Chapter 2

Four year's later

Sat on her favourite beach with her knees tucked under her chin Isabelle Webb stared silently toward the distant ocean thinking of her lost sibling.

It had been nearly four years since Clara had left with officer Ruthven that day on the beach and since then she'd never returned home. Both Isabelle and her father had tried everything they could to find her but to their great despair Clara had vanished leaving behind a devastated family.

It had been hard for Isabelle and her father to deal with yet another loss in their lives but they some how managed to get back on their feet and carry on as always, living in the memory of their lost loved ones.

Right before the Royal Navy officers were moved out to war Darvell to Isabelle's great surprise had come in search of her two days after their first meeting. He had apparently talked to her father explaining to him that seeing as he and the rest of his men were due to ship out the next day if Isabelle herself could meet him at the docks just so he could talk with her before moving out.

Isabelle of course was astonished at this request but was happy to do so because knowing it would possibly be the last chance she'd have at bidding him a final farewell to a war from which he may not return from. But as if the fates were unfairly against her that day Isabelle had arrived too late and broken heartedly watched as the ships carried Darvell away from her.

Flashback

On and on she went running faster than the wind could carry her Isabelle wasn't about to stop for anything, she was determined to get to Darvell before those ships sailed so she could say her goodbyes and wish the brave man all the luck in the world on his journey.

Though in the deep sanctuary of her heart Isabelle was reeling with fear that she may never see officer Darvell again after this day. The selfish side of her did not want him to go but she overcame that with the thought of him doing a noble deed by fighting for their country before returning to the safety of his home.

Coming to a halt as she got to the beach Isabelle spotted the ships at the dock, but what made her heart sink was that they were already departing.

(Author's note: queue the sad Titanic theme tune)

"Wait!" Isabelle shouted at the top of her voice.

Running as fast as she could down the beach with her cloak flying behind her feeling the tears sting her eyes as the boats begun to get further and further away.

"Darvell!" she cried out coming to a stop at the edge of the docks as she spotted him on the last boat that had left.

"Darvell!" she called out once more this time cupping her hands around her mouth.

And just for that one moment she thought she saw his eyes find hers as Isabelle affectionately but woefully blew him a kiss that she prayed travelled with him.

"Farewell my brave warrior, may prosperity be with you always" spoke Isabelle watching with great sorrow as the ships along with her officer disappeared into the ocean distance feeling the tears sliding down her cheeks the whole time.

End of flashback

Since then Isabelle had visited the beach at least once or twice every week in hopes that she would one day see those boats return with her officer in one piece.

…..

Later that day Isabelle was out buying some bread and fruit for her father, whom had sadly come down with the fever so it was up to her to help him keep his strength up.

She was just in the process of paying for her purchase's to the woman on the market stall when from out the corner of her eye she saw a little girl that couldn't be more than three or four years staring hungrily at the fruit before her. She had long brunette hair that stopped just halfway down her back, pale skin, no shoes, and was wearing ragged servant dress robes. The poor thing looked as though she'd been through hell and back with the bruises that covered her face and arms and seemed as though she hadn't been fed at all considering how skinny she looked.

Just as the little girl was about to pick up an apple the stall owner saw this and immediately reacted.

"Oi!" shouted the middle aged woman giving the child's hand a slap. "I have warned you time and time again to never come back here you little shrew now get before I have you flogged and arrested" she firmly spoke to the little girl.

Just then as saw the tears in the child's eyes who was now rubbing her hand from the force Isabelle decided then that she had seen and heard enough.

"Madam I insist you apologize to this child at once" spoke Isabelle quite boldly as she jumped to the little girls defence.

"Excuse me? I will do no such thing, this little scrounger has been trying to steal from my stall's for months now and has the cheek to keep coming back" spoke the woman glaring daggers at the little girl who was now hiding behind Isabelle.

"Be that as it may you have no right to treat a child in such an inappropriate ill mannered way, if anyone should be flogged it should be you. Count your blessings that I do not have you arrested for striking a child otherwise you would be out of a job" snapped Isabelle at the woman.

She then gently took the little girl's hand in her own and walked off leaving a jaw dropped stall owner behind.

The two walked a good few blocks until they came to a stop outside a church where Isabelle had the little girl sit down because she looked as though she were about to faint.

"Are you okay?" asked Isabelle in concern to the girl who just nodded.

Isabelle then reached into her hamper and took out a shiny red apple before presenting it to the girl.

"Here you have this" said Isabelle to the child.

"For me?" asked the girl looking at her in disbelief.

"Yes, I want you to have it" spoke Isabelle smiling at her.

"Thank you" spoke the young girl accepting the apple before hungrily munching down on it.

As Isabelle sat there looking at this little girl she found herself taking in the facial features, there was something familiar about this child and yet Isabelle couldn't place what it was. She felt herself wanting nothing more than to protect this girl from all the dangers of the world like a mother would her child, it was very strange but felt so right.

Once the girl was done with her apple she looked up at Isabelle with her ocean blue eyes that could weaken the hardest of hearts.

"What's your name little one?" asked Isabelle.

"E-Eleanor" spoke the young girl with hesitance.

"Eleanor, that's such a pretty name. My name's Isabelle but you can call me Belle" said Isabelle smiling at Eleanor, but just then she remembered something. "Do you live round here Eleanor?" she asked her.

"Yes" mumbled Eleanor bowing her head in what seemed to Isabelle like misery.

"Where do you…"

"Don't make me go back there please! I'll be good! I promise I'll be good!" shouted Eleanor in utter despair clinging onto Isabelle's dress.

Seeing the true terror behind this little girl's eyes Isabelle without hesitance pulled Eleanor into a hug rubbing a comforting hand up and down the little girls back trying her best to sooth her.

"I don't wanna go back, please don't make me" sobbed Eleanor into Isabelle's shoulder.

"Shhh I won't, I promise everything's gonna be okay" hushed Isabelle smoothing down the little girls hair.

Isabelle's heart broke for Eleanor, she questioned what on earth had been happening to this girl, why she didn't want to go back home and who it was who was responsible for not doing a better job at looking after her. It didn't take a person of great wisdom to know that somewhere along the line Eleanor had been introduced to the cruel game of foul play and by god Isabelle was not about to stand by and allow this girl to be put through anymore torture if that were the case.

"I'll take care of you Ella, I promise" spoke Isabelle pressing a gentle kiss into the girl's hairline. "Your safe with me".

Author's Note: Aww so Isabelle and Eleanor have met but are unaware of their blood relation yet.

In the next chapter we will have a surprise return, who do think it will be? Let me know.

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