You can love more than once

Part 1

It was a photo that uncovered the truth to a family secret, that I held from my younger children and grandchildren. Whilst celebrating my 80th birthday my second eldest daughter handed me a rectangle present, wrapped in pink paper.

"This is just a little gift from me." I unwrap it and open the box to find a photo frame, as I look at the old fashioned black and white photo a couple of tears start to fall down my cheeks. I look up at her and smile sadly, we hug, all I can manage is to whisper.

"Thank you," she hands me a tissue and I wipe my eyes, her grown up children peer over the back of the sofa and look at the photo.

"Who are they Gran?" asks my grandson who is in his early twenties. The grainy photo shows a girl in her mid/late teens standing between two tall handsome men who are similar age to my grandson, with their arms linked with the girl and behind the girl is another young man aged about 18 who has his hands on her shoulders, the men all have army uniforms, and everyone is smiling.

"That's me in the middle, with your Grandad and his friends" I answered.

"Wow, when was this taken?" his sister asked.

"1916, two years into the great war" I smiled sadly.

"You've never mentioned those two men before."

My daughter looked nervously at me; I placed my hand on my granddaughter's face.

"I think it's time for the secrets to be told."

"Mum, you don't have too, come on you two leave Granny alone."

"No Catherine, I need to tell them. Better it comes from me, rather than hearing it from other distant relatives."

At this point, the room fell silent, and everyone sat down, turned to look at me.

"I'll start at the beginning" ..................

I was born 20th June 1899 on a grand estate, in the South of England, we were considered one of the oldest families in England. My father was the Duke of Clarence, he was 23 years old at my birth, my mother was just 20 years old, and she was related to the Royal family via Bavarian connections and had relatives in the United States of America. Our house, Loughborough was said to rival Chatsworth with the grandeur and status, the end of season ball was often held at either estate. Our home like Chatsworth had been built about the same time in the mid-1600s but had been renovated over the years.

My mother had a terrible time birthing me and unfortunately there were no more children, but as my parents were very much in love this scenario never worried them and both realised the Dukedom would pass onto a distant male cousin.

My father's name was William, and he had dark hair with the same blue eyes as myself, he was an attractive man, tall, long face with a kind smile. My mother like me was blonde and had small petite features, her name was Helene, she had green eyes, she was striking looking, she turned heads whenever she walked into a room. It was said that I had her beauty, but I never saw the resemblance myself, I never had the confidence she conveyed. But I had my father's wit and intelligence, like him I was happy with a book.

My father's closet friend and his family lived in the neighbouring Duchy. The Duke of Hereford and his wife had two sons, these boys were older than me by one and three years. The Duke and Duchess were my Godparents, and we often spend time with them. Charles was the oldest son who was handsome even as a boy, with light brown hair and blue soulful eyes, with a heart shaped face. His younger brother Joseph was slightly shorter with deep brown hair and blue eyes with a hint of green, he also had a heart shaped face, but his nose was slightly more pointed, and his hair was curly. Charles had a more serious manner, he was more standoffish, thought he knew better being the eldest and Joseph had a mischievous way about him and smile to match, as we were closer in age we had more in common. But they both led me astray by climbing trees, going fishing, splashing in water, and rolling down hills, not very ladylike and treated me as a little sister. But as the years had rolled on Charles had become distant, almost arrogant and had not joined in with our follies.