A/N: Oh god, I'm so sorry for this. I spent friggin' 6 months rewriting this chapter, and then it turned into three chapters. I didn't mean for this to take so long, and I truely hope that the quality and length of the chapter will make up for the long wait! I'm not gonna lie, I'm really out of my comfort zone with this one, and it was important that it was perfect before I published it, so I had my beta-readers look it over several times. I just really hope that it will be worth the wait, and now the story is almost finished too. Please enjoy it, and from now on I shall hopefully be updating a lot more frequently! I was only delaying these past few chapters a bit because I was so uncertain about them, but there comes a point where you just have to put it out there and see what happens, right? Hahaha.
Btw, some of you might have noticed that a name has been changed once again. Emily is now Evelyn; it's a very minor change since she's a small character in the story, but I thought you should be aware of it nonetheless. I hope it didn't cause too much confusion! Please enjoy the chapter, and thank you so much for reading!
WARNING: Sexual content.
1826
The sun was warm and bright today, tanning her golden complexion while doing the complete opposite to her nearly black hair. The calm flow of the river provided a tranquil atmosphere, making for a perfect harmonic scene in the midst of the vast, green meadow. She saw him, and he was coming her way.
Serena's heart beat faster. She hadn't seen a child around this area at all since she arrived out on the country with her family. Mama had told her to go out and play, but how was she to do that alone? She had so longed to meet another child her age.
She wanted to call out to him, but she stood frozen in place on the other side of the river while he came closer and closer. He looked older than her; he was so tall and very lean, his less complimentary garments much too loose on his frame. His hair was straight, brown and about shoulder-length; she thought it to be quite pretty. He didn't seem to notice her at all.
Her mouth opened slightly to greet him, but no words crossed those small rosy lips. She really wanted to say something, but she couldn't speak. She didn't understand why, and now he was skipping past her, empty buckets in each hand.
"Excuse me, miss, but can I help you?"
She blinked, straightening up a bit. He had stopped and stood now looking at her with a glint of confusion lingering in his green eyes, head tilted slightly. She couldn't help but notice just how bright they were; he had very pretty eyes indeed.
He clearly recalled when he first saw her; a doe walking around aimlessly in the clearing, searching for a friend. She had white doves in her eyes, and they were still there to this day for she was untouched; but summer had come, the stallion had awakened, and now the fruits were ready for the reaping.
"I might just be paying for my father's alcohol!"
Serena blinked in shock, "What?" He used such harsh words all of a sudden. Had she insulted him? She didn't understand what he said or why he sounded so angry, but it made her feel bad. She didn't mean to upset him.
He merely shook his head in a resigned fashion. He probably thought that she was really stupid now. He just stayed silent without looking at her. She wanted to apologise, but she was scared to say anything. But then he said, "All right, then. How much money and when?"
She looked up at him with surprise. Did he really mean it? Oh, what joy! She glanced at the sun to determine the hour. "When are you finished working?"
"At six o'clock in the evening."
She looked at him again, her cheeks burning with excitement. "Meet me by the bridge at six. I'll give you a shilling," she said.
Finally his facial expression changed; it was as if she had lit a light, for suddenly his face brightened. "Deal!" he said with a much greater enthusiasm than he had shown previously. "I need to hurry along, miss! I'll see you later!"
The boy turned on his heel and rushed down the riverbank. She could only stand back and look after him. He looked even nicer when he smiled. He was so grown-up and tall, and his hair and eyes were so pretty; she really liked him a lot. She managed to raise her small hand and wave after him as he disappeared further down the river. She really wanted him to like her, too.
He clearly recalled the summer heat; when Mr. Philips first got started on his breeding program, his mother took him down to the pen to watch. She placed him up on the fence and wrapped her slender arms around him for support so that his small form wouldn't fall down. The large stallion swung his head from side to side, broad neck stretched and the upper lip curled back, frisky and basking in the sun. He was tall with legs like pillars and a chest like polished marble, the long, thick mane dark and ruffled. His aggressive behaviour was intimidating, but he loved his mare very much and treated her with all the gentle respectability she deserved.
He used to imagine the mammals conversing with each other, probably at fault of Evelyn murmuring into his ear; "'Wheee, I'm eating, Charles'," and the mare took a few steps forward, only to continue munching on the fresh, green grass. "'But you're so lovely, Miss Buttercup, I simply cannot resist!'" said the stallion with a high pitched neigh, approaching the female once again and attempting to climb onto her backside. His mother told him that the females always acted coy and uninterested, but a real man would be able to tell. It was all part of the chase.
The stallion was mature and experienced, and he mounted his mare with impressive dominance. A low growl escaped from deep down his stomach, the breathing became heavy. Their dark silhouettes entangled, the large figure hovering on top of the much frailer one, and the young boy wondered if she was going to crush underneath the weight, but the female was strong and could carry her man. He watched, curiosity kept him from looking away; green eyes wide and round with childish innocence, he saw that night, their shadows bathed in moonlight midst in the act, how his sister was conceived.
1827
It was a beautiful day; the tall oak trees basked in delight in the sun, birds crooned and the atmosphere out on the country was all together lovely. It seemed that it never rained in Canterbury, but in London it always did.
Despite the nice weather, she was still sitting inside in the music room, fixed to the piano forte with which she had been told to practise. The instrument let out an unsteady symphony of tones for every tangent she carefully pressed. Her mother sat on the divan in the centre of the room, working away on her needlepoint. Father had not come with them to Canterbury this summer; he had told her that he had business to attend to back in London, but that he was looking most forward to seeing his favourite girls again when they returned in the autumn, and then joining them next summer.
Mum missed him a lot. She could tell for she sighed all the time, and when she thought her daughter wasn't looking, she allowed herself to be sad. If only she had known the true reason for her father's absence, or why she and her mother were sent away in the first place.
But she was only a child, and her mind as simple. She longed for the feel of the warm sun on her much too pale skin, and she had grown tired of practising the same old song for hours; she believed she was only becoming worse at it, anyway. She stopped playing and turned around to glance at her mother.
The Hispanic woman had oddly enough stopped her own needlework. Her hands rested in her lap, her dark eyes staring out into space, the corners of her full lips tightened. She appeared to be in deep thought. She is missing Dad, the little girl thought.
For a while the two of them sat like that; the mother staring at nothing in particular, and her daughter looking at her. Then the woman blinked and looked down at her unfinished handkerchief, and then she noticed the music had stopped. She turned her gaze to the piano forte and noticed the small girl's doe eyes on her. Her expression changed from that of disorientation to disapproval, "Serena! Continue your exercising this instant!"
The young girl immediately got a dejected look on her face. "But I'm so bored, Mama," she complained, "Can I please go outside and play?"
