Broken Slippers

Chapter 1

London, 1878

Evelyn walked down the streets of London, looking for a place to stay. She had a paper, supposedly written by a powerful Duque, for someone to give her a home. She was up to the Hawkins, a rich, wealthy family, made from a Widow Mother and her two daughters, Eleanor and Ottilie, where said to be beautiful. It wasn't past 6 in the afternoon, so she suspected the Hawkins would be on their afternoon activities. She proceeded to the door and knocked on it hard. Her father, who had also written the fake Duque letter, had sent a letter before her arrival, giving the Hawkins a hint before she got there. And, of course, her father had also sent some money to persuade them to actually let her live with them. Suddenly, the door opened.

    On the doorframe stood three persons, Madam Katherine, and her daughters, Eleanor and Ottilie. They all stood in their afternoon dress, as they were probably enjoying their activities.

    "Evelyn Moore, from Ireland," She said as she lightly bowed. "I believe my father sent word of my arrival," She stated. The girl with golden locks looked stunned at her blue dress, while the girl with a hat tried to not make eye contact.

    "Oh, Indeed," Suddenly answered the oldest of the three, the girls' mother, Katherine Hawkins. "Come in, shall we?" She said, and the three girls moved to the sides, living the wide entrance open. Evelyn walked past them, carrying her bags, and they shut the door closed behind her.

***

    "So, Evelyn," Started Katherine. "Shall I present to you my daughters," She took the girl with golden hair by an arm. "This is Ottile," She commanded the girl in the hat to go by her side. "And this is Eleanor," She stopped holding their arms. "You may call them Lottie and Ela, and for me, you shall call me Katherine, understood?"

    "I sure did, Madam Katherine," Said Evelyn as she standed up from the chair she had been seated in. "And I may as well settle my terms," She commented. "Perhaps you can call me Lynn, and I shall write to my father, Duke Moore, every week, to inform him of my whereabouts."

    Madam Katherine nodded in agreement, and guided Lynn to where she would live the next bloody weeks of her life.