Chapter I
She never thought that she would come back. But now she was standing in the hall of the castle, her hand pressed against her nervous stomach. She didn't know what would await them here. Three years have passed since she left. And in these three years, nothing had changed, at least visually. Everything just looked like she had imagined it in her memory. Frozen in time.
Kenna recalled how often she was running along the corridor, laughing with her friends and chatting. But the girl that she was once no longer existed. The three years had left their marks. Imposed decisions let her grow up. She had traveled far, had much seen and experienced, and had met many interesting people during the years. Men among others, wealthy and smart, who would have loved to marry her and give her a new home. But she couldn't stay long at a place. Feeling restless she had to travel again. And how could she have explained to all the men, that her heart was not free even though she was legally unbound? Therefore, she was always gone when a relationship became too serious.
Maybe she was returned for this reason, because in this castle everything had started and ended. She never could remove herself from this place, not emotionally at least. Maybe she has to come to terms with her past before she could think about a future. It was not only for herself, she owed her son a better life. Involuntarily she smiled as she thought of him. He was the reason why she had left everything behind at the time. And he was also the reason, why she came back to where everything started three years ago...
"Milady Kenna?"
Absentminded, Kenna looked up and noticed only now that she was not alone. Bernadette, the nanny stood beside her, in her arms Kenna's sleeping son.
"I think he's tired. He was awake the whole time in the carriage and now it is time to lay him down."
Kenna nodded and looked around searching. She had written a letter to Mary that she would come. She hoped that her friend had received the message. But she was not sure because she had sent the letter from the other end of the world.
"Daniel?" Kenna nudged her sleeping 2 1/2 year old son. But he didn't budge.
"This way!" Kenna took her case from the floor and walked along the long corridor. "I hope it is alright that I'm sleeping in my old chambers. If I could I would ask Mary. But she is not present." She shrugged and kept going.
Bernadette nodded hesitantly. "Are you sure Milady? Are we not intruding?"
Kenna nodded decisively. In the three years she had learned to take what she wanted. She had never had a problem with lack of self-esteem, but time had made her even more determined and confident.
"I'm sure."
Purposeful, she was heading toward her old chambers and shoved the heavy door open. For a moment she stopped and looked around. Three years had passed, but everything looked just as she had left it. She looked over to the bed, that was covered with a heavy blanket of Brocade. Sentimental feelings washed over her. She coughed slightly.
„Lay him down over there!" she gave order to the nanny. "He can sleep in the bed."
Bernadette nodded and laid the sleeping boy down on the bed. Gently, she took off his shoes and put them on the floor.
"There is a chair." Kenna showed in a corner of the room. "Sit down and get some rest! I'll be right back."
She bent down to her sleeping son and stroked his smooth dark hair. He looked so peaceful when he was asleep, she thought. And he resembled his father more from day to day. This fact made it not easier for her to forget the past. Sighing, she pressed her lips on Daniel's forehead and left the room. She had to find Mary and tell her that she had arrived.