Chapitre 1

Count's View-

9:57 pm

'It's raining harder.' I thought as I sat alone in my carriage. Thin drops of rain wove their way down the glass of my window, the passing faces of the public a blur of colour and sound.

"How much further to the manor Baptistin?" I asked, slightly annoyed at the traffic jam that seemed to last an eternity.

"Not much further my Master, only several minutes away." I sighed.

'Much longer and I'm afraid I may go insane from boredom.' I looked back out the window, a large brown coach with handsome grey horses pulled up next to mine, inside a young, fat woman robed in shrieking shades of green was yelling at the driver, a thin old man with graying hair was trying to calm her down as well as an obese older woman whom I assumed was the girls mother as she had the same black hair and blue eyes. A butler was sitting calmly in their midst, clearly only there to help if assistance was needed. The coach moved on and another identical one pulled up, my breath caught in my throat.

'Oh my…' There was a young girl sitting in the coach, her fingertips resting on the glass, her breath making soft misty clouds on the glass. Her eyes were a piercing shade of tropical green which looked very beautiful against her ivory blonde curls. I looked deeper into her eyes, she looked so sad, as though she was about to cry. She looked around; someone was in the carriage with her, her maid no doubt. The carriage pulled away but I continued to stare after the girl, the one with the sad green eyes.

"Baptistin!" I shouted out to him.

"Yes Master, we're almost there."

"The carriage that just passed us, whose is it?" Silence, then he spoke.

"I believe that those carriages belong to the Cutter family." Ah, the Cutters.

'A very wealthy family, but I though that they only had one daughter, and it was clear that the mad girl and the older woman were related. No matter, no matter, I at least need to know her name. Never had I seen anything so beautiful.' There was a sudden jerk; the carriage started moving again, the people outside a blur once again.

Estelle's View-

10:34 pm-

The carriage finally came to a stop, Mina walking out first, opening the umbrella for me to keep me dry.

"I told him that if he whipped the horses more, then we'd get there faster." Lottie screeched at Father, Step-Mother tapped Father on the back.

"Now Hungarius, you must listen to your daughter for advice, whipping the horses makes them faster and we'd have got here sooner." Father smiled.

"But Estelle thinks that whipping the horses is cruel and unnecessary. Don't you?" I opened my mouth to speak.
"It doesn't matter what she thinks now lets get inside before we all get wet." Step-Mother said as she pushed Lottie inside, Father looked at me and sighed. Yes, I know that I never speak up for what I want… Step-Mother or Lottie always shuts me up. Mina carried my things up to my new room, the house was very nice, the walls were made of wood but they had gold embellishments along them in intricate designs. The entrance hall had statues of stone young women in thin flowing robes holding jars which water trickled down into a pool underneath them.

"Miss, if it's not too bold to say… why have you turned down every proposal that's come your way?" I sighed.

"It's because all of them had only one thing in mind."

"But what about Monsieur Lee? It was clear that he fancied you, and not just for your future fortune." Mina opened the double doors at the end of the hall, the room inside was beautiful, the walls were made of a dark wood and servants were already starting to assemble a king sized bed and place my furniture around the room.

"Your father said this was to be your room, is that alright Miss?" I walked over to the window and thrust open the gossamer curtains. The view was spectacular; the city of Paris was magnificent, the lights twinkling in the distance, the Eiffel tower shimmering with lights. I turned and smiled at Mina, she looked surprised and blushed.

"It's wonderful Mina, give my father my thanks." She bowed deeply.

"Miss, I had never seen you so happy. You honor me, you haven't smiled in months." My smile dropped and Mina started to unpack my things. Humph, there was nothing really to smile about. I moved from my old house in the countryside to the city, due to Lottie's violent requests for culture and fashion. The old house, where mother died… tears started to well up in my eyes. Oh Mother… I picked the small picture out of my suitcase, carefully wrapped in cloth so it wouldn't break. Me, Mother and Father… before he got married to Agatha. Mother was so pretty, her long blonde hair fell to her ankles, her eyes like cut emeralds, I looked nothing like Father. I placed the picture on my bedside table, next to the small gold clock that Mother gave me when I was small. Evening came and we were all seated around the 12 meter long dining table, Lottie now scoffing down her third helping while I picked at my first. Step-Mother cleared her throat.

"Girls, apparently there is going to be a winter party the Lee's are throwing tomorrow night-" She pulled out her purse, her fat little fingers rummaging around before pulling out four slips of paper.

"-and we've been invited." Lottie looked up, gravy dribbling down her chin.

"Why's Estelle invited? I mean, she never does anything, she just stands there and looks stupid." I sipped my wine, ignoring her.

"Don't say that about your sister Lottie! She's coming too whether you like it or not."

"Step-sister." I muttered under my breath, Step-Mother heard me and gave me an icy look.

"Oh! Oh! Can I go shopping for a new dress! I need one for the party and a matching pair of shoes and jewelry and a new corset-"

"Estelle would you like to go with your sister and find a new dress as well." I opened my mouth to speak.

"No, no, she's already got so many lovely things, I'm sure that we'll find something that she can wear." Step-Mother said, patting my head like I was one of her dogs. Father gave me a sympathetic look and continued eating.

"May I be excused? I'm not really hungry." Father nodded and Step-Mother started on her third glass of wine. Mina was waiting for me out in the hall, her face framed by her pretty red curls.

"Oh Miss, if I can, can I help you find something for the party tomorrow?" Mina asked as I walked back to my room, she following behind me.

"I'll discuss it later Mina, prepare me a bath if you would be so kind." She bowed and hurried off, minutes later the sound of running water was heard and the sweet smell of floral soap wafted through my bathroom. Sinking into the warm water, Mina started to wash my back.

"Mina?"

"Yes Miss?" I scrunched my knees into my chest; my wet hair falling around my face.

"Do you know why Lottie and Agatha hate me so much?" Mina stopped washing my back and started rubbing shampoo into my hair.

"It's not really my place Miss but… I think it's because your father gives you more love and attention than he does to his wife and step-daughter. After all Miss, he loved your dear mother with all his heart." I sighed and uncurled my legs.

"What do you think I should wear to the party tomorrow?" I looked around, Mina was smiling happily.