She would always be there.
Every evening after work, Serena would walk along the river bank and pick flowers. She wore a new dress every day.
Daniel didn't mind. In fact, he was overjoyed whenever he saw her. It felt like a ball of warm, positive energy starting in his tummy, then spreading throughout the rest of his body.
The physician didn't cost a whole shilling, but Serena refused to take the rest of the money back. She insisted on Daniel buying something nice for himself, so he went into town to obtain the inhaler and medicine for Hazel; he couldn't think of a better investment after what Tate had said.
Daniel shuffled merrily down the trail leading into the village as he came by a small, run-down farm. The old rusty well, the ruined fences and the overgrowth contributed to make the place look abandoned, and it had been this way for years – but everyone knew very well that the lot was occupied. The owner had never made any effort to fix this place up.
Daniel slowed down, making sure that his steps were silent. This was a place, where he always would be cautious. The dry gravel on the ground crackled with his every step, and he flinched. He didn't like it here. On any other day, he would've taken the longer route to the city centre, but today Hazel didn't feel very well, so he wanted to take the short-cut so he could return home earlier.
He was making progress. Not until he finally neared the main courtyard of the small farm did he suddenly hear an angry female voice thunder across the lot, followed by a bunch of aggressive slapping sounds. Daniel felt his heart skip a beat by the sheer shock. He had no idea what was going on, but his gut was telling him that it would be best to slip by unnoticed, so he quickly sought shelter behind the barn.
"How can you be so dumb? Why am I burdened with such a retarded brat like you? Are you even listening to me?"
Daniel peeked out from his cover; there, in the courtyard, were Henry Bedloe and his mother.
Henry's mother had once been a beautiful woman, but the alcohol and depression had aged her. Her dirty blonde hair was thin and greying, and dark circles, wrinkles and blemishes haunted her face. Her back had become completely hunched and she looked way too thin. Henry didn't utter a single word even though the woman slapped him several times. She had a firm grip on his arm, which he tried his hardest to break free of, but his attempts were futile. He did his best to keep from crying, but Daniel saw the tears well up.
"Oh, so you're also a baby now, huh? You're so useless! Just get back to work!" the mother mocked again, pushing Henry to the ground. Daniel gasped when the boy received a kick to his stomach. A piercing cry resonated throughout the courtyard.
"Shut it!"
Henry curled up with an arm across his abdomen, biting back his sobs. Daniel's thoughts were stirring in a big mess, and the only thing he knew was that he needed to get out of there immediately. He sneaked further back behind the barn in an attempt to go in another direction, but as he was about to run towards the other end of the courtyard, Henry's mother suddenly came strolling, and he had to jump back into his cover.
Daniel turned his gaze back towards Henry. The quite sturdy boy was shaking, his blond hair was dirty and greasy from a hard day's labour – and abuse, probably. The younger one didn't know if Henry was going to be all right, but he didn't feel like hanging around to find out in case Henry didn't appreciate his concern, which was very likely.
When the mother was completely out of sight, and Henry hadn't moved for almost ten minutes, Daniel saw his chance to escape. He slipped silently out of his hiding spot and walked along the edges of the courtyard, and when he finally reached the main path on the other side, he started running.
The summer went by fast. Daniel and Serena spent most of it together – that was, when Daniel didn't have work to do at home, the studio or the miller's. He turned nine in late July, and Serena insisted on celebrating it.
Now, that was something Daniel wasn't used to. At first he was speechless, unable to try and convince her that it wasn't a big deal, but when the girl showed up with a basket full of muffins, he simply had to argue. "Miss da Silva, you are too kind! The money you gave me was already far too much…"
Serena merely giggled at him, "Oh Daniel, don't be daft! I enjoyed baking these cakes for you!" She paused for a moment to rethink her words, then shrugged. "Or at least the maid did."
Daniel laughed at her, unable to keep from smiling. Even though Serena hadn't made the muffins herself, he still had never experienced such interest from another person in celebrating him ever before, whether the occasion was his birthday, good grades, or something else entirely.
The children spent the warm summer day on the meadow, just enjoying their cupcakes while conversing. Daniel usually had difficulty opening up, but he found Serena very affable. It seemed that the younger lass wasn't so shy after all. "Now, tell me about your baby sister," she said, "You always mention how you have to care for her, so you cannot blame me for being curious!"
Daniel chewed and swallowed his muffin, "She is still very young, so I have to look after her."
