SO WE COULD BE TOGETHER
Chapter 4
"Front page news…."
The next morning at St. Paul College, Annie and Patty were at Sister Grey's office to get some letters from their parents. They had just bought the daily paper.
- Annie, look! The paper! Said Patty
Annie looked and we could see a picture of Candy in front page dancing with the Prince of Liege and a big title saying:
"A BLOND HAIR ANGEL LITERALLY MAKES THE PRINCE OF LIEGE WALK!"
- We can't let Sister Grey see that! I'll take the first page or the whole paper said Annie
- No, they'll see that it's missing and send for another one, take only the first page.
Eliza was passing by wither group of friends and observing the scene from afar.
- Louise, she said, we have to know what's on that paper, it must be about that stable girl…
- Ok, I can send the gardener to buy us an copy of the paper after school said Louise
- Great! If it's anything to do with Candy she's going to regret it…said Eliza with a mean look.
Annie and Patty saw the boys Alistair and Archie a little before the bell rang.
- Alistair, Archibald said Annie, we have news from Candy!
- Really? Where? How? Asked Archie
- Did she write? Did you see her? Asked Stear
- No said Annie giving them the page of the paper, look!
Stear and Archie couldn't believe their eyes. Candy in front page news!
- She made the Prince of Liege walk?
- She's not possible! Said Stear she has to hide and she has the time to make the front page in the papers!
- You think Terry is with her? Asked Patty
- I think Terry's name and influence is the reason for their invitation to the ball said Annie
- Wait a minute said Stear, reading the article quickly, yes her it is, she refused saying she wanted to dance her first dance with her partner Terrence Grandchester
- They're together! Said Annie, she found him. I happy for both of them.
- They deserve to be together, they're so in love said Patty.
- Girls, always so romantic said Stear
- How could Grandchester let her expose herself like that said Archie with anger
- Come on Archie…., Patty started
The bell rang and they had to go to class.
Candy was having breakfast when she saw a customer who was reading the morning paper and almost chocked on her cup of tea. She was front page news. If Sister Grey sees the paper! She'll send people to look for her. She tried not to panic. Terry will protect her. They'll get married on the boat and nothing will separate them. But for now, she had to hide.
- Good morning, Freckles said Terry, dragging her out of her thoughts; give her a kiss on the forehead.
- Good morning Terry, she said smiling, have you seen the papers?
Terry gave her a copy of the paper he had in his hands.
- Oh yes. I'm proud of you my darling. You refuse to dance with him because of me; he must envy me, because I had the most beautiful girl in the room.
- You're not worried about the article?
- Freckles, London is a very big city, you might as well look for a needle in a haystack…Don't worry, I repeat, I won't let anyone take my future wife…
- Future wife said Candy, I like hearing that, I love you Terrence.
- I love you Freckles.
They spent the day walking through London. They went to the zoo and thought about Albert who had left to pursue his dreams, the day was coming to an end and Candy was anxious to go meet Georgie.
- We have to meet Georgie after her work; you think she'll come with Laurent?
- If he loves her as much as it looks like, I think he won't let her for a second
Candy just laughed.
- We can have diner all four of us said Candy
- Yeah why not?
Georgie went to the Brydon's manor to give her the stuff from the night before. She entered by the back door and went to the kitchen. Other employees were working. The cook was doing breakfast for the bosses. Some were doing the dishes and some were doing the vegetables. Betty who was a chambermaid was waiting for her bosses to wake up. She was waiting for Georgie impatiently.
- Come on, talk, said Betty who was the guy?
- It's Laurent, I knew him from Australia… and I never thought I'll see him again…
- Great, I'm glad I could help. How was the evening?
- Everything was perfect.
The other employees were listening to the conversation.
- Did you meet Lord Brydon?
- His son, Christopher, invited me to dance sand Georgie, he said I reminded him of someone. A Roxanne Bramwell
- Roxanne? Said the cook turning around, I remember her, green eyes, blond hair, now that you say it, you do look like her.
- Matilda has been here for over 20 years, she knows almost all the employees that have passed through this house.
- Do you know what happened to her? Georgie asked.
