The Duke's Daughter (Editing)

Chapter Six

“Well, isn’t this just lovely? Our father’s gone and we’re unwanted in our own home!” Jerry angered voice erupted.

“Hush, the whole world doesn’t need to hear you, and besides this really isn’t our own home. You heard her, we’re practically out of the will.” I tried calming him.

“This isn’t right, not right at all. And I won’t stand for this!” With that my once over joyful brother left me alone in the hallway. I watched him walk away feeling a little sorry for the both of us. Those couple of days were an adventure and now it seemed like a nightmare. God, if You’re there do You mind bringing a miracle, just once please? I prayed. As I start my way back to my room, I find myself bumping into someone.

“Oh, I’m sorry! Didn’t mean to get in your way, dear.” Said the thick Irish accent.

It was unlike me very much to do so, but I couldn’t stop staring at the young man who stood right in front of me. His blonde hair was neatly cut and combed to perfection while his deep blue eyes reminded me of the sky. He wore a creamy suit with shiny black shoes. I decided looking down to find my reflection would be better than letting him see me blush.

“Um…no it was all my doing. I’m quite sorry.” I tried keeping my voice at ease.

“Well, how about we take both the blame, shall we?” He lifted my chin and smiled.

“That could work.”

“Good, good. It’s nice to have met you…?”

“Lenny…um Lenora.”

“Ah, Lenora. My name is Gilmore Yeardley.” He extended his hand towards me and I quickly shook it. His grip was firm yet welcoming, “I hope to see you soon, Lenora.” He whispered in my ear and walked away.

As I had previously said, I never wanted to get married. Never looked at boy without thinking of a way to prank him. But something about Gilmore Yeardley made me second guess all those thoughts. Perhaps it was his smiling eyes or the way his lips curves into a beauitful grin. Or maybe it was the fact that I saw him holding on to Julius Caesar.

Tap, tap. Drool crept down my chin, I’d must’ve been sleeping. Tap, tap. A knock at my door. I run quickly to open the door and found Anna standing there with a beautiful yellow gown. “Hello, can I help you?”

“May I enter?” She asked.

“Oh, sure.” I replied. There was something about her tender voice that made her more mature than her age. She surely had to be a tutor, I could tell from the ink stains on her hands and the way her skin was so pale. Anna looked as if she barely ever went outside because she was too busy reading.

“Here,” she held out an envelope with the name Lenora on it, “Your father wanted me to give this to you.” I was in utter shock, “ I have more letters that he wanted me to pass on to you, but on certain dates.”

“I don’t think I’ll be staying here for long. After the will has been read, Grandmother Maude will have my brother and I shipped out of the country. I can feel it.”

Anna smiled a little bit before responding, “She probably already told you that your family was cut out of the will, but knowing your father, that might not be the case.”

“I thought the workers of the house didn’t associated themselves with the employers.”

“They don’t. But your father was different, he didn’t care who you were he’d talk to you on any occasion. Truly, count you blessings to have had such a father. If only mine had—never mind my family. I’ll leave you to it.” She looked down at the envelope one more time before saying, “I’ll wake you up in the morning for breakfast. Goodnight.”

Not a second afterwards did I open that envelope:

                    My dearest Lenora,

                            I hope you can forgive me for leaving the way I did. It was never my intention to stay and leave you alone at such a fragile age. I can imagine that your mother has taken good care of you and your brother, such tender love she had for the two of you. There are days I wished I knew what you would turn out to be and what you hope to become. As my days depart me, I do not want to regret not spending sometime with you in some way or another. I hope that the letters that I will have Anna give will show you that God has granted you a special gift that only you will own. Oh Lenora, I ask you to forgive me, there are days when I cannot stand to look at myself in the mirror. I assume that my mother has told you that you have been cut from the will, but do not fear, there will be a little surprise to come to all of you. I love you my dear girl.

                      Forever and always –R.

Whatever my father had in mind for the days to come, I knew one thing: My father was, without a shadow of doubt, incredible. That night, I slept like I never did before. Not just because I never slept in such leisure but because I knew that my father loved me. Somebody aside from Jerry loved me. And this alone made me feel more special than I ever did before.

A/N: Probably one of my favorite chapters. haha anyways, hope you guys are curious to see what happens next. Trust me it gets interesting. Also I dedicated this to GABBY. She's like my lil sister, so guys yeah...