When in exile

The box... (Elizabeth)

I had spent the entire day at the shop, confused and it's not like I could talk to brandy about it. eventually she left and I say alone doing paperwork when the delivery man gave me a package.

The note said

Dear Elizabeth Danforth, I believe this is rightfully yours... the truth isn't always like they told you...

Sincerely, a friend

I couldn't help but think that this is what happens right before some hideous truth comes out and people get kidnapped.... maybe it will help me figure this stuff out anyway.

I opened the box slowly inside there were letters and documents, I realized this was from my grandmothers old house, their were pictures and little lace doilies. why would anyone send me this and what did the letter mean, but as soon as I started reading the letters the truth became all to real... someone killed her, she hadn't died of natural causes like everyone said, and the documents were starting to make me think it was family that killed her, there was also a will, it stated that I would inherit all of the Bradford estate when I turned 25, which was last week, apparently I would of been an heiress to the vast Bradford family money... that must if been why she always taught me to be a young British lady, so I could manage the estate... wen she died and they read off the will all I got was some of her jewelry only a few pieces and I just excepted that although I was kind of hurt, she always said I was her favorite and that I reminded me of her. I need to talk to the lawyer so I call him, he had always been one of my grandmothers best friends and I trusted him

"Richard, its Elizabeth Danforth, and please don't make any sudden reactions, and this phone call never happened, agree" I said hoping he would agree "its nice to hear your voice again, I knew you weren't dead.... I suppose you got a package today, I sent it" he said whispering "yes I did, was the will..." "your grandmother knew she was in danger so she made a fake will, in her actual will as you have read you inherit everything... I've already alerted the authorities of the change and all her possessions and money has been cut off from your family" he said and I was relived I wasn't sure I would be able to take any of it back myself "so all of that was true" "yes, Elizabeth, but I must warn you, they all know your in Canada, which is why they've been trying to contact you, their quite furious, I would suggest you leave and not come back" he said "thank you so much, Richard for telling me"

I can't do this to logan, I can't drag him into this crazy life of mine, he deserves someone better, someone that isn't running away from her family. I decide I have to break up with him, his truck was already in the driveway and I was going to lose my edge, but under no circumstances was I going to continue this. I took a deep breath and walked in, he was there on one knee with a ring, I started crying and walked right back out the door, that was probably on my top 10 list of rude things to do it was probably a 3. I take a minute to calm down and walk back in "I can't marry you, logan" I say and his face drops and I start crying again "why not" he asked "because, its not fair to you, I have to leave the country and it's all because of my family..... just know this if my family wasn't so messed up I would marry you in a heartbeat..." I say "ill go with you" he suggests "no, you can't, I can't take you away from your whole life all of your family and friends. there's nothing you can do to change my mind, I'm so sorry" I say and he looks a bit pissed "why can't you, I love you and if you really love me we can get through this" he says "I do love you, but this isn't some passing storm the only way ill ever get out of this is if they all die, someone murdered my grandmother, she had a fake will and now the real ones been read and my own siblings are after me including my parents, it's not something I would want to bring you or anyone else into, I wouldn't wish my family on my worst enemy, we can't be together" I say "ok, if that's how it is, but I will always love you Elizabeth" he says kissing me one last time and walking out the door. I've become an expert packer and I quickly get rooms done all in one night. I apparently have ownership of the Bradford family home, that's where I will live. I ship my stuff there the next morning by a plane ticket, I haven't told anyone where I'm going I tell the Wilcox goodbye, and leave, this may be the last time I ever see them again.

The 7 hour flight was brutal and then I have to call a taxi. "take me to, Rose hill manor" I say "ah the old Bradford estate, what a lovely home" he says with his British accent and I feel at ease for the first time in years since he death. I changed my name, it was now Beth Bradford II a suitable name I would say, it was what my grandmothers was originally, from the letters I had read I had pieces together a bit if her past, she had a best friend named Elizabeth Windsor, her and my grandmother Elizabeth (Beth) Bradford were two peas in a pod, but then when Beth got engaged to my grandfather, Elizabeth was furious because it meant that her best friend was moving to the USA, there was also a letter that she was going to send to me explaining all of this and how time was running out, she also said that if I ever came to England I would be safe, and that I should contact this number........ I pushed those thoughts from my head as the cabbie pulled into the drive "enjoy your stay miss" he said "thank you" I said walking away, it was a beautiful home no doubt about it, I walked up to the door and knocked, I wasn't sure if anyone would be here or not but it was soon answered by a maid "great scott! you must be miss Beth Bradford II" she said ushering me in "uh yes, I am" I said "we've waited so long, we heard the news about what they had done to you and your grandmother, miss Elizabeth Danforth... your secrets safe here" she says with her British accent and a gentle smile "thank you" I say with a small voice, it hadn't settled in that 2 days ago I found out my grandmother was murdered, I was proposed to, and now I'm here in England at the family estate which is now mine. "there is someone here that wants to see you" she said showing me to the study inside there was an old man and a young man, "master Bradford, master Bradford, miss Bradford is here" the servant says shutting the doors "come sit, my dear" the oldest master Bradford says and I obey obediently sitting down in an arm chair like my grandmother taught me smooth the skirt/dress and sit down placing the right leg behind the left leg resting the right foot in the left foot and place your hands on you lap "so what is your real name" he asks "Elizabeth Danforth, sir" I say using every single one of my manners trying not to slip up "I've heard of you before, your that wedding planner aren't you" he says and the younger man gets a sneer look on his face "yes, I am" I say fiddling with the ring around my neck "why have you come here claiming to be the heir to the Bradford estate?" he questions "I don't know why does the world turn round, why is the sky blue?" I say a bit snappy and he chuckles and lights a cigar "if you don't mind I would like to ask you something, who are you" I say and he chuckles some more "I was Elizabeth's brother" he says an the young man seems to relax a bit leaning back in his chair " you look just like her" he says smiling "thank you" I say slightly smiling and fiddling with the ring and he gets a sad look on his face " its a sad day when your own family turns against you isn't it Beth" he says shaking his head "your own flesh in blood out to do you in, it never should of happened" he continues and I just nod my head "I'm sorry if I'm a bit too much of a pessimist grandfather but don't you think you should question her some more?" the young man asks "Charles, your always so stubborn, but if you insist" he says shaking his head at his grandson "may I see what is around your neck?" he asks and I nod taking it off, he looks at it and smiles "they were truly in love" he says as if reminding in the old days, then handing it back to me "who was Beth's best friend ?" He asks " Elizabeth, but you should count that because, I read it in a letter that they sent between the two if them, grandmother never spoke of England unless it was of fairytale a or tea an scones" I say doing the right thing and he chuckles "when the moon rises on the old English hill side,and the fairies come out to play the evil stays at bay until the morning dawn, but yet the good young children have a fright as the foxes hide .... what was Beth's take on that" he asks with a sweet old smile, I remember the poem dearly and smile at the thought of her and I trimming the rose bushes and drinking tea with scones "her take was, the moon was a playful spirit, and child basically, so the fairies played in the moon light, the sun however wasn't as kind, burning the foxes or red heads easily she thought it was evil, the children were frightened by fire so a red head burnt was extremely red." I say and he laughs "she always had the weirdest opinions about those old riddles..." he says taking a puff of his cigar. And I laugh a little. "Charles, change the facial expression, this is your cousin Beth" he says laughing at Charles who is so sour and stern looking, then again I also look the same "both of you stop being so British" he says commenting on the both of us, and Charles cracks a smile for a second before turning it back to a frown and I hair roll my eyes at him, which causes him to chuckle. this should be a very interesting rest of my life.