Broadwin house. (On Hold)

Chapter 3

The young man stared at the girl as she walked into the hallway. She was stunning. Lacine Broadwin was no longer a child he could tell that much. Her brown curls no longer in pigtails. Her pink dress so beautiful and flowing and her face like china. Willie thought she looked even more beautiful then when he left her as a child of 8. "Mr.Bennet?" She asked tilting into the room just ever so slightly being cautious. He smiled. The Princess of the house reconized him. "Yes Lacy it's me." "You don't have to call me my Father's name though."He said with a chuckle. One she though was so smooth but yet deep. She quickly re entered the normal world. "Willie." She said breathlessly. He laughed and stood up. The young girl Mallie was already playing with the little trunk of toys Lacy kept there just for her. He went over and hugged her. "Nice to see you again Kid." "Willie I haven't seen you in almost 8 years what are you doing here?" "Wow nice greeting Lace." "My Father got a job back here." "Your Father called him saying he has never had as good a handy man as him and the job pays really really well so we took it." He said flashing a brillant set of white teeth. All perfectly straight. His hair was a dark brown and his eyes a fetching copper color. He was tall and had muscles but not like most guys. He looked natrual not made up. "Say hello to your new house mate!" "Um Willie that's great." She sat on her bed and let everythign sink in. Wow she had just been thinking of him how weird. "You don't seem happy Lace." He said his voice worried. Obviously she had not been thinking about him like he her.  "No no Willie I am very happy I truly am really." "It's just um I never expected this to happen." He gave her a good look. She had obviously been brought up a lady the way she looked. She looked like she took a step out of a 1930s movie. She looked so fragile. She was very thin and almost childish looking. "Maybe we can catch up like old times soon?" He said sitting next to her. She smiled the same smile he remembered from long ago. "Yes I would very much like that." "Man this room hasn't changed a bit!" He said leaning back. "Only toys have been replaced with books." She smiled. "Yes and jumpers replaced with dresses." He raised an eyebrow. "I can see that." She looked down. "It's Mama's doing she likes us all dressed nicely." "At least now I get to pick my own dresses she no longer buys dresses I hate." He laughed. "Yeah that's probably very good for you!" "Seeing as I am sure you wouldn't get too many dates with your Mom's clothes!" She grew a dark red and looked down. His voice had been teasing but he knew right away he had upset her. "I have never had any callers Willie Mama said I need not have any just to study and she will find me some one suitable." He looked at her face. "I'm sorry Lacy I really am I didn't mean to upset you." "Oh no!" "It's alright Willie it really is you didn't know I mean you live so different then me." "Yeah I know Lace." He said his voice a bit deeper. Then they heard a sound at the door. "Lacine Broadwin!" "In the room with a boy ALONE!" No one other then her Mother stood there. "No Mama!" She said quickly standing up. "Mallie is here of course and.." "Oh Mama it's Willie!" "Remember we were friends as children we were just catching up." "Yes Mrs. Broadwin Lacy is a fine girl she would never do anything wrong we were just talking." 'Well young man you best go help your Father!" "Yes Ma'am." He said as he quickly left giving Lacy a look that said he would find her later. "Mama isn't it nice the Bennets had come back?" "There were always very nice." "Lacine you know better!" "Your image young lady your honor and your spending your time with him!" "Mama it was alright as children!" "Why not now?" "Lacine lady's don't ask questions." Her Mother said coldly. "Mama this is the 21st century!" "I don't have to be a young lady!" "In this world and in our soiciety you do!" Hot tears burned in her eyes. "For that matter you will stay in here till dinner!" "Come Mallie!" Mallie scampered off with Lacy's Mother and Lacy heard her door firmly shut. Luckly her Mother never locked it since she never kept the house keys on her and Lacy soon left her room. She went on the east side of the house towards the library. Her Mother would be busy on the north side by the great room where they held parties. No doubt she would have to wear one of her party dresses and go to the party after dinner but for now she wandered outside. Just a little beyond her house was an orchard. It was the family's and Papa also used that to make money. She used it for a hiding place to get away. Ever since she was 10 her Mother pressed her to be proper all the time. How many more times would she be told? Lacys Father encouraged her to be a bit more outspoken. Not rude but not quiet as a mouse. She reached a tree. It attracted her for its odd cut in the trunk. It looked very faint she almost didn't notice it. She touched the trunk and ran her hand over the faint cut. She gasped. It was