Chapter Two

Caterina hated the sound of rain, the soft patter of droplet hitting the roof soon turned into hammering, as if someone was dropping a million nails on the roof of Blackwater Estate. For her, rain meant solitude and confinement. The outdoors were out-of-bounds today. She sat on the window in the lounge, watching as the harsh wind made the trees swing wildly back and forth, it brought the entire woods alive. They all seemed to dance with one another, taunting her with their freedom.

Bringing her knees up to her chin, she sighed heavily as her dog, bounded into the room, his tail wagging wildly as he stared up at her with curious eyes. Reaching out she petted his shiny chocolate coat and smiled slightly.

"As soon as this rain ends Dexter, we are going outside." She promised, "I want to find the cottages again."

It had been three week since the incident and she could not stop thinking about the strange girl in the tree, Tori. She was entranced by the young girl, she knew nothing about her, apart from her name and that she can sew. Caterina had tried to sneak out of the Manor to talk to her but everyone seemed to be working against her, especially her mother and Abi.

Caterina did not fully understand what she had done wrong, at first she thought her mother was angry because she broke her promise and had strayed from the path. But as they neared the Manor she realised it was more than that, she had never seen her so enraged. Her jaw was set, her lips a fine line as she tugged the little Valentine into the house, Caterina could practically see small puffs of steam protruding from her ears. Caterina tried to squeal in protest but her mother chastised brought her straight up to her bedroom, warning her of the serious consequences she would be in if she left the room.

The door slammed shut and Caterina stamped her tiny foot in protest, this was hardly fair. A few minutes ago she was about to embark in the most fun she had ever had, and her snotty mother had taken that away from her in a matter of seconds. Boldly Caterina stomped over to the door and swung it open, she was already in trouble so what did it matter if she didn't stay in her room.

Following the screeches of her mother that echoed around the manor, Caterina easily located her at the stairwell of the servant's quarter. Hiding behind one of the stone statues of a cherub that Cat had always found amusing, to her, it looked like a little fat baby-faced man with wings. Trying not to laugh at the fat man Caterina peeked from behind the statue to see her mother rebuking Abi.

"What did we tell you Abi?" she hissed.

Cat watched as the Abi began to shake, she was clutching her broom for support, "That you would not see her until she was old enough to work."

"Exactly." Lady Rebecca's voice was calculated, she was using that tone Caterina had always hated; it was sinister, "So why did I find my daughter with her?"

Abby stuttered trying to find the right words, "I-I don't know Ma'am. They must have bumped into each other. Tori likes to go exploring you see and I know that Caterina does too."

Caterina had wanted to step out and tell her mother not to be such a tyrant, that it was not Abi's fault, but the little girl was afraid of her mother. It was just then that Dexter spotted the little girl, perched behind the valuable statue. Assuming that she was playing a game he barked happily and bounded straight over to her. Caterina tried in vain to shush her playful friend but it was pointless, his tail was wagging manically, lightly slapping the wooden podium.

"Dexter!" she whispered hastily, "Shoo."

She squeal as he jumped on her, then what happened next was like someone you would find in your most horrid nightmares. In her attempt to wriggle away from her large dog's affection licks they collided with the wooden podium. Her mother turned as the cherub wobbled, Caterina screamed as it became airborne, watching in horror as the fat man hit the floor, his stomach exploding like a firework, sending shards of clay all over the floor.

Lady Valentine shrieked in horror as she looked from the cherub, to her very guilt-ridden daughter who was rocking back and forth on the floor, her new dress covered in dust. Finally she looked at Dexter, who was staring at her, his eyes alight with excitement as his large tongue hung from his mouth, sending droplets of saliva falling to the ground, splatting the polished wooden floor.

"Reginald!" she screamed, "Get in here now, you have to discipline our... rogue!"

Which brought us up to this moment; Caterina had gotten into a heap of trouble for destroying the present given to them from Granny Eliza, although Caterina was suspicious that some members of the family were sadder to see the demise of the ugly statue than others. She could have sworn she saw a small glint in her father's eye when he saw the destruction. Obviously that was before he sentenced her to a month indoors.

