A/N: IMPORTANT!! Okay. Yes I know I’m a horrible person and started a new story. But this one is completely different from the others that I’ve written. Royal Trepidations is a medieval/fantasy/romance. Impavida is a story about vampires. This one is purely ROMANCE to make up for all the romance lacking in my main story Royal Trepidations. For all my fans out there that are dying for some fluff I will do my best to keep this plot as romantic as I can!

It is a history or at least it is set back in the time of 18-19th century England. Bear with me okay? The first chapter might seem a little childish but I intentionally made it that way- you’ll see why at the end.

THIS IS A ROMANCE!!

First chapter starts out slowly but it picks up pace and interest as you go- please read it all before making your decision about it!

I wiped my forehead, feeling satisfied with the day’s work. Twelve little rows of green shoots were sprouting from the moist ground. The gray English skies above began to drizzle.

“Miss Catharine, oh Miss Catharine! Really, you mustn’t be outside when it’s raining! The master will be quite cross as it is; you know he doesn’t like you digging around in the mud! That’s for servants to do!”

“Oh but Jennet how I do love the rain!” I twirled around. “Beside how is James going to know if you don’t tell him? Let’s just keep this our secret okay?”  The housekeeper sighed.

“Very well miss, if that is your wish. But do come inside, I should not want to be blamed for you catching a cold.” I ran inside, welcoming the warmth of the kitchen fire.

“When is James coming back?” I asked worriedly wringing my hands. James, as you must know is my almost father. At least that’s what I think he is, Jennet calls me his Wart—wait that’s not right—Ware… words…  Ward! That’s it! I’m his ward.

“Don’t worry Miss, The master will be back in time for your sixth birthday.”

“Oh I do hope so, James always gives me such lovely presents! Last year it was a little dog- of course Scotch isn’t little anymore- he’s all grown up!”

“I heard he has a surprise for you this year,” Clara said walking through the kitchen door. Clara is my governess; she such a dear thing, quite old I imagine because lately she’s beginning to forget things and her hair has turned a horrid shade of gray. She’s what my friend Bethany calls fat. I don’t think so if anything Clara is pleasantly plump.

“Oh please do tell me,” I begged, “ I so do want to know.”

“Now Deary,” the cook tried to say in a stern voice, “it’ll ruin the surprise.”

“Quite so,” Jennet agreed.

“But I want to know now,” I pleaded, “It’ll get me ready.”

“Ready for what princess?” asked a voice at the door.

“Uncle James!” I yelled at the top of my lungs and went flying into his arms.

“My little princess,” he declared fondly, “now we must talk. I haven’t seen you for a year!”

“Yes,” I pouted, “and now you will have to stay a year here at Turnary Hall to make up for it.”

My Uncle laughed, “Yes I suppose I must. But I’m tired now, and I need my rest. I will go upstairs and take a quick shower and then I will meet you in the library.” I slid down and Clara took me by the hand.

“It’s good to see you back home master.” She whispered and then grabbed my hand to leave. Clara’s hand is very leathery, it reminds me of an old wrinkled boot. I wiggled out of her grasp and ran up the two flights of stairs by myself. By the time Clara caught up to me she was very cross,

“Young lady,” she began her long speech, “how many times must I tell you not to run? It isn’t proper.” I bowed my head. “Well I suppose today can be an exception since the master is home,” she thought, “but do not do it again!”

“Yes Ma’am,” I nodded meekly. Clara sighed took up my hands again and opened the door to the library. I immediately occupied myself with a large picture book illustrating the world.

Several pages later my Uncle came in. His dark reddish brown hair messy and glistening from his shower. Fitted black trousers and a white linen shirt encased his form.

Something I must tell you about my dear Uncle James is that he attracts women like honey does flies. I don’t know what it is! Of course Clara says that because I’m only six I wouldn’t understand such things. Impossible! I’ll have you know that I am very smart thank you very much, but I don’t see what it is about him that everybody wants.

He is rich yes. But of course he is rich, no proper lady would look at him if he weren’t able to support himself (and her as well). Uncle James really doesn’t mind about money though- He always gives me the nicest things. He’s very tall, but so are many people to me and I’ve heard that his smiles could melt women. Isn’t that queer?

My uncle is simply a wonderful fencer and quite the horseman- at least that’s what Clara told me. He’s only taken me riding once and that was when I was too young to remember. I have heard the ladies around town speak of him as gorgeous, how odd! I always thought that it was the ladies that are considered beautiful.

And as I was thinking these thoughts Uncle James plopped down right next to me and yanked me onto his lap.

“My little princess! What are you reading?” He asked me in mock astonishment, “My, my but you are growing up too fast for your dear old uncle!”

I hit his shoulder, “Don’t make fun of me Uncle James! You know perfectly well that I can read- sort of.” And remembering what Clara had said earlier I put on my most angelic smile, “Now what’s this I heard about a present?” My eyes shown gleefully. Yes I’m a spoiled little brat but darn proud of it!

He grinned, much like the Cheshire cat that Clara read to me about in Alice and Wonderland. I’ve always liked his grin- it was always followed by something I liked. Sure enough from one of his pockets he drew a little box- the littlest thing I’ve ever seen. My face fell.

Surely something that small could never be a decent gift! But sensing his anticipation for my reaction, I hesitantly opened it. Out dropped a locket! Round and beautiful with a portrait of my mother and father on one side and me on the other.

“Oh I LOVE it” I squealed and threw my arms around his neck.

He laughed and hugged me back tightly.

“I’m glad you like it,” He remarked joyfully, and I heard a few sighs at the doorway. It seemed as if Clara and Jennet decided to spy on the present opening ceremony that always followed James’s return.

