BANG BANG BANG a silence followed the loud knocks on the bedroom door and then a little voice came,
“Charrwet? Wiwwy? May Hannah and I come in?” The small boys voice was innocent and sappy.
“Yes Henry you and Hannah may come in.” Hannah swooped in followed by a tiny feet clumsily falling over each other.
“That will be all Henry. Run back to Anna she will get you into bed.” The stern yet sweet look on Hannah’s face was taken seriously, by the two girls’ brother. The 3 year old scampered off after slamming the door shut.
“The Duke of Dansherump wishes to see Lady Liliana. I told him you were not to be disturbed, but he insisted.” Lily turned and looked at Charlotte with concern and longing in her bright blue eyes. The Duke of Dansherump or Phillip as he liked to be called was currently courting Lily and constantly wanted to take her out riding. “Go on, I can tell you later perhaps before supper.” Lily’s eyes brightened and she slowly stood up
“If you’re completely sure…” Charlotte laughed a little at her sister’s polite question.
“Of course Lily, go, your prince awaits you.” She grabbed her slippers and coat and skipped out the door and into the main hall. Charlotte watched her almost trip outside to see Phillip and fall into a curtsy. Phillip bowed and took her hand in his and walked to the stables to get his horse. How Charlotte wished someone would do that to her. She knew very well no one would, not while Lily was around. Lily was always the prettier one although if you asked her she would blush and deny it. She was also the kinder gentler of the two.
Charlotte was the oldest only by a year or so, then Lily and lastly Henry.
Since Charlotte was the oldest she took on the responsibility to being the tougher one of the three. Lily was the sweet, sensitive and caring and Henry was the mischievous, troublemaker a little monster to be frank. Always pulling pranks and practical jokes. Lily had fair skin and long wavy blond hair with a smidge of red and gold. She had few freckles around her nose and shining eyes. Henry was plump and had dirty blond hair that you usually don’t see because of the constant display of food, mud and paint in it. Charlotte was taller, with long auburn hair that surrounded her pale face covered in freckles. She always had her hair up in either a bun on the top of her head or a braid down the back and although she was the oldest she loved to be adventurous and believed rules were binding and limited her freedom. Charlotte didn’t believe in love, but hoped that maybe one day she would find a gentleman suitable for her likes and interests and wouldn’t hold her back from life. Her mother and father were always away meeting with political figures. While they were gone she would take control of the household and keep it a happy place to live. She loved her family and wanted nothing more than to make everyone happy. Charlotte always had her head in the clouds as Lily says and often need reminders to come back to reality. Hannah’s job was to make sure the girls were trained to become proper ladies in the future. Lily loved her lessons and took them very seriously while Charlotte couldn’t wait to get outside and go for a ride on her beautiful horse, Rune.
“Charlotte! Charlotte!” Hannah’s crisp words brought Charlotte back from her own thoughts.
“I don’t understand where you go when you don’t respond to my constant calling, but-” Hannah’s cheery voice was caught off mid-sentence when Mother walked in the room.
“It must stop Charlotte! That cannot happen when the duke’s come for the dinner tonight, they are all looking for a bride and you are a lucky candidate! Why can’t you be more like your sister? You have very little time before your father and I pick your suitor.” Charlotte clenched her fist to stop her body from shaking. She hated when her mother did this, scolded her for not being more lady like, to be more like Lily, she couldn’t handle it.
“Do you understand Charlotte? I’ve received nothing but a lost look in your eyes!” All Charlotte could do was nod afraid of opening her mouth and having a scream come bursting out.
“Good I expect you to be down in the dining room by 6:00 dress nice!” Finally the duchess of Rosewood left the room with head held high and shoulders pushed back as though she hadn’t just scolded her daughter multiple times.
“Charlotte, dear relax, you’re going to go into another one of your fevers again and we wouldn’t want that, not with the dukes coming tonight.” Hannah’s soothing tone relaxed some of the tense muscles in Charlotte’s body that she didn’t even realize were tense.
“I wonder what would happen if I just snuck down to the kitchen and took some bread and cheese and took Rune to the orchard, would they notice my absence?” Charlotte wondered allowed not really expecting a response to come.
“They would notice and your mother would not be happy when you got back.” Charlotte nodded and sat at the edge of her bed.
“I suppose you’re right.” Hannah gave Charlotte a short, sweet smile and replied
“I always am sweet heart you just need to learn that.”