She forced herself to be good and she really did try those three weeks. But trouble seemed to follow her, like an unwelcome visitor. Many times she had tried to make her own fun, once she had went on an adventure up to the attic, expecting to find a secret world, filled with mythical creatures and unseen treasures. She had been disappointed when she found out it was just the sleeping area for the staff. Although that did not mean it was not an adventure, she did discover that the conditions at the top of the house were very different than hers, the rooms where cold and unwelcoming, the beds where rough, the sheets were very scratchy against her skin and she did not know what the ceramic bowl in the corner contained, but it did not smell very nice at all. She had gotten herself into more trouble when she asked at dinner why the rooms where different. Her mother had choked on the piping hot vegetable soup, causing her to burn her tongue. Caterina had tried her best not to laugh when her mother began to rebuke her, she sounded like her tongue was now too big for her mouth, and her words were muffled. She had been sent to bed that night without any desert, which upset her greatly; she loved Mrs. Grey's pudding and custard. Dexter was not allowed to stay in her room anymore after the ruckus, meaning that she was very hunger, and also very lonely that night.

Caterina just did not understand why they were punishing her so much, why they wanted her to be so much older than her age. All she wanted was a friend, someone to tell secrets with and hear hers in return, a person who would play imaginary worlds with her and go on escapades into the woods and around the fields. Whenever she was allowed to leave the house it was only for visiting relatives. She envied the children that she saw from outside their carriage, maybe they were not dressed as well as Caterina, or bathed or had the same privileges.

But at least they were happy.

"Caterina!"

Caterina squirmed at the sound of her mother's voice; she scrambled from the window seat, her eyes darting around the room, in an attempt to find a place to hide. But her partner in crime was always by her side, so her hiding place was found very quickly. Lady Valentine pulled the drapes back and frowned at her daughter.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Em" Caterina brushed past her mother and sat at the table, "I was cold."

Her mother arched a brow as she joined her at the table, "So you thought that you would warm yourself by wrapping yourself up in the drapes?"

"Yes." Caterina replied quickly as she continued to scribble on the page, she wasn't sure what she was drawing but it was slowly forming into something, was it two girls? It was difficult to tell.

She continued drawing as her mother ranting on, "Well I have excellent news because of your recent, how should I put this, rebellious stage. Your father and I have decided that we will not hire another tutor."

Caterina dropped her pencil and grinned up at her mother, "You mean I do not have to be taught anymore?"

Lady Valentine pulled a strange face at her, as if a bug had just flew up her nose, she exhaled quickly before responding, "Child please, of course you have be to taught, you are a Valentine. We are respectable Caterina, we follow the rules. No you have been accepted at Queen Mary's Academy for Ladies and Gentlemen."

Caterina could not believe what she was hearing, "You are sending me away?" she asked, her voice a high squeak.

Her mother gave her daughter a tight smile, "No my dear, this school is in the village. We would have preferred that you were educated here, but you seemed to be very against the idea. You will go every day for a set amount of hours. You will be with your own kind, well brought up, good mannered women."

"When do I start?" Caterina asked, staring down at the drawing.

Her mother smiled warmly, replying with, "Tomorrow."

Leaving her daughter she rushed out of the room in search of her husband, she had to tell him that Caterina had agreed openly to go to private school. Finally, they would have some peace from their daughter and she would finally learn her place in society. While Lady Valentine rushed off, Caterina stared down at her pencil drawing, it was the first time she had ever attempted to do anything creative and she was pleasantly surprised by the outcome. Feeling a sudden weight on her lap she looked down to see Dexter's eyes looking up at her. They seemed to cry out for her to not leave.

She sighed, "School could be good. You never know, maybe I will make a friend that isn't an animal."

Patting his head lightly she stared at the picture once again. While it was pretty, she did not understand the drawing at all. The page was divided by a large block, stones stacked above one another. On one side stood a girl in a puffy dress, her hair tied up in a bun, she was crouched staring through the wall. On the other side, the girl she drew was the complete opposite of the other child in every way. She was wearing a frayed dress with holes that were mended with patches of different fabric, her hair was down, the soft breeze whipping it around her face. The building behind her was old and cracked from exposure to harsh weather. On both sides there were children playing behind them, but the two girls seemed to be more interested in each other to care.

Caterina sighed as she folded up the drawing, she could not decipher what it meant, maybe it meant nothing. It was just a drawing after all. Jumping up from the chair she beckoned Dexter to follow.

"Come on." she urged, "Let's go find something fun to do."

Hey Guys!

See there's the clumsy Cat we know ;)

I quite like child cat, she is such a rouge :P
Anyway yes she is going off to school! Wonder if I made it clear enough what is going to happen ;)

I'm sure you can all guess anyway!

AND if you look at my previous stories they are good indications of what may happen, i.e a character may make an appearance in the next chapter ;)

BTW make sure to check out Silent Hopes' work if you have time to spare ;) It's good stuff!

Anyway til next time guys!

xoxox