 Foreseeing a new audience I ran over and presented the little golden bauble that he had just given me. James followed right on my heels and affectionately ruffled my hair.

“I’m going to sleep now Princess. The journey from London has definitely tired me. I’ll see you tomorrow at breakfast okay?”

I nodded and he left the room.

And with that Catharine finished recounting her day to Miss Alexandria Mennley.

“Oh that’s marvelous Cathy!” Said Alexandria, “I know that you’ve been dying for your uncle to return! But what are you doing here with me? I bet that your uncle wants to spend some quality time with you. You know perfectly well that I have no right to keep you here with me- that would be selfish of me and I dare not be selfish.” She winked at Catharine.

“Oh, but my uncle is busy today! He has quite locked himself up in his office and refuses to come out and play with me. I’ve finished all of my lessons and Clara is busy helping all of the servants prepare for the big party that Uncle is throwing. Grandmamma is coming you know and she insists on large parties to announce her arrival.”

“That’s wonderful!” Alexandria smiled as she continued to pick the white roses blooming in her garden. Her loose dark red hair, curling slightly, was caught up with a single ribbon and a white dress, simple in style and cut adorned her slim but feminine frame. Even in the simple gardening dress, Alexandria was beautiful. Her pale, untannable skin (from her Irish mother’s side of the family) was slightly flushed due to the morning sun and her light green-blue eyes sparkled with happiness at the little girl’s joy.

Catharine, in her excitement due to the return of Uncle and the prospect of the party could hardly contain her enthusiasm.

“You must come!” Catharine insisted, “I want you to meet my Uncle!”

“Oh, but I can’t possibly! I don’t like to intrude. Besides I don’t really like attending social gatherings and it would not be proper for me to go without a formal invitation.”

Catharine pouted, “I don’t understand! You are pretty” Alexandria blushed, “rich” she waved at the large garden and manor behind them, “nice, and I invited you! What is the intrusion? If anything I am being selfish because I’m sure that I will keep you to myself all night so that I can have someone to talk to!”

“Well...” Alexandria stopped to ponder the thought.

“Oh please, please, please, please, please?!” Catharine begged slightly tugging at Alexandria’s white skirt.

Letting out a sigh she answered, “Oh alright, but you have to promise me that you get permission from your uncle first and make sure that he sends me an invitation. It would be a scandal if I just appeared by my-own-leave!”

“OH THANK YOU!” the six-year-old little blond child launched herself into her friend’s arms.

Laughing, the two, though separated by a fourteen years difference, continued to cut flowers from Alexandria’s gardens and talked amiably about frivolous things that came to the simple mind of the child.

The sun had fallen beyond it’s zenith by the time James had emerged from his office, and he, upon finding his little ward missing, set out to retrieve her.

Catharine was the light of his life, the only thing keeping him from his sorrow when his brother and his sister in law died of Vermillion Fever.

Seeing his housekeeper nearby he called out to her,

“Jennet- have you seen Cathy?”

“Oh yes, Master James, she has gone off to visit with Lady Mennley. Scott dropped her off there when he took Cook to the market in town.”

James’s cobalt blue eyes narrowed.

“She’s with Lady Mennley?!”

“Y-Yes sir!” The housekeeper looked concerned,  “is there a problem?”

James shook his head as if to clear it, and then smirked,

“No. No there’s no problem- I’ll go fetch Cathy myself. Tell Scott not to worry about it when he gets back.”

“Yes sir” Jennet curtsied and went off to find the right linens for dinner.

Saddling up his beloved stallion, Midnight, James rode off to pay a visit to the Lady Mennley. His childhood enemy who he hadn’t seen in ten years.

On the way to the familiar mansion, a flood of memories crashed into his conscious, above all, the many arguments that they had had over their childhood years.

His parents and hers were the best of friends and hoped that their children might one day marry. Alexandria was betrothed to his elder brother Charles before he (Charles) had eloped with Clarissa and together had Catharine. Of course there was a significant difference in age between Charles and Alexandria- fifteen years in fact, and in no way was Alexandria ever happy about the betrothal, but the elopement had cause a great scandal in society. A scandal which had left Alexandria somewhat shaken.

Perhaps it would have been better if HE had been paired with her; after all it was only a span of six years that separated them. James mentally slapped himself. Of course it was a bad idea and their parents knew that straight from the moment the two had met. If they had been betrothed, neither would have survived long enough to take their vows.

Perhaps it was his own fault for their animosity. Her hair that she had inherited from her mother was a flaming red the last time he saw it, and being a young boy with nothing to do, he teased her about it mercilessly.

Alexandria had always been a tomboy. Preferring to run around with him at the tender age of eight (he being fourteen) instead of learning the “lady’s” way of the world.

Lord Mennley, her father, loved Alexandria to a fault, and could not bear to do anything that might restrict her joy. Her mother had died when Alexandria was three (if he could remember correctly) and his own mother had always stood as a mother figure for her. It was only proper of course because she had been betrothed to Charles.

He smirked. So, after ten years he was going to see the little hellion again. The little, gangly, boyish hellion with fiery red hair and a temper to boot.

James groaned. His niece befriended the enemy of his childhood. What if Alexandria had said some slanderous things about him? Even worse, what if she had recounted the myriad embarrassing stories of his childhood? It could rise up to slap him in the face, especially since Catharine could never keep any secrets.

‘If anyone is up there,’ he prayed, ‘let Catharine forget to mention her last name or that I am her uncle. And if she does mention it, please oh please don’t let Alexandria remember me.’

A/N: Good? Just incase you noticed as parallel, between this and Royal Trepidations I can tell you that it is intentional. But the stories will differ.

Review! You know you want to (peer pressure hehe).

Angel of Artemis