Loving You From Afar

The Beginning ~ Chapter 1

She stood there, merely a few feet away from me yet I couldn't even say a word. I watched as she ran through the tall grassy valley, she held onto her floppy hat so that it would blow away in the wind. She looked so beautiful and at peace, I couldn't help but fall in love. Her flowing auburn hair glistened in the sunlight. Sadly my imagination came to an abrupt end when the church bells rang signalling it was time for me to go home. I pack up my things, my pencils and papers and grab my bag. Leaving the willow tree which I always seek refuge under, and waving goodbye to Susanna. As I walked home a feeling of desire came over me, one day soon, I was to ask for to tea.

I walked home longing for more, a life that was not by schedule where I could explore and live my life without fear of the unknown. Alas, that was not what my future could ever hold, no good could come from my creative imagination, only sin. My mother reminded me, my place was not to be an artist or to find love, it was to watch my siblings, all while she gets drunk on ale.

My father abandoned my mother and me after my youngest sister Eileen was born. I was only merely 9 at the time but he did not care. He left us with nothing but the clothes on our back and a small cottage. Not long after he left, the landlord, James, came and took his property back. We could not pay because it was my father's duty at the time to help us. I was only nine, there was only so much I could do to support my mother, I would do house chores for the neighbours to try to make ends meet, but it was not enough. Months after being kicked out we moved in with my father's sister. Aunt Ronnie didn't like having young children running around her estate, but she felt it was her duty as our aunt to help and protect us. Protect us from the cruel society that based us off of our wealth.

She sent all of us to a private institution, this place would teach us how to behave and prepare for the world of the rich we were destined to marry into. By now I was 16 coming across my final months at the Franklin Institution. I am to find a wealthy husband, but I plan on attending a university for arts. Though it is completely against the will of my aunt, my mother doesn't care, she's far too busy wallowing in self-pity to care about anyone other than herself. The crude bitch was selfish, she did not care about us even when Eileen fell ill with Scarlet Fever she didn't even call a doctor, I had to, my aunt was away on a "business trip". Sadly, my efforts were not quick enough, by the time the doctor had arrived my sister had passed, it was devastating and the next thing we knew a rumour spread that my mom was drunk who killed her own daughter. This rumour was true but it botched my family's reputation, when my aunt returned she donated a small sum to the research for aiding those with Scarlet Fever, this was people would no longer care about my sister's death.

I now only have 2 sisters, which is partially the reason my father left. He wanted Eileen to be a boy. In this century surviving as a woman was almost impossible, we could not carry our family's name and so we just married off. It was poppycock! I had no intention of marrying any of the men my aunt had set me up with. Arthur, Benedict and Thomas all wanted me to give birth to their children and be their happy little wife. I would never. It was merely March and by now I had to decide, marry or be a "lonesome whore". A term my aunt had used to describe single women, she assumes that all they do is sleep around with married men.

I finally arrived home, my head full with my thoughts of doubt and my heart aching with the feeling of loneliness. To be greeted by the crying faces of my sisters.
"Mary-Beth, why are you crying?" I asked sympathetically.
"Mommy- Mommy-" My sister stuttered.
"Spit it out already!" I spat.
"Mommy left!" She cried out.
    "Where?" I daftly asked.
    "No! She left! She is not coming back" My sister burst into tears.

    I quickly straddled my wailing sisters in my arms and was shocked. I was not surprised my mom would leave, I was surprised by my siblings' response, she did not care for them or love them. Why are they reacting so? I cradled the girls in my arms as I lugged them into the living room. My aunt was frantically yelling on the telephone crying out for someone to find her sister-in-law. It was no use, she disappeared and my mother was never going to come back. She probably hopped on a train or worse in front of a moving one. Thankfully my sibling will not have to grow up with a drunk but now all they have is my aunt. Ronnie slammed the telephone down and looked at me, she stared into my soul her eyes were piercing into mine.
    "Finally, we have a lot to discuss," My aunt said to me.
    "Mother left, what else is there to discuss?" I replied.
    "What more? What more?" She asked while chuckling.
    "I found you a husband," She added.
    "Excuse me?" I asked angrily.
    "You heard me, you two will get along well, you meet in 3 days and"
    "What do you mean!?" I cut her off and asked angrily.

I gently placed my sisters on the Victorian couch. They leaned on one another for support and I placed a blanket over them. I gestured to my aunt that we should continue this discussion in her office. Her office was a small room with a typewriter. All the walls were covered in elegant paintings and bookshelves. Though she did not have employment this room was used for her conversations about her late husband's affairs. Not only economic affairs but romantic as well, he was not faithful to my aunt and I have reason to believe she has something to do with her husband's accident. That's off-topic, she gestured to me to sit on one of the leather seats and she walked behind the desk sitting in front of me.
    "Sweetheart, I understand you have been distraught since your mother left but now, it is your duty to aid and support your siblings. Your marriage to the duke would protect us, your family from any harm." My aunt explained.
    "Did you say the duke?" I asked constantly.
Though I did not wish to be wed I would do anything to help my sisters, I loved them more than I loved myself and I would do anything to protect them.
    "Yes, yes, The Duke of Kornovicus, he has taken a special interest in you dear, be happy this man and his family are welcoming you with open arms. You." My aunt arrogantly stated.
    I could not believe I was to be married. In three days I am to meet the Duke. I start hyperventilating, unable to catch my breath, I fall to the ground shaking. It's all too much, my mother just disappeared and now, my aunt expected me to get married.