Title: More than Meets the Eye (I think)
Author: pluto-san/ amehtystrose20
Section: Prologue
Rating: Pg
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own SM, I don't know the Morgan, Vanderbilts, or Astors. I am not related in any way to them and the first and last names of all non-SM characters are ones I made up.
Historical Disclaimer: I am going to treat any historical occurrences in which my characters are involved as accurately as possible. As I said none of my characters actually existed to my knowledge. Any real people that appear will be dully noted and quoted accurately to the best of my ability. I will note if they say anything I made up. Well enough notes, one with the story.
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Upper New York - Manhattan 1887
The Cromwell Estate
"Elizabeth Selen Cromwell! What on earth were you thinking?!"
"Poppa I love him, you can't keep up apart! I am not a little girl! I am 17 years old and I am a Wallace now, not a Cromwell."
The newly married girl looked at her father hoping against all hope that her father would understand. But Elizabeth Wallace, formally Cromwell, knew the cost of disobeying her father and marrying his rival's youngest son. The price would be one she was willing to pay but one she felt her children would bear the full weight of- disownment.
The words she knew would come finally excited Nicholas Alexander Cromwell's mouth, "Get out of my house Mrs. Wallace. You are no longer welcome here."
As she turned to leave the house on her husband's arm she looked at her mother. Selena Cromwell watched silently as her daughter left. Her heart breaking and the tears flowing from her eyes. Elizabeth could hurt any one but her mother. It broke her heart to see her mother cry. She glanced at her brother. His eyes held nothing but disdain. Just like a Cromwell male she thought, disdain for those who are not they and family who does not fall in rank. Elizabeth left the house she grew up in for the last time.
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Upper New York: Manhattan - 4 years later
The Wallace House
"Oh Timothy she's beautiful. I can't believe she's here at last. Our own little angel."
"Rest sweetheart, rest. You must save your strength." Timothy looked worriedly upon his wife. She was not doing well. He knew he had to tell her parents, but with out telling her.
"Elizabeth I want you to rest now I am going to let Mrs. Donell take care of the baby while you sleep."
Timothy looked down to already see his wife asleep. She looked so pale. He rushed down stairs to find his messenger boy.
"Mathew, take this note to the Cromwell estate and make sure you hand deliver it to Nicholas Cromwell. Make sure it gets in his hands only. Understand?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Wallace. But sir you know Master Michael's wedding is today sir. What if they don't let me in to see Mr. Cromwell?"
"Tell the men at the door that Elizabeth is dying, they will let you in, trust me. Find Mrs. Cromwell she will speak to you."
"Yes Sir!" Mathew ran out of the door with tears running down his face. He could not believe his mistress was dying. Every one loved Mrs. Wallace. She cared about every one. All the house had heard about lately was how much she wanted a little baby, now she had it and it was going to kill her. Some how Mathew knew how important this letter was and ran all the faster.
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Same day- A Half Hour Later
The Cromwell Estate
"Excuse me sir, I have a message for Mr. Cromwell, it is from Mr. Wallace sir. It is in regards to the health of Mrs. Elizabeth. He said it was urgent."
"Thank you, I will take it in." replied the doorman.
"No thank you, you see Mr. Wallace told me to make sure it was hand delivered to Mr. Cromwell."
"Davis is there a problem here, we are getting ready to begin the service her in a few minuets."
"No Mrs. Cromwell, this boy has a message for Mr. Cromwell in regards to Mrs. Elizabeth."
With a shaky hand and no voice Mrs. Selena Cromwell took the note and read as the tears started streaming down her face.
You are grandparents on this day but your daughter is
dying. I am sorry to bear this bad news but Elizabeth
does not have much longer this day.
T. Wallace
"Nicholas!"
