Chapter One.

My bag was packed and placed by the door. The food I had prepared sat just under the fastening, wrapped in handkerchiefs for when I got hungry on the journey. I wrapped my brand new cloak around me, relishing in the softness and the heat it kept in.

I was finally leaving.

It had been exactly a month to the day since Ella and Christopher had gotten married. A month since I was a guest at the Duke's Palace, playing the part of a friend of the future Duchess, not simply an unemployed servant girl. It had taken almost that long to convince my Father to let me go. As I predicted, he was very reluctant to let me leave the safe confines of our village. But I wanted to see more of the world! I had been born in this village, spent my entire life there, and my father expected me to continue living there until I died.

That was not going to happen.

Some part of my knew that the fantasy of leaving home to seek my fortune was never going to come to fruition. I also knew the chances of having any sort of small adventure was minimal as well. But my heart refused to listen, and I had waited in anticipation of this day.

The day I left home, at last.

I knew it was not going to be forever, that was already one of the many terms my father had imposed on me before giving his consent. The others were; send home a note at least every week to ensure I was still alive, I was to visit home at least once every three months, that I would send home a small portion of my wages if I could afford it (mainly because they would need it more than I), and that I was not allowed to run off with any young men without first bringing them home so my father could suitably quiz them on their intentions.

I had my destination and route planned out. I was headed to the large village of Milton. It was about a day and a half's journey from my village, just out the other side of the forest that was the border of Duke Howards' land. The route was direct and well marked, so there was little chance of getting lost, and Father knew a lady in the village who had agreed to put me up for the night when I arrived in Milton.

The last month had been intense. Whilst working on my Father to let me go, I spent my time teaching Daniel and Clara how to cook and clean so they could manage without me. Daniel finally managed to make carrot soup that was both edible and contained more carrots than water. Clara could now sew rather well, and I had taken her to market with me a few times to show her what to buy. I also took her along as I missed Ella's company on my normal weekly shopping trip.

Ella no doubt was far too happy and busy to miss me. I got regular letters from her, detailing how content she was in her new marriage. She had settled into her new life with ease, as I knew she would, and continued to be the angel I knew she was. Ella had already made herself beloved of the people she would one day rule over, by frequently visiting the poor of the villages and delivering food and aid to those most in need. Her charitable work had earnt her an impeccable reputation throughout the county, and everyone loved her. Her Husband most of all. And she loved him with all her heart.

I knew this as every time I'd receive a letter from her, there would no doubt be a small paragraph of 'What Christopher had done for me recently' or 'How perfect is Christopher' or 'My marriage is so perfect and well suited, I believe no one else in the world is this happy.' Of course they weren't actually written like that, but I had read so many that even I was starting to get sick of hearing about their perfect life together.

She had visited me once since her marriage, about a three weeks after her marriage. She and Christopher called at our humble cottage for the afternoon. My Father made such a fuss about a Lord and Lady being in his house, even if he had known Ella for a long time. I think he was more nervous about Christopher. His eyes kept flickering to where the young lord sat, and continually offered him refreshment, or inquired after his comfort. I could tell that Christopher was quickly running out of polite responses to tell my father that he was perfectly content, and so I suggested to Daniel that Father might be of more use watching the little ones for a while. Daniel handled the situation very well indeed.

Ella had received my previous letter where I informed her that I was going to be leaving, and she had come to say farewell. She also came with a parting gift, a beautiful new cloak, made of forest green velvet. She told me she had bought it for me after it reminded her of my gown at the ball. It was not quite the same colour, but it would compliment it nicely.

The cloak was beautiful, floor length and fully lined. The clasp was made of bronze and shaped like a leaf, very intricately carved so much so it looked lifelike. Small leaf like patches of bronze coloured silk covered the bottom of the cloak, getting gradually thinner the further up the fabric they went. The overall effect was of autumn leaves freshly fallen on grass, trailing behind me as I walked. I loved it. It must have cost Ella a small fortune to buy, and I was about to reject it. Ella told me I was to do no such thing, and there was no need to worry about the cost, she was after all the future Duchess, money was no longer an issue for her.

I had confided in her the real reason for my foul mood on her wedding day. Christopher hadn't taken much time to tell her the truth, which I think was probably for the best. She wrote to me and told me that she knew about the crimes committed against her, and I had replied with a very lengthy apology for not helping her escape sooner. The guilt I felt over this issue consumed me for a short time after the wedding. While I had been at home for a year, wishing I could get away and dreaming, she had been horrible abused by her 'guests' and I had done nothing. Her own response had been just as kind as I expected. She told me there was nothing for me to apologise for, or to feel guilty about. In fact, she expressly forbid me from feeling this way over my past behaviour. Although this did not completely smooth my conscience, it certainly helped.

Along with the cloak, Ella also gave me a small purse of money to 'help me get set up when I get to Milton.' I told her it was far too much, but she wouldn't hear a word of it. I tried arguing with her, but as usual she won me over. That small purse lay at the very bottom of my bag, hidden out of sight. I knew I was quite safe if I stayed on the main road, but robbers were always a threat.

