Wild Black Roses Chapter One

Spring 1362

Chapter One
         
         Alexandra Winthrope, sixth child of Margaret and Alexander, Marquis of Denton, sat in her high-back dining chair with all the appearance of a well-bred lady. Her waist-length, auburn hair was piled in lovely ringlets atop her graceful head. Her cobalt blue eyes appeared to be paying the utmost attention to the gentleman guest seated to her right. Even her elegant hands lay primly in her lap while they waited for the last course to be brought out. Under the table, however, her slippered foot tapped impatiently at the floor with her boredom.
         The Winthrope family was having yet another dinner party with her mother’s hopes to have her youngest five children join in the beautiful state of matrimony that their two elder siblings had already been blessed with. It did not escape Alexandra’s notice, however, that she was her mother’s only single daughter, and the single men far out numbered the single women she had chosen for her four single brothers. It would be safe to say that none of the men seated at the table was interesting or attractive as far as Alexandra was concerned.
         She hoped to avoid the state of matrimony as long as she could, which was an opinion that she was proud to share with her brothers: Richard, Damien, Andrew, and Sebastian. Richard sat in his usual seat at their father’s left, as his right was reserved for their mother. He was very much his father’s son in every way. His temperament, his likes, and even his appearance seemed to mirror Alexander, who had dark wavy brown hair and the same cobalt eyes as Alexandra. He would follow in his father’s footsteps as the next Marquis of Denton, which was unusual for a second son. Jackson, as the first born, should have took this title after their father, but it had been a mutual decision on the brothers’ parts. Richard wanting nothing better than to carry on the name that his father had so honorably used for most of his adult life. This worked for Jackson, because he had spent the majority of his adult life on board his ship, or on shores all around the world.
         Farther down the table with a woman on either side was Damien. He was an avid lover of women and wouldn’t let a silly thing like them wanting a husband stop his flirting. They would learn in good time that marriage wasn‘t what he was after. As Alexandra sat watching her brother, he leaned towards the woman seated to his left and whispered something in her ear that made the woman blush. It would take quite a woman to get Damien to settle down and forget all others.
         Across from Damien, Andrew was leaned back in his chair watching the conversation going on around him and nodding and shaking his head as his opinions changed. Though when something struck a cord in this budding lawyer he was one of the only voices you heard at the table. Lady Amelia, who their mother had chosen for him, sat quietly beside him. He hadn’t paid a bit of attention to her the entire evening. She occasionally would watch him as he argued with those at the table, and Alexandra noticed that many times she would be nodding along with what he was saying. Amelia did not, however, contribute to the conversation. Perhaps, Alexandra thought, Amelia’s mother had told her that men didn’t like outspoken or opinionated women. A lot of mothers did. Whatever the reason for her silence, it stopped the match-making cold in its tracks. Andrew would pay no heed to such a silent woman.
         And at the end of the table sat Alexandra and Sebastian. On her right was one of her prospective husbands and on her left sat her favorite brother. He was the only child younger than herself. Sebastian was like Alexandra in every way. If a person didn’t know the family well they would swear the two were twins. In appearance and in attitude they were the same. Not even their mother’s match-making could split the twosome up. They shared all their secrets with each other, and often spent their time planning practical jokes for their elder siblings. They were in no hurry to grow up and take their place in the world, exploring all the possibilities was entirely too much fun. 
         Seated on Margaret’s right was her oldest son, Jackson. He was not what a person would expect in an oldest son of a marquis. He was a captain of his own ship and had spent most his adult life at sea. Social life did not appeal to him, and he lived as far away from society as he could get. His country estate was surrounded by more woods than his parents could boast of, and was situated with quite a distance from any neighbors. Jackson was of course their mother’s favorite son, having married at a young age and already given her three grandchildren. Unfortunately, his wife Eliza had died in the birthing of their third child four years ago. Since her death, he had been forced to leave the sea for a time to be there for his children, though he could count himself lucky in having a man he trusted to captain his ship, until he could return to it.