The mistress of the house, who in the meantime had temporarily continued her embroidering, stopped yet again with a look of exasperation. She turned her gaze to the few maids that had been tasked with keeping an eye on her young daughter while she rehearsed her musical skills, and although they tried to look as submissive as possible, their eyes all told the same story; pity for the poor child who had been locked inside all day while the weather was still bright. The woman let out a deep sigh and waved her hand, "All right, then. You can go."
The small girl immediately jumped from her seat and went for the glass door leading out to the garden. Magdalena da Silva turned her gaze out the window and looked after her little girl as she stormed off. Hilmar didn't have to know.
But after summer came winter, and he was left with nothing but a sickly filly.
He vaguely recalled sleepless nights; the sire was overwhelmed with grief and isolated himself, let himself sink in his mourning, drowned his sorrow in painkillers. Then, for a short while, he sought out company to numb his pain, to forget about his loneliness. He wasn't gentle any more, for the fruit had been plucked many times before for no honourable purposes, and the orchards had begun to fade and rot.
His young son stood hidden in the shadows behind a door left slightly ajar, one curious eye glinting in the scarce light. He knew that he shouldn't watch, but he simply couldn't look away. This behaviour only lasted a couple of years, then the stallion realised that the rotten fruit no longer was enough.
On such a warm summer day like the one today, it seemed the perfect time to stroll around the fields and woods, take in the fresh air, listening to the crooning of the birds and picking a few flowers; perhaps she could give it to her governess when she was finished, then she might get a biscuit as reward.
Serena continued merrily on her way around the countryside, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her skin. She loved it when her parents let her wander around as she wanted so she could go out to explore this still very new and unfamiliar place; it could get so awfully boring just staying inside all day. On such a warm summer day like this, what could possibly disturb the peace?
That was when she noticed the sobs. She stopped to listen, confusion rattling her otherwise carefree mind. Was someone crying?
She turned around, trying to locate the source of the quiet, choked whimpers. She took a few small steps in one direction, then turned on her heel and started walking the opposite way. The crying grew louder as she came closer. At last she reached a tree with a trunk not too wide; she quietly looked around it.
A small, slight form sat curled up against the trunk, tousled brown hair covering the face buried in small hands, shoulders trembling. The slightly oversized shirt was ripped by the seams and sported pale red stains on the back. Her large doe eyes widened a bit by the sight.
She averted her gaze from the violent view and took a few steps forward. She stopped in front of the slightly older child, looking down at him blankly. "Why are you crying?" she said with a small voice.
"I'm not. Go away," a muffled voice said from somewhere underneath the long hair.
The seven year old girl hesitated shortly, then sat down on her knees in front of the boy. She tilted her head, "Does it hurt?"
"I said, go away!" He merely curled up even more, turning towards the trunk to signal that he wasn't in the mood to talk at all.
Serena stayed where she was, lowering her gaze to the ground. Then she looked up through her lashes again, "Mama always told me that if something hurts, you can kiss it better."
"Just leave me alone, Serena..."
She didn't move. Her tiny hands grasped tightly onto her pretty dress right above her knees. She leaned forward and pecked him on a small exposed spot on his dry cheek. He stiffened. She sat back again. They were both silent for a while, the only sound his troubled breathing.
"Does it hurt a little less now?"
"... A little less."
No, he wasn't completely innocent though he seldom liked to be reminded. The boy had in a much too premature age seen what the cold desolation could do to his father, so he decided he should take advantage of the summer before winter would come and take his doe away.
1828
She ignored the pain and burning sensation in her hamstrings and pushed herself further, reaching for her toes. A single drop of sweat trickled down her forehead. Clenching her eyes tight and biting her lip, she finally felt them – she grabbed around her feet with her small fingers, opening her eyes with a bright smile. "I did it!"
Daniel raised his eyebrows with an impressed look. "You really did."
Serena let go of her toes and sat up normally again, embracing the release in the back of her knees. She looked at Daniel with triumph, "I told you I could do it! I'm starting to become really flexible; I can even do a split now! I practise almost every day."
"Then perhaps it will be you someday dancing as Flore," he said, offering a gentle smile. Ever since his friend's uncle had brought her in to see Flore et Zéphire in London, she had been unable to talk about anything else. She was completely infatuated with the idea of becoming a ballerina herself, it seemed.
She scoffed and crossed her arms. "I want to, but my parents say I can't take ballet classes."
Daniel silently wondered why Serena then even bothered trying to become as flexible as those ballerinas that she so idolised. But he decided it was probably better not to ask her, for she might take offence to it. Instead he said, "That's … unfortunate. Why not?"
Serena let out a heavy sigh, a small pout apparent on her plump lips. "Mother said that it is distasteful for a woman to spread her legs that much."
"Why?" Daniel frowned; he had never heard of such a thing.
The younger girl merely shrugged and looked down at her small hands fidgeting with the bow tied around her waist, "She says that it is between the legs the ugliest part of a woman is hidden."
His frown only deepened. "That's absurd," he said, tilting his head, "There is nothing ugly about you, Serena."
Serena blinked a few times, long lashes fluttering up and down as she took in his words. "Really? But how do you know? You haven't seen."
He merely shrugged in response, "I don't need to. I just know. You're very pretty, Serena." He nodded in her direction to indicate what he meant. "All of you."
A sudden feeling overwhelmed her, a titillating warmth. She didn't know why, but it was so strong that she couldn't keep herself from blushing, and she had to look away. A warm, tingling sensation rooted deep within her tummy and spread to her whole body, and she couldn't stop smiling. She knew her mother didn't agree, but somehow that didn't matter any more. "Thank you, Daniel," she said with a meek voice.
Daniel wasn't sure why she didn't want to look at him any more. He hoped he hadn't said anything wrong. He averted his gaze himself, scratching the back of his head, "Um, you're welcome." He paused a bit, then looked at her again and said, "You said you could do the split. Do you want to show me?"
Serena turned around to look at him in a flash, a bright smile on her face as she nodded with great enthusiasm. She spread her legs as far apart as she could, "Look! It barely even hurts!"
"Why would we want to play with you?"
She lowered her gaze to the floor, folding her hands in front of her. Her cheeks and eyes burned hot, but she tried not to let it show. Regina had said that it was better not to. "I just thought there might be room for one more."
The group of girls burst into laughter, a vicious and scornful one. One of the girls placed her hand on her hip and lifted one eyebrow, "There is never room for a dark-skinned witch girl. Go plough the fields and clean the house like your kind is supposed to!"
Once again all of them laughed loudly and without trying to conceal it. She cast a pleading glance to the teacher sitting on the outdoor bench near the classroom and keeping an eye on the students. Miss Crow merely looked away with a dismissive mien, having no intentions of helping out a dirty child with a dirty mother whom she was forced to tutor only due to her influential father; in her opinion the little girl was treated exactly how she deserved to be.
1829
She hummed a quiet melody for herself as she flipped another page in her big book of constellations. The typical English autumn weather clouded the day, casting a grey light in through the window in the lavish townhouse building located in Knightsbridge, London.
