Chapter 9

Before she could ask what is wrong, Aine spoke, "There has been much that has been kept from ye after your grandmother's passing away. I will tell ye what I can and do my best to answer your questions. But there will be a lot that I can't, hopefully, in neigh future ye will discover the answers. What I am about to speak of was suppose to be told to ye long before now, but my hands were tied, or I should say I allow them to be tied in my grief so to speak."

Jessica tried to speak again, but Aine raised her hand to silence her, "Let me finish before ye ask your questions it will make this easier and quicker."

She nodded her head to show that she understood and Aine proceeded again. "Ye grandmother, father, sister, and ye are part of a royal line. A royal bloodline to be exact. Ye grandmother was the last queen. On your eighth birthday, she placed her favor on you and had chosen you to be the true heiress and princess. The line is always passed down from mother to oldest daughter. If there is no daughter than the oldest son daughters will get it."

Nonetheless whatever, your grandmother's reasoning, whatever she saw or sensed in ye, made her break with tradition and made ye the next in line to be queen. Ye know the proud history of our homeland that we were made up of many governing clans."

Aine waited as she watched Jessica nod her head yes before continuing. "Our clan was one of the more powerful ones, but we were the last to fall, for the clan was betrayed. The story that was passed down from my mother and her and so forth. Was this, the ruling queen at that time placed her protector and heiress in the hidden room along with items of the house to keep them all safe, before she and the others went out and met the enemy head-on.

None survived that night it was a massacre, only a few children and a couple of older ones that managed to escape into the fields or the wood. Ye meant a few of the faithful last night. After that time the protector and royal bloodline went into hiding to keep the line safe, pure, and untouched. Until recently, somehow they found out about the lines still being around. It places you in danger, and that fills me with concern."

"Me?"

"Ye are very important Jessica, and there will be those who wish to seek to hurt you and take control of the power you hold. The line of the protector was and has always been close to the royal line for they are the last and truly only defense that can keep the queen and princess safe now."

"There is more isn't there? More you are not telling me? Who is the protector? Why me, I am nothing special, just worthless!"

"Oh, me girl you are not worthless, you are very special indeed, more than you realize."

"But I am! I can't do nothing right!"

"Nonsense you are not worthless. I had hoped the time away from that environment will help you to see, that ye are not and put more confidence in yourself, but I was wrong, so it seems."

Aine let out a tired sigh and stared at Jessica who had bitten her lower lip. Finally let it go and whisper, "Than why I can't see."

"In time will me girl."

"As for the protector, ye have known them for your whole life."

"No, I haven't?"

"Who has always been a constant presence in your life?"

"Well, there is some of the servants when they could, Quinn, David and you."

The last word was spoken almost to hear softly. As Jessica thought back over her life, she realized that it was Aine who came to live in her parent's house to take care of her, after grandmamma die and none of the other servants did.

Realization dawn on her face and in her eyes as Aine smiled grimly at the young lady as she whispered, "It's you? Isn't it?"

Aine stood up and moved and kneel in front of her.

"I am the last line of the protector's Princess of the O'Willow line, and I will uphold my duties and responsibilities that have been passed down through the years. If ye will have me still."

Jessica bit her lip unsure, and said, "I accept your protection protector."

It was enough for Aine as she stood before her future queen and young charge. She didn't get far for Jessica had hugged her around the middle of her waist and clung tightly to Aine. Aine managed to sit down beside her. There they sat for hours, the half chime from the grandfather clock sounded that it was half-past one in the afternoon.

Aine stood up and said, "We need to fix at least a light lunch for us to eat. Jessica nodded and knew just the thing. Standing they moved to the kitchen area.

Aine went to the fridge and pulled out a few things that had prepped already. "What should we make with this it looks they had to be prepped last night, probably from that woman."

Jessica paused looking through the cupboards. "Oh, That would save us some time. Put those on the counter, and I show you what we will be making."

Taking out a deep bowl she moved to where Aine stood and proceeded to show Aine how to make the salad.

She placed the diced cucumber and tomato in the dish and mixed than she topped it with the diced onion. Then in the smaller bowl mixed some garlic powder, two tablespoons of olive oil, one teaspoon of lemon juice. Next, she added salt and pepper to taste.

Jessica then took the mixture and drizzled it on the salad then topped it with one tablespoon of chopped parsely. Then she took out two smaller dishes and dished it out into two servings on plates. They took the plates back to the room they were at before and sat in silence eating.

Aine placed her fork down and looked at Jessica thoughtfully. Jessica felt eyes on her being and looked up and saw Aine studying her.

