A/N Okay, before I begin, I think this chapter needs an introduction. Now
in this chapter I talk briefly about the French revolution, nothing major I
just mention it, 'cause it fits in well with the plot. I am not sure that
the film and the revolution in France happened at the same time. I always
thought the film was set maybe in the 1700s? I don't know. And the
revolution occurred late 1700s, right? So anyway for the point of this
chapter, let's just pretend that they happened at the same time, savvy?
Good.
A/N2 and a massive thanks to my reviewers!! ^_^
Chapter Three.
And Harriet kept true to her word. She was not a reliant person, never had been, and it would have been impossible to change now. Well, almost impossible. But Harriet managed it. She had never been one to be tied down, she fought against convention, constriction, her parents unfair rules, rebelled against her governess, she would fight to the bitter end to escape her 'prison'.
And can you imagine a bigger prison then the one she now found herself in? Marriage. The shackles of motherhood, and faithful wife twisted painfully around her ankles, squeezing the very breath out of her lungs. Normally she would have fought tooth and nail to free herself of these shackles, and, normally, she would have succeeded.
But one look at the face of her innocent, baby daughter was enough to make her stop fighting. No longer was the thrill, the need to escape so strong. She felt she could handle anything now that she had her little girl.
Annamaria grew up, thriving on the love of her doting mother. It's amazing how the love of a mother can make up for the lack of a father. Annamaria had never had one of those, nor did she desire one. Her meetings with Tobias were short and infrequent, very forced politeness on bother sides, though each knew the other despised them.
So even though her mother gave Annamaria love, the child found herself avoiding the house. Harriet declined in her absence, and fell back to her old ways. Of course, she could never meet another man she loved as much as little Anna's father. But she could try.
Annamaria was a love child, from the first moment when she heard that expression it enchanted her mind, filling it with wonder and tragedy. The stories that weaved in her dreams were of true love between her parents, destroyed by the evil ogre, in the form of Tobias.
So as soon as she was old enough, she escaped the house. They lived in a large port side town, and even though it was called 'port-side' Annamaria found herself over a mile away from the sea. Besides Tobias would tell her stories of pirates who kidnapped children, mainly girls and sold them into prostitution. Harriet allowed the stories, better scared then dead, she thought.
Therefore Annamaria had no wish to meet a pirate, or see the sea, she was happy roving the near by town, and woodlands. She had friends, but none she felt she could rely on, or confide in. And besides they all had their own problems. No one was free of hardship in these dark days. The Caribbean sun shone high above them, lighting up the days, but not quite reaching their spirits. These were the days of depression, her mother told her.
"It's when the poor are very poor, and the rich are very rich." Annamaria told the others.
The word 'France' was on everyone's lips, well the men's, the naval officers, it seemed all they could talk about. Little Annamaria didn't even know where France was. Only that it was a country suffering, the peasants were starving, whilst the rich struggled through the food mountains.
"That's not fair." Annamaria said to her mother.
Harriet shook her head. "Life ain't fair, doll."
Harriet often called her doll, she said it was from when Annamaria was a baby. "You would sleep at night and look like you were made from porcelain." She told her.
To which Tobias would chuckle, and reply, "You were beautiful as a baby, what happened?"
"Ignore him, jealousy is a terrible sin." Harriet said.
"So is prostitution, and adultery." He snarled.
Harriet blushed.
Annamaria sensed her mother's anger, and didn't press the matter. But the next day she asked the 'others' what both words meant.
And those were the days of innocence, playing with her friends, trekking to the beach on the odd month, but mainly sticking closer to home. Home, a four letter word. Four letters with such intense meaning. Home was a place where one felt secure, happy, to be with one's family, yes that was to be home.
"You don't do badly." Harriet reminded her one night, as she tucked her in. "None of us do, and for that we must thank the Lord. There are loads suffering far more then us."
"In France?"
"Well, yes in France, but I was talking about a little nearer to home." She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "You know, if it wasn't for you I would have packed my bags and left a long time ago." She wiped the hair from her face.
Annamaria gripped her head.
"Don't be silly, I'd never leave you."
"Promise?"
Harriet nodded. "Promise."
But such is the nature of a promise that it is hard to keep. A promise like the one Harriet Richards made to her daughter, are especially hard to keep. And Harriet was no exception.