She took another cake, laughing at the obvious statement. "Yes, I figured! I'm not that dense, Daniel. But I'm just wondering, isn't your nanny supposed to do that?"
He looked at her with surprise. "Why would you think that? Were you looked after by a nanny?"
Serena nodded, as if it were a matter of course. Daniel mentally reminded himself to reconsider the wealth of this girl's family. He turned his gaze to the half eaten muffin in his hand. "No, we aren't as fortunate. Besides, she is ill, so she needs a lot of attention…"
"What about your parents? Are they not taking care of her?" Serena asked while unwrapping her muffin.
Daniel shook his head. "Um… My father is much too busy working." A little white lie never harmed anyone.
"And your mother?" Serena tilted her head with a curious look.
Daniel swallowed, hoping that Serena didn't notice how he tried to avoid her gaze. "My mother passed away nearly three years ago, Miss da Silva."
"Oh."
He gripped the cake so tightly, it began to granulate between his fingers. Serena's eyes locked on the crumbling muffin, her voice softening, "I'm sorry about that."
"Don't be, it's not your fault whatsoever." He shrugged, hoping that it would come off as casual.
Serena was quiet for a short while, only to open her mouth again shortly after, asking a new question, "Was that why you needed the money? For your ill sister?"
Daniel nodded silently, unwilling to offer much else of a respond. She turned her gaze to enjoy the view of the countryside landscape. Canterbury was truly idyllic in the summer. All the colours of the rainbow embellished the meadow in form of flowers flourishing in the heat of the sun. "What is her condition, if I may ask?"
"Lung defect," Daniel said without further ado as he followed her eyes out to the meadow. He felt strangely comfortable confiding in Serena like this.
"I'm sorry."
"She is not dying!"
It came out a bit harsher than intended. The look on Serena's face made Daniel want to slap himself. He quickly altered his tone, "She can get through this… Doctor Tate told me that many live a normal life in spite of a lung defect."
Serena's expression softened as she offered a cheerful smile. "Of course, there is nothing to worry about! If she is anything like you, she will be fine!"
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "How would you know? You hardly know me… We have only spent a single summer together, and it's not even over yet."
"Oh, I can tell!"
Now he raised both brows. Serena grinned at him. "You should have more faith in yourself, Daniel!"
Daniel looked at her for a moment, unsure what to think. He found that he couldn't find a way to respond to a statement like that, so he changed the subject instead, "Oh! Um, well, why don't you tell me about yourself, now?"
Serena didn't seem to mind the sudden change of topic. "Oh, Daniel! When this summer ends, I am going to start school!"
He tilted his head. "Which school?" He secretly hoped that she would be attending the same school as him, even though he doubted it. A girl of the upper class like her didn't belong in a public school for working class children.
"I don't know, but Mum told me that it is a really superb one! But it means that I need to go home soon."
Daniel looked at her disappointed. "Already? But it's not even dinner time yet!"
Serena giggled, "No, not now, dummy! I mean that I soon have to return to London."
Daniel's eyes widened. He sharply turned towards the girl beside him. "London? You live in London?"
She looked at him bewildered, nodding. He collected himself again for a moment, then blurted, "Why haven't you told me?" But soon, the sudden outrage was replaced by genuine interest, "Oh, what is it like there? Isn't it huge? How are the museums?"
Serena seemed overwhelmed. "Please, calm down! I don't know much, we have only just moved there."
"Where did you live before, then?" Daniel suddenly had a lot of questions.
"Dad is a businessman, so I have been travelling a lot with him and Mum," Serena said while raking up straws of the grass beside her, "But now we have finally settled down in London. I am going to start school late by one year, but Mummy told me that it will be fine…"
Serena seemed wistful. Daniel didn't know why, but he decided not to ask. Instead he said, "Then what are you doing in Canterbury?"
"Father bought a cottage," Serena said, grabbing a new muffin, "It's our first summer out here. Truthfully, there really isn't much to do, all I do is play dolls with my older sisters. I was really bored until I met you!"
Daniel tried in vain to hide a blush, not daring to admit that he actually felt the same way, nor how much he was going to miss her when she would be leaving for London. "You're lucky," he mumbled, "I would love to live in London."
"I am just so excited for the balls!" Serena looked to the horizon dreamily, "I want to go out and dance! But I'm not old enough yet."
"Then there will be plenty of time to practise your dancing," Daniel commented.
Serena puffed. "I am already practising! The governess just started teaching me last year."
