Nestor awakened to the  dull thud of rain pelting the window. It was dark outside with only the barest hint of dawn trying to peak through the weather.  Feeling clammy and cool despite the large cover on him, Nessy decided to leap from the bed and dress. He wondered for a moment where his own clothes were as  he retrieved his borrowed things from where Kurt left them the night before.  He became aware of a sound as he put his shoes on... Oh , some one was tending the fire.  He hopped up and trotted around the bed to greet Kurt.

OH!  It was NOT Kurt! It was a GIRL!  A GIRL person in his room..... and him just dressing too!   He blushed and gasped and stomped his foot, lacking much social skill with servants  or girls. When he stomped the lass turned around. Her bonnet was much to big and folded back to reveal a small pinched face with a  single streak of soot on it. She saw the look on his face and biting her lip, she very hastily half curtsied and backed out of the room quickly. ""Oh bothe'r said Nessy aloud, whats' the matter with girls anyway?""  He could hear her very quick foot steps on the stone floor fading away. He had scared her probably .  He took himself to the top of the stairs and Kurt was there. Kurt waited  as Nestor descended the stair case and eyed the railing. " Good mor'row young Master, breakfast is this way."" "Kurt there was  ah... er... well.. ah... a girl in m' room when AY  dressed.
Din't seem right.".... Kurt was a  but a few years older than Nestor and he found he didn't quite know what to say. "A worker in the cast'l no doubt". Was all he finally managed.  ay' do b'leive so....  and her bonnet was to big too." Ay, ah dunnot think she saw me nor look'd me way while ay' donned me things." Nestor ventured slowly. "" Oh "" said Kurt. That would be Marlee, she's a relation and deaf too. Must of been tending the fire most like."  Aye, said Nestor she was at that.... Ay' do b'leive ay' skert her a terrible fright. " She's easily unsettled if she's not aware of someone about'. Aye she fairly run down the hallway. Nestor tone belied his guilty feeling. To breakfast then Young Master" said Kurt heartily. Nestor followed obediently, hoping  breakfast was plentiful and that he might find a nice pasty to offer Marlee should he see her again. He hated that he frightened her now.... His Ma'm did not hold with men who were not kind to women or boys who were not kind to girls, no matter how odd they ever seemed.

Once in the dinning hall Nestor's jaw fairly bobbed up and down as he took in the grandure of it all. Nothing was new for sure but it was grand in scale and told the nature of the fortune that must have built the place. Carlisle Castle was famous and had seen many battles over the centuries. It had Scottish and English and Cumbria blood on its' walls. It also had drapes and tapestries and all sorts of trappings. Things seemed a bit neglected, but not ragged by any means.  There at the other end of the room the younger Lord Menzies had just entered.

""Ahh Master Plimsoll you are up! I trust you slept well and are ready for a bite? "' Oh  yes sir,  good day sir, did you ah, ah, sleep well also?"" He had no idea if it was rude or right to ask such a gentleman and Castelier about his sleep.  the sleep of old men is not fit conversation for even a rainy day my lad.... surely you have a better theme in mind?"" The Menzies was cheerful and it was not a rebuke. Nestor pondered a moment as Kurt directed him to a seat four chairs down from the head of the table.   Well its' a dreary wet good morrow is it not lad? We'll have company for this days meat and bread. To wet to ride or take in the morning markets. My sister shall join us I think and her daughter and perhaps for Luncheon the Old Menzies  himself.
Nestor managed a smile. In truth the whole mention of it all upset him somewhat. Meeting grand ladies and Earls was beyond  a boy of Cornwall. He swallowed hard twice. The Menzie saw the streak of insecurity on Nessys' face and smiled and nodded. "We here at Carlisle are  quite down to earth m'boy. Don't fret a'tal. Ahh here comes the first of our meal....lovely stuff, ever had n'oronge' lad?"" He had given it the French accent.  He plunked one in front of Nessy. you picked up the round as a ball fruit. He sniffed it and was instantly watering in his mouth. As he was about to bite into it, Kurt cam to his service. " Pardon Young Master, you must remove the outer skin allow me please. " so Kurt pealed the orange and Nestor had what he believed to the best part of Heaven in his mouth an stomach. He almost rolled under the table in his pleasure. ""mummie d'ye see that lad there? He's nigh unto a faint, she now addressed Nestor. Have ye' never had the orange fruit before boy?"" Nestor was upright and choking on his last bit of orange meats.  Kurt was puonding him on the bakc and the Menzies was holding back a guffaw with great restraint.
When he was recovered only a littel the Menzie  introduced his neice. My boy, this is Lady Herminie. Lady Herminie this is Master Nestor Horaatio PLimsoll, and that woman behind lady Herminie is her mother Lady Corylene of Carlisle. Nestor stood and made as courtly a bow as he could. His face was read and his eyes a bit watery. Kurt poured him a coffee. Nestor reached for the creme and the honey. It helped him  regain some composure.