"Be quiet, Magdalena! We both know whose fault it is!"
It had been going on for the past few hours. She had occupied herself in all sorts of ways. She had tried practising at the piano forte, but she didn't like how much noise that was producing, for what if they heard her? Surely her parents had already forgotten that she was there, and she didn't want them to be reminded.
Then she tried sketching a few images in her sketchbook, but none of the drawings turned out good. At last she had merely turned to her books, although she knew her mother didn't like her reading. She had made it through five already, and still they weren't done arguing.
"I try, Hilmar..."
"Well, try harder! I'm tired of all the talk, and I'm tired of her behaviour! Fix her!"
A single tear fell and drew a moist line over her cheek. Serena sniffled and quickly wiped the tear away. She heard the slamming of the door, another valuable object falling from the force and breaking. Her mother ordered a maid to clean up the mess, but no one cared about the pieces of Serena's heart that lay scattered on the floor.
The garden was beautiful, his personal vineyard. He breathed in the savoury fragrance of the blooming flowers. His hands ran along the mountains and mounds, caressing every crest and kissing each pinnacle. These fruits were ripening, growing clusters of pomegranates that fitted perfectly in his hands and were sweet to his taste. Slowly the fountain in the garden started to trickle; fresh, clear spring water. He cut down the vines and revealed the plants underneath, and he brought water from the fountain to moisten the blossoming orchard. He allowed himself a sip, and he was immensely refreshed.
1830
"I really like cats. They're lovely," she gushed, hugging her knees tightly against her chest as she watched the skipping stone her friend had thrown bounce across the surface of the river lake until it finally disappeared in a splash beneath the water. "They understand me. I've begged my mum and dad to give me one as a pet for years, but I don't think they take me seriously."
Daniel let out a soft chuckle. Serena turned her head towards him with a very offended look on her face. "You don't take me seriously either!"
"No, I do, I do," he laughed, lifting his arm as a defence when his friend lashed out at him. "I agree. Cats are endearing animals."
"Why are you laughing, then?" Serena said, pushing her bottom lip forward in a pout. She honestly couldn't blame him for not taking her seriously when she constantly made cute expressions like that.
He shrugged, smirking at her charmingly, "I just like it when you're excited."
Serena's mien changed to one of sarcasm, not finding his attempt at flattering her humorous at all. She opened her mouth to bite back at him with a sharp remark of her own, but then she abruptly got a funny look on her face.
Daniel's smile faded a bit and he lifted one eyebrow. The young girl gasped a few times, inhaling sharply as if she couldn't breathe. He tilted his head, by now profoundly confused. She raised her head more and more, her eyes watering. At last it happened; she let out a loud, uncontrolled sneeze.
They were both quiet for a bit, not moving a muscle. Then the sound of stifled giggles broke the silence. "B-bless you," Daniel said, struggling to keep his grin from becoming too wide.
Serena once again knocked him over the shoulder, and then he broke into a hysterical laughter. "Don't laugh at me!" she yelled, although soon she couldn't keep from laughing herself.
Daniel completely ignored her while he kept his arms raised as a shield from her beating, "Very charming, Miss da Silva. Are you sure you aren't perhaps allergic to cats?"
"Just shut it, you!" Serena guffawed, standing up on her knees to assail him. Daniel fell backwards onto the grass, and the two of them rolled around, fighting and laughing like there was no tomorrow on a lovely summer day that hopefully wouldn't end too soon.
1831
It was beautiful. Although relatively simple, there was no denying the blood, sweat and tears put into it, the love behind. The clean cut lines, the cursive numerals marking the date in the solid stone. The ash tree swayed slightly in the wind, as if there was a presence with them invisible to the naked eye.
Serena remained as silent and still as she could, straining every inch of her body to show the deepest respect she could muster. Buried beneath her lay a body long gone, but the soul attached still lingered, and she could feel it. She prayed within her heart. She knew how much this meant; to Daniel, to his father, to his sister. And that meant so much to her.
She bowed down to place the flowers before the tombstone. As soon as she had stood up again, she was met with warmth in the arms of Daniel. She requited the embrace and cuddled closer into his chest. The wind tangled in her hair, and she felt that she was welcome.
Under her tongue he found milk and honey. He engulfed her like a duvet, and she cuddled comfortably in his shade. By his touch the pomegranates swelled and pulsated. The garden grew lush and expanded, rivers of water streamed down the current from the fountain. "Is it good?" he asked, and she could do nothing but nod. Heat overtaking her, she began helping him cultivate the vineyard, and she let him watch and drink milk and honey and water.
1832
She liked it much better when Regina brushed her hair than when their mother did; she was much more gentle. The two half-sisters sat comfortably in the serenity of the youngest one's chambers, where the early forenoon sun shined in through the curtains and cast off a dim warm light in the entire room. It was rare for the sun to be this bright in London.
"You shouldn't mind what all those petty girls from your class say," Regina said, placing the brush beside her and starting to part her sister's hair into three sections, "They're just jealous, Sera."
"They say I'm a witch," Serena said in a flat tone, staring down at the floor with a blank expression.
Regina chuckled lightly while she started braiding her hair. "Now, that's ridiculous. You don't have a huge, crooked nose with a big, disgusting wart on it, do you?" Serena merely shrugged. "You're not a witch, Serena. You're very pretty," Regina continued.
Of course she didn't expect Regina to understand; she was born a natural blonde as the only one of Magdalena's daughters, with beautiful light curls and deep blue eyes – the ideal English woman. Serena fidgeted a bit with the laces on her dress, pondering her sister's words. "It seems so important to be pretty," she muttered.
It didn't escape Regina's ears. "It is very important," she said, her hands working quickly on intertwining the young girl's hair.
"Why?"
Regina paused, but not for very long. "Otherwise it'll be very difficult to find a husband, let alone a good one."
Serena turned her head towards Regina a bit, "But how can I know if my future husband will only care about my appearance?"
The blonde young woman now stopped her braiding entirely, the smile disappearing from her well-shaped, full lips. "Of course he will care about your looks. Us women were meant to be pleasing to the eyes of men. A large bosom, small waist, long hair and the most natural, beautiful of faces. Of course we need to be attractive, for we are an accessory to our husbands; we need to help them look good."
"But I imagine our marriage will be quite boring if I can't stimulate his mind, won't it?" Serena wondered out loud.
Regina chuckled. "You have many fanciful ideas, Sera. We aren't taught those kinds of subjects. He'll most likely have numerous male friends to entertain those needs."
Serena didn't answer. While Regina continued her work on the already long, elaborate braid, Serena's hair was slowly transforming into, her words resounded in the latter's mind. Was that it? Was that all there was to her life? Being an accessory? Being pretty?