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Two days later
The Cemetery- 15 min. after the service
Nicholas Cromwell looked ten years older as they put his daughter in the ground. Though Cromwell never cried Timothy Wallace knew Cromwell hated himself for cutting himself off from his daughter during those four years. While Timothy would never know what the Cromwell's had said to their daughter before she died he knew that his Elizabeth forgave them before she ever walked out of that door four years ago. But what Timothy could not forgive was the grief that the Cromwells caused their daughter, his wife, when they disowned her. That grief overcame him as he approached Nicholas Cromwell.
"Are you happy now, she is gone. Your only daughter is gone. You just leave Marie and I alone. You will have nothing to do with your granddaughter," Timothy said in heated tones.
"Wallace, I could have you thrown in jail for such threats you Jew. That is my granddaughter and she is more Cromwell than Wallace. If you keep her you condemn her to grow up as a social outcaste. I am giving you an opportunity to save her if you let us raise her," responded and enraged Cromwell. No Jew spoke to Nicholas Cromwell that way. He was offering this man a chance to save his daughter and this man was looking at him with nothing but contempt.
"And let her grow up with out love? You are crazy Cromwell if you think that I would give my only daughter to you," spat Timothy.
With that Timothy Wallace walked out of the cemetery and took his daughter and family away from the Cromwells for what he hoped would be forever.
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Upper New York - Manhattan 1903
The Cromwell Estate
"Grandpa who are these people?"
"Well Serenity this is my great-grandfather Nicholas Alexander Cromwell. And this is his wife my great-grandmother Selena Cromwell. Remember you are named after her just like I am named after him," Nicholas answered looking down at his granddaughter.
"And who is this girl?"
"Well angel her name was Elizabeth but other than that I don't know much about her."
"Can I meet her some day?"
Nicholas laughed at the innocence of his little granddaughter, and answered, "I doubt it angel but I think I hear Helen and Andrew coming in. Why don't you go with them while I finish my work? Then we will go riding later, just you and me."
"Alright."
Serenity got up to go to the door and meet her cousins in the hallway but was stopped by her grandfather's voice.
"Sere."
"Opps." The little girl turned around, made a small curtsy and then ran from the room while her grandfather laughed at her antics.
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Until Next time...
(Preview for chapter One)
... "Hey when is Sam coming back from the docks with Nicole?"
"Not for a couple of hours yet Sere but hurry up girl so we can get back before it rains!"
"Ok Helen I'll hurry." Serenity turned and ran back up the stairs of her grandfather
's house as Helen turned to her brother with a serious look on her face. "Andrew she doesn't know yet does she?"
"No Helen. Grandfather did not want her to know and Sam thought it best not to tell her either. I mean what would be the point of making her worry more than she has to. You know she would have. Plus she would have blamed herself some how because she couldn't go visit her last year. Maybe try to find a way to tell her while you're riding this afternoon so that it's not a complete shock."
"Alright Andy, but I think it was a mistake not telling her before. There is more to Sere than you or Sam think. But I will find a way to tell her." Responded Helen. She looked back up at the stairs waiting for her cousin, Serenity.
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"Derrick are you sure about this?"
"Yea Matt I am. I think if we are getting in this thing then the Stehiel family is going to lead the way. I am going to join and not only join but volunteer to jump."
"Derrick I hope you know what you're getting into. I mean man you're my best friend and your father would be proud I know that, the way you have built up the ranch and the railroad and the mines to boot. You don't have to do this too." Jason looked at his dark haired friend.
Jason, Matt, Nathan, and Zach all look at their friend's dark blue eyes flash with emotion. "Guys I am doing this."
"Alight Derrick, but I am going with you," responded Matt.
"Me too," replied Nathan, always the quieter of them all.
"I can't let you get shot. We all know I am the best shot," joked Jason as his green eyes blinked with mischief.
"Well you know me, all for one and..."
"One for all," they all laughed together.
"Alright guys. We'll show them there are more to American's than meets the eye," laughed Derrick. He just knew they would follow if he went. They were partners as well as friends and family, nothing would tear them apart.
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Well that's it until chapter one. Please let me know what you thought.
