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 Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:02 pm
Her father did what?! The Duke had gone behind her back and found a husband for her. This was the last thing she wanted, being like all the other girls in a high up position who was forced to marry someone much older then themself. Though it was to be her fate, by her own father's hand.
Hubert's kiss to the hand made her skin crawl, luckily she had a pair of silk gloves on to there wasn't much skin to skin contact. It wasn't rare for rich men to be fat around these times. Queen Victoria was a massive fan of cakes and anything sweet, so it was fashionable to have many courses of such things. This guy clearly liked his cakes by the size of him.
So this was it, she was going to be a wife to this stranger in a matter of two days. Why was it being so rushed? Sure she knew how badly her father wanted a grandson but this was ridiculous. Jane wasn't even having any say in what her wedding dress was going to be like, it had already been arranged without her approval. Not that it mattered, no one was going to listen to her once she was married.
Sucking in her emotions, she gave a fake smile. Bowing her head towards her soon to be husband "I look forward to it also Mr Ferwink. Thank you very much for this father, you saw that I was struggling to find a man for myself and you obviously think very highly of this one" every single word she spit out her mouth was for appearances, trying not to argue with it all. Once the two men pleased men and the other suitors had left, leaving only Jane, Mary and Chase in the room, Jane sat back down on her chair with a very blank expression. A smile then appeared but her eyes still showed she was scared stiff.
"Oh this is such good news Jane!" Mary beamed happily. "Your about to be married finally and this young man has got a job! Come this way Chase" The maid curtsied to Jane before leading Chase towards the staff area in the basement.
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:11 pm
As Mary walked off it gave him brief time to be alone with Jane. Crossing his arms he gave her a look of sympathy. "I'm sorry you have to go through that. A beautiful and smart woman like you should be marrying someone around your age, or someone you desire. Not some fat old dumpy man." Chase said then looked away for a moment.
"I-I'm sorry, this really isn't my place to say anything, forgive me Lady Jane. I.." the next thing he knew he was grabbed by Mary and then dragged out of the room leaving Jane all by herself. When Chase caught the maid's eyes she seemed kind of mad, she was probably the kind of woman that loved to evesdrop on conversations.
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 4:53 pm
Jane swallowed hard, trying to keep a stiff upper lip as Chase spoke of how he though of this was wrong and how much sympathy he had for her situation. What did he know? Chase wasn't the one being forced to marry someone for reasons of money, title and status.
"Thank you for your concern Mr. Frost.. but I'm perfectly fine" The woman told him, changing back to his formal name once more. Mary then soon stepped in, dragging Chase with some force.
"Why did you say that for?" the maid finally said as soon as they were down in the staff quarters, away from Jane's ears. "You really had no right to talk to her like that, it is her duty like all women in her position. You should be happy for her."
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 5:35 pm
"Well I'm not. I'm sure you saw the way that bloated toad was looking at her?" he replied slightly annoyed. "Duty or not, shouldn't she marry someone she loves? I just don't understand.." he sighed.
Of course his reasons were different. "Women shouldn't be treated like tropies on pedastals they should be loved and respected." He could feel her kind of peel of his outfit painfully. It was clear he made the maid mad, but he couldn't help but feel that way. Sure she was noble, but no one should be treated that way!
Ugh, this time period and it's craziness! If Chase ever made it back home, and found a woman to love he would treat her better. Seeing all of this had opened his eyes a little to that fact.
Soon he was dressed in overalls and a shirt. Looking like someone who worked on a train he was shoved out the door to the stables. Chase sighed, maybe he shouldn't have opened his mouth? As he shoveled the horse dung he began to grumble.
"Stupid time travel..stupid world! If I had a woman like her I would treat her better! Look at me, a buisness man shoveling horse--I need to get back home I don't really know what's worse, shoveling this or watching a beautiful woman being married off to some old fart." he grumbled with his back turned to everything. Chase didn't care if someone heard him, something just wasn't right!
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Posted: Fri May 17, 2013 6:10 pm
"Lady Jane isn't like us. People like her are always paired up with very wealthy men. Think of it as like putting two pedigree dogs together, while we are the mutts of the world going around an picking whatever we want" It was a rather cold metaphor for it all, but she wanted the point to be clear to him as he didn't seem to get the grasp of it all.