Annamaria lay warm in her bed that night, but millions shivered against the cold biting wind. Her young mind rested, oblivious to all the pain and hardship in the world, little did she know it was about to come down, crashing on top of her.
A/N Okay, bit of a slow chapter, the next one will get moving. Enjoy. ^_^
A/N2 and a massive thanks to my reviewers!! ^_^
Chapter Three.
And Harriet kept true to her word. She was not a reliant person, never had been, and it would have been impossible to change now. Well, almost impossible. But Harriet managed it. She had never been one to be tied down, she fought against convention, constriction, her parents unfair rules, rebelled against her governess, she would fight to the bitter end to escape her 'prison'.
And can you imagine a bigger prison then the one she now found herself in? Marriage. The shackles of motherhood, and faithful wife twisted painfully around her ankles, squeezing the very breath out of her lungs. Normally she would have fought tooth and nail to free herself of these shackles, and, normally, she would have succeeded.
But one look at the face of her innocent, baby daughter was enough to make her stop fighting. No longer was the thrill, the need to escape so strong. She felt she could handle anything now that she had her little girl.
Annamaria grew up, thriving on the love of her doting mother. It's amazing how the love of a mother can make up for the lack of a father. Annamaria had never had one of those, nor did she desire one. Her meetings with Tobias were short and infrequent, very forced politeness on bother sides, though each knew the other despised them.
So even though her mother gave Annamaria love, the child found herself avoiding the house. Harriet declined in her absence, and fell back to her old ways. Of course, she could never meet another man she loved as much as little Anna's father. But she could try.
Annamaria was a love child, from the first moment when she heard that expression it enchanted her mind, filling it with wonder and tragedy. The stories that weaved in her dreams were of true love between her parents, destroyed by the evil ogre, in the form of Tobias.
So as soon as she was old enough, she escaped the house. They lived in a large port side town, and even though it was called 'port-side' Annamaria found herself over a mile away from the sea. Besides Tobias would tell her stories of pirates who kidnapped children, mainly girls and sold them into prostitution. Harriet allowed the stories, better scared then dead, she thought.
Therefore Annamaria had no wish to meet a pirate, or see the sea, she was happy roving the near by town, and woodlands. She had friends, but none she felt she could rely on, or confide in. And besides they all had their own problems. No one was free of hardship in these dark days. The Caribbean sun shone high above them, lighting up the days, but not quite reaching their spirits. These were the days of depression, her mother told her.
"It's when the poor are very poor, and the rich are very rich." Annamaria told the others.
The word 'France' was on everyone's lips, well the men's, the naval officers, it seemed all they could talk about. Little Annamaria didn't even know where France was. Only that it was a country suffering, the peasants were starving, whilst the rich struggled through the food mountains.
"That's not fair." Annamaria said to her mother.
Harriet shook her head. "Life ain't fair, doll."
Harriet often called her doll, she said it was from when Annamaria was a baby. "You would sleep at night and look like you were made from porcelain." She told her.
To which Tobias would chuckle, and reply, "You were beautiful as a baby, what happened?"
"Ignore him, jealousy is a terrible sin." Harriet said.
"So is prostitution, and adultery." He snarled.
Harriet blushed.
Annamaria sensed her mother's anger, and didn't press the matter. But the next day she asked the 'others' what both words meant.
And those were the days of innocence, playing with her friends, trekking to the beach on the odd month, but mainly sticking closer to home. Home, a four letter word. Four letters with such intense meaning. Home was a place where one felt secure, happy, to be with one's family, yes that was to be home.
"You don't do badly." Harriet reminded her one night, as she tucked her in. "None of us do, and for that we must thank the Lord. There are loads suffering far more then us."
"In France?"
"Well, yes in France, but I was talking about a little nearer to home." She kissed her daughter on the forehead. "You know, if it wasn't for you I would have packed my bags and left a long time ago." She wiped the hair from her face.
Annamaria gripped her head.
"Don't be silly, I'd never leave you."
"Promise?"
Harriet nodded. "Promise."
But such is the nature of a promise that it is hard to keep. A promise like the one Harriet Richards made to her daughter, are especially hard to keep. And Harriet was no exception.
Annamaria lay warm in her bed that night, but millions shivered against the cold biting wind. Her young mind rested, oblivious to all the pain and hardship in the world, little did she know it was about to come down, crashing on top of her.
A/N Okay, bit of a slow chapter, the next one will get moving. Enjoy. ^_^