She kept stumbling upon those thoughts. Regina and Katharina had always had the answers; she had listened to them complain about how stupid men could be ever since she could remember – she used to, in her silent mind, boast about how lucky she was that Daniel wasn't stupid at all like those men – yet they kept pretending to have their heads filled with air whenever they conversed with someone of the opposite sex. Was it to let them keep believing that they were superior? Serena couldn't for the life of her understand how that could be a benefit.
As Regina finished up the braid, Serena eventually came to a conclusion, or at least an understanding of what she was meant for, what she was raised to do. She didn't as much question whether or not she liked it as she just accepted that this was how it was going to be.
"All right then, let's get started!"
She picked up a nail from the toolbox, but she almost didn't get to finish her sentence before she was suddenly grabbed by the wrist. She looked up at narrowed, green eyes with confusion in her own. "What exactly do you mean by that?" Daniel said.
She merely laughed and took the hammer he was holding, "That we should start building, of course! You are such a dummy sometimes, Daniel."
"No way!" he said sharply, grabbing her other wrist, "You're not going to build anything!"
"Why? What are you going to do, tell my mother?" she said and glared at him. She was getting tired of his stubbornness. Why did boys always have to be so proud?
He stayed silent for a bit. She struggled not to start laughing when his bottom lip started quivering, but when his cheeks flushed she couldn't contain her laughter any more. Daniel let go of her wrists and turned his back to her with crossed arms, clearly annoyed. "All right, then! Just don't come running to me when you break your nail and you need someone to kiss it better!" he snapped.
Serena giggled and put her arms around his neck from behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder as she returned some of that playful attitude he had shown her earlier, "As if you wouldn't want to kiss me!"
She let go immediately afterwards, turning away from him to make sure he wouldn't see how red her cheeks became. She couldn't believe her own courage. Oh, how her mother would fuss if she knew! She tried hard not to start giggling in mere joy, hugging herself tightly while she tried to tame the fluttering butterflies in her stomach.
She forced herself to come to her senses and went on to pick up a wooden board. She noticed that Daniel had turned around, and she handed him the hammer back. "But it is no fun if we aren't going to do it together." She finally let her excitement show as she sent him a bright smile, "You must've been insane if you thought that I was going to let you build this alone on your birthday!"
Daniel smiled in return. She could've sworn she saw a glimpse of deeper affection in his eyes, but he merely grabbed the hammer from her and said, "Let's get to work."
"So tell me, what did you do this summer?"
Serena's gaze slowly turned to the large window and lingered on the view of the large, blossoming garden outside, a knowing curl on her lips. The smile on the redhead across from her only grew, and she lifted one of her arched, thick eyebrows. "You've had a certain blush on your cheeks ever since you returned from Canterbury, Serena. Has he grown?" The amusement was evident in her cat-like deep blue eyes. "He is taller now, isn't he? Like a man."
"Mary!" Serena said, unable to keep from smiling as her eyes locked on her hands, her cheeks warm with embarrassment.
"Did he kiss you?" the older girl continued unabashed, leaning forward toward her friend.
Serena gasped, her eyes round in disbelief. "You're outrageous!" she laughed.
Mary shrugged, bringing her hand to cover her mouth as she chuckled. Oh, had she heard much about this mystical boy, Serena's summer sweetheart. From what she had gathered, he was tall, intelligent, kind, incredibly comely and too charming for his own good. But of course, Serena could never fall in love with him! She just liked to talk about him a lot, was all.
She tilted her head. "Well, did he?"
"Keep it down! What if someone hears us?" Serena said, frantically looking about the smaller sitting room.
Mary rolled her eyes at her friend, who only seemed to be evading the issue by now. "Do you think he reciprocates your feelings?"
Serena's voice raised yet several pitches. "Mary!"
"Serena!"
She shut her mouth, cringing a bit beneath Mary's steel glare that clearly communicated that she was losing her patience. The older girl lifted her eyebrows with a wry smile on her lips.
Serena let out a sheepish giggle in return, her smile growing by the second as she bashfully looked away. "No, he didn't kiss me." She looked at Mary again, who gestured for her to continue. "I… I don't think he feels that way about me," she shook her head, as if she tried to shake some idea out of it, "Why would he even glance at a silly girl like me? No, he's too old. I'm just a little girl in his eyes... He probably has a lot of darlings in between the summer holidays..."
She seemed to drift away in her thoughts, resting her chin in her palm as she gazed out into blue air, "He's probably very experienced... I am certain that all the girls in Canterbury know his name. He's made a reputation of himself, you know. They know to keep away, but they can't resist him. Not when he looks at them with those smouldering green eyes..."
"You know what they say about boys of the lower classes," Mary said, still sporting that foxy smile, "Aren't they a little more … free-spirited?"
A wide smile spread on Serena's face. She waved her hand at her friend. "Oh, they are so free, Mary! And a lot more fun than those sulky lords and sirs!" She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Do you know, he's not so careful about touching me at all! He just pulls me into his arms without asking, nothing! He doesn't need to. And it's so warm there, in his embrace…"
Mary's eyes widened slightly. "That is unimaginable! He might as well have kissed you!"
"No, he's too much of a gentleman," Serena said with a long sigh, hugging herself.
Mary laughed, "I thought he was a predator with ladies! Which is it, Rena?"
Serena shot her friend a glare. "He's only a gentleman to me! He knows how important it is that I stay pure, and he accepts that! He would never ruin me."
The redhead leaned forward, lifting one eyebrow. "Oh, but the other ladies don't matter, of course. So you do think he cares for you?"
"Of course he cares for me!" Serena snapped, the flush returning to her face. Mary chuckled once again. "Don't laugh at me!"
The older girl didn't seem to take that warning very seriously at all as she just kept on laughing. Serena tried to keep her face straight, but soon she burst into giggles as well. When their laughter finally stilled, they sat in comfortable silence for a little while. Serena looked out the window again with that characteristic dreamy gaze of hers. "Do you really think that that is what he is like?"
Mary raised her eyebrows, amused with her ever so romantic friend. "How would I know any better than you?"
Serena merely rolled her eyes, smiling sheepishly.
The stallion took after his sire, climbing the mountain with unrelenting determination, set on success. This fruit was sweet and sacred and cultivated by his hands, so he would treat it gently. Drops of dew trickled from his head, and he guided her hands towards the apple tree and let her caress the trunk. She locked her hands around the fruits, delighting in the sweet juice. She knew that this was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, yet she was tempted to take a bite.
There it was, in the clearing; the beautiful animal took a few elegant steps forward, taking a big chunk of the lush grass on the forest floor, serene and blissfully unaware of the pair of watchful eyes locked on it.
Serena took a deep breath, her brown eyes wide as they focused intently on the target. The doe was still unperturbed, peacefully munching on the grass. Her hands shook slightly as she squeezed her fingers tighter around the rifle, one on the trigger. The doe lifted its head and looked around, clueless to the fate that was to befall it.
"You can do it, Sera," her brother whispered, "Focus."
