*Woodbury Estate, Lordaeron, Just Prior to the Plague Outbreak*
Beckyann sighed happily, blinking her eyes as she awakened from her slumber, snuggling deeper into the blankets and the warmth deep within them. As she moved, she felt Fred stir beside her, his arm coming around to embrace her, and she wiggled under the covers until she was pressed against him, her hand against his chest where she could feel the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
The hearth in her small room had died in the middle of the night, and the air was crisp with the chill of night, making the blankets the absolute perfect place to remain as far as Beckyann was concerned. She sighed again, simply feeling the moment of serenity and peace flow through her as Fred stirred beside her, leaning down to plant a kiss in her golden hair.
"I wish that every night could be like this," Beckyann murmured, hugging Fred close to her body, feeling his strength beneath the covers. "I hate that these moments are so fleeting."
"They don't have to be, Becky," he whispered to her. "We can find a way."
She shifted beneath the sheets, her green eyes peering up at him through the tangled mess of her hair, an eyebrow perked, "You really think so? You think that the Woodbury family will throw away centuries of tradition and authority so that two of their servants can wed? We're more likely to...I don't know, live forever than have that happen!"
He smiled at her, his expression reassuring, "You never know, I've been talking to the Old Man's uncle. He's pretty grateful for the work I and my men did in clearing those bandits off his estate last summer. A few words in the right ears could get the job done."
Beckyann brought a hand up, pressing a finger to Frederick's lips, "Hush, Fred. Don't get my hopes up. This has been torture not being able to be with you every day, every night. Don't make me think that the future will hold more for us than this. I'd give anything for it, and you know that. I'd leave here with you right now, and give up this position. You're the only one I would ever do that for."
He smiled at her, taking her hand in his own and kissing her fingertips, "Beckyann Eastberg, one day you'll be my wife. I promise you that. We'll find a way, even if the Light and the Shadow both conspire against it."
She held his gaze with her own, knowing that every word he spoke was true. He would never forsake what they had, and neither would she. Although she'd come to find prestige and power with a noble family, she'd found something far better in the time she'd been at the Woodbury Estate. True love came only rarely in life, and she was smart enough to see that. She wiggled up beneath the sheets, leaning forward to kiss him.
Unfortunately, at that moment, her bedroom door banged opened.
"Miss Eastberg! Are you in here? You'll be needed at once!" a voice boomed out. Beckyann and Frederick gasped in shock, quickly breaking apart. Fred jumped out of the bed, comically grabbing one of Beckyann's feather pillows to cover his nakedness. Beckyann herself rolled, wrapping sheets about her naked body before standing and awkwardly holding them against herself, her heart pounding in her chest.
It was Esmeralda Woodbury who had barged into the room at such an ungodly hour, a woman in her mid-seventies that some of the younger Woodbury family members referred to as 'that crazy old bat'. Already dressed in a formal gown that was several decades out of date despite it not possibly being later than four o'clock in the morning, the old woman waved her hands dramatically as she took in the sight of the two mostly naked lovers, her eyes trailing over Fred's muscular torso as a smirk played across her lips.
Beckyann could feel the blood rushing to her face as embarrassment set in. This was it. This was how her career at House Woodbury would come to an end. The old lady would be scandalized and would immediately report it to Lord Woodbury and she'd be thrown out by day's end. Fred would lose his place as Guard Captain and both of their lives would be ruined. An emotion surged through her as the sheer unfairness of the situation poured over her. With a look of determination on her face she stuck her chin up, shuffled across the room as best she was able while holding bedsheets around her naked body, and grabbed Fred's hand, holding it tightly as if defying the old Lady Esmeralda Woodbury to chastise them.
Another voice called down the hall, one that Beckyann could not make out clearly. Esmeralda turned her head, looking into the distance at someone and shaking her head, "No, I'm afraid she's not here right now. She must have gone out for an early morning walk."
Beckyann nearly gasped again as the old woman lied, her eyes wide. Lady Esmeralda Woodbury turned and looked at her, the smirk still on her face as she reached for the door handle, talking loudly over her shoulder, "Nope, no sign of her in here. Don't worry, I'm sure we'll find her before six in the morning when we'll be inviting those traveling priests to a surprise breakfast. No, no, I'm sure we'll find her, do calm yourself Lady Woodbury!"
To Beckyann's everlasting surprise, old Lady Esmeralda winked at her before slamming the door closed, leaving the utterly embarrassed couple to quickly scramble to find clothes. It had been a close call, but their little tryst and breaking of the Woodbury Family's rules relating to their servants would be a safely held secret for a while longer.
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