A Little Get Together (Isa, Lilli, and Constance)

[Azzurra Cappelletti]

Azzurra walked onto the main grounds of the Cappelletti's land and set out a blanket on the ground and set out a variety of food. All she had to do now was wait for the rest of the girls to appear. She had told them to bring some pillows if they so wished. Azzurra had brought Eva with her and hoped that Lilliana would like it. In Azzurra's bag there was several pieces of jewelry wrapped up in some clothes to make sure that they didn't get damaged. The 20 year old woman smiled as she waited for her two cousins and Lilliana's closest confidate, Constance.

The woman brushed her dark hair back behind her shoulder as she waited for the three women to appear. She blinked her brown eyes and eyed the young mare that she had brought with her. She was a gift for Lilliana. This little picnic idea was a great way to learn more about her family and she was very excited to soon be in the company of the three women. Azzurra looked up at the blue, cloudy sky and smiled. It was a great day and a slight breeze was blowing. Her hair was continuing to blow in front of her shoulders.

The 20 year woman looked down at her light blue dress with gold trimmings. On her right wrist was one of the bracelets that she had made. Azzurra smiled. She loved the intricate designs that she had made on the golden metal leaves. The brown and green gems on her bracelet sparkled from the sunlight.

She sat on the blanket and took her heels off. They were beginning to hurt her feet from wearing them too long. She took them off, but hid them under her the hem of her dress as well as her feet. She wasn't sure if the rest of her family and confidants would approve of her not wearing her heels in public. Azzurra waited. She hoped that this little picnic would bond them closer together.

[Lilliana Cappelletti]

Lilliana walked barefoot on the grass of her parent's estate. She could feel the coolness of each blade as they tickled the sides of her small, pale feet. Her dark hair spilled over her back in waves and a slight breeze rustled through, playfully trying muss her hair. Her gray eyes sparkled in the sunlight as the excitement of having a picnic with her friends and close family vibrated through her body. Her little white fists held up her lilac skirts so she would not ruin the hem on the semi wet grass. She new that her cousin Azzura had brought a blanket, and Lilli held a pillow in her fist, along with a handful of lilac silk.

Soon, Lilli saw her cousin Azzura and she smiled such a bright smile that the dimples in her white cheeks deepened. Lilli could have such a childlike expression sometimes, though she was now considered a woman. Soon her parents would be throwing a ball in her honor where she was expected to meet suitors. She knew her mother had someone in mind already. Lilli did not know if she dreaded the day or was somewhat excited.

"Hello!" Lilli called out as she approached the blanket. "What a lovely spread," she continued, setting her pillow down. Azzura was not the closest cousin, though she was more familiar with her than other cousins. But she jumped at the idea of the four of them, Azzura, Isabella, and Constance, having a picnic. She did want to include Azzura in her close circle as Lilli did not have very many friends.

Adjusting the pillow, Lilli sat down, her lilac skirt spread gracefully around her. It was as if there was an innate gracefulness inside Lilli and she did not have to try. If only people could have seen her when she was younger. She had been so awkward, bumping into things and always bruising herself.

[Isabella Cappelletti]

The skirts of her pale emerald gown rustled slightly with the breeze and Isabella's own, hurried movements. She ran, in a most unladylike but dainty fashion, rushing to catch up with her cousin Lilliana who had ventured ahead of her with more purpose of direction towards Azzurra, their other cousin whom they were joining in a picnic. Isabella's hair tumbled around her shoulders, her curls flowing in their usual unruly manner, glinting in the sun rays. As ever, a stray curl fell across her eyes causing her to pause mometarily to brush it back with a sweeping movement of an elegant hand, before rushing onwards again.

To anyone that might have seen her at that moment, Isabella appeared almost like a child, bounding as she was towards her cousins, her movements overflowing with the varying energy of her light mood. She had woken that morning, as the warm sun had made its presence known as its heat radiated through her curtains, in an extremely pleasant humour and immediately become excited by the prospect of her pcinic today with her cousins and Lilliana's close friend and servant Constance. This of course was serves only as a perfect illustration of Isabella fickle moods; if she had woken that morning in a state of meloncoly or even snapish temper like she had been the day before then such an event would have been looked upon as a tiresome chore for a girl who desired nothing less than the giggling company of other young females.

Isabella, of course gave no thought to this as it was quite beyond her power to control anyway, and she felt her already bright smile widen as she reached the picnic, arresting the attention of the two already there by embracing them both in turn tightly within her arms.

"How long it has been, cousins since we have all been together like this?

Isabella, finished with her embraces, seated herself more comfortably upon the ground, arranging her green skirts over her long limbs in their folded position. Her hazel eyes darted around her surrondings, drawn for the first time by the natural beauty of such a glorious day, with the glowing sun that seemed to illuminate everything in a blanket of gold.

