[1x1] Matched Together

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra rolled her eyes and turned following the old man. "What do you mean grooming?" she asked wondering if she was going to regret ever asking that question. She gripped the strap of her bag, making sure that it was kept against her side. She didn't like carrying around her belongings. She was afraid of the few items she had being stolen from her. She was used to keeping them hidden and out of sight.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean," Earl replied to the red head with a grin. "I have another friend who lives in this town who will most likely allow one of their maids to groom you and give you a dress to wear. I will pay them a small fee, of course. Though when we arrive, I want you to test out your acting skills. If you can't convince them, I'll have to blame your lack of manners on something else like stress or an injury." He opened the door for Ezra to try and show her an example of manners. Once outside, he gestured to a manor in the distance. It was the only one in this rathre poor town. "There is where my friend live. Let us quickly go there," he said, touching his cane to the ground and starting to make his way.


The young Marzon male gently nudged his horse with his white boots to get him to stop just before the only manor in town. He hadn't the slightest clue Earl planned to go there, this was just the stop he had to make in order to deliver his package. He made sure to tie up his horse before making his way to the door. He knocked at the door and spoke to one of the maids casually for a moment. He was in no hurry to leave.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra stepped inside finding it hard not to tell him she as perfectly capable of opening the door for herself. She tried not to roll her eyes at how much better he thought of himself. Her head lifted toward the manor known throughout the small town to be the only place with anything worth stealing and the only place that wasn't easily stolen from. She had never had the guts to approach the manor, but there was always a first time for everything. It wasn't the best way to reassure herself and find confidence, but the thought did bring some comfort. "You have too many friends."

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Slightly surprised by Ezra's comment, Earl let out a small laugh. "Just because I'm an old man doesn't mean I can't have friends! I've been around longer so it shouldn't be surprised that I do." He began to walk for the manor, leaving marks on the ground with his cane as he did. "Anyhow, that is not where your focus should lie. I want you to focus on being polite and having manners. Should you make a mistake I can come up with an excuse as I said before, but try not to. Think of this as practice."


By the time Ezra and Earl had walked to the door, the young Marzon male was inside visiting with some of the family who lived there. Earl knocked on the door with his cane and was let inside by a maid whom he spoke with for a moment. He turned to Ezra before he took a step farther. "Wait in the doorway and don't wander off. I'm going to speak to the head of the house to arrange everything we need for you." As Earl walked off with a maid, he bit his lip with worry that Ezra would try to sneak off. He didn't exactly trust her that much yet.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra followed behind the old man. He walked so slow, she wasn't used to being patient. He misunderstood her words, she wasn't surprised he had so many friends. She thought he shouldn't have so many. She found it was easier to keep an eye on the people you didn't trust if you didn't have very many around. Friends were good in small numbers. You couldn't rely on them or have to many rely on you. She came to a stop on the porch and waited while the old man disappeared inside. She turned around pacing the extent of the porch trying to find a way to pass the time.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

While Earl had gone into the house, the blonde young man from the Marzon family finished his visit and exited the house. He walked past Ezra, paying no mind to her at first. He walked over to his horse, stopping his hands from untying the animal when he realized he had forgotten something. He turned to the horse's saddle bag and took out a letter on cream paper, sealed by red wax. He made his way back to the mansion and walked up the steps, addressing Ezra. Because of her ragged attire, he mistook the young woman as a maid who worked inside their home.


"My name is Henry Marzon," the blond began. "I was just here for a short visit and to drop off a package. I mistakenly forgot to give the family this letter that went with it, so may I ask you to take it inside when you go in?" Henry hadn't the slightest clue who she was or that she had arrived moments ago with Earl.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra stopped her pacing watching the stranger exit the house. She leaned against against the building folding her arms over her chest watching him turn back around. She assumed he was going to head back inside and was a bit surprised when he addressed her. She frowned at him. "What have your legs stopped working?" she asked pushing off against the wall. "You can take it in yourself." She retorted having already forgotten to use any manners she had stored away in her head.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Henry held out the letter to her, nearly dropping it when he heard her reply. Such a rude maid this girl was! If she couldn't be polite to a friend of the family she worked for, he wasn't sure how she was keeping her job. The blond hadn't the slightest clue "I'm appalled you would say such a thing!" he replied, wrinkling his nose and pulling the letter close to his chest. "As a maid who works for this household, I suggest you treat its guests with a bit more respect. If you are asked to take a letter into the house, you should do it." Perhaps she was having a bad day. Even so, her behavior was very offensive.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra narrowed her eyes at the stranger clenching her jaw. "A maid! Who do you think you are?!" she frowned. "I aint work for nobody. Especially not for the likes of you. Who are you to talk about respect? I should give you a black eye." she clenched her fist and held it in front of her jaw threatening him. "You aint got no right to tell me what to do."

