sending you out like that.''
''Mother, it's good that you did.''
''No. It is not. You should know I'm still in the process of finding a new housekeeper after that snake, Bessie, decided to take sides with that wench!'' She sneered afterward.
''Hahahaha. Listen first to what I'm itching to say mama. Both Bessie and Elizabeth are good company for each other. Good riddance to them but you have me as I have you. Today I have truly important news to share.''
She tapped her feet against the floor now feeling too excited for words to express.
Her mother composed herself on her chair, waiting for her to speak. She hadn't had much luck in getting her hand on anything today; from the time she almost cut herself while cutting the onions, to running out the back to get some vegetables from the farm, getting trapped in the rain, only to return back to the house to discover her porridge had got burnt. Pretty badly too. Therefore, if Louisa had better news, it would afford her some breath of fresh air.
''My ears are itching already.'' Said Mrs. Blythe as she smiled at her daughter.
''I met the man of my dreams today!'' She announced but her mother moulded her face into a grim look.
''What sort of nonsense is that?'' Her mother didn't seem impressed.
''Nonsense? But I am being serious.'' She pouted her mouth for the older woman to see.
''What do you know about being serious?'' Her mother asked. ''Look, the only dream man I know for you is Briceus; king of Aegremonth. I am working out a plan for you to dethrone your sister from that man's heart.''
''Ex-sister, mother. She is no longer a Blythe remember.''
''Yes, I keep forgetting.''
''Look, mother. Just forget King Briceus and that crafty sister of mine… Ex-sister. I have better news.''
Her mother listened.
''This man, I rode with him to get back here.''
''You rode in his horse?''
''Mother, I… ''
''No, Isa. How can you sit there and tell me about meeting a man today and riding on his horse back home? I cannot believe I raised you up to be this cheap and have little dignity in yourself.''
''But, mother… This man is a handsome man.''
''So what if he is? Who cares for beauty, hm? Is he even rich? Because money is very important and if you must fancy a man, his riches is where your heart should be.''
Louisa pouted her mouth now to complain.
''You did not even let me finish.'' She sulked visibly now.
''And what is there for you to finish, hm? I know you are hungry. Let me hurry to fix up something in the kitchen.
''Well... '' Louisa bobbed her head and smiled. ''This man's name is Rochester and he is a very rich man. An affluent merchant from out of town!''
''What!'' Letita stood tall from her seat, beaming at her daughter now.
''How rich is he?'' She asked.
''I'll say describe his wealth as that of the Princes, mama.''
''Then he is very rich. Wow. My sweet girl.''
''That's not all mother.''
''There is more?''
''Yes, mama. He even promised to buy me some clothes since the one I have on got drenched.''
''Ehm yes I was meaning to ask you; did he see you like this?''
''Yes mother. At first I was ashamed and...''
''Shame? Hahahaha. There's no shame in being feminine, my girl. I bet he could not keep his eyes to himself once he saw you and that's a good thing.'' Letita praised.
Louisa listened to her mother's talk and spared a minute to ponder on her school of thought. She soon shrugged it off and proceeded to state. ''It's true that his eyes travelled all over me.''
''Good. Good.''
''But.''
''I don't want to hear any 'buts' my dear. Tell me, when will he come to visit me? I am sure you two already established some kind of friendship. In my opinion, that man is a good match for you. I already know it.''
''That's the problem, mother.''
''What, he does not like girls with golden brown hair?''
''Not that, mother. He came here in search of someone else, another girl.''
''Nonsense!''
''But it's true, mother. He begged me to take him to her house.''
''Unacceptable''. How very insulting!''
''That is not even my bone of contention yet. The one he seeks is someone we know.''
''Who?''
''Giselle, Lady Osborn's daughter.''
''What! Never!''
''Exactly my thoughts mother so I decided to lie to him.''
''You did?'' Letita's eyes shone brightly now. ''Come.'' She signalled for Louisa to come sit on her thighs. She did.
''What did you say to him?'' She then asked in the voice of a whisper.
''I gave him a condition under which I will show him her place.''
''My god! How foolish! Why should you even tell him that you know her?''
''Because he would have drove off. Giselle's not a popular name in this part. Imagine him actually finding out about her home from someone else?''
''So I told him I am her cousin. Hazel.''
''Hazel? Does she even have another relative apart from her mother in this town?''
''Yes, she does now. Me.''
''Be serious for once, Louisa!'' Scolded her mother with a frown marring her bold forehead.
''That is why it is called a 'Lie', mother. I had to lie to him or else he would have left. But my heart belongs to him now so I must have him for myself.''
''And Briceus?''
''I'm no more interested in the king.''
''You'll allow Elizabeth to go scot free being by the King's side?''
''That is no longer my concern. This Englishman, Rochester, has the finest airs I admire and cherish. He is proud and annoying but his money can make up for it.''
''And you said he brought you back''
''Yes, he did.''
''Such poor luck I have. I would have liked to see him for myself.''
''Mother, you could have fainted. That man smells like heaven and his breath is the freshest I did perceive yet.''
''Well, I didn't talk directly to King Briceus. Ever. Only Elizabeth will know better and better compare. Mhm.. Tell me; what condition did you give to him?''
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Nancy_Jim
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