"Is it not the most beautiful day? Perfect for our picnic!

Isabella turned her attention back to cousins, smiling as she considered that they, in different ways and especially lovely Lilliana, were equally as beautiful as their enviroment. Not for the first time, Isabella felt a small pang of something akin to jealously as she looked upon her cousin's blushing prettiness. There was no spite behind the sentiment, as her affection for her cousin was to strong but Isabella, for an instant felt that she would like to know what it was truly like to have such truly pretty features rather than unique. The impulse fled however as Isabella contemplated that her own features, although not as widely appealing, were far from ugly and that if anything they suited her better, as her personality was as unique as her countenance.

Glancing across to her cousin Azzurra's bag, Isabella noted that the bundle of clothes therein seemed to be wrapped around something. Her curiousity sparked, she leant forwards to get a better look exclaiming as she did so;

"Azzurra, what have you hidden in your bag? Come you must show us!"

[Azzurra Cappelletti]

Azzurra grinned, "I will not show you until Constance gets here. I don't want to spoil the surprises, though one surprise is in plain sight." Azzurra stood and beckoned to Isabelle and Lilliana, "I brought her as a gift to Lilliana. I think she will like her." Azzurra winked at her younger cousin playfully before heading over to the strawberry roan named Eva. Azzurra waited for Lilliana's and Isabelle's replies. Azzurra would get Isabelle her own horse too when her own mare got pregnant again, but for now Eva was all she had to give away. Azzurra's eyes darted to the bag where she had hidden several extraordinary pieces of jewelry. She wondered which ones Isabelle and Constance would like.

Azzurra loved trying to tease her family members though she made sure that they were ones with senses of humor. Otherwise her jokes would be ignored and she would be yelled at. The 20 year old woman looked back at Lilliana. She loved doting her younger cousins with gifts. So far only a really small handful had ever recieved gifts from Azzurra. Now it was Lilliana's and Isabelle's turns to get a few gifts from Azzurra. She also couldn't forget Constance. The woman was a close friend of the Cappelletti family and Azzurra treated her like a cousin as well. For all Azzurra knew one of her dresses probably ended up on Constance when her cousins let other borrow Azzurra's clothes. Azzurra never saw her dresses on others, but she knew that it tended to happen and that made her happy that others wanted to try her dresses on.

Eva!

[Constance Adelardi]

Constance knew she was late. But that skirt had taken so long to mend that she had lost track of time, and become distracted with getting it right. Which was why she now found herself walking briskly through the Cappelletti house, heading for the grounds. Lilliana had invited her to join herself, Azzurra and Isabella for a picnic. Constance was embarrassed that she had let herself be late.

As she exited the house, her dress swished somewhat around her ankles and Constance had to pull the skirts up just a tad so she could move faster. She hoped she hadnt disappointed Lilliana.

When finally she caught sight of the other women, Constance breathed a small sigh of relief. And felt that light dusting that signalled her embarrassment make itself known on her cheeks. "I apologise for my tardiness," she apologised as she reached the blanket, releasing her skirts. Her voice was slightly breathy, the dash having effected her somewhat, but she smiled nonetheless. "I was mending a dress." She also gave a slight curtsy, respect must be maintained after all, before she joined the other women near the horse.

It took her a moment to understand what was going on, but when she did, her smile widened a little. She just knew Lilliana would be thrilled with the gift.

Constance knew Lilliana enjoyed the visits from her family. They had grown up together after all, so Aine had come to know alot about her friend and mistress.

[Azzurra Cappelletti]

Azzurra waved the late woman's apology away. "It's fine. This is just a little picnic and is not truely mandatory. Its just a little get together so we can get to know each other better." She smiled and said, "Constance I would like you to meet Eva." Azzurra had met Constance once or twice and was surprised she remembered her name. Azzurra did not have that much contact with either Lilliana or Constance and remembering the servant's name was truely shocking. The 20 year old woman smiled as she thought about the pieces of jewelry in the bag. What would Constance and Isabella say about getting gifts as well? Azzurra smiled again. She was sure that Constance would truely be surprised at the gift. Why should a servant get a gift such as what Azzurra was going to let her pick out?

Her hair hung loosely over her shoulders as she stroked Eva's soft nose. Lilliana had yet to respond and Azzurra was beginning to lose hope of a good response. After all she had spent many sleepless nights on what to do with Eva. Then one night several weeks before, Azzurra thought of Lilliana and Eva together. That was when Azzurra knew that Eva could go to Lilliana. It would be a great match and Eva was pretty gentle. The woman waited silently for replies all the way around.