Nestor as mannerly as he knew how.. .His mother had taught him well and though he was not like a night or a gentleman he knew  some ettiquet for the table anyway.  Herminie chatted faster than Nestor could answer. She asked a great many questions about Nestor that made him blush or stammer. Finally she asked if he would like to go for a tour of all the interior of the wings of the castle. He did like that and so one more drink of the heavy coffee and with the Lord's permission the two  young ones ran off on  their way.

Lady Corylene asked her father. "Where did you say  you knew the boy from M'lord? " Oh I knew his mother when she attended the dances as young girl. Surely you remember Miss Esmeralda, Megheegan." Lady Corylene furrowed her brow. Do I know her father?" "I proposed to her when she was twenty and one. You were surely forteen at that time. Do you not remember the lively girl? "
"Oh THAT one... I was seventeen father, and she at least twenty two. And rather young for you to I may add, she broke your heart for nearly a month. The Menzies chuckeled and lost himself in memory for a few moments. Esmeralda was a lively gel' A gel' who could dance and light a room up with her presence."  That young man is her son and I have taken him in at her request as he journies to Scotland and her own relatives.  Father asked Lady Corylene, she was an heiress of sorts was she not? Of 'sorts' yes. Quite indeed as is the lad.  Was it Irish holdings ? But they live in Cornwall and he is little more than a peasent. He is a great deal more than a peasent my dear. Though it is not likely to ever do him any good. Is it.... illegitimate sir? Now daughter but few know the story and the truth, Menzies answered his daughter. I scarce know it all myself now. The very reason she refused me.... she did not does not in fact know who she iis..... and would not bring a scandel she said." I tried to convince her we were well enough off to buy silence if it cam to that. No I believe she knows only what others told her. Lads a bit small ain't he? The question ended the conversation.

Nesotr and Herminie were off on the rituals all children engage in when about the same age. Many questions and answers were bandied back forth. The as yet unkown or at least undocumented effects of the new world drink ''coffee'' ahd the twosome in very lively and animated talk and action. The rain did little to dampen the spirits of the children. Nestor was guided here and there and finally asked if they might see the room under the great staircase. Herminies face frowned in abject disgust. Why? she blurted out. Its' an old birthing room. Not much to see. ""But ""said Nestor its' locked and that makes it intrigue. ""Oh well then perhaps. If I can filtch the keys for us" said Herminie.

"We must find Marlee, I can tell her  tofetch the keys for us... she'll do it for us. She cannot hear you how....? How...?Nestor fumbled to find words.  Oh she understands signs and signals some.... said Herminie....how did you know she was 'deef' Nestor?  Herminies question made Nestor blush again.

"Well.... uh hum, er, ahh, well she was in me room of  t'early mornin' makin' the fire up. ' And well there she was... and later Kurt told me"...Nestor hoped she would not ask more questins she did have so many questions.  "Oh" was all Herminie said in  a flat tone.

Finally they found the serving girl Marlee. Hermimie stomped her foot hard and Marlee turned to see who was there. She blanched a little in her peaked small face when she saw Nestor.  Herminie used two fingers to imitate the action of a key in a lock... Marlee nodded and went to retrieve the keys.  "Please show me that sign, said Nestor are there more? He loved to learn new things.  I won't  said Herminie her head cocked to one side. Until you say how old you are boy. Nestor wrinkled his nose... You're like t'other girls after all... said Nestor, his digust barely hidden. Well if I am then tell me how old you are Cornwall boy. Nestor rolled his eyes. Ay have twelve summers on me, and ye? How old are ye?
You are not supposed to ask a laaaady, her age pouted Herminie. Well t'hat leave  us safe said Nestor you're a girl!   He was proud of his witty remark. " I am a laaaady,emphasized the young girl, " I could be called to court any day as I am thirteen now""...she clapped her hand over her mouth... Then  Herminie started to giggle overmuch. Nestor laughed a little too.

Marlee returned with a huge ring of Iron keys. When she held out her hand to give them to Lady Herminie she dropped them. The sound they made on the stone floor was thunderous and musical. Her face transformed to utter intrigue. She bent and picked up the keys and let them drop again to the floor. Nestor understood. "She hears that lady Herminie,  she has heard tha' great clanging of them keys on the floor!"  Herminie failed to comprehend. "Well for all that she just threw them on the floor again." This time Nessy took up the keys. He rattled them vigourously. Marlee gave a quick curtsy and  almost ran the other way. "Oh deary Ay've gone and frightent' her again. She'll be thinkin' Ay'm a rogue.  Oh why would you care what a serving girl thinks a'tall said Herminie. Now lets go unlock  that silly little room. Nestor didn't understand girls, Not serving girls, not lady girls.