The manor.
Lily awoke to light pouring into her room from her large, courtyard-facing window. Remembering that Inara had spent the night in a guest room, Lily threw open her large closet doors, picked out the first dress and pair of shoes she saw, and hurriedly got dressed. She ran down the long, curved staircase and through the hallways, stopping just short of colliding with Inara's door.
She rapped on the door with rapid, soft knocks.
Inara had been awake for a while, gazing out her window and admiring the Gothic Revival woodwork and furnishings in her room. She opened the door with poise and smiled serenely at Lily, whose hands were clasped together and eyes were bright with joy.
"Did you sleep well? Is there anything I can get you? Are you hungry for breakfast?" Lily asked.
Inara chuckled a little. "The room is lovely, and I rested well," she reassured Lily.
Lily beamed. "I knew you were going to love it here!"
She took Inara's hand and led her out into the library, where Inara paused to look up at the high ceilings, supported by a lattice of dark, ornate woodwork. The furniture looked almost diminutive in this impressive room, with its bookshelves stretching up three stories. Lily could barely contain her excitement as she chattered on and on, describing the place. Her voice resonated in the space as she took Inara into the dining hall that could seat at least fifteen people at its long table. They walked through hallway after hallway until they arrived back in the library. Finally Lily walked Inara out into her favorite place, the courtyard where she would sit and paint for hours.
Inara understood now. She looked at Lily brimming with excitement and then looked away into the greenery of the courtyard, hoping the sweet girl didn't see pity in her face. She pictured Lily's life spent by herself day after day in this grand, empty place, with only the sound of her own footsteps, the musty smell of old books, and the occasional whistle of a songbird to keep her company.
She rapped on the door with rapid, soft knocks.
Inara had been awake for a while, gazing out her window and admiring the Gothic Revival woodwork and furnishings in her room. She opened the door with poise and smiled serenely at Lily, whose hands were clasped together and eyes were bright with joy.
"Did you sleep well? Is there anything I can get you? Are you hungry for breakfast?" Lily asked.
Inara chuckled a little. "The room is lovely, and I rested well," she reassured Lily.
Lily beamed. "I knew you were going to love it here!"
She took Inara's hand and led her out into the library, where Inara paused to look up at the high ceilings, supported by a lattice of dark, ornate woodwork. The furniture looked almost diminutive in this impressive room, with its bookshelves stretching up three stories. Lily could barely contain her excitement as she chattered on and on, describing the place. Her voice resonated in the space as she took Inara into the dining hall that could seat at least fifteen people at its long table. They walked through hallway after hallway until they arrived back in the library. Finally Lily walked Inara out into her favorite place, the courtyard where she would sit and paint for hours.
Inara understood now. She looked at Lily brimming with excitement and then looked away into the greenery of the courtyard, hoping the sweet girl didn't see pity in her face. She pictured Lily's life spent by herself day after day in this grand, empty place, with only the sound of her own footsteps, the musty smell of old books, and the occasional whistle of a songbird to keep her company.