Prologue

Oxfordshire, England- 1880

“Grandmama? Grandmama, may I come in?” A young voice rang out, muffled slightly by the heavy mahogany doors standing as barrier.

“Annabelle? Is that you, my darling?”

“Yes. Make haste. If mama finds out that I’m not in bed, she won’t allow me to attend the fair on the morrow!”

The elderly dowager duchess of Weston, Sarah, chuckled as she stood from her perch by the warm hearth in her capacious room. She ambled towards the doors, as promptly as her old age would allow, in order to let her ten-year-old granddaughter in. She grasped the knob, but decided to make the younger girl fidget a bit.

“Hmm. It seems to me that your mama was correct. You were supposed to have been asleep for more than a couple of hours by now. I wonder if I should te—” Her genial reprimand was interrupted by a petrified gasp.

“Oh no! Grandmama, I hear the pitter-patter of footsteps. It could only be mama’s. Please, let me in.” Her voice released a few octaves until it reached a light whisper.

The dowager duchess swiftly turned the knob, and drew the door open a tad, just enough space for the little girl to stride , shehurriedly closed it before her daughter-in-law perceived any movement in the hallway.

Annabelle stood, with a conniving smile on her face, a couple of steps away. Sarah could not help but laugh as she clasped her granddaughter’s small hand in her frail one, and pulled them en route for the fire-warmed seats adjacent to the hearth.

“You are indeed a miniature rebel, Anne. I see you’ve taken after your Grandpapa.”

“Truly? Father constantly tells me that Grandpapa was ofan adventurous sort.”

“Oh, extraordinarily adventurous, indeed. My life with him was by no means monotonous. He took me everywhere he went, whether it was a long-awaited vacation or just a business trip to a city in close proximity.” Her eyes grew moist, recalling some of the most thrilling experiences she had shared with her husband.

“Father is adventurous as well, Grandmama.”

“Oh, I most definitely agree, although admittedly less than your Grandpapa. It was his fondest desire that all his children would grow to be entrepreneurs, not just in business, but also in life.” She remembered their pleasant banter, taking place late at night in the sitting room adjoining the master suite. They had always discussed the children's future and their own future. He had numerous aspirations for each of his children.

“Grandmama?”

“Yes, darling?”

“What is an antere…” Annabelle trailed off, baffled by the length of the word. Sarah shook with laughter, and took an additional moment to gaze at her son’s daughter, before responding. Her granddaughter was the spitting image of her late grandfather, from the azure eyes, to the dark, coal-colored hair.

“Do you know, dear, that out of the entire family, you resemble your Grandpapa the most?” Sarah bestowed a tender smile on her granddaughter, whose eyes instantly brightened at such a comparison.

“I’m very pleased, Grandmama. I heard he was quite handsome.” Annabelle winked at the elderly lady seated across from her.

“Why yes, he was very attractive, very masculine. Quite the catch in the Marriage Mart.” Sarah chuckled loudly. “Your father always does that, wink at people. I see you’ve inherited the trait.”

“Mmhmm.” Annabelle nodded enthusiastically. “I absolutely love to wink, Grandmama, and I can’t help it but do it. Each time I wink at him, father picks me up and spins me around. Mother doesn’t like it as much. She says it is too grown up a gesture. Is it really, Grandmama?”

“Well, yes, at times it can be. However, between you and me, we can wink all the time, darling.” She winked at her granddaughter to prove the validity of the statement. The young girl giggled vociferously, and then abruptly covered her mouth to diminish the sounds.

“We have to be quiet darling. I am aware that you would like to attend the fair on the morrow, so you should probably be back in bed by now. If you wish, I can escort you.”

“Just a little bit longer, Grandmama!” She pleaded with her large sapphire eyes, and Sarah couldn’t resist. Besides, her granddaughter would leave for London again, in aweek’s time, and she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her.

“All right, all right.” She caressed Annabelle’s silky cheek. “Just a few minutes longer, though. I don’t want your mama to scold me for keeping you up half the night.”

Her granddaughter smiled at her victory. “Mama, won’t do that. She knows how much this visit means to you. Besides, you never answered my question about that particular word.”

“Oh, right. Well, an entrepreneur is a risk-taker. However, I’m not referring to dangerous risks, nor am I referring to solely business, which is what the word is usually associated with. Your Grandpapa yearned for all his children to live their lives to the furthest limits. He never passed up any prospect to travel, to sample something new, and he urged his children to follow his example. He never put his life in any danger with his ventures, but there was a considerable amount of excitement in our lives. More so than most of the other couples or families of the ton.”

