Twelve Oaks was even more beautiful than anything Melanie could remember.
It's rolling cotton fields and copses that filled up the gaps between the
ploughed fields.
Melanie stood up in the carriage as it pulled up just outside the gates, to
look out over the edge that looked down upon it all. She gasped and Charles
gave a chuckle and pulled her down into her seat.
The next ten minutes passed like a dream as they pulled up outside and John
Wilkes came to greet them. As they walked through the great doors, Melanie
on her Uncles arm, they greeted India who was stood in the hallway
delighted to be reunited with her cousins. She hugged Melanie and greeted
Charles with affection. The crowd was soon to be joined by an exuberant
Honey who ran down the stairs and into Melanie's arms.
And yet there was no sign of Ashley. Melanie bit at her nails anxiously, a
habit she had when nervous. After pleasantries had been made and they'd all
stopped chatting India took Melanie off to the room she was to stay in and
John Wiles took Charles off to his.
Melanie looked around the room that she was to occupy for the next week and a half. She smiled when she saw the view that her bedroom window offered. It looked down on the same slope as the hill did; she had more time to study the landscape from the window. As her eyes rested on the trees grouped together she remembered a small girl who came over from a neighbouring plantation to play with the cousins, but she would never sit with India and herself, but would always be off climbing trees with the boys. She remembered one time when the girl, Scarlett, that was it the name ran through her head. She had always thought that it had looked so much fun to be climbing up in the trees but whenever she had suggested it to India she had always thought of an excuse as to why they shouldn't, usually that it simply wasn't proper for ladies to go scrambling about, or that they would spoil their new dresses.
There is nothing worse than prolonged agony and it seems a little unfair that Melanie should be put through it, but nevertheless this was indeed how she felt. Ashley was not at Dinner; he had accepted the Calvert's invitation to stay for Dinner and would not be home till late. After dinner Melanie departed the company claiming fatigue.
Melanie looked around the room that she was to occupy for the next week and a half. She smiled when she saw the view that her bedroom window offered. It looked down on the same slope as the hill did; she had more time to study the landscape from the window. As her eyes rested on the trees grouped together she remembered a small girl who came over from a neighbouring plantation to play with the cousins, but she would never sit with India and herself, but would always be off climbing trees with the boys. She remembered one time when the girl, Scarlett, that was it the name ran through her head. She had always thought that it had looked so much fun to be climbing up in the trees but whenever she had suggested it to India she had always thought of an excuse as to why they shouldn't, usually that it simply wasn't proper for ladies to go scrambling about, or that they would spoil their new dresses.
There is nothing worse than prolonged agony and it seems a little unfair that Melanie should be put through it, but nevertheless this was indeed how she felt. Ashley was not at Dinner; he had accepted the Calvert's invitation to stay for Dinner and would not be home till late. After dinner Melanie departed the company claiming fatigue.