Fall 2

Father looked down at his pocket watch as I sighed. The Beauregard family's arrival was today and Max and I were to be in the manor to greet them. I felt my stomach churn in a way that signified I was uncomfortable.

"Are they late, father?" Max asked as father looked up from his watch.

"Ah, no. No, they are noooooot late! They still have another fifteen minutes until their arrival in Alvarna. And it might take them a while to check into the inn as well." Father said as I looked down, silently praying that they wouldn't be arriving today for some reason, any reason, really.

"Oh! Miss Rosalind!" Cecilia exclaimed in shock as we looked towards her in confusion.

"Cecilia?" Father asked in worry, "W-what's wrong with Rosalind?"

"Oh, nothing's wrong with her. However, I couldn't help but notice the hem of the side of her dress had unraveled." I looked down to notice that Ceci was right! She offered me her hand.

"Come now, Miss! You want to look presentable for the Beauregards, right?"

"Ah, ye-yes…" I replied, taking Ceci's offering, allowing her to lead me to my room.


"This won't take too long, Miss." Ceci said as I sighed.

"Please, take your time." I said with such sincerity as I saw Ceci smile at me in a comprehensive way.

"You do have a right to be uncomfortable, Miss." Ceci said, placing some pins in the unraveled parts of the hem.

"Uncomfortable?" I asked, "Wait...a-are you talking about…?"

"Oswald?" Cecilia said, interrupting me. "Yes, I am talking about Oswald. Let's just say he did something the last time he was here that proved the point that there is something off about him."

"What did he do?" I asked as Ceci gave me a small smile.

"I'm afraid, Miss, that it is not my place to tell you. However, you're a clever woman, I'm sure you'll figure it out soon enough." I noticed Ceci pulling the thread, She took a pair of nearby thread snips and clipped the extra thread.

"Finished!" She exclaimed as my eyes widened.

"A-Already?" I asked as she sighed, giving me a small smile.

"I would have taken my time if your father weren't so eager. However, as I said, you're a clever woman...I feel as though you'll be able to find out and fix the situation involving Oswald." Cecilia stood up on her feet, as I looked at her curiously.

"Why couldn't you have fixed the situation?" I asked.

"Because I don't have any type of power. I'm just a lowly maid. If I say anything, well, let's just say I'd lose my job here and I wouldn't be able to find new work." She said as I looked down. I hated how unfair the system was. The only way Ceci or anyone else in this town would be able to have power is if they married into a wealthy family.

"Let's go, Miss. We mustn't keep your father waiting."


I made my way back to my position on the stairs as the sound of a knock reverberated through the manor's entrance. Father smiled.

"You two made it just in time! Cecilia, would you please let our guests in?" Father asked as Cecilia replied with a 'yes, sir' trudging down the stairs, opening the large golden doors. A man around my father's age entered with outstretched arms.

"Hermie!" The man exclaimed with such enthusiasm as my father laughed, making his way downstairs, embracing the man.

"Goooooood to see you, Calvin!" Father exclaimed, "How is everything in the capital?"

"Everything is going great! You remember my wife, Cindy and my son, Oswald?" Calvin stepped to the side as Herman shook Cindy's hand.

"Wonderful to see you again, Cindy! Oh and Oswald! You've grown, respectively!"

Oswald was definitely a mix of his parents. He had turquoise hair color like his mother, and fuchsia eyes, similar to his father. He was very handsome…but he still had an uncomfortable aura about him. He made his way up the side of the stairs, towards me. He grabbed my hand, giving a majestic bow before kissing it.

"It's wonderful to see you again, Rosalind." He began "I can't wait to get to know you better this week."

"Ah, yes. Same." I lied, my eyes fixated on his familiar looking hair. Where had I seen the resemblance before?

"You three are probably exhausted from your long trip now, but perhaps Rosalind could give you a tour around town tomorrow, Oswald?" Father suggested as Oswald nodded.

"That sounds like a most splendid idea, sir!" Oswald exclaimed as my father laughed.

"Please, call me Herman!" Father exclaimed.

"As you wish, Herman." Oswald said as Cindy made an ahem sound from her throat.

"I hate to cut things so short. But you were correct about us being exhausted, Herman. I just want to go back to the inn and relax for the rest of the evening." Cindy said with a sigh.

"Ah, of course, mother!" Oswald exclaimed before turning his attention back towards me.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon. I look forward to you showing me around, Rosalind." Oswald said as the Beauregard family left the manor.

"That went very well!" Father said with such oblivion. I noticed Max giving me a compassionate and understanding smile as I smiled back. I just had to figure out why Oswald made me uncomfortable and to put a plan into action on how to decline his proposal.