Disclaimer- This is my story and all the characters and the plot are my own (I think that's what a disclaimer is, if it isn't please tell me)
I've been working on this story for a while and decided to finally post it up. I still don't really have an idea where it's going, so any an opinion (and even creative criticism) is always welcome. (Please point out any spelling mistakes so I can fix it up) So please read and PLEASE review. Hope you ENJOY!!!!...
"Hurry up, we're going to be late", yelled out Lady Seroma from the bottom of the staircase.
"I'm coming, just hold on will you", called back Lucia.
Feeling tired and edgy from being dragged out of her warm, all-embracing bed on a freezing, raining morning, Lucia grudgingly walked downstairs to meet her mother, who at that moment was busily giving orders to a very nervous maid.
Ticking her fingers off one by one she read out her list of demands.
"Don't forget to wash Mr Seromas coat by Thursday. There's money in the vase by the mirror to pay for the weekly groceries which is on the list by the door.
The blacksmith is coming on Tuesday so don't forget to open the gate and finally, if there's any problem just ask my husband…. although, I doubt you'll get any more than a couple of well placed grunts for an answer".
Thus finishing her orders, proceeded to tap her lips with her finger, trying to remember anything else she needed to mention.
Finding everything satisfactory and accounted for, Lady Seroma surveyed the house once more and upon seeing her daughter finally come downstairs, she made her way towards the door.
"Oh….by the way", she said half stopping, turning her cold gaze towards the maid. "I'll know if anything and I mean anything from this house is missing, do you understand. Don't think I won't notice I will ….trust me", she added in a tone that even Lucia had to admit, was pretty disturbing.
Feeling sorry for the young maid who looked only a few years older than herself, Lucia quickly went up to her when Lady Seroma was safely out the door.
"Don't get yourself too worried. She doesn't mean it so much as a threat, just more like a harmless warning". Lucia looked at the maid reassuringly and continued…
"She likes to have the whole staff on their toes, always afraid of her presence and in constant awareness of their position. The feeling of control is what she craves, so when we get a new maid, she unfortunately has a tendency to be dictatorial in her actions. But have no fear; you'll have two months of freedom before Lady sinister graces this house again".
At that, the maid let out a small giggle, visibly relaxing at Lucia's comments, storing in her memory Lucia's nickname for her mother…for future references of course. Lucia, contented with the reaction received from the maid, walked out to join her mother in the coach. Hurrying to not get soaked by the rain, she left a very unsure but relieved maid behind.
Sitting in an overfilled carriage that shook and creaked with every bump, listening to her mother complain was not Lucia's idea of fun.
She had just turned 19 and was accordingly hauled by her mother to attend her first coming out ball in the Kingdom of Matternach. To Lucia, the suggestion of having to parade around whilst the men stare and the old women snare and snide, was not how she wanted to spend two months of her life.
She would have preferred to stay at the manor and finish going through her father's abundant library collection. Reading for her was her only key to the outside world.
To her family, consisting of parents and two older sisters, who, have quite conveniently already been married off to prospective buyers; seeing the outside world only meant going into town. That's all the reality they could handle. But to Lucia, she wanted to get out there, away from the same old village and people she'd grown up with.
She knew something better was out there but had yet the chance to actually experience it for her very own self.
In a kingdom quite a way away from Matternach, there was a very frustrated Duke striding through the hallways of the castle. Although usually composed in his temperament, he was currently found near the point of throwing himself out of one of the windows, just to escape the sound of Amelia's inane chatter.
Walking as quickly as composure could allow, James silently cursed his luck of running into her while looking for his old friend.
"Oh James, you really must learn to slow your pace. It really isn't acceptable for a princess to scamper through the hallways, now is it?" called out Amelia, who was hopelessly trying to keep up.
James ignored her plea. "I'm merely in a rush to find your brother, there really is no reason for you to follow suite".
Amelia only giggled her high pitched voice before playfully countering, "You can't get rid of me that easily".
"He may not, but I can", stated a commanding voice from behind them.
Amelia slightly gasped before turning on her heel and rushing up to her brother.
"You don't mean it do you sweet Edmund? I was only trying to provoke your dear friend here, he hasn't been anything other than glum for the past few weeks…..you can't blame a bored princess for having some fun… Can you?" Pouting her lips, Amelia looked up at prince Edmund with sad eyes.
