Chapter 2

by Mallory Quinn

Never again. Why was she allowed to love and be loved only for her love to be taken away from her so brutally?

William left for his trip and the routine continued. Candice was doing her chores, without complaining and serving Eliza, Neil and Elroy. Archibald, who had a thing for her, didn't like his cousins' attitude. He told Candice about it.

"You don't have to obey them you know!"

"I'm very grateful I'm allowed to stay here…" said Candice.

"How are you?"

"You mean if I miss Anthony? Oh I miss him so much, you have no idea… he wanted to marry me… we would've had a family together..."

"Candice, life goes on… you'll find love again some day."

"No, I will never love another man…"

Archie felt a little hurt. He knew she was grieving, but he had hoped that she would start to get over the death of her beloved. He couldn't tell her anything, she was still grieving, it would be insensitive. He went to his brother to talk to him. Alistear was trying to invent an airplane without the plan he had asked William for…and it was kind of a mess. He was in a little warehouse on the estate.

"Alistear, she's still thinking about Anthony…"

"Who?" said Alistear, distracted.

"Candice! Are you listening to me?"

"Oh…well she loved him a lot, she might be grieving her whole life…"

"Come on! She wasn't married to him, it's not like she has to wear black for the rest of her life! Life goes on!"

"You mean you want her to continue her life with you?"

"Why not? I love her to death, and I will be a good husband for her."

"Oh I wished I was her husband too, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen…"

"What? You too…?"

"I look, and I don't touch…I'm reasonable. You know the probability of her falling for me?"

"You did a math formula and you just gave up on her?"

"The odds are against me, so why bother?"

"Oh Alistear…."

He was looking at Candice in the garden of Roses, she was so beautiful.

Another pair of eyes was looking at the beautiful girl and her roses. The mean Neil…he was lusting after her. He was pretending to be mean to her in front of his sister, but in reality, he loved her…

Candice finished taking care of the rose and she wanted to go and rest in her bedroom for a little while. While she was in the hallway leading to her bedroom, she saw Neil…

"Can I do something for you Neil," she asked coldly.

"I… wanted to speak to you…"

"About what? We have nothing to say to each other…"

"Don't be so sure…" said Neil, "I might be your saviour…"

"My saviour from what?"

"From the misery my sister is putting me through…"

"Just your sister? What about you?"

"Well I actually kind of like you…"

"You like me? So you make my life miserable?"

"Well…"

"You're afraid to show your feelings in front of your sister…"

"What a coward…!" she thought.

"She won't understand… I'm coming of age to be married. I want to ask William for you hand in marriage…"

"What?"

"Yes, I want to marry you…"

"I wouldn't marry you if you were the last man on this earth!"

"Think about it, my sister won't have anything on you anymore. You're going to be family…"

"I'm tired, Neil, I'm going to take a nap…"

"I can come with you if you want, and I will show you that I'm not so bad…"

He approached her and he wanted to take her into his arms.

"Don't you dare touch me!" said Candice, getting away from him and getting into her room.

She locked the door behind her. She was still a little upset. The nerve! Neil wanted to marry her? No way in hell! How could he even think that she would consider it? She'd rather suffer the torture from Eliza, than marry Neil. She went on her bed big canopy bed and thought about Anthony. He was so nice, so perfect, why did he have to die? She closed her eyes and cried in silence before falling asleep.