Her eyes narrowed, fingers clenching around the weapon. She could do it, she told herself. The doe seemed to be looking directly at her. Its eyes were round, deep, brown mirrors. It spoke to her, but silently. She saw the undeniable reflection.
She loosened her grip around the rifle, lowering it with a pained expression. "I can't," she said in what was barely a whisper.
The tall young man knelt down beside his younger half-sister, a small frown visible between his groomed brows. "What is the matter, Serena?"
Serena squeezed her eyes shut and hugged herself. "I can't kill it, Aaron," she said with a small voice, "It's not fair. It's healthy and beautiful. I don't want to shoot it."
Aaron sighed. He pursed his lips and stroked her back comfortingly as he fell in deep thought, though still keeping an eye on the grazing hind. It hadn't suspected anything yet. He spoke with an Icelandic accent thicker than their father's, "Serena, you have to shoot it."
"But I don't want to," she said, frowning, "Why do I have to?"
"Because you're better than all the other silly pretty ladies in the higher society," he said with a firm voice, causing Serena to close her mouth that had been slightly agape. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "They laugh and gossip and enjoy their fine dining and fancy wine, but they don't know the true value of it. Serena, you've eaten a doe like this yourself before. You enjoyed it, didn't you?"
Serena was reluctant to answer. "I did..."
He offered a reassuring smile, so as to tell her that she shouldn't feel ashamed. "And you have the right to," he said, his voice soothing, "But if you're not willing to kill the animal you're going to eat yourself, you are nothing but a hypocrite. You are the arrogant one, for you couldn't look the living creature in the eyes while it dies for your noble cause, for your survival. Do you understand, doll?"
She was so conflicted. She didn't want to cause anyone pain, much less an innocent animal. But Aaron was right, she and everyone she knew ate meat all the time, and where did it come from? Could she live with herself like this?
Aaron smiled at her, much like how her father smiled forgivingly at her every time she apologised for causing trouble. But no, it was never the fault of his little girl; at least he would never admit that to her directly. Her brother looked so much like their father, tall and majestic and charismatic just like him, and very unconventional in his thinking as well. That was something Serena appreciated a lot. It was also something she knew her mother found to be very troublesome. Considering the circumstances, Serena understood why; she only wished it could be different.
"Will it suffer?" she said in a hushed tone, looking down at the rifle as she lifted it a bit.
Her adult brother shook his head with that same caring smile, brushing her side-swept fringe away from her eyes. "Not if you focus," he said, lifting a finger and pointing at her forehead, "and hit it right in the head."
Serena swallowed a lump in her throat and turned her gaze towards the unaware doe again. It still hadn't noticed a thing or moved out of place; it was an incredible and rare coincidence. She lifted the rifle and positioned it the way her brother had showed her many times before when they had sneaked out to the shooting field and practised. She narrowed her eyes, filled with determination, ignoring the slight tremble in her hand.
The doe lifted its head once again, and it seemed to be looking directly at her. She moistened her lips, her frown growing deeper. "You die for a noble cause," she said under her breath, "and I will cherish you."
She pulled the trigger. A loud bang sounded across the Icelandic woods, and birds flew from the tree tops. Then everything became silent.
"Good job, Sera," Aaron said, standing up again and patting her back, "I'm proud of you. You provided dinner today!"
Serena offered a weak smile as she gazed upon the dead animal lying in the clearing. It wasn't that she felt bad or regretted her actions. Looking into the dead doe eyes, she merely felt like she had killed a small part of herself.
1833
Serena took a sip of the wine, struggling hard not to grimace at the bitter taste. Laughter boomed around the fine dining table, for her parents and their friends were pouring down the alcohol faster than what was healthy for the sanity.
"But in all honesty, my dear friend," Mr. Maynard chuckled, nodding towards Serena across the table, "Your daughter is a gem, Hilmar. A real gem, much like your wife. You've done a good job."
Serena's father flashed his row of perfect, white teeth at his good friend. "Thank you, Albert. We have high expectations for her. She'll be the ideal wife when she becomes a young woman, you can count on that." Magdalena gently placed her hand over her husband's, and they shared a glance of satisfaction and pride.
"I do not doubt that," Maynard said, using his handkerchief to carefully wipe his mouth and the dark, grizzled beard surrounding it. His wife, a rather stout, round woman, followed up, "I believe she'll make an excellent party once she becomes of age. Did she learn the necessary skills that a young girl should master? We fully believe that a woman should have a thorough education in arts, literature and skills of social costumes, much like a boy should be taught politics, mathematics and sports. Our boys are assured a good education in the hands of the Winchester College."
"Of course she has mastered all the accomplishments a girl should," Magdalena said in a slightly sharp tone, "In fact, she excels at them. You should hear her sing at the piano forte, one would mistake her voice for that of an angel's!"
While her parents and their friends continued discussing Serena as if she wasn't present even though she sat right there at the table with them, she silently finished her plate of delicious beef stew, feeding their illusion. She cast a glance at her peers, two young boys only a few years older and younger than her respectively. They didn't seem bothered by the adults' discussion at all, merely swallowing down the dinner in a controlled and refined manner that one of the peerage should always maintain. Serena did the same.
Later in the evening, Serena was left in the company of the two young fellers while their fathers went into the poker room and had another gin and their mothers settled inside the parlour. She sat upright in the padded satin chair, her small hands folded in her lap as she watched them talk and hang about in the bay window, finally relaxing and letting loose now that their parents had left the room.
"Edward, did you hear that Arthur is moving to New England?" the younger one of them said, the twelve year old Sherman Maynard. He was a cheerful, albeit a bit immature young lad who didn't have many cares in his life; the innocent sparkle in his blue eyes reflected that blissful ignorance.
His older brother pulled one leg up on the rest of the bay window and let the other dangle freely by the edge. His hair was a bit lighter than his brother's ash brown, short hair, and he was evidently much more experienced with the world, although he would probably never lose the protecting veil that always followed being part of the upper class. A smug smile formed on the fifteen year old boy's lips, "Yes, indeed. His parents bought a vineyard, he told me. I've heard that many make a good profit over there, away from the restraints of our dear king. I honestly don't know what we're still doing in England; first chance I get, I'm on a ship to the Americas!"
Serena opened her mouth to comment, but she was too slow. "Mr. Crowley said that if the family hopes to make any money at all, they should probably hire an accountant. His father slanders the money as if he had enough of them to spend!" Sherman chuckled, making himself comfortable across from his brother.
"As much as I hate to admit it, the good Mr. Crowley has a point," Edward said in response, his smile growing. Not once did he remove his gaze from the view outside the window. "Arthur is evidence enough of that. He takes after his father very much. I foresee a disaster, but at least it's not going to cost us here in England anything."
"Perhaps it's healthy that the family get a fresh start. New England is a good place for those, as far as I've heard."
The two boys turned their gaze, both eyebrows raised. They had almost completely forgotten the daughter of their parents' friends that they had been left in charge with. She blinked a few times, tilting her head slightly to one side. Wasn't she a cute one, trying to join a discussion she was far too inept to follow.
