Katelyn
Chapter One
“Georgiana Elizabeth Woods, where have you been?” Lady Mary Woods’ voice was tight with tension. “We are leaving in a week’s time and you are nowhere to be found! Ann has not been able to help me with any packing at all for having to care for your sisters. Please entertain them while Ann helps me finish packing.”
Georgiana groaned. ’Tis fortunate Mother cannot see my petticoats, she thought, or I would get a longer lecture. “I’m sorry, Mother. I needed to be alone for a time; to let everything that has happened since we received the letter telling of Uncle Henry’s death sink in and understand that all of this is real.”
Lady Woods smiled at her eldest daughter. “Yes, I know how you feel, dear. I myself have been in such a hurry that I’m not sure the news has sunk in myself. But think of all the new opportunities that await us back in England. There will be new friends to meet, better tutors, and,” her eyes sparkled at the next phrase, “plenty of land to ride horses.”
“But must we go?” Georgiana’s eyes were filled with hope as she continued. “Couldn’t we just live there during the summer holidays?”
“What, Georgiana?” Lord David stood in the doorway, his gray eyes teasing. “This will be an exciting adventure. I thought you liked seeing new places.”
“Oh, but I do; only this time we won’t be coming back to Elmsgrove. Ever,” Tears pooled in Georgiana’s bright blue eyes as she said this.
Lady Woods draped an arm over her daughter’s shoulders. “Well, dear, we may come back in a few years, if this little disagreement between the colonies and King George is over. So long as the Good Lord allows it.”
“As you know, Georgiana, those who are loyal to the king are not welcome here in the colonies right now. Hopefully, over time this will end and we will be welcome again.” Lord David looked at his daughter with compassion.
“But right now, I need you to go relieve Ann of your sisters so she can help me,” Lady Woods told her daughter. “ please go take care of that brown mess atop your head before you do, though.”
“Yes, Mother,” Georgiana said. Maybe this move to England will not be so bad after all, she thought as she ascended the steps to her room.
~ ~ ~
Georgiana sighed and looked toward the small rise that her twin sisters, Hope and Faith, were playing on. This had recently become their favorite place to play, and Georgiana was glad of it, as she could watch them without having to venture far from the house. Georgiana sat down at the base of an oak tree, pulled out the book she had placed in her petticoat pocket, opened it to the spot she had left off, and began to read with an occasional glance at her sisters.
“Georgiana, what will happen to this house when we go back to England?” Georgiana jumped as she looked up at Hope. Georgiana had become so involved in her book that she had forgotten all about her sisters. Georgiana paused as she gathered her thoughts.
“Well, the house will probably be sold, or may be kept in case we come back to visit,” Georgiana looked at her sisters, trying to feel confident as well as sound it. “Does that answer your question, Hope?”
“Yes, thank you, Georgiana,” Hope smiled at her.
“But, Georgiana, if we sell the house, where will we live?” Faith looked at her sister in curiosity. “Will we have to live in the woods?”
“No, Faith. Don’t you remember? We are going to England, where Father will become a lord,” Georgiana said gently.
“Do you mean Father will become a lord like Lord James? Then why can’t we live here, instead of going to England?” Faith’s curiosity was growing stronger.
Georgiana sighed. I must have answered this question dozens of times already; why can’t they remember and leave me alone? It’s hard enough leaving all my friends without watching my sisters cry when they understand that we will never come back. “Yes, Father will be a lord like Lord James; in fact, he became a lord as soon as Uncle Richard died two months ago. But we didn’t know that until last Monday.”
“Georgiana, why can’t we stay here?” Faith asked.
“Because Father’s brother has died, and he had no children, and so now Father has to go to England because that is what he has been asked to do. I’m not quite sure myself; why don’t we go ask him about it?” Together, the tree girls entered the house to find their father and ask him yet another question.
~ ~ ~
“Father, why are we going to live in England?” asked Faith as soon as she spied her father sitting in his study.
Lord David smiled at his youngest daughter. “Well, dear, we are going there because my older brother, your Uncle Richard, has died. And, because I am the next brother, I have inherited the family manor, Elmford.
“You see, Faith, when there is more than one son in a noble family, such as we are, the oldest son receives the family land. The other sons must go and find another place to live when they are old enough to do so. Because of this tradition, when I was 21, I left Elmford and traveled to London. It was there that I met your mother. When John was around two years of age, we left England and came to the Colonies. Now, however, my brother Richard has died and, as he had no children, we are the new owners of Elmford Manor. Does that answer your question?” He looked at his youngest daughters and smiled at their upturned faces. “ Are there any other questions?”
“ No, thank you, Father,” Georgiana answered for her sisters. “ Come on, girls, let’s see if Mother needs our help packing for our journey.”
“Wait, I have a question for Father!” said Hope as they turned to leave. “ Father, when are we leaving?”
“Next week, I believe. Why, Hope?”
“Because I want to see the Newmans’ new colt one last time!” Lord David’s laugh followed his daughters as they ran to find their mother.
That's it for now! Hope you liked it.
3 comments:
That was amazing!! I loved it!! When are you gonna put the next chapter up?! ;)
Katelyn, your book has a great beginning! I can't wait to read more. How many chapters have you written?
So far, i think I have 6 chapters; I'll post as I get farther along. Glad you like it!
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