Chapter 1: New Beginning

Chapter 1: New Beginnings

        "Useless pigs " the voice exclaimed as he flipped through his daily sales and frowned at his lost profit. 

Interrupted by the knock on his door. 

"Come in, "he ordered 

His Butler entered facing down dare not to look at his lord's face especially when his mood was aggravated. 

"Speak, "

"A letter arrived this morning. " he answered, he handed the letter over to his master. 

"Get lost and make yourself useful!. "

Seeing that he had been set free the Old Butler rushed out with relief. 

Dear Wright, 

My beloved brother, 

It has been fifteen years since I last saw you. I heard you married a fair lady and were  blessed with children. I have little time left in this world, before I die let me lay my eyes on you and save my name from perishing for I am still a man of Noble Birth. 

"Noble birth indeed, " he threw the letter into the burning fire near his fireplace. 

****‡*******"*************†********

    Jaylyn was aware that her father had sent words to his relatives in Dutchmall, his hometown. 

She just hopes they answer sooner before he dies. 

    Her father, Daniel Bennett was Surprisedly merrier, for soon he would join the love of his life, Catherine. His illness has taken a worse turn. He had never regretted his decision marrying Catherine. They had big dreams but her life was cut short. He was not able to bear the pain of her loss, leaving him with their two year old to raise, left him miserable. His greatest regrets was being blinded by his weakness and not moving forward with life. All these years, he watched Jaylyn grow up to bear the burden of mistakes he made while he was running away from his problems.Now death has caught up with him. He just hopes her godfather gets his letter on time.

    No Minister had agreed to perform his late rite. They tagged him irresponsible and sinful for he had refused to live by the Christian Rules and Norms. 

     Going down memory lane, he remembered when he met Catherine. They fell in love with each other, society was against their relationship so they eloped then got married. He had thought his parents would forgive him but they never did, instead they shut their doors and blocked their ears to his name. 

   After an eventful day at the bakery, Jaylyn was extremely exhausted. Miss Cherry Bowman had visited her soon to be mother-in-law, when Miss Cherry entered with Jacob holding his hand. Jaylyn felt a strong sense of rejection as much as she tried to feel unaffected by their display of love; tears rolled down her eyes overwhelmed by her feelings and she ran home. 

     On her way home, She saw people huddling near the walk-way leading to her house. Walking closer, she discovered that her house was the scene of attraction. Then she saw a magnificent carriage only fit for the noble class.

    "Good day, sir" 

She greeted the valet who stood firmly by the four wheeled carriage door with two finely suited coach men. Stepping out, was a huge man in his early forties, he looked just like her father..... But healthier and wealthier, he stood aloofly in his neatly embroidery designed gold cutaway tailored coat over a waist-length satin waistcoat and dark breeches, his stares has a way that not only intimated but make people fear him, the only odd thing about him was his pot belly. 

"You must be my brother's bastard, " he said with an impressive voice. 

She nodded still unable to look him in the eyes as he glanced through her unkempt hair to the nearly worn out clothing she had on.. 

"You look very much like your mother". 

he ordered 

    " Take me to him immediately! ". 

Still bowing her head, she moved swiftly and opened the door. His valet, a tall snotty- nosed man followed him inside, gave him a clean handkerchief to cover his nose. 

"It smells like a corpse, is he dead" he asked the valet as he stopped at the small bedroom door, reluctant to move any further, his initial plan was to see if he was dead, the reason why he stayed five days before responding to his letter. 

"No, my lord, give it a day or two. "

He answered. 

"Hmmm, so this is how life has treated you , Daniel". 

He called out his brother's name.

Despite the negative remarks, her uncle's arrival turned things around. He cleared all her father's debts. 

     Before her father passed on, he promised to properly take care of her, accept her into his family and marry her off to a suitable suitor. 

It was like a dream come true.... 

     The Baron left immediately for Dutchmall and arranged a carriage to carry her when she was ready to join him. Jaylyn was not comfortable with the idea of following her uncle to Dutchmall, her mind kept pondering if they would really accept her, especially now her father was late. Left with no other option since she was still unmarried and her uncle is now her legal guardian. Her thoughts for a better life...... 

     Leaving Ravengate was harder than she thought, the place she had wanted to escape from, the place that holds memories of her dead parents, the only valuable item she had on was the locket containing a picture of her mother and father holding her, when she was a year old. 

   She thanked the Stales for all they had done for her as she was about to leave. Jacob was to wed in two months' time, after which he would move to Millpost to start his new job as a clerk. 

She huddled all her belongings and left with the boarded carriage. 

     While in the carriage, she looked out through the window, and she remembered all the bad memories she had of Ravengate. The first time she arrived with her parents, her mother's sudden death, when they first lost their home and moved from room to room. 

"There was nothing to miss in this place", she said to herself. 

     The coachman stopped at Norton at dusk, where they settled for the night in a local inn. This was the first time she had gone far beyond the shores of Ravengate. 

As she finally decides to rest for the night, she drafts off to sleep. 

"Remember you stronger than you seem" her father's voice echoed in her dream. 

      As the journey continued the next morning, the weather was not favorable, it rained heavily and everywhere was soaked with water. 

They had to stop in three different places. Finally they got to Dutchmall center square, everywhere was crowded with people walking in different directions. 

"Hey miss!, we are now at Dutchmall, get down! ." he instructed. 

Seeing that Jaylyn was still struggling to gather her bags down, the driver roughly swung her out of his carriage and threw her things on the floor. 

Almost landing on ground , Jaylyn was furious at his rudeness before she could rebuke the driver, who had already left. 

Trying to get herself together, she was being pushed from both sides. No one paid attention to her dilemma nor tried to help her. 

"Hey, You better move before I splash you water. " shouted someone from a window. 

      Quickly carrying her bag, she entered Bareville, her uncle is the Baron of Bareville.Jaylyn marveled at the sight of the Grand Manor, it was far from anything she had ever seen. The grand Manor was located at the Eastside of Bareville. When she knocked, the butler ushered her after a brief introduction. 

  Walking inside, the walls and floor were greatly influenced by Italian design, she sat near the fireplace to warm herself. 

Admiring her surroundings, she smiled realizing what a great sacrifice her father had made for love.

He rejected a blissful life, wealth and lost his inheritance. 

"Wipe off that smile, you low life" a vicious voice exclaimed as a woman dressed in a milk Bergère hat and brocaded salmon silk sack-back gown descended from the stairs holding her hand was her uncle now her guardian. 

"Good day, my lord and lady., "

She curtsied, not too surprised by their words for she had prepared herself for whatever treatment she would receive. 

"Save your greetings, let me make this clear, you are now a slave to this family " Her uncle said in a boring tone as if he couldn't wait to get the conversation over, having better things that require his time. 

" Alfreda , my dear she's all yours! "

Her uncle's  words cut through her plans for a better life.