I want to update everyone on the changes I've recently made to my story. Nothing really major, I just combined 2 small chapters to make 1 larger one. So now instead of 18, I have 10. Confused yet? I hope not because I think this is much better. I felt that my chapters needed to be beefed up some and so with that being said, I expanded Ch 10 (formerly Ch 18) and added some more scenes to hopefully give it more feeling. From here on out, my chapters will be a little longer and little more in depth. I also went back and dated the events at the beginning of the chapters where time had passed. I did it for you all and for myself so that I could keep up with where I was in relation to the time frame. I was getting a bit confused on what year I was in, lol.

Anyway, just wait until you see what I have in store for Olivia and Cal... (smiles an evil grin).

janetweiss and roxy: I am updating and I hope you like the changes I've made. Thanks for reading and reviewing, I really, really appreciate it.

Eliza, Lilly and Janell: Isn't Joshua such a cutie? I have to admit, I sort of modeled him after Jack just to give Cal a tweak on the nose, lol. That's why he had such the reaction to him, but as you read this chapter you'll see that I beefed those scenes up a little more. I don't think we've seen the last of Joshua. I liked him so much as I was writing him that I came up with some other ideas to bring him into the forefront more.

Thanks for the reviews everyone and keep 'em coming!

Tipper

Chapter Ten

May, 1914

The train platform was bustling with activity as Olivia, Cal, Cal's ever present manservant, McBride, her parents and Emma made their way through the crowd. Olivia glanced back over her shoulder to her sister, who looked so forlorn and despondent that her heart went out to her.

"Come along, Olivia, I don't want to dawdle about here all day," Cal said next to her.

Olivia turned sharply to him and furrowed her brows. "Have you no compassion at all? My sister is being sent away for a very long time and I can do nothing to stop it."

"Stop playing the dramatics, darling. Your sister will be fine. This is the best thing for her."

"I don't happen to think so, but it's quite obvious my opinion means nothing… to you or to my mother," she accused bitterly.

Cal sighed and adjusted his hat before turning away from her in dismissal.

"Emma," Constance said her younger daughter's name in reproach. "Stop slouching and stand up straight for goodness sake. You act as if you're going to your execution."

"I wish I were," Emma bit out as tears welled up in her eyes again.

"Nonsense," Constance lowered her voice. "I will not hear another word about this. As soon as you're settled you'll see this was the right choice. Edenbrook School for Girls is the most exclusive school for young ladies in all of Europe. Only the most influential and wealthiest families send their daughters there."

Olivia stood back and watched the conversation between her mother and Emma with disdain. She wished she could step in and support Emma, but Cal had made his feelings clear on the subject… she was not to interfere. The very fact that he had let her come to see Emma off at all was remarkable. She still shuddered with humiliation at the way she had to beg him to allow her to come and when he finally relented he made it clear that he would be accompanying her.

As she turned to look up at him, she saw something in the corner of her eye that caught her attention. A young man with scruffy blond hair was nearing them, his hat twisting nervously in his hands. Olivia watched as he neared them and wondered what he was doing. Suddenly, he drew himself up in a proud stance and called out Emma's name. Emma turned and her face turned pale and her eyes widened.

"Joshua!" she exclaimed.

Constance blanched at the outburst. She sucked in her breath as she wheeled around to face the young man. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see Emma before she leaves," he answered firmly, unwavering against Constance's glare.

"Young man, how dare you show your face? I insist that you leave this instant."

"No," he said as he stepped forward. "You can send her away, but you can't keep me from saying goodbye."

Olivia smiled at the actions of this scruffy young man. So this was Joshua. Emma was right, he wasn't of their social standing, his clothing alone told that story, but still… there was something about him, something that was proud and strong, strong enough to come against Constance Barlow in all her fury.

"Emma," he said her name and held out his hand. Emma slowly put her hand in his as he led her away from them.

"Charles, do something!" Constance let out strangled whisper as the young couple stopped some distance away and began talking to each other.

"Constance, calm down." Charles shook his head. "The lad is not whisking her away, he's saying goodbye. Let him have his say and he'll leave."

Olivia smiled even wider at her father's response. She was glad to see that he didn't always conform to her mother's wishes. Constance drew herself up stiffly, her faced pinched in anger.

"What are you smiling about?" Cal growled in her ear. "I suppose you find this to be acceptable. That ruffian should be horsewhipped."

"He's done nothing wrong, Cal." Olivia defended him.

"I should have known you would say that. You're all the same - all of you. Let some gutter rat come along and you're seeing stars. Well, I won't stand for it." He spat and started to move.

"What are you-" was as far as she got before he stalked over to Emma and Joshua. "Cal!" she stepped forward but was restrained by McBride. Angrily she tried to free her arm from his vice like grip, but he held tight.

"What do you think you're doing?" she questioned him hotly. He stared down at her and shook his head. Olivia couldn't believe he had the audacity to touch her.

"Stay here," he instructed as he moved toward the trio.

As Olivia watched, Cal grabbed Joshua by the arm and spun him around. "This has gone far enough," he declared angrily. "You were asked to leave and I suggest you do so now."

Joshua jerked his arm away from Cal's grasp. "Get your hands off me. I don't answer to you."