Christopher had also told me that the village of Milton was directly outside of his friend's castle. Apparently, Christopher's school friend Adam ruled over that county. Sometimes it helped to have contacts in high places.

One contact of Christopher's was particularly interesting to me. Of course, I am talking about Sir James Thorne. I did speak to him towards the end of the wedding celebration, where he expressed his confusion for no seeing me for most of the ball. I told him in no uncertain terms that it had something to do with the dark haired beauty that stayed by his side for most of the celebration.

'You seemed quite well entertained by someone for most of the time.' I told him.

'Who?' James asked me.

'I do not know, I didn't hear her name.'

'Oh, do you mean Imogen?'

'Anyway, you were occupied, so I enjoyed myself, is that a crime?'

'Of course not, I just would have liked to see more of you.'

'Well, I'm sorry.'

'You forget, I know where your village is, maybe I could see more of you now?'

'I hope I will not be there for much longer.' I said curtly.

'Oh.' He replied. I think he understood my meaning.

He looked upset, but I was still a little mad at him, so I didn't apologise. I did feel quite bad for making him so upset, but not enough to change my mind. But, I couldn't just leave without trying to make some ammends. I would have hated to thing he thought bad of me.

'May we still part as friends?' I asked him.

'Of course.' He said, and he leant forward to kiss me on the cheek. I could feel him lingering slightly before he pulled back. I smiled at him, not wishing to part of bad terms. He would always be my first infatuation, and I wanted to part with him on good terms. I think we understood each other when I departed for home the next day.

Jack had also left, he had returned home with his Lord the day after the wedding as well. We had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves dancing, even if it was the commoner dances we knew. It had been great fun, and I enjoyed his friendly company. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and so the celebration ended late at night, and I was out of the palace early the next morning. I didn't get the chance to say goodbye, or thank him for the wonderful night, and I hoped I would see him again soon so I could do just that.

With my belonging all packed in my large carpet bag, I took one last look around the cottage. Yes, I was thrilled to be going away from it, but at the same time, this place had been my home for 18 years. I had been born here, all my siblings had. I had first learnt to walk and talk here, learnt how to read and write. And while I was not going to miss having to clean every square inch of it whenever my brothers decided to trample dirt back inside, I was going to miss my home. The bent and falling apart pots and pans, the worn down wooden table, the wobbly chair that no one could sit on without leaning heavily over to one side, or they would fall off, the creaking doors, the leaking roof, the uncomfortable bed, but the overwhelming sense of home.

I knew I was coming back, but I didn't know when, and while that was exciting, at the same time it was terrifying. I was going to miss my family and friends dearly, but I knew this was something I had to do. I would regret it too much if I did not leave. I would never be satisfied simply living out the rest of my days trapped in this village.

And so, with both a full and excited heart, I picked up my bag and walked out of the door.

My entire family were stood at the end of the garden, ready to say goodbye. Gwen grabbed a hold of my legs and told me she was going to be a grown up lady when I got back. I kissed the top of her head and told her she better be, now she was the second eldest girl in the house.

Robbie tried to give me one of his baked goodies I had made him the previous night. I appreciated the gesture, but there was no room in my bag, so I told him the goodies were for him, so he should enjoy them. He hugged me tightly.

Tom told me that I better have some good adventures stories to tell him when I got back. And he hinted he liked to hear about dragons the best.

Richard was quiet as usual, he held onto me especially tightly. He had always had trouble with other people socially, and so I think he took my departure rather hard. He told me he was going create something for me when I got back. He was very intelligent like that, so I told him I would look forward to seeing it.

Clara was fairly upset at my leaving. And I do not think it was purely because she was now left as the eldest girl, and so a lot of my tasks fell to her. We had always been quite close, she had been my only sister with all my brothers for a long time before Gwen was born. I could see some tears forming in the corner of her eye as she pulled back from my embrace. She had always been one to feel emotional rather a lot.

Daniel tried to hide his sadness with sarcasm. I expected nothing less from him. He told me how he was going to suffer, raising all these children 'by himself' and how I was abandoning everyone. Of course this was done in jest, and he did say a genuine goodbye to me.

Alexander gave me a long embrace, and told me to look after myself and he hoped I was going to be alright. He was very paternal, and had become more so over the last few years, I think probably having 6 younger siblings may have affected him in that way. He told me to have the best adventure I could, just like mother had said.

Father took the longest time to say goodbye to. He held onto me for a long while, all the time whispering those promises I had made to him into my ear, just so I wouldn't forget them. I reassured him I was going to remember, and that I was going to be fine by myself. He stared at me for a long time, almost as if he was trying to study me in case he never saw me again. I knew this was ridiculous, but I went along with it. With one last kiss in the top of my head, and a whisper of 'Good Luck', he let me go, and I turned around and began to slowly make my way towards gate of the cottage.

Once I got through it, I turned around, closer the gate and waved to my family. They all waved back, and I took a minute to preserve the image in my head. All of them were there, looking at me, waving, some with tears in their grey eyes, some smiling.

I took one last breath and then turned back around and began to make my way towards the forest path. I was on my way towards my new adventure, and nothing was going to stop me.