"Immalaine, could you please come here a moment?" Zandrianna called out the main room.
Having just put the baby down for her nap, Immalaine poked her head out of the room she shared with Althessia. "Yes, Lady Zandrianna?" she replied, looking curiously at her employer and friend, wondering what she wanted to speak to her about.
Turning from the bookcase she was perusing, Zandrianna smiled at the younger woman. "I was thinking," she began, taking a moment to look Immalaine over, "that if you are staying in my house and taking care of the baby, that I may as well treat you as I would any daughter of mine. And that means making sure that you have a good education."
A giggle of embarrassment escaped Immalaine's lips as she replied, "But Lady Zandrianna, I have learning. Me pa insisted on it, sayin' me ma would have wanted it. I can read well 'nough an' I reckon I count pretty good too. ... Least 'nough to count th' crops an' measure foods fer cookin."
With a smile, Zandrianna nods and walks to the center of the room, handing Immalaine a small tome. "Yes, and it's a good start, but we will see about improving those skills, amongst other things." she replied, watching as Immlaine took the book and opened it.
"What are these things?" Immalaine asked, looking on the book in curiousity and bafflement.
"The tome you are holding right now, it is a book about the elves of Rivendell. One of many tomes that Kom brought home from his travels. There are many such history books, books about lands, in his collection. And it is one of the things we shall start you learning."
"One o' them?" Immalaine looks up from the book, her eyes wide. "But Lady Zandrianna ... t'is a lot right there!!"
Zandrianna throws her head back, laughing melodiously. "Indeed it is child, but learn you can, because you're quite smart. I can tell simply by the way you memorize recipes, and how you manage everything at the house. But it is only one of many things. Your speaking for one ..."
A strangled sound comes out of Immalaine. "What's wrong wit' me speakin'? I speak clear 'nough fer folk t' understand me. Dun I?"
"Of course you make yourself understood, sometimes even better than most people with their fancy words. But we can improve your speech, polish it as it were, so you speak more like a lady."
"More like you, ye mean?" Immalaine countered.
"Yes, I imagine so. More like me, and it will help you out as well, when it comes time to go and sell your foods, or purchase supplies. People will not assume you are lacking in intelligence, and therefore less likely to take advantage of you."
Immalaine frowned at this. "I hadn't thought that way, but I reckon you've the right of it. An' I ain't one who wants fer people t' think me addled."
"Certainly, and you are far from addled Immalaine, though you act before you think at times. Something else we will be working on. Along with reading,, and math ... and music. And," Zandrianna pauses, looking at Immalaine's dress, "We have to get you a new wardrobe too, I think." she says, musing aloud.
"But ... what's wrong wit' this dress?" Immalaine said, baffled. "T'is clean an' mended, an' asides, I got that pretty one what ye loaned me. An' another dress fer workin' in th' fields."
"Well, every young lady should have a wardrobe of everyday and special occasion dresses, Immalaine. And with Rast taking on this new position, he's going to have to dress more befitting the role. It would not do to have you dressed in mended clothes, especially if you're to be seen with him."
Looking down at her dress, Immalaine frowns. "I hadn't thought o' that either." she said. "I reckon there's lots I hadn't thought of, that ye have Lady Zandrianna." Fidgeting with the fabric of her skirt, she stares silently for a moment, before looking back up at the older woman, determination in her deep green eyes. "A'right, then I reckon it's time I get started learnin' ... I guess I'm learnin' t' be a lady then." Immalaine finishes with a grin.
Zandrianna smiles back, taking Immalaine into a motherly hug. "Yes Immalaine, that's exactly what you'll be doing. Shall we begin?"
Together, the two went to sit before the fire, as Immalaine began her first lesson ...