Edmund only raised an eyebrow and inclined his head in a gesture that indicated for her to leave. Amelia huffed slightly before turning back to James and flicking him a cold glare.
"Fine, I have to meet mother in the courtyard for tea anyway, Good day you both". With that curt reply, and a curtsey to James, she left the two men to themselves.
James shook his head and addressed his comrade. "Starting to abuse your power already? Soon you'll be making the girls cry and your not even king yet…tsk…tsk...shame on you".
Edmund gave his friend a broad grin. "She's as old as us and yet she acts like a child…I wouldn't be surprised if she scares away the prince that's coming in a few days."
James looked puzzled, "Who?"
Edmund shrugged lazily. "Father intends to set peace between Vomera and Laquata. If he catches Amelia's fancy, then a marriage could soon well follow".
James nodded. "That's diplomacy for you".
Edmund shot him a dark look. "And what, you expect to marry for love?"
James only showed a ghost of a smile. "No my friend…I gave up on love a long time ago".
The prince realized his mistake but held back his apology; he knew to let old things lie. How he knew this…well lets just say they had history……
James, a duke's son, had visited the palace with his father for a meeting about land division.
From the moment he and James met as two, testosterone filled fifteen year olds, they created a mutual dislike with each other. Edmund was the snobby rich boy with unbound authority and James was the handsome but aloof rebel.
This dislike continued well into their teens where it somehow turned into a feeling of competition between them. Edmund would try to show his power over James who would in turn do everything he could to ridicule the future ruler.
It went on until they were both twenty years old. Something had happened then at that period of time, which ended their rivalry and sealed their friendship.
It was two days after Edmunds birthday and the palace was still buzzing with people from the celebration, James included. Edmund had retreated to his study in the secluded wing of the castle to get away from all the well wishing individuals.
He had been there no longer than half an hour when upon hearing a knock, opened the door. Facing him was James along with a very pretty young lady. At first he thought she was another noble, but upon closer inspection, found she was but a well dressed commoner from town. Edmund saw her looking at him expectantly but couldn't understand why. James stood a few steps behind her and gestured with his hands at her belly.
At this point of the story there's one thing you as the reader should know. Edmund had grown up spoilt, as is expected. He wasn't a bad person, actually quite the opposite, but his rearing from childhood had taught him he could have anything he wanted. With this in mind, he as a young man took advantage of this and, well as you can expect, it all had consequences.
Realization finally dawned upon Edmund and he found himself speechless. Too ashamed to admit to the young lass that he didn't remember her, he merely moved out of the door frame to let her in. Expecting James to leave, Edmund was dismayed to find him pushing past and walking straight in and standing next to the girl.
Conversation and argument ensued with the full story finally coming to light. Her name was Sophie and she was the daughter of a prominent farmer. After one night of dancing and a bit too much wine at the yearly harvest festival, had spent the night with the prince who had attended in support of his people. Thinking nothing of it afterwards, she was surprised weeks later to find herself sick in the mornings, craving unimaginably strange foods and the most undeniable of symptoms; a swelling belly.
Edmund didn't say a word as the young lady cried and begged the prince to help her out of the potential social stigmatic situation. Edmund was a reasonable man and understood that she didn't expect money or matrimony, only somewhere safe for her to raise her babe.
Being inadequately prepared for such a proposition he, although quite unwillingly, turned to James for help. Sitting quietly and contemplatively in a chair by the lady, James had an idea. The three of them sat together as James told of an ideal small cottage that was on a patch of land he owned far out in the country. He told of how Sophie could stay there, just as long as long as the prince agreed to pay the needed costs for her to look after the child, and as to anyone that questioned her residency, she could say that she was the widowed wife of one of James' cousins.
From there it was settled. She moved in, the prince looked after her needs and eight months later a baby girl was born.
The answer to how Edmund and James became friends is that after being around each other for several consecutive months as everything was being prepared, eventually led to a mutual respect that turned into a strong friendship along the way. For the next four years, either or both would visit Sophie and the young, healthy, lively baby girl.