Cal stepped back for a moment, seemingly surprised by the young man's defiance. Then his anger returned and he snarled as he gripped his fists at his side. "If you don't leave willingly than you'll leave forcefully by whatever means necessary."

"Your threats don't worry me," Joshua countered. "I don't answer to you. You may be rich, but that doesn't give you the right to push me around." He then turned to her parents. "And that goes for all of you. I love Emma, right or wrong, I love her. You can send her away but I'll still love her and she'll love me. You can't keep us apart forever."

"You," Constance hissed. "Do you think I'm going to allow you to ruin my daughter's life? You're sadly mistaken if you think I'll ever let that happen. If I have any say you will never see her again."

Joshua nodded his head in response. "I have no doubt you'll try. But, Emma and I love each other and there's nothing you can do about that. Sending her away won't erase our feelings."

Emma's face shown bright, her love for Joshua beaming forth. Olivia had never seen her sister look so happy when only moments before she was desolate.

"We'll just see about that." Constance answered harshly. "Furthermore, you are to never step one foot on our property again. If you do I shall have no choice but to have you arrested and thrown in jail."

"I'm not afraid of your threats, Mrs. Barlow." Joshua told her. "I'm not afraid of you or your money. I may only be a stable hand for the moment but I intend to make something of myself."

"Young man," Constance drawled, her voice dripping with scorn. "I could care less what you do with your miserable life as long as my daughter is not involved. She is far too young and impressionable to realize what a mistake she is making so I have no choice but to take matters into my own hands. I will make sure you never have contact with her again."

"Say what you will, but one day we will be together. I'm going to marry your daughter, Mrs. Barlow and she will be my wife. If she'll have me," he said as he turned to a stunned Emma.

Everyone gasped at the audacity of this young man who so boldly declared his intentions for Emma right in front of them. That's when Olivia realized that what she was witnessing, she had never had. This was real love, this was passion and devotion and it was real. She had no doubt of that.

"I do love you, Emma," he said as he cupped her face in the palm of his hands. "I'll never love anyone the way I love you. I'll wait for you for as long as it takes." Then he lowered his head and kissed her, a sweet, tender kiss so full of love that Olivia could feel it from where she was standing.

"This is ridiculous!" Cal hissed as he turned to McBride. "I want you to remove this piece of filth from these premises and make sure he is barred from re-entering."

McBride responded with a nod and moved toward Joshua, but Joshua held up his hand. "I wouldn't if I were you."

McBride stopped and smiled, apparently amused by the young man's warning, but Cal was anything but amused. "What are you waiting for you idiot? Remove him now!" he ordered.

McBride flinched for a moment but kept his composure. "Yes, sir," he muttered and continued toward Joshua.

"I won't let you do this!" Emma cried as she jumped in front of her beloved. "Cal, stop this, please! I'm begging you."

"It's alright," Joshua said taking her by the arms. "I'll leave now, not because I'm being told to, but because it's time."

"No, Joshua!" Emma shook her head as she turned to him. "Don't leave."

"I have to, but you have to make me a promise right here and right now."

"Anything," Emma responded desperately.

"Don't forget me. Promise me you won't ever forget me."

"I will never forget you… I promise." Emma answered firmly. "I love you, Joshua Harris. I'll love you forever!" she declared as she hugged him tightly.

Joshua gave her one final kiss and then he turned to leave. "Never forget."

Olivia felt her heart break, for her sister and for herself. As she glanced over to Cal, who was still greatly agitated, she knew then that nothing had changed. Cal lusted after her… when it suited him, but he had never loved her. Not the way Joshua obviously loved Emma.

"Well," Constance huffed as they watched Joshua disappear into the crowd. "I have never seen such an ill-bred young person in all of my life. I hope you are happy, Emma. If you wanted to humiliate your family you have succeeded."

"Stop it, Mother." Olivia said stepping forward to wrap her arm around Emma's shoulder. "No one has been humiliated. As Father said, the young man had his say and now he is gone."

Constance narrowed her gaze upon Olivia. "Don't coddle her, Olivia. Don't you see what she has done by associating with that stable boy? All of our private family business displayed for prying eyes. Of course we've been humiliated. The sooner she's away from that boy, the better."

Olivia felt Emma lean against her, her body trembling from all that had taken place. She squeezed her shoulder tighter, letting Emma know she was supporting her, even only in a small way. "I have not been humiliated," she spoke clearly. "Stop badgering her, she's been through enough. Can't you see what this is doing to her?"

Constance's eyes widened for a moment before narrowing again. "I have had enough of this." She drew herself up and turned away from Olivia and Emma. "Charles, collect your daughter and let's be on our way."

Charles came over to them, his face softening toward them both. He reached over and kissed Olivia's cheek. She hugged him and then turned to Emma and gathered her in her arms for one last hug.

"I love you, Em. I will miss you terribly. Make the best of it and one day if it's truly meant to be, you and Joshua will be together."

Emma pulled back and looked at her sister as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "I love you, too, Olivia. Thank you."

With one more final hug, Emma was led away by her parents to board the train that would take them to the New York harbor. From there they would sail to Europe. She didn't know when she would see her sister again, but she had a feeling that whatever offerings life brought her, she would be just fine.