         Beside him sat Alexandra’s only sister, Lilith, who had also married young. She had married her most serious George and been blessed with two children so far. Growing up, with the separation in years between the two sisters she had been more like a second mother to Alexandra than a sister. Her George was nine years her senior, and seemed to be to be the only one to make Lilith stop being practical for a moment and laugh.
         Lilith’s oldest was merely nine years Alexandra’s junior and it made her feel that in no way could she be old enough to marry. She, herself was only twenty-two. She had plans to live a little before being trapped in marriage, having a man besides her father have any say to her actions. It was absurd at best. Her father was a kind, decent man who adored his youngest daughter. And she had no such disillusions of a husband being so accommodating. Growing up, with so many siblings and her the second youngest, there had been cherished moments when she had gone unnoticed. This had given her the opportunity to sneak away to the stables or to enjoy the adventure of trying to get lost in the woods that surrounded their estate. She would dash into the woods, fueled by the thrill of getting caught, and making up stories as she ran into the trees. While in the woods she could become a wild, dirty bandit hiding from the law. She could pretend to be a savage huntress in close pursuit of her prey. She could take over a fallen tree trunk and become a pirate queen in search of a grand treasure. Most of the times having nothing but her wild imagination as her companion. At times however her brothers Andrew or Sebastian, being closest to her in age, might join her on her romps into the wilderness of her imagination. These adventures with her brothers were short lived as they grew older and wished to seek new adventures that a sister couldn’t join.
         As Alexandra grew older she began to mix her two pleasures as she had become a seasoned horse woman. Her adventures she now shared with her prized black mare, Dynasty. She would loosen her long auburn hair and let it fly behind her as she pushed her mare to it’s greatest speed. The wind blowing her hair in waves of fire behind her, and she felt as if they were a griffon and its mistress flying through the air.
         Her brother, Sebastian ripped her from her daydream with a sharp whisper, “Alex, what are you grinning at? Mother’s been trying to get your attention for the past five minutes, at least. She wants to stir up a conversation between you and that horrible old man William, Baron of Boredom or something or other.”
         At the ridiculous title she giggled and corrected quietly, “You mean the Baron of Washburn? Sebastian, you are too much. You pay no better attention than me, sometimes worse. That may be why I love you best… you make me look the better.” She picked up her napkin, pretending to wipe her mouth as she covertly stuck he tongue out at him. Then she turned her attention to the other end of the table where her mother and their guest sat. “How nice to see you again Baron. I hope you’ve had a pleasant trip.”
         “It was tolerable at best. The horses did tend to want to go at their own pace, which at the best I would say was not fast enough for my wants. And there wasn’t much for scenery, if that’s what you meant, just tree after tree, with the occasional interesting species of bird to fly passed. There was perhaps a bit of a chill in the morning, but it did get warmer as the day progressed. I was…
         Alexandra broke into his tirade, “It’s a shame your trip wasn’t more enjoyable. Perhaps the trip back will be more to you liking.“ After saying this she looked down at her gown and wiped at an invisible spill. “I’m sorry, if you’ll excuse me, I must get this cleaned up.”, with that she rose from her seat and left the room, followed by the chuckle of Sebastian.
         She did go to her room and change, but into her riding habit. Afterward, she turned to her ladies maid and handed her a note she had written. “Please, give this to my mother.” The note said she had a headache and wouldn’t be able to rejoin their guests. She had played nice long enough, and she proceeded down to the stables by way of the servants stairs. Her mother could yell at her tomorrow. As she hurried along, making sure not to cross in front of windows, she felt as if someone were watching. Could feel the glare in the middle of her back, but when she spun around she saw nothing but the beautiful lawn, flora, and trees. Her thoughts immediately returned to her escape as the groomsmen brought out Dynasty. They knew she was coming.