Chapter One

Good in Goodbye

London was having unseasonably warm weather for a spring morning as Maria took her routine walk through the park. It was one of the few times she managed to escape her caretaker since birth, Miss Heliotrope. The woman oftentimes still treated Maria as a child even though she had just reached her 17th year. Heaven's this was the year she would be presented to society as a young woman; she was most certainly not a child.

Over the years Maria had grown in a liking to her mother, not that she knew firsthand as her mother died in childbirth, but Miss Heliotrope told her so about every other week. Long dark locks and fair skin had been her mother's trademark, and now they were Maria's. Her petite stance and her tendency to bend the rules were other traits she inherited from her mother. Her father had claim only on her eyes as Maria had the Merryweather stormy grey eyes.

It was as she reached the edge of the park that she noticed some military men moseying along the streets. She would normally think nothing of it except she recognized some were from her father's regiment. That must mean her father had returned to London. Without hesitation she turned to the right, back towards the direction she had come from. Dodging her way through the London streets as fast as she could without seeming unladylike Maria made her way home as quickly as possible. Her hastiness wasn't because she was excited to see her father but for the fear of what he would take from the house next to try and pay off his debt.

Maria kept a jewelry box that had been her mother's at the bottom of her trunk that had a few trinkets from her late mother. She dreaded the day her father found them and tried to use them to pay off his gambling debt. Once the house was in view Maria forced herself to slow down, trying to retain full composure. The maids must have been watching for her because one of them opened the door as she was climbing the front steps and ushered her into the house. Miss Heliotrope was in the study with a military man who was, only slightly surprisingly, not her father. He was a courier from her father's regiment there to deliver a letter.

Taking it from him Maria unfolded it slowly, expecting it to be another letter requesting she sell something else and send the money to her father. Maria never expected it to contain the message that her father was dead. The shock hit her hard turning her veins cold. As much as she hated when her father would come home and pillage the house for money Maria never wished death upon him. He was after all her father, the only parent she had since birth. The letter went on to state the burial was to take place in two days' time. There would be no funeral, her father would not get buried like soldiers should because he could not afford it. She was a little surprised he could afford to keep the house.

"He lost the house?" Maria whispered as she continued to read past the part where her father had died. The soldier in front of her nodded his head at her, pity in his eyes. Maria hated being pitied.

It was not her that ought to be pitied but her dead father who wasted his life away drinking and gambling and avoiding his duties to his family. Even when he previously had come back to London with his regiment it had been his second in command who had come to dine at the house—without her father. No, her father avoided the house at all costs, choosing to spend his time 'home' gambling. Maria assumed it was because she reminded him of his late wife. He probably had also blamed Maria for her mother's death.

"I suppose I'm lucky he didn't sell me off for his debts as well," Maria commented dryly. Once again she had spoken without thinking of the consequences. The soldier had a startled look on his face while Miss Heliotrope was simply horrified.

"Maria, you shouldn't say such things!" Miss Heliotrope exclaimed. She was always telling Maria what she should and should not do.

"It was only a joke," Maria retorted crumpling the letter, throwing it into the fireplace and watching it burn. Miss Heliotrope showed the man out, thanking him for bringing the news. As if it was something they had wanted.

"Well, I suppose there is nothing left to do but to write your Uncle. He is, regrettably, the only family you have left." With that Miss Heliotrope bustled off to find parchment and a pen.

The only family she had left: those words echoed in Maria's head. Miss Heliotrope was wrong. Maria had no family left. She hadn't for a very long time. However, a girl of 17 could not live alone in London society, so it seemed going to live with her Uncle was her only choice. She was not worried about her Uncle turning her away. She was after all family, and no matter how little one was familiar with family, they could never turn away from them. That was something Maria learned over the years of dealing with her father.

As Maria had expected a return letter from her Uncle inviting her to come stay with him at his estate came just before her father's burial. She folded it into her sleeve as she followed Miss Heliotrope to the funeral home where they would meet to walk with the coffin to the cemetery. The only other people who joined them at the cemetery were Father Michael, and the two gravediggers. It was weird: burying her own father. She supposed she should have been prepared for it, seeing as her father was in the army and fighting for one's country often resulted in death. Then again, with everything he had been through she had almost thought him to be invincible.

Caught up in her thoughts Maria hadn't realized Father Michael was done with his prayer and had spoken to her. He had to repeat his question to Maria: would she like to say any last words? When nothing came to mind she simply shook her head as her answer. There was a soft laugh echoed in the wind at her response as though her denial was entertaining. Looking around Maria did not see him until she turned her head back towards one of the stone structures. He was dressed all in black, fitting for a burial, leaning against one of the pillars carelessly. Perhaps he was one of her father's acquaintances—if so her father probably owed him money. Was he the one stealing the house from her?

The boy's eyes bore straight into her as if he enjoyed her discovering his presence. Not wanting to give him any more satisfaction Maria turned her attention quickly back to her father's grave. She tossed one of the two roses she had plucked from a vase in the foyer of her old home onto the coffin. It made a final sounding thud as it hit. The other she placed gently on her mother's grave as she said a silent prayer for the woman who gave her life for her baby girl. Turning subconsciously as she straightened up she found the pillar where the boy had been standing empty. Curious was all she thought before Miss Heliotrope put a hand on her arm, inquiring if she was alright.

There was supposed to be a meeting with her father's lawyer after the burial. Maria already knew what they would be told: there was nothing left to her father's name and so nothing left for her to inherit. Refusing to go to the meeting, claiming she wanted to stay alone by her parents grave as an excuse, Miss Heliotrope relented, leaving Maria to go to the see the lawyer without her. However, Maria was only left alone for a few moments.