"Oh. Well, that would make one of us."
She turned towards him, an almost comical look of disbelief draped over her face. "Are you not practising yet? Those dances aren't easy, you know!"
"But I don't have a governess to teach me how to dance," Daniel said in a vague attempt to justify his case.
"Oh, it's actually pretty simple, really! Come, I'll show you!"
Daniel wanted to laugh at Serena's contradicting herself, but he didn't have time as she dragged him up on his feet to teach him how to dance, with no possible chance of arguing on his part.
Daniel hurried carrying the last cargo into the storage before finally finishing up. Wiping the dirt and sweat off his face with his just as dirty hand, he ran out past the miller, yelling his goodbyes as he ran down the path along the Stour. Miller simply waved at him, knowing the boy had done his work for the day.
It was almost five o'clock. Daniel rushed until he reached the end of the trail, then sharply turned to the right. The main road towards the village seemed never-ending, but the boy was quickly closing the distance – it wasn't the town he was headed for, though. Midway down the course, he turned to the left, now running straight across the meadow.
The overgrowth made it difficult to move fast, but nothing could stop Daniel. It was a race against time and nature. The sun announced the highlight of the day.
He finally saw it; a bit further ahead, a road appeared, and right by it, a great white mansion the size of a palace, he was sure. He had only seen this mansion once before, but he recognised it at once. A coach with four majestic horses fastened in the front stood waiting. Daniel increased his speed as he ran down the hill towards the lot. For a short moment he actually thought that he could make it.
Then the view was obscured by the row of tall oak trees in front of the house. He ignored them, determined to make it. It was now or never; it might be his last chance.
He put the trees behind him, finally seeing the mansion right ahead. He reached it just in time to see the coach stroll away towards the Great Dover Road headed for London.
Daniel halted, nearly collapsing on the dirty gravel out of exhaustion. He took a few strained breaths, supporting his hands on his thighs, then gathered his last strength and lifted his arm to wave at the coach.
Farewell, Serena.
1827
A year went by. With all the work, exhaustion and caring for his family, Daniel really just wanted the summer to encompass England, and finally June came along with its long days and blooming nature. The boy decided to take a walk, just strolling around the rural areas. In his opinion, this part of Canterbury was the most beautiful; the scent of the many wild flowers filled his nostrils, and the cool breeze made the heat bearable. This was the place he had spent most of last summer with Serena.
Daniel couldn't help himself from thinking about the girl, who had brightened up his day for a short while – especially not now that he was nearing her family's cottage. Great oak trees came into sight, reaching high up against the sky, and behind them was the mansion. A tall marble wall encircled the house, every now and then replaced by a fence or bushes, making it possible for Daniel to take a peek inside the garden.
His eyes widened, his heart shooting up into his throat. The house was not empty.
Three beautiful women sat under a gazebo in the patio, thorny roses twining up against the white pillars, drinking tea. One of them was a young girl, not quite a lady yet. Her skin was fairly tanned, which was highly unusual considering her blonde hair. She engaged actively in conversation with her party.
The second one was a young woman, at least of the age of marriage, with dark, voluminous hair. It was longer and curlier than any other hair, Daniel had ever laid eyes upon before, but she didn't even tie it up. She seemed to be the one talking the most out of the women, charismatically relating some apparently incredibly humorous story, causing the others to laugh loudly.
The last woman was considerably older, still very handsome, though. Her hair was nearly raven like the former lady, and her skin even more tanned than the blonde young girl, making Daniel wonder how she couldn't possibly be a servant, as she obviously wasn't, considering her exquisite dressing. Her regular remarks seemed to bring about scandalised – yet entertained – outbursts from her peers.
A shout, followed by loud laughter grabbed Daniel's attention, making him turn his focus away from the tea party to another part of the large garden. There, Daniel caught sight of two younger girls playing around in the green, lush grass, right next to a tall tree with a home-made swing attached to it.
The first one was a fair bit taller than the second, probably older by a couple of years. She had just as tanned skin as the oldest lady, which Daniel by now assumed was the girls' mother, and she had long, dark brown hair. The look on her face wasn't an amused one, more annoyed. Evidently, she wasn't impressed by her playmate's behaviour as she ran around the garden, trying to catch her.
And that last girl – the youngest one, laughing so happily while she did her best to keep out of her older sister's angry grasp – Daniel recognised from a summer dream.
A large smile formed on his face. Serena had returned.