The Samurai That I Loved

第1章

London, England 1845

"No...it cannot be." Eliza whispered, staring down at the letter in her quivering hands. Her heart felt as if it were breaking into a million pieces, shattering all over the carpet around her feet.

How could this be?!

Rereading the letter once more, she emitted a strangled cry from the back of her throat, which sounded rather more like a hurrendous gagging sound of panic.

"What is it? What does it say?" Her mother, Eleanor, the Duchess of Hardforshire, asked, whilst plucking her needle quickly through her tiny needlepoint canvas in her lap. Her eyes were rounded in concern for her daughter's emotional state, yet she knew better than to speak further when Eliza was deep in her throngs of dramatic hysterics.

"He's...he's gone, mother! He traveled to...Asia?! He left me to go become a missionary in a place called the Echi..Echigo province in Japan. Oh sweet baby Jesus christ, how could this happen?!"

"Eliza, mind your tongue! That is no way for a young lady to speak." Her mother quipped, setting the needlepoint down in her lap. There were many things she could tolerate. However, hearing her only daughter speak like a sailor was not one of them.

Eliza promptly burst into tears as she collapsed onto the settee with her face in her hands. Her shoulders were heaving with agony and despair as she exclaimed, "How could he leave me, mother? We were supposed to get married!!!"

"Oh shush, the man never even courted you, Eliza. You rarely even spoke to him outside sunday services. I'm sorry, my dear, but Mr. Fletchum did not leave you at all. He is pursuing his life's calling to follow his faith!"

Eleanor sighed and placed a delicate hand to her brow as she stared at her daughter, continuing to cry like a small child who had just lost their favorite toy. For a young lady already in her third season with no matches made, all for the sake that she would someday, "marry Ernest Fletchum, the prince of her dreams", she desperately needed to receive a rude awakening before she became a spinster.

Eliza was stubborn, though. Stubborn, immature, spoiled, and quite foolish. Eleanor blamed herself for her daughter's shortcomings with a dejected sigh. How could she have raised her daughter and failed so terribly?

Ever since the girl was ten and first laid eyes on Ernest Fletchum in the Sunday choir, she was smitten with the lad. Eleanor had noticed, however, that Ernest never once returned those telltale signs of any romantic feelings towards her daughter. He had always been kind to the girl, but never anything besides as a doting older brother or endearing cousin would. She pitied Eliza, truly, but it was time for the girl to grow up and begin looking for a prospective husband before her chances were little to none.

"Eliza, I am sorry, darling. I know how much you cared about him. But we must accept the fact that he is gone. You must forget about him and move on." She said gently as she stood to her feet and patted Eliza on the shoulder.

The girly jerked her head up from her sobbing and stared at her mother with ghastly red eyes. "Ugh! Don't even say such a thing! How could I ever forget my Ernest?!" With a gutteral sob, she tore away from the settee and ran out of the drawing room. Her cries could be heard echoing throughout the estate as she fled up the stairs and sealed herself away inside her bedroom for the rest of the day.

That very evening, she sat at her desk and fumbled with writing a return letter to Ernest.

Dear Mr. Fletchum,

I must admit, I was surprised by your sudden excursion to Japan to do the Lord's work. In truth, my heart is heavy in the loss of your company. I miss you dearly...therefore, I've decided to come visit you. I would adore to see the country known as Japan for my own eyes and assist you in your missionary work. Thank you for sending me your address and present location. Expect me soon, my Er... Mr. Fletchum.

Sincerely, Eliza Whitlock

Sealing the envelope with a glossy stamp of her father's dukal crest, she handed the letter off to her maid. The night was young, she was rich, she had a destination. So what the devil was stopping her?