Edward's smile soon returned to his thin lips. "And supposedly you know a whole lot about New England, Miss da Silva?"
She averted her gaze, a slight frown between her brows. "Not a whole lot-"
"Have you ever been to New England, Miss da Silva?"
"Well, no, but..."
Sherman broke into a laughter. "I bet she hasn't even been abroad!"
Serena felt her cheeks burn hot with anger. She wanted to put that little brat in his place and tell him that she had been further from England than he could ever hope to go, but she didn't get to speak her mind before Edward said, "I apologise, Miss, but perhaps instead of filling your pretty little head with worries not suitable for a young lady and trying to converse about worldly matters with the wrong gender, you could borrow Mama's sewing kit and embroider a nice handkerchief, or maybe even sit down by the piano forte and sing us a song? We were told that you were good at that."
She was nothing less of astounded. Was her appearance really all they saw? Did her opinion not matter because she was the wrong gender? Daniel had never treated her that way. He always listened, even if he didn't say so much, and he eagerly shared all of his knowledge with her regardless of her sex. She had always known that her job as a woman was to stay quiet and stay pretty, her sisters had told her that – but she had never known just what that meant until she came face to face with it. She never realised that no one would actually listen to what she had to say.
The two brothers didn't pay her any more attention; they continued on with their conversation as if she wasn't there, just as usual. Serena stood up from her seat with fisted hands and marched out of the room. There was no way she was going to sing them a song!
She held the apple in her hand. By the locked gate of the garden stood the stallion, waiting to be let inside. Sweetly he whispered to her ear, his warm breath like the southern wind blowing down on her sensitive skin. It was a whisper asking for permission. She closed her eyes and let him enter.
1833
"Can I kiss you?"
She barely even recognised the words, let alone what they meant. Right in this moment everything was hilarious, and she was in no condition to take anything seriously. Her whole body tickled still even though he had stopped. She kept laughing, her eyes closed, shaking her head. "I don't think my father would like that very much," she managed to get out through her giggles.
She suddenly felt warmth against her forehead, causing her laughter to subside a little. She was alarmingly aware of how close he was to her. "No one has to know."
Now she stopped laughing all together. She felt paralysed, completely unable to move, and most definitely unable to look up at him. She suddenly knew that she had gotten herself into a situation she couldn't control. She let out a quiet, shaking breath and pushed herself tightly up against the tree trunk. She felt an overwhelming heat overcoming her as he pressed his body against hers.
She sneaked a peek up at him, hoping he wouldn't notice. Oh, he was so incredibly handsome; those brilliant green eyes, the long, slightly messy brown hair that kept falling in front of his face and that charming smile, all more than enough to make any girl melt on the spot. And then there was the undeniable fact that he had grown taller and broader, and she felt so small in comparison. She trembled, butterflies doing somersaults in her belly as her knees turned to jelly. She was so weak for him, more than ever before.
He came closer to her bit by bit, then paused. It was as if the whole world had stopped around them. She could only hear the blood rushing in her ears, her fragile heart beating frantically against her developing chest. She hadn't allowed him. She didn't know what to do. She felt as if she should know. He hesitated for only a short moment before he finally pressed his lips softly against hers.
She felt cold and warm all at once. In fear of giving him the wrong idea, she just stood completely still and let him have his way. Had she dreamed of this? She didn't know, but now she was afraid. Her mind was in chaos; he seemed so experienced. Her heart dropped, and she closed her eyes tightly. He seemed experienced.
His lips felt so soft, his breath so warm against her own. Their foreheads and noses gently bumped together in a brief moment, but then he tilted his head. He pressed his lips against hers in soft motions, and it felt nice and comfortable. His tall, broad body seemed to engulf her, cover her in its warmth. She hesitantly began to reciprocate the touch.
She felt him place his hand on her slender neck and run his fingers through her hair. The familiar scent nearly overpowered the smell of fresh, wet grass in damp air. She loved that scent, his scent. It was comforting. She was still perturbed, but she tried to still those thoughts. He leaned further into her, deepening their kiss, grabbing tighter onto her.
No matter how much her mind resisted, her body couldn't help it; she felt something start to burn deep down in her stomach, and now only a gentle touch of his fingers against the bare skin under her jawline made small explosions go off within her. She felt like she was melting and he was moulding her with his very hands. She couldn't contain a moan, and that was how she fell into the trap.
As soon as she parted her lips, he let his tongue slip in between. She stiffened at the sudden warm, moist touch that she never had felt anything like before. For a brief moment his teeth clashed against hers, but he merely tilted his head even more and closed his mouth over hers.
She knew that she was lost now, she had fallen, and he didn't even care; about her dignity, about anything. And still she couldn't help but enjoy it. Her body craved it – she didn't know how or when it had gotten a voice, but now it was speaking to her loud and clear. His taste was something she couldn't quite put her finger on, something raw, hot, piquant. Oh, how she wanted him to take her, how she wanted him to stop.
His hands travelled further down her neck to the thin skin on her collarbone and continuing. Her breathing picked up as he came near a part of her he had no business touching, but still she didn't stop him. Anticipation rose within her for something she knew was forbidden – but then his hand halted right above her chest. She sighed, feeling as though he had set up a thrilling premise for her to afterwards leave it anti-climactic. Her heart wouldn't cease its rapid beating, though; she needed more.
But he pulled away from her, and the humid, cool air kissed her instead. She suddenly felt incomplete, and then a cold splash brought her back to reality. She knew what she had done.
When he lifted his head to go in for the kill again, like a predator attacking an unaware lamb, she turned her head away. She scanned their surroundings in a single blink. "The rain has stopped."
As soon as he looked away, she wiggled out of his hold and ran towards Lady Margaret. She jumped onto the good-natured mare and looked back at Daniel again. His expression was one big question mark. She tried to shake it off and regain her usual playful demeanour, sending him a challenging smile. "Catch me if you can!"
She turned the horse around and kicked her heels into its flanks, and within that same moment she was flying across the meadow. The farther she got away from him, the more her smile faded. Soon small drops of salt ran down her flushed cheeks, and she tried to tell herself that it was merely the wind whipping against her face.
But she knew what she had done – what she had let him do to her. She knew he probably had others as well. She was foolishly in love, completely at his mercy, and he took advantage of it. The boy she loved was no different from all the other men.
Mother, forgive me.
"D-Daniel… It… It hurts…"
He breathed heavily, biting his lip. His whole body shuddered as he paused in his position, small drops of sweat running down his forehead. She squirmed beneath him, her small fingers trembling slightly against his skin. "I'm sorry," he whispered, gently nuzzling his nose into the nook of her neck and up along her cheek. She didn't respond; he noticed how she avoided his eyes. Her lashes had been fluttered down, her gaze looking towards her chest the whole time. He caressed her hand and ran his fingers down her arm to her shoulder. "Do… Do you want me to stop?"
