Brooklyn, Baby | Spot Conlon ²

Chp. 24: Elisabeth

"Kendall, care to join me on a walk?" 

Kendall looked up from her book, three guesses which one, and nodded. 

"Of course, Uncle William," 

The two exited the parlor into the gardens, where the sun was shining brightly as always. 

"Where are we going?" 

"I want to show you something," 

They walked deeper and deeper into the garden maze until they came upon an open field and a small house like structure. 

"Who lives here?" 

"No one, it is part of the Vanderbilt property," Uncle William says. "It holds every precious article of the family's possession," 

"Why have you brought me here?" 

"Step inside," 

There were safes, and shelves of beautiful objects. 

"In case of a house fire or any disaster, we keep our best things hidden here," He says. 

Kendall is silent as he opens a safe, and pulls out a piece of paper. He walks to Kendall and looks at her. 

"I want you to have this before your marriage," 

She takes it, and looks at it. Her mouth parts in shock, and she looks up at Uncle William. 

"Is this..." 

"Yes, it is your mother." 

She held the picture in her fingers tightly, as if dropping it was losing it. She took in every aspect of her mother's face, and saw herself. 

"She was so beautiful," Kendall says quietly. 

"She loved you so much," He says. "Of course she loved Francis, he was her firstborn. But, she had always wanted a little girl, and she had you for a couple years." 

"Then.." 

"Then, times were tough, and she loved you too much to let you suffer. She knew you would be better off with someone who could care for you. She died when you were four," 

"I don't remember her much,"

"You were young," 

"I remember her telling me she loved me," Kendall says. "She said I was loved," 

"You were," 

"Well, it was hard to believe that for many years," She says. "Living to keep yourself going does something to a person, it makes them headstrong, and it also makes them sheltered," 

She thinks of Spot. 

"You learn to guard yourself, and to never feel vulnerable," 

"I do believe your hardships have taught you valuable lessons for the life ahead of you," Uncle William says.

"Sometimes I try to make Eric understand what we went through, but," 

"He was not raised like you, my dear. He will never understand,"

"No, I suppose he won't." 

"I will leave you to explore this place," Uncle William stands up. "Be grateful, not many have had the opportunity. Return by sundown, you hear?" 

"Yes, Uncle William." 

He goes to leave. 

"Uncle William?" 

"Yes, Kendall?" 

"Thank you," 

He smiles, closing the door. 

Kendall looks at the shelves and drawers, wondering where to even start. Luckily, things were labelled. She searched for Elisabeth Vanderbilt and Jeremy Sullivan. 

She stumbled upon baby pictures, portraits of her parents when they first wed, along with poems and letters. 

Dearest Jeremy, 

My father does not like the idea of my meeting you in secret. I have tried telling him that I cannot live without you, but they simply do not listen. They try to make me interested in my brother's colleague. Silly, isn't it? When shall I see you again? I fear the day we must pay the price of our emotions, but no amount of guilt can keep me from you. 

Elisabeth 

Her parents were rebellious lovers, it seemed. I am my mother's daughter, Kendall thought. She read the last line a couple times, and put the letter back. 

The hours were slipping away from her, and it was probably time for her to return. She hadn't seen Eric in ages it seemed, and dinner was probably prepared. 

She walked through the garden mazes to the manor, making it back just before the sky was painted orange. 

"Kendall, darling, there you are! Go get washed up for supper, we have a surprise announcement!" Aunt Anne gushed. 

"Alright," 

When she finished bathing and she was dressed in her evening dress, Rosaline came in. 

"What do you wonder the surprise is?" 

"Well, I had believed it was finally time you announced your engagement to Anthony," Kendall grinned. 

"Engagement? My, no!" 

"Please, Rosaline. You two will part the day that pigs fly," 

"Maybe so," 

"Well, I hope it has something to do with the twins. Maybe one of them has finally found the love they have so strongly wished for," 

"Why don't we go and find out, then?" 

The two girls gracefully went to the dining hall, where the Buckley's were already sat. 

"Come, Kendall, you are to sit here with Eric," 

"I cannot contain my excitement any longer! We must tell them, William." 

"Alright, be seated everyone! Anne and I have a surprise for our betrothed couple," 

Everyone was on the edge of their seat with anticipation. 

"We are throwing a ball in celebration of the upcoming wedding," Anne said. 

"Ah!" The Buckley's beamed. 

"That isn't even the best part!" Anne smiled. "It's a masquerade ball!" 

The entire table erupted in applause and excitement, many chattering and gabbing about what they would wear and who their date would be. 

"A masquerade!" Kendall faked excitement. 

"That is just wonderful," Eric smiled. 

"A quick toast so we can start the feast, then?" 

"A toast, to the betrothed!" Francis gleamed. 

"To the betrothed!" 

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short chap next one will be longer

sorry for slow updating! ive been planning and i went to san antonio which was amazing and ive been sick and exams ugh but 

ok but isnt katie holmes like actually danielle campbells mom wtf