The home was locked tight, keeping the chill winter air at bay as it tried with a passion to squeeze through the smallest of cracks in the stonework, whistling down the chimney to the guttering flames of the dying fire. Several days had she spent in the home, a product of an injury to her ankle whilst traipsing around the woodlands, but now sufficiently healed she made her escape to the town to replenish the larder. Such time in her home afforded her some luxuries, time to focus upon her work, her writing and of course, the company of her betrothed being one of them. He had been quarrelsome of late, though like the fire, their arguments died down. Much had happened in their relatively short association, as a result she could forgive his words and humoured them with explanations, yet felt them unnecessary other than to appease him. She was her own woman with a long, colourful past considering she was yet to reach thirty years. Too much had happened, too much to explain over dinners and sleepy morning conversations. Upon the bookcase, placed between books of anatomy, horticulture, botany and the like was a simple leather bound journal, one that held her thoughts.
In truth, I know not why I bother! Coin has often bought me whatever I wish, perhaps it should have been a simple man, but instead I had to listen to that girl and take her suggestion of hiring her man. The problem I am finding with men is their increasingly irritating belief that they must know everything, every little detail, even if it does not pertain to them.
Atharann, a hunter, good at tracking she claimed, so why did he feel the need to know where I was keeping his quarry? Does he go to every woman who calls upon him and insist on looking at every part of their home? I highly doubt it! Yes, yes I can understand his concerns, though why ever would he think I was incapable of keeping such a creature when I clearly specified what I wished, I do not know! Every creature in my possession is like a child to me, nurtured, protected, held with the utmost care. I was not about to introduce him to my other pets, he would likely have fainted, lectured me, or run off with them to some deep dark cave to release them leagues from the town. Foolish me, a simple, stupid woman who obviously has no thought for consequences, obviously! Such arrogance makes me more than a little irate. I sent him on his way, I will not compromise, especially when the payment I offered was eye wateringly more than a few coppers.
Rue, my sweet, irritating, loving, wonderful, sulking, yet addictive Rue. I have a past, a very colourful past. You must accept this and not snap at every new revelation. Have I betrayed you? Do I keep a secret lover beneath the bed? No, nor would I. Devotion, pure utter devotion is paramount and something I have given you, expecting nothing less in return. That is all that matters. My past dalliances are inconsequential, with men who have either departed this mortal life, or should, or have been forgotten. You are what I hold in my heart now, see in my future. In the days to come we shall learn more of one another, I fear painful conversations will be held but it is to be expected if we are to give ourselves to each other fully, not solely in the physical sense. I have regrets, things that haunt me to this day and I would be ignorant to think you did not also. We are two strong minds, ones that shall bicker yet meet, with compassion and acceptance. I am determined that this shall not fail over the ghosts of the past.