Author: pluto-san/ amehtystrose20
Section: Prologue
Rating: Pg
Standard Disclaimer: I don't own SM, I don't know the Morgan, Vanderbilts, or Astors. I am not related in any way to them and the first and last names of all non-SM characters are ones I made up.
Historical Disclaimer: I am going to treat any historical occurrences in which my characters are involved as accurately as possible. As I said none of my characters actually existed to my knowledge. Any real people that appear will be dully noted and quoted accurately to the best of my ability. I will note if they say anything I made up. Well enough notes, one with the story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upper New York - Manhattan 1887
The Cromwell Estate
"Elizabeth Selen Cromwell! What on earth were you thinking?!"
"Poppa I love him, you can't keep up apart! I am not a little girl! I am 17 years old and I am a Wallace now, not a Cromwell."
The newly married girl looked at her father hoping against all hope that her father would understand. But Elizabeth Wallace, formally Cromwell, knew the cost of disobeying her father and marrying his rival's youngest son. The price would be one she was willing to pay but one she felt her children would bear the full weight of- disownment.
The words she knew would come finally excited Nicholas Alexander Cromwell's mouth, "Get out of my house Mrs. Wallace. You are no longer welcome here."
As she turned to leave the house on her husband's arm she looked at her mother. Selena Cromwell watched silently as her daughter left. Her heart breaking and the tears flowing from her eyes. Elizabeth could hurt any one but her mother. It broke her heart to see her mother cry. She glanced at her brother. His eyes held nothing but disdain. Just like a Cromwell male she thought, disdain for those who are not they and family who does not fall in rank. Elizabeth left the house she grew up in for the last time.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Upper New York: Manhattan - 4 years later
The Wallace House
"Oh Timothy she's beautiful. I can't believe she's here at last. Our own little angel."
"Rest sweetheart, rest. You must save your strength." Timothy looked worriedly upon his wife. She was not doing well. He knew he had to tell her parents, but with out telling her.
"Elizabeth I want you to rest now I am going to let Mrs. Donell take care of the baby while you sleep."
Timothy looked down to already see his wife asleep. She looked so pale. He rushed down stairs to find his messenger boy.
"Mathew, take this note to the Cromwell estate and make sure you hand deliver it to Nicholas Cromwell. Make sure it gets in his hands only. Understand?"
"Yes sir, Mr. Wallace. But sir you know Master Michael's wedding is today sir. What if they don't let me in to see Mr. Cromwell?"
"Tell the men at the door that Elizabeth is dying, they will let you in, trust me. Find Mrs. Cromwell she will speak to you."
"Yes Sir!" Mathew ran out of the door with tears running down his face. He could not believe his mistress was dying. Every one loved Mrs. Wallace. She cared about every one. All the house had heard about lately was how much she wanted a little baby, now she had it and it was going to kill her. Some how Mathew knew how important this letter was and ran all the faster.
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Same day- A Half Hour Later
The Cromwell Estate
"Excuse me sir, I have a message for Mr. Cromwell, it is from Mr. Wallace sir. It is in regards to the health of Mrs. Elizabeth. He said it was urgent."
"Thank you, I will take it in." replied the doorman.
"No thank you, you see Mr. Wallace told me to make sure it was hand delivered to Mr. Cromwell."
"Davis is there a problem here, we are getting ready to begin the service her in a few minuets."
"No Mrs. Cromwell, this boy has a message for Mr. Cromwell in regards to Mrs. Elizabeth."
With a shaky hand and no voice Mrs. Selena Cromwell took the note and read as the tears started streaming down her face.
You are grandparents on this day but your daughter is
dying. I am sorry to bear this bad news but Elizabeth
does not have much longer this day.