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Henry's eyes widened when she made a fist. He took a step back, surprised that a woman would do such a thing. "Who do I think I am? I just told you my name and that I'm a friend of this family. Forgive me, if you are not a maid I was mistaken. Although, that does not give you a right to be so rude!" he exclaimed, a bit frustrated with her. "If you are not a maid of this manor, I suggest you not spend time around it dressed like you took a nap on the dusty ground." He huffed and puffed out his chest, pushing past Ezra to enter the house himself. He didn't want to speak with her any longer. He planned to ignore her unless she really did try using that fist of hers.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra didn't budge when he tried to push past her. "I ain't the rude one." She shoved against his chest, pushing him backwards and then slammed her fist into his nose. "If you want to talk about appearances- you look like prissy little boy without anything going for him except his money." She spit into his face. "You should try spending a nap on the dusty ground. It might do you some good."

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

When Henry tried to shove her aside, he was surprised when she shoved back. The only thing that surprised him more was her fist ramming into his nose. Unbalanced, Henry fell down the very few steps of the manor like a paper house knocked over in the wind. He landed in the dirt, but was close enough just to catch her spit fly into his face. Ignoring the spit, he was more concerned for his attire."M-My clothes!" he cried, looking down at his white outfit that was now soiled in dirt. He knew his parents were going to be furious with him for becoming so dirty, especially on the day he was to meet his fiancee.


"How dare you!" Henry cried, scooping up some dirt with his hands. When he had a good handful he through it at her face. "I aught to report you to the town guards!" He slowly returned to his feet, wrinkling his nose in disgust that he now had dirt all over his hands. The dirty street girl had actually made him so mad that he resorted to her own distasteful games.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra closed her eyes surprised by the clump of dirt that hit her face. She frowned and jumped down the steps and got into his face to show she wasn't afraid of him. "What are you going to say? That you got beat up by a little girl? That you can't take a little bit of dirt on your clothes? I was right. You are a prissy little boy." She wasn't about to let him get the last word. This was a game she knew how to win.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Ezra's words were starting to get to Henry. He balled up a fist and pounded it into the ground, feeling verbally trapped by her. She was a woman. If he told her to shut her mouth he would be looked down on for harassing a woman. However, if he took her abuse he would also be looked down on for being harassed by a woman. The blond was entering into a situation which he couldn't win. "If I am bothered by a bit of dirt on my clothes, it is because they're expensive and my parents will not be pleased they were ruined. I am to meet my fiancee today and they wanted me looking my best." He turned his nose up at Ezra. "Not that I expect someone like you to understand the importance of good looks with the way you're dressed." It almost wasn't worth it to walk past that girl and deliver the letter into the house. He turned back to his horse, deciding he would simply leave.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra fell silent as her mouth ran dry. She turned her head back toward the entrance to the large manner, half expecting the old man to come running out and yell at her for ruining everything. She turned back to the boy with the letter. Maybe he was meeting a different girl. Maybe it wasn't him. "Your fiancee?" she repeated hoarsely, having trouble finding her voice. She swallowed trying to find a way to get her voice to return to her. "Yeah, well so am I!" She yelled after him watching him return to his horse.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Henry reached for the rope that kept his horse bound, fully prepared to leave. He dropped his hand, however, when Ezra spoke again. He suddenly opened his mouth and laughed, overcome by laughter for full minute or so. "You have to be kidding me. You are meeting your fiance today? I was unaware that the poor partook in arranged marriages. Did your family trade you off for a can of beans?" There was no way a girl dressed like her was going to be wed. Certainly someone so rude and dirty wouldn't make a good husband for anyone. The blond snickered and went back to untying his horse. He climbed atop his horse and clicked his tongue to communicate with it. "Anyhow, if you speak the truth, I wish your fiance luck. He will most certainly need it." Henry turned to leave, making sure his undelivered letter was tucked safely in his pocket.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra rolled her eyes at the insult. She turned around heading back toward the large house. She headed onto the porch and stepped inside getting impatient with the old man. She thought about calling out to him and then thought better of it. Leaning against the door war, she folded her arms across her chest, tilting her head back. A sigh escaped her waiting for, she realized she wasn't sure what it was she was waiting for.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

