Bab 13: To be a rainbow in someone's cloudy sky.
...Earlier in the day...
"Clara, is everything alright?...you have been staring at my gown, would you like to try it?" Safa said as Clara was with her in her bedroom, about to help her dress when the young anxious maid paused and just stared away with the dress still in her hands.
Realizing that she was spaced out, "No... M'Lady...I don't think green is flattering on me." Clara replied with a chuckle.
"I know little of fashion, but I believe a deep shade of Blue might be your color, next time I plan to have a dress made, I will let you know, I would love to gift you a gown of your own." Safa said.
Smiling, "Thank you M'Lady! I'll look forward to such gift." Clara responded, "Please, you might be in the process of helping me dress but you are still my guest, so call me Safa like you did yesterday, there is no need for formalities between us." Safa replied.
"Alright...Safa, to be completely truthful, I wasn't thinking of your dress, it is a beautiful one but my mind was on something else.
Two things actually..." Clara said.
"Then tell me, I am all ears for you." Safa replied and tapped on the spot next to her on the bed, inviting Clara to come sit beside her.
As Clara sat down, she took a deep breath.
"You seem more nervous than usual...did something bad happen?" Safa asked.
"Well I have two sorts of news, good and bad...I don't know if Wolfgang is planning to tell you about the bad one however, I mean I think he should let you know but...Maybe I should tell you, since it's not a secret or anything of that kind." Clara said.
"Tell me the good news first then, it might make whatever you say next easier on both of us." Safa replied.
"Alright...well...I believe that something between Wolfgang and my Lord, James might have happened yesterday...while we weren't looking." Clara replied.
With one eyebrow higher than the other, "Something, such as?" Safa questioned.
"I don't know, but earlier they were somewhat...flirting with one another in the drawing room." Clara said blushing.
Confused at first, "Drawing room?...oh! You mean the parlor? Wait flirting? As in charming each other with silly romantic phrases?" Safa asked.
"Uhh you have a unique definition of flirting Safa.
To be honest, it wasn't outright flirting...more like they were at ease with one another all of the sudden, I mean they have been at each other's throats for the past 3 years and then all of the sudden they spend one day together and Their tones to each other change, they start engaging in more conversations than usual, and Their argument now seem lighthearted almost playful." Clara explained.
"Clara, Do you think they did something... intimate?"
"No not yet...I would've noticed something."
"Jesus Christ how can you tell if something of that sort has happened?" Safa asked genuinely surprised, "You live and you learn they say...If you wish, I will teach you these things someday Safa." Clara replied.
"I will hold you to your promise, I would like to be aware if anything serious should end-up happening between those two, it might change my mind on a certain matter." Safa said, "You mean James's marriage proposal? Oh! Do you plan to cover for him if he and Wolfgang became lovers?" Clara asked.
Smiling, Safa ignored the question and asked her own question, "How about you take another deeper breath now and tell me...what bad news does today carry?" Safa asked.
Disappointed she didn't get a response, Clara took another deep breath and sighed.
"About three days ago...Both Lord and Lady Stuart, have passed away." Clara replied, she knew from what Wolfgang told her that Safa knew the late Lady Struat but she didn't expect the reaction on Safa's face.
The girl who was just smiling, had stopped, a wide-eyed expression was now plastered on her face.
And without a warning, Safa stood-up in a hurry, she almost fell if she didn't hold on to the bed.
Startled, "Safa what are you doing?!" Clara asked her worriedly.
"Clara, help me dress quickly." Safa said, "Y-yes!" Clara hurried and started to help Safa out of her clothes.
...Meanwhile...
"Uhh...James." Wolfgang spoke-up, he and James had just stopped holding hands.
"Hmmm?" James hummed.
"I should go tell Safa about lady Stuart...You know, you heard me and Clara talk."
"Wolf, do you need help convincing Safa to attend the funeral?"
James's question confused Wolfgang, "What do you mean?"
"Well, from what I've heard, you seem to have a high opinion of the late Lady Struat.
I assume you'd want to attend the funeral, but as a servant you feel as if it would be more appropriate for you to go with Safa instead of on your own, that's assuming that Safa shares your opinion of the deceased as well." James replied.
"Well yes but..."
"Hmmm, but what?"
"Since I don't have Safa's permission I shouldn't be telling you the story of Safa and Lady Stuart's meeting however, I am only telling you because I trust you would not be telling anyone else."
"Because I'm lonely and don't have anyone to gossip with?" James joked, "No...because I want to learn to trust you." Wolfgang replied.
"Alright, you have my word, no one will hear of this from me." James said smiling, "Thank you." Wolfgang replied.
"So what's the story of their meeting?"
"Lady Struat was a family friend of The Vega family, Their friendship began before Safa was even born."
James's eyes widened, "You mean her family and the Stuart were acquainted?" He asked.
"Safa's father was known to travel a lot before safa was born, and apparently he had met Lady Struat before she came to England.