Sarah’s mind conjured up images of their trips together includingconversations with the natives, shopping at the exotic marketplaces, eating the outlandish dishes. Without knowing it, tears trickled down her wrinkled cheeks. She became aware of them only when a soft, fluttering touch wiped them away gently. Sarah picked up her granddaughter’s hands and placed a kiss in the center of each palm.

“Grandmama, you looked very pretty today. So glamorous. I’ve never seen you wear these jewels before. Why today?”

Sarah squeezed her granddaughter’s hands, as a fresh bout of memories engulfed her.

“Today is my marriage anniversary, darling. Our 60th, wouldn’t you know it?” She whispered the latter statement. “Oh Alexander, if only you were here…”

“Grandmama?”

Sarah shook herself out of her reverie and looked down into her granddaughter’s eager eyes. “I’m sorry, darling, sometimes I get lost in the memories. Your Grandpapa and I created several of them,” she exclaimed wistfully. “As I was saying, today marks our 60th wedding anniversary, and when your Grandpapa was alive, he would always make me wear my bridal jewelry.” She touched the glittering diamond necklace on her throat.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Her young granddaughter nodded in assent. She reached up to touch the gems, as if to test the reality of it.

“He gave me this necklace and a pair of matching diamond earrings laced with emeralds, on our wedding night. He said the emeralds resembled my eyes. Your Grandpapa was quite the romantic.” Sarah winked at her Annabelle, who winked in return, and they laughed together.

“Then, each year, right before our anniversary, he would take me shopping on Bond Street. He would always pick out a modish dress for me to wear on that special day, so that I could ‘preen around’ for him, in his words.” She chuckled at the memory of how the tradition had started.

“Wow, you are right, Grandmama. Grandpapa sounds like quite the romantic. I wish I had gotten to know him.” Annabelle playfully tugged on the tips of her grandmother’s fingers.

“I wish you did too, darling. You were only four years of age when he passed away. I’m sure you can not recall, but you chattered away with him for hours and hours, each time you came to visit.” She smoothed away a few tendrils of hair that had escaped her granddaughter’s braid.

“Really?"

“Why of course. Your Grandpapa adored you. He would take you shopping, just as he did me. He called you his little princess, and would pretend to be your suitor.”

Annabelle giggled. “That seems enjoyable.”

“Oh, both of you had so much fun. You would waltz together in the ballroom, while I sat in the corner as the sole spectator of your graceful dancing, pretending to be envious. When I would humph, both of you would rush over to console me. Your Grandpapa would give me a tight hug, and you would plant a wet kiss on my cheek, right here.” She pointed to the spot on her age-worn cheek.

“Grandmama?” Sarah inquired after her grandmother, who was once again settled deep into her memories.

“Hmm?”

“Would you tell me the story of how you and Grandpapa met? Please? Father told me that it was an enthralling story, and that I would be able to ask you during our stay. Please Grandmama! Please tell me!” She gripped both of her grandmother’s hands and kneeled down in front of her.

“Well… it is growing increasingly late, darling. Perhaps, on the morrow, before the fair?”

“No! I shall be too excited with the fair to concentrate on your story, and our departure is coming soon. You must tell me tonight, Grandmama. Please!” She looked her grandmother square in the eye, and curled her lower lip into a heartwarming pout.

Once again, Sarah was unable resist. Her only granddaughter reminded her so much of her husband.

“All right,” she consented. Annabelle cheered and released her grandmother’s hands only to enclose her own arms around the elderly woman’s neck.

“Now mind you, but it is a time-consuming tale, so let us lie down on the bed first. You may sleep here tonight, and I shall explain the situation to your mama in the morning.”

“Oh thank you Grandmama!” She smiled wide showing her small, evenly spaced teeth.

Sarah smiled, and shook her head. “You youngsters wear me out,” she jested affably. She gathered the maroon bed hangings and tied them to the four posters on each corner of the massive bed. “Climb in, darling,” she motioned to Annabelle, who excitedly scurried onto the top of the bed and buried herself under the covers. Sarah mounted the bed after her granddaughter.

Once they were settled in, she began the emotional tale of how she had met her husband seventy-five years ago…

A/N:

Hi everyone! This is my first story on fictionpress, and I would be extremely glad if you reviewed. The story will flashback to a scene in 1805, but the main story will take place around 1817ish. Sarah is the female lead, and Alexander will be the male lead, it is the story of their very unusual romance. I was suddenly inspired to write this scene, and wrote the whole of it today, so if there are mistakes I will gladly accept constructive criticism. Review!

Thanks,

Glamorouslystressed