7th June 1786

When the British surrendered in Yorktown in 1781, the Collins family decided to move to Nova Scotia. The main reason they had left was because their neighbours eventually turned hostile to Loyalists and, for some unbeknownst reason, against them. Apparently most people in Charles Towne thought that they were spies content on stealing information for the British. Of course this was entirely untrue and yet nobody believed them.

Arthur had sold both of his properties, using the money to buy a patch of land to build a new Plantation. Instead of following the disturbing idea of slavery, he employed many paid farmers to help him with the fields. In 1782 they had struck a deal with one of the main investors in the area, Lord Macaby. Arthur would supply the goods and Lord Macaby would distribute them all over the island, splitting the money equally between them both when they eventually got paid.

Later that same year, Charlotte had married Lord Macaby's son, Stephan, who was set to inherit everything from his father when he passed. Agatha, of course, was over the moon by this as her daughter had married well above her station and managed to secure a wealthy husband. The couple introduced their first born son in the summer of 1783, calling him Matthew. Exactly eleven months later, they had brought their second child into the world, Katherine.

Effie was present throughout her pregnancy, she thought that it was her duty as an older sibling. The elder sister had taken on the role as Matthew's governess to keep her mind occupied throughout the day.

In the same year, 1782, Adam had married, a mere month into their arrival he had met the lady Miranda Heartly, they were 'very much in love' even though they argued most of the time. Adam described her as being a menace to society whilst she described him as a poison ivy plant, always there and always irritating. And they ended up announcing their first pregnancy a mere month after they had wed.

Effie was happy, of course she was, but not a day went by that she didn't think of William. The war was well and truly over and he still hadn't found her like he'd promised. However, she eventually settled on the simplest explanation why he hadn't appeared just yet. They had moved away as soon as news reached Charles Towne of the British defeat at Yorktown. At the age of twenty-five she was now free from her mother's clutches because she was considered a spinster in the eyes of society. It didn't bother her, not even when women refused to talk with her. Her mother hadn't been any better, especially when she had deemed her daughter her 'greatest disappointment'. But Effie was waiting for William, just like she had promised. Hell, she didn't even know if he was alive!

Effie let out a soft groan as she wrongly drew a line on her parchment once again. Although she hadn't made any money from them, unlike her teaching, she still enjoyed the tranquillity of drawing. She was sat up in her room, in her sister's home, waiting for their return from the town of Halifax.

Though as soon as she heard the door open, she heard a little pair of footsteps run up the stairs and along the corridor "Auntie Fifi!" Her almost three year old niece, Katherine, ran into the room, "Can you braid my hair like last time?!" She reached into her pocket and picked out a brown decorated ribbon "mama bought it for me in the market, isn't it pretty?"

Effie laid her pencil and sketchbook to one side before taking the ribbon into her hands. The dark fabric was decorated with numerous beads and different coloured threads. She cast her niece a small smile and nodded "I suppose if I braid it, it'd look very nice"

Her niece looked exactly like Charlotte when she was little, the only difference being the colour of her eyes which were dark brown. Effie lifted Katherine up and seated her on her lap "Mummy said that you were sad yesterday…"

Effie parted her wealth of gold hair into three before scrunching her brow "Whatever do you mean?" She asked as she started to plait her locks, hoping to sway her niece's mind away from the conversation.

"You're always sad…"

6th June, William's birthday.

"I was buying something for someone, though he won't be receiving it for quite some time" Effie simply spoke. In truth she had bought William a birthday present each year, hoping that one day she would be able to give them to him.

"why not…"

"Because he's in a far away land, fighting a dragon with his fellow

knights" She tried to put it in simple terms as she didn't want to eternally scar her. When she had finished braiding her hair, she tied it back with the ribbon "There, all done my favourite princess"

"Will he come back?"

"I don't know…" Effie uttered underneath her breath as her niece turned to face her. Katherine leaned forwards and wrapped her tiny arms around her auntie "He's been gone for quite some time"

William would barely even recognise her now. Although she still looked young for her age, Effie had become far more mature. She had to, especially when her sister married. Effie still wondered what he would look like now, after six years. Maybe he had finally cut his hair?

Deep down, she knew that she had lost hope a year after the war had ended. Unless he was slowly walking the entirety of the colonies in search of her, he would have surely found her. But she always had a glimmer of hope that he would come for her, marry her and grow old with her.

"Where is your mother? I wish to speak with her?" Effie muttered as she lifted the girl and placed her on her feet.