"Maria?" A deep voice questioned from behind her. Turning quickly, half expecting the mysterious boy to be the owner of the voice, her dark hair whipped her left cheek. Standing about ten feet behind her was a fair haired young man in uniform.

"Fredrick." Maria had not expected the soldier from her father's regiment—his own second in command's son—to make an appearance here. The man's own father hadn't even come. "I mean, Sargent Woodhaven," Maria corrected herself. A lady was not to address a man by his first name and though she wouldn't normally follow that rule Maria was unsure how Fredrick would feel about her addressing him by the familiar name.

"I came to pay my respects. I didn't want to intrude so I waited until the ceremony was over." He seemed to feel the need to explain his presence. As if he would have been intruding. It wasn't as though the priest or the grave diggers would have minded.

"Quite the contrary. I believe my father liked you more than me anyways." Maria sent him a wry smile as Fredrick refuted the statement profusely. Fredrick had always been one of her father's favorites within the regiment. She swore he sometimes forgot that Fredrick wasn't his own son. When her father would write to her occasionally he had always mentioned the young man.

"It's getting late," Fredrick interrupted the silence that had fallen between the two. "May I escort you back to your house?"

Maria studied the young soldier in front of her as he held out his arm at his question. He had matured since the last time she had seen him. His jaw was stronger and dusted with light facial hair. Maturing was to be expected as it had been several years since him and his father had come to dine with her and Miss Heliotrope. She wondered if she looked much different than he remembered. Other than her hair being longer and her growing a smidge taller Maria herself did not see much of a difference in her own reflection.

"Of course." Even if she had wanted to refuse she could not. It would seem rude and it was never seen as prudent for a young lady to walk the streets at night alone. Just as he was turning towards the street Maria turned towards the walking path she had followed in. "That is, if you do not mind walking," she called back over her shoulder.

He did not mind walking in the least, if his following her was any indication. The two ambled along in silence for a little while as they made their way through the cemetery. When they passed the stone pillar Maria's thoughts briefly went to the strange boy had been standing by it earlier. But as soon as it was left behind, so was the boy from her thoughts.

"How long have you been in London?" It was the first topic of conversation Maria could think of to start. The question itself seemed safe enough. Surely no awkwardness would be ensued.

"A little more than a week." A week. Her father had been in town a week and had not even bothered to come home. She tried not to be too affected by this.

"Are you to stay in London long?" Most often her father would only come to town for a week or two before his regiment was shipped out again.

"At least two months this time." Frederick answered with a smile. He enjoyed the time he could spend at home as he didn't have the occasion to stay there very long. Two months was longer than most times. "I was actually hoping I could call on you some time."

Maria was stunned at that last part. Did he mean the calling part the way she thought he did? No, but of course not. He could not. She would surely always be the little girl belonging to the Colonel. It did not matter anyways, she would not be here long enough for him to come calling.

"As it would be I will only be in London but a few more hours." As per her Uncle's letter she would be leaving in a carriage for his estate tomorrow morning. Perhaps leaving London behind forever.

"You will not be staying in London?" Fredrick questioned astonished. He had had plans, plans that most certainly included Maria being in London. This was the year London would see her as a lady, the year she could accept suitors.

"He lost the house, Fredrick." It embarrassed her to admit it, but she was sure he must already know of her father's gambling ways. Everyone in the army knew. Maria was half certain everyone in all of London knew as he owed money to half of them. "I am to go and stay with my Uncle in the country."

"The country?" The way he said it made it sound as if he was snubbing it. Most born and bred Londoners did, however Maria had thought with his travels he wouldn't think so lowly of it.

"It's not as if it is an exile," She giggled at Fredrick's slightly horrified expression. The country couldn't be all that bad. "A change of scenery might be nice. Perhaps the country air will even do me some good."

Fredrick did not want to diminish Maria's hope of some good coming out of her moving to the country. His one consolation was that at least she would be away from other suitors whilst she was there. It would mean he would not worry so whenever he was called away again. Maria had always been a pretty girl and she had grown into a beautiful woman. It might be selfish but in a way, after all their years of knowing one another, Fredrick felt an almost claim to her. If she could not be his, then he would rather her not be anyone else's.

"Promise you'll write." Fredrick spoke once they had reached Maria's house. He saw his time with her dwindling and did not want this to be the last contact they had.

"I'll try. If I have time." She was only partly joking. Maria was not the best when it came to corresponding long distances. Quite frequently she would forget to write or quit because there was simply nothing interesting to write about.

"At least promise you will let me know if you come back to town." Fredrick implored her. Maria was confused at this new eagerness to keep in contact with her. Before he was perfectly happy with the occasional dinners he was forced to attend by his father.

"If I do." She consented. It seemed a very big if to Maria. With no family in London she did not know what would ever require her to come back, or even give an excuse for her to come back.

"Until we meet again." Before Maria knew what was happening he took her right hand in his and pressed his lips against it. It was certainly unexpected and thus as he released his hold and turned to leave Maria could think of nothing to say. As she turned away and went to retreat inside she only hoped none of the maids had witnessed this for they would surely tell Miss Heliotrope and then Maria would never hear the end of it.

Hey everyone. So I came across this lovely movie and decided I wanted to write my own story about Maria. It will not follow the exact plot line of the movie (and probably not the book either though I have not read it yet) if you haven't already guessed that. The next chapter will be in Robin's point of view. I will probably switch on and off throughout the story. As always I love to hear what everyone thinks so reviews are welcomed. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it.

Rach

xoxo