The Marchioness

Chapter 1, The 2nd December 1863

In a small Welsh village On a blistering, cold winter's evening as the snow fell onto the once thick green forest floor of the Courtyard at Briallen Manor. a white icey layer crept over the ponds as the snowflakes gracefully danced at the widow. On the other side of that window, Inside the master bedroom, the midwife and maids gathered swiftly and frantically to the bedside of lady Gwenllian pearl as they awaited the newest addition to the Mansfield family.

"Aughhhh! How much longer" growled lady Mansfield with anguish, as she clutched at the sheets in agony.

"Not much longer to go now m'lady you are doing so well just keep pushing," said the midwife Mrs Jones in a nervous tone.

"I cannot go on" screamed the lady Mansfield feeling so exhausted and drained.

"you cannot give up your grace. there's not long to go now! I've helped you birth the twin boys. one baby is nothing when you have had twins, your grace. you can do this... I promise you" the maid replied encouragingly while trying to hush the panic in her tone.

Lady Mansfield nodded in response as she panted through the pain I can do this she thought.

"where is my husband!!" lady Mansfield shrieked as the pain grew more intense.

At the other end of the corridor was the drawing-room where Lord Charles Victor Mansfield sat in his armchair as he read his book and sipped on his chaser of whiskey next to the crackling log fire
"ah peace at last so relaxing" he thought to himself.
he never was much help to anyone in need other than himself of course. The Lord was a rather tall man but skinny like the scots' pine trees that surrounded his manor, he had a full head of thick chestnut hair to match his eyes. he was a rather conceited man who only truly thought of 3 things in his life... Himself, his work and his time.

as the moans and wails of anguish began to billow down the hallway The large oak doors of the drawing-room burst open Idris and Isacc fly through the door rolling and tumbling over one another.

"Give that back Idris's mother got that for me" cried, Issac.

"Both of you stop that at once! I am in a good mind to thrash you both, I came here for some peace and you both burst in here like barn animals." yelled the Lord enraged that they disturbed his peace.

"Well I was playing with it first, I do not care that it is his," whined Idris.

The Lord's face changed he placed the whisky chaser down with a force, he arose from his seat but before he could open his mouth to speak in burst two of the maids in a fluster. both maids Esther and June looked at one another neither of them knew what to say both girls were pale as the snow outside.

June opened her mouth to speak "i..umm..sh.."

"speak up girl" barked Lord Mansfield.

Esther spoke up "My apologies m'lord sh..."

"For goodness, sake woman spits it ou...." the Lord snapped gradually getting angrier.

And then right at that moment, he was interrupted by the cries echoing down the hallway, the Lord pushed and rushed Down this now never-ending corridor and as he entered the master bedroom his heart had sunk for the sight that met him on the other side of that door was not at all what he had imagined.

The waves of shock washing over him so heavy he felt as though he could not move, his brother in law lord Harold Thomas escorted him out of the room but not before he saw the crimson red pools trickling on the white silk sheets.

he made his way back to the drawing-room The house feeling so bleak as though an invisible fog of despair had washed over the manor. He sat back in his seat Idris and Isacc still fighting over the small toy horse.

The combined noises of panic and horror from the maids and midwife mixed with the bickering shrieks of the five-year-old twins it all just seemed to fade into the background. then in amongst all of the pain the anguish the panic the large Oak doors flung open once more and in Walked the midwife holding what seemed to be a small bundle of blankets she placed the bundle into his arms and as he lifted the blanket there she was the most beautiful little creature he ever did see sat cupped in his hands. A little girl! she almost looked like a little doll with her porcelain skin and slightly curled golden locks already coming through. she opened her eyes for the first time there was something so Familiar about those deep emerald pools that made him feel so safe they were a lot like someone he once knew... he knew his wife's fate but in all of that sadness and darkness this little one was a bright shining light and almost instantly he had it!

"aurelia" he muttered to himself "her name shall be aurelia Theadora "

Aurelia means golden Thea being the Greek goddess of light and Dora means gift