Chapter 40

Two days after Astrid had confronted her father, Rosalinda and she along with Atali were traveling through the busy streets of the city.

"So where exactly are we going?" Rosalinda asked with a frown.

"We need accessories," Astrid declared. "It's only a week until the Founding day festivities and I am loathe to be caught wearing the same accessories twice to such an important event,"

"My Lady, we're here," Atali said. "I can hear their barbaric screams already."

"Their what?" Rosalinda frowned briefly before she too heard the shouting. The carriage stopped and the ladies descended with the help of the driver. They walked a short bit to see two men shouting insults at each other from one end of the street to the other.

"Your Basquine feel like cheap wool!" Ryker shouted while waving what looked to be a brown leather shoe at his brother who was looking rather puce while standing in his shop's doorway across the street.

"May your Bouillonné be unruffled!" Viggo shot back.

"How dare you, you uncultured swine!" Ryker looked aghast. "May your Epaulettes be devoid of tassels!"

"Well, it looks like they are at it again," Astrid sighed

"Again?" Rosalina asked as she watched the pedestrians ignore the bickering brothers as if it was a common occurrence, which it very likely was given Astrid's easy acceptance.

"Ah shut it you avantgarde maniac!" Viggo yelled. "Your Redingote is as unimaginable as your Small clothes!"

"Gentleman, if you please cease and desist with this yelling. " Astrid got between them and yelled. "I have a proposition for the both of you,"

"A proposition?" Ryker questioned.

"Yes, a very lucrative one," She stated.

"Keep talking Miss," Viggo muttered as he shot a glare at his brother.

"Perhaps we could speak in a less... public space?" Astrid asked.

"You may speak in my shop," Ryker proclaimed.

"No you may speak in mine!" Viggo uttered next. "Brother you can't even make good tea. Leaf water is all yours is!"

"How dare you?!' Ryker exclaimed. "Your pastries taste like ash!"

Astrid groaned as the bickering began once more. "Gentleman! Pick a store! I give nary a mind to which one. This proposition requires both of you," The two merchants were quiet for a moment and then Ryker crossed the street and shoved past his brother.

"My Lady, is this not too suspicious? Especially given...." Atali whispered as she followed Astrid into the shop along with Rose.

"Not at all," Astrid laughed. "No man would find it suspicious for a pair of Noble ladies and their maid to enter a boutique, especially with the two-week-long festivities planned soon."

"I hate to agree but that is true," Rose spoke up. "All the seamstresses are overbooked and many of the artisans are working to fulfill purchase orders from aristocratic families."

"I just worry," Atali muttered.

"Then what we are here for shall put your mind at ease," Astrid replied. "We are not executing the plan empty-handed."

"Now perhaps we can get down to business," Astrid stated after the group was led into a private section of the boutique that was usually reserved for VIP guests. She and Rose sat down while Atali kept watch near the door in case any errant staff decided to eavesdrop.

"What is your proposition Miss?" Viggo asked while folding his arms in front of him. "To request both my brother's and mine expertise...,"

"I am in need of at least twelve pairs of ladies' shoes in varying colors and styles that can house a small blade in the tip as well as accessories for both men and women that can double as an easily accessible weapon. Spare no expense, House Hofferson is willing to foot the bill."

"Excuse me, what?!" Ryker choked on air as he near-yelled that sentence.

"The shoe style should range from those needed for riding and tea parties to evening wear. And the accessories may be anything from cufflinks to rings and hairpins. Maybe even a broach or two," Astrid explained.

"Not that!" Viggo muttered. "The shoes we get but why the hidden blades?"

"Safety of course," Astrid deadpanned.

"Of course?" Ryker frowned and then looked from Astrid and Rose to Atali.

"Is this not a bit.... Excessive?" Viggo asked while stroking his chin. "One would think you're planning something,"

"It's purely for security and peace of mind," Astrid responded. "And can you blame me? I'm a powerful and somewhat eccentric Noblewoman,"

"Eccentric is an understatement," Ryker whispered but Viggo heard it and elbowed the man.

"We do of course offer shoes with hidden blades," Viggo answered "But those are only men's shoes. We've never adapted them to shoes for women. As for the accessories, those will be a bit trickier."

"Well then, consider this a challenge," Astrid smirked as she placed a sack of gold coins on the table between them. "And I'm sure that our little chat will remain strictly between us,"

"You may throw us naked into a lake of angry swans if we tell a soul," Viggo muttered.

"Brother! Not the swans!" Ryker's head whipped around so fast. "I cannot face them again!"

"Be silent then," Viggo ordered.

"Again?" Astrid mouthed silently towards Rose who too looked confused.

