Engaged to the Viscount (Completed)

Chapter 1. 1895 

Warning: this chapter contains scenes of child abuse.
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She was curled up underneath the rough cotton blanket of her bed, her  body trembling with fear. She could hear the unmistakable sound of her mothers heels clicking against the marble floor of the room. Moments later, she felt the blanket become aggressively pulled off of her, revealing her hiding spot.
Leaning over her daughter, Celia Hockley glared viciously. "Get up you filthy little bitch. I didn't say you could leave your etiquette lessons."
Looking up at the woman who had adopted her two years ago, nine-year-old  Nicole Hockley continued trembling. She didn't like her mother, didn't like how mean she was. Her huge green eyes stared up into Celia's gray ones. "I got tired mama."
Celia growled, picking up the child by her shoulders. "You are not tired, that's an excuse! You will go back downstairs and continue to walk like a lady!"
Nicole whimpered. "May I have one book on my head instead of two?"
Celia's eyes became dark with anger. "No, most certainly may not."
Nicole yelped as she was dropped back onto her bed. "But I kept falling down with two books on my head."
Celia slapped her across the left cheek. "And you will continue to fall until you walk properly! Now go back downstairs!"
Sniffling and trying to blink back her tears, Nicolle climbed out of bed and walked back downstairs to the parlor. She was the only child of Celia Hockley, and had been living with her for the last two years in Manhattan, New York. Her biological parents, James and Amelia, had died in a tragic car accident.
What was more, Nicolle was receiving anything but love from Celia. She was being treated as if she was a dog and not a human being. She wasn't given nice clothing or toys, much less comfortable bedding. She was always spoken to as if she was an imbecile and not an intelligent little girl. She was hit and slapped repeatedly.
Entering the parlor, Nicole swallowed nervously before walking over to the bookshelf that was placed by a large window overlooking the city. Picking up a pair of leather bound books, she put them onto her head, one at a time, as she heard Celia walk into the room. Slowly, she began to walk a straight line across the room, but then fell forward, the books toppling onto the floor beside her.
Celia growled, moving forward and grabbing Nicolle by her chestnut brown curls. "Get up and do it again! You are fucking worthless as far as I'm concerned!"
Her eyes burning with more tears, Nicolle picked up the books and balanced them on her head. After five more brutal and unsuccessful attempts, she sank onto the floor and began to cry. "It's too hard mama, I can't do it."
Her eyes blazing with fury, Celia smacked Nicolle across the mouth. "You are a disgrace! I cannot believe I have you as my child! You are so stupid! You are a worthless piece of dirt! I wish I never adopted you!"
Nicolle started sobbing, knowing full well that the Hockley household was listening to every single word their mistress was screaming at her. She had tried, so very hard, to be nice to Celia. She called her mama, and attempted to give her cuddles at night. But the evil witch didn't want anything to do with her.
Celia grabbed Nicolle by her arms, causing bruises to form on her skin. "Because you have disobeyed me, you are going to sleep without your blanket tonight." Her voice was low and deadly, slicing through Nicolle's heart like a knife.
Nicolle whimpered, knowing that the evenings could be very cold. "But mama, it's very cold outside."
Celia. "What does it matter? You can freeze to death for all I care."
Nicole sniffled as she was dropped, hard, onto the marble floor. She watched as Celia turned and left the room, knowing that she was going to be in for quite a chilly night. She curled up into a ball on the floor, closing her eyes. She was hoping and praying, with all of her might, that she would someday be rescued from this terrible nightmare and be taken to a castle of happiness.
Feeling a sudden velvet texture in her hand, Nicolle opened her eyes and watched as a lovely pink rose began to form in the center of her palm.  She smiled. Celia would never know that the little girl she adopted was, in fact, a very gifted witch.