- She found herself in trouble…
- Oh!
- She didn't want her bosses to know, so she left to have her baby where nobody knew her. I saw her when she just had her baby, she said she was taking it to the orphanage, because she wasn't married.
- Did she tell you who the father was?
- One of those rich American boys from the local colleges, but he had left college for America, so he didn't know how to contact him. She said she wanted to go to America to look for him. Do you think you're the baby?
- I was brought up in Australia. I was found in the arms of my dying adoptive mother, all she said was that my name was Georgie and to give me a gold bracelet.
- A bracelet? Said Matilda, Roxanne had 3 identical gold bracelets, it was a souvenir from her mother. She came from a rich American family, but she rebelled herself and left her home to try to make it as a dancer. She found herself her with her dance troupe. When the contract was over, she decided to stay here. She found a job as an assistant.
- And where did she meet her…
- …lover? Matilda finished, he used to come here every fifth Sunday to see his parents.
- Do you remember his name?
- Of course ,I remember the name of the one who stole our Roxanne's heart, it's Nathaniel Winstanley.
- Nathaniel Winstanley, Georgie repeated, that may be my biological father. Are you sure she went back to America?
- I never saw her again, so I assume she left.
- Thank you Matilda, said Georgie hugging her, thank you with all my heart. I have to go to work now, Betty. See you later.
Georgie went to work and thought all day about what Matilda said. She was going to America with two names to make her research. The time came for her meeting with Candy at the inn and she got ready.
Eliza and her group of friends were trying to bribe the gardener to buy them a copy of the morning paper. The gardener was not very happy to serve those young girls who treated him like trash. Finally after a big bribery, they finally convinced him. In the beginning of the evening, they had in hand a copy of the paper showing Candy dancing with the Prince of Liege. Eliza couldn't believe her eyes; she had Candy expelled. Terry sacrifices himself for her, Candy ran away…. And now they were together! Not only that she was at the royal ball and opened the dance floor with the Prince of Liege!
- That stable girl is lucky, but how? she asked with anger
- It's because of you said Stear's voice behind her it looks like Candy and Terry owe you a lot!
- You wanted to separate them, but you in fact, reunited them! Said Archie, talk about backfire!
- Wait until I show this to Sister Grey…
- Oh go ahead said Annie, London is a very big city
- You might as well look for a needle in a haystack said Patty.
- We'll see about that, said Eliza running to Sister Grey's office followed by her group of friends.
The others let her go. They knew they couldn't convince her giving her hatred for Candy. They just prayed that none find their friend.
Eliza got to Sister Grey's office and knocked at the door.
- Miss Regan, what the honour of your visit?
- Look at this paper, Sister Grey, it's Candy at the royal ball! How come you haven't found her yet? She screamed
- Miss Regan! I will not tolerate you talk to me on that tone!
- I'm sorry Sister Grey.
- You must know that I already know about the ball. There are people looking for her already. As soon as they find her, they will bring her back.
- Why is it taking so long?
- Miss Regan, this school is not your personal property. Because of your underhand practices, we have lost two students. Because of you, they were able to go to the royal ball and have fun. I think that's the real reason for your anger, said Sister Margaret. I'm right, am I? They are free in the real world and you are locked up here?
- Now would you get out of the office, please and don't disturb us with your nonsense anymore.
Eliza went out of Sister Grey's office, boiling with rage. Her brother who had heard about what happened from the other students, was waiting for her outside the office with his friends.
- You've done it again, sis!
- Stop it, not you too!
- You have to call it the way it is. You wanted to punish them, but in fact you helped them! What a mess!
Eliza didn't answer and just left without her friends.
- Eliza is green with envy said Louise, Candy is with Terry having fun. The stable girl has pretty good taste!
They were laughing and mocking their friend.
Candy's friends learned how Eliza was put back in her place, by the sisters and were glad. But they were worried about Candy, and praying she wouldn't get found.
- Why are they still here? Asked Annie.
- They must be waiting for the boat from Southampton to come back from America, said Stear it should be in a week or so…
- I hope they won't make a spectacle of themselves again, it was very careless of them said Patty but it must have been very exiting.
