We walked into a huge high ceiling room. A massive lime stone fireplace carved into intricate designs sat in the middle of the far wall, an oil painting of a beautiful woman with bright blue eyes sat above the fireplace framed in a gold painted wood. My heart seemed to stop as I looked at the painting. My brain seemed to be full of cotton balls and black spots filled my vision. Sylvia Keller, my mother, it felt as though she was literally in the room with us. She had the same long curly brown hair and delicate small nose. I couldn't move or breathe. I heard voices around me but the room seemed to blur together. Shit! My knees buckled beneath me as everything went black.
The feeling of a soft hand touching my cheek pulled me out of unconsciousness. Blinking the fog out of my eyes, the room came back into focus. My head was placed lightly in Nathan's lap as my body was stretched out along a leather couch.
"What happened?" I questioned starting to sit up. Nathan helped me into a sitting position as Mr. Blackwell came running into the room his face twisted half in fear and panic, he held a glass of water and plate which held some kind of food in his hands.
"You fainted! Luckily I still had my arm around you waist other wise you would have done some serious damage! How do you feel?" Nathan leant forward searching my face for any signs of pain. I gave him a reassuring smile as Mr. Blackwell handed me the water.
"Thank you, I feel fine I think it was mostly the shock of seeing my mum for the first time!" I pointed a shaky hand at the painting whilst taking a long sip of water. The blue eyes of the painting spliraled through my brain.
Mr. Blackwell then handed me the plate, a selection of cookies sat in a specific design. He then pulled around a chair and sat down with a relieved smile.
"Why don't we just stay here for a little then continue?" I nodded feverishly at his suggestion. I was still feeling slightly dilerious but I busied myself with a cookie nibbling carefully around the edges.
"Lady Keller actually had a chest with your name on it! Would you like me to get it?" You know what I'm just going to call him Andrew.
"Yes please, that would be great." I gasped out, she had a chest with my name on it? So she did actually think about me! Andrew disappeared through a wooden door leaving me and Nathan in the lounge.
"Are you sure your okay?" Nathan placed his hand on my cheek once again searching my eyes in case if I was lying.
"I'm fine, honestly it's just seeing mum well the picture of my mum startled me!" Without realising I had eaten half of the cookies. God I'm going to get fat! Putting the plate down on the couch I push it away from me.
"Your adorable do you know that?" Nathan chuckled leaning back against the couch and looking around.
"I am not adorable I am hilariously cute!" I huffed laying my head on his shoulder.
"So what do you think about this place?" Nathan twirled a piece of my hair around his finger.
"I think it's beautiful!" I whispered.
"Would you want to live here?" His words took me back, I would want to live here! I would want to explore and discover it's secrets. I would want to discover and unfold my mother's secrets!
"I would live here but I would want to redecorate." I gesture to the 1900's wallpaper.
"I agree that wallpaper is horrible!" Laughing together Andrew walks back in struggling to carry a wooden box. He dumps it down in front of us on the floor and let's out an exasperated sigh. Fishing around in his pocket he pulls out an old metal key.
"Miss. Crane your mother personally gave me this key to give to you when you find your self on the Estates door step." Andrew handed me the key before leaving the room, I was speechless.
Tracing my fingertips along the engraved initials in the wood, I.A.K,
"Isabelle Aislynn Keller, I can't believe this is happening!" I mumble, sliding the key into the lock I take a deep breath. The chest shuttered slightly as I lifted the lid. Nathan had a hand on my back as I reached forward lifting the sheet which covered the items. 3 leather bound books were stacked in one corner as the rest of the slave was taken up by a selection of baby clothes, pictures, more keys and an envelope. Picking the envelope up I slide my fingers along the top opening it slowly. A couple folded pieces paper were placed inside.
"Dear Isabelle,
If you are reading this, that means you have found your way to Scotland. I would have rather explained this to you in person but sadly that is not possible anymore.
I know the one thing that has been haunting you for as long as you can remember, why did I leave? There are many reasons but I would like to say that leaving you was the worst decision I ever made. Your beautiful blue eyes and rosie cheeks have filled my dreams every night since.
I was 18 when I travelled to Canada, it was meant to only be a holiday but things changed. On the trip over I met a young man by the name of Jasper Daniels, he being 21 was a beautiful specimen of a man. His family were wealthy ship owners on the Canadian island of Nova Scotia. I thought I was in love, we did a vast road trip around Canada. Half way around I found out that I was pregnant. I remember the second I told Jasper I was carrying his child his whole personality changed, he despised the idea and left me at a train station alone and terrified. That's where I met the man you call your father. Benjamin Crane.
He took me under his wing mostly just wanting the company of a woman. He had sat across from me on a train into America and offered me half of his blue berry muffin. I followed him, I was lost in a huge country and he offered protection and love. I had told him I was pregnant, I waited for the same reaction Jasper gave me but instead Ben just smiled. He knew the child was not his but he still accepted it. So yes Benjamin Crane is not your father Jasper Daniels is but I would not bother yourself in trying to find him, he died 10 years ago in an terrible shipping accident.
The day I gave birth to you I received a letter from Scotland. My father wanted me home, he had become ill with cancer and needed his only child back to look after him. I know if I asked Ben to come with me he would immediately say yes. I couldn't do that to him and his family. His job paid for his mother's home and her well being. I was so stuck and confused. Then I was come realisation that you did not have a passport or any legal documents so even if I wanted to I could not have taken you with me. I booked a ticket back to Scotland and left. I cried myself to sleep every night knowing that you would never get to meet me. I cried because Ben will have no choice.
I'm so sorry Isabelle! For everything! I was so scared to come back. I knew Ben hated me and I thought that he would have made you hate me too. I was fool, an idiotic fool! I just hope your inheritance is taken as an apology from me!
Much love, your mother!
Sylvia Keller."