It took Earl longer than he had hoped, but he finally arranged everything he needed to make Ezra ready to meet her fiance. He returned to where he had left her, thumping his cane on the ground to catch her attention. "I'm surprised. You seem to have patiently waited for me. Anyhow, I have come to tell you that a dress, warm bath, and a maid are all waiting for you in one of the guest chambers. If you follow me, I will show you to them." He wasn't sure what Ezra would think about a bath. In fact, he wouldn't be surprised if she had never taken one before in her entire life.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra shrugged. "Patient, that's me." she stepped inside and gestured for him to lead the way. "Well, what are you waiting for?" she asked trying to decide which way she should start walking if he didn't start walking soon. "What do I need a maid for?" she asked confused by the idea of being weighted on. She was sure that she didn't need help with any of the things he listed.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Earl snorted and began to lead the way when Ezra suggested so. He walked through an arched stone hallway, adorned with various stained glass windows spaced evenly apart. "What do you mean by that? You need a maid to help you get dressed of course! The gown you will wear isn't a simple garment you can just slip over your head. It will require help to be put on." He continued walking along, another question to ask her coming to mind as he did. "What name do you wish to go by when we meet the family later today? Although my real granddaughter was named Isabella, this family doesn't know her name. You may use your own name if you wish. However, if you wish to keep your name hidden from the family, you are free to use her name. I'll leave it up to you." Earl was feeling generous. He would let Ezra decide this detail.

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra wasn't sure how complicated a dress could be to make it impossible to pull it on herself. She wasn't used to needing help and sure didn't want it, especially if it meant someone standing there while she was indecent. "I want to keep my name." She insisted, wanting to hold onto some part of herself, even if it was just her name. If she had to act like someone she wasn't, at least she didn't have to say she was someone else as well. She followed the old man down the hallway. Her head spun, looking at all the doorways that seemed the be endless and all the valuables that littered every inch of the place. It seemed impossible that someone could own so much when she had close to nothing at all.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

"Very well," Earl replied when Ezra stated she would keep her own name. "For someone from a lower class, you do have a lovely name. I suppose it will do just fine." He continued to walk down the decorative halls until he had arrived in front of the room. "Here you are, dear. There is a maid inside ready to help you. Do take your time and don't rush her. We have until the end of the day for you to meet your fiance and you must be at the peak of cleanliness." He stood back as the maid from inside the room gestured for her to enter.


"You must be Sir Earl's granddaughter," she said politely. "Please come in and I will help you to the best of my ability."

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra stepped into the room keeping on guard. She didn't trust the girl standing in front of her, used to the word helping always coming with some sort of catch. "I am she." She replied looking around the room for some sign of what she was supposed to do next. The instructions she was given weren't very clear. "And you are?' she asked, having not been given the maid's name.

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

The maid girl was surprised that Ezra asked had asked her name. Someone of the upper class often didn't speak on a personal level with a maid unless they were a child the maid was helping to take care of. "I'm Sonya," she replied, bowing her head. She had coco brown hair entirely curled up in a messy bun and obedient blue eyes. "Your bath is just this way," she said, leading Ezra over to a large wash tub. "While I often will jump right in with helping, your grandfather told me that you had a rough trip here and could possibly require some space. Would you like any help? If not I will wait outside and return when you are ready to put your dress on so I may help you with that task."

 

[LittleDreamerOfSorts]

Ezra shook her head. "With a bath? I don't need any help with that," she answered quickly. She stood up the tub, looking into the water. She couldn't remember the last time she had a proper bath. Usually, she used a stream or a river to clean or just splash water on herself from someone's well when the dirt got too much. At the moment, she didn't feel particularly dirty, although everyone kept telling her otherwise.