In fact he had saved her life when a group of men tried to hurt her, and he helped her travel to England since back then when they met, Lady Struat was actually suffering financially, she could not even afford to travel add to that the fact that she was a beautiful woman in need, she was begging for a spot on a ship that was heading to England because she had no money.
A group of well-off men began harassing her saying that if she lays with them, they would take her with them." Wolfgang said with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"I can only imagine the utter humiliation she felt in that moment, I heard from my gardener boy that lady Struat was quite religious, the sort of woman who would rather died before she lets a man who isn't her husband touch her that way." James replied.
Nodding, "She was...luckily for her, God has sent her The late Lord Vega to her rescue, Safa's father found the lady in distress and offered her help, he guarded her like a loyal dog throughout the whole trip and made sure she ate well." Wolfgang said.
"But why did he help her? Wasn't she as stranger?" James asked, "Safa's father was the sort of gentleman who would not ignore it when bad things happen in his presence.
And thanks to his principals, Lady Struat arrived safely to London and she thanked him promising she will return the favor of helping her someday.
From that moment on, they parted ways, Safa's father actually ended-up meeting and marrying Safa's mother who was an Englishman woman and the daughter of a wealthy businessman who opposed their union because Safa's father was a Mixed man." Wolfgang said.
"What do you mean?"
"Obviously Safa's skin isn't brown by coincidence.
Her father wasn't an Englishman at all, his mother was a Spanish woman and his father was of both Indian and Arabic heritage.
He had a somewhat dark brown skintone, and although he was a very handsome and rich gentlemen with a healthy body and good reputation, Safa's maternal grandfather failed to see Safa's father as an equal to him simply because of his race and the color of his skin." Wolfgang explained.
"So they eloped? Safa's parents I mean?" James asked.
"Yes and ran away together back to Spain, and completely lost connection with Safa's grandfather.
Safa's father stopped traveling and then they had a boy they named Bernardino and a girl, Our Safa.
However Safa's mother fell ill mysteriously when Safa was still a little girl, knowing she might die soon Safa's father wanted his wife to reconcile with her father, he didn't want his beloved wife to pass away without earning her father's forgiveness and blessings." Wolfgang said with a sad expression.
"I can't imagine that was easy..." James stated.
"It wasn't...Eventually the businessman agreed to forgive his daughter for running away with Safa's father and he invited her back to England to come live with them there, hoping her condition would become better and if not, she would at least die amongst family.
So Safa's father took his wife and children and moved to England, they bought a mansion and settled there, but unfortunately the move didn't help at all with The late Lady Vega's health, and just few months afterwards, Safa was orphaned for the very first time when her mother passed away from her illness.
During the funeral, A woman came to pay her respects when she heard a certain man was mourning the loss of his beloved wife." Wolfgang said.
"She must've been Lady Struat!" James exclaimed, "Yes, and she was no longer a poor woman, she had met and fallen in love with Lord Struat after she worked for him as a maid.
When she heard of what happened to Safa's father she came to the funeral with her husband, and helped with everything.
If it wasn't for her kindness back then, Safa's father might have not survived the shock of losing his wife.
Lady Struat would then make it a habit to come visit during the Vega family's important events, such as when Safa's maternal grandfather died a year afterwards, she visited once more.
And when Bernardino, Safa's brother was engaged, and then married, Lady Struat attended both the engagement party and the wedding.
And later when Safa's father himself alongside, Bernardino and his new wife all perished tragically when their ship sank in the sea.
Lady Struat visited the Vega manor for the last time, but this time it was different as she would meet me and Safa for the first time.
I was newly hired at the time, just months before the Late Lord Vega had died." Wolfgang explained.
Confused, "If the woman visited on almost every important event that happened to Safa, how come she only met Safa for the first time at her father's funeral?!" James asked.
"Because before the death of her father, Safa was hiding from more than just society.
She was avoiding her own family, because she felt ashamed of herself, due to her being crippled and in need of a wheelchair.
She refused to join in any event, she never left the house, and she even refused to attend her own brother's engagement party and wedding because she thought she would embarrass him even though he begged her.
Bernardino was devastated when she didn't show-up eventually to the party." Wolfgang replied.
In disbelief, "Our Safa? The girl who says she's the perfect woman and that she loves herself, skipped her own brother's party because she was ashamed of being in a wheelchair?!" James said, he couldn't believe his ears.
"That was Safa back then, But after lady Struat's last visit on Safa's father and brother's funeral, Safa had a complete change of heart.
She slowly became the Safa you and I both know today, still somewhat avoiding society but more confident and proud of herself than she was before." Wolfgang replied.
"What on Earth has happened on that day?!" James asked.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
QW_JiHi
QW_JiHi Fun fact: The word ‘funeral’ is believed to have first been used by Geoffrey Chaucer, who is often considered the father of the English language. It appeared in writing in his Middle English work The Knight’s Tale, in which he refers to a ‘funeral servyse’ after a character passes away. It was published in 1386, making it the first written use of the word funeral that we know of.
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