She finally looked at him, bright brown eyes glinting in the candlelight. Her voluminous, blossoming bosom heaved up and down in an intense, irregular rhythm. He felt her fingers on the back of his head play with his hair, her long nails gently scratching and massaging his scalp. She looked away from him again and down at his collarbone. Moistening her lips, she swallowed hard. "N-no."
He leaned down and planted a soft kiss on her flushed cheek. His warm breath on her bare neck made her shiver, and he placed a kiss there as well before grabbing her thigh, pushing it up and thrusting deeper.
She closed her eyes tight, letting out a small cry. He groaned by the pressure. She was so tight and warm. Her nails sank into his skin, tearing up the fresh wounds his father had served him the other night. It stung and burned, but he didn't care. He endured the pain, just like she did; small drops of blood trickled down his back, but he merely propped her leg up onto his shoulder for better access and pushed further.
The simple, elegant satin choker hugging her neck and her thin stockings were the only things covering her body still. He cupped her round, firm breast in his hand, gently squeezing and caressing her nipple. A quiet moan escaped her lips. She pressed her small hands against his hard chest. Slowly she stroked it, spreading her hands further apart and touching his sensitive nipples ever so lightly. It sent small shock waves down his spine. Her nails gently ran down his stomach, and he tugged it in reflexively as she struck his nerves.
He hovered right above her, his nose barely touching hers. He caressed her face, brushing stray strands of dark moist hair that stuck to her forehead away. She was so beautiful; her small nose, the soft shape of her face, high cheekbones and narrow chin. Her full, pink lips and the slanting, oval brown doe eyes that had been what he had first noticed when he met her. He realised he had been imagining this moment for longer than he had cared to admit, and he couldn't believe how lucky he was. He wanted to claim her for himself.
His fingers weaved into her hair, and he pressed his lips against hers again. He felt her small, careful fingers lightly grab around his wrist. She moaned into his mouth when he pressed further into her. He placed one hand on top of her belly, feeling the tension from the muscles clenching underneath. His thumb gently stroked the soft skin as he thrust deeper, her stomach distending just a tiny bit under his touch. He slid in perfectly now.
Her breathing was erratic, it became harder to keep quiet. Slowly he pulled back, then pushed into her again. She yelped and grabbed on to his hips. He had her spread her legs even more, still thrusting deeper into her, feeling all of her warmth engulfing him in the sweetest ecstasy. He pressed his own body against hers as they collided in perfect harmony. His head was spinning, he could sense nothing but the pure pleasure. He could have never known that this was what it would feel like.
She gasped as he thrust deep into her again, her grasp around his hips tightening. He could barely think straight any more. Their bodies were sweltering and melting into each other, the candles around them burning as hot as their insides with their dancing flames reflecting in the clear surface of the gem, her choker was embellished with. He felt every inch of her, and that was an achievement. He was becoming a man tonight.
He grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to himself, lifting her slightly up from the soft covers she lay upon. She locked her legs around him. Every muscle in his body was working as he kept thrusting faster and faster in an incessant rhythm. She was incredibly light in his arms, her whole body so small in scale. She found his lips and kissed them sweetly. It only fuelled his hunger, and he responded by deepening the kiss. With one hand locked on her tail to keep her steady, his other found her hand and weaved his fingers in between hers.
The fire in his stomach raged. His limbs were beginning to tremble. He laid her down on the bedding again and sat up properly so he had an exquisite view of her lying before him. He proceeded to place both of her legs up against his torso, all the while admiring how straight and slender and lithe they were, the skin so milky and flawless. He leaned forward a bit, and positioned like this he could reach even deeper.
She arched her back, letting out the sweetest sounds for each and every thrust. He enjoyed how it made her already generous bust appear even larger, and he bit his lip. He felt that he was close and he couldn't stop, not now. He reached down and grabbed her breasts in both of his hands. She grabbed his wrist with one hand and pulled on her long, wavy hair with the other, clenching her eyes shut as her cries became higher and higher. The anticipation was unbearable, the sensation reaching its peak.
He grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them above her head, leaning over her as the pace became rapid. He brushed his long, brown hair away from his face. Various bodily fluids dribbled down. The world had disappeared around them, nothing mattered any more. They were finally united as one. This was their declaration of love.
He let out a deep groan as he felt himself reach the ultimate state of euphoria. The sensation in his groin exploded, pleasure rushing to every corner of his being. She clenched tightly around him, and he felt himself shoot into her, merging with her very core. She cried and tensed in his grasp. He shook frantically, and then the relaxation came over him. His whole body sighed in relief, arms shivering, unable to keep steady. For a moment they froze in their positions, but then they both reclined.
Daniel let out a shaking sigh and pulled out, lying down on his back beside her and panting heavily as he stared up into the ceiling of the small house. His brain was unable to process his thoughts. All he could perceive was the sheer bliss and peace he felt in both body and mind. For a moment, the first in a very long time, all his worries were gone and forgotten, and he was completely at ease.
Serena lay motionless beside him, not uttering a single sound other than that of her breathing. He closed his eyes. He was so unbelievably elated; he had the most beautiful girl in the world lying next to him, flushed and naked, and he couldn't be more thankful. He didn't see how she slowly curled up, pulling into herself.
Suddenly Serena sat up. Daniel opened his eyes again and pushed himself up onto his elbows, but Serena didn't look at him; in fact, she turned away from him. As she reached for her garments, all she uttered was, "This was a mistake."
And just like that he was completely shot down. The happiness and calmness he had felt before vanished, and all he was left with was a large, empty void eating up at him inside. He was shocked. For a short moment he had been on top of the world, and faster than ever he had returned to the bottom again. He merely watched her struggle to put on her clothes, which looked to be quite the challenge with the many layers. His lips had become dry so he moistened them, looking away from her with a deep frown and tense jaw, "… I'm sorry you feel that way."
She didn't respond. He pulled up his trousers again and reached for the ruined shirt he had thrown into the corner earlier; the wine spilled onto it had dried now. He really didn't feel comfortable letting her see his naked back any more.
Daniel put on the crumpled shirt, but he didn't bother tugging it inside his trousers. Instead he just pulled his knee up and rested his arms and chin on it, turned in one direction while watching Serena out of the corner of his eyes. She was completely turned away from him while she struggled to tighten her corset by herself, and he sensed that she desired some privacy. He turned away, his fists tightened. "Do you … need help?"
He heard how she paused for a moment. "No, I'm... It's fine." He closed his eyes.
She shuffled a bit behind him, but after a while everything was quiet again. He opened his eyes and glanced at her, and as he expected she had gotten her dress fully on. She was still sitting with her back turned to him, her head lowered.
Daniel looked away, his teeth clenched together. He hated this. He hated how she made him feel like he was the jerk who had pressured her into something she wasn't ready for. "You... You said you wanted this."