Ripping the suit off him in a quick manner because she was an expert at dressing and undressing people. The clothes weren't even damaged in the whip off. Giving him his work clothes she explained where the stables were on the mansion grounds before going off to do her own work.
Meanwhile, the elegant lady Jane had wondered around her gardens before making her way into the maze that Chase had ran into earlier. Most stately homes had one as a nice place to relax and be on your own, this was what she need. After finding her way into the middle, there was a pretty bench under the shade of a tree. There she began to think on what she had just been told. This, fat, old man was going to be her husband in a few days. "Why doesn't father ever think what I want for a change?" she sighed, starting to sob lightly into her hands. "I don't want to marry that idiot.. I don't even know who he is!"
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Posted: Sat May 18, 2013 5:24 pm
Little did she know that the stables were near the garden. As he shoveled he could hear the faint sound of weeping, that only made Chase feel worse. Maybe he should just bury his head in this crap he was shoveling, the man had already probably insulted her deeply.
Everyone else seemed to be busy so Chase finished up his work a bit and then snuck into the garden. Using the sound of her sobbing he eventually found her. Of course he tried to make sure to wipe off most of the poop so he wouldn't smell too bad.
Biting his lip he stood from afar. "Hey...umm..I wanted to apologize for two things. One butting into your life obviously, and two..for uhh..lieing to you.." he sighed turning and leaning up against the hedge.
"You probably won't believe me, but I'm from the future. I really don't know how it happened, one night I was walking home then the next thing I know I wake up in some guys barn and I'm chased far and wide. I am a buisnessman but not the kind you would believe. I just couldn't really say "Oh I'm from the future" infront of everyone when you were asking me all of those questions earlier." he sighed looking down.
"If you want to hate me forever I understand but I had to be honest with you." Chase turned around and looked up into the sky. He didn't care what happened anymore.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 6:59 pm
Jane wiped her eyes and blew her runny nose on a silk embroidered hanky that had a slight pink hue to it. Her whole world was crashing round her feet and maybe even leading to her early death like most of her friends before her. She was about to continue to sob her heart out until a voice hit her ears, making her freeze on the spot and panic. The woman fixed herself up rather quickly, putting any loose strand of hair back in place. "Once again, thank you for your concern but I am perfectly fine. I'm sure Mr Ferwink will make a fine husband for me" she replied in a choked up voice.
So he was lying about something? What could he be lying about? They hardly knew eachother. Hearing of what he had to say, her face completely dropped before turning into a mass of laughter. "You nearly had me there! Man from the future, that's funny... really"
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Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 8:28 am
Chase bit his lip. "Aha-ha yeah! You looked like you needed some cheering up so I thought I'd tell you a joke!" he said laughing a bit nervously. Oh well, she wouldn't believe him anyway. No one would, maybe he was really stuck in the past for good?
With a sigh he looked up into the sky. "Look you don't have to pretend around me Lady Jane. After all you are a person, and I'm sure you've got feelings. I hate to be a pest and butt into your life but it seems I'll be sticking around your mansion for a bit. If you need someone to talk to, I'm a good listener." he said with a shrug before turning.
He had better return, or else people would wonder where he ran off to. Plus, it probably wasn't good being seen with the noble woman. People were so suspicious in this era. "Well I'll leave ya be. Sadly I've got more stalls to shovel." he said with slight annoyance in his voice. "I went from being chased and almost killed to now shoveling horse poop. Heh, it's kind of funny when you think about it actually!" he laughed lightly.
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Posted: Wed May 29, 2013 6:04 pm
His joke was rather good and did make her smile. No one had ever made jokes of such things of time travel. The concept was just insane and impossible for a mind of that era to even take seriously. Mainly due to the fact science fiction wasn't very well known. Sure there were books on the subject but not many. The main book that sparked off the obsession of Time Travel by H.G.Wells still hadn't been written yet. Not that Jane would ever get to read it, possibly only having another twenty years to live.. if she was lucky. "Well.. I did like your joke indeed.. cheered me up quite a bit.. thank you very much" Jane smiled sweetly, putting her white gloves back on now that she had stopped crying. She took them off earlier so they didn't get wet from her tears.
