Park Life

[Estella Valenduris]

The air was cold and there was a deep chill that could get into your bones if you sat for too long in one place and everyone was wrapped in thick woollen coats or shawls, most of the old men had the old furred hats to fend the cold from their ears as they played and fingerless gloves to stave off the nip of the colder air, the women sat in heavy coats and scarves. It was cold for a summers day- almost bitterly so, as the grove in which the game tables were clustered was simultaneously shaded from the sun and a wind tunnel. Stella faltered for a moment at the edge of the group considering if Ombre or chess was the game of the day. She wore a thick navy blue wool coat that kept her chest snug and warm but she was still not at full mass and today she felt the cold in the air. The day before she had come into the park with her ladies maid, to play chess – it had been a finer day and some sunshine had actually managed to penetrate the deep shade of the trees. However, it was her day off and Estella was left to her own company, she was aware of how much she relied on the other girl for company – her only companion when she had come from Sweden, she had been a charity pupil at her finishing school, and with no other prospects she had come with Estella as a maid. The game provided them with an opportunity to talk setting aside their other concerns over chess.

She had dressed that morning for the day, wrapping up warmly for the day. The day before there had been cold winds and rain from the north. Estella had been used to cold winters and cold days, even during the summer so when the sky had grown cloudy the night before she had asked her chamber servant to remove some heavier clothing and warmer under things. Still she had needed a shawl and had contemplated a hood or bonnet before heading out today. She had decided against them at the last minute but within minutes the wind had accosted her hair, pulling out the heavy curls which she had taken the time to put in the night before, and with a swish of her wand she drew the strands of hair back and up from her face.

Estella glanced from one table to another, and then sat down at a table where both the card game ombre and chess could be played. She hoped that someone would join her for the game, to play with her in some matter or other but if not then she would play a game alone in the Meantime.