Devine: A Tale Of Betrayal

Chapter two: Learning about him

Years pasted, Florence is now turning twelve and going into a private learning environment, where upper class children go to learn. Florence joined the school late and it was her first day a pink dress made by the families private dressmaker and a straw hat with a white ribbon over it and long white socks coving any leg not covered by the dress and black shoes.

"Children children" the teacher said with Florence standing next to her " We have a new student with us" she said looking down at Florence

"Hello everyone, my name is Florence Devine" she said smiling

One boy took great notice to her, Joseph Turner.

"Go sit next to Victoria Bennett" she said pointing to a girl waving, with long black hair wearing a read dress partnered with a red bow. 

Florence took her seat, and the teacher started teaching, she taught them basic math and Florence listened intensely and took in all the information she was learning.  On the other hand, Joseph kept looking at Florence, they had knew each other since they five and Florence never really took the best liking to him. Joseph was falling deeply in love with Florence even though he didn't want to at such a young age, he wanted Florence to feel the same way. He tired being friendly with her every chance he saw her, he saw her quite a lot as her parents, more their father's saw each other a lot. Florence never really came out of her room, her relationship with her father had gotten a lot worse after that day when she was told she had to marry Joseph. Every time Frank went to Charles home Joseph would come, not that he was forced but his father said it was best if he came to get to know Florence better but in his gut deep down he wanted to see her, he was falling in love with her every thing about her made Joseph get butterflies in his stomach.

It was time for a break, Florence went out to the back of the building, it was sort of a garden but it was more just to sit in, there was no places to play football, but the students who came here were taught elegancy and were not like the bottom class. Florence sat on a bench and opened her book, it was Vanity Fair, as she was reading Joseph went over to her, he made sure he looked neat and presentable hoping Florence would look at him with a new perspective and fall in love with him.

"Well well if it isn't my dear Florence" Joseph said sitting next to her "So glad your father convinced your mother to let you come here, I'm sure teaching yourself to read and write isn't the best" Joseph said.

Florence put her book neatly on her lap and looked at Joseph, Joseph suddenly felt nervous. 

"And a good morning to you too Joseph. My father did not convince my mother, she did it on her own." Florence said sternly, she hated that Joseph made it seem like her mother had no voice of her own and her father was some kind of saint. 

"Ah well..-" Joseph said, a knot forming in his throat "I of course did not mean any offence to your mother that is just what my father informed me I was only stating what I already knew my dear Florence." 

Florence smiled "Thank you, well I must be getting back to class"

As Florence grabber her book Joseph quickly stood up and put his hand out for Florence to take, she took his hand and they both started walking, Joseph felt his face get hotter as they were walking back to their classroom. They got to their classroom and Joseph walked Florence to her seat. Florence smiled at him and put her book on her desk, their hands were still entwined with one another's and they looked into each others eyes. Florence had never felt this before but she shook the the feeling off as it was Joseph, she didn't want to feel this way about him not after what she knew was going to happen in her life, she couldn't bring herself to feel like this. 

"Joseph, you can let go on my hand now, we are at my seat" Florence said quietly

Joseph let go quickly "I'm very sorry my dearest" he said walking back to his seat.

The day went on as normal, learning about the country they live in and the history of it. Florence kept thinking of what happened but she didn't want to. Joseph on the other hand wanted to think about it all the time, it was a special moment he would cherish his whole life. The end of the day rolled around quickly and the students were packing up their stuff and leaving quickly. Joseph quickly packed up and ran up to Florence,

"Florence, what are you doing this evening?" he asked

Florence said goodbye to Victoria and turned to Joseph "Mother and I were going to into the town and look at some new dresses to buy." she told him "Father said we are allowed to buy some new ones as he got a pay rise and many more new employees and his factory is going ever so well!" Florence said happily.

"Well why doesn't your family come over to dine with mine, I'm sure your mother and father would love to." Joseph said as Florence and him both walked outside to their carriages. 

"I'll talk to my mother and father" Florence said getting into her carriage 

"Florence, darling, how was your day?" Her mother asked as Florence got into the carriage.

"It was fine mother, Joseph asked if we could all go dine with him, this evening" she said sitting down as the carriage started going back home

"Oh isn't he a dear, I'm sure your father would love to go dine with them." Helen said tapping her fingers together "We shall ask him when he arrives home later this afternoon."

They arrived home and Florence went to her room as normal and practiced her writing and mathematics, her mother would sit in the family room reading and drinking. Hours went by and Florence had enough of school work and went to sit with her mother the servants had made her mother a bowl of porridge that she was slowly eating, at that moment Charles had come home from work and a servant put his stuff away, Helen and Florence quickly stood up to greet him.

"Father, Joseph would like to know if we can dine with him tonight, he says we should be at him home by 8 this evening." Florence said

Charles grinned knowing this could help Joseph and Florence's relationship bloom. 

"Of course, I'd love to dine with them."