"I know," she said. Her voice was soft, her small shoulders slumped. "It was my mistake."
He once again turned his head, a deep frown furrowing his brows and his mouth a tight line. "… Why?"
Finally she turned around and looked at him with an agonising expression. Her brown eyes were glazed over on the verge of tears, her lower lip quivering slightly. "You threw my locket away!" she exclaimed with a trembling voice, her hands clutching her chest. "You were meant to keep it close! S-so that we could always be together…" She lowered her gaze again, swallowing hard. Couldn't he see just how much it had meant to her, how abandoned and alone she had felt this past year? She was struggling not to cry. "I… I needed you."
Daniel's frown deepened, his hands fisted. She had no right to blame him! "I didn't throw it away, Serena!" he said sharply, "I had to hide it!"
She looked up at him with confusion in her blank round eyes. "Hide it?"
He sighed and crawled to one corner of the house. Serena frowned when he removed the loose board and dug into the ground with a small shovel left outside. Finally he gathered the box that had been buried there and dug through all the items inside until he found what he was looking for. "It was just too risky," he said, his tone softening a bit as he showed her the item in his hand; the locket. Serena slowly lifted her hand to her mouth. "There are so many people in my life who meddle a bit too much in others' businesses..." He hesitated a bit, "I… I was afraid." Serena looked at him, her doe eyes wider than ever, asking for elaboration. He bit his lip and looked away, "… afraid of losing it. I just ... couldn't bear the thought of someone taking it away from me…"
She looked down at the locket clenched in his hand, in deep thought. It was still shiny and polished. She frowned and looked up at him again. "What about me?" she said quietly.
Daniel finally looked her in the eyes. He took a deep breath and reached a hand forward, caressing the side of her face ever so gently. "Serena, I…" He hesitated for a moment, but then swallowed a huge lump in his throat. "I have fallen in love with you."
Serena let out a small gasp, covering her mouth with both her hands. He immediately removed his hand from her face, and she looked away from him. This was the worst reaction he could have expected. This evening couldn't possibly get any worse now. He made a last desperate attempt to save it, "I'm sorry, Serena, I shouldn't have-"
"Can you please- !" He instantly shut his mouth when she interrupted him. He was taken aback by her raising both her voice and hand. "Please be quiet, Daniel," she muttered and lowered her hand again, still without looking at him.
He regretted having said anything at all. He felt like an idiot. He was certain he had ruined every chance he could have possibly had with this girl. He looked away with clenched teeth, letting his long hair fall before his face so she wouldn't see his frustration.
It seemed like Serena stayed quiet for an eternity before she finally uttered, "I… I don't believe this..." Daniel let out a deep sigh, closing his eyes. He felt her place her fingers underneath his chin and guide him back to face her. He opened his eyes, confused. "All these years..." she continued, a meek smile on her lips, "And I thought I was nothing but a silly little girl to you. I never thought you would even look at me..." Her lower lip began quivering again, her chest raising and falling in heavy breaths. "But I was so infatuated, so ill with love. I've always been devoted to you."
Daniel's eyes widened. She grabbed his hand and held it up against her chest. "I gave you my heart," she said with a shaky voice, "last summer. The locket." A single tear finally escaped her eye and she let out a forced chuckle, looking away and wiping it with her dress sleeve. "I feel so stupid... Oh god..." She looked back at him, "I've always loved you, Daniel. So much. Each day away from you is torment, and... I just don't want to be without you. I need you." She couldn't stop the tears any more and looked down to hide her face from him. "I'm sorry, I'm just so overwhelmed..."
Daniel reached for her face and made her look at him again, wiping the tears from her soft cheeks and leaning his forehead against hers. "So … you don't think I was a mistake?" he said quietly.
Serena shook her head frantically, a new stream of tears travelling down her face. "No, Daniel, you weren't the mistake!" she said in short breaths, "It was me… It was only me…"
He shook his head himself. "No, Serena. There is absolutely nothing mistaken about you. You are perfect." He put his arms around her and pulled her close to him, nuzzling his nose against hers.
She lifted her hand to his face, caressing his features; the straight, sharp nose, the angular Cupids bow on his upper lip, the high cheekbones, defined jawline and the deep crease above his narrow, piercing green eyes. "Please promise me," she whispered into their shared breaths, "that someday you'll come to London … and then you'll marry me…"
He didn't consider the possibility of it all, nor if it was even realistic. He didn't mention that he was supposed to stay in Canterbury and be an artisan, and that he would never become of an acceptable status to marry her. He didn't think at all. He just said, "I promise."
Serena leaned further into him, and he took it as an invitation. He locked his lips on hers, pressing her close to him and letting his slender fingers tangle in her long wavy locks. He put the locket away in his trouser pocket and laid her back down onto the soft bedding in the middle of the small house, leaning over her and deepening the kiss. "Be mine," he mumbled against her lips.
"I am already yours," she whispered, running her fingers through his brown hair, "I have always been."
He gained access, slipping his tongue past her lips and into the warm, moist cavern behind. She grabbed his hand and led it up along her beautifully embroidered bodice, resting it atop her breast. He squeezed as much as he could through the stays. This was where he was supposed to be. He couldn't bear the thought of having to wait another year to taste her sweet kisses again. If only she could stay with him, she belonged here in his arms. He loved her so much. He felt that anything was possible now; he was going to move to London and attend the university there regardless of his father's wishes, he'd become an archaeologist like he always wanted, get Hazel transferred to the London Infirmary so she could get the treatment she needed, and marry the girl of his dreams. Everything would turn out perfectly.
He was so blissfully unaware.
That was when the door suddenly burst open. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING? GET YOUR FILTHY HANDS OFF HER!"
Daniel and Serena looked up in shock. A large, sturdy man barged into the small wooden house and grabbed harshly onto Daniel's arm. He pulled him out of the small house, pushing him onto the ground outside.
"No, Murphy! Please don't hurt him!" Serena cried in panic as she crawled out.
The man barked right back at her, "You, Miss da Silva, better keep quiet! Your parents are not pleased with this, I assure you!"
Daniel lifted himself off the ground, looking up. That was when he caught sight of him. Standing a little further back, behind the crowd of massive men that had come to bring Serena back, was Henry. He stared right back at Daniel, his eyes full of nothing but pure hatred.
Murphy grabbed Daniel by his hair, pulling him up on his feet. "Get up, you bastard!" the furious man roared, "The girl's parents would like to have a word with you!"
The other men took him by his arms. He did a weak attempt at breaking free from their grip, but he achieved nothing but a blow in the stomach and a large fist to his face. He tasted metallic liquid, and soon felt it run down his chin. His ribs hurt even more than before, and the headache and nausea, he had felt come and go ever since the fire incident, returned stronger than ever.
Serena followed her father's men, covering her mouth and trying to keep from crying. She knew that Daniel meeting her father like this wouldn't end well.