The prince and the orphan

Chapter 1

What does that girl have that everyone adores her?...

I should say that I was never fond of her, I always blamed her for all the disgrace that befell our family, because since she arrived everything started going wrong. First Anthony's death, then Stear volunteered himself for the war, and as if all that wasn't enough, my dearest William disappeared...

What to do with all these feelings against her?

What to think now that I know that if it wasn't for her, the Ardlay family wouldn't have continuity? If it wasn't because she gave everything (reputation included) to take care of my most beloved nephew and sole patriarch of our clan, he wouldn't be back with us, recovered.

What to think about her now, after so many years of putting all my effort in despising her?

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The first time I saw her I didn't even pay her much attention, although I should say that the sparkle of her eyes impressed me, those green eyes so much like Rosemary's.

The child had charisma, that was clear to me, and it was also clear to me that three of my nephews were being hypnotized by her.

But, who's idea was it to bring a servant girl to a ball?! Well, to be fair, back then she was supposed to be Eliza's lady companion, but even so, that someone like her, coming from such a low upbringing, presented herself at an Ardlay's family ball, was inconceivable!

I decided not to dwell on it because Stear made me laugh with his inventions and because I simply didn't feel inclined to give it more importance... That's until I saw them dancing with her, attired in that cheap cotton dress in the middle of the hall and I heard the gossip from our guests all around me. Sara definitely had given that girl more liberties than she should have, and something needed to be done in order to fix that.

At the same time that I heard about her misdeeds, her lack of class and education, and as if all these weren't enough, about her stealing jewelry and valuable objects at the Leagan mansion, I could see with incredulous eyes how Anthony, Stear and Archie were always drawn to her like bees attracted to honey.

Without exception they started defending her, and even confronted me more than once, swearing on her innocence and even trying to convince me to speak on her behalf!... Me? Elroy Ardlay speaking on behalf of an orphan girl without education?! What were they thinking?!

I was so happy when I knew that Sara was to put an end to the situation sending her far away, where she couldn't be a bad influence to her beautiful children, Eliza and Neal, and my beloved nephews.

I did feel a bit of remorse that she was to be sent to Mexico, a girl just thirteen years old, but I convinced myself that it was for the best. Without a shadow of a doubt my nephews were infatuated with that low-birth girl and the farthest she went the sooner they could forget her, and rid themselves of her bad influence.

I almost fainted when I saw her return in the luxury Lozier that George drove under William's name. Truth be told, seeing her standing there, dressed in that elegant pink silk gown with fine lace, she didn't look like the same girl I knew, even with all my dislike I could see a special spark in her, and for a second I understood why my nephews were so dazzled.

Dressed like that, she reminded me of Rosemary more than ever, with her sparkling emerald eyes and her beautiful smile... Rosemary, the beautiful daughter of my late brother William, always so delicate and strong at the same time, so sweet and determined, so loving and of strong convictions, an amalgam of opposites that made everyone who knew her fall in love with her...

Was this the reason why my nephews were so blinded by this girl?, it couldn't be that she resembled my princess Rosemary so much!, no!, I was convinced this girl used low tricks to attract them to her!