T. Wallace
"Nicholas!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Two days later
The Cemetery- 15 min. after the service
Nicholas Cromwell looked ten years older as they put his daughter in the ground. Though Cromwell never cried Timothy Wallace knew Cromwell hated himself for cutting himself off from his daughter during those four years. While Timothy would never know what the Cromwell's had said to their daughter before she died he knew that his Elizabeth forgave them before she ever walked out of that door four years ago. But what Timothy could not forgive was the grief that the Cromwells caused their daughter, his wife, when they disowned her. That grief overcame him as he approached Nicholas Cromwell.
"Are you happy now, she is gone. Your only daughter is gone. You just leave Marie and I alone. You will have nothing to do with your granddaughter," Timothy said in heated tones.
"Wallace, I could have you thrown in jail for such threats you Jew. That is my granddaughter and she is more Cromwell than Wallace. If you keep her you condemn her to grow up as a social outcaste. I am giving you an opportunity to save her if you let us raise her," responded and enraged Cromwell. No Jew spoke to Nicholas Cromwell that way. He was offering this man a chance to save his daughter and this man was looking at him with nothing but contempt.
"And let her grow up with out love? You are crazy Cromwell if you think that I would give my only daughter to you," spat Timothy.
With that Timothy Wallace walked out of the cemetery and took his daughter and family away from the Cromwells for what he hoped would be forever.
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Upper New York - Manhattan 1903
The Cromwell Estate
"Grandpa who are these people?"
"Well Serenity this is my great-grandfather Nicholas Alexander Cromwell. And this is his wife my great-grandmother Selena Cromwell. Remember you are named after her just like I am named after him," Nicholas answered looking down at his granddaughter.
"And who is this girl?"
"Well angel her name was Elizabeth but other than that I don't know much about her."
"Can I meet her some day?"
Nicholas laughed at the innocence of his little granddaughter, and answered, "I doubt it angel but I think I hear Helen and Andrew coming in. Why don't you go with them while I finish my work? Then we will go riding later, just you and me."
"Alright."
Serenity got up to go to the door and meet her cousins in the hallway but was stopped by her grandfather's voice.
"Sere."
"Opps." The little girl turned around, made a small curtsy and then ran from the room while her grandfather laughed at her antics.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Until Next time...
(Preview for chapter One)
... "Hey when is Sam coming back from the docks with Nicole?"
"Not for a couple of hours yet Sere but hurry up girl so we can get back before it rains!"
"Ok Helen I'll hurry." Serenity turned and ran back up the stairs of her grandfather
's house as Helen turned to her brother with a serious look on her face. "Andrew she doesn't know yet does she?"
"No Helen. Grandfather did not want her to know and Sam thought it best not to tell her either. I mean what would be the point of making her worry more than she has to. You know she would have. Plus she would have blamed herself some how because she couldn't go visit her last year. Maybe try to find a way to tell her while you're riding this afternoon so that it's not a complete shock."
"Alright Andy, but I think it was a mistake not telling her before. There is more to Sere than you or Sam think. But I will find a way to tell her." Responded Helen. She looked back up at the stairs waiting for her cousin, Serenity.
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"Derrick are you sure about this?"
"Yea Matt I am. I think if we are getting in this thing then the Stehiel family is going to lead the way. I am going to join and not only join but volunteer to jump."
"Derrick I hope you know what you're getting into. I mean man you're my best friend and your father would be proud I know that, the way you have built up the ranch and the railroad and the mines to boot. You don't have to do this too." Jason looked at his dark haired friend.
Jason, Matt, Nathan, and Zach all look at their friend's dark blue eyes flash with emotion. "Guys I am doing this."
"Alight Derrick, but I am going with you," responded Matt.
"Me too," replied Nathan, always the quieter of them all.
"I can't let you get shot. We all know I am the best shot," joked Jason as his green eyes blinked with mischief.
"Well you know me, all for one and..."
"One for all," they all laughed together.
"Alright guys. We'll show them there are more to American's than meets the eye," laughed Derrick. He just knew they would follow if he went. They were partners as well as friends and family, nothing would tear them apart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well that's it until chapter one. Please let me know what you thought.