This Chase seemed to have his own mind about how life worked, he obviously wasn't rich with that state of morals. Which in a sense was a breath of fresh air as he spoke of everything she just wanted to scream out to the world. With a sigh, her plastic smile faded to a sad expression "You can read people very well... I grant you that. And it seems you will be here for a while.." Jane did talk to the staff around here about her feelings and so on, not everything of course. Maybe this Chase fellow was an outlet for all the pent up emotion. "Oh... you have to get back to your work?.. well.. technically I'm in charge when my father isn't round." Her eyes looked him up and down, being a traveller he might not of had a good bath in a while. And the horse manure didn't help either. "You've had a testing day today.. I might not have made you do the work but I can tell you when you can stop atleast. Take a few hours off, you can use one of the many bathrooms in the house if you want to freshen up, I don't mind"
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Posted: Thu May 30, 2013 8:49 am
Chase looked at his clothing and laughed. "Yeah I guess I stink huh? Sorry for the smell." he smiled. It was nice to see her so normal, that odd plastic mask she wore didn't suit this woman well. Even though she looked sad, her expression was still very beautiful.
He wanted to suddenly just run away and take her from this responsability. Chase felt sorry for Lady Jane. No doubt she wouldn't live that long either, now sort of remembering that fact from all the history he had in school as a child. Poor woman, doomed to die in the hands of some fat old man. Chase cringed at the thought of her carrying that man's child.
Still there wasn't alot he could do, but to really become her friend and be there when she needed to vent. Looking at her face he smiled warmly at her. "Well then I'll exscuse myself, thank you so much Jane, errr Lady Jane..sorry about that I'm not used to calling people Lady or Sir. I know I seemed to annoy your father though and that old man, sorry for what I said to you as well. I know better than to just blurt out what I'm feeling. I hope I haven't hurt any of your feelings or anything?" he said blushing with embarassment.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 5:22 pm
She shook her head and dismissed his worries over what to call her. "Jane is fine, I honestly don't care much for the titles. But.. everyone insists on doing so. Just make sure to say the whole 'Lady' thing when my father is around.. Like all rich men, they like to feel powerful" Jane commented before standing up and picking up the sun parasol she took out with her. She opened it up, revealing it was made of fine lace. Easily very expensive.
"Come with me.. I'll show you one of the bathrooms and your bedroom if you like. Everyone is.. usually rather busy at this time of day. I honestly have no idea why they make such a fuss.. it's only me living her afterall" Though, maybe they all had a feeling a new husband was going to arrive, even before she did. That's why they were cleaning like mad! No.. couldn't be.. she was going loopy surely. Jane then cleared her throat, putting her attention back the manure covered man infront of her. She took a few large steps around him, not wanting any muck on her pretty, light peach dress of hers.
Jane led him through the maze, not really looking back to see if he was following. She hoped he was atleast.
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Posted: Mon Jun 03, 2013 10:04 pm
"Good. Alright Jane lead the way." He happily said stepping out of the way so she could pass him. Chase didn't want to mess up her clothes with his filfth and quietly followed her out of the maze garden.
She was right, so many of the maids were busy around the mansion that they ignored Chase and Jane for the most part. He was led to the bathroom and showers that the common workers used, then his bedroom. Chase felt a little better once he knew he had some place to stay.
"Thank you so much. I feel a little better knowing I have some place to sleep for the night." he said with a kind smile keeping some distance. "I'll change out of these stinky clothes so that people won't have to hold their noses as I pass." he chuckled a bit.
Jane was a pretty woman, it was a shame she was being wed to such an ugly, cold-hearted, man. If only he could have been chosen...no! Love was something he was going to avoid. Chase needed to get back to his own time period. Though making a friend would be alright, right? Sure she probably would miss him but such was life.
