Ch.2: The Adventure begins

Authors Note: I would like to thank Wilhelm Wigworthy for being the first to review my newly written story. Thank You VERY much! Without further ado, here is the next chapter of Stranger Things Have (Never) Happened!

Four days took no time at all to pass, so before she knew it Felicity was packed inside the family carriage next to her mother being swept briskly along the dirt roads to a fate she had very much sealed for herself. Felicity's golden eyes stayed trained on the landscape that rolled gently by them, giving a wistful sigh as she took in the days beauty. As typical of an early April morning the temperature seemed content to settle it self at an agreeable 54 degrees, the only clouds that dared to break up the vast expanse of arctic blue sky where nothing more than thin films of mist that with the gentlest of breezes would be banished from view. It was days like these that she would love to disappear into her garden for hours on end, sitting amongst the sweet grass and tender new blossoms. At times she would take a book with her so that she may perch on the ornate fountain that stood nobly in the heart of her garden, and be content to just read for hours upon undisturbed hours. At other times the garden provided her with a safe haven, safe from all the strict suffocating rules of society and her mother. In her garden amongst the walls of roses and lush carpets of morning glory's there was no one to tell her to keep her bonnet or shoes on, no one to scold that her dress was hiked up to high or that she was making a mess of the hairdo her maids has worked so hard on giving her that very morning. Free from rules she would lay amongst the flowers, hair splayed behind her, bare toes curling in the cool grass, with her skirt rode up in such a fashion that would surly have her proper mother signing her up for a nunnery that very day. These blissful thoughts where all that consumed Felicity's mind as they raced along until... "...licity..?." "Felicity!" The sound of her mothers voice dispelled her from her lovely daydreams with a jolt, bashfully Felicity turned from the window to properly address her mother. "I'm sorry mother I was...I was dreaming, what where you going to say?" Her mother sniffed as she smoothed out her skirt (for what must have been the fiftieth time that carriage ride) "But of course you where" she sighed out in exasperation "oh felicity whatever am I going to do with you... anyway we are now but minutes away from Lady Fane's manor, so I expect you to come down back here to earth and quickly. A woman with her head in the clouds is very unlikely to attract a suitor." "But I do not wish for a ..." Felicity started, but a glare from her mother quickly changed her choice of words "I mean, of course mother I am here, I shall not drift off again." Her mother smiled happily "good good dear, do you not see? As long as you behave your self you are quite the charming young lady, men will not be able to resist you!" With that they pulled into the front gates of Lady Fane's estate.

Two hours later...

The party was just as dreadfully boring as Felicity had feared it would be, there where the typical giggly noble girls swishing around in their fine gowns, flirting shyly (shamelessly) with any man who dared to stand in one place for longer than half a minute. Felicity took in these shameless displays from her seat in the cool shade of one of the few willows that grew in lady Fane's garden, while the girls' behaviors troubled Felicity, the garden was the big disappointment of this party. No wild flowers dotted the close cropped carpet, no ivy grew elegantly on any of her concrete pillars and worst of all only yellow roses bloomed here. There was no mixture, none of the pinks or blues or reds or whites that bloomed in Felicity's garden at home. No, here a child could have spattered huge gobs of butter across the emerald green bushes and the final product would look identical to what she saw now.

Sighing she let her eyes flit over to her mother who sat testily in the chair next to her, though irritation was clearly written all over her face, Felicity had no intention off getting up and socializing with any of the clearly empty headed girls or equally as empty headed men for that matter. Instead she took in her mothers features and amused herself with the thought of how hard it must be to tell that they two where mother and daughter,not governess and just some young noble girl. It was true, Lady Evans looked nothing like Felicity, for while Felicity's face was open and sweetly soft. Lady Evan's face was all sharp angles and pinched in an almost unapproachable manner. While felicity's hair was auburn and cascaded down in naturally lush waves, Lady Evan's hair was blond and pin straight (a condition she fixed by keeping her hair up in sever bun at all times, except of course while she slept). With so many differences it was a wonder, Felicity thought, That people did not immediately catch onto the fact that... the sound of two people approaching caused her train of thought to break instantly. Standing in front of them was Lady Fane herself, accompanied by a rather dim looking man... he was not much taller than she for he only stood at a rather laughable(for a man of the time that is) 5'5, he was not fat but not exactly skinny ether his plump form spoke of someone who ate well but did not see it necessary to exercise the body. His skin was pasty white all except in the nose and cheeks where they stayed a soft red (perhaps from some sort of allergic reaction) his straw blond hair stuck close to his skull, it seemed to be thinning to the point that before much longer he would not be sporting any at all. He stood silently next to Lady Fane his watery gray eyes flicking up to Felicity quickly and then back to the ground. Her mother stood immediately,her irritation quickly replaced by that sunny demeanor she acquired only when the most important of her friends where present. "oh Lady Fane, Mr. Edwards how are the both of you? Its been so very long!" She turned smiling sweetly at Felicity "Come Felicity, where are your manners? Stand up and properly great them." Her voice was sickly sweet, tempting but dangerous... much like poisoned honey. Felicity stood and gave a polite curtsy to the pair "Good after noon, Lady Fane, Mr. Edwards,I hope you are both well."she said politely, hoping beyond all hopes that they would move along after the normal "how do you do's" where exchanged. Lady Fane, a small rather mousy old woman, replied in a soft easy voice " We are doing very well, thank you child. I would like to thank you both for deciding to come and attend my part, but we have come to speak of much more exiting matters." her wrinkled pink lips broke into a sweet smile "Perhaps we could sit and talk more comfortably" she said with a gesture to the table where Felicity and her mother had just been sitting. "Oh but of course!" her mother exclaimed "sit, sit everyone."

