EXISTING HEART- CHAPTER 15

It is early in the morning. We see the gardens of Eilis’ cottage that wrap around an old mansion. The mansion is laced with ivy, from poor care on the landlord’s part. The gardens are also in poor shape, flowers wilting and dried.

Suddenly we find ourselves in a small living room; where Seona is lying in front of the fire, wrapped in a knit blanket. She has clearly gotten no sleep as the circles under her eyes betray her. Suddenly a pair of slender feet appears behind her.

MAID
Miss, your breakfast has been prepared.

Seona lies unfazed by the maid’s presence.

MAID
Miss?

The maid begins to look back and forth, puzzled as to what to do. She bends down and rests a hand on Seona’s shoulder.

SEONA
Have you ever lost a loved one, Julienne?

Julienne hesitates for a second, taken aback by Seona’s request.

JULIENNE
Yes… I bore a child with my husband about five years ago. While riding the horse we’d bought for him with his father, he managed to fall and attain a rather ugly gash on his leg.

She sniffs back a sob as she strongly continues.

JULIENNE
I didn’t know to clean it, and nor did my husband, so we just left it. It seemed healthy and healing, but one day it began to puss. My dear Francis would never pass even a hot day without shivering terribly, and one day we found him passed out in his room.

Seona finally acknowledges her presence by turning her head to face her.

JULIENNE
I was devout in staying by his side. His nightmares frightened him terribly; I couldn’t bare it. And then one day… one day, the nightmares stopped. I had thought he was getting better, but I realized… I realized that he had stopped breathing. It was a very dark day for my family.

SEONA
I’m so sorry…

Julienne wipes back a few rogue tears and smiles.

JULIENNE
Don’t be. We miss him terribly, but he’ll always be with us. When I prepare your food, when I clean your bed- which, by the way, thank you for not using it last night, but really I don’t mind- he’s right there helping me. And besides…

A bright smile on Julienne’s face causes Seona to shift her weight to face Julienne with a wondering eye.

SEONA
Besides what?

JULIENNE
Derrick and I are expecting another child!

Seona’s eyes widen, and she lays a hand on Julienne’s stomach.

SEONA
Congratulations!

JULIENNE
Thank you. I mean, this child certainly won’t be another Francis, but I am certain that I can fill it with as much love as I did with Francis.

Seona’s gaze falls as her mind begins to compare her story to Julienne’s. Julienne picks up on this, as is shown by her furrowed brow.

JULIENNE
You’ve lost someone, haven’t you.

SEONA
Yes… my husband. He was… he was lost to the war between Seloan and Guilleria.

JULIENNE
I apologize. My homeland was Guilleria, and it was a bad place. I’m thankful that Eilis took me in to her household here. I know that our army was trained to be merciless, so I can imagine your grief at losing him.

SEONA
Please don’t apologize… it wasn’t your fault.

JULIENNE
I suppose, but I feel I should speak for my country. It is shameless, and run by a childish king. But, at least, the war is over. You don’t have to worry about losing any more loved ones.

SEONA
Do I not?

JULIENNE
I do not think so. And don’t worry about dying alone, for as lonely as the widow’s life can be, I’m sure that you will find love again. You just have to keep your eyes open.

Suddenly a gruff, masculine woman enters the room.

HEAD MAID
Julienne, is her Lady coming for breakfast or not? The bread is turning dry!

Julienne attempts to read Seona’s face, begging for an answer. Seona smiles slightly and shakes her head.

SEONA
You can go ahead and eat it yourselves. I think I shall continue to lay here for the rest of the morning.

The head maid lets out a huff of disapproval.

HEAD MAID
As you wish, my Lady.

JULIENNE
Thank you, my Lady, for being so kind to me.

SEONA
Same to you. Your words are deeply encouraging.

Julienne smiles and quickly gets up to meet the husky woman who smiles a fake smile at Seona and then shoos Julienne out of the room.