Class or Love?

I

     THE S.S CLOVER rolls to a halt at the New York docks. Four people emerge, a man and three women with their small suitcases in hand. The crewmates are getting the rest of their luggage and trunks. It was a long journey indeed. The journey was supposed to last for six weeks but they hit bad weather during the last week which postponed their arrival. Nonetheless, they are finally in America, New York no less. This was promising for them, a new chapter in their lives. A big chapter at that. You see, the four standing in front of the S.S Clover are the D'Amours, highly known in France but unknown in America.

     The reason for their coming to America is for a simple reason, the man of the four, Antoine D'Amour, is to open a railroad in New York. It will not be his first railroad; he had built one back in France. His railroad had done so well that he thought it would be a great idea to open the same one in America. Of course, he knew from the beginning that he would be competing with the Greats, like Cornelius Vanderbilt.

     Beside Antoine is his wife, Rosalie. Antoine and Rosalie had been married for 23 years and during their marriage they had two wonderful daughters: Élisabeth and Madeleine. While their luggage is being packed in a wagon, the D'amours entered their new town coach to head to their new New York home. Madeleine stares out the window, cheeks hurting from the smile pulling at her lips. The scenery is so beautiful, but of course it wasn't better than France. Now the houses, or Mansions in this case were grand and beautiful. It isn't just one style of homes, there were Queen Annes, Neo-Classicals, and Colonial Revivals. All of them are just outstanding, but of course, nothing beats France.

     The town coach stops in front of their new home. Antoine opens the door and exits out while the footman comes around to help Rosalie and her daughters out. There they stand in front of their New York home. It was stunning. Antoine didn't want his family to forget where they came from, so he had made correspondences to McKim, Mead & White. McKim, Mead & White are highly known in designing Beaux-Arts architecture homes. The yard is big, it has to be big in order to fit the roundabout made of small cobblestones. In the middle of the roundabout is a fountain with beautiful Dame's Rockets on the outside.

     Rosalie, with wide eyes, has her hands over her mouth. Antoine, beside her, has a big smile on his face, proud of his accomplishment. He knew his wife would love the house as soon as she laid eyes on it. Both Élisabeth and Madeleine couldn't take their eyes off it either. Madeleine loved it; she couldn't wait to see what the inside looked like. With a new house comes a new beginning. Élisabeth, on the other hand, doesn't feel the same happiness as her sister. The house is beautiful, yes, but they could have had this house built back home. In France instead of New York. Élisabeth honestly doesn't want to be here. Don't even get her started on making new friends, who knows what these New Yorkers are like. They're probably pretentious.

     As much as Rosalie wants to see the inside as soon as possible, she has somewhere to go. "The house is lovely dear," She tells Antoine, turning to him to place a hand on his arm. "I would love to tour the inside with you, but I am afraid that I must leave."

     "Leave?" He is surprised, they have just arrived in New York and already she has to leave. "We have just arrived, amour. Where are you to go so soon?"

     "I have an engagement with a friend. I have written her to tell her that we would be moving here, and she wanted to see me as soon as I arrived. We are to have luncheon," Rosalie explains. She then turns to her daughters who are standing around the fountain chatting about the flowers. "Chéris," She calls to them, when they look in her direction she continues, "Would you like to accompany me to a Luncheon in town? I am meeting with an old friend, and I have told her so much about you two. I am sure she would love to meet you."