My story is a strange one, it is where I find my true love. How did I find my true love you ask, well listen closely to my story...
The year was 1876, I was a girl of the age 19 in a well-off family in a land called Great Britain.
"Lillian your fencing teacher is here," Mother stands in the door way of my room as the maid is finishing my hair, "I shall be with him in a moment mother, I need to fetch my epee," she turns and leaves me, I can see her displeasure in the way she walks. There have been many times when my mother has voiced her opinion of my lessons into the art of fencing. I walk over to my draw which contains all my epees, carefully I pick my weapon. I care not what my mother thinks, I love the sport. Walking down the stairs I see my teacher is awaiting my attendance, "Miss Lillian," he nods his head in my direction, I perform a small curtsy "Master Anthony," he sweeps his hand round in a gesture for us to proceed into the practice room that has been allocated in the house since I started fencing years ago.
"Let us practice the moves we leant in our last lesson Miss Lillian", we take our positions opposite each other. We start with a few basic moves as a way to prepare my agility and speed so that he can truly test what I have learnt. Gradually he forces me to perform far more complicated moves until we're locked in a fight. Minutes later I stuck my epee into his chest, he smiles at me "You have been practicing Miss Lillian," I sweep my epee back to my side "I have learnt from a true master," I bow as usual curtsey in fencing. A light clap comes from the corner of the room, I glance over and see my father standing there, "Truly marvellous Lillian," I smile as I walk over to my father, "Thank you father," He encompasses me within his arms and I wrap my arm around him. He then holds me at arm's length, "A fine young lady you have turned into," We both walk out of the hall. I have not seen father for some time as he is a Chief of a large shipping company which requires him to travel all over Britain. My father is not just a father but my best friend. As we walk into the sitting room, mother was seated on her usual chair, "Lillian, before you sit down you must change into something far more presentable and ladylike," My father laughs lightly, "My dear for now she may sit down here, it is of no harm," My mother glances over her embroidery "We could have guests anytime now and our daughter looks like that. It's shameful enough she does the infernal sport, does she wish to disgrace us further by wearing the uniform in front of guests," I place my hand on my father's shoulder before he utters another word in argument, "very well mother I shall change," I walk out of the room and up to my bed chambers. Later that day we would be expecting guests for our infamous ball. People travel from all over the country to enjoy an evening my family host. My mother's disgrace in me is not just due to my fencing lessons. I am aged 19, at this age in my society I should be engaged. I have received many a suitor, however I have rejected them all, to my mother's displeasure. It is not that they were not handsome or smart, but I believe that in time the right man will find me of his own choosing not to further his status or to please his parents. My mother is also disgraced in my lack of activities such as dancing lessons and embroidery. I refuse to be the woman that is desired by my society, only my father out of all my family is not disgraced by me. I always dread nights like this, the whispers and looks never cease throughout the night. I stand in the door way to my room, and before me is my bed upon it lays a dress that my mother desires me to wear. I close my doors and get myself ready to endure the pain of this ball.
I descend the stairs…the room is bustling with many people in such elegant evening wear. I could see my father and mother talking with a business associate of father's. I make my way through the crowd and stand beside my father. He smiles and acknowledges me whist my mother turns and wanders over to her small group of friends. After standing beside my father for a short while I became weary of their talk about business so I wander around the hall…I watch as everyone dances. I sit down at an empty table, when I attend these events I always find myself alone. The music finishes and a small applause erupts from the dancers in thanks to the musicians and to their partners. The floor is cleared and everyone awaits the next piece of music to dance to. So many beautiful girls my age with husbands or suitors tonight, and thank my stubbornness in finding that for myself. As I play with the lace sleeves on my dress a man walks over and stands by the table, he holds out his hand, "A beautiful girl such as yourself deserves a dance," His teeth gleam as he awaits my reply from him. "I am sure there is someone more deserving of dance with yourself," I am speechless that someone would dare to ask me to dance with them especially a man as handsome as he, "That may be but I am asking you," he holds out his hand, "Thank you I accept your offer kindly," I take a hold of his hand and he leads me onto the floor as the music begins to play; other couples take to the floor alongside us. In his lead we move to the music…I could have danced forever with him, our gazes never moved from each others eyes. Once the music ceased he bows and I return a curtsy, he keeps a hold of my hand as he leads me out of the hall and into the garden. We walk a while around the garden "My name is Tyler, may I have the pleasure of knowing yours?" He smiles at me "My name is Lillian but you may call me Lilly," we continue our walk together for a short while. Our conversations vary but never cease. Our feet grew weary so we sat on a stone bench, "I would very much like to meet you again dear Lilly," I could feel a blush arise onto my cheeks, "I would very much like to see you again Tyler," the doors that lead to the garden from the hall burst open and there stood my mother with another man and woman, Tyler stood immediately his face is stunned, "Mother, father what is the meaning of this intrusion!" the man Tyler called father strode over to him, "We are to depart immediately, say your farewells to this girl," there was confusion upon Tyler's face "Why father? Has something happened?" this time the mother walks out "Yes my son, this girl is not the type we wish you to be acquainted with," she looks at me with a disgust on her face "So you are forbidding me from seeing Lillian again?!" my mother speaks, "No she is not. I am forbidding it for I do not wish your family status to be destroyed by my daughter's disgrace," I lower my head, if I could cry right now I would "What makes her so undesirable?! As I do not see a flaw in this girl!" No man except my father has ever fought for me. I release his hand from my grip and walk over to my mother "They are right Tyler, I am undesirable in their eyes but it has been a pleasure to know that I am not undesirable to everyone," Tears trickle down my face as I walk away at my mother's side. "LILLIAN!" my mother escorts me up the stairs to my room "Why would you wish to destroy that poor boy? His future is bright and you would only dull it for him," I start to brush out my hair, "I guess I was not thinking like that mother, not everyone is like you. Leave me be now. You have ruined my night enough mother," I start to close my door, "How did I end up with a daughter like you?" with that said she turns back to the stairway to go back to the party.
I lay on the bed in my dress, crying over everything that happened tonight. I heard a soft knock on the window, I sit up and stare out the window. There, in the moonlight, was a dark shadow. I open my window to get a better glance at it. It holds out what appears to be a hand, I take a hold of it. It starts to pull me away from the window. I pull back and cling onto the curtains, "FATHER!" I continue to struggle with this shadow but I can feel its pull is far stronger than mine. The door bursts open "LILLIAN!" my father runs into my chambers and sees this struggle between me and this shadow. He runs to grab my hand which is slowly losing its grip on the curtain, "HURRY!" I scream as I feel the shadow pull harder. I let go before my father reaches my hand. "LILLIAN! NOOOO!" I writhe and struggle with the shadow hoping it would release me, "FATHER!", as we flew the light in my chamber became smaller and smaller until I could no longer see it nor see my home.
The world I knew is gone…my life lays in the hands of fate now…