- I envy her said Annie, the royal bal, the Prince of Liege, and she first refuse his invitation to dance, do you know how many would've wanted to be in her place?
- Apparently not our Candy, Terry is all the Prince she needs, said Patty
- How romantic! Said Annie with dreamy eyes.
- Oh girls! Said Stear and Archie at the same time.
Georgie and Laurent went to the Guardian Angel's inn to see Candy and Terry. Laurent came and wait for her a few minutes before her shift ended.
Candy and Terry were waiting for them inside. Candy didn't want to show herself to much in case they were looking for her to bring her back to college.
- Good evening said Georgie and Laurent
- Good evening said Candy smiling.
- Hello said Terry. We can sit at the restaurant. Have you had dinner already?
- No, Georgie said. That's nice of you.
They took a table for 4 and ordered diner. Georgie told them what she learned at Lord Brydon on her mother and father and the bracelet.
- Candy, Laurent told me you had a bracelet that looked like mine.
- The bracelet? Oh yeah. Here it is. Terry bought it for me a few days ago she said giving it to her.
- Thank you said Georgie, taking it.
She looked at the bracelet for a while and said;
- You're right Laurent it's my bracelet the one I sold… can I borrow it from you?
Candy looked at Terry who nodded.
- Of course, in fact you can keep it, it's yours anyway. And if it's going to help you find your parents…
- Oh, but I didn't want to…. Said a confused Georgie
- Don't try to discuss with her, when she gets an idea in her head…said Terry
- But it's a present from Terry…
- He'll buy me another one, won't you Terry she said looking at him with loving eyes
- No doubt he said kissing her hand.
- But it won't be the same, there must be a raison he chose this one…
- Georgie there's a reason for everything. I'm convinced Terry bought this bracelet so I could give it back to you.
- Thank you. You're very generous, Candy. Have you ever tried to find your mother?
- No, not at all. I was at the orphanage, I was adopted at came her in college and now, I'm on the run…
- She left the college to come to America with me
- Left? Laurent asked
They explain to them what had happened with Eliza.
- Wow, said Georgie, apparently there's a silver lining for every bad thing; you're together now. I bet Eliza didn't plan that!
- They're not looking for you, Candy. I doubt a college like St. Paul take the lost of two students so well.
- They probably are, and the article in the paper didn't help thing at all.
- If you have any problems, come and see me or call me if you can find a phone.
He gave them a piece of paper, after he wrote his address and phone number on it.
- Thank you said Terry.
- By the way, said Georgie, when are you going to America?
- In a little more than a week said Terry, when the boat comes back
- We will be traveling together. I have a place, but Laurent wants to come with me.
- Great! Said Candy, Remind me to say a prayer for Eliza!
They laughed out loud! They spend the rest of the evening talking. Candy and Georgie were comparing their childhood. They were both tomboys! Georgie talked about her "brothers" she left behind in Australia.
- I miss them at lot she said
- Not too much I hope said Laurent
- Don't be jealous, please said Georgie
- Her two brothers are in love with her explained Laurent
- Oh said Candy
- Does that remind you of something Freckles? Said Terry
- Don't start Terry
- What? Georgie asked
- All the male members of her adoptive family are in love with her…
- You exaggerate, Terry. Not all of them, there was only Anthony…
- And Alistair, and Archibald… said Terry
- No, said Candy
- Why is Archie always on my case?
- I don't know maybe because you hit him the day he went in your room by mistake…
- Ok, but come on Freckles, if Annie hadn't scream that day, what do you think Archie would have told you?
- Ok, but Stear…
- Has the good sense not to show his feelings for you.
- Oh Terry! You're the one I want.
- Another thing you have in common, incredible! Said Laurent
- Maybe they're twins separated at birth… joked Terry
- Maybe you're not that far off… Said Laurent, no I don't think so.
He stopped his line of thinking. He didn't want to give them false hope. He'll do his own investigation.
- It's getting late, Laurent, we have to go.
- Ok, said Candy. Promise me you'll come and see me. I'll come and see you at your pub.
- Ok, and thanks again for the bracelet!
They said goodbye and they separated.