Chapter 33 A Rose By Another Name

• Three stories under her large balcony, Nicholette could see the manicured orchard that extended into the herb garden to one side and the courtyard to the other. Her, Amaranta and Raquel had the best view from the keep and could appreciate the beauty of the blooming flowers and the busy work of all of the people that maintained the House's functions. During summer nights, if the wind turned their way, they could catch the fragrances of the herbs and during most of the year, they could hear the song of the birds that came to feed off the fruits that hung untouched.
• The orchard wasn't used to replenish the house’s pantry. They were decorative, even if their fruit was healthy and sweet.
• The other great advantage the orchard brought was serving as a cover for discreet encounters. All of the girls had already led a guest or a special friend under its shades for a more intimate conversation. At night, the orchard, albeit not a big one, served very well for a hiding place, if the evasive deceiver would be quiet and not make much of a fuss. It wasn't a place Nicholette could take Captain Theobald, for one. But it was one where a lover could whisper beautiful things in the night, had that lover any interest in talking to someone from the first floor.