Serena Kingsley sat uncomfortably next to her mother in the small tea room outside of London's main circle. A light rain drizzled outside and lightly patted against the stain glass windows that elegantly hid the cobblestone walk outside. Her white gingham dress wrapped with a blue stain bow below the breast enhanced her nineteen year old curves. Her mother fidgeted restlessly as she waited for her sister to join her along with her dearest niece Mina. In an hours time they would be meeting with the chaperone that would be taking their two most precious gifts in the world to India. Lady Serenity Kingsley never imagined that she would be sending off her most beloved daughter with a mere stranger to be engaged in wedded bliss away from her. As every mother hopes and dreams of their daughter marrying well and having a large wedding that would be talked about for ages, her darling Serena would not have the pleasure. At least not in gods England.
As a young child Serena Kingsley had been betrothed to Darien Shields, son of a very prominent family in England. Both families had felt that the match was more than perfect. At the young age of ten he and his family moved to India to invest in the Diamond industry. After the First World War young Darien was left orphaned in India with over 50 thousand pounds a year, yet no family with the exception of his only cousin Reianna Kerrington- Matthias. Darien had taken to the Army and had advanced his way up to a chief lieutenant in the Kings Military. As promised he had written a few months ago that he was ready to be wed after his twenty fourth birthday and to send his bride as soon as possible. Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley could not be more overjoyed that the boy had kept his promise. They had worried for years that Darien Shields would not keep to the agreement and that their daughter's beauty would go to waste. At the same time they were happy to keep their most precious treasure at home while they waited.
Lady Serenity knew that this day would come and had the highest hopes that Lt. Darien Shields would be on the first ship back to London to marry Serena in front of friends and family. Alas, with the uprising of Hindu and Muslim alike both against British rule in India small battles were taking place and the only way for Serena to marry before her own twentieth birthday would be to go to India.
"Dear Sister! Sorry we are so late, but you know how dear Mina dawdles." Vivian Wentworth came rushing in to the small room. "See, Mina, the tea is probably quite cold. How shall we ever marry you off?"
Mina rolled her eyes at her mother's back and then smiled widely at Serena who was still sitting next to her mother looking quite nervous. Serena and Lady Serenity stood and greeted their closest family. Almost exact lookalikes the pair of each. All tall beautiful women with long blond hair that would even make the queen of Sheba green with jealously. Surly their alabaster skin would stand out in the hot sun of India making them look at frail as a piece of paper. Mina and Serena would most definitely attract much attention not because of their long blond hair but of their beautiful blue eyes. Both being highly revered and envied by most as the two most beautiful girls in England. Yes, the girls were quite different from one another as well, Mina had full red lips and her eyes were more blue like the ocean unlike Serena's who were like cornflowers. Serena had this innocence about her that most people would think to shy away from the beautiful girl, and yet most were easily drawn to her friendly demeanor and when you got to know her better more sarcastic and witty nature. Mina was much more outgoing and it was always in her best interest to bring her dear cousin Serena out of her world of being the perfect child at face value and let her be the free willed child that she is at heart.
"Sit, sit, please. Lady Luna Lunear will be joining us soon so that we can make sure she is fit to take our two girls to India." Lady Serenity Kingsley said as she motioned for the tea cakes and sandwiches to be brought over. Mina grabbed a sandwich and began to indulge as soon at the table attendant placed them on the table.
"Oh, Auntie, isn't it wonderful. My Serena to be married and I get to travel with her to be her bridesmaid all the way to India. Oh, and what a wonderful name is our chaperone! Luna Lunear!" Mina squealed in delight between bites making Serena smile for the first time that day.
"Mina! Hush now and sit still. We have better hope that Lady Luna is suitable to take both of you under her wing." Vivian scolded Mina as if she a mire child.
"Mama! Please, she was raised in India. She knows it like the back of her hand." Mina retorted with a flourish.
"Well now, enough, we shall discuss that when we meet the dear lady. Vivian, have you found a suitable traveling trunk for Mina. Serena and I have found several nice ones at Dowelton's. "
"Oh, yes dear sister, we have, plus several new frocks that Mina said she must have for the three week voyage upon the Rubi. That does not even include the dresses for India. It is dreadfully hot there, well so I have are planning on picking up the bridesmaid dress on the way home."
"Oh yes, we have purchased an elaborate new wardrobe for our Serena. Much lighter cloth for the hot days and nights of course." The two sisters went on and on about the little details that still needed to be taken care of before the voyage.
