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CHAPTER 3
The morning was warm and sunny with the moist, earthy smell that came after a
rain. As the carridge pulled into the drive, a coachman leapt from the seat to assist the woman from the passenger compartment.
A gloved hand appeared, followed by a young woman clad in burgandy traveling
clothes. Daintily, she hopped from the coach and glanced around.
/So different from home./ She thought as she caught sight of the vast open countryside. But she reminded herself that tihs was her new home. Still, she already missed the bustling streets of London.
With a last longing look backwards--though now she could only see the vast forests and mountains--she began picking her way through the mud covered path,
towards her new home.
It was a grand house, built the past summer on a twelve acre plot of land in the
country near the small town of Goldwyn. The huge masion was painted white with pale green shutters, and newly placed windows glinted in the morning sun. A house fitting for the multi-millionaire who had built it, Duke Dermail.
The Duke was a rich man, both by inheritance and by his own shrewd, business
mind. He was a well-respected and important member of society, he grew old and
married a beautiful woman whom he loved dearly, but sadly they only had one child
before her death. When his only daughter and son-in-law were killed, he decided--as
legal guardian of his granddaughter--that it would be best if they moved away from the city that carried so many memories and start anew.
“Une! How well you look! It seems like it’s been forever,” A bearded man
greeted her as she entered. Smiling he hugged her and gestured for the coachman to take her luggage upstairs.
“Thank you, Grandfather. You are too kind. I know I must be an absolute mess, or
at least I feel like I am.”
“Come then, I’ll take you to your room so you can freshen up and rest. I’m sure
you’re very tired after such a long journey.”
*<>*<>*<>*<>*
Une was led into a room on the second floor. It was richly furnished with a
polished and intricately carved cherry desk, nightstand, and vanity. The four-post bed
stood near a set of French doors leading out onto a balcony overlooking the newly
planted gardens, and all this stood on lush burgandy carpet.
She sighed, glancing at her luxurious surroundings. It was nothing new or exciting
to her. She had lived in riches all her life, and a little more hardly made a difference to
her.
From the second she had stepped out of the carridge, Une had regretted ever
coming here to this farm town. In such a small town there would be few things to do and even fewer people with which to have an intelligent conversation. Soon she’d have to sneek out and do some exploring, but tonight there was going to be a ball and all the nobles and wealthy families from miles around were invited.