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Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 7:01 pm
She lead him through her grand looking home which being all prepared for the immanent arrival of her husband in a few days. Though she was ignoring all the work everyone was doing, it was easier that way. Thinking on it would get get her more depressed and that was not professional. There were many rooms to choose from, Jane actually let the staff use up the guest/spare rooms in the home. But that was likely to change under her husband-to-be's rules, he didn't seem the charity kind of man. They never were really. His new room had a single bed with wooden posts on either side, it's own chamber pot underneath the bed, a huge bay window to look out over the gardens, beautifully carved oak wardrobes, a night stand and dresser. Everything a person would need really. "This will be your room, I hope it is to your taste. Though I am afraid you won't be able to stay in here for very long, my.... husband... may ask all the staff to sleep where they should be" she said with a sad look in her eyes. "My room is two doors down if you need anything."
Looking at his dirty clothes, she bit her lip. "You can have the clothes from the... husband room if you want. It doesn't seem any of them will fit his frame" Jane could've said the man was fat, but that was rude. "I wouldn't mind, they suit you borrow looked rather nice on you I must say. Suited you.."
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Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 5:12 pm
He gave her a nod of respect. "Thank you so much Jane, I appreciate this. Sorry again for intruding." he replied with kindness but blushed a little at her compliment about how nice he looked in the clothing. Once he was left alone to bathe and find a nice change of clothing Chase pondered what he was going to do. That Hubert guy didn't seem very kind, no doubt Chase himself would be worked to death, or the bone, whichever came first. After a bath he took a nap, he needed sleep after all. The bed felt good, it had been a while since he had slept in a bed that soft and comfortable.
------------------------
Timeskip....
------------------------
The wedding went off in a hitch, though many people hadn't attended. Hubert had moved into the mansion and began to change things. Oddly Chase got to keep his room, but only because Jane had forced her hand, though the young man couldn't stand seeing her used as nothing more than a trophy. Thanks to some quick thinking Chase was appointed as the supervisor to the mansion's funds after demonstrating his skills to not only her father but Hubert as well.
Both men actually were surprised and even pleaded that he become Hubert's advisor which he took. Even though he was still a slave in the mansion, he was treated a little better. Chase had made friends with many of the maids and a few found him to be attractive, but he just ignored them.
The last thing Chase wanted was to knock someone up in this time period. That would be terrible and strange. As Hubert's money advisor he was able to attend parties and had a bit of hidden charm Chase seemed to pull out. It was just buisness, he was used to shmoozing to work hard for a promotion. Still he hated seeing Jane treated the way she had been.
Lately, after the honeymoon, Hubert had grown distant from Jane. He would leave the mansion and be gone for several weeks, or even a month or two. Saying it was buisness, her father was just glad to finally have his daughter married and urged her to try and have a heir with Hubert, but the fat man wasn't in the least interested in children. He would have his way with her but it was a rarity.
Chase was the one to dry her tears, he was always at her side when she would be yelled at. They had become friends and unknown to them starting to get closer. One evening he had found her in the maze garden crying. Hubert had just left again.
"Jane what's wrong?" he asked sweetly as he took a seat next to the woman.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 1:50 pm
Jane had a horrible time during the whole marriage process. She was so close to just running away on the actual wedding day, but knew it would bring shame to her father and his whole business. That was something she couldn't do to him, no matter what he had done in her adult years. So she just had to put on a brave face and let out her sadness when no one was looking that day. But of course, Chase noticed each and every time.
The honeymoon wasn't any better. Everything felt like pressure on her, knowing she would have to do the deed sooner or later for her father's own happiness. Why was no one asking what she wanted? Why did no one ask her opinion on everything? But that was simple, no man listened to a woman. They were classed as objects to have on your arm and a vessel to produce your children. Nothing more. This system for women felt a long way from ever changing, maybe it never would.
Once the honeymoon was over, Hurbert was less interested in her. This just made her panic, thinking she didn't do something right or not doing her role as a woman correctly. With so much pressure building on her from her father's wishes she would try and lure him to bed. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. But either way she was always somewhat glad being turned down.
Today was a horrible one however, she was hiding in the maze as soon as her husband had left. All the smiles and bows were forgotten when he left, she didn't care. All she wanted to do was hide away and let it all out. Hearing Chase's voice was quite normal in these situations but this time she shied away, trying to hide for some reason.
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