like a cabinet almost. Like a hiding place. She pryed the cut out open and revealed a small box hidden in the tree. "What the.." She murmured quietly as she stared at it. She lifted it out. It looked very old it was small and looked like it was made out of oak. It had the letters E.M.B on it. "What does E.M.B mean?" She wondered out load. She tried opening the box but it was very hard. It was small so she would hide it in a basket pretending it was full of apples for her. Papa wouldn't question it she often took apples off the trees to eat. "How strange a box in a tree that was never taken out.." "Papa raids the orchard every year to make sure it's safe how did he miss the hiding place?" She just shook her head and went over to the little stand near the orchard where they sold apples and things to people passing by. She snuck a basket and a small cloth and stuffed the book in there. She quickly went back into the house and put the backet under her bed. She was not in her room for even ten minutes when her Mother knocked on the door. Lacy quickly sat on her bed. "Come in." Her Mother came in and sat down on Lacy's reading chair. "We are to have a small party tonight in the great room." "I expect you to be on your best behaivor and to wear a suitable dress of course." "Yes Mama when is the party to be?" "An hour after dinner." "Maria will help you dress when the time comes." Her Mother left her yet again with not even a kiss on the head. Lacy sighed. When would Mama realize she was no longer a child? She did not need help dressing or her days written on a piece of paper telling her where to go and what to do. She went over to her closet on the rigtht side were here small party dresses and her morning clothes. On the left her ballgowns for when her Mother had her masked balls. They were twice a year. One at the end of summer right before she went back to school and one right before Christmas. In the middle of her closet were her evening clothes. She finally chose a 50s style blue tule dress that was tea length. She coupled it with a strand of fake blue pearls a friend had gotten her and a pair of tiffany style blue heels. She would pile her brown curls up and that would be it. After some make up she would be done. There! She had the entire outfit and look planned and did not once need Mama! She heard the dinner bell and before Maria could come fetch her she ran down the hall to the stairs and fently floated down. To her dismay next to Chester. "Well looks like my fairy can fly." He said slyly. "Leave me alone Chester." His greedy eyes fastened hard in her. His eyes were an ugly black color his blond hair all over the place. She spotted Will helping prepare the table and went over to his father. "Mr. Bennet may I steel William away from you?" She asked in the sweetest voice she could muster. "Well alright Miss Lacey." He said with a chuckle. "The boy has worked hard and your Father did say he could have a break." "Great!" She said going over to Will to inform him of what she had just did. "Hello Will." She said sneaking up on him. It was funny how he almost knocked over the table but he recovered. "God Lacey don't do that!" She looked down suddenly and he realized he had hurt her. Why did her Mother have to make her so obidient! "No Lace it's alright you just scared me is all." She looked back up at him but you could tell she was still unsure if she should speak. "Come on Lacey I want to show you the party room." She perked up a bit and he took her somewhat small hand and took her down the hall. When she got into the room she was blown away. It was like stepping in to summer it's self. Flowers gently everywhere. Summer colors graced the room. "Do you like it?" He said stepping to her side. "Oh yes Willie it is perfect!" "Like you captured summer and put it into this very room!" He chuckled. She always had an imagination it was good to see that had not been taken from her. "Are you coming to the party?" She asked turning to him. "Yes I suposse I will your Father invited me." "Oh that's great!" "I will have to thank Papa." Will was called to help with something and Lacey was left alone. The shiny dance floor was pulling her in. At her school they included ballet lessons along with sewing and quilting etc. She stepped into the middle of the dance floor and started doing a few warmups. She loved any kind of dancing. So far all she knew was ballet and ballroom. She wanted to learn Swing dancing but Mama said it was unlady like. She hated when Mama said things like that. When she felt she was finished she went upstairs to look at her little box. E.M.B still stood out at her. She knew as soon as she found out what it meant it would explain the box. She looked at it for a long while and tried opening it. She traced her finger along the sides hoping maybe she would find some hidden keyhole. Nothing. 5 o'clock arrived and she prepared for dinner fixing her hair since some of her curls were in disarray. She brushed off her dress made sure her blue dress was still hanging on the door and headed down to dinner.