"With papa"

"Will you tell her that I wish to speak with her?"

"Okay!" With that, the young girl rushed from the room. Effie let out a sigh before walking over towards her bedside table. She softly pulled open the drawer and took out William's letters which were now discolouration due to age. How she wished to receive another letter from him! She sat down, carefully untied the string that was holding them together and picked off the first one. But as she read his words she began to cry.

"Sister? You wanted to see me?" Charlotte walked into the room with her usual bright smile. That was until she saw her sister's tears "Oh come now, you mustn't cry, it'll make your skin blotchy" She quickly rushed over to her bedside and hugged her tightly.

"I'm sorry Lottie…"

"Don't be sorry you silly goose" Charlotte gleamed before reaching forwards and wrapping her arms around her sister's shoulders "do you still miss him?"

"More than I care to admit…"

"We both know that he's probably trying to find you" She tried her best to cheer her up "we did flee after the war was over…" Effie quickly wiped her tears and looked through his letter once more. Charlotte took Effie's hand and softly smiled "I bet that he's scaling the entire country just to see you again"

"He would've been thirty-five yesterday, I bought him a gift like always"

"Oh…" Charlotte hated seeing her sister like this, it made her feel bad for finding happiness with Lord Macaby's son. She picked up one of the colonel's letters and smiled "He's probably out there looking for you as we speak…" Effie shook her head and stared down at her hands "How about we take a walk together? Maybe we can bring the little ones with us?"

"I think I might go to my summer home for now, I have been here for a while" Effie mumbled before standing up and walking over towards the settee. Charlotte hated seeing her like this. Ever since the Colonel left her she had been distant. Though when Charlotte was with child, Effie wanted to do everything she possibly could to help her sister.

"You're welcome to stay" Charlotte smiled as she too stood up. She noticed that the pillows on her bed were in disarray and quickly rearranged them before turning back to her sister "It's only been a short while anyway" The 'short while' being an entire month.

"I will still come in the mornings to teach the children their letters and numbers" Effie spoke as she picked up her sketchbook and pencils "Oh I don't know what to do Lottie…"

"You're lonely"

"No, how could I be? I have you and I have the children"

"Romantically, you are lonely" Charlotte noticed that her sister's shoulders were untensed at those words "Maybe it is time to find someone new? I'm sure that Stephan has some friends who you may take a liking too"

"B-But I promised William that I'd wait for him…"

"I know, but wouldn't William want you to find happiness?"

"Let me think about it" Effie wasn't going to of course. She made a promise and intended to keep it until she drew her last breath. But then again, maybe Charlotte was right in what she was saying. At the end of the day she was classified as a spinster, she would be twenty-six in less than a month's time.

The next morning, after breakfast, Effie sat up in her room collecting all of her belongings in preparation so she could move to her cottage in the morning. When she finished packing her last trunk of luggage, she sat on the edge of the bed and looked around her room, sighing softly when she remembered her sister's words. Maybe Charlotte was correct? Maybe it was time to move on from William? But if she did marry another man she could never truly love him as a part of her would always love William. It would not be fair on her husband if that were to happen.

"Must you leave?" Charlotte mumbled. Effie shuddered slightly, not knowing that her sister was standing there. The elder sister shook her head and carried on packing up her belongings "Effie, you are allowed to stay"

"I think it's time that I stand on my own two feet, maybe even become a full time governess"

"And you're moving to your summer home?"

"Yes"

"We'll come and visit on Saturday to make sure that you're settled"

"If you wish to" Effie smiled as a pair of servants came in to take another trunk out of the room "You may visit whenever you wish to" The sisters stared at each other for a moment "what is it, Lottie?"

"I'll miss you silly"

"I live five minutes away," She pointed out before picking up her reticule. Effie tied the string of the purse around her wrist and stood up "You and the children can visit anytime, just leave Stephen here so we can gossip"

"Adam wrote earlier, he'll be visiting soon" Charlotte added "He'll probably be complaining about Miranda again"

Effie looked at her sister, a small smile playing on her lips. Maybe it was time to move on. Charlotte had children, and Adam was married, which meant that she was the only one left "You can help me find a husband if you wish…" Those words made her stomach uncomfortably churn "In my heart of hearts, I know that dear William isn't coming back"

Her sister took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before nodding her head "I'll introduce you to some of Stephan's friends" Charlotte beamed before reaching forth and embracing her sister "Oh lord, I'll miss you"