A Hole in Time

"Oh no, I think it's lovely," Natalie said, to her it looked fine but then again she had no clue what was considered modern or out of fashion. "I've never worn a dress like this one before." In fact the only dress she'd owned and used was a knee length one that wouldn't hinder her movement too much, but as long as she didn't have to run around and helping the neighbours with their dogs or ride a horse then she should be fine with this length.

There it was, the question she had dreaded. What on earth could she tell them that wouldn't lable her as a crazy person and at the same time not get her caught up in some elaborate half lie that would come back and bite her. "I...don't know," she said after a few beats of hesitation. It was a cliche but playing the amnesia card could perhaps work, and maybe it wasn't that common in the past than it was in her time. "I just know that the pond in the woods here looks identical to the one near my home that's probably why I was so confused when I saw it earlier." It wasn't a total lie at least, the two ponds were identical beacause they where the same one.
 
"That is not uncommon for women in our times that were alone out in the woods and another comes up upon us," the older woman said though there was a dislike in her tone at the idea of such. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet someone as frank as you. You have no idea how much our first daughter-in-law would simper and purr and pretend that she had come only for her husbands eye, if you will excuse my own frank nature. I'm not one these days to beat around a tree so to speak."

Ailred gave a soft chuckle before shifting slowly around the room to his fathers desk, drawing a small design on it with a light fingertip. "Mother, father, would it be all right for her to stay here until we can create a party of riders to escort her back to her homeland, should we find the part of the clan which she belonged?" he asked before coughing and breaking into a smile after his mother gave him a telling glance. "If the lady would like to that is."

Ailred's father was quiet for a time considering his family and the new woman. "My wife seems to like you. My son seems to find your accident to be intriguing. I have no problems with you staying as long as you need Lady Natalie. Our home is yours, until you find your feet again should you so choose."
 
Natalie had to smile at that, she already like Ailred's mother, she hadn't expected someone as frank and, well, friendly while still keeping a distinguished air of a noble woman. "Well milady, I prefer to be forward at once to avoid any confusion or misunderstandings that could arise otherwise," Natalie said trying her best to speak politely and in a way that would fit these times though she doubted it would work to a hundred percent. Though as she spoke Natalie was aware of the hypocrisy in her own words, she was not forward about her own problem but, she had to admit, it was an acceptable deviation.

"Thank you milord," Natalie said with sincere smile, giving a silent sigh of relief. "It's very kind of you to let me stay here and I will try to not be a burden." One stone lifted from her shoulders, leaving many still but at least some part of the worry was solved for now. "If I can do anything to pay for my stay I can not offer money but I'm not afraid to work." Having never been one to accept things for free Natalie had no intention of living here for free, it would feel like she was leaching off their kindness.
 
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