Ever since that fateful night, James had made with his friend an unsaid agreement to never mention Edmunds history as long as they existed. Edmund had then after returned this favour when his friend fell deeply and hopelessly in love with a woman who only mocked him and all that he was worth, when she broke his heart in a most deceitful way.
Edmund sighed and decided a change of topic was needed. "What was it that you so urgently needed to see me for?"
James, remembering his original purpose, pulled out a letter from his pocket. "One of the spies we sent out last week came back with some information". Unwrapping the envelope, he pulled out the paper within and handed it to the prince
"Somehow and I advise you to not ask me how; they got hand of some information about the date and time of the auction. The three other spies are still scouting to make sure this information is the truth but from what we can tell, it looks pretty viable."
Edmund scanned the letter quickly and handed it back to James. "As the commander of the royal allegiance army, what do you think we should do?"
James grimaced at his tittle; it always made him a little uneasy being addressed so imposingly. "I suggest a raid"…
Sitting there in the carriage, Lucia got the depressing feeling that the most exciting thing that would ever happen to her is she'll get married. Knowing her luck, it would be to the first man that offers and who her parents wouldn't be ashamed of calling son.
A long time ago, Lucia had come to the conclusion that she'll in all likelihood, marry someone she couldn't love, be fond off maybe, but never love. She had understood at a young age that most men were after a subservient and all adoring woman to call their wife.
This being the case, Lucia also understood that she in no way could ever fit that typecast. If a man did decide to pursue her then it would be because of her looks and her station in life.
Those two reasons were how her parent's marriage had come about. Lord Albert Seroma came from a well respected and somewhat wealthy family, and upon inheriting his late father's estate, had gone in search of a wife.
Never having understood what foundations a strong marriage needed, he only thus looked for the basics; Station, beauty, virtue and innocence. Lady Seroma, A.K.A, Patricia Lanconte at the time, was a wealthy daughter of a successful business man. Although she looked for love, she knew that sometimes it never even played a part when deciding someone's match.
Upon a chance meeting with Albert at a common ball, she put her skills to work and snared him into thinking her a perfect match. She had planned to create a fondness between them, hopefully turning it into love as time went by. Patricia met all his ideals; she had a prestigious and wealthy heritage as well as obvious beauty.
Once set into motion, their future was inevitable. It was only after she had a ring on her finger and the tittle of a lady that she soon realized the error in her ways. Not only did he not understand how to make a marriage work, but he had also underestimated the feelings of a woman.
To him, Patricia would be perfectly satisfied with her new station and marriage, that his part in it all was done. As the years went by without any change, Patricia turned into a woman filled with discontent and longing, fulfilling her required duties as a wife and then as a mother.
Lucia had grown up accepting that her father was the reason her mother was the cold, resentful woman of today. With this in mind, she became resolute to never give her heart away or at least never expect to, that way, she would never regret anything because she wouldn't have ever know any better… when in all probability, forced into an unhappy arrangement…
Lady Seroma caught the look on her daughters face. She knew that Lucia didn't want to be here, but how else was she supposed to meet a potential husband. It was already hard enough for her to make friends without scaring them off, her personality and behaviour made sure of that.
"Oh do cheer up my dear, it isn't that bad, you never know, you might actually make some friends while your there".
"You make it sound as though I have no friends, but you perfectly know that I do", replied Lucia beginning to get frustrated at where the conversation was leading to.
"I really can't understand how you can call the servant's friends, especially that girl…what's her name?" questioned her mother, trying to remember Lucia's maid.
"Her names Ciana, and anyway, what would you know about friends... mother. Tell me again, how many do you have, huh?" Was Lucia's bitter reply.
At this, Lady Seroma narrowed her eyes at her daughter and turned her attention back to the scenery outside, officially ending the conversation.
Lucia hated saying things like that, she knew it was hurtful and frank, but it was necessary.
She learnt that to get her mother to back down and to not interfere, she sometimes had to be brutally honest in her replies. Most of the time, their relationship was good. It was the kind where they both left each other alone and were satisfied.
Lucia loved her mother, there was no question, but at times they both found it hard to be civil to each other.
First chapter finally up, second coming soon. Hope you enjoyed it. Any questions please ask…
Did you know: people who are lying to you, tend to look up and to the left