The Villager

1

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"I cannot believe you are friends with the Princess and Queen of Lockwood, you were even invited to a royal wedding! Two, two weddings." My little sister, Tilley fantasies much about my friendship with the ladies of the palace of Lockwood as she paces back and forth in my cottage home.

She gazes back at me with excitement. It has me bellowing out with laughter watching her from my couch. "Are the men handsome? Are they kind? How is the Queen? Is she kind? This has happened by fate, I just know it."

"Fate?" I retort with laughter. "It was all an accident, really."

"And thank goodness for Princess Serena for getting you out of that forsaken marriage."

Her words have my smile fading into a small frown, and she pauses in her tracks when noticing the tension she created. I was not angry with her, no, I just could not stand the fact that my mind goes back to the time when I was a married woman to a horrid man.

I was a married woman until Serena had deceased our marriage, and it was not to his liking, but he had no choice but to listen. I was forever grateful for Serena's help, and especially in getting her guards to build this beautiful home for me. I am not everyone's favorite after the gossip of my divorce had brought on such a scandal to everyone in Lockwood.

I stayed away from society and their judgmental eyes for too long it seems. I did not wish to cause a scene with their gossip about me nor did I care anymore. I let the scandal die down and now my life could finally get back to normal.

I have been pushed and pulled too many times. My heart has been battered and shattered, and I had enough of everyone treating me as if I am a toy. Tilley, my little sister, was the only person whom I could speak to that was involved with my family. My family was alongside Lockwood, they thought of me as a disappointment, and that was okay. I was well aware of my mistakes, and did not need them to shove their dissatisfaction down my throat.

Though Tilley may be 16, she was well aware of the situation, and was supporting my decision on not speaking to our family. The only thing I worry about is mother throwing Tilley into the light of the world and the ton hurting her soul like they had done to me at that age.

Tilley was now at the age to be a debutante. Something our mother could not wait for me to become when I turned that age, and threw me in and left me alone. Too alone.

She was beautiful, Tilley had some of the Myer sass but she had a heart of gold. She had dreams of her own that mother never brought to light because it was not what a lady should wish for in life. Only gentlemen could hold guns, gentlemen could only shoot bows, ladies could never do such things.

"Mother has asked of you..." She trails, playing with the tips of her nails. She eyes me carefully, not wishing to push me away at the talks of our mother. She can sense my tension, so she further continues. "I have not told her your whereabouts, I would never."

"I know you wouldn't." I smile softly. "How is she?"

We were not on speaking terms, but I still was concerned of her health and well being along with our father. I was not that harsh.

"She is well, she says she misses you."

She misses the control.

"She is not pushing you to become a debutante this year?" Tilting my head, I question her and I can visibly see her shoulders tense and she plays with her dress. I frown. "She is, isn't she?"

"We made a deal," she begins and I knew this couldn't lead to good. "She said if I participated this year until I turned 18, she would allow me to go to this school for archery. You know how badly I wish for this."