Soon all four of them where seated at the little table under the willow tree. Felicity kept her hands folded nervously in her lap, she was no fool, what matter could possibly be discussed involving Mr. Edwards that would end well for her? She was not left in the dark for very long, for as soon as she thought that thought Lady Fane spoke up " Felicity, we shall just get right to the heart of the matter, for I have reached the age where I have realized that "beating around the bush" or whatever it is they are saying now a days, only serves to make a simple situation all the more dramatic." Felicity sat ram rod straight a chill washing over her body, though the weather was still perfectly temperate, this conversation had only just started and already she did not like where this was going... Lady Fane continued "To put it simply my nephew Mr. Edwards" she gestured toward said man " has taken an interest in you and would like to ask for your hand in marriage." once again, said man smiled bashfully and for once looked Felicity in they eyes "you are quite the beautiful creature, you would I am sure make a lovely wife, would you do me the honor?" A quivering helpless moan escaped Felicity's mouth "Bu-but sir I hardly know you..." She was cut off by her mother who looked about ready to burst with joy " Oh no worrying Felicity! Lady Fane and I had taken it upon ourselves to send letters all about you to Mr. Edwards, he knows all there is to know about you, and in time you will know just as much about him!" Her mother gave her arm a tight squeeze " Say yes dear, this marriage will be MORE than beneficial for the both of us." Felicity's heart felt like it had stopped beating, her skin had paled and was now icy to the touch.

She tried to form words but her mouth simply opened to only shut again, her wide eyes looked at the three of them in horror as they looked on expectantly. Finally her mother broke the silence "OH of course she will marry you! Look at the poor dear to flattered by your request to respond properly..." her mother said sweetly, at this both Lady Fane and Mr. Edwards brightened up leaning forward to hear the rest of what Felicity's mother had to say. "so when shall the wedding be, no need to wait that long seen how its all settled now." This broke Felicity's paralysis "NO!" she screamed out, causing all three of her table mates to quickly snap their heads in her direction. "what did you just say dear?" her mother asked, her eyes once again throwing daggers at her daughter. Felicity, however was very far beyond caring, she pushed herself away from the table backing away quickly " I said no! I will not marry Mr. Edwards! Not today, not tomorrow, not ever!" with that she turned and fled to the woods around the garden.

On she plunged into the woods, deeper and deeper, not caring how the branches pulled at her hair and tore the blue fabric of her dress, she just kept running farther and farther, not looking back to see if any one was after her. In her frantic mind she started to formulate a plan, she would run back to the main road and convince someone to give her a ride back to her manor, once there she would pack a few things, saddle up her horse and be gone before her mother ever made it back . The sweet chance at freedom swiftly melted the ice cold fear that had caged her heart not seconds before, she was going to be okay,she was going to... then the earth that had been moving steadily beneath her feat was gone, in an instant she was falling into what seemed a never ending blackness. Felicity couldn't scream, she had had no time to but in her head thoughts formed themselves "OH HOW FOOLISH COULD I BE!? Running through woods I know nothing about, I must have fallen into one of those underground caves, IM GOING TO DIE!" All this happened in a matter of seconds, first she was falling from darkness and the next moment she was falling from what seemed to be the sky... "now this makes no..." Felicity's thought stopped only half formed, for at that moment she hit the hard ground. Her body burned with pain and the world around her danced and swam before her eyes. She was ever so faintly aware of softly approaching foot steps, but she could not clear her mind enough to care, she slipped into the darkness of a dead faint. She was unaware of the two strong arms that collected her limp body, unaware of where those arms where taking her...unaware that she had just entered Wonderland with all the grace of a dodo bird.

Well now who has possession of her NOW? Review if you would, and keep looking out for updates.

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