Devine: A Tale Of Betrayal

Chapter one: Florence Devine

Screaming came from the hospice, it echo's through the thin walls  all throughout the building. 

"Lady Devine, you are nearly there, the baby is nearly out" said a nurse at the end of Helen Devine's feet.

She kept screaming for a few more minutes and then it stopped and she started panting and there was crying, the crying of a baby girl. Smiles and breaths of relief filled the room and a man came rushing in, he looked like he was sweating with rain dripping down his well done blonde hair.

"Helen? Helen my darling i'm ever so sorry im here late darling" the male voice said 

A nurse walked over to the man and took his coat off immediately and put in over a cold wooden chair. Lady Devine sat up slowly and looked at her husband in the eyes and smiled, she was sweaty and exhausted.

"Charles darling, i did it." Lady Devine said smiling wide at her husband who was close to tears and smiling so hard his cheeks were in pain.

"Lady and Lord Devine you have a beautiful baby girl, what will you name her?" A second nurse said slowly giving the baby girl to Helen.

"Florence."

A week later, Helen Devine was let out of the hospice and was able to travel back to their home. The house was a large semi-detached house, filled with gorgeous painting of the queen and royal family and floral wallpaper in a dark red. The house smelled of the finest Italian and French cuisine and the fireplace was crackling in the family room. Lady Devine would sit in the family room watching Florence play with dolls although she was to young to play with them normally. Florence's father  was not around much, she was the owner of a very famous factory that made clothes. Florence's  mothers stayed at home with Florence and as years passed they grew a close bond with one another, Florence always grew a close bond with the maids and servants that they had in the house.

Five years later

"Mummy Mummy look at my dollies" Florence said rushing into the family room, she stopped in the entrance to see her mother and father and another family, she looked right into the eyes of the other and saw his glistening blue eyes and clean tanned skin matching well with his light brown hair. Florence looked up at her mother who didn't look very happy, she was always happy, Florence didn't know any better she never saw her mother sad. Florence looked at the other two people in the room. A tall and stunning woman wearing a dark blue dress with yellow gloves going up the her elbows, her hair was brown in a bun with a white feathery flower in her hair. The man was wearing a green blazer and green striped pants he has grey hair, he was alot older than the woman standing next to him.

"Florence darling" said Charles Devine

"Hello daddy" Florence said happily running unto her father holding her dolls in one hand

Helen looked worrisome at her daughter as she ran to her father, Helen had a pale face and eyes looked tearful.

"Daddy who are these people?" Florence asked her father as her father picked her up and held her tightly.

"Florence my darling" he started and Florence looked back at the boy holding his mothers hand "This is Lord and Lady Turner and their son Joseph, you know Lord Turner he owns the bank in the central of London" Charles said 

"You can call me Frank and this is Ruth" Frank Turner said putting his hand out for Florence to shake, she shaked his hand. "Now Charles lets tell her the news." he said rubbing his hand on the side of his thigh.

Lord Devine places Florence back on the floor. "Florence sweetheart, it has been arranged you are going to marry Joseph Turner when you are older."

"But daddy! I don't want to marry this boy! " Florence shouted at her father tears forming in her eyes 

"Florence Devine" Charles shouted  "You listen to be young lady, you will marry this man or I will disown you as my child, you don't understand what this will do for us and you saying no will ruin your life and do you want to be a bottom class girl, who will eventually die on the streets?" Charles shouted at his daughter.

"I hate you daddy!" Florence flooded into tears and ran to her room dropping her dolls next to her dads shoes.

"Well.." Ruth started "Maybe we should have told her when she was a little older" she said calmly.

"Lady Turner, i understand you're a nice young lady but know your place, if we told them old I just know Florence would rebel against me I just know it."

"Charles dont say that about your own daughter" Helen said angrily to her husband "She's in her room in tears because you shouted at her, threatened to disown her, she's only five years old Charles" Helen said

"Frank, Ruth you should go, thankyou for coming" Charles said and they left with their son.

"Helen, one day Florence will understand why we are doing this." Charles said to his wife, putting his hands on her waist.