The Making of a Princess. by Lorrie Mae.

A Lady is Reborn Part 8

It had now been awhile since all of the bad happenings that had plagued them all recently had passed by them all. The staff were all happy in their daily routines and glad of the fact that they had a caring master. It would soon be the night of the big party, the Duke had surprised them by saying that everyone in his establishment and the towns people, would be welcome also Daphne's family would be coming also.

After all of the nastiness had settled down Daphne had rested and slept and slept , her body was slowly accepting that she no longer had to worry about the sinister Mr. Aspen who had her held tightly in his clenches, for so long, he was deep in the ground where he belonged and she was so happy, but her mind kept going back to how did he escape from his cell where he was locked up, Questions had been asked about that but no one seemed to know, and this was disturbing to her and she began thinking what if whoever it was came back to hurt her.

The Duke meanwhile had found out where Daphne's family lived, and had decided to make a visit to them and explain how their daughter was. It had been so long since they had seen her, when the Duke arrived no one knew who it was that was coming to the estate, they never had such elegant coach's arriving here they thought.

Grant and Delvine de Muir were in the main room sipping on their cups of tea when they heard the carriage wheels turning as the very elegant coach stopped outside the front door, Delvine said "I wonder who this can be, do you recognize it at all Grant", she asked her husband, who was struggling to get to his feet. "No I don't recognise the markings at all, why would someone so grand visit us." he said as they both stood at the window looking out to see who would mount from the coach.

Anthony and Callum, waited a short while as they gathered the papers that they had bought with them, " This will be interesting won't it," remarked Callum to Anthony, "How do you want to handle it all, my friend", answered Anthony. "Let's just go and meet these people and we will see how things flow along." The door to the carriage opened and both men climbed out and had a look at the mansion, it was a lot smaller than theirs, but neat and tidy from the view that they were seeing.

An elderly gentleman meet them at the door, and upon introducing himself as Mr, Rodgers, he led them inside. Before opening the door to the room they were about to enter, he kindly said, " I thank you sir for looking after young Daphne for us sir, she means a lot to the few of us who loved her very much." he opened the door to what seemed to be the main room of the house. "Good morning my lord and lady, this here is Callum de Moreau and friend Anthony Spiers, they are here to see you." and with that he with drew muttering to himself as he departed.

Callum lent forward and shook the hand of the person in front of him, "Good day to you sir", he said and sat in the chair that was being offered to him, and "This is Anthony my friend " and Anthony too shook the man's hand as well. nothing was said to them about the lady of house, who just stood where she was staring at them all, and then in her own way introduced herself, "It seems that my husband has forgotten to introduce me to you, my name is Delvine de Muir," and may I ask would you take some refreshment with us, my lord," she looked straight toward Callum giving him the biggest smile that she could,in the hopes of charming him.

Two maids pulled in a trolley with their tea and pastries and after giving each one their cups they bowed and left closing the door behind them. Slowly sipping his cup of tea Callum sat and looked at the two people who had given their daughter away to that dreadful man, he couldn't believe that they hadn't even gone to visit their daughter, she was left to her own defences .he didn't know when to approach them about their daughter, and did they even care about her.

There was a loud knocking on the door as those in the room were enjoying their cup of tea, "Who could that be" asked Grant de Muir, "Well if you don't answer the door my dear, we will never know," and so upon opening the door, all could see two young ladies, "Hello papa, and mother", said the first lady, and she entered the room along with the other lady hanging onto her arm, they both gave their mother and father a kiss, they stood looking around and saw two strangers seated with their parents and both looking so comfortable, in their selves.

Both girls were standing up looking around when both Anthony and Callum realised there were no more chairs left, so they both got up and offered their seats to the girls, "Thank you," said the one who had taken the seat from Anthony and sat down with a sigh, " Let me introduce my daughters, of whom we are very very proud of them, they are two remarkable ladies, this is Grace," and he pointed to the lady who was next to Anthony, and turning to look at the other lady standing next to Callum, he said " this lady here is my other daughter Roslyn, they have been away to school and have now come back home to us." he was looking at them with such pride and love for them.

Callum and Anthony were looking at the ladies before them, they both looked well educated and were the perfect ladies in the way they presented themselves, " So this is your whole family sir," said Callum, "You are a lucky man to have such beautiful daughters, " of course he was thinking of Daphne. The girls were looking at their father who was answering Callum back, " yes this is my family, and I am a proud father, who loves and admires my girls for how well they have handled themselves while away at the college for girls, they are now ready to attend the seasons balls, and find themselves a husband." he stated. "Maybe you can help my two beautiful daughters, find them, by taking rides in the park with them, " he said to Anthony and Callum, "I'm sorry sir but we both have things that must be settled now and we will not be able to attend to your girls, is there not another person in your family who is not here", he asked Grant de Muir, who suddenly went as white as a sheet, he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his face, Delvine de Muir stood looking at Callum as if he was someone she could kill, she turned and looked at her husband, when she saw the state he was in, she looked at the girls sitting there, "Grace please show these gentlemen out, they have intruded into our home and are no longer wanted here, please leave now sir " she said pushing Callum , "Go now , get out go now" Callum stood his ground and looking at the women in the women in front of him calmly said "Can you please answer, do you not have another daughter, named Daphne " and then she began making a wailing sound and looking at her husband she said, "Please tell me if she is still alive," and grabbing hold of Callum she kept repeating the same words over and over, Callum gently held her hand and sat her down, "If you quieten down I will tell you what we know."

"Your daughter is alive and well, we found her one night, she had run away from that place that you sent her too, and when we came upon her, that dreadful man Mr. Aspen was on a horse racing toward her as she tried to get away from him, he caught her and began beating her so badly, he was kicking her and grabbing at her, we stopped him, but by the time we reached her she was nearly dead, her face was so swollen, and nearly every bone in her body, was attacked , I had to pick her up and carry her to my horse, she was shivering so much, we thought we might lose her, how could you have given her to that devil of a man." Callum sat down as he had arisen when he was getting angry about his statement. Daphne's parents sat next to each other and just looked at each other, they didn't say anything, and both Anthony and Callum sat waiting for them to say something, but nothing came from them, Grace was the one who opened up and said to her parents, "You have to tell them, it's better to hear it from you than anyone else, the talk is going around town, so don't worry about your dignity now, you must allow her to come home to us, we will manage, she has sacrificed her life for us all, and now that I know where she is we have to go and get her."

Grant de Muir sat staring into space, he had dread this day for along time now, he had felt guilty from the first day his beautiful walked out and went to Mr. Aspen, but he owed so much money to him and the only way of getting out of his predicament was by doing what had been a solution for him, he couldn't understand what had happened, "Please forgive me but I didn't know what else to do at the time, and Daphne had to do what she could so my problem was solved, when it was mentioned to me.

"Tell me sir how did you come to owe so much to such a man?" "I will tell you," said his wife, he gambled and gambled every day and most of the night, and we had to sell so many things to keep the wolves from the door, it came to the stage where we were going to lose our home, so when Mr. Aspen came up with the idea, we decided that would save us, and it did. he paid all of our bills for us before he took Daphne with him, he said that she could help with the younger children, but she would be there as long as he could say, we never saw her after that, I had along talk with her before she left and she was happy to do all she could, I hope she did all that I told her too, do you know how she was all of those years, "

" We came to ask you to come to a party I have planned for in a few weeks, but before then I will bring your daughter to see you and then we can try and mend this family.