Astrid looked very pleased with herself when they left the two brothers. Instead of going straight back to the carriage, she decided to do some window shopping. She was looking at an ornate vase in one of the display windows when she caught Rosalinda staring at something in the window of the store next door. Without making a sound she snuck behind the girl and peered at the display. "You're interested in painting?" She asked and caused Rose to jump at the sudden question.

"Ye-uhm... I mean no!" Rose quickly exclaimed and looked somewhat embarrassed at being caught staring.

"You know it's alright if you are," Astrid prodded.

"Mother says that painting is a boorish hobby," Rosalinda responded.

"I'm not asking what Esmeralda thinks. I'm asking what you want," Astrid shot back. "You can surely use one of the unoccupied rooms as a studio. I can have the staff easily convert one. Or perhaps one of the Solariums?" Astrid thought out loud.

"M-Mother would kill me if she found out I've been painting!" Rose said while wide-eyed.

"Who says she needs to know anything?" Astrid frowned as to just why Esmeralda was against the hobby. There seemed to be more buried there but it was obvious Rose wasn't about to divulge their sordid past. "Besides, what I keep in my house is my business," Astrid then proclaimed.

"Atali,"

"Yes Miss,"

"Please go and put in a purchase order for enough supplies for a studio," Astrid said. "Have the products delivered to the manor by the end of the day,"

"As you wish," Atali gave a sharp bow before entering the establishment.

Rosalinda just gaped at Astrid's audacity. "Ah to be young and rich," Astrid teased. "Please feel free to use the newly made studio as you wish. I very much suck at drawing and painting so I would love it if someone made use of the purchased products," She then said to the still flummoxed Rose.

"You are one weird woman Astrid Hofferson," Rose uttered.

"I prefer... eccentric," Astrid smirked as Atali came out of the shop after placing the order.

They did some more window shopping and by the time they got back to their carriage a little over two hours had passed. Their coachman opened the door for the ladies and set about driving them back home.

As the houses became further and further apart, the Aristocratic quarter of the capital becoming apparent with its sprawling gardens and wide acres of land that housed mansions much like Astrid's own. Astrid looked out the window lazily before she sat up suddenly and her eyes widened.

"We're going the wrong way!" Astrid exclaimed which caused both Atali and Rose to sit up straight and pay attention. Astrid kicked herself for not noticing sooner. She had dropped her guard and now who knows what was happening.

"Hey!" Rose yelled while banging on the carriage wall, hoping the driver would notice but it was to no avail.

"The doors are locked from the outside," Astrid gritted her teeth as she said this. She tried pushing against the door but the carriage suddenly gained speed and she was thrown towards Atali who had been seated opposite the ladies.

"Well it's save to say he heard you, Rose," Astrid grumbled as she stood up. "It looks like the driver picked up speed once you made a racket."

"What? Why?!" Rose questioned.

"I guess he doesn't have to pretend anymore to take us home. It's safe to say we're being kidnapped," Her eyes narrowed as she picked up her skirts.

"Your Ladyship what are you doing?!" Atali asked as Astrid began kicking the glass of the carriage window with her heels.

"Creating an opportunity!" Astrid stated as her heel left a crack in the glass. "This time I am annoyed at proper craftsmanship," She muttered. When the glass finally broke Astrid reached through it towards the door handle on the outside. The carriage was picking up more and more speed before suddenly veering to the right. Astrid got thrown back by the force of the turn and ended up with a large gash on her arm from where the remaining glass cut her.

"Your Ladyship!" Atali said as she quickly tended to her employer.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. Help me get rid of the rest of this glass." She uttered.

"It looks like we're heading for White Castle Forrest," Rose observed as she peered through the other side of the carriage.

Atali did her best to use her skirts to clear the glass still stuck in the broken window. When she was done however Astrid grabbed her by her middle and forced her out of that window.

"MY LADY!" Atali shrieked as she hadn't been expecting that. She had hit the ground hard and rolled a few times before being able to sit up. She looked at the retreating carriage with her Ladyship hanging her head out and mouthing something to her.

"Why did you throw her out of the window?!" Rose was panicking now as she gripped Astrid's shoulders.

"Because the maid would be the first person these kidnappers would kill," Astrid hissed. She brushed off Rose's hands and then ripped a piece of her dress to cover her wound. "We're Nobles. If these people want a ransom they will keep us alive. Atali holds no value for kidnappers."

"What if they don't want money?" Rose questioned.

"Then we pray that my knights find us soon," Astrid quietly said before looking back towards the broken window. It was tempting but Astrid knew that their wide skirts would never be able to fit through it.