Market day
Chapter 3
Time jump of two years- Penny is now 18
The morning sun peaked over the horizon and sprayed golden rays through Penny's bedroom window, waking Penny from her fitful sleep.
She got ready for the day accompanied by the morning bird's singing. She brushed her hair and hummed the bird's tunes, dressing in her market outfit as today she had to go and buy groceries. This was her favourite day because it was one of the few that she was allowed outside of the house grounds. She could also help and make herself useful on her own terms which never ceased to lighten her heart. But she couldn't do this all without doing her daily morning chores. First, she fed the animals, then she made tea and breakfast and while she was waiting for that to cook she would clean the kitchen, set the table and do the laundry. Penny loved the morning because it was so quiet and if she really focused she could pretend she was still in the small cottage by the river helping her mother. But she was always startled from that daydream by the bells ringing and the shouts of her 'name'. Now in this house, she was known as Cindy, due to her first day in the house and her chores getting her all dirty. It hurt for the first few months but then Penny told herself that these people didn't deserve to use the name she was given by such kind and loving people, it was now one of the few things she had left of her childhood and she was glad it hadn't been tainted by this house and family.
After she had fed her step-family and made sure she had picked up any stray laundry lying about, Penny was finally making her way towards the market. {Shes wearing this} Penny was happily humming to herself, making sure to stop and appreciate every flower, when a carriage flew past going over a puddle and spraying mud st her as well as making her lose her balance. She landed with a small 'oof' but quickly sat up to look over the damage. Her dress was covered in little specks of dirt and there was a chunk of it in her hair, as well as little scrapes on her hands from falling, but she decided she was okay and, after brushing herself off, she continued towards the market. That is until she heard a shout from behind her that made her stop and turn. Behind her, there was a blond man about her age running towards her. Penny frowned in confusion and waited for the man to catch his breath before asking if he was okay.
"Am I ok? We nearly ran you over!" Theboy exclaimed, shocking Penny, "No, miss I should be asking if you are ok. I'm terribly sorry about your dress, oh look now you're covered in mud! Here take this for your troubles it's the least I can do." He said reaching into his pocket and holding out a pouch of coins. Penny was frozen for a moment, this person was apologising and offering her money? No one had been this kind since... May. And she thought the boy looked familiar but she couldn't figure out why... And then she realised he was still standing there looking sheepish and holding out the coins.
"Oh! No, I couldn't possibly take that, it was an accident after all. Nothing a quick wash won't fix, don't worry! Thank you though, but I do believe that if you are travelling at that rate you must be late for something important, I don't want to keep you." She said with a small smile while she pushed the bag of coins towards the stranger, "Good day, try not to run anyone else over!" She laughed and turned back to her path towards the market, continuing to hum.
~Perspective change~
Harley stood dumbfounded for a moment. This women just let him off for nearly running her over and then refused payment? And she didn't even recognise him! Or if she did she didn't care.
"Sire I do recommend we continue our journey, your mother and father want you at the palace as soon as possible." His driver shouted anxiously for his seat, not wanting to be the reason the prince was late.
That quickly snapped Harley out of his thoughts and he ran back to the carriage murmuring an affirmative. Harley honestly had no idea why his mother and father need him back so soon, he had only been out for three hours when he was called back and no one knew why. It was quite frustrating because he was having a lovely stroll through the woods before he was interrupted.
As they restarted their journey Harley's thoughts were pulled back to the women- no girl, she was about his age he would guess. She was beautiful, long curled brown hair, pink cheeks and cute little freckles. Though her dress was old and worn, peasant he thought sadly. Such a shame that some of the most beautiful people were so out of reach. He sighed and went back to wondering about the meeting.
~Perspective change~
Penny was finished with shopping so she decided to walk back to the house through the woods since it was always so peaceful there and it reminded her of all the times her and her mother would take walks through the forest and her mother would name all the flowers and trees they passed and when they found a clearing her mother would swing her around and dance. The memories brought a soft smile to her face and lifted her spirits a little.