Why We Never Leave the Manor Book 1: Love and the Outcome

Chapter 1

Hungary 1850, after the end of the revolution against the Austrian Empire

A scream rustled the leaves beneath a canopy of trees. "Máté! Where are you?" Echoed Anett's frightened voice.

A stroll in the woods would have been a calming activity on any other day, but her cousin had gone missing. Again. And now everyone would believe that she was responsible.

As Anett raced through the woods, she gathered her ruffled periwinkle skirt in a fist so her legs could breathe. She raised her deep brown eyes, hollow and dark from another sleepless night, and called out again:

"Máté!" Her cousin's name burned like glass in her throat.

Bending with her hands on her knees, she lifted a palm to wipe the sweat dripping down her brow behind her wispy black bangs. Where is he?

Being the sole child of a family with hardly an acre to their own name wasn't easy. It's not what any girl in her early twenties would want. When her cousin's parents needed help, they gave her the responsibility to take care of him, even during his sudden disappearances. If Anett became known for losing him, his parents would be outraged.

Just as the last bout of frustration overtook her and she considered giving up, she heard a rustle of leaves from behind. She spun around to face a small figure lurking behind her.

With her hand clasped against her heart, Anett let out a sigh of thanks at the sight of the eight-year-old boy in a cotton shirt and raggedy pants and a limber tree branch, his mock fishing pole, in his grasp.

"Máté, you mustn't keep running off into the woods like this," Anett scolded, strutting up to the child. "Have you forgotten what happened last year during the revolution? You could get hurt or stolen."

"But I thought the war was over," the boy whined as Anett snatched his hand into hers. "I wanna play fishing."

Anett lowered her voice. "Not today. Papa is venturing to the city to help stand against the Austrian Empire."

"Why does Uncle Dávid have to go?" Máté asked with a pout.

Anett crouched to get onto his level. "The countrymen need independence, and we've got to be there to support him," she said, looking him in the eye as if a child could understand their situation. "The Austrians know full well that our people can develop a country just as significant as theirs. The problem is wealthy men just want more."

Grabbing her cousin's hand, Anett pulled him close to her skirt. "We must be on our way back." Her grip on the boy loosened as he squirmed away.

Máté squeaked, "my hand."

"What happened?" Anett exclaimed, examining a slick red smudge on her palm.

"I scraped it," the boy replied, extending his arm so Anett could get a better look.

She whipped out a linen handkerchief attached to her sash and bandaged his hand, tightening the lace edges into a bow. "There," she huffed. "Not too tight, is it?"

"But it'll get blood on your handkerchief," Máté exclaimed.

"I'll have papa buy me another when he's in town."

Anett gave her cousin a pat to urge him forward quickly and glanced around the dimly lit forest to ensure no one lurked about. Austrian soldiers could camp on any land they saw fit. She couldn't shake the suspicion that they may not have been alone, so she alerted herself to every twig that snapped beneath her feet. She couldn't get herself caught.