Hope Forever

A Ruined Life

In a land rather close to where disaster struck this certain woman, a small town was gathered among trees on a hill. They were high above where the floods reached in seasons of great rainfall. Despite this reason for their settlement, there hadn't been a flood in a number of years. It seemed preposterous that the town refused to settle lower, remaining only on the hill nestled between dry, barren trees, dangerously exposed to the harsh summer sun that shone more commonly than rain.

On this day, the sunlight was pale and silver filtering through the scraggly tree branches. There was a slight cold lingering from the brutal winter that had so broken her spirit. The warm rays of the sun were vastly overtaken by the breeze that wantonly swept about her uncovered face and brazenly rushed through the skirts that she had attempted to layer together as a windy defense.

She cursed the cold inwardly, still determined to make her way to a private of the forest park. While being private it was just across the road where she lived. In the basement of a lady's home.

They were so kind when she responded to the advertisement to take up residency there. Two other ladies resided there in the above rooms. Although they were rarely home.

She trudged along, knowing that she was fighting for a decent future. A man had written her who resided in the town over. A busier place just barely beyond the lands where she was so wronged. He was a gentleman of low standing and fair reputation. He was outcasted among his peers for a difference of belief.  An she couldn't very well judge him for his belief. Her actions seemed to be far more disastrous.

Sir Kenneth Knox stood beside the entrance to the park, awaiting Miss Enmae Miller. When she spotted him, she tried to forget the cold wrapping around her legs and battering her cheeks. She straightened her shoulders and let her shawl relax around her arms to approach him in a more regal fashion. As regal as an old dress a bit too loose on her could be. It almost sagged at her waist which had shrunk due to her more meager diet as of late. The slimming of her face seemed to enhance her natural beauty instead of harming it as she'd expected. She was pleased with the curving of her jaw and sloping of her neck. She felt confident that she had improved from her previous state at her aunt's manor.

Sir Knox didn't seem to note her straightened posture or her improved beauty. He did notice the shawl had a few tears toward the end. He noticed her caramel hair, lightened in the sun and the slightly tanned skin from the same effects which was not seen as a sign of beauty, but poverty. He noticed the pale powder used to hide a dark rim under her eyes that had been slightly uncovered by the wind. She had only recently been crying.

He decided promptly to amuse the woman with his time to see if there were redeeming qualities, but wrote her off as any prospective lady he could court for the time being. He was a gentleman of course.

She introduced herself with a curtsy that was well practiced for many years. Ingrained in her mannerisms and very natural. This caught his eye as she did not falter in her pleasantries. His mind started to turn as he thought to uncover this enigma's past.

"Might I offer you my arm, M'Lady?" He held out his elbow for her to latch onto. She obliged him.

He was taller than her by quite a bit. That was much to be said for a gentleman already as she herself was quite tall with out heels under her boot or slippers for a lady. His warm chocolate hair matched his eyes. It was a striking difference against his smooth pale skin. His complexion seemed warm and amused without having been scarred by a tan from the sun. She felt nervousness rise in her through as they made their way to the boardwalks.

"Tell me of yourself, Sir Knox."

He regarded her carefully. Most women seemed to enjoy prattling on about themselves. She however seemed ill at ease at the thought.