Serena sat in the dark tearoom pretending to drink her tea as she vaguely listened to the conversation about the upcoming trip to India. As a child Serena was quite spoiled with all of the luxuries in the world. She was a kind and caring child who loved her ponies, cats and dogs. She was always quite rambunctious but in a very delicate and endearing way. Mina was always her loving cousin and best friend. She remembered meeting a boy a few years older than she as a child. Ebony hair and midnight blue eyes, arrogant in nature but even as a child his handsomeness shown though. This was the boy, now man, which she would soon be wed to.
"Serena, you have barely spoken two words." Her mother scolded her even though she understood her daughter's turmoil.
"Oh, I am dreadfully sorry. I am just thinking of papa." Serena said with a small smile.
Ahh, yes, Serena's beloved father. Commander Edward Kingsley who made a fast majority of his fortune while in the military and also one of the most highly regarded military officers in all of England. She remembered the last they spoke of the betrothal. It was one of the sunniest days that dreary London had seen in quite some time. Serena pushed her father in his chair out to the stable so that he may get a peek at the newest pony that he had purchased earlier in the year. Since his health had been failing he had not had the time to see the pony grown and full of life, just as his darling Serena. Her father who smiled in delight at the love the horse showed Serena, nuzzling her and trying to bit at her long hair.
"Ah, my dear. No other man would be worthy of your love."
"Father. Let us not talk about me leaving. Let's talk of other things." Serena let out lightly as she stroked the fouls nose.
"Serenity Anne Kingsley. This is the time, for what little time I have left. You are my light, my dear small child, you and your brother Andrew have both grown in to extremely wonderful children and have given your mother and I all of the blessings in the world. I shall miss you my little Rini."
Serena wiped a small tear from her eye and was drawn back in to the conversation between her Aunt and Mother. As much as she loved the moment that they had shared more than the rest, it was the one that she pushed most out of her mind.
"Yes, in Lt. Shields last letter he had mentioned that he would be moving in to a larger house on the military grounds. That every one of his servants has been blessing the home for the arrival of the new Mrs. Shields."
"Oh what a…"
"Excuse me… are you Lady Kingsley and Lady Wentworth."
Before the table stood a very unique women with large lavender eyes. Her skin was quite tan and her dark purpulish hair was let down to her waist. Two buns sat at the crown on her head. She was cleverly unique and dressed quite well in a lace yellow dress and white coat. Serena's eyes danced at the very vision of Luna. She was just marvelous.
"Luna Lunear, I presume. Please sit. We were just talking of the voyage." Lady Wentworth said as the table attendant approached and pulled out a chair for Ms. Lunear. The regular pleasantries were made in regards to introductions, the weather and Ms. Lunears travel.
"Mrs. Lunear, you said that you grew up in India." Lady Serenity asked as she took a sip of the second pot of tea that was brought to the table.
"Why yes, I was. My mother and father traveled India while I was a child. I departed from India at fifteen to attend a boarding school."
"And what of your parents and husband, you must be married if you are the age you say you are."
Luna slightly shuttered at the mention of her parents. She had intended to come here as a means to get back to India. It was never in her interest to become a chaperone but with her limited funds it was the only way to travel to India and keep her two hundred pounds intact. For it was the only money she had. As to her dress it was a gift from her employer. Lady Trista Snowden, who was an upcoming female dress designer here in London. Luna longed to return to India so that she may take the native Indian dress and use it to inspire her own clothing line.
"My parents died in an automobile accident. My mothers sister paid my way back to England and enrolled me in school." Luna said with her head held high.
Lady Kingsley and Lady Wentworth gave each other a look and then a quick nod. "Ms. Lunear, we will pay you 50 pounds for each girl and your voyage." Lady Went worth said at once.
Luna smiled and on the inside let out a sigh of relief. She didn't know what had inspired her to pretend to be a proper guardian for two girls on a three week voyage to India. She just knew that she had to get back by any means necessary. Her heart leapt for joy at what Mrs. Wentworth had said about paying for her voyage and the 100 pounds. It was much more than she could have hoped.
Mina jumped up in delight! "Oh, Sere! We are going to India!" She did not remember when she had at least been so happy. Mina Wentworth would be away from her mother and she would never be coming back. She would never have to marry that dolt Elmer Stubbing who was a very rich and successful, boring and egotistical banker. She fakly smiled at her mother, in a taunting way. Mina was more than excited to get away from the woman that put her down every waking moment, who made every decision for her including how she should wear her hair, clothes and makeup. No more, her heart cried out in joy. She would marry in India and never return to England.
Serena made an attempt to smile at the final announcement. It would finally be done after all of these years of hoping and praying that she would marry for love, that her boat was literally sailing away from her dreams and instead she would be sailing the high seas on the Rubi. A luxury liner that would drop her at her final destination. To marry a man she did not love, and a man who did not love her in return.