"Do you hate that I sent ye away?"

Jessica took a deep breathe this is the opening she wanted and needed, but the words would be hard to come by. Taking a deep and steady breath and letting out.

"I was hurt and scared as I said before. But to hate David and you, I could never do that. For the longest time, I was mad and confused as to why you did. That is in the past, and I have forgiven you both since then."

"Do you like it here?"

Jessica placed her fork down as she responded, "It has not been bad. Taking some time to adjust, especially with the heat. I will be honest the first part of my stay was the worse."

Aine's eyes had become downcast thoughtfully.

"What happened?"

"I barely could get by. Couldn't find work. It's men society in almost every sense of the word here."

"The curator?"

"I was found on a street corner late one night in the middle of a rain shower. I was sitting there hopefulness in fear. Ardeth found me. Came over to me and had picked me up when I did not respond to him, and I had tried running from him. But he caught me, and I started to hit and kick him, but couldn't break his hold. Placed me on his horse and brought me to the museum where I was introduced to Curator. Later I found out that was his son. Since that time we couldn't stand each other." Jessica trailed off unsurely.

"What has changed?" Asked Aine.

"Last night." Was the girl's vague answered.

"Will, tell me?"

"It's complicated."Speaking softly just above a whisper.

"Remember ye both grew up in different cultures, so ye will both see things differently. Communication is important and open honesty with each other, along with trying to understand the other sides of the person view."

"What are you getting at Aine?"

The older woman smiled softly and replied, "Ye will know when the time comes. I hope ye will with what I am about to say when that time comes. 'Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.'"

"Do you remember this scripture?"

Jessica's face turned into a frown, as she shook her head no.

"It's from First Corinthians. Chapter thirteen, verses four through eight. It is also known as the love chapter."

Jessica inhaled sharply at that as Aine stood at that and gathered the plates and cups and pitcher and left the room. A moment later she came back in and wiped the table down. Pausing at the door, turned and asked.

"Are you still in school?"

"I am. I have private tutors that are hired by the curator. He thought it would be best for me to have one on one."

"What are your grades like and what year?"

"A's and B's with a C or two thrown in. I am in my senior year now."

"That I am happy to hear that you're keeping up with your schooling. Would you go to college?"

"I haven't thought about that honestly. I still don't know what I am going to do."

"I see. I will leave, now me girl, if ye need anything let me know. I have a few things I need to do before getting dinner ready. When David and Quinn get back to send them to me please."

"I can do that for you," smiled Jessica. She got up and hugged Aine tightly and whispered, "I love you."

"I know, and I do love ye too my sweet."

Aine broke the embrace and left the room. Jessica sighed lightly. She moved towards the other side of the room, and on a shelf laid a few books. Grabbing a book she sat down and began to read. The book was called The Haunted Bookshop by Christopher Moley. It was an hour later when David and Quinn came in with their arms laden with purchases. She instructed them to Aine and offered to help them, but they quickly refuse and move in the direction that Jessica had pointed. Jessica shrugged her shoulders and started to read again. Sometime later as she was finishing the last chapter.

Two hurried sounds of footsteps enter the room, and Jonathan and Evelyn tackled her. They demanded to know what happened. She eased their fears the best she could explaining about the run-in with her old family and found some nice people who brought her back to the curator's after she was lost in the lower part Cairo's marketplace. She left out a lot of what happened, she had a feeling that if she didn't, it might not be a good thing. She asked Jonathan how long he would be here and started to fill his baby sisters as they were called by him what was going on in his life.

Soon, they were interrupted by Quinn who stated dinner was ready as they entered the dining room. Terrance was there waiting along with David and Aine who both had just placed the last of the meal on the table. But she soon realized Ardeth wasn't there, even though his father was.

It was Terrance only who noticed the girl searching the room. Jessica frowned for she had wanted to thank Ardeth. It looked like it wasn't going to happen and then Jessica realized the meal that was on the table ready to be server was her favorite meal.

"We couldn't find Haddock fish, and I hope you don't mind having Perch." Said, David.

"No its fine and it looks yummy." Whispered Jessica.

As she stared at the baked Perch, that was broiled with lemon, butter, white wine, and homemade breadcrumbs and served with creamy seasoned vegetables for the side dish. She sat down, and they begin eating the meal in silence, small talk filled the air throughout dinner. When dinner was over, they ushered out the siblings into the other room with plates held a piece of Apple upside-down cake. For the rest, they had to finalize the plan they needed to put into the motion the next day. Soon the night drew on and found the house occupants retiring for the night.